DHAKA — Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin has said the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to supply 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Bangladesh’s national grid by next month.

The ambassador made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Administrator Md Fazlul Hoque at the FBCCI office in Gulshan on Wednesday afternoon. Khozin said work is underway to resolve technical issues at the nuclear power plant, with nearly 4,000 Russian experts and engineers currently involved in the process.

During the meeting, the Russian envoy also agreed to jointly establish a Russia-Bangladesh Business Council aimed at expanding trade, investment and broader economic cooperation between the two countries.

He said Russia is also planning to organize a Russia-Bangladesh Business Forum in Moscow, providing an opportunity for businesses from both countries to establish direct contacts and explore potential partnerships.

According to the ambassador, a formal announcement about the proposed forum is expected during a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, scheduled to be held in Dhaka in early November. The business forum is expected to facilitate greater interaction between Bangladeshi and Russian traders and create new opportunities for bilateral business cooperation.

To further strengthen trade ties, FBCCI Administrator Fazlul Hoque urged Russia to give greater priority to Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector, along with other emerging areas of mutual economic interest. The discussions highlighted the two countries’ interest in expanding economic and commercial relations while exploring new avenues for investment and private-sector cooperation.

RIYADH — Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement south of the holy city of Makkah before it could enter the city’s restricted airspace, the Saudi-led coalition said Wednesday.

Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki said the drone was intercepted at around 6:50 p.m. local time Tuesday, with its wreckage falling south of Makkah. Saudi authorities had also issued security alerts in Makkah and other areas of the kingdom amid concerns over possible attacks.

Al-Malki described the incident as the Houthis’ second reported attempt to target Makkah, referring to a ballistic missile launched toward the holy city in July 2017. He warned that the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims is a “red line” and said the coalition would take measures to deter further attacks.

The incident comes amid a broader escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with Saudi warplanes carrying out strikes in Yemen and the Houthis launching drones and missiles toward Saudi territory, according to Reuters.

The Houthis, however, denied targeting Makkah or any Islamic holy site, rejecting the Saudi allegation. Reuters also reported that the group claimed responsibility for other attacks on Saudi territory while denying that Makkah was the target.

Makkah is Islam’s holiest city and the site of the Grand Mosque and the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The reported interception therefore comes with heightened sensitivity as the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis expands into a wider regional confrontation.

DHAKA — Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) exports to the United States surged 25.65 percent year-on-year in August, marking the highest monthly growth recorded in the US market, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Bangladesh exported more than $817 million worth of garments to the US in August of the 2026-27 fiscal year, compared with $650.34 million during the same month a year earlier.

During July-August of FY2026-27, Bangladesh’s RMG exports to the US reached $1.61 billion, registering an 11.42 percent increase from the corresponding period of FY2025-26. The average monthly RMG export to the US during the first two months of the current fiscal year stood at $806.46 million, compared with an average of $645.38 million in FY2025-26. The strong performance was largely driven by the sharp increase recorded in August.

The United States remains Bangladesh’s largest single market for RMG exports. In FY2025-26, Bangladesh exported around $9.04 billion in merchandise to the US, up 4.09 percent from the previous fiscal year. Of that amount, approximately $7.74 billion came from RMG products, while non-garment exports accounted for about $1.30 billion.

Bangladesh’s non-RMG exports to the US include leather and leather goods, jute products, home textiles, agricultural and processed food products, plastics and melamine products, pharmaceuticals, footwear, textiles and yarn, and light engineering products.

US market offers further growth opportunities

Apparel industry leaders say Bangladesh has significant room to expand its presence in the US market, particularly through product diversification and increased production of higher-value garments. Mohammad Fazlul Hoque, an apparel entrepreneur and administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said the August increase was partly linked to the deadline for placing orders for winter apparel.

“Despite various global crises, Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have an inherent capacity to compete,” he said, adding that exporters are receiving better orders from US buyers for the coming months. Hoque said greater product diversification could help Bangladesh substantially increase exports to the US.

Fazle Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and managing director of Fatullah Apparels Ltd, said changing global conditions have created opportunities for Bangladeshi exporters. He stressed that reliable energy supplies and policy continuity would be important for fully utilizing those opportunities.

Mahmududdin Rubel, CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice, described the current pace of RMG exports to the US as encouraging. He estimated that if the current trend continues over the next 12 months, Bangladesh’s RMG export earnings from the US could reach $9 billion in FY2026-27. He also emphasized the importance of product diversification, higher value addition and improved quality to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the US apparel market.

Focus shifts to export diversification

Alongside garments, Bangladesh is seeking to expand exports of leather, jute, home textiles, agricultural and processed food products, pharmaceuticals, plastics and light engineering goods to the US. The Commerce Ministry has identified pharmaceuticals, leather and leather products, agricultural goods, light engineering and information and communication technology as priority sectors for expanding trade with the United States.

Bangladesh earned around $48 billion from total merchandise exports in FY2025-26, with the United States accounting for approximately $9.04 billion, making it the country’s largest single export destination.

The sharp growth in RMG exports during the opening months of FY2026-27 has renewed attention on Bangladesh’s potential to expand its share of the US apparel market while diversifying its overall export base.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — The United Nations Security Council has warned that terrorist groups are adapting rapidly to new technologies, increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence, drones, social media, encrypted messaging and online platforms to recruit supporters, spread propaganda, raise funds and strengthen their operational capabilities. The warning came during a Security Council briefing marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, as UN officials assessed how the global terrorist threat has evolved since 2001.

Assistant Secretary-General Natalia Gherman told the Council that terrorism has become more fragmented and diffuse, with terrorist groups decentralizing their operations and taking advantage of instability to expand their influence.

She also highlighted the growing role of technology in terrorist activities. According to the UN, extremist groups are exploiting social media platforms, gaming environments and other virtual spaces to identify vulnerabilities and recruit people, particularly young people.

AI and digital platforms create new challenges

UN officials said the rapid development of artificial intelligence and other digital technologies is changing the threat environment. The Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate said terrorist organizations are using AI-enabled tools and digital platforms to disseminate propaganda, recruit supporters and enhance their operational capabilities.

The UN also pointed to the use of encrypted communications and online financial services as growing challenges for counter-terrorism authorities. The UN Office of Counter-Terrorism has separately warned that AI-generated content, deepfakes and algorithmic amplification can increase the speed and reach of harmful extremist narratives.

Drones emerging as an operational threat

The UN also identified the weaponization and misuse of unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, as an increasingly significant terrorist threat. According to the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, terrorist groups are exploiting unmanned aircraft systems for operational purposes, while weak governance and porous borders in some regions have created additional opportunities for terrorist organizations to acquire and misuse emerging technologies.

The UN’s counter-terrorism program says member states have been urged to strengthen measures against terrorist exploitation of technologies including AI, virtual assets, 3D printing, unmanned aircraft systems and commercially available drones.

UN calls for international cooperation

The Security Council emphasized that countering terrorism requires coordinated action at the national, regional and international levels, consistent with international law and the UN Charter. UN officials stressed that governments need to adapt their counter-terrorism strategies as terrorist organizations change their methods and exploit emerging technologies.

The Council also highlighted the importance of protecting human rights and the rule of law while responding to evolving terrorist threats. The discussion comes 25 years after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, which prompted major changes in international counter-terrorism cooperation and led to the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1373.

Shibbir Ahmed, NEW YORK — North Korea continues to deploy tens of thousands of workers overseas in violation of United Nations sanctions, generating hundreds of millions of dollars that the country’s government allegedly uses to support its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT).

The MSMT, a multilateral mechanism established in October 2024 to monitor implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea, estimated that between 35,600 and 101,280 North Korean workers remain deployed abroad, with nearly all located in China and Russia.

The report says the overseas labor network generated an estimated $450 million to $800 million in 2025, despite UN Security Council resolutions requiring member states to end such employment and repatriate North Korean nationals earning income in their territories.

According to the MSMT, at least 17 countries are suspected of continuing to host North Korean workers. The UN Security Council adopted measures in 2017 under Resolutions 2375 and 2397 that prohibited member states from providing work authorization to North Korean nationals and required countries to repatriate North Koreans earning income in their jurisdictions by the end of 2019.

China and Russia remain major destinations

The report estimates that between 20,000 and 70,000 North Korean workers are deployed in China. While an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 workers were temporarily repatriated from China between 2023 and 2025, the MSMT said approximately 10,000 new North Korean workers arrived in China between January 2025 and January 2026. Russia has also become a major destination for North Korean laborers. The MSMT estimates that between 15,000 and 30,000 North Korean workers were in Russia at the end of 2025.

The report says some North Korean workers in Russia have been involved in manufacturing military drones and other activities connected to Russia’s defense-industrial sector. The MSMT identified North Korean workers at facilities involved in areas including drone production, arms manufacturing, steel processing and shipbuilding. The report also says Russia has used a student-visa scheme that the MSMT considers a mechanism for disguising some North Korean workers as students.

Most wages allegedly seized by North Korea

The MSMT estimates that North Korean authorities confiscate 80% to 90% of workers’ wages. In some cases, the report says, the amount taken can exceed workers’ actual earnings, leaving them indebted to the North Korean government.

North Korean authorities also maintain strict controls over workers’ movements and contacts with outsiders, according to the report. Workers who attempt to defect face the risk of retaliation against family members who remain in North Korea.

The report estimates that a North Korean worker in Russia generates an average of about $7,500 in annual wages, while monthly earnings can be several times higher than those of workers in China, depending on the industry.

MSMT seeks restoration of UN expert panel

The latest report also addresses the monitoring gap created after the UN Security Council’s 1718 Committee Panel of Experts was disbanded in April 2024 following Russia’s veto of a resolution extending its mandate. The MSMT said its latest findings are intended to help the international community implement existing UN sanctions and identify efforts to circumvent them.

The participating governments called for the UN Security Council to reestablish the Panel of Experts with the same strength and structure it had before its dissolution. The MSMT said it will continue monitoring implementation of UN sanctions related to North Korea and reporting suspected violations and sanctions-evasion activities.

The participating governments also urged UN member states to increase awareness of the risks associated with employing North Korean overseas laborers and to take domestic action against parties and facilitators involved in alleged violations of UN sanctions.

Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT); joint statement by participating governments.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC: The Trump administration is planning to sell Israel a $2.8 billion package of munitions, including tens of thousands of 2,000-pound bombs, according to a U.S. official familiar with the proposed sale. The package would include 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, both weighing 2,000 pounds, according to the official.

The proposed sale has been informally communicated to congressional committees that review major U.S. arms transfers, but the deal has not yet been publicly announced by the State Department. The Israeli Embassy in Washington also had not publicly commented on the proposal as of Tuesday.

The planned weapons transfer comes as the United States continues its military and security partnership with Israel amid ongoing conflicts and heightened tensions across the Middle East.

Israel has used similar heavy munitions in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Their use in densely populated areas has drawn scrutiny from human rights experts because of the potential for significant civilian casualties.

The proposed sale also comes amid debate in the United States over Washington’s military support for Israel. Reuters reported that a 2026 public opinion poll found an increasing share of Americans believe U.S. support for Israel has gone too far, with the shift particularly pronounced among Democrats.

The proposed $2.8 billion package would represent a significant addition to Israel’s stock of heavy U.S.-made munitions. However, the plan remains subject to the U.S. arms-sale process and congressional review.

The proposal comes as the wider Middle East remains under heightened military tension following the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran earlier this year and continuing violence in the region.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC: The U.S. Senate on Tuesday blocked legislation that would establish a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, dealing a major setback to the digital-asset industry and Republican lawmakers who had championed the bill. The Clarity Act failed to secure the 60 votes needed to advance, with senators voting 49-50 on the procedural measure, according to the Associated Press.

The legislation was designed to provide clearer rules for the $2.3 trillion U.S. cryptocurrency market, including defining regulatory responsibilities and establishing greater legal certainty for digital-asset companies. Crypto industry groups had strongly backed the measure and spent hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying for its passage.

Democrats opposed advancing the bill without stronger restrictions concerning President Donald Trump and his family’s financial interests in cryptocurrency. Trump and his family have significant business interests in the sector, including World Liberty Financial and a cryptocurrency meme coin.

Republicans had revised the legislation in an effort to address those concerns. The revised version included provisions giving state attorneys general greater enforcement authority and requiring public officials with significant interests in crypto-related companies to divest those interests or place them in blind trusts. Democrats argued that the changes did not go far enough.

The bill also faced concerns from the banking industry over provisions involving stablecoins, which allow certain digital tokens to maintain a value linked to traditional currencies. Banking groups warned that stablecoin rewards could encourage customers to move deposits away from banks and potentially affect lending.

The Senate’s action represents a significant setback for the cryptocurrency industry’s effort to secure its first comprehensive federal regulatory framework. Reuters reported that the legislation now faces limited prospects for revival in the near term, particularly with Congress approaching the November midterm elections and a recess.

Financial markets reacted to the Senate vote. Bitcoin fell about 4% to around $75,908, while shares of cryptocurrency companies Coinbase and Circle each declined roughly 9%, according to Reuters.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission have meanwhile continued developing cryptocurrency-related rules, but industry participants have argued that legislation from Congress is needed to provide a more permanent regulatory framework.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC: Republican Rep. Thomas Massie on Tuesday filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of conducting military action against Iran without congressional authorization.

Massie, a Kentucky Republican and outspoken critic of the U.S. war in Iran, filed the impeachment resolution as a privileged measure, meaning the House is required to take it up within two legislative days.

The lawmaker’s resolution accuses Hegseth of abusing his office by carrying out hostilities against Iran without a declaration of war or specific authorization from Congress. Massie has argued that the administration’s continued military operations violate Congress’s constitutional authority over decisions to initiate war.

The move comes as the United States remains involved in the conflict with Iran, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Massie has repeatedly opposed the war and has also criticized U.S. military support for Israel. The Pentagon rejected the impeachment effort and reaffirmed its support for Hegseth.

“The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary’s vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first,” Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said in a statement. The impeachment effort is unlikely to secure the support needed to remove Hegseth, but Massie’s filing could force House members to take a position on the administration’s military actions.

Massie is not seeking reelection after losing the Republican primary earlier this year to Ed Gallrein, a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump. His opposition to the Iran war has been a prominent feature of his congressional record. The filing comes amid continuing debate on Capitol Hill over the extent of the president’s authority to conduct military operations without explicit congressional authorization.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC: A US federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Kennedy Center board from adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building or its grounds, ruling that such a move would require approval from Congress. US District Judge Christopher Cooper said the board could not circumvent his earlier order by using alternative wording to honor Trump. The ruling came after the Kennedy Center board proposed adding an inscription reading that the building had been “Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump.”

“Simply put,” Cooper wrote, the defendants cannot install memorials for Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without congressional approval. The decision follows Cooper’s May ruling that the Kennedy Center’s name could not be changed without action by Congress. Trump’s name, which had been added to the building’s exterior, was subsequently removed in June.

The Kennedy Center board, which Trump chairs, had voted in August to pursue new signage recognizing his role in the institution’s renovation. The board also considered naming the center’s grounds the “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.” The latest court ruling blocks those efforts.

The legal dispute comes as the Kennedy Center faces financial difficulties and questions over the condition of its aging building. Trump and his allies have argued that extensive repairs are urgently needed, while the administration has warned in court filings that the building could eventually face demolition if major renovations are not carried out.

Trump has pointed to recent damage at the center following severe weather as evidence of safety concerns. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, he argued that the building required immediate attention and criticized the court proceedings over its future.

Meanwhile, the Kennedy Center board voted Tuesday to temporarily close the performing arts complex for renovations. The decision followed the court ruling and came amid reports of severe financial pressures facing the institution. The Kennedy Center, officially established as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy, was created by Congress and opened in 1971. Cooper’s rulings have emphasized that Congress has the authority to determine its name.

The dispute has also affected programming at the venue. A number of artists have canceled or reconsidered appearances following Trump’s takeover of the institution, while reports have pointed to declines in ticket sales and fundraising.

Trump has said his involvement is intended to help secure the center’s finances and fund necessary renovations. The legal battle over the institution’s name and future is expected to continue as the administration considers its options following Cooper’s ruling.

DHAKA: The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) today sentenced Awami League General Secretary and former minister Obaidul Quader and six others to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July-August 2024 mass uprising. A three-member tribunal headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury delivered the verdict this afternoon.

The six other convicts are Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Jubo League General Secretary Md Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Bangladesh Chhatra League President Md Saddam Hossain and its General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan.

All seven were tried in absentia and remain at large, according to reports on the verdict. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of 50 percent of the movable and immovable properties of Quader, Nasim, Arafat, Parash and Nikhil. The proceeds from the sale of the confiscated assets are to be used to provide compensation to those killed and injured during the July-August uprising, through the July Foundation or another statutory institution.

Charges against Quader

According to the prosecution, Quader, as Awami League general secretary and a former cabinet minister, exercised command and control over law enforcement agencies and armed cadres of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations during the suppression of the student-led movement.

The prosecution alleged that he issued instructions to party and student leaders to confront protesters, helped coordinate the mobilisation of armed cadres and was involved in decisions concerning the use of force, curfew measures and restrictions on communications. The prosecution also alleged that the violence during the July-August uprising resulted in more than 1,400 deaths and over 25,000 serious injuries.

Bahauddin Nasim

The tribunal also sentenced AFM Bahauddin Nasim to death. The prosecution accused him of participating in high-level party decision-making concerning the response to the student protests and of helping organise and facilitate measures to suppress the movement.

The prosecution further alleged that Nasim was involved in coordinating the implementation of the government’s crackdown and that statements made by him contributed to the mobilisation of party activists and law enforcement personnel against protesters.

Mohammad Ali Arafat

Former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat was also sentenced to death. The prosecution accused Arafat of involvement in efforts to control media coverage of the violence and suppress reports concerning killings and attacks during the uprising. It also alleged that he participated in decisions concerning the government’s response to the protests and supported the use of force against demonstrators.

Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash

Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death. According to the prosecution, Parash exercised command responsibility over Jubo League activists mobilised to suppress the student movement. Prosecutors linked the organisation’s cadres to violent incidents in several parts of the country during July and August 2024.

Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil

Jubo League General Secretary Md Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil was also handed the death sentence. The prosecution accused Nikhil of mobilising Jubo League activists and participating directly in operations against protesters. It alleged that he was involved in armed attacks in Dhaka and played a role in coordinating Jubo League activities during the uprising.

Saddam Hossain

Bangladesh Chhatra League President Md Saddam Hossain was convicted and sentenced to death for his alleged role in organising and mobilising armed cadres against student protesters. The prosecution alleged that Saddam issued threats against demonstrators and helped organise BCL activists during attacks on Dhaka University and other locations. Prosecutors also linked the organisation’s activities to violence that resulted in deaths and injuries during the uprising.

Sheikh Wali Asif Inan

BCL General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan was the seventh person sentenced to death. The prosecution accused Inan of receiving operational instructions and funds, mobilising BCL activists and participating in attacks against protesters. It also alleged that he coordinated activities with senior party leaders during the violence.

Trial proceedings

The investigation into the case began in June 2025, and the investigation agency submitted its report to the prosecution in December that year. ICT-2 formally took cognisance of the charges in December 2025 and framed charges in January 2026.

The trial began in February 2026, with 29 prosecution witnesses giving testimony. The prosecution and defence concluded their closing arguments in August, after which the tribunal kept the case awaiting judgment. The defence had rejected the allegations and sought acquittal, according to reports on the proceedings.