United News of Bangladesh

Ten Indian soldiers were killed and several others injured on Thursday after an army vehicle skidded off a road and plunged into a deep gorge in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. The accident occurred around noon at Khanni Top, about 9,000 feet above sea level on the Bhaderwah–Chamba interstate road, when the driver of a bulletproof army vehicle heading to a high-altitude post reportedly lost control, causing it to fall into a nearly 200-foot-deep gorge. Indian Army and local administration teams rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations despite difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions. Four soldiers were found dead at the scene, while 11 others were rescued with injuries and provided first aid before being airlifted to Udhampur for specialised treatment. Six more soldiers later succumbed to their injuries, officials said. The vehicle was severely damaged in the crash, Indian media reported. “We have lost 10 soldiers with 11 others injured in the unfortunate accident involving army vehicle,” Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bhaderwah, Sumit Kumar Bhutyal told PTI. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Doda”. He wrote on X, “... My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The injured soldiers are receiving medical care and all necessary directions have been given to ensure the best possible treatment. The nation stands with our Armed Forces and their families in this difficult hour.” Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed grief over the accident. The Chief Minister conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. He also lauded the swift rescue and evacuation efforts. Sinha, in a post on X, said he was “deeply saddened at the loss of lives of 10 of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate road accident in Doda. We will always remember the outstanding service and supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers.” He expressed his deepest condolences to the grieving families. “In this moment of profound sorrow, the entire nation stands united with the bereaved families in solidarity and support. 10 injured soldiers have been airlifted to the hospital,” he said, adding that he had directed senior officials to ensure best possible treatment to the injured. “Praying for their speedy recovery,” he said.  

The restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant was halted Thursday, just hours after resuming for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), operator of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in north-central Japan said, the suspension of the No. 6 reactor was caused by a technical glitch involving control rods, which are crucial for safely starting and shutting down reactors. TEPCO confirmed there was no safety risk and said it was assessing the situation, but did not provide a timeline for when operations would resume. The restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility is being closely watched, as TEPCO also manages the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which suffered meltdowns following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Japan, which has limited domestic energy resources, is accelerating its use of nuclear power to meet rising electricity demand. All seven reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa have been offline since 2012, a year after the Fukushima disaster, which left surrounding areas contaminated with radioactive fallout. TEPCO continues to manage the ongoing cleanup at Fukushima, with costs estimated at 22 trillion yen ($139 billion), while also working to restore public trust after investigations highlighted the company’s poor safety culture and collusion with regulators. Since 2011, 14 other nuclear reactors have resumed operations across Japan. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, located about 220 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, marks the first TEPCO-run unit to restart. The No. 6 reactor alone could produce 1.35 million kilowatts of electricity, enough for over a million households in the capital region. Read More: Power restored to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after monthlong outage With a combined capacity of 8 million kilowatts, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa remains the world’s largest nuclear plant, though TEPCO plans to gradually bring only two of its seven reactors back online in the coming years.    

Six members of a family were killed in a house fire in northern Mongolia’s Selenge province on Wednesday, according to the National Emergency Management Agency. The fire broke out in a residential building in the morning, leaving two parents and their four children dead, the agency said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The agency noted that incidents of house fires tend to rise during winter as households, particularly in rural areas, use heating fires to stay warm.  

A Japanese court on Wednesday sentenced a man who admitted to assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to life imprisonment, a case that has drawn attention to long-standing ties between Japan’s ruling party and a controversial South Korean religious group, NHK reported. Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, pleaded guilty to killing Abe in July 2022 while the former leader was giving an election campaign speech in Nara. The Nara District Court confirmed the verdict and handed down a life sentence, in line with prosecutors’ demands. The trial, which began in October, saw Yamagami admit to murder. Abe, one of Japan’s most influential politicians, was serving as a lawmaker after stepping down as prime minister when he was shot dead. His killing shocked the nation, known for strict gun control. During the trial, Yamagami said he was motivated by anger toward a controversial religious group after seeing a video message Abe sent to a faction linked to the Unification Church. He told the court his aim was to harm the church and expose its connection with Abe. Prosecutors sought life imprisonment, while Yamagami’s lawyers argued for no more than 20 years, citing his troubled childhood as the son of a church follower. While Japanese law allows the death penalty for murder, prosecutors usually seek it only in cases involving multiple victims. The assassination intensified scrutiny of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s ties to the church, prompting the party to distance itself from the group. Investigations later led to the Japanese branch of the church losing its tax-exempt status and being ordered dissolved. The case also prompted authorities to review and strengthen security for political figures. Abe was shot on July 8, 2022, outside a train station in Nara. Television footage showed him collapse after two shots, with officials saying he died almost instantly. Yamagami was arrested at the scene and later said he had originally planned to target the Unification Church leader but switched to Abe due to security difficulties. Read More: Japan PM plans snap election to seek fresh mandate The case highlighted the challenges faced by children of Unification Church followers and influenced legislation aimed at curbing coercive donation practices. Yamagami has also drawn public sympathy from critics of the church, with thousands signing petitions seeking leniency and others sending care packages to his family and the detention center where he is held.

The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for an explosion at a Chinese restaurant in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed at least seven people, including a Chinese national. Afghan authorities said Tuesday that the cause of the blast is still under investigation. IS said in a statement on its Aamaq news agency late Monday that a suicide bomber entered the restaurant, popular with Chinese nationals, and detonated an explosive vest during a gathering. The group claimed 25 people were killed or injured, including Taliban guards, though the figures could not be independently verified. The statement also issued a warning to Chinese citizens in Afghanistan, linking the attack to China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims. Afghan Interior Ministry spokesperson Mufti Abdul Mateen Qani said the cause of the blast is being investigated. Police reported that the explosion occurred near the restaurant’s kitchen in the Shahr-e-Naw district, killing one Chinese national and six Afghans, with several others wounded. The restaurant is jointly owned by an Afghan man, a Chinese national, and his wife. China condemned the attack, confirming one citizen dead and five wounded. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged Afghan authorities to protect Chinese nationals, provide medical care, and bring the perpetrators to justice. China also advised its citizens to avoid travel to Afghanistan and strengthen safety measures. The Italian charity EMERGENCY said it treated 20 casualties from the blast, including seven dead. CCTV reported two Chinese citizens seriously injured and a security guard killed. Footage from Tolo News showed panic and smoke near the scene. Karachi mall fire kills 23 as rescuers search for missing Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the bombing, blaming the Taliban government for failing to prevent militant activities. Tajik authorities also reported killing four gunmen who crossed from Afghanistan overnight, though Afghan officials said they were drug smugglers. The IS group has carried out several attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not endorse elections in military-ruled Myanmar, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Tuesday, citing concerns over the lack of inclusive and free participation. Myanmar’s military-backed party appeared set to secure a parliamentary majority after the second round of voting earlier this month in the country’s first general election since the army ousted the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. The takeover sparked widespread opposition, which has escalated into a civil war. Human rights groups and opposition parties have criticized the polls as neither free nor fair, describing them as an attempt by the military to legitimize its rule. Speaking in Parliament, Mohamad Hasan said ASEAN leaders decided at their October summit not to send official observers because the conditions for a credible election were not met, although some member countries did so individually. Myanmar’s Information Ministry reported that Cambodia and Vietnam were among nations that sent observers. Taiwan hails its ‘best’ trade deal with US, as China protests Mohamad Hasan emphasized that ASEAN requires elections to allow comprehensive and free participation rather than being conducted in phases or under restrictions that exclude certain candidates. “We didn’t send observers and by virtue of that, we don’t certify the election,” he said, marking the first clear statement from the 11-member bloc that it will not recognize the election results. ASEAN has repeatedly called on Myanmar’s military to implement its agreed peace plan, including ending violence, ensuring humanitarian access, and holding inclusive dialogue. While Myanmar’s military leaders have been suspended from ASEAN summits, the bloc remains divided between engagement and pressure strategies. Myanmar denies genocide, calls Rohingya crackdown counterterrorism at ICJ Final results for all national and regional legislative seats are expected later this month.

The death toll from a major fire at a shopping plaza in Karachi climbed to 23 on Monday as rescue teams pulled more bodies from the heavily damaged structure, police said, while dozens of people are still unaccounted for. The blaze, which broke out on Sunday, was brought under control late that night—almost 24 hours later—allowing rescuers to begin searching inside the multistory building. City police chief Asad Raza said authorities are concerned the number of fatalities could increase as efforts continue to locate 46 missing individuals. Speaking to The Associated Press, Raza said only six victims have been identified so far. Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said most of the bodies were badly burned and unrecognizable, making DNA testing necessary. Doctors are collecting DNA samples from relatives of those reported missing. Local media outlets have reported that at least 26 people may have died in the incident. Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah told reporters that search operations were ongoing for both survivors and victims. He confirmed that a firefighter was among those killed and announced that the provincial government would provide compensation of 10 million rupees ($36,000) to each bereaved family. Read More: At least 25 injured in fireworks storage blast in Karachi Rescue workers continued operating into the night, facing difficulties accessing certain parts of the unstable building where some people were believed to be trapped after losing contact with their families. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said operations would continue until everyone missing was located. According to Karachi’s chief rescue officer, Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, the fire spread rapidly because many shops stored flammable items such as cosmetics, clothing and plastic materials. Outside the charred plaza, anxious relatives gathered on Monday, waiting for updates. Qaiser Ali said his wife, daughter-in-law and sister had gone shopping for an upcoming wedding when the fire broke out. He said he was in contact with them by phone on Sunday before communication suddenly stopped. Read More: Death toll rises to 10 in Karachi shopping plaza fire “I don’t know what has happened to them or if they are still alive,” Ali said, adding that the family continued to pray for the safe return of all those missing. Another survivor, Saifur Rehman, said he managed to escape the building when the fire started, but his brother Mohammad Abrar, who owns a shop in the plaza, remained inside. Rehman said he feared the worst. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and police have launched an investigation. Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, has experienced several deadly fires in the past, often linked to weak safety regulations and illegal construction. In November 2023, a shopping mall fire in the city killed 10 people and injured 22. An even deadlier incident occurred in 2012, when a garment factory fire claimed 260 lives.

The death toll from a devastating fire at a shopping plaza in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, rose to at least 23 on Monday as rescue teams recovered more bodies from the severely damaged building, police said, while dozens of people remain unaccounted for. Firefighters brought the blaze under control late Sunday, nearly 24 hours after it broke out at the multistory plaza, allowing rescuers to begin searching inside. Authorities warned that the number of fatalities could increase as efforts continue to locate 46 missing people, according to Karachi Police Chief Asad Raza. Raza told The Associated Press that only six of the recovered bodies have been identified so far. Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Sye said the remaining bodies were badly charred and beyond recognition, making DNA testing necessary for identification. Read More: Death toll rises to 10 in Karachi shopping plaza fire Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said rescue teams were continuing operations to find survivors and recover bodies. He confirmed that a firefighter was among those killed and announced that the provincial government would provide compensation of 10 million rupees (about $36,000) to the family of each victim. Karachi’s Chief Rescue Officer Dr Abid Jalal Sheikh said the fire spread rapidly through shops storing highly flammable materials, including cosmetics, garments and plastic products. Relatives of the missing gathered outside the gutted building on Monday, anxiously awaiting information. Qaiser Ali said his daughter, daughter-in-law and sister were inside the plaza when the fire broke out on Saturday. He said he remained in contact with them by phone until Sunday, after which communication ceased. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Police said an investigation is underway.

At least 10 people have died in a massive fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza shopping complex as rescue teams continue searching for dozens reported missing, officials said Monday. Firefighters brought the blaze under control late Sunday, nearly 24 hours after it started, allowing rescuers to recover four more bodies overnight, raising the confirmed death toll to 10. Local media reported that up to 14 people may have died. The fire, which broke out late Saturday, spread quickly through shops storing cosmetics, garments, and plastic goods, said Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, the city’s chief rescue officer. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said around 60 people were reported missing, prompting a large-scale search operation. Families of the missing gathered outside the damaged building Monday, many in tears. The cause of the fire has not been determined, and police said an investigation is ongoing. Karachi has a history of deadly fires, often linked to poor safety standards and illegal construction. In November 2023, a shopping mall fire killed 10 people, and a 2012 garments factory fire claimed 260 lives.

Chinese police have detained those responsible for a steel factory in the Inner Mongolia region after an explosion killed two people and sent 84 others to hospital, with eight still missing. City authorities in Baotou said a pressurised storage tank used to hold steam and high-temperature water exploded at a Baogang United Steel plant at around 3pm local time on Sunday. The blast triggered tremors across nearby areas, officials said on Monday. Rescue teams are continuing their search for eight people who remain unaccounted for. A representative of Baotou’s Information Office told a news conference that emergency crews were working around the clock at the site. Baogang United Steel is a major state-owned enterprise, according to Chinese state media.