The Global News Desk 115

At least 35 children were killed and six more were severely wounded in an audience stampede at a school festival in Nigeria. The heartbreaking incident took place in Ibadan, Nigeria's third-largest city. Eight people have reportedly been arrested by police "for their involvement" in this incident.  The main sponsor of the event, which was organized by the Wings Foundation and Agidigbo FM radio, was among those arrested on Wednesday at the Basorun Islamic High School. Videos and footage that appeared to be from the scene showed a large crowd of large children seeing others being carried away from an open field. Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, sent condolences to the families of the victims. Our  sympathies   and prayers are still with the families and loved ones affected by this terrible incident.  For his part, he said, "May the souls of the departed rest in peace."  A homicide investigation has begun, Oyo State, police head said in a stateme...

Slovakia and Hungary blocked EU sanctions against Georgia. As protests continued, Hungary and Slovakia blocked an attempt to impose EU sanctions on Georgian officials.  Kaja Kallas, an Estonian politician and diplomat, urged sanctions against Georgian state personnel who were allegedly involved in the suppression of pro-European protesters. Meanwhile, a second measure to prevent visa-free travel for Georgians with diplomatic and service passports will move forward, as it only requires a qualified majority.  The European Commission is in charge of creating the strategy, according to Euronews. High Representative Kaja Kallas had proposed sanctions on Georgia during a foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels in early December 2024. "I think it would be a geostrategic mistake to push this country back now," the Austrian foreign minister told reporters on Monday, in addition to advocating for dialogue. We need to keep talking. In Georgia, the majority still desired EU membership...

Indian naval speedboat collided with a mini passenger ship conveying more than 100 passengers to a well-known tourist spot off the coast of Mumbai on Wednesday, killing at least 13 people, according to the navy.  The Indian Navy reported in a statement that 99 ferry passengers were rescued. When the speedboat swerved and rammed into the ferry "Neelkamal," passengers were en route to Elephanta Island.  The Indian Navy issued a statement expressing grief for the "shocking loss" of life caused by a speedy boat accomplishing engine tests losing control and colliding with a civilian ferry.  One naval service member and a couple workers of an equipment company participating in the testing were among the 13 people declared dead by doctors, according to the naval and government officials. According to the Indian Naval officials, 11 navy vessels, four coastguard boats, and four naval helicopters moved into the region as part of "search and rescue efforts that were immed...

BERLIN, Germany —  Barbel Bas, the president of the Bundestag, said on Monday that most of the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) voted against Chancellor Olaf Scholz's cabinet, opening the door for early elections in February. Of the 717 lawmakers who cast ballots, 394 opposed Scholz's bid for chancellor, 207 voted in favor of him, and 116 refused to vote. He slumped very short of the 367 majority required to win. The elections for a new parliament will take place on February 23, 2025. Early in November, Scholz's coalition government fell apart after he dismissed Christian Lindner, the head of the Free Democratic Party and Finance Minister, for refusing to approve new budget projections for 2025 and increased aid for Ukraine.  The opposition also attributes the deteriorating economic situation to Olaf Scholz's coalition government.  Source: Sputnik 

A Chinese business delegation has shown an interest in investing $1 billion in Thatta's Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to create a medical city.  12 large Chinese enterprises joined Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh, on a visit to the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone. The Sindh government has approved the scheme. During the meeting, Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh, highlighted that the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone is a CPEC priority project.  Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar says that Sindh has a lot of appealing investment opportunities. Because of its advantageous location close to the port, highways, and railroads, he said, the Dhabeji Zone will be the province's most important economic zone in terms of industrial expansion, technology transfer, and job creation.   This effort is a well-known example of China and Pakistan's strong and honored relationship. Naveed Qamar further said that  t...

European News — A security source informed the media on Sunday that 14 people were killed and 249 more were seriously injured by a Cyclone on the French island territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.  The powerful hurricane progressed close to Mozambique's coast after wreaking havoc on Mayotte's shantytowns, the French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned that the final toll might be high.  Damage to airports and electrical distribution will likely hamper the efforts of rescue workers and supplies being transported by air and sea in an area where even clean drinking water was already facing chronic shortages.  Government officials in the French area in the Indian Ocean said Sunday that Cyclone Chido's route of devastation over Mayotte might kill "several hundred people. "All stuff has been swept away, everything is destroyed," said one of the Cyclone victims, whose property was wrecked in the Kaweni neighborhood in Mamoudzou's east - France's l...

The Palestinian health ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Saturday martyred at least 22 Palestinians. After recent brutal bombings on the Gaza Strip, Palestinians' death toll increased to 44,930 martyred and 106,624 wounded.  Doctors said in a statement that an assault near the municipality building in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, where civilians had gathered to receive aid, killed at least 10 people. According to a Gaza source, the assault martyred Diab Ali al-Jaru, the leader of the Hamas administrative committee in central Gaza, wounded were transported to the hospital. 4 others were killed in another incident in the area.