United News of Bangladesh

Verona’s ancient Roman Arena is set for a modern renovation, with major upgrades to improve accessibility for people with disabilities ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games. The venue will host the Olympic closing ceremony and the Paralympic opening ceremony. Dating back to the 1st century, the Arena has served many purposes — from staging gladiatorial combat and exotic animal hunts in Roman times to functioning as a Medieval marketplace — and is now best known as the site of a celebrated opera festival. Despite its long history, the massive structure has never been properly adapted for visitors with disabilities or others requiring mobility support. Several temporary safety measures have also remained in place for years without being modernized. The forthcoming Games have created an opportunity to upgrade both accessibility and safety at the Arena — a landmark older than the Colosseum — before it welcomes an expected 11,000 spectators for the Feb. 22 Olympic closing ceremony and nearly 10,000 for the Paralympic opening ceremony on March 6. “This is an ancient monument that is some 2,000 years old, that remains active and hosts audiences,” said architect Giulio Fenyves, whose Milan studio designed the new safety and accessibility features. “The occasion of the Olympics has made it possible to reconsider a series of logistical aspects, including facilitating the entry and exit, precisely because it continues to host major events with thousands of people,” Fenyves said. The facelift is part of a 18 million euro ($21 million) project that improves accessibility for the entire area surrounding the Arena and is being overseen by the governmental company responsible for Olympic infrastructure. The works include making a kilometer-stretch of sidewalks from Verona’s main train station to the Arena safer for wheelchairs or baby strollers by building small curb ramps. Dedicated bike lanes are also being built. Paralympians participating in the Parade of Athletes up Corso Porta Nuova, across Piazza Bra, and into the Arena will find that the route has been significantly upgraded for people who require wheelchairs or have other mobility issues. The work is being coordinated with officials responsible for the preservation of the monument as well as those overseeing accessibility codes to bring the structure more in line with current legislation. The new elements “must be integrated in the most delicate and harmonious way possible to a monument that is both robust and fragile at the same time,” Fenyves said. Inside the Arena, the centerpiece project is a wheelchair-accessible ramp clad with pre-rusted steel and the same Prun stone from the Lessinia hills above Verona that was used by the Romans to build the Arena. The local stone gives the Arena its pinkish-yellow hue and contains fossilized shells — remnants of a prehistoric sea that once covered this region now known for hills and vineyards. The ramp will be removable, but project manager Paolo Zecchinelli said he hopes that it will be retained as a legacy of the Games. Until now, people with wheelchairs or walkers approached from a natural slope leading down from the adjacent Piazza Bra. In addition to the ramp that is meant to blend with the Arena’s original features, the local organizing committee is planning an ad hoc temporary ramp to accommodate not only disabled spectators and athletes, but also the elderly, families with children and anyone needing assistance. The overall project also includes a new railing along the top level of the Arena to replace one built in the 1950s that was meant to be temporary, as well as new handrails at varied heights on internal stairways and at the 72 entrances to the tiered seats. Bathrooms are being renovated by the city, and the infrastructure company is making new ramps to make them more accessible. Work will continue after the Olympics and Paralympics, including the installation of an elevator that will allow people with limited mobility to reach the Arena's uppermost level, either to watch a show or take in a view of the surrounding hills. “A part will remain as a gift to the city, which will help this beautiful monument to be more accessible both to people who tour it and those who attend opera performances and other concerts,” Zecchinelli said.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday congratulated the Bangladesh youth hockey team after lifting the Challenger division of the Youth Hockey World Cup, calling it a source of pride for the nation. In a congratulatory message, Prof Yunus said the players’ success had uplifted the country and reflected their hard work, discipline, team unity and indomitable spirit. He noted that the team’s performance had further strengthened Bangladesh’s presence on the international sporting stage. The Chief Adviser also credited the collective efforts of the players, the dedication of the coaching staff and the support of all concerned for making the triumph possible. Prof Yunus expressed hope that the victory would open a new chapter to flourish the county’s hockey. Maintaining the momentum of progress and excellence, he added, would create greater opportunities for the youth to achieve even bigger successes in the future. Bangladesh secured the Challenger title on Monday in Madurai, India, with a commanding 5–2 victory over Austria in the final. This year, the International Hockey Federation introduced the Challenger division for the classification round involving eight teams eliminated in the group stage of the Youth World Cup.

Iran has announced it will boycott next week’s 2026 World Cup draw in Washington after the U.S. reportedly denied visas to members of its delegation, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. Iranian soccer federation spokesman Amir-Mahdi Alavi said the officials faced visa hurdles that extended beyond normal sports considerations. The White House has not commented on the matter. Alavi noted that the federation has contacted FIFA, hoping the organization could help resolve the issue, but FIFA has yet to respond. In June, the Trump administration imposed a travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Iran and Haiti, which recently qualified for the World Cup. The ban included exemptions for athletes, coaches, support staff, and immediate family members attending major competitions like the World Cup or Olympics, but it remains unclear whether these exemptions cover attending the World Cup draw on December 5 at the Kennedy Center. Iran’s delegation would likely have been led by soccer federation president Mehdi Taj, a senior figure in Asian football who sits on two FIFA committees overseeing the World Cup. He is also a vice president of the Asian Football Confederation and a member of FIFA panels responsible for competitions and men’s national teams. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, will feature a record 48 teams and run from June 11 to July 19.

Bangladesh secured a place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup after defeating Thailand 40-31, guaranteeing a medal in the tournament. The first half saw intense competition, with Bangladesh leading 14-12 at halftime. Thailand pushed hard in the second half, but the spirited Bangladeshi raiders, led by Rupa and Shraboni, maintained control, achieving a comfortable nine-point victory. The win gave Bangladesh six points in Group ‘A’, confirming their top-four position. Earlier, the team had beaten Uganda and Germany but lost to India in the group stage. During the match, Shraboni Mallik sustained an injury in the ninth minute but returned after treatment. Borsha Bishwas delivered crucial raids, including two all-outs, helping Bangladesh extend their lead to 31-18 before sealing the win. Speaking after the match, Borsha said the team had planned to beat Thailand from the group stage and was happy to see their strategy succeed. “Our focus was the Thailand match, and we gave our best. Now, our next target is the final against Chinese Taipei. We will give our maximum effort,” she said. By reaching the semi-finals, Bangladesh has guaranteed a podium finish. The team has also achieved its pre-tournament goal of surpassing their 2012 World Cup performance, where they had finished fifth. The semi-final berths have also been secured by 2012 champions India and runners-up Iran.  

Bangladeshi swimmer Sheikh Jamil Hasan, a third-year student of Political Science at the University of Dhaka, successfully completed the 10-kilometer open water swim at the international “Oceanman Thailand 2025” competition held in Phang Nga province, Thailand. He finished the race in nearly five hours. The event saw participants from 36 countries, with two swimmers representing Bangladesh—Sheikh Jamil Hasan and Pijus Mishra. Competing on an international stage is considered a major achievement for the country. The race took place in the open waters of the Andaman Sea, where strong currents, tides, and natural sea challenges posed additional difficulties for the swimmers. Overcoming these obstacles, Sheikh Jamil completed the 10-kilometer course successfully. The Oceanman series is a globally recognized open water swimming competition that attracts world-class athletes, professional swimmers, and long-distance swimming experts. Although Bangladesh has had limited participation in recent years, young swimmers are beginning to make their mark internationally.

Five people were killed and 12 others injured in a car accident in eastern Myanmar's Shan state on Sunday, an official from the Myanmar Fire Services Department said. The accident occurred at around 1:20 p.m. local time after the car's brakes failed, causing it to plunge into a roadside ditch in Kalaw township, the official said. Of the 17 people on board, two males and three females died, while six males and six females were injured, he said. The car was en route from Taunggyi to Mandalay when the accident took place, the official said. Local fire service personnel and rescue organizations rushed to the scene and transported the deceased and the injured to Kalaw People's Hospital, he added.

For the village children across Bangladesh, December was not just the end of the year; it was the start of an annual period of pure, unadulterated joy. The whole month became electric with a feeling of true holiday freedom, a feeling amplified by the weather itself. The air was thick with the winter fog (kuasha in Bangla) and an intense, joyful spirit of camaraderie. These were, quite simply, the golden days of childhood. The minute December arrived, the village landscape underwent its annual transformation. A cool, beautiful mist began to cloak the mornings, setting a uniquely serene tone for the day. This chill was the first signal of winter, quickly bringing with it the irresistible smell of pithas (sweet rice cakes) a culinary cornerstone of Bengal and spreading a visible warmth of community through every home. Read more: Delicious Winter Pithas in Bangladesh: Where Savory, and Innovation Meets Tradition The Great Village Reunion While the core group of children played together year-round enjoying classics like Cricket and Football December brought a massive expansion to their crew. As the first week of the month saw school exams conclude, the village became a hub for a grand reunion. Relatives, cousins, and friends who had gone away to towns and cities for their studies would return home, turning quiet lanes into bustling playgrounds. Multiple children would converge at various homes, instantly doubling, even tripling, the number of playmates. This influx of fresh faces and high spirits intensified the festive atmosphere, making the simple fun of everyday games feel twice as exciting. The children lived for this time of year, eagerly soaking up the collective energy. Some Popular Bangladeshi Winter Village Games The long break meant days that stretched out forever, perfect for every game imaginable. Beyond the mainstream international sports, the children brought back traditional village games that needed a huge crowd to work properly. While Cricket and Football completely took over the open fields, turning foggy mornings into chaotic, unforgettable matches, the real heart of the playtime was in the indigenous games. These included: Satchara  Satchara (seven tiles) a team game with an equal number of players on both sides, played with seven potsherds or flat stones. The stones are placed one on another. A member of one team (the seekers) throw a ball at a pile in an attempt to knock them over. The seekers try to restore the pile of stones while staying safe from the opposing team's (the hitters’) throws. The hitters' objective is to hit the seekers with the ball before they can reconstruct the stone pile. If the ball touches a seeker, that seeker is out and the team which the seeker came from continues, without the seeker. A seeker can always safeguard themselves by touching an opposite team member before the ball hits the seeker.

Iran executed a person convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad in the city of Qom, the official judiciary news agency reported Sunday. The sentence was carried out early Saturday after the Supreme Court upheld the ruling and a request for a pardon was denied, the Mizan news agency said. The report didn't identify the person, but said that the individual was accused of “intelligence cooperation with the Zionist regime” and found guilty of “corruption on Earth” and “enmity against God” — crimes punishable by death under Iran’s Islamic penal code. Mizan said that the person began contacts and cooperation with Israeli intelligence services in October 2023 and was arrested four months later, in February 2024. The defendant had allegedly provided sensitive information to Mossad and carried out missions inside Iran on behalf of Israeli intelligence, according to the report. No further details about the nature of the alleged espionage or the date of the person's arrest were made public. Iran’s judiciary has repeatedly described such executions as necessary to safeguard national security, particularly amid what Tehran calls Israel’s “infiltration and sabotage operations.” The execution in Qom, home to a sacred Shiite shrine about 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of the capital Tehran, follows a recent series of similar cases involving alleged cooperation with Israel. On Oct. 4, Iran executed six people accused of conducting bombings and armed attacks in Khuzestan Province while allegedly working with Mossad. Authorities said that the group had “operated in direct connection with the Zionist regime’s intelligence apparatus.” Days earlier, on Sept. 29, Iran hanged another defendant, identified as Bahman Choobiasl, who was convicted of spying for Israel. Choobiasl was executed in Arak Prison, after being found guilty of collecting sensitive information and providing it to Israeli handlers. Since the “12-day war” earlier this year and a series of Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military sites, Iran is known to have executed at least nine people accused of espionage. The conflict — marked by Israeli airstrikes that killed about 1,100 people, including senior Iranian military commanders — triggered Iranian missile barrages targeting Israeli territory in retaliation. The exchange left both sides on high alert and further inflamed tensions across the region. Human rights organizations and Western governments have condemned Iran’s increasing use of capital punishment, particularly for political and espionage-related offenses. Activists argue that many of the convictions rely on coerced confessions, and that trials often take place behind closed doors, without access to independent legal representation. Tehran, however, maintains that those executed were “agents of hostile intelligence services” involved in acts of terrorism or sabotage. Iranian officials have accused Israel of orchestrating a campaign of covert attacks inside Iran, including assassinations of nuclear scientists and cybersabotage of strategic facilities.

The 35th Bangladesh World Tennis Tour Junior J-30 will start on Saturday at the National Tennis Complex in Dhaka. The tournament will see participation from 75 young players representing 12 countries. A press conference was held at the Tennis Federation office on Wednesday to discuss the tournament where secretary general of the Tennis Federation, Ishtiak Ahmed Karen, called the event a new milestone for tennis in Bangladesh. Participating countries include Bangladesh, Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, the UK, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Maldives, Singapore, Thailand and the USA. In the boys’ section, 25 players will compete in the qualifiers. Ten players will join 22 others in the main draw. In the girls’ section, 27 players will take part in the main draw. The tournament is sponsored by Suzuki Motorbikes, Bank Asia, and Dana Petroleum Ltd. Ishtiak Ahmed Karen thanked the sponsors at the press conference. Tennis players distrust doping agencies after Sinner case: Djokovic Representatives from Bank Asia, including Head of Brand and Communication Taimur Ali and Brand Manager Imran Sami, were present. Other officials, including Tennis Federation Treasurer M A Jinnah and BTF Training, Selection and Development sub-committee chair Zayan Omar, also graced the event. Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam will be present at the opening ceremony as the chief guest.  

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has hailed José Mourinho as a “legend” ahead of the Portuguese coach’s return to Stamford Bridge, where he enjoyed two trophy-laden spells. Mourinho, now in charge of Benfica, is back in the Champions League after five years away, with his first group-stage game set for Tuesday against Chelsea — a club where he remains a revered figure among fans. At his pre-match press conference, held in a Stamford Bridge suite decorated with photos of Mourinho’s Premier League triumphs in 2005, 2006 and 2015, Maresca faced repeated questions about the man once known as the “Special One.” “For me personally, he is a legend for this club,” Maresca said. “And from Italy, he is also a legend for Inter Milan where he won the Champions League, so he is a legend for different clubs around the world. That shows how good he is, how good he has been.” Chelsea have lost three of their last four games in all competitions, adding pressure on Maresca despite his success in guiding the team to the Conference League and Club World Cup titles last season. He stressed those achievements while noting that four of the team’s five defeats in the past six months came after red cards. Asked how he could gain similar popularity to Mourinho, Maresca replied: “Probably continue to win trophies. I remember last season when fans started to sing ‘we have our Chelsea back.’ That makes me happy already.” Maresca also confirmed injury concerns over Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos and Joao Pedro, who are dealing with “small problems.” Mourinho was due to hold his press conference later Monday.