A Turkish roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) commercial ship was reportedly hit by a Russian drone on Ukrainian ports on Friday, while the vessel was moored at the port city of Odesa. The ship, called the Cenk T, was reportedly carrying food supplies (fruit, vegetables, and other consumables), and not any military equipment. According to sources, another two Turkish ships were also hit and damaged. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2025 06:52 AM IST | Kyiv | AgenciesA raccoon that passed out drunk after running amok in a Virginia liquor store is suspected of two other “break-ins”. Images of smashed bottles and the animal splayed out next to the toilet went viral last week — but the woman who found him has revealed the raccoon has form. “This is not the first time he’s been in one of the buildings. This is the third break-in he’s had,” said animal protection officer Samantha Martin. “He was in the karate studio, I think he got into DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) - ate some of their snacks one time.” Ms Martin said the “smart little critter” had been removed both times from those businesses, which are in the same complex as the ABC liquor store in Ashland. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2025 06:49 AM IST | Virginia | AgenciesUS envoys arrived in Berlin on Sunday morning for another round of talks intended to secure a deal to end the war in Ukraine. US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were spotted in downtown Berlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian, US and European officials will hold a series of meetings in Berlin in the coming days. “Most importantly, I will be meeting with envoys of President Trump, and there will also be meetings with our European partners, with many leaders, concerning the foundation of peace — a political agreement to end the war,” Zelenskyy said on Saturday. Washington has tried for months to navigate the demands of each side as Trump presses for a swift end to Russia’s war and grows increasingly exasperated by delays. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2025 06:44 AM IST | Berlin | AgenciesA 52-year-old Indian-origin man is among four people killed after a four-storey Hindu temple under construction collapsed in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, officials said. The New Ahobilam Temple of Protection, situated on a steep hill in Redcliffe in north of eThekwini (formerly Durban), was being expanded when a section of the building gave way on Friday while workers were on site. The exact number of workers and temple officials believed to be trapped beneath tonnes of rubble is unknown. While two people, a construction worker and a devotee, were confirmed dead on Friday, the death toll rose to four on Saturday after rescue teams recovered more bodies. Of the four deceased, one has been identified as Vickey Jairaj Panday, an executive member of the temple trust and manager of the construction project. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2025 06:42 AM IST | Johannesburg | AgenciesPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Australia and expressed solidarity with the people of the country in their hour of grief, news agency PTI reported. “Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah,” the prime minister said. “On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. We stand in solidarity with the people of Australia in this hour of grief,” he added. Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 14, 2025 PM Modi reiterated that India has “zero tolerance” for terrorism and supports the fight against all its forms and manifestations, PTI reported. The attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach left at least 11 people dead, according to Australian authorities, and was declared a terrorist act. Two gunmen opened fire during a Jewish event called Chanukah by the Sea, celebrating the start of the Hanukkah festival. One gunman was fatally shot by police, while the second was arrested and remained in critical condition. At least 29 others were wounded, including two police officers, said New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon. “This attack was designed to target Sydney's Jewish community,” said New South Wales Premier Chris Minns. The massacre was declared a terrorist attack due to the target and the weapons used, Lanyon added. Dramatic footage broadcast on Australian television showed a member of the public apparently tackling and disarming one of the gunmen before pointing the weapon at him. News agency AP reported that the police’s operation was “ongoing” and that “a number of suspicious items located in the vicinity” were being examined, including an improvised explosive device found in one of the suspect’s cars. Emergency services responded to reports of gunfire on Campbell Parade around 6.45 pm local time, rushing the injured to nearby hospitals. Hundreds had gathered at the event when the attack occurred, turning a festive celebration into a scene of terror. Mass shootings are extremely rare in Australia. A 1996 massacre in the Tasmanian town of Port Arthur, where a lone gunman killed 35 people, prompted the government to drastically tighten gun laws, making it much more difficult for Australians to acquire firearms. Other notable incidents this century included two murder-suicides in 2014 and 2018, which claimed five and seven lives respectively, in which gunmen killed their own families and themselves. In 2022, two police officers were shot and killed by Christian extremists at a rural property in Queensland. The three shooters in that incident, who were conspiracy theorists targeting police, were also killed by officers after a six-hour siege, along with one of their neighbours. (With PTI and AP inputs)
14 December,2025 06:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThailand’s Government on Sunday confirmed that a rocket attack from Cambodia killed a 63-year-old villager, marking the first civilian fatality in a week of renewed fighting along the two countries’ border, news agency AP reported. Both the countries acknowledged that large-scale clashes, triggered by a December 7 skirmish that wounded two Thai soldiers, continued on Sunday. The dispute centres on longstanding claims over frontier land, some containing centuries-old temple ruins, AP reported. Over the past week, more than two dozen people on both sides have been reported killed, while over half a million have been displaced. Reporters arriving at the scene in Sisaket Province’s Kantharalak District witnessed the victim, identified as Don Patchapan, being taken away on a stretcher. A nearby house was ablaze, with villagers attempting to extinguish the fire using buckets of water. Shrapnel from the rocket was embedded in the road nearby, AP reported. The Thai Army said Patchapan was killed in a residential area near a school. Thai government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat condemned Cambodia for firing into civilian areas, calling the act “cruel and inhumane”. Cambodia has deployed truck-mounted BM-21 rocket launchers, capable of firing up to 40 rockets at a time over 30-40 km, though they lack precise targeting. Most rockets have landed in evacuated areas, but Thai authorities say thousands have been launched nearly daily. Thailand has responded with airstrikes, while Cambodia reported continued bombing on Sunday. Both sides have also used drones for surveillance and bomb delivery. Thai military officials confirmed 15 of their soldiers have died and estimated at least 221 Cambodian military fatalities. Cambodia has rejected these figures, reporting at least 11 civilian deaths and more than 60 injuries. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet posted on social media that he was proud of the nation’s strength amid “aggression from neighbouring countries.” The renewed fighting has disrupted a ceasefire brokered in July by Malaysia, and promoted by US President Donald Trump, who had threatened to withhold trade privileges unless both sides agreed. A new ceasefire had been announced last Friday at Trump’s urging, but Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul denied committing to it, and Cambodia said it was acting in self-defense. The conflict has also spread to a new front in the Gulf of Thailand, where a Thai Navy warship exchanged fire with Cambodian forces in Koh Kong province, with both sides blaming the other for initiating the confrontation. (With AP inputs)
14 December,2025 05:42 PM IST | Thailand | mid-day online correspondentTwo gunmen shot dead nine people on Sunday at Sydney's Bondi Beach, and police killed one of them, Australian Broadcasting Corp reported. Another 12 people were wounded and the other gunman was arrested, ABC reported, citing a police spokesperson on the scene. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
14 December,2025 04:14 PM IST | Sydney | APExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met with his counterparts from Europe, the UK and Egypt on the sidelines of a high-level international summit in the United Arab Emirates, where leaders and policymakers gathered to discuss key geopolitical and security challenges. In a social media post on Saturday, Jaishankar said "it was great to be" with Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, and Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braze. The minister was in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi to attend the three-day Sir Bani Yas Forum 2025, which concluded on Sunday. Jaishankar also met UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy on the sidelines of the summit. "Good to see UK DPM @DavidLammy on the sidelines of Sir Bani Yas Forum 2025," he said in another social media post. In another meeting, the External Affairs Minister said it was "nice to catch up" with Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty. Sir Bani Yas Forum is an annual platform that brings together global leaders, ministers and experts to deliberate on regional and international issues. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
14 December,2025 12:51 PM IST | Dubai | PTIAt least three children were killed and another sustained injuries when a quadcopter drone crashed into a residential area in northwest Pakistan, police said. According to initial reports, the incident occurred in the Mumand Khel area, in Bannu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the drone fell into a populated neighbourhood late Saturday, causing casualties among children. Following the incident, residents immediately launched rescue efforts and shifted the injured child and the bodies of the deceased to a nearby hospital. Rescue and security personnel also rushed to the scene soon after the incident. Hospital authorities confirmed that the injured child is out of danger, while the bodies of the three children have been placed in the hospital morgue. The incident triggered panic and fear among residents of the area. Security forces cordoned off the locality and launched an investigation to ascertain the nature of the drone and the circumstances leading to the crash. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2025 09:52 AM IST | Peshawar | ANIUS President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) pledged "very serious retaliation" after an ISIS gunman killed two US soldiers and one civilian interpreter in an ambush in Syria, calling the attack a strike against both the United States and Syria. Speaking at the White House, the president described the victims as "three great patriots" and characterised the incident as an assault on both Washington and Damascus. "This was an ISIS attack on us and Syria," he told reporters. "We mourn the lost and we pray for them and their parents and their loved ones." Asked if the US would respond, Trump was unequivocal: "Yes, we will retaliate." He repeated the warning on Truth Social, writing, "There will be very serious retaliation. We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria--two soldiers and one civilian interpreter. Likewise, we pray for the three injured soldiers who, it has just been confirmed, are doing well." US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the attack occurred on 13 December during counter-terrorism operations near Palmyra. The lone gunman was engaged and killed by US and partner forces. Three other US soldiers were wounded but are recovering. The identities of the deceased will be withheld for 24 hours until next of kin are notified. Trump also said Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was "extremely angry and disturbed" by the attack, which occurred in "a very dangerous part of Syria" not fully under government control. The US has approximately 900 troops deployed in Syria as part of ongoing operations against Islamic State militants. The shooting occurred weeks after Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, held talks with Trump at the White House. Al-Sharaa came to power after the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's government last year. Assad later fled to Russia, where he was granted asylum, and has vowed to continue opposing rebel forces. Al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda member who was previously detained by US forces in Iraq, had his global terrorist designation lifted by Trump ahead of their meeting. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2025 09:50 AM IST | Washington | ANIThe Election Commission (EC) has demanded extra security for its chief, other commissioners and officials as fresh unrest visibly gripped Bangladesh after gunmen shot an upcoming parliamentary polls candidate and frontline leader of last year's violent street movement dubbed 'July Uprising'. "The EC has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) urging comprehensive security arrangements for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Election Commissioners (ECs), senior officials of the Election Commission Secretariat," the state-run BSS news agency reported on late Saturday. The EC simultaneously sought the extra security for its field-level offices ahead of the 13th national election, as two of them came under attack in southeastern Lakshmipur and southwestern Pirojpur by unidentified miscreants after the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming polls on Thursday. The commission demanded an additional escort vehicle for the CEC, while one such police escort with a vehicle was currently in place for him. It asked for round-the-clock police escorts for the four commissioners and the senior secretary. The letter said the enhanced security measures were "urgent and necessary," while EC officials said their 10 regional offices, 64 district election offices and 522 sub-district level offices would store important documents and election materials. The EC on Thursday said the upcoming parliamentary election would be held on February 12 next year, while a day later, Sharif Osman Hadi was shot from a close range in the head, critically wounding him, as he initiated his election campaign from a constituency in the capital. Critically ill former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) simultaneously asked Muhammad Yunus' government to provide security for all candidates in the upcoming election after the attack on Hadi, who leads a radical right-wing cultural group called Inquiab Mancha. "We demand that the real culprit be identified immediately and brought under the law, and we call upon this government to ensure the security of all candidates without delay," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said. Hadi was also a frontline leader of last year's student-led violent uprising that toppled then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on August 5, 2024. His Inquilab Mancha was also at the forefront of a campaign to disband the Awami League, which the interim government complied with in May this year, disqualifying the party from contesting the polls. The government on Saturday ordered a nationwide security clampdown called 'Operation Devil Hunt 2' amid escalated fears over the law and order situation and promised to issue firearms licenses for election candidates for their own security. Home adviser (retd) Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the government had taken steps to ensure special security for the "frontline fighters" of the July Uprising and promised to issue firearms licenses for the election candidates. He emphasised that the second phase of the 'Devil Hunt' was aimed at helping ensure public safety and combat the growing threat of illegal arms. The operation was initially launched in February this year following protests over an attack on the private house of a former minister of the ousted government in the northern suburb of the capital, when it targeted alleged "henchmen" and supporters of the now disbanded Awami League. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2025 09:47 AM IST | Dhaka | PTIADVERTISEMENT
-1765696626301_d.png "Dr. S Jaishankar. File Pic")
