United News of Bangladesh

Nearly nine in 10 Afghan families are skipping meals or sinking into debt as millions of returnees strain already scarce resources in one of the world’s poorest nations, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP report, released Wednesday, said Afghanistan — reeling from aid cuts, sanctions, and a series of natural disasters including a deadly earthquake in August — is struggling to absorb about 4.5 million returnees since 2023. This year alone, some 1.5 million Afghans have been forced back from Pakistan and Iran as the two countries ramped up efforts to expel refugees. The report found that more than 90 percent of returnee households have taken on debt, ranging from $373 to $900, while the average monthly income stands at just $100. Over half of the families surveyed said they are skipping medical treatment to afford food. Housing conditions have also deteriorated sharply, with rent costs tripling in many areas. More than half of returnees reported inadequate living space or bedding, and 18 percent said they had been displaced again within the past year. In the western provinces of Injil and Guzara, most returnees are living in tents or damaged shelters, the report said. UNDP Resident Representative Stephen Rodriques called for urgent, area-based recovery efforts to strengthen livelihoods and services in high-return regions. “By linking income opportunities, basic services, housing and social cohesion, it is possible to ease pressure on high-return districts and reduce the risk of secondary displacement,” he said. Afghanistan’s aid-dependent economy has been in free fall since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Donor funding has dropped significantly, with only a fraction of the $3.1 billion sought by the UN this year being met. The Taliban authorities have appealed for greater humanitarian support, especially following this year’s earthquake, and have condemned Pakistan’s mass deportation of Afghan nationals. The UNDP also highlighted that restrictions on women’s work and movement are worsening the crisis, as many returnee families depend on female breadwinners. Women’s participation in the labour force has plunged to just 6 percent — among the lowest globally. “In some provinces, one in four households depend on women as the main income earners,” said Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. “When women are prevented from working, families, communities and the country all lose out. Cutting women out of front-line teams also means cutting off vital services for returnees and disaster victims.”   With inputs from Al Zazeera

More than 70 athletes, including football stars Paul Pogba and Hakim Ziyech, have joined a growing call for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to suspend Israel over what they describe as grave human rights violations against Palestinians. In a letter sent to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin on Tuesday, the group Athletes for Peace—supported by human rights organisations such as the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Gaza Tribunal—urged the governing body to cut ties with the Israel Football Association (IFA). “No shared venue, stage, or arena in international civil society should welcome a regime that commits genocide, apartheid, and other crimes against humanity,” the letter stated. It was penned by the advocacy group Game Over Israel, which has been leading campaigns to bar Israel from international sports and cultural events. The signatories include French World Cup winner Paul Pogba, Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech, Dutch forward Anwar El Ghazi, and Spanish player Adama Traoré. They argue that Israel has used football to legitimise its occupation of Palestinian territories, including by allowing clubs from illegal West Bank settlements to compete in its leagues—contravening FIFA regulations. “UEFA’s continued relationship with the IFA—through funding and by allowing Israeli teams in international tournaments—means the body may be complicit in these violations,” the letter said. The petition follows mounting pressure from rights groups and football federations. In September, the Turkish Football Federation supported a call to suspend Israel, while earlier this month, the Football Association of Ireland passed a similar resolution. Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza and the occupied territories have drawn condemnation from global rights groups and UN investigators, who have described the campaign as genocidal. Reports say more than 69,000 Palestinians have been killed, including 421 footballers, while the war has devastated Gaza’s sports infrastructure. The letter also noted that UEFA and FIFA have previously suspended nations for serious breaches of international law, citing apartheid-era South Africa, post-war Germany, Yugoslavia, and, most recently, Russia. “It is time UEFA upholds the same moral and legal standards and suspend Israel immediately,” it concluded.   With inputs from Al Zazeera

Turkey’s defense minister confirmed Wednesday that all 20 military personnel aboard a Turkish cargo plane that crashed in Georgia have died. The C-130 aircraft had departed from Ganja, Azerbaijan, and was en route to Turkey when it went down Tuesday in Georgia’s Sighnaghi municipality, near the Azerbaijani border. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. A Turkish investigation team arrived at the site early Wednesday to examine the wreckage in cooperation with Georgian authorities, according to the National Defense Ministry. Footage from Turkish broadcaster NTV showed the crash debris scattered across farmland surrounded by hills. Pieces of the aircraft were found across several locations. “Our brave comrades were martyred on November 11, 2025, when our C-130 transport aircraft, returning from Azerbaijan, crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border,” Defense Minister Yasar Guler wrote on X, sharing photos of the fallen personnel. On Tuesday, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency cited Georgia’s aviation authority as saying that radio contact with the plane was lost shortly after it entered Georgian airspace. No distress signal had been sent. The C-130 model is a key aircraft for Turkey’s military, used mainly for troop transport and logistics operations. Turkey and Azerbaijan share strong military ties. Just days earlier, on November 8, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations in Baku, marking its 2020 military victory over Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It was not immediately clear whether the crew members on the crashed plane had participated in those events. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili expressed condolences to Turkey over the tragedy. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our Turkish brothers in the accident on Georgian soil,” Aliyev said in a statement reported by Anadolu. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also offered condolences, honoring the victims and reaffirming solidarity with Turkey. Details regarding funeral arrangements and the repatriation of the victims’ remains have not yet been released.   

BBC Director General Tim Davie has urged staff to “fight for our journalism” after US President Donald Trump threatened to sue the corporation for $1 billion over an edited Panorama programme. The controversy arose after a leaked internal BBC memo claimed that the documentary had misled viewers by editing parts of Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech in a way that suggested he had incited the Capitol Hill riot. Davie, who resigned on Sunday along with BBC News CEO Deborah Turness amid growing criticism over the issue, told staff on Tuesday that although the broadcaster “made some mistakes,” it must “fight for our journalism.” “This narrative will not just be given by our enemies — it’s our narrative,” he said, stressing that despite recent challenges, “the BBC does good work, and that speaks louder than any newspaper or weaponisation.” Trump’s legal team has demanded a “full and fair retraction” of the Panorama episode by Friday, calling the broadcast “false, defamatory, and misleading.” The BBC said it will respond in due course. BBC Chair Samir Shah told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday that the edit was an “error of judgment” that wrongly gave the impression of a direct call for violence. He said the broadcaster would like to apologise for the mistake. During a staff meeting, both Davie and Shah avoided direct mention of Trump’s lawsuit but acknowledged an editorial breach had occurred. Davie said he accepted responsibility, adding that he wanted to give his successor “a clear runway” before the upcoming charter renewal. Media lawyer Mark Stephens said Trump may struggle to pursue the case in the United States since the programme was neither aired there nor available on BBC iPlayer. Meanwhile, political leaders in the UK have defended the BBC’s independence. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office dismissed claims that the broadcaster was “institutionally biased,” while Culture Secretary Kemi Badenoch said the incident raised “serious questions” but did not justify political interference. The Panorama programme, first aired in October 2024, has since been removed from iPlayer as it is over a year old.   Source: BBC

The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) opened on Monday in Belem, Brazil, with the goal of placing the global fight against climate change back at the center of international priorities, local authorities said. At the opening session, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev urged delegates to build on the commitments made at last year’s summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for his appointment and stressed that the Belem summit must deliver practical solutions. He said that despite recent setbacks, improving living conditions worldwide remains possible through science, education, and culture. He also underscored that multilateralism is the only effective path forward in tackling climate challenges. The conference, which runs through November 21, will address key issues such as climate adaptation, just transition, and implementation of the Paris Agreement’s global stocktake. Delegations from over 190 countries and regions have registered to participate, according to the COP30 presidency. Source: Xinhua

Tensions flared between Japan and China on Monday after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a Chinese military strike on Taiwan could pose “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan, potentially justifying the use of force. Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister last month, said Friday that any Chinese military aggression near Taiwan would represent “an existential threat.” Her remarks drew swift condemnation from Beijing over the weekend. In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Chinese Consul General Xue Jian lashed out, writing, “We have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck lunging at us. Are you ready?” He also accused Takaichi and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of “blatant interference in China’s internal affairs” for previously claiming that “a Taiwan emergency is a Japan emergency,” and demanded an apology. On Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan had formally protested to Beijing, calling Xue’s remarks “extremely inappropriate.” Tokyo’s Foreign Ministry demanded that the post be deleted and requested an explanation from China. The exchange signals possible turbulence ahead for Japan-China relations under Takaichi, despite what had appeared to be a cordial meeting between her and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the recent APEC summit in South Korea. The Japanese leader has vowed to strengthen national defense and met Taiwan’s representative to the summit a day after seeing Xi — a move that further angered Beijing. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Xue’s post was “a personal response” to what he described as “erroneous and dangerous comments” supporting Taiwan’s separation from China. He accused Japanese politicians and media of “hyping” the issue to mislead the public. Lin confirmed that Beijing had filed a “solemn protest” with Tokyo, questioning Japan’s intentions: “Is Japan trying to challenge China’s core interests and obstruct national reunification? Where does Japan want to take China-Japan relations?” China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve reunification. The controversy began Friday when Takaichi, during a parliamentary session, was asked what scenarios could threaten Japan’s security. She cited a possible Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan or military actions blocking U.S. forces as examples that could qualify as a “survival-threatening situation,” under which Japan could legally use force for self-defense. Her statement, seen as tougher than those of past leaders, sparked criticism and forced her to later clarify that her position remained consistent with Japan’s previous official stance.

The Senate voted Monday to approve a bill reopening the federal government, moving the nation closer to ending its longest-ever shutdown. The measure passed after a small group of Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the agreement, despite facing strong criticism from within their own ranks. The 41-day shutdown may continue for a few more days as House members, currently on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote. President Donald Trump signaled his backing for the bill, saying, “We’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The Senate passed the legislation 60–40, breaking a six-week impasse. Democrats had demanded negotiations on extending expiring health care tax credits, but Republicans refused. As the shutdown’s impact deepened — delaying food aid, grounding federal workers’ pay, and worsening airport backlogs — five moderate Democrats eventually voted with Republicans to end the stalemate. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to return immediately to Washington, citing travel delays caused by the shutdown. “We have to do this as quickly as possible,” he said. How the Deal Came TogetherAfter weeks of tense negotiations, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine agreed to advance three bipartisan spending bills and temporarily extend government funding through late January. In return, Republicans pledged to hold a Senate vote on the health care tax credits by mid-December, though passage is uncertain. Shaheen said it was “the only viable option” after Republicans refused to compromise. “The shutdown brought attention to the health care issue,” she said, adding that the future vote offers “a path forward.” The bill reverses mass firings of federal employees initiated during the shutdown and ensures workers are paid once operations resume. It also shields them from further layoffs through January. Alongside Shaheen, King, and Hassan, Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Jacky Rosen also voted in favor. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and most Democrats opposed the measure. Although more Democratic support had been expected, only five senators ultimately switched their votes — just enough for the bill to pass. Divided Democratic ResponseMany Democrats condemned the decision. Schumer said he could not “in good faith” support the measure after consulting with his caucus, promising that Democrats “will not give up the fight” for affordable health care. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders called the deal a “horrific mistake,” while Senator Chris Murphy warned that Democrats risked betraying voters who had urged them to stand firm. House Democrats also voiced frustration. Representative Greg Casar of Texas called the agreement a “betrayal” of Americans struggling with health care costs. Others, however, backed Schumer’s leadership. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised his handling of the shutdown, noting that “the American people know we are on the right side of this fight.” Health Care Fight Still AheadWhether the two parties can agree on the tax credits remains uncertain. Speaker Johnson has refused to commit to bringing the issue before the House, though some Republicans say they’re open to extending pandemic-era subsidies with new limits on eligibility. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins expressed support for extending the credits but suggested adding income caps. Some Democrats have indicated they might consider such a compromise. “We must act by year’s end, and that’s exactly what’s been promised,” Collins said. However, many Republicans, including Trump, have renewed calls to repeal or overhaul the Affordable Care Act entirely. In a preview of the coming debate, the Senate voted 47–53 on Monday — along party lines — against extending the health care subsidies for another year. The vote was allowed as part of a broader deal to speed up final passage of the shutdown-ending legislation before sending it to the House.

A car explosion near New Delhi’s historic Red Fort on Monday killed at least eight people and injured 19 others, according to police. The blast, which sparked a fire that damaged several nearby vehicles, occurred close to one of the Red Fort metro station gates, fire officials said. Authorities are still determining the cause of the explosion. Following the incident, security was heightened across New Delhi, including at the international airport, metro stations, and government buildings. Om Prakash Gupta, a resident living near the site, said he heard a loud bang and ran outside with his children. “There were vehicles on fire and body parts scattered around,” he told the Associated Press, describing one body lying on a car windshield. Another witness, a cab driver named Shahrukh, said he too heard the explosion and ran from his car along with others. The Red Fort, a former Mughal palace and a major tourist destination in Old Delhi, was shown in local media footage surrounded by damaged cars and a police cordon. Police spokesperson Sanjay Tyagi confirmed that eight people were killed and several others injured, adding that investigations were underway. The city’s fire department reported 19 injured individuals, all receiving treatment at a government hospital. Images from the scene showed burning cars, twisted metal, and shattered glass. Home Minister Amit Shah told local media that the explosion occurred in a Hyundai i20 near a traffic light close to the fort. CCTV footage from surrounding cameras will be reviewed as part of the investigation. “We are considering every possible angle and will conduct a full investigation,” Shah said, promising transparency in the findings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, writing: “Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the blast in Delhi earlier this evening. May the injured recover quickly.” The 17th-century Red Fort, about six kilometers (3.7 miles) from India’s Parliament, is one of the country’s most iconic landmarks and the site of the annual Independence Day address by the prime minister. The investigation is being led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with other federal bodies.      

A car explosion near the historic Red Fort in India’s capital on Monday left at least eight people dead and several others injured, police said. The blast also sparked a fire that damaged multiple nearby vehicles. According to the city’s fire service, several fire engines were dispatched to the area after the explosion occurred close to one of the gates of the Red Fort metro station. The cause of the blast has yet to be determined. Delhi Police spokesperson Sanjay Tyagi told The Associated Press that investigations are underway to identify what triggered the explosion.

BBC Chair Samir Shah has apologised for what he described as an “error of judgement” in editing a documentary that misrepresented a speech by US President Donald Trump. The apology follows the resignation of BBC Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness on Sunday night, after a leaked internal memo criticised the editing of a 2024 Panorama programme about President Trump, reports BBC. The memo, written by former BBC adviser Michael Prescott, alleged that producers had spliced together two separate portions of Trump’s speech to make it appear as though he explicitly encouraged the January 2021 Capitol Hill riots. In a letter to MPs on the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Shah admitted that the editing “did give the impression of a direct call for violent action,” calling it a serious lapse in editorial judgement. President Trump has sent a letter to the BBC threatening legal action over the broadcast. Prescott’s memo also criticised broader areas of BBC News coverage, claiming he wrote it “in despair at inaction by the BBC Executive.” However, Shah defended the organisation in his letter to MPs, saying it was “simply not true” that the BBC had failed to address concerns raised in the memo. In a later interview, he insisted there was “no systemic bias” within the BBC.