The death toll from a shopping mall fire in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi climbed to 60 after at least 30 bodies were recovered from a shop of the multi-story building, officials said on Wednesday.
The bodies were recovered from the mezzanine floor of the shopping mall, said senior police official Syed Asad Raza, adding that several people are still missing and a search operation is continuing to recover them.
He said that the rescue efforts are being carried out using sophisticated machines, and debris is being removed from the collapsed sections of the building.
The official said that the rescue workers are facing difficulties reaching some parts of the building due to smoke and heat inside the damaged structure, adding that one part of the building is cleared and the other two parts are being combed to rescue people under the rubble.
Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi said that an investigation into the incident has been launched as authorities look into the fire from multiple angles.
Death toll from shopping mall fire in Pakistan's Karachi rises to 60
Death toll from shopping mall fire in Pakistan's Karachi rises to 60
A protest in Tokyo on Saturday highlighted growing public concern over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on China's Taiwan region and the government's plans to expand its military.
In early November 2025, Takaichi said a "Taiwan contingency" could constitute what she called a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, remarks that many critics say reflect nostalgia for Japan's colonial past and an attempt to weaponize the Taiwan issue against China.
Protesters distributed flyers and held up signs denouncing Takaichi's remarks and policies.
"The Japanese government has already acknowledged that Taiwan is part of China, so I can't help but wonder why the current prime minister would make such remarks. We truly hope there will be no more statements like this. Takaichi should either retract her words or just resign. Her comments have triggered a serious crisis, and she must take full responsibility," one protester said.
"There is widespread anger toward Takaichi within Japan. If the government truly prioritizes people's livelihoods, it must pursue responsible diplomacy, reject any provocation of war and uphold the pacifist constitution. This is what matters most," another demonstrator said.
"It is an interference in China's internal affairs. She must immediately and sincerely apologize for her remarks," said another participant in the rally.
Protesters also said Takaichi's aggressive actions since taking office, including intending to revise three national security documents, easing restrictions on arms exports and planning to increase the defence budget, are dangerous, particularly given Japan's failure to fully reckon with its World War II history.
"Japan's military buildup is dangerous. Eight decades have passed since the war ended, yet the country still hasn't fully reflected on or accounted for its wartime past," a protester said.
Protesters rally in Tokyo over PM Takaichi's Taiwan remarks, military expansion plans
