A car explosion near the Red Fort in New Delhi has killed at least eight people and injured 11, prompting increased security measures across Uttar Pradesh, with investigations ongoing into the cause of the blast.
Several blasts occurred in Doha, Qatar, reportedly targeting Hamas leadership, including Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya, with Israel attempting to attack Hamas officials in Qatar, according to Israeli and Hamas sources.
Ethereum layer-2 scaling network Blast experiences block production halt following Ethereum's Dencun upgrade, but the issue is resolved within an hour. Despite the setback, Blast has seen an increase in total value locked (TVL) to over $2.9 billion as users capitalize on DeFi protocols and potential token airdrops. The Dencun upgrade aims to reduce costs for layer-2 network usage by allowing temporary storage of information.
Blast, a layer-2 blockchain built on Ethereum, experienced a one-hour mainnet freeze during Ethereum's Dencun upgrade, causing a halt in block production. Competitor Arbitrum announced a 24-hour integration period for the upgrade to reduce Ethereum fees. Despite the freeze, Blast's largest protocol, Orbit Finance, saw a 32% increase in total value locked, but its native token's value plunged by over 20% after being issued on March 8.
An explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand has resulted in at least 23 deaths, with the exact toll still uncertain due to the devastation at the scene. The factory owner survived as he was out delivering products at the time of the blast. The site of the factory has been almost completely leveled, and there are no reported survivors. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and it comes after a previous explosion at the same factory in November 2022 that resulted in one death and three serious injuries.
The death toll from the blast at a prayer meeting in Kerala, India, has risen to three after a 12-year-old girl died from burn injuries. Over 2,000 people were gathered for the Jehovah's Witness meeting when the explosion occurred. The girl, who had severe burns covering 95% of her body, was among the over 50 people injured in the blast. A man claiming responsibility for the attack has surrendered to the police, but the motive remains unknown. Authorities have launched an investigation, and federal investigative agencies have been deployed to assist.
The ISIL (ISIS) group has claimed responsibility for a blast at a sports club in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed four people. The explosion occurred in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood, predominantly inhabited by the historically oppressed Shia Hazara community. The blast, caused by a parcel bomb, targeted a room where Shia Muslims gather. Seven people were injured in the attack. Afghanistan's Hazara community has faced regular attacks, both from the Taliban and ISIL, due to their Shia beliefs. Despite a decrease in bomb blasts and suicide attacks since the Taliban takeover, armed groups, including ISIL, continue to carry out attacks in the country.
The blast at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, which killed hundreds, continues to be a subject of debate. Experts doubt that the publicly available evidence will be sufficient to determine who was responsible for the incident. While Hamas claims it was an Israeli airstrike, visual evidence does not support this, and physical evidence that would normally be present at the site has not been found. The Israeli account of a failed rocket also faces challenges, as analysis of audio suggests the object fell from the east, not the west as claimed. A comprehensive explanation for the blast will require further investigation.
A blast occurred at the St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church campus in Gaza City, where dozens of Palestinian families were seeking shelter. Rescuers are working to pull people out of the rubble, with several reported injuries. The church, one of the oldest in the world, suffered damage. The Israeli military is investigating the incident.
A blast at a Shi'ite mosque in northern Afghanistan during Friday prayers has left at least seven people dead and 15 others severely injured. The attack, which was possibly carried out by a suicide bomber, has not been claimed by any terrorist group. Afghanistan has been facing an insurgency by Islamic State militants, who have been responsible for a series of deadly attacks in recent months.
At least 30 people were killed and dozens more injured in a suicide attack during a religious procession in Balochistan province, Pakistan. The explosion occurred in Mastung district as people were celebrating the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. Balochistan has been plagued by a separatist insurgency, and the attack comes amidst a spate of recent violence in the region. The critically injured have been transferred to hospitals, and authorities expect the casualty count to rise. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
A powerful blast at a fuel storage facility in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region populated by ethnic Armenians but part of Azerbaijan, has resulted in at least 20 deaths and over 200 injuries. The explosion occurred as people were lining up for promised fuel to move to Armenia amid the ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and the breakaway region. Many residents have fled to Armenia due to fears of reprisals, with approximately 6,650 people seeking shelter there.
More than 200 people were injured in a powerful blast at a fuel storage facility in Nagorno-Karabakh, as ethnic Armenians fled the region after the Azerbaijani military regained control in a recent offensive. The cause of the explosion is unknown, but it occurred as residents were lining up for fuel to leave the area. Many feared reprisals and decided to evacuate to Armenia. The Armenian government reported that over 6,500 Nagorno-Karabakh residents had already fled. Talks between Azerbaijani officials and separatist representatives focused on humanitarian aid and medical services. The conflict between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh dates back decades, with Russia and Turkey playing influential roles.
At least 39 people were killed and over 120 injured in a suspected suicide blast at a political convention organized by the Islamist party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in northwestern Pakistan. The local branch of ISIS has previously targeted JUI-F party leaders, but no claim of responsibility has been made for this attack.
At least six people were killed and two others injured in a blast at an explosives factory in the Samara region of central Russia. The cause of the explosion is unknown. This incident is one of several recent explosions at Russian explosives factories, highlighting concerns about safety in the industry.