United News of Bangladesh

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of India's Ministry of Education following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan amid nationwide protests over alleged examination paper leaks. The appointment was confirmed by the President's Office on Saturday after accepting Pradhan's resignation. Joshi will continue to serve as Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs while overseeing the education portfolio. Speaking to reporters after his appointment, Joshi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and pledged to carry out his new responsibilities with dedication. He credited the Modi government with achieving significant milestones over the past 12 years and praised his predecessor for implementing the National Education Policy and introducing several key reforms in recent years. Pradhan, 57, submitted his resignation on the 35th day of protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, saying he stepped down to prevent what he described as anti-national forces from exploiting the situation. In his resignation letter, he said he had devoted more than four decades to improving education and supporting students and teachers, describing a strong and inclusive education system as the foundation of a strong nation. Hours after Pradhan's resignation, spokespersons of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, jointly announced the end of the protest alongside Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, saying the movement had been withdrawn "in good faith" after the government assured them that their demands would be addressed. The resignation of Pradhan had been the principal demand of the protest movement launched by Abhijeet Dipke, a Boston University graduate who recently returned to India to campaign against alleged examination paper leaks. A day before taking charge of the Education Ministry, Joshi had reiterated the government's commitment to protecting students' interests while accusing anti-social elements of attempting to exploit the protests. He said the Modi government remained committed to strengthening the education system, ensuring fairness in examinations and taking strict action against any irregularities affecting students. Joshi also acknowledged students' right to peaceful protest but urged them to remain vigilant against attempts by outside groups to hijack the movement for other purposes. Source: NDTV

The United States has suspended its airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of escalating military operations, while diplomatic efforts have intensified in an attempt to prevent the conflict from returning to full-scale war. It remains uncertain, however, whether Washington and Tehran are moving toward a lasting breakthrough as the conflict approaches its fifth month on Tuesday. President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals, warning that further military action remains an option while also saying negotiations with Iran are continuing. He has dismissed concerns that rising fuel prices linked to the conflict could hurt Republicans in November's midterm elections. The situation is further complicated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned visit to Washington next week. Israel, which joined the United States in launching military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, has so far stayed out of the latest U.S. strikes following Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil supplies normally pass. Analysts say Israel's absence from the latest phase of the conflict could signal either a desire to avoid widening the war or leave open the possibility of greater military pressure if diplomacy fails. Regional mediation efforts are continuing, with officials involved in the talks describing the pause in military operations as a positive development that could help reduce tensions. According to a regional official familiar with the negotiations, discussions are focused on restoring an interim ceasefire while reaching a compromise over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal under discussion would allow Iran to oversee vessel transit with fewer restrictions on commercial shipping. Iran tightened control over the strategic waterway after the conflict began by targeting commercial vessels, contributing to sharp increases in global oil prices. The disruption has raised economic concerns in the United States, where higher fuel costs have become a political issue ahead of the congressional elections. The U.S. military has expanded its operations in recent weeks, targeting Iran's coastal defenses, transport infrastructure and military positions in an effort to weaken Tehran's ability to threaten shipping in the Gulf. Analysts believe the military campaign is intended to pressure Iran into returning to negotiations. However, they note that Iran's divided political leadership may complicate diplomatic progress, as some factions could view concessions to Washington as a sign of weakness. Despite their differences, both countries have strong economic incentives to restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, although they remain divided over how the waterway should be managed. Regional tensions remain high despite the pause in direct U.S.-Iran fighting. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said Saturday they launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on the Red Sea port city of Hodeida. The group also claimed it had closed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another strategically important shipping route. Meanwhile, the U.S. military said it continues enforcing its naval blockade of Iranian ports and disabled a Mozambique-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted to breach the blockade. Trump said Friday that Washington has two options: continue military operations or pursue diplomacy. "We can keep doing exactly what we're doing... or we can negotiate with them, which we're also doing right now," he told reporters. While saying he does not believe Iran is yet ready to reach an agreement, Trump added that Tehran appears to be taking negotiations more seriously as the conflict continues. The president also met senior national security advisers on Friday to review U.S. strategy toward Iran, including whether to maintain the current approach or expand military operations. No American airstrikes were reported overnight, ending a streak of 13 consecutive nights of attacks. Trump insisted he is not rushing to end the conflict because of domestic political considerations, saying his administration's priority is to "do it right" rather than focus on the approaching elections.

U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk won a second term Friday despite opposition from the United States, Russia and Israel to keep him in one of the most controversial United Nations posts for four more years. U.N. member nations rejected a U.S. proposal to delay the vote until the end of next week as well as a Russian proposal to extend Türk’s term just until the end of the year. The vote in the 193-member General Assembly to reappoint Türk was 144-10, with 13 abstentions. While he got strong support, the votes and speeches also reflected concern that Secretary-General António Guterres quietly nominated the Austrian lawyer this month after private consultations, with no public discussion, as the U.N. chief nears the end of his own 10-year tenure. Türk’s job as the U.N. rights chief, by its nature, is tricky: It requires speaking out against rights violations by the governments of the countries that make up the membership of the world body. For instance, Türk has sharply criticized Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Türk got wide support but loud pushback from the U.S. and Israel Türk, whose term was supposed to expire on Oct. 11, has faced opposition from critics and some countries for his criticism of Israel’s attacks in Gaza and his approach to China’s crackdown on its Uyghur minority. None of Türk’s predecessors have served two full terms since the job was created in 1993. U.S. deputy ambassador Jeff Bartos warned before the vote that reappointing Türk would prove that the General Assembly “is dysfunctional” and that the vote “was quietly shoved onto the agenda at the last minute to bypass meaningful review.” “Make no mistake, if this assembly tolerates procedural overreach, backroom deals and the misuse of U.N. posts, there will be consequences,” he warned. “The United States will immediately reassess our engagement, participation and funding.” The Trump administration already owes nearly $4 billion to the U.N. for its regular dues and for the separate budget for U.N. peacekeeping operations. Russia’s deputy ambassador, Dmitry Chumakov, said Guterres had sown discord among U.N. members and accused Türk of “political bias” and promoting “Western geopolitical interests under the pretext of concern for human rights.” Speaking for the European Union, Ireland’s U.N. Ambassador Fergal Mythen reaffirmed the 27-nation bloc’s “wholehearted support” for Türk. “The European Union believes that Mr. Türk has demonstrably fulfilled responsibilities entrusted to him effectively and with integrity in an objective and non-selective manner over the past four years,” Mythen said. He takes on another term when “the multiplication of obstacles and challenges and rights violations is relentless, and the promotion and protection of all human rights becomes ever more contested.” Guterres, whose own second five-year term ends Dec. 31, sent letters to regional groups at the United Nations this month informing them of his intention to reappoint Türk. The African group had no objection, but the Latin American countries had several, including Nicaragua, Argentina and Paraguay. Before the vote, Israel’s Foreign Ministry called Guterres’ action to get a second term for Türk the U.N. secretary-general’s “latest moral failure,” saying on social media that the choice should be left to his successor. “After years of bias against Israel, the answer is accountability — not rewriting the rules,” the ministry said. Guterres is ‘following the rules’ on the reappointment, UN says U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric says Guterres was following the 1993 resolution that established a U.N. high commissioner for human rights and allows for a second term. “The secretary-general is doing things in a very transparent manner, following the rules and his authority,” Dujarric told reporters Friday. “Consultations were had with member states prior to this and with regional groups.” As human rights chief, the longtime U.N. functionary who worked for Guterres at United Nations headquarters in New York, Türk has expressed concerns on issues in China as diverse as the fate of detained individuals — like artist Gao Zhen, lawyer Yu Wensheng and media mogul Jimmy Lai — and counterterrorism and assimilation practices that affect ethnic minorities including the Uyghurs in the regions of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Tibet. Critics insist he could have done more to publicly follow up on a report issued by his predecessor, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, that said China’s discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in Xinjiang may amount to crimes against humanity. Türk also has stopped short of joining independent U.N. rights experts who have accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians during its war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel vehemently denies those claims. Former head of Human Rights Watch Ken Roth said: “The biggest stain on Türk’s reputation is his utter abandonment of the Uyghurs.” Türk has used both private engagement with Beijing and public advocacy to support human rights in China, his office said. Roth called that “an admission that he is doing nothing, that he’s putting the plight of the Uyghurs on the deep back burner, and is just pretending to care.” The Chinese government denies the Uyghurs have been or are being persecuted. It maintains its policies in Xinjiang rooted out terrorism and religious extremism after sporadic bouts of violence rocked the region in previous decades.  

In a remarkable decision taken at the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee being held at Busan, South Korea, India’s official nomination for 2025-26 cycle, “Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath” got inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India’s 45th property to receive this recognition. This global accolade celebrates India’s enduring cultural legacy, showcasing its diverse traditions of architectural brilliance, regional identity, and historical continuity. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat along with Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath lauded the historic milestone and congratulated the people of India for this achievement, said the Press Information Bureau of India on Saturday. With this global recognition, India affirms its commitment to protect Sarnath's Outstanding Universal Value by Manage tourism sustainably and prevent unplanned development in the buffer zone in order to preserve authenticity and integrity of the property. The inscribed serial property comprises two component parts – Chaukhandi Stupa and the Archaeological Remains of Sarnath (Dhamekh Stupa, Dharmrajika Stupa, Mulagandgakuti Vihara, Ashokan Pillar, etc.) – located within Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Together these two components preserve the architectural and archaeological remains of the ancient site of Sarnath, known in the Buddhist tradition under different names – Rishipatana, Ishipatana, Mrigadava. They all refer to a sacred geography, where the Buddha visited in the 6th century BCE and delivered his first sermon known as the “Turning of the Wheel of the Law” (Dharmachakra pravartana). This event marked the inception of the Buddhist sangha and the establishment of the principles of the Noble Eightfold Path. Indicated by the Buddha himself to be one of the four key sites of Buddhist pilgrimage, Sarnath developed over centuries through royal, monastic and lay patronage.

France and Spain are battling massive wildfires that have forced more than 250,000 people to leave their homes, with authorities deploying thousands of firefighters and emergency personnel as extreme heat and dry conditions fuel the blazes. In France, authorities shortened the final stage of the Tour de France on Saturday to free up security personnel for wildfire response efforts in the southwestern Gironde region, where tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, including residents from areas near the wine-producing city of Bordeaux. A specially modified A400M military transport aircraft was deployed to drop fire retardants on a major blaze in Gironde. The Paris police department said Sunday's final stage of the race would be reduced by one-third, with riders now set to complete an 89-kilometre route inside Paris instead of the planned 133-kilometre course. Part of the race's security force will be reassigned to support firefighting operations in affected areas, officials said. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the A400M aircraft would join 18 other firefighting planes and helicopters in what he described as a "long and very difficult" battle against the flames. Authorities warned that shifting winds could push the fire closer to Bordeaux. Firefighters were digging containment trenches, using retardants and taking other measures to slow the spread of the blaze, which was about 30 kilometres west of the city. The French government has mobilized soldiers and sent 1.5 million protective masks to help residents and emergency workers cope with heavy smoke. Evacuation orders were issued for areas between the fire and Bordeaux, including parts of western suburbs and nearby towns. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the fires as unprecedented, saying the Gironde blaze had become so intense that it began creating its own wind patterns. "Protecting human lives is our clear priority," he said, urging people to follow evacuation orders without delay. In Spain, around 70,000 people have been evacuated as wildfires spread across several regions. The country deployed 2,600 firefighters, police officers and emergency personnel to tackle two major fires west of Madrid, supported by 19 aircraft and helicopters. Residents described the speed and intensity of the fires as unprecedented. Javier Organista, a resident of El Tiemblo west of Madrid, said flames surrounded the area so quickly that residents had almost no escape route. The wildfires, worsened by unusually early heat waves and the long-term effects of climate change, have overwhelmed firefighting efforts in parts of southern Europe. Spain has recorded around 130,000 hectares of forest burned this year, exceeding the decade-long annual average of 100,000 hectares, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said during a visit to a fire command center. He said improved weather conditions had created an opportunity for firefighters to contain the blazes. Several European countries, including Italy, Greece, Portugal, Croatia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, have provided or are preparing to provide firefighting aircraft and helicopters. The Gironde fire began Wednesday near France's Atlantic coast and has grown to an "unprecedented magnitude," according to local authorities. Thousands of evacuees have been provided shelter and assistance in Bordeaux, where officials said facilities could accommodate up to 10,000 people if needed. Authorities used emergency mobile alerts to instruct residents to leave affected areas, urging people to move quickly to safety.

India's "Cockroach" movement on Saturday announced an end to its weeks-long nationwide protests after the government accepted its key demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks and irregularities in the country's education system. Pradhan confirmed his resignation in a post on X, delivering a major victory to the youth-led movement that organized demonstrations, sit-ins and hunger strikes across India. The resignation marks one of the most significant concessions made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in response to sustained public protests during his more than 12 years in office. The movement began over a month ago following allegations of paper leaks in several major entrance examinations. Initially focused on education reforms, it soon expanded into a broader campaign demanding greater government accountability, more employment opportunities and improved economic prospects. Students, professionals, parents and activists participated in protests in New Delhi and several other cities. Following the minister's resignation, organizers said the government had also agreed to implement wider education reforms, compensate the families of students who died by suicide in connection with the exam leak controversy, and refrain from taking legal action against those who took part in the demonstrations. "We urge everyone to peacefully withdraw from protest sites," Ashutosh Ranka, spokesperson for the Cockroach Janta Party, which launched the movement, told reporters in New Delhi.  

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said Saturday that they fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea city of Hodeida, in an escalation over vital shipping routes in the Middle East while the United States and Iran vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesperson, said in a prerecorded statement that the attack targeted facilities in the Red Sea cities of Yanbu and Jizan that belong to Aramco, the world’s largest oil company. Saudi Arabia’s civil defense said alerts sounded multiple times early Saturday in both cities, but the kingdom didn’t comment further. There were no reported strikes overnight in Iran, in an apparent break from nearly two weeks of consecutive nights of U.S. attacks, though tension remains high following an escalation over the Strait of Hormuz. Red Sea escalation further threatens global shipping The Houthis have said they would close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping in retaliation for the kingdom’s blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on the international airport in Yemen’s rebel-held capital, Sanaa. “Nothing short of ending the aggression and lifting the blockade, otherwise, it’s all illusion and mirage,” Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi-led Supreme Political Council governing rebel-controlled territories in Yemen, said of what it would take for the Houthis to not blockade the Bab-El-Mandeb. The Bab el-Mandeb, at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is a vital shipping chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Around 12% of the world’s trade, including a quarter of its container traffic, passes through the narrows. The Houthis targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea this week. In response, Saudi Arabia struck Hodeida, the Saudi-led coalition opposing the rebels said Saturday. The strikes late Friday hit the port and the state-run telecommunications corporation, injuring two people, said Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the Houthi-run health ministry. The Saudi-led coalition said it didn’t hit the port but struck “legitimate military targets” in Hodeida province that “were linked to threats to commercial vessels in the Red Sea.” Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, called for “diplomacy and dialogue” to solve the Yemen conflict without “military confrontations” in an interview published Saturday by the state-run newspaper called Iran. No new strikes overnight in Iran “Iran had a peaceful night,” Hossein Kermanpour, a spokesperson for Iran’s Health Ministry, posted on X. U.S. Central Command didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Unlike the previous 13 nights, it didn’t announce new strikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to travel to the United States next week and meet with President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, his office said Friday. They last met in Washington in February, weeks before they launched the war. A tenuous ceasefire that halted major operations for weeks has seemed to unravel this month. The U.S. accused Iran of striking three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and responded by striking dozens of targets in Iran, which retaliated by firing at U.S.-allied Gulf Arab states. The U.S. military has renewed its blockade of Iran’s ports. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has advised residents of neighboring countries to stay away from bases with U.S. troops. The war has killed more than 3,400 people in Iran, according to its Health Ministry. Eighteen U.S. service members, 24 civilians in Israel and smaller numbers of civilians including foreign workers and mariners have been reportedly killed across the region. In Lebanon, more than 4,000 people have been killed since Iran-backed Hezbollah militants fired at Israel in support of the Islamic Republic two days after the war began and Israel responded with strikes and ground forces. Thirty-eight Israeli troops have also died.    

At least 35 people were killed and around 30 others injured after two buses collided on a highway connecting the Syrian capital, Damascus, with the eastern province of Deir el-Zour on Saturday, according to Syrian state media. The crash involved a civilian passenger bus and a bus belonging to the Interior Ministry on the desert highway, the state-run SANA news agency reported, citing a Health Ministry official. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, with Syrian military helicopters reportedly taking part in the rescue operation. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the collision, and an investigation is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the deadly crash.

India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down on Saturday following weeks of intense nationwide protests demanding his removal over alleged paper leaks in key competitive entrance examinations and wider irregularities in the country's education system. The minister’s departure represents the first major concession by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in the face of persistent demonstrations, sit-ins, and hunger strikes spearheaded by the youth-led "Cockroach movement". Humour and memes fuel India's 'Cockroach' protest movement against Modi government

A Russian ballistic missile strike near Kyiv on Friday killed at least 10 people and injured nearly 100 others after hitting a site hosting a defence industry event, Ukrainian officials said. The attack came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Kyiv with senior representatives of US defence company Raytheon, which manufactures Patriot air defence systems that Ukraine says are essential to counter Russia's ballistic missile attacks. Raytheon did not immediately comment on whether any of its employees were present at the event. "Missiles for Patriot systems are the number one priority," Zelenskyy wrote on social media while confirming the attack. According to acting regional military administration head Ruslan Oliinyk, the missile struck the grounds of a privately operated military training facility in Bucha district, about 20 to 30 kilometres from central Kyiv. The site was hosting a defence-related gathering when it was hit. Emergency teams rushed to the scene, where 27 houses and 44 vehicles were also damaged, officials said. The Ukrainian Defence Industry Council, the country's largest association of private defence manufacturers, confirmed that industry representatives were attending the event, but did not disclose further details. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said authorities had launched a war crimes investigation into the Russian strike, along with a separate probe into possible negligence over the organisation of the event. Investigators will examine who approved the venue, timing and format of the gathering and whether sufficient safety measures had been taken. The Ukrainian government later imposed restrictions on reporting details of the attack. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said a separate strike on a military facility in Russia killed six people and injured 26 others, according to the regional governor. Zelenskyy pushes for Patriot co-productionThe meeting between Zelenskyy and Raytheon representatives took place less than three weeks after US President Donald Trump pledged to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot systems under licence. Zelenskyy said the company was ready to work with Ukraine on the joint production of Patriot interceptor missiles, adding that government officials and private-sector representatives would continue discussions on the project. Ukraine has repeatedly urged its Western allies to provide more Patriot systems, which are considered one of the few effective defences against Russian ballistic missiles. While Ukraine has developed its own air defence technologies, officials say expanding domestic production remains critical, though experts caution that establishing local manufacturing could take years. The meeting also reflected improving ties between Kyiv and Washington. Laura Loomer, a prominent Trump ally, also visited Kyiv on Thursday and criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin over missile attacks on Ukraine. Ukraine expands drone strikes inside RussiaUkraine has continued stepping up long-range drone attacks inside Russia, targeting military and logistical infrastructure as it seeks to disrupt Moscow's war effort. On Friday, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had struck an oil facility about 1,350 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, along with a military plant in Russia's Kirov region that produces aircraft and missile components. Regional Governor Alexander Sokolov said six people were killed and 26 injured in the attack on the military facility. Russian outlet Astra identified the site as the Avitec plant, which manufactures air defence missiles and aircraft components. Ukraine also targeted several logistics centres belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer. Company founder Tatyana Kim said warehouses in St. Petersburg, the neighbouring Leningrad region and Simferopol in Russian-annexed Crimea came under attack. Russian media published images showing thick smoke rising over St. Petersburg. Ukrainian forces had struck four other Wildberries facilities earlier this week, causing major fires. Kyiv says its campaign aims to disrupt Russia's military logistics and bring the impact of the war closer to ordinary Russians. Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defence systems shot down 571 Ukrainian drones overnight.