Pray for safety and recovery of those affected by Japan earthquake: EAM Jaishankar

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New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday expressed concern at the news of the earthquake that struck Kumamoto prefecture in Japan earlier in the day.”Deeply concerned at the news of the earthquake that struck Kumamoto prefecture in Japan. Express our solidarity and support to the Government and people of Japan as they respond to it. Pray for the safety and recovery of those affected by the earthquake,” the EAM wrote on X.An earthquake of 7.1 magnitude jol…

Iran warns ships accepting compensation from its frozen assets will be barred from transiting Hormuz

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Tehran, July 28 (IANS) Iran’s main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said on Tuesday that vessels belonging to any country or company accepting compensation from Iran’s frozen assets would not be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB.A spokesman for the headquarters rejected US President Donald Trump’s statement that ships damaged by Iran in the Gulf would be compensated using Iran’s frozen funds.He said Iran believes the v…

Australia: Indian Air Force actively engages in Exercise Pitch Black

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Darwin (Australia), July 28 (IANS) The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday said that its contingent is actively engaged in the Exercise Pitch Black 2026 alongside the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Air Forces from 20 nations in Australia’s Darwin. Exercise Pitch Black 2026 is a biennial multinational air combat exercise that brings together Air Forces of top countries and provides a unique opportunity to enhance interoperability besides strengthening operational cooperation.”The Indian Air …

North Korea and Russia united by bridge, least visible connection to satellites: Report

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Moscow/Pyongyang, July 28 (IANS) Russia and North Korea are completing the first direct road connection, with the construction of a two-lane bridge, one kilometre long and about seven metres wide, over the Tumen River, between the localities of Khasan and Tumangang, which runs alongside the already existing railway connection.The infrastructure, the result of a project launched after the strategic partnership agreement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Supreme Leader of North Ko…

Over 40 suspected bandits killed in northern Nigeria

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Abuja, July 28 (IANS) At least 40 suspected bandits, including eight suspected senior commanders, were killed after Nigerian security forces repelled an attack on a village in the northern state of Katsina, a state government official said Tuesday.Nasir Mu’azu, commissioner for internal security and home affairs in Katsina State, said in a statement that joint security operatives engaged the bandits after the group attacked Guga village in Bakori Local Government Area on Sunday.According to Mu’a…

Explosion at mall in southwestern Japan leaves people trapped, injured after major earthquake

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Tokyo, July 28 (IANS) An explosion struck a large shopping centre in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, on Tuesday, leaving multiple people trapped and injured, public broadcaster NHK reported.According to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, information received from the local fire department indicated that part of Aeon Mall Kumamoto’s second floor had collapsed, with numerous people believed to be trapped inside.Firefighters were working to verify the situation and carry out rescue ope…

Brief alert issued after US military reports low-risk white phosphorus leak at air base

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Pyeongtaek (South Korea), July 28 (IANS) A brief evacuation alert was issued Tuesday in the regional city of Pyeongtaek, home to the US Forces Korea, following a report of a minor white phosphorus leak at the US base that officials say posed a low risk.Police and fire authorities said they received calls from the US military at around 5:07 pm reporting the leak of the toxic chemical substance at the K-55 US Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 60 kilometres south of Seoul.The Pyeongtaek city gover…

Uganda declares end of Ebola outbreak

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Kampala, July 28 (IANS) Uganda’s Ministry of Health on Tuesday officially declared an end to the current Ebola outbreak, saying advances in epidemiological investigations and the fully characterised nature of the outbreak provided sufficient scientific evidence that transmission had been interrupted. “The Ministry of Health is pleased to announce that Uganda has officially declared the end of the 2026 Ebola disease outbreak. Today, Uganda is Ebola-free,” said a statement quoting Health Minister …

Afghanistan: Taliban official shot dead in Badakhshan

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Kabul, July 28 (IANS) The Taliban’s Director of Information and Culture in Badakhshan, Zabihullah Amiri, was shot dead in a targetted attack in Afghanistan on Tuesday, local media reported, citing information from local officials. The Taliban’s police command in Badakhshan, Hesanullah Kamgar, said that Amiri was attacked when he was heading to his office along the Baharak-Faizabad highway. The Taliban said security personnel who were accompanying Amiri killed one of the attackers at the spot, wh…

India and China taking forward border trade resumption through three designated points: MEA

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New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said that New Delhi and Beijing were moving ahead with their earlier understanding on the resumption of border trade through the designated trading points of Lipulekh, Shipki La and Nathu La Pass. Addressing the bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the decision dated back to August 19, 2025 with both India and China now taking forward the understanding.“I would like to draw …