A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off the north-east coast of Japan Monday, prompting authorities to issue a 9.8-foot tsunami warning. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that waves as tall as 3 meters can be expected in the Iwate prefecture and parts of Hokkaido and Aomori, while tsunami warnings...
At the UN's regional forum in Bangkok, senior UN officials and national delegates have warned that the impact of the Middle East war is being felt far beyond the region, with growing consequences for economies and vulnerable populations across Asia and the Pacific. Addressing the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's 82nd session in Bangkok, Deputy Secretary-General Amina M
Iran's military has vowed retaliation following the seizure of an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman by U.S. forces, leaving the potential bilateral talks to end the Middle East war in jeopardy. The Trump administration had announced that the second round of US-Iran talks will commence Monday in Pakistan's capital, which is under tight security. But Iranian foreign ministry said there are n
UN independent human rights experts have called for justice and accountability for young women and girls who were trafficked systematically as part of allegations contained in the so-called Epstein files. The Human Rights Council-appointed experts also issued a general warning over the "continuing violence of patriarchal power systems" revealed in the files, which the US Department of Justice beg
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration have announced a new action to prevent widespread flight delays this summer at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, or ORD. The FAA's action - known as a scheduling reduction - limits daily operations to 2,708 flights...
The United States and the Philippines have announced plans to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub to secure inputs vital to American and global supply chains. The site is located in the Luzon Economic Corridor of the Philippines. The site — the first of its kind — is being designated by the Philippines...
A pause in fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, and President Donald Trump's statement that the US and Iran are "very close" to making a deal to end the weeks-old Middle East war has sent oil prices down on Friday. Brent crude oil price decreased by more than 3 percent to $96.33 a barrel, while the US-traded WTI fell by nearly 4 percent to $91.10. Oil has been trading b
President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that a deal with Iran is on the cards, and a second round of negotiations to end the Middle East war could resume next weekend. Speaking at a campaign event in Las Vegas Thursday to promote his administration's economic policies and tax cuts, Trump said, "The war in Iran is going along swimmingly. It should be ending pretty soon." Earlier, Trump to
A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect at midnight in Beirut, offering a pause in Middle East war after weeks of fighting. The ceasefire is set to last for 10 days initially, that could be extended, according to Washington. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it will pave the way for a "historic peace agreement" with Lebanon. He said Israeli Defense Forces wil
The U.S. Government has intensified pressure on Iran's illicit oil transportation infrastructure by sanctioning more than two dozen individuals, companies, and vessels operating within the network of Iranian oil shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani. Shamkhani is the son of Ali Shamkhani, who...
A resolutions that would block the transfer of select weapons to Israel has failed in the Senate for the fourth time. The resolutions, which aimed at limiting President Donald Trump's power to wage war against Iran, was rejected by 52 to 47 votes, mostly along party lines. Democrat Senator John Fetterman opposed the Bill, while Republican Senator Rand Paul voted for the measure, which would have
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that Iran will definitely participate in the U.S.-hosted World Cup football championship, which is set to kick off in June. Iran is scheduled to play three group stage matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in U.S. venues, including Los Angeles and Seattle. Iran's participation in the high-profile four-year football gala had been in doubt since the o
USS Gerald R. Ford has broken the record for the longest carrier deployment since the Vietnam War. The sailors of USS Gerald R. Ford said goodbye to their families in Norfolk last June thinking they would be back before the holidays. But after being ordered from the Mediterranean to the coast of Venezuela and then to the Middle East, Ford on Wednesday broke the record for the longest modern carri
As NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic jet takes to the air, its sleek configuration is now on display thanks to a key milestone it reached recently - flying wheels-up. The transition marks an important step in the aircraft's testing. Experimental aircraft typically make their earliest test flights with the landing gear down, then begin retracting it after successfully meeting performance benchmarks. Th
President Donald Trump has said in an interview with the New York Post that US-Iran Talks to end the Middle East war could be revived "in the next two days". In a preview of an interview released by Fox News, Trump said the war is "very close to over". The two-week ceasefire, agreed by the United States and Iran to end the Middle East war, is set to expire on April 23. In other development in
April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.