SEOUL -- Two large-scale oil spills were recently reported at the U.S. military bases in South Korea, Yonhap news agency said Thursday.
About 11,000 gallons, or some 41,600 liters, of fighter jet fuel were leaked from a fuel tank at a major U.S. Air Force base in Gunsan, around 180 km south of the capital Seoul, Yonhap said, citing the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). (South Korea-U.S.-Oil Spill)
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SOFIA -- Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova on Thursday scheduled early parliamentary elections for April 19, her press office said in a statement.
"President Iliana Iotova signed a decree appointing a caretaker government with caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov," the statement said. (Bulgaria-Parliament)
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TEHRAN -- The naval forces of Iran and Russia on Thursday held a joint drill in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean, successfully carrying out a series of operations.
During the exercise, the special operation teams of the navies of Iran's army, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Russia successfully carried out an operation to liberate a hijacked ship, according to a report published on the Iranian army's website. (Russia-Iran-Joint Drill)
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ISLAMABAD -- The death toll from a gas explosion at a residential building in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi has risen to 16, rescue officials said on Thursday.
The explosion occurred at around 4:15 a.m. local time on the first floor of a three-storey building, Assistant Superintendent of Police Jamshed Asher told media. (Pakistan-Explosion)
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WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called Britain's lease of Diego Garcia, a key U.S.-British military base in the Indian Ocean Chagos archipelago, a "big mistake," noting it could be critical if tensions with Iran escalate.
Under a deal announced in May 2025, Britain agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back Diego Garcia for 99 years at 101 million pounds (136 million U.S. dollars) annually. (U.S.-Britain-Military Base) ■
