The Hong Kong fires tragedy unfolded on Wednesday afternoon when flames engulfed the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po district. At least 44 people died, while approximately 280 others remain missing. Consequently, this disaster marks Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in more than 60 years.

TOWER TRAGEDY: At least 13 people were killed after a massive fire ripped through a Hong Kong high-rise complex.

Residents say building alarms never went off as thick smoke spread through multiple towers. pic.twitter.com/Q9lxbetcEf

— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 26, 2025

The fire started around 2:51 PM local time and quickly spread across seven of the complex’s eight towers. Moreover, the 32-story buildings housed nearly 2,000 apartments with about 4,800 residents, many of whom were elderly. Firefighters continue battling the blaze more than 24 hours later, with operations expected to last until Thursday evening.

Authorities arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter. Police detained two directors and one consultant from a construction company, accusing them of gross negligence. Furthermore, investigators discovered that flammable materials allowed the fire to spread rapidly beyond control.

The complex was undergoing major renovation work when disaster struck. Bamboo scaffolding and protective netting covered the buildings, which proved extremely flammable. Additionally, firefighters found polystyrene boards blocking windows in multiple apartments. These materials ignited quickly and accelerated the fire’s deadly spread.

Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung explained that polystyrene boards are highly flammable. “Their presence was unusual,” he stated, prompting a police investigation. Meanwhile, officials are examining whether protective layers, canvas, and plastic covers met proper safety standards.

Bamboo scaffolding has been a traditional construction method in Hong Kong since the Han dynasty. However, this technique now faces mounting scrutiny. Although bamboo offers flexibility, it burns easily and deteriorates over time. Therefore, Hong Kong’s Development Bureau recently announced that 50% of new public projects must use metal scaffolding starting in March.

Rescue operations faced severe challenges throughout the night. Extreme heat, falling debris, and thick smoke hindered firefighters trying to reach trapped residents on upper floors. Subsequently, fire officials urged people to seal doors and windows with tape and wet napkins. Sadly, one 37-year-old firefighter died after losing contact with colleagues for about half an hour.

At least 66 people were hospitalized by Thursday morning. Seventeen remained in critical condition, while 24 others suffered serious injuries. Meanwhile, approximately 900 displaced residents sought shelter in temporary facilities. Many families waited anxiously for news about missing loved ones.

Mr. Yuen, whose surname was given, shared his desperate situation with CNN. Both he and his elderly parents live in separate apartments on the 11th floor of Block 5. “What I’m most concerned about is my parents,” he said from a temporary shelter. He rushed home after hearing about the fire, but couldn’t get inside or contact his parents.

At least 36 people have died and 279 people are unaccounted for, officials say. Residents remain trapped on higher floors of the buildings. https://t.co/iclSJYO8p1 pic.twitter.com/FtoFH3FyZ5

— CNN (@CNN) November 26, 2025

 A 65-year-old resident, also surnamed Yuen, described how many elderly neighbors remained unaware of the danger initially. “The windows were closed because of the maintenance,” he explained. Therefore, neighbors had to call and warn them to evacuate. “I’m devastated,” he added.

🚨HONGKONG 🇭🇰: Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in 17 years has killed at least 36 people, including a firefighter, with 279 others reported missing after a massive blaze swept through multiple high-rise apartment buildings in Tai Po on Wednesday night. #china #fire #HongKong pic.twitter.com/IDe32IPEOX

— Washington Report (@Washington_Rep) November 26, 2025

 Strong winds and burning debris likely pushed flames from one building to another, according to Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire service operations. Witnesses reported loud cracking sounds as bamboo scaffolding collapsed. Additionally, thick smoke billowed between towers while fiery debris drifted through the air.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the victims and designated 2 million yuan ($282,470) for Red Cross emergency assistance. Furthermore, Chinese tech giants Xiaomi and Tencent, along with Anta sportswear, donated a combined $6.4 million to Hong Kong. Posts about the disaster received over one billion views on mainland China’s strictly monitored social media.

Hong Kong leader John Lee expressed deep sadness and assured that all government departments were assisting affected residents. Meanwhile, questions mount about how a city with strong public safety records and construction standards could experience such a devastating fire. Officials will investigate whether building materials complied with fire safety regulations.

The Tai Po district, located 11 miles north of Hong Kong’s main island, underwent massive expansion during the 1970s. Currently, more than 300,000 people call this area home. Tai Po Football Club, the city’s current soccer champion, posted condolences on Facebook. The team wore black armbands during their match in Australia, preceded by a minute of silence.

Fire incidents in Hong Kong typically result in low fatalities compared to similarly sized cities. However, data show average fire deaths have risen over the past decade. In 2024, 33 people died in fire incidents, up from just 12 in 2013. Nevertheless, the scale and speed of the Hong Kong fires disaster has shocked the entire city and revived concerns about aging infrastructure and construction safety practices.

The nifty all time high price reached 26,285.95 on Thursday morning, marking the first peak since September 2024. After nearly 14 months and 289 trading sessions, the benchmark index finally broke through its previous ceiling. Consequently, this rally brought renewed optimism to Indian equity markets.

#BreakingNews: #Nifty surges to all-time high of 26,284.20.

NDTV Profit Newsroom celebrates the milestone! Markets in celebration mode, and so are we 🎉@TamannaInamdar @_nirajshah @alexandermats pic.twitter.com/fX2CZcnhpA

— NDTV Profit (@NDTVProfitIndia) November 27, 2025

The Nifty 50 gained 80.65 points, rising by 0.31% during morning trade. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex also crossed the 86,000 mark for the first time, climbing over 400 points. Both indices demonstrated strong momentum driven by positive market sentiment.

Several factors contributed to this breakthrough. First, investors anticipate rate cuts from both the US Federal Reserve and the Reserve Bank of India next month. Additionally, improved corporate earnings expectations for Q3 and Q4 of FY26 have strengthened market fundamentals. Furthermore, the consumption boom witnessed in October is expected to translate into impressive earnings growth.

Leading companies played a crucial role in this achievement. Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, and Reliance Industries were among the top contributors to the index’s record performance. Moreover, the banking sector showed particular strength, with Bank Nifty positioned to reach new highs.

However, the journey to this milestone wasn’t smooth. Indian markets had underperformed Asian peers due to high valuations and muted corporate earnings. Besides, trade uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, including the absence of a US trade deal, created hesitation among investors. Foreign portfolio investors had also remained cautious during this period.

The market turnaround began when several positive changes occurred. Tax cuts eased investor concerns, while valuations became more reasonable. Subsequently, global conditions improved with technology sector strength in the US markets. The potential for a Russia-Ukraine peace accord also boosted global sentiment.

On Wednesday, foreign portfolio investors purchased shares worth Rs 4,778 crore, while domestic institutional investors bought Rs 6,248 crore worth of stocks. This strong institutional support further reinforced the bullish trend.

Market experts believe the rally has solid fundamental backing. Dr. VK Vijayakumar from Geojit Investments notes that the technical construct, including high foreign institutional investor short positions, favors continued upward movement. Nevertheless, he cautions that sharp, sustained uptrends remain unlikely given current valuations.

Asian markets followed Wall Street’s gains, reflecting global investor optimism about potential interest rate reductions. Gold prices also held steady near one-week peaks as traders assessed the likelihood of December rate cuts.

Looking ahead, analysts expect the positive momentum to continue, supported by anticipated capex growth and improved demand patterns. Therefore, the nifty all time high price breakthrough signals a potential shift toward sustained market strength in the coming months.

After ten successful years, Stranger Things on Netflix finally reaches its conclusion with season 5. However, fans face an unusual wait as Netflix releases eight episodes across three separate batches throughout the holiday season. Moreover, this release strategy has sparked considerable debate among viewers who prefer traditional binge-watching.

Holiday Release Schedule Creates Controversy: The release dates have raised eyebrows because they fall on major holidays. Part 1 drops on November 26 with four episodes, right during Thanksgiving week. Subsequently, Part 2 arrives on Christmas Day, December 25, with three more episodes. Finally, the series concludes on New Year’s Eve, December 31, with the final episode.

Many fans find this timing frustrating. Furthermore, releasing episodes during family gathering times means viewers must choose between watching immediately or avoiding spoilers on social media. Additionally, this strategy clearly aims to keep subscribers paying for multiple months instead of one.

What the Final Season Brings?

According to Netflix’s official synopsis, the story picks up in fall 1987. The core group unites with a single goal: find and kill Vecna. Meanwhile, the government has placed Hawkins under strict military quarantine. Consequently, Eleven has gone back into hiding as authorities search for her again.

The new season features significantly longer episodes compared to earlier seasons. Several installments run well over 90 minutes, similar to season 4’s massive finale that lasted 2 hours and 19 minutes. The Duffer Brothers explain they designed these episodes as “mega movies,” with each batch building toward its own climax.

New Faces Join Final Season: Season 5 welcomes celebrated actress Linda Hamilton from Terminator fame. Matt Duffer told Time magazine they’ve been fortunate that every industry veteran they approached has agreed to join. He particularly enjoys introducing younger audiences to talented character actors from the 1980s.

Additionally, up-and-coming stars Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, and Alex Breaux join the cast. Fisher portrays Holly Wheeler, Mike and Nancy’s younger sister, who appears slightly more grown-up this season.

Stranger Things Season 5 Cast Earnings

The financial success of the show has dramatically changed cast members’ lives. During seasons 1 and 2, child actors earned just $30,000 per episode. However, by season 3, their salaries jumped to $250,000 per episode. Meanwhile, adult actors now command as much as $350,000 per episode.

Millie Bobby Brown leads the cast with a net worth of $20 million. Her wealth comes from both acting and her beauty brand, Florence by Mills. Similarly, Winona Ryder follows with $18 million, built through decades of successful films before joining the show.

David Harbour earns $6 million, boosted by his role as Red Guardian in Marvel films. Furthermore, several young cast members have reached $3-5 million net worths through additional projects and brand partnerships.

Preparation Tips From Creators: The Duffer Brothers recommend watching specific episodes before starting season 5. They suggest episodes 4 and 6 from season 2, plus episodes 7 and 9 from season 4. These episodes contain crucial mythology and plant important seeds for the finale.

Ross Duffer emphasizes that seasons 1 and 2 remain most relevant. “We really wanted this to be circular and come full circle,” he explained. Therefore, those seasons contain intentionally unanswered mysteries that will finally be resolved.

Theatrical Release for Finale: In an unusual move, the series finale will screen in over 350 theaters across the US and Canada. The screening begins December 31 at 8 p.m. ET, simultaneously with its streaming release. This continues through January 1, giving fans a chance to experience the conclusion on the big screen.

Although the main series ends, the Stranger Things universe continues. Next year, Netflix debuts “Stranger Things: Tales from ’85,” an animated prequel series. This show takes place between seasons 2 and 3 of the original series.

The Duffer Brothers explain that animation removes limitations, opening up new storytelling possibilities. This format allows them to explore characters and situations impossible with live action.

Stranger Things Netflix concludes an era of streaming television with its final season. Despite controversy over release timing, fans eagerly anticipate answers to long-standing mysteries. With longer episodes, new cast members, and promises of coming full circle, the show prepares to deliver an epic conclusion. Whether viewers watch on holidays or wait until January, the ending of this cultural phenomenon will dominate conversations throughout the season.