WORLD

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Bangladesh stands on the threshold of a historic milestone as fuel loading is scheduled to start at the first unit of the country’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant on April 7, bringing the reactor alive for the generation of electricity, according to an article in the Dhaka-based The Daily Star newspaper.Fuel loading is one of the most delicate and sensitive phases in the life of a nuclear reactor. Consequently, issues of safety, radiation control, and technological reliability become paramount as even a minor lapse can have consequences of extraordinary magnitude, Physics Professor at Dhaka University, Dr Kamrul Hassan Mamun, states in the article.He cites the examples of the Chernobyl disaster and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster to illustrate how rare but ca...

Suva, March 26 (IANS) India's High Commissioner to Fiji Suneet Mehta held a meeting with Fiji's Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna on Thursday, with discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture and capacity building."High Commissioner Suneet Mehta was pleased to call on Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry, Hon. Tomasi Tunabuna," Indian High Commission in Suva posted on X. "Productive discussions were held focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, capacity building, further deepening the strong and growing partnership between our two nations and people," it added. On March 10, India and Fiji held discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in myriad areas, including digital and m...

Islamabad, March 26 (IANS) The recently released government report titled 'Public Financing in Education 2025–26' has revealed that Pakistan's education system is struggling with severe underfunding, weak learning outcomes, and millions of children left behind, a report has stated.According to the statistics presented in the report, more than 25.37 million children remain out of school, and 77 per cent of the school-going 10-year-olds are virtually illiterate. These numbers showcase a national emergency that poses a threat to Pakistan's social progress and economic development."One of the most troubling aspects revealed in the report is the declining share of education spending in the national economy. Education expenditure has consistently remained below international benchmarks, avera...

Geneva, March 26 (IANS) The Baloch National Movement (BNM) accused the Pakistani authorities of serious human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture across Balochistan, during the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.Addressing the session, Naseem Baloch, chairman of the BNM, stated that the European Union granted Pakistan special trade status under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) with the expectation that Islamabad would comply with international conventions on human rights, labour rights, and democratic governance. However, he added that the situation on the ground in Pakistan presents a starkly different picture. For decades, Naseem said, the people of Balochistan have faced systematic and wides...

Dhaka, March 26 (IANS) Bangladesh's Awami League on Thursday reiterated its commitment to uphold the principles of the 1971 Liberation War, defend democratic values, and pursue economic emancipation on the occasion of the country’s 56th Independence Day.The nation observes Independence Day and National Day on March 26 in honour of the freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the country’s independence, local media reported.The armed struggle for independence commenced in the early hours of March 26, 1971, following the brutal crackdown on the unarmed Bangladeshis by the Pakistani forces on the night of March 25, 1971, referred to as "Genocide Day".Recalling Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League paid tribute to him -- describing him as the supreme architect of Bangladesh...

Tokyo, March 26 (IANS) More than 600 students and staff members at multiple schools in Kumatori Town, Osaka have reported symptoms of food poisoning, public broadcaster NHK reported Thursday.Students and staff members at eight elementary and junior high schools in the town have successively developed symptoms, including diarrhea and vomiting, since last Thursday. As of Tuesday, the total number of those affected reached 633, according to the report.The local health center detected norovirus in some of the affected students. The same virus was also found in employees of a company that supplied bread for school lunches to all elementary and junior high schools in the town, Xinhua news agency reported.Based on these findings, the public health centre determined that the outbreak was caused by...

Washington, March 26 (IANS) Social Security, the backbone of retirement security for millions of Americans, is approaching a financial cliff, with lawmakers warning that benefits could be cut sharply within the decade if Congress fails to act.At a Senate Budget Committee hearing, lawmakers from both parties said the programme faces a worsening funding gap driven by demographic shifts, rising costs and insufficient revenue. Projections show the main trust fund could be exhausted as early as 2032, leaving the system able to pay only a fraction of scheduled benefits.“This program is under stress because of demographics,” Senator Lindsey Graham said, pointing to fewer workers supporting a growing number of retirees.Officials warned that once the trust fund is depleted, benefits could be cut by...

Washington, March 26 (IANS) US lawmakers grappled with a difficult question facing modern finance -- how to embrace new technology without exposing investors and markets to fresh risks.At a congressional hearing on Wednesday (local time), policymakers and industry leaders debated the rise of tokenised securities, a fast-evolving system that promises quicker trades and wider access, but also raises concerns about oversight, transparency and financial stability.House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill said tokenisation -- using distributed ledger technology to represent financial instruments -- could improve “efficiency, transparency and accessibility” in capital markets.But he cautioned that the transition raises “very important legal and regulatory policy questions” and m...

Tokyo, March 26 (IANS) Japan began releasing 30 days' worth of oil from state reserves on Thursday to cushion the impact of the West Asia conflict on its economy, as concerns over supply mount and oil prices soar, local media reported.The move came after the country started drawing down 15 days' worth of oil from private-sector stockpiles last Monday, reports Xinhua news agencyThe government plans to sell a total of about 8.5 million kiloliters of oil from 11 storage bases across the country, according to Kyodo News.Japan will also begin to tap joint oil reserves held in the country by three Middle Eastern nations, including the United Arab Emirates, with five days' worth to be released by next Tuesday for supply to oil wholesalers.Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90 per cent ...

Washington, March 26 (IANS) A US jury has found Meta and YouTube liable in a landmark case, ruling that their platforms harmed a young user through addictive design features and failed to warn of risks to children and teens.Delivered by a Los Angeles court, the ruling marks one of the most significant legal setbacks for major social media companies in years. Jurors found Instagram’s parent Meta and Google-owned YouTube negligent for operating products that harmed young users and for failing to adequately warn about those dangers.The case was brought by a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kaley G.M., who testified that her use of the platforms began in childhood and dominated her life for years. She said it contributed to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and body dysmor...