Bangladesh Air Force jet crashes into a Dhaka school and kills 19
The military said the jet took off at 1.06pm local time and crashed soon after, catching fire immediately.
The cause was not immediately clear.
It is the deadliest plane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory.
Local media indicated most of the injured were students.
Relatives arrived at the scene as rescuers, using tricycle rickshaws or whatever was available, transported the injured to local hospitals.
Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not present at the time of the crash, told The Associated Press by phone that the school, with some 2,000 students, offers classes from elementary to twelfth grade.
'I was terrified watching videos on TV,' the 16-year-old said. 'My God. It's my school.'
Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus pledged an investigation into the crash, expressing his deep sorrow over the 'heartbreaking accident' at Milestone School and College.
In a statement, he lamented the 'irreparable' loss suffered by 'Air Force personnel, students, parents, teachers, staff, and others', calling it 'a moment of deep national grief'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
DWP pensions warning as workers risk poverty in retirement
Ministers are to resurrect the Pensions Commission amid fears that today's workers face a greater risk of poverty in retirement than their parents. Experts have warned that people looking to retire in 2050 are on course to receive £800 per year less than current pensioners. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said 45% of working-age adults were putting nothing into their pensions. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said she was turning to the Pensions Commission, which last met in 2006, to 'tackle the barriers that stop too many saving in the first place'. Her decision to revive the Pensions Commission has been broadly welcomed by the pensions industry The previous commission recommended automatically enrolling people in workplace pensions, which has seen the number of eligible employees saving rise from 55% in 2012 to 88%. DWP analysis suggested 15 million people were undersaving for retirement, with the self-employed, low paid and some ethnic minorities particularly affected. Around three million self-employed people are said to be saving nothing for their retirement, while only a quarter of people on low pay in the private sector and the same proportion from Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds are saving. Women face a significant gender pensions gap, with those approaching retirement in line to receive barely half the income that men can expect. Pensions minister Torsten Bell says: 'The original Pensions Commission helped get pension saving up and pensioner poverty down. We need reforms that enable more people to build a decent standard of living, and we need them sooner rather than later 'But if we carry on as we are, tomorrow's retirees risk being poorer than today's. So we are reviving the Pensions Commission to finish the job and give today's workers secure retirements to look forward to.' The commission will be led by Baroness Jeannie Drake, a member of the previous commission, and report in 2027 with proposals that stretch beyond the next election. Ms Kendall's decision to revive the Pensions Commission has been broadly welcomed by the pensions industry. Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, urged the commission to make 'bold, brave and possibly unpalatable recommendations', including 'significant increases' to auto-enrolment contributions after 2029. She also called on the commission to look at wider issues, saying: 'Sources of inequality and affordability are often linked to the way the labour market works, the housing market and societal norms, such as women taking on most of the caring responsibilities. 'These are not issues that can be addressed by pensions policy alone.' This Pensions Commission - which will bring together unions, employers and independent experts - is a vital step forward. AgeUK's Caroline Abrahams said the commission needed to address the state pension, which provides the bulk of retirement income for most pensioners. She says: 'If we're to avoid future generations of pensioners experiencing financial hardship, we need reforms that enable more people to build a decent standard of living, and we need them sooner rather than later to maximise the numbers who can be helped.' Ministers hope the Pensions Commission will build a consensus around changes, as its predecessor did, working with businesses and trade unions. Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry, said the 'only route' to higher living standards in retirement was through 'higher growth, productivity and better savings'. She adds: 'Taking the time to review the best pathway to achieve this, whilst pursuing broader measures to support growth, will be needed to make it affordable for employers and workers and crucial to the aim of rising living standards, now and in retirement.' Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, says: 'Far too many people won't have enough pension for a decent retirement, and too many – especially women, BME (black and minority ethnic) and disabled workers and the self-employed – are shut out of the workplace pension system altogether. "Under Labour, pensioners are regarded as cash cows. Which is why it has come as little surprise that Rachel Reeves is looking to raise taxes on pensioners to plug the black hole she has dug herself. "That's why this Pensions Commission – which will bring together unions, employers and independent experts – is a vital step forward.' Recommended reading: But shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride accused Labour of pushing the issue 'into the long grass'. The MP says: 'The reality is they have piled up burdens on employers and workers, and that is why they have launched a pensions commission which will take years to report back and will only look at changes beyond the end of this decade. 'Conservatives in government introduced automatic enrolment which has revolutionised our pensions landscape. We should be building on that success, but now businesses and savers cannot afford to put more into pension pots thanks to Labour's reckless policies. 'Under Labour, pensioners are regarded as cash cows. Which is why it has come as little surprise that Rachel Reeves is looking to raise taxes on pensioners to plug the black hole she has dug herself.'
South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Bangladesh Air Force jet crashes into a Dhaka school and kills 19
According to the military and a fire official, the Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College, in the Uttara neighbourhood, in the afternoon as students were attending classes. The military said the jet took off at 1.06pm local time and crashed soon after, catching fire immediately. The cause was not immediately clear. It is the deadliest plane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory. Local media indicated most of the injured were students. Relatives arrived at the scene as rescuers, using tricycle rickshaws or whatever was available, transported the injured to local hospitals. Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not present at the time of the crash, told The Associated Press by phone that the school, with some 2,000 students, offers classes from elementary to twelfth grade. 'I was terrified watching videos on TV,' the 16-year-old said. 'My God. It's my school.' Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus pledged an investigation into the crash, expressing his deep sorrow over the 'heartbreaking accident' at Milestone School and College. In a statement, he lamented the 'irreparable' loss suffered by 'Air Force personnel, students, parents, teachers, staff, and others', calling it 'a moment of deep national grief'.
Time Out
4 hours ago
- Time Out
Canadians just got slapped with a visa integrity fee to enter the U.S.
On the heels of a Canadian tourism ad campaign welcoming U.S. visitors to Quebec, Canadians and others are faced with more fees if they plan on staying in America for longer. The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act under the Trump administration includes a provision requiring certain travellers to pay a $250 'visa integrity fee' to enter the country. And that's not it: the fee is subject to change, and could be adjusted due to inflation. According to the White House, the act outlines a plan to strengthen U.S. border security by providing Homeland Security with necessary resources, including increased funding for ICE agents, detention centres, and the completion of the border wall. The 'visa integrity fee' is intended to support enforcement and administrative measures tied to U.S. visa policy and border protection. Another travel policy previously introduced by the Trump administration—the alien registration requirement for foreign nationals—was later amended to exempt most Canadians from fingerprinting. According to the Canadian federal government, Canadians generally do not need visitor, business, transit, or other visas to enter the United States from Canada. Will Canadians have to pay the visa integrity fee? Canadians travelling to the U.S. who apply for specific nonimmigrant visas (H-1B or F-1, for example) will be required to pay the $250 fee. What is the visa integrity fee? The visa integrity fee is a required $250 charge for non-immigrant visa applicants, added on top of all other standard visa-related fees. When will the visa integrity fee go into effect? While the act has been signed, there is still no start date. Do I need a visa to enter the USA from Canada? The U.S. Department of State outlines several cases where Canadians are required to obtain nonimmigrant visas to travel to the United States. Reasons Canadians May Need a Nonimmigrant Visa:
