United News of Bangladesh

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced Friday that his country will be exempt from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy following talks with President Donald Trump at the White House — a move that will allow Hungary to keep importing Russian oil and gas and highlights the close ties between the two leaders. Orbán, one of Trump’s staunchest allies in Europe, visited Washington seeking approval for Hungary to continue buying Russian fossil fuels despite sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. According to a White House official who spoke anonymously, Hungary will receive a one-year waiver. The European Union has been pressuring Hungary to end its reliance on Russian energy, as most EU nations have sharply reduced or stopped such imports since the start of the war in Ukraine. Orbán has consistently defended Hungary’s energy ties with Moscow, calling access to Russian oil and gas “vital” for his landlocked country. Speaking to Hungarian journalists after his White House meeting, Orbán said Hungary had been granted a “full exemption” from sanctions affecting Russian gas delivered through the TurkStream pipeline and oil supplied via the Druzhba pipeline. “We asked the president to lift the sanctions,” Orbán said. “He agreed — the sanctions will not apply to these two pipelines.” As part of the agreement, Hungary will also buy U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG), with contracts estimated at around $600 million, according to the U.S. State Department. The two countries further committed to cooperation in nuclear energy, including the development of small modular reactors. Orbán added that Hungary will begin purchasing nuclear fuel from Westinghouse Electric Company, marking a shift away from exclusive reliance on Russian suppliers for its Paks nuclear power plant. However, Hungarian officials clarified that Budapest will continue buying some Russian nuclear fuel alongside the new U.S. supply. Orbán traveled to Washington with a large entourage of cabinet ministers, business executives, and right-wing political influencers close to his government. The delegation chartered a 220-seat Wizz Air jet for the trip. Before Orbán’s visit, a bipartisan group of ten U.S. senators introduced a resolution urging Hungary to reduce its dependence on Russian energy. The resolution, co-sponsored by Republicans Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, and Chuck Grassley, and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons, criticized Budapest for “showing no sign of reducing its dependence on Russian fossil fuels” and encouraged compliance with the EU’s plan to end all Russian energy imports by 2027. “Europe has made significant strides in cutting energy ties with Moscow,” Senator Shaheen said in a statement. “Hungary’s continued reliance undermines collective security and emboldens the Kremlin. Our message is simple: all allies must be held to the same standard.” While in Washington, Orbán and members of his team also met with Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was recently sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup following his election loss. On social media, Orbán voiced solidarity with the Bolsonaro family, writing: “We stand firmly with the Bolsonaros in these challenging times. Political witch-hunts have no place in democracy — truth and justice must prevail.”

Travelers across the United States saw mostly on-time departures Friday, even as airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights to comply with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order tied to the ongoing government shutdown. Despite a relatively stable day of travel, concern grew over additional cancellations expected in the coming week as the FAA reduces flight operations at major airports. The agency’s order follows a rise in absences among unpaid air traffic controllers, many of whom have gone nearly a month without pay. While some travelers scrambled to adjust their plans—booking alternative flights or renting cars—the cancellations still represented a small portion of total U.S. air traffic. However, long lines and last-minute disruptions were reported at around 40 major airports, including Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, and Charlotte. Airlines said they anticipate minimal disruptions through the weekend, and international routes remain unaffected. But Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the shutdown continues past next week—when controllers miss another paycheck—flight cancellations could rise from 10% to as much as 20%. Long Lines and Creative Travel SolutionsAt Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, passengers waited in security lines that barely moved. “It was winding through every part of the terminal,” said traveler Cara Bergeron. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Other travelers faced bigger challenges. Karen Soika, a surgeon from Connecticut, learned her Newark flight had been moved to JFK Airport—an hour away. When rental cars were unavailable, she decided to rent a U-Haul truck and drive cross-country to Utah, where she is consulting on a TV production. Rental car companies like Hertz reported a sharp uptick in one-way rentals. Airlines Work to Rebook PassengersAccording to flight-tracking site FlightAware, Friday’s 1,000-plus cancellations were about five times Thursday’s total. Reagan National Airport saw the highest impact, with 18% of flights grounded, while O’Hare, Atlanta, Denver, and Dallas-Fort Worth each lost around 3% of scheduled flights. United and American Airlines said they were able to rebook most passengers quickly, prioritizing cancellations on smaller regional routes to minimize disruptions. Delta canceled roughly 170 flights Friday, American about 220 per day through Monday, and Southwest around 120. The FAA said the flight reductions will start at 4% of operations at the busiest airports and gradually increase to 10% next week. “I just don’t want to end up stranded on an airport bench,” said traveler Michele Cuthbert of Columbus, Ohio. “Everyone’s paying the price for politics.” Experts warn that if the shutdown drags on, cargo shipments could also be affected, since nearly half of U.S. air freight moves in passenger aircraft. “Air travel is a core part of America’s economic infrastructure,” said Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group. “This will ripple through business, tourism, and freight.” Why the Cuts Are HappeningThe FAA said the service reductions aim to ease the burden on overworked controllers, many of whom are working six days a week with mandatory overtime. As financial stress mounts, more are calling out of work. “I don’t want to see delays or disruptions,” Secretary Duffy said Friday at Reagan National Airport. “But safety must come first.” The FAA’s decision comes as the Trump administration continues pressuring Congress to end the government shutdown. Even if an agreement is reached soon, officials said the reduced flight schedules will remain in place until staffing levels stabilize. At Denver International Airport, officials have opened a food pantry for unpaid federal workers and asked the FAA to approve using airport revenue to cover controller pay—so far, without response. What Travelers Can DoAirlines are navigating uncertain territory, said Loyola University Maryland professor Kerry Tan. “The unpredictability of the shutdown makes it difficult for carriers to plan efficiently,” he said. Passengers are entitled to full refunds for canceled flights, though airlines aren’t obligated to cover hotel or meal costs unless cancellations are within their control, according to the Department of Transportation. Travel adviser Christina Schlegel of Arlington, Virginia, advised passengers to stay calm, check flight updates regularly, and arrive early. “Think ahead,” she said. “Have a backup plan and know what other flight options are available.”

Four Afghan civilians were killed and five others injured in an overnight clash between Afghan and Pakistani forces along their shared border, Afghan officials said Friday, highlighting rising tensions as the two countries conduct peace talks in Istanbul. The exchange of fire occurred Thursday night near the Chaman border in southwest Pakistan, though a tense calm prevailed afterward. Both sides blamed the other for violating the ceasefire brokered by Qatar last month. Ali Mohammad Haqmal, head of the Information and Culture Department in Spin Boldak, accused Pakistan of initiating the attack but said Afghan forces refrained from responding due to ongoing peace talks. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi dismissed the Afghan claim, asserting that Afghan forces started the shooting. The ministry said the situation was quickly brought under control and that the Oct. 19 ceasefire remained in place. Pakistan’s delegation, led by National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Asim Malik, is discussing cross-border security issues with the Afghan side, headed by Abdul Haq Wasiq, director of general intelligence. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban government of sheltering militants responsible for attacks across the border, a claim Kabul denies. Tensions escalated last month after deadly clashes killed dozens of soldiers, civilians, and suspected militants on both sides, following explosions in Kabul on Oct. 9, which the Taliban blamed on Pakistan. The violence subsided only after Qatar mediated a ceasefire. In recent months, Pakistan has faced a rise in attacks from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a UN- and U.S.-designated terrorist group closely allied with the Afghan Taliban. Many TTP fighters are believed to be taking refuge in Afghanistan, adding strain to relations between the two neighbors.

The recent theft of France’s crown jewels from the Louvre has revived questions about the colonial origins of many museum treasures. While the jewels were crafted in France, their gems came from far-flung regions tied to imperial exploitation, including sapphires from Sri Lanka, diamonds from India and Brazil, pearls from the Persian Gulf, and emeralds from Colombia. Experts say the heist has intensified calls for museums to be more transparent about their collections. “Many of these objects are entangled with violent, exploitative, colonial histories,” said criminologist Emiline C.H. Smith. Legal ownership under colonial-era rules does not erase the ethical questions about how these items were acquired. The stolen pieces, including tiaras and necklaces of 19th-century queens like Marie-Amélie and Empress Eugénie, were crafted by French artisans, but the raw materials moved through imperial trade networks built on wealth extraction and forced labor. Historian Pascal Blanchard notes that while French craftsmen made the jewels, the stones themselves were “products of colonial production.” The controversy echoes other restitution debates, such as India’s ongoing demand for the Koh-i-Noor diamond, and campaigns by Greece and Egypt to recover the Parthenon Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, and the Nefertiti bust. French law allows restitution only through specific parliamentary exceptions, which critics say limits the return of colonial-era treasures. Art scholars argue that museums should provide fuller context on such artifacts. “Tell the honest and complete story,” said Dutch restitution specialist Jos van Beurden. This includes explaining where the materials came from, how they were traded, and who benefited, even if it complicates the museum narrative. The theft has shone a spotlight not only on museum security but also on the ethical responsibility to acknowledge the colonial histories behind prized treasures, prompting calls for transparency and restitution across Europe’s leading institutions.

Senior North Korean and Russian military officials met in Pyongyang this week to discuss expanding cooperation, North Korea’s state media reported Friday, amid closer ties between the two countries over Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said North Korean officials, led by Pak Yong Il, vice director of the Korean People’s Army General Political Bureau, met Wednesday with a Russian delegation headed by Vice Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in line with “deepened bilateral relations” under North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. KCNA did not report any specific agreements. Goremykin’s delegation also met separately with North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol on Thursday. The meetings follow a briefing by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), which reported that North Korea may be preparing additional troop deployments to Russia. South Korean officials said they are monitoring the situation closely but did not speculate on any new deployments. Seoul has assessed that North Korea has already sent roughly 15,000 troops and large amounts of military equipment, including artillery and ballistic missiles, to support Russia’s war efforts. In addition, thousands of North Korean military construction workers and deminers have reportedly been sent to Russia’s Kursk region, with around 5,000 personnel moving in phases since September for possible infrastructure restoration projects. The North Korea–Russia meetings also came shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited South Korea for annual security talks and praised Seoul’s plans to increase military spending in response to North Korea’s nuclear threats and regional uncertainties.

Hundreds gathered in Jerusalem for the military funeral of Capt. Omer Neutra, an Israeli-American soldier whose body was recently returned from Gaza under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Neutra, 21, was killed and abducted by Hamas militants during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that triggered the ongoing war. His remains arrived in Israel on Sunday, alongside those of two other soldiers. Speaking at the ceremony, Neutra’s father, Ronen, remembered his son’s smile and voice, expressing relief at finally having a place to mourn him. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog also eulogized Neutra, calling him “a hero of two nations.” His mother, Orna Neutra, addressed the coffin, emphasizing the gap left by her son and the mission to honor his memory through light and goodness. Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Neutra moved to Israel to serve in the military as a volunteer. Following his abduction, his parents traveled repeatedly to Washington, protested in both countries, and spoke at the U.S. Republican National Convention. For over a year, they held hope he was alive before being informed by military intelligence of his death. As part of the ceasefire, six hostages’ bodies remain in Gaza, while 22 bodies have been returned since last month, and 20 living hostages were released on Oct. 13. Israel has transferred 285 Palestinian bodies to Gaza under the agreement, which prioritizes the return of all hostages’ remains. Meanwhile, violence continues in the West Bank. Israeli troops have shot and killed three Palestinian teenagers, ages 15 and 16, and withheld their bodies. Palestinian authorities and human rights groups report that at least 54 Palestinian children’s bodies have been held by Israeli forces since June 2016. The killings reflect a broader escalation of military operations and settler violence in the West Bank following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. The U.N. reports 42 Palestinian children under 18 killed by Israeli forces this year, with October marking the highest monthly number of settler attacks on Palestinians and their property since 2006. Palestinians continue to seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and Gaza as part of a future independent state.

Global stock markets slipped Friday as losses in major technology shares dragged Wall Street lower overnight, while investors awaited fresh economic signals amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. European shares opened weaker, following declines in Asia. Germany’s DAX edged down 0.1%, France’s CAC 40 was flat at 7,965.31, and Britain’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.4% to 9,696.82. U.S. futures, however, showed mild gains, with the S&P 500 up 0.3% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.2%. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.2% to 50,276.37 after a week of volatile trading. China reported its exports shrank 1.1% in October, with shipments to the U.S. plunging 25% from a year earlier. Economists, however, expect exports to rebound following the recent agreement between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to ease trade tensions. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost 0.9% to 26,241.83, Shanghai’s Composite slipped 0.3% to 3,997.56, South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.8% to 3,953.76, and Taiwan’s Taiex was down 0.9%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.7% to 8,769.70. Technology stocks continued to weigh heavily on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 falling 1.1%, the Dow dropping 0.8%, and the Nasdaq tumbling 1.9% on Thursday. Nvidia fell 3.7%, Microsoft 2%, and Amazon 2.9%, pulling the broader market down. Tesla shares fluctuated after shareholders approved a compensation plan that could earn CEO Elon Musk stock worth $1 trillion if performance targets are met. After initial losses, Tesla rose in after-hours trading to close at $445.91. Corporate earnings remained the key focus, as the government shutdown has delayed key economic data on inflation, jobs, and retail sales. DoorDash tumbled 17.5% after warning of higher development spending next year, while CarMax plunged 24.3% following a weak earnings update and the announcement that its CEO will step down in December. In contrast, Datadog surged 23.1% after beating earnings forecasts, and Rockwell Automation rose 2.7% on strong results. Despite a record-breaking year for equities, analysts warn valuations may be overstretched — especially among tech giants leading the rally fueled by enthusiasm over artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration said it will cut U.S. air traffic by 10% across 40 major markets starting Friday due to staffing shortages caused by the shutdown. Shares of American, Delta, and United Airlines all slipped between 1% and 2%. In commodities, U.S. benchmark crude rose 66 cents to $60.09 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 65 cents to $64.03. The dollar strengthened to 153.48 yen from 153.06 yen, and the euro eased to $1.1537.  

A European Union naval task force was racing Friday to reach a Malta-flagged oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, amid renewed concerns over piracy in the region. The vessel, Hellas Aphrodite, carrying a gasoline cargo from India to South Africa, was attacked Thursday by armed pirates who fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before boarding the ship. Its 24-member crew took shelter in a locked citadel on board, officials said. According to tracking data analyzed by the Associated Press, the tanker was over 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles) off Somalia’s coast when the assault occurred. The EU’s anti-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, said its naval assets were “closing distance and ready to take appropriate action” to respond to the hijacking. Meanwhile, the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO) reported another attempted approach Friday in the same area. A small vessel with three suspected pirates tried to near another ship but failed after the target vessel increased speed and escaped. The hijacking comes days after another tanker, the Cayman Islands-flagged Stolt Sagaland, was attacked in a separate incident that ended in a gunfight between the ship’s security guards and suspected pirates. Officials believe both attacks may have been carried out by the same group, operating from an Iranian fishing vessel seized earlier. Piracy off Somalia once posed a major threat to global shipping, peaking in 2011 with 237 recorded attacks that cost the global economy an estimated $7 billion, including $160 million in ransom payments. International naval patrols and improved Somali governance later curbed the threat. However, officials warn that pirate activity has resurged over the past year, partly fueled by regional instability and disruptions caused by Yemen’s Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The Hellas Aphrodite is the first commercial vessel seized off Somalia since May 2024. Local fisherman Osman Abdi in Mogadishu said the renewed attacks could harm the reputation of Somali fishers. “These hijackings create fear and suspicion toward us,” he said. “Many now see us as pirates, and that affects our livelihoods.”  

Multiple explosions occurred during Friday prayers at a mosque inside a high school in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, injuring at least 55 people, most of them students, police said. Witnesses reported hearing at least two blasts, both inside and outside the mosque at SMA 27 — a state high school within a navy compound in northern Jakarta’s Kelapa Gading area — just as the sermon began. Students and others ran in panic as gray smoke filled the mosque. Jakarta Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri said the explosions appeared to have originated near the mosque’s loudspeaker, though the cause has not yet been determined. Most victims sustained cuts, burns, and injuries from flying glass. Emergency teams took the injured to nearby hospitals, where 20 students remain hospitalized with burns, including three in serious condition. Others were released after initial treatment. Videos circulating online showed students in uniform running across the school courtyard, covering their ears against the noise, while some of the injured were carried on stretchers to waiting vehicles. Parents gathered at Yarsi and Cempaka Putih hospitals seeking information about their children. Some said their children had injuries caused by nails and fragments from the explosion. Police found toy rifles and a toy gun near the scene, Suheri said, adding that an anti-bomb squad is investigating. “We ask the public not to speculate until the investigation is complete,” he told reporters. Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has experienced several militant attacks in past decades, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people. However, authorities say the country has seen a “zero attack” period since 2023 due to tightened security and counterterrorism measures.  

The Sudanese army said Friday it intercepted drone strikes launched overnight by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on two cities in the country’s northeast. A senior military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 15 drones targeted Atbara, a city north of the capital in River Nile province. The attacks caused no casualties, though residents reported hearing explosions. The official added that air defenses also downed drones aimed at Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum. The RSF strikes came a day after the group announced its acceptance of a humanitarian truce proposed by a U.S.-led mediation group known as the Quad. However, a Sudanese military official told the Associated Press that the army would agree to a ceasefire only if the RSF withdrew from civilian areas and surrendered its weapons in line with previous peace plans. Sudan’s civil war erupted in 2023 between the army and the RSF — once allies in overseeing the country’s democratic transition after the 2019 uprising. The conflict has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced around 12 million, according to U.N. agencies, with the actual toll believed to be far higher. The World Food Program estimates that more than 24 million Sudanese are suffering from acute food insecurity. Under the U.S.-backed peace proposal, the truce would begin with a three-month humanitarian pause followed by a nine-month political process, said U.S. adviser for African affairs Massad Boulos earlier this week. Meanwhile, the U.N. Human Rights Council announced an emergency special session on Sudan, scheduled for November 14, to address rising violence and civilian casualties in and around the Darfur city of El-Fasher. The session was requested by Britain, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway, and has received support from 24 of the council’s 47 members so far. The RSF’s truce announcement follows its recent capture of El-Fasher, the last army stronghold in Darfur after an 18-month siege. UNICEF reported that over 81,000 people have been displaced from the city since October 26, with urgent needs for food, water, and medical care. The agency said more than 850 children are being treated for acute malnutrition, while violence, sexual assaults, and looting of health facilities continue to threaten women and children across North Darfur.