How strong was this week's solar eruption? 'Earth may have dodged a bullet'

On Tuesday, two enormous explosions took place on Sun ejecting an enormous amount of plasma and radiation into Space. But there won't be any impact on Earth as the explosions happened on the farside of the Sun. "We dodged a bullet," astronomer Dr Tony Philips wrote on his website spaceweather.com.

‘Outrageous’: Biden slams big oil firms, pharma giants over profits

US President Joe Biden accused big oil companies of profiteering during the recent oil crisis, and urged a huge tax hike on corporate stock buybacks to steer them to invest more in production. "Last year, they made $200 billion in the midst of a global energy crisis. I think it's outrageous," Biden said.

Joe Biden highlights climate crisis in State of Union speech, calls it 'existential threat'

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday called the climate crisis an "existential threat," noting that while the economy would still rely on oil and gas for the immediate future, he was "proud" America was addressing the challenge.

US economy better positioned to grow than any 'on Earth', says Prez Biden

President Joe Biden said in an address to Congress Tuesday that the US economy is better positioned to grow "than any country on Earth," despite disruptions from Covid-19 and Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Follow Sate of Union live updates here "The pandemic disrupted our supply chains and Putin's unfair and brutal war in Ukraine disrupted energy supplies as well as food supplies," Biden said during his State of the Union address. "But we're better positioned than any country on Earth right now."

Joe Biden hails US democracy in State of Union address: ‘Unbowed and unbroken’

Watch live: UPresident Joe BidenState of the Union Address 2023 But the challenges for Biden are many: economic uncertainty, a wearying war in Ukraine, growing tensions with China and more. He says, "There is no reason we can't work together in this new Congress.” About three-quarters say things are on the wrong track. And a majority of Democrats don't want Biden to seek another term. He sought to confront those sentiments head-on.

Canadians deserve better: PM Trudeau on healthcare not ‘living up to promise’

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that Canada's health care system isn't living up to its promise, and he plans to add billions more in funding. Trudeau said wait times in emergency departments have become dangerously long, people are waiting too long for essential surgeries and millions of Canadians are without a family doctor. "Canadians deserve better," he said. Burned out, understaffed health workforce and emergency rooms could not keep pace with demand.

Watch LIVE: US President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address 2023

US President Joe Biden is delivering his State of the Union address to urge unity and ask Republicans to work with him to ?finish the job? of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation. Follow LIVE Updates here Watch the speech here: The address comes amid major challenges that the US faces- at home and abroad- economic volatility, Ukraine war and increasing tensions with China.

Turkey, Syria earthquake: Video of 7-yr-old girl shielding sibling under rubble goes viral

As the death toll topped 7,700 and authorities scramble to pull out more survivors amid a frantic rescue operation in the earthquake-hit Turkey, Syria, a video of a seven-year-old girl shielding her sibling under the rubble has gone viral. The girl and her younger brother were stuck under a heavy concrete rubble of a collapsed building for hours before they were rescued.

New British stamp with image of King Charles unveiled. See here

New 'everyday' stamps featuring King Charles's image were revealed for the first time making them the latest things in Britain to get a makeover following the death of Queen Elizabeth. In tandem with a tradition dating back to the first Penny Black in 1840, the new stamp uses an adapted version of a portrait of Charles which is also appearing on new coinage, Reuters reported.

China refused to talk after US shot down ‘spy’ balloon: Report

China rebuffed the Pentagon when it tried to arrange a phone call between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and China's defense minister after the US shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon, a Defense Department spokesman said. The department asked for the call between Austin and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe right after the balloon was shot down on Feb 4.

Nearly 600 sea lions die due to bird flu outbreak in Peru

Peru said Tuesday that 585 sea lions and 55,000 wild birds have died of the H5N1 bird flu virus in recent weeks, the latest report on the disease's impacts. Peru's National Forest and Wildlife Service urged people and their pets to avoid contact with sea lions and sea birds on the beach. In December, Peruvian authorities culled 37,000 birds on a chicken farm over bird flu, following previous outbreaks that affected wildlife.

No new variants emerged in weeks after China ended zero-Covid policy: Study

No new variants of Covid-19 emerged in Beijing in the weeks after China ended its zero-Covid policy late last year, a new study said on Wednesday. The new study by Chinese researchers, which analysed 413 samples from Beijing sequenced between November 14 and December 20, said "there is no evidence that novel variants emerged" during that time.

Ukraine claims to kill over 1000 Russian troops in deadliest ever attack, Germany and allies to provide tanks

Ukraine said on Tuesday the last 24 hours were the deadliest of the war so far for Russian forces as Moscow pressed on with an intensifying winter assault in the east, bringing tens of thousands of freshly mobilised troops to the battlefield. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced the supply of about 80 Leopard 1s this year and about 100 in 2024, more than previously announced. The Kremlin says Western supplies of arms only widen and extend the conflict.

Wreckage, rescue and hope in Turkey's earthquake epicenter

Zeliha Hisir tried to speak, but could barely move after her hourslong rescue Tuesday near the epicenter of a powerful earthquake that has devastated parts of Turkey and Syria. Dressed only in shorts and a T-shirt, she had survived through freezing temperatures in Kahramanmaras. Her son, Mufit Hisir, told The Associated Press that firefighters who flew in from Antalya had rescued his relatives. Many felt abandoned.

Russia accuses US embassy of 'fake news' over Ukraine, threatens expulsions

Russia has demanded that the US embassy in Moscow stop spreading what Moscow regards as fake news regarding its military operation in Ukraine and has threatened to expel US diplomats, the TASS news agency reported on Tuesday. Feb. 24 will mark the first anniversary of President Vladimir Putin's decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in what he calls a "special military operation". Bilateral relations are near all-time lows.

Pervez Musharraf buried in Karachi; PM, prez, army chief did not attend funeral

Pakistani former President Pervez Musharraf, a key U.S. ally in the campaign against al Qaeda following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, was buried in hPervez Musharraf, a dictator with democratic pretence'shometown of Karachi on Tuesday. READ: Beyond the news: Pervez Musharraf, a dictator with democratic pretence The funeral was held at Malir Cantonment's Polo Ground, a day after a special plane transported his body to his hometown.