6.0-magnitude earthquake jolts Japan, no tsunami alert
Tokyo, May 21 - A 6.0 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday struck near the Ogasawara Islands in the Pacific Ocean, south of Tokyo, with no tsunami warnings issued, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.
OpenAI removes AI voice that sounds similar to actress Scarlett Johansson
New Delhi, May 21 - OpenAI has announced to pause one of the voices used by its AI chatbot called ChatGPT that sounds similar to Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson.
Trump’s close aides in Israel, meet Netanyahu & Oppn leader
Tel Aviv, May 21 - Three former US foreign policy officials in Donald Trump’s administration are in Israel and have met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the opposition leader, Yair Lapid.
Iran to hold presidential election on June 28
Tehran, May 21 - Iran's government has decided that the country's 14th presidential election will be held on June 28, the media reported.
President Raisi’s body to be buried on Thursday in Mashhad: Iranian VP
Tehran, May 21 - Iranian Vice-President for Executive Affairs, Mohsen Mansouri, has said that the body of President Ebrahim Raisi would be buried on Thursday in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
UN Security Council mourns death of Iranian President Raisi
United Nations, May 21 - Members of the UN Security Council have observed a minute of silence to mourn the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other passengers in the helicopter crash late last week.
UN Middle East envoy calls for resumption of Israel-Hamas talks
United Nations, May 21 - UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, has called for the resumption of negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
UK PM apologises for infected blood scandal cover-up
London, May 21 - The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologised for the infected blood scandal on behalf of successive governments and declared it was a "day of national shame".
Schools in Pakistan’s Punjab to remain closed for 7 days from May 25 amid heatwave
Islamabad, May 21 - In the wake of a surge in temperature and heatwave in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, all public and private schools will remain closed for seven days on May 25-31, local authorities said.
Spain to send Leopard 2 tanks & Patriot missiles to Ukraine in June
Madrid, May 21 - Spain will deliver a further batch of German-made Leopard 2A4 battle tanks, along with Patriot anti-aircraft missiles and other ammunition to Ukraine, by the end of June, said the Defence Ministry in Madrid
UK infected blood scandal ‘could largely have been avoided’: Inquiry report
London, May 21 - A contaminated blood scandal in the UK, which has caused more than 3,000 deaths, "could largely, though not entirely, have been avoided," according to the inquiry report on the scandal.
UNRWA says land crossings mostly feasible, effective way to deliver aid to Gaza
Gaza, May 21 - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has said that land crossings are the most feasible and effective way to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip.
Sri Lankan govt to introduce 2 bills to bolster economy
Colombo, May 21 - The Sri Lankan government will introduce two significant bills aimed at bolstering the country's economy to Parliament on Wednesday, a Minister said.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 35,562: Ministry
Gaza, May 21 - The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 35,562, Gaza health authorities said in a press statement.
Indonesia’s Mount Ibu erupts again, sending 5 km of volcanic ash
Jakarta, May 21 - Ibu volcano in Indonesia's Halmahera Island erupted again, sending volcanic ash as high as 5,000 metre to its peak, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation said.
US ‘reaffirms support for Iranian people’ after President Raisi’s death
Washington, May 21 - The US has expressed its "official condolences" for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other members of their delegation killed in a helicopter crash.
House-to-house fighting near Russian border: Kharkiv governor
Kiev, May 21 - Ukrainian forces have halted a Russian attack in the Kharkiv region in the northeast of the country, Kharkiv military governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Netanyahu predicts warrant application will turn ICC into a ‘farce’
Tel Aviv, May 21 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor to apply for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders will bring shame down on the court and turn it into a farce.
Biden slams ‘outrageous’ ICC request for Netanyahu’s arrest warrant
Washington, May 21 - US President Joe Biden has termed as "outrageous" the application by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to have an arrest warrant issued against Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
Container ship Dali that brought down Baltimore bridge moved from crash site
Baltimore, May 20 - Container ship 'Dali' that brought down the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Bridge in Baltimore on March 26 was re-floated on Monday for the first time in nearly eight weeks.