South Africa

Brisbane Olympics leader marks one year in long run up to 2032

19 Apr 2023 01:05 AM IST

In the 12 months since his appointment as the inaugural president of the organizing committee for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, Andrew Liveris has refined his vision of what the Summer Games will look like in nine years. He foresees a bit of Barcelona, a little dose of London and lot

Environment groups sue EU over green label for gas and nuclear

19 Apr 2023 01:04 AM IST

Environmental groups have started legal action against the European Union’s executive branch in a bid to block a move to include natural gas and nuclear power generation on a list of sustainable activitiesThe list proposed by the European Commission drew fierce criticism and accusations of greenwashing. On Tuesday, Greenpeace said

CBC ‘pausing’ Twitter after ‘govt-funded media’ label

19 Apr 2023 01:03 AM IST

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation paused its use of Twitter on Monday after the social media platform owned by Elon Musk stamped CBC’s account with a label the public broadcaster says is intended to undermine its credibility. Twitter labelled CBC/Radio-Canada “government-funded media” — the same label that prompted National Public Radio

Kuwait prince dissolves parliament after court decision

19 Apr 2023 01:02 AM IST

Kuwait’s crown prince has ordered its parliament again dissolved and new elections for the country after a court decision reinstated lawmakers from 2020. Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber made the announcement Monday in an address to the nation as the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan draws to an

Boosted by consumption China’s GDP grew by 4.5% in first quarter

19 Apr 2023 01:00 AM IST

China’s gross domestic product grew 4.5% in the first quarter of the year, boosted by increased consumption and retail sales, after authorities abruptly abandoned the stringent “zero-COVID” strategy. The growth in the world’s No. 2 economy from January to March compared to the same period in 2022 was the fastest

U.S, Japan plant White House cherry tree to mark friendship

18 Apr 2023 23:35 PM IST

Stepping gingerly over the lawn in their spiky heels, first lady Jill Biden and Yuko Kishida, the wife of Japan’s prime minister, planted a cherry tree at the White House on Monday to honour decades of friendship between their countries. “This is how you always plant a tree,” Biden said,

Musk TO create ‘TruthGPT’ to counter AI ‘bias

18 Apr 2023 23:34 PM IST

Billionaire Twitter owner Elon Musk is again sounding warning bells on the dangers of artificial intelligence to humanity — and claiming that a popular chatbot has a liberal bias that he plans to counter with his own AI creation. Musk told Fox News host Tucker Carlson in a segment aired

Iran renews threats against Israel during Army Day parade

18 Apr 2023 23:32 PM IST

Iran’s president on Tuesday reiterated threats against Israel while marking the country’s annual Army Day, though he stayed away from criticising Saudi Arabia as Tehran seeks a détente with the kingdom. The comments by Ebrahim Raisi came as fighter jets and helicopters flew overhead in Tehran, and as Iranian submarines

US approves F-16 upgrade after Turkey eases stand on NATO

18 Apr 2023 23:27 PM IST

The US agreed Monday to sell Turkey $259 million in software it has long sought to upgrade its fleet of US F-16 fighter jets. State Department approval of the sale comes about two weeks after Turkey dropped its objections to Finland joining NATO. Turkey continues to withhold its approval for

G7 vows ‘severe costs’ against countries helping Russia in war

18 Apr 2023 23:26 PM IST

Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven countries have condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia›s war of aggression against Ukraine and warned that any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons by Moscow would be met with «severe consequences.» In a joint statement issued after two days of talks

China: 21 killed after fire breaks out in Beijing’s hospital, 71 patients evacuated

18 Apr 2023 22:11 PM IST

At least 21 people died in Beijing on Tuesday after a fire erupted at Changfeng Hospital, The Global Times reported citing media reports. A total of 71 patients were evacuated from the site. The fire was reported at the in-patient department of a hospital in the Fengtai district of Beijing,

NIA takes over London High Commission violence case

18 Apr 2023 18:21 PM IST

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into Sikh extremists’19 March assault on the Indian National Flag at the Indian High Commission in London. According to Delhi Police, the Home Ministry handed over the investigation to the NIA on 13 April after the Special Cell registered a