Japan

Pentagon sends defences and advisers to Middle East as Israel’s ground assault in Gaza looms

25 Oct 2023 09:24 AM IST

The Pentagon has sent military advisers, including a Marine Corps general versed in urban warfare, to Israel to aid in its war planning and is speeding multiple air defence systems to the Middle East, days ahead of an anticipated ground assault into Gaza. One of the officers leading the assistance

Inquiry begins into New Zealand’s worst mass shooting

25 Oct 2023 09:23 AM IST

An inquiry began on Tuesday into New Zealand’s worst mass shooting and will examine — among other issues — the response times of police and medics and whether any of the 51 people who were killed could have been saved. The coroner-led inquiry comes more than four years after a

Iceland’s PM along with women protest against unequal pay and violence

25 Oct 2023 09:22 AM IST

Iceland’s prime minister and women across the volcanic island nation went on strike on Tuesday to push for an end to unequal pay and gender-based violence. Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said she would stay home as part of the “women’s day off,” and expected other women in her Cabinet would

Trump expected back at civil fraud trial as Michael Cohen set to testify

25 Oct 2023 09:21 AM IST

After breaking with the former president, Donald Trump, amid his own legal troubles, Michael Cohen, the fixer-turned-foe is poised to testify against his old boss on Tuesday as a key witness at the civil fraud trial that threatens to upend Trump’s real estate empire and wealthy image. Trump is expected

Global solar projects set to get more than $380 billion investment this year

25 Oct 2023 09:20 AM IST

Investment is increasing in global solar energy projects, and is expected to be more than USD 380 billion this year, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Director General Dr Ajay Mathur has said. Mathur made these remarks on Monday on the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week. “The good thing

Hamas releases 2 Israeli women; US delays ground war for captive talks

25 Oct 2023 09:19 AM IST

Hamas released two elderly Israeli women held hostage in Gaza on Monday, as the United States expressed increasing concern that the escalating Israel-Hamas war will spark a wider conflict in the region, including attacks on American troops. The death toll in Gaza was rising rapidly as Israel ramped up airstrikes,

High-level Chinese delegation heads to Washington ahead of potential summit

25 Oct 2023 09:18 AM IST

China’s top diplomat will come to Washington Thursday for a three-day visit, the latest move by Washington and Beijing to keep high-level talks open amid tense bilateral relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan over

Pak general elections date likely to be announced soon: PM Kakar

25 Oct 2023 09:16 AM IST

Asserting that there will be a level playing field for all political parties in the next general election, Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has expressed hope that the election commission will shortly announce the date of the polls. Without mentioning the exact date, the Election Commission of Pakistan

Prince William travel to Singapore for Earthshot Prize climate projects

25 Oct 2023 09:15 AM IST

Prince William will travel to Singapore next month to name the winners of his Earthshot Prize, a global competition to find solutions to the challenges of climate change. William created the prize three years ago to encourage inventors and entrepreneurs to develop technologies to combat global warming and mitigate its

Israel escalates its bombardment in the Gaza Strip

25 Oct 2023 09:14 AM IST

Israel is escalating its bombardment of targets in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground invasion against Hamas militants. The war is rapidly raising the death toll in Gaza, and the U.S. fears could the fighting could spark a wider conflict in the region. Gaza’s 2.3 million people have

Decontaminating Fukushima: have the billions spent been worth it?

25 Oct 2023 09:12 AM IST

The Chernobyl and (to a lesser extent) Fukushima nuclear accidents contaminated large areas of land with low-level radioactivity. After both accidents, huge efforts were taken to decontaminate the affected areas. But a recent study at Fukushima raises doubts about whether these decontamination efforts were worthwhile. Less than one-third of the

Boat fire kills 16 in Congo amid rising eastern attacks

25 Oct 2023 09:11 AM IST

At least 16 people were killed on Monday when a boat caught fire on the Congo River, local officials said. The boat was carrying fuel and was on its way to the city of Mbandaka from the eastern part of the capital, Kinshasa, said Papy Epiana, the provincial deputy. At