United News of Bangladesh

Ukraine and its European allies firmly oppose any decision on land swaps being made between the United States and Russia without their involvement ahead of a summit scheduled this week. However, European officials acknowledge that Russia is unlikely to willingly return the Ukrainian territories it currently controls. Ahead of Friday’s summit in Alaska, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that a peace agreement might include “some swapping of territories.” But European leaders see no indication that Moscow is prepared to offer any territorial concessions. Notably, Ukraine and European representatives have not been invited to the summit. European Union foreign ministers gathered Monday after weekend discussions among U.S. and European security advisors on Ukraine. They expressed concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin might try to portray Kyiv as uncooperative to claim a political win. There are growing worries in Europe and Ukraine that Kyiv could be pressured into relinquishing land or accepting limits on its sovereignty. Both Ukraine and its European backers reject any preconditions that allow Putin to claim Ukrainian territory before a ceasefire is agreed. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized, “International law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine,” adding that “aggression cannot be rewarded.” Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz also stressed that territorial matters should not be decided by Russia and the U.S. “over the heads” of Ukrainians and Europeans. Still, the reality on the ground complicates the situation. Russia annexed parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions in 2022, although it does not fully control them. The Crimean Peninsula remains under Russian occupation since 2014. The front line stretches over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), where Russia’s larger forces have made slow but costly advances this summer. The intense fighting has killed over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to U.N. estimates. Russia, Ukraine stick to demands ahead of planned Putin-Trump summit NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged on CBS that any peace talks after Alaska must address the fact that Russia currently controls parts of Ukraine. While Western allies reject recognizing this control legally, they may have to accept it in practice—similar to how the U.S. hosted Baltic states’ diplomatic missions despite Soviet control from 1940 to 1991. For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, conceding any territory without a ceasefire would be politically difficult after heavy losses. Observers believe Putin’s real aim is not the land itself, but to secure a more Russia-friendly Ukraine with a pliant government unlikely to pursue NATO membership—mirroring pro-Russian areas in Georgia that blocked its NATO aspirations. Zelenskyy insists that halting the fighting must be the first step in negotiations, a position supported by Europe. They say any land swaps should be decided by Ukraine and not used as a ceasefire precondition. Land issues may also be linked to security guarantees Ukraine seeks to prevent future conflicts. Europeans advocate for strong Ukrainian armed forces without limits on size, equipment, or weapon sales. They further insist Ukraine should have full freedom to choose its path—whether EU membership or neutrality—despite the Trump administration’s earlier removal of NATO membership from the table for now. Source: Agency

An Islamic court in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province on Monday sentenced two men to public caning, 80 strokes each, after they were caught by religious police engaged in acts deemed sexual under Islamic law, including hugging and kissing. The trial was held behind closed doors at the Islamic Shariah District Court in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital. Judges have the discretion to limit public access in such cases, opening the court only for verdict announcements. The two men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested in April after locals reported seeing them enter the same bathroom at Taman Sari city park. Police intervened, finding the men kissing and hugging, which the court classified as sexual conduct. Lead judge Rokhmadi M. Hum ruled the two college students “legally and convincingly” guilty of violating Islamic law by engaging in acts leading to gay sexual relations. Their identities were withheld. Prosecutors had demanded 85 lashes each, but the three-judge panel reduced the sentence, citing the defendants’ good behavior, cooperation, and clean records. Their four months in detention will also be deducted, reducing the total lashes to 80. Nepal’s LGBTQ+ community holds first pride rally since US funding cuts Prosecutor Alfian expressed dissatisfaction with the lighter punishment but declined to file an appeal. Aceh is Indonesia’s only province authorized to enforce Sharia law, which permits up to 100 lashes for morality offenses including homosexuality, adultery, gambling, alcohol consumption, and improper dress or behavior. The provincial government was granted this authority in 2006 under a peace agreement after years of separatist conflict. The law was expanded in 2015 to include non-Muslims, who form about 1% of Aceh’s population. Human rights organizations have condemned the law for violating Indonesia’s international commitments on minority rights. The country’s national criminal code does not criminalize homosexuality. Monday’s ruling marks the fifth public caning sentence in Aceh for homosexuality since the law’s introduction. In February, two men were sentenced to 85 lashes after vigilantes discovered them naked and embracing in their rented home in Banda Aceh.   Source: Agency

As negotiations entered their second week Monday for a global agreement to tackle plastic pollution, an eye-catching sculpture made of plastic waste was unveiled in front of the United Nations office, reminding delegates of their urgent responsibility. The sculpture, titled “Thinker’s Burden,” was created by Canadian artist and activist Benjamin Von Wong along with his team. Inspired by Auguste Rodin’s famous “The Thinker,” the nearly 6-meter tall artwork features a male figure sitting atop the Earth, holding a child and clutching plastic bottles. A DNA strand entwines the figures, symbolizing the harmful impact of plastic pollution on health. Throughout the talks, volunteers have been adding plastic waste to the installation to illustrate the growing environmental cost of delay. On Monday, Von Wong climbed a ladder to weave plastic bottles through the DNA strand and placed a plastic toy car at the base. “By the end of this week, the sculpture will be nearly drowned in plastics, but we hope a strong and ambitious treaty will help solve this crisis once and for all,” Von Wong said. The project was funded largely by the Australian Minderoo Foundation, with plastic waste collected by local nonprofits and community groups. Maria Ivanova, co-director of the Plastics Center at Northeastern University and an expert in international environmental governance, said the sculpture “wakes you up.” Conflicts in the Mideast and Ukraine will loom over Biden's farewell address at the United Nations “People don’t change their minds because of facts, but because of feelings. This is where art plays a critical role in pushing policy forward,” she added. The sculpture attracted delegates and visitors alike, with many stopping to discuss the artwork and take photos. Michael Bonser, head of the Canadian delegation, described it as “extraordinarily profound,” adding, “It reminds us daily of what we need to achieve in the negotiations — a deal that can reverse the plastic pollution trend. It will be challenging, but possible.” About 3,700 participants from 184 countries and over 600 organizations are engaged in the talks, aiming to finalize the first legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution. Despite the urgency, many expressed concern over the slow pace and growing disagreements. European Commissioner Jessika Roswall emphasized the need for swift results, saying, “It’s time to get results.” Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, remained hopeful, stating, “The treaty is still within reach. The window remains open to conclude an agreement here in Geneva.” Source: Agency

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that upcoming discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be "technical" and "complicated," ahead of the agency's planned visit — the first since Tehran suspended cooperation last month. Tensions between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog escalated following a joint Israeli-U.S. air campaign in June that targeted key Iranian nuclear facilities. On June 12, the IAEA board accused Iran of violating its non-proliferation commitments, a day before the attacks were launched. The IAEA has not yet commented on the upcoming visit by its deputy director general, which reportedly does not include access to nuclear sites. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters that a meeting with Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi might take place, but stressed that expectations should be tempered. “These are highly technical and complicated discussions. It's too early to predict the outcome,” he said. Baghaei also criticized the IAEA for its perceived silence during the June conflict, saying, “Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities, under constant monitoring, were attacked. Yet the agency failed to issue a balanced or responsible response.” Foreign Minister Aragchi had earlier indicated that future cooperation with the IAEA would require authorization from the Supreme National Security Council, a move that could further restrict inspector access to sensitive nuclear activities. Iran has been enriching uranium close to weapons-grade levels. On July 3, President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the suspension of cooperation with the IAEA after U.S. airstrikes targeted three major nuclear sites in Iran amid Israel’s aerial assault. The attacks killed nearly 1,100 people, including senior military officers. Iran responded with missile strikes that left 28 people dead in Israel. Iran has previously limited IAEA access as a bargaining tool in nuclear negotiations. The timeline for any potential resumption of talks with the U.S. remains uncertain. According to U.S. intelligence and the IAEA, Iran’s last structured nuclear weapons program ended in 2003, though enrichment levels have since reached up to 60% — just below the 90% threshold for weapons-grade uranium.  

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Turkey’s northwestern province of Balikesir on Sunday, causing about a dozen buildings to collapse, an official said. At least two people were trapped in the debris of a collapsed building. The earthquake, with an epicenter in the town of Sindirgi, sent shocks that were felt some 200 kilometers (125 miles) to the north in Istanbul, a city of more than 16 million people. Sindirgi Mayor Serkan Sak told the nationwide HaberTurk television broadcaster that four people were rescued from a collapsed building in the town while rescuers were trying to reach two other people from the structure. Several houses also collapsed in the nearby village of Golcuk, he said. The minaret of a mosque also tumbled down in the village. Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said on X that four people were being treated in hospital. None of them were in life-threatening condition, he said. “Our hope is to get through this without any loss of life," Ahmet Akin, the mayor of the provincial capital, which is also called Balikesir, told HaberTurk. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency said the earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring 4.6, and urged citizens not to enter damaged buildings. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement wishing all affected citizens a speedy recovery. "May God protect our country from any kind of disaster,” he wrote on X. Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and earthquakes are frequent. In 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed more than 53,000 people in Turkey and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 southern and southeastern provinces. Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighboring Syria.

Global criticism intensified on Saturday following Israel's announcement of a military takeover of Gaza City, sparking one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in Israel in recent months, now nearly two years into the war. Efforts to broker a ceasefire appear to be gaining momentum. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was reportedly set to meet with Qatar’s prime minister in Spain to discuss a new proposal, according to officials familiar with the talks who requested anonymity. Mediators Egypt and Qatar are drafting a new ceasefire plan, which would involve the release of all hostages — dead and alive — in exchange for a complete ceasefire and Israeli troop withdrawal, two Arab officials told the Associated Press. Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to worsen. Health officials reported that Israeli forces killed 20 Palestinians waiting for aid on Saturday, and 11 adults died from malnutrition-related causes within the past 24 hours. Calls for increased food aid are growing louder amid the ongoing siege. Protests and Global CondemnationIn Israel, thousands gathered in protest, with local media describing it as one of the most significant demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government since the war began. Families of hostages urged more urgent action, with some calling for a general strike to pressure authorities. Einav Zangauker, whose son is held hostage in Gaza, pleaded for national action, urging the Histadrut labor union and the wider public to “shut the country down” in protest until hostages are returned. A joint statement from nine countries — including Germany, France, Canada, and the UK — condemned Israel’s military expansion, warning it could worsen the humanitarian crisis, increase displacement, and violate international law if it leads to annexation or settlement. More than 20 other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE, echoed similar concerns, calling the Israeli move a "dangerous escalation." Russia warned it would further deteriorate an already dire situation. The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency session for Sunday to address the crisis. Aid Seekers Killed, Access RestrictedMultiple fatalities were reported as Palestinians tried to access humanitarian aid. Hospitals in southern and central Gaza said Israeli forces opened fire on aid-seekers, killing at least 11. Witnesses claimed Israeli troops shot at people approaching a distribution site in Gaza’s Netzarim corridor. In northern Gaza, nine more were reported killed and over 200 injured at the Zikim crossing, according to local health officials. The Israeli military denied involvement and said it was unaware of the incidents. Despite occasional airdrops, aid deliveries remain insufficient. On Saturday, Italy and Greece joined the airdrop effort, delivering 106 packages. Footage showed packages scattered across the barren terrain, with barefoot children collecting food items spilled onto the ground. “This is not how humans should be treated,” said Mahmoud Hawila, who said he was stabbed while fighting for an aid package. Israel claims Hamas routinely diverts aid, although the U.N.-led system managing aid distribution denies the allegation. Aid groups insist more trucks must be allowed into Gaza and safely reach distribution points. Deaths From Hunger IncreasingWith temperatures exceeding 32°C (90°F), displaced families face sweltering conditions in makeshift shelters. Some sleep outdoors, collect water before dawn, and try to stay cool with cardboard fans. “My children cry all night from the heat,” said Nida Abu Hamad, who is sheltering with her family in Gaza City. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 11 adults died from malnutrition in the last 24 hours, raising the total to 114 deaths since June. Additionally, 98 children have reportedly died from hunger-related causes since the war began in October 2023, following Hamas's attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 taken hostage. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel of deliberately forcing Palestinians into near-starvation conditions to drive them off their land. These hunger-related deaths are not included in the ministry’s official war death toll of 61,300, about half of whom are reported to be women and children. While Israel disputes the figures, it has not released its own count. The U.N. and independent monitors regard the ministry’s data as the most credible available.

Armenia and Azerbaijan leaders shook hands Friday at a White House peace summit and signed an agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict in the South Caucasus region. President Donald Trump stood between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as they joined hands. Trump also clasped their hands, symbolizing unity and cooperation. The agreement, signed by both countries and the U.S., will reopen key transportation routes and reduce Russia’s influence in the region. A major transit corridor named the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” will connect Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclave, a longstanding demand from Azerbaijan. The White House called it a significant step for regional connectivity and peace. Trump described the naming of the corridor as “a great honor” but said he did not request it. A senior administration official revealed that Armenia proposed the name. Trump, who has sought recognition as a peacemaker, added this deal to a series of peace and economic agreements brokered by the U.S. in 2025. Both leaders credited Trump and his team for the breakthrough. Pashinyan called the agreement a “significant milestone,” while Aliyev said Trump achieved “a miracle” in six months. “Thirty-five years they fought, and now they’re friends and will remain so for a long time,” Trump said. The new corridor will provide Azerbaijan a direct land link to Turkey and Europe, bypassing Armenia and improving regional trade. Trump expressed interest in visiting the corridor and voiced confidence in lasting peace between the two countries. Aliyev and Pashinyan joined other global leaders advocating for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in resolving conflicts worldwide. Earlier this year, the U.S. helped broker peace deals involving the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Thailand. Trump to host Armenia and Azerbaijan at White House peace summit aimed at ending decades-long conflict The deal also marks a geopolitical setback for Russia, which had long mediated the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict to maintain influence in the South Caucasus. Moscow’s power waned following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, allowing the U.S. to expand its role. Negotiations on developing the Trump Route — including rail, oil and gas pipelines, and fiber optics — are expected to begin soon, with multiple developers showing interest. Separate agreements signed by Armenia and Azerbaijan with the U.S. aim to enhance cooperation in energy, technology, and the economy. The decades-long conflict centered on the Nagorno-Karabakh region, predominantly Armenian-populated but within Azerbaijan’s borders, which led to violent clashes and thousands of deaths. Azerbaijan reclaimed the region in 2023, and the new deal includes provisions for normalized ties and a transit corridor, addressing previous sticking points. Armenia, moving away from Russian influence after the 2023 conflict, welcomed closer ties with the U.S., while Azerbaijan has also grown more assertive in its relations with Moscow. Source: Agency

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday dismissed the planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, cautioning that any peace deal excluding Ukraine would lead to “dead solutions.” The Trump-Putin meeting, set for Friday in Alaska, is viewed as a potential breakthrough in the conflict. However, Zelenskyy stressed Ukraine’s territorial integrity must remain non-negotiable and that lasting peace requires Kyiv’s involvement. “Any decisions made without Ukraine are decisions against peace,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram, adding, “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.” Trump says he will meet Putin in Alaska next Friday to discuss ending Ukraine war Trump had agreed to meet Putin even if Zelenskyy was not invited, raising concerns Ukraine could be sidelined in efforts to end Europe’s largest war since World War II. Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed the summit’s venue and date, calling it “logical” for leaders of both countries to meet across the Bering Strait. The war, now over three years old, has caused tens of thousands of deaths with no clear end in sight, as Moscow and Kyiv remain deeply divided on peace terms. Trump hinted that a deal might involve “some swapping of territories” but gave no details. Meanwhile, Russian drone attacks continued with casualties reported near Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, while Ukraine intercepted dozens of drones. Russia also claimed to have shot down numerous Ukrainian drones over its territory. Source: Agency

On Saturday, Nagasaki sounded an alarm over the growing risk of nuclear conflict as the city marked 80 years since the U.S. atomic bombing, calling on the world to heed the lessons of history and ensure it remains the last place to endure such destruction. "This existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth," Mayor Shiro Suzuki said in the Peace Declaration during the annual memorial at Nagasaki Peace Park. He described the world as trapped in a "vicious cycle of confrontation and fragmentation" and urged global leaders to present concrete steps toward eliminating nuclear weapons. Suzuki praised the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Nihon Hidankyo for inspiring peace efforts across borders, asking, "Is it not this 'global citizen' perspective that will serve as the driving force behind stitching back together our fragmented world?" At 11:02 a.m., a moment of silence was observed—the exact time in 1945 when the plutonium bomb "Fat Man" was dropped, devastating the port city just days after Hiroshima’s bombing. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed Japan’s long-standing policy of not possessing, producing, or allowing nuclear weapons, pledging to work toward "a world without nuclear war and a world without nuclear weapons." He avoided mention of the 2021 U.N. nuclear ban treaty, despite renewed calls for Japan to join. Around 2,600 attendees, including representatives from 94 countries and the EU, gathered near the hypocenter. Unlike last year, when controversy arose over Israel’s exclusion, invitations were sent to all nations with diplomatic ties to Japan. Founded in Nagasaki in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo campaigns for a nuclear-free world through survivor testimony. Suzuki recalled the 1982 U.N. speech by survivor Senji Yamaguchi, who pleaded, "No more hibakusha" while showing his burn scars from the bombing. The “nuclear taboo” forged by survivors is now challenged by Russia’s nuclear threats in its war on Ukraine, Middle East tensions, and growing reliance on nuclear deterrence. Japan, while advocating abolition, remains under the U.S. nuclear umbrella amid China’s military rise and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. In a statement read on his behalf, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that "peace and security cannot be achieved through an arms race" and urged stronger disarmament efforts centered on the nonproliferation treaty, supported by the nuclear ban treaty. Despite intermittent rain, survivors and activists visited memorial sites. Survivor Fumi Takeshita, 83, who has battled multiple cancers, said, "They are not like ordinary weapons, they come with radiation, and once it's taken into the body, it never leaves." At 11:02 a.m., Urakami Cathedral’s twin bells rang together for the first time in eight decades. One bell survived the blast, while the other was restored this year in a project led by James Nolan Jr., whose grandfather worked on the Manhattan Project. The Aug. 9, 1945, attack killed an estimated 74,000 people in Nagasaki by year’s end, with many others suffering long-term effects. Japan’s surrender on Aug. 15 ended World War II.  

President Donald Trump announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. This potential breakthrough comes after Trump expressed growing frustration over the lack of progress in stopping the conflict. While the Kremlin has yet to confirm the meeting, both the U.S. and Russia had indicated that a summit could take place soon. The war, now more than three years old, has caused tens of thousands of deaths since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Speaking at the White House before officially confirming the date, Trump suggested any peace deal might involve a territorial exchange, though he did not offer specifics. Some analysts believe Russia may consider giving up parts of Ukraine it controls outside the four regions it claims to have annexed. Trump said he plans to meet with Putin before any talks involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — a decision that has raised concerns in Europe about Ukraine potentially being excluded from key negotiations. Hosting Putin on U.S. soil is also a surprising move, as meetings of this nature are typically held in neutral locations. The decision could be seen as a diplomatic win for Putin, who has long faced efforts by the West to isolate him over his actions in Ukraine. Putin hasn’t visited the U.S. since 2015, when he attended the U.N. General Assembly in New York. The last major U.S.-Russia summit was in 2021, when President Joe Biden met with Putin in Geneva. Trump announced the Alaska summit on social media shortly after revealing a separate peace initiative between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He said the “highly anticipated meeting” would take place on August 15 and that more details would follow. Trump Suggests Territory SwapsTrump told reporters that the meeting would have happened sooner, but “security arrangements” delayed it. He claimed both Putin and Zelenskyy want peace and hinted at a possible land exchange between the two sides. “It won’t be easy,” Trump said, “but there will be some land switched. It’ll be to the benefit of both sides.” Pressed on whether this was the last chance for a peace deal, Trump declined to say so, adding that once violence escalates, it's hard to stop. Two weeks ago, Trump threatened new sanctions and tariffs against Russia — especially targeting nations that continue buying Russian oil — if Moscow didn’t take steps toward peace. That deadline was Friday, but following the announcement of the upcoming meeting, the White House declined to comment on whether those sanctions would still go ahead. Until now, Trump’s pressure campaign hadn’t yielded results. Russia continues to make slow but costly gains in Ukraine while heavily bombing civilian areas, and both sides remain far from agreeing on peace terms. Fighting Intensifies Across UkraineUkraine’s military is engaged in fierce battles along a 620-mile front. The eastern Donetsk region, especially around Pokrovsk, is seeing some of the heaviest fighting, as Russia tries to push into neighboring regions. Ukrainian commanders remain skeptical about peace. A drone unit leader in the Spartan Brigade, identified only by his call sign "Buda," said he believes Russia has no interest in negotiating. “The only option is to defeat them,” he said. In southern Zaporizhzhia, another Ukrainian commander using the call sign "Warsaw" said their only option is to keep defending. “We are on our own land. We have no choice but to stand our ground.” Putin Makes a Round of Diplomatic CallsOn Friday, the Kremlin said Putin spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, updating him on a recent meeting with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff. China, which the U.S. says has supported Russia militarily, expressed support for a long-term solution to the Ukraine conflict. Putin also spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following Trump’s executive order this week placing a 25% tariff on India over its purchases of Russian oil. Other recent calls included leaders from South Africa, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus — a move analysts believe signals that Putin may be preparing his allies for a possible settlement. “This might be the first sign of a real peace agreement,” said Sergei Markov, a Moscow-based analyst with ties to the Kremlin. Analysts Remain SkepticalDespite the upcoming summit, many experts doubt Putin’s willingness to end the war. The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S. think tank, said Putin is still trying to extract concessions from the West without seriously engaging in peace talks. “Putin believes time is on his side — that he can outlast Ukraine and the West,” the institute stated in its latest report.