9 charred to death as major fire tears through Bangladesh slum
Dhaka : A major fire in Bangladesh gutted over 200 shanties, killing at least nine persons including two children in the port city of Chittagong Sunday.
The devastating blaze broke out in the wee hours when most of the slum dwellers were asleep, Dhaka Tribune reported. The reason behind the fire was not immediately known.
Nine people, including two children, have been burned to death at a slum in Chaktai area, the report said.
According to the officials, the fire, which destroyed over 200 shanties, started at Bhera Market slum around 3:32 AM (local time). It took nearly five hours to control the raging fire, the report added.
A four-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident. The local administration will provide 20,000 taka (USD 238) to the victims' families for burial.
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Karnataka launches state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): In a significant boost to India’s rapidly expanding space economy, the Karnataka government on Friday launched the country’s first state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology here, officials said.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities to translate space innovation into scalable commercial outcomes, they said.
The Centre, established by the Government of Karnataka through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society in collaboration with SIA (Satcom Industry Association India) -India, was inaugurated by Minister for Electronics, IT/BT, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, in the presence of senior officials and industry leaders, officials said.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Kharge said that Karnataka has consistently been at the forefront of India's technology and innovation journey. With the launch of this Centre of Excellence for Space Technology, we are extending that leadership into one of the most strategic sectors of the future.
"Our focus is not just on advancing research, but on creating an ecosystem where innovation can translate into real-world applications, economic growth, and high-quality jobs. This Centre will play a critical role in positioning Karnataka as a key driver of India's space economy," he said.
According to an official statement, the CoE SpaceTech Foundation has been established under a Memorandum of Agreement between KITS and SIA-India to drive research and innovation in space technologies, industry-aligned training, startup incubation and cross-sector applications, it said.
The Centre has also formalised strategic MoUs with multiple industry and academic partners to support research in space biotech and microgravity, enable collaboration, build talent pipelines, and provide startups with training and market access, it added.
