United News of Bangladesh

The Louvre Museum in Paris was struck by a daring theft on Sunday morning, when robbers stole eight priceless pieces of Napoleonic jewelry in a four-minute raid. Using a truck-mounted ladder to access the gilded Galerie d’Apollon on the second floor, the thieves cut through a window with an angle grinder. While one stolen crown, belonging to Empress Eugenie, Napoleon III’s wife, was recovered nearby after being dropped, reports Al Jazeera. The Louvre, once a royal palace and opened to the public in 1793, has long attracted thieves seeking its treasures. Over time, its collection has faced multiple heists, from the iconic Mona Lisa to jewelry and smaller artworks. 1911: The Mona Lisa Heist Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa became globally famous after being stolen in 1911. Italian worker Vincenzo Peruggia hid overnight in the museum and removed the painting unchallenged, carrying it out under a sheet. The theft prompted a massive police investigation, drawing in figures such as poet Guillaume Apollinaire and Pablo Picasso, though neither was implicated. The painting remained in Peruggia’s apartment until 1913, when he attempted to sell it in Italy and was arrested. The Mona Lisa returned to the Louvre in 1914, cementing its international fame. Nazi Threats and WWII Safeguards During World War II, the Nazis sought to loot the Louvre, but director Jacques Jaujard preemptively evacuated over 1,800 cases of artworks, including the Mona Lisa, to the countryside. While some Jewish-owned art was stolen during the occupation, much was later recovered, and the Louvre now displays many of these pieces. Later Thefts The museum saw further thefts through the 20th century. In 1966, five pieces of jewelry loaned to the U.S. were stolen en route back to Paris but later recovered. In 1990, a Renoir painting and some jewelry went missing, with some items never traced. Why the 2025 Jewelry Heist Is Different Art historian Noah Charney notes that this robbery is distinct because it targeted jewelry, not paintings. While artworks hold cultural value, jewelry carries intrinsic value — gold, gems, and craftsmanship — which can be broken down and sold, making recovery extremely difficult. Unlike paintings, which retain most of their value intact, stolen jewels can be recut and dispersed quickly, often rendering them untraceable. “The only hope for recovery is offering a reward higher than the component value, encouraging thieves to return the items intact,” Charney explained. Otherwise, the pieces could be dismantled within hours, leaving little chance of retrieval. This heist highlights the challenges museums face in protecting high-value items that can vanish not only through theft but through transformation, complicating efforts to safeguard cultural heritage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday oversaw large-scale nuclear force drills involving test missile launches, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump postponed their planned summit on the war in Ukraine. According to the Kremlin, the exercises involved all components of Russia’s nuclear triad. A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk site in northwestern Russia, while a Sineva ICBM was fired from a submarine in the Barents Sea. Tu-95 strategic bombers also took part, launching long-range cruise missiles. The drills were aimed at testing command-and-control readiness, including the procedures for authorizing the use of nuclear weapons, the Kremlin said. Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, briefed Putin via video link, describing the exercise as a routine but comprehensive readiness test. Putin stressed that the drills had been scheduled in advance, though their timing coincided with Trump’s announcement that his planned meeting with the Russian leader in Budapest had been put on hold. Trump said Tuesday he did not want the meeting to be a “waste of time.” The postponement followed a call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The two sides reportedly failed to agree on the framework for peace talks in Ukraine. Lavrov reiterated on Tuesday that Moscow opposes an immediate ceasefire, while Trump has continued to shift his position throughout the year on whether a truce should precede broader negotiations or allow Ukraine to reclaim occupied territories. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said both leaders agreed that the summit required more preparation before moving forward. “No one wants to waste time — neither President Trump nor President Putin,” Peskov told reporters. “Both leaders value effectiveness and productivity, and that requires proper groundwork.” The drills, held amid heightened global tensions, underscore Moscow’s continued emphasis on showcasing its nuclear capabilities while diplomatic uncertainty clouds future talks on the Ukraine conflict.

Mosquitoes have been detected in Iceland for the first time after the country experienced record high temperatures this spring. Insect enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason noticed the mosquitoes over several nights last week while using wine-soaked ropes to observe moths, local media reported. He discovered two female mosquitoes and one male, later confirmed as Culiseta annulata, a species capable of surviving harsh winters. Before this finding, Iceland was one of only two mosquito-free regions in the world, alongside Antarctica, due in part to its cold climate. The insects were found in Kjós, a glacial valley southwest of Reykjavik. Hjaltason shared pictures of the insects on a local wildlife Facebook page, describing them as "a strange fly on a red wine ribbon," according to Icelandic media. "I could tell right away that this was something I had never seen before," he wrote, adding, "the last fortress seems to have fallen." He sent the mosquitoes to the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, where entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson confirmed their species. Alfreðsson told CNN that while Culiseta annulata is common in parts of Europe and North Africa, the method by which they reached Iceland remains unclear. The country’s previously mosquito-free status was attributed to its cold climate and lack of stagnant water suitable for breeding, according to the World Population Review. This year, Iceland saw multiple record-breaking temperatures. May normally rarely exceeds 20C (68F), but highs above this threshold persisted for 10 consecutive days. The warmest day reached 26.6C (79.8F) at Eglisstaðir Airport. A June study by the Global Heat Health Information Network highlighted that such climate shifts could significantly affect delicate ecosystems adapted to cold conditions. The UN’s climate body has confirmed human influence has "unequivocally" warmed the atmosphere, oceans, and land, with last year being the hottest on record. Alfreðsson noted that further monitoring next spring will determine if the mosquito species has "truly become established in Iceland." Hjaltason speculated on their arrival, saying, "One always suspects Grundartangi - it's only about six kilometers from me, and things often arrive with ships and containers, so it's possible something came in that way. But if three of them came straight into my garden, there were probably more."

Six people were arrested after a crowd outside a Dublin-area hotel housing migrants threw bricks, bottles, and fireworks at police and set a police van on fire, Ireland’s national police force, the Garda Siochana, said Wednesday. One officer was treated for a foot injury. The incident occurred Tuesday evening outside the CityWest Hotel in Saggart, following reports of a sexual assault in the area. Hundreds gathered, waving Irish flags, and some attempted to charge the police line using horse-drawn carts. Officers used pepper spray to disperse the crowd. Police Commissioner Justin Kelly condemned the violence as “thuggery by a mob intent on violence,” while Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the disorder was unjustified. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed a man had been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault. Hotels housing asylum-seekers have frequently attracted protests in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Britain, often linked to crime reports and fueled by anti-immigration and far-right campaigns. O’Callaghan said the use of such incidents to stir unrest is “not unexpected,” emphasizing that peaceful protest is a democratic right, but violence is not. 

The Louvre reopened Wednesday to long queues under its iconic glass pyramid, just three days after one of the century’s most high-profile museum thefts, in which thieves stole eight pieces from France’s Crown Jewels. The Sunday heist, carried out near the Mona Lisa, involved smashing two display cases in the Apollo Gallery and fleeing on motorbikes. Authorities say the thieves spent less than four minutes inside. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged security failings, calling the incident a “very negative image of France.” The stolen items include a sapphire diadem, necklaces, earrings, and diamond pieces linked to 19th-century queens and empresses. One emerald-set imperial crown of Empress Eugénie was recovered damaged outside the museum. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau valued the haul at €88 million ($102 million), warning the historical significance could be lost if the jewels are dismantled for resale. The theft has intensified scrutiny of the Louvre’s security. President-director Laurence des Cars faced the Senate culture committee, though she remains in her post. Critics highlight gaps in staffing, overcrowding, and uneven rollout of new security measures, including expanded cameras and a command post announced earlier this year. While star attractions such as the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace remain open, the Apollo Gallery’s sealed and guarded displays reflect the breach’s symbolic weight — underscoring the fragility of France’s cultural heritage.

U.K. inflation unexpectedly remained unchanged at 3.8% in the year to September, as rising fuel costs were balanced by falling food prices, official data showed Wednesday, fueling hopes of another interest rate reduction next month. The Office for National Statistics reported that the consumer price index held steady from the previous two months, defying economists’ expectations of a rise to 4%, double the Bank of England’s target. Analysts said the flat reading suggests inflation may have peaked and could gradually return toward target levels in the coming months. Martin Sartorius, principal economist at the Confederation of British Industry, said price pressures should ease slowly, though a significant decline may not occur until the first half of next year. He added the “downside surprise” increases the likelihood of a rate cut at the Bank of England’s next policy meeting on Nov. 6. Treasury chief Rachel Reeves is also expected to welcome the figure ahead of the Nov. 26 budget, as September’s inflation rate influences welfare benefit adjustments, reducing funding costs compared with earlier expectations.

Ukraine’s security service on Wednesday unveiled an upgraded unmanned naval craft, the “Sea Baby,” saying the revamped vessel can operate across the Black Sea, carry much heavier arms and use artificial intelligence to improve targeting. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the Sea Baby’s range has been increased from about 1,000 km to 1,500 km and its payload capacity now reaches roughly 2,000 kg. At a demonstration seen by The Associated Press, SBU showed variants equipped with a multiple-rocket launcher and a stabilized machine-gun turret. SBU Brig. Gen. Ivan Lukashevych said the new models include AI-assisted friend-or-foe targeting, the ability to launch small aerial attack drones and multilayered self-destruct systems to prevent capture. The vessels are remotely piloted from a mobile control centre inside a van, officials said. The SBU credited Sea Baby strikes with damaging Russian shipping and infrastructure and said drone attacks have hit 11 Russian vessels, including frigates and missile carriers. Those operations, the SBU claims, helped push the Russian navy to move its main base from Sevastopol, Crimea, to Novorossiysk on Russia’s Black Sea coast. Officials also said the Sea Baby program has evolved from a single-use strike craft into a reusable, networked platform that broadens Ukraine’s offensive options. Lukashevych described the effort as pioneering a new form of naval warfare and highlighted that part of the program’s funding comes from public donations coordinated with Ukraine’s military and political leadership. The SBU noted the drones have been used in high-profile strikes — including repeated attacks aimed at the Crimean Bridge’s underwater supports — and stressed operational security by asking that demonstration details not be disclosed. An operator identified only by the call sign “Scout” said team cohesion remains vital to mission success.

At least six people, including a woman and her two daughters, were killed in a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack across Ukraine, officials said Wednesday, as U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to end the war stalled and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for more military support. Repeated waves of missiles and drones hit at least eight Ukrainian cities overnight. In a village in the Kyiv region, a strike set fire to a house where a mother and her 6-month-old and 12-year-old daughters were staying, regional head Mykola Kalashnyk said. Kyiv authorities reported at least 18 people injured. The attacks, which continued into Wednesday morning, also targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, triggering rolling blackouts. Russia has been intensifying strikes on the country’s power grid ahead of the winter season. U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to mediate a resolution to the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago, have so far failed. Trump said his plan for a quick meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was on hold to avoid a “waste of time,” citing Moscow’s rigid stance on settlement terms despite Ukraine’s offer of a ceasefire and direct talks. Zelenskyy urged the EU, the U.S., and the G7 nations to increase pressure on Russia to return to the negotiating table. “Pressure can be applied only through sanctions, long-range missile capabilities, and coordinated diplomacy among our partners,” he said, adding that Trump’s consideration of supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine influenced Putin’s willingness to meet. Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit Stockholm Wednesday to meet Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, marking the start of a week of intensive diplomacy. Additional international sanctions on Russia are expected to be discussed at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, followed by a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in London on Friday. In Kyiv, residents described panic and destruction. “We heard a loud explosion, the glass shattered, and everything was engulfed in flames,” said Biriukova Olena, 58, a local resident. “It was terrifying for the children. I never thought this could happen in our neighborhood.” The attacks caused damage in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Vinnytsia, and the wider regions of Kyiv, Cherkasy, and Sumy, Zelenskyy said. In the Dnipro district, two more people were found dead, and emergency services rescued 10 from a 16-story residential building after a fire sparked by drone debris. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that drone debris also damaged a medical facility and another residential building. In the Darnytskyi district, debris hit a 17-story building, igniting a fire on five floors; 15 people, including two children, were rescued. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s army general staff said Ukrainian forces struck a chemical plant in Russia’s Bryansk region Tuesday night using British-made Storm Shadow air-launched missiles. The plant produces gunpowder, explosives, missile fuel, and ammunition and is a key part of Russia’s military-industrial complex. Source: AP

A Slovak court on Tuesday convicted Juraj Cintula for the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Robert Fico last year, sentencing him to 21 years in prison for a terror attack. The 72-year-old opened fire on Fico on May 15, 2024, in Handlová, northeast of Bratislava, as the prime minister greeted supporters. Two surgeries were required after Fico was shot in the abdomen, but he has since recovered. Cintula, who had no prior criminal record, claimed his motive was disagreement with government policies, including ending military aid to Ukraine and changes in the anti-corruption office. He maintained he had no intention to kill anyone. The three-judge panel said the attack targeted the prime minister specifically, aimed to incite opposition, and justified the terror charge. Cintula’s age and clean record influenced the decision to avoid life imprisonment. His lawyer indicated an appeal is likely. Fico, who returned to power in 2023 with a pro-Russia platform, was not present at the trial and has expressed forgiveness toward Cintula, taking no legal action against him. The attack and trial have stirred political tensions in Slovakia, with critics accusing Fico of steering the country closer to Russia.

Polish and Romanian authorities have arrested Ukrainian citizens allegedly working for Russian intelligence in a sabotage campaign, prosecutors said Tuesday. Polish prosecutors stated that the suspects planned to send shipments containing explosives and incendiary materials to Ukraine, designed to ignite or explode during transit. The aim, they said, was to intimidate populations and destabilize EU countries supporting Ukraine. In Romania, two Ukrainians, aged 21 and 24, allegedly acting for Russian intelligence, deposited parcels with improvised explosive devices at a Bucharest courier. Romanian intelligence specialists defused the devices, and the suspects were placed under 30-day preventative arrest. The Ukrainian detained in Poland was among eight people recently arrested over sabotage preparations, according to the National Prosecutor's Office. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Tomasz Siemoniak, the minister coordinating special services, confirmed that the plot involved reconnaissance of military and critical infrastructure, preparation of sabotage materials, and potential attacks. Authorities across Europe have detained dozens for suspected sabotage and espionage linked to Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Recent cases include arson plots, attacks on cargo planes, store fires, cyberattacks, and spying networks in multiple countries.