What should have been a routine ferry journey across Indonesian waters turned into a desperate fight for survival. A passenger ferry caught fire at sea on Sunday, leaving at least five people dead, 41 missing and hundreds scrambling to escape the flames. Rescue officials said 225 people were pulled to safety, with many passengers jumping
Europe’s wildfire crisis is turning deadlier by the day. Three Greek firefighters have lost their lives battling fast-moving blazes. The deaths underscore the growing danger as extreme heat fuels fires across southern Europe. Two firefighters died after becoming trapped by flames in Crete’s Rethymno region, where powerful winds forced villages to evacuate. A third firefighter
How quickly can a peaceful mountain town turn into a disaster zone? In eastern Afghanistan, the answer was just a matter of hours. Devastating flash floods swept through Nuristan province, killing at least 20 people and leaving more than 100 others missing. The worst damage was reported in Parun, the provincial capital, where homes, shops
Who gets to write the rules for artificial intelligence—the US or China? President Xi Jinping made it clear where Beijing stands, using China’s biggest AI conference to present his country as the champion of an open, global AI future. Speaking at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Xi called AI a “historic opportunity” and
Can China catch up in the race for reusable rockets? Its latest launch suggests the gap may be narrowing faster than many expected. China has successfully landed a reusable rocket for the first time, marking a major milestone for its growing space ambitions. The Long March 10B lifted off from Hainan before its booster separated.
More than four months after the death of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country has begun what officials are calling the “funeral of the century.” Officials are calling it the “funeral of the century.” Why now? Authorities say the week-long ceremonies are meant to honor the late leader. They are also meant
Can Congress really stop a president from waging war? Not quite—but it can send a message. And that’s exactly what the Republican-controlled US Senate has done. In a rare bipartisan move, the Senate voted 50-48 to approve a measure. The measure urges President Donald Trump to either end US involvement in the Iran conflict or
A major industrial accident in Qatar’s key energy hub has raised fresh concerns after an explosion at a factory left dozens injured and several people missing. Qatar’s Interior Ministry said the blast in Ras Laffan Industrial City was caused by a “technical accident.” The incident injured 54 people, while rescue teams continued searching for 18
A senior UK cabinet resignation has thrown fresh pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer — but is this just a political disagreement? Or something more serious about Britain’s defence future? Defence Secretary John Healey has dramatically quit, accusing the government and Treasury of failing to allocate enough funding for national security. In a strongly worded
Can a visit to Taiwan really get elected politicians banned from entering China? For four New Zealand MPs, the answer is now yes. In an unprecedented move, China has imposed a one-year travel ban on four New Zealand lawmakers after they visited Taiwan in May. The decision marks the first time Beijing has sanctioned New
What’s happening beneath the ocean’s surface—and why are some of the world’s biggest military powers suddenly paying so much attention to it? The US, UK and Australia have unveiled plans to develop advanced underwater drones. Designed to protect vital seabed infrastructure, including internet cables and pipelines. The project, part of the Aukus security pact, is
What happens when two of the world’s most powerful leaders meet just days after a high-stakes US-China summit? In Beijing this week, the answer was clear: Russia and China want the world to know their partnership is still rock solid. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping used their latest summit to push
