United News of Bangladesh

A riot at a prison in Sri Lanka’s western region last month caused property damage worth more than 100 million Sri Lankan rupees, or about $299,000, according to the Department of Prisons. The unrest broke out at Negombo Prison on July 5 when clashes erupted between two groups of inmates. The violence caused extensive damage to prison facilities and inmate registration records, officials said. A total of 32 people were killed and more than 100 others injured during the unrest. Several other prison riots were reported across Sri Lanka in the weeks that followed the Negombo incident. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on Aug 7 to review prison security and the safety of inmates. Following the meeting, authorities decided to establish a joint mechanism involving prison officials, police, the Special Task Force and, when necessary, the armed forces. The mechanism will cover all 33 prisons in the country and coordinate responses to emergencies as well as issues related to inmate welfare.

Indonesia has stepped up efforts to contain a growing number of wildfires across the country, deploying helicopters, hundreds of firefighters and disaster response personnel as fires spread through East Java’s popular Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and peatlands on Sumatra amid an unusually dry season. The largest blaze is burning in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, where around 743 hectares (1,836 acres) have been scorched, according to East Java authorities. Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry said Sunday that dry weather and strengthening El Nino conditions have increased the risk of forest and land fires during the peak dry season. The fire has destroyed extensive areas of dry grassland and vegetation, including protected edelweiss flowers, and spread toward Penanjakan, a popular viewpoint for visitors to Mount Bromo, one of Indonesia’s major tourist attractions. No injuries or evacuations have been reported. Hundreds of firefighters, soldiers, police, park rangers and volunteers are working to contain the blaze. Authorities have closed the national park to visitors until further notice. At least three helicopters were deployed Monday to conduct water-bombing operations over hotspots inaccessible by ground crews. Firefighters are also carrying out manual suppression, cooling operations, patrols and building firebreaks to stop the flames from spreading. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, who visited the park Sunday, said authorities were coordinating efforts to tackle and prevent forest and land fires. He urged people to avoid activities that could trigger new fires, including throwing away cigarette butts and burning land for clearance. The Bromo fire is among several wildfires reported across Indonesia during the current dry spell. More than 50 hectares (124 acres) of peatland have burned in Jambi province on Sumatra, causing thick haze and concerns over deteriorating air quality. The largest fire, in Sungai Gelam village in Muaro Jambi district, has destroyed dozens of hectares of local residents’ oil palm plantations and has been burning since Wednesday. Around 300 firefighters and disaster personnel have been deployed there. Deep peat, limited water supplies, difficult terrain and strong winds have hampered firefighting efforts, despite three helicopters conducting aerial operations. Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency said August and September are expected to be the most critical months, as dry vegetation and strong winds could help fires spread rapidly. Wildfires frequently occur on Sumatra and Borneo during dry periods. Many are illegally started by plantation owners or traditional farmers to clear land for cultivation, with the resulting fires periodically causing hazardous haze across parts of Southeast Asia.

A British comedian wearing a rubbish bin on his head is hoping to turn political satire into votes in what could be one of Britain's most unusual parliamentary elections. Count Binface, who describes himself as an intergalactic space warrior, is among nearly three dozen candidates contesting a special election in Clacton-on-Sea in southeastern England on Thursday. The contest was already being described as unusual after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage resigned from Parliament and announced that he would seek re-election to address allegations over his finances. Binface quickly announced his candidacy, challenging Farage with his trademark humour. "Game on, Nige," he said after Farage accused the political establishment of targeting him. The major political parties have criticized Farage's decision and decided not to contest the election, leaving Binface with a prominent position as one of his most colorful challengers. Since then, he has been busy giving interviews and promoting his campaign. "I'm the only fresh thing on the menu," Binface told The Associated Press. "You're all sick of these politicians ... but you need something different." Even senior politicians have joined in the jokes. Rachel Reeves, then Britain's Treasury secretary, quipped after accepting Farage's resignation: "If he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won't stop him." Comedian behind the maskBehind the black cape, rubbish bin and science-fiction-style protective gear is Jon Harvey, a middle-aged comedian who prefers to keep his identity separate from his political character. Harvey never appears in public as Binface without the costume and refuses to reveal what is beneath the helmet. Asked by a BBC presenter to remove the headgear, he referred to the "Star Wars" character Darth Vader and joked that nobody would want to see what was underneath. Harvey is a married father of two who grew up in London and studied classics at Oxford University. He has worked as a writer for political comedy programmes including "The Thick of It" and "Have I Got News for You." He has also written books, including Binface's fictional political memoir, "What on Earth? An Alien's Guide to Fixing Britain." From Buckethead to BinfaceHarvey's political career began nearly a decade ago when he ran for Parliament under the name Lord Buckethead against then-Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May. The character became popular, but a copyright dispute over the name forced Harvey to create a new identity. Thus, Count Binface was born. Since then, he has challenged former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, as well as London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Khan defeated Binface twice and joked after his 2024 victory that he was the first politician to beat him in consecutive elections. Binface also contested a parliamentary special election in June but lost to Andy Burnham. Britain has a long tradition of unusual political candidates, and the Clacton ballot includes three candidates from the Monster Raving Loony Party, including Nick the Incredible Flying Brick and Baron von Thunderclap. Tax cuts, hand dryers and unicyclesBinface's campaign platform mixes serious-sounding promises with deliberately absurd ideas. Among his proposals are cutting voters' taxes while raising taxes for everyone else, building an affordable home and nationalizing singer Adele. He also wants to move a hand dryer in the men's bathroom of a pub in Uxbridge, arguing that its current position is too close to the urinals. His campaign takes several indirect jabs at Farage, including a promise that he would not accept multimillion-pound gifts from cryptocurrency billionaires. Binface also wants MPs who resign during their terms to be barred from contesting the immediate by-election that follows. He has promised to spend more time in Clacton than in Washington, a reference to Farage's frequent trips to the United States and his close ties with President Donald Trump. A 'galactic union' with USBinface said he has little interest in dealing directly with Trump, describing the US president as "awful." However, he said he would like to strengthen the relationship between Britain and the United States through what he jokingly called a "galactic union." Despite his campaign, Binface admits he does not expect to win. If he does pull off a surprise victory, however, he may have to leave his famous costume outside the House of Commons because parliamentary rules require MPs to dress appropriately and prohibit costumes. Binface said some MPs have discussed making an exception for him. His manifesto also includes proposals such as price controls on croissants and forcing cyclists who break traffic rules to ride unicycles. For now, Count Binface appears less interested in becoming Britain's next major political figure than in adding a dose of humour to an already unusual election.

A senior Ukrainian drone commander has said Ukraine could carry out up to seven times more strikes on military targets in Crimea if financial assistance promised by Western allies reached the country more quickly. Maj. Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said the recent attacks on the Russian-controlled peninsula are the opening stage of a campaign aimed at weakening Crimea's role as a key military base for Russian forces. "Crimea is one of the key elements in ending this war," Brovdi said in an interview with The Associated Press. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move widely condemned by the international community. Brovdi said Ukraine's recent operations have already damaged railway bridges, fuel storage facilities and power infrastructure in Crimea, disrupting Russian supply routes and limiting the effectiveness of its air defense systems. However, he said his forces currently have only about 14% of the resources needed to carry out the campaign at full strength. According to Brovdi, Ukraine has the capacity to manufacture enough drones, but delays in receiving financial support from international partners have slowed production and military planning. "It's not a production problem. The main issue is that funding arrives more slowly than our operational plans," he said. Drone campaign targets Russian military infrastructureBrovdi said Ukrainian forces have destroyed more than 300 Russian air defense assets in recent months, including missile systems, radar stations and electronic warfare equipment. He claimed those attacks have reduced Russia's ability to launch missiles from Crimea by weakening its air defense network, although the Associated Press could not independently verify the claim. He said the campaign is designed to make Crimea unsuitable as a military base by targeting infrastructure used by Russian forces while avoiding civilian facilities. Ukraine has also focused on reducing Russia's naval capabilities in Crimea, which Brovdi said is important because of the peninsula's strategic location in the Black Sea. He added that attacks on power infrastructure have affected Russian military operations, though they have also caused electricity disruptions for civilians. Brovdi said he had publicly apologized to Ukrainian residents in Crimea over those disruptions. Russia adapting to Ukraine's drone attacksBrovdi said Russia is installing more electronic jamming systems that could reduce the effectiveness of the Starlink satellite internet service widely used by Ukrainian forces. He also claimed Russia is developing its own satellite communications network as an alternative to Starlink. At the same time, he warned that Russia has increased the use of faster jet-powered Shahed drones, making them more difficult for Ukraine to intercept. According to Brovdi, Russia can currently launch up to 77 ballistic missiles in a single attack and plans to increase that number significantly. He said Ukraine remains vulnerable to ballistic missile strikes because it has limited supplies of interceptors for the US-made Patriot air defense system, the country's primary defense against such missiles. Brovdi argued that reducing the missile threat requires long-range strikes on Russian missile production facilities. Online retailer also targetedBrovdi also said Ukraine has increasingly targeted facilities linked to Wildberries, Russia's largest online marketplace. He claimed the company supplies goods for the Russian military through its platform, making it a legitimate military target in Ukraine's view. He added that attacks on the retailer are also intended to make ordinary Russians feel the effects of the war by disrupting a widely used consumer service. Brovdi declined to say how long the campaign against Wildberries would continue but said strikes would go on until the company could no longer recover quickly. The Associated Press said it could not independently verify several of Brovdi's claims regarding the impact of Ukraine's operations in Crimea and inside Russia.

The heat waves roiling Western Europe this summer toppled an average temperature record for the June-July period set in 2022, according to the European climate agency Copernicus. The extreme heat began in May and has contributed to major wildfires, prolonged drought and new national temperature records across the region, as well as thousands of projected heat-related deaths. Globally, so far this is the third-hottest year, behind 2024 and 2025, climate statistics show. But 2026 still has time to catch up. Thanks to the one-two punch of accelerated human-caused global warming and a supersized El Niño, a periodic warming of parts of the Pacific that leads to temperature variations around the globe, there’s an increasing chance that by the end of the year, 2026 could become the hottest year on record, beating out 2024 — or at least come close, scientists said. Last month saw the highest average sea surface temperature ever recorded for July across the extra-polar oceans, or the oceans free of seasonal sea ice, Copernicus said. That was partially fueled by developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific, the service said. The new average record for July is 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.73 degrees Fahrenheit), which beat the 2023 record of 20.89 C (69.60 F). But last month’s average surface air temperature globally was 16.90°C (62.42 F), making it only the joint second warmest July on record and tied with July 2024, Copernicus reported. In Western Europe, meanwhile, the average temperature record for the June-July period hit 21.62°C (70.92 F), Copernicus said. “Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over western Europe, the extreme temperatures also amplified widespread drought. As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. “This is a clear example of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought increasingly reinforcing one another.”

U.S. military jets intercepted two civilian airplanes flying in restricted airspace near President Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday. "NORAD F-16s intercepted multiple general aviation aircraft today that violated temporary flight restrictions over Bedminster, NJ. All aircraft were safely escorted out of the area by NORAD aircraft," said the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which patrols this area, in a post on social media platform X. Trump was at his Trump National Golf Club this weekend. Local media outlets reported that two civilian airplanes were intercepted by military jets. One video that captured the moment when an F-16 fighter jet was chasing a slow-moving aircraft was posted on X by Joe Afflerbach of Joey's North Jersey Severe Weather. NJ.com, a digital news content provider in New Jersey, which got permission to post the video on its website, said the video was taken from Afflerbach's house in Jefferson Township, outside Bedminster. Fox News said a third aircraft triggered an alert as Trump was preparing to depart the area. The third incident appeared to delay Trump's departure by about 13 minutes. During that time, emergency SUVs, law enforcement officers and U.S. Secret Service agents were seen moving into position near the runway where Trump was scheduled to depart around 5 p.m. (2100 GMT), said Fox News. The third aircraft re-established communications and became compliant before NORAD intervention was required, said Fox News.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday officially rejected a 15-point Gaza peace roadmap presented by the U.S.-led "Board of Peace," insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed. Marking Israel’s first straightforward rejection of the plan, Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting that forces- estimated to control 70 percent of Gaza —will continue operations to "thwart threats". He defined disarmament as the removal of all weapons, both heavy and light. While noting ongoing talks with the U.S., Netanyahu stated that while some ideas are acceptable, Israel will "stand our ground" on disputed matters. The plan, drafted by Nickolay Mladenov in May and announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in July, claimed agreement on the "complete disarmament" of armed groups. Hamas previously agreed to the roadmap’s second phase but demanded a complete halt to "aggression," full Israeli withdrawal, and reconstruction progress. Since an October 2025 ceasefire, Israeli attacks have reportedly killed over 1,250 people and injured 4,100 in Gaza, according to local health authorities.

The four-day 3rd International Indigenous Language Journalism Conference-2026 began in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu on Sunday, bringing together journalists, media professionals and researchers involved in indigenous language-based journalism from around 30 countries, including Bangladesh.  The conference, which will continue until August 12, is being held under the theme, “Indigenous Language Journalism for Cultural Diversity, Climate Justice and Inclusive Democracy,” said a media statement. 10th CJEN conference begins with calls for journalists’ safety and ethical journalism  Ten distinguished Bangladeshi journalists are participating in the conference.  The Bangladesh delegation is being led by Shiabur Rahman, General Secretary of the SAARC Journalists Forum (SJF) Bangladesh Chapter and Head of Online and Multimedia at The Financial. Mohammad Abdur Rahman, Secretary General of the SJF Central Committee and Senior Correspondent of The Bangladesh Post, is also accompanying the 10-member Bangladesh Chapter delegation.  The conference is organised by the Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (FONIJ) with overall cooperation from the SAARC Journalists Forum (SJF).  During the four-day conference, participants will discuss the current state, key challenges and future course of indigenous language journalism in the global context.  Panel discussions will be held and research papers and working papers will be presented, with experts from Nepal and other countries taking part in the sessions.  A colourful cultural procession featuring representatives from participating countries will also be organised as part of the conference.  The organisers have also arranged visits to historical and tourist sites in Nepal and initiatives to introduce the guests to local traditional foods.  The conference aims to enhance professionalism in indigenous language journalism, establish its importance in government policies and open new avenues for preserving languages, scripts, cultures and traditions worldwide.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated Sunday that a new defense pact signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey is "purely defensive" and remains open to other regional nations. The "Mecca Joint Defense Agreement," also known as the Makkah Accord, was signed Friday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to deepen security cooperation amid regional tensions. Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agree on mutual defense pact A primary provision stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three states shall be considered an attack against them all. Dar emphasized this aligns with Article 51 of the UN Charter regarding collective self-defense and clarified the agreement is not directed at any specific country, including Iran. The alliance combines Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities, Saudi Arabia’s economic influence, and Turkey’s advanced defense industry. Dar noted the accord does not replace existing bilateral or multilateral agreements. While landmarks in Islamabad and Saudi cities were illuminated in celebration, defense analysts cautioned that despite the collective defense clause, the pact should not be viewed as a NATO equivalent. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia previously signed a separate mutual-defense agreement in September 2025.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread to other parts of his body and is causing him significant pain, his son Hunter Biden has said. In an emotional and wide-ranging interview with the BBC broadcast late Friday, Hunter Biden spoke about his 83-year-old father’s health, saying the cancer has metastasized to his bones and beyond. “It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many respects,” Hunter Biden said, describing the situation as deeply difficult for the family. Joe Biden, who was the oldest person to serve as president of the United States, faced persistent concerns about his age and health during his four years in office. His administration and advisers also came under criticism over allegations that the extent of his health problems had not been fully disclosed. Those concerns intensified after Biden ended his 2024 reelection campaign following a widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump, who later succeeded him as president. Biden disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025, less than four months after leaving the White House. Hunter Biden said the diagnosis had been particularly difficult for the family and expressed concern about his father’s condition. “It’s really sad to watch,” he said, adding that he wished his father would complain more about his health because “it’s not good.” Despite his illness, however, Joe Biden continues to speak publicly about issues he considers important, his son said. “He’s still doing his thing,” Hunter Biden said. “He so believes in this country.” The former president is also set to publish a memoir titled “Promise Me, America” following the 2026 midterm elections.