A decline in Japan's GDP has plunged it into recession and it has lost its place as the world's third largest economy. Japan's GDP has dropped to $4.2 trillion, while Germany's GDP has overtaken it at number three at $4.5 trillion. Experts say that the lack of momentum in Japan's economy is likely to continue as there is no major factor for growth. Meanwhile, the UK economy has also faced a slowdown in the last six months of 2023, posing a challenge for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as elections are due at the end of 2024. Sunak promised voters last year to boost the economy. His Conservative

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to the UAE. Here in Abu Dhabi, he inaugurated the first Hindu temple on 27 acres on Wednesday and offered prayers. Built on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, the temple is equipped with more than 300 high-tech sensors to measure temperature and monitor seismic activity. 700 crore rupees were spent on the construction of the temple. The land for this temple was donated by a Muslim king. The main architect of this temple is a Catholic Christian, the project manager is a Sikh and the foundational designer is a Buddhist, the construction

Nawaz Sharif's government can be formed in Pakistan. Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has announced outside support to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's prime ministerial candidate. He made it clear that his party will not be part of the coalition government and will sit in the opposition. Bilawal Bhutto said during the press conference that the People's Party does not have the mandate to form the government, so he is not a candidate for the post of Prime Minister. He said that his party will vote on the basis of issues on important occasions for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. Bil

The Israeli military said it rescued two hostages from captivity in the Gaza Strip early Monday. It identified the men as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70. It said both men were kidnapped by Hamas militants from Kibbutz Nir Yizhak in the Oct. 7 cross-border attack that started the 4-month Israel-Hamas war. The rescue took place in the southern border town of Rafah.The army says both men are in good medical condition.They are among the 136 hostages that Israel says remain in Hamas captivity.

After the elections in Pakistan, the counting of votes has been completed. No party could get the figure of 134 i.e. majority. Despite the lapse of 80 hours, the Election Commission is yet to officially announce the results, while former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has stepped up efforts for a coalition government. On the other hand, some of the 101 independent candidates who won with the support of Imran Khan's party PTI have switched sides and started going with Nawaz. 5 independent candidates joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz which won 75 seats on Monday. Nawaz's party is in talks

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired military chief Valery Zaluzny amid a nearly two-year war with Russia. His place has been given to the 58-year-old commander of the ground forces. According to reports, Zelensky told the army chief 10 days ago that he was being fired. President Zelensky said in a statement on social media that he met with the general and thanked him for protecting Ukraine for two years. The Defense Minister said that the war does not remain the same, so there has to be a change accordingly, which has been done under this strategy. Zelensky appointed General Za

Israeli airstrikes killed over a dozen people overnight and into Thursday in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas' cease-fire terms and vowed to expand the offensive into the southern Gaza town. More than half of strip's population has fled to Rafah, on the mostly sealed border with Egypt, which is also the main entry point for humanitarian aid. Egypt has warned that any ground operation there or mass displacement across the border would undermine its four-decade-old peace treaty with Israel. The overnight strikes killed at least 11 people, incl

National and state elections in Pakistan today concluded amid suspension of mobile and internet services. Imprisoned Imran Khan exercised his right to vote through postal ballot. Voting is currently being counted. As per the trends so far, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz were both leading in their respective seats in Lahore. Asif Ali Zardari, former president and father of Bilawal Bhutto, was leading in Sindh. The counting of votes is expected to be completed by midnight and the full results may be announced early Friday. Compared to the last 4 elections, th

A bomb exploded at an election office of an independent candidate in southwest Pakistan on Wednesday, the day before parliamentary elections are to be held, killing at least 22 people and wounding more than a dozen others, officials said. The attack happened in Pashin, a district in Baluchistan province, said Jan Achakzai, the spokesperson for the provincial government. He said the wounded are being transported to a nearby hospital, and police said some of them were listed in critical condition. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which came a day before Pakistan holds p