United News of Bangladesh

Romanian lawmakers on Wednesday rejected a proposed center-right Cabinet led by designated Prime Minister Siegfried Muresan, prolonging the country’s political crisis and raising the possibility of early elections. The proposed government received 182 votes in favour and 15 against, falling well short of the 233 votes needed for parliamentary approval. Muresan, 45, had proposed a reform-focused government led by his National Liberal Party (PNL), with support from the Save Romania Union (USR) and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR. The political crisis has gripped Romania since May, when Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s government was ousted in a no-confidence vote jointly filed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the nationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR). Both parties had said they would not back Muresan’s Cabinet. President Nicusor Dan has warned that early elections would prolong instability and urged political parties to resolve the crisis. Under Romania’s constitution, the president can dissolve Parliament if lawmakers reject two Cabinet proposals within 60 days of the first rejection. The next parliamentary election is scheduled for 2028. The latest political uncertainty comes as Romania, a NATO and EU member, faces security concerns including increased drone incursions linked to Russia’s war in neighbouring Ukraine. Muresan has said early elections could become necessary if the deadlock continues, arguing that a fresh mandate would be preferable to prolonged political uncertainty. Political consultant Cristian Andrei said the next prime ministerial nomination could potentially shift Romania’s pro-European political orientation toward right-wing populism, depending on which parties form the next government.

Russian forces continued their heavy missile and drone strikes against Kyiv and the surrounding region on Wednesday, killing four people—including a child—and damaging power infrastructure alongside a major internet exchange hub. The intensifying aerial attacks since late August have heightened pressure on Ukraine ahead of the upcoming winter, a period during which Moscow frequently targets energy networks to disrupt heating and water supplies. In Vyshhorod, within the broader Kyiv province, a child lost their life when a residential home was destroyed. Emergency workers rescued three people from the debris. Additional strikes in and around the capital claimed three more lives and left at least four others injured. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the barrage specifically targeted energy infrastructure in the capital and surrounding areas, noting that Moscow is attempting to overwhelm Ukraine's air defense capabilities. He urged international partners to expedite air defense supplies, emphasizing that protection must be reinforced ahead of the winter months. To exploit vulnerabilities in Ukrainian defenses, Russia has increasingly deployed ballistic missiles and fast, jet-powered drones. Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat revealed that drone usage has surged, with over 3,170 jet-propelled drones launched in September alone, exceeding August's total of 2,850. Ihnat stressed the urgent need for additional ammunition for U.S.-supplied Patriot systems to intercept incoming ballistic threats. While the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its strikes hit key thermal and hydroelectric power facilities, substations, energy storage sites, and a data center, Ukrainian authorities did not confirm damage to those specific facilities, reporting hits across civilian areas in at least four districts of Kyiv. The escalation comes as diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Ukrainian officials stated Moscow is ignoring U.S. peace initiatives four and a half years after the full-scale invasion began, demanding territorial concessions that Kyiv refuses to accept.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s government faced a parliamentary no-confidence vote Tuesday as opposition parties challenged its proposed budget deficit and raised concerns over the billionaire premier’s potential conflict of interest. The opposition called the vote after the government approved a 2027 budget with a projected deficit of 386 billion koruna ($18 billion), which would be the second-largest in the country’s history. The deficit for this year is expected to reach 310 billion koruna. Opposition parties and most economists have criticized the proposed shortfall, particularly as the Czech economy is projected to grow 2.7% next year, according to the Czech central bank. The government has defended the spending plan, saying higher borrowing is needed to increase investment and finance priorities including health care, pensions and higher salaries for public-sector workers. Babiš, one of the Czech Republic’s wealthiest citizens, has also faced continued scrutiny over potential conflicts between his business interests and his political position. After his ANO (YES) movement won October’s parliamentary election, Babiš transferred around 200 companies belonging to his Agrofert conglomerate to an independent trust fund in an effort to comply with conflict-of-interest legislation. Failure to address the issue could have prevented his businesses from receiving state and European Union subsidies. His investment in the health care sector was not covered by the transfer. Earlier this month, however, the European Commission said the trust arrangement did not adequately resolve the conflict-of-interest concerns, maintaining that Babiš remained in a potential conflict and suspending some payments to Agrofert. Opposition parties have also accused Babiš of attacking independent courts, judges and the media. His government is backed by a coalition that includes two smaller political groups advocating reduced support for Ukraine and opposing some major European Union policies.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Tuesday pledged sweeping reforms to create what he called “a new social contract for the 21st century,” while warning that economic constraints would force his government to make difficult choices. Addressing the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool, Burnham promised more social housing, improved education and a free-to-use national care service funded through taxation. He said Labour would weaken the pensions triple lock to help finance the care service, acknowledging that the move could carry a political cost. “I accept I may pay a political price,” Burnham said. “But someone has to go through the pain barrier and rip the plaster off.” Burnham also pledged to replace Britain’s winner-takes-all electoral system with a form of proportional representation and to reset the country’s relationship with the European Union, saying Brexit “has done more harm than good.” His wider agenda includes ending street homelessness, reducing youth unemployment and increasing public control over privatized utilities. Burnham criticized the economic policies of the 1980s, including deregulation and privatization under former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, saying they had left Britain facing economic and political turmoil. But he acknowledged the difficult economic backdrop, with the US-Iran war disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up oil prices, inflation and government borrowing costs. Diesel prices in Britain reached a record of just under 2 pounds ($2.70) per litre on Monday, according to the Royal Automobile Club. Burnham said his government would stick to its fiscal rules to reduce borrowing and debt. “I would love to go quicker, but I have to be honest about what the country can afford,” he said. Security concerns have also overshadowed the conference after five men were arrested Sunday on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences outside RAF Fairford in western England. They were released on bail Monday as police investigate, including a possible link to a hostile state. The next general election does not have to be held until 2029, though Labour’s improving fortunes have prompted speculation about an early vote. Burnham has ruled out a snap election. Politics professor John Curtice of the University of Strathclyde said Burnham’s popularity had given Labour “a halo effect from a popular leader,” but the party needed to make further progress before considering an election.

Spain's government on Tuesday unveiled emergency housing measures following days of protests over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, as rising rents and a housing shortage fuel public anger. The coalition led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's Socialists announced the measures after four days of protests and an encampment at Madrid's Puerta del Sol, triggered by the eviction of María del Carmen Abascal, known as “Maricarmen,” who had lived in her apartment for seven decades. Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez said the decree would extend eviction protections for vulnerable people until 2030, regulate room rentals, introduce a tax on seasonal rentals and ban “speculative real estate purchases by vulture funds” until 2028. It would also provide tax breaks to landlords renting to low-income tenants, interest-free loans to first-time homebuyers, and protection for public housing. The decree must be ratified by parliament within 30 days. The government has 152 of the 350 seats and needs support from smaller parties to secure approval. The Madrid Tenants' Union, which organised the protests, said it would study the details before deciding whether the measures meet its demands. Smaller encampments have also appeared in several other Spanish cities. Meanwhile, Abascal may be able to return to her home after reaching a preliminary agreement with the building's owner. Her lawyer said the proposed deal would cap her rent at 30% of her income, or no more than the 500 euros ($570) she previously paid. The property changed ownership in 2018. An investment fund later raised Abascal's rent from 500 euros to 2,650 euros and subsequently reduced it to 1,650 euros, which she still could not afford on her pension, according to the tenants' union. Spain has had a housing law since 2023 that regulates rents, protects tenants and allows rent caps in high-demand areas.

Swiss voters have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to impose stricter rules on the country’s long-standing neutrality, backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party. Final results showed around 70% of voters rejected the initiative, with the proposal also failing to win a majority in any of Switzerland’s 26 cantons. Supporters of the initiative, led by the Swiss People’s Party, argued that the government had moved too close to the European Union and NATO, particularly through its response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The proposal sought to prevent Switzerland from imposing sanctions on countries unless they had been ordered by the United Nations. It also would have restricted Switzerland from joining or cooperating with military or defence alliances, except in the event of a military attack or an imminent threat. The referendum was part of Switzerland’s latest round of votes on national and local issues. Under the country’s system of direct democracy, voters typically take part in several referendums each year on government policy. The initiative emerged after Switzerland adopted most European Union sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Swiss neutrality has been enshrined in the country’s Federal Constitution since 1848, although its interpretation and application have been debated over the years. Switzerland is not a member of NATO but has cooperated with the military alliance for decades. Supporters argued that closer cooperation with the EU and NATO could undermine Switzerland’s security and independence of action. Opponents maintained that the existing neutrality policy gives the government sufficient flexibility to protect the country’s interests. The proposed constitutional changes would have defined Swiss neutrality as “perpetual and armed” and barred the country from participating in military conflicts between third countries or imposing sanctions on warring states, with exceptions for UN sanctions and measures against sanctions evasion. Switzerland’s Federal Council and Parliament had opposed the initiative, arguing that the existing policy has served the country well and provides the flexibility needed to respond to changing international circumstances.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Sunday urged calm in Northern Ireland after the High Court in Belfast approved a contentious parade during a late-night hearing. Thousands of protesters, many wearing balaclavas, gathered to prevent members of the Orange Order from marching along a street in the town of Portadown. The group strongly supports Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom, while many residents in the area favor unification with the Republic of Ireland. The decision marks the first time in nearly 30 years that an Orange Order parade has been permitted to proceed along Garvaghy Road, which was a notorious flashpoint between the two communities in the years before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement largely brought an end to the violence in Northern Ireland. During the so-called Troubles, around 3,600 people were killed and about 50,000 injured. The end of the Troubles required balancing competing identities in Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom when the rest of Ireland gained independence a century ago. Irish nationalists in the north, most of them Catholic, seek union with the Republic of Ireland, while predominantly Protestant unionists want Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK. Burnham called for “calm on all sides” over the parade, saying significant progress had been made in Northern Ireland and that “we don't want to see things go backwards.” Jon Boutcher, head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, urged “those with influence to encourage people to comply with the law,” referring to the large protest blocking Garvaghy Road. He said there had been no signs of violence or disorder. “Police are engaging and working with all parties and will continue to do so. It is incumbent on us all to come together at times like this to do all we can to preserve a peaceful Northern Ireland,” he said. Politicians representing the two sides expressed opposing views on whether the march should proceed. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who represents Sinn Fein, a party historically linked to the Irish Republican Army, said the decision to allow the march “brings into question how this whole peace process works.” “The progress of the last 28 years have been brought into question by the actions of the Orange Order and those within political unionism that want to drag us backwards,” she said while attending the counterprotest on Garvaghy Road. Gavin Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, the largest pro-UK party in Northern Ireland, accused Sinn Fein leaders of inflaming the situation. “The rule of law cannot apply only when Sinn Fein likes the outcome,” he said. “Our institutions are founded on respect for the police, the courts and the rule of law.” The march received final approval following a court hearing that ended at 2:15 a.m. Sunday. The Orange Order takes its name from William of Orange, a Protestant prince of Holland who defeated Catholic King James and took the British throne in the 17th century.

A bus carrying Filipino tourists to Germany’s Oktoberfest festival in Munich veered off a highway and overturned Sunday, leaving at least two people dead and eight others injured, according to Germany’s dpa news agency. The coach left the road at around 6 a.m. local time on a highway near the town of Buchloe in Germany’s Ostallgäu region, dpa reported, citing officials. Images from the scene showed the bus lying on its side in a wooded area as rescue workers attended the scene. Martin Cornils, a spokesperson for traffic police in nearby Fürstenfeldbruck, said the tour group had been traveling to Oktoberfest, the news agency reported. The popular annual festival began eight days ago. The cause of the crash was not immediately known and remained under investigation. Dpa initially reported that the bus was traveling from Zurich, Switzerland, to Milan, Italy. Officials later said around 35 people were on board, fewer than initially estimated, and that all the passengers were Filipino nationals. The two bus drivers were unharmed. Earlier this month, five people were killed when a Dutch tour bus crashed in eastern Switzerland.

Russian drones struck Kyiv in daylight Wednesday, killing two people and injuring 23, hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to address world leaders at the UN General Assembly. The attacks triggered fires and damaged buildings in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, with thick black smoke rising over the capital, authorities said. Zelenskyy was in New York seeking stronger international support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion, which has continued for more than four years. He met US President Donald Trump on Tuesday amid growing frustration over the lack of progress toward ending the war and escalating aerial attacks by both sides. Zelenskyy has proposed measures to reduce tensions, including an end to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure and arrangements to keep Ukrainian grain moving through the Black Sea. Ukraine has continued striking Russian oil refineries, while Kyiv is also seeking additional US-made Patriot air defense systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles. Supplies of the systems are limited following the outbreak of the war in Iran. In southeastern Zaporizhzhia, two men, aged 37 and 39, were injured when a Russian strike sparked a fire at a shopping mall. Emergency workers said the blaze covered about 6,000 square meters before being brought under control. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces struck Ukrainian military-industrial and energy facilities, logistics centers and sea vessels overnight. It also claimed that Russian air defenses intercepted more than 500 Ukrainian drones over several regions of Russia, Crimea and waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged deadly overnight strikes Tuesday, with Russian missiles and drones killing five people in Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared to meet US President Donald Trump in New York. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck two Russian oil refineries overnight, while Russia claimed it shot down 297 Ukrainian drones over 14 regions and Crimea. Russia’s attack involved anti-ship, ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 200 drones, Ukraine’s air force said. Four people were killed in Dnipro and a woman was killed by a drone in Sumy, while several regions reported damage to homes and other facilities. Russia said its strikes targeted metallurgical and chemical industries, fuel and energy facilities, military-industrial sites and port infrastructure in four Ukrainian regions. Trump has urged Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, saying they are contributing to global fuel shortages and higher prices. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine would stop such strikes if Russia ends attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy was seeking US and international support at the UN General Assembly to end Russia’s more than 4½-year-old invasion. He also planned to seek additional US-made Patriot air defence systems and discuss proposals for halting attacks on energy infrastructure and a possible moratorium on strikes in the Black Sea. French President Emmanuel Macron said France would provide Ukraine with additional radar systems to help protect its power grid. Zelenskyy also called for continued international support for Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, which have been disrupted by Russian attacks on cargo vessels. The war has also affected global food and energy markets, with Russia and Ukraine previously accounting for about 30% of global wheat exports and 12% of corn exports.