United News of Bangladesh

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo on Friday denied claims that his country has signed an agreement with the United States to accept asylum seekers from other nations, countering remarks made by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. During her visit to Guatemala on Thursday, Noem and Arévalo signed a bilateral security agreement allowing U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to work at Guatemala City’s airport, training local personnel to identify potential terrorism threats. However, Noem later stated that she had also received a signed document she described as a "safe third country" agreement — a deal that would allow Guatemala to grant refugee status to individuals seeking asylum, similar to an agreement she said she reached with Honduras. Noem emphasized the importance of such agreements, stating, “The United States shouldn’t be the only option. Refugees deserve safety, but that doesn’t mean it has to be in the U.S.” Massive crowds mourn Iranian military leaders, scientists killed in Israeli strikes Arévalo, addressing the media on Friday, clarified that no new immigration-related agreement was signed. He explained that Guatemala continues to operate under an arrangement reached with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in February. That agreement covers the repatriation of Guatemalan citizens and, under certain conditions, the transit of other Central Americans returning to their home countries. Arévalo acknowledged that safe third country arrangements were discussed during Rubio’s visit, referencing a similar deal Guatemala signed during Donald Trump’s presidency. “But we made it clear that our approach is different,” Arévalo stressed. The president did note, however, that Guatemala is open to granting asylum to Nicaraguans unable to return home due to the political crisis in their country, as an act of solidarity. Arévalo’s office further explained that Noem had received confirmation of the February agreement through diplomatic channels weeks before her visit. During Trump’s administration, the U.S. signed safe third country deals with Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. These agreements allowed the U.S. to deny certain asylum claims and redirect applicants to those countries deemed safe.

At least 11 people have died following a landslide in northwestern Colombia, local officials confirmed on Wednesday, a day after heavy rainfall triggered a wave of mud and debris that engulfed densely populated neighborhoods, burying around a dozen homes. Rescue operations are ongoing as teams continue to search for survivors in Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, and the nearby mountainous town of Bello, where at least 15 people remain missing. In Bello, authorities quickly converted schools, community centers, and even a swimming pool into temporary shelters, which now house over 1,300 people displaced or unable to return to their homes due to severe flooding, according to Mayor Lorena González Ospina. The death toll rose to 11, Medellin Mayor Federico Gutiérrez confirmed, as search and rescue teams in Bello utilized dogs, drones, and other equipment to locate survivors. Meanwhile, officials in Medellin ordered the immediate evacuation of over 60 homes deemed structurally unsafe. Youth-led protests erupt again in Kenya over police brutality and poor governance Landslides frequently occur in this lush region of Colombia, particularly during the rainy season from April to November when heavy rains loosen the soil. Tuesday morning, nearly two straight days of torrential rain caused rivers and streams to overflow, catching many residents off guard as they slept. The floodwaters swept through streets, carrying tons of debris, cars, and personal belongings. The Colombian Weather Service forecasted light rain for Wednesday, significantly milder than the heavy downpours earlier in the week.

At least 21 people were killed and scores wounded Sunday as they were on their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip, according to a Red Cross field hospital and multiple witnesses. The witnesses said Israeli forces fired on crowds around a kilometer (1,000 yards) from an aid site run by an Israeli-backed foundation. The military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The foundation said in a statement that it delivered aid “without incident" early Sunday and has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, which are in Israeli military zones where independent access is limited. Officials at the field hospital said at least 21 people were killed and another 175 people were wounded, without saying who opened fire on them. An Associated Press reporter saw dozens of people being treated at the hospital. New aid system marred by chaos The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ’s distribution of aid has been marred by chaos, and multiple witnesses have said Israeli troops fired on crowds near the delivery sites. Before Sunday, at least six people had been killed and more than 50 wounded according to local health officials. The foundation says the private security contractors guarding its sites have not fired on the crowds, while the Israeli military has acknowledged firing warning shots on previous occasions. The foundation said in a statement that it distributed 16 truckloads of aid early Sunday “without incident,” and dismissed what it referred to as “false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos.” Shooting broke out near distribution hub The gunfire on Sunday erupted at a roundabout around a kilometer (1,000 yards) from the distribution site, in an area that is controlled by Israeli forces, witnesses said. Ibrahim Abu Saoud, an eyewitness, said Israeli forces opened fire at people moving toward the aid distribution center. “There were many martyrs, including women,” the 40-year-old resident said. “We were about 300 meters (yards) away from the military.” Abu Saoud said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including a young man who he said had died at the scene. “We weren’t able to help him,” he said. Gaza ceasefire talks gain momentum as Israel accepts a US proposal Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and another woman as they were heading to the hub. He said his cousin was shot in his chest and died at the scene. Many others were wounded, including his brother-in-law, he said. “They opened heavy fire directly toward us,” he said as he was waiting outside the Red Cross field hospital for word on his wounded relative. The hub is part of a controversial new aid system Israel and the United States say the new system is aimed at preventing Hamas from siphoning off assistance. Israel has not provided any evidence of systematic diversion, and the U.N. denies it has occurred. U.N. agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system, saying it violates humanitarian principles because it allows Israel to control who receives aid and forces people to relocate to distribution sites, risking yet more mass displacement in the territory. The U.N. system has struggled to bring in aid after Israel slightly eased its total blockade of the territory last month. Those groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians. Experts have warned that the territory is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. They are still holding 58 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. UN, Aid Agencies condemn US-Israel-Backed Gaza aid effort after fatal incident Israel's military campaign has killed over 54,000 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed vast areas of the territory, displaced around 90% of its population and left people almost completely reliant on international aid.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was diagnosed with labyrinthitis Monday after suffering from vertigo, hospital officials said. The 79-year-old leftist leader has already returned to the country's presidential residence, where he is resting. The Sirio-Libanes Hospital said in a statement that Lula underwent imaging and blood tests, and its results came within normal limits. Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the labyrinth in the inner ear, which is responsible for hearing and balance.  Sri Lanka and New Zealand discuss ways to deepen bilateral trade and investment ties The health scare adds to Lula's recent medical worries, which are also part of his allies' concerns ahead of his likely bid for reelection next year. The most serious is a fall he had in the bathroom of the presidential residence in Brasília on Oct. 19. Almost two months later, he was transferred to São Paulo for surgery after suffering headaches caused by new a bleeding in his head. He was discharged Dec. 15.  

Authorities in Costa Rica recently intercepted an unusual drug smuggler: a black-and-white cat with narcotics taped to its body. The feline was captured on May 6 near the barbed wire fence of the Pococí Penitentiary after guards noticed suspicious gray patches on its fur. Upon closer inspection, they found around 236 grams of marijuana, nearly 68 grams of heroin, and rolling papers strapped to the cat’s back. The Ministry of Justice and Peace released a video of the incident on Facebook, stating that prison police officers managed to intercept the cat after a watchtower guard spotted it in a grassy area and raised the alarm. Officers quickly apprehended the animal and removed the drug packages before they could enter the prison. Further examination revealed one package contained 235.65 grams of suspected marijuana, while the other held 67.76 grams of suspected crack paste, along with two sheets of rolling paper. The cat was handed over to the National Animal Health Service for a medical checkup. Authorities are now investigating who was behind the smuggling attempt, and whether inmates may have coordinated the act with external accomplices. Surveillance footage is being reviewed to trace the cat’s movements and identify any suspects. Officials noted that this case reflects a broader trend in which criminals use animals—particularly cats—for smuggling drugs into prisons. Their stealth and agility make them effective couriers for small quantities of contraband, often trained or lured inside prison grounds with food. Costa Rica has faced rising drug trafficking in recent years, with authorities seizing 21.3 tons of cocaine in 2023 alone. Source: NDTV  

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele proposed carrying out a prisoner swap with Venezuela on Sunday, suggesting he would exchange Venezuelan deportees from the United States his government has kept imprisoned for what he called “political prisoners” in Venezuela. In a post on the social media platform X, directed at President Nicolás Maduro, Bukele listed off a number of family members of high-level opposition figures in Venezuela, journalists and activists detained during the South American government’s electoral crackdown last year. “The only reason they are imprisoned is for having opposed you and your electoral fraud,” he wrote to Maduro. “However, I want to propose a humanitarian agreement that includes the repatriation of 100% of the 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in exchange for the release and surrender of an identical number (252) of the thousands of political prisoners you hold.” Among those he listed were the son-in-law of former Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo González, a number of political leaders seeking asylum in the Argentine embassy in Venezuela, and what he said were 50 detained citizens from a number of different countries across the world. Bukele also listed the mother of opposition leader María Corina Machado, whose house the political leader has said was surrounded by Venezuelan police in January. Bukele said he would ask El Salvador's foreign ministry to be in contact with the Maduro government, which did not immediately respond to the post. The proposal comes as El Salvador has come under sharp international scrutiny for accepting Venezuelans and Salvadorans deported by the Trump administration, which accused them of being alleged gang members with little evidence. Deportees are locked up in a “mega-prison” know as the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), built by the Bukele government during his crackdown on the country’s gangs. Controversy has only continued after it was revealed that a Maryland father married to a U.S. citizen, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was deported by mistake. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the U.S. government to facilitate his return but there's no sign of that happening. El Salvador’s archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas on Sunday called on Bukele not “to allow our country to become a big international prison.” Despite the controversy, Bukele maintained that all of the people he has kept in the prison were “part of part of an operation against gangs like the Tren de Aragua in the United States.”    

A massive power outage struck Cuba on Friday night, affecting Havana and multiple provinces, leaving millions without electricity. According to Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines, the outage occurred around 8:15 p.m. local time due to a failure at the Diezmero substation on the outskirts of Havana. This resulted in “a significant loss of generation in western Cuba,” ultimately leading to the collapse of the National Electric System. Hemingway look-alikes visit Cuba and some of the late writer's favorite places The ministry announced on its social platform X account that efforts are underway to restore power. Havana’s streets were shrouded in darkness and largely deserted, with illumination coming only from hotel windows powered by generators. Internet services were also disrupted. Residents in provinces as distant as Guantánamo, Artemisa, Santiago de Cuba, and Santa Clara reported widespread blackouts, with only occasional flickers of light. Earlier in the day, the Electric Union, the state entity overseeing the energy sector, indicated in its daily report that peak-hour demand was projected to reach 3,250 megawatts, while the shortfall was estimated at 1,380 megawatts, meaning 42% of the national energy system would be offline. This, however, was not the most severe shortfall recorded in recent times. Hurricane Rafael is expected to rapidly intensify as it barrels toward Cuba At the end of last year, Cuba endured three major failures in its national power grid, plunging the island into darkness amid a deep economic crisis. The country’s power network has long been plagued by frequent outages, with more than half of the population experiencing blackouts during peak hours. These disruptions are largely attributed to fuel shortages and aging infrastructure. In many areas, electricity remains essential for cooking and water supply. Authorities have launched a programme to install photovoltaic parks and have pledged to complete dozens of them within the year. Blackouts have previously triggered anti-government protests in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Guatemala's Volcano of Fire has erupted, leading authorities to evacuate nearly 300 families and warn that an additional 30,000 people in surrounding areas may be at risk. The eruption began overnight, with no immediate reports of casualties. Standing at 12,300 feet (3,763 meters), the volcano is one of the most active in Central America and last erupted in June 2023. AI and scientists unite to decipher old scrolls charred by the Vesuvius volcano On Monday, the volcano released gas and ash high into the sky, causing authorities to close nearby schools and a vital road connecting communities. Claudinne Ugalde, secretary of the disaster agency, stated, “Around 30,000 people are at risk in these three (jurisdictions), and we are working to evacuate them or encourage self-evacuation.” The greatest threat posed by the volcano is lahars, a dangerous mix of ash, rock, mud, and debris capable of burying entire towns. A 2018 eruption claimed 194 lives and left 234 people missing. Isaac García, 43, a resident of El Porvenir, situated on the volcano’s slopes, recalled the devastation of 2018 when he and his family decided to evacuate early on Monday after hearing the warnings. “We were a bit concerned because the volcano became active a few years ago,” García said, referring to the 2018 eruption, while wearing a mask to protect against the ash. He arrived at a shelter in San Juan Alotenango with his mother, wife, three children, and other relatives. Earthquake activity near Alaskan Volcano sparks concerns The volcano lies 33 miles (53 km) from Guatemala's capital. Guatemala’s disaster agency reported that while the volcanic flow remains weak to moderate, it is expected to intensify.

The Brazilian government announced on Tuesday its plan to set up a reception centre for migrants deported from the United States, following concerns raised over conditions on a recent deportation flight, reports AP. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva approved the creation of a humanitarian reception post in Confins, a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil’s Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Macaé Evaristo, informed journalists in Brasília. Brazil enacts law restricting smartphone use in schools This decision was made in light of the possibility of further flights following the arrival of the first deportation flight under the new Trump administration, which carried 88 deportees over the weekend. This followed numerous such flights during the Biden administration. According to local media, government officials were troubled by reports that Brazilians remained handcuffed after an unplanned stop in Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon, due to technical issues with the aircraft. A Brazilian military plane subsequently transported the deportees to their final destination, Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais, on Saturday afternoon. On the following day, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement requesting explanations from Washington regarding the “degrading treatment” of its citizens during the flight. The statement referenced “the use of handcuffs and chains, the poor condition of the aircraft, including a malfunctioning air conditioning system, among other concerns.” The U.S. Embassy declined to comment, while the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency did not respond to an email request for a statement. It remains unclear whether the 88 deportees were detained during the presidency of Donald Trump, who took office on 20 January, or under his predecessor, Joe Biden. 22 Killed in Collision Between Passenger Bus and Truck in Brazil Over the past three years, nearly four dozen deportation flights have been conducted from the U.S. to Brazil. The Brazilian government has no intention of halting them and held discussions with the American chargé d’affaires on Monday, according to a government official with knowledge of the matter. The individual, who was not authorised to speak publicly, requested anonymity. Brazilian authorities allow the use of handcuffs in exceptional cases, but not indiscriminately, and only following a risk assessment, the official stated. Officials are currently investigating how many deportees were restrained. Reports from passengers indicate that the plane’s air conditioning system malfunctioned, creating extreme heat in the cabin, and that upon landing in Manaus, passengers disembarked through the emergency exit. Regarding the humanitarian centre, Evaristo emphasised its purpose is to “ensure these passengers have access to proper conditions, including water, food, and a suitable temperature, which appears to have been the most harmful issue on the first flight.” “We do not wish to antagonise the American government, but it is crucial that deported Brazilians are treated with dignity,” Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski stated on Monday.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a law on Monday restricting smartphone use in schools, aligning with a global trend toward such measures, reports AP. Effective February, the law will apply to elementary and high school students across the nation. It establishes guidelines allowing device use only in emergencies, for educational activities, or by students with disabilities requiring them. Where does smartphone use start getting problematic? “We cannot allow humanism to be replaced by algorithms,” Lula said during a private ceremony in Brasilia. He described the law as a recognition of educators' efforts to support children and teenagers. A study by Fundacao Getulio Vargas in May revealed that Brazil has 258 million smartphones, surpassing its population of 203 million. Market research from last year showed Brazilians spend an average of 9 hours and 13 minutes daily on screens, among the highest globally. Education Minister Camilo Santana noted that children’s early exposure to online content complicates parental monitoring, and limiting smartphone use in schools aims to address this challenge. The legislation garnered rare bipartisan support from both Lula’s allies and those of his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. Parents and students largely back the initiative. An October survey by Datafolha found nearly two-thirds of respondents supported banning smartphones in schools, and over three-quarters believed the devices harm more than help children. India to have 1 billion smartphone users by 2026: Deloitte Ricardo Martins Ramos, a 43-year-old father and restaurant owner in Rio de Janeiro, called the restrictions “tough but necessary,” explaining that while smartphones are useful for schoolwork, excessive social use is detrimental. His 13-year-old daughter Isabela agreed, citing classmates’ struggles to concentrate during lessons. However, she highlighted unresolved issues like bullying and harassment. As of 2023, two-thirds of Brazilian schools had some form of smartphone restriction, with 28% enforcing a total ban, according to an August survey by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee. Several states, including Rio de Janeiro, Maranhão, and Goiás, have enacted local bans, but enforcement remains challenging. Sao Paulo is currently debating extending restrictions to both public and private schools. Gabriele Alexandra Henriques Pinheiro, a 25-year-old beauty professional and mother of a boy with autism spectrum disorder, supports the restrictions but noted adults often set poor examples of smartphone use. She admitted that her own reliance on her device complicates efforts to limit her son’s screen time. Experts and institutions have linked children’s smartphone use to bullying, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and diminished concentration. Other countries have implemented similar restrictions: China limited children’s smartphone use last year, and France has banned the devices in schools for children aged 6 to 15. In the United States, eight states have passed laws or policies to curb smartphone use in classrooms. Meanwhile, more European parents are voicing concerns about the safety and mental health risks associated with smartphone use among children. A UNESCO report published in September revealed that one in four countries has already imposed school restrictions on smartphones. At a U.S. Senate hearing last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologised to parents of children harmed via social media and highlighted ongoing industry efforts to improve child protection.