International
India factory blast kills 17
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he was “pained by the loss of lives”, in a post on social media, announcing compensation of $2,380 to the families of those killed
A blast in an Indian pharmaceutical factory has killed at least 17 people with chemicals burning the skin off several of the 34 injured, police said Thursday.
The Hindu newspaper reported that the force of the blast had been so strong, it left severed body parts scattered around the site.
The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon at a pharmaceutical unit in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district.
District police superintendent M. Deepika said “rescue operations are over” and all were accounted for, with a final toll of “17 dead and 34 injured”.
She added that investigators believe the blast was caused by a “gas leak… which eventually hit an electrical panel”.
Local police official M. Buchaiah told the Indian Express daily that those caught in the blast suffered horrific chemical burns.It was horrible, heartbreaking,” he told the paper, describing the pain people suffered as those who survived were carried to ambulances.
“They were screaming before they lost consciousness”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he was “pained by the loss of lives”, in a post on social media, announcing compensation of $2,380 to the families of those killed.
AFP
International
Five killed as Amazon cargo plane crashes at Miami airport
The flight also hit several vehicles on the ground.
Video footage from Miami shows an Amazon Air cargo plane overshoot the runway while attempting to land at the city’s international airport, killing five people and seriously injuring five more.
The Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft crashed just before 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT) after departing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The flight also hit several vehicles on the ground.
BBC
International
Trump sends envoys to Russia, Ukraine with new peace plan
US President Donald Trump has dispatched special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend with a new proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Trump announced the mission on Friday, describing Witkoff and Kushner as “two great negotiators” who are carrying “a proposal to end the war.” He said there “may be a good chance” of progress and added that the United States has “an idea for peace,” without confirming whether the plan involves territorial concessions.
According to reports, the envoys were expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday before travelling to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday. A senior Ukrainian official confirmed the Kyiv leg of the trip. Russian state media reported that Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday.
The visit marks the first time the two envoys will travel to war-torn Kyiv since Trump returned to office. Previous diplomatic efforts involving the pair had focused more heavily on contacts with Moscow.
Zelensky said Ukrainian forces would refrain from airstrikes on Russia while the envoys were in the country and called on Moscow to reciprocate by pausing attacks on Ukraine. The mission represents Washington’s latest attempt to break the long-running diplomatic stalemate in the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
International
Uber introduces robotaxi services in London after exiting Nigeria
A licensed operator will remain inside the vehicle initially to monitor the journey. Fully driverless operations are expected in the future, subject to regulatory approval.
Ride-haling company, Uber, in partnership with British Artificial Intelligence company Wayve, has unveiled an autonomous rides in London, marking a new step in the company’s expansion of robotaxi services.
Reuters reported that the move comes few hours after Uber exited Nigeria, where the company had operated its ride-hailing service for over 12 years.
According to Reuters report on Thursday, London is now the second city in Europe where Uber offers autonomous rides, after first it launched it robotaxi service in Zagreb.
At the initial stage, fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will be available.
Passengers requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric could be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles at no additional cost.
A licensed operator will remain inside the vehicle initially to monitor the journey. Fully driverless operations are expected in the future, subject to regulatory approval.
Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, said the launch would help build public and government confidence in the technology.
“This will build credibility with consumers as well as with the government,” Maredia said.
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