Rescuers are combing the Thai jungle for nine individuals missing after a turboprop plane crashed southeast of Bangkok on Thursday. The aircraft, en route from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to Trat province, went down in Chachoengsao province, with all onboard presumed dead. The plane, carrying two pilots and seven passengers—four Thais and five Chinese, including two children aged 12 and 13—crashed around 3:10 PM local time. Despite finding some body parts and aircraft debris, heavy rainfall is complicating the search efforts. Chachoengsao Governor Chonlatee Yangtrong stated that more than 300 military personnel and volunteers are involved in the search, and…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
Israel’s military court has extended the house arrest of soldiers accused of sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee until September 4. However, the court has allowed the defense to request an alternative to detention, which could include supervised work placements. The accused soldiers are alleged to have committed sexual abuse against a member of an elite Hamas unit at the Sde Teiman detention facility in southern Israel. The United Nations special rapporteur on torture has condemned the case as “particularly gruesome” and has called for a thorough investigation by Israel’s civilian courts. The U.N. has reported multiple allegations of torture against…
A stunning 2,492-carat diamond, the second largest ever discovered, has been unearthed in Botswana, according to an announcement by Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond on Thursday. Found at the Karowe diamond mine in northeastern Botswana, the diamond was identified using advanced X-ray detection technology. Lucara has not yet provided an estimated value for the gem, which is only surpassed in size by the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905. Lucara president William Lamb expressed excitement over the find, calling it “one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed.” The diamond, which is approximately the size of a…
An Indonesian court has mandated that two local companies pay up to 60 million rupiah ($3,850) to each family whose children suffered from acute kidney injuries or died after consuming toxic cough syrup. The ruling follows the deaths of over 200 children and serious injuries to about 120 more, some of whom face lifelong disabilities. The court’s decision, issued late Thursday, found Afi Farma and CV Samudera Chemical responsible for the poisonings, while clearing the health ministry and the food and drug agency (BPOM) of any wrongdoing. Families had originally sought 3.4 billion rupiah for each child who died and…
Hong Kong’s press freedom has reached a record low, according to the latest annual survey by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI). The Press Freedom Index, which ranges from zero to 100, has dropped to a historic low of 25 this year, reflecting a decline of 0.7 points from the previous year and a significant 17-point fall since the survey began in 2013. The survey, which included responses from over 250 journalists and about 1,000 members of the public, underscores increasing concerns over press freedom, primarily due to the national security…
India has overtaken China as the world’s largest importer of Russian oil, according to data from July. Russian crude accounted for a record 44% of India’s total oil imports, reaching 2.07 million barrels per day (bpd). This marks a 4.2% increase from June and a 12% rise from the previous year. In contrast, China’s imports of Russian oil fell to 1.76 million bpd, as Chinese refiners reduced purchases due to lower profit margins from fuel production. Indian refiners have been capitalizing on discounted Russian oil following Western sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “India’s requirement for Russian…
Pro-Palestinian protesters are gathering on Thursday, the final day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, to call for an end to US support for Israel’s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. As delegates assemble for the convention, where Vice President Kamala Harris is set to formally accept the Democratic nomination for president, tens of thousands have rallied in support of Palestine since the convention began on Monday. Hatem Abudayyeh, spokesperson for the Coalition and US Palestinian Community Network, highlighted the protest’s focus on halting US aid to Israel and addressing the situation in Gaza. “The central issue for…
Burundi’s health ministry confirmed on Thursday that the country has recorded 171 cases of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, since the first cases were reported last month. Health ministry spokesperson Polycarpe Ndayikeza reported that of the 171 confirmed cases, 137 remain active. He noted that there have been no deaths attributed to mpox in Burundi thus far. Mpox, an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted from animals to humans and through close human contact, was first detected in Burundi in late July. By August 18, the number of confirmed cases had risen to 153. The health ministry acknowledged that…
The NATO air base in Geilenkirchen, Germany, has heightened its security level following “intelligence information indicating a potential threat,” the base announced late Thursday. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the base reported that “all non-mission essential staff have been sent home as a precautionary measure,” emphasizing that “the safety of our staff is our top priority” and that “operations continue as planned.” The base has raised its threat level to Charlie, the second-highest of four alert statuses, which denotes that “an incident has occurred or intelligence has been received indicating that some form of terrorist…
Pro-Palestinian delegates at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago were denied the opportunity to speak about the impact of Israel’s war on Gaza, despite the inclusion of pro-Israeli voices. Convention organizers turned down a request from “uncommitted” delegates, who are withholding support for Vice President Kamala Harris due to her administration’s support for Israel. The delegates wanted a speaker to address the devastation in Gaza, but their request was denied without explanation, according to The Washington Post. Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement, expressed strong disapproval, stating, “That’s unacceptable to us. This is not over.” Congresswoman Alexandria…
