Other News

Blinken says US, partners working tirelessly to avoid full-blown war in Lebanon

By Humeyra Pamuk NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday the risk of escalation in the Middle East was “acute” and that Washington and its allies were working tirelessly to avoid a full-blown war between Israel and Iran-aligned Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. “With regard to Lebanon, we’ve been working tirelessly with partners to avoid a full-blown war and to move to a diplomatic process that would allow Israelis and […]

Israeli warplanes hit Lebanon again as Hezbollah takes aim at Tel Aviv

By Maya Gebeily and Ari Rabinovitch BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel widened its airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday and shot down a missile that the armed group Hezbollah said it had fired at the Mossad spy agency near Tel Aviv, ratcheting up the conflict between the two arch-foes. The Iran-backed Hezbollah claimed to have targeted the Mossad headquarters with what it described as a ballistic missile – the first time in nearly a year of warfare that […]

Magnitude 5.9 earthquake shakes Japan, tsunami advisory in effect

Tokyo, Japan – A powerful earthquake struck the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo on Tuesday morning, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami advisory for the Izu and Ogasawara Islands. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that the magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred shortly after 8:00 AM local time. Following the seismic event, a 50-centimeter tsunami was observed in Hachijo-jima Island, while a 10-centimeter wave was recorded in Miyake-jima Island. The JMA warned that coastal areas could […]

Intrigue in Singapore as ex-minister prepares for rare corruption trial

By Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The highly anticipated corruption trial of Singapore’s former transport minister is due to start on Tuesday, in a rare graft case involving a state official in an Asian financial hub that prides itself on a clean governance. S. Iswaran faces 35 charges in a case that has gripped Singapore, a wealthy city-state where allegations of graft and political scandal are almost unheard of. Iswaran, 62, has rejected the allegations. […]

Canadian detained by China says he experienced psychological torture

OTTAWA (Reuters) -A Canadian man detained by China for more than 1,000 days said he was put into solitary confinement for months and interrogated for up to nine hours every day, treatment he said amounted to psychological torture. Michael Kovrig, speaking to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp in an interview released on Monday, also said he had missed the birth of his daughter and only met her for the first time when she was two-and-a half […]

Mexico issues red alert as Hurricane John barrels toward southern coast

By Fredy Garcia PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico (Reuters) -Mexico’s top disaster agency issued a red alert for parts of the country’s southern Pacific coast on Monday after Hurricane John rapidly strengthened to a Category 2 storm and threatened to get stronger before making landfall in the coming hours. The national Civil Protection agency issued its most serious warning for coastal regions of Mexico’s southern Guerrero and Oaxaca states, warning residents to seek shelter until authorities give […]

Trump says Zelenskiy wants Democrats to win US elections

By Kanishka Singh and Gram Slattery (Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Monday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wanted the Democrats to win the 2024 U.S. elections in which the former U.S. president faces Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump also said if he wins the election, he will call Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskiy and urge them to reach a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war. “I think Zelenskiy is […]

Zelenskiy says Ukraine closer to end of war with Russia

By Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his country is “closer to the end of the war” with Russia, according to excerpts of an interview with ABC News released on Monday. “I think that we are closer to the peace than we think,” he was quoted as saying. “We are closer to the end of the war.” In the interview, he urged Washington and other partners to continue supporting Ukraine. […]

California passes law to ban or restrict smartphones in school

By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) – California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on Monday a bill that requires schools to limit or ban the use of smartphones, amid a growing consensus that excess usage can increase the risk of mental illness and impair learning. Thirteen other states this year have banned or restricted cellphones in school or recommended local educators do so, after Florida led the way by banning phones in class in 2023, according […]

Magnitude 5.8 earthquake strikes Coquimbo in Chile, EMSC says

(Reuters) – An earthquake measuring 5.8 magnitude struck Coquimbo in Chile on Sunday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. The quake was at a depth of 38 kms (23.61 miles), EMSC said. 🔔#Earthquake (#sismo) M5.8 occurred 26 km NE of La Serena (#Chile) 5 min ago (local time 23:36:39). More info at: 📱https://t.co/QMSpuj6Z2H 🌐https://t.co/A1Gzwoaoni 🖥https://t.co/JUc5xwd41L pic.twitter.com/00H2I6MXOx — EMSC (@LastQuake) September 23, 2024     (Reporting by Angela Christy in Bengaluru)

Quad group expands maritime security cooperation at Biden’s farewell summit

By Trevor Hunnicutt and David Brunnstrom CLAYMONT, Delaware (Reuters) -Leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the United States expanded joint security steps in Asia’s trade-rich waters as outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden hosted counterparts from the Quad grouping established due to shared concerns about China. Biden, meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese near his Delaware hometown on Saturday, stressed the importance of maintaining the […]

At least 31 dead in Iran coal mine blast

DUBAI (Reuters) -A gas explosion in a coal mine in Iran’s South Khorasan Province killed at least 31 people and injured 16, the country’s interior minister Eskandar Momeni told state media on Sunday. Local media had reported earlier in the day that 51 people were killed following the accident they said was caused by a methane gas explosion in two blocks, B and C, of the privately-owned mine operated by the Madanjoo company. Momeni added […]