CATEGORIES

Number of dead and missing still unclear as first aid arrives in quake-hit Pacific nation of Vanuatu

Amid the havoc wrought by a violent earthquake two days earlier, Ivan Oswald and his staff prepared for lunchtime service Thursday at Nambawan Cafe, on an idyllic stretch of Vanuatu's waterfront.

China's nuclear force expands, Russia ties deepen

The USA is urging China to be more transparent about its nuclear programme

Two highway crashes in southeastern Afghanistan kill 50 people and injure 76

Two highway crashes in southeastern Afghanistan have killed a combined total of 50 people and injured 76, a government spokesman said Thursday.

Pakistan denounces US sanctions on its missile programme as biased, putting regional peace at risk

Pakistan on Thursday denounced new U.S. sanctions on the country's ballistic missile program as \"discriminatory\" that put the region's peace and security at risk.

Wisconsin school shooter had 2 guns and got messages from man accused of plotting his own attack

The shooter who killed a student and teacher at a religious school in Wisconsin brought two guns to the school and was in contact with a man in California who authorities say was planning to attack a government building, according to authorities and court documents that became public Wednesday.

Gisèle Pelicot's ex-husband found guilty of rapes, sentenced to 20 years in France

Gisèle Pelicot said after 51 men were all found guilty Thursday in the drugging-and-rape trial that turned her into a feminist hero. She said the ordeal was \"very difficult\" and expressed support for other victims of sexual violence.

NATO leader says he wants to put Ukraine in a position of strength for any peace talks with Russia

NATO's secretary-general said he wants to discuss ways to put Ukraine in a position of strength for any future peace talks with Russia during a meeting this week with Ukraine's president and a small number of European leaders.

At least 16 Palestinians killed by Israeli bombings in Gaza

At least 16 Palestinians were killed by Israeli bombings in northern Gaza, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen's rebel-held areas

Strikes killed at least nine people, officials said, shortly after a Houthi missile targeted central Israel

Mauritius wants to rethink a deal with the UK over islands housing the key Diego Garcia base

The British government said Wednesday it still plans to hand over a contested Indian Ocean archipelago, which is home to a strategically important military base, to Mauritius, after that country's new leader backed away from the contentious deal.

OCCASIONAL NOTE

IT was improbable that even with the best of good fortune the M. C. C. would manage to pull the first Test Match out of the fire against an Australian lead of 604 on the two innings, but to make a record fourth innings score was a secondary triumph.

Dying to kill

It is reported in the press that in Pakistan, 12 security personnel were killed last month when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a check post in Pakistan's north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The night the music refused to die

Back in the early 1980s, when Akbar S. Ahmed was contemplating whether Pakistan could be Japan, he might have missed an opportunity to focus on a more viable (although less desirable) East Asian role model for capitalist development.

Shaping our own narrative

As 2024 draws to a close, the Western world's moral facade crumbles, revealing a stark hypocrisy in global power dynamics.

At a Crossroads

The United Kingdom's economy has encountered a challenging phase, with consecutive monthly declines in GDP marking the first back-to-back contraction since the tumultuous days of the Covid-19 lockdowns.

A reset in ties

Misri's discussions extended beyond immediate concerns to broader bilateral issues, including border management, trade, connectivity, and cooperation in water and energy sectors. Both sides emphasized the need for a constructive approach to rebuild trust and strengthen ties. Yunus described the India-Bangladesh relationship as 'very solid' and reiterated his commitment to addressing mutual concerns, urging India to help 'clear the clouds' overshadowing bilateral relations

Presidential tone

SIR, This refers to the editorial, \"Political minefield\" (December 17). François Bayrou's appointment is the consecration par excellence of a shift in power from the Élysée Palace to the Hôtel de Matignon.

Key govt interventions in sci & tech for Viksit Bharat by 2047 highlighted

With a view to achieving the 'Viksit Bharat' 2047 goal, the government has been making several efforts through key interventions in the field of science and technology.

Removal of chapter on Sufi saint triggers controversy in J-K

The alleged removal of a chapter on Kashmiri Sufi saint, mystic, poet and preacher Sheikh-ul-Alam from class 9 textbooks by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) has triggered a controversy.

Longest surviving Hizbul leader runs out of luck

Farooq Bhat was among 5 terrorists killed in encounter in J&K's Kulgam

FIR against KTR over Formula E case

The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered an FIR against former minister and BRS working president KT Rama Rao and IAS officer Arvind Kumar under the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged irregularities in the Formula E race case.

Kerala High Court quashes ward delimitation in eight municipalities, one panchayat

The Kerala High Court, on Wednesday, quashed the ward delimitation order issued by the Kerala government in eight municipalities and one panchayat stating that the exercise was already carried out in these local bodies in 2015 based on the 2011 census.

Take back medical waste dumped in TN villages: NGT tells Kerala govt

Southern Bench of the NGT directed the Kerala government to dispose of the wastes within 3 days

Rajnath Singh calls for mastery in AI & Quantum Tech to strengthen India's Defence & Innovation

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has underscored the importance of embracing high-end technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Computing to strengthen India's defence and innovation capabilities.

Air Chief Calls for Cyber Security at CAC Meet

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), has called for a critical analysis of operational preparedness, a focus on maintenance practices, and the establishment of robust physical and cyber security measures.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to give keynote address at UN on World Meditation Day on 21 Dec

Global spiritual leader and humanitarian, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, will guide a live World Meditation on Saturday, following the unanimous adoption of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution declaring 21 December as the World Meditation Day.

Akhilesh, Mayawati demand apology from Shah on Ambedkar remarks

The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party on Thursday condemned the statement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Dr B R Ambedkar, and demanded an unconditional apology for his \"anti-Dalit\" remarks.

Fadnavis takes on Opposition in his first Assembly speech

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made his first speech on Thursday, the fourth day of the six-day winter session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, in Nagpur.

Ambedkar row: Former Maha CM Chavan attacks Shah as BJP vandalises Mumbai Congress office

Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan lashed out against Union Minister Amit Shah's recent statement regarding Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on Thursday, at an event in the town of Karad located in the Satara district of Maharashtra.

BJP's Ram Shinde unanimously elected Maharashtra Legislative Council chairperson

BJP legislator and former minister Ram Shinde was unanimously elected chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Thursday.