United News of Bangladesh

At least two dozen people have been killed after gunmen opened fire on a group of domestic tourists visiting a popular beauty spot in Indian-administered Kashmir. The attack took place in Pahalgam, a picturesque town in the Himalayas often described as the "Switzerland of India". The region's chief minister, Omar Abdullah, said the attack was "much larger than anything we've seen directed at civilians in recent years". Reports suggest that there are a large number of wounded, with some in critical condition, BBC reports. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the perpetrators would "be brought to justice". "Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakeable and it will get even stronger," Modi wrote in a statement on X. Modi added that Home Minister Amit Shah would travel to Srinagar, Kashmir's largest city, to hold an emergency security meeting. 13 killed as passenger truck falls into a ravine in southern Pakistan The region's Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, said the army and police had been deployed to the scene. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. There has been a long-running insurgency in the Muslim-majority region since 1989, although violence has waned in recent years. The attack took place in Baisaran, a mountain-top meadow three miles (5km) from Pahalgam. Vehicles are unable to reach the area where the shooting occurred, Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Vidi Kumar Birdi told BBC Hindi. A tourist from Gujarat, who was part of a group that was fired upon, said that chaos broke out after the sudden attack, and everybody started running, crying and shouting. Video footage shared by Indian media outlets appears to show Indian troops running towards the scene of the attack, while in other footage victims can be heard saying that the gunmen had singled out non-Muslims. Footage on social media, which has not been verified by the BBC, appears to show bodies lying on a meadow with people crying and asking for help. Police said multiple tourists had been taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. The area has been cordoned off with soldiers stopping vehicles at checkpoints while a search is underway to find the perpetrators. Since the 1990s, an armed separatist insurgency against Indian rule in the region has claimed tens of thousands of lives, including those of civilians and security forces. The Himalayan region was divided following India's independence from Britain, partition and the creation of Pakistan in 1947. The two nuclear-armed states both claim the region in its entirety and have fought two wars and a limited conflict over it in the decades since. Some 500,000 Indian soldiers are permanently deployed in the territory. While fighting has decreased since Modi revoked Kashmir's partial autonomy in 2019, there are still incidents of violence. The last major attack on civilians occurred in June 2024 when nine people were killed and 33 injured after militants opened fire on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims. In 2019, a suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir killed at least 46 soldiers and prompted Indian airstrikes on targets in Pakistan. Pahalgam is a popular tourist destination, both domestically and internationally, and in recent years the government has attempted to encourage further tourism to the region. Around 3.5 million tourists visited Kashmir in 2024, according to official figures.

A speeding truck carrying laborers, women and children fell into a ravine in southern Pakistan, killing at least 13 people and injuring 20 others, police said Tuesday. The road accident occurred overnight in Jamshoro district in southern Sindh province, city police chief Saddique Changra told reporters. Hospital officials said some of the injured were in critical condition. 10 civilians killed during anti-militant operation in Pakistan According to local media, the accident happened as dozens of laborers were returning to their homes in Sindh's Badin district after harvesting wheat in the southwestern province of Balochistan. Road accidents are common in Pakistan, where highways and roads are poorly maintained and traffic laws are widely ignored.

U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen’s capital killed 12 people and wounded 30 others, the Houthi rebels said early Monday. Zelenskyy says Russia is trying to create an ‘impression of a ceasefire’ as attacks continue The deaths mark the latest in America’s intensified campaign of strikes targeting the rebels. The U.S. military’s Central Command declined to answer questions about the strike or discuss civilian casualties from its campaign. The Houthis described the strike as hitting the Farwa neighborhood market in Sanaa’s Shuub district. That area has been targeted before by the Americans. Footage aired by the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel showed damage to vehicles and buildings in the area, with screaming onlookers holding what appeared to be a dead child. Others wailed on stretchers heading into a hospital Strikes overnight into Monday also hit other areas of the country, including Yemen’s Amran, Hodeida, Marib and Saada governorates. The strikes come after U.S. airstrikes hit the Ras Isa fuel port in Yemen last week, killing at least 74 people and wounding 171 others. The strikes follow the resumption of negotiations in Rome between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, which Washington has linked to its attacks in Yemen. The U.S. is targeting the Houthis because of the group’s attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The Houthis are the last militant group in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” that is capable of regularly attacking Israel. The new U.S. operation against the Houthis under Trump appears more extensive than attacks on the group were under President Joe Biden, an AP review found. The new campaign started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships again over Israel blocking aid from entering the Gaza Strip. From November 2023 until this January, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it. The Houthis also launched attacks targeting American warships without success.  

U.S. Vice President JD Vance will embark on a four-day visit to India on Monday as the two countries seek to unlock economic opportunities and negotiate a bilateral trade deal. Vance will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for talks on the economy, trade and geopolitical ties. Vance’s visit is seen as an important diplomatic mission by President Donald Trump’s administration, and it coincides with a rapidly intensifying trade war between Washington and Beijing, which is New Delhi's main rival in the region. A trade deal between India and the U.S. could significantly enhance economic ties between the two countries and potentially strengthen diplomatic ties. The U.S. is also India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at $190 billion until recently. India’s foreign ministry has said the visit will “provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations” and two leaders will “exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.” Here’s what to know more about Vance’s visit: Bilateral trade agreement Vance’s arrival in India comes weeks after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was in India for a geopolitical conference and two months after Modi met Trump in Washington. Vance to meet Modi, Meloni during trip to India and Italy with wife Usha Modi was among the first leaders to visit the U.S. and hold talks with Trump after he returned to the White House. During his visit, Modi hailed a “mega partnership” with the U.S. and kickstarted a negotiation process to minimise the possible fallout of Trump’s tariffs after it had already cut tariffs on a range of U.S. goods. Regardless, Trump targeted India with a 26% levy as part of his now-paused tariff programme, which has provided temporary relief for Indian exporters. During his visit, Modi sought to soften impending trade barriers by saying he was open to reducing more tariffs on U.S. goods, repatriating undocumented Indian nationals and buying military gear. The two countries also agreed to start talks towards clinching the bilateral trade agreement. Modi on Friday said he spoke with Elon Musk and said he and the SpaceX CEO “discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation,” saying “India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the U.S. in these domains.” India's deep ties to US business India is a close partner of the U.S. for bilateral trade, foreign direct investments, defence cooperation, and an important strategic ally in combating the rising influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region. It is also part of the Quad, which is made up of the United States plus India, Japan and Australia and seen as a counter-balance to China’s expansion in the region. Leading U.S companies such as Apple Inc. and Google have expanded operations in India in recent years. Last month, Musk's Starlink entered into agreements with two of India’s top telecom operators to provide satellite-based internet services. Modi expressed respect for Yunus despite Hasina’s disrespect: CA’s Press Secretary   To further boost trade ties, the U.S. and India have set an ambitious target of more than doubling their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 under the expected trade deal agreement. The negotiations are especially urgent for New Delhi as it could be hit hard by Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, particularly in sectors of agriculture, processed food, auto components, high-end machinery, medical equipment and jewelry. This poses a significant challenge for Modi government as it hopes to spruce up the country's economy and generate jobs with an export-led recovery. Modi and Trump already share rapport Modi established a good working relationship with Trump during his first term in office. It now appears that the two leaders are likely to further boost cooperation between their countries, particularly in trade as Chinese President Xi Jinping is aiming to position Beijing as a reliable trade partner in the Asia-Pacific region amid rising tensions with Washington. India has also already taken a number of steps to win over Trump. It will purchase more oil, energy and defence equipment, including the fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, from the U.S. The U.S, however, wants greater market access for its agricultural and dairy products in India, but New Delhi has been reluctant so far as the farm sector employs bulk of the country’s workforce. Family trip for Vance Vance’s visit to India marks his first official trip to the country, which has added significance for the second family. His wife Usha Vance — a practising Hindu — is the daughter of immigrants from South India. In his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance described his wife a “supersmart daughter of Indian immigrants” whom he met at Yale Law School. Usha’s parents moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s. Hugely inflated, bulk of them were fake news: Yunus tells Modi over attacks on minorities Vance will be accompanied by Usha, their children and other senior members of the U.S. administration, and the couple will visit Indian cities of Jaipur and Agra and participate in engagements at cultural sites, a readout from the White House said.

One of the greatest mountain guides will attempt to scale the world's highest peak for the 31st time — and possibly the 32nd time as well — and break his own record. Kami Rita, 55, flew to Mount Everest on Sunday from Kathmandu to lead a group of climbers who will try to reach the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit during the spring climbing season. “I am mentally, emotionally and physically prepared to climb the mountain,” Kami Rita told The Associated Press at Kathmandu's airport. “I am in my top physical condition right now.” He holds the record for the most successful ascents of Mount Everest at 30 times. In May last year he climbed the peak twice. “My first priority is to get my client to the summit of the peak. Then I will decide on whether I will climb the peak more than one time during the season. It depends on the weather and conditions on the mountain,” he said. Earthquake kills 126 people in China near Mount Everest His closest competitor for the most climbs of Mount Everest is fellow Sherpa guide Pasang Dawa, who has made 27 successful ascents of the mountain. Kami Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 and has been making the trip nearly every year since. He is one of many Sherpa guides whose expertise and skills are vital to the safety and success each year of foreign climbers aspiring to stand on top of the mountain. His father was among the first Sherpa mountain guides. In addition to his Everest climbs, Kami Rita has scaled several other peaks that are among the world’s highest, including K2, Cho Oyu, Manaslu and Lhotse. Mount Everest's highest camp is littered with frozen garbage, and cleanup is likely to take years According to Nepal's Department of Tourism, 214 climbers have been issued permits to attempt Mount Everest from the Nepali side of the peak in the south this climbing season, which ends in May. Most climbing of Everest and nearby Himalayan peaks is done in April and May, when weather conditions are most favorable. Everest was first climbed in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.

At least 45 Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Friday, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense. Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense, said an Israeli airstrike on a residential house belonging to the Baraka family in Khan Younis killed 10 people. Another strike on a barbershop in the city left six people dead, including two children and a woman. Israeli airstrikes kill at Least 25 in Gaza; new U.S. Ambassador Huckabee makes first appearance  Basal added that eight others were reportedly killed in separate strikes in Khan Younis, while two more were killed in Rafah, further south. In northern Gaza, at least 13 people died and several were injured when the Maqdad family's home in the Tal al-Zaatar area was hit. Basal also noted that six people were killed in airstrikes targeting two displacement tents in Gaza City. In a statement, the Civil Defense warned that ongoing fuel shortages—caused by Israeli restrictions on aid and fuel entry—could force its emergency operations to shut down in the coming days. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Friday that, guided by intelligence, its troops are continuing operations against militant groups in Gaza by targeting infrastructure and eliminating militants. According to the IDF, the Israeli Air Force struck around 40 targets across Gaza, including militants, military structures, and weapons storage sites.    

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has reiterated that all pilgrims planning to perform Hajj in the 1446 AH season must secure an official permit via the “Nusuk” platform, which is linked to the centralized digital system for Hajj permits, “Tasreeh.” Govt to introduce hajj management centres, app to ensure seamless services for pilgrims The ministry stressed that adhering to these guidelines is vital for ensuring the safety and security of pilgrims and for maintaining an orderly pilgrimage experience. In its statement, the ministry clarified that only those holding a designated Hajj visa are permitted to perform the pilgrimage. Using any other type of visa for Hajj is considered a violation of the rules, reports Saudi Gazette. It also warned against fraudulent Hajj campaigns spread through misleading ads on social media, which offer unauthorised lodging and transportation within the holy sites. The public has been encouraged to report such activities by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions. Deceptive advertisements can also be reported to local authorities. House rentals, transportation of over 6,500 hajj pilgrims yet to be finalised , Visa issues loom Additionally, the ministry announced that Umrah visa holders must leave Saudi Arabia by Tuesday, 1 Dhul-Qi’dah 1446 AH (April 29, 2025), ahead of the Hajj season.  

When nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force veterans signed an open letter last week calling for an end to the war in Gaza, the military responded immediately, saying it would dismiss any active reservist who signed the document. But in the days since, thousands of retired and reservist soldiers across the military have signed similar letters of support. The growing campaign, which accuses the government of perpetuating the war for political reasons and failing to bring home the remaining hostages, has laid bare the deep division and disillusionment over Israel’s fighting in Gaza. By spilling over into the military, it has threatened national unity and raised questions about the army’s ability to continue fighting at full force. It also resembles the bitter divisions that erupted in early 2023 over the government’s attempts to overhaul Israel’s legal system, which many say weakened the country and encouraged Hamas’ attack later that year that triggered the war. “It’s crystal clear that the renewal of the war is for political reasons and not for security reasons,” Guy Poran, a retired pilot who was one of the initiators of the air force letter, told The Associated Press. A return to war The catalyst for the letters was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision on March 18 to return to war instead of sticking to a ceasefire that had facilitated the release of some hostages. Netanyahu says the military pressure is needed to force Hamas to release the remaining hostages. Critics, including many families of the hostages, fear that it will get them killed. US YouTuber remains in custody in India after visiting restricted island with a Diet Coke can One month after Netanyahu resumed the war, none of the 59 hostages held by Hamas have been freed or rescued, of whom 24 are believed to still be alive. In their letters, the protesters have stopped short of refusing to serve. And the vast majority of the 10,000 soldiers who have signed are retired in any case. Nonetheless, Poran said their decision to identify themselves as ex-pilots was deliberate — given the respect among Israel’s Jewish majority for the military, and especially for fighter pilots and other prestigious units. Tens of thousands of academics, doctors, former ambassadors, students and high-tech workers have signed similar letters of solidarity in recent days, also demanding an end to the war. “We are aware of the relative importance and the weight of the brand of Israeli Air Force pilots and felt that it is exactly the kind of case where we should use this title in order to influence society,” said Poran.  

A 24-year-old American YouTuber remains in custody after being arrested for illegally venturing onto North Sentinel Island, a restricted area in the Indian Ocean that is home to one of the world’s most isolated and uncontacted tribes. Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, was arrested on March 31, two days after setting foot on the island in an apparent attempt to make contact with the Sentinelese tribe. He is currently being held in Port Blair, the capital of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and is scheduled to appear in court on April 29, authorities confirmed. US airstrikes targeting a Yemeni oil port killed 20 people, Houthis say Polyakov’s unauthorized visit included leaving a can of Diet Coke and a coconut on the beach as offerings for the tribe. He reportedly spent about an hour on the island, trying to get the attention of the Sentinelese by blowing a whistle, though he received no response. Before returning to his boat, he recorded video footage of the island and collected sand samples. A senior police official, speaking anonymously, noted, “While this may be portrayed as an adventurous expedition, it’s a clear violation of Indian law. Any contact with the Sentinelese poses a serious risk to the tribe’s health and survival.” India strictly prohibits travel within five kilometers (approximately three miles) of North Sentinel Island to protect the tribe, whose members have lived in voluntary isolation for thousands of years. The Sentinelese are known to aggressively defend their territory, often using bows, arrows, and spears. Past encounters with outsiders have ended in violence. In 2018, an American missionary was killed by the tribe after illegally attempting to preach Christianity on the island. In another tragic incident in 2006, two fishermen were killed after their boat drifted onto the shore. Polyakov is believed to have planned the trip meticulously, researching tides and sea conditions before making his journey. His actions could lead to criminal charges under Indian law, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and fines. Local fishermen spotted Polyakov upon his return and alerted authorities, leading to his arrest. A U.S. consulate official has since visited him in jail. The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi confirmed the visit, stating: “We take our responsibility to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously and are closely monitoring the situation.” Due to privacy reasons, no further details were provided. Polyakov’s actions have reignited concerns about the vulnerability of the Sentinelese, who have no immunity to modern diseases and remain fiercely protective of their isolation.  

U.S. airstrikes targeting the Ras Isa oil port held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels killed 20 people and wounded 50 others, the group said early Friday. The strikes, confirmed by the U.S. military’s Central Command, represent one of the highest reported death tolls so far in the campaign launched under President Donald Trump that has involved hundreds of strikes since March 15. The Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel aired graphic footage of the aftermath of the attack, showing corpses strewn across the site. It said paramedic and civilians workers at the port had been killed in the attack, which sparked a massive explosion and fires. In a statement, Central Command said that “U.S. forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years.” “This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully,” it added. It did not acknowledge any casualties and declined to comment when asked by The Associated Press regarding civilians reportedly being killed. US strikes spark massive fireball, kills those at port US airstrikes hit Yemen's capital overnight killing one, Houthis say The Ras Isa port, a collection of three oil tanks and refining equipment, sits in Yemen's Hodeida governorate along the Red Sea. NASA satellites that track forest fires showed an intense blaze early Friday morning at the site just off Kamaran Island, targeted by intense U.S. airstrikes over the last few days. The Ras Isa port also is the terminus of an oil pipeline stretching to Yemen's energy-rich Marib governorate, which remains held by allies of Yemen's exiled government. The Houthis expelled that government from Yemen's capital, Sanaa, back in 2015. However, oil exports have been halted by the decadelong war and the Houthis have used Ras Isa to bring in oil. The Houthis denounced the U.S. attack. “This completely unjustified aggression represents a flagrant violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and independence and a direct targeting of the entire Yemeni people,” the Houthis said in a statement carried by the SABA news agency they control. “It targets a vital civilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades.” On April 9, the U.S. State Department issued a warning about oil shipments to Yemen. “The United States will not tolerate any country or commercial entity providing support to foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Houthis, including offloading ships and provisioning oil at Houthi-controlled ports,” it said. The attack follows Israeli airstrikes on the Houthis which previously hit port and oil infrastructure used by the rebels after their attacks on Israel. US strikes come as part of monthlong intense campaign An AP review has found the new U.S. operation against the Houthis under President Donald Trump appears more extensive than that under former President Joe Biden, as Washington moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel and dropping bombs on cities. The new campaign of airstrikes started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels have loosely defined what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning many vessels could be targeted. Israeli airstrikes kill senior Hamas leader, 18 others; Houthis launch missile toward Israel The Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships without success. The U.S. campaign shows no signs of stopping, as the Trump administration has also linked its airstrikes on the Houthis to an effort to pressure Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program.