Author: Web Desk

Kabul: Afghan earthquake has devastated eastern regions, killing at least 622 people and injuring more than 1,500, according to authorities. The magnitude 6 quake has struck Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, toppling homes and leaving families trapped under rubble as rescuers work to recover survivors. The Taliban-run interior ministry has said that all response teams have been mobilised to provide emergency aid including food, security, and health assistance. Helicopters have been used to ferry the wounded to hospitals, with military teams conducting extensive operations across the affected districts. Authorities confirmed that the quake has levelled three villages in Kunar and caused…

Chiniot: Devastating floods in Pakistan’s Punjab region have caused extensive damage to homes, crops, and livestock, leaving communities struggling to recover. Thousands of villages have been inundated, forcing over 760,000 people and more than 516,000 animals to evacuate. At least 33 fatalities have been reported in less than a week, while millions remain affected by submerged fields and destroyed property. Farmers have seen their rice, sugarcane, maize, vegetables, and cotton crops destroyed, creating uncertainty about food supplies and economic stability. The flood damage has caused rice prices to spike, making local consumption costlier and reducing export competitiveness against neighbouring countries.…

Calif: Taco Bell AI drive-through technology has faced notable challenges after a series of viral incidents highlighted system errors. One widely viewed clip shows a customer placing an order for 18,000 cups of water, while another video depicts a user becoming frustrated as the AI repeatedly requested additional drinks. Since 2023, Taco Bell has implemented AI-driven voice technology at over 500 US locations, aiming to reduce errors and improve service speed. However, the technology has sometimes produced the opposite effect, with mistakes and repeated prompts leading to customer frustration. Dane Mathews, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Taco Bell, stated…

Washington: WhatsApp hacking campaign has been identified after the Meta-owned messaging platform confirmed that cyber attackers exploited a chain of vulnerabilities in both WhatsApp and Apple devices. The incident has affected fewer than 200 people worldwide, according to the company. The communication service has said that it has patched the flaws which allowed hackers to take advantage of a second weakness on Apple devices to compromise systems. Cybersecurity experts have noted that this case represents a targeted cyberespionage effort rather than a widespread attack. Amnesty International’s Security Lab has begun investigating the issue, with Donncha O Cearbhaill, who heads the…

Kyiv: Russian missile attacks in Ukraine have struck Kyiv and other regions, causing significant casualties and damage, Ukrainian officials said. At least 23 people have been killed in the capital, and rescue operations have continued into the night, while 63 others were wounded in one of the largest assaults on the city in recent months. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the attacks, the second-largest since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, targeted civilians and infrastructure instead of military objectives. The strikes damaged EU and British Council offices, as well as a Turkish enterprise and the Azerbaijan embassy, though…

Mexico: Flesh-eating screwworm in Mexico has surged in recent weeks, with government data showing a 53 percent rise in infested animals in the four weeks leading to mid-August. The outbreak has been concentrated in the southern states of Campeche and Chiapas, where both livestock and humans have been affected. The New World screwworm (NWS), caused by fly larvae, typically infests cattle but has also been confirmed in dogs, horses, sheep, and humans. Local media reports indicate that dozens of people have received hospital treatment for infestations in affected regions. The spread in Mexico follows confirmation of the first human case…

Abuja: The cholera outbreak in Nigeria has spread across Bukkuyum district of Zamfara state, killing at least eight people and infecting over 200 across 11 rural communities. Local residents and officials have confirmed that poor access to healthcare and insecurity have worsened the situation. Cholera, a water-borne disease, has been a recurrent public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas and informal urban settlements where shortages of clean water remain common. Villages such as Nasarawa-Burkullu, Gurusu, and Adabka have been among the hardest hit, with many patients treated at home due to a lack of functional primary healthcare centres.…

Gaza: The Gaza famine has continued to worsen, with health authorities confirming that 10 more Palestinians, including two children, have died from starvation in the past 24 hours. The latest figures bring the total death toll from hunger to 313 since the start of the war, among them 119 children. The crisis has drawn international alarm, with Pope Leo XIV demanding an end to Israel’s collective punishment’ of Gaza’s population. Addressing thousands in the Vatican auditorium, the pope urged a permanent ceasefire, safe access for humanitarian aid, and respect for international law. Pope highlighted that collective punishment, indiscriminate force, and…

Sydney: New Zealand has outlined plans to implement laws in November to simplify and accelerate the approval process for new supermarkets. Finance Minister Nicola Willis stated that the centre-right government’s proposed rules will create an express lane for approvals, allowing companies to open or expand supermarkets more efficiently and increase competition in the grocery sector. The move comes as the country’s supermarket industry remains dominated by Foodstuffs NZ and Australia’s Woolworths (WOW.AX). Willis said tough regulations and a slow approval process have prevented new competitors from entering the market, which has limited options and kept prices high for consumers. While…

New Delhi: The United States has implemented a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, weeks after President Donald Trump issued an executive order adding a 25 percent penalty over India’s purchases of Russian oil and weapons. This development, driven by the new 50 percent tariff, makes India one of the countries facing the highest US tariffs globally, potentially dealing a substantial blow to exports and growth in the world’s fifth-largest economy. The 50 percent tariff implementation has prompted the Indian government to adopt urgent measures to mitigate the impact. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded by advocating for self-reliance and…