User Profile

‘Historic day’: UK, India sign trade deal

The prime ministers of Britain and India have sealed a hard-wrought trade agreement that will slash tariffs on products including Scotch whisky and English gin shipped to India and Indian food and spices sent to the UK. Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi met at Chequers, the British leader’s official country residence outside London, where the UK and Indian trade ministers, Jonathan Reynolds and Piyush Goyal, formally signed the agreement.

24 Jul 2025

B-52’s close call with jet puts focus on small airports

The evasive action an airline pilot took to avoid a B-52 bomber in the skies over North Dakota has focused attention on the way small airport towers are often run by private companies without their own radars. Neither one of the pilots of the bomber or of the Delta Air Lines jet seemed to know the other plane was there before the airline pilot saw the B-52 looming in its path.

24 Jul 2025

Ultra-Orthodox Jews block highway in enlistment protest

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have blocked a major highway in Jerusalem to protest against enlisting for military service. “We are forced to go to the army that it is brainwashing, and we can’t keep our religion,” said Dovi, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish protester. Under longstanding arrangements, ultra-Orthodox men have been exempted from the draft, which is compulsory for most Jewish men and women, who serve two to three years as well, as reserve duty until around age 40.

24 Jul 2025

Japan

23 Jul 2025

Japan’s PM refuses to resign

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to remain in power to oversee the implementation of a new Japan-US tariff agreement, despite media speculation and growing calls for him to resign after a historic defeat of his governing party. Ishiba met with heavyweights from his Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, and former prime ministers Taro Aso, Fumio Kishida and Yoshihide Suga at party headquarters. He told reporters afterward that they didn’t discuss his resignation or a new party leadership contest, but only the election results, voters’ dissatisfaction and the urgent need to avoid party discord.

23 Jul 2025

UN calls for end to Gaza ‘horror show’

The UN Security Council has urged the 193 United Nations member nations to use all possible means to settle disputes peacefully. The UN chief said that is needed now more than ever as he pointed to “the horror show in Gaza” and conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti and Myanmar. The vote was unanimous on a Pakistan-drafted resolution in the 15-member council.

23 Jul 2025

AP

frank

CURRENCIES

‘Historic day’: UK, India sign trade deal

B-52’s close call with jet puts focus on small airports

Ultra-Orthodox Jews block highway in enlistment protest

Japan’s PM refuses to resign

UN calls for end to Gaza ‘horror show’