Hong Kong is reeling after a catastrophic fire ripped through seven high-rise residential buildings in the Wang Fuk Court estate, killing at least 55 people and leaving hundreds more unaccounted for in one of the city’s worst disasters in decades. The fire began on Wednesday afternoon and rapidly engulfed multiple 31-storey towers undergoing repairs in Tai Po, where bamboo scaffolding and renovation materials helped the flames spread at alarming speed. Firefighters continued battling hotspo

Kelly Clarkson has achieved a major streaming landmark as her iconic 2004 pop-rock single Since U Been Gone officially crossed 1 billion plays on Spotify. The track, originally released as the second single from her album Breakaway, has remained one of the most influential hits of the 2000s and continues to thrive across digital platforms. The song previously peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later earned Clarkson a Grammy Award along with several MTV Video Music Awards, solidifyin

Hong Kong authorities have arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter following a catastrophic fire that swept through a high-rise housing complex in Tai Po, marking one of the city’s deadliest blazes in a decade. Police confirmed the arrests on Thursday and said a full briefing would be held to outline the early findings of the investigation and the circumstances that led to the rapid spread of the flames. The incident has raised urgent questions about building safety, maintenance pro

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held discussions with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter, marking the latest attempt by the Trump administration to revive momentum toward a negotiated settlement in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The meetings were described as part of a broader diplomatic effort aimed at narrowing longstanding divisions between Moscow and Kyiv, which have intensified despite repeated international appeals for de-es

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani received an unexpected and emotional surprise during a recent appearance on Adam Friedland’s show when he was presented with a personalised video message from Arsenal legend Ian Wright. The moment quickly became a talking point online, highlighting not only Mamdani’s rising political profile but also his long-standing and deeply rooted passion for the North London football club. Mamdani, who made history as New York’s first Muslim mayor and its y

The United States and Ukraine announced that they have agreed on an updated peace framework designed to advance efforts to end the nearly four-year conflict with Russia. The revised approach follows a new round of intensive diplomatic discussions in Geneva, where senior officials from both nations worked to address concerns that earlier proposals leaned too heavily toward positions seen as favourable to Moscow. The previous iteration of the plan, strongly backed by President Donald Trump, had

Reports suggesting that the United States and Russia have drafted a confidential peace proposal for Ukraine have stirred uncertainty in Kyiv and prompted questions across Europe about the future direction of the conflict. The alleged initiative, first detailed in recent media reports, points to a possible framework designed without Ukrainian participation and containing concessions that could fundamentally reshape the country’s territorial and security landscape. Senior U.S. milit

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai has urged caution as global enthusiasm for artificial intelligence continues to fuel record valuations and intense competition across the technology sector. In an interview, Pichai described the present moment as remarkable for innovation, yet marked by clear signs that investor expectations may be stretching beyond what the industry can sustain. His comments arrive at a time when comparisons to previous periods of market exuberance, particularly the late

The United States is preparing a major escalation in its economic pressure campaign against Russia, with President Donald Trump announcing that he supports Senate legislation enabling Washington to impose tariffs of up to 500 percent on countries that continue significant trade with Moscow. The measure represents one of the most aggressive attempts yet to curtail Russian war funding and signals growing frustration in Washington over the prolonged conflict in Ukraine. Speaking before

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he intends to file a lawsuit seeking between $1 billion and $5 billion against the BBC, following the broadcaster’s apology for a misleading edit of one of his speeches. Trump said the legal action would likely begin next week and insisted that the broadcaster had already “admitted” wrongdoing, though it has publicly denied that its actions meet the threshold for defamation. The dispute centers on a video segment included in a documen

A major security alert was triggered after police recovered a large quantity of explosives and arms from Faridabad, Haryana, in a coordinated operation involving law enforcement agencies from Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. The recovery comes amid an ongoing investigation into two Kashmiri doctors who were arrested earlier for alleged links with the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Officials confirmed that nearly 350 kilograms of explosive material, suspected to be ammonium nitrate, we

The path to studying or working abroad, once viewed as a clear and achievable journey, is becoming increasingly complicated as major economies introduce tighter immigration and visa rules. Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada, and Australia have each rolled out new policies in the past two years that collectively raise costs, elevate salary requirements, and reduce the number of visas available for international students and skilled professionals. For many,

Hollywood actor and humanitarian Angelina Jolie has once again brought global attention to Ukraine by visiting the war-torn city of Kherson, a region still enduring the daily consequences of Russian attacks. Photographs circulating on social media this week showed the Academy Award-winning star wearing a bulletproof vest emblazoned with Ukrainian insignia as she visited hospitals and maternity wards in the embattled southern city. The visit, though not officially announced, has drawn widespre

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has accused Russia of deploying a missile banned under international treaties, saying Moscow’s use of the 9M729 cruise missile — known in NATO terminology as the SSC-8 — represents a serious violation of global arms control commitments and an alarming escalation in the war. The weapon, Sybiha noted, has already been used multiple times against Ukrainian targets, further heightening regional security concerns across Europe. According t

In a move reflecting deepening frustration within Washington, United States President Donald Trump has reportedly cancelled a planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The decision follows Moscow’s insistence on sweeping conditions for peace in Ukraine, which American officials have described as amounting to a demand for Ukraine’s surrender of sovereignty. According to reports, the decision came after Russia sent a detailed memorandum outlining Putin’s terms for en

In a remarkable achievement for Indian academia and space research, Assistant Professor Alok Sagar Gautam from the Department of Physics at Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University has been selected to join the Indian Space Research Organisation’s upcoming Venus Orbiter Mission, officially known as Shukrayaan-1. This marks a significant moment in India’s pursuit of interplanetary exploration, as the mission represents the nation’s first dedicated effort to study Venus, often referred

Authorities in the United Kingdom have launched a major investigation after a 20-year-old woman of Indian origin was reportedly raped in what police are treating as a racially aggravated attack. The incident occurred in the Park Hall area of Walsall, in northern England, prompting widespread concern and condemnation. The West Midlands Police confirmed that they were called to the scene after reports emerged of a distressed woman on the street. Officers responding to the call found the victim

In a significant policy reversal, U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, marking one of the most consequential economic measures against Moscow since the escalation of the war in Ukraine. The decision immediately triggered a 5% surge in global oil prices and prompted India, one of Russia’s biggest energy buyers, to reconsider its import strategy. The sanctions, announced on Wednesday, target companies

A Diwali celebration in New Jersey turned into an online controversy after a video of Indian students bursting fireworks on a public street drew criticism from social media users. The short clip, uploaded by 20-year-old Mukul Verma, showed a group of young people celebrating the festival of lights when local firefighters arrived and began spraying water on the fireworks. What was intended to be a joyful cultural celebration soon became a subject of heated online discussion over safety, legali

In a major embarrassment for the Maryam Nawaz-led Punjab government, Imperial College London has publicly denied claims that it plans to open a campus in Lahore, Pakistan. The announcement of the alleged collaboration had been made just days earlier by the provincial administration, stating that a campus and a 300-bed hospital would be established at the Nawaz Sharif IT City, with a foundation stone-laying ceremony planned for November. The claim was amplified by Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz, Minis