United News of Bangladesh

Heavy snowfall across northern Japan over the past two weeks has claimed at least 35 lives nationwide, according to government officials, as weather authorities warned that more snow is expected in the coming days. Many of the deaths were linked to snow-related accidents, including sudden heart attacks, falls from rooftops and slips while clearing snow. So far, 15 prefectures have been affected, with snow levels in the hardest-hit areas reaching as high as two meters (about 6.5 feet). Niigata Prefecture reported the highest number of fatalities, with 12 deaths. Among them was a man in his 50s who was found collapsed on the roof of his home in Uonuma city on January 21. In another incident, a man in his 70s in Nagaoka city was discovered unconscious outside his house and later died in hospital. Local officials believe he fell while removing snow from his roof. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara cautioned that risks may increase even as temperatures begin to rise. Melting snow could trigger landslides and create slippery conditions, he said. Urging people to take extra care, Kihara advised wearing helmets and using safety ropes when clearing snow. Special task forces have been deployed in Niigata and nearby areas since the heavy snowfall began on January 20. Elsewhere, seven snow-related deaths were reported in Akita Prefecture and five in Yamagata Prefecture. Across the country, 393 people have been injured, including 126 seriously. Niigata alone accounted for 42 serious injuries. Authorities also reported damage to 14 homes, with most cases recorded in Niigata and Aomori prefectures. Florida braces for frost and possible snow flurries as winter storms hit other parts of the US While the exact cause of the unusually heavy snowfall remains unclear, such accidents are not rare during Japan’s winter months. Last year, 68 snow-related deaths were recorded over a six-month winter period, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Weather officials have forecast more heavy snow for the coming weekend and are urging residents to stay alert and prioritize safety.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya has said the government is working closely with international partners to position Sri Lanka as a credible and reliable destination for sustainable and inclusive development, investment and tourism in South Asia. She made the remarks while addressing the inauguration of the South Asia Regional Conference of the World Federation of Consuls (FICAC) 2026 in Colombo as the chief guest. The three-day conference is being hosted by the Association of Consuls in Sri Lanka under the aegis of FICAC, reports Daily FT, a Sri Lankan daily. It has brought together more than 60 diplomats, business leaders and policymakers from across the region to strengthen cooperation and explore new pathways for sustainable development in South Asia. In her address, the prime minister said the choice of Sri Lanka as the host country is significant at a time when the government is intensifying engagement with international partners to rebuild confidence and reinforce the country’s standing as a dependable partner in the region. She also highlighted Sri Lanka’s vulnerability to climate change, referring to the recent impact of Cyclone Ditwah, and expressed appreciation for the support extended by international partners. Stressing that climate change is a global challenge, she said it requires collective action, shared responsibility and innovative solutions. Dr Amarasuriya further outlined the government’s ongoing efforts to improve public sector efficiency, transparency and accountability, strengthen national unity and respect for diversity, and advance digital governance to improve service delivery and public trust. She said the government is addressing economic, social and environmental challenges through a clear policy framework, with a focus on economic stability through fiscal discipline, sustainable debt management and productivity-enhancing reforms, alongside stronger social protection for the most vulnerable. Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Adviser Vijitha Herath, speaking as guest of honour, said the government is committed to promoting Sri Lanka as a sustainable tourism destination on the global stage while positioning the country as a stable and reliable international partner. Organised under the auspices of FICAC, the global body supporting consular practice and international cooperation, the conference aims to facilitate policy dialogue, business matchmaking and capacity building in support of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and foreign relations objectives. The conference programme noted that honorary consuls play a key role in translating diplomatic goals into practical partnerships, adding that FICAC and national consular associations are working to professionalise the role through expanded training and stronger public-private cooperation. Delegates are scheduled to attend a series of presentations on Sri Lanka on Tuesdayincluding sessions on rebuilding the country, foreign direct investment opportunities, the current economic outlook and future direction, and export prospects.

South Asia Regional Conference of the World Federation of Consuls (FICAC) has begun in Colombo, underscoring Sri Lanka’s growing profile as a regional centre for diplomacy, trade and tourism. Held under the auspices of FICAC, the global organisation that promotes consular practice and international cooperation, the conference aims to foster policy dialogue, business networking and capacity building in support of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and foreign policy priorities. President of the Association of Consuls in Sri Lanka Mahen Kariyawasan said hosting the conference in Colombo reflects renewed global confidence in Sri Lanka and offers a unique opportunity to attract investment, boost tourism and strengthen regional partnerships, reports Daily FT, a Sri Lankan daily. He said the programme, which includes business forums, networking events and cultural activities, is designed to turn diplomatic engagement into tangible economic gains. FICAC is currently led by Nikolaos (Nikos) K. Margaropoulos, Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Thessaloniki, Greece. Conference organisers said honorary consuls play a vital role as connectors between diplomacy and real-world cooperation, helping translate policy intent into practical partnerships. FICAC and national consular associations are jointly working to professionalise the role through expanded training and clearer public-private collaboration frameworks. The conference is anchored by two major ceremonial events. The opening ceremony today brings together senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and international delegates, signalling renewed regional commitment to cooperation. A farewell gala dinner on February 3 will conclude the gathering, providing space for informal diplomacy and cultural exchange. Organisers said the meeting is expected to leave behind concrete outcomes, including the formation of follow-up working groups on investment, a regional best-practice toolkit for consuls, and a schedule of bilateral missions aimed at turning discussions into projects. A summary of outcomes and an action plan for 2026 are expected to be published by the end of February.Participants highlighted the role of honorary consuls in facilitating business connections, promoting cultural and tourism exchanges, and providing essential citizen services and local insights that strengthen crisis response and consular outreach.            

Pakistani police and military forces killed over a 100 “Indian-backed terrorists ” in counterterrorism operations across the restive southwestern province of Balochistan over the past 40 hours, government officials said on Sunday, a day after coordinated suicide and gun attacks killed 33 people, mostly civilians. The raids began early Saturday at multiple locations across Balochistan, and left 18 civilians, including five women and three children, and 15 security personnel dead, authorities said. Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial chief minister, told reporters in Quetta that troops and police officers responded swiftly, killing 145 members of “ Fitna al-Hindustan,” a phrase the government uses for the allegedly Indian-backed outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA. The number of militants killed over the past two days was the highest in decades, he said. “The bodies of these 145 killed terrorists are in our custody, and some of them are Afghan nationals,” he said. Bugti claimed that the ”Indian-backed terrorists" wanted to take hostages but failed to make it to the city center. He spoke alongside senior government official Hamza Shafqat, who often oversees such operations against insurgents in the province, and praised the military, police and paramilitary forces for repelling the assaults. Militant attacks erupted on Saturday in a resource-rich region where Pakistan is seeking to attract foreign investment in mining and minerals. In September 2025, a U.S. metals company signed a $500 million investment agreement with Pakistan, a month after the U.S. State Department designated BLA and its armed wing as a foreign terrorist organization. Residents described scenes of panic after a suicide bombing killed several police officers on Saturday. "(It) was a very scary day in the history of Quetta,” said Khan Muhammad, a local resident. “Armed men were roaming openly on the roads before security forces arrived.” Bugti repeatedly accused India and Afghanistan of backing the assailants and said senior leaders of the BLA, which claimed responsibility for the latest attacks in Balochistan, were operating from Afghan territory. Both Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegations. He said on Sunday Afghanistan’s Taliban had pledged under the 2020 Doha agreement not to allow Afghan soil to be used as a base for attacking other countries, but “unfortunately, the Afghan soil was still being used against Pakistan.” Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have persisted since early October when Pakistan carried out airstrikes on what it described as Pakistani Taliban hideouts inside Afghanistan, killing dozens of alleged insurgents. Bugti said militants stormed the home of a Baloch laborer in Gwadar and killed five women and three children. He condemned the killings. He said the attackers had planned to seize hostages after storming government offices in Quetta’s high-security zone but were thwarted. “We were aware of their plans, and our forces were prepared,” he said. The BLA is banned in Pakistan and has carried out numerous attacks in recent years, often targeting security forces, Chinese interests and infrastructure projects. Authorities say the group has operated with support from the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The TTP, a separate group, is allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban, who returned to power in August 2021. Balochistan has long faced a separatist insurgency by ethnic Baloch groups seeking greater autonomy or independence from Pakistan’s central government. The BLA regularly targets Pakistani security forces and has also attacked civilians, including Chinese nationals among the thousands working on various projects in the province.

India on Friday firmly rejected any insinuation of wrongdoing after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name appeared in a reference contained in newly released files from the United States Department of Justice related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Responding to media reports, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said an email cited in the so-called Epstein files mentioned the Prime Minister only in connection with his official visit to Israel in July 2017. He stressed that apart from that fact, the rest of the claims were unfounded and should be treated with complete contempt. Modi’s 2017 trip was historic, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel since the two countries established full diplomatic relations in 1992, reports NDTV. The clarification came hours after the US Justice Department made public a massive new set of records linked to Epstein, as part of renewed disclosures aimed at revealing what authorities knew about his crimes and his contacts with powerful figures. Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the latest release includes more than three million pages of documents, over 2,000 videos and around 180,000 images. Officials noted that some of the material had been withheld from an initial release in December. The disclosures are being made under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed following sustained political and public pressure. The law mandates the release of government records not only on Epstein but also on his longtime associate and former partner Ghislaine Maxwell. Nepal receives 2nd tranche of election-related assistance from India Epstein was found dead in a New York jail in August 2019, about a month after being charged with federal sex trafficking offences. Authorities later ruled his death a suicide.

A wave of coordinated suicide bombings and gun attacks across Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province killed at least 33 people on Saturday, while security forces killed 92 militants in retaliatory operations, the military said. Among the dead were 18 civilians and 15 members of the security forces. Officials described the violence as one of the deadliest single days for militants in the province in decades. Authorities said a total of 133 militants have been killed in Balochistan over the past 48 hours. The attacks targeted civilians as well as police stations, a high-security prison and paramilitary installations in several districts. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, releasing propaganda videos that showed female fighters taking part in the assaults. Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said the attacks began almost simultaneously, prompting authorities to declare an emergency at hospitals. In Quetta, two police officers were killed when a grenade hit a police vehicle. In Mastung district, militants stormed a prison and freed more than 30 inmates, police said. Security forces repelled attempts to overrun paramilitary headquarters in Nushki district and thwarted attacks on posts in several other areas. In coastal districts including Pasni and Gwadar, militants tried to abduct bus passengers on highways, but police said those attempts failed. Rail services from Balochistan to other parts of the country were suspended after insurgents damaged tracks. Israeli strikes kill 30 in Gaza amid ceasefire push Pakistan’s military and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi alleged the attackers were backed by India, a claim New Delhi has repeatedly denied. Pakistan also accused militants of using Afghan territory to launch attacks, which Kabul has rejected. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said security forces are pursuing remaining militants and claimed hundreds have been killed over the past year. Analysts said the scale of militant casualties in a single day was unprecedented. Balochistan has long faced a separatist insurgency, while violence by militant groups, including allies of the Pakistani Taliban, has surged nationwide in recent months.

Afghanistan border police have detained more than 130 individuals suspected of smuggling, forgery, and other criminal activities during over 100 targeted operations over the past six months, local media Tolo News reported Saturday. The operations were conducted across multiple provinces along Afghanistan’s borders to disrupt cross-border criminal networks, prevent the smuggling of contraband, and strengthen national security. Most of the arrests were linked to organized smuggling rings and document forgery, which officials say pose serious challenges to law enforcement and public safety. The Afghan government stressed that these ongoing border security measures are part of broader efforts to maintain law and order, combat crime, and protect citizens.

At least 10 members of Pakistan’s security forces were killed and dozens of insurgents died as armed groups launched nearly a dozen coordinated attacks across the country’s southern Balochistan province early Saturday, targeting prisons, police stations and paramilitary facilities, officials said. Authorities said gunmen armed with firearms and grenades struck multiple high-security sites almost simultaneously, triggering fierce gunbattles. Security forces killed at least 37 attackers while repelling most of the assaults. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the deaths of 10 security personnel in a statement, while praising the response by law enforcement agencies. He said forces came under attack at several locations but managed to eliminate dozens of militants. Naqvi alleged the violence was carried out by Indian-backed “Fitna al-Hindustan,” a term the government uses to describe the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, along with other separatist groups. Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the Balochistan government, said the majority of the attacks were thwarted. The assaults came a day after the military announced that security forces had raided two militant hideouts elsewhere in the southwest this week, killing 41 insurgents in separate operations. Police and government officials said attackers also sabotaged railway tracks, forcing Pakistan Railways to suspend train services linking Balochistan with other parts of the country. Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said the attacks began almost at the same time across the province. In Quetta, the provincial capital, two police officers were killed when militants hurled a grenade at a police vehicle. Following the violence, the government declared an emergency at all hospitals. In Mastung district, dozens of insurgents stormed a prison and freed more than 30 inmates, police said. In Nushki district, militants attempted to overrun the provincial headquarters of paramilitary forces, but the attack was repelled. Local officials said attackers also threw grenades at the office of a government administrator in Dalbandin district, though security forces responded swiftly and forced them to retreat. Assaults on security posts in Balincha, Tump and Kharan districts were foiled, while in Pasni and Gwadar, militants attempted to abduct passengers from buses traveling along highways. Kakar blamed the wave of violence on the BLA, which is banned in Pakistan and designated a terrorist organization by the United States. Islamabad has long accused the group of receiving backing from India, a charge New Delhi has denied. Pakistan has also repeatedly said that Baloch separatists, the Pakistani Taliban and other militants operate from Afghan soil to carry out attacks inside the country, an allegation Kabul rejects. Attacks by Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, have surged in recent months. The TTP is a separate organization but maintains close ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban, who returned to power in August 2021. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has for decades been plagued by an insurgency led by separatist groups seeking independence from the central government in Islamabad.

The second tranche of election-related assistance from India was gifted to Nepal, in presence of Minister for Finance of Nepal Rameshore Prasad Khanal. Charge d’affaires Dr. Rakesh Pandey, ceremonially handed over more than 250 vehicles to the government of Nepal, in a ceremony held in the Ministry of Finance in Kathmandu on January 29. These supplies are a part of the assistance sought by the government of Nepal, in connection with preparations for the upcoming elections in the country. In his remarks, Finance Minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal mentioned the longstanding cooperation and friendly ties between India and Nepal. He also thanked the Government and people of India for the supplies and appreciated their significance in preparations for upcoming elections. Ambassador to Nepal attends Bangladesh Medical Education Fair in Kathmandu The first tranche of such election-related assistance by the Government of India, was handed over to Nepal on January 20. More deliveries are expected to take place in batches in the coming weeks. The ongoing cooperation and support from the Indian side is not only an apt reflection of the multi-faceted and multi-sectoral development partnership that exists between both countries, but also symbolizes the deep mutual trust and friendship between the people of India and Nepal, said a media release.

An unmarried couple in Indonesia’s Aceh province has been publicly caned a total of 140 times after being found guilty of having intercourse outside marriage and consuming alcohol, offences under the region’s Islamic Sharia law. Local authorities said the 21-year-old woman collapsed and briefly lost consciousness during the punishment, which officials described as the highest number of lashes carried out in a single public caning session in the province. She was struck by female officers using a rattan cane and was later taken away by ambulance after fainting. The man involved was also caned as part of the punishment. The couple were punished on Thursday along with four others convicted of violating Sharia law, including an officer from Aceh’s Islamic police force. Under Aceh’s Islamic criminal code, intercourse outside marriage is punishable by up to 100 lashes, while alcohol consumption carries a sentence of 40 lashes. The punishments are typically carried out in public and remain common in the deeply conservative province. The Islamic police officer was caned 23 times, along with his female partner, for being alone together in a private location. Authorities said the officer would be dismissed from service. Human rights groups have long criticised public caning in Aceh, calling it cruel and degrading. Azharul Husna, Aceh coordinator for Indonesian rights group Kontras, said the punishments are not properly regulated and stressed the need for better safeguards and post-punishment care for those subjected to caning. Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia that formally enforces Sharia law, which allows for public corporal punishment for a range of offences.   With inputs from BBC