United News of Bangladesh

France and Spain will put their unbeaten records on the line when they face each other in the first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, with only one team earning a place in Sunday's final. Both sides are playing in their 17th World Cup and neither has trailed in any match during this year's tournament. France, led by Kylian Mbappé, and Spain, inspired by teenage star Lamine Yamal and impact substitute Mikel Merino, will meet at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Top-ranked France has scored 14 goals while conceding only twice in the tournament. Mbappé, winner of the 2022 Golden Boot, has scored eight goals to share the tournament lead with Argentina captain Lionel Messi. The French forward is also just one goal away from matching Messi's career World Cup record of 21 goals. "We are confident because of the journey we have had so far, but we also want to remain humble, which has defined us since the start of the tournament," France midfielder Adrien Rabiot said. Mbappé, 27, has now scored 20 goals in 20 World Cup matches. He famously scored in France's 2018 final victory over Croatia, becoming only the second teenager after Pele to score in a World Cup final. Coach Didier Deschamps said Mbappé is fully fit after being substituted in the 77th minute of France's quarterfinal victory over Morocco, in which he scored. Spain will rely on 19-year-old Yamal, who celebrated his birthday on Monday. The young winger has already enjoyed success against France, scoring in Spain's 2-1 victory in the semifinals of the 2024 European Championship just before turning 17. Spain also defeated France 5-4 in last year's UEFA Nations League. "I think if France has to fear anyone, it should be us," Yamal said after Spain's quarterfinal win over Belgium. "We were the team that eliminated them before." Yamal has scored once in this World Cup while registering 10 shots on target despite still recovering from a left hamstring injury that forced him to miss the closing weeks of Barcelona's season. "This is the biggest match I have ever played," Yamal said on Monday. "The best birthday gift would be reaching the final." France defender Jules Koundé, Yamal's teammate at Barcelona, said he was not bothered by the youngster's confident remarks. "He always believes in himself and in the team he plays for. That's simply extra motivation for him," Koundé said. Spain has scored 10 goals and conceded only once since opening the tournament with a goalless draw against Cape Verde. Merino has emerged as a key player, scoring late winning goals in Spain's last two knockout matches. The Arsenal forward scored in the 88th minute to seal a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarterfinals after netting in first-half stoppage time of extra time during Spain's 1-0 win over Portugal in the round of 16 at the same venue. Goalkeeper Unai Simón also enjoyed a record-breaking run, going 650 World Cup minutes without conceding before Belgium scored in the 41st minute of the quarterfinal. Spain midfielder Alex Baena said the team has continued to improve throughout the tournament. "From the first game until now, we've gradually found our rhythm. The more we have played and trained together, the stronger we have become," he said. Four former champions in the semifinals For the first time since 1990, all four World Cup semifinalists are former champions. Defending champion Argentina, which beat France in the dramatic 2022 final, will face England in the second semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta. The World Cup final will be played on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while the third-place playoff is scheduled for Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida. History between France and Spain France and Spain have met only once before in the World Cup, with France winning 3-1 in the round of 16 at the 2006 tournament in Germany. Since then, both countries have lifted the trophy. Spain won its only World Cup title in 2010, while France claimed its second crown in 2018. France, playing on Bastille Day, is aiming to become only the third nation after Brazil and Germany to reach three consecutive World Cup finals. Brazil achieved the feat between 1994 and 2002, while West Germany reached three straight finals from 1982 to 1990. France is appearing in its seventh World Cup semifinal and its fifth in the last eight editions. Spain has reached the semifinals only twice before—in 1950 and during its title-winning campaign in 2010. Dallas hosts its final World Cup match Tuesday's semifinal will be the ninth and final World Cup match at AT&T Stadium, the highest number hosted by any venue during the tournament. The stadium has witnessed several memorable moments, including Lionel Messi scoring three goals during Argentina's group-stage matches. On June 22, after missing a penalty, Messi scored twice against Austria to become the all-time leading World Cup scorer with his 20th and 21st career goals before adding another against Jordan on June 27. The venue also hosted Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup appearance, as the 41-year-old Portugal star ended his sixth and last tournament in a 1-0 round-of-16 defeat to Spain on July 6.

A Paris appeals court is set to deliver a key ruling on Tuesday in Marine Le Pen's embezzlement case, with the decision likely to determine whether the French far-right leader can contest the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen, 57, is appealing a March 2025 conviction that found her and several members of her National Rally party guilty of misusing European Parliament funds. Prosecutors said money meant to pay parliamentary assistants was instead used to pay party staff between 2004 and 2016. The lower court handed Le Pen a prison sentence, which has been suspended while her appeal is heard, and banned her from holding elected office for five years. She denies any wrongdoing and hopes to make her fourth run for the French presidency. If the ban remains in place, National Rally president Jordan Bardella, 30, is expected to become the party's candidate, potentially changing the race to succeed President Emmanuel Macron. Acquittal would clear the way The best outcome for Le Pen would be a full acquittal, allowing her to run without legal obstacles. During the five-week appeal hearing earlier this year, Le Pen admitted there had been "a mistake" but insisted she believed it was legal for some parliamentary assistants to also work for her party, then known as the National Front. She said there was never any attempt to hide the arrangement and argued that European Parliament officials had never warned the party that its hiring practices might violate the rules. Her lawyer, Rodolphe Bosselut, urged the judges to allow Le Pen to rebuild her political career. Even if she is cleared, prosecutors could still challenge the verdict before France's highest court, the Court of Cassation. A shorter ban could keep her in the race The appeals court could also uphold Le Pen's conviction but reduce her ban from public office to two years or less, or remove it altogether. Because the original ban took effect immediately in March last year, a shorter ban would end before the first round of the presidential election, scheduled for April 2027. However, Le Pen has said that even if she is legally allowed to run, any prison sentence, electronic monitoring or other court restrictions could make it impossible to campaign across the country. "If I'm allowed to be a candidate but cannot campaign freely, then it wouldn't be possible," she told French broadcaster LCI this week. She said she could not run a national campaign if she needed a judge's permission to travel or attend campaign events. Court could impose a tougher punishment Prosecutors have asked the appeals court to sentence Le Pen to four years in prison, with three years suspended, and to keep the five-year ban on holding elected office. They accuse her of leading a system that diverted European Union funds for the benefit of her party. Although prosecutors did not request it, the appeals court could again decide that any ban should take immediate effect. Le Pen would still be able to appeal to the Court of Cassation, although it remains unclear whether such an appeal would suspend the sentence. France's highest court has previously said it would try to issue a final ruling before the 2027 presidential election if it accepts the case. Le Pen says she cannot wait until the last minute Le Pen has said she will not delay deciding whether to run because a presidential campaign requires months of preparation. She warned that lengthy legal proceedings could effectively prevent her from entering the race, even if she is later cleared. France's presidential campaign is expected to begin gathering momentum in September before intensifying early next year. Presidential candidates must also secure the endorsements of 500 elected officials to qualify for the ballot, making it difficult for parties to replace a candidate late in the campaign. "If I'm prevented from running but the Court of Cassation rules in my favor three or four months later, it will already be too late to mount a proper presidential campaign," Le Pen said in an earlier interview with RTL radio.

Kylian Mbappe scored the decisive goal as France edged Paraguay 1-0 in sweltering conditions on early Sunday to secure a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The French captain converted a second-half penalty at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, helping Les Bleus advance to the last eight for the fourth consecutive World Cup. Playing under extreme heat, with temperatures approaching 38 degrees Celsius, both teams struggled to maintain a high tempo. Paraguay frustrated France for long periods with a disciplined defensive performance, but the breakthrough came in the 70th minute when Diego Gomez was penalized for a foul following a video review. Mbappe calmly converted the spot kick for what proved to be the match-winning goal. The strike was Mbappe’s 19th career World Cup goal in as many appearances, leaving him just one short of the tournament record held by Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Mbappe has also moved level at the top of the Golden Boot race with seven goals in the tournament. Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who had starred in his team’s shock penalty-shootout victory over Germany in the previous round, produced several important saves to keep his side in contention. He denied Manu Koné and later stopped two additional efforts from Mbappe during stoppage time. Tensions flared throughout the physical contest, with several heated exchanges between players. Following the final whistle, an apparent disagreement between Gill and Mbappe briefly overshadowed the result before emotions cooled. France coach Didier Deschamps praised his side for overcoming a difficult challenge after a series of more comfortable victories earlier in the tournament. France, champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, have now won all five of their matches at the 2026 World Cup while outscoring opponents 14-2. The victory sets up a quarterfinal clash against Morocco on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. France defeated Morocco in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup en route to reaching the final. Paraguay exit the tournament after another spirited performance, having earlier produced one of the competition’s biggest surprises by eliminating Germany in the knockout stage.

Three people, including a Ukrainian businessman and a child, were seriously injured after an explosive device detonated at a residential building in Monaco, while the suspected attacker fled across the border into France, authorities said. The blast took place around 9 p.m. on Monday at the entrance of a residential building near the French border, according to Monaco's Minister of State Christophe Mirmand. The two adults and the child were taken to hospitals in France for treatment. Authorities in Monaco and France have launched a joint search for the suspect, whose motive remains under investigation. Mirmand said the suspect escaped on foot into France shortly after the explosion and was tracked through surveillance cameras in Monaco and the nearby French town of Beausoleil. A French national police official confirmed that French police are assisting in the investigation and searching for the suspect, but did not provide further details. The attack shocked the tiny Mediterranean principality, where such incidents are rare. Monaco's ruler, Prince Albert II, condemned the explosion, calling it "an odious act," and said all security and emergency services had been mobilized to protect the public. French broadcaster BFM and Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda identified one of the injured as Ukrainian construction tycoon Vadym Iermolaiev. According to Ukrainska Pravda, Iermolaiev was placed under Ukrainian sanctions in 2023 over alleged ties to Russia. Authorities have not confirmed whether he was the intended target of the attack.

Millions across France endured another night of intense heat, waking up in sweltering conditions as a severe heatwave pushed temperatures to extreme and potentially record-breaking levels across much of the country. France’s national weather agency, Meteo France, placed 54 departments—nearly half the country—under a red heatwave alert, warning that dangerously high temperatures will continue around the clock. With large parts of France lacking widespread air conditioning, the heatwave has disrupted daily life, forcing changes to school schedules, train services and sporting events. Authorities also reported around 20 drowning deaths since the weekend, as people seek relief in rivers and lakes. Meteorologists said the hot spell is expected to persist at least through the end of the week, with daytime temperatures rising above 40°C (104°F) in several areas. They warned that some locations could see record-breaking highs for any time of year. “Sunshine continues to dominate across France, maintaining oppressive and exhausting heat throughout the country,” Meteo France said, adding that the situation remains especially severe due to its early arrival in the summer season. The current heatwave has drawn comparisons with the deadly August 2003 heatwave, when an estimated 15,000 people died in France, many of them elderly residents in homes without cooling systems. The disaster later led to the introduction of France’s national heat alert system. Scientists say human-driven climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Europe, in particular, is warming at about twice the global average, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The World Health Organization’s Europe office has warned that more than 200,000 heat-related deaths have occurred across the continent in recent years, many of which could have been prevented. Extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion and life-threatening heatstroke. Meanwhile, neighbouring Britain is also facing severe conditions. The UK Met Office has issued an extreme heat warning for Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach up to 39°C (102°F) in parts of the country. Officials said this month could challenge or break June temperature records before conditions ease later in the week. Experts warn that rising global temperatures are making heatwaves more frequent and intense, increasing risks of wildfires and serious health impacts across Europe.

France and Italy have begun discussions with Tehran in an effort to ensure the safe passage of their vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported. Citing three sources familiar with the matter, the report said the two European countries are trying to negotiate an arrangement with Iran that would guarantee safe navigation for their ships through the crucial maritime route. The talks remain at an early and tentative stage, the report added. The effort comes as European states seek to revive oil and gas exports from the Middle East amid heightened regional tensions. Al Jazeera said it could not independently verify the report. Separately, Reuters reported that France is also working to assemble a broader international coalition aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz once the security situation improves. According to two French officials cited by Reuters, Paris has been consulting European, Asian and Gulf Arab countries on a plan that could involve deploying warships to escort oil tankers through the narrow waterway. The strait is a vital corridor for global energy supplies. Data from the Germany-based CESifo Research Network shows that in 2024 about 6.2 percent of crude oil and 8.7 percent of liquefied natural gas imported from non-EU countries passed through the passage.

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet on Monday underlined that French companies want to develop their presence in Bangladesh and need a business-friendly environment in this context. He, together with the Heads of EU diplomatic missions, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and discussed issues of mutual interest. The Ambassador felicitated the Minister for his new assignment and expressed the commitment of France to deepening the long-standing partnership with Bangladesh and developing new common initiatives. France, Bangladesh share common vision for peace, multilateralism: French Ambassador The Minister thanked the EU for the concrete support it extended to Bangladesh through the electoral observation mission, which played an important role in the general elections. He emphasised the importance of EU-Bangladesh relations and the new government's desire to facilitate exchanges in all fields.

France will summon U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner to protest remarks by the Trump administration regarding the fatal beating of a far-right activist, the French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Saturday. Barrot’s statement came after the U.S. State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau posted on X that “reports, corroborated by the French Minister of the Interior, that Quentin Deranque was killed by left-wing militants, should concern us all.” France rushes to avert US-style government shutdown after budget talks fail Deranque, a far-right activist, died last week in Lyon from brain injuries sustained during an attack linked to a scuffle at a student meeting, where far-left lawmaker Rima Hassan was the keynote speaker. The incident has fueled concerns over rising political tensions ahead of France’s next presidential election. President Emmanuel Macron urged calm as around 3,000 people marched in Lyon in tribute to Deranque, organized by far-right groups. Barrot condemned attempts to politicize the tragedy, saying, “We reject any instrumentalization of this tragedy, which has plunged a French family into mourning, for political ends. We have no lessons to learn, particularly on the issue of violence, from the international reactionary movement.” The State Department’s post described “violent radical leftism” as a growing threat and said the U.S. will monitor the situation and expect justice for those responsible. Seven individuals have faced preliminary charges. Six were charged with intentional homicide, aggravated violence, and criminal conspiracy, while a seventh was charged with complicity in the same crimes, the Lyon public prosecutor’s office said. France plans new aircraft carrier amid boost in defense spending Barrot also plans to raise U.S. sanctions against former EU commissioner Thierry Breton and French ICC judge Nicolas Guillou, calling them “unjustified and unjustifiable.” The Foreign Affairs Ministry has not announced a date for the meeting. Kushner had previously been summoned in August last year over a letter to Macron accusing France of insufficient action against antisemitism; French officials met with his representative after the ambassador did not attend.

France’s radical left has come under intense political pressure following the death of a university student in Lyon, with government ministers blaming militants linked to the far-left for the fatal attack. Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old mathematics student and nationalist activist, died on Saturday, two days after he was beaten in a street assault. Lyon state prosecutor said a murder investigation has been opened, adding that Deranque was punched and kicked by at least six people and suffered fatal injuries to his skull and brain. The attack followed a confrontation on Thursday linked to a small protest in Lyon against a visit by a left-wing politician to the Institute of Political Studies, also known as Sciences Po. Deranque had gone to support the hard-right feminist collective Némésis, which was staging the demonstration. According to prosecutors, there was an initial clash between two opposing groups. Later, Deranque and two other nationalist activists were chased and cornered. Mobile phone footage from nearby streets showed three young men being attacked by a larger group, with one left lying on the ground. Senior figures in President Emmanuel Macron’s government directly blamed the far left. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the violence was clearly carried out by far-left militants, while Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said there was no doubt about who was responsible. The killing has put the radical left party France Unbowed under scrutiny, along with a banned militant group known as La Jeune Garde, which has previously provided security at left-wing rallies. Members of Némésis claimed they recognised activists from La Jeune Garde among those who disrupted their protest, though the group has denied involvement. The demonstration was directed against a meeting involving LFI European lawmaker Rima Hassan, who condemned the violence and called for a full investigation. She said the security present during her visit was provided by her party and had no role in the clashes. Deranque’s family lawyer said the student was not part of any security detail and had never been involved in violent activity. Friends described him as a practising Catholic who had become active in nationalist politics in recent years. Right-wing politicians strongly attacked LFI, accusing it of encouraging violence by so-called anti-fascist militants. European lawmaker Marion Maréchal said responsibility lay with the radical left, while others said the killing reflected a climate of hatred. LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon rejected the accusations, saying his party had nothing to do with the incident. He expressed sympathy for Deranque’s family and said LFI opposes all forms of violence. No arrests have yet been made, and investigators say efforts to identify the suspects are continuing as political tensions rise ahead of key local elections next month.   With inputs from BBC

Canada and France are set to open diplomatic consulates in Greenland on Friday, marking a historic expansion of foreign engagement in the Arctic territory, officials said. A Canadian delegation led by Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand will formally inaugurate Canada’s first diplomatic outpost in Nuuk, accompanied by a Canadian Coast Guard vessel. French officials are scheduled to open their consulate on the same day. Governor General Simon, Canada’s Crown representative, said in a pre-trip statement that Canada “stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland who will determine their own future.” The visit also underscores the cultural and ethnic connections between Canadian Inuit and Greenlandic Inuit, Simon’s own Inuk heritage highlighting these longstanding ties. Until this week, only Iceland and the United States maintained formal diplomatic missions in Greenland. The opening of Canadian and French consulates is viewed as a strategic move amid former US President Donald Trump’s prior remarks suggesting the US should “own” Greenland for national security purposes. Trump later softened his stance, citing ongoing discussions with Denmark, European allies, and Canada. The Canadian consulate had been planned since early 2024 under Ottawa’s review of its Arctic policy but was delayed due to weather. The opening now comes amid increasing focus on Arctic security and infrastructure, with Canadian officials noting the proximity of Nuuk to Iqaluit in Nunavut, and the broader significance for regional cooperation. Inuit leaders, including Natan Obed of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said the consulate represents years of advocacy to strengthen ties with Greenland and emphasized concern over US threats, given historical colonization and recent geopolitical tensions. Approximately 50 Canadian Inuit are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony. Foreign Minister Anand described Arctic defence as “an unquestionable national security priority,” highlighting Canada’s ongoing investments in northern infrastructure and a year-round military presence. During the visit, Anand will meet with Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, while Simon will meet Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. The consulate openings signal continued NATO ally support for Greenland amid past US claims and reinforce Canada’s strategic presence in the Arctic.   With inputs from BBC