Tokyo, Aug 26: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said that he highlighted India’s growing investment and business opportunities across trade, mobility, industrial, banking and insurance sectors during discussions with top Japanese business and financial leaders.

On the third day of his Japan visit, Goyal met senior executives from Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and Nippon Life Insurance, according to posts by the minister on X.

In his meeting with Toshimitsu Imai, President and CEO of Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Goyal discussed opportunities for the company to deepen its engagement in India across trade, mobility and industrial sectors.

The discussions focused on leveraging India’s cost competitiveness and strengthening the country’s role as a global export hub, particularly for emerging markets, Goyal said.

In addition, the minister met with Yoshihiro Hyakutome, Deputy President Executive Officer at SMBC Group and discussed opportunities to deepen India-Japan financial ties, including greater investment and cooperation in the banking sector.

Goyal also discussed with Yasushi Itagaki, Deputy Chairman of MUFG, along with other senior officials, strengthening India-Japan cooperation in banking, commercial finance and investment.

“India’s dynamic financial sector continues to offer significant scope for deeper partnerships with Japan’s leading financial institutions,” the minister said on X.

Additionally, in his meeting with Minoru Kimura, Managing Executive Officer and Head of Global Business at Nippon Life Insurance, the minister discussed opportunities for greater India-Japan cooperation in insurance and financial services.

Goyal said India’s expanding insurance market presents significant potential for greater collaboration.

The discussions with the Japanese companies come as India seeks to deepen economic and investment ties with Japan and attract greater participation from the firms and financial institutions across key sectors for Indian economy.

Islamabad, Aug 26: In a major tragedy, at least 15 newborn babies died after a massive fire broke out in the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, local media reported on Wednesday, quoting officials familiar with the tragic incident.

According to officials of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, the nursery had 16 newborns at the time the fire broke out. Of the 16 infants, only one could be rescued from the affected area in time, while the remaining babies died in the blaze.

Rescue sources said the fire erupted at around 6:45 a.m. inside the nursery after an air-conditioner compressor reportedly exploded, according to leading Pakistani media outlet Geo TV.

Rescue officials said that the fire was brought under control after firefighting teams reached the hospital and began operations. Teams continued cooling operations at the site after extinguishing the blaze to prevent any possibility of the fire reigniting.

According to the district administration, 14 babies were completely burnt in the fire that broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward. The administration said rescue personnel responded immediately after receiving information about the incident.

Six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances were deployed as part of the emergency response, the district administration said.

The incident has raised serious questions about safety arrangements at the hospital, particularly in a ward housing vulnerable newborn children.

The district administration has constituted an enquiry committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Officials said the enquiry will establish the circumstances that led to the deaths of the newborns and examine the response to the emergency. Further details regarding the incident and the findings of the enquiry committee are awaited.

New Delhi, Aug 25: UN-designated terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters in Pakistan’s Bahawalpur, which were damaged in strikes launched by India under Operation Sindoor last year, have been rebuilt, according to reports.

According to images and intelligence inputs accessed by several media reports, the Markaz Subhanallah, which was badly damaged in India’s strikes last year, has been rebuilt with new plaster, paint, and polished marble.

The central hall of the facility, which had been damaged, has been repaired, with the craters filled and the structure refurbished. The structure, which was fully damaged, now seems to be prepared for regular use by JeM.

The Pakistani establishment provided approximately (Pakistani) Rs 25 crore to JeM in cash instalments, with approximately Rs 11 crore reportedly given for reconstruction of the central hall, several media reports claimed, citing intelligence inputs.

The structures adjoining the main complex, including the Madrasa Al-Sabir, described as an indoctrination centre, and residential quarters used by JeM commanders, which were damaged during Operation Sindoor, have been cleared or demolished, and new construction has taken place at the site.

The Bahawalpur facility was among the sites targeted by India during Operation Sindoor launched in May last year, in response to the terrorist attack carried out in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

India struck at the heart of Pakistan-based terror infrastructure, targeting well-known training camps in Muridke and Bahawalpur in a joint operation conducted by the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy.

The highly coordinated operation, launched on May 6 and 7, saw firing of 24 missiles that precisely hit nine terror facilities across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), killing an estimated 70 terrorists.

Only verified terror camps were targeted, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters in Muridke and key facilities in Bahawalpur — both long identified as hubs of extremist training and indoctrination.

Operation Sindoor was a significant demonstration of India’s military and strategic capability, combining both military and non-military measures.

India launched the operation in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that took place on April 22, 2025, in which Pakistan-backed attackers singled out victims after asking about their religion, forcing them to recite the Islamic ‘kalima’ to identify non-Muslims. Among those killed were 25 tourists and one local pony ride operator who tried to save the tourists.