A powerful explosion at a fireworks retail shop in central China has left 12 people dead, according to local authorities. The blast occurred Wednesday in the city of Xiangyang, located in Hubei province. Officials said the explosion triggered a large fire that destroyed an area of roughly 50 square metres around the store. Emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene shortly after the blast was reported. Firefighters brought the flames under control after several hours of rescue efforts. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the explosion and an investigation is ongoing. Ind

Tarique Rahman has been sworn in as the new prime minister of Bangladesh following a decisive election victory by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. President Mohammad Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to Tarique Rahman at the parliament complex on Tuesday, formally ending 18 months of interim administration in the country. Alongside the prime minister, 25 cabinet ministers and 24 state ministers also took their oaths, marking the formation of a new government. The transition follows last Thursday’s general election in which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured 209 of the 299 co

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has won a clear majority in Bangladesh’s general election, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape after nearly two decades. According to preliminary results, the BNP-led alliance secured 212 of the 299 parliamentary seats contested nationwide. An 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami won 77 seats, positioning it as the main opposition bloc in the new parliament. The outcome paves the way for BNP president Tarique Rahman to assume the office of prime minister. Rahman contested from two constituencies and was declared elected in b

Voting has concluded across Bangladesh in the country’s first general election since the August 2024 ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. Election officials reported that polling began at 7:30 am local time and continued until 4:30 pm without any suspension or cancellation at voting centres. According to preliminary figures released Thursday afternoon, voter turnout reached 47.91 per cent by 2 pm across approximately 36,000 polling stations nationwide. Ballot counting began shortly after polls closed, with results expected to be announced in phases. Authorities said

Human rights activists say the number of people killed during last month’s nationwide protests in Iran has climbed to at least 7,002, sharply higher than figures released by the Iranian government. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported Thursday that it has verified thousands of deaths through a network of contacts inside the country. The organization, which has tracked previous waves of unrest in Iran, said the count continues to rise gradually as it crosschecks information amid restricted communications and internet disruptions. Iran’s government has provided only one

A powerful explosion tore through a mosque in Pakistan’s capital during Friday prayers, killing at least 31 people and injuring more than 160 others, according to local authorities. The blast occurred inside a Shia mosque in the Taralai area of Islamabad, a residential district on the city’s outskirts. Worshippers were gathered for weekly prayers when the explosion went off, causing widespread panic and structural damage inside the mosque. Emergency services rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, where authorities declared medical emergencies to handle the influx of casualties. Police and

Deadly Israeli strikes hit northern and southern parts of Gaza again after Israel reopened the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, with local hospitals reporting that about 20 Palestinians were killed. Medical officials said casualties were brought to several facilities as attacks continued in multiple areas. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted what it described as militant positions. According to Israeli officials, the attacks were carried out in response to gunfire directed at Israeli troops operating in northern Gaza, an incident that left one Israeli officer seriously

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says he has directed the country’s foreign minister to explore negotiations with the United States, provided talks take place under what he described as fair and respectful conditions. In a message posted Tuesday on social media platform X, Pezeshkian said discussions would only proceed if the diplomatic environment is free of threats or what he called unreasonable demands. He said any engagement must be guided by national dignity, prudence, and Iran’s broader interests. The remarks mark the clearest public indication so far that Iran’s new reformist a

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House on Tuesday. The meeting comes weeks after Trump threatened military action against Colombia over issues related to drug trafficking. On Monday, Trump indicated that Petro appears willing to cooperate with U.S. authorities to curb illegal drug shipments originating from Colombia. Officials say the discussions during the visit are expected to focus on regional security collaboration and efforts to accelerate anti-drug initiatives. Petro and Trump have also voiced ongoing criticism of Venezuelan