Latest news with #Chinese-designed
DW
2 days ago
- General
- DW
Bangladesh jet crash renews debate on training over cities – DW – 07/22/2025
A deadly Air Force training jet crash in Bangladesh has drawn calls for accountability, and to relocate bases and training from densely populated areas. Bangladesh observed a day of mourning on Tuesday, with flags flying at half-mast and special prayers held at places of worship, a day after the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades. At least 31 people were killed, and more than 170 injured, on Monday when a training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) crashed into the campus of the Milestone School and College in Dhaka shortly after taking off from Kurmitola airbase. "Those dead included 25 children, a teacher, and the pilot," Sayedur Rahman, a Health Ministry spokesman, told reporters in Dhaka on Tuesday. He said that at least 88 people were hospitalized with burn injuries. Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, pledged an investigation, expressing his deep sorrow over the "heartbreaking accident." The F-7 BGI is an advanced variant of a Chinese-designed Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft. Bangladesh signed a contract for 16 aircraft in 2011 and deliveries were completed by 2013. Monday's incident marks the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades, authorities said. However, observers noted that several accidents have occurred in the past involving the aircraft family. In April 2008, another F-7 training fighter jet crashed into a village in Tangail, 83 kilometres (56 miles) northwest of Dhaka, killing its pilot, who had ejected after he discovered a technical problem. In June 2015, an F-7 MB fighter jet crashed off the coast of the Bay of Bengal near the port city of Chattogram. The pilot went missing after the crash. In November 2018, an F-7 BG crashed during a training session in Tangail, killing the pilot. The aircraft had taken off from Dhaka and crashed just 25 minutes into the flight, catching fire upon impact with the ground. Zulkarnain Saer Khan, an investigative journalist based in London, believes that despite those accidents, the BAF continues to use the F-7 due to "economic necessity, established infrastructure, and slow procurement of modern aircraft." "While plans to acquire Eurofighter or JF-17 jets show progress, Bangladesh's limited budget and complex procurement process delay the phase-out of the F-7," he told DW. "Rigorous maintenance and expedited modernization are critical to reducing risks, but these face significant economic and logistical challenges." Immediately after Monday's incident, many people took to social media to renew calls for relocating military bases from Dhaka to elsewhere. Bangladesh's capital is considered one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world, with over 22 million people living in an area of approximately 300 square kilometers (116 square miles). A large part of the capital is occupied by a military garrison that many believe should be moved elsewhere due to safety reasons. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Dhaka-based lawyer Sara Hossain pointed out that while other cantonments are located outside main cities, Dhaka has a cantonment situated deep within the megacity. "It's a restricted area where ordinary people can't enter, which is more problematic. Why should there be two classes of people, with one having access to the cantonment and others not? Roads are shut for others. I don't see any logic behind it." Zyma Islam, a local journalist in Dhaka, has cast doubt on the military's claim that "mechanical failure" was to blame for the crash. "We do know the army was conducting military jet fighter training in heavily populated civilian areas," the senior reporter from the Daily Star told DW. She questioned "whether or not we should be conducting military training in a very densely populated city like Dhaka." Islam added that the crash affected a primary school. "There is this deep sense of shock and devastation and anger," she said. "It's not OK for parents to send their children to school and have them turn up in body bags." BAF's base in Dhaka has been using the runway of the country's main civilian airport for its training purposes for decades. Observers say the shared runway's approach path, known as the "final" in aviation terms, extends 6-8 nautical miles and passes over densely populated areas, such as Uttara, where the school was located just 1.9 nautical miles (3.5 kilometers) from the runway's touchdown point. Sara Hossain thinks that in light of Monday's incident, the government should issue an administrative order to ban Air Force training flights over populated areas. "The crash was unwanted and avoidable. Administrative orders should be issued immediately to stop repetition of such incidents in the future," Hossain told DW. "The military and air force have many open areas where such training can take place. There is no need to conduct such training in populated areas." "There should be an investigation to find out who made the calls to conduct training in these areas and whether a risk assessment was done beforehand. Those responsible should be held accountable," she added. However, investigative journalist Khan believes that BAF is not ''intentionally conducting'' training over populated areas, and the problem lies with ''poor urban planning.'' "The real issue lies in poor urban planning and lax zoning regulations that allowed a school to be built in such a high-risk aviation zone," Khan told DW. Authorities like the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and local government "must be held accountable for permitting settlements near the runway's approach path, a necessity for both military and civilian aviation," he said. "Public focus should shift to demanding stricter zoning laws and better urban planning to prevent further encroachment, as relocating the runway is infeasible due to cost and land limitations," Khan added. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Newsweek
3 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Bangladesh Plane Crash: What We Know About F-7 BGI Training Jets
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school in the country's capital city of Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 20 people. More than 170 people were injured as the F-7 BGI training jet crashed into the Milestone School and College, in the city's northern Uttara neighborhood. The pilot, named as Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam, was among those killed as the plane hit a two-storey building, said the country's military in a statement. The jet had taken off from Dhaka's AK Khandker Air Force Base for a training flight shortly after 1 p.m. local time, but crashed minutes later due to a mechanical fault, said the statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR). The pilot had attempted to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas, it added. Members of the Bangladesh Army and the fire service start rescue operations after a Bangladesh Air Force F7 aircraft crashed into a building of Milestone College in Dhaka's Uttara around 1:30 pm on July... Members of the Bangladesh Army and the fire service start rescue operations after a Bangladesh Air Force F7 aircraft crashed into a building of Milestone College in Dhaka's Uttara around 1:30 pm on July 21, 2025 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. More Abdul Goni/Drik/Getty Images Muhammad Yunus, the leader of the country's interim government, offered his "deep condolences" over the "tragic accident", adding in a social media post that the cause of the crash would be investigated. The F-7 BGI is an upgraded version of the F-7, an iteration of the Chinese-designed J-7 itself modeled on the aged, Soviet-era MiG-21. "It's a relatively new version of a very old plane," said Jacob Parakilas, research leader for Defense Strategy, Policy and Capabilities at the European branch of the RAND think tank. The last F-7 BGI came off the line in 2013, Parakilas told Newsweek. The F-7 was designed as an interceptor aircraft, "which in general means that it's optimized for high speed flight," Parakilas said. But take-off and landing can be "less forgiving" than for aircraft with larger wings, he added. "The fact that the base model is old doesn't inherently make it unsafe," Parakilas added. As of early 2025, Bangladesh had 87 combat-capable aircraft, including several variants of the F-7 fighters, according to the U.K.-based defense think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The country's air force had 12 F-7 BGI jets, as well as 11 F-7 BGs and 7 F-7 MB aircraft, according to the IISS. Bangladesh also operates a handful of Soviet-era MiG-29 aircraft. Dhaka's military has close ties with China, and has carried out joint exercises with Beijing. The IISS, in the 2025 edition of its annual review of the world's armed forces, said Bangladesh had plans to boost its combat aircraft fleet, and had invested in its fixed-wing training aircraft. Dhaka's "limited military capability is focused on border and domestic security," the think tank said. The government has declared a national day of mourning for Tuesday, domestic media reported. What People Are Saying Muhammad Yunus, the country's chief advisor currently leading the interim government in Dhaka, said in a statement: "The damage to the Air Force and Milestone School and College students, parents and teachers including others is irreparable in this accident. This is a moment of deep pain for the nation." Bangladeshi government advisor, Asif Nazrul, said: "Such a massive, catastrophic accident has never occurred in our national history." The European Union's delegation in Bangladesh said it was "deeply saddened" by the crash, adding: "Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected."
Kuwait Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Labubu toy sculpture sold for $150,000 at China auction
Labubu toy sculpture sold for $150,000 at China auction A Beijing auction house has sold a four-foot-tall sculpture of a viral plush toy character for more than $150,000, as global demand for the Chinese-designed Labubu dolls reaches fever pitch. The rabbit-like figures sporting mischievous grins began as a character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, and are made by Beijing-based toy brand Pop Mart. They have been endorsed by celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa, and fans have queued overnight outside stores hoping to snag one, with analysts pointing to the phenomenon as evidence of China's growing soft power. On Tuesday, a teal sculpture depicting a Labubu character with a furry body and head fetched an eye-watering 1.08 million yuan ($150,260) at an auction held in Beijing, according to the auction house's app. The sculpture is "the only piece of its kind in the world", according to Yongle International Auction. It was offered alongside other Labubu paraphernalia including a brown statue that sold for 820,000 yuan. Pop Mart has over 400 stores globally, including 30 US branches. The worldwide frenzy has seen people go to desperate lengths to acquire their own Labubu. Last month a London branch of Pop Mart suspended in-store sales of the toys, fearing violence from would-be buyers who failed to get their hands on the limited-edition Labubus. In Singapore, CCTV footage captured a family stealing Labubu dolls from a claw machine, according to Singaporean online media outlet AsiaOne. Burglars broke into a store in California last week and took several Labubu dolls along with electronics and other valuables, American news outlet ABC reported. In China, the toys have been promised as freebies for new bank customers -- an incentive quickly shut down by local regulators, according to Chinese media reports. The toys have spawned a booming resale market as well as an online community of fans sharing tips on how to customize their dolls. Knockoffs -- many of which are also made in China -- have flooded online platforms, dubbed "Lafufus" by social media users.--AFP
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
The Labubu craze: A toy sculpture sells for R2. 6 million in China
Labubu figures are displayed at a Pop Mart store in Shanghai, China. Image: STRINGER / IC photo / Imaginechina via AFP A Beijing auction house has sold a four-foot-tall sculpture of a viral plush toy character for more than $150,000 (R2.6 million), as global demand for the Chinese-designed Labubu dolls reaches fever pitch. The rabbit-like figures sporting mischievous grins began as a character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and are made by Beijing-based toy brand Pop Mart. They have been endorsed by celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa, and fans have queued overnight outside stores hoping to snag one, with analysts pointing to the phenomenon as evidence of China's growing soft power. On Tuesday, a teal sculpture depicting a Labubu character with a furry body and head fetched an eye-watering 1.08 million yuan ($150,260) at an auction held in Beijing, according to the auction house's app. The sculpture is "the only piece of its kind in the world", according to Yongle International Auction. It was offered alongside other Labubu paraphernalia, including a brown statue that sold for 820,000 yuan. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Pop Mart has over 400 stores globally, including 30 US branches. The worldwide frenzy has seen people go to desperate lengths to acquire their own Labubu. Last month, a London branch of Pop Mart suspended in-store sales of the toys, fearing violence from would-be buyers who failed to get their hands on the limited-edition Labubus. In Singapore, CCTV footage captured a family stealing Labubu dolls from a claw machine, according to Singaporean online media outlet AsiaOne. Burglars broke into a store in California last week and took several Labubu dolls along with electronics and other valuables, American news outlet ABC reported. In China, the toys have been promised as freebies for new bank customers -- an incentive quickly shut down by local regulators, according to Chinese media reports. The toys have spawned a booming resale market as well as an online community of fans sharing tips on how to customise their dolls. Knockoffs, many of which are also made in China, have flooded online platforms, dubbed "Lafufus" by social media users. AFP
Daily Tribune
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
Labubu toy sculpture sold for $150,000 at China auction
A Beijing auction house has sold a four-foot-tall sculpture of a viral plush toy character for more than $150,000, as global demand for the Chinese-designed Labubu dolls reaches fever pitch. The rabbit-like figures sporting mischievous grins began as a character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, and are made by Beijing-based toy brand Pop Mart. They have been endorsed by celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa, and fans have queued overnight outside stores hoping to snag one, with analysts pointing to the phenomenon as evidence of China's growing soft power. On Tuesday, a teal sculpture depicting a Labubu character with a furry body and head fetched an eye-watering 1.08 million yuan ($150,260) at an auction held in Beijing, according to the auction house's app. The sculpture is "the only piece of its kind in the world", according to Yongle International Auction. It was offered alongside other Labubu paraphernalia including a brown statue that sold for 820,000 yuan. Pop Mart has over 400 stores globally, including 30 US branches. The worldwide frenzy has seen people go to desperate lengths to acquire their own Labubu. Last month a London branch of Pop Mart suspended in-store sales of the toys, fearing violence from would-be buyers who failed to get their hands on the limited-edition Labubus. In Singapore, CCTV footage captured a family stealing Labubu dolls from a claw machine, according to Singaporean online media outlet AsiaOne. Burglars broke into a store in California last week and took several Labubu dolls along with electronics and other valuables, American news outlet ABC reported. In China, the toys have been promised as freebies for new bank customers -- an incentive quickly shut down by local regulators, according to Chinese media reports. The toys have spawned a booming resale market as well as an online community of fans sharing tips on how to customise their dolls.
