WORLD

Juba, March 11 (IANS) South Sudan President Salva Kiir dismissed three ministers in the latest cabinet reshuffle on Monday amid an ongoing political crisis that threatens the unity government, which was formed under a 2018 peace deal that ended the country's five-year civil war.In a presidential decree broadcast on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, Kiir removed Ruben Madol Arol as minister of justice and constitutional affairs and replaced him with Wek Mamer Kuol, a former deputy cabinet minister.Awut Deng Acuil was relieved of her duties as minister of general education and instruction, with educationist Kuyok Abol Kuyok set to assume the role. Joseph Mum Majak was dismissed as minister of trade and industryBoth Deng and Madol have held ministerial positions since 2020...

Seoul, March 11 (IANS) Two South Korean Air Force unit commanders were dismissed on Tuesday over fighter jets' accidental bombing of a village last week, the armed services said, citing charges of dereliction of duty and insufficient supervision.On Thursday, two KF-16 fighter jets dropped eight 500-pound MK-82 bombs outside a training range in Pocheon, some 40 kilometres north of Seoul, during live-fire drills, injuring 31 people, including 19 civilians."The Air Force dismissed a colonel-level group commander and a lieutenant colonel-level squadron commander who were identified to have breached their duty to abide by regulations," the armed forces said in a notice to reporters.It cited a major dereliction of duty, and insufficient command management and supervision as reasons for the decis...

Port Louis, March 11 (IANS) The government of Mauritius on Tuesday announced its decision to bestow the country's highest honour 'The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his ongoing two-day State Visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago. Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam made the announcement just before PM Modi began addressing the Indian community in Mauritius on Tuesday evening. Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian to receive the honour.It is also the 21st international award bestowed upon PM Modi by a country."It is very fitting for you, Prime Minister. Since we became a republic, only five foreign dignitaries have got that title and among them there is a person who we call the 'Gandhi of Africa' - ...

Islamabad, March 11 (IANS) The targeted attack of Jaffar Express passenger train by militants of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) at Mashkaf, Dhadar, Bolan, has now become a standoff between the security forces and the militants, who have taken over 100 passengers as hostages. While BLA claims that it has taken at least 100 Pakistani military officials and personnel hostage after derailing the express train, Pakistani authorities said that the passenger train was carrying civilians and families, including women and children, who it says are under the custody of BLA militants after stopping the train in a tunnel."Terrorists have halted the train inside a tunnel to keep the hostages in control. Security forces have reached the area despite it being away from the roads. Terrorists are also i...

Islamabad, March 11 (IANS) In a major embarrassment to Islamabad, the United States denied entry to a top Pakistani diplomat and deported him from Los Angeles over "controversial visa references", local media in Pakistan reported on Tuesday. Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkmenistan, K K Wagan was reportedly travelling to Los Angeles for a personal visit when he was stopped by the US immigration authorities upon arrival.The US authorities flagged Wagan over "controversial visa references", leading to his immediate deportation even though it remains unclear what specific concerns triggered this response from the American authorities.The Pakistani Foreign Office confirmed on Tuesday that their officer had gone to the US on a private visit. The Foreign Office spokesperson said that the Ministry ...

Islamabad, March 11 (IANS) A passenger train in Pakistan's Balochistan province came under a major attack on Tuesday, forcing the train to derail and allowing enough time for the attackers to take over 100 passengers hostage. As per latest reports, at least six people are confirmed dead while several others have been injured in the terror incident.The attack was carried out on Jaffar Express passenger train when it was crossing from Ab-e-Ghum area of Mach Town in the Kachhi district (formerly named Bolan District) of Balochistan province.Details reveal that about six armed men opened fire on the train. The heavy firing forced the train off the track, spreading panic among the passengers.Pakistan-based militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, stati...

Port Louis, March 11 (IANS) In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday handed over OCI (Overseas Citizen Of India) cards to Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool and First Lady Vrinda Gokhool, on the first day of his visit to the island nation. Prime Minister Modi called on President Gokhool at the State House and the two leaders exchanged views on deepening the special and close bilateral ties between India and Mauritius."In this context, they recalled the shared history between the two countries and the existence of strong people-to-people linkages. Prime Minister noted that it was an honour for him to attend the National Day celebrations of Mauritius as Chief Guest for the second time," read a statement issued by Prime Minister's Office (PMO)."Prime Minister also vi...

Tokyo, March 11 (IANS) Japan on Tuesday marks the 14th anniversary since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the nation in 2011, triggering a nuclear accident that continues to affect the region.Attending a memorial service hosted by Fukushima Prefecture, where the crippled Daiichi nuclear power complex is located, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba offered his condolences and pledged to make Japan a world leader in disaster prevention, local media reported."We will leverage our experience from the disaster to implement thorough disaster preparedness and strengthen our response system," Ishiba said.When the triple disasters struck 14 years ago, scores of people were forced from their homes. The disaster-prone nation has since taken steps to be better prepared for natural calamities, i...

Seoul, March 11 (IANS) Some lawmakers of South Korea's Opposition parties on Tuesday launched a hunger strike calling for a verdict by the Constitutional Court to officially remove impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his failed bid to impose martial law.A group of opposition lawmakers, including from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Progressive Party, went on the hunger strike urging the court swiftly dismiss Yoon, who was released from detention last Saturday.Yoon's release came as another court allowed him to stand trial without physical detention, citing some questions about the legality of investigations over his charges."Yoon Suk Yeol must return to jail," they said, calling on the court to "immediately detain Yoon, the maste...

Taipei, March 11 (IANS) Taiwan is set to introduce a bill to make tougher laws for spies and punish active military personnel who pledge loyalty to an enemy and damage military interests, local media reported.The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence on Monday said that under the proposed bill, active military personnel who pledge loyalty to an enemy through speech, actions, words, pictures, digital records, or other methods sufficiently to harm military interests would face a prison sentence of one to seven years.The ministry stated that in the past few years, the military has collaborated with national security agencies to crack down on Chinese spying, which showed that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) espionage and spying activities are becoming more rampant, as reported by leading ...