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Most Americans support US recognition of Palestinian state: poll

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Most Americans support US recognition of Palestinian state: poll


A protester holds a sign as students and others demonstrate at a protest encampment at University Yard in support of Palestinians in Gaza at George Washington University in Washington, April 25, 2024. — Reuters
A protester holds a sign as students and others demonstrate at a protest encampment at University Yard in support of Palestinians in Gaza at George Washington University in Washington, April 25, 2024. — Reuters

Most Americans — including 80% of Democrats and 41% of Republicans — think the US should recognise Palestinian statehood, a sign that President Donald Trump’s opposition to doing so is out of step with public opinion, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

The six-day poll, which closed on Monday, found 59% of respondents backed US recognition of a Palestinian state, while 33% were opposed and the rest were unsure or did not answer the question.

About half of Trump’s Republicans — 53% — opposed doing so, while 41% of Republicans said they would support the US recognising a Palestinian state.

A growing number of countries — including US allies Britain, Canada, France and Australia — have formally recognised Palestinian statehood in recent weeks, drawing condemnation from Israel, whose founding in 1948 led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and decades of conflict.

Israeli bombardments have leveled vast swaths of Palestinian neighborhoods in Gaza following an October 2023 surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel.

Some 60% of poll respondents said Israel’s response in Gaza was excessive, compared to 32% who disagreed.

Trump, who returned to the White House in January, has largely backed Israel in the war and this month brokered a ceasefire, raising hopes that lasting peace could be in reach.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll gave signs that the US public was ready to give Trump credit should his plan work.

Some 51% of poll respondents agreed with a statement that Trump “deserves significant credit” if peace efforts are successful, compared with 42% who disagreed.

While only one in 20 Democrats approve of Trump’s overall performance as president, one in four said he should get significant credit if the peace holds.

Success on that front appears far from certain. An explosion of violence over the weekend threatened to derail the week-old truce and US diplomats stepped up pressure on Israel and Hamas to get Trump’s plan back on track.

Key questions of Hamas disarming, further Israeli troop pullbacks and future governance of the Palestinian enclave remain unresolved.

Trump’s approval rating on foreign policy appeared to be on a modest upswing, rising to 38% in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, compared to 33% in a poll conducted earlier this month just ahead of the ceasefire deal. The latest rating was Trump’s highest since July.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online and gathered responses from 4,385 people nationwide. It had a margin of error of 2 percentage points.





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Pakistani home cook wins top honour at UK National Curry Week

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Pakistani home cook wins top honour at UK National Curry Week


Emerging cooking talent Sunia Imran. — Reporter
Emerging cooking talent Sunia Imran. — Reporter

LONDON: Emerging cooking talent Sunia Imran has been named the Champion of the UK National Curry Week Cook-Off 2025, earning national recognition for her creativity, precision, and celebration of authentic Pakistani and South Asian flavours.

The cooking competition brought together six of Britain’s most promising home cooks. The contest was judged by celebrated culinary figures from MasterChef, The Great British Menu, and acclaimed UK restaurants. National Curry Week, launched in 1998, celebrates Britain’s long-standing love affair with curry and the chefs who bring its rich traditions to life.

Held live in London’s Covent Garden, the competition consisted of five challenging rounds, each one testing creativity, skill, and composure under pressure. Contestants were given surprise recipes to recreate, with one participant eliminated after each round. Sunia impressed from the very start, winning four out of five rounds before ultimately taking home the title in the final cook-off.

Judges praised her for her refined yet soulful approach to South Asian cuisine, noting her exceptional balance of flavours, technical finesse, and elegant presentation. “Sunia’s food reflects passion, heart and heritage,” the judges said. “She brings authenticity to every dish while adding her own creative twist. Her confidence, passion, skill, and consistency stood out from start to finish.”

As the newly crowned Cook-Off Champion, she received a £1,000 cash prize, which she donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

By profession, Sonia works full-time as a Senior IT Project Delivery Manager for a UK government department. On social media, she shares her love for home-style cooking through vibrant recipe videos that have captured the hearts of food lovers nationwide.

Speaking to Geo News after her win, Sunia described the experience as both “challenging and inspiring.”

She said, “Cooking has always been about connecting people and bringing families together. Winning this award is an honour, but more than that, it’s a reminder of how food brings communities together. I’ve loved cooking since childhood. Growing up in Lahore, our home was always filled with good food and laughter. My mother has been my greatest inspiration, and I have always had a passion for learning more about cooking and exploring different cuisines. We have always loved having families around our house for dinner, and this is the best way to connect with roots and make memories.”

She added: “This event celebrates Britain’s long-standing love for curry, and being recognised for my cooking and passion for authentic Pakistani and South Asian flavours means the world to me. The judges asked us to make Bombay pizza, grilled lemon chilli prawns, chicken jalfrezi, chicken malai tikka and Rajasthani laal maas. I finished cooking on time and to the level of presentation and taste the judges expected.

“Growing up in Lahore, our home was always filled with laughter and delicious food. My mother has been my greatest inspiration, and from a young age, I loved learning about cooking and exploring different cuisines. Hosting family dinners was our way of spreading joy, love and creating lasting memories, and that is exactly what I try to do through my recipes today.”





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Indian president’s helicopter gets stuck at Kerala helipad

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Indian president’s helicopter gets stuck at Kerala helipad


Indian officials pushing Indian Air Forces Mi-17 chopper at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium on October 22, 2025. — YouTube/@indiatimes/screengrab
Indian officials pushing Indian Air Force’s Mi-17 chopper at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium on October 22, 2025. — YouTube/@indiatimes/screengrab  

A section of a newly built helipad in Kerala’s Pramadam caved in after a helicopter carrying Indian President Droupadi Murmu landed there on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Pathanamthitta’s Pramadam, where the president arrived for her visit to Sabarimala.

Following the incident, President Murmu continued her journey to Pamba — the foothills of Sabarimala — by road.

Bizarre scenes unfolded at the stadium after the president left for Pamba by road, as viral videos show officials pushing the Indian Air Force’s Mi-17 chopper by hand from a caved-in helipad, sparking widespread criticism and reactions on social media.

Another said: “President Draupadi Murmu gets the firsthand experience of BJP’s Space Technology Infrastructure as the wheel of her helicopter got stuck in the newly constructed helipad.”

According to Indian media, the landing was originally planned at Nilackal near Pamba, but it was changed to Pramadam due to bad weather conditions.





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Bangladesh court detains army officers for landmark trial

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Bangladesh court detains army officers for landmark trial


Police personnel escort detained army officers to the International Crimes Tribunal court in Dhaka on October 22, 2025, over charges of crimes against humanity. — AFP
Police personnel escort detained army officers to the International Crimes Tribunal court in Dhaka on October 22, 2025, over charges of crimes against humanity. — AFP
  • In a first, formal charges brought for enforced disappearances.
  • All officers served in Bangladeshi military intelligence or RAB.
  • Defence lawyer Sarwar Hossain says all rejected the charges.

A Bangladeshi court remanded in custody on Wednesday, 15 high-ranking army officers on charges of enforced disappearances and atrocities committed during the 2024 uprising that toppled the government.

It is the first time that formal charges have been brought for enforced disappearances in Bangladesh, and the first time so many senior military officials have faced a civilian trial.

The men, including five generals, are accused of running a secret detention centre during the tenure of the now-ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

All have served in Bangladeshi military intelligence or the feared paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Defence lawyer Sarwar Hossain said all rejected the charges.

The army has said it will assist the judicial process, but the situation has been tense since the court issued arrest warrants earlier this month.

“They declared their allegiance to the law of the land and their respect for the judicial process,” the court’s chief prosecutor, Tajul Isla,m told reporters.

“That was reflected in the cooperation they have extended.”

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk, in a statement on October 15, said that the court process was an important step towards accountability. “It is a significant moment for victims and their families,” Turk said.

The officers were brought by a prison van to the court, guarded by a heavy deployment of police.

“These officers are confident of their innocence, and believe they will be released through due judicial process,” their lawyer Hossain said.

Bangladesh is prosecuting former senior figures connected to Hasina — now a fugitive in exile in India — and her now-banned Awami League party.

Up to 1,400 people were killed in the clashes between July and August 2024 as the security forces tried to quash anti-government protests, according to the United Nations.

During Hasina’s rule, RAB forces carried out scores of killings, and the organisation was sanctioned by the United States in 2021.

Hasina, 78, fled last year to New Delhi, where she has defied court orders to return to attend her ongoing crimes against humanity trial for ordering the deadly crackdown.

Her trial in absentia is in its final stages, with Hasina’s state-appointed defence giving closing arguments. The prosecution has demanded the death penalty for Hasina.

Hasina’s Awami League says that she “categorically” denies the charges.





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