January 18, 2026

Deadly Wildfires in Chile Kill 15, Force Massive Evacuations in Ñuble and Biobío

Wildfires in southern Chile have killed 15 people and forced about 20,000 to flee homes. A state of emergency is declared to fight the fires in Ñuble and Biobío regions.

January 18, 2026

Chile Declares State of Catastrophe Amid Deadly Wildfires Killing 16 People

Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in Ñuble and Biobío after wildfires killed 16 and forced 20,000 people to flee. The fires have destroyed 250 homes near Concepción and firefighters are battling 24 blazes.

January 18, 2026

Hyderabad's Hot Air Balloon Festival Faces Wind Halt, All Passengers Flown Safely

Strong winds briefly stopped Hyderabad’s Hot Air Balloon Festival, grounding balloons for an hour. Rides resumed later, and all ticket holders enjoyed flights thanks to SkyWaltz's safety efforts.

January 18, 2026

Karnataka Khadi Flag Makers Hit Hard as Polyester Flags Slash Sales by Over Half

Karnataka’s women-run khadi flag unit sees sales drop after government allows polyester flags. Workers fear job cuts amid falling income.

January 18, 2026

Expressway Toll Plaza Glitches Cause Traffic Jams Despite Faster Bengaluru-Chennai Travel

Users of the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway face slowdowns due to frequent FASTag malfunctions at automated toll booths. Delays at toll plazas near Agrahara are causing traffic jams, eating into the time saved on the new route.