DAILY NEWS

Molten steel being poured at a steelworks (file photo). Image via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0, geograph.org.uk). At least 17 workers have been killed and at least 12 others injured in an explosion at an iron and steel factory near the port city of Izmir in western Turkey, according to the BBC. What happened The blast happened around midday on Monday, 9 November, at the Habas Demir Celik plant in Aliaga, one of Turkey's leading steel producers. The local governor said the explosion was caused by a crane carrying a replacement boiler collapsing and falling into an electric arc furnace below, where molten steel was being cast. Eyewitnesses said the explosion shook the ground, with one person initially believing an earthquake had struck. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan first confirmed 16 deaths after a cabinet meeting on Monday, but Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu later said one of the critically injured workers had died, taking the toll to 17. Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban...

The Abu Dhabi skyline. Image via Wikimedia Commons. Russian and Ukrainian officials are meeting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for two days of US-brokered talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine — their first direct negotiations since February, according to Reuters. What we know The talks are scheduled for 10–11 November in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, and are being mediated by the United States. US President Donald Trump said last week that a broad peace deal was possible in the four-and-a-half-year-old war, and that it could also cover Europe's security. Russia's delegation is headed again by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, and includes Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov for the first time and senior military officer Yuri Zhigarlovsky. Ukraine's team is led by Rustem Umerov, with presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov and parliamentarian Davyd Arakhamiya also taking part. The United States is represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushn...

Nigeria's women's youth national team (file photo) — Image via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) Nigeria's Flamingos beat Japan 2-1 in the final in Rabat on Saturday, 7 November, to win the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup for the first time — becoming the first African nation ever to lift the trophy. The final Nigeria took the lead in the 39th minute through Awawu Bashiru, before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the advantage two minutes into the second half, according to FIFA. Japan pulled one back through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute and pushed for an equaliser, but the Flamingos held on to win 2-1 at Pitch 3 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco. Umejiaku was named Player of the Match, and her 47th-minute winner was her fourth goal of the tournament — a tally that helped her win the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player. A historic run The victory capped a remarkable campaign in which Nigeria recovered from an opening defeat to Poland to...

An Egyptian Railways passenger train — Image: Abdelrhman 1990 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) Seven people were killed and at least 125 injured on Sunday, 8 November, when two passenger trains collided in Egypt's Giza governorate, derailing several carriages and bringing rail services south of Cairo to a halt, according to Egyptian authorities. What happened The collision happened in the Al-Ayyat district, between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations, about 52 kilometres south of Cairo, the Egyptian National Railways Authority said. A train travelling from Giza to Fayoum struck the rear of another service heading from Cairo to Aswan, which was stationary on the same track. Several carriages derailed, with some plunging down an embankment. Dozens of ambulances were sent to the scene, and cranes were brought in to lift the wreckage and clear the line towards Upper Egypt. Train services between Giza and the Upper Egypt region were suspended, and the railway authority had not s...

The King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, where the Aramco tower was damaged — Image via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) Missiles fired from Yemen damaged a tower belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco in the heart of Riyadh's financial district on Sunday, 8 November, after Saudi air defences intercepted the attack, according to Saudi officials and witnesses. No one was injured. What happened Loud explosions were heard across the Saudi capital on Sunday morning. The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said its air defences had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh, coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said in a social media post. The coalition later said it had also intercepted two cruise missiles in the Riyadh and southern regions and a ballistic missile heading towards the Eastern Province, according to the Associated Press. The Iran-backed Houthis claimed the attack. Their military spokesman, Yahya Saree, sa...

The New Zealand Kiwis perform the haka before a match — Image: Sam Hood via Wikimedia Commons New Zealand have reached the Rugby League World Cup final for the first time since 2013, beating Tonga 34-10 in a pulsating semi-final in Newcastle on Saturday, according to Reuters and NRL.com. The match The semi-final was played at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday, 7 November, in strong wind and heavy rain that swept across the ground during the break. Tonga led 10-6 late in the first half, but the Kiwis fought back to lead 12-10 at half-time. New Zealand then scored 22 unanswered points in the second half. Tries from Casey McLean and Jahrome Hughes within five minutes of the restart put the Kiwis 24-10 ahead, before Xavier Willison and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad sealed the win. New Zealand's six tries came from Briton Nikora, Dane Gagai, McLean, Hughes, Willison and Nicoll-Klokstad. Both of Tonga's tries were scored by Jojo Fifita. Ponga's remarkable return...