‘Super El Nino’ raises fears for Asia reeling from Middle East conflict – World
Already reeling from the effects of conflict in the Middle East, Asia is now facing the prospect of strong El Nino conditions that could spike energy demand, sap hydropower, and damage crops. El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that brings worldwide changes in winds, air pressure, and rainfall patterns. Last week, the United […]
India may discuss BrahMos missile sale to Vietnam during presidential visit, sources say
The Indian Army’s BrahMos missile launcher is displayed during the Army Day parade in New Delhi. PHOTO: REUTERS Vietnamese President To Lam is expected to discuss expanding defence ties with India during a visit to New Delhi this week, including the potential purchase of BrahMos missiles jointly developed with Russia, two sources said. India, which […]
Blast at fireworks factory in China’s Hunan kills 21, Xi calls for probe, state media says
Video shows thick clouds of smoke rising from a large site littered with collapsed buildings and debris Firefighters work to extinguish a fire following a blast at a fireworks manufacturing factory in Liuyang, Hunan province, China. PHOTO: REUTERS A blast at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province has killed 21 people and injured 61, […]
Requiem for Stalin’s spirit – World
JOSEPH Stalin’s spirit has been showing up at diverse places in recent days, amused, perplexed and despondent. One could see him chortling at the toast King Charles raised to the Anglo-Saxon brotherhood at the White House. He looked saddened to see one of his more erudite followers and among the gentlest of ‘Stalinists’ you would […]
Ukraine and Russia declare separate truces – World
Russia on Monday declared a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine between May 8-9, when Moscow marks its annual World War II Victory Day commemorations, and threatened a “massive missile strike” on Kyiv if Ukraine violated it. Ukraine responded by declaring a truce of its own between May 5-6, saying it was “not serious” to expect it […]
Iranian sailors evacuated to Pakistan return home, state media confirms – World
Iranian sailors, who had been evacuated to Pakistan after being released by the United States, crossed the border and entered their home territory on Monday, reported Iranian state media. According to IRNA, 15 of the 22 sailors crossed through the Rimdan border terminal in Sistan-Baluchistan. Earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) said that as a “confidence-building […]
Fujairah oil zone hit by drone attack as UAE says it intercepted Iranian missiles – World
Fire broke out at a major UAE oil industry zone on Monday after a drone attack originating from Iran, authorities said, as the Gulf state’s military separately intercepted three Iranian missiles over its waters and a fourth crashed into the sea. Civil defence teams were deployed immediately to contain the blaze at the Fujairah Oil […]
Mysterious world beyond Pluto may have an atmosphere: astronomers – World
A tiny, little-known world beyond Pluto appears to have an atmosphere, Japanese astronomers said on Monday, defying what had been thought possible for icy objects in our cosmic backyard. If confirmed, the roughly 500-kilometre-wide rock would become just the second world past Neptune in our Solar System to host an atmosphere — after only Pluto […]
India’s Modi celebrates ‘record’ win in opposition-held West Bengal – World
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed a “record” victory on Monday in key elections in opposition-held West Bengal state after official trends and partial results showed a thumping majority for his Hindu nationalist party. Votes were still being counted under tight security in the state of more than 100 million people, one of five states […]
Italy probes detention by Israel of Gaza flotilla activists aboard Italian-flagged vessel – World
Italian prosecutors have opened an unlawful detention investigation following a raid by Israeli forces on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, Italian media reported on Monday. The probe was opened following complaints received over the detention last week of Spanish citizen Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, who were on an Italian-flagged vessel. An Israeli court […]