Japan’s Daisaku Ikeda, longtime leader lay Buddhist Soka Gakkai, dies at 95
Daisaku Ikeda, who helped spread Buddhist thought around the world through Soka Gakkai – Japan’s largest religious organisation and an ally of the government – has died, Japanese media said on Saturday.
Japan’s Kishida, S. Korea’s Yoon talk tech, cooperation in Silicon Valley
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged cooperation on clean-energy supply chains, quantum computing and other innovative technology during a Silicon Valley roundtable on Friday.
Israeli offensive in crowded south Gaza will put civilians in crosshairs
An Israeli military push into the crowded south of the Gaza Strip, expected in the coming days, may prove more complicated than its ground offensive in the north, with higher casualties likely for civilians and soldiers, a senior Israeli security source and two former top officials said.
Venezuela parliament chief rejects ‘ultimatums’ as US threatens sanctions review
Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Friday said the country would not accept “ultimatums from anyone,” after the U.S. warned it would review plans to ease sanctions if progress is not made toward fair elections.
Canada PM says he hopes to meet China’s Xi one day once tensions defused
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said he hoped to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping once the two sides had put in the work needed to repair badly strained bilateral ties.
White House challenges House impeachment inquiry of Biden
The White House on Friday challenged the validity of an impeachment inquiry run by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives into President Joe Biden’s son’s business dealings.
Amazon River tributary falls to lowest in over a century amid Brazil drought
A major tributary of the Amazon River fell to its lowest level in over a century on Monday at the heart of the Brazilian rainforest as a record drought upends the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and damages the jungle ecosystem.
US professors suspended, probed over Gaza war comments
In the past week, two University of Arizona educators were suspended and a University of Southern California professor was relegated to teaching remotely while the school investigated him, all after being recorded by students as they spoke about the war in Gaza.
Israeli strike on West Bank refugee camp kills five -medics
At least five Palestinians were killed and two more injured in an Israeli strike on a building in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance service said early on Saturday.
New Hampshire police report multiple victims shot at state psychiatric hospital
Gunfire erupted on Friday at a state psychiatric hospital in New Hampshire, leaving multiple victims and the suspect dead, state police and emergency management officials reported.