Drone crashes near Erbil amid wave of attacks on oil sites in Iraq
An explosive-laden drone crashed early Thursday near Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, with no casualties reported, according to the regional counter-terrorism directorate.
The crash comes amid a sharp rise in drone attacks across northern Iraq, mostly targeting oil fields operated by foreign companies. This week alone, facilities run by Norwegian firm DNO and US companies in areas including Faysh Khabur, Tawke, Baadre, and Duhok have been hit, according to Xinhua.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
1.4M of the nation’s poorest renters risk losing their homes with Trump’s proposed HUD time limit
Havalah Hopkins rarely says no to the chain restaurant catering gigs that send her out to Seattle-area events — from church potlucks to office lunches and graduation parties, Associated Press reported.
The delivery fees and tips she earns on top of $18 an hour mean it’s better than minimum-wage shift work, even though it’s not consistent. It helps her afford the government-subsidized apartment she and her 14-year-old autistic son have lived in for three years, though it’s still tough to make ends meet.
“It’s a cycle of feeling defeated and depleted, no matter how much energy and effort and tenacity you have towards surviving,” Hopkins said, according to Associated Press.
Still, the 33-year-old single mother is grateful she has stable housing — experts estimate just 1 in 4 low-income households eligible for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rental assistance get the benefits. And now Hopkins is at risk of losing her home, as federal officials move to restrict HUD policy.
55 killed as deadly fire rips through shopping centre in Iraq
A fire that tore through a shopping centre in the Iraqi city of Kut has left dozens dead and injured, state media has reported, BBC reported.
The blaze at the mall, which had reportedly opened five days ago, broke out on Wednesday night and has since been brought under control.
Medical officials quoted by news agency AFP said 55 people died in the fire, with rescuers still looking for missing people.
"A tragedy and a calamity has befallen us," regional governor Mohammed al-Miyahi said, adding that legal action would be brought against the shopping centre's owner, according to BBC.
BP Highway to remain closed for 12 hours at night for a month
The Kavrepalanchowk road section along the BP Highway is to remain closed for 12 hours at night for a month.
The District Administration Office, Kavrepalanchowk has confirmed the closure of traffic from Kavrebhanjyang to Nepalthok, the border with Sindhuli, for one month, bearing in mind the increased risk of landslides and floods during the active monsoon season.
The closure will be enforced from 5 pm to 5 am, said Chief District Officer of Kavrepalanchowk, Umesh Kumar Dhakal.
Previously, a meeting of the inter-district coordination committee of Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhuli, and Ramechhap districts had decided to close the highway from 6:30pm to 5 am, beginning on June 21.
In the past week alone, floods and landslides have already disrupted this section four times.
The devastating flooding caused by unseasonal downpours in September 2024 had significantly damaged the BP Highway, particularly from Chaukidanda of Kavrepalanchowk to Barshekhola of Sindhuli. An eight-kilometre section was swept away by the flood.
Of the total 160-km highway, 34 kilometres on the third section from Khurkot to Nepalthok of Sindhuli and 50 kilometres on the fourth section from Nepalthok to Dhulikhel of Kavrepalanchowk were damaged at various locations.
Contracts have begun for restoring the highway in four sections, it has been said.
As the shortest route connecting the Kathmandu Valley with eastern Nepal, the highway sees the movement of thousands of vehicles each day.
