United News of Bangladesh

A major fire at a Canadian military base in Alberta left people dead and injured on Saturday, with hospitals reportedly struggling to cope with a large influx of casualties. Firefighters battled the blaze late into the night as strong winds pushed flames beyond Canadian Forces Base Wainwright into nearby rural areas. The number of people killed or injured was not immediately known. Dr Warren Thirsk, an emergency department physician at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, told CBC News that hospitals across the city were receiving patients as healthcare facilities near the base became overwhelmed. “It’s a disaster. It’s a one in every 15- to 25-year disaster,” Thirsk said, describing the scale of the emergency. Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed the casualties but said authorities were still trying to establish what had happened. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, he described the situation as “very, very active and delicate.” The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said officers were called shortly after 4pm on Saturday following reports of a fire in a training area at the base. Police were involved in the investigation, while members of the Canadian Armed Forces were also at the scene. McGuinty said he could not recall a similar incident in recent memory and that authorities would provide further details in the coming hours and days. Firefighters faced difficult conditions as a windstorm swept across large parts of Alberta, with gusts reaching 100 kilometres per hour. The winds toppled trees, blew signs over and sent garbage cans rolling through streets. By 11pm, the Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire was being contained and that property and critical infrastructure had been protected. No evacuation order had been issued for residents. The town of Wainwright, near the base, has a population of about 7,000. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his province was sending assistance to Alberta but did not specify what resources would be provided. “Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a social media post. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the fire as “significant and tragic,” saying it had affected many military personnel. Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said he had spoken with Carney and the defence minister to offer support to those affected. He also urged people in the area to follow emergency instructions and keep roads clear for first responders. Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is one of the country's busiest military training facilities. It houses the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises, and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre, which provides military training. The fire also disrupted advance voting ahead of Monday's referendum on whether Alberta should begin a process that could lead to independence from Canada. Elections Alberta said two polling stations, in Lloydminster and Vermilion, closed early on Saturday, with the ballots transported securely.

About 550,000 people took part in nationwide protests across France on Saturday, resulting in nearly 400 arrests and injuries to 60 internal security officers, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said. Speaking on media, Nunez condemned the violence, citing attacks on public buildings, police stations, and businesses. He said city hall intrusions or attempts in Marseille, Lille, Calais, and Angers, alongside actions at prefectures like Bordeaux, while opportunistic offenders looted shops in several cities. According to media reports, the rallies brought together farmers, climate activists, trade unions, and students demanding action on fuel prices, living costs, education, and public services. Protests severely disrupted public transport, leading Paris operator RATP to suspend service on over 10 metro lines and close several stations. The Louvre Museum limited visitor numbers, while the Orangerie Museum required reservations. Stating violence has no place, President Emmanuel Macron warned on X that perpetrators of destruction, attacks on government offices, and looting will be prosecuted and punished. Expressing support for law enforcement, Macron declared, "We will stand united against those who sow chaos.".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has travelled to Uzbekistan and is scheduled to visit India to strengthen economic and security ties with Central and South Asia, amid criticism that he has kept his distance from major international crises. The trip is Rubio's 31st overseas journey as secretary of state. Critics say his recent travel schedule has focused on politically less risky destinations while key diplomatic challenges, including conflicts in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war, remain unresolved. Rubio, who also serves as President Donald Trump's national security adviser, defended the trip before leaving Washington on Saturday, saying the United States needed to build strategic relationships beyond countries facing immediate crises. “It's an important relationship,” Rubio told reporters, explaining that the visit was arranged when Central Asian leaders could meet. The State Department rejected suggestions that Rubio was avoiding difficult issues, saying he remained directly involved in discussions on Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Russia-Ukraine and China, even when other Trump administration officials took the public lead. The department said Rubio's role was to help the president develop and implement policies that advance US interests, adding that diplomacy also required building partnerships and addressing emerging challenges before they escalated. Special envoys, including Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Tom Barrack, have taken prominent roles in several major diplomatic initiatives, while Rubio has focused on behind-the-scenes discussions, according to the department. Rubio has also prioritised Latin America, particularly Venezuela and Cuba, and worked to strengthen ties with conservative leaders aligned with Trump. He has also sought to reassure NATO allies concerned about the administration's intentions towards Europe and the Arctic. However, some former US diplomats have questioned his travel priorities. Ivo Daalder, a former US ambassador to NATO under President Barack Obama, said Rubio had largely avoided the capitals, crises and negotiations central to the secretary of state's role. Daalder argued that Rubio's dual responsibilities as secretary of state and national security adviser could leave him overextended. He also suggested that avoiding difficult negotiations could have political advantages for Rubio, who has declined to discuss speculation about his future political ambitions. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau rejected the criticism, arguing that it reflected an outdated foreign policy establishment that undervalued Latin America and other regions. The State Department maintained that Rubio's schedule was guided by Trump's foreign policy and national security priorities, rather than an attempt to favour certain regions over others. It said diplomatic travel could serve different purposes, from responding to immediate crises to strengthening economic and security partnerships.

Israeli police on Saturday launched an investigation into an alleged attack on diplomats visiting the occupied West Bank village of Taybeh, after footage circulated online appeared to show several diplomats being assaulted. Public broadcaster Kan reported that representatives from France, Belgium and Poland were among them. Israel’s military said the visit had not been coordinated with it and no soldiers were present. Meanwhile, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes in Yemen’s southwestern Dhamar province that killed three children and wounded more than a dozen people. The strikes reportedly hit homes in al-Ar village in Dawran Aness district. Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment. Separately, Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was undergoing surgery after being beaten by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Her daughter said Levine suffered a nearly severed finger, a broken rib, multiple fractured vertebrae and lacerations. Levine said her press-marked helmet and protective vest likely prevented more serious injuries.

Police have arrested seven people, including organisers, after a stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal killed 19 people and injured dozens in Kolkata on Saturday evening. The stampede broke out around 7:40pm on Saptami, the seventh day of the 10-day festival. Those arrested include puja committee Secretary Raj Kumar Sewda, Vice President Santanu Dubey, bamboo structure constructor Biplab Mukherjee, crowd controllers Koushik Saha and Pintu Dey, and private security incharges Suman Chakraborty and Rajesh Pal.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday defended President Donald Trump's decision to temporarily waive sanctions on Russian oil for 60 days, citing the impact of global conflicts on oil prices. Rubio said conflicts around the world were increasingly overlapping and affecting global energy markets. He said Trump had to consider how the sanctions would affect other countries, including US ally India, which continues to import a substantial amount of Russian energy despite voluntarily diversifying its energy sources. “It's hard to pivot from one day to the next,” Rubio said, explaining India's continued reliance on Russian energy. He attributed the surge in oil prices to the war involving Iran, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. Rubio said the administration had to weigh the effects of these developments against one another when making decisions on sanctions. He also argued that Russia would sell its diesel regardless of the sanctions, adding that the main difference was how much revenue the United States would receive from the sales. With inputs from Al Jazeera

A serious incident triggered a major fire at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright in Alberta on Saturday, leaving multiple people dead and injured. Defense Minister David McGuinty confirmed the fatalities and injuries, while Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed sympathies for affected military personnel, stating Ottawa is coordinating closely with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and local authorities. Premier Smith described the fire as "significant and tragic," affecting numerous service members, and thanked first responders. Neither leader immediately disclosed the cause or specific casualty figures. The base is located near Wainwright, approximately 180 kilometers (112 miles) southeast of Edmonton. Conservative Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre offered support after speaking with Carney and McGuinty, urging residents to pray, follow emergency instructions, and keep roads clear for emergency crews. The incident occurred days ahead of an Alberta provincial vote on initiating a process toward seeking independence from Canada.

At least 17 people were killed and several others injured in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. The incident took place at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity puja pandal in the city, according to multiple local media reports. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal visited the injured at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.        

Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott on Saturday accused Turkey of “thuggish behavior” toward Greece and Cyprus, delivering unusually blunt criticism of a NATO ally during visits to both countries. The Florida senator told The Associated Press that Turkey was “not acting like a NATO ally,” citing its airspace and maritime disputes with Greece and its continued military presence in northern Cyprus. The island has been divided since 1974. Scott’s comments come amid renewed tensions over a planned undersea electricity link between Greece and Cyprus, with a possible extension to Israel. Turkey says it should be consulted before seabed surveys proceed. Scott, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, held talks with Greek officials on defense and energy following a visit to Athens last week by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “You’re not acting like a NATO ally when you take F-16s and fly over somebody else’s country. You’re not much of an ally when you occupy a portion of another country’s land. And that’s what they’re doing,” Scott said of Turkey. “So, I’m hopeful that it will change, but if you look at it, it’s thuggish behavior,” he added. Greece and Turkey, both NATO members, have been embroiled for decades in disputes over maritime boundaries in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean, as well as the divided island of Cyprus. The electricity project has become the latest source of friction between Ankara and Athens. “I think what Greece, Cyprus and Israel are doing is going to be good. It’s good for them, good for us,” Scott said. “We’re going to do everything we can to be helpful. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure Turkey does not cause problems with it.” Scott also said the U.S.-Greek relationship would not be affected by the recent departure of Kimberly Guilfoyle as U.S. ambassador to Greece. The White House publicly called for her resignation over allegations of improper and possibly illegal conduct, which she denies.    

Two oil supertankers carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil each caught fire after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said on Saturday. In a statement published on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC Navy said the second incident occurred on Saturday morning, triggering a massive fire aboard the vessel and leaving it unable to move. The navy claimed that the tanker had switched off its GPS and radar systems and was attempting to cross the strategic waterway through an unauthorised route. The explosion occurred in the vessel’s engine room, it added. Earlier on Saturday, the IRGC Navy reported a similar explosion involving another supertanker that was allegedly attempting to transit the strait through an unauthorised route. The vessel also caught fire after reportedly hitting a naval mine, according to the statement. Iran tightened restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, barring safe passage for vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.