NEWS IN BRIEF 2025-05-19

Eight children among 17 killed
in India bldg blaze
NEW DELHI, May 18: At least 17 people, including eight children, have died after a massive fire broke out in a building in India's Hyderabad. The incident was reported in a building near Hyderabad's iconic Charminar early on Saturday morning. While the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be confirmed, authorities suspect an electrical short circuit may have triggered the disaster, NDTV reports. According to fire department officials, they received an emergency call around 6:30am. Eleven fire engines were dispatched to the scene, and the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. — NDTV
Five die as two copters collide in Finland
HELSINKI, May 18: All five people on board two helicopters were killed Saturday when the aircraft collided mid-air in Finland and crashed to the ground, police said. "Five people died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday," Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirila said in a statement. According to their flight plans, one was carrying two people and the other three. They had taken off from the Estonian capital Tallinn and were bound for Piikajarvi, a few kilometres from where they came down. Media reports said those on board were businessmen. — AFP
Portugal holds snap election
LISBON, May 18: Voters in Portugal go to the polls Sunday in the country's third general election in three years, with Prime Minister Luis Montenegro tipped to win, without securing a majority in parliament. Final surveys indicate his centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) is ahead of the Socialist Party (PS) and will likely pick up more seats-but once again fall short of the 116 seats needed in Portugal's 230-seat parliament for majority rule. — AFP
Iran, Azerbaijan hold joint military drill
TEHRAN, May 18: Iran and Azerbaijan have launched a joint special forces exercise, state media in the Islamic republic said Sunday, weeks after Iran's president visited the neighbouring country. The "Aras-2025" exercise, running through May 21, involves Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Azerbaijani troops, the IRNA news agency reported. —AFP