Powerful Gas Explosion in Northeast China

^{PHOTO: DASHBOARD VIDEO SHOWING SMOKE COMING OUT OF BUILDING FOLLOWING EXPLOSION, MOBILE PHONE AND DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING AFTERMATH, FIRE ENGINES AT SITE}

INTERNATIONAL: Four people have been killed and 47 others injured after a massive gas explosion at a BBQ restaurant in China. The explosion rocked the northeastern city of Shenyang, shattering the windows of nearby buildings and halting traffic. The windows of many cars parked near the restaurant were also blown in. A bus loaded with passengers was passing by the restaurant when the explosion happened. The force of the blast knocked it more than 10 meters sideways, injuring at least 10 of the passengers. The Shenyang fire department dispatched 110 firefighters and 25 trucks. Ultimately a total of 1,054 people and 307 vehicles were sent to the site to fight the blaze and search for the injured. Shenyang Gas had been rebuilding the gas pipeline network in the area the night before. It had started providing gas about one hour before the explosion took place. The gas company says it is unclear if its repair work had led to the explosion but an investigation is underway.

Dozens Killed in Landslides in Nepal

^{PHOTO: FLOODED AREAS IN NEPAL, BUILDINGS IN FLOODED AREAS, FLOODED RESIDENTIAL AREA, WOMAN WORKING PADDY CULTIVATION DAMAGED BY FLOODS}

According to Nepal's Home Ministry, 77 people have died from floods and landslides, after heavy rainfall over the past three days. Some 22 people have been injured. 26 are still missing. Swollen rivers have swept inland, with houses and roads flooded and rice paddies submerged. The flooding mainly took place in regions across Western Nepal, close to the neighboring northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. At least 46 people have died in the Indian state, while its southern state of Kerala, 27 people have been killed by flooding.

Mixed Results for South Korea’s First Space Launch

^{PHOTO: SOUTH KOREA'S FIRST DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED ROCKET NURI BLASTING OFF IN TEST LAUNCH}

And…South Korea's first domestically-built space rocket blasted off on Thursday, but failed to fully place a dummy satellite into orbit. It was a case of mixed results for a test launch that represents a major leap forward for the country's ambitious space plans. President Moon Jae-in, who watched the launch from the country’s space centre, says that the rocket completed its flight sequences but failed to place the test payload into orbit. The three-stage KSLV-II Nuri rocket, emblazoned with the national flag, launched from the Naro Space Center at 5pm local time on Thursday. The Nuri, or "world" rocket, is part of a broader South Korean space effort that envisages the launch of satellites for surveillance, navigation, communication and even lunar probes.