Paradeep Singh’s wife Kamal had reached New Zealand from India six months ago to start a new life with him.

What started as yard work for an Indian-origin couple in New Zealand ended in tragedy when a falling tree branch killed Paradeep Singh, leaving his newly arrived wife with no family, income or support system in the country.Singh was known as Deep to his friends and family. He died this week while carrying out maintenance work on his home in Cambridge, Waikato. He was working outside with others on a holiday when the fatal accident occurred.According to eyewitnesses, Singh was helping in cutting tree branches when he suffered serious head injuries. Friends believe that he may have been injured by a bouncing branch or by equipment being used during work.A spokesperson for the couple’s friends and family told 1News, “A branch hit him on the left side of his head, and may have caused some internal damage.”Hearing his scream, people nearby ran for help.“Paradeep screamed and everyone immediately ran towards him and called the emergency services,” the spokesperson said.Police said officers were called to the property at around 3.15pm to assist ambulance crews. St. John’s later confirmed that it had dispatched a rapid response unit and an operations manager to the scene, but Singh was pronounced dead there. The case has now been referred to the coroner.Singh moved to New Zealand in 2023 and worked as operations manager for a horticulture business. Friends said he was the sole earning member of the family and used to financially support his elderly parents in India, including his paralyzed mother.His wife Kamal recently joined him in New Zealand after they got married about six months ago. Relatives say he has no immediate family in the country and has not yet settled down to a life there.A family spokesperson said, “She came here for him.”He added: “He has no source of income, no money, from my understanding he hasn’t even opened a bank account yet.”Another friend said: “She has no money, no support system, and she’s completely alone at the moment.”The couple had planned to apply for residency in New Zealand and later come back to India for the wedding ceremony with relatives and friends.Friends and local community members have now launched a campaign to bring Singh’s body back to India for cremation and raise funds to support Kamal after the tragedy.Organizers said, “His family is facing unimaginable grief and is in need of immediate assistance.”

Uganda confirmed three new Ebola cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in the current outbreak in the country to five, as authorities stepped up contact tracing efforts to stop the spread of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.According to Uganda’s health ministry, the new cases include a driver who transported the country’s first confirmed Ebola patient and a health worker who contracted it while caring for that patient. Reuters reported that both were identified as known contacts and are currently undergoing treatment.The third confirmed case is a woman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who entered Uganda with mild abdominal symptoms. Authorities said he traveled from Arua near the border to Entebbe before seeking treatment at a private hospital in Kampala.The ministry said the woman initially showed signs of recovery and returned to Congo, but later tested positive for Ebola after follow-up testing based on information from a pilot involved in transporting her.“All identified contacts linked to the confirmed cases are being closely monitored,” the ministry said, urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious symptoms.The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and warned that the risk of a national epidemic in Congo remains “very high”.About 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths have been reported in Uganda’s neighbor Congo, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak.WHO has said that delayed detection, the absence of a vaccine or virus-specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, widespread armed violence and high mobility among the population have made Congo particularly vulnerable.It comes after WHO Africa Director Mohamed Yacoub Janabi warned on Friday against underestimating the outbreak, saying doing so would be a big mistake. “It would be a big mistake to underestimate this, especially with this strain of Bundibugyo virus, for which we do not have a vaccine,” he said.“So I would really encourage everyone, let’s help each other, we can get this thing under control,” he said.Janabi also said the Ebola outbreak in Congo has received relatively limited international attention compared to this month’s hantavirus outbreak involving cruise ship passengers from 23 countries.He further warned that a single Ebola contact case could trigger widespread transmission beyond Congo and Uganda, saying, “You just need one contact case to put us all at risk.”

One person has died and at least 36 others, including firefighters and first responders, have been injured in a fire that followed two explosions at a New York City shipyard on Friday, officials said. Officials described the incident as a “complex, rapidly evolving emergency” as crews battled the flames late into the night.The fire broke out around 3.30 pm (local time) in the 150-foot by 150-foot metal structure located at the rear of the shipyard. Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said emergency services arrived at the scene within six minutes after multiple callers reported smoke and two workers trapped in the basement.Shortly after firefighters arrived, the first explosion tore through the structure, injuring several fire department personnel and civilians. A civilian was declared dead at the scene.According to department chief John Esposito, the second explosion occurred as five firefighters and rescue paramedics were searching for trapped workers in and around the structure. The explosion caused further injuries, most seriously to a firefighter and a fire marshal who were inside the building at the time of the shock wave.Dr. David Prezant, the fire department’s chief medical officer, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the fire marshal was in serious but stable condition with a fractured skull and minor bleeding on the brain. He said doctors are monitoring him closely for possible swelling in the brain over the next 24 hours.Prezent said the injured firefighter was initially listed in critical condition, but as of Friday evening he was “doing very well” and was under observation for possible muscle injuries. “This was a complex, rapidly evolving emergency,” New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters during an evening briefing.More than 200 firefighters continued to work at the scene Friday night as the fire was under control but not completely extinguished. Officials said a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire and explosion would begin once the area was secured.Eyewitness Richard Oviogor told local broadcaster WABC-TV that he heard two explosions, followed by what felt like a “huge shock wave”.There are several commercial businesses in the shipyard area, including a coffee roasting facility and a self-storage company. The site was previously owned by Bethlehem Steel, which built ships for the US Navy during World War II.

Economic rankings rarely remain stable for long. A country may spend decades advancing rapidly through manufacturing, technology, and trade, only to slow down as population growth weakens or industries relocate elsewhere. By the end of this decade, the global balance is expected to look quite different from what it was in the early 2000s.According to a report discussed by World Economic ForumMany emerging economies are projected to move up the global GDP rankings by 2030, while some long-established industrial powers may slip a few places despite remaining economically influential. Much of that change is related to population size, urban expansion, productivity growth, and rising household consumption. Asia continues to dominate the conversation, although North America and parts of Europe are still expected to retain heavy financial and political weight.

Projected ranking of the world’s most powerful economies by 2030

World’s most powerful economies as per 2030 projections

1. ChinaChina is projected to remain the world’s largest economy by purchasing power parity measures by 2030, continuing a trend that has accelerated over the past decade. Manufacturing scale still plays a large role, although the country’s economy is increasingly tied to technology, infrastructure investment and consumer spending.According to the World Economic Forum report, China’s economic size is expected to remain ahead of most competitors, even though growth rates are gradually slowing compared to earlier periods of rapid expansion. Concerns remain about debt, rising demographics and trade tensions, but the country’s industrial reach remains difficult to match.2. United States of AmericaThe United States is expected to remain among the world’s leading economic powers by 2030, despite stiff competition from Asia. Financial markets, research institutions, multinational companies, and the continued influence of the US dollar all help maintain that status quo.According to the World Economic Forum’s projections coverage, the United States is expected to remain at the top level globally, even if its relative edge diminishes. The country continues to attract investments in artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, defense technology and advanced computing, sectors that often shape broader economic impact beyond GDP rankings alone.3. IndiaIt is estimated that India will be among the top three economies globally by 2030. This change represents more than simple population growth. Expanding digital infrastructure, rising urban demand and growing middle-income population are all contributing factors behind this projection.The World Economic Forum report suggests that India could overtake many advanced economies in the coming years as consumption grows internally rather than relying solely on exports. Services, telecommunications, finance, and manufacturing have all expanded unevenly but consistently enough to reshape long-term expectations about the country’s position in the global economy.4. JapanJapan is also projected to remain among the leading global economies despite ongoing demographic pressure and slow population growth.The country still maintains a strong position in robotics, automotive production, electronics and advanced manufacturing. Although its economy may not expand as rapidly as younger emerging markets, Japan’s industrial base remains highly influential internationally.5. GermanyGermany is expected to remain one of the world’s largest economies until 2030, although growth may continue at a slower pace than faster-growing Asian markets.Growing demographics and industrial change remain long-term concerns. Nevertheless, Germany has considerable strengths in manufacturing, engineering, exports, and industrial technology, placing it at the center of Europe’s economic structure.6. RussiaRussia is projected to remain among the world’s leading economies by 2030 in the rankings referenced by the World Economic Forum.Energy exports continue to shape Russia’s international economic position. At the same time, sanctions, geopolitical tensions and volatile commodity markets have increased uncertainty over future growth.7. IndonesiaIndonesia is one of the countries that is expected to grow rapidly by 2030. Large population size, growing cities and strong domestic demand have put the country alongside large emerging markets in long-term forecasts.Its economy has historically been heavily dependent on commodities and exports, although in recent years there has been a greater focus on manufacturing and infrastructure. The report places Indonesia among the economies expected to become more important globally by the end of the decade.8. BrazilAccording to projections highlighted in the report, Brazil remains one of the largest economies in Latin America and is expected to be in the global top 10 by 2030.Its agricultural exports, energy resources and large consumer market continue to support its long-term economic importance despite political and financial instability.9. United KingdomThe United Kingdom is expected to maintain its position among the world’s leading economies by 2030, largely supported by financial services, technology, pharmaceuticals and international investment links.London’s continued role as a financial center remains important to the country’s global economic influence, even though growth rates remain relatively moderate compared to some emerging economies.10. FranceFrance is also projected to remain among the top 10 economies globally by 2030.Industries such as aerospace, luxury goods, tourism, agriculture and energy continue to support the French economy. Although growth is expected to remain stable rather than rapid, France still wields significant economic influence throughout Europe and internationally.

The crowd in the theater as King Charles makes his surprise entry in a Shakespeare performance / Image Credit: @TheRoyalFamily

The audience expected a night of Shakespeare. What they didn’t expect was that the King of the United Kingdom would quietly walk into the theater just moments before the curtain rose.King Charles III surprised theater audiences by making an unannounced appearance at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s sold-out performance of The Tempest at the famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre, instantly turning a routine theater night into a royal moment, leaving the audience cheering and clamoring for photographs. The king arrived quietly before taking a seat among the general audience rather than in a large royal box or separate VIP section. Eyewitnesses said that as soon as people realized who had entered the auditorium, applause began. Many spectators present in the stalls and dress circle immediately took out their phones to capture this rare moment. charles He was seated between the Royal Shakespeare Company’s co-artistic directors, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, while acclaimed director Sir Richard Eyre was also nearby.

kenneth branaghDisplay of

The sold-out production stars Kenneth Branagh as Prospero, marking the actor’s first performance in the iconic Shakespearean role.The play, one of William Shakespeare’s last and most famous works, has become one of Britain’s biggest theater attractions this season, with audiences flocking to Stratford-upon-Avon for tickets. Branagh is already considered one of the most influential Shakespearean actors and directors of the modern era, having spent decades performing and adapting Shakespeare’s works for both stage and screen. Reports state that The Tempest is his 35th Shakespeare production in his entire career. The production is scheduled to run until June 20, with several performances already heavily booked.

King’s relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company

The visit also highlighted the King’s long-standing relationship with British arts and theater institutions.King Charles III became Patron of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2024, taking over the role previously held by Queen Elizabeth II, who had served as patron since the company’s creation in 1961. The Royal Shakespeare Theater itself is one of Britain’s most important cultural landmarks and is located in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.Royal appearances at theater performances are not unusual, but such surprise visits are rare, especially at public performances where the audience becomes aware of the royal guest’s arrival only after the event.The appearance also comes during a particularly active public period for Charles, who recently made headlines after unexpectedly engaging in a ukulele performance during a royal visit to Northern Ireland.

Audience reactions after King’s surprise

Within minutes of King’s arrival, photos and video from inside the theater began circulating online, with many viewers describing the experience as “surreal” and “unforgettable”.For many attendees, the evening suddenly became something much bigger than a Shakespeare performance. Some described this moment as a once-in-a-lifetime theater experience, especially because the visit had been kept a complete secret in advance.This surprise appearance added another wave of publicity to the Royal Shakespeare Company’s latest production, at a time when British theater is seeing renewed public interest in large-scale Shakespeare performances.For Stratford-upon-Avon, already one of the UK’s largest cultural tourism centres, the royal presence quickly became headline news on UK media and social platforms.

In some parts of northern Manila, the sound of traffic never stops completely. Below the elevated expressway, where thousands of vehicles pass every day, narrow settlements remain in the shadow of concrete pillars and drainage channels. Families cook there, children sleep there, clothes hang near broken support beams, and daily life goes on within meters of constant movement.Some residents have spent years living beneath the motorway infrastructure in Manila as formal housing remains economically out of reach. What appears to be temporary from the outside has gradually become something more settled. The entire routine exists beneath the streets.

Inside a hidden motorway settlement in Manila, philippines

This settlement is located in those places where most of the people usually pass without paying attention. Concrete pillars divide small areas into makeshift homes made of plywood, corrugated metal sheets, tarpaulin and salvaged wood. Some structures are so low that adults have to bend slightly when entering. Others lean directly against maintaining walls blackened by exhaust fumes and rainwater stains.according to a Youtube video According to Drew Binski, the people living there have adapted to conditions that are generally considered unlivable. Mattresses are spread on wooden planks to protect the ground from moisture during floods. Electrical wires run through instantaneous connections between houses. Plastic containers collect water where public access is inconsistent. Motorways shape daily life. Conversations stop when heavy trucks pass overhead. Dust keeps accumulating continuously. During hot afternoons, the concrete traps beneath the street become hot and the air cools. Yet this settlement is functioning like a tightly packed neighbourhood. People know each other’s daily routine, share meals from time to time and keep an eye on nearby children.

Daily life under Manila highways revolves around food, work and survival

Food is arranged according to what the residents can afford that day. Many adults rely on irregular work, including street vending, collecting recyclable materials, construction work or small repair jobs, the Sun reports. Some people leave before sunrise and return late at night, with only enough money for basic food. Cooking generally takes place outside shelters because indoor space is limited and ventilation is poor. Small charcoal stoves and portable gas burners are placed along paths where people move carefully to avoid spilling water or walking into drainage ditches. Rice remains central because it is more widespread than most alternatives. Dried fish, instant noodles and cheap vegetables are often seen.It becomes difficult to wash clothes during rainy days. Water quickly accumulates beneath certain stretches of road, making roads dirty and carrying garbage into residential areas. YouTube footage showed residents drying clothes on ropes tied between poles or hanging from open metal railings above. Children still prepare for school in these environments. The uniforms are carefully washed and reused. Some families place mirrors on broken walls or wooden boards next to sleeping areas, creating small routines of normality in cramped conditions.

Challenges faced by families beneath the Manila Motorway

There is also continued uncertainty regarding eviction. Many residents do not legally own the land beneath the motorway. Some people have lived there for years without formal recognition, while others have arrived there after losing their previous residence elsewhere in the city. People frequently repair and rebuild structures because materials deteriorate rapidly when exposed to rain, heat, and pollution. Safety concerns extend beyond weather and sanitation. Traffic noise never completely disappears, and the streets above are active day and night. Children play in places surrounded by debris, exposed wires and uneven concrete. Yet families continue to organize their lives around these risks because options are limited.

Why are families living under the Manila Motorway despite hardships?

For many residents, location matters almost as much as shelter. Settlements below the motorway are close to markets, transport routes and areas where informal work can be found. Going further afield could mean losing out on daily income opportunities altogether. According to YouTube videos, some families came after being displaced from other informal communities sanctioned for development projects or infrastructure expansion. Others moved to Manila in search of work and found few affordable housing options within reach of the city center. The cost of renting even a small formal room in some parts of Metro Manila can exceed the steady earnings of many workers. Living under an expressway reduces monthly rent for some families, even if it comes with different hardships. From his perspective the compromise is harsh but practical. With time, people have also built social relationships there. Neighbors share electricity connections, look after children, lend cooking supplies and warn each other during floods or inspections. They make the relationship deal feel less temporary than it does to outsiders.

Small moments of happiness still survive beneath Manila’s motorways

The reports do not merely present solutions to the difficulty. There are still ordinary moments in daily life that resemble any crowded urban neighborhood. Children laugh while playing improvised games between the support pillars. Teenagers gather around mobile phones and watch videos. Small shops sell snacks and cigarettes on wooden counters along the roadside.As shown in YouTube footage, residents decorate small spaces with family photos, curtains, religious items and potted plants despite the harsh surroundings. Some people talk casually and comfortably about neighbors they have known for years. Others smile while cooking or talking about their children’s schooling. The happiness there does not look grand or dramatic. This comes through small pieces of routine, familiarity and stability within an unstable environment. Families continue to celebrate birthdays, share meals, and maintain daily habits despite the constant traffic movement. Motorways hide much of that life from passing drivers. From above, most people see only concrete streets and moving vehicles. Below, an entire community lives quietly out of sight.

AI-generated image used for representation

At least 82 people died in a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in northern China’s Changzhi city, AFP reported on Saturday.A major rescue operation was launched after hundreds of workers were trapped underground following an explosion in northern China, according to the South China Morning Post.The explosion occurred on Friday in Qianyuan county, about 520 kilometers southwest of Beijing, with the mine reportedly issuing a carbon monoxide warning soon after. 247 workers were underground at the time of the explosion. Authorities have not yet clarified whether additional miners are trapped.Chinese President Xi Jinping Instructed rescue workers to make “every possible effort” to locate the missing workers and ensure that the fallout is “properly handled”. He also called for strict accountability, saying that those responsible for the accident should be held accountable.Xi said, “All sectors and departments should learn from the lessons of the accident, be vigilant about workplace safety, thoroughly investigate, correct all kinds of risks and hidden dangers, and prevent and curb the occurrence of major and serious accidents.”Xi additionally warned about the dangers of seasonal weather, noting that China is entering its rainy season and urged authorities to strengthen flood prevention measures.The warning comes days after heavy rains lashed Shimen county in Hunan province, killing at least seven people and affecting more than 100,000 residents. Local officials said 14 people were missing.Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang echoed Xi’s comments, and ordered officials to leave no stone unturned in the search for the missing miners. He also demanded a prompt investigation into the cause of the blast and punishment of those responsible.Li instructed the Workplace Safety Office of the State Council to remind local administrations of their duty to investigate industrial accidents and “resolutely” prevent future disasters.The death toll from the blast rapidly increased from 8 to 82 overnight. “Journalists at the site of the gas explosion at the Liuchenyu coal mine have learned that more than 82 people have lost their lives in the accident,” state broadcaster CCTV said, adding that rescue operations were still ongoing.The explosion occurred at around 7:30 pm local time on Friday in a coal mine in Shanxi province in northern China.The exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation.Shanxi is China’s main coal-producing province and is larger than Greece. About 34 million people live there. Last year, miners in the province extracted about 1.3 billion tons of coal, about one-third of China’s total coal production.

Iran on Friday mocked US President Donald Trump by sharing a viral video of a Bangladeshi albino buffalo resembling him, claiming the animal has lost its appetite after being compared to the American leader amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.In a post on X, Iran’s official account in Russia wrote: “Poor guy! The Bangladeshi buffalo is upset by comparisons to Donald Trump.”The post also shared a report from Russian state media outlet RT, which said: “A Bangladeshi buffalo resembling Trump has lost his appetite after people flocked to see him.”The viral buffalo, named ‘Donald Trump’, has become a major attraction ahead of Eid al-Adha celebrations in Bangladesh’s Narayanganj district near Dhaka.The albino buffalo, weighing 700 kilograms, attracted attention online due to its blonde hair and facial features, which many social media users said resembled the US President.One visitor told local newspaper Prothom Alo, “When I saw his photos on Facebook, he looked exactly like Donald Trump. His facial structure and even hairstyle matched Trump.”Another visitor jokingly commented that the buffalo’s calm nature was a contrast to that of the US President.“Buffalo is very calm and polite by nature, which certainly doesn’t match Donald Trump,” he said.The animal’s owner Ziauddin Mridha said that after the video went viral online, crowds are coming to the farm every day to take pictures with the buffalo.He said, “My younger brother jokingly named it Donald Trump after seeing the hair on its head. It is very peaceful by nature. Albino buffaloes are generally peaceful and do not become aggressive unless provoked.”The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February, targeting Iranian military and strategic infrastructure. The conflict led to weeks of missile attacks, drone strikes and retaliation between the two sides before an uneasy ceasefire came into force in April.Since then, tensions have remained high, with both Iran and the US continuing to exchange sharp political and diplomatic attacks online and through public statements.According to Axios, Trump met with senior officials including Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe as the White House considered the possibility of launching new strikes on Iran if ongoing talks fail.The meeting coincided with an intensification of diplomatic efforts, with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir traveling to Tehran in an apparent attempt to bridge differences and avoid a resumption of war. A Qatari delegation also reached Iran as part of mediation efforts.Trump later cut short his weekend plans and announced he would return to Washington instead to attend the wedding of his son Donald Trump Jr., citing ‘government-related circumstances’ and the need to be in the White House during a critical period.According to Axios, Trump has become increasingly frustrated with the stalled talks and is now said to be leaning towards a possible ‘decisive’ military operation if there is no breakthrough in the coming days.