United News of Bangladesh

Rescue operations resumed Monday after a devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, leaving more than 800 people dead, according to preliminary figures from the UN’s humanitarian agency. The quake, centered in the remote and mountainous Kunar province, has flattened villages and trapped many under the rubble. Officials warned the death toll could rise sharply as rescue efforts are being hampered by blocked roads, forcing helicopters to deliver aid and reach survivors. Daniel Endres, the UN’s lead coordinator in Afghanistan, told the BBC that hot meals and blankets were being prepared for affected families. The Taliban has appealed for international assistance, while the United Kingdom announced £1 million in relief support, clarifying that the funds would not be handled by the Taliban. The quake struck at a shallow depth of just 8 kilometers (5 miles), making it particularly destructive. Tremors were felt as far away as the Afghan capital Kabul and Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.

A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing at least 800 people and injuring more than 2,500, according to the Taliban government. Survivors spent the night digging through rubble with their bare hands, searching for family members trapped beneath collapsed homes. The 6.0-magnitude quake hit around 11:47 p.m. and was centered 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, at a shallow depth of 8 kilometers — increasing its destructive impact. Several aftershocks followed. The hardest-hit areas were in Kunar province, where entire villages were leveled. Footage from the scene showed chaotic rescue efforts, with injured victims being carried from the debris and airlifted to hospitals. At a press briefing Monday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the rising toll and said most fatalities were in Kunar. He vowed that all available resources would be used for rescue operations. Many of the buildings in the affected areas were poorly constructed, especially in rural villages where mud bricks and wood are commonly used. One resident of Nurgal district said his entire village had collapsed. “Children, the elderly, young people — all are under the rubble,” he said, pleading for urgent help. In mountainous eastern Afghanistan, where communication is limited and roads are rough, rescue efforts have been complicated. Dozens of emergency flights have operated out of Nangarhar Airport to transport the wounded. One survivor, Sadiqullah from Maza Dara, described being trapped under debris after saving three of his children. His wife and two sons died, and his father was injured. “It felt like the entire mountain was shaking,” he said from a hospital bed in Nangarhar. Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said casualty figures may rise as reports continue to come in from remote areas. Medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar, and Kabul have been deployed. Jalalabad, near the epicenter and close to the Pakistan border, is a major trade hub with a large metropolitan population and significant agricultural activity. It remained on high alert following the quake. The tremor was also felt in parts of Pakistan, including Islamabad, though no casualties were reported there. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences and said his country was ready to assist. The latest disaster comes less than two years after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan in October 2023, killing thousands. That quake was the deadliest in recent Afghan history, with the Taliban estimating 4,000 dead, while the UN put the toll closer to 1,500.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday committed to resolving border disputes and enhancing cooperation as they met ahead of a regional summit in Tianjin. Modi’s trip marks his first visit to China since deadly border clashes in 2020 strained relations between the two nations. He is attending in connection with India’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional political, economic, and security bloc founded by China. In his opening remarks, Modi said ties with China have moved in “a meaningful direction,” noting there is now “a peaceful environment at the borders after disengagement." He also stressed “the importance of peace and tranquillity on the border areas for continued development of bilateral relations,” according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Xi, meanwhile, said he hoped the meeting would “further elevate” and “promote the sustained, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations,” state broadcaster CCTV reported. He added that the two sides should “not let the border issue define the overall China-India relationship," emphasizing that economic growth must be their focus. “As long as they remain committed to the overarching goal of being partners, not rivals, and providing development opportunities, not threats, China-India relations will flourish and move forward steadily," Xi said. Russian President Vladimir Putin also arrived in Tianjin on Sunday and is expected to meet with both leaders in the coming days. The talks follow Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi earlier in August, during which both sides pledged to resume border negotiations, reintroduce visas, and restart direct flights. Wang’s trip coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, but India had already been working to mend ties with Beijing. On Sunday, Modi underlined that “India and China both pursue strategic autonomy, and their relations should not be seen through a third country lens,” according to India’s foreign ministry. This year, both governments have increased official exchanges and discussed easing trade and border restrictions. In June, Beijing allowed Indian pilgrims to visit holy sites in Tibet.

A powerful earthquake near Afghanistan’s eastern border with Pakistan leveled villages and caused widespread destruction late Sunday, leaving at least 250 people dead and 500 injured, officials said. Authorities warned the toll could climb as rescue teams reached affected areas. The 6.0 magnitude quake struck at 11:47 p.m. in Kunar province, about 27 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad in neighboring Nangarhar province, at a shallow depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Shallow quakes typically cause greater damage. The Kunar Disaster Management Authority reported that the worst-hit districts were Nur Gul, Soki, Watpur, Manogi and Chapadare. “Rescue operations are still underway there, and several villages have been completely destroyed. The figures for martyrs and injured are changing. Medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar and the capital Kabul have arrived in the area,” said Sharafat Zaman, a spokesman for the ministry of public health. He noted that many areas had yet to provide casualty figures and that “the numbers were expected to change” as reports came in. Jalalabad, a major trading hub near the Pakistan border with around 300,000 residents, is surrounded by vulnerable rural communities where homes are often built of mud bricks and wood. The region is also known for agriculture, including citrus and rice farming, sustained by the Kabul River. Afghanistan has a history of devastating quakes. On Oct. 7, 2023, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake killed thousands. The Taliban government estimated about 4,000 deaths, while the U.N. put the figure closer to 1,500, making it one of the country’s deadliest recent disasters.   

An enraged mob torched a local parliament building in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province, leaving at least three people dead and five others injured, officials said Saturday. The blaze broke out late Friday in Makassar, the provincial capital. Television footage showed the council building engulfed in flames, turning the night sky a glowing orange. By morning, rescuers had recovered three bodies, while five people were hospitalized with burns or injuries after leaping from the building, said local disaster official Fadli Tahar. The violence spread to other cities. In West Java’s Bandung, protesters also set fire to a regional parliament building, though no casualties were reported. In Surabaya, the country’s second-largest city, demonstrators stormed the regional police headquarters after torching vehicles and tearing down fences. Security forces responded with tear gas and water cannons, as protesters fought back using fireworks and wooden clubs. Foreign embassies in Jakarta — including those of the United States, Australia, and several Southeast Asian nations — have urged their citizens to avoid protests and crowded public areas. Calm returned to much of the capital by Saturday as authorities cleared the wreckage of torched police offices, buses, and cars. The unrest, however, continued elsewhere, following five days of nationwide protests sparked by revelations that all 580 lawmakers receive a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075) on top of their salaries. The allowance, nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage, has fueled anger amid rising unemployment, soaring taxes, and mounting living costs. Public fury deepened after the death of 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan, who was reportedly struck and killed by a police armored vehicle while delivering food in Jakarta on Thursday. A video of the incident went viral, sparking outrage against security forces. Witnesses said a police vehicle from the Mobile Brigade sped through a crowd of protesters, ran over Kurniawan, and failed to stop. In Bali, hundreds of ride-hailing drivers and students staged a rare solidarity protest on Saturday, demanding police reform and the release of detainees. Marching toward the regional police headquarters, they clashed with riot police who fired tear gas, while protesters hurled rocks, bottles, and flares. Violent demonstrations also flared across multiple cities on Friday, including Medan, Solo, Yogyakarta, Magelang, Malang, Bengkulu, Pekanbaru, and Manokwari in Papua. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said nearly 950 people were arrested in Jakarta by Thursday alone. Authorities reported that about 25 police officers were hospitalized with serious injuries, though Komnas HAM believes civilian casualties are much higher. Amnesty International condemned the government’s response, accusing it of stifling free expression through excessive force. “No one should lose their lives for exercising their right to protest,” said Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia. “The authorities must immediately and unconditionally release anyone detained solely for exercising their rights.”

Japan will deploy its domestically developed long-range missiles a year earlier than planned, the Defense Ministry announced Friday, as it strengthens its strike-back capability amid rising regional security challenges. The first batch of Type-12 anti-ship missiles, with a range of about 1,000 kilometers, will be installed at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto by March 2026, the ministry said. Japan is enhancing its military self-sufficiency to counter China’s growing naval presence and rising tensions from North Korea and Russia. In June, Japan observed two Chinese aircraft carriers operating near its southern islands simultaneously for the first time. The move marks a shift from Japan’s post-World War II self-defense policy. A 2022 security strategy highlighted China as the main threat and called for a closer Japan-U.S. alliance and expanded roles for the Self-Defense Forces. Military spending is set to rise to 2% of GDP by 2027. Japan also plans to deploy U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles this year and expand unmanned air, sea, and underwater drones for coastal surveillance.

Rescuers in Pakistan are racing to evacuate tens of thousands stranded by floods in eastern Punjab province, with many still lacking food and medical care as authorities struggle to deliver aid. The floods began Monday after heavy rains forced sudden water releases from Indian dams on the Sutlej, Chenab and Ravi rivers, the worst deluge in the region in 40 years. Nearly 300,000 people have been evacuated and more than 1 million affected, said Irfan Ali Kathia of the Punjab Disaster Management Authority. At least 20 people have died in Punjab this week, raising the nationwide toll to 820 since late June. Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir visited flood-hit Narowal district Friday to oversee rescue operations. Officials said around 1,100 relief and medical camps are operating, with more being set up. Floodwaters have inundated villages near Lahore, sparking fears for the city. Authorities breached embankments along the Chenab River to ease pressure, but the National Disaster Management Authority warned rivers remain dangerously high and more rain could worsen the crisis. Displaced families say they urgently need food and medicine. Aid workers report widespread infections, diarrhea, and malaria in submerged villages. Livestock are also falling sick due to lack of fodder and veterinary care. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif pledged compensation for losses to homes, crops, and livestock, saying the priority is saving lives and delivering aid. The disaster highlights Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change. In neighboring India, nearly 100 people have died in flood-hit Kashmir.

Protests erupted in multiple cities and tensions soared across Indonesia on Friday, a day after a delivery rider was allegedly run over by a police armored vehicle during clashes between riot police and students protesting against lawmakers' allowances. Protesters marched to the headquarters of the police mobile brigade in the capital Jakarta on Friday, and some attempted to storm the compound. Police used water canons and fired rounds of tear gas to push back the demonstrators, who hurled bottles, rocks and flares at them. One group of rioters set fire to a five-story building near the police compound in Kwitang neighborhood of central Jakarta, causing several people to be trapped inside. Some students halted their protests to help soldiers and residents rescue those trapped. Other protesters destroyed traffic signs and other infrastructure, causing traffic to come to a standstill in the area. Clashes between rock-throwing demonstrators and riot police also broke out in other cities across the country, including Surabaya, Solo, Yogyakarta, Medan, Makassar, Manado, Bandung and Manokwari in the easternmost Papua region. The unrest came after a video on social media apparently showing the death of the motorcycle taxi driver during Thursday's clashes shocked the nation and spurred an outcry against the security forces. The victim, identified as 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, was reportedly completing a food delivery service order when he was caught in the clash following days of violent demonstrations. Witnesses told local television that the armored car from the National Police’s Mobile Brigade unit suddenly sped through the crowd of demonstrators and hit Kurniawan, causing him to fall. Instead of stopping, the car ran over him. Thousands of motorcycle riders, along with rights activists and politicians, paid their respects to the Kurniawan on Friday during his burial. They filled a major traffic circle in the heart of the city and sprawled into its main thoroughfares. President Prabowo Subianto appealed for calm and expressed condolences in a televised speech. “I am deeply concerned and deeply saddened by this incident,” Subianto said. “I was shocked and disappointed by the officers’ excessive actions.” The former general said he has been closely monitoring developments surrounding the protests, and said he has ordered a thorough investigation. He called on people “to remain vigilant against elements that constantly stir up unrest and seek chaos.” “In a situation like this, I urge all citizens to remain calm and trust in the government I lead, which will do what’s best for the people,” Subianto said. Authorities confirmed that seven members of the police motor brigade who were linked to the incident have been detained and questioned, though the driver of the armored vehicle has not yet been identified. Nationwide protests began on Monday after reports revealed that all 580 lawmakers received a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075) in addition to their salaries. The allowance, introduced last year, is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage. Critics argue the new allowance is not only excessive but also insensitive at a time when most people are grappling with soaring living costs and taxes and rising unemployment.  

Suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra testified in court Thursday over allegations she breached ethics laws in handling a border dispute with Cambodia — a case that could cost her the premiership. Paetongtarn, daughter of ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, is accused of failing to defend Thailand’s interests during a June 15 phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Weeks later, five days of border clashes killed dozens and displaced over 260,000 people. Critics said she appeased Hun Sen, referring to him as “uncle,” while criticizing a Thai general. The leaked call sparked uproar, though Paetongtarn insisted it was a negotiating tactic. The Constitutional Court suspended her on July 1 pending a ruling. Her testimony Thursday was given behind closed doors. Meanwhile, Thaksin faces a court verdict Friday in a monarchy insult case tied to a 2015 interview, carrying up to 15 years in jail. The billionaire, ousted in 2006, returned in 2023 after years abroad and received a royal pardon.

Torrential monsoon rains have unleashed deadly flash floods and landslides across Pakistan and Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing at least 34 people and displacing more than 210,000 in Pakistan, officials said Wednesday. In Indian-controlled Kashmir’s Jammu region, a landslide struck a popular Hindu pilgrimage route near Katra late Tuesday, burying devotees en route to a hilltop shrine. Disaster management official Mohammed Irshad said bodies were pulled from the debris, while at least 18 injured pilgrims were taken to hospitals. Rescue teams were searching for the missing, and pilgrimages were suspended. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province has been inundated by swollen rivers following relentless downpours. Lt. Gen. Inam Haider, head of the National Disaster Management Authority, said the military was assisting in evacuations and relief operations. Two soldiers were killed while helping flood victims, army officials confirmed. Authorities said the flooding submerged the revered shrine of Guru Nanak, the Sikh religion’s founder, in Narowal district. Late Wednesday, a controlled breach was carried out on the Chenab River to protect a barrage from collapse, diverting water into nearby villages. Thousands of people watched from higher ground as their homes were submerged. More than 20,000 people were evacuated overnight from flood-prone areas outside Lahore, as rising waters from the Ravi River threatened Pakistan’s second-largest city, officials said. Over 150 still missing after deadly flash floods in Northwestern Pakistan Rescue efforts are also ongoing in six Punjab districts, where heavy rainfall and water released from Indian dams have swamped low-lying areas. Officials warned that floodwaters in the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers are still rising. Pakistan has been hit hard this monsoon season, with floods killing more than 800 people since late June. Scientists warn climate change is intensifying rainfall across South Asia, raising fears of a repeat of the 2022 disaster that inundated a third of Pakistan and killed nearly 1,800. India alerted Pakistan earlier this week about potential cross-border flooding, marking the first public official contact between the rivals in months. Source: Agency