- Friday, 24 October 2025
Reuters
Fire on Philippine passenger ferry kills 28 people
At least 28 people have died including a 6-month-old baby after a fire broke out on an inter-island passenger ferry in the southern Philippines, the coast guard said on Thursday.
Largest strike in decades brings Germany to a standstill
Airports and bus and train stations across Germany were at a standstill on Monday morning, causing disruption for millions at the start of the working week during one of the largest walkouts in decades as Europe's biggest economy reels from inflation. The 24-hour strikes called by the Verdi trade union and railway and transport union EVG were the latest in months of industrial action which has hit major European economies as higher food and energy prices dent living standards.
Thailand dissolves parliament for election
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has endorsed a decree to dissolve parliament, according to an announcement in the Royal Gazette on Monday, paving the way for elections in May.
Magnitude 6.8 earthquake shakes Ecuador, at least 14 deaths reported
At least 14 people were killed in a strong earthquake that shook a coastal region of Ecuador and northern Peru on Saturday, causing structural damage to multiple homes, schools and medical centres.
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan to appear in court, fearing arrest
Pakistan former Prime Minister Imran Khan was set to appear in court on Saturday as police entered his property and after he expressed fear of arrest in a standoff with the government that has led to intense clashes with his supporters.
At least 22 people killed in suspected massacre at Myanmar monastery
At least 22 people, including three Buddhist monks, were shot dead at close range in central Myanmar last week, according to a doctor's post-mortem report, in what opponents of military rule say was a massacre of civilians conducted by the army.
Pakistan court postpones police operation to arrest Imran Khan
A Pakistani high court ordered police on Thursday to postpone an operation to arrest Imran Khan for another day, defusing a surge in violence that saw supporters of the former prime minister fighting pitched battles with security forces.
Women's Day rallies seek equal rights, focus on Iran, Afghanistan
Rallies marking International Women's Day took place around the world on Wednesday after a year in which girls in Afghanistan were banned from education, mass women's rights protests erupted in Iran and a landmark U.S. abortion ruling was overturned. Demonstrations were held in cities across the globe with more planned in Paris, Beirut, Baghdad, Karachi and Istanbul and many other cities.
Japan's new rocket fails after engine issue, in blow to space ambitions
Japan's new medium-lift rocket failed on its debut flight in space on Tuesday after the launcher's second-stage engine did not ignite as planned, in a blow to its efforts to cut the cost of accessing space and compete against Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Climate change to cost Germany up to 900 billion euros by 2050: Study
Extreme weather caused by climate change could cost Germany up to 900 billion euros in cumulative economic damage by mid-century, a study showed on Monday, as Europe's biggest economy seeks climate adaptation measures to cut the damages bill.
Belarus court jails Nobel Peace Prize winner Bialiatski for 10 years
A court in Belarus on Friday sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in prison for financing protests and other crimes, in a case that rights groups say was politically motivated.
Migrant shipwreck in Italy kills at least 59, including 12 children
At least 59 people died, including 12 children, when a wooden sailing boat carrying migrants to Europe crashed against rocks near the southern Italian coast early on Sunday, authorities said.
Migrant shipwreck in Italy kills 43, 80 survivors reported
Forty-three people died while 80 people survived when a boat carrying migrants crashed against rocks near the coast of southern Italy early on Sunday, the Italian coast guard and police said.
Turkey widens probe into building collapses as quake toll exceeds 50,000
Turkey has arrested 184 people suspected of responsibility for the collapse of buildings in this month's earthquakes and investigations are widening, a minister said on Saturday, as anger simmers over what many see as corrupt building practices.
Flu experts gather with H5N1 risk on the agenda
The world's leading experts on influenza met this week to discuss the threat posed to humans by a strain of H5N1 avian flu that has caused record numbers of bird deaths around the world in recent months.
