Category: World

NEW DELHI: At least 15 people died during a stampede at a railway station in India’s capital late Saturday when surging crowds scrambled to catch trains to the world’s largest religious gathering, a medical official told AFP. The Kumbh Mela attracts tens of millions of Hindu faithful every 12 years to the northern city of Prayagraj, and has a history of crowd-related disasters — including one last month, when at least 30 people died in another stampede at the holy confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers. —…

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President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Dominique Pradalié, met Friday with H.E. Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France to Pakistan, to discuss the current Pakistani media landscape including in light of developments in the legal framework in this regard. Ms. Pradalié emphasized the importance of upholding freedom of expression and press freedom, as enshrined in Pakistan’s Constitution and international conventions to which Pakistan is party. During the meeting, Ms. Pradalié expressed her gratitude to Ambassador Galey for the support of the French authorities in helping Afghan journalists continue their…

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BANGKOK: Beijing’s consulate general in the country reported that an explosion at a shop in northern Laos killed four people including Chinese nationals. The Chinese consulate in Luang Prabang said in a statement that the “blast” happened Friday at a Chinese store in Oudomxay province. The cause of explosion was under investigation, the consulate and local media reported. Three people were also injured in the “fire incident and explosion” at the shop in Nasao village, according to Laos National Radio. It meanwhile caused “significant damage” to surrounding houses, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported.…

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WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has established a new energy council to tackle the growing electricity demands, aiming to strengthen the country’s position in its artificial intelligence competition with China. “We’re going to be energy dominant like nobody else, and this doesn’t even cover all the electricity we’re going to be producing for all the AI plants,” Trump told reporters as he signed the order. “They need at least double the electricity we have right now,” he added. Trump’s Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, who also attended the signing,…

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WASHINGTON: In a sweeping move to slash the US bureaucracy, President Donald Trump, with the backing of his adviser Elon Musk, fired more than 9,500 federal workers on Friday, affecting roles from managing public lands to supporting military veterans. Workers at the Departments of Interior, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services had their employment terminated in a drive that so far has largely – but not exclusively – targeted probationary employees in their first year on the job who have fewer employment protections. Some agencies have been…

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ROME: Pope Francis was admitted to hospital on Friday to undergo tests and receive treatment for bronchitis, adding to a series of recent health issues faced by the head of the Catholic Church. Francis, who has been breathless in recent days and has delegated officials to read his speeches, held his morning meetings as planned before heading to Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican said. He was hospitalised for “some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue treatment for ongoing bronchitis in a hospital setting”, it said. Two audiences due to be…

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Canada’s ruling Liberal Party is choosing a new leader to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said in January he was stepping down after growing dissatisfaction over his leadership. The result is due to be announced on March 9. Why does there need to be a race? Unlike in Australia and Britain, where prime ministers are chosen by legislators and can be removed very quickly, the heads of political parties in Canada are chosen by members in special contests. Trudeau’s resignation automatically triggered a leadership race. The new head of…

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WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Thursday that India and the United States aim to double their trade to $500 billion by 2030, as US President Donald Trump proposed selling advanced fighter jets to India. Modi made the comment at a press conference after a summit meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington. Modi said the US and India would work together on artificial intelligence and semiconductors and focus on establishing strong supply chains for strategic minerals. The Indian leader vowed to ramp up trade, rekindling a bond…

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WASHINGTON: Robert F Kennedy Jr, a vaccine critic who has pledged to tackle chronic disease, was confirmed by the US Senate as Health Secretary on Thursday, after overcoming resistance from the medical establishment and members of Congress with promises to limit his role in vaccine policy. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order to establish a MAHA commission, named for Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News on Thursday. The order will direct the new secretary of the Health and Human Services…

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WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tesla CEO Elon Musk in Washington on Thursday, where they discussed space, technology, and mobility, including Starlink’s planned entry into India and broader cooperation in emerging innovations and governance. “Their discussion also touched on opportunities to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and good governance,” India’s foreign ministry said separately in a statement. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Modi was scheduled to meet Musk, CEO and founder of SpaceX, during his trip this week to the United States, with Starlink’s entry into the South Asian…

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