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 The CBI filed a closure report on Monday, telling the Bombay High Court that their investigation into the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar was over. The Bombay High Court had asked the CBI to inform within three weeks whether the investigation into Dabholkar's murder had been completed. The closure report was filed on Monday. A bench of Justices Ajay S Gadkari and Prakash D Naik gave three weeks' time to the Central Bureau of Investigation to inform the court so that it could decide whether to continue with the trial. The court was hearing a petition filed by Mukta Dabholkar, daughter of Narendra Dabholkar, seeking a continuation of the Bombay High Court's monitoring of the case. Dabholkar, 67, was shot dead in August 2013 in Pune. The Pune Police initially probed the murder but the case was handed over to the CBI in 2014 following a court order. The CBI told the court that it had completed the investigation into the murder of Dabholkar and the investigating o

 The CBI filed a closure report on Monday, telling the Bombay High Court that their investigation into the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar was over. The Bombay High Court had asked the CBI to inform within three weeks whether the investigation into Dabholkar's murder had been completed. The closure report was filed on Monday. A bench of Justices Ajay S Gadkari and Prakash D Naik gave three weeks' time to the Central Bureau of Investigation to inform the court so that it could decide whether to continue with the trial. The court was hearing a petition filed by Mukta Dabholkar, daughter of Narendra Dabholkar, seeking a continuation of the Bombay High Court's monitoring of the case. Dabholkar, 67, was shot dead in August 2013 in Pune. The Pune Police initially probed the murder but the case was handed over to the CBI in 2014 following a court order. The CBI told the court that it had completed the investigation into the murder of Dabholkar and the investigating o

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under investigation for his supporters' storming of government buildings, is seeking a six-month visa to remain in the United States, his lawyer said Monday. Bolsonaro flew to Florida in late December as his term ended rather than watch the inauguration of his leftist successor President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He is understood to have entered on a visa for visiting world leaders, which expires on Tuesday as he is no longer on official business. AG Immigration Group, a California-based law firm known for its work with Brazilians, said that Bolsonaro has requested a six-month visa to stay in the United States. "We look forward to achieving the highest level of satisfaction and desired results for our client," it said in a statement. Bolsonaro had previously told CNN Brasil that he had planned to return by the end of January, and was considering moving his departure earlier for health reasons. The far-right leade

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under investigation for his supporters' storming of government buildings, is seeking a six-month visa to remain in the United States, his lawyer said Monday. Bolsonaro flew to Florida in late December as his term ended rather than watch the inauguration of his leftist successor President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He is understood to have entered on a visa for visiting world leaders, which expires on Tuesday as he is no longer on official business. AG Immigration Group, a California-based law firm known for its work with Brazilians, said that Bolsonaro has requested a six-month visa to stay in the United States. "We look forward to achieving the highest level of satisfaction and desired results for our client," it said in a statement. Bolsonaro had previously told CNN Brasil that he had planned to return by the end of January, and was considering moving his departure earlier for health reasons. The far-right leade

Twitter Inc is working to introduce payments on the social media platform and has begun applying for regulatory licenses, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. New boss Elon Musk is pushing Twitter to create new streams of revenue as it faces a drop in advertising income, following his $44-billion takeover of the company in October. The development on the payments feature is being led Esther Crawford, a director of product management at Twitter, according to the report, which added that the executive was emerging to be a key lieutenant to Musk. Twitter did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Musk had previously said that the Twitter acquisition would be part of a master plan to create "the everything app", a service that would offer social networking, peer-to-peer payments and e-commerce shopping. Prior to Musk's takeover, Twitter in early 2021 was exploring allowing its users to receive tips, or digital

Twitter Inc is working to introduce payments on the social media platform and has begun applying for regulatory licenses, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. New boss Elon Musk is pushing Twitter to create new streams of revenue as it faces a drop in advertising income, following his $44-billion takeover of the company in October. The development on the payments feature is being led Esther Crawford, a director of product management at Twitter, according to the report, which added that the executive was emerging to be a key lieutenant to Musk. Twitter did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Musk had previously said that the Twitter acquisition would be part of a master plan to create "the everything app", a service that would offer social networking, peer-to-peer payments and e-commerce shopping. Prior to Musk's takeover, Twitter in early 2021 was exploring allowing its users to receive tips, or digital

President Vladimir Putin threatened to personally target Boris Johnson with a missile attack just before ordering Russian forces into Ukraine, the former UK prime minister has claimed. The apparent threat came in a phone call just ahead of the invasion on February 24, according to a new BBC documentary to be broadcast on Monday. Johnson and other Western leaders had been hurrying to Kyiv to show support for Ukraine and try to deter a Russian attack. "He sort of threatened me at one point and said, 'Boris, I don't want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute', or something like that," Johnson quoted Putin as saying. Johnson emerged as one of the most impassioned Western backers of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But prior to the invasion, he says he was at pains to tell Putin that there was no imminent prospect of Ukraine joining NATO, while warning him that any invasion would mean "more NATO, not less NATO" on Russia'

Flood ravaged Auckland is expected to receive further heavy rain over the coming days, according to the city's council, even as people start to count the cost of the flash floods that have hit New Zealand's largest city since Friday. Four people have now lost their lives in the flash floods that have hit Auckland since over the last three days and millions of dollars of damage has occurred. A state of emergency remains in place in Auckland and further south in regional Waitomo. "There has been very significant damage across Auckland," New Zealand new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told state-owned television station TVNZ Monday. "I had the opportunity to view that first hand on Saturday and obviously (there were) a number of homes damaged by flooding but also extensive earth movements," he said. He said at the moment, 350 people were in need of emergency accommodation. The city has experience record levels of rainfall since Friday. The National Institute

Eight people died and five were injured in a shooting at a busy nightclub in the town of Jerez, in northern Mexico, police said Sunday. The incident in Zacatecas state took place late Friday into Saturday when heavily armed men, arriving at the bar in two vehicles, burst in and began shooting indiscriminately, a report from the Security Secretariat said.  Six people died on the spot and two more succumbed while receiving medical attention; five people remained hospitalized on Sunday for gunshot wounds.  Victims included club employees, musicians and customers, local media said. Witnesses said people panicked as the club's floor became awash in blood.   The bar, called "El Venadito," is in the center of Jerez, a municipality about 60 kilometers (36 miles) southwest of the state capital city of Zacatecas. Jerez has been hit in recent years by a wave of violence that last year forced hundreds of residents of nearby rural communities to leave their homes.  Zacatecas sta

Eight people died and five were injured in a shooting at a busy nightclub in the town of Jerez, in northern Mexico, police said Sunday. The incident in Zacatecas state took place late Friday into Saturday when heavily armed men, arriving at the bar in two vehicles, burst in and began shooting indiscriminately, a report from the Security Secretariat said.  Six people died on the spot and two more succumbed while receiving medical attention; five people remained hospitalized on Sunday for gunshot wounds.  Victims included club employees, musicians and customers, local media said. Witnesses said people panicked as the club's floor became awash in blood.   The bar, called "El Venadito," is in the center of Jerez, a municipality about 60 kilometers (36 miles) southwest of the state capital city of Zacatecas. Jerez has been hit in recent years by a wave of violence that last year forced hundreds of residents of nearby rural communities to leave their homes.  Zacatecas sta

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Ankara could accept Finland into NATO without its neighbour Sweden. "If necessary, we can give a different response concerning Finland. Sweden will be shocked when we give a different response for Finland," Erdogan said in televised remarks. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/r61a5zn

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Ankara could accept Finland into NATO without its neighbour Sweden. "If necessary, we can give a different response concerning Finland. Sweden will be shocked when we give a different response for Finland," Erdogan said in televised remarks. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/r61a5zn

A top Republican in the US Congress said on Sunday the odds of conflict with China over Taiwan "are very high," after a US general caused consternation with a memo that warned the United States would fight China in the next two years. In a memo dated February 1 but released on Friday, General Mike Minihan, who heads the Air Mobility Command, wrote to the leadership of its roughly 110,000 members saying, "My gut tells me we will fight in 2025." "I hope he is wrong ... I think he is right though," Mike McCaul, the new chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the US House of Representatives, told Fox News Sunday. The general's views do not represent the Pentagon but show concern at the highest levels of the U.S. military over a possible attempt by China to exert control over Taiwan, which China claims as a territory. Both the United States and Taiwan will hold presidential elections in 2024, potentially creating an opportunity for China to take m

An earthquake with a magnitude of up to 5.9 struck the Turkey-Iran border region on Saturday, destroying houses in a main provincial city in Iran, Iranian media and the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported. "The amount of destruction of some houses and buildings in the city of Khoy city is relatively high," Iranian emergency services spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi told the YJC news agency. The quake had a magnitude of 5.6 and was at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), EMSC said. Iranian media said the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9 and hit near the city of Khoy in Iran's Western Azerbaijan province. Iranian emergency officials said rescue teams were despatched to the area and hospitals were put on alert, state media said. An emergency official told state TV that it was snowing in some of the areas affected by the quake amid freezing temperatures and that there were some power cuts. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV sta

An earthquake with a magnitude of up to 5.9 struck the Turkey-Iran border region on Saturday, destroying houses in a main provincial city in Iran, Iranian media and the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported. "The amount of destruction of some houses and buildings in the city of Khoy city is relatively high," Iranian emergency services spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi told the YJC news agency. The quake had a magnitude of 5.6 and was at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), EMSC said. Iranian media said the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9 and hit near the city of Khoy in Iran's Western Azerbaijan province. Iranian emergency officials said rescue teams were despatched to the area and hospitals were put on alert, state media said. An emergency official told state TV that it was snowing in some of the areas affected by the quake amid freezing temperatures and that there were some power cuts. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV sta

Conservative Member of Parliament for Harrow East, Bob Blackman on Saturday vowed to educate people about the atrocities on Kashmiri Pandits that forced them to flee their homes in 1990. "The room was packed as I and other dignitaries commemorated 33 years since the #KashmiriPandits genocide. We will continue to educate people on the brutal genocide and the atrocities that forced so many from their homes in 1990," tweeted Blackman. The room was packed as I and other dignitaries commemorated 33 years since the #KashmiriPandits genocide. We will continue to educate people on the brutal genocide and the atrocities that forced so many from their homes in 1990. pic.twitter.com/1y2mGqJwz5 — Bob Blackman (@BobBlackman) January 27, 2023 Earlier on Wednesday, January 25, the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Hindus, the Kashmiri Pandit diaspora and allies commemorated 33 years of Kashmiri Pandits genocide. The event took place at the Houses of Parliament, London, and wa

Conservative Member of Parliament for Harrow East, Bob Blackman on Saturday vowed to educate people about the atrocities on Kashmiri Pandits that forced them to flee their homes in 1990. "The room was packed as I and other dignitaries commemorated 33 years since the #KashmiriPandits genocide. We will continue to educate people on the brutal genocide and the atrocities that forced so many from their homes in 1990," tweeted Blackman. The room was packed as I and other dignitaries commemorated 33 years since the #KashmiriPandits genocide. We will continue to educate people on the brutal genocide and the atrocities that forced so many from their homes in 1990. pic.twitter.com/1y2mGqJwz5 — Bob Blackman (@BobBlackman) January 27, 2023 Earlier on Wednesday, January 25, the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Hindus, the Kashmiri Pandit diaspora and allies commemorated 33 years of Kashmiri Pandits genocide. The event took place at the Houses of Parliament, London, and wa

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that just as the Pandavas could not choose their relatives, India cannot choose its geographical neighbours. "It is a reality to us ... Pandavas could not choose relatives, we can't choose our neighbours. Naturally, we hope good sense prevails" said EAM S Jaishankar when asked if "a neighbour and rogue nation (Pakistan), who happens to be nuclear power, will be an asset or a liability." S Jaishankar was in Pune for the release of his English book "The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World," which has been translated into Marathi as 'Bharat Marg'. The Marathi version of S Jaishankar's book was released by Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis. When asked about the economic situation in Pakistan, S Jaishankar said that he cannot comment on what is happening in Pakistan. The World Bank has slashed Pakistan's economic growth by half -- from 4 per cent to 2

A four-star US Air Force general said in a memo that his gut told him the United States would fight China in the next two years, comments that Pentagon officials said were not consistent with American military assessments. "I hope I am wrong," General Mike Minihan, who heads the Air Mobility Command, wrote to the leadership of its roughly 110,000 members. "My gut tells me will fight in 2025." The letter was dated February 1 but had been sent out on Friday. The general's views do not represent the Pentagon but show concern at the highest levels of the US military over a possible attempt by China to exert control over Taiwan, which China claims as a territory. Both the United States and Taiwan will hold presidential elections in 2024, potentially creating an opportunity for China to take military action, Minihan wrote. "These comments are not representative of the department's view on China," a US defense official said. US Defense Secretary Llo

Iranian authorities have executed 55 people in 2023, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) said Friday, adding that the surging use of the death penalty aims to create fear as protests shake the country. Meanwhile, rights group Amnesty International said three young people sentenced to death over protests -- the youngest aged just 18 -- had been subjected to "gruesome torture" in detention. IHR said it has confirmed at least 55 executions in the first 26 days of this year. Four people have been executed on charges related to the protests, while the majority of those hanged -- 37 convicts -- were executed for drug-related offences, IHR said. At least 107 people are still at risk of execution over the demonstrations after being sentenced to death or charged with capital crimes, the group added. With Iran's use of the death penalty surging in recent years, IHR argued that "every execution by the Islamic Republic is political" as the main purpose "is to cre

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Friday used the occasion of Holocaust Remembrance Day to accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of building "new camps" while waging war against Ukraine. "On the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, let us remember that to the east Putin is building new camps," Morawiecki said on Facebook. "Solidarity and consistent support for Ukraine are effective ways to ensure that history does not come full circle," he added. Morawiecki did not elaborate on his accusation against Russia, though it echoed a claim made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last year. In an address in October, Zelensky spoke of Olenivka, "a concentration camp where our prisoners are kept". UN investigators also said last year they had documented more than 400 arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances by Russian forces in Ukraine. Poland on Friday marked the 78th anniversary

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Friday used the occasion of Holocaust Remembrance Day to accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of building "new camps" while waging war against Ukraine. "On the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, let us remember that to the east Putin is building new camps," Morawiecki said on Facebook. "Solidarity and consistent support for Ukraine are effective ways to ensure that history does not come full circle," he added. Morawiecki did not elaborate on his accusation against Russia, though it echoed a claim made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last year. In an address in October, Zelensky spoke of Olenivka, "a concentration camp where our prisoners are kept". UN investigators also said last year they had documented more than 400 arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances by Russian forces in Ukraine. Poland on Friday marked the 78th anniversary

Nepal's top court on Friday barred combative deputy prime minister Rabi Lamichhane from office for failing to regain citizenship in the Himalayan republic after giving up his US passport. Lamichhane, 48, is well-known for his career as a television host, making his name as an anti-corruption crusader through aggressive interviews with public officials. He was one of the biggest winners in elections last November, securing his new party a place in the ruling coalition and himself the post of deputy prime minister. But Supreme Court spokesman Bimal Poudel told AFP that Lamichhane was ineligible to keep his post after not "following the due process" when he relinquished his US citizenship in 2018. "The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court has ruled that his candidacy and election to the post of a member of the House of Representatives are void," Poudel said. Only Nepali citizens are allowed to stand for election and hold office, and the republic does not

Nepal's top court on Friday barred combative deputy prime minister Rabi Lamichhane from office for failing to regain citizenship in the Himalayan republic after giving up his US passport. Lamichhane, 48, is well-known for his career as a television host, making his name as an anti-corruption crusader through aggressive interviews with public officials. He was one of the biggest winners in elections last November, securing his new party a place in the ruling coalition and himself the post of deputy prime minister. But Supreme Court spokesman Bimal Poudel told AFP that Lamichhane was ineligible to keep his post after not "following the due process" when he relinquished his US citizenship in 2018. "The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court has ruled that his candidacy and election to the post of a member of the House of Representatives are void," Poudel said. Only Nepali citizens are allowed to stand for election and hold office, and the republic does not

Egyptologists have uncovered a Pharaonic tomb near the capital Cairo containing what may be the oldest and "most complete" mummy yet to be discovered in the country, the excavation team leader said on Thursday. The 4,300-year-old mummy was found at the bottom of a 15-metre shaft in a recently uncovered group of fifth and sixth dynasty tombs near the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, Zahi Hawass, director of the team, told reporters. The mummy, of a man named Hekashepes, was in a limestone sarcophagus that had been sealed in mortar. The mummy, of a man named Hekashepes, was in a limestone sarcophagus. "This mummy may be the oldest and most complete mummy found in Egypt to date," Hawass, one of Egypt's former ministers of antiquities, said in a statement. Among other tombs found was one belonging to Khnumdjedef, an inspector of officials, a supervisor of nobles and a priest during the reign of Unas, last pharaoh of the fifth dynasty. It was decorated with scenes of

Pakistan on Thursday said that it is yet to decide on India's invite to Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Goa from May. "Pakistan and India are members of SCO. India is holding the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2022-2023. These invitations are being processed as per standard procedures and a decision will be taken in due course," said Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson. India has invited Pakistan's foreign minister to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting scheduled to take place on May 4-5, 2023 in Goa. "SCO is an important transregional organization that aims to strengthen economic linkages and cooperation among its Member States in different fields. Every year, SCO develops a calendar of activities, which include the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers," added the spokesperson. India has formally sent invitations to all membe

Pakistan on Thursday said that it is yet to decide on India's invite to Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Goa from May. "Pakistan and India are members of SCO. India is holding the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2022-2023. These invitations are being processed as per standard procedures and a decision will be taken in due course," said Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson. India has invited Pakistan's foreign minister to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting scheduled to take place on May 4-5, 2023 in Goa. "SCO is an important transregional organization that aims to strengthen economic linkages and cooperation among its Member States in different fields. Every year, SCO develops a calendar of activities, which include the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers," added the spokesperson. India has formally sent invitations to all membe

Social networking giant Meta announced Tuesday it would soon reinstate former president Donald Trump's accounts on Facebook and Instagram with "new guardrails," two years after he was banned over the 2021 US Capitol insurrection. "We will be reinstating Mr. Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks," Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, said in a statement, adding that the move would come with "new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses." Going forward, the Republican leader -- who has already declared himself a 2024 presidential candidate -- could be suspended for up to two years for each violation of platform policies, Mr Clegg said. It was not clear when or if Trump will return to the platforms, and his representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the 76-year-old tycoon reacted in typically bullish fashion, crowing that Facebook had lost "billions of dollars in value&qu

Social networking giant Meta announced Tuesday it would soon reinstate former president Donald Trump's accounts on Facebook and Instagram with "new guardrails," two years after he was banned over the 2021 US Capitol insurrection. "We will be reinstating Mr. Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks," Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, said in a statement, adding that the move would come with "new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses." Going forward, the Republican leader -- who has already declared himself a 2024 presidential candidate -- could be suspended for up to two years for each violation of platform policies, Mr Clegg said. It was not clear when or if Trump will return to the platforms, and his representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the 76-year-old tycoon reacted in typically bullish fashion, crowing that Facebook had lost "billions of dollars in value&qu

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday urged the West to send tanks quickly and in sufficient numbers to help repel Russian troops. "Speed and volume are key now," Zelensky said, referring to deliveries. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/ako84fI

At least 16 people, including children, have died due to gas leakage incidents in the past one week in Quetta city of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. On Wednesday, four children of a family died inside a mud-walled house after the gas leakage triggered an explosion in the Killi Badezai area in Quetta, police said. Two women were also injured in the incident. The children were sleeping when the gas filled the room and caused an explosion, leading to the collapse of the walls of the house, police said. In a separate incident, a police sub-inspector died after his room was filled with gas in another area of Quetta. A senior police officer confirmed that several cases had been reported on a daily basis since last week, leaving more than a dozen dead and dozens unconscious due to gas leakages in their homes. He added that the leakages occurred due to widespread gas load-shedding and low pressure. According to reports, the problem of gas load shedding and leakages ha

At least 16 people, including children, have died due to gas leakage incidents in the past one week in Quetta city of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. On Wednesday, four children of a family died inside a mud-walled house after the gas leakage triggered an explosion in the Killi Badezai area in Quetta, police said. Two women were also injured in the incident. The children were sleeping when the gas filled the room and caused an explosion, leading to the collapse of the walls of the house, police said. In a separate incident, a police sub-inspector died after his room was filled with gas in another area of Quetta. A senior police officer confirmed that several cases had been reported on a daily basis since last week, leaving more than a dozen dead and dozens unconscious due to gas leakages in their homes. He added that the leakages occurred due to widespread gas load-shedding and low pressure. According to reports, the problem of gas load shedding and leakages ha

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has never paid a penalty to the country's tax office, his office said on Wednesday, as the chairman of his governing Conservative Party faces questions over his tax affairs. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/DQrLUav

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has never paid a penalty to the country's tax office, his office said on Wednesday, as the chairman of his governing Conservative Party faces questions over his tax affairs. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/DQrLUav

The United States announced Wednesday that it will provide 31 Abrams tanks to help Ukraine repel Russia's invasion, mirroring a similar move by Germany in the face of dire warnings from Moscow. The twin announcements will come as a major relief for Kyiv which has pleaded for months for heavy Western tanks to aid its battle. The US pledge came hours after Germany -- which reportedly sought a US commitment of tanks before agreeing to send its own -- approved the long-sought delivery of its powerful Leopard 2s to Ukraine. Unlike the German tanks, however, the M1 Abrams will be procured with Ukraine assistance funding rather than directly drawn from existing US stocks, meaning they will not arrive on the battlefield for months. President Joe Biden, who spoke Wednesday with key European allies about supporting Kyiv's fight, was poised to deliver an address from the White House on the US tank deliveries. "The United States will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, which is t

The United States plans to test a spacecraft engine powered by nuclear fission by 2027 as part of a long-term NASA effort to demonstrate more efficient methods of propelling astronauts to Mars in the future, the space agency's chief said Tuesday. NASA will partner with the U.S. military's research and development agency, DARPA, to develop a nuclear thermal propulsion engine and launch it to space "as soon as 2027," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said during a conference in National Harbor, Maryland. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/TqOAwiD

The United States plans to test a spacecraft engine powered by nuclear fission by 2027 as part of a long-term NASA effort to demonstrate more efficient methods of propelling astronauts to Mars in the future, the space agency's chief said Tuesday. NASA will partner with the U.S. military's research and development agency, DARPA, to develop a nuclear thermal propulsion engine and launch it to space "as soon as 2027," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said during a conference in National Harbor, Maryland. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/TqOAwiD

US President Joe Biden called Tuesday for Congress to act quickly to ban assault weapons, as California reeled from two deadly mass shootings in less than 48 hours. A group of senators on Monday reintroduced a federal Assault Weapons Ban and legislation that would raise the minimum purchase age for assault weapons to 21. "We know the scourge of gun violence across America requires stronger action. I once again urge both chambers of Congress to act quickly and deliver this Assault Weapons Ban to my desk, and take action to keep American communities, schools, workplaces, and homes safe," Biden said in a statement. A suspected gunman was in custody Tuesday over the killing of seven people in a rural community in northern California, just two days after a mass shooting at a Lunar New Year celebration near Los Angeles. A law banning assault rifles expired in 2004 and Congress has repeatedly failed to renew it even as the country endures repeated mass shootings. Many Republica

US President Joe Biden called Tuesday for Congress to act quickly to ban assault weapons, as California reeled from two deadly mass shootings in less than 48 hours. A group of senators on Monday reintroduced a federal Assault Weapons Ban and legislation that would raise the minimum purchase age for assault weapons to 21. "We know the scourge of gun violence across America requires stronger action. I once again urge both chambers of Congress to act quickly and deliver this Assault Weapons Ban to my desk, and take action to keep American communities, schools, workplaces, and homes safe," Biden said in a statement. A suspected gunman was in custody Tuesday over the killing of seven people in a rural community in northern California, just two days after a mass shooting at a Lunar New Year celebration near Los Angeles. A law banning assault rifles expired in 2004 and Congress has repeatedly failed to renew it even as the country endures repeated mass shootings. Many Republica

Pakistan's worst power outage in months became a source of humour for some in the country of 220 million, where an energy network desperately in need of an upgrade can lead to frequent blackouts and electricity rationing. The nationwide outage, the second since October that left schools, hospitals and businesses without electricity, was resolved on Tuesday after 24 hours. Pakistan's energy minister blamed it on a lack of investment in the network and said lessons had been learnt. Although the outage affected the internet and mobile phone services, it didn't stop many Pakistanis from taking to Twitter and other social media to share jokes and memes. "Scenes at the home of that friend who has solar panels," Twitter user @zoeneedstherapy captioned a photo showing a single power outlet with five mobile phone chargers sticking out of it. Millions of Pakistanis suffer partial blackouts almost daily, including scheduled "load shedding" power cuts aimed at c

South Africa said on Monday it was "friends" with Russia as it hosted Russia's top diplomat for a visit that has sparked criticism against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. A continental powerhouse, South Africa has refused to condemn Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and last week announced it will host joint maritime drills with Russia and China in February. Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor defended the move on Monday as she welcomed her counterpart Sergei Lavrov for talks in Pretoria. "All countries conduct military exercises with friends," Ms Pandor told a press conference after the talks. She thanked Lavrov for the "most wonderful meeting," which she earlier said would have helped "strengthen the already good relations" with what she described as a "valued partner." South Africa recently assumed the chairmanship of the BRICS, a grouping that also includes Brazil, Russia, India, and China, to challenge the

South Africa said on Monday it was "friends" with Russia as it hosted Russia's top diplomat for a visit that has sparked criticism against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. A continental powerhouse, South Africa has refused to condemn Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and last week announced it will host joint maritime drills with Russia and China in February. Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor defended the move on Monday as she welcomed her counterpart Sergei Lavrov for talks in Pretoria. "All countries conduct military exercises with friends," Ms Pandor told a press conference after the talks. She thanked Lavrov for the "most wonderful meeting," which she earlier said would have helped "strengthen the already good relations" with what she described as a "valued partner." South Africa recently assumed the chairmanship of the BRICS, a grouping that also includes Brazil, Russia, India, and China, to challenge the

The death of the world's oldest person at the age of 118 has reignited a debate that has divided scientists for centuries: is there a limit on how long a healthy human can live? After French nun Lucile Randon died last week, Spanish great-grandmother Maria Branyas Morera, 115, has assumed the title of the oldest living person, according to Guinness World Records. Back in the 18th century, French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, known as the Comte de Buffon, theorised that a person who had not suffered an accident or illness could live for a theoretical maximum of 100 years. Since then, medical advancements and improving living conditions have pushed the limit back by a couple of decades. A new milestone was reached when Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment celebrated her 120th birthday in 1995. Calment died two years later at the age of 122. She remains the oldest person ever to have lived -- that has been verified, at least. According to the United Nations, there were an estimated 59

The death of the world's oldest person at the age of 118 has reignited a debate that has divided scientists for centuries: is there a limit on how long a healthy human can live? After French nun Lucile Randon died last week, Spanish great-grandmother Maria Branyas Morera, 115, has assumed the title of the oldest living person, according to Guinness World Records. Back in the 18th century, French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, known as the Comte de Buffon, theorised that a person who had not suffered an accident or illness could live for a theoretical maximum of 100 years. Since then, medical advancements and improving living conditions have pushed the limit back by a couple of decades. A new milestone was reached when Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment celebrated her 120th birthday in 1995. Calment died two years later at the age of 122. She remains the oldest person ever to have lived -- that has been verified, at least. According to the United Nations, there were an estimated 59

Big Tech firms and Wall Street titans are leading a string of layoffs across corporate America as companies look to rein in costs to ride out the economic downturn. Rapid interest rate hikes, weak consumer demand and an economic slowdown in China have forced firms such as Amazon, Walt Disney, Facebook-owner Meta and American banks to trim their workforce. As a pandemic-led demand boom rapidly fades, tech companies shed more than 150,000 workers in 2022, according to tracking site Layoffs.fyi, and more layoffs are expected as growth in the world's biggest economies start to slow. Here are some of the job cuts by major American companies announced in recent weeks. TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOM SECTOR Spotify Technology SA: Music streaming service Spotify is cutting 6 per cent of its workforce, or roughly 600 roles. Alphabet Inc: Alphabet Inc is eliminating 12,000 jobs, its chief executive said in a staff memo. Microsoft Corp: The US tech giant said it would cut 10,000 jobs