New Zealand aiming for last 16 as Norway hang on

Norway becomes latest European state to boost defence spending

Earlier this month, oil-rich Norway said it wants to increase the number of conscripted soldiers from 9,000 to 13,500 by 2036.

These Are the Happiest Countries on Earth in 2024

These Are the Happiest Countries , on Earth in 2024. The World Happiness Report was released on March 20. It was compiled using global survey data based on life evaluations from 2021 to 2023. Six key variables were considered: "GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption," CNN reports. . The 10 happiest countries in the world are:. Australia. Switzerland. Luxembourg. Norway. Netherlands. Israel. Sweden. Iceland. Denmark. Finland. The United States dropped to No. 23. The lowest-ranked countries for happiness are Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Lebanon and Afghanistan. . The lowest-ranked countries for happiness are Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Lebanon and Afghanistan. . The lowest-ranked countries for happiness are Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Lebanon and Afghanistan. . The lowest-ranked countries for happiness are Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Lebanon and Afghanistan. . The lowest-ranked countries for happiness are Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Lebanon and Afghanistan.

Norway gives Arctic foxes a helping hand amid climate woes

US, UK, NZ accuse China of cyber attacks on 'democratic institutions'

UK Looking to Phase Out Legal Sale of Tobacco

UK Looking to, Phase Out Legal, Sale of Tobacco. On March 20, the British government introduced a bill to begin phasing out smoking among young people, banning the sale of tobacco for future generations. If approved by parliament, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill would become one of the toughest anti-tobacco laws in the world. . Fox News reports that the bill looks to prevent children turning 15 this year and younger from ever being legally able to purchase tobacco. Fox News reports that the bill looks to prevent children turning 15 this year and younger from ever being legally able to purchase tobacco. According to the government, the act of smoking would not be criminalized, meaning that anyone currently able to legally obtain tobacco would be allowed to continue smoking in the future. If we want to build a better future for our children we need to tackle the single biggest entirely preventable cause of ill-health, disability and death: smoking, Rishi Sunak, Conservative Prime Minister, via Fox News. According to the British government, smoking costs the nation an estimated $21.63 billion every year. The proposed legislation also includes restrictions on vape flavors and packaging intentionally marketed toward children. . The new legislation reportedly comes amid a sharp increase in vape usage by young people in the U.K. . In February, similar legislation in New Zealand was introduced, looking to ban tobacco sales to anyone born after January 1, 2009. . That bill was repealed by New Zealand's new coalition government

Delhi Is the ‘Most Polluted’ Capital City in the World

Delhi Is the ‘Most Polluted’ , Capital City in the World. The capital of India was found to be the world's most polluted capital city in 2023, according to air-quality monitoring group IQAir. India was also ranked as the third-most polluted country after Bangladesh and Pakistan, BBC reports. In 2022, India was the eighth most polluted country. . According to the report, the average level of fine particulate matter PM2.5 in India's air was 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter. . Delhi's air quality had a PM2.5 reading of 92.7 micrograms per cubic meter. Air that is considered safe to breathe typically has 12 to 15 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5, BBC reports. . Levels higher than 35 micrograms per cubic meter are thought to be unhealthy. . Only seven countries were within the World Health Organization's yearly PM2.5 guideline, an "average of 5 micrograms per cubic meter or less," BBC reports. . Those countries are Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and New Zealand. Those countries are Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and New Zealand. In 2023 air pollution remained a global health catastrophe, IQAir’s global data set provides an important reminder of the resulting injustices and the need to implement the many solutions that exist to this problem. , Aidan Farrow, senior air quality scientist at Greenpeace International, via 'The Guardian'

Could this pink rice be the food of the future? Scientists say it’s more nutritious than normal rice

A South Korean research team has developed a new hybrid food, an affordable and eco-friendly source of protein, in a bid to develop a sustainable future option.

North Korea fires ballistic missile towards sea off east coast, Japan issues alert | Oneindia

North Korea has fired an unidentified ballistic missile into the sea off South Korea's east coast, Seoul's military said on Monday, the latest in an apparent volley of tests by Pyongyang this year. "North Korea has fired an unidentified missile into the East Sea," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. #NorthKorea #BallisticMissile #EastCoast #JapanAlert #SecurityConcern #MilitaryTension #GlobalSecurity #RegionalStability #MissileThreat #InternationalRelations ~HT.178~PR.152~ED.155~GR.121~

South Korea’s Opposition Dominates Parliamentary Elections

South Korea’s Opposition , Dominates Parliamentary Elections. South Korea's Democratic Party won "175 seats in the 300-member single-chamber parliament" on April 10, NPR reports. The ruling right-wing People Power Party became a smaller minority with only 108 seats. . The outcome is considered to be a blow to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol. The country's prime minister and other presidential officials offered to resign after the crushing defeat. . The country's prime minister and other presidential officials offered to resign after the crushing defeat. . I apologize to the people on behalf of our party, which wasn’t good enough to win the people’s choices, Han Dong-hoon, People Power Party leader, via statement. While Yoon said that he intends to "humbly uphold" the will of the people as indicated by the election results, . it is not known if he will accept his staff's offers to resign. . Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader who is considering running for president again, . said there is a need for both parties to "pull together" to "resolve economic and public livelihood problems.". The results of the parliamentary elections are not the victory by the Democratic Party, but the great victory by our people, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader. Now, the elections are over. Both the ruling and opposition political parties must pull together all their strength to resolve economic and public livelihood problems, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader. According to the National Election Commission, voter turnout reached its highest level in over three decades for a parliamentary election, NPR reports.

South Korea: President Yoon’s Party Suffers Electoral Defeat, PM Offers Resignation| Oneindia News

The outcome of Wednesday's elections in South Korea dealt President Yoon Suk Yeol a severe political blow, probably delaying his domestic program and putting him in the path of an increasingly aggressive political campaign from his liberal opponents for the remainder of his three-year term in office. #SouthKorea #SouthKoreaElections #YoonSukYeol #HanDongHoon #HanDuckSoo #SouthKoreanews #Philippines #Worldnews #Oneindia #Oneindianews ~PR.282~

Opposition win in South Korea election to deepen policy stalemate for Yoon

India enhances Defence Footprint with BrahMos Missile delivery to the Philippines | Oneindia

On Friday (Apr 19), the Philippines will receive its first contracted BrahMos missile from India, marking a significant milestone in defence collaboration between the two nations. The journey of this BrahMos missile, renowned as the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile, commences from Nagpur, India, where it is loaded onto an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft. Accompanied by three civilian freight liners transporting additional parts and support systems, the missile is poised to bolster the defence capabilities of the Philippine Marine Corps' coastal defence regiment. #IndiaPhilippinesRelations #BrahMosMissileDelivery #DefenseCooperation #IndoPhilippinePartnership #BrahMosDeal #DefenseExport #IndigenousDefenseProduction #GlobalDefenseInnovation #StrategicPartnerships #DiplomaticOutreach ~HT.97~PR.152~ED.102~

Japan, Philippines, US rebuke China over ‘dangerous’ South China Sea moves | Oneindia

The heads of state from Japan, the Philippines, and the United States have jointly expressed "grave concern" regarding China's conduct in the contested South China Sea. Over recent years, Beijing has intensified its presence in this crucial maritime region, leading to heightened tensions, notably with the Philippines. This nation, among others in Southeast Asia, asserts territorial claims over portions of the sea adjacent to its shores. In response to a recent altercation near Second Thomas Shoal that resulted in injuries to Filipino soldiers and damage to vessels, President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines declared Manila's intention to enact countermeasures against China. The leaders of Japan, the Philippines, and the United States expressed shared concerns over the People's Republic of China's (PRC) provocative actions in the South China Sea during the inaugural summit held in Washington, DC. This joint statement comes amid escalating tensions in the region. #SouthChinaSea #China #Japan #Philippines #US #Tensions #Diplomacy #InternationalRelations #SecurityConcerns #GeoPolitics ~HT.97~PR.152~ED.102~

US secretly sent long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kiev has credible intelligence that Russia plans to disrupt the Global Peace Summit to be held in Switzerland in June.

'We need hope' says German chancellor at EU election campaign kick-off

On Saturday, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) launched its European election campaign in Hamburg, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and lead candidate for the European elections Katarina Barley both in attendance.

PM: ''We are making a choice to prioritise defence''

Rishi Sunak and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a joint press conference. Speaking today in Berlin, the prime minister confirmed the reduction in civil service headcount to pre-pandemic levels would partly fund the defence spending uplift. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn