Cosmic crops poised for harvest on Earth

Mar 28, 2023, at 10:44 pm

New York: UN food and atomic energy agencies are readying to reap the rewards of a ground-breaking ‘astrobotany’ investigation, announcing on Monday that seeds sent to space in 2022 are now poised to return to Earth.

UK food inflation hits record high of 17.5 pc

Mar 28, 2023, at 10:41 pm

London: Food price inflation in the United Kingdom has hit a record high of 17.5 percent, which could increase the average annual household grocery bills by 837 pounds ($1,029), UK data analytics and consulting company Kantar said on Tuesday.

Dismantling racism today starts by understanding slavery’s ‘horrific’ past

Mar 28, 2023, at 10:29 pm

Education is the “most powerful weapon” in the world’s arsenal to combat the brutal legacy of racism playing out today, the UN chief said on Monday, as the General Assembly met to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Japan: Hokkaido prefecture to cull over 500,000 chickens due to new bird flu outbreak

Mar 28, 2023, at 10:25 pm

Tokyo: More than 500,000 chickens will be culled in the Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido due to a new outbreak of bird flu, the local administration said on Tuesday.

Taliban arrest prominent advocate for girls' education in Afghanistan: UN mission

Mar 28, 2023, at 10:18 pm

Kabul: The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Tuesday that the Taliban movement, which is currently ruling in Afghanistan, have arrested a prominent activist fighting for girls’ rights to education.

Punjab couple shot dead in Manila: Report

Mar 28, 2023, at 10:06 pm

Phagwara: A Manila (Philippines)-based man, originally from Goraya, and his wife were shot dead by an unidentified armed assailant in their Manila house on intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, a delayed report said here on Tuesday.

Libya: Crimes against humanity committed since 2016 – rights probe

Mar 28, 2023, at 07:01 pm

New York: UN-appointed independent human rights investigators on Monday said there are grounds to believe that Libyan authorities and armed militia groups have been responsible for “a wide array” of war crimes, and crimes against humanity in recent years.

FY 2024: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says cap for H-1B visa reached

Mar 28, 2023, at 03:19 pm

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Monday said it has received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2024 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap).

Disney begins laying off 7,000 employees: Reports

Mar 28, 2023, at 02:54 pm

New York: Disney CEO Bob Iger on Monday said the company will start laying off staff starting this week.

Saudi Arabia: 20 Umrah pilgrims killed in bus mishap

Mar 28, 2023, at 02:42 pm

At least 20 Umrah pilgrims died and 29 others were hurt in a bus mishap in Saudi Arabia on Monday, media reports said.

Vatican prepares to launch Pope Francis' message of hope into space via Spei Satelles

Mar 28, 2023, at 06:08 am

Vatican/IBNS: A message of faith and hope, originally delivered by Pope Francis during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, will be transmitted into space, the Vatican announced on Monday.

Sharp drop in primary and kindergarten enrolments reflect China's declining birth rate

Mar 28, 2023, at 05:54 am

Beijing: The declining birthrate in China is reflected in the decline in the number of admissions of students in the primary and kindergarten classes in 2022, media reports said.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata urges UN to declare Mar 25 as World Genocide Day

Mar 28, 2023, at 05:43 am

Kolkata: Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, Andalib Elias, on Saturday addressed the United Nations on Saturday when he demanded that Mar 25 should be declared World Genocide Day.

Sri Lanka's financial crisis: India, US, Japan secure USD 2.286 bn IMF bailout

Mar 28, 2023, at 05:37 am

Colombo: After a protracted battle by India, the United States and Japan to get China to agree to restructure its massive loan of USD 7 bn to Sri Lanka,  the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has finally approved  a USD 2.286 billion bailout for financially-hit Sri Lanka.

Three children dead in US school shooting, assailant killed by cops

Mar 28, 2023, at 04:48 am

Tennessee/IBNS: At least three children died after an assailant opened fire in an elementary school in Nashville in US Tennessee.

2023 Canada's federal budget to offer grocery rebate for lower-income groups: Sources

Mar 28, 2023, at 03:26 am

Toronto/IBNS: A ‘grocery rebate’ that will be offered to Canadians with lower incomes who may be struggling with the rising cost of food, has been included by the 2023 federal budget, media reports said.

Pakistan: Samarbagh residents protest against excessive power cuts

Mar 28, 2023, at 12:53 am

Lower Dir: Residents of Samarbagh region in Pakistan on Saturday staged a protest rally against excessive electricity outages and shortage of staff at the Nadra and BISP offices, media reports said.

People in Bhutanese village earn money by producing, selling nettle yarn

Mar 27, 2023, at 10:55 pm

People in Bhutan's Lauri Gewog region are making strong profit by producing and selling nettle yarn.

Chinese authorities detain Japanese company official

Mar 27, 2023, at 10:41 pm

Beijing: A Japanese man, who is in his 50s, was detained in Beijing this month for an alleged violation of the country's law, media reports said.

South China Sea disputes: Philippines diplomats confront Chinese diplomats

Mar 27, 2023, at 10:36 pm

Manila: Philippines diplomats on Friday confronted Chinese officials during closed-door talks and protested against Beijing's aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea, media reports said.

Tibetan exile leader urges China not to choose new Dalai Lama

Mar 27, 2023, at 10:30 pm

Lhasa: The president of the Tibetan government-in-exile has warned China that it should not interfere in selecting the successor to spiritual leader Dalai Lama.

Blast occurs close to Afghanistan Foreign Ministry in Kabul, 2 dead

Mar 27, 2023, at 10:19 pm

Kabul: A blast occurred close to a checkpoint on the road leading to Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in downtown Kabul on Monday, leaving at least two people, media reports said.

Pakistan court grants PTI chief Imran Khan interim bail in seven cases

Mar 27, 2023, at 10:16 pm

Islamabad:  The Islamabad High Court on Monday granted interim bail to  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in seven different cases against him till Apr 6.

Joe Biden declares state of emergency in Mississippi following powerful storm: White House

Mar 27, 2023, at 03:34 pm

Washington: US President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for Mississippi following a devastating storm that hit the state, the White House said.

Afghanistan: Taliban forces kill key ISIS leader

Mar 27, 2023, at 03:17 pm

Kabul: The Taliban government of Afghanistan has said its security forces have killed a key ISIS commander in  a special counterterrorism raid in Kabul city, media reports said on Monday.

North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles towards East Sea

Mar 27, 2023, at 02:39 pm

Pyongyang: North Korea on Monday fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) toward the East Sea on Monday, media reports said.

Chinese IPPs circular debt: Outstanding amount of Pakistan rises to Rs350bn: Reports

Mar 27, 2023, at 04:09 am

The current outstanding payment on account of circular debt for Chinese Independent Power Producers (IPPs) has spiked to touch  Rs350 billion.

Pakistan: Hindu Panchayat leads rally to ensure recovery of youth

Mar 27, 2023, at 04:06 am

Sukkur:  Leaders of the Sukkur Hindu Panchayat led a big rally in the Pakistan region on Saturday to demand the recovery of a community member Sahil Kumar.

Pakistan: Gas, power outages irk Kohat residents

Mar 27, 2023, at 04:02 am

Kohat: Consumers in Pakistan's Kohat region are braving prolonged suspension of  gas and electricity since the start of Ramzan.

1971 Liberation War: Bangladesh Muktijoddha Mancha demonstrates against genocide in Dhaka

Mar 27, 2023, at 03:13 am

Dhaka:  Bangladesh Muktijuddha Mancha recently hosted a demonstration-cum discussion session on Saturday in front of the National Museum in Shahbag, Dhaka, against the alleged genocide of 30 lakh people by the Pakistan Army during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, media reports said.