Ukraine claims it shot down a Russian strategic bomber as missiles kill 8

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s air force is claiming it shot down a Russian strategic bomber. But Moscow officials say the plane crashed Friday in a sparsely populated area due to a malfunction after a combat mission. Neither claim could be independently verified. Meanwhile, officials say Russian missiles struck cities in the central Dnipro region of Ukraine, killing eight people, including a 14-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy, and injuring 28. The Russian attack hit urban areas as well as train infrastructure in the Dnipro region,. Ukraine’s National Railway Operator said that among those killed in the strikes was employee Oksana Storozhenko, the mother of two teenage sons.

5 Japanese workers in Pakistan escape suicide blast targeting their van

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani authorities say a suicide bomber that targeted a van carrying five Japanese nationals in the port city of Karachi has killed one Pakistani bystander. The Japanese workers narrowly escaped the blast on Friday but were all safe. Three bystanders were wounded and one of them later died. The local police chief says the van was heading to an industrial area where the Japanese nationals worked. He says guards escorting the workers returned fire after coming under attack. Another official said the van was given a police escort following reports of possible attacks targeting foreigners and that the timely response from the guards and the police foiled the attack.

Firefighters tackle scaffolding dangling outside ruins of Danish landmark

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Firefighters in Copenhagen stabilizing the burned-out husk of Copenhagen’s historic Old Stock Exchange tried to use giant shears on a crane Friday to cut away dangling scaffolding, but suffered a setback when the implement fell into the debris. A large blaze broke out at the 400-year-old landmark on Tuesday, toppling its roof and iconic dragon-tail spire and collapsing much of its structure. On Thursday, a large section of the outer wall of the building collapsed inwards. Tuesday’s blaze was believed to have started on the roof while the building was being renovated. The cause remains unclear.

3 dead amid heavy flooding caused by record rain in the UAE

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Officials say three people have died in the United Arab Emirates as a result of heavy flooding caused by record-setting rains this week. A statement by the Philippine’s Department of Migrant Workers said two women suffocated inside their vehicle during the flooding, while a man died when his vehicle fell into a sinkhole. The exact number of deaths caused by the storm is not yet known as UAE officials have not released any information. The UAE typically sees little rainfall in its arid desert climate. However, a massive storm forecasters had been warning about for days blew through the country’s seven sheikhdoms. Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, has seen disruptions.