At least 21 people have been killed and 61 others injured following an explosion at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province. The blast occurred on Monday at around 4:40 p.m. (0840 GMT) in Changsha, the provincial capital and a major hub for fireworks manufacturing, Reuters reported, citing Xinhua. Nearly 500 firefighters, rescue workers, and More
Russia and Ukraine have separately announced temporary ceasefires ahead of World War II Victory Day commemorations. The Moscow Times reported both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared limited truces amid the ongoing war between the two countries. Russia on Monday announced a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine from May 8 to 9, More
Unidentified gunmen shot dead Mawlana Mohammad Idris, a religious scholar, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, a media report said. Aaj News reported that unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on the vehicle of Mawlana Mohammad Idris in the Utmanzai area of Charsadda district this morning. He succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital. Police said More
Japan’s prime minister has warned that disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, amid rising tensions and conflict, have had an “enormous impact” on the Asia-Pacific region. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made the remarks on Monday during a visit to Australia, where the two countries signed agreements to strengthen cooperation in energy More
Kazakhstan’s grain exports to Afghanistan increased more than fourfold in the first quarter of 2026, a media report said on Monday. The Kazinform International News Agency reported that shipments to Afghanistan reached 302,000 tonnes during the period, a 4.2-fold increase compared to the same period last year. Overall, Kazakhstan’s grain exports rose by 18 percent More
Two missiles reportedly struck a US Navy vessel near Jask in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after it allegedly ignored warnings from Iranian forces, a media report said. Iran’s Fars News Agency, citing local sources, reported that the vessel was targeted after failing to comply with warnings issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. More
At least 18 people have been killed after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides across several parts of Kenya, media reports said on Monday. Landslides were reported on Sunday in Tharaka-Nithi, Elgeyo-Marakwet and Kiambu counties in the country’s central and eastern regions, according to Al Jazeera, citing Kenyan police. Authorities confirmed the death toll More
Donald Trump has announced that the United States will begin assisting commercial vessels stranded in the Gulf amid escalating tensions linked to the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran. According to a report by Reuters, the initiative is set to commence on Monday. While specific operational details remain limited, Trump indicated the effort would focus on More
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Sunday emphasised the protection of freedom of expression and support for journalism as a key pillar of peace, marking World Press Freedom Day. Observed on 3 May, World Press Freedom Day was designated by the United Nations and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) More
At least 11 people have been killed and 31 others injured after a tourist bus crashed in the western Mexican state of Nayarit. According to Reuters, the incident occurred on Friday during the Labor Day holiday weekend, turning what was meant to be a leisure trip into a tragedy. The bus, traveling from the state More
