Sunday, 16 Mar, 2025

International

Gas explosion kills at least 10 in Pakistan’s Karachi

A powerful gas explosion in a sewage system in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi has killed at least 10 people and injured 13 others, according to officials. Sabir Memon, a doctor at the Trauma Center in Karachi, said at least three people among those injured in Saturday’s

Russia demands Ukraine, ex-Soviet nations be barred from NATO

Russia has published draft security pacts, demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other ex-Soviet countries and roll back the deployment of troops and weapons in central and eastern Europe. The documents, published on Friday, also call for a ban on sending US and Russian

Hundreds trapped after fire in Hong Kong’s World Trade Centre

Hundreds of people are trapped on the roof of a skyscraper in Hong Kong following a fire according to media reports. Wednesday’s blaze at the 38-story World Trade Centre in Causeway Bay triggered a large response, with firefighters trying to rescue several using emergency

At least 50 killed in Haiti gas tanker explosion

At least 50 people have been killed after a truck carrying fuel exploded in the Haitian city of Cap-Haitien. The city’s Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor said he saw “between 50 and 54 people burned alive” on Tuesday and “it is impossible to identify them.”

Global supply chain: Toyota extends Japan production stoppages

Toyota has announced that it will extend production stoppages at some factories in Japan as it continues to feel the impact of supply chain issues. The world's largest carmaker said its components factories in South East Asia had faced disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Canada offers up to $40bn to compensate indigenous children

Canada has pledged up to C$40bn ($31bn; £23.6bn) in compensation for indigenous children and families who suffered discrimination while in foster care. In September, a top court upheld a 2016 ruling that the government underfunded First Nations services compared with those for

7.4 magnitude quake shakes Indonesia 

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia's South Sulawesi province, prompting people to evacuate homes and buildings. The earthquake happened around 10.30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Tuesday in the Flores Sea. It affected the East Nusa Tenggara region, officials

US tornadoes: At least 100 feared dead

US President Joe Biden has pledged support to states affected by a swarm of devastating tornadoes that demolished homes, levelled businesses and left at least 100 people feared dead. Describing the tornadoes as likely “one of the largest” storm outbreaks in history, Biden

G7 warns of ‘massive consequences’ if Russia invades Ukraine

Russia faces “massive consequences” if it invades Ukraine, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said at a meeting of top diplomats from the G7 group of leading industrialised nations. There was a “very much a united voice from the G7 nations who represent 50

More than 50 feared dead in Kentucky's worst ever tornadoes

The governor of the US state of Kentucky has warned that more than 50 people are thought to have been killed by tornadoes overnight. Andy Beshear said the figure could rise to as many as 100 in what he called the worst tornadoes in the state's history. He said the number was

Russia faces consequences if Ukraine invaded - Truss

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has warned Russia it will face "severe economic consequences" if it invades Ukraine. She said G7 foreign ministers meeting in Liverpool this weekend would put on a show of unity and make clear such a move would be a "strategic mistake".

India farmers end year of protest as govt accepts demands

Indian farmers have said they are ending a year of mass protests a week after the government agreed to abandon controversial agricultural reforms. Thousands of farmers had camped at the borders of the capital, Delhi, with dozens dying from heat, cold and Covid. They will begin

Iran nuclear deal talks resume in Vienna amid frictions

Negotiations between Iran and world powers aimed at salvaging a tattered 2015 nuclear deal have resumed in Vienna after a few days’ pause, with tensions high after Tehran made demands last week that European countries strongly criticised. European Union diplomat Enrique Mora, who

Covid: Pfizer says booster shot promising against Omicron

Pfizer and BioNTech have said a booster jab of their coronavirus vaccine promises to be an effective defence against the new Omicron variant. Three doses provide a similar level of antibodies against Omicron to that of two doses against other variants, the companies said after a small

Bipin Rawat: Tributes for India's top general killed in crash

Tributes have poured in from around the world for India's top military commander, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others died after the Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. An inquiry

Michigan school shooting: Suspect's parents arrested in Detroit

The parents of a teenager suspected of a deadly school shooting have been arrested in a Detroit basement hours after going on the run, police say. James and Jennifer Crumbley were found unarmed hiding in a warehouse after a tip-off from someone who saw their car. The couple had

Biden warns Russia against Ukraine 'red lines'

Joe Biden has warned that he will not accept "red lines" set by Moscow as fears mount that Russia is planning an imminent invasion of Ukraine. The US president said he will make it "very, very difficult" for Russia to invade its neighbour. Meanwhile, US media has

EU unveils €300bn global infrastructure plan to challenge Chinese influence

The EU has revealed details of a €300bn (£255bn; $340bn) global investment plan, described as a "true alternative" to China's Belt and Road strategy, reports BBC. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Global Gateway scheme should become a

Saudi Arabia reports first 'Omicron' case In Gulf

Saudi Arabia confirmed its first case of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant as countries tightened restrictions on international travel in an attempt to slow its spread. Saudi’s state-run SPA quoted a source from the health ministry as saying the infected individual – a Saudi

3 dead, eight wounded in US high school shooting

Three students have been killed and eight others injured, including a teacher, in a high school shooting in the US state of Michigan. Officials say a 16-year-old boy and two girls aged 14 and 17 died. Police allege the suspect, a pupil at the school, used a handgun that his father