Global Pulse

分类： world

  • Iranian official says verified deaths in Iran protests reach at least 5,000

    Iranian official says verified deaths in Iran protests reach at least 5,000

    An unnamed Iranian official has disclosed that government-verified fatalities from recent civil unrest have reached approximately 5,000 casualties, according to a Sunday statement to Reuters. The official indicated that security personnel accounted for roughly 500 of these deaths, while attributing the remaining civilian casualties to what authorities describe as “terrorists and armed rioters.”

    The northwestern Kurdish regions experienced the most severe violence, with the official noting these areas witnessed both the most intense clashes and highest concentration of fatalities. This region has historical significance as a center of Kurdish separatist activity and has consistently been the epicenter of violent confrontations during previous periods of civil unrest.

    While the official suggested the final death toll would not increase substantially, the statement contradicted reports from international monitoring organizations. The US-based HRANA rights group documented 3,308 confirmed fatalities with an additional 4,382 cases undergoing verification, alongside more than 24,000 confirmed arrests.

    The Iranian government maintains its longstanding position that foreign adversaries have instigated the unrest. The official specifically cited Israel and overseas armed groups as providing support and equipment to protesters. This accusation aligns with Tehran’s frequent attribution of domestic opposition to external forces, particularly its regional arch-rival Israel, which conducted military strikes against Iranian targets in June.

    Norwegian-based Hengaw, an Iranian Kurdish rights organization, corroborated reports of particularly violent clashes in northwestern Kurdish areas since protests initially erupted in late December. The disclosure comes amid increasing international diplomatic pressure, with several nations including New Zealand and Slovakia temporarily closing their Iranian diplomatic missions.

  • Indonesia finds one body from surveillance plane wreckage; passenger count revised to 10

    Indonesia finds one body from surveillance plane wreckage; passenger count revised to 10

    Indonesian rescue authorities confirmed on Sunday the discovery of wreckage from a fisheries surveillance aircraft that crashed into a mountainside in South Sulawesi province, recovering one victim’s body from the devastating scene. The ATR 42-500 turboprop, operated by Indonesia Air Transport and chartered by the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, had vanished from radar contact Saturday afternoon during its surveillance mission.

    Search and rescue operations involving approximately 1,200 personnel successfully located the fragmented remains of the aircraft scattered across the rugged terrain of Mount Bulusaraung near the Maros region. Initial helicopter reconnaissance teams spotted critical components including aircraft windows at 7:46 AM local time, followed by identification of the main fuselage and tail section minutes later.

    Officials revised the passenger manifest downward from initial reports, confirming three fisheries ministry staff members and seven crew members aboard the ill-fated flight. The aircraft had been conducting aerial surveillance operations over fisheries before its scheduled arrival in Makassar, South Sulawesi’s capital.

    Rescue efforts faced significant challenges due to persistently thick fog and the mountain’s treacherous topography. The recovered victim was located in a ravine approximately 200 meters from the mountain’s peak, while the condition of the remaining nine individuals remains unknown.

    Soerjanto Tjahjono, head of Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), characterized the incident as ‘controlled flight into terrain,’ indicating the pilot maintained aircraft control until impact. Aviation investigators have not yet determined the precise causal factors behind the crash, though experts note most aviation accidents result from multiple contributing elements.

    The tragedy marks Indonesia’s first fatal ATR 42 accident since 2015, when another turboprop crashed in Papua province claiming 54 lives. Flight tracking data indicated the surveillance aircraft had been operating at low altitude over ocean waters prior to losing signal approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Makassar airport.

  • Wildfires race across Chile, leaving 15 dead and forcing thousands to flee

    Wildfires race across Chile, leaving 15 dead and forcing thousands to flee

    Central and southern Chile are confronting a devastating wildfire crisis that has resulted in at least 15 fatalities and prompted mass evacuations, compelling President Gabriel Boric to declare a state of catastrophe in multiple regions. The infernos, fueled by an intense heat wave with temperatures exceeding 38°C (100°F) and fanned by strong winds, have ravaged approximately 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) of forestland and destroyed hundreds of residential structures.

    President Boric’s emergency declaration covers the central Biobio region and neighboring Ñuble region, situated roughly 500 kilometers south of the capital Santiago. This measure enables enhanced military coordination to combat two dozen active blazes that have forced 50,000 residents to flee their homes. Despite presidential assurances that “all resources are available,” local officials reported significant delays in federal response during critical early hours of the disaster.

    Rodrigo Vera, mayor of the coastal town Penco, expressed desperate frustration: “Dear President Boric, from the bottom of my heart, I have been here for four hours, a community is burning and there is no government presence.” His sentiment echoed across affected communities where firefighters battled relentlessly against rapidly spreading flames.

    Survivors described terrifying midnight escapes as fires encircled residential areas without warning. “We fled running, with the kids, in the dark,” recounted Juan Lagos, 52, from Penco where the fire consumed cars, a school, and a church. The human toll became increasingly evident as charred remains were discovered in fields, homes, and vehicles throughout the impacted zones, with local residents mourning neighbors lost to the flames.

    The municipality of Concepcion alone reported 253 homes destroyed, though national damage assessments remain ongoing as emergency teams work to contain the spreading wildfires under challenging meteorological conditions.

  • Pakistan: Massive fire kills 6 in Karachi, destroys Gul Plaza

    Pakistan: Massive fire kills 6 in Karachi, destroys Gul Plaza

    A catastrophic fire has devastated the historic Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi’s central business district, resulting in six confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries. The blaze ignited on Saturday evening at approximately 10:38 PM local time, rapidly consuming the commercial structure despite intensive firefighting efforts throughout the night.

    Emergency response teams from Rescue 1122 encountered extreme conditions upon arrival, with flames already engulfing multiple levels of the building. Spokesperson Hassanul Haseeb Khan reported that the inferno had spread from ground-level shops to upper floors with alarming speed, overwhelming initial containment measures.

    Medical authorities at Karachi’s Civil Hospital confirmed receiving six casualties while treating eleven injured individuals. Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed indicated that mass disaster protocols had been activated in response to the scale of the emergency.

    Visual documentation from the scene revealed extensive structural damage, with numerous shops completely destroyed and sections of the building facing potential collapse. The incident has drawn significant public attention, with hundreds of local residents and business owners gathering at the perimeter as firefighters continued containment operations into Sunday.

    The tragedy highlights ongoing concerns regarding fire safety protocols in densely populated commercial districts throughout Pakistan’s largest metropolitan area. Investigation into the fire’s origin and the structural integrity of remaining portions of Gul Plaza continues as authorities assess the full extent of the damage.

  • Chile declares ‘state of catastrophe’ as deadly wildfires menace cities

    Chile declares ‘state of catastrophe’ as deadly wildfires menace cities

    Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions as devastating wildfires continue to rage across the country, resulting in significant casualties and widespread destruction. The death toll has reached at least 16 people in the Ñuble and Biobío regions, located approximately 500 kilometers south of the capital Santiago, with more than 20,000 residents forced to evacuate their homes.

    The most severe fire has engulfed dry forest areas surrounding the coastal city of Concepción, where disaster management officials confirm that at least 250 residential structures have been completely destroyed. Local media outlets have circulated disturbing images showing charred vehicles abandoned on streets as flames advanced through populated areas.

    Chile’s National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) reported that firefighting teams are currently battling 24 separate blazes nationwide, with the most critical situations concentrated in the Ñuble and Biobío regions. President Boric announced the emergency declaration via social media platform X, stating, “In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe. All resources are available” to combat the crisis.

    The infernos have already consumed approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) across the two affected regions. The cities of Penco and Lirquen, located north of Concepción with a combined population of 60,000, have seen the majority of evacuation efforts, including the relocation of patients from Penco hospital.

    Meteorological conditions have significantly exacerbated the crisis, with strong winds propelling the flames amid summer temperatures that are expected to reach 38°C between Santiago and Biobío within the next 48 hours. Much of central Chile remains under heat alerts as the combination of high temperatures and dry vegetation creates ideal conditions for fire spread.

    This disaster echoes Chile’s previous wildfire tragedy two years ago, when blazes in the Valparaíso region near Santiago claimed at least 120 lives. The country has experienced increasingly severe fire seasons in recent years, a trend experts attribute to prolonged drought conditions and climate change impacts.

  • Syrian forces seize major oil, gas fields in eastern Syria, security sources say

    Syrian forces seize major oil, gas fields in eastern Syria, security sources say

    In a significant military advancement, Syrian government forces have captured strategic energy assets in eastern Syria, including the nation’s largest oil field and a major gas facility, according to three security sources. The operations occurred on Sunday as part of an ongoing offensive into territories controlled by Kurdish-led factions.

    The Omar oil field, Syria’s most substantial petroleum asset, and the Conoco natural gas field are now under Syrian army control. This development represents a critical shift in the regional balance of power and control over vital economic resources. The military campaign continues despite diplomatic appeals from the United States to halt advances into northern Syrian towns under Kurdish administration.

    Earlier operations saw Syrian state media announce the capture of the northern city of Tabqa along with its adjacent dam infrastructure. Additionally, forces secured the major Freedom dam (formerly known as the Baath dam), located west of Raqqa. These strategic hydroelectric assets further consolidate government control over essential infrastructure and resources.

    The military actions occur within the complex geopolitical landscape of Syria’s ongoing conflict, where multiple international and regional actors maintain competing interests. The seizure of energy-producing regions significantly enhances the Syrian government’s economic prospects while potentially altering dynamics with Kurdish autonomous administrations in the northeast.

  • Indonesian authorities find wreckage of surveillance plane; 11 still missing

    Indonesian authorities find wreckage of surveillance plane; 11 still missing

    Indonesian search and rescue teams confirmed on Sunday the discovery of wreckage from a fisheries surveillance aircraft that vanished during its operational mission in South Sulawesi province. The ATR 42-500 turboprop, chartered by Indonesia’s Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, disappeared from radar contact on Saturday afternoon while conducting aerial monitoring of fisheries activities.

    The aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, carried eleven personnel comprising eight crew members and three ministry staff. Search teams located the debris scattered across multiple locations around Mount Bulusaraung in the Maros region, approximately 1,500 kilometers northeast of Jakarta. The challenging mountainous terrain and persistent fog conditions have complicated rescue operations.

    Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of South Sulawesi’s rescue agency, announced the deployment of 1,200 personnel to search for survivors. ‘Our priority is to search for the victims, and we hope that there are some that we can evacuate safely,’ he stated during a televised briefing.

    Officials reported that rescue helicopters first identified aircraft windows at 7:46 a.m. local time, followed by the discovery of larger fuselage sections and the tail assembly minutes later. The aircraft had been en route to Makassar, provincial capital of South Sulawesi, after departing from Yogyakarta province.

    Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated the aircraft was flying at low altitude over ocean waters before its last signal transmission approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Makassar airport. Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee has assumed leadership of the crash investigation, though preliminary findings suggest weather conditions and mountainous topography may have contributed to the incident.

    The ATR 42-500, manufactured by Franco-Italian aerospace consortium ATR, represents a workhorse regional turboprop designed for short to medium-haul operations with typical passenger capacities ranging from 42 to 50 seats.

  • Iran schools to reopen Sunday after one-week closure, media says

    Iran schools to reopen Sunday after one-week closure, media says

    Educational institutions across Iran are scheduled to resume operations on Sunday following an unprecedented week-long closure during widespread civil disturbances. The shutdown affected numerous cities including Tehran, where authorities implemented the measure in response to escalating anti-government demonstrations that have shaken the nation.

    According to reports from Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency, academic activities will recommence nationwide after being suspended since January 10th. The agency further indicated that university examinations, previously postponed due to the unrest, have been rescheduled for January 24th.

    The school closures occurred against a backdrop of significant social turmoil, with international observers reporting intense clashes between security forces and protesters. While official Iranian sources have remained largely silent regarding casualty figures, external human rights organizations have circulated unverified reports suggesting potentially thousands of fatalities amid a government-imposed internet blackout that severely limited information flow from the country.

    The restoration of educational services signals authorities’ attempts to normalize operations following one of the most challenging periods of civil disobedience in recent years. The protests, which appear to have been triggered by various socioeconomic and political grievances, represent a significant challenge to the established governance structures.

    International attention remains focused on Iran as diplomatic entities continue to monitor the situation’s development, particularly concerning civil liberties and human rights considerations during periods of civil unrest.

  • How love united a Venezuelan liberator and a shoemaker’s daughter

    How love united a Venezuelan liberator and a shoemaker’s daughter

    An extraordinary cross-continental partnership between a Venezuelan revolutionary and a shoemaker’s daughter from rural England played a pivotal role in South America’s independence movements. Francisco de Miranda, celebrated as Venezuela’s ‘First Universal Citizen,’ found an unlikely ally in Sarah Andrews of Market Weighton, East Yorkshire, whose contributions are now being rediscovered through historical research.

    Miranda, born in Caracas in 1750 to wealth and privilege, received extensive education in Venezuela and Madrid before embarking on a remarkable military and diplomatic career. He served in the Spanish army during campaigns in Morocco, engaged with Catherine the Great of Russia, participated in the French Revolution, and witnessed the aftermath of the American Revolution before settling in London in 1798. His primary mission: securing British support for liberating Venezuela from Spanish colonial rule.

    It was in London that Miranda encountered Sarah Andrews, who had traveled from her modest upbringing in Market Weighton—where her family worked as shoemakers and coopers—possibly after being sent to serve in her uncle’s household following her mother’s early death. By 1800, Andrews was managing Miranda’s household and had borne him two sons: Leander (1803) and Francisco (1806).

    When Miranda returned to Latin America to lead independence efforts, Andrews maintained their Fitzrovia residence as a crucial hub for revolutionary planning. The house featured Miranda’s extensive 6,000-volume library—extraordinary for the era—and hosted key figures including Simón Bolívar, who would eventually liberate multiple South American nations.

    Surviving correspondence reveals Andrews as the household’s steadfast administrator, updating Miranda on their children’s development and the political activities within their home. Despite her limited formal education, her letters demonstrate keen observation and dedication to both family and cause.

    Miranda’s revolutionary efforts culminated in Venezuela becoming the first South American nation to declare independence from Spain in 1811, with Miranda briefly leading the new republic. However, Spanish forces ultimately captured and imprisoned him until his death in 1816.

    Andrews outlived her revolutionary partner by three decades, passing away in 1847. Her legacy is commemorated through plaques at London’s Kensal Green cemetery—where Venezuela officially recognizes her contributions—and at All Saints Church in her hometown of Market Weighton, installed by the Venezuelan ambassador to the UK.

    This historical narrative gains contemporary relevance following recent reports of damage at Venezuela’s Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base during operations targeting current President Nicolás Maduro, highlighting how Miranda’s legacy continues to resonate in modern Venezuelan politics.

  • Mercosur, EU sign free trade agreement in Asuncion

    Mercosur, EU sign free trade agreement in Asuncion

    In a landmark ceremony held in Asunción on January 17, 2026, the European Union and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) formally signed one of the world’s most comprehensive free trade agreements, culminating negotiations that spanned more than two decades. The signing event brought together top leadership from both blocs, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, and representatives from Mercosur’s core member states.

    The agreement establishes a transformative economic framework between the two regions, which together represent a market of over 700 million people. The pact will progressively eliminate tariffs on numerous goods, with the European Commission projecting annual duty savings exceeding €4 billion on EU exports alone. Key EU exports to Mercosur include machinery, chemical products, and transport equipment, while South American exports predominantly feature agricultural commodities, minerals, and forestry products.

    The negotiation journey, which began in the late 1990s, encountered multiple obstacles including political shifts in South American governments, environmental protection concerns, and resistance from European agricultural sectors. The final agreement includes provisions addressing sustainable development and environmental standards, reflecting contemporary trade priorities.

    The pact now advances to the ratification phase, requiring approval from the European Parliament and the national legislatures of Mercosur’s member countries: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.