WORLD

Two Russian Su-27 jets on Tuesday (March 14, 2023) carried out what the US described as a "reckless" intercept of the American spy drone while flying in international air space. The US military said the Russian fighter jets dumped fuel on the MQ-9 drone -- possibly trying to blind or damage it -- and flew in front of it in unsafe manoeuvres. After around 30 to 40 minutes, at 7:03 am (0603 GMT), one of the jets then collided with the drone and caused it to crash into the Black Sea, the US military said. Russia has not recovered the drone and the jet was likely damaged, the Pentagon said.

"Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9," US Air Force General James Hecker, who oversees the US Air Force in the region, said in a statement.

World Bank unhappy with Pakistan over its $200 million project

According to local media reports, objective of the project was to “increase the utilization of quality health services, and economic and social inclusion programs, among poor and vulnerable households in select districts in Punjab.”

These included — health services quality and utilization ($115 million); economic and social inclusion ($65 million); efficiency and sustainability through social protection services delivery system and project management ($20 million).

India and Russia have "in principle" agreed to revise their bilateral air services agreement whereby Russian carriers will be allowed to operate as many as 64 weekly flights to various Indian cities, according to a senior official. Under the existing agreement, Russia can operate up to 52 weekly civilian flights to India. India has "in principle" agreed to increase the number of weekly flights that Russian carriers can operate to India to 64 from 52. In this regard, the bilateral air services agreement will be amended in due course, the official told PTI.

Currently, Aeroflot is operating seven weekly flights to India while no Indian airline is flying to Russia. Earlier, Air India used to operate flights to Moscow. On the condition of anonymity, the official also said it will take some time before Russian carriers will be able to fully utilise the quota of the total number of weekly flights permitted to operate to India.

US President Joe Biden has proposed to double the economic support fund to cash-strapped Pakistan to USD 82 million for fiscal 2024 to help its recovery from devastating floods, diversify the energy supply, and support activities to build emergency preparedness capabilities.

"Assistance to Pakistan will expand private sector economic growth; strengthen democratic institutions; and advance gender equity and women's empowerment," the State Department said.

German police reported on Thursday that several people were killed in a shooting at a Jehovah's Witness center in Hamburg, with the suspect believed to be among the dead.

The incident was first reported around 9:15 pm local time (2015 GMT) when emergency calls were made after gunshots were heard at the building in northern Hamburg. Police found several people seriously injured, with some fatally wounded, at the scene.

“We only know that several people died here; several people are wounded, they were taken to hospitals,” police spokesman Holger Vehren said.