United News of Bangladesh

U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted the ceasefire is holding but has reiterated threats to resume full-scale bombing if Iran doesn’t accept an agreement to reopen the strait and roll back its nuclear program. On Friday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the country was not paying attention to “deadlines,” according to state-run IRNA. Also on Friday, a top Iranian official said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was in “complete health” and eventually would appear in public. Khamenei hasn’t been seen or heard in public since the war began, fueling speculation about his status. Mazaher Hosseini, affiliated with the office of Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was Mojtaba’s father, made the comment at a pro-government gathering. Hosseini said Mojtaba had suffered knee and back injuries in the war’s opening attacks but they’ve largely healed. Diplomacy continues. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country has been in contact with the U.S. and Iran “day and night” in an effort to extend the ceasefire and reach a peace deal. Russia’s foreign ministry said Saturday that it, as well as Saudi Arabia, was calling for diplomatic efforts to reach a “sustainable, long-term agreement” to end the war. Egyptian and Qatari top diplomats reiterated that diplomacy is the sole path to a solution, according to a readout of a Saturday phone call between the two foreign ministers.

US President Donald Trump announced Friday that Russia and Ukraine have accepted his proposal for a three-day ceasefire along with a large-scale prisoner exchange, describing the move as a possible turning point in the ongoing war. Both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, confirmed the agreement. Speaking before departing the White House, Trump said both leaders quickly agreed to the temporary pause in fighting. He called the halt in violence an encouraging step and expressed hope that it could mark the beginning of the end of the conflict. Earlier in the day, Trump revealed on social media that the ceasefire would take place from Saturday through Monday. The timing coincides with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, which honor the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. According to Trump, the agreement includes a full suspension of military operations and a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side. Russia had already announced a separate ceasefire for Friday and Saturday, but clashes reportedly continued, with Moscow and Kyiv each accusing the other of violating the truce. Similar accusations followed Ukraine’s earlier unilateral ceasefire attempt earlier in the week. Trump said he personally requested the ceasefire from both Putin and Zelenskyy and added that ongoing negotiations to end the war, which began in February 2022, are making gradual progress. Zelenskyy explained that Ukraine’s willingness to participate in the discussions was strongly influenced by the opportunity to secure the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, an issue Kyiv has consistently prioritized throughout the conflict. In a message posted on Telegram, Zelenskyy said the lives of Ukrainian prisoners were more important than events taking place in Moscow’s Red Square, where Russia traditionally hosts its annual Victory Day military parade. He later signed a presidential decree formally allowing Russia to hold the parade without fear of Ukrainian strikes during the ceasefire period. The move appeared intended to emphasize Ukraine’s ability to target the Russian capital while demonstrating restraint under the terms of the agreement. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the decree as meaningless, insisting Russia did not require permission to celebrate Victory Day. Zelenskyy credited U.S.-led diplomacy for helping secure the agreement and thanked Trump and the American negotiating team for their efforts. He also said Ukraine expects Washington to ensure Russia follows through on its commitments. The Ukrainian leader added that officials had already begun preparing for the prisoner exchange process. Trump’s optimistic remarks contrasted with comments made earlier Friday by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who acknowledged that diplomatic efforts to end the war had so far failed to produce major progress. Speaking in Rome after meetings at the Vatican, Rubio said negotiations had stalled but stressed that the United States remains ready to assist if conditions improve.   

Spanish authorities are preparing to evacuate more than 140 passengers and crew members from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak as it approaches the Canary Islands. The Dutch-flagged vessel, the MV Hondius, is expected to arrive in Tenerife on Sunday, where strict health and safety measures will be enforced during disembarkation. Spain’s emergency services chief, Virginia Barcones, said passengers would be moved to a fully isolated and secured area upon arrival. The United States and the United Kingdom have also arranged evacuation flights for their citizens onboard. Although three people have died since the outbreak began and five former passengers have tested positive for hantavirus, cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions stated that no one currently onboard is showing symptoms. The World Health Organization has assessed the overall public risk as low. WHO officials also confirmed that a flight attendant who briefly came into contact with an infected passenger tested negative for the virus, easing concerns about possible wider transmission. WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier emphasized that the outbreak should not be compared to COVID-19, noting that hantavirus is generally difficult to spread between humans. Hantavirus is typically transmitted through exposure to infected rodent droppings. However, the Andes strain linked to this outbreak may rarely spread between people. Symptoms can appear anywhere from one to eight weeks after exposure. Health authorities across multiple continents are now tracing and monitoring dozens of passengers who left the ship before the outbreak was officially identified. Officials are also attempting to locate anyone who may have interacted with those passengers. Passengers remaining onboard said life on the ship has stayed relatively calm despite growing international concern. Some travelers are spending time bird-watching, reading, or attending lectures while following mask-wearing and distancing guidelines. However, several expressed anxiety about how they might be treated once they return home, fearing stigma connected to the outbreak. Spanish officials reassured residents in the Canary Islands that public exposure risk remains minimal. Once the ship reaches Tenerife, passengers will reportedly be transferred in small groups by boat to guarded buses after their repatriation flights are ready. Authorities also plan to isolate the airport areas used during the evacuation process. The outbreak became more concerning after more than two dozen passengers from at least 12 countries disembarked on April 24 before contact tracing measures were introduced. Hantavirus was not officially confirmed in a passenger until May 2. One infected Dutch passenger died in Johannesburg after becoming too ill to continue a flight from South Africa to Amsterdam. Dutch health officials are now tracing passengers and crew who may have been exposed during that journey. The UK has identified a third suspected hantavirus case involving a British passenger currently on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha. Two other British passengers have already tested positive and are receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa. Spanish health authorities are also testing a woman in Alicante who developed symptoms consistent with hantavirus after traveling on the same flight as the Dutch passenger who died. Meanwhile, South African officials continue monitoring contacts linked to passengers who left the ship earlier in the voyage. In the United States, health authorities are observing several returning passengers and their contacts, though none have shown symptoms so far. The U.S. government is arranging a flight to evacuate approximately 17 Americans still onboard. They will undergo quarantine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which previously handled Ebola and early COVID-19 cases. British authorities are also chartering a separate evacuation flight for UK citizens on the ship. 

U.S. forces disabled two more Iranian oil tankers on Friday after an overnight exchange of fire with Iranian troops in the Strait of Hormuz, while the UAE reported fresh Iranian missile and drone attacks. The developments have raised further doubts about the fragile ceasefire that the U.S. says remains in place as Washington waits for Iran’s response to a proposed agreement aimed at ending the conflict, reopening the strait, and limiting Tehran’s nuclear activities. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expects a “serious offer” from Iran soon. According to the U.S. military, the tankers were targeted because they allegedly attempted to break an American blockade on Iranian ports. Earlier, the military also claimed it had intercepted attacks on three U.S. Navy vessels and retaliated by striking Iranian military sites in the strait. Since the war began on Feb. 28 between Iran, the U.S., and Israel, Iran has largely obstructed the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy supplies and increasing fuel prices worldwide. In response, the U.S. has enforced its own blockade on Iranian ports. The UAE’s Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles and three drones launched by Iran, though it remains unclear whether every projectile was destroyed. Three people were injured in the incident. The U.S. military released footage showing American fighter jets striking the smokestacks of the two Iranian tankers. Earlier this week, another Iranian tanker reportedly had its rudder disabled by a U.S. jet after attempting to breach the blockade. Following the overnight clashes, the U.S. said it had successfully defended its Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and carried out retaliatory strikes without suffering any damage. Rubio warned that any threats against Americans would be met with force. Iran strongly criticized the U.S. military actions, calling them hostile and a violation of the ceasefire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of choosing military escalation over diplomacy whenever negotiations appear possible. Meanwhile, an overnight U.S. strike reportedly killed one sailor and injured 10 others aboard a cargo ship that caught fire, according to an Iranian judiciary-linked news outlet. It was unclear whether the ship was among the two tankers hit by U.S. forces. President Donald Trump maintained that the ceasefire is still holding but repeated warnings that the U.S. could resume heavy bombing if Iran refuses a deal to reopen the strait and curb its nuclear program. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad has been working continuously with both Tehran and Washington in an effort to preserve the ceasefire and secure a broader peace agreement. Satellite images reviewed by AP revealed what appears to be a significant oil spill near Iran’s Kharg Island export terminal in the Persian Gulf. Maritime intelligence analysts estimate around 80,000 barrels of oil may have leaked since Tuesday. The exact cause remains uncertain, with possibilities including technical failure or military strikes. Experts warned that the spill could spread toward the coasts of the UAE, Qatar, or Saudi Arabia within weeks, though Greenpeace researchers suggested the slick may disperse offshore without severely affecting land areas. The Pentagon declined to comment on whether it was monitoring the spill or if recent U.S. strikes had targeted Kharg Island. Rubio also criticized Iran’s reported creation of a new authority to regulate and tax ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was unacceptable for Iran to control such a crucial international waterway. Shipping concerns have intensified as hundreds of commercial vessels remain stuck in the Persian Gulf. Iran’s restrictions on the strait continue to disrupt global trade in oil, gas, and petroleum products, while the U.S. blockade has further increased tensions. China also expressed concern after a Chinese-crewed oil tanker near the strait was attacked. Despite the instability, China continues importing Iranian oil. South Korea, another country heavily reliant on the strait for crude oil imports, has introduced fuel price controls amid growing uncertainty in global energy markets.   

Pope Leo XIV spent much of his first year as pope trying to present himself as a calm pastor focused on unity and peace, but repeated public disagreements with US President Donald Trump often pulled him into global political debates. As Leo marked the first anniversary of his election on Friday, the Vatican was also working to ease tensions with Washington following months of exchanges between the pope and Trump over issues including war, peace and international conflicts. On the eve of the anniversary, Leo met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican in what was seen as an effort to improve relations between the United States and the Holy See. Although both sides later highlighted strong diplomatic ties, the public disagreements pushed the first American pope into a more political spotlight than he appeared comfortable with. Earlier this week, Leo responded sharply after Trump reportedly misrepresented his comments, saying: “If someone wants to criticize me for announcing the Gospel, let him do it with the truth.” Despite the occasional strong response, Leo has largely developed a reputation as a soft-spoken and reserved church leader focused on pastoral work rather than confrontation. The former Robert Prevost, a 70-year-old missionary priest from Chicago, is known for his calm personality, interest in tennis and deep knowledge of the teachings of St. Augustine. Unlike his predecessor Pope Francis, whose 12-year papacy often sparked debate and tension, Leo has focused on reducing divisions within the Catholic Church and promoting harmony. Church leaders say he has helped calm tensions between conservative and progressive groups at a time when social media has deepened divisions among Catholics. Cardinal Wilton Gregory said Leo’s biggest challenge is maintaining unity within the church in an increasingly polarized world. “He has to call us to our better angels,” Gregory said. During a recent visit to Africa, Leo tried to avoid escalating the public dispute with Trump, saying his main role was to serve as a pastor and encourage Catholics, not engage in political arguments. The election of an American pope remains historic for many Catholics, as previous church traditions generally avoided choosing a pope from the world’s most powerful political country. Observers say Leo’s American background has also helped many US Catholics connect more closely with the Vatican. Kerry Alys Robinson said hearing the pope speak directly in English without translation has strengthened his message among American Catholics. Some Catholic groups in the United States also say donations and support for church projects have increased since Leo became pope. Ward Fitzgerald said an English-speaking pope has made church messages more relatable, especially for young people and donors. Last week, members of The Papal Foundation attended a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who compared Leo to St. Joseph for his quiet and focused leadership style. Dolan described Leo as a humble and mission-driven leader who remains attentive to God’s plan despite growing global attention.

The U.S. military said it intercepted Iranian attacks Thursday on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and “targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces," highlighting the fragility of the month-old ceasefire between the two countries. U.S. Central Command said in a social media post that U.S. forces intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with self-defense strikes. The U.S. military said no ships were hit. It said it doesn’t seek escalation but “remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.” President Donald Trump told reporters in Washington that the ceasefire was holding despite the violence. “They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” Trump said. Meanwhile, Iranian state media said the country’s armed forces exchanged fire with “the enemy” on Qeshm Island in the strait. It is the largest Iranian island in the Persian Gulf, home to about 150,000 people. It also houses a water desalination plant. Iranian state media also reported loud noises and defensive fire in western Tehran. In southern Iran, explosions were heard near Bandar Abbas, semiofficial Iranian news agencies Fars and Tasnim said. The reports did not identify the source of the blasts. Earlier in the day, a shipping data company reported that Iran has created a government agency to vet and tax vessels seeking passage through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian effort to formalize control over the channel raised new concerns about international shipping, with hundreds of commercial vessels bottled up in the Persian Gulf and unable to reach the open sea. Still, hope that the two-month conflict could soon be over buoyed international markets.  

Nearly 40 passengers aboard a cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak disembarked earlier at the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena after the first death was reported, Dutch officials said Thursday. According to the Dutch foreign ministry, the group included the wife of a Dutch passenger who died during the voyage. The passengers left the vessel while it was docked at the British overseas territory. The cruise operator had earlier confirmed only that the Dutch woman departed the ship at St. Helena with her husband’s body before traveling onward to South Africa on a commercial flight. The company, however, has not publicly confirmed that additional passengers also left the vessel. Dutch authorities did not specify the current whereabouts of those who disembarked. Officials in South Africa and Europe are now working to trace people who may have come into contact with the passengers after they left the ship. At least three passengers have died in the outbreak, while several others remain ill.  

World stock markets rose on Thursday amid growing optimism that a potential US–Iran agreement could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow oil shipments to resume, while Brent crude prices remained just above the $100 mark. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 surged nearly 6% to a record high, with the index jumping more than 3,300 points to 63,086.00 after trading resumed following the “Golden Week” holiday. The rally was driven largely by strong gains in technology and semiconductor stocks. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.7%, while South Korea’s the kospi climbed 1.4% to another record close. Taiwan’s Taiex also advanced 1.9%, boosted by gains in major chipmaker TSMC. European markets showed mixed trends, with Germany’s DAX edging higher and France’s CAC 40 posting slight gains, while Britain’s FTSE 100 slipped. Investor sentiment improved after reports that Washington and Tehran are nearing a deal that could ease restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route. The prospect lifted Wall Street on Wednesday, with US stocks posting strong gains and oil prices falling sharply. However, crude oil remained volatile. Brent crude traded around $100 per barrel on Thursday after fluctuating in early Asian trading, reflecting continued uncertainty over supply disruptions linked to the conflict and US military pressure on Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for global energy shipments, has been at the centre of tensions amid the ongoing war, which has disrupted tanker movement and contributed to inflationary pressure worldwide. US markets had previously rallied after comments suggesting the waterway could reopen under a potential agreement, while strong corporate earnings from major technology firms also supported investor confidence. Currency markets showed limited movement, with the US dollar trading slightly lower against the Japanese yen and the euro edging higher.  

The United States and Iran appeared to be moving closer Wednesday to an initial agreement to end the war, as U.S. President Trump sought to pressure Tehran with threats of a new wave of bombing if a deal is not reached. Trump posted on social media that the two-month war could soon end and that oil and natural gas shipments disrupted by the conflict could restart. But he said that depends on Iran accepting a reported agreement that the president did not detail. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts,” Trump wrote. Trump made his latest comments after he suspended a short-lived U.S. effort to force open a safe passage for commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which major oil and gas supplies, fertilizer and other petroleum products passed before the war. Iran’s effective closure of the strait has sent fuel prices skyrocketing, rattled the global economy and put enormous economic pressure on countries, including major powers such as China. Elsewhere, China’s foreign minister called for a comprehensive ceasefire Wednesday after meeting in Beijing with Iran’s top envoy. Wang Yi said his country was “deeply distressed” by the conflict, which began Feb. 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran. China’s close economic and political ties to Tehran give it a unique position of influence. The Trump administration is pressing China to use that relationship to urge the Islamic Republic to open the strait. Report says Washington closer to a deal with Tehran The White House believes it is near an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum to end the war, according to reporting by Axios. There is not an agreement yet, but the provisions include a moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment, a lifting of U.S. sanctions and the distribution of frozen Iranian funds and opening the strait for ships. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the possible agreement. Trump said in his social media post that it was “perhaps a big assumption” that Iran would agree to the terms being offered by the United States. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” Trump said. A shaky ceasefire between the U.S. and Tehran has largely held since it began April 8. Pakistan hosted in-person talks last month between Iran and a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance, but the talks failed to result in a deal.  

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran with more bombing Wednesday if it doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz after a report that an agreement is emerging to end the war. Trump posted on social media that the war with Iran could soon end and oil and natural gas shipments could restart. But that all depends on Iran accepting a reported agreement that the U.S. president did not detail. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts,” Trump wrote. Trump’s threats came after China’s foreign minister called for a comprehensive ceasefire in the Iran war following a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was visiting Beijing for the first time since the war with the U.S. and Israel started Feb. 28. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday his country was “deeply distressed” by the conflict. China’s close economic and political ties to Tehran give it a unique position of influence. The Trump administration is pressing China to use that relationship to urge the Islamic Republic to open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Tuesday that he was pausing his short-lived U.S. effort to guide stranded commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz in hopes that a deal could be finalized. A shaky ceasefire has been largely holding, despite exchanges of fire during the U.S. push to reopen the strait on Monday. Iran’s effective closure of the strait, a vital waterway through which major oil and gas supplies, fertilizer and other petroleum products passed before the war, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing, rattled the global economy and put enormous economic pressure on countries, including major powers like China. The spot price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell to around $100 per barrel Wednesday, easing significantly from big price jumps earlier in the week. The prices are still well above the roughly $70 a barrel that crude was selling for before the war began. Trump also due to visit China Araghchi’s visit to China comes ahead of a planned visit by Trump to Beijing for a high-profile summit May 14-15 with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The trip would be Trump’s first to China during his second term and the first by a U.S. president since Trump visited in 2017. “We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed, that a resumption of hostilities is not acceptable, and that it is particularly important to remain committed to dialogue and negotiations,” Wang said, according to a video of the meeting. The Chinese foreign minister said the conflict “has already lasted for more than two months. It has not only caused serious losses to the Iranian people, but also had a severe impact on regional and global peace. China is deeply distressed by this.” In a televised interview with Iran’s state media from Beijing, Araghchi said his visit included discussions of the Strait of Hormuz as well as Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions imposed on Tehran. Iran has attained “an elevated international standing” after the war, having proven its capabilities and strength, Araghchi said. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that Beijing would reiterate the need for Iran to release its chokehold on the strait, which would deny its main leverage as Trump demands a major rollback of Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. “I hope the Chinese tell him what he needs to be told,” Rubio said during a White House briefing Tuesday. “And that is that what you are doing in the strait is causing you to be globally isolated. You’re the bad guy in this.” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing has made clear that the relevant sides must act “with prudence” and resolve the conflict through dialogue in order to restore peace. He added that China has been actively promoting peace talks and will continue to do so. In a statement published on the ministry’s website about Wang’s meeting with Araghchi, the foreign ministry said China values Iran’s pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons while affirming its “legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.” Trump pauses effort to guide ships out of strait Hundreds of merchant ships remain bottled up in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. said it had opened a safe shipping lane Monday and sunk six small Iranian boats that had threatened commercial ships in the strait. Only two merchant ships are known to have passed through the U.S.-guarded route. But Trump announced he was pausing the effort, dubbed Project Freedom, to see whether an agreement with Tehran on ending the war could be reached. In a social media post Tuesday, Trump said the move was based “on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran.” Pakistan has been mediating between the U.S. and Iran, and had hosted peace talks between the two sides. On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for what he described as a timely announcement of a pause in the effort to guide ships out of the strait. In a post on X, Sharif said Trump’s response to requests from Pakistan and other countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, would help advance regional peace, stability and reconciliation. “Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy,” Sharif said. “We are very hopeful that the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability for the region and beyond.”