A legendary video game developer has threatened to sue over hoax posts portraying him as Shinzo Abe’s killer. Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima was linked to the shooting of Japan’s former Prime Minister in pictures on website 4chan. The images were shared by a French politician and reportedly broadcast by Greek and Iranian news outlets. Kojima Productions said it “strongly condemns the spread of fake news and rumours that convey false information”. The 4chan post used a photo of Kojima and falsely labelled him as a “left-wing extremist” with a criminal record. It also included a picture of him wearing a type … Continue reading Man threatens to sue over false posts describing him as the killer of Japan ex PM

The suspected driver of a truck found abandoned in Texas with dozens of bodies inside has been charged with migrant smuggling resulting in death. Homero Zamorano was found posing as a migrant in a bush near the lorry in San Antonio and arrested by police. Some 53 people died in the tragedy, many of heatstroke and dehydration, after being shut inside the truck in blistering heat without any water. It is the deadliest human trafficking incident in US history. According to a top Mexican immigration official, the suspected driver, Mr Zamorano – who is from Texas, had “tried to pass … Continue reading Update: Suspected truck driver of Texas migrant death is charged

A four-storey residential building collapsed in India’s financial capital of Mumbai overnight, killing at least 19 people, with more feared trapped under the rubble, officials said on Tuesday. Part of the building, located in a crowded suburb in the central part of the city, crumbled around midnight on Monday, the city’s civic body BMC said. Rescue workers were working to pull out debris and rubble until late on Tuesday. Heavy rain hampered the work. Building collapses are common in Mumbai during monsoon season, mostly due to poor construction. More than a dozen people were injured in the accident, of which … Continue reading 19 people dead in Mumbai building collapse

At least 17 people have tragically been found dead, including underage children, at a night club after a potential ‘poison’ exposure. Police and paramedics were called to the scene at the Enyobeni Tavern in the South African city of East London in the early hours of June 26. However, more than a dozen people were discovered dead, including children under the age of 18, who had allegedly gone out to celebrate the end of exams, local officials confirmed. Devastated parents discovered that their children were among the dead after images of their bodies circulated on social media, with sobbing families stood outside the tavern trying … Continue reading Nightclub ‘poison’ exposure leaves 17 tragically dead with underage children among victims

The death toll from a devastating earthquake in Afghanistan continues to climb days after it turned brick and stone homes into rubble, killing 1,150 people and wounding scores more, according to the latest figures carried in state media. The magnitude six quake has left thousands without shelter. State media reported that close to 3,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged in Wednesday’s earthquake. Aid organisations like the local Red Crescent and World Food Programme have stepped in to assist the most vulnerable families with food and other emergency needs like tents and sleeping mats in Paktika province, the epicentre of … Continue reading Update: Death toll from Afghanistan’s earthquake rises to 1,150 people

A powerful earthquake has killed at least 250 people and left scores injured in Afghanistan, a local official has told reporters. Pictures shared on social media showed people on stretchers, rubble and ruined homes in Paktika province. A local government official said the death toll of more than 250 was likely to rise, and that more than 150 others had been injured. The quake struck about 44km (27 miles) from the south-eastern city of Khost. Tremors were felt across more than 500km of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, quoted by Reuters. The centre said … Continue reading More than 250 people killed in Afghanistan earthquake

A fire and a huge explosion have killed at least 49 people and injured hundreds more at a storage depot near the city of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Hundreds of people had arrived to tackle the fire when a number of shipping containers exploded at the site in Sitakunda. It is thought that chemicals were stored in some of the containers. Industrial fires are common in Bangladesh, and are often blamed on poor safety regulations. Many of the injured are said to be in a critical condition and the number of people killed is expected to rise. Hospitals in the area are … Continue reading Over 40 killed, hundreds injured in Bangladesh fire

Rescuers in Nepal have found the crash site of a plane that went missing on Sunday with 22 people on board. The wreckage of the plane, operated by Nepali carrier Tara Air, was recovered in the district of Mustang in northern Nepal, said a Nepal Army spokesman. The passenger plane was on a 20-minute flight when it lost contact with air traffic control five minutes before it was due to land. It is still not known if there are any survivors from the crash. Four Indians, two Germans and 16 Nepalis were on board the plane, according to reports. But … Continue reading Wreckage of plane carrying 22 passengers found in Nepal

Eleven newborn babies have died in a hospital fire in the western city of Tivaouane in Senegal, the country’s president has said. The fire at Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital was in the maternity department, President Macky Sall tweeted. Initial reports suggest the fire was caused by a short circuit, according to Senegalese politicians. Three babies were saved from the fire, said the city’s mayor, Diop Sy. The fire spread very quickly and emergency services were still at the scene, Mr Sy told local media. The hospital had been newly inaugurated, according to AFP, citing local media reports. “To … Continue reading Eleven newborn babies die in Senegal hospital fire

Nigeria’s president has said the country is in “shock and trauma” following the deaths of at least 100 people from an explosion at an illegal oil refinery. President Muhammadu Buhari described the incident in Imo state, southern Nigeria, as a “catastrophe and a national disaster”. Many victims were burnt beyond recognition. The police are now looking for the owner of the illegal refinery. The damage to fishing and farming caused by the oil industry over the decades and the failure to share the oil wealth has led some to find other ways to make money. Illegal refining is attractive as … Continue reading Nigeria in trauma after over 100 people killed in oil refinery explosion

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called it “a catastrophe of enormous proportions”.Residents of Bhambayi settlement walk with buckets filled with water South Africa’s leader was visiting survivors in one of the townships in the city of Durban which has been struck by floods and mudslides stoked by record rains. At least 300 people have died after roads and hillsides were washed away and homes collapsed. The search for missing persons is still going on and the death toll is expected to rise. One family is said to have lost 10 members in the devastating floods. Residents had to flee their homes … Continue reading OMG: Almost 300 people dead in South Africa’s worst rainfall in 60 years

The death toll from floods and mudslides after rainstorms struck the South African port city of Durban and surrounding areas in KwaZulu-Natal province has climbed to 59, authorities said on Tuesday. The country’s meteorologists forecasted more “disruptive” rains on the way Tuesday night but expected the “rainfall system” to weaken “considerably” on Wednesday. “Many people lost their lives with Ethekwini (Durban metro) alone reporting 45,” while in iLembe district “more than 14 have tragically lost their lives,” the provincial government said in a statement.  It said the disaster “wreaked untold havoc and unleashed massive damage to lives and infrastructure” affecting … Continue reading Almost 60 people killed in deadly South Africa floods