Hunan: Fireworks factory explosion leaves 21 dead and over 60 injured

Today’s headlines: New flashpoints in the conflict between the US and Iran in the Gulf, with missiles and drones targeting the UAE; Singapore’s Education Minister says caning as a disciplinary measure should be used when other options are “ineffective”; Record electricity production in India, with further peaks expected in summer linked to El Niño; Turkey and Armenia have reached an agreement on the restoration of the historic Ani Bridge.

CHINA

An explosion at a fireworks factory in Hunan province has killed 21 people and injured 61 others. The incident occurred yesterday at 4.40 pm local time at the Huasheng plant in the city of Liuyang, with rescue workers – at least 500 of whom were involved in search operations – evacuating the area within a 3 km radius of the plant. Robots were also used to locate those trapped inside the building. The police have launched an investigation into the causes of the explosion and taken “control measures” against those responsible. In a statement, President Xi Jinping called for “an investigation into the causes and stricter safety measures”.

UAE - IRAN

New flashes of war in the waters of the Persian Gulf and along the Strait of Hormuz, the scene of exchanges of fire between Iran and the United States. US President Donald Trump has claimed responsibility for the attack that struck seven Iranian “speedboats” as part of operations to break the blockade. According to Tehran, these were vessels used by sailors to transport goods from Oman. Yesterday, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea reported attacks on vessels. Abu Dhabi accuses the Islamic Republic of targeting the oil port of Fujairah with its missiles, causing a fire. The shipping company Maersk states that one of its US-flagged vessels successfully exited the strait under US military protection, as part of the “Project Freedom” plan announced by the White House. Meanwhile, from today until 8 May, the Emirates are switching to distance learning in response to the Iranian attacks: the decision applies to pupils, teaching and administrative staff in nurseries and all public and private schools nationwide.

SINGAPORE

Caning in schools as a disciplinary measure in response to serious misconduct should only be used when all other available options prove inadequate or ineffective. This was stated by Singapore’s Minister for Education, Desmond Lee, in response to over 20 questions from MPs regarding the ministry’s initiatives to combat bullying. He then cited studies suggesting that corporal punishment administered poorly and frequently – particularly in unregulated settings such as the home – would have “negative outcomes”.

INDIA

Electricity generation in April rose to 167.61 billion kilowatt-hours, the highest since May 2024, and is set to rise further due to the intense heat, which will lead to peaks in demand. Added to this are forecasts of a strong El Niño pattern, which will bring heat and drought across Asia. Peak energy demand – a measure of the maximum electricity requirement over a given period – reached a record 256.1 GW on 25 April, according to data from Grid-India. Higher peaks of up to 270 GW are expected during the hottest months of May and June. On an annual basis, electricity generation rose by 5.3% in April.

TURKEY - ARMENIA

Following a meeting in Yerevan, and as part of the joint normalisation efforts on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit, Turkey and Armenia have reached an agreement aimed at restoring the historic Ani Bridge. The delegations were led by Turkish Vice-President Cevdet Yılmaz and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. During the meeting, the special representatives for the Turkey-Armenia normalisation process, Serdar Kılıç and Ruben Rubinyan, signed a memorandum of understanding for the restoration of the structure on the border between the two countries.

INDONESIA - JAPAN

Jakarta and Tokyo signed a cooperation agreement on defence yesterday, which includes strengthening industrial partnerships, human development and disaster mitigation measures. The pact was signed by Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi. The collaboration also focuses on maritime security, joint military exercises, and military hardware and defence technology.

RUSSIA

Russian blogger Ženja Dobro reports that Google Maps has begun to show in detail the deforested areas in Siberia, including tens of thousands of hectares along the Angara River in the Irkutsk region and in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. As Grigory Kuksin, head of the Centre for Landscape Fire Prevention, explains to the Vetru agency, most of the timber harvested is processed and shipped to China.

KAZAKHSTAN - SAUDI ARABIA

The Kazakh consulate in Jeddah has reached an agreement with the operators of the Al-Salam Company museum to grant pilgrims discounts and exemptions for visiting sites of religious interest in Saudi Arabia. These include the museum dedicated to the life of the Prophet and Islamic civilisation within the Abraj al-Beit complex in Mecca and Medina. Kazakhstan is believed to be the first country to conclude such agreements, whilst preparations are underway to open a museum dedicated to the Prophet in Astana, the first of its kind in Central Asia.