Displaying items by tag: deaths

At least twenty people have been killed in a series of shootings in Dagestan on 24 June. The attacks targeted a synagogue, an Orthodox church, and a traffic police post. Among the victims were fifteen law enforcement officers and civilians, including an Orthodox priest. The synagogue and church were set on fire before the attackers fled. The authorities say that five gunmen were later shot dead, and two sons of a local district head were arrested. The regional governor called it a ‘day of tragedy’ and declared three days of mourning in the predominantly Muslim region. Russia's national anti-terrorism committee attributed the attacks to ‘terrorists’, though no group claimed responsibility. This incident follows a major attack on a concert hall in Moscow three months ago, which killed 145 people​.

Following violent protests in which 22 people were killed, president William Ruto has announced he will not sign a finance bill proposing new taxes. The bill, which aimed to raise funds to pay off debt, has faced widespread opposition from Kenyans struggling economically. On 25 June thousands of protesters stormed parliament, an action which Ruto called ‘treasonous’. In the chaos which ensued, the police and military were accused of brutality, with human rights groups reporting abductions and hundreds of injuries. Acknowledging the ‘widespread dissatisfaction’, Ruto admitted the need for a national conversation on managing the country's affairs together. The high court has suspended the military deployment and ordered the release of all protestors. Many young voters who supported Ruto in 2022 now oppose his reforms, feeling betrayed by the economic hardships. He has been criticised for not adopting a more conciliatory approach, and widespread protests continue: see

A fire in a residential building in Mangaf has claimed at least fifty lives, mostly foreign workers, including many Indian nationals. The blaze, which broke out early on 12 June, engulfed the building in thick smoke; many of the casualties. The deputy prime minister blamed property owners' greed and building standard violations for the tragedy. The building housed 196 workers: a senior police officer said that warnings were often issued about overcrowding in this type of accommodation.. Dozens were rescued, but many deaths resulted from smoke inhalation. There were thirty Indian nationals among the deceased; other victims were from Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Nepal. However, some bodies were burned beyond recognition and have not yet been identified. Indian officials visited the injured, and Narendra Modi sent a message of condolence to the victims’ families. Kuwait's reliance on foreign workers, particularly in construction and domestic sectors, has often raised human rights concerns about their living conditions.

Claudia Sheinbaum, former mayor of Mexico City, has been elected as Mexico's first female president, with 58% of the vote. This strengthens the Morena party's control, following outgoing president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO). Despite concerns about Sheinbaum’s close ties to AMLO, both have insisted he will not influence her administration. She has committed to addressing Mexico's issues, particularly violence and security; the country is plagued by over 30,000 murders a year. During her tenure as mayor, the homicide rate in the capital dropped by 50%, credited to improved security measures. She plans to continue AMLO's strategy of non-confrontation with crime groups, relying on the national guard for security. Analysts expect Sheinbaum's presidency to be more disciplined and globally aware than AMLO's. However, the challenges she faces were highlighted when a female mayor was shot dead on 4 June.

Following the devastating landslides in Papua New Guinea on 24 May, rescuers have been reaching the hard-to-access northern Enga region, but the chances of finding survivors are now slim. Residents are using shovels and bare hands to search through the unstable landslide area, which continues to pose danger as more rocks and debris fall. A state of emergency has been declared for the affected area. Authorities fear a second landslide and potential disease outbreak due to trapped water and decomposing bodies. Continued debris movement could further devastate nearby communities. Military checkpoints and evacuation efforts are under way, but aid has been slow due to remote terrain and tribal unrest. Over two thousand people are said to have been buried in the landslide, though estimates vary; accurate death tolls are difficult due to outdated census data and incomplete records. Thousands of local people have been ordered to evacuate.

On 29 April a gunman attacked a mosque in western Afghanistan, killing six people. The mosque, reportedly belonging to Afghanistan's minority Shia community, was targeted during prayer. Among the victims was a prayer leader. IS has claimed responsibility for the attack, consistent with their history of targeting Shia communities. Despite the Taliban government's pledge to protect religious and ethnic minorities since assuming power in August 2021, little has been done. The deadliest recent attack linked to IS occurred in 2022 in Kabul, resulting in 53 deaths, primarily girls and young women. A UN report in January noted a decrease in IS attacks due to Taliban counter-terrorism efforts, but said that the group still had ‘the ability to project a threat into the region and beyond’ - as shown by the deadly attack in a Moscow nightclub in March, for which IS has claimed responsibility.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has reported that Asia bore the brunt of climate change and weather-related disasters in 2023. Floods and storms caused significant casualties and economic damage, while heatwaves intensified. Asia's temperature rose almost 2 degrees Celsius above the 1961-90 average; many countries experienced record heat in 2023. 79 water-related disasters, primarily floods and storms, resulted in over 2,000 deaths and nine million people affected. Floods were the leading cause of death. Hong Kong witnessed record rainfall due to a typhoon, and glaciers in high Asian mountains suffered significant mass loss. The Himalayas and Hindu Kush experienced below-normal precipitation, while southwest China faced drought. Japan had its hottest summer on record. Recent severe floods in China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan have underscored the urgency for improved weather services. The WMO stressed the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

Sydney is reeling after two knife attacks within three days. At Bondi Junction, Joel Cauchi, who had a history of mental illness, killed six people and injured others. At a church in Wakeley, a teenager injured a bishop and several others, but there were no fatalities. Despite both incidents causing fear, they have been treated differently by authorities. The Wakeley stabbing was declared a terror incident, while the Bondi Junction attack was not. This has caused puzzlement: the local Islamic Council ‘found it bewildering’, and said, ‘The signal this sends to the Australian community is that terrorism is solely reserved for Muslims.’ The investigation into the Bondi Junction attack continues, focusing on the perpetrator's motives and actions. One of the men who confronted Cauchi has been promised a renewal of his temporary visa: see

A letter signed by over 600 legal experts, including three ex-Supreme Court justices, says that the UK is potentially violating international law by supplying arms to Israel, The pressure on Rishi Sunak to halt arms exports is growing, The government has been facing growing calls to suspend arms exports to Israel after the killing of three British aid workers and four others in an Israeli airstrike. The letter calls for immediate action towards a ceasefire and sanctions against those inciting violence against Palestinians. It also advocates restoring funding to UNRWA, which had been cut amid allegations of staff involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel. The letter’s signatories emphasised the UK's legal responsibilities under international law, including the Genocide Convention. Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, has demanded that the Government disclose legal advice about Israel’s adherence to international law. See also

Taiwan is grappling with the aftermath of its strongest earthquake in 25 years, leaving over 35 people missing and more than 660 trapped. The quake, measuring at least 7.2, struck near Hualien on 3 April, causing buildings to teeter and collapse. Rescuers have evacuated 77 people from tunnels, and the search for the missing continues. Many are seeking shelter in tents because of the ‘terrifying’ aftershocks. At least ten people have died, and over a thousand injuries have been reported. After some factory evacuations by major chipmaker TSMC, there have been fears of disruptions to the supply chain, but work is expected to resume after inspections have taken place. The earthquake's impact underscores Taiwan's vulnerability to natural disasters and the resilience of its people in the face of adversity.