International

Unplugged bliss: Spain’s power outage turns cities into street parties with concerts, picnics and much more

While the blackout brought cities to a standstill, it also sparked something unexpected and heartwarming Hyderabad: A massive and unprecedented power outage hit Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France earlier this week (March 28), disrupting the daily lives of millions. The blackout, which began midday on Monday, left people without electricity, subway services, phone lines, ATMs, traffic lights, and other basic necessities. Major cities such as Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona remained without power throughout the day. The exact cause of the outage is still under investigation, though early reports suggest a possible failure of an electricity interconnector—a high-voltage land or subsea cable that links national electricity grids. While the blackout brought cities to a standstill, it also sparked something unexpected…

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Pahalgam terror attack: EAM Jaishankar speaks to US Secretary of State Rubio

The phone conversation came amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan over the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 civilians New Delhi: The perpetrators, backers and planners of the Pahalgam terror attack must be brought to justice, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday, hours after his phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The phone conversation came amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan over the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 civilians. “Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice,” the External Affairs Minister said on ‘X’. Citing “cross-border linkages” to the horrific attack, India has promised severe punishment to those involved in…

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NASA astronauts step outside space station to perform 5th all-female spacewalk

NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers are the two female astronauts among seven living on the international space station at present. Also, they are the fifth pair to do all-female spacewalk in 60 years of spacewalking Cape Canaveral: An astronaut who missed out on the first all-female spacewalk because of a spacesuit sizing issue got her chance six years later on Thursday. NASA’s Anne McClain emerged from the International Space Station alongside Nichole Ayers. Both military officers and pilots, they launched to the orbiting lab in March to replace NASA’s two stuck astronauts, who are now back home. Minutes before floating out, McClain noticed strands of string on the index finger of her right glove. Mission Control briefly delayed the start…

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Ukraine and US have finally signed minerals deal. What does it include?

The deal covers minerals, including rare earth elements, but also other valuable resources including oil and natural gas. It does not include resources that are already a source of revenue for the Ukrainian State Kyiv: After months of tense negotiations, the US and Ukraine signed a deal that is expected to give Washington access to the country’s critical minerals and other natural resources, an agreement Kyiv hopes will secure long-term support for its defense against Russia. According to Ukrainian officials, the version of the deal signed on Wednesday is far more beneficial to Ukraine than previous versions, which they said reduced Kyiv to a junior partner and gave Washington unprecedented rights to the country’s resources. The deal itself has not yet…

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US launches next-generation universal vaccine platform for pandemic-prone viruses

The platform is based on a beta-propiolactone (BPL)-inactivated, whole-virus approach – a modernised take on traditional vaccine technology, according to the NIH on Thursday. Los Angeles: The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) have announced the launch of Generation Gold Standard, a next-generation universal vaccine platform designed to combat pandemic-prone viruses. The platform is based on a beta-propiolactone (BPL)-inactivated, whole-virus approach – a modernised take on traditional vaccine technology, according to the NIH on Thursday. This initiative represents a decisive shift toward transparency, effectiveness, and comprehensive preparedness, funding the NIH’s in-house development of universal influenza and coronavirus vaccines, including candidates BPL-1357 and BPL-24910, said the NIH in a statement. These vaccines…

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Trump threatens Iran oil sanctions after next round of indirect talks postponed

Trump implemented what he calls a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran since taking office in January, including tougher sanctions on oil exports and threats of military action, Xinhua news agency reported. Los Angeles: US President Donald Trump has reissued threats against Iran, saying any country or person that buys oil or petrochemicals from Iran would face immediate US sanctions, after the indirect talks between the two countries were postponed. “All purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW! Any Country or person who buys ANY AMOUNT of OIL or PETROCHEMICALS from Iran will be subject to, immediately, Secondary Sanctions,” Trump wrote on Thursday on Truth Social. “They will not be allowed to do business with the United States of America in any…

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Pakistan minister says India’s military action within 24 to 36 hours

Pakistan Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar holds an emergency press meet at 2 am on Wednesday, saying that there were ‘intelligence reports of military action against their country within the next 24 to 36 hours’ Islamabad: Amid looming fears of strong action from India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar held an emergency press meet at 2 am on Wednesday, saying that there were ‘intelligence reports of military action against their country within the next 24 to 36 hours’. Addressing an emergency press conference, Tarar said credible intelligence-based information has warned of an Indian military action. “We have credible intelligence-based information that India is planning a military…

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After LoC, Pakistan violates ceasefire on International Border in Jammu

The Pakistan Army had already initiated unprovoked firing on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday for the sixth consecutive day as the Indian Army responded swiftly and proportionately Jammu: After resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violation on the Line of Control (LoC) consecutively for the last six days, Pakistani troops on Wednesday initiated unprovoked firing on the International Border (IB) in the Jammu district. The Defence ministry spokesman said, “Further to the previous update about 29-30 April (Night), unprovoked small arms firing by Pakistan Army was also reported from their posts across the LoC in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, as well as across the International Border in the Pargwal Sector.” “Indian Army troops responded appropriately,” the spokesman said. The Pakistan…

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Tariff talks with India are going great, think we will have deal: Donald Trump

Trump made remarks while speaking to reporters before departing White House for a rally in Michigan marking the first 100 days of his second administration. “India is coming along great. I think we’ll have a deal with India,” said the president New York/Washington: US President Donald Trump said negotiations with India over a bilateral trade deal are “coming along great” and he thinks Washington will “have a deal” with New Delhi. Trump made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking to reporters before departing the White House for a rally in Michigan marking the first 100 days of his second administration. “India is coming along great. I think we’ll have a deal with India,” said the president. “The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi),…

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3 astronauts return to Earth after 6 months on China’s space station

Their return had been delayed by a day due to strong winds and low visibility. The area is prone to sandstorms this time of year Beijing: Three Chinese astronauts landed back on Earth on Wednesday after six months on China’s space station. The crew’s landing module came down slowly after separating from the return vehicle, descending on a red-and-white parachute, in Dongfeng, in China’s northern Inner Mongolia region on the edge of the Gobi Desert. Their return had been delayed by a day due to strong winds and low visibility. The area is prone to sandstorms this time of year. The astronauts, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, were launched to the Tiangong space station in October, and they turned…

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