United News of Bangladesh

At least 39 people were killed and 159 others injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain late Sunday, with rescue operations continuing through the night, Spanish police said on Monday. The crash happened around 7:45 pm when the rear section of a train carrying about 300 passengers from Malaga to Madrid derailed and slammed into an oncoming train traveling from Madrid to Huelva, according to rail operator Adif. The collision occurred near the town of Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 370 kilometers south of Madrid. Authorities said five of the injured were in critical condition, while 24 others were seriously hurt. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the death toll was not final and warned that the number could rise. Videos and photographs from the scene showed twisted train carriages lying on their sides under floodlights as emergency crews worked through the night. Passengers were seen climbing out of shattered windows, some using emergency hammers to escape. Salvador Jiménez, a journalist with Spanish broadcaster RTVE who was on one of the derailed trains, said passengers felt a violent jolt moments before the derailment. “There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed,” he told the network by phone. In Adamuz, a local sports centre was converted into a temporary hospital, while the Spanish Red Cross set up an assistance centre for victims and their families. Members of the civil guard and civil defence remained at the site overnight. Transport Minister Puente described the accident as “truly strange”, noting that it occurred on a flat stretch of track renovated in May and involved a train that was less than four years old. The derailed train belonged to private operator Iryo, while the second train was operated by state-run company Renfe. He said the rear of the first train jumped the tracks and crashed into the front of the second, knocking its first two carriages off the line and down a four-metre slope. An investigation into the cause of the crash could take up to a month, he added. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences to the victims’ families, calling it “a night of deep pain for our country.” Train services between Madrid and cities in Andalusia were cancelled on Monday. Spain has Europe’s largest high-speed rail network, with more than 3,100 kilometres of track. More than 25 million passengers travelled on Renfe’s high-speed trains in 2024.

Eight Nato member states have warned that US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs over Greenland risks setting off a “dangerous downward spiral,” as they reaffirmed their commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a joint statement, the leaders of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom said they stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland. Trump threatens 10% tariff on 8 European countries over Greenland stance The warning came a day after Trump announced plans to impose a 10% tariff on goods from the eight countries from February 1, with the rate set to rise to 25% in June. The Nato allies said they were ready to engage in dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, which they said they firmly uphold. All eight countries stressed their shared commitment to strengthening Arctic security as a transatlantic priority. They said a recent Danish military exercise in Greenland, named Arctic Endurance, reflected that commitment and posed no threat to any country. Meanwhile, thousands of people have taken to the streets in Greenland and Denmark to protest against Trump’s tariff plans. #With inputs from BBC

The European Union (EU) and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries formally signed a landmark free trade agreement on Saturday, ending more than 25 years of negotiations and aiming to strengthen commercial ties amid rising global protectionism and trade tensions. The signing took place in Asuncion, Paraguay, with leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and EU officials attending. Bolivia, Mercosur’s newest member, is not part of the deal but may join in the future, while Venezuela remains suspended. The agreement will gradually remove over 90% of tariffs on goods such as Argentine beef and German cars, creating one of the world’s largest free trade zones, benefiting more than 700 million consumers. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the deal a stand against protectionism, emphasizing fair trade and long-term partnerships. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva hailed it as a victory for global cooperation, highlighting the commitment of both regions to democracy and multilateralism. The deal faced delays over European demands for environmental standards, deforestation rules, and protections for farmers. Some European nations, including France, remain cautious, and the agreement still requires ratification by the European Parliament. The accord has also revitalized Mercosur’s relevance. Argentine President Javier Milei, who previously criticized the bloc, expressed strong support, saying Argentina recognizes that protectionism leads to economic stagnation. Once ratified, the EU-Mercosur free trade deal will mark a major geopolitical and economic milestone, deepening ties between South America and Europe and signaling a commitment to open trade in a protectionist global environment.

At least four people were injured after an explosion rocked a residential street in the centre of the Dutch city of Utrecht on Thursday, according to emergency services. The cause of the blast was not immediately known. The explosion sparked a fire and caused extensive damage to nearby homes, forcing people to flee into surrounding shopping streets. Firefighters rushed to the scene and battled the blaze but were initially unable to enter the damaged buildings due to concerns over structural stability. Emergency services spokesman Sjaak Haasnoot said the four injured were taken to hospital, though the severity of their injuries was not yet confirmed. He added that it remained unclear whether anyone had been killed. 'All options are on the table' in emergency UN meeting, US warns Iran “At this moment, it is very difficult to say how many people may be trapped under the rubble,” Haasnoot said, noting that firefighters could not yet enter the unstable building. Rescue teams were working to determine how they could safely search through the debris to check for possible victims. Residents whose homes were damaged were being temporarily accommodated in a nearby hotel. Police have launched an investigation into the incident, Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma told reporters. “This explosion has had a huge impact on the heart of our city. Everyone is deeply shocked, especially those living in the immediate area,” she said.

Russia on Thursday ordered a British diplomat to leave the country over alleged espionage, a charge the U.K. dismissed as “baseless.” The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) accused the embassy staff member of working for British intelligence but did not provide any evidence. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the diplomat’s accreditation had been revoked and that the individual must leave Russia within two weeks. Danae Dholakia, the U.K.’s chargé d’affaires in Russia, was summoned to the ministry in Moscow to receive the notice. “Moscow will not tolerate undeclared British intelligence activities on Russian soil,” the ministry said, adding that it would respond in kind to any retaliatory measures from London. Read more: Russia attacks Ukraine's power grid again in freezing cold The U.K. Foreign Office said it was “carefully considering” a response and condemned Russia’s expulsion as part of a pattern of “malicious and baseless” accusations against British diplomats. “Targeting British diplomats in this way undermines the basic conditions necessary for diplomatic missions to function,” the office said. Relations between Russia and NATO countries have deteriorated to Cold War-era lows, with multiple rounds of mutual diplomat expulsions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In March 2025, Moscow expelled two other British diplomats on spying allegations, which the U.K. also rejected as false.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has said that US President Donald Trump is the only world leader capable of stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin from threatening Europe and ending the war in Ukraine. In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Nawrocki said Putin could not be trusted and warned that Russia was testing Poland’s defences and Nato’s unity through drone incursions and hybrid warfare tactics. He said Europe must fully support President Trump’s efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, describing the US leader as the only person who could “solve this problem”. Referring to last year’s mass incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace, Nawrocki said it was an extraordinary situation and the first time a Nato member had faced an attack of that scale. He added that Poland had been living under hybrid war conditions since 2021 due to drones and disinformation campaigns. The Polish president also thanked Britain for deploying RAF Typhoon jets to help defend Poland’s borders, saying the UK played a vital role in protecting Nato’s eastern flank. Nawrocki said the United States remains the main guarantor of European security and warned against Europe distancing itself from Washington, calling such a move harmful for both economic and military stability. He also criticised European leaders for focusing on issues such as climate policy and migration instead of strengthening defence, noting that Poland now spends close to 5 percent of its GDP on security.   With inputs from BBC

The European Union will dedicate most of its new €90 billion ($105 billion) loan program to Ukraine’s military needs over the next two years, while also providing billions in economic support, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. EU leaders agreed last month to the loan to cover Ukraine’s needs in 2026 and 2027. Kyiv will only have to repay the money after Russia ends the war and pays reparations for almost four years of destruction. The International Monetary Fund estimates Ukraine will need €137 billion ($160 billion) over the two years. The Ukrainian government is on the brink of bankruptcy and urgently needs funds by spring. EU officials hope countries such as Britain, Canada, Japan, and Norway will help cover the gap. The IMF is preparing a new multi-billion-dollar loan for Ukraine, expected to be approved next month. Von der Leyen said €60 billion ($70 billion) of the EU loan will go to military support and €30 billion ($35 billion) for budget aid. “With military assistance, Ukraine can stand strong against Russia, and at the same time integrate more closely into Europe’s defense industry,” she said. The EU aims to start disbursing funds by April, but the spending plan requires approval from member states and the European Parliament. The military funds would be used to buy equipment from Ukraine, EU countries, and others in Europe, including Norway. In some cases, purchases could be made outside Europe if more effective. Some money could also be used under a NATO scheme for allies, including Canada, to buy US arms for Ukraine. Von der Leyen emphasized that Ukraine must implement pro-democracy reforms, including strengthening the rule of law and fighting corruption, to secure the loans. “These conditions are non-negotiable for any financial support,” she said. Ukraine has faced corruption for decades. Pressure grew on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last year after his chief of staff Andrii Yermak resigned following an anti-corruption investigation. Yermak also led US-Ukraine talks aimed at ending the war.

Russia carried out its second major drone and missile assault on Ukraine in four days Tuesday, targeting the power grid amid freezing temperatures as Moscow’s invasion nears its fourth year, officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said nearly 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles, and seven cruise missiles struck eight regions overnight. One attack in Kharkiv killed four people at a mail depot, while hundreds of thousands of households in Kyiv remained without electricity. Daytime temperatures in the capital fell to minus 12 degrees Celsius (about 10 degrees Fahrenheit), with ice-covered streets and the hum of generators marking life under severe power shortages. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described Monday night’s strikes as the largest blackout the city has faced so far. Over 500 residential buildings lacked central heating, forcing residents to gather in apartments with power or hot water. Klitschko ordered the city to provide one hot meal daily for those in need and announced bonuses for city workers restoring critical infrastructure. Four days earlier, Russia launched another large-scale overnight attack, including a hypersonic missile strike in western Ukraine. The U.S. called Russia’s moves a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” as Washington seeks to advance peace talks. Tammy Bruce, U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations, condemned Russia’s attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure and highlighted the rising civilian toll. Russian assaults have repeatedly targeted heat and water supplies, a strategy Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing winter.” The Kharkiv strike wounded 10 people, while six were injured in Odesa, where energy infrastructure, a hospital, a kindergarten, and other buildings were damaged. According to the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission, 2025 was the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since the invasion began, with 2,514 killed and 12,142 injured, a 31% increase from 2024. Danielle Bell, the agency’s head, said long-range attacks now affect civilians far beyond the front lines. Zelenskyy called for faster delivery of air defense systems from the U.S. and Europe to counter the ongoing attacks. Meanwhile, Russia reported shooting down 11 Ukrainian drones overnight, including seven over Rostov region. Ukrainian forces claimed their drones hit a drone manufacturing facility in Taganrog, causing fires and damage to production buildings.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers will travel to Denmark later this week in a bid to underscore long-standing ties between Washington and Copenhagen as President Donald Trump continues to threaten seizing Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of the NATO ally. The delegation, led by Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware and including Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, will visit Copenhagen on Friday and Saturday. Members are scheduled to meet senior Danish and Greenlandic officials as well as business leaders. Coons told the Associated Press the visit aims to reassure Denmark that Congress values the alliance and does not seek to interfere in discussions over Greenland’s status. He stressed that Denmark has been a close U.S. ally for decades, including its support after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and said recent tensions stem largely from Trump’s statements. Relations have become strained as Trump argues the United States must take control of Greenland to prevent Russia or China from gaining influence in the Arctic. He has said he would prefer to strike a deal but has not ruled out the use of force. Danish and Greenlandic representatives are expected in Washington this week for talks with U.S. officials. China weighed in on Monday, warning the United States not to use other countries as a pretext to pursue its own interests in Greenland and saying Beijing’s Arctic activities comply with international law. Greenland and Denmark have firmly rejected Trump’s remarks. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that a U.S. takeover would effectively end NATO, while Greenland’s leaders reiterated that the island’s future must be decided by its people and within the framework of international law and the alliance.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday said her country faces a “decisive moment” over the future of Greenland following renewed threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to seize the Arctic territory by force. Speaking ahead of meetings in Washington, D.C., on global competition for critical raw materials, Frederiksen described the situation as a “conflict over Greenland” and emphasized that the stakes go beyond the immediate question of the island’s sovereignty. “This is a decisive moment,” she told fellow Danish political leaders during a debate. In a post on Facebook, Frederiksen added that Denmark is “ready to defend our values—wherever it is necessary—including in the Arctic,” and underscored the importance of international law and the right of peoples to self-determination. Germany and Sweden have publicly backed Denmark against Trump’s claims over the self-governing Danish territory. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned Washington’s “threatening rhetoric” after Trump stated that the U.S. would act on Greenland “whether they like it or not.” “Sweden, the Nordic countries, the Baltic states, and several major European countries stand together with our Danish friends,” Kristersson said during a defence conference in Salen attended by the US general in charge of NATO. He warned that a U.S. takeover of mineral-rich Greenland would violate international law and could encourage similar actions by other countries. Germany also reiterated support for Denmark and Greenland ahead of Washington meetings. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadehpul, ahead of talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, met officials in Iceland to discuss the “strategic challenges of the Far North.” He said, “Security in the Arctic is becoming more and more important and is part of our common NATO interest.” The United Kingdom is reportedly considering a NATO mission in Greenland. The Telegraph reported that military chiefs from the UK and other European countries have begun early discussions with Germany, France, and others on deploying UK troops, warships, and aircraft to protect Greenland from potential Russian and Chinese moves. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told Sky News that discussions with NATO allies on deterring Russian aggression in the Arctic are “business as usual.” She said, “It’s becoming an increasingly contested geopolitical region, and you would expect us to be talking to all our NATO allies about how to deter Russian activity in the Arctic Circle.” Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken told Reuters that NATO should consider launching an Arctic operation to address security concerns. He suggested modelling it after NATO’s Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry operations, which use multinational forces, drones, sensors, and other technology to monitor land and sea, calling the approach an “Arctic Sentry.” Trump has cited rising Russian and Chinese military activity in the Arctic as justification for U.S. interest in controlling Greenland. A Danish colony until 1953, Greenland gained home rule in 1979 and is exploring further autonomy. Polls indicate that the Greenlandic population strongly opposes any U.S. takeover.   With inputs from ALJAZEERA