UN rights office estimates up to 1,400 killed in crackdown on protests in Bangladesh

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. human rights office estimates that up to 1,400 people may have been killed in Bangladesh over three weeks last summer in a crackdown on student-led protests against the now-ousted former prime minister. In a new report, the Geneva-based office says security and intelligence services “systematically engaged” in rights violations that could amount to crimes against humanity and require further investigation. A U.N. team was deployed to Bangladesh at the invitation of the country’s interim leader, the Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, to look into the uprising that ultimately drove longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India.

Australian hospital examines patient records after nurse claims to have killed Israelis

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian hospital is examining its patient records after a nurse claimed online to have killed Israelis. Officials say there was no evidence of harm to patients. A police unit focusing on a surge in antisemitic crimes in Sydney since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023 is investigating possible breaches of hate speech law. Two nurses who took part in an online discussion with an Israeli influencer on Tuesday during a night shift at Sydney’s Bankstown Hospital were suspended on Wednesday. Authorities say they will never work for the state health department again. Jewish advocate Alex Ryvchin described the nurses’ comments as “absolutely chilling and horrific.”

Hegseth suggests Ukraine should abandon hope of winning all territory back from Russia

BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says NATO membership for Ukraine is unrealistic and in sweeping remarks suggested Kyiv should abandon hopes of winning all its territory back from Russia. Instead, he said Wednesday that the country should prepare for a negotiated peace settlement to be backed up by international troops. Hegseth’s strident comments came during the first trip to NATO by a member of the new Trump administration. Allies have been waiting to hear how much continued military and financial support Washington intends to provide to Ukraine. What they heard was that President Donald Trump is intent on getting Europe to assume most of the financial and military responsibilities for the defense of Ukraine.

Austrian far-right leader’s efforts to form a new government collapse

VIENNA (AP) — Austrian far-right leader Herbert Kickl says his talks on forming a coalition government with a conservative party have collapsed. Austria’s president last month gave Kickl a mandate to try to form a new government — the first one headed by the far right since World War II. That was after other parties’ efforts to put together a governing alliance without his Freedom Party failed. Talks with the conservative Austrian People’s Party appeared increasingly troubled in recent days, with talk of policy differences and a clash over who would get which ministries. Kickl’s anti-immigration and euroskeptic party won Austria’s parliamentary election in September.