- Wednesday, 29 October 2025
BBC
Pilot dies in Indian army jet mid-air collision
One pilot has died after two Indian Air Force fighter jets crashed in a mid-air collision in central India. The planes were on a routine "operational flying training mission" when the incident happened, the air force said in a statement.
France agrees to pull troops out of Burkina Faso
France has agreed to a request from Burkina Faso's military leaders to withdraw all its troops from the country. Burkina Faso, which is currently battling an Islamist insurgency, says it wants to defend itself.
Opium production in Myanmar surges to nine-year high
The production of opium increased sharply in Myanmar after falling for seven years, according to the UN. It touched nearly 795 metric tonnes in 2022, nearly double the production in 2021 - 423 metric tonnes - the year of the military coup.
India marks Republic Day with colourful parade
India is celebrating its 74th Republic Day on Thursday with a colourful parade displaying military might and cultural diversity. The public holiday marks the anniversary of India officially adopting its constitution, making it a sovereign republic.
Chris Hipkins sworn in as New Zealand PM
Chris Hipkins has been sworn in as New Zealand's 41st prime minister. The 44-year-old was formally appointed to the role in Wellington, a week after Jacinda Ardern's shock resignation.
Why internet growth has stalled in India
With more than a billion users, India boasts the world's second-largest mobile phone market. Yet, internet growth in this vast market appears to have stalled. In October 2022, the country's telecom regulator counted 790 million wireless broadband subscribers, people who access the internet on mobile phones.
Thailand tourism up but still below pre-Covid level
Thailand says tourist numbers jumped last year, as coronavirus restrictions were eased, but remained way below pre-pandemic levels. The South East Asia holiday destination saw 11.81m tourists in 2022 - up from just 400,000 the previous year.
Massive outage cuts power to most of Pakistan
Pakistan suffered a huge power cut early on Monday following a breakdown in its national electricity grid, the energy ministry said. Power was out in all the country's major cities, including the biggest city Karachi, the capital Islamabad as well as Lahore and Peshawar.
Nine people dead after shooting near LA, police say
Nine people have died following a shooting at business premises in the Californian city of Monterey Park, police said. The incident happened at about 22:20 local time on Saturday (06:20 GMT on Sunday).
UK PM Sunak fined for not wearing seatbelt
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been fined for not wearing a seatbelt in a moving car while filming a social media video. Lancashire Police said it had issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of a fixed penalty.
-original-thumb.jpg)
Chris Hipkins set to be New Zealand's next PM
New Zealand Labour MP Chris Hipkins is set to replace Jacinda Ardern as prime minister after becoming the only nominee for the party's leadership. He was first elected to parliament in 2008 and was appointed minister for Covid-19 in November 2020.
Hundreds evacuated from South Korea slum fire
Hundreds of people have had to be evacuated after a fire broke out in a shanty town in South Korea's capital, Seoul. Roughly 60 homes are reported to have been destroyed in Friday morning's blaze in Guryong Village.
Manchester Airport runways reopen after heavy snow
Manchester Airport has resumed operations after both runways had to close for more than two hours due to heavy snow. It said passengers' health and safety would "always be our top priority".
New Zealand PM Ardern to step down next month
Jacinda Ardern has announced she will quit as New Zealand prime minister ahead of this year's election, saying she no longer has "enough in the tank" to lead. Ardern choked up as she detailed how six "challenging" years on the job had taken a toll.
Australia pull out of Afghanistan series over Tailban stance
Australia has withdrawn from a men's one-day series against Afghanistan because of the Taliban's restrictions on women and girls. The three-match series was scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates in March.
