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US railroad company CEO 'deeply sorry' for toxic train derailment
At a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Shaw said the railroad "will clean the site safely, thoroughly, and with urgency", noting that the company has committed to reimbursements and investments of more than $20 million in order to address the impact of the derailment, reports Xinhua news agency. Senator Thomas Carper said the hearing "is an opportunity to put ourselves in the shoes of those impacted by this disaster, examine the immediate response and ensure long-term accountability for the clean-up efforts".
Aid agencies call on donors to urgently fund Somalia's drought crisis
The aid agencies, including Save the Children, Oxfam, World Concern and Action Against Hunger, among others, said in an open letter to the donors that actions should be taken before it is too late, reports Xinhua news agency. "It is human actions that are driving famine and hunger, and it is our actions that can stop the worst impacts of losing lives. We call on you to take action now," the organisations said.
Over 320 foreign criminals, immigration offenders returned in Feb: UK
The people who were returned to their home countries included over 200 foreign national offenders, over 30 asylum offenders and over 85 non-asylum offenders, with more than 15 known to have arrived in the UK via small boats. The foreign national offenders removed were convicted of crimes including rape and the supply of drugs. They had a total combined sentence of more than 145 years.
Trump may be charged in connection with hush money paid to adult film star
A city prosecutor has "signalled" Trump's lawyers that he could face criminal charges in the 2016 incident, The New York Times reported on Thursday evening citing unnamed sources. NBC news also reported quoting his lawyers that Trump had been asked to appear before a grand jury investigating the case, which is usually an indication that an indictment or framing of charges was likely.
Xi Jinping unanimously elected Chinese President for historic 3rd term
He was also elected as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), reports Xinhua news agency.Nearly 3,000 members of the (NPC) voted unanimously at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for Xi to be President in an election where there was no other candidate.Following the election, the 69-year-old President also made a public pledge of allegiance.
UN experts ask Pakistan to probe 'Kill List'
The letter urged the government to respond within 60 days, failing which the communication and any response received from the government would be made public and also made available in the report to the Human Rights Council. As of now, the letter does not carry any government response, suggesting that no response has been provided, The Express Tribune reported.
Sweden, Finland discuss NATO accession with Turkey
Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in 2022 but faced objections from NATO-member Turkey on the grounds that the two countries harbour members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), considered a terrorist group by Ankara. The accession needs a unanimous agreement by all members of NATO.
7 dead in Germany church shooting
Earlier media reports said the shooting, which occurred around 9 p.m. on Thursday night, killed six people. But one more body was found on the upper part of the building later, Xinhua news agency reported citing the German newspaper Bild as saying. Police have said that a gunman is believed to be dead, but it remains unclear if the attacker is among seven fatalities, the newspaper added.
India taking steps to counter manufacture of illegal synthetic drugs
The annual report released by INCB President Jagjit Pavadia on Thursday said, "India, which is home to a large chemical and pharmaceutical industry, has witnessed the rise of commercial chemical factories that have been adapted to illicitly manufacture large quantities of synthetic drugs and their precursors". "This development has been driven by the availability of highly qualified but underemployed chemists, who are susceptible to recruitment by criminal organisations," said the report from the Vienna-based organisation, which is a part of the UN.
Joe Biden to unveil tax hikes on wealthy Americans, corporations
The President is expected to lay out the tax hikes on Thursday as part of his budget blueprint for federal spending in fiscal 2024, which begins in October. The higher taxes would likely be borne by Wall Street and the top sliver of US households, Fox Business reported.
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