Asia Archives | Page 2 of 2

27 Dead After Tourist Boat Capsizes in Vietnam’s Halong Bay

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

At least 27 people, including eight children, have died after a tourist boat carrying 53 passengers capsized in Vietnam’s Halong Bay during stormy weather linked to Storm Wipha. The vessel overturned around 2 p.m. local time (07:00 GMT) on Saturday amid strong winds, heavy rainfall, and lightning. Rescue teams have found 11 survivors, while efforts continue to locate others still missing, according to the state-run Vietnam News Agency. Most passengers were families visiting from Hanoi, with over 20 children on board, reports VNExpress. One survivor, a 10-year-old boy, recounted his harrowing escape: “I took a deep breath, swam through a gap, dived, then swam up. I even shouted for help, then I was pulled up by a boat with soldiers.” Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has expressed condolences to the victims’ families, vowing a thorough investigation: “Authorities will investigate and clarify the cause of the incident and strictly handle violations,” a government statement read. Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting millions annually. However, extreme weather has posed risks — last year, 30 vessels sank in the same region due to Typhoon Yagi. Storm Wipha’s impact also extended to Hanoi, 175 km away, where falling trees and flight disruptions were reported. Noi Bai Airport diverted nine incoming flights and temporarily grounded three departures.

Helicopter Crash in Uttarakhand, India Kills All 7 On Board

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

Bell 407 chopper goes down near Gaurikund; infant among victims Uttarakhand, India – June 15, 2025A Bell 407 helicopter crashed early Sunday morning in a remote area near Gaurikund in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, killing all seven people on board, including an infant. According to Indian media reports, the crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. local time. The helicopter was carrying five adult passengers, one infant, and the pilot when it went down under circumstances that are still under investigation. Emergency response teams have reached the site, though access is reportedly difficult due to the terrain and early morning fog. Officials have yet to confirm the cause of the crash. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to launch a formal investigation. Gaurikund is a key stop along the route to the Kedarnath shrine, a popular pilgrimage site in the Himalayas, raising concerns about safety measures for air travel in the region. Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.

Israel Shuts Down Embassies Worldwide Amid Fears of Retaliation Following Iran Strikes

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

Israel has temporarily closed all of its embassies and consulates around the world following its airstrikes on Tehran, citing security concerns and the heightened threat of retaliation from Iran In coordinated messages posted on diplomatic mission websites, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all overseas diplomatic facilities are suspending operations. “Israeli missions around the world will be closed, and consular services will not be provided,” read a statement on the website of the Israeli embassy in Berlin. No timeline was given for when services would resume. The ministry also issued a rare global warning to Israeli citizens abroad, urging them to avoid public displays of Jewish or Israeli identity. “This is a time for discretion,” one advisory said. Citizens are being encouraged to register their locations with the Foreign Ministry for safety tracking. The closures come less than 24 hours after a wave of Israeli airstrikes struck multiple targets in Tehran, reportedly killing at least 78 people, including IRGC Commander Hossein Salami. Iran has vowed a forceful and wide-ranging response, prompting concerns of attacks on Israeli interests abroad. Tensions in the region remain at a boiling point, with both nations on high alert and international observers warning of a possible escalation into broader conflict.

Hamas War Council Decimated as Israel Confirms Death of Top Commander Mohammad Sinwar

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago04 mins

Gaza – June 5, 2025 – The Israeli military has confirmed the death of senior Hamas commander Mohammad Sinwar, marking the latest blow to the militant group’s elite leadership team responsible for orchestrating the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Sinwar’s body was identified following an airstrike in May, Israeli officials announced. His death follows the earlier killings of other key figures within Hamas’s clandestine “War Council,” effectively ending the core group that masterminded the attack that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. The War Council—also referred to as the Quintet Council—consisted of five senior Hamas operatives who operated under extreme secrecy. Meetings were rare and communications were conducted via secure channels and intermediaries to avoid surveillance. Four Members Dead, One Incapacitated The known members of the War Council were: The October 7 assault stunned the world with its scale and brutality. While Hamas spent years preparing for the offensive, its long-term strategy remains unclear. Observers have described the operation as a politically suicidal gamble that lacked an exit plan and led to widespread devastation in Gaza. Strategic Collapse and Unanswered Questions The War Council’s collapse raises difficult questions about Hamas’s leadership structure and long-term goals. With most of its core planners now dead or incapacitated, the group faces a strategic vacuum, disrupted command chains, and mounting internal pressure. What remains unknown are the motivations behind the high-risk assault. Analysts have speculated whether it was a bid to shift regional dynamics, provoke a broader conflict, or simply an act of desperation under siege. Future Uncertain for Hamas The decimation of the War Council leaves Hamas at a crossroads. Its military infrastructure has been crippled, political leaders have gone underground, and internal control within Gaza has eroded. The leadership vacuum could spark fragmentation within Hamas or fuel the rise of more radical factions. Alternatively, it could open the door for new Palestinian leadership seeking to navigate a post-war future. As the dust settles, the War Council’s legacy remains contested: seen by some as a symbol of resistance, and by others as the authors of catastrophic miscalculation.

At Least 10 Killed in 48 Hours as Israel Targets Gaza Aid Seekers; Global Condemnation Grows

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago22 mins

Israeli forces have killed at least 10 Palestinians in the past 48 hours as they sought aid in southern Gaza, according to the Gaza Government Media Office, which described the killings as a “heinous crime.” It said soldiers opened direct fire on starving civilians at an aid distribution centre near Rafah, run by the newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by Israel and the United States. The latest killings come as Palestinians continue to flock to the distribution site in desperation. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that a strike on Gaza killed Hamas leader Mohammad Sinwar. The Palestinian group has yet to comment on the claim. At least 63 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Thursday, including eight in an attack on the home of journalist Osama al-Arbid in the northern Strip. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel’s ongoing war has killed at least 54,084 Palestinians and wounded 123,308 others. However, the Gaza Government Media Office updated the death toll to more than 61,700, adding that thousands of people missing under the rubble are presumed dead. The war began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks in Israel, which left 1,139 people dead and over 200 taken hostage. International condemnation of the attacks on Gaza aid seekers is mounting, as the humanitarian crisis in the enclave worsens.

We Can’t Survive Without it Palestinians Rely on Community Kitchens

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago32 mins

Lina Abu Shaaban, a Gaza City resident, says her family depends on a community kitchen because food has become so expensive amid shortages caused by the Israeli blockade. “We can’t survive without it. I wait five to seven hours in the heat just to get food, and I’m always scared of being bombed,” she told Al Jazeera while waiting in line for a bowl of lentils at the kitchen, which was set up at a school housing displaced people. Another resident in line, Um Ahmad al-Sayfi, also said she has no choice but to get food from the community kitchen because her family is suffering from a lack of supplies. She condemned Israel’s targeting of the food distribution points. “They bomb them so that we die of hunger. I saw a kitchen get hit just days ago – children were burning. Why don’t they want us to live?” she told Al Jazeera.

Chaos in Gaza: Desperate Palestinians Storm US-Israeli Aid Centre Amid Blockade

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago22 mins

Thousands of desperate Palestinians have stormed a controversial US-Israeli aid distribution centre in southern Gaza, seeking food for their families after nearly three months of a total Israeli blockade. Eyewitness reports from the Gaza Strip indicate that security contractors lost control at the site shortly after it opened, with live ammunition fired to disperse the growing crowds. The chaotic scenes have drawn sharp criticism, with the Gaza Government Media Office accusing Israel of deliberately creating a humanitarian crisis it has now failed to manage. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza has killed at least 54,056 people and wounded 123,129 others. The Government Media Office has updated the death toll to more than 61,700, including thousands still missing under the rubble and presumed dead. Meanwhile, the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel continues to loom large. That attack left 1,139 people dead in Israel and over 200 taken captive. As the blockade continues to choke Gaza, tensions are soaring, with aid distribution centres turning into flashpoints of unrest, exposing the deepening desperation of the besieged population.

Over 100 Fighter Jets Clash in Massive India-Pakistan Aerial Dogfight PAF Confirms

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago04 mins

In what has been described as one of the largest aerial confrontations in recent global military history, more than 100 fighter jets from India and Pakistan were involved in a high-intensity air battle over two days, May 6 and 7, Pakistani military officials have confirmed. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF), in a Friday press briefing in Islamabad, revealed that a staggering 125 fighter aircraft from both nations were mobilised during the engagement, which reportedly lasted over one hour. A senior security source told CNN that missile exchanges occurred at distances of up to 160 kilometres (100 miles), though both air forces remained within their own airspaces. The confrontation comes amid heightened regional tensions, particularly following a recent attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Despite the intensity of the skirmish, experts say both sides appeared keen to avoid escalation similar to the 2019 crisis that saw an Indian pilot captured and paraded on Pakistani television. PAF officials claimed that at least five Indian aircraft were downed, including one hit by a Pakistan ground-based air defence system. Pakistan also confirmed the deployment of its Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missiles during the engagement. Adding to the drama, PAF released intercepted cockpit audio allegedly from an Indian Rafale formation, in which a voice identified by Pakistani intelligence as an Indian Wing Commander can be heard frantically coordinating his unit amid what sounded like mid-battle confusion and damage control. Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, presenting the audio at the press conference, stated: “The call sign is Godzilla… Those animals are extinct, so this one [jet] also got extinct.” Ahmed emphasized that while India’s Rafale jets were a primary target, Pakistan exercised restraint, potentially avoiding further escalation. “It is not the equipment that matters all the time,” he said. “It is the training, it is the leadership that gives you the direction.” As of now, the Indian Air Force has not officially confirmed or denied the reported losses, and Indian authorities have not released a formal statement on the incident. The massive dogfight is likely to have far-reaching diplomatic and strategic implications as both nuclear-armed nations tread a precarious line between deterrence and confrontation. Would you like this formatted as a press release or for social media distribution?