United News of Bangladesh

A passenger ferry carrying more than 350 people sank early Monday off an island in the southern Philippines, leaving at least 15 people dead while hundreds were rescued, officials said. The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, an inter-island cargo and passenger vessel, was traveling from Zamboanga City to Jolo island in Sulu province with 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it developed technical problems and went down shortly after midnight, according to the coast guard. The ferry sank in calm weather about one nautical mile from the village of Baluk-baluk in Basilan province. Many survivors were initially brought ashore there, coast guard commander Romel Dua told the Associated Press. Dua said a coast guard safety officer on board the ferry was able to alert authorities before the vessel sank. The officer survived, prompting an immediate deployment of rescue assets. Coast guard and navy ships, fishing boats, a surveillance aircraft and an air force Black Hawk helicopter joined the search and rescue operation off Basilan, officials said. Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman said dozens of passengers were taken to Isabela City, the provincial capital. He confirmed that two bodies were recovered there. The coast guard said at least 316 people had been rescued as of Monday, with search operations continuing. The cause of the sinking was not immediately known, and an investigation has been ordered. Officials said the ferry had passed inspection before departure and showed no signs of overloading. Maritime accidents are frequent in the Philippines, often blamed on poor vessel maintenance, overcrowding and weak enforcement of safety rules.

Heavy snowfall and rainfall over the last three days have left at least 61 people dead and more than 110 injured across Afghanistan, disaster management officials said on Saturday, as rescue efforts were hampered by blocked roads and isolated villages. According to National Disaster Management Authority spokesman Yousaf Hammad, the extreme weather has fully or partially damaged 458 houses and killed hundreds of livestock in 15 of the country’s 34 provinces. He added that the casualty figures could rise as more information becomes available from affected areas. Afghanistan remains highly exposed to extreme weather, with heavy rain and snow frequently triggering flash floods that claim dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of lives. In 2024 alone, spring floods killed more than 300 people nationwide. The impact of such disasters has been intensified by decades of war, fragile infrastructure, economic hardship, widespread deforestation and the growing effects of climate change. Remote regions are particularly at risk, as many homes are made of mud and provide little protection against severe weather. Read More: Winter storms dump snow and ice across New England Eastern Afghanistan is also still recovering from powerful earthquakes that struck in late August and again in November last year, destroying entire villages and killing more than 2,200 people. People displaced by the earthquakes are especially vulnerable to harsh winter conditions. In December, UNICEF warned that about 270,000 children in quake-affected areas faced a serious risk of life-threatening cold-related illnesses. Earlier this month, the United Nations said Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026. The UN and its partners have launched a $1.7 billion appeal to provide emergency assistance to nearly 18 million people in need.

At least seven people were killed and 25 others injured when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest during a wedding ceremony in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, police said. The blast occurred at the home of Noor Alam Mehsud, a pro-government community leader in Dera Ismail Khan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local police chief Adnan Khan. Victims were rushed to a hospital, where some of the wounded were reported in critical condition. The attack struck while guests were dancing to drumbeats during the ceremony. No group has yet claimed responsibility, but suspicion may fall on the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has carried out multiple attacks in the country over recent years. The TTP, allied with but distinct from the Afghan Taliban, has gained strength since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. Many TTP leaders and fighters have reportedly found refuge in Afghanistan since then.

A 22-year-old Afghan woman who was reportedly operating a taekwondo gym for girls has been released after spending 13 days in custody, a spokesperson for the Taliban’s supreme court confirmed. Khadija Ahmadzada was detained for allegedly violating Taliban regulations governing women’s sports facilities, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Women have been barred from sports clubs since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Officials had previously said women’s sports facilities would reopen once a “safe environment” consistent with their interpretation of Islamic law was established. However, as of January 2026, no such facilities have reopened and women remain prohibited from competing. Ahmadzada, who lives near the western Afghan city of Herat, was arrested along with several others after inspectors reported violations at her gym. Authorities accused her of failing to wear what they deemed appropriate hijab, playing music, and allowing men and women to mix in the facility. She was sentenced to 13 days in jail and reportedly had received multiple prior warnings. Read More: Qatar Foundation pledges support for female athletes in Bangladesh The case was later referred to the Taliban’s supreme court, which announced her release on Thursday, January 22. Her current whereabouts remain unclear. Her arrest sparked widespread criticism on social media and drew the attention of Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, who publicly called for her immediate release. Bennett also highlighted the case of Nazira Rashidi, a female journalist detained in late December in the northern city of Kunduz. Taliban officials have denied that Rashidi’s detention is linked to her journalism, according to local media reports. Source: BBC

At least seven people have lost their lives after a landslide triggered by flash floods hit the Cisarua sub-district of West Bandung Regency in Indonesia’s West Java Province early Saturday, local media reported. The disaster occurred around 3:00 a.m. local time, when residents heard a loud rumble before mud and debris flowed from Pasirkuning Village into neighboring Pasir Kuda Village. Dozens of homes were buried under mud and landslide debris, causing extensive damage to residential areas close to the impact zone. Police said seven bodies had been recovered by noon on Saturday, while hundreds of residents were still feared missing or trapped. Search and rescue teams are continuing efforts at the scene. Rescue operations have been slowed by challenging terrain, thick layers of debris and the possibility of further rainfall. Read More: South Africa declares national disaster after deadly floods and severe weather Authorities have advised people living nearby to remain cautious and avoid areas vulnerable to landslides, warning that unstable soil could lead to additional disasters.

Authorities in the southern Indian state of Telangana have launched an investigation after hundreds of stray dogs were reportedly killed across at least six villages in the past month. Police have confirmed at least 354 deaths so far and arrested nine individuals in connection with some of the cases. While animal welfare activists told the BBC that the dogs were either poisoned or injected with lethal substances, police said they are awaiting forensic reports to determine the exact method used. Villagers claimed that the killings were linked to promises made by candidates during recent local election campaigns to remove stray dogs and monkeys from public areas. The incidents have come amid a nationwide debate on stray animals, with the Supreme Court currently hearing petitions on controlling street dogs, including in the capital Delhi. Killings on such a large scale remain rare and have sparked public outrage. Stray animals, mainly dogs but also cattle and monkeys, are considered a persistent problem in many parts of India. They are often blamed for attacks on people, crop damage, and traffic accidents. Experts cite gaps in sterilisation and vaccination programmes, rising garbage, animal abandonment, shrinking forest habitats, and inconsistent law enforcement as contributing factors. While stray dogs often form strong bonds with local communities, animal rights activists have repeatedly flagged cruelty and warned that penalties for harming them are insufficient. Telangana State Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka described the killings as “illegal” and “inhumane,” promising strict action against those responsible. The Supreme Court has also been addressing the issue. In August 2025, it ordered authorities in Delhi and surrounding areas to relocate stray dogs to shelters within two months. After public protests, the order was modified to require immunisation and vaccination before releasing the animals back to their neighbourhoods. Animal welfare groups argue that overcrowded shelters are unscientific, while proponents of removal claim uncontrolled populations threaten human safety and livelihoods. The killings in Telangana occurred across three districts between late December and mid-January. In Kamareddy district, police said 244 dogs were buried in four locations, with government veterinary doctors conducting post-mortems and sending samples to laboratories. Village council heads were found involved. In Shayampet and Arepally villages near Warangal, 110 dogs were killed, and nine people, including village council heads, were arrested. In Jagtial city, police are investigating claims that around 40 dogs were killed at the end of December, though no bodies were recovered. Minister Seethakka told the Hindu newspaper that killing stray dogs under the pretext of population control is unjustifiable, and the government has issued instructions to village councils to prevent recurrence. Activists suggest the actual number of culled dogs may be higher than police figures. Some residents defended the killings. Raju, son of the Arepally village head, said only rabid dogs were killed due to disease, aggression, and involvement in road accidents. Another resident, Vijay, claimed most villagers supported the actions over fears of bites and disease. Telangana recorded nearly 122,000 dog bite cases in 2024, though no rabies deaths were reported. The dog killings coincide with other alleged incidents involving stray animals in Telangana, including reports of monkeys found dead or critically injured, allegedly tranquillised and dumped along highways in Kamareddy district.   With inputs from BBC

Chinese authorities said two people have died and four remain missing after a Singapore-flagged cargo ship carrying 21 Filipino crew members capsized in the South China Sea near the highly contested Scarborough Shoal. China’s Coast Guard said the vessel overturned about 100 kilometres northwest of the shoal. Contact with the ship was lost on Thursday night as it was travelling toward Guangdong province in southern China. Rescue efforts involving the Chinese Coast Guard and naval forces under the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command were continuing. The PLA said 15 people had been rescued, with 14 reported in stable condition. The Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday it dispatched two vessels and aircraft to support the search-and-rescue mission. It identified the cargo ship as the Devon Bay. 10 Indian soldiers killed as vehicle falls into deep gorge in J&K The incident occurred in waters that have seen repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels as both sides press competing claims. Scarborough Shoal is among the most disputed features in the South China Sea and is also claimed by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. Tensions in the area have been heightened by frequent close encounters at sea, including an incident in August when a Chinese navy ship accidentally collided with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel while attempting to block a Philippine Coast Guard ship near the shoal.

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

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

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