United News of Bangladesh

A passenger bus in northeastern Brazil crashed into a sand embankment and flipped on its side, killing 15 people, local authorities said Saturday. The bus was carrying about 30 passengers, police said. The number of injured, who were taken to nearby hospitals, was not immediately clear. The vehicle departed from the state of Bahia and crashed in Saloá, a city in the neighboring state of Pernambuco. Police said the driver lost control of the bus, crossed into the opposite lane and hit rocks on the roadside. He then returned to the correct lane but crashed into a sand embankment, causing the vehicle to overturn. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The driver suffered minor injuries and tested negative for alcohol, police said. Bahia Gov. Jerônimo Teixeira said on X that his administration was supporting rescue efforts and the identification of victims. “I am following the situation with my team and deeply mourn the loss of lives, the injuries and the suffering of all the families,” he wrote. More than 10,000 people died in traffic accidents in Brazil in 2024, according to the Ministry of Transportation. In April, 11 people died, including two children, after a passenger bus flipped on its side in southeastern Brazil. In February, a bus carrying university students and a truck collided on a highway in Sao Paulo state, killing 12 passengers. Last September, a bus carrying the Coritiba Crocodiles football team flipped on a road, killing three people. The team has since drawn inspiration from the NFL to rebuild.

A ship caught fire Saturday in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen after being struck by a projectile, the British military said, with initial reports indicating that the crew was preparing to abandon the vessel. The incident comes amid ongoing attacks on commercial shipping by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea corridor. The group has not yet claimed responsibility for this attack, although such claims can take hours or even days. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said the vessel was hit approximately 210 kilometers (130 miles) east of Aden. “A vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile, resulting in a fire. Authorities are investigating,” the UKMTO said. Maritime security firm Ambrey identified the ship as a Cameroon-flagged tanker traveling from Sohar, Oman, to Djibouti. Radio communications suggested the crew was preparing to abandon ship, and a search-and-rescue operation was underway. The tanker, reportedly named Falcon, carries liquefied petroleum gas. The vessel was previously identified by New York-based group United Against Nuclear Iran as part of an Iranian “ghost fleet,” which allegedly transports oil products despite international sanctions. The ship’s owners and operators, based in India, could not be immediately reached for comment. Houthi attacks on shipping have gained global attention during the Israel-Hamas conflict, targeting vessels and Israel to pressure the country to halt military operations. Since the ceasefire began on October 10, the Houthis have not claimed any attacks. Previous Houthi assaults on shipping have killed at least nine mariners and sunk four ships, disrupting trade through the Red Sea, a route that handles about $1 trillion in goods annually. Their most recent attack before this incident targeted the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht on September 29, killing one crew member and injuring another. The Houthis have also increasingly threatened Saudi Arabia and detained dozens of UN and aid agency workers, alleging without evidence that they were spies — claims firmly denied by the UN and other organizations.   Source: AP

Chen Ning Yang, the Chinese Nobel Prize-winning physicist who transformed modern physics with groundbreaking discoveries, died in Beijing on Saturday at the age of 103. Tsinghua University, where Yang both studied and later taught, confirmed his passing from illness but did not provide further details. The university hailed him as “one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century,” recognizing his lasting contributions to China’s scientific and educational progress. Yang, along with fellow physicist Tsung-Dao Lee, won the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics for challenging the long-held law of parity conservation in particle interactions — a discovery that reshaped the field of elementary particle physics. The two were the first Chinese-born scientists to receive the Nobel in physics. In his Nobel banquet speech, Yang reflected on his dual identity, saying he was deeply proud of his Chinese roots while being equally devoted to modern science, “a part of human civilization of Western origin.” Born in 1922 on the Tsinghua University campus, where his father taught mathematics, Yang earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees there before moving to the University of Chicago in 1946 for doctoral studies under renowned physicist Enrico Fermi. He later served as a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, where he co-developed the influential Yang–Mills theory with Robert Mills — a cornerstone of modern particle physics. Yang became a Professor-at-large at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1986 and returned to Tsinghua in 1999 as a professor. He renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2015, saying he remained grateful to America for the opportunities it provided in his scientific career. Yang is survived by three children, according to the Nobel Prize website.

Portugal’s parliament on Friday approved a bill banning face veils worn for “gender or religious” reasons in public, a move widely seen as targeting the face coverings worn by some Muslim women. The legislation, proposed by the far-right Chega party, would prohibit garments such as burqas — full-body coverings — and niqabs — full-face veils with openings for the eyes — in most public spaces. Exceptions would be made for airplanes, diplomatic premises, and places of worship. The bill sets fines for individuals wearing face veils in public, ranging from 200 euros to 4,000 euros ($234 to $4,669). President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has yet to approve the bill. He could either veto it or refer it to the Constitutional Court for review. If enacted, Portugal would join several European countries, including Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, which have imposed full or partial bans on face and head coverings. Although few women in Portugal wear such coverings, the issue has sparked controversy similar to that seen elsewhere in Europe. Chega cited France and other EU countries as examples for restricting face coverings commonly worn by Muslim women. The far-right party received backing for the bill from center-right parties. In its proposal, Chega argued that hiding the face subjects individuals, particularly women, “to situations of exclusion and inferiority” and conflicts with principles such as “liberty, equality, and human dignity.” Lawmakers from left-leaning parties opposed the bill. “This initiative is aimed solely at foreigners and people of different faiths,” said Pedro Delgado Alves, a lawmaker from the center-left Socialist Party, whose party voted against the legislation. He added that while no woman should be forced to wear a veil, the far-right approach was misguided. Source: AP

Afghan officials claimed Friday that Pakistan carried out airstrikes in southeastern Afghanistan shortly after a two-day ceasefire between the neighboring nations expired. According to Mohammadullah Amini Mawia, a police spokesperson in Afghanistan, the strikes hit areas in Paktika province and two other border regions. One of the attacks reportedly targeted a civilian home in Khanadar village, causing casualties. However, further details — including the method of the attack — were not provided. Pakistan has not commented on the accusation. The strikes followed the end of a short-lived ceasefire that began on Wednesday, halting several days of intense clashes that left dozens dead and hundreds injured. Though no official extension was announced, diplomatic efforts to renew talks are ongoing. Qatar has reportedly offered to mediate future negotiations. Hours before the reported Afghan strikes, a suicide car bombing — allegedly carried out by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban — struck a security forces compound in Mir Ali, a town near the Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The explosion sparked a gunfight, killing at least six militants and one soldier, local police said. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing, according to police official Irfan Ali. While the Pakistani Taliban is separate from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, the two are known to have links. Islamabad continues to accuse the group of using Afghan territory as a safe haven for launching attacks into Pakistan. In Kabul, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that a Taliban delegation was preparing to travel to Qatar for talks. He reiterated that Afghanistan’s Taliban administration does not seek conflict with Pakistan or any other country. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s state media announced that a senior delegation from Islamabad would also visit Qatar for negotiations, though no further details were shared. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan declined to confirm or deny any scheduled talks, saying a formal statement would be issued when appropriate. Khan emphasized that Pakistan’s military operations have targeted only militant strongholds and urged Afghanistan’s Taliban government to ensure its territory is not used to stage attacks on Pakistani soil. Since January, Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant violence, mostly attributed to the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). This surge in attacks has further strained already tense relations between Islamabad and Kabul, with Pakistan claiming that TTP leaders are being sheltered in Afghanistan. In response, Pakistan’s military launched multiple operations in the border region this week, reportedly killing 102 militants. The current flare-up marks the deadliest clashes between the two nations since 2021, when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan after U.S. and NATO troops withdrew. Tensions have worsened since last week, when Afghan officials accused Pakistan of conducting an airstrike in Kabul — a charge Pakistani authorities have neither confirmed nor denied. However, Pakistani sources said the intended target was Noor Wali, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban. The TTP later released a video claiming Wali is still alive and hiding in northwestern Pakistan. Rising hostility is also affecting Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that 1.4 million undocumented Afghans have been repatriated under a phased plan that began in 2023. He said only those with valid visas would be allowed to stay in Pakistan.

Following a lengthy White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump called on both Russia and Ukraine to halt the war immediately and freeze the conflict along current front lines. Expressing growing frustration over the ongoing war, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!” Speaking to reporters later in Florida, Trump doubled down on his stance, suggesting that current battle lines should serve as the basis for ending the war, even if it means allowing Russia to keep occupied territory. “Stop at the battle line and both sides should go home… stop the killing, and that should be it.” Trump’s comments signal a shift from his recent tone, where he had shown more support for Ukraine's goal of reclaiming lost territory. After his September meeting with Zelenskyy in New York, Trump had said he believed Ukraine could recover all land taken by Russia since the February 2022 invasion. In response to Trump’s latest remarks, Zelenskyy stopped short of fully endorsing the idea of freezing the conflict but did say: “The president is right we have to stop where we are, and then to speak.” The change in Trump’s tone appears to come after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Trump also announced plans to meet Putin in Budapest in the coming weeks, possibly in a dual summit that might include Zelenskyy as well. During Friday’s White House meeting, Trump indicated reluctance to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which Kyiv sees as crucial for deterring Russia and pressuring Moscow into negotiations. Zelenskyy had offered to provide advanced Ukrainian drones in exchange, but Trump said he was wary of depleting U.S. military reserves. “We’d much rather have the war be over, to be honest,” Trump said. Zelenskyy later commented that while Trump didn’t approve the missiles, he didn’t rule them out either: “It’s good that President Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but for today, didn’t say ‘yes.’” Ukraine argues that the Tomahawks — with a nearly 1,000-mile range — would allow it to strike vital Russian targets and possibly bring Putin to the negotiating table. However, after speaking with Putin, Trump began downplaying the missile deal, aligning with Putin’s warning that such a move could worsen U.S.-Russia relations. So far, Russia has shown no signs of willingness to negotiate directly with Zelenskyy. Although Trump had promised during his campaign to end the war swiftly, his efforts have faced roadblocks, particularly following an August summit in Alaska with Putin and another round of talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders. When asked whether Putin might be manipulating him, Trump responded confidently: “I’ve been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well. I think I’m pretty good at this stuff.” As discussions about a potential summit in Hungary continue, Trump left open the possibility of a “double meeting” involving both leaders. Zelenskyy, however, stressed that Ukraine’s animosity toward Putin is not personal but a result of Russia’s ongoing aggression. “They attacked us, so they are an enemy for us… it is not about someone just hating someone else. Although, undoubtedly, we hate the enemy.”

As U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare for an upcoming summit in Budapest, people in both Russia and Ukraine are hoping for signs of progress but don’t expect any major breakthroughs in ending the ongoing war. The meeting was confirmed during a phone call between the two leaders on Thursday. Trump is also expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House later on Friday. “I doubt anything significant will come from the meeting,” said Artyom Kondratov, a 36-year-old from Moscow. Reflecting on the last summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska in August — which produced no shift in Putin’s stance — Kondratov predicted only limited outcomes this time as well, possibly involving prisoner swaps or the return of children from both sides. “I think there might be some minor progress in Hungary, but no concrete results in the short term,” he said. Alexander Fedotov, 58, also from Moscow, was more optimistic. “Trump isn’t traveling to Europe for nothing. It’s a significant visit, so I do think something could come out of it,” he said. After more than three years of full-scale war and over a decade since Russia annexed Crimea, many Russians express a strong desire for peace. “We all want peace,” said 55-year-old Svetlana from Sevastopol, Crimea’s largest city. “Everyone is hoping for it.” In Kyiv, however, expectations are far lower. “Nothing ever comes out of these meetings,” said army medic Marichka Fartushna. “Trump has made it clear he doesn’t support Ukraine.” Ukrainian war veteran Ivan Balatskyi expressed hope that the U.S. would continue to back Ukraine. “We’ve proven we’re ready to fight to the end,” he said. “And we count on support from our friends in the U.S., from the American people.”

Israel has received the body of another hostage from Gaza, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. The remains, handed over by Hamas via the International Committee of the Red Cross inside Gaza, were transferred to Israel’s National Center for Forensic Medicine for identification. The deceased’s family will be informed once the process is complete. Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed the body was that of an "occupation prisoner," implying the individual was Israeli. The return of hostages’ remains is one of the conditions of the ceasefire agreement — alongside the delivery of aid, border access, and steps toward Gaza’s reconstruction. Search for Remains Amid Rubble In a bid to support the fragile ceasefire, Hamas has begun using bulldozers to search for bodies buried under the rubble. Most of Gaza’s heavy machinery was destroyed during the war, hampering recovery efforts. On Friday, two bulldozers were seen digging in Khan Younis’ Hamad City, a heavily bombarded apartment complex where Israeli forces conducted a major raid earlier this year. Israeli military says one of the bodies handed over by Hamas is not that of a hostage Hamas has returned the remains of nine hostages so far this week, plus a tenth body that Israeli officials said was not one of the hostages. Hamas claims some remains are trapped in collapsed tunnels and buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes and says the delay is partly due to Israel blocking new bulldozers from entering Gaza. Trump Issues Warning, Pressures Hamas Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who brokered the ceasefire, warned Hamas that failure to return all 28 deceased hostages could lead to Israel resuming its military campaign. Israel has reiterated that Hamas must comply with the agreement. Though Hamas has confirmed its commitment to the terms of the deal, it claims that retrieving all bodies is difficult due to unexploded ordnance and Israeli troop presence in some areas. Mediators were told that efforts are underway to locate and return the bodies. Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas begins with hostage and prisoner releases Prisoner Exchanges and Ceasefire Conditions Earlier this week, Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages. In return, Israel freed roughly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum in Israel says it will continue to hold weekly protests until all hostages’ remains are returned. Israel has also returned the bodies of 90 Palestinians to Gaza for burial and may return more, though exact numbers remain undisclosed. A Palestinian forensic team claimed some of the bodies showed signs of mistreatment. The war, sparked by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack in Israel, has killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Thousands more are still missing, the Red Cross reports. France Pushes for International Force in Gaza France announced it is working with the U.S. and U.K. to draft a UN resolution that would create an international security force for Gaza. Arab nations, who would likely supply troops, are pushing for a UN mandate. The proposed force would work with Palestinian police trained in Egypt. U.S. Discontent Over Israeli Strike in Qatar On Friday, new information surfaced regarding the Trump administration’s reaction to a recent Israeli strike on Hamas leadership in Qatar. The attack occurred just as Hamas officials were reviewing a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff said he and advisor Jared Kushner felt “betrayed” by Israel’s move, suggesting Trump believed Israel was becoming reckless and needed to be reined in. Aid Still Slow to Reach Gaza Despite the ceasefire, the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza remains far below the agreed-upon levels. UN data shows only 339 trucks have been offloaded for distribution in Gaza since the ceasefire began — far short of the 600 trucks per day promised. Israel's COGAT agency reported higher figures, including commercial and bilateral aid: 950 trucks entered Thursday and 716 on Wednesday. However, aid workers say deliveries remain inconsistent. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher visited a WFP-supported bakery in Deir al-Balah and stated that UN agencies are executing a 60-day plan to significantly expand aid efforts. He emphasized the need to open more border crossings to increase the flow of aid. Since last Saturday, the World Food Program has delivered more than 280 trucks carrying about 3,000 metric tons of supplies for food distribution and bakery support. Nahed Sheheiber, who heads Gaza’s private truckers’ union, noted improved security has prevented aid theft, but actual aid volumes have not increased significantly. Only 70 aid trucks entered Gaza on Thursday, he said. Humanitarian Crisis Continues More than 2 million Gazans are still facing severe shortages. During the war, Israel heavily restricted — and at times stopped — aid deliveries entirely. The UN has declared a famine in Gaza City, confirming over 400 deaths from hunger-related causes, including more than 100 children. Israel insists it has allowed enough food into the territory and accuses Hamas of stealing aid. Aid groups and the UN strongly deny this claim.

For the first time in months, Bassil Naggar can sleep peacefully, no longer startled awake by the thunder of Israeli airstrikes. Although the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has brought a much-needed pause in the violence for Naggar and countless other displaced Palestinians, the challenges of daily survival remain overwhelming. The two-year conflict has devastated Gaza, killing tens of thousands and leaving large parts of the territory in ruins. While the lull in fighting has offered brief relief, residents continue to struggle with basic needs — shelter, warm clothing for the approaching winter, access to sufficient food, and constant anxiety over whether the truce will last. Israeli military says one of the bodies handed over by Hamas is not that of a hostage Since the ceasefire began on October 10, many have returned to their neighborhoods only to find their homes destroyed, their losses stark and personal. “Even with the ceasefire, we’re still living in fear. Is the war truly over?” Naggar asked. He has been displaced around 12 times during the conflict and remembers a prior ceasefire shattered by airstrikes in March. Now living in a worn-out tent in the overcrowded coastal area of Muwasi, Naggar says his former home in eastern Khan Younis was burned. As winter approaches, he worries how his family will stay warm. Food remains scarce — they mostly rely on canned beans and chickpeas. Although market shelves are slowly seeing items like noodles and chips, prices are still high and unaffordable for many. The World Food Program is ramping up aid efforts, aiming to support families enduring months of siege, displacement, and hunger, spokesperson Abeer Etefa said in Geneva. But damaged infrastructure and limited access into Gaza remain major obstacles. Earlier this week, humanitarian aid deliveries were halted for two days due to hostage-prisoner exchanges and a Jewish holiday. Israel also threatened to cut the number of aid trucks allowed in, accusing Hamas of stalling the return of hostage remains. Under the current ceasefire deal, hundreds of aid trucks are supposed to enter Gaza daily. However, Israel’s COGAT agency has not confirmed how many have actually made it in. Naggar says he has yet to see a noticeable improvement in available aid. The war, triggered by a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 abducted, prompted a massive Israeli military response. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, nearly 68,000 Palestinians have died — figures generally considered credible by the UN and other observers. In Deir al-Balah, scenes of desperation are still common. At one charity kitchen, displaced residents waited in line for hours for food. Fatima Shaat, from Khan Younis, said she stood in line for six hours. Basma Abu Al-Kheir noted that while some items are now available in markets, prices are too high for most people to afford. Local resident Fida Ziyad said basic vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers are now sold, but meat and poultry are rare and cost far more than before. Ziyad, who lost her home in northern Gaza, expressed concern about the future, as many critical issues remain unresolved. Mohamed Samy, who returned to check on his house in Jabaliya, found it completely destroyed. Now living in Gaza City, he said his daily life hasn’t changed much. Even accessing clean drinking water requires walking for nearly an hour to reach a water truck. In August, a major food crisis authority warned that Gaza City was experiencing famine, with risks of it spreading further. Israel rejected this assessment at the time. For months, aid groups had warned that Israel’s military actions and restrictions on aid were driving widespread hunger, especially among children. Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas begins with hostage and prisoner releases Since the ceasefire, at least nine humanitarian organizations have restarted services in Gaza City and northern areas, the UN reported on Thursday. Still, many rely on charity kitchens. Ayman Abu Saif, a former hospitality worker, now displaced and living in Deir al-Balah, said, “It’s always rice or pasta.” With food prices slightly easing, he recently bought his children three apples — the first in over a year. But his home in Gaza City is gone, along with essential infrastructure. “Even if I wanted to go back, there’s no water, no services. It’s not livable.” Many returnees are finding their neighborhoods reduced to rubble, picking through the debris for remnants of their former lives. Abu Saif is especially worried about his children’s future. His six-year-old son has had no formal schooling for over a year. “We’re glad the bombs have stopped, but we’ve lost everything.” “I don’t want my kids growing up thinking this is normal — chasing charity food and walking miles for clean water. This is not how life should be. And I’m not sure it will change anytime soon.”

In a landmark moment for Christian unity, Britain’s King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV will pray together in the Sistine Chapel on Oct. 23 — the first such joint prayer between the heads of the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church since the Reformation nearly 500 years ago. The ecumenical service, focused on shared concerns for caring for God’s creation, marks a major symbolic step toward reconciliation between the two faiths. The Vatican and Buckingham Palace announced that Charles and Queen Camilla will visit Rome from Oct. 22–23, a trip initially scheduled for April but delayed following Pope Francis’ death. During the visit, Charles — as the titular head of the Church of England — will receive the honorary title of Royal Confrater at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, a basilica with historic Anglican ties. A special chair bearing his coat of arms will be placed there for use by him and future monarchs. The Archbishop of York will represent the Anglican Church at the service, as Archbishop of Canterbury-designate Sarah Mullally has yet to be installed. The choirs of both the Vatican and the British royal chapels will perform hymns together. Anglicans broke from Rome in 1534 under King Henry VIII. Despite ongoing divisions — including over the ordination of women — both churches continue to strengthen dialogue and cooperation.