United News of Bangladesh

Representatives from more than 60 countries gathered in Brussels on Monday for talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa on restoring stability, security and lasting peace in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, as global focus remains on tensions in Iran and Lebanon. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, who is co-hosting the meeting with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, said the ongoing violence in the West Bank and the widespread destruction in Gaza are making a two-state solution increasingly difficult. He said Belgium, along with many European and Arab countries, still sees the two-state solution as the only practical way to achieve lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians, and to ensure regional stability. The European Union, a bloc of 27 nations, remains the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. While the EU has not joined the peace framework initiated by US President Donald Trump, it continues to support a multilateral approach through the United Nations and international law, and is keen to maintain a role in Middle East diplomacy. Anger across Europe over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has led many EU leaders to criticise Israel’s military actions and increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Following the recent removal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Netanyahu, the bloc may now have enough support to consider tougher steps, including targeted sanctions on Israeli settlers or reviewing ties with Israel. Palestinians in the West Bank say Israel has tightened control over the territory amid the Iran conflict, with a rise in settler violence and stricter movement restrictions imposed by the military on security grounds. Speaking at the conference, Mustafa called for unified governance in Gaza under one authority, stressing the need for a single security system coordinated with international partners. He also urged the gradual disarmament of all armed groups and called for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on Monday said Tehran did not have plans yet to attend any talks with the United States. He did not rule out Iran attending talks. Authorities in Islamabad had been making preparations for another round potentially happened there this week. “So far, while I am here, we have no plans for the next round of negotiations and no decision has been made in this regard,” Baghaei said during a news conference.

A strong earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck off northern Japan on Monday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami alert for the region. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake hit off the Sanriku coast at around 4:53 pm (0753 GMT), at a depth of about 10 kilometers beneath the seabed. Public broadcaster NHK reported that tsunami waves of up to 3 meters could reach coastal areas shortly.

Pakistani authorities on Monday prepared to host a second round of talks between Iran and the United States, despite questions about whether the negotiations will take place. Pakistan has intensified diplomatic contacts since Sunday with Washington and Tehran to ensure the talks proceed as soon as Tuesday, officials said on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke by phone late Sunday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Sharif’s office said in a statement that did not mention the planned talks. Authorities began closing key roads and stepping up security in the capital Islamabad over the weekend, particularly around a luxury hotel where the delegations are expected to meet. Authorities deployed troops at checkpoints, closed tourist sites and instructed major hotels to limit bookings to ensure availability.

Pakistan is preparing to host a second round of talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending their ongoing conflict, but uncertainty remains as Tehran has not yet confirmed whether it will join the negotiations. The proposed talks come as a two-week ceasefire between the two sides is set to expire on Wednesday. Unlike the first round held in Islamabad on April 11, the upcoming discussions could continue for several days, with mediators hoping to reach a temporary agreement to extend the ceasefire and allow more time for a broader peace deal. However, rising tensions over the past 24 hours have cast doubt on Iran’s participation. US President Donald Trump said American representatives were heading to Pakistan for the talks, but also warned of possible strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure if no agreement is reached. He accused Iran of violating the ceasefire following recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz. In a separate development, Trump said a US naval vessel intercepted an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after it failed to respond to warnings. Iran has condemned the move, calling it piracy. Amid these developments, Pakistan has stepped up security and logistical preparations in Islamabad. Key hotels were cleared of guests, roads leading to the high-security Red Zone were sealed, and additional security personnel were deployed across the capital. Despite Pakistan’s efforts as a mediator, Iranian officials have expressed reservations about joining the talks. Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan cited ongoing tensions, including the US naval blockade and threats of further attacks, as obstacles to meaningful negotiations. Iranian state media also dismissed reports of a confirmed second round of talks, blaming the lack of progress on what it described as shifting US positions and unrealistic demands. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, discussing the need to continue dialogue to resolve the crisis. US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, are expected to be part of the delegation, although it remains unclear who will ultimately attend. Diplomatic sources say the immediate goal of the talks would be to extend the ceasefire rather than reach a final agreement. Officials noted that while progress has been made, a comprehensive deal would require more time and continued engagement from both sides. Source: Al jazeera  

Iran’s top diplomat told his Pakistani counterpart that Washington’s demands in negotiations and its threats to Iranian ships and ports mark “clear signs” of America’s disingenuousness. Abbas Aragchi made the remarks to Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, according to Iranian state media. It’s another indication of how the Washington-Tehran standoff is sharpening as the ceasefire is to expire on Wednesday. It could also shake up plans for a new U.S.-Iran round of talks in Islamabad this week.

Oil prices rose in early trading Sunday as a standoff between Iran and the U.S. prevented tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf waterway that is crucial to global energy supplies. The price of U.S. crude oil increased 6.4% to $87.90 per barrel an hour after trading resumed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 5.8% to $95.64 per barrel. The market reaction followed more than two days of lifted hopes and dashed expectations involving the strait. Crude prices plunged more than 9% Friday after Iran said it would fully reopen the strait, which it effectively controls, to commercial traffic. Tehran reversed that decision and fired on several vessels Saturday after President Donald Trump said a U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ports would remain in effect. On Sunday, Trump said the U.S. attacked and forcibly seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that allegedly tried to get around the blockade. Iran’s joint military command vowed to respond. Sunday’s higher prices wiped out much of the declines seen Friday, signaling renewed doubts about how soon ships will again transport the vast amounts oil the world gets from the Middle East. The US-Israeli war against Iran, now in its eighth week, has created one of the worst global energy crises in decades. Countries in Asia and Europe that import much of their oil from the Gulf have felt the most impact of halted supplies and production cuts, although rapidly rising gasoline, diesel and jet fuel prices are affecting businesses and consumers worldwide

Six hours have passed since U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for more talks with Iran, but neither Iran nor host Pakistan have confirmed it. Pakistan has kept up the diplomacy today, with its prime minister holding a 45-minute call with Iran’s president and Pakistan’s foreign minister speaking with his Iranian counterpart. But while authorities have begun tightening security in Islamabad, the only player that has openly committed to another round of talks is the Trump administration.

The British military has declared the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf to be “critical,” its highest risk level. The military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, UKMTO, cited “a high level of activity by naval forces in the region.” It said there is a “risk of attack or miscalculation” in the waterway. The Iranian navy reimposed tight restrictions on transit through the strait as the U.S. military implements a blockade on Iranian ports and waters. The UKMTO also cited multiple attacks on Saturday by Iranian forces on vessels passing through the strait.  

Eight children, aged from one to 14 years old, were killed in a shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, which police are describing as a "domestic disturbance". Officers said the shootings occurred about 05:00 local time (10:00 BST), when a single gunman shot 10 people. Police chased and killed the suspected shooter as he was fleeing, reports BBC. "We have hurting families, we have hurting police officers, coroners' personnel," Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said. "This affects the entire community, so we all mourn with these families." Police did not identify the gunman or the victims, but said some of the children were related to the deceased man. "This is a tragic situation - maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had in Shreveport," the mayor added. He asked for prayers for the families and the city. Police said the shooting took place at two homes on the same block and a third residence in the neighbourhood. Shreveport Police Corporal Chris Bordelon said officers attended a home shortly before 06:00 local time and found the children. "All of the deceased in this case are juveniles," Bordelon said.