In a crackdown on Iranian exports, the US has sanctioned four United Arab Emirates-based companies that have trade links with Indian companies for allegedly trading in Iranian petroleum products.

"So long as Iran attempts to generate oil and petrochemical revenues to fund its destabilising activities and support its terrorist activities and proxies, the United States will take steps to hold both Iran and all its partners engaged in sanctions evasion accountable," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday.

The State Department said that it was imposing sanctions on those companies "for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petrochemical products from Iran."

It said the four companies "generated hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit funds for Iran's destabilising activities" by exporting Iranian products to third countries, which it did not name.

Young adults across the world between the ages of 18 and 29 are struggling, not only with happiness but also with their physical and mental health, according to a new study.

The study showed that young adults are struggling with perceptions of their own character, finding meaning in life, the quality of their relationships, and their financial security, news agency reported.

The data, collected by Gallup primarily in 2023, was derived from self-reported surveys of more than 200,000 people in over 20 countries and published in the journal Nature Mental Health.

The study was one of a collection of papers based on the inaugural wave of data from the Global Flourishing Study, a collaboration between researchers at Harvard and Baylor University.

Piyush Goyal, who concluded his productive visit to Norway which is the first by a Commerce and Industry Minister from India in over 25 years, stressed that ties between the two nations are set to enter a new phase of trust and growth.

Commerce Minister held separate meetings with Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide and the Scandinavian country’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Cecilie Myrseth, to discuss the implementation of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement and strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

“Concluded my productive visit to Norway, the first by a Commerce and Industry Minister from India in over 25 years,” said the minister on X social media platform.

“My engagements with the political and business leadership in the country give me immense confidence that our ties are set to enter a new phase of trust and growth,” he added.

Barcelona FC came from 0-2 and 2-3 down to earn an epic 3-3 draw in a Champions League classic at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, ensuring the teams head to Milan next Tuesday on level terms.

Marcus Thuram audaciously flicked Denzel Dumfries' cross beyond Wojciech Szczęsny after just 30 seconds for the fastest goal in a Champions League semi-final.

Barcelona responded positively, Ferran Torres twice shooting narrowly wide, but Inter doubled their lead in the 21st minute. Federico Dimarco curled in an outswinging corner from the left which was met by the towering jump of Francesco Acerbi, before Dumfries, provider of the first goal, converted powerfully with an acrobatic scissor-kick.

It looked an uphill battle for Barcelona with Inter’s defensive fortitude well known, but the hosts were level by half-time thanks to some inspired attacking play.

A massive fire broke out at Dilli Haat, a popular market in south Delhi, on Wednesday night. As many as 13 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

As per officials, 25 to 30 shops were gutted in the fire. However, no loss of life or injuries was reported.

The fire caused extensive damage, with goods worth lakhs being burned.

Initial reports suggest that the fire was caused due to a short circuit.

"We received a call regarding fire at Dilli Haat Market INA at 8.55 p.m. and have deployed 13 fire engines at the spot. Further operation is underway," an official of the Delhi Fire Service told.

South Korea's exports gained 3.7 percent from a year earlier in April, marking a third consecutive month of increase, while outbound shipments to the United States dropped sharply on the Donald Trump administration's hefty tariffs, data showed on Thursday.

Outbound shipments came to US$58.2 billion last month, the highest-ever for an April, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Imports dropped 2.7 percent on-year to $53.3 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $4.88 billion, reports news agency.

Exports to the U.S. decreased 6.8 percent on-year to $10.6 billion, leading to a $900 million drop in Seoul's trade surplus with the U.S. from a year earlier.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas lyer has been hit with a fine after his team was found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate during their four-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk on Wednesday.

lyer was fined Rs 12 lakh as this was PBKS' first over-rate offence in IPL 2025 under the tournament's code of conduct. PBKS were also forced to bring in an extra fielder inside the circle before the start of the 19th over.

"Shreyas lyer, Captain, Punjab Kings has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match 49 of the Indian Premier League (PL) 2025 against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday.

The 2022 Hunga volcano eruption in Tonga released a record-breaking steam plume, triggering far-reaching and unexpected climate impacts, driven not by sulfur, but by water vapour, New Zealand and Tongan scientists said on Wednesday.

Researchers, staff, and students from the University of Auckland have been collaborating with Tongan partners to explore the broader impacts of submarine volcanism in the Southwestern Pacific, following the Hunga eruption, the most powerful volcanic event of the modern era.

The research showed the submarine eruption blasted up to three billion tons of water vapor into the atmosphere in just one hour, sending moisture more than 57 km into the stratosphere and mesosphere, the highest volcanic plume ever recorded, a news release of the University of Auckland said on Wednesday.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday called for strengthening the role of the committee overseeing the ceasefire mechanism in southern Lebanon, urging continued international pressure on Israel to halt its violations, withdraw from occupied territories, and release Lebanese detainees.

His remarks came during a meeting with US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson, outgoing head of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, US Major General Jasper Jeffers, and incoming committee head Major General Michael Leeney, who officially assumed his duties on Wednesday.

According to a statement released by Lebanon's presidency, Aoun emphasised that "the Lebanese army is fully carrying out its duties in the south, particularly south of the Litani River, where it continues to confiscate weapons and ammunition and dismantle armed groups."

He cited Israel's occupation of five strategic hills and ongoing violations as "the main obstacle to completing the army's deployment."

As the death toll in the devastating fire at a six-story hotel building at Madan Mohan Burman Street in central Kolkata has reached 15, a senior official of the West Bengal government and a member of the state cabinet admitted severe lapses in fire safety management at the construction.

The director general of the state fire services department, Ranveer Kumar, who reached the spot on Wednesday, said that the fire licence of the hotel had expired three years back, and the hotel authorities did not bother to renew it.

The fire broke out at the hotel on Tuesday night.

State’s Fire Minister Sujit Bose admitted that the fire alarm installed at the hotel was not functional.