United News of Bangladesh

Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City and its first Muslim leader, marked his historic victory on Wednesday by chanting the Bengali slogan, "Amar Mayor, Tomar Mayor." In a video circulating on social media, Mamdani, holding a microphone, led the chant, to which his supporters enthusiastically responded, "Zohran, Zohran." The celebrations erupted across Queens, particularly in Jamaica, as news of Mamdani's victory spread Tuesday night. The excitement was palpable, with supporters taking to the streets to raise slogans like "Amar mayor, Tomar mayor, Mamdani-Mamdani," "Mayor of New York, Mamdani-Mamdani," and "Mayor of the working class, Mamdani-Mamdani." Democrat Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state lawmaker and self-described democratic socialist, has been elected mayor of New York City, becoming the city’s first Muslim leader and its youngest mayor in decades. Mamdani defeated independent candidate and former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who sought a political comeback four years after resigning amid scandal. His victory marks a generational and ideological shift in city politics, fueled by grassroots organizing and strong support from young and working-class voters.

At least 34 people were killed when a long-distance passenger coach collided head-on with a minibus in Yemen's southern province of Abyan early Wednesday, a local security official told Xinhua. The coach, traveling from Saudi Arabia to Yemen's southern port city of Aden, collided with the minibus along a steep mountain pass in Abyan's Arqoub area. The impact triggered a blaze that engulfed both vehicles, killing 31 passengers on the coach and three occupants of the minibus, said the official, who requested anonymity. Most victims were trapped inside as the coach's door system malfunctioned and sealed windows hindered rescue efforts, said the official, adding that 13 passengers survived after breaking windows, sustaining severe burns and other injuries. The Arqoub stretch is highly dangerous due to its steep inclines and sharp bends.  

At least seven people were killed and 11 others injured when a UPS cargo plane crashed and burst into a massive fireball shortly after takeoff from the company’s global aviation hub at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, authorities said. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, bound for Honolulu, went down around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, erupting into flames moments after liftoff. Video footage showed fire on the plane’s left wing before it lifted briefly off the runway and exploded in a fiery blast. Parts of a nearby building’s roof were also torn apart by the explosion. More than 200 emergency responders rushed to the scene, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said, adding that rescue and recovery efforts resumed Wednesday morning. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear warned that the death toll could rise, noting that several of the injured suffered “very significant” wounds. Four of the deceased were not on board the aircraft, he said. “Anyone who has seen the footage knows how violent this crash was,” Beshear said. The UPS Worldport hub — the company’s largest package-handling facility, processing over 400,000 parcels an hour with 300 daily flights — suspended all sorting operations after the crash. “Everyone in Louisville knows someone who works at UPS,” said Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe. “People are desperately texting loved ones to make sure they’re safe. Sadly, some of those messages will go unanswered.” The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation and has dispatched a 28-member team to Louisville. Local officials have also created an online portal for residents to report debris found near their homes. A shelter-in-place order issued within a one-mile radius of the crash site was later reduced to a quarter mile early Wednesday as authorities continued to monitor air quality. The airport, which was temporarily shut down following the explosion, resumed operations Wednesday morning. However, several flights remained canceled, and some travelers spent the night inside the terminal. Nearby roads remained closed, and local schools canceled classes for the day. Aviation attorney Pablo Rojas said preliminary video analysis suggests the plane was struggling to gain altitude as flames spread near one of its left engines. “Given the amount of fuel it carried, once a fire starts, it’s only a matter of time before an explosion,” he said. “The plane itself essentially becomes a bomb.” Governor Beshear said a Kentucky Petroleum Recycling facility was directly struck by the crash, while a neighboring auto parts business also sustained damage. Dozens of people gathered near a police training academy Tuesday night, anxiously waiting for information about missing relatives. Eric Richardson said his girlfriend, who worked at a nearby metal recycling business, was still unaccounted for. Her phone’s location indicated she was still at the site. “I don’t even want to think about the worst,” said Bobby Whelan, Richardson’s friend, who had left the area just minutes before the explosion. “All our friends were there.” Witnesses described scenes of chaos. Video footage captured multiple fireballs lighting up the evening sky, followed by towering clouds of black smoke. “It literally looked like a war zone,” said Tom Brooks Jr., who owns a nearby metal recycling shop. “The whole place shook.” At a restaurant about 15 minutes away, Destyn Mitchell said customers were visibly shaken by the deafening blast. “People who had just sat down got up, packed their food, and rushed home,” she said. The Louisville airport is located just 10 minutes from downtown Louisville, near residential neighborhoods, a water park, and several museums.

Malaysian rapper and filmmaker Wee Meng Chee, popularly known as Namewee, has been detained to assist police in their investigation into the murder of a Taiwanese social media influencer, his lawyer confirmed Wednesday. Lawyer Joshua Tay said Namewee, 42, surrendered to police early Wednesday and will remain in custody for six days. Police had launched a search for him after they reclassified the death of Taiwanese influencer Hsieh Yu-hsin as a murder following new evidence. Hsieh, 31, who had over half a million Instagram followers and an OnlyFans account, was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Kuala Lumpur on October 22. According to local media, Namewee was the last person seen with her before her death. He was briefly detained earlier and separately charged with drug possession, allegations he has denied. A former nurse known online as “Nurse Goddess,” Hsieh had arrived in Malaysia on October 20 for a four-day trip. Police are awaiting full post-mortem and toxicology results before confirming the cause of death. In an Instagram post after surrendering, Namewee expressed sadness over Hsieh’s death and pledged full cooperation with investigators. “I hope the probe will be conducted thoroughly, objectively, and fairly,” his lawyer Tay said. Namewee, known for his provocative and satirical work on politics, race, and religion, has faced multiple arrests over the years. His music videos and films often draw controversy in Malaysia, where he has been accused of insulting national and religious sentiments. He was detained in 2016 over a video titled Oh My God, which featured scenes at various houses of worship and used the Malay word “Allah.” In 2018, he was arrested again following complaints about another video featuring dancers in dog masks, which authorities claimed insulted Islam. Namewee maintains that his work targets hypocrisy and abuse of power, not religion or race. The rapper has also been banned in China since 2021 after releasing a song with Australian singer Kimberley Chen that mocked Chinese nationalism and referenced Taiwan’s sovereignty.   Source: AP

Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and divisive figures in American politics and a chief architect of the Iraq invasion, has died at the age of 84. Cheney passed away on Monday from complications related to pneumonia and long-standing heart and vascular disease, his family confirmed Tuesday. A dominant force in Republican politics for decades, Cheney first rose to prominence as defense secretary under President George H.W. Bush, directing U.S. forces during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. He later returned to Washington as vice president under George W. Bush, where he became the administration’s most powerful behind-the-scenes strategist. Often described as the de facto chief operating officer of the Bush White House, Cheney wielded exceptional influence over national security, defense, and energy policy. Despite battling chronic heart disease—and eventually receiving a heart transplant—he remained a driving force in shaping America’s post-9/11 counterterrorism policies, including controversial surveillance, detention, and interrogation programs. “History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation — a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held,” former President George W. Bush said in a statement. After leaving office, Cheney’s relationship with the Republican Party became strained, particularly as his daughter Liz Cheney emerged as a leading critic of Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Though Trump remained silent after Cheney’s death, the White House lowered flags to half-staff in his honor. Despite his staunch conservatism, Cheney was publicly supportive of his daughter Mary Cheney, who is gay, saying, “Freedom means freedom for everyone.” As vice president, Cheney transformed the office from a largely ceremonial role into a powerful policymaking hub. He was a key advocate for the 2003 Iraq War, asserting—incorrectly—that Saddam Hussein had ties to the 9/11 attacks and weapons of mass destruction. His claims later proved false, but Cheney never publicly recanted them. His tenure was also marked by secrecy and controversy. In 2006, he accidentally shot and injured a friend, Harry Whittington, during a hunting trip, an incident that further fueled criticism of his secretive style. Cheney’s long career in Washington began in 1968 as a congressional fellow. He became a protégé of Donald Rumsfeld in the Ford administration, rising to White House chief of staff at age 34, the youngest ever. Later, he represented Wyoming in Congress for six terms and served as Halliburton’s CEO before rejoining government as defense secretary in 1989. On September 11, 2001, when President Bush was away, Cheney authorized the military to shoot down hijacked planes heading toward Washington, as two had already struck the World Trade Center. He spent the day in a secure White House bunker, overseeing the government’s immediate response. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in Casper, Wyoming, Cheney was a standout student and athlete before briefly attending Yale University, from which he was expelled. He later earned degrees from the University of Wyoming and married his high school sweetheart, Lynne Vincent, in 1964. Cheney is survived by his wife Lynne and daughters Liz and Mary Cheney.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned that the war in Sudan is “spiraling out of control” after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the besieged, famine-hit Darfur city of el-Fasher. Speaking in Qatar, Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in the two-year conflict, which has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. “Hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped by this siege,” he said. “People are dying of malnutrition, disease, and violence.” He also cited credible reports of widespread executions since the RSF entered the city. The paramilitary group, which had besieged el-Fasher for 18 months, reportedly killed more than 450 people in a hospital and carried out ethnically targeted killings and sexual assaults. While the RSF denies committing atrocities, testimonies from fleeing residents, satellite imagery, and online videos depict a devastating attack. The war, which began in April 2023, has killed over 40,000 people according to UN figures, displaced more than 14 million, and fueled famine and disease outbreaks across Sudan. Guterres stressed the need for international pressure to stop the fighting and prevent further arms from reaching Sudan, saying, “We need to create mechanisms of accountability because the crimes being committed are so horrendous.” Thousands missing, new horrors emerge after RSF captures Sudan’s el-Fasher Since the RSF takeover, nearly 71,000 people have been displaced from el-Fasher, with thousands reaching the nearest camp in Tawila, 65 kilometers away. Survivors recounted harrowing journeys and violent attacks. Habib Allah Yakoub, 27, said he and his pregnant wife walked for two days after their home was destroyed, while Samiya Ibrahim, 38, described being tortured and separated from her husband by RSF gunmen. The humanitarian situation remains critical as aid agencies struggle to reach affected populations. Source: AP 

Charles Coste, the world’s oldest living Olympian and 1948 Olympic cycling gold medalist, has died at 101, the French presidency announced Tuesday. Coste won the team pursuit gold at the London Games and gained renewed attention last year as one of the final bearers of the Olympic flame for the 2024 Paris Games. Emmanuel Macron’s office called him “the tireless messenger of a certain idea of sport.” During the ceremony, Coste, in a wheelchair, carried the torch in the rain and lit the cauldron alongside French Olympic gold medalists Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec, reflecting his lifelong devotion to sport. Born near Toulon, Coste became French amateur pursuit champion in 1947 and earned a bronze at the world championships the following year. With teammates Pierre Adam, Serge Blusson, and Fernand Decanali, he won Olympic gold in the first post-World War II Games, setting a record margin of nearly 39 seconds. Turning professional, he claimed victory at the 1949 Grand Prix des Nations and competed in two Tours de France and four Giros before retiring in 1959. He later worked as a sales inspector for Europe’s largest laundry. Macron extended condolences to Coste’s family and cycling fans, calling him “a champion who left his mark on the history of his sport and of the nation.”  

China has accused the Netherlands of causing “chaos” in the global semiconductor supply chain after Dutch authorities seized Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia, warning the disruption could affect global automobile production. The Dutch government took control of Nexperia in late September over national security concerns. Nexperia, owned by China’s Wingtech Technology, temporarily halted wafer shipments from its Netherlands headquarters to its Chinese factory in Dongguan, sparking fears about the delivery of finished semiconductors critical for automakers. China initially blocked exports from the Dongguan plant but has since allowed them to resume. China’s Commerce Ministry said the Netherlands “should bear full responsibility” for the turmoil. The Dutch government also replaced Nexperia’s Chinese CEO Zhang Xuezheng with interim CEO Stefan Tilger. The standoff follows U.S. export restrictions on Wingtech and its subsidiaries, including Nexperia, citing national security risks. Global automakers, including Ford, have warned that the supply disruption could hamper car production. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing: EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Dutch officials said discussions with China are progressing toward “lasting stability,” while both sides have expressed willingness to find a “constructive solution.” Nexperia, acquired by partially state-owned Wingtech in 2018 for $3.6 billion, was seized under the Netherlands’ rarely used Goods Availability Act, with Dutch authorities citing threats to key technological knowledge and capabilities in Europe.  

Artificial intelligence company Stability AI largely emerged victorious in a British court battle with Getty Images over intellectual property rights. Seattle-based Getty Images, which owns a vast online collection of images and videos, filed the lawsuit challenging Stability AI’s use of its library to train the Stable Diffusion AI model. The case, which went to trial at Britain’s High Court in June, was closely watched amid a global wave of copyright disputes involving AI training data. According to Tuesday’s ruling, Getty secured a limited win on trademark infringement, but its claims of secondary copyright infringement were dismissed. Both parties declared partial victories. “This is a significant win for intellectual property owners,” Getty said in a statement, though its U.S. shares fell 3% before the opening bell. Stability AI said it welcomed the ruling, noting that “the final decision resolves the core copyright concerns,” according to General Counsel Christian Dowell. Justice Joanna Smith noted that Getty’s trademark claims were only partially successful and described the findings as “historic but extremely limited in scope.” The ruling highlights the ongoing tensions between tech companies and creative industries over AI’s use of copyrighted works. Similar lawsuits are underway in the U.S., including cases against Stability AI, Midjourney, and Anthropic.  

New Yorkers are deciding Tuesday on a generational and ideological shift that could reverberate nationally as they elect the next mayor of the country’s largest city. Democratic primary winner Zohran Mamdani is facing former Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, and longtime Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who is aiming for a major upset. A Mamdani victory would make him the city’s first Muslim mayor and its youngest leader in decades, propelling the democratic socialist to national prominence and giving his economic populist agenda a high-profile platform. If Cuomo prevails, it would mark an extraordinary political comeback just four years after resigning amid sexual harassment allegations as governor. For Sliwa — founder of the Guardian Angels crime patrol and a familiar New York media figure — winning would place a Republican at the helm of the nation’s largest city at a time when many voters are looking for leadership to counter former President Donald Trump. The race has made Mamdani a national figure, drawing attacks from Trump and other Republicans, who have painted him as a radical Democrat. Trump has even threatened to “take over” the city and deport Mamdani, who was born in Uganda but is a U.S. citizen, if he wins. On the eve of the election, Trump reluctantly endorsed Cuomo, warning that Mamdani would bring “disaster” and encouraging Sliwa supporters to vote for Cuomo instead. A Rematch with New DynamicsMamdani, 34, a state lawmaker, previously defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary, energizing progressives with a platform focused on reducing living costs in one of America’s priciest cities. Cuomo is now appealing to moderates and Republicans, hoping that outgoing Mayor Eric Adams’ late exit and endorsement will help him among centrists, Black voters, and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. He has also received backing from former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who contributed $1.5 million to a super PAC supporting Cuomo in the race’s final days. Mamdani, meanwhile, has drawn endorsements from prominent progressives like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He proposes taxing the wealthiest New Yorkers to fund free city buses, universal child care, and a rent freeze for around one million regulated apartments. However, some centrists remain wary due to Mamdani’s past criticism of the NYPD and Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which he labeled genocidal. His refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state has also alarmed some Jewish leaders. Though he has softened some of his past rhetoric, several top New York Democrats remain hesitant to endorse him. The general election will follow a simple plurality system, unlike the city’s ranked-choice primaries. Sliwa’s Narrow PathSliwa’s chances in heavily Democratic New York depend on consolidating Republican support with his tough-on-crime platform while attracting moderates who reject both Mamdani and Cuomo. At 71, he has resisted party pressure to step aside and force a Cuomo-Mamdani runoff. Trump dismissed him as “not exactly prime time,” and Cuomo has sought to siphon off Sliwa supporters, arguing a vote for the Republican could help Mamdani. Cuomo Runs on Experience, Shadows of the PastCuomo, 67, emphasizes his experience managing large government operations in contrast to Mamdani’s relative inexperience. Yet his time as governor is also his vulnerability. He resigned in 2021 after an attorney general report concluded he had sexually harassed at least 11 women, ranging from unwanted advances to groping allegations. Cuomo initially apologized for some behavior, citing a lapse in workplace judgment. In recent months, however, he has denied wrongdoing, called his accusers liars, and blamed political adversaries for his resignation.