Author: Web Desk

North Sumatra: The floods across North Sumatra have caused at least 34 deaths and prompted the evacuation of up to 8,000 residents as authorities have struggled to restore access to several cut-off regions. Rescue operations have been severely hindered after continuous torrential rain triggered widespread landslides and destroyed communication lines across affected districts. Officials have reported that at least 52 people have remained missing, with North Sumatra regional police spokesperson Ferry Walintukan stating that teams have faced major obstacles due to damaged roads and unstable terrain. A rare tropical cyclone has swept across Sumatra, pushing waters from the Malacca Strait…

Hong Kong: The fire at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex has caused at least 44 deaths and left nearly 300 residents uncontactable as emergency teams have continued operations across multiple blocks. Authorities have struggled to reach upper floors due to intense heat and smoke that have persisted almost a full day after the blaze began on November 27 afternoon. Police have said that early findings have indicated possible ‘grossly negligent’ practices by a construction company carrying out year-long maintenance work. Superintendent Eileen Chung has said that investigators have discovered protective mesh sheets, plastic materials and foam-sealed windows that may…

Jakarta: A major shift in global urban demographics has placed Jakarta at the top of the world’s rankings for the largest city, with 41.9 million people now living within its metropolitan boundaries. The United Nations report shows Jakarta rising from second place to surpass Tokyo, which had held the title since the UN’s last comparable assessment in 2000. Tokyo’s population has remained relatively stable at 33.4 million, dropping the Japanese capital to third. Dhaka has recorded extraordinary expansion, moving from ninth to second place with a population of 36.6 million and projected to become the world’s largest city by 2050.…

Bangkok: A surge of destructive floods has swept through southern Thailand, killing at least 18 people and prompting large-scale rescue efforts. Ten provinces have been inundated over the past week, with Hat Yai, a major business hub near the Malaysian border, recording its heaviest rainfall in 300 years, measuring 335mm in a single day. Images from Hat Yai have shown homes and vehicles submerged, leaving many residents stranded on rooftops awaiting rescue. neighbouring countries have also been severely affected. Vietnam has reported 98 deaths within a week, while Malaysia has evacuated more than 19,000 people from inundated communities. More than…

New Delhi: A powerful volcano eruption from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano has released a large ash plume that has travelled across the Red Sea, passing over Oman and Yemen before reaching Delhi. The volcano, which has been dormant for several thousand years, began erupting on November 24, sending ash thousands of feet into the atmosphere. Flight operations in India have been disrupted as ash drifted into northern airspace. Several international and domestic services have been cancelled, delayed or rerouted, with India’s aviation regulator directing airlines to strictly avoid affected zones. The regulator has warned operators to remain alert and report…

Sydney: A dispute centred on the burqa has resulted in Australia’s Senate suspending far-right Senator Pauline Hanson for seven sitting days after Hanson entered the chamber wearing a burqa as a political prop during a campaign to ban face coverings in public, an action that prompted strong criticism from representatives, including Muslim lawmakers. The event took place after Hanson was denied permission to introduce legislation banning the burqa and other face coverings in public spaces. The choice to wear the garment during proceedings led to allegations of racism and disrespect, with several senators expressing concern about the impact on social…

Las Vegas: Norris now holds a 30-point lead over Piastri, with 58 points available from the final two rounds in Qatar, which includes a sprint, and Abu Dhabi. A 26-point lead for Norris after Qatar will secure the championship. Under current standings, finishing ahead of Piastri and Max Verstappen in both Qatar races would be sufficient for Norris to seal the title. The race turned decisively at turn one, where Max Verstappen launched strongly and moved ahead of pole-sitter Norris, who ran wide after attempting an aggressive defensive move. George Russell capitalised on the situation to take second. In dry…

Sydney: A severe cyclone affecting Australia’s Northern Territory has left thousands of residents without electricity after the system passed through the region late on November 22. The weather bureau has reported that Cyclone Fina, assessed as a category three system, has recorded wind gusts of up to 205 kilometres per hour as it moved away from Darwin on November 23. For many living in Darwin, a city of about 140,000 people, the event has revived memories of Cyclone Tracy, which devastated the region on Christmas Day 1974 and caused 66 deaths. Although Fina has damaged infrastructure, flooded roads and cut…

Migration has changed families in ways people don’t fully talk about. When your loved ones are scattered across countries, you learn new ways to stay close. Not because you want to, but because you have to. So you start depending on phones, video calls, and whatever app everyone knows how to use. It’s strange at first, then it becomes routine. For many parents working abroad, the day doesn’t end when work ends. They might be exhausted, but they still open their phones at odd hours because a child wants to show a drawing or needs help with homework. Sometimes the…

Kyiv: Ukraine has acknowledged that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will hold talks with Donald Trump regarding a draft peace plan drawn up by US and Russian officials that has required Kyiv to consider substantial concessions. Zelenskyy’s office has stated that discussions with Trump will focus on available diplomatic opportunities and essential steps for achieving a settlement. In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy has emphasised that Ukraine will not undermine any diplomatic process. Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needs peace and will avoid statements that disrupt negotiations, stressing the importance of stable support for defence operations and planned deep-strike capabilities. The cautious tone…