United News of Bangladesh

Afghanistan’s first major rainfall and snowfall of the season ended weeks of dry weather but unleashed flash floods in several regions, leaving at least 17 people dead and 11 others injured, officials said Thursday. Among the victims were five members of a single family who died when the roof of their home collapsed in Kabkan district of western Herat province, said Mohammad Yousaf Saeedi, spokesman for the provincial governor. Two of the deceased were children. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), most casualties have been reported since Monday in flood-hit districts. The severe weather disrupted normal life across central, northern, southern and western parts of the country, NDMA spokesman Mohammad Yousaf Hammad said. The floods also caused widespread damage to infrastructure, killed livestock and affected around 1,800 families, deepening hardship for already fragile urban and rural communities, Hammad added. He said assessment teams have been dispatched to the hardest-hit areas, with damage evaluations still underway to identify further humanitarian needs. Afghanistan, like Pakistan and India, is particularly prone to extreme weather, especially sudden flooding following seasonal rains. Years of war, weak infrastructure, deforestation and the growing effects of climate change have worsened the impact of such disasters, particularly in remote areas where many homes are built from mud. The United Nations and aid agencies have warned that Afghanistan will remain among the world’s most severe humanitarian crises in 2026. This week, the UN launched a $1.7 billion appeal to support nearly 18 million people in urgent need of assistance. Source: AP 

Saudi Arabia on Thursday urged Emirati-backed separatists in southern Yemen to withdraw from Hadramout and Mahra governorates, warning that their presence threatens the stability of the fragile coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the north. The Southern Transitional Council, long supported by the UAE, moved into the two governorates earlier this month. Saudi authorities called for the council’s forces to return to previous positions and hand over camps to the National Shield Forces, aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The Saudi statement criticized the separatists’ actions as an “unjustified escalation” harming both the southern cause and coalition efforts. Local Hadramout officials backed the call for withdrawal. Demonstrators in Aden waved the flag of the former South Yemen, reflecting ongoing secessionist sentiments. The move strains Saudi-UAE relations, which, despite shared OPEC membership, have competed for regional influence. Yemen’s civil war, ongoing since the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014, has caused over 150,000 deaths and a humanitarian crisis. The Houthis have also disrupted Red Sea shipping amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. U.S. forces previously targeted Houthi leaders, including top missile and drone commander Maj. Gen. Zakaria Hajar. Escalation in southern Yemen risks further instability and could draw renewed international intervention.

Special trains will operate on ten routes on December 25 to facilitate travel to Dhaka for BNP leaders and supporters on the occasion of its Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh. The central and regional BNP offices requested the Railway Ministry for special trains and additional coaches, the ministry said in a press release on Monday. Special trains will run on 10 routes, and additional coaches will be added to several regular services. As a result, the short-distance Rajbari Commuter (Rajbari-Poradah), Dhalarchar Express (Pabna-Rajshahi), and Rohanpur Commuter (Rohanpur-Rajshahi) trains will be suspended for the day. The ministry expressed regret for any inconvenience to passengers. The special trains will operate on Cox’s Bazar–Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar, Jamalpur–Mymensingh–Dhaka–Jamalpur, Tangail–Dhaka–Tangail, Bhairab Bazar–Narsingdi–Dhaka–Narsingdi–Bhairab Bazar, Joydebpur–Dhaka Cantonment–Joydebpur, Panchagarh–Dhaka–Panchagarh, Khulna–Dhaka–Khulna, Chatmohar–Dhaka Cantonment–Chatmohar, Rajshahi–Dhaka–Rajshahi, and Jashore–Dhaka– Jashore routes. Additional coaches will also be attached to select regular trains based on demand. Bangladesh Railway expects to collect an estimated Tk 36 lakh from the special services. The ministry said all operations will comply with the Election Code of Conduct-2025.  

Western officials say Russia is waging a widespread campaign of sabotage across Europe, aiming to disrupt support for Ukraine, expose security weaknesses, and sow divisions among EU nations. In November, a train carrying nearly 500 passengers in eastern Poland was forced to stop after a broken overhead line shattered windows, while explosives detonated under a freight train on the same line. Poland blamed Russian intelligence and deployed 10,000 troops to protect critical infrastructure. These incidents are part of at least 145 documented sabotage acts since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to an Associated Press database and European officials. While most attacks have caused limited damage, ranging from vandalism to cyberattacks and warehouse fires, they consume significant resources from security services across Europe, officials say. European intelligence agencies report that the hybrid campaign costs Russia very little, often relying on foreigners with criminal backgrounds as proxies, while forcing EU nations to cooperate extensively on investigations. “It’s a 24/7 operation between all the services to stop it,” said a senior European intelligence official on condition of anonymity. Incidents have targeted countries bordering Russia, including Poland and Estonia, as well as Latvia, the U.K., Germany, and France. Officials note a temporary lull in late 2024, likely to align with the start of President Donald Trump’s new administration, but attacks have since resumed at full intensity. Many plots involve cross-border perpetrators, straining multiple authorities. For instance, a Moldovan man set fire to a Ukrainian restaurant in Estonia and fled through Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland before being caught in Italy. Russian intelligence frequently recruits individuals with criminal records, including former prisoners, to carry out operations, reducing risk to Russian operatives. Even foiled plots drain European resources while testing defenses. Last year, a Ukrainian recruited by Russian intelligence in Lithuania planted explosives inside drone components, which authorities later intercepted. Despite the pressure, Moscow’s campaign has prompted greater cooperation among European nations. Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have formed joint investigative teams, while U.K. police receive specialized training to detect state-backed attacks. Officials caution that Russia continues experimenting with new tactics. In Belarus, smuggling networks have repeatedly sent hundreds of weather balloons carrying cigarettes into Lithuania and Poland, temporarily shutting down airports—a hybrid tactic authorities warn could evolve into more dangerous threats.  

Families across Gaza spent Tuesday bailing muddy water from their tents as winter storms compounded the misery that has persisted two years into the war. Heavy rain flooded makeshift encampments where more than 2 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, leaving many standing ankle-deep in water and expressing anger toward both Hamas and Israel despite the ceasefire. “All the tents collapsed,” said Assmaa Fayad of central Gaza, describing how her temporary shelter was destroyed in the downpour. “Where is Hamas? Who is seeing how our children are drowning?” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem blamed conditions on the Israeli blockade, saying on Telegram that global relief efforts “cannot succeed under siege.” Aid groups warn that the winter season will worsen humanitarian conditions already strained by shortages and the destruction of infrastructure. Most displaced people are living in tents or improvised shelters built over rubble, without sewage systems; latrines — often pits dug near tents — overflow when it rains. In Deir al-Balah, among the hardest-hit areas, Reham al-Hilu said her shelter of wood and metal collapsed overnight, injuring her. “The mattresses are flooded. Everything is soaked — the clothes, everything — and my children are soaked too,” she said. The U.N. humanitarian office reported last week that at least 13,000 tents had been damaged by recent storms, wiping out what little belongings many families had left. Aid groups had begun winter preparations in October after the ceasefire, transporting materials such as winter tents into Gaza, but distribution has been slowed by Israeli restrictions on the entry of shelter supplies, the U.N. said. Israel’s COGAT agency said it is working to increase deliveries but did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Despite the constraints, aid organizations distributed more than 3,600 tents, 129,000 tarpaulins and 87,000 blankets earlier this month, according to the U.N. Roads in Deir al-Balah turned into shallow streams, forcing residents to wade through icy water. Some tried to mop up the flooding with pieces of cloth. Although major fighting has paused, Israel continues limited strikes, saying Hamas is violating the ceasefire — accusations the group denies. Meanwhile, most displaced Palestinians remain packed into areas of Gaza not under Israeli control.

The death toll from widespread flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains across Southeast Asia rose on Monday, with one additional fatality reported in Vietnam and five more in Thailand, as tens of thousands remain displaced. In Vietnam, the confirmed death toll has climbed to 91, with 11 people still missing. A week of relentless rainfall has caused severe flooding and landslides across an 800-kilometre (500-mile) stretch of the central region, from Quang Tri to Lam Dong provinces, including the Central Highlands. Dak Lak remains the hardest-hit province, recording 63 deaths, most of them due to drowning. Additional fatalities were reported in Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Danang, Hue, and Quang Tri provinces. With roads washed out in multiple areas, authorities have deployed helicopters to deliver food and relief supplies and to help evacuate stranded residents. After a break in the rain on the weekend, Pham Thu Huyen was one of many hundreds of residents and visitors who helped clean up debris washed ashore in Nha Trang, a popular tourist destination in Khanh Hoa province, known for its white sand beaches. “We've never experienced that much rain and such bad flooding,” the 45-year-old said. Waters have also taken their toll on this year's crops, submerging coffee farms in Dak Lak, Vietnam’s major coffee growing region. Overall, damage so far is estimated to be around $500 million in this round of floods. Some of the waters have now receded but Vietnam's weather agency warned that with rains continuing in some places the risks remain, and said a new tropical depression was forming that could bring worse weather again later in the week. Vietnam is among the world’s most flood-prone countries, with nearly half its population living in high-risk areas. Scientists warn that a warming climate is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making floods and landslides increasingly destructive and frequent. The current destruction has hit a region already battered earlier this month by floods from record rainfall and the powerful typhoon Kalmaegi. The country was also hit by typhoons in September and October, and the International Organization for Migration announced Monday that South Korea would contribute $1 million to help Vietnam assist displaced people, communities and migrants affected by those. The United Nations agency said that according to preliminary data, Vietnam estimates economic damage of some $1.2 billion from that period, with more than a half million homes damaged and hundreds of thousands of people evacuated and dozens killed. In Thailand, torrential rain in the south of the country caused severe flash flooding over the weekend, affecting nearly 2 million people, officials said. Five were killed and four were injured across six southern provinces, according to regional health officials. Ten southern provinces have been hit with heavy rainfall over the last week, and officials warned Monday that water levels are expected to rise further with the rain expected to continue through Tuesday. The city of Hat Yai, a major economic hub in Songkhla province, was hit with 335 millimeters (more than 13 inches) of rain on Friday, the highest 24-hour figure in 300 years, officials said. From Wednesday through Friday, the city saw 630 millimeters (nearly 25 inches) of rain, complicating evacuation efforts as hundreds of residents and tourists were trapped inside homes and hotels by rising water that forced emergency crews to use lifeboats to transport people along flooded streets. Thailand was already hit with widespread flooding in the north earlier in the year, followed by months of flooding in the central region, which killed more than two dozen people. That flooding also caused widespread damage to farmers fields and crops, and many thousands of homes. Malaysia is also grappling with flooding across several states that is expected to worsen as heavy, persistent rainfall continues. The Social Welfare Department reported Monday that more than 12,500 people across nine states have been evacuated. The worst-hit area is the northeastern state of Kelantan, which accounts for the majority of those displaced. Authorities have opened 86 temporary shelters and have warned that further rainfall is expected. Floods are common in parts of Malaysia during the annual monsoon season, which begins in November and can last until March.

Heavy winter rains struck Gaza’s Muwasi tent camp on Saturday, inundating makeshift shelters and worsening living conditions for displaced residents still reeling from two years of war. Families scrambled to dig trenches to divert water as tarpaulins leaked, soaking personal belongings. Strong winds toppled tents and hampered efforts to protect scarce food and supplies. Bassil Naggar, who recently bought a new tent for $712, said rainwater was still seeping through, leaving puddles inches high. Children played barefoot in the water while some residents sought shelter in partially collapsed buildings. The United Nations reported that Muwasi shelters housed up to 425,000 displaced Palestinians earlier this year, mostly in temporary tents, following Israel’s war with Hamas that displaced much of Gaza’s 2 million population. Aid agencies warned that the humanitarian response, including winter blankets and tarps, remains insufficient. The U.N. Security Council is set to vote Monday on a U.S. proposal for a stabilization force in Gaza, amid opposition from Russia, China, and some Arab countries. Since the war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s military campaign has killed 69,100 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The conflict continues to complicate efforts to recover the remains of hostages held by Hamas, with 330 Palestinian remains returned so far, only 97 identified due to limited DNA testing capacity.

U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,500 flights over the weekend as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continued to scale back air traffic operations amid the ongoing government shutdown, officials said Saturday. The agency’s reduced capacity order — aimed at coping with unpaid and overworked air traffic controllers — has begun to disrupt some of the country’s busiest airports, deepening the fallout from what has become the nation’s longest federal shutdown. “We all travel. We all have somewhere to be,” said Emmy Holguin, 36, waiting for a Miami-to-Dominican Republic flight. “I’m hoping the government can take care of this.” Analysts warn that if cancellations keep growing into Thanksgiving week, the disruptions could ripple far beyond air travel, squeezing tourism, supply chains, and holiday shipping. Cancellations surge as staffing thins Flight-tracking site FlightAware reported more than 1,500 cancellations Saturday, following over 1,000 on Friday, with another 1,000-plus flights already canceled for Sunday. Major airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, and Newark were hit hardest, with delays spreading along the East Coast due to radar and tower staffing shortages. Drone sighting briefly halts flights at Berlin airport The FAA said the current flight reductions affect about 4% of commercial operations across 40 airports — a figure expected to rise to 10% by Friday if the shutdown drags on. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that deeper cuts could follow. Controllers working without pay Many controllers have gone without pay for nearly a month, forcing some to call in sick or take second jobs. Others are working mandatory six-day weeks with no pay, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). On Saturday, the union said it delivered 1,600 handwritten letters to Congress urging lawmakers to end the shutdown. Travelers stranded and frustrated Although most passengers have been able to rebook, uncertainty remains about future cancellations. “Travel is stressful enough. Then you put these disruptions in place, and it really makes everything more challenging,” said Heather Xu, 46, flying home to Puerto Rico after a cruise. Some travelers canceled plans altogether. Diana Alvear of New Jersey said her family scrapped their trip to California over safety and disruption concerns. While United Airlines refunded the airfare, she said they lost a $700 Airbnb deposit. “This has been costly and disappointing,” Alvear said. “It’s really weighing on our hearts.” Economic ripple effects Experts warned that disruptions could soon hit consumers’ wallets. Nearly half of U.S. air freight travels in passenger plane cargo holds, meaning flight cuts could push up shipping costs and retail prices. Pakistan’s PIA resumes UK flights after five-year ban “This shutdown will impact everything — from business travel to tourism to local tax revenue,” said Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group. “It’s a cascading effect.” Patrick Penfield, a supply chain professor at Syracuse University, said the longer the shutdown lasts, “the more likely we are to see the economic pain extend beyond airports and into everyday life.” Source: AP

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted rains or thundershowers in three divisions including Chattogram in the next 24 hours commencing 9:00am on Tuesday. “Rain or thundershowers is likely to occur at many places over Chattogram division and at a few places over Barishal and Sylhet divisions,” said a regular bulletin of the Met office. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Night temperature may rise slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. The low-pressure area over East-central Bay and adjoining Myanmar coast persists and is likely to move north-northwestwards along Myanmar-Bangladesh coasts.

A low-pressure area was formed over East-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining Myanmar coast on Sunday and it is likely to move north-northwestwards along Myanmar-Bangladesh coasts, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers is likely to occur at a few places over Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Khulna divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over the country,” said a Met office bulletin. Low pressure area likely to form over eastcentral Bay of Bengal in next 48 hrs: BMD Besides, night temperature may remain nearly unchanged and day temperature may rise slightly over the country.