United News of Bangladesh

The Shorbasi family was sitting in their severely damaged house in Gaza City, enjoying the relative calm of the ceasefire. Then they heard an explosion and rushed outside to find their 6-year-old twins bleeding on the ground. The boy, Yahya, and his sister, Nabila, had discovered a round object while playing. One touch, and it went off. “It was like a toy,” their grandfather, Tawfiq Shorbasi, said of the unexploded ordnance, after the children were rushed to Shifa hospital on Friday. “It was extremely difficult.” Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are seizing the chance to return to what’s left of their homes under the ceasefire that began on Oct. 10. But the dangers are far from over as people, including children, sift through the rubble for what remains of their belongings, and for bodies unreachable until now. Shorbasi said the family had returned home after the ceasefire took hold. Gaza City had been the focus of the final Israeli military offensive before the deal was reached between Israel and Hamas. “We’ve just returned last week,” the grandfather said at Shifa hospital, fighting back tears. “Their lives have been ruined forever.” The boy, Yahya, lay on a hospital bed with his right arm and leg wrapped in bandages. Nabila, now being treated at Patient’s Friends hospital, had a bandaged forehead. Both children’s faces were freckled with tiny shrapnel wounds. A British emergency physician and pediatrician working at one of the hospitals told The Associated Press the twins had life-threatening injuries including a lost hand, a hole in the bowel, broken bones and potential loss of a leg. The children underwent emergency surgery and their conditions have relatively stabilized, the doctor said. But concerns remain about their recovery because of Gaza’s vast lack of medicine and medical supplies, said Dr. Harriet, who declined to give her last name because her employer hadn’t authorized her to speak to the media. “Now it’s just a waiting game so I hope that they both survive, but at this point in time I can’t say, and this is a common recurrence,” she said. Health workers call unexploded ordnance a major threat to Palestinians. Two other children, Yazan and Jude Nour, were wounded on Thursday while their family was inspecting their home in Gaza City, according to Shifa hospital. Gaza’s Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, said five children were wounded by unexploded ordnance over the past week, including one in the southern city of Khan Younis. “This is the death trap,” Dr. Harriet said. “We’re talking about a ceasefire, but the killing hasn’t stopped.” Already over 68,500 Palestinians have died in the war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The ministry maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. Israel has disputed them without providing its own toll. Luke Irving, head of the U.N. Mine Action Service, UNMAS, in the Palestinian territories, has warned that “explosive risk is incredibly high” as both aid workers and displaced Palestinians return to areas vacated by the Israeli military in Gaza. As of Oct. 7, UNMAS had documented at least 52 Palestinians killed and 267 others wounded by unexploded ordnance in Gaza since the war began. UNMAS, however, said the toll could be much higher. Irving told a United Nations briefing last week 560 unexploded ordnance items have been found during the current ceasefire with many more under the rubble. Two years of war have left up to 60 million tons of debris across Gaza, he added. In the coming weeks, additional international de-mining experts are expected to join efforts to collect unexploded ordnance in Gaza, he said. “As expected, we’re now finding more items because we’re getting out more; the teams have more access,” he said.

Russian air defense systems shot down 281 Ukrainian drones during the past day, including nine over the Moscow region, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday. "Two guided aerial bombs and 281 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been shot down by air defense systems," the ministry said in a statement. The defense ministry said Friday that Russian air defense systems have shot down 1,441 Ukrainian UAVs over the past week. Air defense systems have downed a Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft, four cruise missiles, 18 guided aerial bombs, 15 rocket projectiles of the U.S.-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, as well as 1,441 fixed-wing UAVs, the ministry said in a statement. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 62 drones and nine missiles during the overnight strike on Ukraine. Air defense units shot down 50 drones and four missiles. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the city was targeted by ballistic missiles. The attack sparked fires in several areas, shattered windows in residential buildings, and damaged a kindergarten in the eastern part of the city, Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kiev City Military Administration, said on social media.  

State-run Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed flights to the United Kingdom on Saturday, marking its return after a five-year suspension following a fake pilot license scandal. PIA had been banned by both the UK and the European Union in June 2020, following a deadly Karachi crash that killed nearly 100 people and revelations that several pilots held counterfeit licenses. The EU lifted its ban in November 2024 after rigorous safety audits, allowing the airline to restore its suspended routes earlier this year. The first Boeing 777 flight from Islamabad to Manchester on Saturday symbolized PIA’s return to the UK, following months of inspections and reforms that restored confidence in Pakistan’s aviation system. “The flight to Manchester is a remarkable beginning, but we are firmly determined to start flights to London and Birmingham next,” Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said at a ceremony at Islamabad International Airport. Asif emphasized that direct flights are vital for the more than 1.4 million Pakistanis residing in Britain and Europe, whose remittances remain a key pillar of Pakistan’s economy. “Providing them with direct flights is both a moral and national duty. These services will save time, offer reasonable fares, and strengthen air links to their homeland,” he said. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mohammad Faisal, described the relaunch as a significant step for economic and cultural ties between the two countries. “This milestone will generate substantial revenue, boost trade and tourism, and enhance the movement of people and goods,” he said at a recent event in London.  

Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit, renowned for her decades of work uplifting rural communities, supporting traditional crafts, and promoting environmental conservation, passed away on Friday at the age of 93. The Royal Household Bureau announced that Sirikit died at a Bangkok hospital after battling a blood infection since October 17. Despite intensive medical care, her condition deteriorated. She had suffered a debilitating stroke in 2012 and had since largely withdrawn from public life. Her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed away in October 2016. Mourners gathered outside Chulalongkorn Hospital early Saturday, expressing grief over her death. “It’s another great loss for the whole nation. When I heard the news, it felt like the world stopped,” said 67-year-old Maneerat Laowalert. Though often overshadowed by her late husband and her son, the current King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Sirikit commanded immense respect and affection in her own right. Her portrait adorned homes, offices, and public spaces nationwide, and her birthday, August 12, was celebrated as Mother’s Day. Her humanitarian work ranged from helping Cambodian refugees to spearheading forest conservation projects. Life and LegacyBorn Sirikit Kitiyakara in Bangkok on August 12, 1932, into an aristocratic family with royal lineage, she was educated in wartime Bangkok before moving to France, where her father served as ambassador. At age 16, she met the young King Bhumibol in Paris, where she was studying music and languages. Their friendship deepened after he suffered a serious car accident, and she later moved to Switzerland to assist in his recovery. The king courted her with poetry and a waltz titled “I Dream of You.” They married in 1950, and during the king’s coronation that same year, both vowed to “reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Thai people.” The couple had four children — King Vajiralongkorn and princesses Ubolratana, Sirindhorn, and Chulabhorn. Champion of Rural DevelopmentFrom the 1970s onward, the royal couple devoted their time to domestic development, focusing on rural poverty, drug addiction, and insurgencies. Traveling extensively, they presided over hundreds of royal, religious, and state events annually. Sirikit was known for her elegance but also for her hands-on approach. She often trekked to remote villages, where locals affectionately called her “daughter,” and personally listened to their struggles — from family disputes to serious illnesses. To support rural livelihoods, she founded the SUPPORT Foundation in 1976, which trained thousands in silk weaving, jewelry-making, pottery, and other crafts. She also championed wildlife preservation and forest conservation through initiatives like “Forest Loves Water” and “Little House in the Forest.” Despite occasional rumors about her lavish lifestyle or palace politics, her popularity among rural Thais remained strong. “People in rural Thailand feel neglected, and we try to bridge that gap by living with them in remote areas,” she told the Associated Press in 1979. Sirikit believed the monarchy was essential to Thailand’s unity. “Some think the monarchy is outdated, but I believe Thailand needs a compassionate monarch,” she said. “At the words ‘The King is coming,’ thousands will gather. The very word ‘king’ carries something magical.” Condolences poured in from across the region, including Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, who extended his “heartfelt condolences” during a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders in Kuala Lumpur.

 Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, vowed Friday to more openly embrace his Muslim identity after facing what he called “racist and baseless” attacks from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his allies. Surrounded by interfaith leaders outside a Bronx mosque, Mamdani delivered an emotional speech reflecting on the “indignities” endured by Muslim New Yorkers. Fighting back tears, he recalled how his aunt stopped riding the subway after the Sept. 11 attacks out of fear of being targeted for wearing a hijab. He also recounted advice from a relative early in his political career who urged him to hide his religion — guidance he said many Muslims have heard. “These are lessons that so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught,” Mamdani said. “And in recent days, those lessons have become the campaign messages of Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, and Eric Adams.” Later, Cuomo accused Mamdani of “playing the victim” and dismissed claims of widespread Islamophobia in New York. A democratic socialist, Mamdani has faced consistent criticism from Cuomo and others over his denunciation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, which he described as genocide. But those attacks have recently taken on a more overtly Islamophobic tone, prompting backlash from within the Democratic Party. During a conservative radio appearance, Cuomo laughed as host Sid Rosenberg suggested Mamdani would “cheer another 9/11.” Cuomo later said he didn’t take the remark seriously but called it “offensive.” A Cuomo campaign account also briefly posted a video mocking Mamdani for eating rice with his hands and labeling his supporters criminals before deleting it, calling it an “error.” At a separate rally, Mayor Eric Adams appeared to imply New York would face more terrorist threats under Mamdani, saying, “You see what’s playing out in other countries because of Islamic extremism.” Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa also falsely accused Mamdani of supporting “global jihad” during a debate. Speaking to supporters, Mamdani said his remarks were directed not at his opponents but at Muslim New Yorkers who feel unseen. “Every Muslim dreams of being treated like any other New Yorker,” he said. “For too long, we’ve been told to ask for less. No more.” He admitted he initially downplayed his faith, believing restraint would deflect prejudice. “I thought that if I kept quiet and focused on my message, I could be seen as more than my faith,” he said. “I was wrong. No amount of silence is ever enough.” Mamdani declared he would now embrace his identity fully: “I will not change who I am, how I eat, or the faith I’m proud of. But I will no longer live in the shadows — I will find myself in the light.” Despite skepticism from some Democratic leaders, particularly over his criticism of Israel, Mamdani gained momentum Friday with an endorsement from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Cuomo, meanwhile, claimed Mamdani’s stance on Israel has made Jewish New Yorkers fearful and rejected the notion that Muslims face discrimination in the city. “New Yorkers are not Islamophobic,” he said. “What he’s doing is the oldest trick in politics — dividing people.”

President Donald Trump departs for Asia late Friday on his first trip to the region since returning to office, aiming to secure investment deals and advance peace efforts before holding a critical meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to ease escalating trade tensions. Trump is expected to leave Washington late Friday and arrive in Malaysia on Sunday morning — the first stop in a three-country sprint that also includes Japan and South Korea. His trip comes as the U.S. government shutdown continues to strain the country. Federal employees are missing paychecks, flight delays are increasing as air traffic controllers work without pay, and some states are bracing for cuts to federal food assistance. Despite the deadlock in Congress — with Republicans and Democrats still divided over healthcare funding — Trump is pressing ahead with his foreign travel. “America is shut down and the President is skipping town,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Friday night. Malaysia: Ceasefire and Trade Talks Trump’s first engagement will be at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, marking only his second appearance at the annual meeting. This year’s summit comes as Malaysia and the U.S. work to settle recent border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. Trump will meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and then join the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia for a joint signing ceremony to formalize an expanded ceasefire — an agreement Trump helped broker earlier this year after threatening to suspend trade deals if fighting continued. He may also meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is pressing the U.S. to lift a 40% tariff on Brazilian imports. The Trump administration has defended the tariff, citing Brazil’s prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally. Lula has also criticized recent U.S. military operations off South America’s coast, which Washington says target drug trafficking. He plans to raise those concerns with Trump during their potential meeting in Malaysia, though the White House has not confirmed it. Japan: Investment Deals and Diplomacy From Malaysia, Trump will travel to Japan, where he aims to finalize more than $900 billion in investment commitments for U.S. factories and infrastructure projects. In exchange, Trump is expected to lower proposed tariffs on Japanese imports from 25% to 15%. The visit coincides with the election of Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, a protégé of the late former leader Shinzo Abe, with whom Trump had a close relationship. In Tokyo, he will meet Takaichi, visit Emperor Naruhito, and address U.S. troops stationed in Japan, according to a senior U.S. official. South Korea: Summit with Xi Trump’s final stop will be South Korea, where he will meet President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, held in Gyeongju. The Trump–Xi talks are expected to take place separately in Busan, focusing on easing tensions in the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, which has shaken global markets. Relations have soured after Beijing introduced new export restrictions on rare earth minerals and threatened steep retaliatory tariffs. Despite earlier anger over those moves, Trump has recently expressed optimism, saying he expects a “fantastic deal” with Xi. There is also speculation about a possible surprise meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, after South Korean officials hinted it might occur in the Demilitarized Zone — a repeat of their 2019 encounter. However, U.S. officials have said no such meeting is currently planned.

Southeast Asian foreign ministers opened preliminary talks Saturday ahead of a landmark ASEAN summit that will officially admit East Timor as the bloc’s 11th member and mark U.S. President Donald Trump’s first visit to Asia since returning to the White House. The meeting precedes the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, which begins Sunday in Kuala Lumpur and will be followed by two days of high-level discussions with partners including China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. Key topics include regional security, maritime disputes, and economic resilience — with U.S. tariffs and shifting trade dynamics expected to dominate debate. A separate leaders’ meeting of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) — the world’s largest trade bloc linking ASEAN with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand — will also take place for the first time since 2020, as regional economies seek to steady trade amid Washington’s tariff disruptions. Among the high-profile attendees are Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and U.S. President Donald Trump, alongside Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, who will join as new ASEAN dialogue partners. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hopes their participation will strengthen ASEAN’s economic ties with Africa and Latin America. Trump’s Return to AsiaTrump’s attendance marks his first ASEAN appearance since 2017 and his first trip to Asia in his second term — the first by a U.S. president since Joe Biden in 2022. He is expected to announce new trade agreements with Malaysia and witness the signing of an expanded ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, which follows border clashes earlier this year. The deal, brokered in Kuala Lumpur with ASEAN’s backing, came after Trump threatened to suspend trade talks unless both sides reached peace. “Trump’s presence reflects a rare instance of direct U.S. presidential engagement in Southeast Asia,” said Joanne Lin of Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. She noted that while his visit underscores Washington’s continued Indo-Pacific interests, it also aims to project Trump as a “global dealmaker” amid growing unease over his trade policies. Heightened Security in MalaysiaSecurity has been tightened throughout Kuala Lumpur amid planned protests against Trump’s visit, particularly over U.S. policies on Palestine. Anwar said peaceful demonstrations would be permitted but assured that summit proceedings would not be disrupted. He praised Trump for helping broker a Gaza ceasefire — calling it “nearly impossible under normal circumstances” — though he reiterated Malaysia’s stance that the truce has yet to resolve the Palestinian issue, which he intends to raise directly with Trump. East Timor Joins ASEANThis year’s summit marks ASEAN’s first expansion in 26 years, welcoming East Timor (Timor-Leste) as its newest member. The young nation, which applied for membership in 2011, becomes the first to join since Cambodia in 1999. With just 1.4 million citizens, East Timor’s entry symbolizes greater regional inclusivity. Formerly a Portuguese colony, it was invaded by Indonesia in 1975 and endured a violent 24-year occupation that claimed tens of thousands of lives before gaining independence in 2002. ASEAN membership offers East Timor access to regional trade pacts, investment, and broader markets — crucial for diversifying its oil- and gas-dependent economy. “They may be poor, but they have potential. It’s our duty as a community to support them,” Anwar said. Regional Flashpoints: South China Sea and MyanmarThe summit will also tackle ongoing crises, including the South China Sea dispute, Myanmar’s civil conflict, and cross-border crime networks. ASEAN leaders plan to finalize an upgraded trade deal with China and continue negotiations on a long-delayed code of conduct for the contested sea. Myanmar’s situation remains a major challenge. The military junta, which seized power in 2021, is still barred from ASEAN summits after failing to implement the bloc’s peace roadmap. Its proposed December elections — widely dismissed as neither free nor fair — have deepened tensions. The junta has invited ASEAN nations to send election observers, but doing so could be seen as legitimizing the regime, while refusal risks further isolating Myanmar and weakening ASEAN’s influence. “The key question is what comes after the vote — whether ASEAN will continue excluding Myanmar’s representatives if the junta claims legitimacy through the election,” Lin said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday called on the United States to widen its sanctions on Russia’s oil industry — extending restrictions from two major firms to the entire sector — and appealed for long-range missiles to help counter Moscow’s attacks. Zelenskyy traveled to London to meet with over 20 European leaders who have pledged ongoing military support to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, aimed at deterring future Russian aggression. The summit, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, sought to tighten pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin following new U.S. and European sanctions targeting Russia’s key oil and gas revenues. Talks also focused on protecting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure from relentless Russian drone and missile strikes as winter nears, strengthening air defenses, and potentially supplying Kyiv with long-range weaponry capable of striking deep into Russian territory. Zelenskyy urged Washington to provide Tomahawk missiles — an option U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly considered. Zelenskyy praised Trump’s latest move to impose oil sanctions, calling it “a big step,” but stressed that pressure should extend “not only to Rosneft and Lukoil, but to all Russian oil companies.” He noted that Ukraine is also conducting drone and missile operations targeting Russia’s energy assets. Trump, meanwhile, has delayed a planned meeting with Putin in Budapest, describing it as potentially “a waste of time.” Putin has resisted calls for peace talks, insisting Russia’s invasion was justified and exploiting loopholes in Western sanctions. In a related development, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev announced he had arrived in the U.S. for talks with officials, including U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, about investment and economic cooperation — a meeting first reported by Axios. Dmitriev has long served as a key intermediary between the Kremlin and the Trump administration on Ukraine and other issues. Western leaders expressed growing frustration with Putin’s stance. “He’s again rejected talks and is demanding Ukrainian territory he couldn’t take by force,” Starmer said at a joint press conference with Zelenskyy. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte added that Putin is “running out of money, troops, and ideas.” Leaders from Denmark, the Netherlands, and about 20 other nations joined the London talks, either in person or virtually, as part of the “Coalition of the Willing.” Building a Reassurance Force Ukraine’s allies are still debating their long-term commitments as the war — Europe’s largest since World War II — nears its fourth year. Key questions include funding Ukraine’s recovery, future security guarantees, and Washington’s ongoing role. Officials discussed forming a “reassurance force” focused on air and naval support, rather than deploying Western ground troops. U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said it would aim to “secure the skies and seas” and train Ukrainian forces. Russia Reports Modest Gains The war remains deadlocked. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its troops captured 10 Ukrainian villages in the past week as part of a slow push across Donetsk toward Dnipropetrovsk. Moscow also said it downed 111 Ukrainian drones overnight, while debris damaged civilian buildings. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported three drones intercepted near the capital, disrupting flights at two airports. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said Russian shelling in Kherson killed two people and injured 22, while glide bomb strikes in Kharkiv wounded six. For the first time, Russia also launched glide bombs at the Odesa region — a “new and serious threat,” local officials warned.

A Turkish court on Friday dismissed a case challenging the legitimacy of the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) 2023 internal congress, ruling there was no legal basis to overturn the party’s leadership. The lawsuit sought to annul the CHP’s 38th congress held in November 2023, where longtime leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu was ousted, over allegations of electoral fraud, including vote-buying and procedural violations. Had the case succeeded, current chairman Ozgur Ozel could have been removed and replaced by Kilicdaroglu or a court-appointed “trustee chairman.” The CHP dismissed the fraud allegations as politically driven, saying the vote followed proper procedures. Party officials have accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government of using the judiciary to pressure the opposition. The dispute comes amid what CHP supporters describe as a broader crackdown on the party after it made major gains in last year’s local elections. Several officials from CHP-run municipalities have been arrested in recent months. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent Erdogan rival who is being held on corruption charges he denies, has been a key target. On Friday, prosecutors launched a new investigation into Imamoglu over potential espionage charges, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Imamoglu’s former campaign manager, Necati Ozkan, and journalist Merdan Yanardag, detained on Friday, are also under investigation. Authorities cited alleged links to a businessman arrested in July on accusations of spying for foreign states. Imamoglu’s arrest in March triggered widespread protests, as he is widely viewed as a strong future challenger to Erdogan. The government says the judiciary is independent and that ongoing investigations are focused solely on corruption.  

US President Donald Trump will travel to Japan and South Korea next week seeking progress on nearly $900 billion in pledged investments for American industries, including factories and a natural gas pipeline project. Japan earlier promised $550 billion, while South Korea offered $350 billion in August as both countries pushed Trump to reduce his planned tariffs from 25% to 15%. But these pledges remain uncertain, with Tokyo wanting benefits for its own companies and Seoul seeking a U.S. dollar swap line to avoid financial pressure. Trump insists he will control how the money is used, allowing him to decide which U.S. sectors gain. Meanwhile, Trump’s popularity among Hispanic adults has dropped. A new AP-NORC survey shows 25% now have a favorable view of him, down from 44% in January when he took office. Those saying the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction rose to 73% from 63% in March. Trump also halted trade talks with Canada after a television ad criticized U.S. tariffs, calling it “egregious behavior.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded that he plans to expand trade outside the U.S. due to the tariff threat. On domestic issues, Trump said he will delay sending federal agents to San Francisco following requests from business leaders. Mayor Daniel Lurie told him the city is seeing progress in reducing crime. White House schedule for Trump’s Asia trip: — Friday 11 p.m. EDT: Departure from the U.S. — Sunday: Arrival in Malaysia; meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim; ASEAN working dinner. — Monday: Flight to Tokyo. — Tuesday: Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. — Wednesday: Flight to Busan; meeting with Korean President Lee Jae Myung; address at APEC CEO lunch; APEC leaders’ dinner. — Thursday: Meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping; evening return to the U.S.