inquiry

A cascading series of human failures left nearly every life-saving safeguard ineffective when a ferocious blaze ripped through a Hong Kong housing complex last year, killing 168 people, a public inquiry heard. The fire erupted on 26 November at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, making it the world's deadliest residential building blaze since 1980. Flames swept through seven of the estate's eight residential blocks, all under renovation. Bamboo scaffolds, protective netting and foam boards wrapped the…

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced an investigation into the March 6 missile attack on a Ghanaian peacekeeping base in Lebanon. This move comes in response to a formal complaint lodged by the Ghanaian government, which is demanding a thorough inquiry into the strike that injured four soldiers amidst the escalating conflict involving Israel, Iran, and the United States. The wounded peacekeepers received immediate medical treatment at a facility within the base before being evacuated to the UN Mission's…

Bill Clinton is set to face questioning by a Republican-led House panel over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, as Democrats press the committee to also demand sworn testimony from former President Donald Trump about his own connections to the late financier. The former president features repeatedly in recently disclosed Justice Department files related to Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 for soliciting sex from girls as young as 14 and died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking…

Malawi launches fresh investigation into Chikangawa military plane crash that killed former Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others in June 2024, citing gaps in earlier probes. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango on Tuesday announced a new, comprehensive review of the Chikangawa crash after a government audit found previous inquiries did not provide clear, conclusive explanations for the accident. The minister said a government review of earlier findings — including the national…

Lisa Phillips, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, has called for a thorough investigation into any Irish links to the convicted U.S. sex offender’s network, telling RTÉ’s The Late Late Show that she is in Ireland to meet “some powerful leaders” and press for action. Phillips’ appeal comes a week after the Dáil was told that a witness statement contained in the so‑called Epstein files alleged a young girl was trafficked through Ireland “for politicians and notable men for the purposes of sex.” “There needs to be a thorough…

Bill and Hillary Clinton will testify before a Republican-led House investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a staffer said, a move that could head off planned contempt votes against the former president and former secretary of state. The House Oversight Committee last week recommended holding the Clintons in contempt for initially refusing to appear in person about their interactions with Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The House Rules Committee had…

UN demands swift, independent probe into ICE shooting of Minnesota woman as protests, lawsuits escalate The United Nations on Monday urged a rapid, independent and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, 37, by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis last week, as protests spread and Minnesota filed suit against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. “Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a measure of…

Australia will establish a royal commission — the country’s highest form of public inquiry — into the Bondi Beach mass shooting that killed 15 people, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, bowing to mounting public pressure for answers about an ISIS-inspired attack and the rise of anti-Semitism. “I’ve repeatedly said that our government’s priority is to promote unity and social cohesion. And this is what Australia needs to heal,” Albanese told reporters, adding that the decision followed community calls for a comprehensive,…

A UN finding that reverberates beyond headlines: what it means to call Gaza a site of genocide When an independent United Nations commission concluded this week that Israel has “committed and continues to commit genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza, it did more than add a grim line to a long list of UN reports. The finding reopened questions about the limits of international law, the responsibilities of powerful states that arm and finance warring parties, and whether the world’s institutions can halt mass suffering when…

Devastating Blaze Erupts at Garowe Gas Station, Investigation Underway Garowe (AX) — A catastrophic fire erupted Saturday night at a gas station located in Garowe, the bustling capital of Northeastern State. This blaze resulted in significant destruction and injuries, sparking concern and investigation. Initial reports suggest the inferno ignited when a fuel tanker parked in a nearby garage succumbed to flames. The flames rapidly spread to the gas station and neighboring structures, leading to chaos. Eyewitness videos…