Twelve people have been killed in twin suicide bombings at a military base in Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a report by Al Jazeera on Tuesday (March 4).

A military officer who witnessed the incident told Al Jazeera that two explosive-laden vehicles drove into the compound on Tuesday evening, followed by an explosion. The blast also caused the roof of a nearby mosque and a house to collapse.

Muhammad Noman, a spokesman for Bannu District Hospital, said 12 people were killed and at least 30 others were injured. All were civilians. They were trapped under collapsed buildings and walls.

A group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying dozens of Pakistani security forces were killed. There was no immediate comment from the military on the number of casualties.

A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said six attackers were killed in a shootout after the attack. He added that the blast created two four-foot-long craters and was so powerful that it damaged at least eight houses in the area.

The Jaish al-Fursan group, which claimed responsibility for the attack, said in a statement that the source of the explosion was a vehicle loaded with explosives.

It is worth noting that this is the third attack in Pakistan since the start of the holy month of Ramadan last Sunday.

The northern district of Iwao in Japan is burning in the worst conflagration in three decades. About 1,700 firefighters are working to control the fire. One person has died so far in the incident. About 84 buildings have been damaged.

This information was reported in a BBC report on Monday (March 4). Earlier, the fire in the northern city of Ofunato began on Thursday.

Officials of the disaster management agency said that the fire that broke out on Thursday has spread to 5,200 acres in the city of Ofunato. About 4,600 residents have been ordered to evacuate the area. Many residents have already been evacuated.

The agency said that the weather in Ofunato is dry in March. Last month, there was only 2.5 millimeters of rain, which is the lowest in the last 20 years. The average rainfall in Ofunato in February is 41 millimeters.

Fire service personnel from 14 regions, including Tokyo, are working to control the fire. In addition, 16 military helicopters are being used.

According to government data, about 2,000 people have taken refuge with relatives, and another 1,200 have been moved to various shelters.

According to government statistics, the number of wildfires in Japan has decreased since the 1970s. However, in 2023, the country experienced about 1,300 fires, mainly between February and April.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine is ready to sign a mineral deal with the United States.

He said this in an interview with the BBC in London on Sunday (March 2).

Leaders of various European countries and alliances joined Zelensky at a conference on the Ukraine crisis at Langstar House in London on Sunday.

After the conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faced the BBC. He said that Kiev is ready to sign a mineral deal with Washington.

Zelensky said, "From our side, we are ready to sign. I really think that the United States will be ready too. Maybe they need time to analyze some issues."

The two countries were supposed to sign an agreement due to the bickering during Zelensky's meeting with Donald Trump at the White House last Friday, but it did not happen. The joint press conference of the two presidents was canceled.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the London summit had been open and frank. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Europe had agreed with Ukraine on four issues at the summit.

Continuing military support for Ukraine during the war and increasing economic pressure on Russia, ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty and security in the event of a lasting peace, and keeping Ukraine at the table for any peace talks.

Keir Starmer also said that European leaders must work together to prevent a future Russian attack on Ukraine. At the same time, a coalition must be formed to protect Kiev and ensure peace in the country.

Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen has spoken about the current situation in Bangladesh. Regarding the chief adviser to the interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, he said, Dr. Yunus is very competent. I have full confidence in his capabilities.

Expressing concern about the current situation in Bangladesh, he said, Professor Muhammad Yunus is taking some significant steps, but he has a long way to go to resolve the impasse.

Amartya Sen said this in an interview given to Indian news agency PTI. PTI published the interview on Sunday (March 2). PTI said that Amartya Sen gave this interview at his residence in Santiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal.

In the interview, Amartya Sen said, 'The situation in Bangladesh has deeply affected me because, I hold the Bengali identity very strongly.’

Amartya Sen said, ‘I spent a lot of time in Dhaka and started my schooling there. In addition to Dhaka, I often visited my ancestral home in Manikganj. On my mother’s side, I regularly visited Bikrampur, especially Sonarang. Personally, these places are very important to me. Like many others, I am concerned about how Bangladesh will face its current challenges.’

Amartya Sen, who spent his childhood in Dhaka, started his schooling at St. Gregory School. Later, he studied in Santiniketan, West Bengal.

Amartya Sen shed light on the progress of Bangladesh since independence. He mentioned the increase in per capita income of Bangladesh, the decline in birth rate and the increase in average life expectancy.

Amartya Sen said, Bangladesh has gone through major economic and social changes. There is progress in establishing women’s rights in particular. Both the government and non-governmental organizations like BRAC and Grameen Bank have a role to play here.

Amartya Sen also described the newspapers in Bangladesh as ‘relatively independent’. He noted the development of many newspapers that were also anti-government.

Amartya Sen praised the Bangladesh Army for not trying to establish military rule, as has happened in many countries. He spoke out against banning the Awami League. He argued for this, saying that if it did, the same mistakes that other parties have made against the Awami League would be repeated.

Amartya Sen said, ‘I think that instead of pushing any one group to one side, Bangladesh should make the best use of the country’s tradition of working together. A liberal perspective is needed. I hope that the commitment of the Bengali community to freedom and pluralism will survive. I hope that the upcoming elections will be visibly freer than the way many claim that elections were held in Bangladesh in the past. I am worried about Bangladesh, but I am not hopeless.’

When asked about his assessment of Professor Muhammad Yunus as the chief adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, Amartya Sen said, ‘Yunus is an old friend. I know that he is a very capable person and a remarkable person in many ways. He has made strong statements about secularism and democratic commitment of Bangladesh.’

In this context, Amartya Sen also said, ‘If you suddenly become the head of a country, as happened in the case of Yunus, then you must consider the issues of different groups. There are different Islamist parties, now there are also different Hindu factions. I have a lot of confidence in Yunus’s capabilities.’

Amartya Sen strongly condemned the attacks on Hindu minorities and vandalism of temples in Bangladesh. He mentioned that both the government and the people had the responsibility to prevent these violence.

Amartya Sen mentioned that it is important to learn from the past and prevent communal violence.