In the dense hill forests along Bangladesh’s border with war-torn Myanmar, villagers are losing limbs to landmines, casualties of a conflict not of their making.
Ali Hossain, 40, was collecting firewood in early 2025 when a blast shattered his life.
“I went into the jungle with fellow villagers. Suddenly, there was an explosion and my leg was blown off,” he said. “I screamed at the top of my voice.”
Neighbours rushed to stem the blood.
“They picked me up, gathered my severed leg and took me to hospital.”
In Ashartoli, a small settlement in Bandarban district, the weapons of a foreign war have turned forests, farms and footpaths into killing grounds.
Bangladesh’s 271km (168-mile) eastern border with Myanmar cuts through forests and rivers, much of it unmarked.
It is crossed daily by villagers, as their families have done for generations, to collect firewood or carry out small-time trading.
Myanmar is the world’s most dangerous country for landmine casualties, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which has documented the “massive” and growing use of the weapons, banned by many states.
The group recorded more than 2,000 casualties in Myanmar in 2024, the latest full year for which statistics are available, double the total reported the year before.
“The use of mines appeared to significantly increase in 2024-2025,” it said in its Landmine Monitor report, highlighting “an increase in the number of mine victims, particularly near the border” with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh accuses Myanmar’s military and its rival armed groups of planting the mines.
Arakan Army fighters, one of the many factions challenging the junta’s rule, control swaths of jungle across the border.
More than a million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar also live in Bangladesh’s border regions, caught between the warring military and separatist forces.
Bangladesh police say at least 28 people were injured by landmines in 2025.
In November that year, a Bangladesh border guard was killed when a landmine tore off both his legs.
Bangladesh’s border force has put up warning signs and red flags, and carries out regular mine-clearing operations.
But villagers say warnings offer little protection when survival depends on entering forests seeded with explosives, leaving communities in Bangladesh to pay the price of war.
Welcome back to the Times of Troy newsletter, where the new year has gotten off to somewhat of a rocky start at USC. The defensive coordinator search drags on. The Trojans’ five-star quarterback is in the transfer portal. The women’s basketball team lost consecutive games for the first time in two years. The men’s team got pummeled on its trip through Michigan.
I talked to Eric Musselman two days after the Trojans lost to Michigan State by 29. The team was already in Minneapolis, the third leg of a brutal, three-game road swing. It was a stop I knew would mean a lot to Musselman. Minnesota, after all, was where his father, Bill Musselman, got his big break as a basketball coach. He coached in Minneapolis for four seasons and, in 1972, brought the Golden Gophers their first Big Ten title in 53 years.
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“The building was sold out,” Musselman recalled proudly last week. “And then the hockey arena was sold out because of the extra people that wanted to come to games. They’d have to watch it on closed-circuit TV.”
Musselman saw it all up close at a young age — the highs, the lows of being a college coach. I think he’d agree that that time spent watching those Golden Gopher teams would ultimately serve as the foundation for his own career coaching basketball. Today, 25 years after his father died, it still feels that way to Musselman, whose career has followed an eerily similar path to his late father.
“I don’t think he did a very good job teaching me anything other than [basketball],” Musselman joked.
Every day, he finds himself asking what his dad would have done. He thinks of him most when adversity strikes, like it did last week. His Trojans, after an impressive 12-1 start, were in a tenuous spot after its first two games of the new year, reeling from two blowout losses and stuck on the road for 10 days. Musselman wondered, as they practiced that morning in Minneapolis, what his father might say to help them snap the team out of its slump.
“I felt his presence this morning, before we went to practice, telling me what he would do in this situation,” Musselman told me.
Whatever it was, it worked. USC ended its losing streak by escaping Minneapolis with a win.
His dad never saw him reach the dream they’d both been striving for. His father died less than two years before he was named the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. His absence was crushing to Musselman, who considered him his “best friend.”
In his new office, just before he was introduced as coach, Musselman broke down in tears.
“I felt like my dad had been mentoring me to do this as a baby,” Musselman told Dan Le Batard in 2025. “It was his thought that this could happen. The fact that he wasn’t going to be there for it, it hurt.”
When I heard Musselman tell that story last year, it hit me particularly hard. I lost my own dad about a year and a half ago. He died suddenly of a heart attack, and his absence has felt like a gaping hole in those mile-marker moments — such as when my son took his first steps or went to his first football game. That’s when it becomes painfully clear how long he’s been gone.
Musselman has spent his coaching career surrounded by those reminders of his father. I told him I couldn’t imagine being constantly reminded of my dad’s absence whenever I went to work.
“I would say it’s harder that way,” Musselman told me. “But also, I feel closer to him. Even though he’s not here. I wouldn’t feel like that if he’d been a dentist.”
I still find myself struggling to find that silver lining. But talking to Musselman, I found it reassuring to hear how often he still feels his father’s presence. That’s not something I ever would’ve understood before losing my dad.
On Friday, in Minneapolis, Musselman was back in the building that meant so much to him and his dad. Everywhere there were reminders of their past life, happy reminders of how much his father had meant to him — and to. so many others.
Transfer portal notes, Week 2
Husan Longstreet
(Luke Hales / Getty Images)
—Five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet is in the transfer portal. USC made its case to keep Longstreet. But he wanted to start somewhere as a redshirt freshman, ideally at a contender, and USC couldn’t give him that. There’s a small chance Longstreet could look around and decide there’s no better opportunity than the one he has in L.A. But Longstreet already visited Louisiana State. USC plans to forge on with incoming freshman Jonas Williams as its future under center.
—USC found its punter for 2026, and he’s an Aussie. Lachlan Carrigan spent last season at Memphis, averaging 43.2 yards per punt as a freshman. For what it’s worth, that’s better than USC’s punter last season, Sam Johnson, who averaged 42.1 yards per punt.
—Don’t be surprised if USC doesn’t make many more waves in the transfer window. The Trojans have added six players so far, five of which are joining the defense. New wideout Terrell Anderson is going to play a big part on offense. I like defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren as an experienced option on the interior, and cornerback Jontez Williams seems like a clear upgrade. But this portal class isn’t going to blow anyone away. The plan had always been to deemphasize transfers this season.
Chad Baker-Mazara slams two points home against Minnesota.
(David Berding / Getty Images)
—USC intends to keep its defensive staff intact. Could that affect a coordinator hire? My understanding is that USC is currently expecting to retain its defensive staff. Defensive line coach Shaun Nua was at one point brought up as a coordinator candidate at Brigham Young, his alma mater. But a hire was made. Eric Henderson was floated as a possibility at Georgia Tech, his alma mater. They chose a different coordinator Saturday. As USC searches for its own coordinator, the hope has been to find someone who would fit in alongside its current staff. Could that limit the pool of coaches considering the job? Potentially, yeah. But Lincoln Riley has made it clear ever since he came to USC that he values continuity and loyalty. That’s also been reflected in his assistants’ contracts, which would cost USC a pretty penny to buy out, if it came to that. Plans are always subject to change, depending on the candidate that comes along or how the carousel works out. But the goal right now is to keep the gang together.
—As anxious as it might make you, it’s better that USC takes its time in finding a defensive coordinator. Before USC announced the hire of Chad Bowden as general manager, fans were losing their minds at how long it was taking to bring someone in. But those same fans would probably argue now that the wait ended up being worth it. There’s no reason to think the same couldn’t be true at defensive coordinator. It’s been two weeks since Lynn left for Penn State, and there have been ongoing conversations with candidates. Don’t be surprised if the search continues on without conclusion through the next week as well.
—Star freshman Alijah Arenas’ debut will wait at least another week. The hope has always been to have the five-star freshman back by mid-January, but it’s looking more like that timeline could be pushed back a bit. Having seen him practice, it’s clear his explosiveness is intact after such a long layoff. The big question, as is often the case with knee injuries, is whether Arenas will be able to move as well on the defensive end. He should start off playing a healthy amount of minutes right away … assuming the plan stays the same.
—Chad Baker-Mazara bounced back in a big way Friday. Can he keep it up? After a brutal stretch in the state of Michigan in which the Trojans’ leading scorer shot just five of 17, Baker-Mazara scored 29 points, with eight assists. Without him, USC wouldn’t have been able to hang on in overtime against Minnesota. But relying on Baker-Mazara to be the top option could continue to produce roller-coaster results this season. Arenas could help take the pressure off, especially as the stakes are raised in the coming weeks.
—Blue chip Aussie freshman Sitaya Fagan could technically play this season for the USC women. But no matter how much the Trojans may need the 6-foot-4 standout’s size and athleticism in the paint, I’m told USC will stick to its plan to have Fagan sit and learn the rest of this season, in order to hit the ground running for the 2026-27 slate. Fagan is still just 17, and the intent of her coming stateside now was to give her time to acclimate. That long-game approach is ultimately a good thing, even if USC is struggling in the frontcourt right now and could use a new face.
Olympic sports spotlight
A few days before the men’s volleyball season kicked off Saturday, USC announced a contract extension for coach Jeff Nygaard through 2028. This season marks Nygaard’s 11th as coach, and while his career record of 123-136 might not seem all that impressive on paper, competing in indoor men’s volleyball is actually more difficult than you might think at USC.
Nygaard previously only had 4 ½ scholarships to split among his team, and with the cost of attendance at USC higher than most anywhere else in college volleyball, it made for a smaller pool of players available in an otherwise talent-rich region. But the advent of revenue sharing and roster limits removed the cap on those scholarships, meaning USC can pay more of the way for men’s volleyball players if it chooses.
Of course, men’s volleyball isn’t the only Olympic sports program asking for that investment. But while USC has other major sports programs it must pour money into, other small schools are now finding themselves in a unique position of power. For a program such as Long Beach State, one that doesn’t have to support football, why not pour money into building a men’s volleyball powerhouse?
It’s more of an uphill climb in that sense for USC and Nygaard, which is part of the reason why the school offered him an extension. There’s been an effort to maintain continuity with the programs that face those similar challenges.
“It validates a number of different things we’re trying to do and how we’re doing our business,” Nygaard told me. “The continuity piece is huge for just the bedrock of the program, just to trust that they get, day after day, they don’t have to deal with massive change.”
USC was 21-7 last season and finished second in the MPSF. That was a breakthrough that Nygaard is hoping to build on. It started Saturday with a sweep of St. Thomas Aquinas.
“We’re working towards taking our good to great,” Nygaard said.
The team from “The Traitors” after winning at last year’s Emmy Awards.
(Richard Shotwell / Richard Shotwell/invision/ap)
One of the best competition reality shows on television is back on Peacock. “The Traitors” has never failed me in any season, and the first three episodes of this one have already delivered. You can always count on this show to reinvent itself, and this season adds an interesting twist to the traitor dynamic.
If you haven’t already tried “The Traitors” before, now is the time to get on board.
Until next time …
That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at ryan.kartje@latimes.com, and follow me on X at @Ryan_Kartje. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
Sydney Sweeney plays housemaid Millie Calloway in The Housemaid
Sydney Sweeney wants to make films that will “impact and hopefully save people’s lives”, she has told the BBC.
The 28-year-old US actor has this year appeared in psychological thriller The Housemaid and boxing biopic Christy, which both address issues around domestic violence.
Sweeney calls the topic “prevalent” and says she takes a “lot of care” when playing these types of roles.
“Being able to have a film that’s on a more commercial level talk about a very difficult topic is important,” she adds.
Lionsgate
Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried were cast in The Housemaid due to their physical similarities
Sweeney is currently starring as Millie Calloway in The Housemaid, which is based on the 2022 novel of the same name by Freida McFadden.
The novel is an international bestseller and has generated a large following, especially among the reading community on TikTok.
Sweeney says she is “a huge fan of the book” and that she “loved all the characters”.
“I love complex, juicy, crazy, twisted stories. This is a dream project,” she adds.
The film also features Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, as Nina and Andrew Winchester, who employ Sweeney’s character in their home.
Seyfried and Sweeney were chosen to play the two female leads in The Housemaid because of their physical resemblances, but Seyfried says the similarities do not end there.
“There’s a similarity between us that is uncanny, and it’s really fun to work with people [who] are doing life in a similar way, have similar ideals about the job and life,” she tells the BBC.
Sweeney also says the pair have developed a “dynamic” where they “can enjoy being around” each other – and their relationship means they can “go to these crazy places and discover so much more within your character”.
Lionsgate
Amanda Seyfried plays Nina Winchester, a housewife who appears to have complex mental health issues
‘Getting the tone right’
Seyfried’s character Nina grapples with complex mental health issues throughout the film, which at times make it a difficult watch.
“You have to play it as realistic as possible because it needs to reflect real life,” she says.
The Housemaid has been compared to domestic thrillers of the 1990s, like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct. But it has a markedly modern twist with the physical and mental abuse plot lines in the film.
Seyfried, who is known for her roles in Mamma Mia! and Mean Girls, believes the cast “nailed getting the tone right” and hopes that despite the movie being entertainment, that people “come out with a better understanding of domestic violence” and “broaden their horizons”.
She adds that this is “especially” true for “people who haven’t thankfully had to deal with it”.
This is echoed by director Paul Feig, who admits he was “nervous” about handling the subject sensitively.
“I made sure there wasn’t any physical abuse, that it was more psychological abuse,” he says.
Domestic abuse in film has become a hot topic for Hollywood, sparked by the promotional tour for 2024 film It Ends With Us, which was criticised by some for packaging it as a romantic story rather than one of abuse.
Sklenar, who appears in both The Housemaid and It Ends With Us, says it is “challenging” to take on the role of an abuser.
He describes his characters – Andrew Winchester in The Housemaid and Atlas Corrigan in It Ends With Us – as “polar opposites”.
“When it comes to acting, you can try all you want, but ultimately sometimes it just affects you,” he says.
“It’s intense and it’s ultimately going to affect you in certain ways.”
Lionsgate
Brandon Sklenar also appeared in It Ends With Us, a film adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel of the same name
The film has received mostly positive reviews, including four stars from the Guardian, which said Feig and his cast “deliver with terrific gusto; this is an innocent holiday treat”.
The reception will be welcome for Sweeney after being at the centre of much drama and discussion in 2025.
And her career was under scrutiny after a string of box office flops – but The Housemaid opened with a healthy $19m (£14m) in North America last weekend.
That’s no surprise given that the original novel was a huge hit, selling more than 1.6 million copies worldwide.
Two sequels have also been published, meaning further film adaptations could be on the cards.
Feig, whose previous films include Bridesmaids and The Heat, believes novels will become an even more fertile source of material for Hollywood because “studios always want something that is a known quality” to “justify their ability to put a lot of money” into the project.
But he says he tries not to let books with a huge audience and fanbase dictate what projects he makes, because “there are plenty of books that are really popular that just don’t work as movies”.
Feig adds that it has been “fun” to work with Rebecca Sonnenshine’s adapted screenplay for The Housemaid, but that he has “restored” some parts of the book that “readers really would miss if they weren’t in there”.
There is also an “extra ending that’s not in the book”, he says, “so readers can get something new that they didn’t expect”.
After three girls die of cancer in a town in Mexico, a group of mothers and a scientist investigate the water supply.
When three young girls die from leukaemia within a year in a Mexican town, the authorities insist that the water is not contaminated. A teacher and local mothers demand answers and form an action group to investigate the cause. When they team up with a scientist, they find out their water is highly radioactive.
Corporate agriculture for export has depleted the aquifers, leaving behind an ancient layer of groundwater that is poisoning their town. This revelation prompts national outrage and leads the government to cut off the town’s water supply, while some officials still claim that the water is safe.
As the community turns against the women, they face a difficult choice. They must either give up their activism or keep fighting for clean water and environmental justice.
The Age of Water is a documentary film by Isabel Alcantara Atalaya and Alfredo Alcantara.
