United News of Bangladesh

Russian attacks in Ukraine have killed at least six people and damaged Kyiv’s Northern Bridge, suspending traffic and causing tailbacks for a third consecutive day, officials said. The strike damaged the bridge’s road surface and trolleybus cables, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said. No casualties were reported in the bridge attack. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed responsibility, saying the bridge was used for troop movements and military cargo logistics. The attack followed Russian strikes that forced the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv’s six road bridges over the Dnipro River. Meanwhile, Moldova’s President Maia Sandu said the war was “dangerously reaching” her country after five Russian air attack weapons, including Banderol missiles and drones, violated Moldovan airspace and exploded there. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched Banderol cruise missiles at the Odesa region, which borders Moldova. In Russia’s Kaluga region, Ukrainian drone strikes damaged apartment buildings and injured people, regional Gov. Vladislav Shapsha said. Thirteen drones were shot down. Russian attacks on Kharkiv killed five people and wounded more than 40, while strikes in Izyum injured three. A Russian strike on a civilian cargo ship in Odesa killed a sailor and wounded three others. Ukrainian drones killed two people in occupied Luhansk, while a Ukrainian strike in Russia’s Belgorod region killed one civilian and wounded two.

A 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national arrested over suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack near a U.S.-run military base in England has been released on bail, authorities said Saturday. The man was arrested Thursday in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts near RAF Fairford, an air base used by U.S. bombers to conduct strikes against Iran. He is the sixth person arrested and subsequently released on bail as British detectives investigate the security incident, authorities said. British officials have linked the incident to Tehran, although they have not disclosed details of what the suspects allegedly planned or why Iran is believed to have been involved. The five other suspects, all British men in their 20s from London, have also been released on bail. Their identities have not been made public. The incident began early Sunday when scores of residents living near the base were evacuated as armed police and army bomb-disposal experts searched the surrounding rural area. Police later said they found gasoline in three vans linked to the five suspects, but no explosives were discovered. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain had “strong indications” that Iran was involved in the incident but did not provide further details. Iran has denied any involvement. Tehran has previously said that military bases used to launch attacks against Iran would be considered legitimate targets. Located about 160 kilometres west of London, RAF Fairford has been used by U.S. bombers in conflicts across the Middle East for decades, including this year's war with Iran. The arrests came amid heightened concerns in Britain over activities by hostile states. British security officials have said both Russia and Iran have used proxies to carry out criminal activities in the country. Officials said national security cases involving hostile-state activity, including Iran, rose by 50 percent in the six months to December 2025. British authorities have also accused proxies linked to Iran of carrying out arson attacks and other incidents in Britain and elsewhere, with several targeting Jewish communities and allegedly aimed at creating fear. They have previously warned that Tehran could broaden its targets in Britain if conflicts in the Middle East persist.

The FlyDubai co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain in an apparent attempt to bring down a flight carrying 182 people had previously been prohibited from flying in his home country of Oman because of concerns about extremist views, a source familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Saturday. Meanwhile, a Palestinian citizen of Israel who was seeking election in Israel has decided to withdraw his candidacy following controversy over comments he made about Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Oman barred co-pilot from flying over extremism concerns The FlyDubai co-pilot who authorities say nearly caused a plane carrying 182 passengers to crash had earlier been banned from flying in Oman amid concerns over his alleged extremist beliefs, according to a person familiar with the case. The source, speaking anonymously because of the ongoing investigation, said the co-pilot was later employed by the Dubai-based airline. It remains unclear how thoroughly he was screened before being hired in the United Arab Emirates. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Oman had prohibited him from flying. Injured captain says he returned to cockpit to protect passengersIndian airline Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped stop what appeared to be an attempt to crash a flight headed for Tel Aviv, told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he realized he had to regain his footing to protect those on board. Speaking from a hospital in Abu Dhabi, Machchhar said he had suffered multiple injuries and had collapsed after being attacked by his co-pilot. He said he understood that unless he managed to get back up, the passengers could lose their lives. Machchhar was seriously wounded during Wednesday’s incident but succeeded in opening the cockpit door. Passengers then entered the cockpit and restrained the attacker as the Boeing 737 went into a steep descent, according to witnesses and Israeli authorities. Tanker hit by projectile in Strait of Hormuz A tanker traveling through the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an unidentified projectile while heading out of the strategic waterway, the British military said Friday. The incident caused a small fire and a temporary loss of power aboard the vessel. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said there were no reported casualties. The fire was put out and the tanker continued its journey. Authorities did not disclose the name of the tanker, and no group immediately claimed responsibility. UKMTO said four other tankers had recently been struck by projectiles in the strategic waterway, bringing the total number of affected vessels to five. Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz remains below levels recorded before the war, as do energy shipments. However, Iran’s ability to restrict traffic through the waterway has been reduced by U.S. Navy efforts to escort oil tankers. Together with the use of pipelines, this has enabled Gulf producers to bring oil exports close to prewar levels. Israeli strikes kill three in Gaza Three Israeli attacks in Gaza City and central Gaza killed three people and injured at least one other on Friday, according to health officials at hospitals in the territory. Two strikes in Gaza City each killed one person, while a separate attack in central Gaza killed another, officials said. The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the attacks, saying it had targeted militants in the areas but providing no further details. Fighting intensifies in Yemen as UN warns of worsening humanitarian crisisHeavy clashes broke out in a residential district of Taiz City in Yemen as fighting between Iran-backed Houthi forces and government troops supported by Saudi Arabia raised fears that the humanitarian crisis could deteriorate further. The World Food Program warned that renewed violence was making an already severe humanitarian situation even worse. WFP director Matthew Hollingworth said nearly three-quarters of Yemeni households are struggling to obtain enough food to meet their basic needs. An Associated Press reporter in Taiz said Houthi shelling struck the residential Wadi al-Qadi neighborhood on Friday, injuring several people. Saudi Arabia separately announced Friday that its forces had intercepted three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis toward Khamis Mushait. Saudi military spokesman Gen. Turki al-Maliki did not say when the missiles were fired and reported no immediate damage. Saudi Civil Defense also said a fourth projectile, which it attributed to the Houthis, struck a school in Najran, causing property damage. No injuries were reported. Palestinian candidate withdraws from Israeli electionSami Abou Shehadeh, chairman of Israel’s left-wing Balad party, said he would withdraw from the upcoming Israeli election after the president of the country’s Supreme Court indicated that most justices were likely to support his disqualification. Abou Shehadeh’s candidacy came under challenge because of an opinion article he published in Al-Araby al-Jadeed one day after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The article did not condemn Hamas and suggested that, given conditions in Gaza, it was surprising that violence had not erupted sooner. In a later article, Abou Shehadeh, a former member of the Knesset, described the Hamas attack as both unacceptable and criminal. He said he was unaware of the full extent of the violence when he wrote his initial article. The Supreme Court considered whether his statements violated Israeli legislation that prevents candidates from rejecting Israel’s existence, inciting racism or supporting armed struggle against the country. His lawyers argued that disqualifying him would amount to expanding the interpretation of the law and establishing a new legal standard. Palestinians make up roughly one-fifth of Israel’s population. Israeli troops prevent Palestinians from harvesting olives in West BankIsraeli soldiers prevented Palestinian farmers and activists from collecting olives in the northern West Bank, according to video footage obtained by The Associated Press. The footage showed Israeli troops firing shots into the air and using tear gas against Palestinian farmers and activists. Israeli settlers were also visible in the area. The Israeli military said its troops had been deployed after receiving reports of a confrontation and that the incident was subsequently dispersed. The military added that a security official at the scene had earlier fired shots into the air but did not provide further details. No injuries were reported. Olive harvesting in the West Bank has frequently been accompanied by tensions between Palestinian farmers and Israeli settlers. This year, Israel introduced additional restrictions preventing Palestinians from harvesting in areas known as Area C, which remains under Israeli security control and contains most of the West Bank’s agricultural land.

The Group of Seven (G7) wealthy nations announced Friday that they will release about 100 million barrels of oil and refined petroleum products in the coming weeks. A major portion of the initial release will consist of diesel, following a sharp rise in fuel prices in the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump said the diesel supplies would be released “immediately.” The G7 has pledged to begin with a large, accelerated release of diesel within 20 days, with the remaining supplies to be distributed over the following four months. The move comes as Trump and Republicans face growing pressure over rising energy costs ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Trump announced the decision on social media Friday. An AP-NORC poll showed that public approval of his handling of the economy had fallen to its lowest level, as the war involving Iran and ongoing trade disputes have contributed to higher prices for oil and other goods. Fuel costs in the United States and other countries have climbed sharply during the eight-month war. Trump has repeatedly argued that the economic costs are justified by efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. According to AAA, the average U.S. diesel price stood at $6.37 per gallon Friday, following a record $6.52 on Sept. 22. Diesel prices have also reached record levels in parts of Europe. Michael Lynch, a distinguished fellow at the Energy Policy Research Foundation, said releasing diesel reserves in Europe could reduce the amount of U.S. diesel being exported. He estimated that this could eventually bring U.S. diesel prices down by roughly 25 to 50 cents per gallon. Macron says the move could reduce fuel costsFrance currently holds the rotating presidency of the G7 and announced the agreement following a video meeting chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron. The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the European Union also represented. The latest decision follows a March agreement under which members of the International Energy Agency planned to release 426 million barrels of oil and petroleum products in an effort to stabilize global markets. European Union countries had committed around 92 million barrels, with a significant share consisting of refined products such as diesel. Macron said the coordinated action demonstrated unity among the countries involved and should help ease fuel prices. He also said the additional supply would increase liquidity in the market. Several factors have contributed to the rise in diesel prices. Along with higher crude oil costs, Russia has restricted fuel exports following Ukrainian drone attacks on its refineries. Although European countries do not purchase Russian diesel directly, countries such as Turkey and those in Latin America that previously bought Russian supplies are now competing with Europe for alternative sources. Supplies of refined petroleum products from Persian Gulf producers have also declined because of war-related damage and disruptions to export routes. Following the G7 announcement, U.S. oil prices fell about 2%. However, analyst Pavel Molchanov of Raymond James said the market response was limited because it remained unclear whether the 100 million barrels represented an additional release or the completion of an earlier commitment made in March. G7 rejects restrictions on energy exports Some Republicans in the United States had urged Trump to restrict diesel exports in an attempt to reduce domestic fuel prices. However, the G7 agreement specifically states that members will not impose restrictions on energy exports to one another. Energy analysts have warned that restricting U.S. diesel exports could initially reduce domestic prices but could create problems later. Because refineries produce diesel alongside other petroleum products, reducing diesel production could also reduce supplies of gasoline and other fuels. Trump said Friday that the United States had no plans to impose such an export ban. “We’re not going to be doing the export ban,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that both Europe and the United States were contributing significantly to the effort. Analysts warn of possible long-term consequences Some energy experts caution that releasing emergency reserves may provide temporary relief while creating longer-term risks. Jim Krane, an energy research fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute, said using strategic reserves could reduce fuel prices for a limited period but would leave Europe with smaller emergency supplies. Those reserves would eventually have to be replenished, ideally when prices are lower, although it is uncertain when that opportunity will arise. Krane also noted that the current environment, with two wars affecting refineries and international fuel shipments, makes it particularly risky to reduce emergency stockpiles when future prices and potential peace agreements remain uncertain. According to the French Embassy in the United States, Trump spoke with Macron overnight about rising fuel prices and the availability of petroleum products. Macron later chaired the G7 video conference on the issue. A White House official, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to comment publicly, said Trump also joined the G7 meeting to discuss the release of European diesel reserves. Meanwhile, Trump began what he described Thursday as a 32-day series of political rallies aimed at supporting Republican candidates in the November elections. The president has increasingly expressed frustration that voters do not sufficiently recognize what he considers his administration's achievements. Earlier this week, Trump gave his economic performance an A-plus but acknowledged that his administration was doing “an extremely poor job of promotion.”

The Group of Seven (G7) nations have agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil over four months to combat surging global energy costs, starting with an immediate, frontloaded diesel release within the first 20 days, officials announced Friday. The International Energy Agency (IEA) will coordinate the initiative following a videoconference chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron after discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. The decision comes as U.S. diesel prices hit a record $6.52 per gallon on September 22 before easing to $6.37 on Friday. Surging fuel costs, driven by the eight-month-long Iran war and trade disputes, have heightened political pressure on Trump and Republicans ahead of November's midterm elections. A recent media poll showed Trump's economic approval rating hitting a new low, with most adults blaming him for higher prices. Trump defended the war's economic toll as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, assuring prices will drop post-war. Frustrated by public perception, Trump rated his economic performance an "A-plus" while faulting promotional efforts.

Global food prices rose in September to their highest level in nearly four years, driven by logistics bottlenecks and adverse weather concerns, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Friday. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points in September, climbing from a revised 134.0 points in August to mark its highest level since November 2022. According to the agency, benchmark indices for cereal, sugar, and vegetable oil prices increased last month, whereas meat and dairy prices experienced declines. FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero highlighted that shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea, coupled with climate shocks, are applying mounting pressure on energy, transportation, and essential food commodities. Torero cautioned that if these pressures persist, they could ultimately pass through to retail consumer prices, particularly in countries heavily reliant on food and energy imports. Driven by fears surrounding a severe El Niño weather pattern, international sugar prices surged to an 18-month high. Meanwhile, conflict-related disruptions to Black Sea trade pushed wheat futures to a three-year peak in early September, the FAO noted. The FAO maintained its forecast for global cereal production in 2026 largely unchanged at 2.979 billion metric tons. While this represents a 2.1 percent decrease from 2025 levels, it would still mark the second-highest harvest on record. Additionally, the agency lowered its projection for global cereal trade in 2026/27 by 0.7 percent compared to its September forecast, attributing the cut to reduced expectations for wheat and maize exports amid constrained shipping routes in the Black Sea.

Russian aerial attacks forced the partial closure of three bridges over the Dnipro River in Kyiv on Friday, disrupting traffic across the Ukrainian capital in what officials described as Moscow’s latest tactic to disrupt daily life. At the same time, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had received separate proposals from the United States, India, Turkey and Egypt for limited ceasefires with Russia. The proposals call for a halt to attacks on energy facilities and commercial shipping in the Black Sea. Strikes on energy infrastructure have contributed to fuel shortages in Russia and power outages in Ukraine, while Black Sea shipping is vital for Ukraine’s grain exports to global markets. The strikes that led to the closure or partial closure of three of Kyiv’s six road bridges caused major traffic jams. The attacks appeared to represent a new approach in Russia’s campaign against the capital. Russia has previously targeted apartment buildings, supermarket warehouses, gas stations and data centers, among other sites, as its aerial attacks have intensified. The air campaign has increased in recent months as fighting along the roughly 1,250-kilometer front line across northern, eastern and southern Ukraine has largely stalled. Russia invaded Ukraine more than 4½ years ago, but there are still no clear signs of a possible peace agreement. Ukraine, however, has made some gains against Russia’s larger military this year, according to the Institute for the Study of War. The Washington-based think tank said in a report Thursday that Russian forces lost control of nearly 300 square kilometers (116 square miles) between March and September. It also estimated that Russia suffered more than 46,000 military casualties in September, the highest monthly figure this year. The report did not provide an estimate of Ukrainian casualties. Zelenskyy says sanctions could curb Russian drones and missilesRussia launched more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight, striking Kyiv and eight other regions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Nearly half of the drones were jet-powered models, which he said are particularly difficult to intercept. One drone struck a high-rise apartment building in Kyiv, killing one person, Zelenskyy said. At least four others were reported injured elsewhere. Zelenskyy again urged other countries to close loopholes in sanctions against Russia and impose additional restrictions on Russian trade. He said Russian drones and missiles are “critically dependent” on foreign-made components. “Every Russian drone can actually be stopped right at the production line,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X. Ukraine has also carried out long-range drone and missile attacks inside Russia, targeting military production facilities and oil refineries. Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday that its air defenses had shot down 646 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian regions, occupied Crimea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. One person was injured in Russia’s southwestern Volgograd region, Gov. Andrei Bocharov said. He said the attack targeted “industrial infrastructure” but gave no further details. Ukraine open to limited truce on energy and Black Sea attacksSybiha said the proposals from the four countries marked the first time India had offered to help mediate the conflict. India has sought to maintain its relationship with Russia while also strengthening ties with the United States and other Western countries. A proposed new US sanctions package against Russia could impose tariffs of up to 100% on New Delhi because India remains a major buyer of Russian oil. Sybiha said Kyiv was prepared to accept a ceasefire covering attacks on energy infrastructure, including Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid and Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. He also said the truce should cover commercial vessels carrying grain and other agricultural products through the Black Sea. “We are ready for an energy and Black Sea ceasefire, but only in that combination. Energy and a ceasefire in the Black Sea,” Sybiha told reporters Thursday. He again offered an unconditional ceasefire along the front line. Moscow, however, has rejected such a proposal, saying a comprehensive peace agreement should be reached instead of a temporary truce. Ukraine says Russia stockpiling ballistic missilesSybiha said Ukraine was asking partner countries for about 300 Patriot missiles, citing intelligence estimates that Russia has around 600 ballistic missiles in reserve and can produce as many as 140 more each month. The US-made Patriot air defense system is considered effective against ballistic missiles, which travel at high speeds and descend steeply. However, the systems and missiles are in limited supply amid the war in Iran. Ukraine seeks urgent funding for drone productionSybiha said Ukraine urgently needs additional funding to secure future drone production and avoid shortages early next year. Kyiv faces an estimated budget deficit of about $27 billion this year. The European Union has pledged to help cover Ukraine’s financial needs and strengthen its defense capabilities. Russia is also facing economic and financial pressure because of high military spending and rising debt.

France’s prime minister called an emergency meeting Thursday and asked ministers to cancel planned trips as student protests spread across the country, with high school students demonstrating over underfunded schools, long school days and other grievances. The protests began at schools in the Paris region last week and have since expanded, with police making hundreds of arrests during clashes with demonstrators. Authorities have reported dozens of injuries, including those caused by objects thrown during protests and, in some suspected cases, by police riot-control projectiles. The demonstrations are emerging as a major issue in the campaign for next May’s presidential election. President Emmanuel Macron cannot seek a third consecutive term under France’s Constitution. The unrest is also adding pressure on a government struggling with the country’s worsening finances and has overshadowed Thursday’s release of a proposed cost-cutting budget for 2027. At a Paris high school where students blocked an entrance, 18-year-old Salama Gargouri said protesters were demanding changes to “overloaded schedules, the system, the teachers, people who don't listen to us, the university application process.” French high school students often begin classes at 8 a.m. and remain at school until late afternoon. “Older people say, ‘Kids, go to school from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.’ But you don't know what that does mentally,” said Janna Tahari, another Paris high school student. Some demonstrations have been marred by arson, thrown objects and other violence, leading to increasing injuries and accusations between protesters and authorities. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has ordered police to clear blockades that prevent students from attending classes and to stop violence and vandalism. Juliette Estiville, a high school Spanish teacher, said the government’s response to the protests prompted her to join the students. “So, I'm here just to provide protection, to form a barrier between the police and the students,” she said. “And indeed, today went well, it's going well, but I really think that the teachers who come to the blockades are really just there to protect our young people.” Education Minister Edouard Geffray said Thursday’s violence included a school being set on fire and staff members being doused with gasoline. He said he had instructed schools to conduct classes remotely when blockades or damage made it unsafe for students to attend. “Violence will not deprive our students of their fundamental right to education,” Geffray said in a post on X. Far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has criticized the government’s response as repressive. Critics of Mélenchon have accused his party of encouraging violence and exploiting the unrest ahead of the presidential election. The office of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he had asked ministers to cancel planned official trips in the coming days so authorities and police could concentrate on managing the demonstrations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday reiterated that Moscow has no plans to attack European countries but warned that Russia would respond to any aggression with “all weapons” available to it. Speaking at the Valdai Club foreign policy forum, Putin accused Western and European countries of heightening tensions by discussing preparations for a possible war with Russia in the coming years, holding military exercises in the Baltic Sea and seizing Russian vessels. His comments came after Moscow warned NATO that it would not rule out using nuclear weapons to defend Kaliningrad if members of the military alliance attempted to cut the Russian exclave off from the rest of the country. Several Russian embassies in Europe issued statements this week saying Moscow had information that NATO was preparing an “air and naval blockade” of Kaliningrad and the surrounding region. The embassies accused European leaders of “playing a dangerous game” by suggesting that Russia could attack another country or intensify destabilizing operations involving drones and sabotage. Moscow has dismissed the allegations as absurd. “There should be no mistake — Russia would be ready to use all its arsenal, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if NATO countries try to isolate Kaliningrad region from the rest of the country,” the Russian Embassy in Ireland said Tuesday. Asked at the forum whether Russia and NATO were approaching a war or simply trying to intimidate one another, Putin said Moscow's warnings were a response to what he described as attempts to intimidate Russia. “It’s not intimidation, it’s a response to an attempt to intimidate us,” he said. Putin said the earlier warning to NATO was accurate. “If it comes to a direct attack on the Russian Federation — in this case we mean Kaliningrad, or maybe some other territories — of course, inevitably and immediately the question of Russian Federation using all weapons at the disposal of our country will appear on the agenda,” he said. Putin did not say specifically whether Russia would use nuclear weapons. However, he said Moscow possesses weapons that “no one else has” and would decide which ones to use if the country came under attack. NATO rejects Russia’s nuclear rhetoricNATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed Wednesday that Russia had sent a written message to the US-led military alliance. “We strongly denounce the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric,” Hart said in a statement. Hart said NATO was not targeting Kaliningrad and that the alliance had responded by stressing that “NATO is a defensive alliance and none of our activities or exercises pose a risk to any part of Russia.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the alliance’s response was “short and concise.” “Basically what we said is, ‘Hey, listen, we are defensive alliance, and stop the nuclear threat. This is absolutely not called for and not helpful,’” Rutte told Euronews. NATO also called on Russia to end its “unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine,” which has entered its fifth year. Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave located between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. It hosts Russia’s main Baltic naval base and other military facilities, including nuclear-capable Iskander missiles. Western military officials have said key military installations in Kaliningrad would likely be among the first targets if Russia attacked a NATO member. NATO allies have held military exercises in the Baltic Sea region in recent months, with additional drills planned for October. The alliance launched Operation Baltic Sentry there last year to protect communication cables and pipelines. On Aug. 18, NATO conducted an exercise over northern Poland and the Baltic region involving several aircraft, including an EA-37B Compass Call, an advanced US aircraft capable of disrupting communications and radar, according to the US Air Forces in Europe. Defense analysts said the large-scale exercise, which had not been announced in advance, was unlikely to have been welcomed by the Kremlin. Rutte calls for continued support for UkraineEuropean leaders and intelligence agencies have warned that Russia could be capable of attacking another country within a few years, particularly if it succeeds in its war against Ukraine. Rutte told Euronews that Russia was seeking “to divide us and lose the focus” on supporting Ukraine. “We will not,” he said, adding that continued support for Kyiv was the best response. “That’s the message. Calm, carry on, keep the support for Ukraine going. That’s how we deal with it,” Rutte said.

India’s “Cockroach” youth movement has called for fresh protests in Mumbai on Friday, demanding the resignation of the country’s chief election commissioner over controversial changes to voter lists. The movement, which started as an online campaign and now calls itself the Cockroach Janata Party, forced India’s education minister to resign in July following street protests. Friday’s rally in Mumbai is expected to mark the beginning of a new nationwide protest campaign. Separately, a coalition of student and civil society organizations planned to hold a demonstration Friday at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest venue in New Delhi, making the same demand. The protests come as pressure grows on India’s Election Commission, which is responsible for conducting elections across the country. Opposition parties and critics accuse the commission of changing voter registrations in ways they say could benefit the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The commission and the government have denied the allegations. Election Commission faces reported internal disagreementThe Indian Express reported last month that two of the three election commissioners had formally raised objections to several decisions concerning voter list revisions, registration procedures and the commission’s digital systems. The newspaper reported that the two commissioners questioned the legality of some of the decisions, but Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar rejected their concerns. Under Indian law, the three-member Election Commission makes decisions by majority vote. The commission disputed the report, saying it reflected “differing views and deliberations” among the commissioners rather than formal written objections. Voter revisions remove millions of namesThe voter list revisions began last year in the eastern state of Bihar ahead of state elections and have since been expanded to most Indian states and federally administered territories. The process, known as Special Intensive Revision, has faced criticism over the documents required to prove voter eligibility. Critics say the requirements are confusing and difficult for many people to meet, potentially leaving millions without registration and unable to vote. Election Commission data indicates that voter lists in some areas could decline by as much as 30%. The commission says the revisions are intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries while ensuring that all eligible voters remain registered. Opposition parties and activists, however, say the process could exclude legitimate voters. They have also accused Chief Election Commissioner Kumar of political bias and alleged that the revisions could benefit Modi’s party. The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected the allegations. ‘Cockroach’ movement broadens its political agendaThe youth movement emerged earlier this year amid anger over high youth unemployment and leaked examination papers and has since developed into a broader political force. Led by Abhijeet Dipke, the movement gained national attention by organizing large protests over examination paper leaks. The demonstrations eventually led to the resignation of India’s education minister, marking a major political setback for Modi’s government. Since then, the movement has expanded its focus beyond education to issues including government accountability and democratic institutions.