United News of Bangladesh

More than a dozen Afghan civilians were killed and over 100 others injured as fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan flared again along their shared border early Wednesday, officials said. Hostilities have persisted since Saturday, when dozens died across multiple border regions. Afghanistan claimed it killed 58 Pakistani soldiers overnight in retaliation for repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace, while Pakistan’s military reported 23 troops killed. Wednesday’s clashes began before dawn, according to officials from both sides. Pakistan TV reported that Afghan authorities sought a ceasefire near Chaman, where the fighting was concentrated. Pakistani security officials and state-run media said Afghan forces opened “unprovoked fire” that was repelled in Kurram district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistani forces reportedly killed 30 Afghan Taliban fighters near Khost province, destroyed a major Pakistani Taliban training facility, and inflicted heavy losses. Zabihullah Mujahid, chief Taliban spokesperson in Kabul, accused Pakistan of using light and heavy weapons in assaults on Spin Boldak district in southern Kandahar province. Afghan forces, he said, returned fire, killing several Pakistani soldiers, capturing military posts, and seizing weapons, including tanks. Pakistan’s military rejected the Afghan claims, saying the attacks along the Chaman border were orchestrated by Afghan Taliban fighters without regard for civilians. “The attack was repulsed, and 15 to 20 Taliban fighters were killed, with many others wounded,” the army said. On Tuesday, Pakistan said Afghan Taliban fighters coordinated with the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) in an attempted attack on border posts in Kurram, which was successfully repelled. Witnesses in Chaman reported mortars falling near villages, forcing some families to evacuate. “People living near the border are leaving the area. The fighting must end to prevent further shelling,” said local resident Najibullah Khan. The clashes, which temporarily subsided Sunday following Saudi and Qatari mediation, have kept most border crossings closed. Pakistan accuses Kabul of harboring TTP fighters responsible for deadly attacks inside Pakistan, while the Afghan Taliban deny the allegations, insisting Afghan territory is not used against other countries. Source: AP

Clashes broke out Tuesday between Pakistani and Afghan forces in a remote northwestern border area, with Pakistani state media accusing Afghan troops of opening “unprovoked fire” that was repelled. Pakistani forces responded, reportedly damaging Afghan tanks and military posts, according to Pakistan TV and two security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Tahir Ahrar, deputy police spokesperson in Afghanistan’s Khost province, confirmed the clashes but provided no additional details. This marks the second exchange of fire along the long border this week. Pakistani media reported that Afghan forces, along with Pakistani Taliban fighters, attacked a Pakistani post in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, prompting a “strong response” from Pakistani troops. Officials said Pakistan also destroyed a major Taliban training facility in the area. Afghanistan-Pakistan border closure continues after deadly clashes There was no immediate comment from Pakistan’s military, which has been on high alert since Saturday, when fighting across multiple border regions left dozens dead on both sides. Although the clashes paused on Sunday following appeals from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, all border crossings between the two countries remain closed. Over the weekend, Kabul claimed it targeted several Pakistani military posts, killing 58 soldiers in retaliation for alleged repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace. Pakistan reported 23 military fatalities and said its retaliatory strikes killed more than 200 Taliban and affiliated militants. Tensions have escalated since last week, after the Taliban government accused Pakistan of airstrikes in Kabul and an eastern market—claims denied by Islamabad. Pakistan has previously carried out strikes inside Afghanistan targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts, a group allied but separate from the Afghan Taliban. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering the TTP, responsible for deadly attacks in Pakistan, while Kabul rejects the allegation, insisting it does not allow its territory to be used against other countries. Source: AP

At least 20 people were burned to death when a passenger bus caught fire in northern India’s Rajasthan state on Tuesday, reportedly due to a short circuit, officials said. The bus, carrying between 35 and 50 passengers, had just begun its journey from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur when flames suddenly erupted, said Mahant Pratap Puri, a local lawmaker from the ruling party. “Passengers didn’t get time to deboard the bus as the fire spread quickly,” Puri told The Associated Press. Authorities recovered 19 bodies from the vehicle, while another passenger died on the way to hospital. At least 15 others sustained critical burn injuries and were admitted to a local hospital. The blaze reportedly started about five minutes after the bus left Jaisalmer, when smoke began rising from the rear. The driver stopped the vehicle near a military station, but the fire rapidly engulfed the bus. Landslide in northern India hits bus, kills at least 15 “It was a new bus with a full load of air-conditioning gas and only one entry-exit door. Sadly, those seated at the back couldn’t escape and were burnt alive,” Puri said. Local officials and military personnel rushed to the scene to conduct rescue operations. The Rajasthan government has appealed to families for help identifying victims, with DNA tests planned where necessary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. Sourc: AP

A new study on a 2024 glacial lake outburst flood in the Everest region, published on Tuesday, finds that a ‘devastating, and complex, chain reaction’ of geological and geomorphological factors amplified the destructive power of the flood that decimated the iconic high-altitude trekking village of Thame, in Solokhumbu, Nepal, on 16 August 2024. Thame Valley Glacial Lake Outburst Flood – Causes, Impacts, and Future Risks, authored by risk experts at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Sudan Bikash Maharjan, Tenzing Chogyal Sherpa, and Arun Bhakta Shrestha, confirms that a rock avalanche triggered a powerful displacement wave when it hit a glacial lake at 4,900 metres, causing the lake to breach and releasing 156,000 cubic metres of water. This outflow fell 120 metres, amplifying its erosive power – and hit a second lake, whose moraine-dam then breached, leaving a hole 22-metre high (the height of an eight-storey building) and 51-metre-wide and releasing an additional 303,000 cubic metres of water. The combined waters transformed into a ‘hyper-concentrated flow of slurry’ as they swept downstream, transporting debris, including large boulders, 80km downstream and eroding riverbanks in its path. A natural narrowing of the river channel (downstream of the Thyanbo outwash plain) combined with the draining of a temporary ponding of floodwaters tragically amplified the flood’s erosive force. This went on to cause erosion and landslides, and mobilised large quantities of debris as it moved towards and ultimately covered the entire half-a-kilometre wide valley floor near the Thame Village. The flood caused extensive destruction, including homes, a school, a health post, a bridge, and damaging a hydropower plant, but thanks to the event’s occurrence in daylight and phased nature of the flood due to the ponding, no loss of life. Nepal has seen over 90 GLOFs since the early 1920s, and the Everest region has withstood five significant events in less than 50 years – including the 1985 GLOF of Dig Tsho, which struck the neighbouring valley to the Thame event, wiping away a newly constructed hydropower plant. GLOFs are among the most destructive and prominent hazards in high-mountain regions. Capable of releasing millions of cubic meters of water and debris within hours, they can cause catastrophic damage downstream: unleashing torrents of water that obliterate communities, devastate infrastructure, and permanently reshape landscapes. The accelerating impacts of climate change, particularly in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, are compounding these risks. The HKH, warming at an average of 0.28 degree Celsius per decade, is experiencing unprecedented glacier mass loss, which has increased by 65% in recent decades compared to earlier periods. This rapid glacier retreat has fuelled the proliferation of over 25,000 glacial lakes across the region, spanning the Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Irrawaddy basins. Sudan Bikash Maharjan, Remote Sensing Analyst at ICIMOD and one of the authors of the study said: “The Hindu Kush Himalayas has more than 25,000 glacial lakes and Thame shows us that we need to spend much more effort in understanding and preventing the risks posed by even the relatively smaller lakes. In this case, the additional geological and morphological characteristics of a landscape intensified the impact of this climate-driven event to cause catastrophic damages, though mercifully – with no loss of life.” Study co-author Tenzing Chogyal Sherpa, ICIMOD Cryosphere Analyst, says: “As climate extremes intensify, the Thame flood is both a stark reminder and a moment of reflection, showing how mountain communities are already bearing the brunt of climate-induced disasters. In line with this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction theme on funding resilience, it reinforces the urgent need to invest in preparedness, strengthen scientific understanding, and support the people most at risk. Events like these also serve as crucial moments for understanding and communicating the realities of climate change, reminding us that the mountains are speaking, we just need to listen.” The study outlines several for urgent specific action in Thame itself – such as protecting tension cracks from direct flow or rapid infiltration of flood water, rain or snowmelt, supporting riverbanks from subsidence – as well as the development of a long-term flood risk management plan for the valley. It also advises on the growing urgency to bolster monitoring of high-altitude glaciated regions across the HKH.  The study, launched at an event to mark International Disaster Risk Reduction Day co-hosted by Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA), Government of Nepal, Disaster Preparedness Network-Nepal (DPNet-Nepal), ICIMOD yesterday, was conducted jointly by ICIMOD and Nepal’s NDRRMA, along with partners from the Asian Development Bank and BGC Engineering, and combined satellite analysis, drone surveys, and on-ground geomorphological assessments. Support for the study also came from the District Administration of Solokhumbu, as well as the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee who provided drone footage to help in the technical assessments.  Arun Bhakta Shrestha, Senior Advisor at ICIMOD and study co-author, states, “The Thame case shows that glacial hazards are intensifying as the Hindu Kush Himalaya warms nearly three times faster than the global average. In the last two years alone, we have seen several high-altitude hazards including GLOFs, across the region. This points to two immediate needs: more hydrological and meteorological monitoring stations generating real-time information, and engineering measures including bank protection measures to reduce damages from future events.”  The Thame disaster is the latest in a series of events to reinforce the need to translate cryospheric and disaster related science into actionable policy.  Recently projects like the Building Adaptation and Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (BARHKH) initiative, are also looking into cutting the cost and risk of disasters by helping government prioritise climate-resilient investments. The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region stretches 3,500km across Asia, spanning eight countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Encompassing high-altitude mountain ranges, mid-hills, and plains, the zone is vital for the food, water, and energy security of up to two billion people and is a habitat for countless irreplaceable species. It is also acutely fragile, and vulnerable to the impacts of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

Border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan remained closed for a second day Monday following deadly weekend clashes that heightened tensions and left hundreds stranded, officials said. The fighting erupted Saturday night when Afghan forces attacked multiple Pakistani military posts, claiming to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in retaliation for repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace. Pakistan reported lower losses, saying 23 soldiers were killed while more than 200 “Taliban and affiliated terrorists” were killed during retaliatory strikes. Foreign governments, including Saudi Arabia, called for restraint, and a ceasefire appeared to be holding. No new exchanges of fire were reported along the 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) Durand Line since Sunday. Authorities have not announced when the border might reopen. While the southwestern Chaman crossing remained closed for trade, about 1,500 Afghan nationals stranded there were allowed to return home on foot. The key northwestern Torkham crossing stayed closed to all travel and trade, affecting Afghan refugees and traders. Many stranded refugees returned to Peshawar, waiting for the crossing to reopen. Tensions have escalated after Afghanistan’s Taliban government accused Pakistan of airstrikes in Kabul and eastern Afghan markets last week, which Islamabad did not claim. Both countries have a history of cross-border skirmishes, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants, an allegation denied by Afghanistan.

Chinese coast guard vessels used high-pressure water cannons and rammed an anchored Philippine government ship off a Philippine-held island in the South China Sea on Sunday, slightly damaging the vessel but causing no injuries, the Philippine coast guard said. The incident took place near Thitu Island — locally known as Pag-asa — where Filipino civilians and troops are stationed. The targeted vessel, BRP Datu Pagbuaya, is part of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources fleet that supports local fishermen. Two other Philippine fisheries vessels were also blasted with water cannons during the confrontation, about 1.6 nautical miles (nearly 3 kilometers) from Thitu. No one was hurt and no major damage was reported, coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela told reporters Monday. According to Tarriela, a Chinese coast guard vessel with bow number 21559 first fired its water cannon at Datu Pagbuaya, striking the ship and its flags before ramming its stern three minutes later. The collision caused minor structural damage but left the Filipino crew unharmed. Video released by Manila shows the Chinese ship firing water cannons as the Philippine vessel attempts to move away. Tarriela condemned the actions as “bullying tactics,” adding, “We will not be intimidated or driven away. The Philippines will not surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power.” Tensions rise after Chinese and Philippine ships collide near disputed South China Sea shoal In Beijing, Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said the Philippine ships “illegally entered” waters near Sandy Cay — which China calls Tiexian Reef — and ignored repeated warnings. He said one Philippine vessel “dangerously approached” a Chinese ship, causing a scrape, and blamed the Philippines for “undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea.” The U.S. condemned what it described as “China’s aggressive actions in defiance of international law” and reaffirmed its support for Manila, a treaty ally. U.S. Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson commended the Filipino crew for their “tremendous valor and skill in the face of China’s dangerous ramming and use of water cannons.” Philippine coast guard commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the latest incident would only strengthen the country’s determination to safeguard its waters. “Filipino fisherfolk depend on these seas, and neither water cannons nor ramming will stop us from protecting our territory,” he said. Thitu is the largest of nine features occupied by the Philippines in the Spratly Islands, one of the most hotly contested areas in the South China Sea. China, which claims nearly the entire sea despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling rejecting its claims, has built and fortified seven artificial islands in the region, including Subi Reef, located just over 20 kilometers from Thitu. Source: AP 

Each winter, tens of thousands of black-headed gulls travel from as far as Siberia to Kunming, a city in southwest China’s Yunnan Province famed as the “Spring City.” This year, these regular visitors are greeted not only by local residents but also by high-definition cameras and drones positioned around Dianchi Lake, ready to operate in AI-driven “bird facial recognition” mode. The long-standing connection between the people and these gulls is a unique ecological and cultural hallmark of Kunming. Technology is now reshaping this relationship, as research teams work with institutes and tech companies to deeply integrate artificial intelligence into bird protection, creating an intelligent observation system centered on this innovative identification method. Since October 2022, the Kunming Dianchi Plateau Lake Research Institute has been using an intelligent observation program at a monitoring station near Haigeng Dam. “After two years of continuous tracking, this system revealed that the main flock's arrival in Kunming in 2024 was about 10 days later compared to 2022 and 2023. The system will continue monitoring arrival times and population numbers this year, accumulating crucial data for migratory bird research,” the institute said. Unlike conventional manual observation, the system employs high-definition cameras, drones, microphones, and deep neural network algorithms to identify birds. Features such as plumage, body size, and beak shape act as unique “identity markers,” enabling real-time species recognition, population counts, migration tracking, and the creation of a dynamic Dianchi bird archive. “Previously, manual monitoring of the same area required at least two professional birders for a full day. Now, the AI system accomplishes this in just hours with 90-percent accuracy, while simultaneously recording behavioral data like feeding and roosting,” said Pan Min, deputy director of the institute. Traditional methods relied heavily on human effort, demanded high expertise, and often struggled with consistent accuracy. AI integration is now driving a digital transformation in bird surveys across China. Deployed at several demonstration sites in Kunming, the AI system has identified 17 bird species, building a database with hundreds of thousands of images, videos, and audio recordings. The team has also installed acoustic recognition systems that can identify species such as night herons and magpies by their distinctive calls. According to Zhang Zhizhong, an engineer at the institute, the AI system allows researchers to monitor long-term changes in bird communities, as well as study activity patterns, breeding behavior, and migration routes. This generates essential data for evaluating wetland ecological health and biodiversity. The reliability of “bird facial recognition” technology was validated in a research paper published in the Journal of Environmental Management in May 2025, offering new insights for future biodiversity studies. The use of AI monitoring is now expanding beyond Kunming. In Shuangguihu National Wetland Park in Chongqing, a big data platform employs ultra-high-definition cameras for real-time, multi-target bird detection. Similarly, at the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Shandong Province, an AI system operating since 2022 has recorded over 1,200 birds, including oriental white storks and whooper swans, providing robust data for reserve management. “The use of technological means allows us to understand and protect nature more scientifically and gently,” Zhang said. Zhang added that while minimizing human disturbance, the adoption of AI and intelligent monitoring systems also addresses the limitations of incomplete and inaccurate data in traditional methods, opening new opportunities for biodiversity conservation.

A Chinese coast guard ship fired a powerful water cannon and rammed a Philippine government vessel on Sunday near Thitu island in the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine coast guard reported. The BRP Datu Pagbuaya, part of the fisheries fleet supporting Filipino fishermen, sustained minor damage but no crew injuries. The incident occurred in waters off the Philippines-occupied Thitu island, known locally as Pag-asa, as part of ongoing territorial tensions involving Manila, Beijing, and other claimants. China accused the Philippine vessels of illegally entering what it calls Chinese waters near Sandy Cay and ignoring repeated warnings, claiming it acted to “drive them away in accordance with the law.” The U.S. condemned China’s actions, describing them as violations of international law, and praised the Filipino crew for their “tremendous valor and skill.” Philippine authorities said Pagbuaya and two other Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels were anchored when Chinese coast guard and suspected militia ships approached and staged “dangerous and provocative maneuvers.” The Chinese ship with bow number 21559 fired water at Pagbuaya before ramming its stern, causing minor structural damage. Video released by the Philippine coast guard showed the water cannon hitting the vessel and its flags. Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the incident strengthened the resolve of the Philippines, asserting they would not cede any territory to a foreign power. China’s coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun blamed the Philippines for the clash, claiming the vessels entered Chinese-claimed waters without permission and warned Manila to stop “infringement and harassment.” Thitu is the largest of nine islands in the Spratlys archipelago occupied by the Philippines. The region is heavily contested, with China building artificial islands and military facilities, including Subi reef, just over 20 kilometers from Thitu. The flare-up underscores the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where overlapping claims, strategic trade routes, and military presence continue to provoke disputes between China, the Philippines, and other regional powers.

Ten days after Myanmar’s military recaptured Kyaukme, the town in Shan State remains eerily quiet. Schools have reopened, but the once-bustling market is mostly empty, and vendors shut their stalls at the sight of visiting journalists. An AP reporter, allowed to enter under military supervision—the only foreign media access permitted—saw extensive damage. Official buildings, including the courthouse, police station, and government housing, were burned, and much of the area around the hospital was destroyed, forcing operations to relocate temporarily to a nearby Chinese temple. Civilian homes were largely intact, though most of the town’s 46,000 residents had fled. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which previously controlled Kyaukme, accused the army of destruction via airstrikes and heavy weapons, while military forces blamed the militia for damage during their retreat. Kyaukme, strategically located on the highway connecting central Myanmar to China, has been fiercely contested. Captured by the TNLA in August 2024, it fell back to the military government on Oct. 1 after three weeks of fighting—a major victory ahead of elections later this year, which critics say will neither be free nor fair. The route to Kyaukme from nearby towns shows buildings damaged by bombs and gunfire. Army checkpoints are stationed every 500–1,000 meters, and unexploded ordnance, including mortar shells, remains in some areas. Authorities have blocked journalists from entering parts of the town deemed unsafe. Locals say only a small fraction of residents have returned, fearing proximity to the front line, with TNLA forces reported just 32 kilometers away. Many fled during the fighting last year, while those who remained did so out of necessity. A motorbike taxi driver said residents are unlikely to return until surrounding towns are secured. Kyaukme’s destruction reflects the broader devastation of Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, as both the military and ethnic militias continue to vie for territory.

Afghanistan on Sunday claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and captured 25 army posts in overnight operations along the border, accusing Islamabad of repeated violations of its territory and airspace. The announcement came days after Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing the capital Kabul and a market in eastern Afghanistan. Pakistan has not claimed responsibility for those attacks. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference in Kabul that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 others wounded during the operations. “The situation on all official borders and de facto lines of Afghanistan is under complete control, and illegal activities have been largely prevented,” he said. There was no immediate confirmation from Pakistan regarding casualties. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said its forces carried out “retaliatory and successful operations” in response to cross-border violations. “If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, our armed forces are fully prepared to defend the nation’s borders and will deliver a strong response,” the ministry warned. Heavy clashes were reported Saturday night in several northwestern border districts of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including Chitral, Bajaur, Mohmand, Angoor Adda, and Kurram, according to a senior Pakistani security official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Pakistani forces reportedly responded with heavy shelling near Tirah in Khyber district and across the frontier in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. The Torkham and Chaman crossings—two major trade routes between the neighboring countries—remained closed on Sunday morning. Before Kabul’s claim of casualties, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had said the army “gave a befitting reply to Afghanistan’s provocations and destroyed several of their posts, forcing them to retreat.” Pakistan has previously carried out strikes inside Afghanistan, targeting what it says are hideouts of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad accuses Afghan authorities of harboring TTP members involved in deadly attacks inside Pakistan, a claim Kabul denies. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia urged both sides to exercise restraint. In a statement Saturday night, its foreign ministry called for “dialogue and wisdom to de-escalate tensions and maintain regional stability.” The two countries share a 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) border known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has never officially recognized.   Source: AP