Myanmar declares national mourning for 7 days over deadly earthquake
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Myanmar on Monday declared seven days of national mourning over a powerful earthquake of a 7.7-magnitude that struck central Myanmar on Friday, Anadolu reports.
The national flag will be flown at half-staff as part of the mourning, according to the state-run MRTV.
The death toll from the earthquake has exceeded 1,700, with more than 3,400 injured and over 300 missing.
Meanwhile, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s junta ruler, held a phone talk with the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday. Both sides discussed the impact of the earthquake and rescue and relief efforts.
Russia, India, China, Thailand, the UN, UAE and others have sent specialist search and rescue teams alongside humanitarian aid.
Shenzhou-20 crew set for maiden extravehicular activities
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The Shenzhou-20 crew members, who are currently on board China's space station, will conduct their first extravehicular activities (EVAs) within the next few days, the China Manned Space Agency announced on Wednesday, Xinhua reports.
Since entering the Tiangong space station on April 25, the three astronauts have completed a series of tasks in orbit, including the rotation with their predecessors Shenzhou-19 crew members, the maintenance and upkeep of the space station platform, inspections and tests of EVA suits, and medical rescue exercises.
All space science experiments have been progressing as planned, the agency said.
It also confirmed that the three Shenzhou-20 crew members are in good health and the space station is operating smoothly, ready for the upcoming space walk.
Japan develops drones capable of intercepting lightning strikes mid-air
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Japanese researchers have developed innovative drones that can act as in-flight lightning arresters, capable of intercepting lightning strikes directly in mid-air, WAM reported.
According to researchers from Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, these drones use electric field oscillations to attract lightning, and when the electric field gets stronger, the drone is launched to cause a lightning discharge at a specific location.
Testing confirmed that the cage could endure extreme currents up to 150kA. This number is around five times stronger than standard lightning. On top of that, it covered 98% of the drone's surface. This resulted in the drone staying steady in flight even after taking a direct hit.
Following the success of the tests, the researchers noted, a network of drones is planned to be deployed in cities and around key facilities to minimise lightning damage and increase public safety.
Lightning in Japan causes an estimated $702 million to $1.4 billion in damage each year, and these new technologies could greatly reduce that risk.
Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in southern Italy, erupted overnight, spewing large amounts of ash and lava, local media reported on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reports.
The eruption, which began from the Southeast Crater, involved frequent and intense explosions, releasing two small lava flows directed toward the south and east, Catania Today reported.
An ash plume was also observed, drifting southeast and depositing volcanic ash on the nearby town of Zafferana Etnea.
The Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) issued by INGV has since been downgraded to "green," the lowest alert level.
Authorities confirmed that the eruption had no effect on operations at Catania’s Vincenzo Bellini International Airport.
Located on the island of Sicily, Etna is the highest active volcano in continental Europe at around 3,300 meters. This latest eruption marks the 13th recorded volcanic activity in recent months.
Intense volcanic activity was observed at Mount Etna in February and April of this year.
Habemus Papam: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV, first American pontiff
Images | Screenshot from the broadcast of the election of the new Pope
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White smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling to the world that the Catholic Church has a new pope. The conclave of 133 cardinals that gathered for the election just yesterday has decided on Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to be the successor of Saint Peter, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Robert Francis Prevost, an American Augustinian and seasoned Vatican official, was elected as the 267th pope following the fourth ballot on the second day of the conclave. He has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American and second pope from the Americas, following his predecessor Pope Francis of Argentina.
The announcement was made from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to a crowd of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Cheers erupted as the Vatican's senior cardinal proclaimed, "Habemus Papam!"
Minutes later, in his first public address, delivered in both Italian and Spanish, Pope Leo XIV began with the words: "Peace be with all of you!"
Speaking to the crowd from the balcony, he paid tribute to Pope Francis, calling him "courageous" and the pope who "blessed Rome and gave his blessing to the whole world on that Easter morning."
Let us follow up that blessing," he said. "God loves us, and God loves all of you. Sin will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God."
Emphasizing the importance of unity, Pope Leo XIV declared, "Together we must try to find out how to be a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogue, and is open to receiving everybody."
Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago in 1955 and ordained a priest in Rome in 1982 as a member of the Order of Saint Augustine. He spent nearly two decades in Peru, serving as a parish priest, seminary teacher, and diocesan official, eventually becoming a naturalized Peruvian citizen. His leadership within the Church includes time as Prior General of the Augustinians, Bishop of Chiclayo, and most recently, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, before being made a cardinal in 2024.
His election is historic as he becomes the first American and the first Augustinian pope. The name he chose, Leo XIV, recalls Pope Leo XIII, who was elected in 1878 and served until his death in 1903 and is remembered for his intellectual leadership and social engagement.
Among the first world leaders to congratulate the new pope were U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
President Trump shared his message on Truth Social, writing, "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a great honor for our country! I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"
In his post on X, President Zelensky stated, "Congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election to the See of Saint Peter and the beginning of his pontificate. (...) I wish His Holiness Leo XIV wisdom, inspiration, and strength-both spiritual and physical-in carrying out his noble mission. Ad multos annos!"
President Macron shared the sentiment, calling it "a historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful," and added, "To Pope Leo XIV, and to all Catholics in France and around the world, I extend a message of fraternity. On this May 8th, may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope."
Many more congratulatory messages are expected to follow as leaders around the world rush to extend their well wishes to the newly elected pontiff.
Ten die, 70 injured in China boat capsize accident
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The last missing person in a boat capsize incident in southwest China's Guizhou Province has been confirmed dead, according to local rescue headquarters, Xinhua reported.
All those involved in the boat capsize accident have been found as of 12:45 pm local time on Monday, with 10 people dead, 70 injured and 4 uninjured.
Four boats capsized in sudden strong winds in a river of Qianxi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province on Sunday afternoon, plunging 84 individuals into the water. Provincial authorities have deployed nearly 500 emergency responders to coordinate rescue efforts. The aftermath handling of the accident is still proceeding.
#BREAKING : 10 dead after sudden winds flipped 4 boats in Guizhou, China - 84 plunged into the river, 70 hospitalized pic.twitter.com/LdVTQjY84r
Kyrgyzstan plans to open 128 enterprises and create 15,000 jobs in 2025
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128 new enterprises are planned to be launched in Kyrgyzstan in 2025, which will create at least 15,000 jobs, Kabar reports.
According to the Cabinet of Ministers, the total investment in industrial development will amount to $1.7 billion, which is twice as much as last year's investment.
For comparison, in 2024, 102 industrial facilities were commissioned in the country, goods worth 585 billion soms were manufactured, and 8,000 jobs were created. At the same time, tax revenues from enterprises doubled, reaching 40 billion soms.
A particular increase in entrepreneurial activity is observed in the Batken region after the settlement of border issues. In this region, 14 industrial facilities are planned to open in 2025, which will provide 1,000 people with jobs.
Developing the industrial sector and opening new production facilities will be an important step in creating jobs, increasing tax revenues and stimulating the country's economic growth, the report said.
Strong winds hit flights in Indian capital, at least 4 killed due to dust storm
Images | aa.com.tr
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At least four people were killed and over 100 flights were delayed as strong winds, dust storms, and heavy rains lashed the capital New Delhi on Friday morning, officials said, Anadolu reports.
State meteorologists said on Friday that wind speed was reported over Delhi in "association with an intense thunderstorm" in the morning, with the strongest wind of kilometers (49 miles) per hour recorded in the Safdarjung area. It said rainfall was also reported over the capital with intense thunderstorms.
As the intense weather led to trees falling and waters pooling, this impacted flights, with over 100 suffering delays, according to flightradar24.com.
Delhi International Airport said early Friday that due to inclement weather conditions and thunderstorms, some flights have been impacted.
It later said that while the airport is operating as normal, despite some impact due to adverse weather conditions, inclement weather in Delhi has led to fallen trees and blocked roads around the airport.
Separately, four people including three children were killed in Delhi’s Dwarka neighborhood due to strong winds in the morning, officials said.
Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Friday that instructions have been issued to all officials to identify places where water is pooling and find solutions.
Kyrgyzstan started fencing on the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border in the area of the stele, at the junction of the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, namely in the Koshmolo area of the Tort-Gul ayil aimagy of the Batken district, Kabar reports.
The Batken regional state administration reported that Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers - Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Kamchybek Tashiev took part in the launch of the work in an online format and gave the start to the process.
The event was attended by First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for National Security - Director of the State Border Service Abdikarim Alimbaev, Special Representative of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic on Border Issues Nazyrbek Borubaev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Batken Region Aibek Shamenov, as well as border guards.
To ensure the progress of the work, a special field camp settlement has been established in the area, conditions have been created for border guards, and the necessary equipment has been delivered.
At the first stage, it is planned to stretch a fence along 420 kilometers of the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border. The work is planned to be completed by the end of this year.
The work on delimitation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border was previously completed, and on March 13, 2025, in Bishkek, the heads of the two states signed an agreement on the border.
