A powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines, claiming at least 20 lives with numbers expected to climb. The tremor caused landslides, damaged a church, and cut power. While local authorities warned of a minor sea-level disturbance, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed no tsunami threat, urging residents to remain cautious near coastal areas.

India is expected to receive 15 per cent more rainfall than normal in October, following bountiful rains during the four-month monsoon season, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

Scientists said Tuesday they have turned human skin cells into eggs and fertilised them with sperm in the lab for the first time — a breakthrough that is hoped to one day let infertile people have children.