Suspected gas explosion kills four at Taiwan department store

13 Sept 16:17 Key points summarised by AI

A suspected gas explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung, Taiwan, tragically killed four people and injured 26.
The powerful blast originated in the 12th-floor food court, which was closed for construction, causing extensive damage across multiple floors and scattering debris onto the street.
Among the casualties was a family of seven from Macau, with two grandparents dying and five others, including a two-year-old child, sustaining injuries from falling debris.
Over 200 people were evacuated, and a large-scale rescue operation involving 56 vehicles, 136 personnel, a dog, and a drone was launched to search for survivors and manage the disaster site.

Mbappe apologises for Mao Zedong comment after Chinese sponsors drop him

Today 11:30 Key points summarised by AI

Kylian Mbappe issued an apology after a viral video showed him joking about a 'Chinese dictator' in reference to Mao Zedong, sparking widespread offense in China.
Major Chinese sponsors, including beverage giant Dongpeng and dairy producers Mengniu and Milkground, swiftly terminated their endorsement deals with the football star.
The controversy escalated as China Media Group (CMG) suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches and demanded an apology from Real Madrid, despite La Liga's own apology for Mbappe's comments.
The incident underscores the strict cultural taboos surrounding Mao Zedong in China and the significant repercussions for public figures making insensitive remarks.