United News of Bangladesh

Spain’s Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz went on trial Monday over allegations that he leaked confidential information to the media, marking the first time in Spain’s modern history that the country’s top prosecutor has faced criminal charges. The case, considered politically charged, has put additional pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s left-wing government, already entangled in several investigations involving people close to him. García Ortiz is accused of sharing an email with journalists that was sent by a lawyer representing the partner of Madrid’s regional leader, Isabel Díaz Ayuso — a key figure in Spain’s conservative opposition. Ayuso’s partner, businessman Alberto González Amador, was being investigated for alleged tax fraud at the time. The attorney general, who was appointed in 2022, has denied any wrongdoing and continues to receive public backing from Prime Minister Sánchez. The case has deepened political tensions between Spain’s national government and Madrid’s conservative regional administration. The trial is expected to conclude next week. Meanwhile, two former senior officials from Sánchez’s Socialist Party, along with the prime minister’s wife and brother, are facing separate corruption investigations. Sánchez himself is not named in any of the cases but has accused some judges of acting with political motives, particularly in relation to the probe into his wife Begoña Gómez’s business dealings.  

A medieval tower near the Roman Forum in central Rome partially collapsed on Monday during renovation work, leaving at least one worker seriously injured, according to Italian media reports. Firefighters rushed to the Torre dei Conti, using a mobile ladder to reach the upper floors where three workers were rescued. One worker remained trapped inside the structure, Corriere della Sera reported. During the rescue effort, another section of the centuries-old tower gave way, sending up a large cloud of debris. Firefighters on the ladder managed to descend safely before the additional collapse occurred. Authorities were still determining if more people were injured. The Torre dei Conti, built in the early 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a family residence, has endured several structural failures throughout its history. It was first damaged by an earthquake in 1349 and suffered further collapses in the 17th century. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli visited the site following the incident.  

A routine railway journey was plunged into chaos when multiple people were stabbed aboard a train speeding through eastern England. Two men have been arrested over the Saturday evening attack, which left almost a dozen people injured. Police are still working to uncover a motive, but say it doesn’t appear to be an act of terrorism. Here’s what to know: The train was heading for London The train left Doncaster in northern England at 6:25 p.m., bound for London’s King’s Cross station. It was about halfway into its 2-hour journey and had just departed from a stop at Peterborough when police began receiving calls about people being stabbed onboard. Passengers described panicked travelers, some covered in blood, rushing down the aisle of the train to get away from the carriage where the violence was unfolding. Olly Foster said he heard someone yelling, “Run, run, there is a guy stabbing literally everyone,” and at first thought it was a Halloween prank — until he noticed blood on his hand from touching seats in the train carriage. “Everyone was really pushing behind us, really panicking,” Foster told the BBC. He said he saw several people bleeding heavily from wounds. Police responded within minutes The British Transport Police, which handles security on the railways, said it received the first emergency calls at 7:42 p.m. Within minutes, several dozen police officers, including specialist firearms officers, and paramedics were at the train station in Huntingdon, a town about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of London. Soon after, the train made an unscheduled stop at the station and passengers streamed onto the platform as armed police officers ran toward the train. Two suspects were arrested British Transport Police said that within eight minutes of the first emergency calls, officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the local force, had boarded the train and detained two men. Eyewitnesses said officers used a Taser to subdue one suspect who was holding a large knife. Police said the suspects are both U.K.-born British citizens and described them as a 32-year-old Black man and a 35-year-old of Caribbean descent. They were being questioned at separate police stations Sunday on suspicion of attempted murder. Two victims are in life-threatening condition Police said 10 people were taken to nearby hospitals and an 11th went to a hospital on their own. Initially, nine were classed as having life-threatening injuries. But on Sunday morning police said only two people remained in life-threatening condition. Four of the injured had been discharged. Police seek a motive but say it’s not terror Police Supt. John Loveless said counterterror police were initially called in to support the investigation, but that “at this stage, there is nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident.” He said the investigation is being led by British Transport Police, and “it would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause of this incident.” On Sunday the train remained at Huntingdon station and police wearing forensic suits, with a police dog, were working on the platform. Leaders express sympathy Senior politicians and royalty expressed concern and sympathy for the victims and their friends and families. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood paid tribute “to the exceptional bravery of staff and passengers on the train.” King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were “appalled and shocked.” “Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with all those affected, and their loved ones,” the royal couple said in a statement. “We are particularly grateful to the emergency services for their response to this awful incident.”  

At least two people were killed and three others wounded in a drone attack on a car park in Ukraine’s southwestern Odesa region early Sunday, Ukrainian authorities said. The attack came as Russia continued to target the country’s energy infrastructure. Odesa regional Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed the casualties, while the State Emergency Service reported the incident on Ukraine’s Black Sea coast. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of residents in the front-line Zaporizhzhia region were left without power after Russian drones and missiles struck overnight, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said. He added that two people were injured and shared images of buildings reduced to rubble. Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, said rolling blackouts affected several regions due to the attacks, which are part of Russia’s sustained campaign on Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of winter. The strikes not only disrupt electricity but also affect water, sewage, and heating systems, critical for civilian life. Analysts note that Russia has shifted tactics this year, targeting specific regions and gas infrastructure. Its drone strikes have become more effective, with hundreds of drones deployed, some equipped with cameras to improve targeting, overwhelming air defenses, particularly in less-protected areas. In a related development, Ukrainian drone attacks set an oil tanker and infrastructure ablaze at Russia’s Tuapse port, regional officials said Sunday. Social media images showed flames engulfing terminal structures and the tanker, though the footage could not be independently verified. Tuapse hosts a major oil export terminal and a refinery owned by state-run Rosneft. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian refineries have reduced Moscow’s oil refining capacity by 20%, according to Western intelligence. The attacks, along with new U.S. and EU sanctions, aim to curb Russia’s oil and gas revenues, which fund its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.   Source: AP

British police said 10 people were hospitalized — nine of them with life-threatening injuries — after a mass stabbing on a London-bound train Saturday evening. Counter-terrorism officers are assisting in the investigation. British Transport Police, which oversees railway security, confirmed early Sunday that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack. “Ten people have been taken to hospital with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries,” the force said in a statement. “This has been declared a major incident and Counter Terrorism Policing are supporting our investigation whilst we work to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this incident.” Authorities briefly invoked “Plato,” the emergency code used for potential marauding terror attacks, but later stood it down. Police have yet to determine a motive. Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said, “We’re conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further. At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.” The stabbing occurred on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service traveling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross as it neared Huntingdon, a market town northwest of Cambridge. Armed officers and air ambulances quickly responded when the train stopped at Huntingdon station. Police in forensic suits, along with a police dog, were later seen on the platform. North Carolina Halloween party shooting leaves 2 dead, several injured Cambridgeshire Constabulary said armed police were called to the scene at 7:39 p.m. and confirmed that two individuals were arrested at the station, located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of London. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his “thoughts are with all those affected” by what he described as an “appalling incident.” Paul Bristow, the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said he had heard reports of “horrendous scenes” aboard the train. LNER confirmed the attack occurred on one of its services and urged passengers not to travel due to “major disruption” on the East Coast Main Line. Source: AP

A Paris court has sentenced four Bulgarian nationals to prison terms ranging from two to four years for vandalizing the city’s Holocaust Memorial in an incident French intelligence linked to a Russian destabilization campaign. According to court officials, Georgi Filipov and Kiril Milushev each received two-year prison sentences after admitting to spray-painting red handprints on the memorial, while Nikolay Ivanov was sentenced to four years for recruiting them. The alleged ringleader, Mircho Angelov, who remains at large, was given a three-year sentence in absentia. Investigators said around 500 red handprints were painted last year on the Wall of the Righteous — which honors those who saved Jews during World War II — and nearby areas in Paris. Initially seen as related to tensions over the war in Gaza, the vandalism was later tied to a broader Russian operation using paid agents to sow division and misinformation across Europe. Court documents described the act as part of a “foreign interference aimed at dividing French society,” though the judges noted it did not diminish the defendants’ personal responsibility. Plaintiffs included the Paris Holocaust Memorial and the League Against Racism and Antisemitism. During the trial, Filipov and Milushev said they were paid by Angelov to carry out the graffiti and record it on video. Ivanov, however, denied direct involvement, saying he only arranged their travel and accommodation in Paris at Angelov’s request. The red-hand graffiti case is among several similar incidents in France believed to be linked to Russian interference. In October 2023, blue Stars of David were stenciled on Paris buildings, and two Moldovans were deported after being accused of spreading antisemitic messages. In June 2024, five coffins bearing references to Ukraine were found near the Eiffel Tower ahead of a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Authorities later issued warrants for three men of Bulgarian, German, and Ukrainian origin. More recently, severed pigs’ heads were discovered near several Paris-area mosques, some marked with President Emmanuel Macron’s name, prompting another ongoing investigation.  

Ukraine’s military intelligence said on Saturday that its forces struck a major fuel pipeline in the Moscow region supplying Russia’s armed forces, describing the attack as a “serious blow” to Moscow’s military logistics. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), the operation was carried out late Friday and targeted the Koltsevoy pipeline near the Ramensky district. The 400-kilometer pipeline supplies the Russian army with gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow. HUR said all three fuel lines were destroyed in the attack. The pipeline was capable of transporting up to 3 million tons of jet fuel, 2.8 million tons of diesel, and 1.6 million tons of gasoline annually. “Our strikes have had more impact than sanctions,” HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov said, referring to international sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike on southern Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region killed one civilian and injured 15 others, including a child, local governor Vitaliy Kim said. He added that Russia used an Iskander ballistic missile in the attack. In a separate incident, a Russian strike triggered a fire at a gas plant in the central Poltava region, Ukraine’s emergency service reported. The attacks came amid continued Russian drone and missile assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which Kyiv has condemned as “systematic energy terror.” Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 223 drones overnight into Saturday, 206 of which were shot down. Seventeen drones struck targets across seven regions, while another strike hit an agricultural facility in northern Chernihiv, injuring a 66-year-old woman, officials said.    

Flights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport were suspended for nearly two hours on Friday night following a drone sighting, according to the German news agency dpa. The airport said flight operations were halted between 8:08 p.m. and 9:58 p.m. local time before resuming early Saturday. Local police told the Tagesspiegel newspaper that a witness reported seeing a drone near the airport. Officers confirmed the sighting but were unable to locate the device. Airport and police representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The incident comes amid growing concern in Europe after a surge in drone intrusions into NATO airspace in September, which some officials described as Moscow testing the alliance’s response. Last month, Munich Airport was closed twice within 24 hours because of similar drone sightings.    

Latvia’s Parliament has voted to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, a landmark European treaty aimed at protecting women from violence, following a marathon 13-hour debate that exposed deep political divisions within the ruling coalition. The Council of Europe convention, which took effect in Latvia in 2024, requires member states to standardize measures to combat violence against women, including domestic abuse. However, conservative and far-right groups across Europe have opposed the treaty, claiming it promotes “gender ideology” and threatens traditional values. Opposition lawmakers in Latvia launched the withdrawal initiative in September, backed by the Union of Greens and Farmers — a key member of Prime Minister Evika Siliņa’s three-party coalition government, which also includes center-right and center-left parties. Siliņa, who campaigned in 2023 on ratifying the treaty, sharply criticized the decision. “Those who have been brave enough to seek help are now seeing their pain used for political battles. It is cruel,” she wrote on social platform X. The alliance between government and opposition members on the issue has exposed growing cracks in Siliņa’s coalition ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections. Human rights advocates warned that Latvia’s withdrawal could set a troubling precedent. “This decision not only endangers women and girls in Latvia, it emboldens anti-human rights movements across Europe and Central Asia,” said Tamar Dekanosidze of Equality Now, an international women’s rights organization. On Wednesday night, about 5,000 people gathered outside Parliament in Riga to protest the withdrawal, while roughly 20 demonstrated in support on Thursday. President Edgars Rinkēvičs is expected to review the decision. He may return the legislation to Parliament for reconsideration or, under certain conditions, call for a national referendum.    

Hidden deep in rural Ukraine, engineers and soldiers are quietly assembling long-range drones at night, launching them to strike oil refineries, fuel depots, and logistics hubs across Russia — in a campaign that is reshaping the war. Built from components produced in a scattered network of workshops, these drones have extended their reach dramatically over recent months. Since summer, Ukraine’s drone strikes have intensified, hitting targets hundreds of kilometers inside Russia and straining Moscow’s air defenses. The nighttime launches are carried out under tight secrecy, with drones roaring off improvised runways into the darkness. The attacks have led to fuel shortages in parts of Russia, forcing rationing and revealing cracks in its critical energy infrastructure. Analysts say the impact has been significant, though not devastating. According to a study by the Carnegie Endowment, Ukrainian drones have struck 16 of Russia’s largest oil refineries — roughly 38% of its total refining capacity. While most resumed operations within weeks, the repeated strikes have hurt Russia’s supply chain. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s growing drone capability has dealt “real damage” to Moscow, claiming Russia has lost up to 20% of its gasoline output and been forced to import fuel. At a secret base, a Ukrainian commander known by his call sign “Fidel” said the drones can now fly up to 1,000 kilometers — double their earlier range. “Our drones, our people, and our planning make the difference,” he said. “This is our mission for freedom.” The “Liutyi” — a simple, inexpensive, homebuilt drone — has become central to these strikes. Costing as little as $55,000, it represents Ukraine’s low-cost strategy to overwhelm Russian defenses with volume and persistence. Experts say the campaign has expanded the war’s geography, forcing Russia to defend deeper within its borders. The International Energy Agency estimates repeated drone attacks have reduced Russia’s refining output by about 500,000 barrels a day, triggering domestic shortages and limiting exports. “This war has fallen to our generation,” Fidel said. “We’re gaining knowledge the world will one day study — but we’re paying with our lives and those of our friends.”