At least 16 people, including several children, were killed and 14 others injured after a gas leak triggered an explosion in a residential building in Karachi early Thursday morning, according to local police officials. Authorities said the blast occurred around 4:30 a.m. on the first floor of a building located in the Old Soldier Bazaar area. Investigators believe the explosion was caused by an accumulation of gas inside the structure. Officials added that the building was already in a deteriorated condition, and part of its structure collapsed following the explosion, complicating rescue eff

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and younger brother of King Charles III, was arrested Thursday in the United Kingdom amid an investigation into alleged misconduct during his time as a government trade representative. The development marks a significant escalation in longstanding scrutiny surrounding his past associations and official conduct. Police are examining whether Andrew, while serving in 2010 as the U.K.’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, improperly shared confidential commercial reports with convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein. The documents in question

Two Palestinians were killed in separate shooting incidents in Gaza on Wednesday, according to local hospital officials, as tensions continue despite a ceasefire announced in mid October. Medical authorities reported that the shootings occurred in the Al Mughraqa area of central Gaza and in Al Mawasi, west of Rafah in the south. At least three other Palestinians were injured in the incidents and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The violence comes as Israeli forces attempt to restrict movement near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a critical route for patients seeking urgent medica

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