United News of Bangladesh

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.

At least eight more countries say the United States has invited them to join President Donald Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace, a group of world leaders tasked with overseeing the next phase in Gaza and signalling a wider global role. Hungary and Vietnam have accepted the invitation, officials from the two countries said. Under the board’s draft charter, a permanent seat requires a $1 billion contribution, while three-year appointments carry no such requirement, a US official said on condition of anonymity as the document has not been made public. The funds are expected to be used for rebuilding Gaza. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has agreed to join, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told state radio. Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam has also accepted, according to a foreign ministry statement. India has received an invitation, a senior government official said, while Australia confirmed it has been invited and will consult with Washington to better understand the proposal. Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan said they were invited on Sunday. Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania have already said they received invitations. The total number of invitees has not been disclosed. The United States is expected to announce the official list of members in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum in Davos. The board is set to oversee the next steps in Gaza as the ceasefire that began on Oct. 10 enters its second phase, including the formation of a new Palestinian committee, deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the territory. In letters sent to world leaders, Trump said the Board of Peace would pursue a new approach to resolving global conflicts. Some invitees posted the letters on social media. The White House has also announced an executive committee to implement the board’s plans, though Israel has objected, saying it was not coordinated and runs counter to its policy. Members of the executive committee include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, former British prime minister Tony Blair, World Bank president Ajay Banga and US deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel, along with Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay. Representatives from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, which are monitoring the ceasefire, are also included.

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.

The Syrian government on Sunday announced a ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), paving the way for Damascus to regain control over much of the country’s northeast after more than a decade. The deal follows weeks of escalating tensions that erupted into clashes earlier this month, prompting a major military advance by government forces toward the east. The SDF has since largely withdrawn from key front-line positions in eastern Aleppo province. SDF commander Mazloum Abdi confirmed the agreement in a video message, saying his forces had accepted the deal and would pull out of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces “to stop the bloodshed.” “We will explain the terms of the agreement to our people in the coming days,” Abdi said. Syria’s Defence Ministry said it had ordered all fighting to stop along the front lines following the announcement. Since the fall of former president Bashar Assad in December 2024, Syria’s new leadership has struggled to fully assert authority over the war-battered country. A previous agreement in March to integrate the SDF into the state structure failed after both sides accused each other of violating its terms. Following the latest military push, government forces have effectively taken control of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces, which are strategically vital due to their oil and gas fields, Euphrates river dams and key border crossings. State media showed President Ahmad al-Sharaa signing the agreement in Damascus. Although Abdi was not present due to bad weather, his signature appeared on the document. Al-Sharaa said Abdi is expected to visit Damascus on Monday. “This is a victory for all Syrians, regardless of background,” al-Sharaa told journalists. “We hope Syria will move from division toward unity and progress.” Both the Syrian government and the SDF are allies of Washington. US envoy Tom Barrack met al-Sharaa on Sunday as government forces advanced into Raqqa and across Deir el-Zour province, with Abdi reportedly joining the talks by phone. Barrack welcomed the agreement, saying it marked a turning point toward “renewed dialogue and cooperation for a unified Syria.” Under the deal, the SDF will be dismantled and its fighters integrated into Syria’s military and security forces. Senior SDF officials are expected to take up senior roles in state institutions. The group will hand over Raqqa and Deir el-Zour, both Arab-majority provinces, along with border crossings and energy facilities. In Hassakah province, the Kurdish heartland, only the civilian administration will return to Damascus, while Kurdish-run agencies overseeing prisons and camps holding Islamic State detainees will also be transferred to government control. There is no clear timeline for implementation. Al-Sharaa said the process would be gradual, beginning with a halt to hostilities. Clashes earlier this month had briefly subsided after Abdi announced his forces would withdraw east of the Euphrates River. However, fighting resumed when Syrian troops seized Tabqa and pushed deeper into Raqqa province. By Sunday evening, government convoys had entered Raqqa city, where residents welcomed them with celebrations, waving Syrian flags and setting off fireworks. Crowds gathered in the streets chanting and firing shots into the air. “Today, everyone is born anew,” said local resident Yahya Al Ahmad. Meanwhile, thousands of Kurdish families fled toward the SDF-held city of Qamishli, where temporary shelters were set up. Many residents there expressed cautious hope about the agreement, alongside lingering mistrust. Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said the deal marked a turning point. “This is a moment for Syrians to put aside their differences and move forward. It is a victory for Syria,” he said.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said Europe will not bow to pressure from US President Donald Trump, as European leaders rallied behind Greenland in response to Washington’s threat of tariffs over the autonomous Danish territory. Trump has warned he will impose new tariffs on eight US allies – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK – from February if they oppose his plan to take control of Greenland. He has described the island as vital for US security and has not ruled out using force, triggering strong criticism across Europe. In a joint statement, the countries threatened with tariffs said Trump’s move could spark a “dangerous downward spiral” and undermine transatlantic relations. “We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland,” the statement said, stressing that Arctic security is a shared Nato interest and that sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. Writing on Facebook, Frederiksen said Europe wanted cooperation, not conflict, but would stand firm on its core values. “Europe will not be blackmailed,” she wrote. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he had spoken with Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte before holding talks with Trump. A Downing Street spokeswoman said Starmer made clear that Greenland’s security was a priority for all Nato members and that imposing tariffs on allies over collective security was wrong. Trump has threatened a 10 percent tariff on goods from the eight countries from February 1, with the possibility of raising it to 25 percent until a deal is reached. European leaders have warned the move would damage long-standing alliances, while public protests have already taken place in Denmark and Greenland against Trump’s takeover plan.   With inputs from BBC

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.

The Syrian government has announced an immediate nationwide ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), ending nearly two weeks of fighting and paving the way for the reintegration of the group into Syria’s military and state institutions. Syrian state media said the ceasefire is part of a broader 14-point agreement that will see the SDF integrated into national structures, effectively restoring Damascus’s control over most of the country. Speaking in Damascus, President Ahmed al-Sharaa said the deal would allow Syrian state institutions to reassert authority over three key eastern and northern governorates al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor and Raqqa. The announcement followed a meeting between al-Sharaa and the US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, who welcomed the agreement as a step toward a “unified Syria.” Syrian forces seize key town and oil fields from Kurdish-led SDF in eastward offensive SDF commander Mazloum Abdi was expected to attend the meeting but was unable to travel due to weather conditions. His visit has been postponed until Monday, al-Sharaa said. Kurdish-led forces established an autonomous administration during Syria’s civil war nearly a decade ago, with strong backing from the United States, which armed and trained the SDF as its main local partner in the fight against the Islamic State group. With US military support, the SDF drove Islamic State from much of northeastern Syria and later governed both Kurdish- and Arab-majority areas. Under the new agreement, signed by al-Sharaa and Abdi, Syrian authorities will take control of civilian institutions, border crossings, and oil and gas fields that formed the backbone of Kurdish self-rule. SDF military and security personnel will be integrated into Syria’s defence and interior ministries after a vetting process, while Damascus will assume responsibility for prisons and detention camps holding tens of thousands of foreign Islamic State fighters and their families. The government also reaffirmed its pledge to recognise Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights, including granting Kurdish official language status and recognising the Kurdish New Year as a national holiday — the first formal recognition of Kurdish rights since Syria gained independence from France in 1946. US conducts retaliatory strike in Syria, kills leader linked to deadly IS ambush The agreement also confirms Syria’s continued participation in the US-led coalition against Islamic State. The deal follows months of stalled negotiations after a previous integration attempt failed and comes after Syrian government forces moved into Raqqa and nearby oil facilities following an SDF withdrawal earlier on Sunday. Al-Sharaa said last week it was unacceptable for a militia to control a quarter of the country and hold its main oil and commodity resources. #With inputs from BBC

South Africa on Sunday declared a national disaster following torrential rains and flooding that have killed at least 30 people in the country’s northern regions and caused widespread damage to homes, roads, and bridges. The declaration, made by the head of the National Disaster Management Centre, enables the national government to coordinate relief and response efforts. The hardest-hit areas are the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, though at least three other provinces have also been affected, the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said. Heavy rains have persisted across South Africa and neighboring Mozambique and Zimbabwe for weeks, resulting in severe flooding. Since late last year, more than 100 people have died across the three countries due to the extreme weather. Uganda’s Museveni wins seventh presidential term with 71.65% of vote In northern South Africa, the floods forced the closure of Kruger National Park and the evacuation of hundreds of tourists and staff from inundated camps. The Limpopo provincial premier estimated damages in the province at around $240 million, with numerous homes and buildings washed away. South Africa has faced repeated flooding in recent years, including more than 100 deaths in the Eastern Cape last year and over 400 fatalities in KwaZulu-Natal in 2022.

Indonesian rescuers on Sunday recovered a body while searching for 11 people aboard a plane that crashed in a mountainous area on Sulawesi island. Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of Makassar’s Search and Rescue Office, said the body of a man was found in a ravine about 200 meters (656 feet) deep on the slope of Mount Bulusaraung, near scattered debris from the aircraft. Rescue teams also discovered parts of the plane frame, passenger seats, and visually identified what is believed to be the turboprop ATR 42-500’s engine. The aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, was en route from Yogyakarta on Java to Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, when it disappeared from radar shortly after air traffic control instructed it to correct its approach. Onboard were eight crew members and three passengers from the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry on a maritime surveillance mission. Search efforts have been hampered by strong winds, heavy fog, and steep terrain, with visibility near the summit reportedly around five meters, said Maj. Gen. Bangun Nawoko, South Sulawesi’s military commander. Brig. Gen. Andre Clift Rumbayan, leading specialized search units, said rescuers spotted additional bodies along a steep cliff but could not reach them. Indonesian plane with 11 aboard goes missing; search underway Operations were suspended Sunday night due to darkness and are set to resume Monday morning. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on air and ferry transport and has experienced numerous transportation accidents in recent years, including plane, bus, and ferry crashes.

Syrian government forces on Sunday seized a strategic town and several oil fields in northeastern Syria as part of an ongoing military push against Kurdish-led forces east of the Euphrates River. The advance into Tabqa, in Raqqa province, follows renewed tensions between Damascus and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which erupted earlier this month and led to deadly clashes. During the fighting, government troops also took control of three neighbourhoods in Aleppo previously held by Kurdish fighters. The operation in Tabqa is seen as highly significant due to the presence of a major dam regulating water flow to southern regions under SDF control, as well as a military air base in the town. Associated Press journalists reported seeing residents emerge from their homes to welcome Syrian troops, waving national flags. Government forces were also seen in control of oil fields in Raqqa province that had previously been held by the SDF. Since toppling longtime President Bashar Assad in December 2024, Syria’s new leader President Ahmad al-Sharaa has struggled to consolidate authority nationwide and reassure minority groups wary of the country’s new Islamist-led leadership. The government and the SDF have exchanged accusations of breaching a March agreement aimed at reintegrating northeastern Syria and Kurdish forces into the state. US conducts retaliatory strike in Syria, kills leader linked to deadly IS ambush For years, the SDF controlled large parts of northeastern Syria, including key oil fields, and served as Washington’s main partner in the fight against the Islamic State group. However, since Assad’s removal, the United States has strengthened its ties with Damascus and sought to reduce tensions between the two sides. Washington had called for calm after clashes in Aleppo this month left at least 23 people dead and displaced tens of thousands. Following a ceasefire, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi said on Friday that the group would withdraw its forces east of the Euphrates after al-Sharaa announced steps to strengthen Kurdish rights in Syria. Last week, Syria’s Defence Ministry declared a disputed zone in eastern Aleppo a military area. Government forces now appear to be advancing deeper toward Raqqa, one of the most important SDF-controlled cities in the northeast. Tabqa is the latest mostly Arab-majority area in Raqqa province to fall to government troops. It remains unclear how far the Syrian military intends to push into Kurdish heartland. Syrian state media SANA reported that Kurdish forces blew up a bridge in the city in an apparent attempt to slow the government’s advance. The Syrian government also accused the SDF of executing prisoners in Tabqa before withdrawing. The SDF denied the claim, saying detainees had been transferred elsewhere and accusing government forces of firing on the prison. It released a video showing armed men in civilian clothes inside the facility, though no bodies were visible. An AP reporter who visited two prisons in Tabqa found them empty and saw no bodies inside. However, three bodies in civilian clothing were found at a nearby school. The SDF captured Tabqa from Islamic State militants in 2017 during the campaign to dismantle the group’s self-declared caliphate. Syrian troops move into northern towns after Kurdish fighters pull back Further east, the governor of Deir el-Zour province urged residents to remain indoors following reports of clashes with the SDF. The area, home to the Al-Omar oil field and Conoco gas plant near US troop positions, has long seen tensions between Kurdish authorities and Arab tribes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces have taken control of more than a dozen towns and villages in eastern Deir el-Zour after SDF fighters withdrew.