United News of Bangladesh

Poland scrambled fighter jets near its border with Ukraine after Russian missiles and drones struck Ukraine’s capital Kyiv overnight, killing at least one person and injuring dozens, Ukrainian authorities said. Poland’s military said the move was a preventive step to protect its airspace as fighting intensified close to its border with Ukraine. Later, the armed forces said there was no violation of Polish airspace. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that at least 28 people were injured in Kyiv as multiple buildings were damaged. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched nearly 500 drones and about 40 missiles, targeting civilian areas and energy infrastructure. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said thousands of buildings lost power and heating as temperatures dropped below freezing. Emergency officials said 68 residents were evacuated from a retirement home in the city’s eastern Darnytskyi district. Zelensky accused Moscow of trying to prolong the war, saying Russia was using the attacks to inflict further suffering on Ukraine. He urged the United States, Europe and other allies to take strong action against Russian aggression. The strikes came ahead of planned peace-related discussions, with Zelensky expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday. Zelensky, EU leaders and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were also expected to discuss peace efforts by phone. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry said its air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones overnight. Fighting continues as diplomatic efforts intensify to find a path toward ending the nearly three-year war.   With inputs from BBC

Millions of Afghans are facing acute hunger as cuts in international aid worsen an ongoing humanitarian crisis, with nearly half the population dependent on assistance for survival. Rahimullah, a 29-year-old former Afghan Army soldier, earns about $4.5 to $6 daily selling socks in Kabul to support his family of five. Like millions of others, he relies on aid from both Afghan authorities and international organizations. The International Committee for the Red Cross estimates that 22.9 million people in Afghanistan will need assistance in 2025. Aid reductions, including the suspension of U.S. support for UN World Food Program operations, have left more than 17 million Afghans facing crisis-level hunger this winter, up from 14 million last year. The cuts come amid a struggling economy, droughts, two deadly earthquakes, and the return of millions of Afghan refugees expelled from neighboring countries. Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief, told the Security Council that nearly 22 million Afghans will require assistance in 2026, with 3.9 million in urgent need. “This winter is the first in years with almost no international food distribution,” he said, noting that only around 1 million vulnerable people received aid during the 2025 lean season compared to 5.6 million in the previous year. Returning refugees have added pressure on housing and food. Abdul Kabir, Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs, said 7.1 million Afghan refugees returned over the past four years. Rahimullah, deported from Pakistan, initially received cash and food aid but now struggles to cover basic expenses, including rent, which has nearly doubled. In northern provinces, families like Sherin Gul’s, with 12 members, face extreme hardship. Once reliant on humanitarian supplies, they now depend on sporadic work and neighbors’ help, often going to bed hungry. Harsh winters and rising fuel costs further compound their struggles. Before the Taliban takeover, many, including Rahimullah and Gul, had jobs that supported their families. Restrictions on women’s employment have left women like Gul unemployed, intensifying the crisis. Humanitarian agencies warn that without renewed aid, Afghanistan risks a worsening food crisis, particularly as cold winter conditions strain families’ limited resources.  

Kosovo heads to a snap parliamentary election on Sunday to resolve a political stalemate that has blocked the formation of a government since February. Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination party, which won the most votes in the February 9 election, failed to form a coalition, leaving the country without a government for months—the first such deadlock since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Kurti’s party remains the frontrunner, but it is uncertain whether it can secure a majority in the 120-seat assembly. Another inconclusive result could prolong the political crisis, leaving the country without a budget for 2026 and heightening economic concerns for its two million residents. Kosovo is also expected to elect a new president in March as President Vjosa Osmani’s term ends in early April. Failure to elect a president would trigger yet another snap election. Serbia continues to refuse recognition of Kosovo’s independence, raising fears of renewed instability in the Balkans, particularly after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In the February vote, Self-Determination secured roughly 42% of the vote, while main rivals the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Democratic Party of Kosovo together won about 40%. Analysts say even a small shift in support could determine coalition options. Leart Hoxha, a political analyst, said Kurti might partner with minority parties if his vote share improves. Otherwise, the opposition could form a government or a new election may follow in months. Opposition parties accuse Kurti of authoritarianism and straining ties with Kosovo’s U.S. and EU allies since taking office in 2021. Kurti has called on voters to give him another chance, promising a stable government with over 50% support. The election campaign has focused on stability, security, and economic challenges. Former Kosovo National Bank governor Bedri Hamza said citizens complain about rising costs and low salaries. Kurti, a former political prisoner under Serbian rule, has taken a firm stance in EU-mediated talks with Belgrade. He has pledged to strengthen Kosovo’s security and agreed to accept some deported migrants from the U.S. under strict anti-immigration measures. Tensions with ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo erupted in clashes in 2023, but recent local elections saw peaceful transfer of mayoral power. Kosovo remains one of Europe’s poorest countries and continues efforts to join the EU, contingent on normalizing relations with Serbia.

In his first Christmas Day homily, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the suffering of Gaza’s residents, exposed for weeks to harsh weather, and stressed that global conflicts can only be resolved through dialogue. Celebrating Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, adorned with floral garlands and red poinsettias, the pope reflected on Jesus’ birth in a Bethlehem manger, describing God’s word as “a fragile tent among us.” He drew parallels to the tents of Gaza, the plight of refugees worldwide, and the struggles of the homeless. Leo also noted the vulnerability of populations affected by war and the youth forced into combat, criticizing the falsehoods and pomp in speeches of those sending them to the front lines. “Peace will come when our monologues end and, through listening, we recognize the humanity of others,” he said. Thousands attended the Mass, capturing the ceremony on smartphones. Later, the pope is scheduled to deliver the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing from a loggia overlooking St. Peter’s Square, summarizing the world’s challenges over the past year. This Christmas concludes the Holy Year celebrations, which will formally end on Jan. 6, the Epiphany.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is open to withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the country’s eastern industrial heartland as part of a possible deal to end the war, if Russia also pulls back and the area is turned into a demilitarized zone overseen by international forces. The proposal offers a potential compromise over the Donbas region, one of the most contentious issues in peace efforts with Moscow. Zelenskyy said the idea, discussed with the United States, includes creating a demilitarized free economic zone, though key questions about governance and development remain unresolved. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Zelenskyy outlined a broader 20-point draft plan developed in recent talks between Ukrainian and US negotiators in Florida. He said many elements are still under discussion and any final agreement would need approval through a national referendum. Zelenskyy said a similar demilitarized arrangement could be considered for the area around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The United States has suggested a joint consortium involving Ukraine and Russia, but Zelenskyy countered with a proposal for a US-Ukraine venture, allowing Washington to decide how to distribute its share, potentially including Russia. Russia has shown no sign it would accept troop withdrawals. Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine give up remaining territory in the Donbas, most of which is already under Russian control. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would assess the proposals after receiving information from talks between Russian and US envoys, without giving details. Zelenskyy described control of Donbas as the hardest issue to resolve, noting that any demilitarized zone would require complex discussions on troop pullbacks and the placement of international monitors. He said international forces could be stationed at selected points along the contact line to oversee compliance. The draft plan also calls for Russian forces to withdraw from several other Ukrainian regions and includes provisions for strong security guarantees for Ukraine, similar in principle to NATO’s collective defense commitments. Zelenskyy said these guarantees would be detailed in a separate agreement with the United States, to be signed alongside any peace deal. Other elements of the proposal include keeping Ukraine’s peacetime army at 800,000 troops, fast-tracking European Union membership, expanding trade ties with the United States, and launching a massive reconstruction effort aimed at attracting up to $800 billion in investment. The plan also envisions elections after an agreement is signed and the release of all prisoners held since 2014. Zelenskyy acknowledged that Washington has not accepted all of Ukraine’s counterproposals but said positions have moved closer, adding that most areas of consensus have already been reached.  

The European Union has warned it may take action against what it called “unjustified measures” after the United States barred five European nationals accused of pressuring US technology companies to censor American viewpoints. The warning came Wednesday from the European Commission after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced travel restrictions against the five, whom he described as “radical” activists linked to “weaponized” nongovernmental organisations. Among them is former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, who previously oversaw Europe’s digital and social media regulations. Breton, a former French finance minister, clashed publicly last year with tech billionaire Elon Musk over content moderation and an online interview with Donald Trump ahead of the US election. In a statement, the European Commission strongly condemned the US decision, said it had sought clarification, and stressed it would act “swiftly and decisively” if necessary to protect the EU’s regulatory independence. French President Emmanuel Macron also criticised the move, calling it an attempt to intimidate Europe and undermine its digital sovereignty. Rubio said on social media that European ideologues had long tried to coerce American platforms into suppressing views they oppose, adding that the Trump administration would no longer tolerate what it called “extraterritorial censorship.” The Commission countered that the EU has the sovereign right to regulate its digital market in line with democratic values, insisting its rules ensure fair competition and user safety without discrimination or targeting any country. The visa bans fall under a policy announced in May to restrict entry for foreigners accused of censoring protected speech in the US. The other barred individuals include Imran Ahmed of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, German activists Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg of HateAid, and Clare Melford of the Global Disinformation Index. Breton responded by noting that the EU’s Digital Services Act was approved democratically by all 27 member states, saying censorship “isn’t where you think it is.”

Three people, including two police officers, were killed Wednesday in an explosion in Moscow, Russian investigators said, just days after a car bomb killed a senior general nearby. The two traffic police officers were approaching a “suspicious individual” when an explosive device detonated, Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said. The officers and a bystander standing nearby died from their injuries. Investigators and forensic teams are working at the scene, Petrenko added. The incident occurred in the same area where Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, was killed by a car bomb on Monday morning. Russian investigators have suggested that Ukraine may have been behind Sarvarov’s killing, marking the third targeted death of a senior Russian military officer in just over a year.

At least three people, including a four-year-old child, were killed after Russia launched a large overnight attack on several Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault as “massive” and said energy facilities were among the targets, causing power outages in several regions just days before Christmas. Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired 635 drones and 38 missiles, claiming that 621 of them were intercepted. Local authorities said a child died in the Zhytomyr region despite efforts by doctors to save the victim. Five others were injured in the same strike. In the Kyiv region, a 76-year-old woman was killed and three people were injured when a house was hit, according to emergency services. Another person, aged 72, was killed in an attack in the western Khmelnytskyy region. Poland scrambled fighter jets in response to the missiles and drones targeting western Ukraine, officials said. Ukraine’s energy operator warned of emergency power cuts across the country as temperatures are expected to drop below freezing. Acting Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov said it was the ninth major attack on the power system this year, with electricity supply almost completely lost in parts of Rivne, Ternopil and Khmelnytskyy regions. Russia’s defence ministry said it struck military-industrial sites and supporting energy facilities in Ukraine and claimed all targets were hit. Meanwhile, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at a petrochemical plant in southern Russia’s Stavropol region, though no casualties were reported. The latest attacks came amid continued fighting and diplomatic efforts to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.   With inputs from BBC

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained by police in central London on Tuesday while showing solidarity with pro-Palestinian activists who are on a hunger strike to protest their continued detention as they await trial over earlier demonstrations. The group Prisoners for Palestine released footage showing the 22-year-old Swedish activist holding a placard in support of the hunger strikers and Palestine Action, an organisation that was designated a terrorist group by the British government earlier this year. The arrests occurred during a broader protest in the City of London, the country’s financial district, where two activists sprayed red paint outside the premises of an insurance company. Prisoners for Palestine said the firm was targeted over its alleged links to Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence manufacturer. City of London Police said officers arrested a man and a woman on suspicion of criminal damage. A third woman was later detained on suspicion of expressing support for a proscribed organisation. Police in Britain typically do not identify individuals before charges are formally filed. According to Prisoners for Palestine, eight members of Palestine Action have launched a hunger strike to challenge their detention without bail while facing charges related to protests held across the UK. The group said the first two participants have been refusing food for 52 days and are now in a critical condition, warning that their lives are at serious risk. The UK government has declined to interfere in the matter, maintaining that decisions regarding bail and detention fall under the jurisdiction of the courts. Thunberg was previously acquitted in February 2024 of failing to comply with a police order to leave a protest blocking access to a major oil and gas conference in London. She has also faced fines in Sweden and the UK in connection with acts of civil disobedience linked to various protest movements. Source: AP 

France’s divided parliament on Tuesday debated an emergency bill aimed at preventing a US-style government shutdown next week, after negotiations on the 2026 budget broke down. President Emmanuel Macron and his Cabinet met Monday night to present the short draft law, intended “to ensure the continuity of national life and the functioning of public services,” including tax collection and transfers to local authorities based on the 2025 budget, the Cabinet said. Lawmakers in the National Assembly made several amendments to the bill and are expected to vote late Tuesday, followed by the Senate. Despite deep divisions among Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, left-wing forces, and Macron’s centrist minority government, the bill is likely to pass. The next challenge is creating a full 2026 budget and avoiding a new political crisis. Macron is keen to reduce France’s large deficit to 5% and restore investor confidence after political deadlock worsened by last year’s snap elections. Finance Minister Roland Lescure told BFM television Tuesday, “We need a budget as fast as possible so that we can move on. The longer the temporary budget lasts, the more it costs.” France’s high public spending on welfare, healthcare, and education, combined with a heavy tax burden, leaves revenues insufficient to cover costs. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who resigned and was reappointed this fall, is expected to address the nation Tuesday on the budget situation. Earlier this month, Lecornu’s minority government secured parliamentary approval for a key healthcare budget bill, but suspended Macron’s signature pension reform, which aimed to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.