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
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Thousands flee as fighting between Thailand and Cambodia continues
Tens of thousands of people sought refuge on Friday as border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered a second day, heightening fears of a broader conflict. The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis later on Friday in New York, while Malaysia, which chairs a regional bloc that includes both countries, called for an end to hostilities and offered to mediate. The Health Ministry on Friday said more than 58,000 have fled from villages to temporary shelters in four affected Thai border provinces, while Cambodian authorities said more than 4,000 people have evacuated from areas near the border. The fighting has killed at least 14 people in Thailand, while Cambodia confirmed its first fatality on Friday. Tensions over a disputed border area erupted into fighting after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers on Wednesday. The Thai military reported clashes early on Friday in multiple areas, including along the border at Chong Bok and Phu Makhuea in Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province; at Phanom Dong Rak in Surin province; and near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple. Associated Press reporters near the border could hear the sounds of artillery from early morning hours. The Thai army said Cambodian forces had used heavy artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket launchers, prompting what Thai officials described as 'appropriate supporting fire' in return. Thailand said one soldier and 13 civilians were killed, including children, while 15 soldiers and 30 civilians were wounded. Cambodia's chief official in Oddar Meanchey province, General Khov Ly, said a man died instantly on Thursday after a Thai rocket hit a Buddhist pagoda where he was hiding. At least four civilians were also wounded in Thursday's fighting there. As the fighting intensified, villagers on both sides have been caught in the crossfire, leading many to flee. About 600 people took shelter at a gymnasium in a university in Surin, Thailand, about 50 miles from the border. Evacuees sat in groups, on mats and blankets, and queued for food and drinks. Across the border in Cambodia, villages on the outskirts of Oddar Meanchey province were largely deserted. Homes stood locked, while chickens and dogs roamed outside. Some villagers earlier dug holes to create makeshift underground bunkers, covering them with wood, tarpaulin and zinc sheets to shield themselves from shelling. Families with children were seen packing their belongings on home-made tractors to evacuate, though a few men refused to leave. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
YouTube generation propels Japan's anti-foreigner politics into the mainstream
TOKYO, July 25 (Reuters) - Yuta Kato is increasingly annoyed by foreigners ignorant of Japan's social etiquette, whether that involves blocking the streets near his work in Tokyo's upscale Ginza district or distracting commuters by playing loud videos on their phones. The 38-year-old hairdresser is among a growing number of Japanese voters drawn to the right-wing Sanseito party, whose warnings about foreigners helped it establish a strong foothold in an upper house election on Sunday. "It is not about discrimination, it's just like, why don't they notice?" said Kato, who, like many Sanseito supporters, obtains his information from YouTube and other social media sites, a space the party has utilised to amplify its "Japanese First" message. Japan's foreign-born residents account for just 3% of the total population, a fraction of the corresponding proportion in the United States and Europe, but record numbers of tourists in recent years have made foreigners more visible in major cities. While Sanseito largely avoids identifying specific immigrant groups, Romeo Marcantuoni, a Tokyo-based academic who has studied the party, said it taps into latent concerns ranging from badly-behaved tourists to conspiracy theories about sneaking Chinese influence. Kato said he believes the Chinese, the biggest cohort of foreign residents in Japan and among the largest visitor groups, are quietly taking over the country. Chinese are also often the focal point for anti-immigrant rhetoric propagated online. Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and other party lawmakers and candidates have raised concerns about Chinese buying up land and resources in Japan. One of the party's policies listed on its website is to "stop the silent invasion of Japan by foreign forces". The party did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Kamiya has previously denied criticism that it is xenophobic. Sanseito is most popular among 18 to 39-year-olds, with men favouring the party more than women, according to a poll conducted by public broadcaster NHK, a trend increasingly seen among support for right-wing parties in democracies worldwide. In contrast, support for Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which lost its majority in Sunday's election, is deepest among those aged over 70 with no clear gender divide, the NHK poll showed. Sanseito's presence online has given them visibility among younger voters that the LDP has struggled to reach, Kato said. The party's official YouTube channel has three times as many followers as the LDP's, with engagement in their content far higher than other parties, a study by Asahi newspaper found. "They are the party of YouTube," said Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies who has authored a book on right-wing politics in Japan. YouTube did not respond to emails seeking comment on Sanseito's use of the platform. On its community guidelines page, YouTube says it closely monitors content and removes videos it deems to promote "harmful or dangerous behavior". Birthed during the COVID-19 pandemic when they spread conspiracy theories about vaccinations, Sanseito has broadened its appeal with its tough immigration policies and pledges to help households struggling with rising prices. It also wants to scrap Japan's pacifist constitution and restore the Emperor's authority, fringe ideas promoted by other right-wing groups that regularly drive around Japan's cities in black trucks blaring imperial-era military songs. While that megaphone politics has long been largely ignored by the Japanese, Sanseito has set its sights on emulating the successes of other far-right groups in Europe, such as Germany's AfD and Britain's Reform UK. At a rally held outside Tokyo's bustling Shimbashi train station on Monday, crowds clapped and cheered some of Sanseito's newly elected lawmakers. "They're going to get things done," said Eriko Harada, 47, a housewife wearing a kimono and a headband emblazoned with the words 'Samurai Spirit', who said she voted for the first time this year. Sanseito's rise has sparked a backlash by those who fear the party is normalising xenophobia. Monday's rally attracted dozens of protesters who tried to drown out the speakers. "It is people falling for lies and displacing their frustrations - economic hardship, political alienation - onto others," said Miroko Kato, a 42-year-old haiku poet among the protestors. "We're here to say: we're watching you!"
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Goment perfect plans to bring back Nigerians wey dey trapped on forced labour for CAR
Di Nigeria goment don begin moves to bring back a group of Nigerians wey dey stranded for Central African Republic (CAR) afta dia SOS video bin go viral on social media. A statement by di tok-tok pesin of di Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NidCom) Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Thursday say dem don contact di Nigeria Embassy for CAR to take up di issue. For di viral video, di men claim say na one Chinese company bin recruit dem wit promise say work dey for dem for CAR, but wen dem arrive di kontri, dem first chop arrest and detention for four months bifor security pipo later release dem. "Now, we don work here for six months, dem no pay us anytin. We arrive hia September last year, and delay us for four months for di capital city, dem arrest us, and wen we later come out dem bring us hia for dis bush," di man wey be like di tok-tok pesin for di group tok for di video. E say wia dem dey na one village wey di name na Senye, for di Bambari region of CAR. Bambari na di second largest city for CAR afta di capital Bangui, and for years armed groups bin dey control di area until just about a year ago wen troops from di United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in di Central African Republic (MINUSCA) declare di region free of militias. MINUSCA still dey do peacekeeping work for CAR till date as di kontri still dey struggle wit armed conflicts, especially for mining communities. Di men for di viral video tok say na mining work dem dey for dat village of Senye wia dem dey, but di Nigerian agent for di Chinese company wey carry dem come CAR, don abandon dem run bak to Nigeria. Anoda man wey be citizen of CAR don seize all dia passports so dem no go fit go back. "Even some of us dey ready to transport diasef back to Nigeria, but without our passports, security pipo go arrest us and na straight to prison," dem tok. 'We don secure dia passport bak' - Nigeria goment For di statement wey e release late Thursday, di Nidcom oga Abdur-Rahman Balogun say di commission don establish contact wit di Nigerian men and also retrieve dia passports. "Plans dey on to send a bus wey go carry dem to di embassy for Bangui wey be at least eight hour drive. Di agent in question don also dey identified," di statement tok. Nidcom also thank di Nigeria embassy for CAR for dia "swift action" for di matter. Dis no be di first time dis kind SOS video dey go viral from Nigerians wey dey trapped for forced labour and even prostitution for kontris around di world including African kontris. In July 2024, Nidcom facilitate di return of about 58 young girls wey dia video bin go viral say dem dey trapped for Ghana wia dia captors force dem to dey do prostitution. Dem later return eight more girls from Ghana for September and anoda 13 girls for November of 2024. For April dis year, Nidcom oga kpatakpata Abike Dabiri-Erewa, tok say di commission don recover more dan 200 victims of trafficking for 2025 alone, according to di News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). More dan 50 million pipo for di world dey live for modern day slavery, according to di Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, one international initiative wey di head na former British Prime Minister Theresa May. Wit more dan 1.6 million of Nigeria citizens as victims of modern day slavery and human trafficking, di kontri na di fifth African kontri wit di highest number, according to di commission latest report. Di top five kontris for Africa wit di highest vulnerability to modern slavery for Africa Eritrea, Mauritania, South Sudan, di DRC and Nigeria. Modern day slavery na di removal of somebody freedom to accept or refuse a job, dia freedom to leave one employer for anoda, or dia freedom to decide if, wen, and who to marry, in order to exploit dem for personal or financial gain, according to Walk Free, one international human rights group wey dey fight against modern day slavery. E include forced labour, forced marriage, debt bondage, forced commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, slavery-like practices, and di sale and exploitation of children.
