South Korea: Rival parties set to kick off parliamentary probe into election ballot shortage
Seoul, June 18 (IANS) The South Korean National Assembly was set to launch a parliamentary probe on Thursday into an unprecedented shortage of ballots reported during the recent local elections. The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) earlier agreed to seek parliamentary approval for the investigation plan and the […]
US President Donald Trump touts Iran deal as defining victory
Evian (France), June 18 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday mounted an aggressive defence of his Iran agreement, portraying it as a historic diplomatic achievement that prevented a wider Middle East war, reopened the Strait of Hormuz and permanently blocked Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Speaking at a lengthy news conference after the […]
Chinese FM Wang Yi to visit India for BRICS NSA meeting
Beijing, June 18 (IANS) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India to attend the 16th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors (NSAs) and High Representatives on National Security set to be held from June 22-23. Confirming the visit, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that Wang Yi will visit […]
100 million Chinese consumers struggling with debt repayments
New Delhi, June 18 (IANS) About 100 million Chinese consumers are struggling to repay personal debt, highlighting a growing financial strain that could undermine Beijing’s efforts to revive domestic consumption and support economic growth, according to multiple reports. Reports — citing Gavekal Dragonomics — claimed that non-performing household debt in China rose 21 per cent […]
US, Iran to meet Friday at Buergenstock: Swiss Foreign Ministry
Geneva, June 18 (IANS) The United States and Iran still plan to meet on Friday in the Buergenstock mountain resort in Switzerland for initial negotiations on the implementation of their agreement, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. Switzerland welcomes the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, said the […]
Moscow facing massive drone attack from Ukraine: Russian media
Moscow, June 18 (IANS) Russian air defence forces have shot down approximately 180 UAVs as Moscow continues to tackle a massive drone attack from Ukraine, the local media reported on Thursday. Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that it is the largest drone attack on the Russian capital in the last two years, the country’s state-owned […]
Kim Jong-un’s sister slams G7 call for denuclearisation, defends nuclear arms as ‘means of self-defence’
Seoul, June 18 (IANS) Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on Thursday denounced international calls for denuclearisation, describing the country’s nuclear weapons as its “core interests” and denuclearisation as a “line of no retreat that can never be crossed,” Pyongyang’s state media reported. In a statement carried by the Korean Central […]
Death toll from 6.7-magnitude quake in Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi rises to three
Jakarta, June 18 (IANS) The death toll from a 6.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province on Tuesday has risen to three, with 17 people seriously injured, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said Thursday. The BNPB also said that 91 people were wounded with minor injuries, while 6,412 people were affected by the […]
Russia and ASEAN adopt Kazan declaration, advance strategic partnership
Kazan (Russia), June 18 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) delegations on Thursday adopted the Kazan Declaration at the Russia-ASEAN summit, advancing their strategic partnership. The summit adopted four outcome documents: the Kazan Declaration 2026 ‘ASEAN-Russian Federation: Unity in Diversity – 35 Years Together’; the Joint Statement of […]
India’s tech solutions delivering prosperity at grassroots level: PM Modi
Paris, June 18 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India’s technology-driven solutions are creating prosperity at the grassroots level, highlighting how innovations in agriculture, fisheries, healthcare, and digital services are transforming lives across the country. Addressing the VivaTech 2026 conference here, PM Modi said India is leveraging technology not only to drive innovation […]
