Saudi airstrikes intensify on south Yemen's Hadramout

More than 20 people were killed and dozens of others injured as Saudi warplanes intensified airstrikes on multiple locations in Yemen's southeastern oil-rich province of Hadramout on Friday, according to a local medical source.

The source at Seiyun Public Hospital told Xinhua that the facility has received more than 20 bodies over the past few hours. Dozens of others, including civilians, were injured in the strikes and are currently receiving medical treatment.

Earlier in the day, the Southern Transitional Council (STC)-affiliated satellite channel AIC reported that intensified Saudi airstrikes hit the Seiyun Airport and nearby residential buildings, killing seven members of the same family.

The Saudi airstrikes coincided with fierce clashes on the ground between STC-affiliated forces and Yemeni government troops over control of military bases and state institutions in Hadramout.

Amid the clashes, the STC also announced on Friday the launch of a two-year transitional period during which the council will administer the southern parts of the country, to be followed by a referendum on the independence of the south.

Tensions between the Yemeni government and the STC escalated after the latter seized large swathes of Hadramout and the eastern province of Al-Mahrah last month. Formed in 2017, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-sponsored STC seeks self-determination and eventual independence for southern Yemen.

Following the latest escalation in Yemen, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday called on the UAE to withdraw its forces from Yemen within 24 hours and end all support for separatist groups. On Friday, the UAE's Defense Ministry said in a statement that it has completed the withdrawal of all its armed forces from Yemen.

Death toll in Swiss bar fire set to rise, with injured count at 119

Around 40 people are believed to have died in a bar fire breaking out in southwestern Switzerland, with the number of injured rising to 119, police said at a news conference on Friday afternoon.

Among the injured, the identities of 113 people have been confirmed. But some European countries still reported missing nationals in the fire, which broke out overnight at "Le Constellation" bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton.

Swiss authorities said the death toll is expected to rise in the coming days. Stephane Ganzer, a regional health and safety official, told the French radio station RTL that 80 to 100 of the injured are in a critical condition, with many likely to die from severe burns.

Tesla overtaken by BYD in global EV sales in 2025

U.S. electric automaker Tesla said Friday that its global vehicle deliveries in 2025 fell by around 8.6 percent year on year, marking the first time the company has been overtaken in annual electric vehicle sales by China's automaker BYD.

Tesla produced 1.655 million electric vehicles in 2025 and delivered 1.636 million, lower than the 1.773 million vehicles produced and 1.789 million delivered in 2024, according to company data.

BYD said Thursday that its global electric vehicle sales reached 2.257 million in 2025, up 27.86 percent from a year earlier, with a growing share of sales coming from markets outside China, including Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Tesla remains the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the United States, accounting for about 45 percent of the domestic EV market. However, its declining sales suggest a broader slowdown in the U.S. electric vehicle market.

Industry analysts expect overall U.S. electric vehicle sales to remain weak in 2026.

Iranian parliament speaker warns U.S. risky actions to make facilities, troops targets

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Friday warned that any risky action by the United States would make U.S. facilities and troops stationed in the region "legitimate targets" of Iran's response.

He made this remark in a post on social media, adding that armed operatives linked to foreign intelligence services were attempting to turn legitimate protests by business owners and various professional groups into violent and armed urban clashes.

Qalibaf also warned U.S. President Donald Trump that following his recent remarks, any reckless move would trigger a firm response, adding that the Iranian people have always remained united and resolute in the face of "aggression."

At least three people were killed and 13 security personnel wounded in clashes during protests in two Iranian provinces, Iranian media reported Thursday. After that, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that the United States is ready to take action if Iran "kills peaceful protesters."

Earlier on Friday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a post on social media platform X that Iran would not tolerate any form of external interference in its internal affairs, and the Iranian people are capable of resolving their own problems through dialogue and interaction.

Inter-regional trips rise 20 pct on New Year holiday in China

China recorded over 207 million inter-regional passenger trips on the first day of the three-day New Year holiday on Thursday, up 20.3 percent year on year, data from the Ministry of Transport showed on Friday.

Road travel accounted for the majority of passenger movement with 186.28 million trips -- up 17.5 percent from a year earlier.

Railway passenger volumes totaled 18.56 million trips, surging 67.9 percent year on year. Waterway transport carried 684,000 passengers, which was up 2.9 percent, while civil aviation handled 1.95 million passenger trips, 10.3 percent down from that of the first day of last year.

On the same day, China's postal sector collected 451 million parcels and delivered 531 million nationwide, according to official data.