United News of Bangladesh

The United States will restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members responsible for mass killings and violence against Christians, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday. “The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement posted on social platform X. The secretary added that the policy would apply to other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom. The restrictions are in line with a new policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, he said. Attacks in Nigeria have varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups, and ethnic clashes. Nigeria’s population of about 220 million people is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims. The West African country has long faced insecurity from various fronts including the Boko Haram extremist group, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough. Also, there has been an uptick in the activities of armed gangs in the central part of the country who kidnap locals for ransom. Last month, President Donald Trump said he has ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.

A Kenyan high court on Thursday ruled that portions of a 2012 seed law, which barred farmers from sharing or selling indigenous seeds, are unconstitutional, marking a major victory for food security advocates. The law had imposed penalties of up to two years in prison and fines of 1 million Kenya shillings ($7,700) for farmers exchanging seeds through community seed banks. Justice Rhoda Rutto also struck down sections granting government officials authority to raid seed banks and seize seeds. The legislation was originally intended to curb the sale of counterfeit seeds and gave exclusive trading rights to licensed companies. Fifteen smallholder farmers, members of long-standing community seed banks, challenged the law in court. Samuel Wathome, one of the farmers, welcomed the ruling. “My grandmother saved seeds, and today the court has said I can do the same for my grandchildren without fear of the police or of prison,” he said. Elizabeth Atieno of Greenpeace Africa called the decision a “victory for our culture, our resilience, and our future,” adding that it counters corporate control over the food system and validates the use of indigenous seeds. Food campaigners have long promoted the preservation of local seeds as a means of improving food security, emphasizing their drought resistance and adaptability to local climates, which often surpass hybrid varieties. Kenya maintains a national seed bank near Nairobi, but farmers argue that community seed banks are crucial for diversity and accessibility. The country has previously faced challenges from counterfeit seeds that caused substantial losses in its predominantly rain-fed agricultural sector. The ruling is expected to empower farmers to continue traditional seed-saving practices and strengthen local resilience against climate challenges.

Guinea-Bissau’s military on Thursday announced Gen. Horta N’Ta as the head of a new junta, cementing a coup that followed the country’s tense presidential election earlier this week. State television broadcast a declaration from the military high command confirming N’Ta, former army chief of staff and ally of deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, as leader of a one-year transitional government. Embaló’s whereabouts remained unknown Thursday after he told French media he was arrested by soldiers amid gunfire near the presidential palace. Opposition figures claimed Embaló staged the coup to avoid an electoral defeat in Sunday’s closely contested vote. Fernando Dias, Embaló’s rival, said the military takeover was “fabricated” to disrupt election results, though AP could not independently verify his claims. The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde and Dias urged citizens to protest and demand the release of election results. Despite the call, Thursday morning in Bissau appeared calm, with businesses and public transport gradually resuming. Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s poorest nations, has faced repeated coups since independence from Portugal more than 50 years ago. Analysts say the country’s role as a drug trafficking hub has fueled political instability. Gunfire erupted in the capital Wednesday just days after the election, with both Embaló and Dias claiming victory. In a familiar pattern in the region, military officers appeared on state television to announce they had seized power. Dias said he escaped custody “through a backdoor” and vowed to continue resisting. He accused Embaló of fabricating the coup to retain power after losing the vote. Military spokespeople cited the “discovery of an ongoing plan… to manipulate electoral results,” involving national politicians, a known drug lord, and foreign nationals. Several countries and international bodies have condemned the coup, with the United Nations expressing “deep concern” over the unfolding situation.  

Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau appeared on state television Wednesday claiming they had seized control of the country, following reports of gunfire near the presidential palace just three days after national elections. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló told French media he had been deposed and detained. The military said it acted to restore “national and public order,” suspending the president and all government institutions until further notice. Spokesperson Dinis N’Tchama cited the “discovery of an ongoing plan” to manipulate election results involving some politicians, a notorious drug lord, and domestic and foreign actors, without providing further details. The soldiers also suspended the electoral process, closed borders, and restricted media activity. Gunfire was reported near the palace Wednesday midday. Roads leading to the complex were blocked by heavily armed, masked soldiers, and officials said armed men attempted to attack the building, leading to clashes with palace guards. Gunshots were also heard near the National Electoral Commission, whose chief was arrested, and the commission’s offices sealed. Both Embaló and his rival Fernando Dias, as well as opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira, were detained. Embaló, who assumed office in February 2020, faced a legitimacy dispute over his term, with the opposition claiming it expired in February 2025, though the Supreme Court extended it to September. Jair Bolsonaro begins 27-year prison sentence for coup attempt in Brazil The U.N. expressed deep concern and called for restraint and respect for the rule of law. Election observers from the African Union and ECOWAS denounced the military action as an attempt to disrupt the democratic process and demanded a return to constitutional order and the immediate release of election officials. Civil society groups accused Embaló and the military of orchestrating a “simulated coup” to block the release of election results and maintain power, potentially allowing Embaló to organize fresh elections in which he could run again. Guinea-Bissau is the latest West African nation to experience political instability. Since 2020, military takeovers have occurred in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Gabon, often justified by promises to improve security or combat corruption. Source: AP 

Tanzania has cancelled next month’s independence day celebrations, with the funds redirected to repair infrastructure damaged during recent election-related unrest, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said. The announcement comes amid calls by opposition groups for demonstrations on December 9, marking the country’s independence, to protest killings that followed last month’s disputed presidential election. The opposition alleges hundreds were killed during a government crackdown, though the authorities have yet to release an official death toll and have established a commission of inquiry. President Samia Suluhu Hassan won the election with 98% of the vote, a result widely described by opponents as a “mockery of democracy.” Key opposition figures were barred from contesting: Tundu Lissu remains detained on treason charges, which he denies, and Luhaga Mpina’s candidacy was rejected on technical grounds. Observers reported irregularities and signs of manipulation in the voting process. An international coalition of lawyers and human rights groups has formally requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate alleged crimes against humanity during the unrest, including mass killings and the secret disposal of over 500 bodies. The submission, filed on November 13, was publicly released this week. The government imposed a five-day internet blackout following the October 29 election and warned against sharing protest images. Graphic footage of the violence circulated online, with some verified by international media, though the government has dismissed such reports as misleading. At least 240 people were charged with treason in connection with the protests, but President Samia later called for leniency, and many detainees have reportedly been released. While announcing the cancellation of independence day events, Nchemba urged Tanzanians to engage in peaceful dialogue. “Let us not return to what we went through, because the consequences are irreparable,” he said. President Samia assumed office in 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, becoming Tanzania’s first female president. Initially praised for easing political repression, critics say the political space has since narrowed. Source: BBC

Twenty-three children died from malnutrition-related causes within a month in Sudan’s Kordofan region, a medical group said, highlighting the severe humanitarian collapse as fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensifies. The Sudan Doctors Network said the deaths occurred between October 20 and November 20 in the besieged city of Kadugli and the town of Dilling. It blamed “severe acute malnutrition” and a chronic shortage of essential food and medical supplies, worsened by a blockade that has cut off aid to thousands of civilians. Famine was officially declared in Kadugli earlier this month. RSF fighters have surrounded the area for months, trapping tens of thousands of residents as they attempt to seize more territory from the Sudanese military. Dilling, also in South Kordofan, is facing similar hunger conditions, although not officially classified as famine due to missing data. Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, when a power struggle between the military and the RSF erupted into nationwide fighting. More than 40,000 people have been killed, according to U.N. estimates — a figure aid agencies say is likely far higher — and over 14 million people have been displaced. Disease outbreaks, mass displacement and widespread hunger have pushed parts of the country into catastrophic famine. As of September, about 370,000 people in Kordofan and Darfur were already in famine conditions, with another 3.6 million on the brink, according to international hunger assessments. The conflict intensified this year after the military pushed the RSF out of Khartoum. The paramilitary force shifted its focus to Kordofan and the Darfur region, capturing the strategic city of el-Fasher earlier this month. Aid groups and U.N. officials say the takeover triggered mass atrocities, forcing tens of thousands to flee to overcrowded displacement camps. The World Health Organization reported that RSF fighters killed more than 450 people inside the Saudi Hospital in el-Fasher. Survivors and aid workers say fighters also went door to door, killing civilians and committing sexual violence. New satellite images reviewed by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab suggest ongoing efforts by RSF forces to dispose of bodies in el-Fasher, including at the Saudi Hospital grounds and in a nearby neighborhood where mass killings were previously reported. The lab warned that the combination of apparent body disposal, the absence of traditional burials and a collapse of normal life raises serious concerns for civilians still trapped in the city. It said it is highly likely that most residents present before the RSF assault on October 26 “have been killed, have died, are detained, are in hiding, have fled, or are otherwise unable to move freely.”  

Eswatini on Tuesday became the first country in Africa to receive lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection that global health experts say could transform efforts to curb the virus across the continent. The drug — developed by Gilead Sciences — has shown near-complete protection in trials. Its initial rollout is part of PEPFAR’s partnership with the Global Fund and will eventually expand to 10 high-risk African nations, aiming to reach at least 2 million people by 2027. Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day called the launch “extraordinary,” noting it marks the first time a new HIV medicine has reached a sub-Saharan African nation in the same year it was authorized in the United States. The U.S. approved the injection in June. Although the U.S. foreign aid budget has been sharply reduced under President Donald Trump — affecting key health programs in Africa — officials said demand prompted an increase in the number of doses distributed this year from 250,000 to 325,000. Zambia also received its first shipment Tuesday, and Gilead is seeking regulatory approval in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Across Africa, more than 25 million people are living with HIV. In Eswatini — a nation of 1.2 million with the world’s highest infection rate — about 6,000 people are expected to receive the injection initially, with a focus on preventing transmission from mothers to newborns. Over 200,000 people in the country currently live with HIV, most supported through PEPFAR programs. The rollout comes as Eswatini, the continent’s last absolute monarchy, faces criticism over human rights concerns and its participation in the U.S. third-country deportation program. The World Health Organization cleared lenacapavir for use in July, and UNAIDS has described long-acting injectables as a vital new tool at a time when funding cuts could jeopardize progress. South Africa’s health minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, praised the drug as “groundbreaking” but warned that limited supplies could complicate its national rollout planned for April 2026. He also welcomed Gilead’s decision to slash the price from more than $28,000 per patient annually in the U.S. to about $40 for lower-income countries. Still, the launch has revived long-running disputes over access and manufacturing. South African civil society groups have criticized Gilead for withholding voluntary licenses from local producers, despite the country’s role in key clinical trials.    

At least 17 people were killed when an Islamic State-affiliated rebel group attacked a hospital in eastern Congo, officials said Saturday. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) struck on Friday night in Byambwe village, Lubero territory, North Kivu province, Col. Alain Kiwewa, the local administrator, told The Associated Press. He said 11 women, including breastfeeding mothers, were found dead with their throats slit in hospital beds. ADF fighters also assaulted nearby villages, according to civil society leader Samuel Kakule Kagheni, though casualty figures there remain unclear. The ADF, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2009, is active along the Uganda-Congo border and frequently targets civilians. Other armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, have also carried out deadly attacks in eastern Congo. In recent months, the ADF has carried out multiple lethal assaults, including killing 52 people in August and nearly 40 worshippers during a church attack in Ituri province in July. Originally formed in Uganda in the late 1990s amid opposition to President Yoweri Museveni, the ADF relocated to Congo in 2002 following Ugandan military action. Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.

At least 37 people were killed when a bus traveling through the mountainous Arequipa region of Peru collided with a pickup truck and plunged about 200 metres (650 feet) into a ravine, officials said. The bus, carrying around 60 passengers, was traveling from a mining district toward the city of Arequipa around 12:30 a.m. local time (05:30 GMT) on Wednesday when it hit the pickup and veered off the highway, according to public broadcaster TV Peru. Thirty-six passengers died on the spot, while one more later succumbed to injuries at a hospital. About 20 others were injured. Authorities said the pickup truck driver tested positive for alcohol. Photos from the scene showed the front of the truck badly damaged and the bus lying on its side amid debris scattered over rocky terrain. “This isn’t the first tragedy in this area. Years ago, another bus crashed at the same spot, killing 50 people,” regional health manager Walther Oporto told TV Peru. Peru has a high rate of road fatalities due to reckless driving and difficult road conditions. Last year, the country recorded more than 3,000 deaths from traffic accidents. The Arequipa crash comes after similar bus accidents in July and August that killed at least 28 people, and a January incident in which six people died when a bus plunged into a river.   With inputs from AL Zazeera

Six people were killed Wednesday in a stampede at a military recruitment exercise in Accra, the Ghanaian military said. The military said the rush was “triggered by an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols” and arrived at the stadium before the scheduled start time. Several others were injured and taken to a military hospital.