Listen to this articleAn Indian official drinks water as his shirt is soaked with sweat. Indore's chief medical officer, Madhav ‌Prasad Hasani, told Reuters by phone that drinking water in the Bhagirathpur area of the city was contaminated due ⁠to a leak, and a water test had confirmed the presence of bacteria in the pipeline. The ‌final ‍report of the water sample collected from the affected area is awaited," Hasani said. Shravan Verma, ‌the ​district administrative officer, said authorities had deployed teams of doctors for door-to-door screening and were distributing chlorine tablets to help purify water. "We have found one leakage point that could have contaminated the water and that ⁠point has been fixed," Verma said, ​adding that officials had screened 8,571 people and identified 338 with mild symptoms.

Swiss investigators rush to identify victims of New Year's fireListen to this articleInvestigators are racing to identify the victims of a fire at a New Year's celebration in the Swiss Alps town of Crans-Montana. (Photo: AFP)CRANS-MONTANA — Investigators raced on Friday to identify the victims of a fire that ripped through a bar in the Swiss Alps town of Crans-Montana, turning a New Year's celebration into one of the country's worst tragedies. Swiss police warned it could take days or even weeks to identify everyone who perished, leaving an agonising wait for family and friends. "Given the international nature of the Crans resort, we can expect foreign nationals to be among the victims," he told reporters. The canton's chief prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, said significant resources have been deployed "to identify the victims and return their bodies to the families as quickly as possible".

Venezuela's Maduro elusive on US attack, open to dialogueListen to this articleVenezuela's President Nicolas Maduro says the door is open to dialogue with Washington. Asked point-blank if he confirmed or denied the attack, Maduro said on Thursday "this could be something we talk about in a few days." The attack would amount to the first known land strike of the US military campaign against drug trafficking from Latin America. Primazol chief Carlos Eduardo Siu denied those rumours, saying "President Petro, not here -- we neither package nor manufacture any kind of narcotics." The administration has provided no evidence that the targeted boats were involved in drug trafficking, however, prompting debate about the legality of these operations.

Best of frenemies: Saudi, UAE rivalry bursts into viewListen to this articleA photograph shows military vehicles, allegedly sent by the UAE to support separatist forces, that were damaged in an air strike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. (Photo: AFP)DOHA — For years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia projected geopolitical and economic power across the Gulf and beyond, seemingly in tandem. Saudi Arabia is also keen to hold on to what it considers its own regional preeminence. Abu Dhabi has been widely accused of arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting Sudan's regular army since April 2023. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has sought to bolster Mogadishu.

"We're trying to capture that through my style, which would be best described as modern caveman. When you're driving by and you see a wild boar, you won't notice its beauty. "I chopped the actual snout off to make a mould and then used the entire wild boar. "The pig's snout is served with black truffle and an aerated crumpet with slightly melted butter from wild boar liver. "It's a dessert that we make out of wild duck liver and is one of my more famous dishes.

In 2015, the renaissance of Czapek & Cie as a start-up, backed by an equity crowdfunding campaign, sparked interest in its contemporary haute horlogerie. Czapek & Cie actually leaped into its second decade with this stunning timepiece, powered by the first movement of the new Calibre 10 series. In 1832, the gifted horologist arrived in Geneva, where he later set up a company with two partners before establishing Czapek & Cie in 1845. Besides its comeback in Geneva, Czapek & Cie established an atelier in La Chaux-de-Fonds for its 21st century haute horlogerie. Czapek & Cie has released the stainless steel and yellow gold Time Jumper as limited editions of 100 and 30 pieces.

Masa is a facility dog, a specially trained animal that supports children hospitalised for extended periods or awaiting organ transplants. They interact with patients according to individualised treatment plans, offering moments of normalcy to children who rarely leave the ward. Although facility dogs were introduced to Japan about 15 years ago, their use remains limited, largely because of cost. The organisation plans to introduce a facility dog to Kobe Children's Hospital in Hyogo prefecture in fiscal 2027. Kids aims to introduce facility dogs to all 15 pediatric cancer hospitals in Japan.

People’s Party leader vows single-party governmentListen to this articlePeople’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, third left, with vendors at Mae Kim Heng market in Muang district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Friday. People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut chats with a market vendor while campaigning at Mae Kim Heg market in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Friday. If the People’s Party wins big, we will form a government. He reaffirmed the party’s stance against supporting Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul for prime minister and ruled out any coalition with Kla Tham Party. If you trust our principles, vote People’s Party in a landslide,” Teng urged.

NACC member rejects bribery allegationListen to this articleNational Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) member Ekkawit Watchawalku insists he is not involved in the bribery case involving former deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, says a source familiar with the matter. The source said Mr Ekkawit told an urgent NACC meeting on Dec 30 that he had not committed the acts alleged in media reports. Mr Ekkawit was appointed NACC commissioner in October 2023 after receiving Senate approval. Following the allegations, police searched 11 locations in Bangkok and Surat Thani linked to Pol Gen Surachate and associates. He acknowledged he had previously received support from Pol Gen Surachate, but said he felt compelled to come forward to put an end to actions that cause harm to others.

Jakarta ranks world's largest city, Bangkok 14thFile photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on July 29, 2025, shows skyscrapers in Tokyo. (Photo: Kyodo News)Jakarta ranked as the world's largest city with 41.9 million inhabitants followed by Dhaka, while Tokyo slipped to third, a recent United Nations (UN) report shows. Bangkok saw its population grow by nearly 2% per year during 2015–2025, compared to the much slower growth of the total population of the country of 0.2% annually. Two-thirds of the world's population growth from 2025 to 2050 is projected to occur in cities, with most of the remainder in towns. Tokyo and Seoul are the only cities among the 10 largest in 2025 that are expected to experience a population drop by mid-century, due to low fertility rates and overall population decline, the report said.

Firework explosion injures 7Listen to this articlePolice are investigating two firework-related incidents during New Year celebrations that left several people injured and led to a crackdown on illegal production sites. Pol Col Pisit said a large firework, about 50 centimetres tall, was found toppled on the ground. Three unused fireworks recovered from the site have been sent for forensic examination to determine whether they met safety standards and to establish the cause of the explosion, he said. In a separate incident in Suphan Buri, authorities raided an illegal firework workshop in Muang district on Wednesday following complaints from residents concerned about the risk of explosions. He urged residents to report suspicious activity and said authorities would continue strict inspections to prevent further accidents.

Bail rejected for ex-MP candidate in laundering caseListen to this articleThe Criminal Court rejected bail for Boonyarit Raorungrot, a former MP candidate of the People's Party (PP), citing money laundering allegations tied to drug networks and a risk he might flee. The three are accused of jointly committing money laundering by transferring or receiving assets connected to offences to conceal or disguise their source, or to assist others to evade punishment or receive reduced penalties. The investigation outlined the structure and alleged criminal conduct of four companies, with the suspects listed as executives and shareholders. These companies were allegedly used as a front to launder money for drug trafficking networks, under the guise of conducting lawful commercial activities. Further inquiries also found financial links to fraud and online gambling cases, as well as suspicious transaction reports from the Anti-Money Laundering Office indicating connections between the companies, Ms Sukharee and Mr Kuta and drug-related accounts.

Tears and stunned silence at vigil for Swiss fire victimsListen to this articleMourners gather in front of flowers and candles laid near the site where a fire ripped through a crowded bar in the Alpine ski resort town of Crans-Montana. "I wasn't there myself, but I had many friends and relatives who were," said one young mourner, who gave his surname as Orosstevic. A steady stream of people brought candles and flowers; sometimes a single rose, sometimes a large bunch. "It could have been my son, quite simply," said one mourner, Mina, welling up with tears. Veronica, an elderly Italian mourner, who has lived in Crans-Montana for 40 years, wiped a stream of tears from her cheeks.

Meanwhile, the design of the royal crematorium is expected to be completed in January, with construction to wrap up in October, according to the government. After this, it will be resubmitted for royal approval once more, before proceeding to the budgeting stage with the Bureau of the Budget. Historically, gold prices tend to strengthen during periods of heightened global crisis and economic instability, as investors seek safe-haven assets. Political observers say the election will likely be a fierce contest among three major parties: the People's Party (PP), Bhumjaithai (BJT), and Pheu Thai. The Pheu Thai Party also began preparations, holding a seminar in April 2025 to gather policy ideas.

The Pheu Thai Party drew polling No. He said Pheu Thai still had time to communicate its ideas clearly, as candidates were actively campaigning nationwide. Commenting on party policies, he said that if Pheu Thai forms the next government, safeguarding national sovereignty will be a top priority, alongside strong support for the armed forces. Pheu Thai dominated Nakhon Ratchasima in the 2023 general election, winning 12 seats. The survey, held from Dec 18–22, among 1,067 voters showed Pheu Thai ranking second after undecided voters with 20% support, followed by the People's Party at 17% and Bhumjaithai at 14%.