Coast Guard says five fishermen rescued from Sundarbans hostage-takers

A fire erupted from the ground during tube-well drilling in Inani, in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya upazila, on Tuesday, 27 October. Firefighters were sent to the site, and electricity supply along a nearby power line was temporarily suspended as a precaution, according to reports by Dhaka Tribune and Manab Zamin.

Dhaka Tribune reported that three fire service units were working at the scene near a small bridge in Inani. Smoke and a gas-like smell accompanied the flames. Ukhiya Fire Service station officer Saidul Islam confirmed the incident to the newspaper and said the cause remained under investigation, with underground gas the preliminary suspected source.

Manab Zamin's correspondent reported from the area that the fire began in the yard of a home in Chhoto Inani. The paper quoted the same fire official as saying gas was continuing to escape through the tube-well pipe opening, making the blaze difficult to extinguish. That account described the escaping substance as natural gas.

The two reports agree on the central sequence: excavation for a water source was followed by flames emerging from below ground, and firefighters responded. They differ on the timing. Manab Zamin placed the start at about 5:30am, while Dhaka Tribune gave about 8:30am. An exact start time could not be reconciled from those accounts.

The distinction between a suspected gas-fed fire and a confirmed gas discovery also remains important. The reports do not include a technical assessment establishing the size, composition or commercial value of any underground deposit. The visible fire and the fire service's initial explanation do not establish those details.

The response extended beyond the drilling site. Citing Ukhiya Palli Bidyut Samity, Dhaka Tribune said supply along a 15-kilometre section of a 33kV power line between Monkhali and Patuartek was temporarily suspended. The concern was that flames could spread to electrical infrastructure. The report did not give a time for restoration.

Nearby accommodation also brought residents and hotel workers close to the incident. Al-Amin, an employee of a hotel near the site, told Dhaka Tribune that several staff members lived in a room beside the affected area. His account described alarm among people nearby as firefighters arrived.

Both accounts were published on Tuesday morning or around midday and described an active response at that time. They did not establish a final extinguishing time or a completed investigation. Further confirmation is needed on how the escaping gas will be stopped, when power will be restored and what caused ignition during the drilling work.

Two major Chinese companies ended their partnerships with Kylian Mbappe on Tuesday after a circulating video apparently showed the French footballer discussing a meme involving Mao Zedong, according to AFP and BBC reports.

Drinks producer Dongpeng and dairy company Mengniu each announced an immediate end to cooperation with the Real Madrid forward. Both companies said they opposed conduct that offended Chinese national sentiment.

The distinction between the confirmed commercial split and the footage matters: AFP Fact Check could not immediately verify the video's authenticity. The BBC reported that the original interview was unavailable on the show's YouTube channel and that its date was unclear.

In the circulating footage, Mbappe reportedly describes a meme showing his face on a figure he calls a Chinese dictator. The BBC says he does not identify Mao by name. The image has been interpreted as referring to the late Chinese leader.

AFP reported that Dongpeng's decision was the top-trending topic on Weibo. The BBC said five of the platform's top 10 topics concerned Mbappe by Tuesday afternoon in China, as users debated the clip and called for boycotts.

The BBC said it had contacted Mbappe and Real Madrid for comment. The available reports did not include a response from either.