New York — Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, 28, a resident of Ontario, Canada, has been sentenced to an additional 50 years in federal prison for attacking two correctional officers at a Pennsylvania prison in 2020 while serving a separate sentence for plotting a mass-casualty terrorist attack in New York City on behalf of ISIS. According to a U.S. Department of Justice announcement dated Monday, October 19, 2026, the new sentence will run consecutively to the 40-year prison term Bahnasawy is already serving for his role in the 2016 New York City terror plot.

According to court records, Bahnasawy attacked two correctional officers at U.S. Penitentiary Allenwood on December 7, 2020, using a weapon made from part of a steel desk in his cell. He stabbed one officer in the head and face. When a second officer intervened to help, he stabbed her in the hand. The first officer eventually lost his right eye as a result of the attack.

After Bahnasawy was restrained, authorities discovered a note inside his sock stating, “This is a terrorist attack for the Islamic State.” Investigators also found a pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, commonly known as ISIS, taped inside a locker door in his prison cell.

In November 2025, Bahnasawy pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including assault, assault with intent to commit murder, possessing contraband inside a prison, and providing material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said the additional sentence would help ensure that Bahnasawy remains in prison for a long time after carrying out another violent attack in the name of ISIS.

U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said the sentence reflects the government’s commitment to prosecuting people who commit violence in the name of ISIS, including those who carry out attacks behind prison walls.

Bahnasawy was arrested in May 2016 after traveling from Canada to the New York City area in preparation for a planned terrorist attack. At the time, he was 20 years old and had conspired with Talha Haroon and Russell Salic to plan bombings and shootings in heavily populated areas of New York City during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The alleged plot was intended to cause mass casualties on behalf of ISIS.

An undercover FBI agent infiltrated the group by posing as an ISIS supporter willing to participate in the planned attacks. Bahnasawy has remained in custody since his arrest. The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office investigated the prison attack case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey MacArthur and Deputy Chief Larry Schneider of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.

Washington DC — The United States has imposed sanctions on five entities connected to Chinese national Linwei Ding over the theft of trade secrets belonging to U.S. persons, the State Department announced Monday. The sanctions were imposed under the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act (PAIPA), as Washington steps up efforts to protect American innovation and counter intellectual property theft involving sensitive and emerging technologies.

According to the State Department, the action follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). On January 29, 2026, a U.S. federal jury convicted Ding on seven counts of theft of trade secrets. He was found guilty of stealing thousands of pages of confidential information containing Google’s trade secrets related to super intelligence (SI) technology, allegedly to benefit himself and technology companies based in China.

The State Department said the theft of trade secrets involving sensitive and emerging technologies poses a serious threat to U.S. economic, foreign policy and national security interests. Such activities can undermine American businesses, threaten jobs, discourage investment and cost U.S. industries billions of dollars annually, the department said.

The Trump administration reiterated its commitment to protecting American innovation and safeguarding U.S. businesses and individuals from intellectual property theft. The latest sanctions were imposed pursuant to the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act, codified at 50 U.S.C. § 1709.

The State Department said additional details about the designations are available in its accompanying fact sheet. The action underscores Washington’s continued focus on protecting trade secrets and maintaining U.S. leadership in advanced technologies amid growing concerns over economic and technological security.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York – The United Nations’ 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) is set to begin on Monday, October 19, in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, bringing global attention to efforts to halt biodiversity loss and protect nature by 2030.

Running through October 30, the conference is expected to serve as a critical milestone in assessing global progress toward the ambitious targets set under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. World leaders will face growing pressure to demonstrate how far their countries have progressed in translating environmental commitments into concrete action.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly warned against humanity’s destructive impact on nature and called for urgent action to reverse biodiversity loss. The Yerevan conference is expected to place accountability, implementation and international cooperation at the centre of discussions.

Adopted in 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework provides a global roadmap for protecting and restoring nature. One of its most prominent goals is to conserve at least 30 percent of the world’s land, inland waters and marine areas by 2030, an objective widely known as the “30 by 30” target. The framework also calls for restoring degraded ecosystems, reducing pollution, reforming environmentally harmful subsidies and increasing financial resources for biodiversity conservation.

Under the agreement, countries have committed to mobilising at least $200 billion annually from public and private sources for biodiversity-related initiatives by 2030. It also sets a target of increasing international biodiversity finance for developing countries, which often face significant funding and technical constraints.

Despite growing international commitments, progress towards the 2030 biodiversity targets remains uneven, raising concerns about whether countries can meet their obligations within the remaining timeframe.

Assessments of conservation efforts indicate that current progress is insufficient to achieve the 30 by 30 target. Funding shortages, limited technical capacity, gaps in monitoring and data collection, and economic incentives that contribute to environmental damage continue to undermine conservation efforts.

According to a Reuters report, existing commitments and current progress could bring approximately 27 percent of the world’s land and inland waters under conservation by 2030. For marine areas, the projected figure is around 12 percent.

The gap between global commitments and implementation is expected to be a major focus of discussions in Yerevan, with delegates examining how governments can accelerate action and strengthen accountability.

Securing adequate funding for biodiversity protection is expected to be a key issue at COP17. The global target of mobilising $200 billion annually by 2030 will require stronger international cooperation, increased financial flows to developing countries and reforms to subsidies that harm nature.

Another important issue is the implementation of the Cali Fund, established to support the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the commercial use of digital sequence information on genetic resources.

The initiative aims to ensure that a portion of the benefits generated through the use of such information contributes to biodiversity conservation, including in countries and communities that play an important role in protecting natural resources. Developing effective mechanisms to distribute these benefits fairly will be important in building trust and ensuring that conservation efforts receive sustainable financial support.

Turning Commitments into ActionCOP17 is expected to provide an opportunity for countries to assess progress, identify implementation gaps and determine what additional measures are needed to achieve the 2030 targets.

Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, has stressed the importance of coordinated international action to address existing shortcomings and accelerate implementation.

The conference will also test the willingness of governments to move beyond declarations and establish practical measures that can deliver measurable results. The outcome of COP17 could help shape international cooperation, biodiversity financing and accountability in the years leading up to 2030.

Ultimately, however, achieving the global biodiversity targets will depend on political commitment, adequate funding, effective monitoring and the ability of governments to translate promises into action before the deadline.

DHAKA: Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have reaffirmed their support for the Rohingya genocide case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), expressing hope that the legal proceedings will help pave the way for a lasting solution to the prolonged crisis. The commitment was reiterated at a meeting of the OIC Ministerial Ad-Hoc Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations Against the Rohingya, held on the sidelines of the 52nd OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Baghdad, Iraq, according to a Foreign Ministry press release issued on Sunday.

Addressing the meeting as co-chair, Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir called on OIC member states to strengthen unity and take proactive steps to resolve the longstanding Rohingya crisis. Kobir, who is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the ministerial conference, stressed that justice and accountability through international legal mechanisms are essential to achieving a sustainable solution to the humanitarian crisis.

Describing the Rohingya crisis as a major challenge facing the Muslim Ummah, he urged OIC member states to pursue coordinated efforts to strengthen humanitarian assistance and support ongoing legal proceedings.

He also emphasised the need for sustained international engagement to keep the Rohingya crisis high on the global agenda. The state minister highlighted the five-point action plan presented by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Referring to the plan, Kobir called for urgent and decisive international action, particularly to ensure justice and accountability through established legal frameworks. He urged OIC member states to turn their solidarity with the Rohingya people into concrete initiatives to address the crisis and support efforts towards a durable solution.

At the meeting, OIC member states reiterated their commitment to supporting the case before the ICJ and expressed optimism that the judicial process could contribute to resolving the protracted crisis.

The discussions underscored the importance of collective international efforts to ensure accountability for human rights violations against the Rohingya and advance prospects for a lasting resolution. Bangladesh continues to host approximately 1.4 million Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar while pursuing diplomatic efforts to secure their safe, voluntary and sustainable return.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — With climate-related disasters intensifying and international efforts struggling to deliver sufficiently ambitious action, the United Nations is urging countries to rebuild trust in global climate cooperation ahead of the next UN climate conference, COP31, scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20. At a high-level meeting at UN Headquarters on October 16, representatives associated with successive climate conference presidencies discussed how governments could restore confidence in international climate action while responding more effectively to the growing consequences of global warming.

The event, convened by UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman, brought the climate process into focus less than a month before COP31. Discussions addressed adaptation, resilience, climate finance, technology transfer, capacity-building and international cooperation, with particular attention to countries most vulnerable to climate change.

The devastation caused by extreme weather in Nepal served as a stark reminder of the human cost of climate change. Opening the meeting, Rahman highlighted the gap between scientific warnings and the ability of communities and governments to prepare for increasingly dangerous events. He also warned of the implications of a strengthening El Niño, which could intensify climate-related risks in an already warming world.

According to the UN account of the meeting, current climate policies put the world on a trajectory toward approximately 2.8°C of warming above pre-industrial levels. That outlook remains far above the temperature limits established under the 2015 Paris Agreement. The figures underline the scale of the challenge facing governments: existing commitments and policies are not yet sufficient to keep global warming within the agreement’s goals.

The upcoming climate conference in Türkiye will provide governments with another opportunity to advance implementation of the Paris Agreement and strengthen international cooperation.
A central challenge will be converting national climate pledges into measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while improving countries’ capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change.

The European Union is preparing to push for a package of measures aimed at accelerating emissions reductions at COP31. According to a Reuters report published on October 12, the proposed approach includes extending the UN mitigation work programme beyond its current 2026 expiry and encouraging governments to translate existing commitments into practical action.

However, climate negotiations remain complicated by differences over national development priorities, fossil-fuel use and the financial support available to developing countries. The EU’s current proposal does not include new climate-finance commitments, a position that could create friction with lower-income countries seeking greater assistance to address climate impacts and transition to cleaner energy.

For developing countries, rebuilding trust in climate diplomacy will require more than declarations of ambition. Access to predictable financing, affordable technology and support for adaptation remains essential, particularly for countries facing severe climate risks despite contributing relatively little to historical greenhouse gas emissions. The UN meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening early-warning systems, improving disaster preparedness and ensuring that climate assistance reaches communities most exposed to extreme weather.

Least-developed countries, small island developing States, landlocked developing countries and low-lying coastal nations are among those with particularly pressing adaptation needs. For countries such as Bangladesh, where coastal communities face risks from cyclones, flooding, salinity and rising sea levels, the outcome of international negotiations on climate finance and resilience could have significant implications.

The difficulties extend beyond negotiations over emissions and finance. On October 16, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suspended a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, without reaching agreement on the timetable for its next major assessment of climate science. The dispute raises concerns about whether the assessment will be available in time to inform the next UN climate talks and the global review of progress under the Paris Agreement in 2028.

Reuters reported that a group of 30 countries called for progress, while other governments sought more time to ensure meaningful participation by scientists from countries with fewer resources.
The IPCC said discussions on the timetable and budget remain open and will resume at the earliest opportunity. The episode illustrates the wider diplomatic challenge: governments must agree not only on what action to take but also on how scientific evidence will inform their decisions.

The success of COP31 will depend on whether governments can bridge differences and demonstrate that international climate cooperation delivers practical results. That means stronger implementation of existing commitments, greater resilience to climate disasters, effective support for vulnerable communities and credible progress on emissions reductions.

As climate impacts become more visible, the pressure on governments to move beyond promises is growing. The coming weeks will test whether international climate diplomacy can rebuild confidence and generate concrete progress before the next major round of negotiations in Türkiye.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — The race to select the next Secretary-General of the United Nations has entered a decisive phase, with Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan emerging as the narrow frontrunner in the latest informal Security Council poll. However, opposition from permanent members of the Council has left the contest without a clear winner. According to a Reuters report published on October 16, Grynspan secured nine votes marked “encourage,” five marked “discourage” and one “no opinion” in the sixth informal ballot. Crucially, two of the negative votes came from permanent members of the Security Council, whose positions carry decisive weight in the selection process.

The latest poll underscores the diplomatic challenge facing candidates seeking to succeed current Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026. No candidate has yet secured the support needed to overcome opposition from the Council’s five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Alongside Grynspan, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi and Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett remain prominent contenders. Both received eight “encourage” votes and six “discourage” votes in the latest poll, according to reporting by The National. Each also faced opposition from two permanent members.

Grynspan, a former Vice-President of Costa Rica and head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), has called for significant reforms to make the world body more effective. In remarks reported by Reuters on October 15, she argued that the UN had become too risk-averse and called for stronger diplomatic engagement, more effective conflict prevention and a review of overlapping responsibilities across UN agencies. If elected, Grynspan would become the first woman to serve as UN Secretary-General since the organisation was founded in 1945.

The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. Under the established selection procedure, a candidate must obtain at least nine affirmative votes in the 15-member Council and avoid a veto from any of its five permanent members.

The latest ballot therefore does not amount to a final election. Instead, it offers an indication of the candidates’ standing and the diplomatic obstacles that must be overcome before the Council can recommend a nominee to the General Assembly.

The selection process remains open to further diplomatic negotiations and potentially additional candidates. With the end of Guterres’s term approaching, Council members face mounting pressure to reach an agreement in time for an orderly leadership transition.

The leadership contest comes at a time when the UN faces mounting pressure to respond to armed conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, geopolitical divisions and questions about the effectiveness of multilateral institutions. The next Secretary-General will be expected to strengthen the organisation’s ability to mediate conflicts, coordinate humanitarian assistance, advance sustainable development and uphold international law.

For now, Grynspan’s lead in the latest poll has not translated into a clear path to appointment. The decisive question remains whether any candidate can secure sufficient support among Council members while avoiding opposition from the five permanent powers.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Bangladesh has reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their inalienable right to self-determination, urging urgent international action to end Israeli occupation, illegal settlement expansion and human rights violations.

Addressing the UN Security Council’s open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, on Friday, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Irene Khan, strongly condemned the devastation in Gaza and expressed deep concern over land confiscation, violence and illegal settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

“The deadlock in the Security Council has enabled Israel to operate with impunity,” Ambassador Khan said, calling for decisive action to stop annexation, forced displacement and human rights violations and to ensure accountability.

She stressed the importance of respecting the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and maintaining humanitarian assistance for Palestinians.

Ambassador Khan also condemned Israeli attacks and occupation in Syria and Lebanon, underscoring the need for an adequate UN presence in Lebanon and reaffirming Bangladesh’s support. She further condemned deadly Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian airports that caused civilian casualties, including among Bangladeshi migrant workers.

Reiterating Bangladesh’s commitment to a Culture of Peace, Ambassador Khan urged all parties to protect civilians, exercise maximum restraint and uphold international humanitarian law.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are beginning to affect agricultural harvests, raising concerns about lower crop yields and higher food prices, according to a United Nations agency.

The warning highlights how instability around one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes can extend beyond energy markets and affect global food supplies. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for international trade, and prolonged shipping disruptions can increase costs and delay the movement of essential commodities.

Agriculture is particularly vulnerable when disruptions affect the availability and transportation of key inputs, including fuel and fertilizer. Higher costs and delays can put pressure on farmers during important stages of the growing season, potentially reducing yields and increasing production expenses.

If these pressures persist, the consequences could reach consumers through higher prices for food and other agricultural products. Countries that rely heavily on imported agricultural inputs or food supplies may face particular challenges.

The warning comes amid wider concerns about the economic consequences of conflict and shipping insecurity in the Middle East. While the immediate effects may vary by region and crop, prolonged disruption could add to existing pressures on food affordability and supply chains.

The UN agency’s assessment underscores the connection between maritime security, agricultural production and global food prices, highlighting the need to protect trade routes and limit further disruption to essential supplies.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — The United Nations has warned that the risk of renewed fighting in the Gaza Strip is growing, as conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories remain fragile despite a ceasefire.

Speaking during an open debate at the UN Security Council on the Middle East and the Palestinian question on Thursday, UN official Ramiz Alakbarov warned that the situation remains deeply concerning. He said that, one year after the ceasefire, there had been little improvement in the lives of people in Gaza and that the risk of a return to war was greater than ever.

The warning underscores continuing concerns over the fragile security situation in Gaza, where residents continue to face uncertainty and humanitarian challenges. The UN Security Council discussion brought together dozens of speakers to address developments in the Middle East and the prospects for peace.

The United Nations has repeatedly stressed the need to protect civilians, improve humanitarian conditions and pursue a political process that can deliver lasting peace. The latest warning highlights the danger that continued instability could undermine efforts to prevent renewed hostilities.

The debate also addressed the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the need to end violence, displacement and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank as part of efforts to achieve a viable Palestinian state. The UN’s warning adds to international concern that, without sustained progress toward stability and a political settlement, Gaza could again face a dangerous escalation in violence.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, D.C.  – The United States has imposed sanctions on Cuba’s state-owned Banco Internacional de Comercio, S.A. (BICSA), accusing the bank of providing financial services to an Iranian bank previously sanctioned by Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the action on Thursday. According to Rubio’s statement, the Cuban bank has provided services to Iran’s sanctioned Karafarin Bank since at least 2022. The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Karafarin Bank in 2020 under Executive Order 13902.

Rubio said BICSA was designated under Section 2(a)(i)(A) of Executive Order 14404 for operating in, or having operated in, Cuba’s financial services sector. The decision was coordinated with a separate Treasury Department action targeting Iranian financial actors.

In his statement, Rubio accused communist-ruled Cuba of serving for years as a base for activities by Iran and other countries and groups considered hostile to U.S. interests. He described Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.

“The Trump Administration will not tolerate a rogue state hosting hostile foreign military, intelligence and terror operations less than a hundred miles from the American homeland,” Rubio said. He added that the administration would continue taking aggressive action to identify and dismantle the Cuban government’s financial and security connections with Iran and other countries and groups it considers dangerous and hostile.

According to the State Department, Executive Order 14404 authorizes broad sanctions against individuals and entities that support the Cuban government’s security apparatus, are responsible for repression in Cuba, or pose threats to U.S. national security.

The department said the action also advances the objectives of Executive Order 14380, titled “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Cuba,” and National Security Presidential Memorandum 5. Those measures seek to improve human rights, strengthen the rule of law, encourage free markets and private enterprise, and promote democracy in Cuba.

Under the sanctions framework outlined by the State Department, all property and interests in property belonging to the designated entity that are located in the United States or are in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked. Such assets must be reported to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Entities owned individually or collectively at least 50% by one or more blocked persons are also subject to blocking restrictions.

Unless authorized or exempt, U.S. citizens, businesses and other persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are prohibited from conducting transactions involving the property or interests of designated or otherwise blocked persons. The restrictions also prohibit providing or receiving funds, goods or services to, from, or for the benefit of blocked persons, unless an applicable authorization or exemption permits the transaction.

The State Department warned that foreign individuals and entities could also face sanctions risks if they conduct transactions with persons designated under Executive Order 14404. Foreign parties operating in Cuba’s energy, defense and related materials, metals and mining, financial services, or security sectors may also face sanctions exposure under the order.

Foreign financial institutions and other non-U.S. persons were urged to exercise caution when dealing with sanctioned parties. The department warned that returning assets to a sanctioned party or transferring them to another jurisdiction for the target’s potential use could expose non-U.S. persons to significant sanctions risks.

Additionally, the Cuban Assets Control Regulations restrict persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction from dealing in property in which Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest, unless the transaction is authorized or exempt.

The State Department said the purpose of sanctions is not simply to punish, but to encourage positive changes in behavior. Individuals and entities seeking removal from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) may submit petitions through OFAC’s Reconsiderations Portal. Applicants may also consult the State Department’s Delisting Guidance for information about the process.