DHAKA (DNA) – At least 56 people have died in a huge fire that tore through apartment buildings also used as chemical warehouses in an old part of the Bangladeshi capital, a fire official said Thursday.Dozens of people were trapped in the buildings, unable to escape onto narrow streets clogged with traffic, as the highly-combustible stores of chemicals, body sprays and plastic granules erupted in flames.

ISLAMABAD, (DNA) – China on Wednesday welcomed the Saudi Arabia’s $21 billion investment in Pakistan.During the media briefing, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said, “The CPEC is a pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative and has been following the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.”

ISLAMABAD, (DNA) – National Assembly in a unanimous resolution today condemned the baseless and unfounded allegations by India on Pakistan in the wake of Pulwama attack.The House noted that despite Prime Minister Imran Khan’s offer to India to act against those involved provided New Delhi gives actionable intelligence, the response from Indian government is lamentable.

LAHORE, (DNA) – Following the orders of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman to immediately release 2,107 Pakistani prisoners from Saudi jails, after a request by Prime Minister Imran Khan, as many as five Pakistanis have arrived in Lahore.freed Pakistani prisoners reached Lahore from Saudi Airline flight froom Jeddah to Lahore.

THE HAGUE, (DNA) – The Indian legal team sought annulment of self-confessed Indian spy Kulbhushan JKadhav’s death sentence or a retrial in a Pakistan civilian court on Wednesday.Deepak Mittal, the joint secretary of India’s Ministry of External Affairs made the concluding remarks by reading out the relief sought by India with regards to Jadhav after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) adjourned the hearing of the high-profile case till Thursday.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 20 (DNA) – Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua met ambassadors of Poland, South Africa, and Indonesia in Islamabad on Wednesday and briefed them on the prevailing security situation in the region.This was stated in tweet messages by Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal.Talking to Polish Ambassador Piotr Opalinski, the Foreign Secretary expressed concerns on the safety of Pakistani nationals in India and deteriorating human rights situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 20 (DNA) – Admission Directors of 10 US universities visited the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to discuss possibilities of institutional agreements for admission and placement of Pakistani scholars in the US universities under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor.The meeting was chaired by Dr. Tariq Banuri, Chairman HEC, while Dr. Mahmood-ul-Hassan Butt, Consultant HEC, Mr. Tony Jones, Deputy Cultural Affairs Attache, US Embassy, Islamabad were also present on the occasion.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 20 (DNA) – UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim called on Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in Islamabad on Wednesday and discussed bilateral relations.In his remarks, the Senate Chairman said there is great scope of bolstering economic and trade relations between Pakistan and the UAE. Sadiq Sanjrani said the UAE investors should take benefit from conducive investment opportunities.

KARACHI, (DNA) – National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday has arrested Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani over funds embezzlement and disproportionate assets charge.The speaker was taken into custody from a hotel in Islamabad’s Red Zone area.According to recent reports, NAB has shifted Durrani to Rawalpindi office however, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader will be produced before accountability court for transit remand on Thursday.