Sunday, 19 Jan, 2025

International

Tonga undersea cable needs 'at least' four weeks to repair: NZ

A key undersea cable that was destroyed in a volcano eruption in Tonga may take at least four weeks to be repaired, said New Zealand's foreign ministry. The cable was severed during a volcanic eruption on Saturday, crippling communications and cutting the Pacific island off from

43 Migrants Dead As Boat Capsizes Off Morocco

Forty-three migrants including three infants died after their boat capsized off the coast of Tarfaya in southern Morocco, Spanish organisation Caminando Fronteras said Monday. Ten people were rescued from the shipwreck, the organisation's spokesperson told AFP. The survivors had

Afghanistan twin quakes kill at least 22 in poorest areas

At least 22 people have been killed so far after back-to-back earthquakes struck the west of Afghanistan on Monday, officials said. According to data from the US Geological Society (USGS), the 4.9 and 5.3 magnitude quakes affected the north-west province of Badghis, where it caused

North Korea fires two suspected ballistic missiles, Seoul says

North Korea has fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles into the sea in its fourth weapons test this month, South Korea’s military said, as Pyongyang continues a wave of missile launches that have triggered condemnation at the United Nations. South Korea’s Joint

Tsunami threat over after huge Pacific volcano eruption 

The threat of further tsunamis around the Pacific after Saturday's huge underwater volcano eruption near Tonga has passed, a monitoring group says. On Sunday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said the threat had receded but coastal areas should remain alert for strong or

Tsunami hits Tonga after giant volcano eruption

Tsunami waves caused by a giant underwater volcanic eruption have hit the Pacific country of Tonga. Social media footage showed water washing through a church and several homes, and witnesses said ash was falling over the capital, Nuku'alofa. A Tsunami warning sent residents

North Korea fires railway-borne missiles as US tension rises

North Korea confirmed on Saturday it test-launched ballistic missiles from a train in what was seen as an apparent retaliation against new sanctions imposed by the United States. North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the drill was aimed at “checking

Russia-Ukraine: US warns of 'false-flag' operation

Russia is plotting to stage acts of provocation to create a pretext to invade Ukraine, a US official has said. A Pentagon spokesman said Russian operatives were planning a "false-flag" operation, to allow Moscow to accuse Ukraine of preparing an attack. Russia has dismissed

3 Killed as Guwahati-Bikaner Express derails in West Bengal

Twelve coaches of the Guwahati-Bikaner Express train derailed near the Maynaguri town of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal today.  At least three people have been killed and over 20 injured, Moumita Godala Basu, District Magistrate of Jalpaiguri, said. The injured were first

North Korea claims third hypersonic missile test

North Korea says it has conducted another hypersonic missile test, under the watch of its leader Kim Jong-un. State media said the missile fired on Tuesday had successfully made a turn before hitting its target in the sea some 1,000km (621 miles) away. It marks North Korea's

Suu Kyi jailed for 4 more years 

A military-run court in Myanmar has found civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was overthrown in last February’s coup, guilty on at least three charges and sentenced her to four more years in prison. The 76-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner was detained as the military seized

19 killed in New York apartment block blaze

At least 19 people, including nine children, have died after a fire in a New York apartment building. Another 32 people were sent to hospital, several of whom are in a critical condition, according to New York Mayor Eric Adams. Fire department Commissioner Daniel Nigro said they had

Saudi princess released from jail

A Saudi princess and her daughter have been released from a high-security jail after being held for nearly three years without charge, campaigners say. Princess Basma bint Saud was detained in March 2019 as she prepared to fly to Switzerland for medical treatment. It is not known

Ahmaud Arbery killers get life in prison

A white father and son convicted of killing a black jogger have been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A jury found Travis and Gregory McMichael and their neighbour, William Bryan, guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020. Bryan also received

Kazakhstan unrest: Dozens killed in crackdown

Security forces in the Central Asian state of Kazakhstan say they have killed dozens of anti-government rioters in the main city, Almaty. They moved in after protesters tried to take control of police stations in the city, a police spokeswoman said. Twelve members of the security

Saudi Arabia sets 10-day mandatory interval between two Umrahs

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has set an interval of 10 days between the issuance of two Umrah permits for pilgrims of all age groups. A pilgrim, who obtained a permit to perform Umrah, can book an appointment for a second Umrah through the Eatmarna or Tawakkalna applications at

8 children among 12 dead in US apartment blaze

Twelve people have been killed and several more have been injured after a fire broke out in an apartment building in the US city of Philadelphia. Eight children are among the dead, an official from the Philadelphia Fire Department told reporters. The blaze began at around 06:00

North Korea says it tested hypersonic missile 

North Korea successfully tested a hypersonic missile on Wednesday, its first major weapons test this year, said a state media report. KCNA said it "precisely hit" a set target 700km (434 miles) away. This is the second reported test of a hypersonic missile, which can avoid

North Korea launches 'unidentified projectile' into sea

North Korea has fired what has been described as an unidentified projectile into the sea, said South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The Japanese coast guard, which first reported the launch, said it could potentially be a ballistic missile, but no confirmation has yet been

Elizabeth Holmes: Theranos founder convicted of fraud

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been convicted of defrauding investors after a months-long landmark trial in California. Prosecutors said Holmes knowingly lied about technology she said could detect diseases with a few drops of blood. Jurors found Holmes guilty of four