Bahrain News Agency, Kingdom of Bahrain

Vatican: Pope Leo’s recovery from lung surgery is progressing normally

info@bna.bh — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 23:49:00 GMT

Vatican, Oct. 15 (BNA): His Holiness Pope Leo’s doctors announced that his recovery from lung surgery was progressing normally. They noted that routine medical checks had returned normal results and that a chest X-ray showed good recovery of the lung that had undergone surgery. In a statement issued by the Vatican, the doctors explained that the Pope was carrying out his daily activities independently and continuing his physiotherapy programme, which included a full range of physical...

Dozens killed and injured in passenger train derailment in Pakistan

info@bna.bh — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:58:00 GMT

Islamabad, Oct. 13 (BNA): Pakistani authorities announced that several people had been killed or injured after a passenger train derailed in the eastern province of Punjab on Tuesday morning. According to the official Associated Press of Pakistan, the Ministry of Railways said the incident occurred in the city of Multan when a train travelling from Karachi to Peshawar derailed. The ministry said the injured had been taken to a nearby hospital. Rail services were suspended, and an...

Two killed as Hurricane Simon and Storm Rachel hit Mexico

info@bna.bh — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:55:00 GMT

Mexico City, Oct. 13 (BNA): At least two people have died in Mexico after a hurricane and a tropical storm hit parts of the country. Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar said that 10 people were missing. The incidents are linked to Hurricane Simon, which is moving along Mexico’s Pacific coast, and Tropical Storm Rachel, which reached the north-western state of Baja California. Mexico’s National Meteorological Service forecast that the hurricane would continue moving...

WHO launches strategy to detect emerging health threats within 24 hours by 2030

info@bna.bh — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:43:00 GMT

Geneva, Oct. 12 (BNA): The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a new five-year strategy aimed at enabling every country to detect and understand emerging health threats within 24 hours of their appearance by 2030, strengthening global health security and helping prevent outbreaks from escalating into epidemics or pandemics. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, said that the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, established in 2021, has become an integral...

Thailand flood death toll rises to 71

info@bna.bh — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:28:00 GMT

Bangkok, Oct. 12 (BNA): Thailand's Interior Ministry announced on Monday that the death toll from floods since September 16 has risen to 71.

The Thai interior ministry said that between September 16 to October 12, flooding occurred in 51 provinces, Reuters reported.

Currently, 21 ⁠provinces have areas that are still affected by floods, ⁠including Bangkok. A total of 908,000 ⁠households have been affected, the ⁠ministry said.

N.B, N.N, M.B

UN envoy to Yemen condemns the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

info@bna.bh — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Sanaa, Oct. 11 (BNA): Hans Grundberg, UN Special Envoy for Yemen strongly condemned the ongoing attacks by the Houthis against civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Grundberg said that this attack follows strikes targeting the Riyadh and Abha airports earlier this week, which also resulted in civilian casualties, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Grundberg reiterated his call for the Houthis to...

UN Sec Gen condemns Houthi attack on King Khalid Airport in Saudi Arabia

info@bna.bh — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:12:00 GMT

Washington, Oct. 11 (BNA): António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, strongly condemned the Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Guterres said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violated international law and stressed the need for an immediate halt to such attacks.

N.B, H.F, s.a

Puerto Vallarta boards up as Hurricane Simon hits Category 4 strength

info@bna.bh — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 09:42:00 GMT

Puerto Vallarta, Oct. 11 (BNA): Simon has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 hurricane as it barrels toward Mexico’s coast. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Saturday that Simon’s maximum sustained winds increased to 150 mph (240 kph). A storm of that strength or greater is considered a major hurricane. The center said it expected Simon "to be near or just inland" of Mexico’s west-central coast on Sunday. The hurricane could bring as much as 10 to 20 inches...

Five people shot dead at home in US state of Georgia

info@bna.bh — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 21:57:00 GMT

Georgia, Oct. 10 (BNA): Five people were shot dead at a home in Douglas, Georgia, in the United States of America, on Friday night, the city’s police department said.

The department said the investigation was ongoing.

A.S, K.E

Three Brazilian military police officers killed in plane crash in Minas Gerais state

info@bna.bh — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 21:08:00 GMT

Rio de Janeiro, Oct. 10 (BNA): Three Brazilian military police officers were killed when an aircraft crashed in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, near Vale do Aço Regional Airport, close to the city of Ipatinga. The aircraft, a Beechcraft B300 Super King Air, had taken off from Pampulha Airport in Belo Horizonte and was approaching its destination when the crash occurred. Firefighters and emergency services were dispatched to the scene. The cause of the crash has not yet...

Forest fires in Indonesia threaten orangutans, prompting rescue teams to evacuate injured animals

info@bna.bh — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Jakarta, Oct. 10 (BNA): Wildfires sweeping across parts of Indonesia’s Borneo island have threatened the lives of endangered orangutans, prompting rescue teams to evacuate animals found injured or stranded amid the flames and thick smoke. A female Bornean orangutan known as Novita was among dozens of apes rescued from wildfires on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in recent months. Jamartin Sihite, chairman of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, said she was found clinging to a...

China launches new group of internet satellites

info@bna.bh — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:34:00 GMT

Beijing, Oct. 10 (BNA): China launched a Long March-12 carrier rocket from a commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan on Saturday, carrying a new group of internet satellites, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The rocket successfully placed the 27th group of low Earth orbit internet satellites into their planned orbit.

M.A., A.A

Hurricane Isaias weakens to Category 1 after making landfall in Florida

info@bna.bh — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:33:00 GMT

Florida, Oct. 10 (BNA): Hurricane Isaias weakened to Category 1 after making landfall near Destin, Florida, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. The hurricane was located approximately 105 kilometres west northwest of Panama City, with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometres per hour. The NHC warned of dangerous storm surges and inland flooding. Isaias is expected to move through Alabama and Tennessee over the weekend. Power outages affected 380,000 people...

Magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes Panama, prompts tsunami warnings

info@bna.bh — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 22:31:00 GMT

Panama City, Oct. 9 (BNA): A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Panama on Friday, prompting tsunami warnings for coastal areas of Panama and neighbouring countries. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck near Pitaloza Arriba in southern Panama at a depth of 10 kilometres, revising an initial magnitude estimate of 8.0. The US Tsunami Warning System issued warnings of potential tsunami threats along the Pacific coasts of several Central and South American...

Haze blankets Southeast Asia as Indonesian forest fires continue

info@bna.bh — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 22:28:00 GMT

Jakarta, Oct. 9 (BNA): Thick haze from forest fires in Indonesia has spread across Southeast Asia, prompting widespread school closures in Malaysia due to hazardous air pollution. Singapore, which is hosting the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, has also recorded high pollution levels as air quality deteriorates across the region. Indonesia is experiencing one of its worst forest fire seasons in years, with experts linking the conditions to El Niño, which intensifies...

At least 28 killed in bus collision in Tanzania

info@bna.bh — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 22:27:00 GMT

Dar es Salaam, Oct. 9 (BNA): At least 28 people were killed when a passenger bus collided with a timber truck and caught fire in eastern Tanzania early Friday. Joseph Mwasabige, Acting Commander of the Morogoro Regional Fire and Rescue Force, said the accident occurred in Mkambarani on the Morogoro-Dar es Salaam highway as the bus was travelling from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya. He said the truck was overtaking other vehicles when it collided with the bus, which was completely destroyed by...

Ten militants killed in security operations in northwest Pakistan

info@bna.bh — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 19:27:00 GMT

Islamabad, Oct. 9 (BNA): Pakistani security authorities announced that ten militants affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistani Taliban) were killed in two operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Security sources said seven militants were killed in an intelligence based operation in North Waziristan, where hideouts were destroyed and weapons and ammunition seized. In a separate operation in Tank district, police killed three militants and seized weapons and...

Tropical Storm Simone strengthens into hurricane in Pacific

info@bna.bh — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 19:16:00 GMT

Miami, Oct. 9 (BNA): Tropical Storm Simone has strengthened into a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported.

The hurricane was located approximately 380 kilometres south of Manzanillo, on Mexico’s western coast, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometres per hour.

The NHC said the hurricane was moving west northwest at 9 kilometres per hour and was expected to continue northwest on Friday before turning north on Saturday.

M.A, K.E

Russia lifts precautionary measures after pneumonic plague case in Irkutsk

info@bna.bh — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 19:14:00 GMT

Moscow, Oct. 9 (BNA): Russian authorities have lifted all precautionary measures imposed in the Irkutsk region following a case of pneumonic plague involving an employee of an epidemiological research institute. Igor Kobzev, Governor of Irkutsk, said the epidemiological situation was under control and posed no threat to residents. He added that the infected employee had previously received the necessary vaccinations and that the measures were lifted following a health...

Navi Pillay wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

info@bna.bh — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:10:00 GMT

Oslo, Oct. 9 (BNA): Navi Pillay, Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law. The Nobel Committee announced that the prize had been awarded to the 85-year-old South African judge and human rights advocate, recognising her long career and strong moral compass in promoting peace and human rights around the world, as well as her efforts to bring hope to victims of violence and conflict,...

South Korea conducts first test launch of hypersonic glide vehicle

info@bna.bh — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:40:00 GMT

Seoul, Oct. 9 (BNA): South Korea’s presidential office announced the successful first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), attended by President Lee Jae Myung. According to the Yonhap News Agency, the presidential spokesperson said in a press statement on Friday that the first test of the vehicle, which is still under development, aimed to verify core hypersonic technologies, such as flight trajectories and speed, as a strategic asset capable of launching surprise...

Kosovo parliament elects Justina Shiroka Pula as new president

info@bna.bh — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:22:00 GMT

Pristina, Oct. 7 (BNA): Kosovo's parliament elected Justina Shiroka Pula as the country's largely ceremonial president just before a constitutional deadline. She received 81 votes, one more than she needed, in the 120-seat parliament in the early minutes of Wednesday. "This mandate ⁠does not belong to just one person. It belongs to our citizens... I will be the president of all citizens," Shiroka Pula said after the vote. The presidency has remained vacant since...

Nigerian military aircraft crashes in Ondo State, killing 32 people

info@bna.bh — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:27:00 GMT

Abuja, Oct. 6 (BNA): A Nigerian military plane crashed in Ondo State after taking off from Benin City for Lagos, killing 32 people on board, including 25 passengers and seven crew members. President Bola Tinubu confirmed that there were no survivors in the accident, expressing "profound sadness" and extending his condolences to the families of the victims, Reuters reported. "The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to...

Bolsonaro to face Lula in Brazil presidential runoff

info@bna.bh — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:25:00 GMT

Brasília, Oct. 5 (BNA): Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a runoff for the presidential election later this month. Bolsonaro received 47% of the votes compared to da Silva’s 45%. Private surveys in the run-up to the election had forecast da Silva leading the first-round vote by around 3 percentage points. Nunes Marques, Brazil's electoral court chief Kassio said the election was running smoothly. The...

Brazilian voters cast ballots to elect new president

info@bna.bh — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 13:59:00 GMT

Brasília, Oct. 4 (BNA): Voters in Brazil are heading to the polls today, Sunday, to elect a new president. Twelve candidates are competing in the presidential race, most notably the current Brazilian President, His Excellency Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro. According to Reuters, some 159 million people are eligible to cast ballots and if no candidate wins more than 50% of valid votes -- which exclude blank and null ballots -- on ⁠Sunday,...

US Coast Guard finds wreckage of missing medical aircraft off Nantucket

info@bna.bh — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 09:33:00 GMT

Massachusetts, Oct. 4 (BNA): Searchers found a "debris field" off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, from an air ambulance that was carrying six people when it vanished over the Atlantic on Saturday during a flight from Bermuda to Boston, the US Coast Guard said. Four Canadians and two Bermudian nationals were aboard, and their next of kin were notified as the search continued, the Coast Guard said in a statement. It added that one of its cutters would keep searching the...

5.9-magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia’s Sumbawa region

info@bna.bh — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 08:49:00 GMT

Jakarta, Oct. 4 (BNA): The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Sumbawa region of Indonesia on Sunday.

It said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres.

M.I, م.ا.ف

France to step up Ebola funding in Congo amid resurgence fears

info@bna.bh — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 08:45:00 GMT

Paris, Oct. 4 (BNA): France will increase its support for efforts to contain and eradicate Ebola in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said during a visit to the affected region, warning that the virus could resurge rapidly if vigilance declines. Barrot made a rare visit by a Western official to Bunia in northeastern Congo, where health authorities have also reported a laboratory-confirmed mpox case. France allocated €13.4 million ($15.1...

UN allocates $160 million for humanitarian aid in 12 underfunded crises

info@bna.bh — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:27:00 GMT

New York, Oct. 3 (BNA): The United Nations allocated $160 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support life saving assistance in 12 severely underfunded humanitarian crises. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the allocation forms part of broader efforts to reach 87 million people facing the most severe humanitarian needs this year. The funding includes $10 million to address the urgent needs of people with...

Five workers killed in mine collapse in western Türkiye

info@bna.bh — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:25:00 GMT

Istanbul, Oct. 3 (BNA): Five workers were killed after a mine collapsed in western Türkiye. Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said seven workers were trapped under the rubble. Two were rescued alive from the mine in Soma district, Manisa province. One remains under medical treatment, while the other has been discharged from hospital. Anadolu Agency reported that the collapse occurred on Thursday and that its cause remains...

G7 to release 100 million barrels from oil reserves to stabilise energy markets

info@bna.bh — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 19:38:00 GMT

Paris, Oct. 2 (BNA): Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations agreed to release 100 million barrels of crude oil and diesel from strategic reserves into global markets over the next four months, in an effort to contain the rapid rise in global fuel and energy prices. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, announced in an official statement following coordination talks with G7 leaders that the release would begin immediately through the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a...

UNHCR: Nearly six million refugee children out of school in 2025

info@bna.bh — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:16:00 GMT

Geneva, Oct. 2 (BNA): Nearly six million refugee children worldwide were out of school in 2025, as funding cuts threaten further progress in refugee education, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said. In a new education report, UNHCR said 44% of the world’s 13.1 million school age refugee children were not enrolled in education last year. The report highlighted a significant gap between primary and secondary education, with 65% of primary school age refugee...

Hurricane Polo causes flooding in southwestern United States

info@bna.bh — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:25:00 GMT

Washington, Sep. 30 (BNA): Tropical Storm Polo weakened over northwestern Mexico on Tuesday after making a second landfall and drenching the Baja California peninsula, while a strengthening Tropical Storm Rachel churned offshore, threatening more dangerous weather for Mexico's Pacific coast. According to Reuters, Hurricane Polo again came ashore earlier on Tuesday near the port city of Guaymas as a Category 1 hurricane after crossing the peninsula the day before, the US National...

Floods, landslides kill 56 in India and 14 in Nepal

info@bna.bh — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:20:00 GMT

Kathmandu, Sep. 27 (BNA): Heavy rain and storms have triggered floods and landslides that killed 56 people in India, while in Nepal, 14 have died and another 11 are missing, with authorities there warning on Sunday that more flash floods are possible. India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh recorded 66.5 mm of rain between September 25 and the morning of September 27, compared with a ⁠normal 7.6 mm for the period, Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod, the state's relief commissioner, said on...

Bangkok declared disaster zone amid flooding

info@bna.bh — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 15:01:00 GMT

Bangkok, Sep. 27 (BNA): Thai authorities have declared Bangkok a disaster-affected zone after torrential rain led to widespread flooding. The government issued an emergency advisory for people living near canals to move possessions to higher ground. Daily life has become difficult with power cut off on the ground floor and the bathroom unusable as the water level continued to rise, Reuters reported. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, said the crisis...

MWL launches AI ethics initiative in New York

info@bna.bh — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:08:00 GMT

New York, Sep. 25 (BNA): The Muslim World League (MWL) launched the "AI for Everyone: Faith, Human Dignity and Artificial Intelligence" initiative in New York, with the support and participation of the United Nations, during the High Level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The event focused on broadening international participation in discussions on artificial intelligence ethics, including religious and civilisational perspectives and their shared...

Typhoon Dujuan leaves 9 dead, 4 missing in Japan

info@bna.bh — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:31:00 GMT

Tokyo, Sep. 23 (BNA): Typhoon Dujuan dumped record amounts of rain and triggered mudslides in Japan's Kanto region, leaving nine people dead and four others missing. The powerful typhoon approached Japan from Monday into Tuesday, NHK World-Japan reported. It brought developed rain clouds that lingered for many hours over Kanto, which includes Tokyo, and the Izu Islands, south of central Tokyo. Eight locations in Kanto marked record rainfall. On Oshima...

Polo has rapidly intensified to a hurricane and is expected to impact Mexico

info@bna.bh — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:27:00 GMT

Miami, Sep. 22 (BNA): Hurricane Polo will rapidly intensify in the Pacific Ocean and become a major hurricane later this week, forecasters said Monday. Polo could bring heavy rain, rough surf and tropical-storm-force winds to parts of Mexico late Tuesday into early Wednesday, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said, the Associated Press reported. On Monday, Polo was moving east. But forecasters said it would make a "sharp turn" in a west-northwest or...

G7 foreign ministers call on Iran to stop arming Houthis

info@bna.bh — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:25:00 GMT

New York, Sep. 22 (BNA): G7 foreign ministers on Monday called on Iran to end its ‌arming and support of Houthis in Yemen, which they said constituted a dangerous pattern of escalation that risked undermining international trade ⁠and creating global instability. "We condemn in the strongest terms the unacceptable continued strikes carried out by the Houthis in Yemen and against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the ministers of Britain, Canada, ‌France, ⁠Germany, Italy, Japan and...

EU fines Google EUR 403 million for breaching privacy rules

info@bna.bh — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:03:00 GMT

Brussels, Sep. 21 (BNA): Ireland’s Data Protection Commission fined Google EUR 403 million (USD 463 million) for breaching European privacy rules over its handling of users’ location data. The commission said an investigation found that Google did not process location data lawfully or fairly in its ‘Web & App Activity’ setting, which tracks browsing and search history, and its ‘Location History’ service, which tracks places users have visited through their mobile phones, Reuters...

Typhoon Dujuan cancels 275 flights in Japan

info@bna.bh — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:59:00 GMT

Tokyo, Sep. 21 (BNA): Typhoon Dujuan caused 275 flights to be cancelled in Japan, amid warnings of potentially record rainfall as it approached Tokyo. The typhoon, accompanied by strong winds, forced the early closure of one of Tokyo’s biggest video-game trade fairs and left thousands of homes without power. The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast that rain and winds would intensify before the typhoon arrived, saying total rainfall could exceed the monthly average for...

Large and powerful typhoon approaches Japan’s main island

info@bna.bh — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:51:00 GMT

Tokyo, Sep. 20 (BNA): A large and powerful typhoon is expected to approach the Pacific coastal areas of eastern Japan, including Tokyo, from Monday through Tuesday. Weather officials are warning the rain may become heavy even before it makes landfall, NHK World-Japan reported. Japan's Meteorological Agency says that, as of 9 a.m. on Sunday, Typhoon Dujuan was heading northwest over the sea south of Japan at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour. The typhoon had a...

School shooting leaves three students dead in Philippines

info@bna.bh — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:46:00 GMT

Manila, Sep. 18 (BNA): Three students, including a 16-year-old suspected gunman, were killed and eight others injured in a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines. Four of the injured were in critical condition. Local authorities said the shooting occurred in Banga town, South Cotabato province. All the victims were students aged between 14 and 17, Reuters reported. Albert Palencia, Mayor of Banga, said the suspect opened fire on students after lunch before turning the gun...

France records 817 excess deaths amid extreme heat

info@bna.bh — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:53:00 GMT

Paris, Sep. 16 (BNA): France recorded at least 817 excess deaths between July 27 and August 20, when the country was hit by exceptionally high temperatures, the national health agency said on Wednesday. The figure brings the total recorded since June and the start of a series of heatwaves to nearly 8,000 excess deaths, Reuters reported. The agency said the figures include all deaths regardless of cause and are estimates based on death certificates issued during the period. People aged...

UN condemns Houthi attacks on civilians and Saudi Arabia’s energy sector

info@bna.bh — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:49:00 GMT

New York, Sept. 16 (BNA): The United Nations has condemned Houthi militia attacks on civilian infrastructure and the energy sector in Saudi Arabia, stressing the need to protect the security of the Red Sea and restore and respect navigational rights and freedoms in the Bab al-Mandab Strait in accordance with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. This came during an emergency meeting held by the UN Security Council on Tuesday evening to discuss developments in the...

UK condemns continued Houthi militia attacks on Saudi Arabia

info@bna.bh — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:55:00 GMT

London, Sep. 16 (BNA): The United Kingdom has strongly condemned the continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, the escalation of military operations in Yemen, and actions threatening international shipping and regional stability. Speaking during an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday evening to discuss developments in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and Yemen, Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said the Houthis had...

UK King to host summit in Scotland on AI risks and human safety

info@bna.bh — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:35:00 GMT

London, Sep. 14 (BNA): His Majesty King Charles III, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, will host a much-anticipated technology summit on Wednesday at Dumfries House in Scotland, bringing together leading figures from the global artificial intelligence industry to discuss means of directing the technology towards serving societies and upholding human dignity, amid growing concerns and warnings from experts about its future implications. Buckingham Palace...

Rescuers searching for 140 people after Indonesia passenger ship sinks

info@bna.bh — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:01:00 GMT

Jakarta, Sep. 13 (BNA): Indonesian rescuers were searching on Sunday for 140 people from a passenger ship that sank in the Java Sea after 103 ⁠others were evacuated, one of whom died, a search and rescue agency official said. An Indonesian passenger ship carrying 243 people had been reported missing after losing contact early on Sunday during bad weather, the search and rescue agency said. The Virgo Transport 8 ship had set sail on Saturday from the East Java city of Surabaya...

At least 44 injured in train derailment in northwestern France

info@bna.bh — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:33:00 GMT

Paris, Sep. 12 (BNA): At least 44 people were injured, including a woman who sustained serious injuries, after part of a regional train carrying around 180 passengers derailed between Rouen and Caen in northwestern France.

Media reports said the train struck an unidentified object, causing one carriage to overturn and four others to derail.

M.A., A.A

Magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes Indonesia's Java

info@bna.bh — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:32:00 GMT

Jakarta, Sep. 12 (BNA): A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Indonesia's Java island, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 371.5 kilometres.

M.A., A.A

Five killed in bus crash near Swiss Alpine village

info@bna.bh — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:21:00 GMT

Zurich, Sep. 11 (BNA): Five people were killed and 40 others injured after a bus overturned in a remote area of the Alps in eastern Switzerland. Local police said three of those injured were in a serious condition, seven sustained moderately serious injuries, while 30 others suffered minor injuries, Reuters reported. Police said the accident occurred near the village of Susch, noting that after overturning onto one side, the bus was surrounded by police officers and emergency...

EU asylum applications fall 17% in first half of 2026

info@bna.bh — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:07:00 GMT

Brussels, Sep. 10 (BNA): Asylum applications in European Union (EU) countries fell 17% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, reaching their lowest first half level since 2021.

The European Union Agency for Asylum said the EU's 27 member states received around 332,000 applications during the period.

France, Italy, Spain and Germany received the majority of applications, with around 244,000 combined.

M.A.

Five killed in helicopter crash in Malaysia

info@bna.bh — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:59:00 GMT

Kuala Lumpur, Sep. 9 (BNA): Five people were killed when a helicopter crashed at a landing site in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, on the northwestern coast of Borneo, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The BO-105 helicopter, operated by Malaysia's Flying Doctor Service, crashed about 315 kilometres southeast of the city of Miri. Galong Luang, head of the Miri Disaster Management Committee, confirmed in a statement that all five people on board were killed, citing reports from...

Chinese Premier calls for developing sustainable urban renewal models

info@bna.bh — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 23:34:00 GMT

Beijing, Sep. 9 (BNA): Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for developing sustainable urban renewal models and optimising the structure of urban areas nationwide. Li made the remarks while presiding over a State Council study session on advancing high-quality urban renewal, Xinhua News Agency reported. The Chinese Premier noted that China has made significant progress in advancing new industrialisation and urbanisation in recent years, amid profound changes in population dynamics, growth...

Magnitude 5.3 earthquake strikes Tibet

info@bna.bh — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:06:00 GMT

Tibet, Sep. 9 (BNA): An earthquake of ‌magnitude 5.3 struck Tibet on ⁠Wednesday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. The quake was ‌at ⁠a depth of 35 km (21.75 ⁠miles), EMSC said, Reuters reported.

M.I, S.H.A

Indonesia reopens all airports as Anak Krakatau ash clears

info@bna.bh — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Tangerang, Sep. 9 (BNA): Indonesia has reopened all the airports closed by volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau, including Jakarta's main airport, but eight people, including five journalists who had been reporting ‌on the volcano, are missing. Further eruptions on Tuesday could also cause more disruption, officials said, Reuters reported. Ash from Anak Krakatau, situated halfway between Java and Sumatra islands, has blanketed Jakarta and some surrounding areas since...

Indonesia reopens Jakarta airport as Anak Krakatau ash clears

info@bna.bh — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:39:00 GMT

Tangerang, Sep. 8 (BNA): Indonesia reopened its main airport in Jakarta and four others ‌that had been closed due to volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau, although fresh eruptions on Tuesday raised the risk of further disruption. Ash from Anak Krakatau, which sits halfway between Java and Sumatra islands, has blanketed Jakarta and some surrounding areas since its initial eruption late on Friday. It led to the closure of eight airports for safety reasons, with more than 340,000...

11 killed after avalanche hits climbers in Russia's North Caucasus

info@bna.bh — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 22:36:00 GMT

Moscow, Sep. 7 (BNA): Emergency services in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria region announced that an avalanche killed at least 11 climbers and injured six others in the North Caucasus. According to Reuters, the avalanche descended from Mount Mizhirgi, one of the highest peaks in the Russian North Caucasus, hitting a group of 33 climbers. Emergency services said that 10 climbers managed to descend the mountain on their own, while the fate of six others remains...

Wildfires, heat waves threaten to undermine air quality, UN weather agency says

info@bna.bh — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:07:00 GMT

Geneva, Sep. 7 (BNA): Pollution from increasingly intense wildfires and heat waves could undermine global efforts to ‌improve air quality and protect human health, the United Nations' weather agency said on Monday, warning that climate change is making it harder to meet international air quality goals. In its annual report on air quality and the climate, the World Meteorological Organisation said air pollution and climate change are closely linked and should be tackled through...

US authorities warn Hawaii residents of expected tropical storm

info@bna.bh — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:01:00 GMT

Hawaii, Sep. 7 (BNA): Officials in Hawaii urged residents and visitors to prepare for heavy rains, flooding and possibly mudslides as Hurricane Lowell, a major Category 3 storm, prompted the National Hurricane Center to issue a tropical storm warning for two islands on Sunday. The Miami-based center issued the warning and a hurricane watch for Kauai and Niihau as Lowell was forecast to pass the islands to the west late Monday while traveling north. Forecasters said rainfall totals of...

Seven Indonesian airports remain shut due to volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau

info@bna.bh — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:58:00 GMT

Tangerang, Sep. 7 (BNA): Seven Indonesian airports, including two serving Jakarta, remained closed on Monday morning because of volcanic ‌ash from eruptions at Mount Anak Krakatau, the transport minister said. Ash from Anak Krakatau, which sits halfway between Java and Sumatra islands, has blanketed Jakarta and several surrounding areas since it erupted late on Friday, leading to the closure of the airports for safety reasons, Reuters reported. At night, the lava...

Japan issues Level 5 Emergency Warning for landslides in Kyushu

info@bna.bh — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 09:18:00 GMT

Tokyo, Sep. 6 (BNA): Heavy rain is pounding southwestern Japan, raising the risk of disasters. Authorities have issued a Level 5 Emergency Warning for landslides in Yakushima Town, Kagoshima Prefecture. People should take immediate action to protect their lives. If it is too dangerous to evacuate, they should move to rooms that are away from cliffs or streams, or on upper floors. The Japan Meteorological Agency officials say the downpours are unlike anything seen before, and...

Indonesia's Anak Krakatau eruption halts flights, schools, fishing

info@bna.bh — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 09:16:00 GMT

Tangerang, Sep. 6 (BNA): An ‌eruption of Indonesia's Mount Anak Krakatau caused five airports to suspend flight operations on Sunday, affecting hundreds of flights at Jakarta's main airport, after some school activities and fishing were halted. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport suspended flight operations until 1:30 p.m. (0630 GMT) due to volcanic ash, the airport posted on Instagram, stranding hundreds of passengers at the facility. Reuters reported. The suspension...

One dead, 11 missing after mudslide in China

info@bna.bh — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 17:27:00 GMT

Beijing, Sep. 5 (BNA): One person was killed, and 11 others went missing after a mudslide caused by heavy rain in eastern China. Chinese authorities said in a statement that one body had been recovered, while two other people were rescued alive. The authorities said the mudslide also damaged 12 homes following days of heavy rain caused by Tropical Storm Saudel. They added that the mudslide struck part of a village in Suichuan County in Jiangxi Province in the early hours of...

West Nile virus cases top 1,000 in Europe

info@bna.bh — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 13:49:00 GMT

Copenhagen, Sep. 5 (BNA): The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said more than 1,000 locally acquired West Nile virus infections have been reported across Europe since the start of this year's transmission season. The centre said in its latest weekly update on Friday that a total of 1,086 cases had been recorded in 15 countries as of September 3. The number has risen sharply in recent weeks. At the beginning of August, just over 240 cases had been...

599,300 evacuated over rainstorms in east China province

info@bna.bh — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 12:12:00 GMT

Beijing, Sep. 5 (BNA): A total of 599,300 residents have been evacuated from risky offshore and onshore areas in east China's Fujian Province as of Friday night due to persistent torrential rains over the past days. The provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said that several provincial departments in Fujian have urgently allocated 210 million yuan (about 31 million US dollars) for emergency rescue, disaster relief and post-disaster recovery in the worst-hit...

Sydney hit by heatwave amid bushfire risk

info@bna.bh — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 11:54:00 GMT

Sydney, Sep. 5 (BNA): Australia's most populous city Sydney experienced a burst of sweltering spring heat, raising the risk of bushfires and prompting authorities to issue a ban on lighting fires. Australia's national weather forecaster said temperatures in the New South Wales capital, home to 5.6 million people, were expected to hit 33 degrees Celsius, nearly 13C above average, Reuters reported. At Sydney Airport, temperatures reached 28.6C, more than seven degrees...

Six killed, three injured in restaurant fire in southern China

info@bna.bh — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 23:32:00 GMT

Haikou, Sep. 4 (BNA): Six people were killed and three injured in a fire at a restaurant under renovation in Haikou, southern China, according to local fire and rescue authorities.

The fire was extinguished shortly after emergency crews arrived. The three injured are in stable condition.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

M.A, K.E

Malaysia declares air pollution emergency over smoke from Indonesia fires

info@bna.bh — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Kuala Lumpur, Sep. 4 (BNA): Malaysia declared a state of emergency in Serian, Sarawak, after air pollution caused by smoke from fires in neighbouring Indonesia reached emergency levels.

The air pollution index in Serian rose to 521, while Sarawak's capital Kuching recorded a hazardous level of 311.

The emergency declaration allows authorities to take additional measures to address the situation. Schools are already required to close when the index exceeds 200.

M.A, K.E

Pakistan security forces kill 12 militants in Balochistan operation

info@bna.bh — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:43:00 GMT

Islamabad, Sep. 4 (BNA): Pakistani security forces killed 12 militants in an intelligence based operation in Balochistan province.

The military said security forces located and destroyed a hideout in Kalat, killing 12 militants and destroying ammunition and improvised explosive devices.

Clearance operations are continuing in the area.

M.A.

Heatwave raises wildfire risk to maximum level in parts of Portugal

info@bna.bh — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:42:00 GMT

Lisbon, Sep. 4 (BNA): An ongoing heatwave has raised the wildfire risk to the maximum level in 11 municipalities in northern and central Portugal, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere.

More than 50 other municipalities across nine districts face a very high wildfire risk.

The institute also issued a yellow heat warning for 14 districts across mainland Portugal, effective until 7 p.m. on September 5.

M.A.

Salmonella outbreak linked to pumpkin seeds sickens 81 in France

info@bna.bh — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:24:00 GMT

Paris, Sep. 4 (BNA): A salmonella outbreak linked to pumpkin seeds has sickened 81 people in France, six of whom were hospitalised, according to the French health and agriculture ministries.

An investigation identified pumpkin seeds handled by a food company in southwestern France and sold through several retailers as the likely source of the outbreak.

The products have been withdrawn from the market as a precaution. All six hospitalised patients have since been discharged.

M.A.

Heavy rain in China's Fujian leaves residents missing, over 100 homes collapsed

info@bna.bh — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:18:00 GMT

Fujian, Sep. 4 (BNA): Several days of heavy rain in China's eastern Fujian province have left residents missing and caused more than 100 homes to collapse, according to local authorities. Xinhua News Agency reported that rainfall brought by Typhoon Saudel caused water to overtop and breach a barrier in Huating, Putian, flooding nearby villages and trapping residents. The number of people missing has yet to be confirmed. Authorities evacuated 1,261 people in Chengxiang district and...

DR Congo reports new Ebola case

info@bna.bh — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 21:10:00 GMT

Dakar, Sep. 4 (BNA): Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported a new Ebola virus case in North Kivu province, more than two months after the previous outbreak was declared over. The authorities said the case was detected in Kayna, near Lubero. The patient is a 21 year old man who arrived from Butembo. The source of the infection has yet to be determined. Health authorities have begun contact tracing and intensified surveillance to contain any potential spread...

Nepal flood death toll rises to 1,287

info@bna.bh — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:28:00 GMT

Kathmandu, Sep. 4 (BNA): The death toll from floods that recently struck Nepal's Himalayan regions bordering China increased to around 1,287, with more than 5,000 people missing, Reuters reported. Nepali authorities announced on Friday that rescue teams had pulled two people alive from beneath the rubble in a tunnel linked to a hydropower station on the Trishuli River, nine days after an ice and rock avalanche triggered devastating floods across several regions of Nepal. The...

Hurricane Marie strengthens in Pacific

info@bna.bh — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:01:00 GMT

California, Sep. 3 (BNA): Tropical Storm Marie strengthened into a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The hurricane was located about 375 miles (600 kilometres) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, with maximum sustained winds of around 80 mph (130 kph).

M.A, K.E

Pakistan security forces kill 15 militants in border infiltration attempt

info@bna.bh — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Islamabad, Sep. 3 (BNA): Pakistan's military said security forces killed 15 militants attempting to infiltrate across the Pakistan Afghanistan border into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces detected the movement of a group of militants near North Waziristan and engaged them.

A subsequent clearance operation led to the recovery of weapons and ammunition from the militants.

M.A., K.E

Muslim Council of Elders strongly condemns Iranian aggressive attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Kurdistan Region of Iraq

info@bna.bh — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:00 GMT

Abu Dhabi, Sep. 2 (BNA): The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, strongly condemned the Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Council reaffirmed its categorical rejection of such attacks against neighboring countries, the intimidation of innocent civilians, and the endangerment of civilian lives. It stressed that...

Nepal flood death toll rises to 1,127

info@bna.bh — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:53:00 GMT

Kathmandu, Sep. 2 (BNA): The death toll in Nepal from last week's devastating flooding in the Himalayas has risen to 1,127, police said on Wednesday. According to the German News Agency (dpa), the Nepalese police stated on Wednesday that of the bodies recovered so far, only 95 had been handed over to affected families. The death toll in Nepal alone passed 1,000 on Tuesday, while more than 4,600 people were reported missing. Large numbers of displaced people living in...

UK pledges additional £50 million to help contain Ebola outbreak in Congo

info@bna.bh — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:41:00 GMT

London, Sep. 2 (BNA): Britain said it would provide more than £50 million ($67.56 million) in new funding to support efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where confirmed cases have surpassed 6,000 in the country's largest-ever epidemic. According to Reuters, the British Foreign Office said the funding will support disease surveillance, frontline health workers, treatment access, infection control, community outreach and safe...

Tropical Storm Edouard forms near Texas and Louisiana

info@bna.bh — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:29:00 GMT

Miami, Sep. 2 (BNA): Tropical Storm Edouard formed Monday in the Gulf of Mexico and was expected to gain strength before bringing potentially heavy rains and flooding into parts of Texas and Louisiana. The storm was upgraded Monday night from a tropical depression and forecasters with the National Hurricane Center expect it will make landfall in Texas on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. Early Tuesday the storm was about 85 miles (135 kilometers) southeast of Cameron,...

At least 2 dead in Grand Canyon flooding

info@bna.bh — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:39:00 GMT

Arizona, Sep. 1 (BNA): At least two people were killed and as many as 20 or more others were unaccounted ‌for after flash flooding struck the Grand Canyon in Arizona over the weekend, forcing the evacuation of dozens of hikers by helicopter, the National Park Service said. Heavy rains on Saturday sent a cascade of mud, boulders and debris rushing through Bright Angel Creek, a major side canyon that runs from the park's North Rim to the Colorado River, sweeping away trails, foot...

More than 1,000 dead from catastrophic Nepal-China floods

info@bna.bh — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:24:00 GMT

Kathmandu, Sep. 1(BNA): The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Nepal and China passed 1,000 on Tuesday, authorities said, as rescue teams worked to reach communities cut off by the disaster. Nepal’s disaster agency said Tuesday that 987 deaths had been counted there, with 3,916 people missing, including 583 foreigners. Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths in their most recent update on Sunday. At least 11,814 people have been rescued so far, according to Nepalese...

Rescue efforts intensify after Nepal-Tibet flooding as deaths climb past 900

info@bna.bh — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:38:00 GMT

Kathmandu, Aug. 31 (BNA): Rescuers were trying to find trapped workers in at least a dozen hydroelectric plant sites Monday after catastrophic flooding in Nepal and Tibet killed at least 900 people and left more than 4,700 missing. Multiple foreign teams were assisting local rescuers to find workers in multiple tunnels at Nepal’s power plants on the rivers that flooded last Wednesday, according to the Associated Press (AP). Mohan Kumar Dangi, President of the...

Karina rapidly becomes major hurricane in Pacific far from land

info@bna.bh — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:01:00 GMT

Miami, Aug. 31 (BNA): Hurricane Karina formed Sunday in the Pacific Ocean and swiftly intensified into a dangerous major storm within hours, fueled by warm waters far offshore where it poses no immediate threat to land. Karina gained Category 1 hurricane status early Sunday with top sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) and then took mere hours to jump up to a dangerous Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami...

Switzerland: One killed, five injured in shooting in Aarau

info@bna.bh — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:39:00 GMT

Aarau, Aug. 30 (BNA): One person has been killed and five others injured in a shooting overnight in the Swiss town of Aarau, the Aargau cantonal police said. According to police, the incident took place at a horse racetrack, where the music event was being held at the time, Reuters reported. Police said on social media platform X: "A search is underway for the unknown perpetrator or perpetrators". Local authorities urged residents to avoid the...

UN launches urgent humanitarian appeal for 17,000 children affected by Nepal floods

info@bna.bh — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 11:42:00 GMT

Kathmandu, Aug. 29 (BNA): The death toll from floods that struck Nepal's mountainous border region with China this week has risen to more than 600, with around 2,000 people missing. The United Nations said more than 17,000 children in affected areas require urgent humanitarian assistance. Nepalese Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir Khanal said the country requires international assistance in specialised and technical areas, including rescuing people trapped in tunnels, restoring transport and...

WHO warns of Ebola outbreak spreading beyond DR Congo

info@bna.bh — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 23:11:00 GMT

Bunia, Aug. 28 (BNA): The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned of the growing risk of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo spreading to neighbouring countries, with the Central African Republic considered at highest risk, followed closely by South Sudan, as the outbreak expands towards border areas. Marie Roseline Belizaire, WHO expert, said the Biena and Manguredjipa health zones in North Kivu province have case fatality rates higher than the overall rate, due...

Nepal flood death toll rises to more than 469

info@bna.bh — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:47:00 GMT

Kathmandu, Aug. 28 (BNA): The death toll from devastating floods in mountainous areas of Nepal bordering China has risen to more than 469, with hundreds injured and more than 1,500 people reported missing, according to Nepalese police. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors and missing people amid difficult conditions and challenging terrain. Nepalese authorities attributed the disaster to a landslide following an earthquake, which triggered glacial water, mud and rock flows...

Pakistan security forces kill 11 militants in separate operations

info@bna.bh — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:41:00 GMT

Islamabad, Aug. 28 (BNA): Pakistani security forces killed 11 militants in separate security and intelligence based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Two militants were killed in an intelligence based operation in Bannu, where weapons and ammunition were also seized. Five others were killed in clashes with security forces in Ladha, South Waziristan, while four were killed in the Sasol area. Pakistan has seen an increase in militant attacks, particularly in...

Greece records 19 West Nile virus deaths, 232 cases

info@bna.bh — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:40:00 GMT

Athens, Aug. 28 (BNA): Greece has recorded 19 deaths and 232 cases of West Nile virus since the beginning of the year, according to the country's public health authority. The authority said infections have increased nearly fourfold since the end of July, with most cases reported in the greater Athens area. West Nile virus is transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes. Most infections are asymptomatic, while older people and those with certain health conditions face a...

Tropical Storm Dolly forms in Atlantic

info@bna.bh — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:40:00 GMT

Miami, Aug. 28 (BNA): Tropical Storm Dolly formed over the Atlantic Ocean, far from land, and is expected to dissipate quickly.

The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said it would begin issuing advisories on the storm, with environmental conditions expected to weaken it within the next 24 hours.

M.A.

Germany records around 15,800 heat related deaths

info@bna.bh — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:39:00 GMT

Berlin, Aug. 28 (BNA): Heatwaves in Germany caused an estimated 15,800 deaths between April 6 and mid August 2026, according to the Robert Koch Institute. Around 9,600 deaths were recorded during the severe heatwave in late June, while nearly 4,000 occurred during the first two weeks of August. The institute said this year's heat related deaths significantly exceeded figures recorded over the past decade, including around 9,500 in 2018 and 7,600 in 2019. Most deaths were among...

Rescuers seek nearly 1,500 still missing in Nepal, China after flash flood

info@bna.bh — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:58:00 GMT

Trishuli, Aug. 27 (BNA): Nearly 1,500 people, including more than 700 foreigners, are missing across Nepal and China's Tibet, after a wall of mud and rock collapsed into a Himalayan river, causing catastrophic flash floods. Rescuers in Nepal used helicopters to search for survivors and drop emergency supplies to thousands cut off in towns and valleys after Wednesday's disaster swept a road thronged by ‌trekkers and pilgrims that links Kathmandu with Lhasa in...

Brazil fines TikTok owner ByteDance for unlawful processing of teenagers' data

info@bna.bh — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:56:00 GMT

Sao Paulo, Aug. 26 (BNA): Brazil's data ‌protection authority, ANPD, has fined TikTok owner ByteDance 153.8 million reais ($29.81 million) for allegedly violating the country's General Data Protection Law, according to a decision published in the official gazette on Tuesday. ANPD said that the local unit of China's ByteDance had processed personal data of teenagers aged 13 to 18 without a valid legal basis, Reuters reported. The regulator estimated that, during the...

12,700 evacuated as heavy rains hit northeast China's Liaoning

info@bna.bh — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:15:00 GMT

Beijing, Aug. 25 (BNA): About 12,700 people have been evacuated in northeast China's Liaoning Province as torrential rain has affected the region since Sunday morning, Xinhua News Agency reported. Red alerts for torrential rain remain in effect across several parts of the province, with nine cities activating emergency flood responses. Authorities have placed 3,611 rescue and emergency response teams, comprising more than 127,000 personnel, on standby across eight cities, including...

Tornado in southwestern France damages over 300 homes, injures dozens

info@bna.bh — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:59:00 GMT

Paris, Aug. 25 (BNA): A tornado swept through the Aude region of southwestern ‌France late on Monday, damaging more than 300 homes and injuring dozens. Thirty-nine people were injured, including two in critical condition in the village of ⁠Pomas, Reuters reported. By Tuesday morning some 21,000 households were without power in southern France, including 1,600 in the Aude. The tornado struck as this summer's intense heatwave gave way this week ⁠to thunderstorms in many areas...

Shifting winds fuel wildfire near Reno, thousands evacuated

info@bna.bh — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:41:00 GMT

Reno, Aug. 24 (BNA): An out-of-control wildfire that jumped over fire trucks and made it difficult for crews to reach hot spots destroyed homes in northwest Reno, Nevada, on Sunday. Shifting winds challenged firefighters trying to bring it under control, and authorities urged some 90,000 people to evacuate. At least six people, three first responders and three civilians, were injured. Officials said the fire was "human-caused" but did not provide details on how they...

Guinea landfill landslide kills 30, injures 22

info@bna.bh — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 01:21:00 GMT

Conakry, Aug. 23 (BNA): Thirty people were killed and 22 others injured in a landslide at a landfill in Guinea after heavy rainfall caused a massive mound of waste to collapse onto nearby homes. The Guinean government stated that the landslide occurred on Sunday in the Gbessia area, leaving six people seriously injured and 16 others with minor injuries, in addition to the fatalities, Reuters reported. Rescue teams continued search operations at the site, while witnesses...

Australia confirms first H5N1 bird flu case in local mammal

info@bna.bh — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 10:21:00 GMT

Sydney, Aug. 23 (BNA): Australia confirmed its first case of H5N1 bird flu in a mammal, with the deadly virus found in a long-nosed fur seal in South ‌Australia. Australia has been grappling with rising cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza after it landed in the country in June. The country's first mass seabird deaths from the virus occurred this month, marking an escalation of the outbreak that began after the virus was first detected in migratory seabirds ⁠before...