Displaying items by tag: deaths

Donald Trump has stepped back, at least temporarily, from threats of US military action against Iran, saying he has been assured that the killing of protesters has stopped and that no executions are planned. He said these assurances came from ‘very important sources on the other side’, though the claims have not been independently verified. Despite reports that over 3,400 have been killed during the recent anti-government protests and fears of imminent executions, Trump said he was unconvinced that military action would bring decisive change. He had been strenuously lobbied by leaders in the Middle East to not to go ahead with strikes which would be certain to lead to an Iranian counterstrike on US bases. Iranian officials have publicly denied plans for executions, and at least one expected execution has been postponed. While rhetoric has softened slightly, deep divisions over human rights abuses and Iran’s nuclear ambitions persist, leaving the situation fragile and unresolved.

Syria’s army has moved reinforcements to areas east of Aleppo after ordering Kurdish forces to withdraw, following deadly clashes which have killed over 100 and displaced as many as 150,000. The Islamist-led government is seeking to reassert control nationwide, but efforts to integrate the Kurds’ autonomous administration and forces into the state have stalled, despite an agreement reached earlier this year. Kurdish-led forces deny building up troops and accuse the government of launching fresh attacks, while Damascus insists it is responding to provocation. Limited skirmishes and artillery fire have been reported, raising fears of a wider confrontation. In Qamishli, the main Kurdish city in the country's northeast, thousands of people demonstrated, accusing the government of breaking its promises and preparing a broader assault. With mistrust deepening, the situation remains volatile, threatening further suffering for civilians already exhausted by years of conflict. Christians in the region are asking for prayer: see

A devastating rail disaster in northeast Thailand has left at least 31 people dead after a construction crane collapsed onto a speeding passenger train, causing it to derail and burst into flames. The accident occurred as the train was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, carrying nearly 200 passengers. More than sixty were injured, several critically, as fire engulfed damaged carriages. The crane was part of a Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project, part of an ambitious plan to connect China with south-east Asia. The company concerned was involved in the construction of a Bangkok building which collapsed in March during an earthquake. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with carriages torn open and rescue workers scrambling to reach trapped passengers. Authorities have ordered a full investigation, while political leaders have vowed accountability. The tragedy has shocked the nation and renewed public scrutiny of large infrastructure projects and the human cost when safety is compromised.

A deadly landslide has struck eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 22 people and leaving dozens missing in a remote village in North Kivu. Triggered by hours of intense rainfall, the hillside collapsed in the early hours of the morning while residents were asleep, sweeping homes away and cutting the main road linking Goma with Walikale. The blocked route has severely hampered rescue efforts and delayed government assistance.  Eastern Congo has endured decades of violence involving government forces and armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23. The disaster highlights the vulnerability of communities living in areas where the state’s presence is weak and insecurity is high. In a region already scarred by conflict, displacement and poverty, seasonal rains continue to claim lives, deepening the humanitarian crisis faced by countless families. See also

Four days after the New Year’s Day bar fire that killed at least forty people, the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana remained in shock. In silence, thousands braved the cold to march through the town, stopping near the venue where the tragedy occurred, now hidden behind a white tarp. An improvised memorial of candles and flowers reflected the shared grief of residents and visitors alike. Among those gathered was a mother who had waited nearly three days for confirmation of her son’s fate. She described the anguish of uncertainty before finally learning of his death, and the painful relief of being able to begin mourning. While grateful for a final moment to say goodbye, she expressed anger at the prolonged silence from authorities during those critical days. It has now come out that the bar had not been inspected for at least five years: see

Australia is mourning and in shock after a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach on 14 December left 15 people dead and dozens wounded. Police have charged 24-year-old Naveed Akram with 59 offences, including fifteen counts of murder and a terrorism charge; he is said to have carried out the attack alongside his father, Sajid Akram, who was killed at the scene by police. The shooting targeted a Jewish community event on the beach marking the start of Hanukkah. As funerals and vigils were held, grief-stricken families remembered victims, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who organised the event, and ten-year-old Matilda, whose name has become a symbol of innocent loss. Authorities say the attackers had recently travelled to Davao City in the Philippines, an area associated with extremist Islamic ideology. The government is under pressure because the men were legally able to acquire the high-powered weapons used in the attack; prime minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to toughen the country’s gun laws, and to work with the Jewish community to ‘stamp out and eradicate antisemitism’.

A humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in Gaza as a Palestinian infant has died from hypothermia amid severe winter conditions and ongoing restrictions on aid. Local health officials reported that two-week-old Mohammed Khalil Abu al-Khair succumbed to extreme cold after families were left without adequate shelter, heating, clothing, or fuel. Israel’s prolonged military campaign has destroyed much of Gaza’s infrastructure, forcing hundreds of thousands to live in tents or damaged buildings unable to withstand storms and freezing temperatures. Recent severe weather has flooded shelters, collapsed structures, and caused further deaths. Humanitarian agencies warn that Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries, including limits placed on UNRWA, are preventing lifesaving supplies from reaching civilians at scale. The child’s death underscores how the denial of basic necessities has turned winter itself into a lethal threat, particularly for children and other vulnerable civilians.

Authorities in Morocco are confronting a severe winter emergency as freezing temperatures, heavy rainfall, snowfall, and flash floods impact large swathes of the country. In response, they have launched a nationwide relief operation covering 28 provinces, aiming to assist around 73,000 vulnerable households with food supplies, blankets, and essential aid. Red weather alerts warn of as much as 80 cm of snow in the High Atlas mountains, while orange alerts signal intense rainfall across central and northern regions. The extreme conditions have already proved deadly: flash floods in the coastal city of Safi killed at least 37 people, damaged homes, and swept away vehicles. To mitigate further harm, the government has mobilised road clearance teams, emergency monitoring centres, and provincial vigilance committees to maintain access to remote and high-altitude areas: residents are being urged to remina cautious, especially when travelling. The relief efforts reflect Morocco’s broader strategy to protect vulnerable communities and mitigate the impacts of what authorities describe as unusually severe winter weather.

Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has escalated into a third consecutive day of violence, forcing more than half a million civilians to flee their homes. Both governments accuse each other of reigniting the conflict, which has already killed soldiers and civilians and triggered mass evacuations from border provinces. Reports describe rockets landing near hospitals, air raids conducted by Thai F-16 jets, and Cambodian artillery targeting Thai territory, leaving thousands in makeshift shelters with limited supplies. The clashes are the deadliest since five days of fighting in July which killed dozens and displaced some 300,000 people on both sides of the border before a shaky truce was agreed, following an intervention by Donald Trump. Trump said late on Tuesday that he would make a phone call to stop the renewed fighting. Even so, analysts say that the lack of willingness to negotiate suggests the conflict may be prolonged. Latest news - three civilians have been killed inside Thailand: see

A devastating blaze has engulfed a residential development in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, rapidly spreading across multiple tower blocks despite the efforts of more than a hundred fire engines. The alert was raised to the highest emergency level as reports emerged of residents trapped inside or stranded on rooftops. At least 83 people have lost their lives, including a firefighter who died while attempting rescue, and over 270 others remain unaccounted for. Many tenants said fire alarms failed to sound, leaving them unaware of the danger until smoke and flames were already advancing. The fire began on bamboo scaffolding surrounding the buildings and intensified quickly as burning debris fell and structures ignited. Nearby roads were closed and shelters opened as emergency crews worked into the night to contain the fire and care for displaced families. Officials have urged the public to stay away from the area while investigations continue into the cause and building safety systems. Latest news: three construction company executives have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter connected to inflammable materials, which may have allowed the fire to spread quickly. See