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SEOUL: North Korea launched a suspected ballistic missile into waters off the Korean Peninsula’s eastern coast on Wednesday, raising tensions just days before major military exercises between South Korea and the United States. South Korean and Japanese authorities detected the launch from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s east coast at around 6am local time. The missile travelled approximately 700 kilometres before falling into the sea, according to South Korean and Japanese defence officials. The launch came only days before the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, scheduled to begin on August 17 and continue through August 27. The drills are designed to strengthen the allies’ ability to respond to security threats from North Korea. Pyongyang has repeatedly criticised the exercises, describing them as preparations for a potential attack. Seoul and Washington maintain that the drills are defensive and necessary to improve their combined military readiness. South Korean officials said Wednesday’s launch was the latest in a series of weapons tests conducted by North Korea this year. It was assessed as the country’s 11th suspected ballistic missile test of 2026. North Korea had also launched a missile from the Wonsan region on August 6. Pyongyang did not publicly acknowledge that test. Analysts said the latest launch could have been part of North Korea’s ongoing weapons development programme. However, its timing may also have been intended to send a political and military message ahead of the upcoming US-South Korean exercises. South Korean authorities have not yet confirmed the exact type of missile involved. Officials said a detailed analysis was under way to determine its specifications. The missile’s reported range and launch location have prompted speculation that it could have been a hypersonic weapon or another advanced missile system. Officials have not confirmed those assessments. Seoul and Tokyo condemn launch South Korea and Japan strongly criticised the missile test. South Korean authorities convened an emergency security meeting and called on Pyongyang to stop activities that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. South Korea’s military said it remained fully prepared to respond to any further provocation and would maintain its combined defence posture with the United States. Japan also lodged a formal protest through diplomatic channels. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi condemned the launch and said Tokyo was closely monitoring developments. The latest test follows growing tensions over North Korea’s expanding weapons programme and Japan’s plans to strengthen its defence capabilities. North Korean state media had criticised Japan’s latest defence policy document a day earlier, accusing Tokyo of using the North Korean threat to justify an increase in military spending and capabilities. The US Indo-Pacific Command said it was coordinating closely with South Korea and Japan. Its initial assessment was that the missile launch did not pose an immediate threat to US territory, American personnel or its allies.

NEW DELHI: N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, has decided not to seek another term at the helm of India’s major business conglomerate, bringing his leadership tenure towards an end after growing differences with the group’s influential charitable trust arm. Chandrasekaran, 63, said on Wednesday that he would remain chairman until his current term expires in February. He said greater certainty over the group’s future leadership was necessary because several major projects were at critical stages. The decision follows months of disagreement between Chandrasekaran and Tata Trusts, which controls about 66% of Tata Sons. The two sides have reportedly differed over several important strategic and governance issues. Among the disputed matters were the future ownership and structure of Tata Sons, whether the company should pursue a stock market listing, losses at Air India, the proposed departure of a minority shareholder and the composition of the board. Tata Sons had postponed a decision on Chandrasekaran’s reappointment in February after Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, opposed extending his tenure. Six months later, the issue remained unresolved. A person familiar with Chandrasekaran’s decision said the disagreement with Tata Trusts was the sole reason behind his decision not to seek another term. Tata Trusts has not publicly commented on the development. Leadership change comes at difficult time Chandrasekaran’s planned departure comes as the Tata Group faces challenges across several major businesses. Air India, which is controlled by Tata, has been struggling with losses following its return to private ownership. Tata’s automotive operations are also facing pressure, including weaker performance at Jaguar Land Rover. The group’s electronics business has additionally faced the consequences of a recent data leak that affected major customers, including Apple and Tesla. The leadership uncertainty immediately affected investor sentiment. Shares of Tata Consultancy Services, where Chandrasekaran spent most of his career, fell around 5% following news of his planned departure. Tata Motors also declined, while Tata Steel and Titan recorded smaller losses. From TCS intern to Tata chairman Chandrasekaran joined Tata Consultancy Services as an intern in 1987 and spent his entire corporate career with the information technology company. He rose through the ranks and became TCS chief executive in 2009. He was appointed chairman of Tata Sons in 2017. He became the first chairman of Tata Sons who was not a member of the Tata family or from the Parsi community. Under his leadership, Tata expanded its presence across technology, automobiles, aviation, electronics and consumer businesses. The Tata Group is one of India’s oldest and most prominent business organisations. Its companies operate across a wide range of sectors, with products and services ranging from salt and consumer goods to automobiles, hotels, aviation and software. The group’s publicly listed companies had a combined market value of hundreds of billions of dollars at the end of March, highlighting the potential significance of any leadership transition at Tata Sons. Tata’s history has also included previous disputes between its corporate leadership and charitable trusts. One of the most prominent occurred in 2016, when the Tata Sons board removed chairman Cyrus Mistry following a bitter dispute involving governance and the group’s leadership.

Karachi: Skywatchers will have an opportunity to witness a rare planetary gathering before sunrise today, as six planets are expected to appear across the eastern horizon. According to experts from the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will be positioned in the morning sky during the pre-dawn hours. The planetary display is expected to be visible approximately 45 to 60 minutes before sunrise, with observers advised to look towards the eastern horizon for the best chance of spotting the celestial bodies. Experts said Mars, Saturn and Jupiter should be visible to the naked eye under suitable weather and viewing conditions. However, Mercury will appear very close to the horizon, making it comparatively more difficult to observe, particularly if there are buildings, trees or haze obstructing the view. The remaining two planets, Uranus and Neptune, are much fainter and will require a telescope or binoculars for observation. Astronomy experts have clarified that although the planets may appear to form a line or group from Earth, they are not actually arranged in a straight line in outer space. The apparent alignment is the result of the viewing angle from Earth and the planets’ positions along their respective orbits around the Sun. For those hoping to observe the phenomenon, experts recommend choosing a location with a clear view of the eastern horizon and minimal light pollution. Early morning skies with clear weather will provide better viewing conditions.

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates is set to introduce licensing fees for playing music at cafes, hotels, malls and other commercial venues. According to UAE authorities, a music licence will be required for commercial use of music from December. The new fee will apply to businesses and commercial establishments that play music for customers. The licence will remain valid for one year. Businesses will be required to renew it annually to continue using music commercially. Authorities said educational institutions and government organisations will be exempt from the licensing fee. Non-commercial events will also not be required to pay the fee. The new licensing system has been introduced to protect the copyright and intellectual property rights of singers and other music creators. Officials said the system is intended to ensure that artists and rights holders receive appropriate protection when their music is used commercially. Authorities have also warned that action may be taken against establishments that play music without obtaining the required licence. The new rules are expected to affect a wide range of commercial venues across the UAE, including hospitality and retail businesses.

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in western Colombia has crossed 250 as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed buildings for survivors. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country’s coffee-growing region early Monday. It caused widespread destruction across several cities and surrounding areas. Local authorities reported that at least 254 people had died by Tuesday morning. Pereira recorded 101 deaths, while 95 fatalities were reported in Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city. Rescue workers have been operating around the clock in the worst-hit areas. They are using cranes, excavators and heavy machinery to remove huge sections of concrete. In some locations, rescuers have been forced to work with their hands. Volunteers have also joined the search, forming human chains to move debris away from collapsed structures. Families have gathered near damaged buildings while waiting for news of relatives who may still be trapped. Rescue workers have reported finding both survivors and bodies beneath the rubble. The earthquake severely damaged homes, apartment buildings, schools and medical facilities. Some structures were completely destroyed, while others were left unstable and unsafe for residents. Cali suffered major damage. Several upper floors of a hospital collapsed, including areas used for paediatric treatment. Hospital officials said some patients became trapped, while hundreds of others were treated outside the damaged facility. The city’s morgue reached capacity as authorities continued bringing in victims from affected areas. Medical and emergency services have been working under difficult conditions. The United Nations humanitarian office estimated that around 5,000 homes had been damaged. Dozens of buildings collapsed, while hundreds of other residences were destroyed or seriously affected. The earthquake also disrupted essential infrastructure. Electricity, water supplies, healthcare services and telecommunications were affected in several areas. Authorities also closed six airports because of damage. Roads were damaged in multiple locations, creating additional difficulties for rescue teams and the delivery of emergency supplies. The region near the epicentre has faced particularly severe disruption. Poor communications have made it difficult for authorities to assess the full scale of the disaster. Nearly 100 aftershocks were recorded by Tuesday morning. Officials have warned residents and rescue workers to remain cautious as damaged buildings could collapse during further tremors. President Abelardo De La Espriella visited the affected region and announced a three-month economic relief measure for residents of Risaralda. The government said the initiative was intended to support people and businesses affected by the disaster. International assistance has also begun. The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency support for shelter, food, protection and damage assessments. The Inter-American Development Bank said $50 million could immediately be made available for reconstruction support if requested by the Colombian government. The United Nations said it was expanding its presence in the affected region to support humanitarian operations. Officials cautioned that the final death toll and overall scale of the destruction could take several days to establish because communications remain disrupted in some of the hardest-hit areas.