The Secretary-General condemned the loss of lives and injuries of civilians in Gaza who are once again being shot at while seeking food. ”It is unacceptable,” a UN Spokesperson said. The Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said on 17 June that the Secretary-General continues to call for “an immediate and independent investigation into all such reports and for accountability to be established.”

“The basic needs of the Palestinian population in Gaza are enormous and remain unmet. Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to agree to and facilitate humanitarian relief for all civilians who need it,” Haq said. He added, “The unimpeded entry of humanitarian assistance at scale must be restored immediately.

The UN and all humanitarian actors must be allowed to work in safety and security under conditions of full respect for humanitarian principles.”

mitv

The US State Department says it will close the US Embassy in Jerusalem from Wednesday through Friday due to the security situation in the region.

The department made the announcement in a social media post on Tuesday. It says the closure includes the Consular Sections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

The statement says the department is "always planning for contingencies to assist with private US citizens' departure from crisis areas."

But it also says there is currently no announcement about assisting them to depart from the region.

Ref : NHK

Japanese carmaker Honda has successfully tested an experimental reusable rocket on Tuesday. Honda, which hopes to develop the tech prowess for a suborbital launch by 2029, conducted a test flight of its rocket on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

"Honda has chosen to take on the technological challenge of developing reusable rockets by utilizing Honda technologies amassed in the development of various products and automated driving systems," its statement said.

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Technology News

The world premiere of Jurassic World: Rebirth took place on June 17 at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, drawing the franchise’s stars and fans alike. The event featured a striking red carpet appearance by Scarlett Johansson, who dazzled in a custom Vivienne Westwood blush-pink corset gown adorned with sequins. Johansson's co-star, Jonathan Bailey, also made headlines with his unconventional red carpet attire. Opting for a gray sweater, black pants, sunglasses, and flip-flops, Bailey's casual look sparked a lively debate online, with some fans praising his confidence and others questioning the appropriateness of his footwear for such an event. The premiere was not just a fashion statement but also a heartfelt reunion for the cast.

mitv

The Bank of Japan has decided to keep its benchmark interest-rate unchanged. The central bank target of around 0.5 percent for short-term rates will remain in place. It made the announcement after its two-day policy meeting ended on Tuesday.

The BOJ decision comes amid uncertainty about the economic effects in Japan of US President Donald Trump's tariff measures.

The Bank of Japan has also decided to taper planned reductions in monthly purchases of Japanese government bonds. From April 2026, the bank will aim to reduce purchases by about 200 billion yen, or about 1.3 billion dollars, every three months.

That compares with the current plan to the amount by about 400 billion yen, or about 2.7 billion dollars, every quarter.

Ref :  NHK

NEW DELHI, June 16

At least four women were killed and six others injured Monday in an explosion in a firecracker factory in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said.

The explosion took place in Atrasi village of Amroha district, about 402 km northwest of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.

Senior police officer in Amroha, Amit Kumar Anand, told media that four women were killed on the spot, and their bodies have been sent for post-mortem. Six other women injured in the accident were taken to the hospital.

According to Anand, the firecracker factory was a licensed unit.

Officials said the victims were working in the factory at the time of the explosion.

The blast caused massive damage to the structure located in the middle of an agricultural field. The reason behind the explosion was not known yet.

An investigation was underway.

Accidental explosions are common in firecracker factories in India, and shops as owners usually ignore safety standards.

 (Xinhua) 

Photo - Kalinga (TV)

THE United Nations said Monday it was drastically scaling back its global humanitarian aid plans because of the “deepest funding cuts ever” — leaving tens of millions of people facing dire straits.
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it was seeking $29 billion in funding for 2025 compared to the $44 billion originally requested in December, in a “hyper-prioritized” appeal.
Since US President Donald Trump returned to office in January, the United States — the world’s top donor — has heavily slashed foreign aid, causing havoc in the humanitarian sector across the globe.
Drastic US funding cuts have had dramatic consequences for emergency aid, vaccination campaigns and the distribution of drugs to fight AIDS.
Other major donor countries have also cut back their contributions in the face of an uncertain economic outlook. “Brutal funding cuts leave us with brutal choices,” OCHA chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement. “All we ask is one per cent of what you chose to spend last year on war. But this isn’t just an appeal for money — it’s a call for global responsibility, for human solidarity, for a commitment to end the suffering.”
‘Cruel’, ‘heartbreaking’ In late April, while visiting a hospital in Kandahar in Afghanistan, Fletcher warned: “Cutting funding for those in greatest need is not something to boast about... The impact of aid cuts is that millions die.” — AFP

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

NAY  PYI  TAW  June  12

Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing sent a message of condolence to Her Excellency Smt. Droupadi Murmu, President of the Republic of India, expressing his sorrow over the loss of many lives due to the crash of Indian airline flight AI-171 near Ahmedabad, India, today.

The message stated: We are deeply saddened to learn that Air India flight AI-171 crashed near Ahmedabad, the Republic of India, on 12 June 2025, resulting in a significant loss of life. At this sorrowful time, on behalf of the Government and people of Myanmar, I extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to Your Excellency and the people of India. We stand in solidarity with the Republic of India during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragic incident. We continue to hold them in our hearts with deepest sympathy and respect.

MWD Web Portal

NAY  PYI  TAW  June  12

Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing sent a message of condolence to Prime Minister of the Republic of India Shri Narendra Modi, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of many lives due to the crash of Indian airline AI-171 near Ahmedabad, India, today.

The message mentioned: We are deeply saddened to learn that Air India flight AI-171 crashed near Ahmedabad, Republic of India, on 12 June 2025, resulting in the tragic loss of many lives. At this sorrowful time, on behalf of the Government and people of Myanmar, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families and the people of India. We send our thoughts and prayers to all those who lost their lives, to their families, and to everyone affected by this tragic incident. During this time of grief, Myanmar stands in solidarity with the Republic of India and continues to hold deep respect and affection for Your Excellency and the people of India.          

MWD Web Portal

India’s extreme poverty rate fell sharply from 27.1 per cent in 2011-12 to 5.3 per cent in 2022-23, according to new World Bank estimates. This means about 269 million people rose above the international poverty line over 11 years.

The number of people living in extreme poverty dropped from 344.47 million to 75.24 million, based on the $3.00 per day poverty line (in 2021 PPP terms).

Five states – Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh – had the highest number of poor in 2011-12, and together they contributed to nearly two-thirds of the poverty reduction by 2022-23.

The World Bank reports that rural extreme poverty in India fell from 18.4 per cent to 2.8 per cent, while urban extreme poverty dropped from 10.7 per cent to 1.1 per cent over the same period.

Ref: First Post