United News of Bangladesh

A man has died in hospital following a light plane crash west of Sydney in a rural area of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Wednesday. NSW Police said in a statement on Thursday that emergency services were called to reports of an ultra-light plane crash near the small town of Hay, almost 600 km west of Sydney and 370 km north of Melbourne, around 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Ambulance paramedics attended the scene and commenced CPR on the sole occupant of the plane, a 39-year-old male, who sustained serious injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital in a critical condition before being airlifted to a Melbourne hospital where he later died. NSW Police said that a crime scene was established at the site of the crash and that a report on the incident would be prepared for the state's coroner.  

What was meant to be a brief walk from Mexico’s National Palace to the Education Ministry for President Claudia Sheinbaum turned into a national spotlight on gender violence after a video captured a drunken man groping the country’s first female president. On Wednesday, Sheinbaum used her daily press briefing to announce that she had filed charges against the man, urging state authorities to review laws and procedures to make it easier for women to report assaults. “Women’s personal space must not be violated,” she said. She added that pressing charges was a responsibility she felt “for all Mexican women,” questioning, “If this is done to the president, what will happen to the young women in our country?” The incident highlights a broader problem of street harassment in Mexico. Andrea González Martínez, 27, said she has been harassed on public transportation, once followed home by a man. “It happens regularly, every day,” she said. Her colleague, Carmen Maldonado Castillo, 43, said, “You can’t walk freely on the streets.” Sheinbaum recalled experiencing harassment at age 12 while commuting to school, stressing the prevalence of the issue nationwide. The president dismissed concerns about her personal security, explaining that she had chosen to walk to avoid a 20-minute car ride in traffic. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed the man had been arrested, emphasizing that harassment against any woman — including the nation’s most powerful — is an assault on all women. Brugada said, “This is a commitment to not look the other way, to not allow misogyny to continue, and to prevent further abuse or femicide.” Activists welcomed Sheinbaum’s response. Lilian Valvuena, 31, said it highlighted the need to better train police in responding to gender violence. Marina Reyna, executive director of the Guerrero Association against Violence toward Women, said the president’s decision to speak out could change how such cases are handled after years of impunity, which she estimated at over 70%. According to the World Health Organization, one in three women in the Americas experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Federal statistics show that femicides in Mexico dropped nearly 40% in the first seven months of this year compared to 2024, while intentional injuries against women fell by 11%. Political scientist Manuel Pérez Aguirre said that in Sheinbaum’s case, “a truly exemplary punishment” is needed to send a clear message to sexual aggressors across Mexico.   Source: AP

Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza began on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 21 hostages held for the past two years. But the process of returning the bodies of the seven remaining hostages, as called for under the truce deal, is progressing slowly. Hamas says it has not been able to reach all of the remains because they are buried under rubble left by Israel’s two-year offensive in Gaza. Israel has accused the militants of dragging their feet and threatened to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned. In the most recent release, Hamas returned the remains of an Israeli soldier killed during the militants' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. Israel's military said the remains were identified as Itay Chen, an Israeli-American tank commander. In return, Israel has released the bodies of 285 Palestinians back to Gaza. Israel has not provided details on their identities, and it is unclear if they were people killed in Israel during the Oct. 7 attack, Palestinian detainees who died in Israeli custody or bodies taken from Gaza by Israeli troops during the war. Health officials in Gaza have struggled to identify the bodies without access to DNA kits and have identified 84 of the bodies. Here’s a look at the hostages whose remains have not been returned. Meny Godard, 73 Meny Godard was a professional soccer player before enlisting in the Israeli military and serving in the 1973 Mideast War, according to Kibbutz Be’eri. He served in a variety of different positions in the kibbutz, including at its printing press. On the morning of Oct. 7, Godard and his wife, Ayelet, were forced out of their home after it was set on fire. She hid in the bushes for a number of hours before militants discovered her and killed her. She was able to tell her children that Meny had been killed before she died. The family held a double funeral for the couple. They are survived by four children and six grandchildren. Hadar Goldin, 23 Hadar Goldin’s remains are the only ones that have been held in Gaza since before the war. The Israeli soldier was killed on Aug. 1, 2014, two hours after a ceasefire took effect ending the that year’s war between Israel and Hamas. Based on evidence found in the tunnel where Goldin’s body was taken, including a blood-soaked shirt and prayer fringes, the military quickly determined that he had been killed in the attack. Goldin is survived by his parents and three siblings, including a twin. He had proposed to his fiancée before he was killed. Earlier this year, Goldin’s family marked 4,000 days since his body was taken. The military retrieved the body of another soldier who was killed in the 2014 war earlier this year. Ran Gvili, 24 Ran Gvili, who served in an elite police unit, was recovering from a broken shoulder he sustained in a motorcycle accident but rushed to assist fellow officers on Oct. 7. After helping people escape from the Nova music festival, he was killed fighting at another location and his body was taken to Gaza. The military confirmed his death four months later. He is survived by his parents and a sister. Joshua Loitu Mollel, 21 Joshua Mollel was a Tanzanian agricultural student who arrived at kibbutz Nahal Oz only 19 days before Oct. 7. He had finished agricultural college in Tanzania and hoped to gain experience in Israel he could apply at home. Two smaller Palestinian militant groups posted graphic footage on social media showing their fighters stabbing and shooting Mollel, according to a Human Rights Watch report. He is survived by two parents and four siblings in Tanzania. Dror Or, 52 Dror Or was a father of three who worked at the dairy farm on Kibbutz Be’eri for 15 years, rising to the position of manager. He was an expert cheesemaker, according to family and friends. On Oct. 7, the family was hiding in their safe room when militants lit the house on fire. Dror and his wife, Yonat, were killed. Two of their children, Noam, 17, and Alma, 13, were abducted and released during the November 2023 ceasefire. Sudthisak Rinthalak Sudthisak Rinthalak was an agricultural worker from Thailand who had been employed at Kibbutz Be’eri. According to media reports, Rinthalak was divorced and had been working in Israel since 2017. A total of 31 workers from Thailand were kidnapped on Oct. 7, the largest group of foreigners to be held in captivity. Most of them were released in the first and second ceasefires. The Thai Foreign Ministry has said in addition to the hostages, 46 Thais have been killed during the war. Lior Rudaeff, 61 Lior Rudaeff was born in Argentina and moved to Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak at age 7. He volunteered for more than 40 years as an ambulance driver and was a member of the community’s emergency response team. He was killed while battling militants on the morning of Oct. 7 and his body was brought to Gaza. Rudaeff is survived by four children and three grandchildren.

Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City and its first Muslim leader, marked his historic victory on Wednesday by chanting the Bengali slogan, "Amar Mayor, Tomar Mayor." In a video circulating on social media, Mamdani, holding a microphone, led the chant, to which his supporters enthusiastically responded, "Zohran, Zohran." The celebrations erupted across Queens, particularly in Jamaica, as news of Mamdani's victory spread Tuesday night. The excitement was palpable, with supporters taking to the streets to raise slogans like "Amar mayor, Tomar mayor, Mamdani-Mamdani," "Mayor of New York, Mamdani-Mamdani," and "Mayor of the working class, Mamdani-Mamdani." Democrat Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state lawmaker and self-described democratic socialist, has been elected mayor of New York City, becoming the city’s first Muslim leader and its youngest mayor in decades. Mamdani defeated independent candidate and former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who sought a political comeback four years after resigning amid scandal. His victory marks a generational and ideological shift in city politics, fueled by grassroots organizing and strong support from young and working-class voters.

At least 34 people were killed when a long-distance passenger coach collided head-on with a minibus in Yemen's southern province of Abyan early Wednesday, a local security official told Xinhua. The coach, traveling from Saudi Arabia to Yemen's southern port city of Aden, collided with the minibus along a steep mountain pass in Abyan's Arqoub area. The impact triggered a blaze that engulfed both vehicles, killing 31 passengers on the coach and three occupants of the minibus, said the official, who requested anonymity. Most victims were trapped inside as the coach's door system malfunctioned and sealed windows hindered rescue efforts, said the official, adding that 13 passengers survived after breaking windows, sustaining severe burns and other injuries. The Arqoub stretch is highly dangerous due to its steep inclines and sharp bends.  

At least seven people were killed and 11 others injured when a UPS cargo plane crashed and burst into a massive fireball shortly after takeoff from the company’s global aviation hub at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, authorities said. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, bound for Honolulu, went down around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, erupting into flames moments after liftoff. Video footage showed fire on the plane’s left wing before it lifted briefly off the runway and exploded in a fiery blast. Parts of a nearby building’s roof were also torn apart by the explosion. More than 200 emergency responders rushed to the scene, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said, adding that rescue and recovery efforts resumed Wednesday morning. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear warned that the death toll could rise, noting that several of the injured suffered “very significant” wounds. Four of the deceased were not on board the aircraft, he said. “Anyone who has seen the footage knows how violent this crash was,” Beshear said. The UPS Worldport hub — the company’s largest package-handling facility, processing over 400,000 parcels an hour with 300 daily flights — suspended all sorting operations after the crash. “Everyone in Louisville knows someone who works at UPS,” said Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe. “People are desperately texting loved ones to make sure they’re safe. Sadly, some of those messages will go unanswered.” The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation and has dispatched a 28-member team to Louisville. Local officials have also created an online portal for residents to report debris found near their homes. A shelter-in-place order issued within a one-mile radius of the crash site was later reduced to a quarter mile early Wednesday as authorities continued to monitor air quality. The airport, which was temporarily shut down following the explosion, resumed operations Wednesday morning. However, several flights remained canceled, and some travelers spent the night inside the terminal. Nearby roads remained closed, and local schools canceled classes for the day. Aviation attorney Pablo Rojas said preliminary video analysis suggests the plane was struggling to gain altitude as flames spread near one of its left engines. “Given the amount of fuel it carried, once a fire starts, it’s only a matter of time before an explosion,” he said. “The plane itself essentially becomes a bomb.” Governor Beshear said a Kentucky Petroleum Recycling facility was directly struck by the crash, while a neighboring auto parts business also sustained damage. Dozens of people gathered near a police training academy Tuesday night, anxiously waiting for information about missing relatives. Eric Richardson said his girlfriend, who worked at a nearby metal recycling business, was still unaccounted for. Her phone’s location indicated she was still at the site. “I don’t even want to think about the worst,” said Bobby Whelan, Richardson’s friend, who had left the area just minutes before the explosion. “All our friends were there.” Witnesses described scenes of chaos. Video footage captured multiple fireballs lighting up the evening sky, followed by towering clouds of black smoke. “It literally looked like a war zone,” said Tom Brooks Jr., who owns a nearby metal recycling shop. “The whole place shook.” At a restaurant about 15 minutes away, Destyn Mitchell said customers were visibly shaken by the deafening blast. “People who had just sat down got up, packed their food, and rushed home,” she said. The Louisville airport is located just 10 minutes from downtown Louisville, near residential neighborhoods, a water park, and several museums.

Malaysian rapper and filmmaker Wee Meng Chee, popularly known as Namewee, has been detained to assist police in their investigation into the murder of a Taiwanese social media influencer, his lawyer confirmed Wednesday. Lawyer Joshua Tay said Namewee, 42, surrendered to police early Wednesday and will remain in custody for six days. Police had launched a search for him after they reclassified the death of Taiwanese influencer Hsieh Yu-hsin as a murder following new evidence. Hsieh, 31, who had over half a million Instagram followers and an OnlyFans account, was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Kuala Lumpur on October 22. According to local media, Namewee was the last person seen with her before her death. He was briefly detained earlier and separately charged with drug possession, allegations he has denied. A former nurse known online as “Nurse Goddess,” Hsieh had arrived in Malaysia on October 20 for a four-day trip. Police are awaiting full post-mortem and toxicology results before confirming the cause of death. In an Instagram post after surrendering, Namewee expressed sadness over Hsieh’s death and pledged full cooperation with investigators. “I hope the probe will be conducted thoroughly, objectively, and fairly,” his lawyer Tay said. Namewee, known for his provocative and satirical work on politics, race, and religion, has faced multiple arrests over the years. His music videos and films often draw controversy in Malaysia, where he has been accused of insulting national and religious sentiments. He was detained in 2016 over a video titled Oh My God, which featured scenes at various houses of worship and used the Malay word “Allah.” In 2018, he was arrested again following complaints about another video featuring dancers in dog masks, which authorities claimed insulted Islam. Namewee maintains that his work targets hypocrisy and abuse of power, not religion or race. The rapper has also been banned in China since 2021 after releasing a song with Australian singer Kimberley Chen that mocked Chinese nationalism and referenced Taiwan’s sovereignty.   Source: AP

Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and divisive figures in American politics and a chief architect of the Iraq invasion, has died at the age of 84. Cheney passed away on Monday from complications related to pneumonia and long-standing heart and vascular disease, his family confirmed Tuesday. A dominant force in Republican politics for decades, Cheney first rose to prominence as defense secretary under President George H.W. Bush, directing U.S. forces during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. He later returned to Washington as vice president under George W. Bush, where he became the administration’s most powerful behind-the-scenes strategist. Often described as the de facto chief operating officer of the Bush White House, Cheney wielded exceptional influence over national security, defense, and energy policy. Despite battling chronic heart disease—and eventually receiving a heart transplant—he remained a driving force in shaping America’s post-9/11 counterterrorism policies, including controversial surveillance, detention, and interrogation programs. “History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation — a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held,” former President George W. Bush said in a statement. After leaving office, Cheney’s relationship with the Republican Party became strained, particularly as his daughter Liz Cheney emerged as a leading critic of Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Though Trump remained silent after Cheney’s death, the White House lowered flags to half-staff in his honor. Despite his staunch conservatism, Cheney was publicly supportive of his daughter Mary Cheney, who is gay, saying, “Freedom means freedom for everyone.” As vice president, Cheney transformed the office from a largely ceremonial role into a powerful policymaking hub. He was a key advocate for the 2003 Iraq War, asserting—incorrectly—that Saddam Hussein had ties to the 9/11 attacks and weapons of mass destruction. His claims later proved false, but Cheney never publicly recanted them. His tenure was also marked by secrecy and controversy. In 2006, he accidentally shot and injured a friend, Harry Whittington, during a hunting trip, an incident that further fueled criticism of his secretive style. Cheney’s long career in Washington began in 1968 as a congressional fellow. He became a protégé of Donald Rumsfeld in the Ford administration, rising to White House chief of staff at age 34, the youngest ever. Later, he represented Wyoming in Congress for six terms and served as Halliburton’s CEO before rejoining government as defense secretary in 1989. On September 11, 2001, when President Bush was away, Cheney authorized the military to shoot down hijacked planes heading toward Washington, as two had already struck the World Trade Center. He spent the day in a secure White House bunker, overseeing the government’s immediate response. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in Casper, Wyoming, Cheney was a standout student and athlete before briefly attending Yale University, from which he was expelled. He later earned degrees from the University of Wyoming and married his high school sweetheart, Lynne Vincent, in 1964. Cheney is survived by his wife Lynne and daughters Liz and Mary Cheney.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned that the war in Sudan is “spiraling out of control” after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the besieged, famine-hit Darfur city of el-Fasher. Speaking in Qatar, Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in the two-year conflict, which has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. “Hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped by this siege,” he said. “People are dying of malnutrition, disease, and violence.” He also cited credible reports of widespread executions since the RSF entered the city. The paramilitary group, which had besieged el-Fasher for 18 months, reportedly killed more than 450 people in a hospital and carried out ethnically targeted killings and sexual assaults. While the RSF denies committing atrocities, testimonies from fleeing residents, satellite imagery, and online videos depict a devastating attack. The war, which began in April 2023, has killed over 40,000 people according to UN figures, displaced more than 14 million, and fueled famine and disease outbreaks across Sudan. Guterres stressed the need for international pressure to stop the fighting and prevent further arms from reaching Sudan, saying, “We need to create mechanisms of accountability because the crimes being committed are so horrendous.” Thousands missing, new horrors emerge after RSF captures Sudan’s el-Fasher Since the RSF takeover, nearly 71,000 people have been displaced from el-Fasher, with thousands reaching the nearest camp in Tawila, 65 kilometers away. Survivors recounted harrowing journeys and violent attacks. Habib Allah Yakoub, 27, said he and his pregnant wife walked for two days after their home was destroyed, while Samiya Ibrahim, 38, described being tortured and separated from her husband by RSF gunmen. The humanitarian situation remains critical as aid agencies struggle to reach affected populations. Source: AP 

Charles Coste, the world’s oldest living Olympian and 1948 Olympic cycling gold medalist, has died at 101, the French presidency announced Tuesday. Coste won the team pursuit gold at the London Games and gained renewed attention last year as one of the final bearers of the Olympic flame for the 2024 Paris Games. Emmanuel Macron’s office called him “the tireless messenger of a certain idea of sport.” During the ceremony, Coste, in a wheelchair, carried the torch in the rain and lit the cauldron alongside French Olympic gold medalists Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec, reflecting his lifelong devotion to sport. Born near Toulon, Coste became French amateur pursuit champion in 1947 and earned a bronze at the world championships the following year. With teammates Pierre Adam, Serge Blusson, and Fernand Decanali, he won Olympic gold in the first post-World War II Games, setting a record margin of nearly 39 seconds. Turning professional, he claimed victory at the 1949 Grand Prix des Nations and competed in two Tours de France and four Giros before retiring in 1959. He later worked as a sales inspector for Europe’s largest laundry. Macron extended condolences to Coste’s family and cycling fans, calling him “a champion who left his mark on the history of his sport and of the nation.”