United News of Bangladesh

Philippine police are investigating the killing of an American marine biologist who was shot dead by three masked men who forced their way into his home in the central Philippines over the weekend, officials said Tuesday. Police said Kent Carpenter, 73, was at his house in the coastal town of Sibulan in Negros Oriental province with his Filipina companion on Sunday night when three men entered the home. According to police, citing Carpenter's companion, one of the intruders pulled out a gun and shot Carpenter in the head, killing him instantly. The attackers then fled with a laptop, an unspecified amount of cash and a backpack, national police spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co told reporters. Regional police spokesperson Lt. Col. Joem Malong said Carpenter's companion sustained unspecified injuries during the incident and was receiving treatment. Investigators are working to determine the motive behind the killing and identify the suspects. Malong said Carpenter, a marine biologist, had served as a lecturer at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. He added that the U.S. Embassy in Manila had been informed of the incident. The U.S. Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. "We assure the victim's family, the community and our foreign visitors that this case is being treated with utmost urgency and no effort will be spared until justice is served," regional police director Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño said. Several environmental and biodiversity organisations in the Philippines expressed grief over Carpenter's death. Silliman University described Carpenter as an outstanding scientist who had collaborated with the institution on marine research and studies since 1976. "Dr. Carpenter made groundbreaking contributions that transformed global understanding of Philippine marine biodiversity," the university said.

The death toll from a devastating fire at a music bar in Bangkok has risen to 30, while more than 70 people remain hospitalized, Thai authorities said on Tuesday. According to Bangkok city officials, 24 of the injured are in critical condition following the blaze, which broke out late Sunday at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao bar in the northern part of the Thai capital. Firefighters brought the fire under control after about 30 minutes, but the incident has become Bangkok's deadliest fire in nearly two decades. The venue, which describes itself as a brewery or beer hall, has a capacity of around 600 patrons, although authorities have not confirmed how many people were inside when the fire started. Police said many of the victims were found trapped inside windowless bathrooms, where they had apparently sought shelter from the flames. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and whether the establishment complied with safety regulations. On Tuesday, former customers, relatives and other mourners gathered at the site to pay tribute to the victims, leaving flowers and handwritten condolence messages in Thai and several other languages, including Korean. Burned musical instruments, charred chairs and other debris from the bar remained scattered around the area after being removed by investigators examining the scene.

Syria's newly elected parliament convened its first session on Sunday following the ouster of former President Bashar Assad, marking a significant step in the country's political transition after years of civil war and authoritarian rule. The inaugural session of the 210-member People's Assembly signals the resumption of legislative activities as Syria seeks to rebuild its political institutions after decades under the Assad family's rule and a conflict that claimed an estimated half a million lives. Of the 210 lawmakers, two-thirds were elected through electoral colleges, while the remaining one-third were appointed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The parliament is expected to serve for 30 months while laying the groundwork for future national elections. Addressing the opening session, al-Sharaa said the country was entering a new phase focused on strengthening state institutions following the restoration of what he described as Syria's freedom. Following the swearing-in ceremony, lawmakers elected Abdul Hamid al-Awak as speaker of parliament. According to Syria's state-run SANA news agency, al-Awak, who hails from the northeastern province of Hassakeh, served as a judge in the Justice Ministry for a decade. Reports said he was among the Syrian officials who defected from the Assad government during the early stages of the uprising and later moved to Turkey. The formation of the new parliament is seen as part of Syria's broader political transition as the country works toward drafting new legislation and preparing for future elections.

Chinese authorities on Sunday evening issued two separate red alerts, the highest level in its four-tier system, for flash floods and geological hazards, as heavy rains continue to lash multiple regions. The flash flood red alert, issued by the Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration, warns of very high risks of flash floods in parts of Liaoning, Jilin and Anhui provinces from 8 p.m. Sunday to 8 p.m. Monday. An orange alert has also been issued for some other areas. Separately, the geological hazard red alert, issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Meteorological Administration, highlights very high risks of landslides and ground collapses in parts of Liaoning and Anhui, with orange and yellow warnings covering some other areas. Local governments are urged to step up real-time monitoring, issue timely warnings and execute evacuation plans. The public is advised to stay alert and follow official guidance.   

Authorities in the Zhejiang province have evacuated more than 1.7 million people as of Saturday morning, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Shanghai, also on China’s eastern coast, relocated around 34,000 residents from high-risk areas by Saturday noon, according to Xinhua. In southeastern China, cities near the coast are preparing for the impacts of Bavi. In the city of Ningde in Fujian province, more than 3,700 people were relocated from high-risk onshore areas as of Friday evening, Xinhua said. Authorities in Fujian province have placed over 17,000 emergency rescue workers on standby. China’s National Meteorological Center issued an orange typhoon alert, the second-highest on a four-tier level, with many schools and ferry services suspended. Hundreds of flights have been canceled, and some high-speed railway services halted. The center on Saturday also issued the first red alert for rainstorms of the year, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Chinese authorities said Saturday they have allocated 40 million yuan ($5.9 million) in central natural disaster relief funds to support Zhejiang and Fujian provinces’ typhoon prevention and emergency rescue and relief efforts.

China has urged for a de-escalation of the Ukraine conflict, expressing deep concern over its intensifying military trajectory. Speaking at the UN Security Council on Thursday, Sun Lei, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure, noting that escalating military confrontations have caused immense suffering and hindered peace negotiations. Ukrainian drones hit Russian oil facilities, ignite tankers in Sea of Azov Sun called on all conflicting parties to exercise restraint, adhere to international humanitarian law, and resume dialogue at the earliest opportunity to reach a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement. He emphasized that the parties must find a common denominator that addresses mutual security concerns, eliminates the root causes of conflict in line with the UN Charter, and helps establish a sustainable regional security architecture. Reaffirming China’s commitment to a political settlement, the envoy stated that Beijing maintains an objective, impartial stance and continues to communicate with all sides to promote peace talks. Sun reiterated China's willingness to work with the international community to play a constructive role in achieving an early political solution to the crisis.

Highlighting the lasting importance of American journalist Edgar Snow’s legacy and his role in fostering mutual understanding between China and the world, an international seminar titled “The Contemporary Value of Edgar Snow’s Spirit” was held on Wednesday at Peking University in China. The event brought together Chinese and international participants to reflect on Snow’s historic work and explore the relevance of his spirit in today’s global context. The event, jointly hosted by Xinhua News Agency and Peking University and organized by the Xinhua Institute, concluded an extensive six-day research and study tour held from July 2 to 7 that retraced Snow's historic journey through Shaanxi Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Participants followed the path Edgar Snow took during his historic interviews in northern Shaanxi, gaining firsthand knowledge of the places that inspired his landmark work, Red Star Over China. The journey offered international delegates a deeper understanding of China's revolutionary history, its development path, and the values that continue to shape modern China. During the field program, the delegation visited several historic revolutionary sites across Shaanxi and Ningxia, including Yan'an and Zhidan County, where they explored museums, memorial halls, and former revolutionary headquarters associated with the Chinese Red Army. Participants also visited the former site of the Counter-Japanese Military and Political University, the Bao'an Revolution Site Memorial Museum, and memorials commemorating the Red Army's arrival in northern Shaanxi. Through guided tours and historical exhibitions, they learned about the hardships, determination, and ideals that characterized the revolutionary period. The program also included cultural and academic activities designed to deepen participants' understanding of China's revolutionary heritage.

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed a Palestinian aid official who helped organize public screenings of the FIFA World Cup, along with three others, just before the kickoff of Egypt's Round of 16 match against Argentina, local health officials said. The strike hit a vehicle in the Sabra neighborhood at dusk on Tuesday, turning what had been planned as a festive gathering for football fans into another deadly incident in the conflict-ravaged enclave. According to Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, the attack killed Mohamed al-Wahidi, an official with the Egyptian Committee in Gaza, brothers Hamza al-Deri, 10, and Fari al-Deri, 8, as well as 33-year-old taxi driver Ahmed Daghmush. The Israeli military said al-Wahidi was not the intended target of the strike, adding that it had been aimed at a Hamas militant and that authorities were reviewing whether Daghmush had been the target. Hospital officials, however, said Daghmush was a civilian taxi driver with no known links to militant groups. Officials said another Israeli strike hit the same street about 30 minutes earlier but caused no casualties. The Egyptian Committee, which provides humanitarian assistance including food, shelter and relief supplies in Gaza, had also arranged large public screenings of World Cup matches across the territory to offer residents a brief respite from the ongoing conflict. Support for Egypt's national football team has grown among Palestinians during the tournament, particularly after Egypt coach Hossam Hassan repeatedly voiced support for the Palestinian people. Ahead of Tuesday's match against Argentina, Hassan urged the international community to do more to protect Palestinian civilians. The Israeli military says its operations target militants and that it seeks to avoid civilian casualties. According to Gaza health authorities, at least 1,027 Palestinians, including 258 children, have been killed since a ceasefire took effect in October. Israeli authorities say five Israeli soldiers have also been killed during the truce period. The Gaza Health Ministry says the overall Palestinian death toll since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023 has risen to more than 73,000. The war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage.

The death toll from a landslide in northwestern China has risen to 21 after rescue operations at the site were completed, state media reported on Wednesday. The landslide struck early Tuesday in Nanhe township of Longnan city in Gansu province, burying 33 people, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency. State broadcaster CCTV reported that all those trapped had been pulled from the debris by early Wednesday. Among them, seven sustained minor injuries, while five others escaped unharmed. Photos and videos released by CCTV on Tuesday showed rescuers working alongside three excavators on large mounds of earth under clear skies. Local official Yang Yaoxian told reporters that the landslide occurred in a forested area and covered around 5,400 square metres (58,125 square feet). He said the accumulated debris was approximately 8 to 10 metres (26 to 32 feet) deep. Yang also warned that the remaining landslide material is unstable, posing a risk of further landslides in the area.

China on Monday test-fired a long-range ballistic missile from one of its nuclear-powered submarines into the South Pacific, prompting criticism from regional countries and renewed concern from the United States over Beijing's expanding military capabilities. According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, the missile, carrying a dummy warhead, was launched at 12:01 pm local time as part of the country's routine annual military training. Chinese authorities said the test complied with international law and was not aimed at any specific country or target. The launch marked China's second publicly acknowledged missile test in the Pacific in two years, following its 2024 test of an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a dummy warhead. The test drew swift reactions from Australia, Japan and New Zealand, all of which expressed concern over the launch. New Zealand said it had received advance notification only hours before the missile was fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, established under the 1986 Treaty of Rarotonga, which prohibits nuclear weapons in the region. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said China had proceeded with the test despite long-standing concerns raised by regional countries over such military activities. Australia also condemned the launch, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong describing it as destabilising for the Pacific region. The test coincided with the signing of a new defence cooperation treaty between Australia and Fiji aimed at strengthening regional security. Japan voiced concern over China's growing military activities and urged Beijing to avoid missile tests that could threaten regional security or overfly Japanese territory. Japanese officials also criticised the lack of transparency surrounding China's military expansion. Beijing rejected the criticism, calling on countries to avoid "overinterpretation" of the missile launch. The United States also expressed concern, saying China's rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal and limited transparency were troubling developments. Washington urged Beijing to engage in meaningful arms control dialogue and establish regular notification mechanisms for missile and space launches. Security analysts said the submarine-launched missile test underscored China's advancing sea-based nuclear deterrent and reflected its efforts to modernise its armed forces. Experts also noted that while Japan, Australia and New Zealand were notified ahead of the launch, there was no indication that the United States received prior notice. According to the latest US Defense Department assessment, China possessed an estimated 600 nuclear warheads in 2024 and is expected to expand its stockpile to more than 1,000 by 2030 as part of its military modernisation programme.