United News of Bangladesh

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began serving a five-year prison sentence on Tuesday after being convicted of criminal conspiracy for allegedly financing his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya — becoming the first modern French leader to be imprisoned. Sarkozy, accompanied by his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, left their Paris home hand-in-hand and headed to the La Santé prison. Before entering the facility, he released a statement on social media, saying that “an innocent man” was being sent to prison. The 70-year-old former president was convicted last month for criminal conspiracy in a scheme involving illegal funding from Libya. He has appealed the verdict and denounced the court’s “unjust” decision to jail him while his appeal is pending. On his way to prison, Sarkozy paused outside his residence to greet supporters, family members, and grandchildren who had gathered to show solidarity. Dozens chanted “Nicolas, Nicolas,” waved French flags, and displayed banners reading “Courage Nicolas, return soon” and “True France with Nicolas.” His lawyers said Sarkozy will be kept in solitary confinement for security reasons. “He has prepared himself mentally,” lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois told France Info, adding that Sarkozy packed “a few sweaters because it’s cold in prison, and earplugs because it’s noisy.” Another lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, said the imprisonment had only strengthened Sarkozy’s resolve “to prove his innocence.” He added that the former president plans to write a book about his prison experience. Sarkozy told La Tribune Dimanche newspaper he would enter prison “with his head held high” and vowed to “fight till the end.” He also said he would bring along three books — the maximum allowed — including Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, a novel about wrongful imprisonment and revenge. A Paris judge ruled that Sarkozy must begin serving his sentence immediately, citing “the seriousness of the disruption to public order caused by the offense.” His legal team plans to quickly file a request for release, which the appeals court will have up to two months to review. President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted Sarkozy at the Élysée Palace last week, said he respected judicial independence but described the meeting as “a human gesture” toward one of his predecessors.   Source: AP

The Louvre Museum in Paris, the world’s most-visited museum, was forced to shut down for “exceptional reasons” on Sunday after a group of intruders carried out a lightning-fast robbery, stealing eight priceless pieces of jewellery in just four minutes. Police have launched a massive manhunt for the culprits, who broke into the Galerie d’Apollon (Apollo’s Gallery) through a window soon after the museum opened. The suspects reportedly used a lift normally employed to move furniture into buildings before escaping on motorcycles with jewels dating back to the Napoleonic era, dropping one piece as they fled. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the incident on social media, calling it an “attack on a heritage that we cherish.” He vowed, “The perpetrators will be brought to justice. Everything is being done, everywhere, to achieve this, under the leadership of the Paris prosecutor’s office.” The heist unfolded around 9:30am local time (07:30 GMT), as tourists roamed the museum. According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, the thieves used a basket lift to access the gallery and fled on motorbikes with “jewels of inestimable value.” The Louvre evacuated visitors and closed for the day while police sealed off the premises and surrounding streets along the Seine River. “It was crazy… like a Hollywood movie,” said Talia Ocampo, an American tourist who witnessed the scene. Authorities confirmed that the stolen treasures include pieces once owned by Empress Marie-Louise, wife of Napoleon I, and Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. Among them are tiaras, necklaces, earrings, and brooches. The crown of Empress Eugenie—set with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds—was later recovered outside the museum walls. Experts said the theft represents a major loss of cultural heritage. Anthony Amore, an art theft expert, told Al Jazeera the stolen items are priceless “not just in terms of dollars, but in terms of cultural patrimony.” Investigators said the gang used power tools, motorcycles, and precise coordination to pull off the heist. Witnesses reported seeing men dressed as construction workers using a hoist to enter the building, with the entire operation lasting “almost four minutes,” according to Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Police forensic teams are now examining CCTV footage and interviewing staff. Dati described the thieves as “professionals,” adding, “Organised crime today targets objects of art, and museums have of course become targets.” The theft has reignited concerns about security and staffing at the Louvre, which drew 8.7 million visitors in 2024 but has faced repeated staff shortages and strikes. French citizens and politicians have expressed shock that such a high-profile museum could be so vulnerable in broad daylight. “It’s just unbelievable that a museum this famous can have such obvious security gaps,” said Magali Cunel, a teacher from near Lyon.   Source: AP

Ukrainian drones struck a key Gazprom-operated gas processing plant in southern Russia overnight, causing a fire but no casualties, local authorities said Sunday. The Orenburg plant, located near Russia’s border with Kazakhstan, is one of the world’s largest gas processing complexes with an annual capacity of 45 billion cubic meters. Regional Governor Yevgeny Solntsev said the attack ignited a workshop and partially damaged the facility, though emergency crews later brought the fire under control. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, including one over the Orenburg region and 23 over the neighboring Samara and Saratov regions. Ukraine did not immediately comment on the strike, but Kyiv has intensified its drone and missile attacks in recent months, targeting Russian energy and fuel infrastructure that it says help fund and sustains Moscow’s war effort.

The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed on Sunday after a theft occurred inside the world-renowned institution, France’s culture minister confirmed. “A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum,” Culture Minister Rachida Dati wrote on X, adding that she had visited the site and that an investigation was underway. The museum announced it would close “for exceptional reasons,” without giving further details. No injuries were reported. According to French daily Le Parisien, the thieves entered the museum through its Seine-facing facade, where construction work is ongoing, and used a freight elevator to reach the Apollo Gallery. After breaking windows, they reportedly made off with “nine pieces from the jewellery collection of Napoleon and the Empress.” The Louvre — the world’s most visited museum — has faced several thefts throughout its history. Its most infamous was in 1911, when the Mona Lisa was stolen by a former employee, Vincenzo Peruggia, who hid in the museum overnight and walked out with the painting under his coat. The masterpiece was recovered two years later in Florence. In 1983, two Renaissance-era armor pieces were stolen and recovered nearly four decades later. The museum’s vast collection also includes artifacts linked to Napoleonic-era looting, a subject that continues to stir restitution debates. Home to more than 33,000 works spanning antiquities, sculptures, and paintings, the Louvre’s iconic exhibits include Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. The theft reportedly occurred in the Galerie d’Apollon, where part of France’s Crown Jewels is displayed. The museum typically attracts up to 30,000 visitors daily.   Source: AP

Germany’s Munich Airport was temporarily closed on Saturday night following reports of drone sightings that authorities later failed to confirm, federal police said. The airport — one of the country’s busiest — resumed operations before midnight, and flights were running normally by Sunday morning, according to airport authorities. Several people, including security personnel and airport employees, reported “suspicious observations” around 10 p.m. local time for about 30 minutes, and again around 11 p.m. for another half-hour, federal police said. The temporary shutdown caused only minor disruptions. Three incoming flights were diverted, two of which later landed in Munich, while one departure was canceled, the airport said. Police said no drones or suspicious individuals were found in the surrounding area. The latest incident follows a series of mysterious drone overflights in European Union airspace. Earlier this month, Munich Airport was forced to suspend operations twice within 24 hours over similar sightings, affecting thousands of passengers. Source: AP

  Britain’s Prince Andrew has been stripped of his remaining royal titles after fresh revelations about his connection with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein proved to be the final blow for King Charles III. For more than four decades, the 65-year-old duke has drawn criticism for behavior that embarrassed the royal family, sparked lawsuits, and fueled claims that he misused his royal position for personal gain. Key moments that damaged the image of Queen Elizabeth II’s second son include: 1984: Andrew sprayed journalists with paint while visiting a Los Angeles construction site, later remarking, “I enjoyed that.”2007: He sold his Sunninghill Park mansion for 20% above its £15 million asking price to Kazakh businessman Timur Kulibayev, raising suspicions of influence-buying.2010: An undercover sting caught Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, allegedly offering to sell access to him for £500,000.2011: He resigned as the UK’s special trade envoy amid growing scrutiny over his ties to Epstein and the Gadhafi family.2019: Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in custody renewed attention on allegations that Andrew had sex with an underage girl trafficked by Epstein — claims he denies.November 2019: His disastrous BBC interview defending his friendship with Epstein led to widespread backlash.2020: The Palace suspended Andrew from royal duties and revoked his patronage of 230 charities.2022: He settled a sexual abuse lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre in the US for a reported $10 million, without admitting wrongdoing.2024: Court documents linked him to a suspected Chinese spy banned from Britain for national security concerns.April 2025: Giuffre died by suicide in Australia.October 2025: Leaked emails showed Andrew contacted Epstein in 2011 — contradicting his earlier claim of cutting ties — writing that they were “in this together.”The latest disclosure proved intolerable for King Charles, who ordered Andrew to surrender all remaining royal honors, effectively ending his public role.

A car belonging to renowned Italian investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci exploded outside his home overnight, triggering an anti-Mafia investigation and widespread condemnation from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and media groups. No injuries were reported. The blast late Thursday in Pomezia, south of Rome, destroyed Ranucci’s car, damaged another vehicle and his front gate. Police said the explosion occurred just after Ranucci returned home, noting his daughter had passed by the area only half an hour earlier. Ranucci, host of RAI3’s acclaimed investigative program Report, has been under police protection since 2021 due to repeated threats over his reporting. Footage he recorded showed the mangled wreckage of the vehicles. Authorities from Rome’s anti-Mafia district are leading the probe, as the attack coincided with the eighth anniversary of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination by car bomb. Prime Minister Meloni condemned the incident as “a serious act of intimidation,” affirming that “freedom and independence of information are essential values of democracy.” Journalists’ unions and politicians across Italy expressed solidarity with Ranucci, who said he and his team face “a climate of isolation and delegitimization.” Report frequently exposes corruption involving Italian politicians and business figures. Ranucci, who has faced numerous defamation suits, was acquitted in one earlier this week.

The head of Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum, warned Thursday that China poses a “daily” threat to the United Kingdom’s national security, underscoring mounting tensions after the collapse of a high-profile spy case. Speaking at a rare press briefing, McCallum said MI5 had thwarted a recent Beijing-linked threat and accused Chinese state actors of cyberespionage, tech theft, and covert interference in British public life. “Do Chinese state actors present a U.K. national security threat? The answer is yes — every day,” he said. The comments came days after prosecutors abruptly dropped charges against two men — academic Christopher Berry and parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash — accused of spying for China between 2021 and 2023. The move sparked political backlash, with officials and prosecutors blaming each other for the failure. Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said the case collapsed because the government refused to confirm under oath that China was considered a national security threat during the alleged offenses. Prime Minister Keir Starmer denied interference, later releasing testimony from Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Collins, who described China as “the biggest state-based threat to the U.K.’s economic security.” McCallum said he was “frustrated” that prosecutions weren’t pursued, though decisions lay beyond MI5’s control. The intelligence chief added that Britain’s relationship with China remains a “complex mix of risk and opportunity.” Beyond Beijing, McCallum warned that Russia and Iran also pose “overlapping threats” to Britain. He said MI5 had disrupted a wave of espionage and violent plots over the past year, including 20 Iran-backed assassination attempts on British soil and Russian-led sabotage efforts. “State threats are escalating,” McCallum said. “We face multiple adversaries using increasingly aggressive methods.”

As Russia’s invasion continues to uproot millions, an American developer’s private effort is bringing renewed hope to displaced Ukrainians. Dell Loy Hansen, a 72-year-old real estate developer from Utah, has spent over $140 million building and restoring homes across Ukraine since 2022. His most notable project, Hansen Village, located near Kyiv, now shelters more than 2,000 people displaced from occupied territories. The settlement features modular homes, a school, a health clinic, and recreational areas — offering stability and dignity to families who lost everything. Hansen said his experience of public backlash years earlier in the U.S. gave him “humility” and inspired him to take action in Ukraine. “If you can build, then build. Don’t just watch,” he told the AP. Hansen’s initiatives include expanding housing projects, aiding elderly citizens, supporting a prosthetics clinic, and launching a non-profit affordable housing program. His efforts come as Ukraine faces a severe housing crisis, with one in three citizens displaced and 13% of homes destroyed or damaged, according to U.N. data. While government shelters and volunteer-run dormitories offer temporary refuge, overcrowding and lack of resources leave many in despair. “Sometimes six strangers must live in one small room,” said humanitarian worker Yevhen Tuzov. “What Hansen is doing is great — but why can’t we do that too?” Despite Hansen’s personal investment, his contribution is just “a fraction of what’s needed” for Ukraine’s $524 billion reconstruction challenge. Yet his work has drawn recognition from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who thanked him for supporting vulnerable communities. For residents like 16-year-old Mykyta Bogomol, who fled Russian occupation in Kherson, Hansen Village represents safety and belonging. “Here, I finally feel safe,” he said. “I don’t need recognition,” Hansen added. “If this work gives people hope, that’s the only reward I need.”

An Armenian bishop has been charged with coercing citizens into joining public gatherings, in what the Armenian Apostolic Church denounced as part of a wider crackdown on critics of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, nephew of Church head Catholicos Karekin II, also faces allegations of large-scale theft and obstructing electoral rights, the Investigative Committee said Wednesday. The Church said 12 other clergymen from his diocese were also detained. In a statement, church leaders condemned the arrest as an attempt to “hinder normal religious activities,” accusing the government of targeting clergy opposed to Pashinyan’s rule. Proshyan’s arrest follows several recent detentions of senior priests, including Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, jailed in June for allegedly calling for a government overthrow. Relations between Pashinyan and the Church have worsened since April, when massive protests erupted over Armenia’s decision to hand border villages to Azerbaijan as part of normalization efforts.