3 dead as rains wreak havoc in Japan
Tokyo, Aug 28 (IANS) Torrential rains in parts of Japan have left three people dead with the authorities on Wednesday asking residents to stay alert after flooding and landslides in many areas of the country….
International
Harvard freshman from Palestine denied US entry
Washington, Aug 28 (IANS) A Palestinian teenager admitted to Harvard University says he has been denied entry to the US after immigration officials objected to his friends’ social media posts. Ismail Ajjawi, a 17-year-old refugee…
Australia ‘cautious’ in offering aid to fight Amazon fires
Canberra, Aug 28 (IANS) Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday said that the fires raging across the Amazon rainforest are “distressing” but that his government must consider its own country’s challenges before offering help…
23 killed in Mexico nightclub fire
Mexico City, Aug 28 (IANS) Twenty-three people have been killed and 13 others injured in a suspected fire bomb attack at a bar in Mexico, the media reported on Wednesday. The deadly fire took place…
Two female police officers killed in Afghanistan
Kandahar (Afghanistan), Aug 28 (IANS) Suspected Taliban militants shot and killed two Afghan female police officers in the country’s Kandahar province on Wednesday, the police said. “Terrorists shot at two woman police officers in Chawk-e-Madad…
US-Russia nuclear war would destroy climate: Study
New York, Aug 28 (IANS) If the US and Russia waged an all-out nuclear war, much of the land in the northern hemisphere would have below freezing point temperatures in summertime, with the growing season…
Tough neighbourhoods’ kids more likely to be obese as adults
New York, Aug 28 (IANS) Parents, take note. Children who grow up in disadvantaged neighbourhoods are nearly one-third more likely to experience obesity as adults, warn researchers. “Growing up in a disadvantaged neighbourhood sticks with…
Trump to divert disaster aid for border detention
Washington, Aug 28 (IANS) The Trump administration is planning to use $271 million of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funds, including $155 million disaster relief aid, to detain and remove immigrants who cross the southern…
Pak sees record high fiscal deficit
Islamabad, Aug 28 (IANS) Pakistan’s economy is plunging into a deep crisis, even as its Prime Minister and all other leaders are preoccupied with issuing threats of war and jihad against India after the abrogation…
3 dead, 69 missing after ferry catches fire in Philippines
Manila, Aug 28 (IANS) Three people have been killed, including a one-year-old, and 69 remain missing after a ferry with at least 174 people on board caught fire in the Philippines. The fire started on…
Red wine improves gut health: Study
London, Aug 28 (IANS) Researchers have found that people who drink red wine have an increased gut microbiota diversity as well as lower levels of obesity and bad cholesterol. “Moderate red wine consumption is associated…
UN to welcome teen climate activist with 17 sailing ships
New York, Aug 28 (IANS) Teenage Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who refuses to travel by air to avoid excessive polluting emissions, is set to arrive in New York on Wednesday in a sailing yacht…
Malaysia launches main graft trial against Najib Razak
Kuala Lumpur, Aug 28 (IANS) Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak appeared before court on Wednesday for the first day of the main trial launched against him for his alleged involvement in a sprawling corruption…
Apple releases first iOS 13.1 developer beta
San Francisco, Aug 28 (IANS) Apple has released the first developer beta of iOS 13.1, even though the company has not yet released iOS 13, which is still being beta tested. The iOS 13.1 release…
Modi has recommitted to leading climate change fight: UN official
By Arul Louis United Nations, Aug 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recommitted to continue to lead the fight against climate change at his meeting with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to an official organising…
Pak shuts 3 international air routes till Saturday
Islamabad, Aug 28 (IANS) The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday closed three routes for all international Karachi-bound flights, a day after the country’s Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry said Pakistan was mulling “complete…
Google to shut down online job service ‘Hire’ in 2020
San Francisco, Aug 28 (IANS) Google will shut down its job application tracking system “Google Hire” that was launched just two years ago, the company said in a statement. The company had built “Hire” with…
UN experts criticise appointment of Lanka army commander
By Arul Louis United Nations, Aug 28 (IANS) A group of UN human rights experts have denounced as “an affront to the victims” the appointment of a controversial general facing allegations of serious human rights…
Authorities to send emergency alerts via Facebook in US
San Francisco, Aug 28 (IANS) Facebook has expanded its emergency alert feature to local governments and first responders in the US who can now use the feature to send alerts to communities in case of…
Rs 1.2 bn missing from SL cultural fund, probe ordered
Colombo, Aug 28 (IANS) Sri Lankas’ prime heritage management institution, the Central Cultural Fund (CCF), has billions of rupees missing from its accounts, reported Daily Mirror. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is said to have appointed…