Thai Navy Uncovers Modified Anti-Personnel Mines in Border Area

RIYADH: At least 16 Bangladeshi migrant workers have died after a fire swept through a sofa manufacturing factory in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, in a tragedy that has prompted urgent efforts to bring the victims’ remains home. The fire broke out on Sunday at a furniture manufacturing facility in the industrial area of Riyadh’s Al Shifa district, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh’s embassy in Riyadh is coordinating with Saudi authorities over the incident and arrangements for the repatriation of the victims’ bodies. Officials are also working to identify the deceased and complete the necessary formalities. Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and directed officials to speed up the process of returning the bodies to Bangladesh. He also called for assistance and compensation to be provided to the bereaved families, many of whom depend on income earned by relatives working abroad. Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence confirmed that firefighters had responded to a blaze at an unlicensed furniture-making facility in the capital, although its initial statement did not provide details about the fatalities. The tragedy has once again drawn attention to workplace safety for migrant labourers in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia is home to a large Bangladeshi expatriate community, with reports putting the number at around 3.5 million. For many of these workers, employment in Saudi Arabia provides a vital source of income for families back home. The deaths in Riyadh have therefore sent shockwaves beyond the immediate workplace, leaving families anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the fire and examine safety conditions at the factory. The focus will also be on determining whether violations contributed to the deadly blaze. For Bangladesh, the immediate priority remains bringing the victims home and ensuring their families receive the promised support.

BUDAPEST: Hungary has taken the unprecedented step of shutting down its only nuclear power plant after severe drought pushed the Danube River to critically low levels, threatening the facility’s ability to safely cool its reactors and raising fears of an energy crisis during an intense summer heatwave. The closure of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant marks the first complete shutdown in the facility’s 44-year history. The plant, which typically supplies between one-third and 40 percent of Hungary’s electricity, has been forced offline as water levels in the Danube continue to fall amid one of Central Europe’s worst droughts in recent decades. Prime Minister Peter Magyar warned that the country now faces its “most critical five days,” with temperatures expected to climb to around 40 degrees Celsius just as electricity demand peaks. In a video message shared on social media, Magyar said the shutdown would place enormous pressure on Hungary’s electricity grid, public services and essential infrastructure. “Tomorrow, the Paks power plant will not be generating, while the hottest days are still ahead,” he said, urging citizens and businesses to reduce electricity consumption during evening peak hours between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. The 2-gigawatt facility operates four Russian-built reactors that rely on water from the Danube for cooling. With river levels dropping to record lows, authorities determined that continuing operations could compromise reactor safety. Officials have also warned that the plant could remain offline for several weeks if weather conditions fail to improve. The drought has affected more than just power generation. Falling water levels have disrupted river transport, slowed tourism and prompted water-use restrictions in over 100 cities and villages, including areas surrounding Budapest. To maintain electricity supplies, Hungary has begun importing emergency power from neighboring countries while considering additional measures to stabilize the grid. The government is also weighing mandatory electricity restrictions for large industrial consumers if conditions worsen. Officials estimate the crisis could cost the country between 100 billion and 200 billion forints (approximately $315 million to $630 million) because of soaring electricity import prices. Climate experts say the situation highlights the growing vulnerability of Europe’s energy infrastructure to extreme weather events linked to climate change. Nuclear power plants across the continent depend on rivers and lakes for cooling, making prolonged droughts an increasingly serious operational challenge. For now, authorities remain focused on conserving electricity and closely monitoring the Danube’s water levels. With scorching temperatures forecast to continue, Hungary faces a difficult balancing act between ensuring public safety, maintaining energy security and managing one of the country’s most severe climate-related emergencies in decades.