United News of Bangladesh

Thai security forces have launched a search for those behind a deadly attack in the country's conflict-hit southern region that left five soldiers dead and injured several civilians. According to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), around 10 armed attackers opened fire and hurled pipe bombs at soldiers manning a security checkpoint near a residential area in Narathiwat province on Wednesday evening before escaping. The attack also injured six civilians, including a 10-year-old boy who remains in hospital in stable condition. Authorities released photographs of the suspected attackers, who were dressed in black clothing and hats and were seen riding in the back of a black pickup truck. Security officials later found the vehicle abandoned and set on fire about 21 kilometres from the attack site. The attackers also took three AK-47 rifles, three bulletproof vests and three mobile phones belonging to the soldiers, officials said. Narathiwat, along with neighbouring Yala and Pattani provinces, has a Muslim-majority population in predominantly Buddhist Thailand. The three southern provinces have been affected by a long-running separatist insurgency since 2004, which has claimed thousands of lives. Many Muslims in the region have long complained of discrimination and unequal treatment, while security crackdowns have often intensified tensions. Although the violence has declined compared with previous years, sporadic attacks continue. In a Facebook post, ISOC Region 4, which oversees security operations in southern Thailand, said authorities would speed up the investigation and make every effort to arrest those responsible. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a terrorist attack that deliberately targeted government personnel and posed a serious threat to national security, government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said. Video footage aired by Thai PBS showed that nearby homes and properties were also damaged in the attack. One house suffered damage to its roof, doors and windows, while a motorcycle parked outside was destroyed. Another home had multiple bullet holes in its front metal gate.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that the government will set up fast-track courts to ensure quick trials and strict punishment in paper leak cases, amid growing student protests and political pressure over alleged examination leaks. In a post on X, Modi said protecting the future of young people is the government’s top priority. “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth,” he wrote, adding that he has directed the authorities to take all necessary steps to establish the special courts. The Prime Minister said the move is part of a series of measures aimed at protecting students’ interests and warned that those responsible for paper leaks would face strict action. The announcement came as opposition parties and the satirical online group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued protests over the issue, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised the Prime Minister’s statement, accusing the government of failing to protect the country’s education system. In a post on X, Gandhi alleged that the government had allowed the education system to deteriorate and had failed to act against those responsible for repeated paper leaks. He repeated the Opposition’s demands, calling for the dismissal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, an apology to students and action against those accused of assaulting student protesters. A day earlier, Rahul Gandhi claimed that more than 150 examination paper leaks had taken place in India over the past 10 years without a single conviction. Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, the Cockroach Janta Party renewed its demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Earlier this week, Modi described paper leaks as a “grave sin” during a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Opposition has been demanding that the Prime Minister make a statement in Parliament on the paper leak issue and the police action against protesting students in New Delhi. While the government has agreed to hold a debate in Parliament, it has accused the Opposition of delaying the discussion by insisting on the Education Minister’s resignation as a precondition. Source: NDTV

Republicans in the U.S. Congress are trying to balance support for the Iran war with the political risks of defending an increasingly unpopular conflict as elections approach and the future of the war remains uncertain. The pressure has intensified in recent days, especially for Republican lawmakers seeking reelection in November. While some GOP members say they want more information from President Donald Trump's administration about the war's objectives and rising costs, they have continued to support the president's decision to engage militarily and have repeatedly voted to leave key war-making powers in the hands of the White House. "Is anyone out there in the real world happy with gas prices? No," said Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana after questioning military leaders during a tense Senate hearing Tuesday. "But I think they understand why gas prices are as high as they are." It remains unclear whether more Republicans who have privately expressed concerns about the conflict will begin speaking out publicly as the midterm elections get closer. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are expected to face another major test of their support for Trump this week as Democrats push for new votes requiring congressional approval for military action against Iran. The debate comes as the United States has launched multiple rounds of airstrikes against Iran during the escalating confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel prices have risen sharply, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators Tuesday that the war has already cost the United States about $37.5 billion. On Wednesday, Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base to receive the remains of four American service members killed during the conflict. Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who is expected to lead the next Senate war powers vote as early as Thursday, said the combination of congressional hearings, American casualties and rising economic costs makes it important for officials to be held accountable. "This is a very unpopular war," Van Hollen said. Polls show public opposition Recent polling suggests that most Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the Iran conflict. A July survey by The Washington Post and Ipsos found that relatively few Americans believe the war has been worth fighting, and most are not confident that U.S. military action and negotiations will prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The poll also showed that only about two-thirds of Republicans approve of Trump's handling of Iran. While around 60% of Republicans believe the war has been worth fighting and are confident it will stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, roughly one-third remain unconvinced. Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, who is seeking reelection, said he has tried to explain to voters that he has reviewed classified intelligence and believes military action was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. "It's challenging," Rounds said. "It's complicated, and a lot of the stuff we know, we can't talk about, because it's classified." Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, another lawmaker facing reelection, questioned military leaders Tuesday about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. "It seems to me that there's been a different plan almost daily with dealing with this problem," she told Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. War powers votes become more contentious Opposing the war has also carried political risks. Collins was one of four Republicans who joined Democrats in June when the Senate passed a war powers resolution on Iran for the first time. The vote angered Trump, who reportedly called the four Republicans "losers" during a GOP Senate luncheon the following day. Another Republican who supported that resolution was Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who later lost his Senate seat in a primary after Trump endorsed a challenger. During the closed-door luncheon, Cassidy reportedly told Trump that the administration needed to provide more details about the conflict. "This was supposed to last four weeks, it's lasted four months," Cassidy said. "Our original objectives have not been achieved." Cassidy later said Trump argued back, and he refused to change his position until he received a briefing. After the White House arranged a private meeting with him, Cassidy changed his vote during a late-night revote before the Senate left for a two-week recess. On Wednesday, Cassidy declined to say whether the latest developments would affect his vote on the next effort to halt the war. House to take up another resolution The House of Representatives is expected to consider a similar war powers resolution on Thursday after approving one in June. It is unclear whether enough Republicans will again join Democrats to pass the measure, which is being led by Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington. House Speaker Mike Johnson has strongly urged Republican members to oppose the resolutions. Echoing Trump's argument, Johnson said the U.S. has acted to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, which he called a potential disaster. At the same time, Johnson said there is broad agreement that "now we got to wrap it up." Before leaving for Dover on Wednesday, Trump defended his handling of the war. "Americans don't want high gasoline prices but they aren't against the war," he said.

The United States carried out a 12th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran on Thursday as both countries intensified attacks on civilian infrastructure amid their widening conflict. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest strikes were aimed at "further degrading Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters," as Washington seeks to restore the free flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. would target one Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran attacks a ship in the strategic waterway. "From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by missile, rocket, drone or any other weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT," Trump wrote on social media. The latest U.S. strikes came as diplomatic efforts showed little visible progress, with both sides maintaining firm positions over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route that remains largely closed. The conflict has raised concerns over further disruption to the global economy and pushed fuel prices higher ahead of the U.S. midterm elections later this year. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would follow an "eye for an eye" approach. "Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response," he wrote on X. Iranian state media reported that U.S. missiles struck areas near the western cities of Ahvaz, Ramshir and Andimeshk late Wednesday. It also said two people were killed in a U.S. missile strike in the border town of Shalamcheh near Iraq early Thursday. Meanwhile, Kuwait's military said on social media that its air defence systems were intercepting hostile drones following what it described as Iranian attacks. Iran has responded to U.S. operations by targeting energy facilities and desalination plants that supply drinking water in neighbouring Gulf states. Under international law, attacks on civilian infrastructure are generally prohibited unless such facilities are being used for military purposes. War's economic impact grows The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's traded oil and gas passed during peacetime, has rattled the global economy. Adding to concerns, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have threatened to target Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, placing another major trade route at risk. Trump travelled to Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday to receive the remains of four U.S. service members. A day earlier, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate hearing that the war had already cost the United States an estimated $37.5 billion. Brent crude oil climbed above $93 a barrel, compared with less than $72 earlier this month before the conflict intensified. Gasoline prices have also continued to rise. Iran maintains that it has the right to regulate traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and potentially charge transit fees. It has attacked vessels using a shipping lane monitored by U.S. forces and intended to remain outside Tehran's control. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the situation in the strait would not return to prewar conditions. "We have repeatedly said that the situation of the strait will not return to prewar conditions," he wrote on social media. Diplomatic efforts remain stalled Before the latest strikes, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator, in an effort to revive diplomatic talks. However, there was no indication of any breakthrough in efforts to end the conflict. Iranian Interior Ministry spokesman Ali Zeinivand said diplomacy was continuing and messages were still being exchanged, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. An Arab diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Gulf countries were becoming increasingly pessimistic about prospects for de-escalation despite continued mediation efforts by Pakistan and Turkey. Speaking at a regional summit in the Philippines, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticised Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz. He said allowing any country to control an international waterway, impose tolls and attack ships that refuse to pay would set a dangerous global precedent. Rubio added that Washington remained open to negotiations, but said Iran did not appear serious about talks at this stage, leaving the U.S. focused on protecting international shipping. Following Iran's attacks, the United States also reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Trump hints at strike on nuclear facility Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said the U.S. had "no interest in meeting" Iran for talks at present. He also indicated that the U.S. could target Pickaxe Mountain, an underground Iranian nuclear facility under construction near the Natanz enrichment site. While the nearby Natanz complex was bombed during the 12-day Iran-Israel war in 2025, Pickaxe Mountain has remained untouched as Iran continues work there. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful, despite resuming uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade levels after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement during his first term.

A senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader has said the country has entered "a new phase of deterrence," warning that any US attempt to strike Iran at a low cost would have consequences beyond the battlefield. In a post on X, Ali Akbar Velayati said the belief that Iran could be attacked without significant repercussions was a miscalculation. Fifty-three Iranian civilians killed since late June: Ministry "The Islamic Republic of Iran is in a new phase of deterrence," he wrote, adding that any military action against Iran could affect global energy markets and the wider world economy. Velayati also warned that the United States would not achieve greater security by threatening Iran, rallying regional allies or seeking European support. "The White House should know that by threatening Iran and mobilising regional allies and activating the European lobby, it will not achieve greater security and stability; rather, it will globalise the consequences of its mistakes," he said. Iranian leaders have repeatedly warned that they could broaden the conflict if the US steps up its military attacks. In recent days, power and water desalination facilities in Kuwait have come under repeated attacks, drawing condemnation from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. With inputs from Al Jazeera

At least 53 Iranian civilians, including three children, have been killed in US strikes since June 27 after fighting intensified and the Islamabad memorandum of understanding collapsed, according to Iran's Health Ministry. The ministry said more than 590 people have also been injured in the attacks during the same period. Meanwhile, the US military has also suffered casualties in the conflict. According to US Central Command, at least 18 American soldiers have been killed and hundreds more wounded since the war began in late February. With inputs from Al Jazeera

The death toll from the ongoing floods in India's northeastern state of Assam has risen to 31,  Indian media says on Wednesday.  According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, more than half a million people remain affected across 16 flood-hit districts. The authority said floodwaters have inundated 872 villages and damaged over 24,210 hectares of cropland in the affected areas.

The Indian government on Wednesday rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations over recurring examination paper leaks, accusing the Leader of the Opposition of being selective and attempting to derive political benefit from the issue. Union Health Minister and BJP President J P Nadda said Gandhi had highlighted paper leaks during the BJP’s tenure at the Centre but failed to mention similar incidents in states governed by the Congress and its allies. Citing examples from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand, Nadda said examination paper leaks had also occurred in those states, questioning why Gandhi had not raised those cases. “Why are you so selective?” Nadda asked, alleging that the Congress leader was more interested in political gains than in addressing students’ concerns or improving the education system. The exchange came hours after Gandhi claimed that more than 150 examination paper leaks had occurred during the BJP-led government's decade in power, as protests over the NEET examination continued. Nadda reiterated the Centre’s willingness to hold a detailed discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament, saying the government was prepared to allocate as much time as the Opposition required. He said Parliament was the appropriate forum to examine the causes of paper leaks, identify those responsible, review the Centre’s response and discuss measures that all governments could adopt to prevent such incidents in the future. Calling for cooperation across party lines, Nadda urged the Opposition to work with the government to develop a lasting solution that would protect the interests of millions of students across the country. Source: NDTV

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that the United States would strike an Iranian bridge or power plant every time Tehran attacks a vessel in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The warning marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict, which has shown little sign of easing and continues to raise concerns over global energy supplies and economic stability. The prolonged hostilities have already pushed fuel prices higher ahead of the US midterm elections later this year. The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments, remains largely disrupted due to repeated Iranian attacks on commercial shipping, intensifying tensions in the region. Overnight, US forces launched another round of airstrikes on Iran, while Iranian air defense systems were activated over Tehran. Iran also fired missiles toward a city in Jordan near the Israeli border, prompting security alerts in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain stalled, with both Washington and Tehran increasingly targeting infrastructure to gain strategic advantage. Iran has responded to US strikes by attacking energy facilities and desalination plants that supply drinking water in several Gulf countries. International humanitarian law generally prohibits attacks on civilian infrastructure unless it is being used for military purposes. UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday condemned such strikes, describing them as "unacceptable."

Firefighters continued battling one of Spain's largest wildfires on Wednesday as an intense heat wave spread across the Mediterranean, raising fears of more devastating blazes. The wildfire in the rural province of Guadalajara has burned more than 32,000 hectares (79,000 acres), making it the second-largest wildfire in Spain's history after last year's 37,000-hectare blaze in the country's northwest. Authorities have evacuated 34 villages, though no deaths or serious injuries have been reported. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the affected area and called for political unity to address climate change, saying rising temperatures and extreme weather are causing increasing destruction. He noted that Spain has already recorded 22 major forest fires this year, with more than 100,000 hectares scorched in the first half of 2026- matching the country's annual average over the past decade. Ecological Transition Minister Sara Aagesen described the Guadalajara wildfire as the largest ever in Castilla-La Mancha and one of the country's biggest in recent history. Regional authorities said firefighters, supported by water-dropping aircraft, have protected homes in all 40 villages within the affected area, most of which lies inside a national park. Officials hope to bring the nearly week-old blaze under control by Friday. The fire comes less than two weeks after another deadly wildfire in southern Spain killed 13 people, including several foreigners. Spain's weather agency warned that the current heat wave could worsen firefighting efforts, with temperatures expected to reach 40°C across much of the country and exceed 42°C in parts of Andalusia.