News

30 Dead in Traffic Accident in Northern NigeriaKano, 9 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- Thirty people died and others injured in a traffic accident in Kano State, northern Nigeria. Local authorities reported that a truck was traveling on a highway in the Gezawa area of ​​Kano State when the driver lost control. A state government spokesperson said that the fatal accident occurred when a semi-trailer truck collided with a vehicle due to reckless driving, leading to the demise of more than 30 people and seriously injuring many others. --- ...

2 Soldiers Died in Helicopter Crash in South KoreaSeoul, 9 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- Two soldiers died when a military helicopter crashed in Gyeonggi Province, western South Korea. Military authorities said an AH-1S Cobra helicopter crashed in Gapyeong, about 55 km northeast of Seoul, shortly after taking off for a training mission. Authorities added that the incident did not involve any fires or explosions, and that an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the crash. The accident occurred during a flight training exercise aimed at familiarizing crew members with emergency ...

13 Dead in Building Collapse in Northern Lebanon, Search for Missing OngoingBeirut, 9 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- At least 13 people died after an old building collapsed in the Bab al-Tabbaneh area of Tripoli, northern Lebanon, while nine survivors have been rescued so far. Rescue teams continue to search for the remaining missing persons under the rubble Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that rescue teams are working around the clock in an effort to reach any survivors in the collapsed building. --- ...

15 Dead After Boat Collides with Coast Guard Vessel Off GreeceAthens, 4 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- Greek authorities announced today that 15 people died after a collision between a coastguard vessel and a boat carrying migrants off the coast of the Greek island of Chios. The Hellenic Coast Guard said that 25 migrants were rescued, but one woman later died. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. --- ...

Winter Storms Claim 27 Lives Across Japan as Heavy Snowfall Grips NorthTokyo, 3 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- A severe cold snap has led to the deaths of 27 people across northern and coastal Japan, authorities confirmed on Monday, as heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures continue to batter the region.The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported the majority of fatalities occurred along the Sea of Japan coast, with Niigata Prefecture hardest hit, recording 12 deaths. Akita Prefecture in the north reported six fatalities, while Hokkaido, the country's northernmost island, confirmed three.The ...

Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake Hits South Sandwich Islands in Atlantic OceanLondon, 29 Jan (ONA) - An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale hit today the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 74.7 km. In August 2021, the region was struck by a powerful earthquake exceeding magnitude ...

Military Aircraft Crash Results in Death of Two Persons in Thailand Bangkok, 29 Jan (ONA) - A military aircraft crashed today in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, resulting in the death of two persons. Local authorities reported that the aircraft, which crashed, was an AT-6 model and was on a training mission. An investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances of the incident, while emergency teams are working to secure the crash site. ----Ends/AG ...

Fifteen Die from Plane Crash in Colombia Bogota, 29 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Fifteen people died following a plane crash in northeastern Colombia, as announced by the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority. The aircraft, operated by the "Satena" airline, had taken off from the city of Cúcuta on the border with Venezuela and lost contact with control towers shortly before its scheduled landing in nearby Ocaña. An official from the concerned civil aviation authority stated in a briefing that there were "no survivors" from the crash. ---Ends/AG ...

Death Toll from Indonesia's Landslide Rises to 50Jakarta, 28 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The death toll from last weekend's landslide in West Java, Indonesia, has risen to 50, with 33 people still missing. West Java Police spokesman Hendra Rochmawan said today that the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team received 50 body bags from the landslide site in West Bandung following additional recovery operations conducted by joint search and rescue teams, noting that 34 victims were successfully identified. The Indonesian Navy reported that four of the victims were naval personnel, after a massive ...

2 Died, 84 Injured in Factory Blast in China Beijing, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Two people died, eight missing and 84 injured due to an explosion at a factory in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local authorities said. The explosion occurred at a plate plant of Baogang United Steel in western Baotou City, caused by the blast of a 650-cubic-meter saturated water and steam spherical tank. The incident resulted in a total of 84 injured people being treated in hospitals, and five in serious condition, executive vice mayor of Baotou said. The government has suspended production of the ...

World Food Programme Warns of Severe Levels of Food Insecurity in 2026Rome, 13 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Executive Director of the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) Cindy McCain warned of a worsening global hunger crisis in 2026, stressing that more than 318 million people face acute levels of food insecurity. According to the UN News Centre, McCain said that the WFP cannot end hunger on its own, noting that today's crises require "swift, strategic and decisive action." The UN official called on world leaders to take urgent action to end human-made famines, increase humanitarian funding, ...

Violent Storm Batters Istanbul, Halting Transport and Toppling Trees Istanbul, 8 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- A ferocious storm engulfed Istanbul today, delivering one of the city's most severe weather events in recent memory. The powerful system brought violent winds, torrential rains, and a dramatic temperature drop, severely disrupting life across the metropolis. Meteorological officials reported wind speeds surpassing 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph), ranking at 11 on the Beaufort scale—a classification for a violent storm just below hurricane strength. Authorities warned ...

Australia Braces for Catastrophic Fire Threat as Nationwide Heatwave Intensifies Canberra, 8 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- A severe and widespread heatwave is sweeping across Australia, prompting officials to issue dire warnings of "catastrophic" fire danger for tomorrow (Friday). Extreme heat conditions have been declared in every state and territory except Queensland, with elevated temperatures forecast to persist for days. The state of Victoria faces the most immediate threat, declaring a total fire ban as fire danger ratings are set to reach the highest possible "catastrophic" ...

Youth Center Implements High-Quality Programmes During January 2026 Muscat, 6 January 2026 (ONA) --- As part of its ongoing efforts to empower young people and develop their skills in technical, innovative and entrepreneurial spheres, the Youth Center is implementing a number of quality programmes this month (January 2026). Key components in the drive include “Microsoft Power BI and AI” programme, which seeks to enhance young people's abilities in data analysis and applications of artificial intelligence (AI), and “Youth Center Programmes Lab”, which encourages ...

Four Dead after Hippopotamus Attack in KenyaNairobi, 4 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Four young men have died in a hippopotamus attack at Lake Naivasha in Kenya, according to media reports. A group of 14 men had wanted to fish illegally on Friday night on the shores of the lake, a popular tourist attraction located about 80 kilometres from the capital Nairobi in the Rift Valley. Several hippos charged the group, Kenyan media reported on Saturday. Some of the men were able to swim to safety, while others were attacked by the animals or drowned. According to relatives, the men were looking to ...

China Implements Mandatory Fuel Consumption Standards for Vehicles in 2026 Beijing, 1 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The People’s Republic of China has officially begun implementing three mandatory standards today to limit fuel consumption in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, according to the Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation. These new regulations impose stricter energy conservation constraints for the automotive sector during the People’s Republic of China's 15th Five-Year Development Plan period, which spans from 2026 to 2030. According to the Xinhua ...

US Military Announces Five Killed in Strikes Targeting Smuggling Boats Washington D.C, 1 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The US military announced that it launched new strikes targeting boats in international waters, resulting in the deaths of five individuals. The US Southern Command stated in a press release that the strikes targeted three drug-smuggling boats traveling in a single convoy. The statement further noted that the operation resulted in the deaths of five smugglers. These strikes represent the latest in a series of military operations initiated by the US administration in ...

Several Dozen People Dead after Fire in Swiss Ski ResortGeneva, 1 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Several dozen people died in a fire at a New Year's Eve party in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, police said today. Around 100 people were seriously injured in the incident, commander of police for the region of Valais where the resort is located, said during a press conference. Investigators believe the fire was an accident. The incident occurred at around 1:30 am (0030 GMT), and was accompanied by an explosion, according to media reports. Police were on site after the incident, along with ...

Over 100 Workers Injured in Monorail Train Collision at Indian Hydropower Project New Delhi, 31 Dec 2025 (ONA) --- Two monorail trains collided at a hydropower station construction site in India's Uttarakhand state, injuring at least 109 workers. The accident was caused by a brake failure on one of the trains, which are used to transport workers and construction materials within the site, according to Gaurav Kumar, the district's senior administrative official. Kumar added that most of the injured suffered minor wounds, as reported by Reuters. Officials ...

16 Died in Nursing Home Fire in IndonesiaJakarta, 29 Dec 2025 (ONA) --- Sixteen people died in a fire that broke out at a nursing home in Manado, North Sulawesi province, in Indonesia, local authorities said on Monday. Head of public relations of the North Sulawesi Regional Police Alamsyah P. Hasibuan said that the police began procedures to identify the victims. He explained that the fire broke out in the Panti Werdha Damai nursing home in Manado and noted that the fire brigades were able to control the fire. He added that police forces evacuated the survivors to another hospital and opened ...

Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake Strikes Off Coast of PeruLima, 28 December 2025 (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Peru today. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said that the epicenter of the quake occurred 94 kilometers southeast of the city of Trujillo, at a depth of 30 and 66 kilometers. Trujillo has a population of over 700,000. Peru is exposed yearly to at least 400 earthquakes felt by the population due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a point of seismic activity that extends along the western coast of the South ...

Two People Died in Sweden Due to Severe Storms Stockholm, 28 Dec 2025 (ONA) --- Two people died in Sweden due to powerful storms that struck parts of Sweden, Norway, and Finland, causing power outages for thousands of homes and disrupting air traffic in some areas. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) issued warnings of severe and violent winds hitting vast areas of northern Sweden as Storm "Johannes" arrived. In Finland, the impact of the storm led to power outages for over 120,000 homes, with the western regions being the most severely affected, ...

Oman's Skies Poised for Peak of 2025 Geminid Meteor ShowerMuscat, 10 Dec 2025 (ONA) — The skies of the Sultanate of Oman will witness one of the most prominent annual astronomical phenomena on the evening of Saturday and the dawn of Sunday, corresponding to 13 and 14 December. The Geminid meteor shower will reach its peak, with expectations of excellent observation conditions during the period preceding moonrise.Regarding the possibility of observing the phenomenon, Qasim Hamad Al Busaidi, Chairman of the Astronomy and Astrophotography Committee at Oman Astronomical Society, stated: ...

5.3-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Mexico's Oaxaca State Mexico City, 4 Dec 2025 (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale struck the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico today. The earthquake occurred 23 km from the city of Salina Cruz, at a depth of 62.2 km, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported. ---Ends/AG ...

Southeast Asia Reels as Floods, Landslides Claim Hundreds of Lives Jakarta, 30 Nov 2025 (ONA) --- Indonesia bears the brunt with 417 dead, as a confluence of tropical storms exacerbates regional monsoon flooding, stranding thousands and hampering rescue efforts. The death toll from catastrophic flooding and landslides on Indonesia's Sumatra island has surged to 417, authorities reported, marking one of the most severe weather-related disasters in the region in years. The grim tally passed 300 today as evacuation teams worked against the clock. The crisis has been ...

Death Toll from Sri Lanka's Cyclone Ditwah Rises to 159, Hundreds Still MissingColombo, 30 Nov 2025 (ONA) --- The death toll from Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has risen to 159, with at least 203 people still missing. Sri Lankan media reported that floodwaters rose in parts of the capital, Colombo, today, after Cyclone Ditwah left widespread destruction and claimed the lives of at least 159 people across the country. Sri Lankan's Disaster Management Centre reported that the northern part of Colombo is experiencing severe flooding, with the Kelani River continuing to rise. The Center noted that ...

Over 10,000 People Displaced By Floods in MalaysiaKuala Lumpur, 24 Nov 2025 (ONA) --- Malaysian authorities announced today that the recent floods in the country have displaced more than 10,000 people, with the northern state of Kelantan being the most affected. Kelantan, which has been experiencing continuous heavy rainfall for several days, recorded the evacuation of 8,248 people due to the floods. The displaced were moved to 33 flood relief centers, according to the authorities. The Meteorological Department has issued warnings of continued heavy rainfall and strong winds. In December ...

People with Disabilities Festival in Oman to Kick off 1 DecemberMuscat, 23 Nov 2025 (ONA) — The sixth edition of the People with Disabilities Festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, will kick off on 1 December 2025 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bowsher.This year's festival attracts a wide segment from various disability groups, alongside technical and administrative staff and volunteers. The festival is designed to be a comprehensive space to empower this group, highlight their capabilities, and cement their presence in the community.The festival will be ...

Typhoon Uwan Batters Philippines, Causing Widespread DestructionManila, 10 Nov (ONA) --- Typhoon Uwan continued to batter large areas of the Philippines, causing widespread destruction and road closures. The Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that 31 roads in eight regions were impassable due to landslides and flooding caused by the typhoon. The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon mobilized all available resources to reopen the affected roads, emphasizing the need for swift action to ensure rescue, relief, and transportation ...

UN Refugee Agency: Climate Change Forced Millions to FleeGeneva, 10 Nov (ONA) --- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) confirmed that the consequences of climate change have already displaced millions of people worldwide. In a report released ahead of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil, the UNHCR said that over the past decade, weather-related disasters have caused approximately 250 million internal displacements – equivalent to more than 67,000 displacements every day. The report explained that three-quarters of those displaced by conflict live in ...