Hong Kong: At least 44 dead and hundreds missing in apartment complex fire
A massive fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, has killed at least 44 people and left 279 people missing, making it the deadliest fire in decades.
The flames engulfed seven of the apartment complex's eight towers, as rescue teams worked through the night to extract residents from the engulfed apartments.
Investigations are ongoing, and police have arrested three people suspected of manslaughter.
Pope Leo to visit Turkey and Lebanon on first foreign trip as pope
Pope Leo begins his first foreign trip as leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, a six-day mission of peace and unity to Turkey and Lebanon, amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
He will meet with political and religious leaders, including President Erdogan and Patriarch Bartholomew, and will hold masses and symbolic visits aimed at emphasizing the Vatican's role as a moral voice for peace.
Italy faces travel disruptions as unions call for nationwide strikes
Italy is set to face travel chaos in late November and December, after unions called several national strikes that will hit trains, local transport, ferries and air links.
The strikes on November 28 and December 12 oppose the government's budget plan and lack of investment in essential services, increasing the risk of cancellations and delays for travelers at a very busy period.
Thousands protest in Bulgaria ahead of final parliamentary vote
Thousands of protesters in Sofia surrounded the parliament and blocked all exits, opposing the large tax increase in next year's draft budget.
The demonstration, organized by the opposition and attended by around 20,000 people, escalated into clashes with the police, with flamethrowers thrown, attempts to break the cordon and even overturning police vehicles.
Despite widespread opposition and warnings from economists, the government is expected to approve the budget, which foresees record spending and a significant increase in the fiscal burden.
