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PM Modi arrived in Japan on Saturday to attend the 13th India-Japan annual two-day summit which will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met top Japanese leaders including Foreign Minister Taro Kono, Secretary Genreral Toshihiro Nikai and the Minister of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) Hiroshige Seko and held talks on wide range of issues that focused on bilateral, regional and global issues.PM Modi arrived in Japan on Saturday to attend the 13th India-Japan annual two-day summit which will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship.Related Stories PM Modi one of my most dependable friends, together with him I would like to bolster India-Japan ties: Shinzo AbePM Modi addresses Indian Community in Tokyo, says country going through massive transformative phase PM Modi at Indian Community Event in Tokyo: India to drive growth of global economy in coming decade"Strengthening the strategic orientation of our relationship. Foreign Minister of Japan Taro Kono called on PM @narendramodi. Held productive and focused discussion on bilateral, regional and global issues," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.Earlier, Modi addressed a gathering of vibrant Indian community in Japan and also interacted with some respected names in Japanese venture capitalists.

PM Modi meets top Japanese leaders, discusses bilateral, regional, global issues

PM Modi arrived in Japan on Saturday to attend the 13th India-Japan annual two-day summit which will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship.

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French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.Amidst the escalating tensions over the Rafale fighter jet deal, the French government on Sunday said that it feared damage to its relations with India after former president Francois Hollande added fuel to the ongoing controversy.Hollande, who left office in May last year, said on Friday that French jet manufacturer Dassault Aviation had been given no choice about its local partner in a 2016 deal with the Indian administration. Related Stories Culture of crony capitalism has become part of Modi govt's DNA: CongressRafale-like controversies lower nation's esteem: Former IAF chiefHAL, Dassault Aviation had 'serious differences' when UPA was negotiating Rafale deal: SourcesThe nationalist government of Narendra Modi agreed to buy 36 Rafale jets from Dassault, which announced afterwards it was partnering for the project with billionaire Anil Ambani rather than India's public defence conglomerate Hindustan Aernautics Limited. Hollande's announcement that Dassault "did not have a say in it" added fuel to claims from India's opposition that the New Delhi government had intervened to help Ambani, who is a supporter of Modi and hails from the same state as him. "I find these remarks made overseas, which concern important international relations between France and India, do not help anyone and above all do not help France," junior foreign minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne said Sunday about Hollande. "Because one is no longer in office, causing damage to a strategic partnership between India and France by making remarks that clearly cause controversy in India is really not appropriate," he said in an interview on Radio J. Hollande made the comments to defend himself from accusations of a conflict of interest because Ambani's Reliance conglomerate had partially financed a film produced by his girlfriend, Julie Gayet, in 2016. The choice of Reliance for a highly strategic contract to upgrade India's ageing fleet of fighter jets had caused surprise at the time because the group had no previous experience in the aeronautics industry. Hollande's comments were front-page news in Indian newspapers on Saturday and it was the top trending topic on Twitter. Rahul Gandhi, head of the main opposition Congress party, who is seeking to replace Modi and his rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in elections next year, went on the offensive. "An ex-president of France is calling him (the prime minister of India) a thief. It's a question of the dignity of the office of the prime minister," he told a news conference in New Delhi.Rahul Gandhi soon drew flak from the BJP, with its leaders accusing him of making 'irresponsible' and 'shameful' comments.(With PTI inputs) 

Rafale deal: France wary of rift in ties with India after Francois Hollande's remarks, says strategic partnership between both countries under major threat

Hollande, who left office in May last year, said on Friday that French jet manufacturer Dassault Aviation had been given no choice about its local partner in a 2016 deal with the Indian administration.

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North Korea fires unidentified short-range missileNorth Korea on Saturday fired an unidentified short-range missile from its eastern coast, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said, a likely sign of Pyongyang’s growing frustration at stalled diplomatic talks with Washington over its nuclear arsenal.South Korean and U.S. authorities are analyzing the details, but if it is confirmed as a firing of a banned ballistic missile, it will be the first such launch since the North’s November 2017 test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.That year saw a string of increasingly powerful weapons tests from the North, and a belligerent response from President Donald Trump that had many in the region fearing war.The firing Saturday comes amid a diplomatic breakdown that has followed the failed summit earlier this year between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over the North’s pursuit of nuclear bombs that can accurately target the U.S. mainland.Experts believe that the North has viable shorter-range nuclear-armed missiles but still needs more tests to perfect its longer-range weapons.The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the North’s missile was fired from Wonsan on the nation’s east coast.During the diplomacy that followed a rocky 2017, Kim Jong Un said that the North would not test nuclear devices or ICBMs.This short-range missile would not violate that self-imposed moratorium. It may instead be a way to register his displeasure with Washington and the state of talks meant to provide sanctions relief for disarmament without having the diplomacy collapse.

North Korea fires unidentified short-range missile towards East Sea

Experts believe that the North has viable shorter-range nuclear-armed missiles but still needs more tests to perfect its longer-range weapons.

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Representational ImagePakistan on Saturday said India will face ten surgical strikes in response if it dares to launch one inside Pakistan, in the latest war of words between the two estranged nuclear-armed neighbours."If India dares to launch a surgical strike inside Pakistan, it will face 10 surgical strikes in response," Ghafoor was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan.Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the military's Inter Services Public Relations, stated this while talking to the media in London, where he is accompanying Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on a visit.He also said "those who think of any misadventure against us should have no doubt in their minds on Pakistan's capabilities".The military spokesman said the Pakistan Army was the custodian of the USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and that the mega project will strengthen the economy of the country.Ghafoor said the army wanted strengthening of democracy in Pakistan, and claimed that the general election in July was the most transparent in the history of the country."If anyone has evidence of rigging then it should be brought forward," he remarked.He also rejected reports of restriction on the media and said there was "complete freedom of expression" in the country.He said there were more good developments in Pakistan than bad and that the international media should also highlight the good things. Watch Video:(With PTI inputs)

Pakistan threatens India of '10 surgical strikes', says 'don't doubt our capabilities'

Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the military's Inter Services Public Relations, stated this while talking to the media in London, where he is accompanying Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on a visit.

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Imran Khan- File photoThough Saudi Arabia has offered a $6 billion aid package to cash-strapped Pakistan, Islamabad is still mulling over seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), news agency PTI reported.According to officials, Pakistan Prime Minister had earlier this month asked Finance Minister Asad Umar to seek the IMF bailout after initial failure to secure much-needed assistance from “friendly countries”.Related Stories Indian Army asks Pakistan to take back bodies of intruders killed in Sunderbani sectorPakistan planning to launch attack on India via sea route, ISI trains terrorists; security agencies alert MHA, ArmyWill extend hand of friendship to India again after 2019 elections, says Pakistan PM Imran KhanHowever, the offer for financial assistance came from Saudi arabia after Imran Khan rushed to Riyadh on Monday to attend a Saudi-sponsored international investment economic forum despite its boycott by the European and American investors in the wake of murder of journalist Jamal Kashoggi.Khan’s meeting with Saudi King Salman and his powerful Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman resulted in the singing of agreement to provide Pakistan USD 3 billion to support balance of payment and give oil worth USD 3 billion on deferred payments.As stock market showed bullish sentiment and rupee gained against dollar, questions were raised if Pakistan still need the IMF package.Sources in the finance ministry told PTI that Pakistan needed about USD 10 billion in the current fiscal year to support its imports and paying foreign debts.“The idea of seeking IMF support is still on the table and negotiations will be held in the first week of November,” they said.But they said that Pakistan’s bargaining position was strengthened after the Saudi commitments.The sources also said that Prime Minister Khan would visit China from November 3 and it was possible to get financial assistance to further decrease reliance on IMF bailout.Earlier, officials said that Pakistan would seek around USD 8 billion from the IMF which would be the biggest package by the Fund for Islamabad.Responding to Saudi Arabia’s offer of $6 billion assistance package,  Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that it has eased pressure on Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves and exuded confidence that the country will emerge stronger and more prosperous in the coming years.In the deal announced Tuesday after Prime Minister Khan called on Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Riyadh said it will give Pakistan USD 3 billion in foreign currency support for a year and a further loan worth up to USD 3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports.Khan addressed the nation to share the details of his efforts to bring cash-strapped Pakistan out of financial difficulties."My Pakistanis, today I am here with a good news for all of you. We were facing really hard times. We were under high pressure to pay heavy debts. But thanks to Saudi Arab's extension of assistance, we are out of the pressure," he said.The Prime Minister also said that the government was in contact with two other friendly countries for more financial assistance.He said people should not worry as the difficult time would pass and Pakistan will emerge as a much stronger and prosperous country in the coming years.He did not name the countries but official sources said that the two countries were the UAE and China.They said that a high-level UAE delegation will arrive in Pakistan on October 26 to discuss investment opportunities, while Khan will visit China in the first week of November to seek business and investment as well as explore financial assistance.Khan said the Saudi financial package will strengthen Pakistan's bargaining position in case the government approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.He said even if the government was forced to seek IMF assistance, it would not need as much money as it would have needed in absence of the Saudi assistance.Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar recently said the country may need more than USD 12 billion to plug its finances as the current-account deficit widens and foreign-currency reserves plummet.Khan also said Pakistan would try to play the role of a mediator in the Yemen war."I also want to share with you... we were trying to play a role in ending the Yemen war," he said.The Prime Minister criticised the previous governments and held them responsible for the current economic crisis.He said the country's debt was Rs 6,000 billion in 2008 which ballooned to Rs 30,000 billion in 2018.Khan said the government was doing audit of the massive debt and threatened that the corrupt element would face merciless accountability.He also said that his mega project of constructing 5 million houses in five years would revive 40 industries and create job opportunities for the youth. Pakistan is in search of USD 12 billion foreign loans and aid to avoid default on international debt obligations, as the country is required to return USD 11.7 billion loans to foreign countries.(With PTI inputs)

Cash-strapped Pakistan to seek IMF bailout despite $6 billion aid package from Saudi Arabia

Pakistan Prime Minister had earlier this month asked Finance Minister Asad Umar to seek the IMF bailout after initial failure to secure much-needed assistance from “friendly countries”.

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Amid racist incidents, new law to come up on racial harmony in SingaporeSingapore is taking a softer and persuasive approach to managing racial harmony among its multinational society after a number of race-linked cases in public recently raised concerns, according to a media report here. An upcoming law on racial harmony will likely introduce new sanctions, including non-punitive ones, to try and shape social behaviour and norms, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Saturday.The Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the National Day Rally on August 29, on the back of an increase in reported racist incidents and inter-ethnic relations coming under stress amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore.Shanmugam said the Home Affairs Ministry would introduce the legislation, which would first consolidate the different existing laws dealing with racial issues, such as the Penal Code. Any additional measures would need to be carefully considered."Because for day-to-day interaction in the market or in the hawker centre (a common man's food centre) or in the lift (of an apartment in public housing estate), you don't want to bring all of them to court and then put them in jail, or impose a fine, or treat all of them as criminals," The Straits Times quoted the Minister as saying."I think it will be an impossible situation. Instead of making things better, you'll make them worse," he said. Instead, the government will work closely with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and agencies such as OnePeople.sg, the national body promoting racial harmony, to consider a significant framework of non-punitive sanctions."So that, when someone contravenes the norms, perhaps the person can be asked to go and do community service in the community that he has disparaged or hasn't understood properly," said Shanmugam."And that might help in the greater understanding - without being punitive, and without having criminal records, and without shaming people."The focus must really be to try and get people to understand each other better, and get on better," the Minister was quoted as saying. It is a similar approach as the Community Remedial Initiative under the 31-year-old Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA), on which the new racial harmony law will be modelled.Under this remedial initiative, offenders are given the chance to mend ties through a public or private apology to the aggrieved parties, or by taking part in inter-religious events.The Prime Minister had also announced at the rally last month that guidelines prohibiting employment discrimination - including along racial lines - would now be given legal force.While laws can help address racism in both work and social settings, they would be meaningless if they stood on their own without support from the community, said Shanmugam."If people think, 'I don't do it simply because there is a law', it's not good enough... what you want is a social norm shaping, for people's social norms to change and for them to genuinely understand and believe in multiracialism and multiculturalism," he said, adding, "That's the ultimate goal.""The law is just a guide rail, a way to get there. We have to continue to push for greater understanding, and greater tolerance, and the coming together of our own people through their efforts and the shaping, guiding hand of the government."Singapore has a population of 5.9 million people -- predominantly Chinese followed by Malays, Indians and others composed of Asians and Caucasians.

Amid racist incidents, new law to come up on racial harmony in Singapore

Singapore has a population of 5.9 million people -- predominantly Chinese followed by Malays, Indians and others composed of Asians and Caucasians.

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In a controversial move, Turkey has announced a new school curriculum that does not mention Charles Darwin’s landmark theory of evolution.According to news agency Reuters, the move has created fears among the country’s opposition leaders that President Tayyip Erdogan is trying to subvert Turkey’s secular foundations.Replying to a question on why Darwin’s theory was excluded from the school curriculum, Turkey’s Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz said the main elements of evolution already underpinned the science curriculum.However, he added that there would be no mention of Darwin’s landmark theory until university.“Because it is above the students’ level and not directly related, the theory of evolution is not part” of the school curriculum,” Yilmaz told media persons.The explanation, however, has not gone down well with the teachers and opposition leaders who alleged that it was a move in the wrong direction for Turkey’s schools. They pointed out that it was  an attempt to avoid raising “generations who ask questions”.Opposition Republican People’s Party lawmaker Mustafa Balbay pointed out that the government’s explanation that the theory was beyond the understanding of school students is an insult to these students. “You go and give an 18-year old student the right to elect and be elected, but don’t give him the right to learn about the theory of evolution...This is being close minded and ignorant,” Mustafa Balbay was quoted as saying by Reuters. Muslim and Christian creationists have always rejected Darwin’s theory of evolution as they believe that God created the world as described in the Bible and the Koran, making the universe and all living things in six days.Interestingly, the new curriculum also asks religious schools to teach the concept of jihad as patriotic in spirit.Defending the move, Ismet Yilmaz said that it is important to fix the wrong perception about “jihand”.“It is also our duty to fix what has been perceived as wrong. This is why the Islamic law class and basic fundamental religion lectures will include (lessons on) jihad. The real meaning of jihad is loving your nation,” Yilmaz told media persons.

Turkey rolls out new school curriculum without Darwin’s evolution theory

The move has created fears among the country’s opposition leaders that President Tayyip Erdogan is trying to subvert Turkey’s secular foundations.

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China's recent COVID-19 cases jump to 1,500China's has reported 46 new coronavirus cases, including 10 local infections, with health experts saying that the increasing number of local transmissions in the country's northeast bordering Russia remained a concern following the return of Chinese nationals from abroad. China's National Health Commission (NHC) said on Wednesday that 46 new confirmed cases mostly from Chinese coming from abroad were reported on Tuesday taking the total number of recent cases to 1,500. This included 10 new local infections. Health experts said that the Suifenhe city at the China-Russia border might become another Wuhan amid a sharp increase of COVID-19 cases following an exodus of Chinese nationals from Russia. Also on Tuesday, 57 new asymptomatic cases were reported taking their total to 1,023, the NHC said. Asymptomatic cases refer to people who are tested positive for the coronavirus but develop no symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.  They are infectious and pose a risk of spreading to others. The total death toll in China went up on Tuesday to 3,342 with one death reported from the epicentre Hubei Province. The overall confirmed cases in China reached 82,295 by Tuesday. This included 3,342 people who died of COVID-19,1,137 patients still being treated and 77,816 people discharged after the treatment. Also, as of Tuesday 1,012 confirmed cases, including four deaths have been reported in Hong Kong, 45 in Macao and 393 in Taiwan including six deaths, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, frontline Chinese health experts coping with soaring cases of COVID-19 at the China-Russia border in China's Heilongjiang province and Suifenhe city which are facing increasing pressure of imported and local cases ruled out becoming China's next Wuhan where the virus was reported in December last year. Concerns were heightened as Heilongjiang province reported 79 new imported infections of Chinese coming from Russia on Monday through border city Suifenhe. It was the highest one-day rise in imported cases for the city with only 70,000 people, the Daily report said. Neither Suifenhe nor Harbin, cities near the Russian border, which are in midst of an escalating epidemic, will become the next Wuhan as there are no large-scale domestic cases in the two places and their impact on other regions is limited and under control, Yang Yanjie, deputy head of the expert group for epidemiological investigation of COVID-19 in Heilongjiang told state-run Global Times daily. Yu Kaijiang, head of the expert group for medical treatment in Suifenhe, said that the situation is stable and controllable, as the Suifenhe port remains closed. Heilongjiang province announced on Sunday the passenger channel of Suifenhe border port with Russia would remain closed. "It is normal to have resurgence after a great epidemic as a virus cannot be eliminated completely within a short time," Yu noted. The current medical care situation is adequate to cover the current increase in imported cases, Yu said. "We are also preparing back-up designated hospitals, ensuring that more beds will be made available," Yu said, noting that the testing capability is meeting the demand and reaching 1,000 people per day. Hao Jun, a researcher from the Heilongjiang authority, said on Tuesday that according to their epidemiological investigation, most of the 366 imported cases from Suifenhe port were infected at the Lyublino Market and Sadavod Market in Moscow, where they worked. Hao said as returnees from Russia share an enclosed space for a long time during their journeys and have close contact, the risk of infection increased. He suggested that overseas Chinese in Russia enhance self-protection and not enter China through Suifenhe to avoid the risk of being infected during the journey. Suifenhe city has 1,479 people under collective quarantine. Local officials said Monday that 15-20 per cent of the people may test positive, the Global Times report said. China has rushed specialised medical teams to border city to deal with an increasing number of COVID-19 cases. (With IANS inputs)Also Read | China approves inactivated COVID-19 vaccines for clinical trialsAlso Read | China's imported coronavirus cases climb to 1,464 

China's recent COVID-19 cases jump to 1,500

The overall confirmed cases in China reached 82,295 by Tuesday. This included 3,342 people who died of COVID-19,1,137 patients still being treated and 77,816 people discharged after the treatment.

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India part of US-led initiative to share info on integrating science into coronavirus responseIndia is part of a US-led global initiative to share information on integrating science into coronavirus response, according to a White House statement. Besides the US and India, the UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea are part of the initiative.The second conference call by the science ministers and chief advisors of these countries was held on Wednesday and it was convened by the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Dr Kelvin Droegemeier."Following the first (conference) call last week, we’ll continue ongoing frequent scientific diplomacy,” the White House said in the statement. During the second conference call, participants supported efforts to make available COVID-19 (coronavirus diseases) relevant peer-reviewed publications, data, and related research in PubMed Central and other publicly accessible repositories immediately.The countries under the initiative also agreed to make available timely data and publications for addressing emerging infectious disease outbreaks.Noting that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to organise and synthesise certain data and information to expedite this process, the participants asserted that to ensure accessibility, ideally, data should be disseminated in machine and human readable formats, with broad rights for re-use and secondary analyses.According to the White House, AI tools and analyses should also be made publicly available in a timely manner, the participants said. Science leaders discussed opportunities to promote and strengthen common data repositories, such as the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), the White House said.Participants discussed responses to their stages of disease management and updated the group on cases from their countries. "Each of us has an important role and obligation to play in addressing the global outbreak of COVID-19," Droegemeier, who is also a member of President Donald Trump's Task Force on Coronavirus, said.He said that "as chief science advisors, we have a firm understanding as to how critical it is for public health to bring the best available science and data to the forefront to assist in the development of solutions.”This series of international collaboration efforts on science has led to actions on data sharing, access to COVID-19-related data and publications, and global unification for the health and safety, Droegemeier said.“From this international dialogue, the United States can build on the whole-of-government approach being led by Vice President Mike Pence and the great work of the Trump administration,” he said. 

India part of US-led initiative to share info on integrating science into coronavirus response

India is part of a US-led global initiative to share information on integrating science into coronavirus response, according to a White House statement. Besides the US and India, the UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea are part of the initiative.

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A woman walks by a large print at a photographic memorial for those killed in the confrontation between Ukraine’s military and the pro-Russia separatist forces in Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. Russia began evacuating its embassy in Kyiv, and Ukraine urged its citizens to leave Russia on Wednesday as the region braced for further confrontation after President Vladimir Putin received authorization to use military force outside his country and the West responded with sanctions. Hopes for a diplomatic way out of a new, potentially devastating war in Europe appeared all but sunk as the U.S. and key European allies accused Moscow on Tuesday of crossing a red line in rolling over Ukraine's border into separatist regions — with some calling it an invasion.Russia began pulling personnel from its diplomatic posts in Ukraine, state news agency Tass reported, a day after the Foreign Ministry announced a plan to evacuate, citing threats. By Wednesday afternoon, the Russian flag was no longer flying over the embassy in Kyiv, and police surrounded the building. After weeks of trying to project calm, Ukrainian authorities also signalled increasing concern on Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended anyone there leave immediately, saying Moscow's “aggression” could lead to a significant reduction in consular services.The head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council called for a nationwide state of emergency — subject to parliamentary approval. Oleksiy Danilov said it will be up to regional authorities to determine which measures to apply, but they could include additional protection for public facilities, restrictions on traffic, and additional transport and document checks. These were just the latest in a series of signs of escalating tensions. Kyiv recalled its ambassador to Russia and considered breaking all diplomatic ties with Moscow; dozens of nations further squeezed Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets; Germany halted a lucrative pipeline deal; the U.S. repositioned additional troops to NATO's eastern flank bordering Russia; and the top U.S. diplomat canceled a meeting with his Russian counterpart.Already, the threat of war has shredded Ukraine's economy and raised the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across Europe and global economic chaos. Even as the conflict took a new, dangerous turn, leaders warned it could still get worse. Putin has yet to unleash the force of the 150,000 troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, while U.S. President Joe Biden held back on even tougher sanctions that could cause economic turmoil for Russia but said they would go ahead if there is further aggression.German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday called European Union sanctions agreed a day before just “a first step” and also said further measures could follow. Sanctions are key because the West has ruled out taking on Russia militarily. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged Western leaders not to wait. “We call on partners to impose more sanctions on Russia now," he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. "Now the pressure needs to step up to stop Putin. Hit his economy and cronies. Hit more. Hit hard. Hit now.”Responding defiantly to the steps already taken, Russian ambassador in the U.S. Anatoly Antonov retorted that “sanctions cannot solve a thing” in a statement on Facebook. “It is hard to imagine that there is a person in Washington who expects Russia to revise its foreign policy under a threat of restrictions.” Russia's Foreign Ministry has also bristled at the sanctions. “Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimize the damage,” a statement read.In Ukraine's east, where an eight-year conflict between Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed nearly 14,000 people, violence also spiked again. One Ukrainian soldier was killed and six more sustained injuries after shelling by the rebels, Ukrainian military said. Separatist officials reported several explosions on their territory overnight and three civilian deaths.In St. Petersburg, meanwhile, several hundred people reportedly staged a rally in support of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics in Ukraine's east, while Russia celebrated Defender of the Fatherland Day, which celebrates the country's veterans and active servicemen and often sees shows of patriotism. After weeks of rising tensions, Putin took a series of steps this week that dramatically raised the stakes. First, he recognized the independence of those separatist regions. Then, he said that recognition extends even to the large parts of the territories now held by Ukrainian forces, including the major Azov Sea port of Mariupol.Finally, he asked for and was granted permission to use military force outside the country — effectively formalizing a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions. Putin laid out three conditions that he said were the only ways out of the crisis: He called on Kyiv to recognize Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, to renounce its bid to join NATO and partially demilitarise. The first two demands had been previously rejected by Ukraine and the West as non-starters.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday reiterated his call for talks with Putin. “Many times I suggested to the president of Russia to sit down at the negotiating table and talk. This is a question of dialogue, not a question of condition,'” he said after a meeting with the presidents of Poland and Lithuania. The Kremlin has previously brushed off such calls.Putin remained vague when asked whether he has sent any Russian troops into Ukraine and how far they could go, and separatist leader in Donetsk Denis Pushilin said Wednesday that there are currently no Russian troops in the region. Pushilin's remarks contradict those of Vladislav Brig, a member of the separatist local council in Donetsk, who told reporters Tuesday that Russian troops had already moved in.Also Read | Russia Ukraine News LIVE: Kyiv urges citizens to leave Russia 'immediately' Also Read | Ukraine crisis: How US sanctions on Russia will affect India

Russia evacuates embassy in Ukraine as relations deteriorate

Russia began pulling personnel from its diplomatic posts in Ukraine, state news agency Tass reported, a day after the Foreign Ministry announced a plan to evacuate, citing threats.

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Pakistani paramilitary troops patrol near a billboard with the picture of Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan is displayed outside the National Assembly, in Islamabad, PakistanFollowing is a brief chronology of major developments related to the formation of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and his abrupt move to dissolve Parliament.1996: Imran Khan launched Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which means the movement for justice.2002: Khan wins election to become a Member of the National Assembly.2013: Khan was again elected to the National Assembly.2018: Khan becomes Prime Minister after leading his party to victory in the general elections.March 3, 2021: Opposition leader and former premier Yusuf Raza Gilani defeats Pakistan's Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in Senate elections.March 6, 2021: Imran Khan wins trust vote in National Assembly following the defeat of his finance minister.March 8, 2022: Pakistan's Opposition leaders submit a no-confidence motion against PM Khan; accuse his government of uncontrolled inflation.March 19: Khan's party issues show-cause notices to dissident PTI lawmakers.March 20: Speaker summons National Assembly session on March 25 to take up no-trust motion against PM Khan.March 23: PM Khan says he will not resign as 3 allies indicate voting against his government.March 25: Pakistan’s National Assembly session adjourned without tabling of no-trust motion against PM Khan.March 27: At a massive rally, PM Khan claims foreign powers are behind a ‘conspiracy’ to overthrow his government.March 28: PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif tables a no-trust motion against PM Khan in National Assembly.March 30: PM Khan loses majority after key ally sides with Opposition ahead of the no-trust vote.March 31: Pak Parliament meets to debate the no-trust motion against PM Khan.April 1: PM Khan claims his life is in danger; asserts that he is not afraid and will continue his fight for an independent and democratic Pakistan.April 3: Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri blocks the no-trust motion against PM Khan.April 3: PM Khan advises President Arif Alvi to dissolve National Assembly.April 3: President Alvi dissolves National Assembly on the advice of PM Khan. ALSO READ | Imran Khan calls for fresh polls; congratulates Pakistan on rejection of no-confidence motionALSO READ | Former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif attacked by activists of Imran Khan's PTI

Chronology of major developments related to current political crisis in Pakistan

Here is a brief chronology of major developments related to the formation of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and his abrupt move to dissolve Parliament.

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US ready for any Christmas gift from North Korea: TrumpPresident Donald Trump said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be planning to give him “a nice present” such as a “beautiful vase” for Christmas rather than a missile launch. The president was asked what he will do if North Korea does conduct a long-range missile test.The North has threatened to take unspecified action if sanctions are not eased by the end of the year, and speculation has centered on the possibility of a new missile test, possibly of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. The North has said that its “Christmas gift” to the United States will depend on Washington’s actions.Also Read: US man robs bank, throws stolen money in air shouting 'Merry Christmas' Trump, who is in Florida for the holidays, had just finished thanking service members from each branch of the military via satellite when he was asked about North Korea. He opted for a wait-and-see approach. “Maybe it’s a present where he sends me a beautiful vase as opposed to a missile test,” Trump said. “I may get a nice present from him. You don’t know. You never know.”Nuclear talks between the U.S. and North Korea have been stalled since a February summit between Trump and Kim fell apart. A new satellite image of a factory where North Korea makes military equipment used to launch long-range missiles shows the construction of a new structure.In New York, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric was asked whether Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had a message for Kim John Un on Christmas Eve regarding a “Christmas gift.”“Our message is to the leadership of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to work for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to resume working‑level talks with the United States. Diplomatic engagement is the only pathway to sustainable peace and complete denuclearization and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” Dujarric said.Also Read :N.Korea warns Trump to stop 'abusive language' against KimAlso Read: Kim Jong-un rides to sacred mountain on white horse​

US ready for any Christmas gift from North Korea: Trump

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be planning to give him “a nice present” such as a “beautiful vase” for Christmas rather than a missile launch. The president was asked what he will do if North Korea does conduct a long-range missile test.

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Clinical trials for Ayurvedic formulations against COVID-19 to be initiated in India, USAyurvedic practitioners and researchers in India and the US are planning to initiate joint clinical trials for Ayurveda formulations against the novel coronavirus, the Indian envoy here has said.In a virtual interaction with a group of eminent Indian-American scientists, academicians, and doctors on Wednesday, Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said the vast network of institutional engagements have brought scientific communities between the two countries together in the fight against COVID-19.“Our Institutions have also been collaborating to promote Ayurveda through joint research, teaching and training programs. Ayurvedic practitioners and researchers in both the countries are planning to initiate joint clinical trials of Ayurvedic formulations against COVID-19,” Sandhu said. “Our scientists have been exchanging knowledge and research resources on this front,” he said.The Indo-US Science Technology Forum (IUSSTF) has always been instrumental in promoting excellence in science, technology, and innovation through collaborative activities.To address COVID-19-related challenges, the IUSSTF had given a call to support joint research and start-up engagements. Large number of proposals are being reviewed on fast track mode by the experts on both the sides, he said.“Indian pharmaceutical companies are global leaders in producing affordable low-cost medicines and vaccines and will play an important role in the fight against this pandemic,” Sandhu said.According to the ambassador, there are at least three ongoing collaborations between Indian vaccine companies with US-based institutions. These collaborations would be beneficial not just to India and the US, but also for the billions who would need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 across the world, he noted.Asserting that innovation will be the key driver in pandemic response and recovery, he said tech-companies and start-ups have already begun to take the lead in this direction."Telemedicine and telehealth will evolve as will other digital platforms across sectors," he said. Noting that there has been longstanding collaboration between India and US in health sector, he said scientists have been working together in several programs to understand important diseases at basic and clinical level.Many such programs have been focused on translational research to develop new therapeutics and diagnostics. There are over 200 ongoing NIH funded projects in India involving 20 institutions from NIH network and several eminent institutions in India engaged in a wide spectrum of research areas to create health care solutions, the senior diplomat said.The collaboration under Vaccine Action Program (VAP) resulted in development of ROTAVAC vaccine against rota virus which causes severe diarrhea in children. The vaccine was developed by an Indian company (Bharat Biotech) at an affordable cost. It has been commercialised and introduced in the Expanded Program on Immunisation.Development of many other vaccines such as TB, Influenza, Chikungunya are also in progress under the VAP, he said. “As I speak, the VAP meeting is in progress where experts from both countries are deeply engaged in technical discussions to expedite development of COVID-19 vaccine,” Sandhu said in his remarks.During the interaction, the eminent experts appreciated India's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and offered their valuable suggestions and best practices in this regard. They shared their ideas on deepening the knowledge partnership between India and the US.The experts who took part in interaction, were drawn from a wide-ranging fields including artificial intelligence, quantum information science, biomedical engineering, robotics, mechanical engineering, earth and ocean science, virology, physics, astrophysics, and health sciences.Prominent among those who attended the virtual interaction were Subhash Kak Regents Professor at Oklahoma State University, Dr Vijay Kuchroo, Samuel L Wasserstrom Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Dr Ashish M Kamat, Professor of Urology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Ashutosh Chilkoti, Alan L Kaganov Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University; and Prof Manu Prakash, professor in Department of Bioengineering at Sandford University, among others. 

Clinical trials for Ayurvedic formulations against COVID-19 to be initiated in India, US

Ayurvedic practitioners and researchers in India and the US are planning to initiate joint clinical trials for Ayurveda formulations against the novel coronavirus

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Short videos showing US raids in northwestern Syria were released by the Pentagon on Wednesday. The raids had resulted in the death of ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The most wanted terrorist of the world had died on Sunday after he blew up his suicide vest following the US raid on his compound in Syria's Idlib province, some four miles from the Turkish border. Speaking to reporters at a Pentagon news conference, US Central Command Commander Gen. Kenneth Mckenzie said Baghdadi's compound looks "pretty much like a parking lot with large potholes" after the raids. The compound was destroyed in a way to ensure that it would not be a shrine or otherwise memorable in any way. “It's just another piece of ground now,” he said.Before Baghdadi was found by the US forces running for life in a tunnel, American troops had killed five members of the ISIS, including four women who engaged with them in the fire. Two children, appeared to be under 12 years old, were killed in the raid, not three as believed earlier, he said. "About Baghdadi's last moments. I can tell you this, he crawled into a hole with two small children, blew himself up while his people stayed on the ground. So, you can deduce what kind of person it is based on that activity,” he said but refused to confirm or deny anything else about his last seconds.McKenzie said all six ISIS members were killed, including four women and two men."This is in addition to the two children killed by Baghdadi as he blew himself up,” he said adding that 11 children were protected by the assault force and two men were detained."We believe Baghdadi actually may have fired from his hole in his last moments. The other people that were engaged on the objective were behaving in a threatening manner with suicide vests approaching the raid force and that causes you to make some decisions, particularly when they don't respond to Arabic language commands to stop, warning shots, and the progression of escalation that our special operators are so very good at,” McKenzie said.Giving details of the operation, the American general said the US forces cleared significant debris from the tunnel and secured Baghdadi's remains for DNA identity confirmation."Following collection of samples for formal DNA analysis, Baghdadi's remains were buried at sea in accordance with the law of armed conflict within 24 hours of his death,” he said.They also secured whatever documentation and electronics could be found, which was substantial. The assault force then left the compound and returned to their helicopters with the two detainees.After US forces were safely off the objective, they employed precision standoff munitions to destroy the compound and its contents, McKenzie said."The operation was exquisitely planned and executed. It demonstrates the United States' global reach and our unwavering commitment to destroy ISIS, bring its leaders to justice, and to protect America and others from people like Baghdadi. The mission was a difficult, complex, and precise rate that was executed with the highest level of professionalism and in the finest tradition of the US military,” McKenzie said.According to the CENTCOM Commander, Defence Intelligence Agency conducted the analysis and compared DNA from the remains taken from the compound with an on-file sample taken when Baghdadi was at Camp Bucca Prison in Iraq in 2004."The analysis showed a direct match between the samples and produce a level of certainty that the remains belonged to Baghdadi of one in 104 septillion, which is certainly beyond a shadow of a doubt,” he said.Despite the death of Baghdadi, McKenzie said the US Central command remains focused on the enduring defeat of ISIS and will remain vigilant against all terrorist organisations in the region who threaten the United States, its partners, and allies.Also Read | Islamic State insider who informed about Baghdadi to get $25 mn rewardAlso Read | Osama was buried at sea like Baghdadi, here's what sea burial means​

US releases video from raid that killed ISIS leader al-Baghdadi

Giving details of the operation, the American general said the US forces cleared significant debris from the tunnel and secured Baghdadi's remains for DNA identity confirmation.

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Newly formed Tropical Storm Nate was blamed on Thursday for at least 22 deaths in Central America as it dumped rain across the region on a path that would carry it toward a potential landfall on the US Gulf Coast as a hurricane over the weekend.Louisiana officials declared a state of emergency and ordered some people to evacuate coastal areas and barrier islands, and evacuations began at some offshore oil platforms in the Gulf.The US National Hurricane Center said the storm could cause dangerous flooding by dumping as much as 15 to 20 inches (38 to 50 centimeters) of rain as it moved over Honduras, with higher accumulations in a few places.It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) by Thursday evening and was likely to strengthen over the northwestern Caribbean Sea Thursday night and Friday before a possible strike on the Cancun region at the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula at near-hurricane strength. It could hit the US Gulf coast near New Orleans over the weekend at hurricane strength.In Nicaragua, Nate's arrival followed two weeks of near-constant rain that had left the ground saturated and rivers swollen. Authorities placed the whole country on alert and warned of flooding and landslides.Nicaragua's vice president and spokeswoman, Rosario Murillo, said that at least 15 people had died in that country due to the storm. She didn't give details on all the deaths, but said two women and a man who worked for the Health Ministry were swept away by a flooded canal in the central municipality of Juigalpa.The government closed schools nationwide.Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Organism blamed seven deaths in that country on the storm and said 15 people were missing. Flooding drove 5,000 residents into emergency shelters.In Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency and mobilized 1,300 National Guard troops, with 15 headed to New Orleans to monitor the fragile pumping system there.With forecasts projecting landfall in southeast Louisiana Sunday morning, Edwards urged residents to ready for rainfall, storm surge and severe winds - and to be where they intend to hunker down by "dark on Saturday."Louisiana's governor says Nate is forecast to move quickly, rather than stall and drop tremendous amounts of rain on the state. State officials hope that means New Orleans won't run into problems with its pumps being able to handle the water.Edwards warned, however, against underestimating the storm.Officials ordered the evacuation of part of coastal St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans ahead of the storm. Earlier Thursday, a voluntary evacuation was called in the barrier island town of Grand Isle south of New Orleans.New Orleans officials outlined steps to bolster the city's pump and drainage system. Weaknesses in that system were revealed during summer flash floods.The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's New Orleans office said in a news release that as of midday Thursday, six production platforms, out of the 737 manned platforms in the Gulf, had been evacuated. No drilling rigs were evacuated, but one moveable rig was taken out of the storm's path.The agency estimated less than 15 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in, which equates to 254,607 barrels of oil per day.The storm was centered about 45 miles (75 kilometers) west of Puerto Lempira, Honduras and was moving north-northwest near 10 mph (17 kph).The forecast track showed the storm could brush across the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula late Friday night and then hit the US Gulf Coast as a hurricane by Sunday morning. Forecasters said hurricane conditions were possible in Mexico on Friday night.In the Pacific, former Tropical Storm Ramon dissipated off the southwestern coast of Mexico.

Tropical storm Nate kills 22 in Central America, state of emergency declared

The US National Hurricane Center said the storm could cause dangerous flooding by dumping as much as 15 to 20 inches of rain.

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Neighbors gather next to a mass grave in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, UkraineUkraine's troops found brutalized bodies with bound hands, gunshot wounds to the head and signs of torture after Russian soldiers withdrew from the outskirts of Kyiv, authorities said Sunday, sparking new calls for a war crimes investigation and sanctions against Russia.Associated Press journalists in Bucha, a small city northwest of the capital, saw the bodies of at least nine people in civilian clothes who appeared to have been killed at close range. At least two had their hands tied behind their backs. The AP also saw two bodies wrapped in plastic, bound with tape and thrown into a ditch.Authorities said they were documenting evidence of alleged atrocities to add to their case for prosecuting Russian officials for war crimes. To convict, International Criminal Court prosecutors will need to show a pattern of indiscriminant deadly assaults on civilians during Russia's invasion.Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said scores of residents were found slain on the streets of Bucha and the Kyiv suburbs of Irpin and Hostomel in what looked like a “scene from a horror movie.”Some people were shot in the head and had their hands bound, and some bodies showed signs of torture, Arestovych said. There also were reports of rapes, he said.A day earlier, AP journalists witnessed Ukrainian soldiers gingerly removing at least six bodies from a street in Bucha with cables in case the Russians had booby-trapped corpses with explosives before their withdrawal. Local residents said the dead people were civilians killed without provocation, a claim that could not be independently verified.“What happened in Bucha and other suburbs of Kyiv can only be described as genocide,” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko told German newspaper Bild. Klitschko called on other nations to immediately end Russian gas imports, saying they were funding the killings.“Not a penny should go to Russia anymore. That’s bloody money used to slaughter people. The gas and oil embargo must come immediately,” the mayor said.Russian troops moved into Ukraine from three sides on Feb. 24, and soldiers who entered from the north in Belarus spent weeks trying to clear a path to Kyiv. Their advance stalled in the face of resolute defiance from Ukraine’s defenders, and Moscow said this week it would concentrate the invasion elsewhere going forward.Signs of fierce fighting were everywhere in the wake of Russian troops retreating north to back to Belarus: destroyed armored vehicles from both armies lay in streets and fields along with scattered military gear. The Ukrainian military said its troops continued to comb areas outside of the capital for mines, the dead and for any lingering Russian fighters.ALSO READ | Russian soldiers die after consuming 'poisoned' pastries and alcohol served by Ukraine's citizensForeign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, also called for tougher sanctions on Russia, including a complete energy embargo, over the discoveries north of Kyiv. Kuleba tweeted Sunday that the“Bucha massacre was deliberate,” alleging the “Russians aim to eliminate as many Ukrainians as they can.”Charles Michel, president of the European Council, wrote on Twitter that he was shocked by the “haunting images of atrocities committed by Russian army" in the capital region. The EU and non-governmental organizations were assisting in the effort to preserve evidence of war crimes, according to Michel, who promised “further EU sanctions” against Russia.The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. separately condemned what was being described and said Russia would be held accountable.“We will not allow Russia to cover up their involvement in these atrocities through cynical disinformation and will ensure that the reality of Russia’s actions are brought to light,″ British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.A mass grave in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, UkraineA woman walks as smoke rises in the air in the background after shelling in OdesaA Ukrainian serviceman walks next to a fighting vehicle, outside KyivA woman walks amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv  A mass grave in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, UkraineA woman walks as smoke rises in the air in the background after shelling in OdesaA Ukrainian serviceman walks next to a fighting vehicle, outside KyivA woman walks amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv As Russia retreated from the capital, other parts of the country were under siege. Russia has said it is directing troops to eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces for eight years.Mariupol, a southeastern port located on the Sea of Azov, remained cut off from the rest of the country as Russian ground forces fought to occupy the city. About 100,000 civilians - less than a quarter of the prewar population of 430,000 - are believed to be trapped there with little or no food, water, fuel and medicine.The International Committee of the Red Cross said it hoped a team of nine staffers and three vehicles it sent Saturday to help evacuate residents would reach Mariupol on Sunday but cautioned, "The situation on the ground is volatile and subject to rapid changes.”Ukrainian authorities said Russia agreed days ago to allow safe passage from the city, which has been the site of some of the worst attacks and greatest suffering, but similar agreements have broken down repeatedly under continued shelling.A supermarket parking lot in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia has become the staging ground for tens of thousands of people fleeing Mariupol.Peycheva Olena, who made it out of the besieged city, told Britain's Sky News she was forced to leave the body of her husband unburied when he was killed in shooting.“There was shelling, and we tried to drag him away but it was too much, we couldn’t do it,” explained her daughter, Kristina Katrikova.While the geography of the battlefield morphed, little changed for many Ukrainians on the 39th day of a war that has sent more than 4 million people fleeing the country as refugees and displaced millions more from their homes.The mayor of Chernihiv, which also has been under attack for weeks, said Sunday that relentless Russian shelling has destroyed 70% of the northern city. Like in Mariupol, Chernihiv has been cut off from shipments of food and other supplies.“People think how they can live until tomorrow,” Mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko said.On Sunday morning, Russian forces launched missiles on the Black Sea port of Odesa, in southern Ukraine, sending up clouds of dark smoke that veiled parts of the city. The Russian military said the targets were an oil processing plant and fuel depots around Odesa, which is Ukraine’s largest port and home to its navy.ALSO READ | Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking oil depot near Ukrainian border; Kiev refutes allegations“I live in that eight-floor building. At six in the morning, Russia launched an attack, and this piece of rock reached my house,” said Maiesienko Ilia, who lives near one of the targeted facilities.The Odesa city council said Ukraine’s air defense shot down some missiles before they hit the city. Ukrainian military spokesman Vladyslav Nazarov said there were no casualties from the attack.The regional governor in Kharkiv, said Sunday that Russian artillery and tanks performed over 20 strikes on Ukraine’s second-largest city and its outskirts in the country's northeast over the past day.The head of Ukraine’s delegation in talks with Russia said Moscow’s negotiators informally agreed to most of a draft proposal discussed during face-to-face talks in Istanbul this week, but no written confirmation has been provided.The Ukrainian negotiator, Davyd Arakhamia said on Ukrainian TV that he hoped the proposal was developed enough so Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet to discuss it. But the top Russian negotiator in talks with Ukraine, Vladimir Medinksy, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying it was too early to talk about a meeting between the two leaders.As his country’s troops retook territory north of the capital from the departing Russian troops, Zelenskyy called on all Ukrainians to do whatever they could “to foil the enemy’s tactics and weaken its capabilities.”“Peace will not be the result of any decisions the enemy makes somewhere in Moscow. There is no need to entertain empty hopes that they will simply leave our land. We can only have peace by fighting,” Zelenskyy said late Saturday.ALSO READ | India ready to contribute to peace efforts to resolve Russia-Ukraine conflict, PM Modi tells Russia

Bodies with hands tied, gunshot wounds found strewn on streets as Russian troops withdraw from Kyiv

Journalists saw the bodies of at least nine people in civilian clothes who appeared to have been killed at close range. At least two had their hands tied behind their backs.

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UAE urges citizens to postpone travel to Jammu and KashmirThe UAE has advised its citizens to postpone travel to Jammu and Kashmir and asked those who are already there to follow the instructions of the local authorities, according to a media report.The Indian government imposed restrictions in the Valley before scrapping Article 370 and bifurcate the state into two union territories-- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.There is a communication shutdown and certain other restrictions in the valley.The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) in a tweet on Wednesday said, "as a result of the current situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation advises citizens to postpone travel to the state of Jammu and Kashmir for the time being, and calls upon those who are there to follow the instructions of local authorities." ALSO READ: BCAS asks airports to step up security post Kashmir developmentsALSO READ: Jammu and Kashmir: NSA Ajit Doval interacts with locals and security forces in ShopianALSO READ: Tight security across Jammu and Kashmir in view of imposition of Section 144

UAE urges citizens to postpone travel to Jammu and Kashmir

The Indian government imposed restrictions in the Valley before scrapping Article 370 and bifurcate the state into two union territories-- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

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President Xi Jinping has told herdsmen from a Tibetan settlement bordering Arunachal Pradesh to “set down roots” to safeguard “Chinese territory” and focus on developing their hometown.“Without peace in the territory, there will be no peaceful lives for the millions of families,” Xi, who began his second term in office after the once-in-five-years Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) this week endorsed his second tenure, wrote to a herding family in Lhunze County in Tibet, official media reported on Sunday.Xi told the herding family from Lhunze County, near the Himalayas in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, to set down roots in the border area, safeguard “Chinese territory” and develop their hometown.India asserts that the Sino-Indian border dispute covers the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control, while China claims it is confined to about 2,000 kms to the area of Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as Southern Tibet.The family is based in Yumai, China’s smallest town in terms of population at the southern foot of the Himalayas, where steep slopes and rugged paths make it difficult to live, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.Xi acknowledged the family’s efforts to “safeguard the territory, and thanked them for the loyalty and contributions they have made in the border area,” the report said.Xi, who also heads the Central Military Commission - the overall high command of the Chinese military, made the remarks in a reply delivered to the Tibetan herders yesterday, after they wrote to him introducing their township, the Xinhua report said.The Chinese president hoped that the family would motivate more herders to set down roots in the border area “like galsang flowers,” and become guardians of Chinese territory and builders of a happy hometown.Fresh off the 19th CPC Congress, Xi told the family that the party would continue to lead people of all ethnic groups towards better lives, the report said.Two girls - Zhoigar and Yangzom - from the Tibetan family wrote the letter to Xi while the Congress was in session in Beijing, telling him their experiences in safeguarding the border area and the development of their township over the years.

Guard Chinese soil, Xi Jinping tells Tibetan herdsmen from Arunachal border

President Xi Jinping has told herdsmen from a Tibetan settlement bordering Arunachal Pradesh to “set down roots” to safeguard “Chinese territory” and focus on developing their hometown.

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Governor of Hidalgo state Omar Fayad said that the explosion took place in Tlahuelilpan, about 105 kilometres north of the Mexico city.At least 21 people were killed and over 71 people were injured in a massive fire that broke out at the site of an illegal fuel tap in central Mexico on Friday.Governor of Hidalgo state Omar Fayad said that the explosion took place in Tlahuelilpan, about 105 kilometres north of the Mexico city."What we know is that it was an illegal fuel theft site, and that authorities were aware of it" when it burned, Fayed added.Hours later, and after sundown, the first images of the tragedy were shown on television, with desperate people fleeing the scene, screaming for help.Federal and state firefighters and ambulances run by state oil giant Pemex were headed to the area to help burns victims, the governor added, as victims were ferried off to hospitals."I am deeply saddened by the grave situation suffered by Tlahuelilpan because of the explosion of a pipeline," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote on Twitter. The tragedy comes as anti-corruption crusader Lopez Obrador presses implementation of his national fuel theft prevention plan.Illegal taps of Pemex pipelines cost Mexico an estimated $3 billion in 2017.The government has shut off key pipelines until they can be fully secured and deployed the army to guard Pemex production facilities.But the strategy to fight the problem has led to severe gasoline and diesel shortages across much of the country, including Mexico City, forcing people to queue for hours -- sometimes days -- to fill up their vehicles.The president, who took office on December 1, has vowed to keep up the fight and asked Mexicans to be patient.Meanwhile, authorities have opened 1,700 individual investigations for fuel theft, which became a massive black-market industry in Mexico under previous governments, involving powerful drug cartels and corrupt Pemex insiders.Tanker trucks are being used to deliver fuel, but experts say there are not nearly enough of them.Mexico City residents faced a second week of fuel shortages, though lines at service stations appeared shorter than the previous week.Lopez Obrador called on private companies to step up gasoline imports, suggesting they bore some of the blame for the shortages.The roots of the fuel theft problem run deep in Mexico, where the practice -- known locally as "huachicoleo," or moonshining -- is big business for some communities.(With agency inputs) 

At least 21 killed, over 70 injured in fuel pipeline explosion in Mexico

Governor of Hidalgo state Omar Fayad said that the explosion took place in Tlahuelilpan, about 105 kilometres north of the Mexico city.

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European Union bans all 'non-essential' incoming travelers for 30 daysThe European Union has banned all non-essential incoming travelers for 30 days as cases of coronavirus in the region skyrocket. Italy, Spain, UK and Germany are among the worst affected European countries. World Health Organisation (WHO) has already designated Europe as the new epicenter of coronavirus after the cases in China saw a downwards trend. (more to follow...) 

COVID-19 fallout: European Union bans all 'non-essential' incoming travelers for 30 days

The European Union has banned all non-essential incoming travelers for 30 days as cases of coronavirus in the region skyrocket. Italy, Spain, UK, and Germany are among the worst affected European countries.

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Over 154 crore students hit by schools, colleges closure due to COVID-19; girls to be worst hit: UNESCOOver 154 crore students are severely impacted by closure of educational institutions across the world amid the COVID-19 outbreak due to which girls will be the worst hit as it will lead to increased drop-out rates and further entrench gender gaps in education, UNESCO said. Stefania Giannini, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Education, told PTI in an interview that shutting down of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic comes with a warning of "potential for increased drop-out rates which will disproportionately affect adolescent girls, further entrench gender gaps in education and lead to increased risk of sexual exploitation, early pregnancy and early and forced marriage"."Out of the total population of students enrolled in education globally, we estimate that over 89 per cent are currently out of school because of COVID-19. This represents 154 crore students enrolled in school or university, including nearly 74 crore girls. Over 11 crore of these girls are living in the world's least developed countries where getting an education is already a struggle," she told over phone from Paris.According to Giannini, for girls living in refugee camps or who are internally displaced, shutting down of schools will be the most devastating as they are already at a disadvantage and education responses must prioritise the needs of adolescent girls' at the risk of reversing 20 years of gains made for girls' education."Refugee girls at secondary level are only half as likely to enrol as their male peers. We are only beginning to understand the economic impacts of COVID-19, but they are expected to be widespread and devastating. "Particularly for women and girls in countries where limited social protection measures are in place, economic hardships caused by the crisis will have spill-over effects as families consider the financial and opportunity costs of educating their daughters. While many girls will continue with their education once the school gates reopen, others will never return to school," she said.The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has called for policy-makers and practitioners to look into lessons from the past crises to address the challenges faced by girls as the governments of various counties prepare for "indefinite" school closures."As governments prepare for indefinite school closures, policy-makers and practitioners can look to lessons from the past crises to address the specific challenges faced by girls. We, therefore, call on governments to protect progress made in favour of girls' education through six gender-responsive, evidence-based and context-specific actions," Giannini said.The six-point strategy suggested by UNESCO for the purpose includes leveraging teachers and communities, adopting appropriate distance learning practices, considering the digital divide, safeguarding vital services and engaging young people. "Closure of educational institutions even if temporary is problematic for various reasons. Firstly, the reduction in instructional time impacts learning achievement. When schools close, educational performance suffers. Disrupting schooling also leads to other harder to measure losses, including inconveniences to families and decreased economic productivity as parents struggle to balance work obligations with childcare," she said."The closures also compound educational inequities as economically advantaged families tend to have higher levels of education and more resources to fill learning gaps and provide enrichment activities to children who cannot attend school," Giannini added. UNESCO has launched a global education coalition to support countries in scaling up their best distance learning practices and reaching children and youth who are most at risk.More than 25 lakh people have been confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus worldwide, with 80 percent of cases in Europe and the United States. There have been 25,03,429 recorded cases and 1,72,551 deaths around the world. Europe, the most affected continent, has 12,30,522 official cases and 1,08,797 fatalities, while the US, where COVID-19 is spreading most rapidly, has 7,88,920 cases and 42,458 deaths. 

Over 154 crore students hit by schools, colleges closure due to COVID-19; girls to be worst hit: UNESCO

Over 154 crore students are severely impacted by closure of educational institutions across the world amid the COVID-19 outbreak due to which girls will be the worst hit as it will lead to increased drop-out rates and further entrench gender gaps in education

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US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump on Monday said he will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in June on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Japan.This would also be the first opportunity for a meeting between the Indian prime minister and Trump after the election results are declared in India on May 23. However, Trump, during his interaction with the media at his Oval Office, made no mention of any meeting other than that with Xi and Putin on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit.Like the Trump-Xi summit on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina last November, all eyes will again be on the two leaders in Japan because of the ongoing trade tension."We are going to be meeting, as you know, at the G20 in Japan. And that will be, I think, probably a very fruitful meeting," Trump told reporters."But we are taking in, right now, hundreds of billions of dollars. We are taking in billions of dollars of tariffs.... We have never taken in 10 cents until I got elected. Now we are taking in billions and billions.... In addition to that we have another USD 325 billion that we can do, if we decided to do it," he said."So we are taking it in tens of billions of dollars. We have never done that before with China. We have never done that before with anybody, frankly, because we have been taken advantage of all of our trade deals," Trump said in response to a question.

Donald Trump says will meet Xi Jinping and Putin in June

Like the Trump-Xi summit on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina last November, all eyes will again be on the two leaders in Japan because of the ongoing trade tension.

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Over five dozen Pakistani migrants land on Italian coastA total of 62 Pakistani migrants came ashore overnight at the town of Gallipoli in the southern Italian region of Apulia and the yacht suspected of transporting them was impounded off nearby Santa Maria di Leuca, the Red Cross said on Friday.Two men were found aboard the yacht, AKI has learned.The migrants, who included nine unaccompanied minors, all received assistance including medical checks and most were in good health. Two of the minors needed medical treatment and were taken to hospital, the Red Cross said.All the other migrants were transferred to a reception centre in the coastal city of Otranto.On August 20, another yacht reached Santa Maria di Leuca with 69 migrants on board.ALSO READ | No customary exchange of sweets between BSF, Pak Rangers on Pakistan Independence dayALSO READ | How Syed Akbaruddin destroyed Pakistani journalists with a 'handshake' | VIDEOALSO READ | Pakistani doctors with MS, MD degrees sacked in Saudi Arabia

Over five dozen Pakistani migrants land on Italian coast

The migrants, who included nine unaccompanied minors, all received assistance including medical checks and most were in good health. Two of the minors needed medical treatment and were taken to hospital, the Red Cross said.

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Air pollution linked with 15 per cent COVID-19 deaths worldwide: Study

Air pollution linked with 15 per cent COVID-19 deaths worldwide: Study

About 15 per cent of deaths worldwide from COVID-19 may be linked to long-term exposure to air pollution, according to a study published on Tuesday.

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A man carries debris from buildings destroyed during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces outside Kyiv, Ukraine, FridayTalks to stop the fighting in Ukraine resumed Friday, as another attempt to rescue civilians from the shattered and encircled city of Mariupol was thrown into jeopardy and Russia accused the Ukrainians of a cross-border helicopter attack on a fuel depot.The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said a fiery raid on Russian soil by two helicopter gunships left two people wounded, though state oil company Rosneft denied anyone was hurt.“Certainly, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, five weeks into the war that has left thousands dead and driven more than 4 million refugees from Ukraine.The Russian claim could not immediately be verified. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he could “neither confirm nor reject the claim that Ukraine was involved in this, simply because I do not possess all the military information.”Russia has reported cross-border shelling from Ukraine before, including an incident last week that killed a military chaplain, but not an incursion of its airspace. The depot, run by Russian energy giant Rosneft, is about 35 kilometers (21 miles) from the Ukraine border.Meanwhile, Russian troops continued withdrawing from areas around Kyiv, three days after Moscow said it would reduce military activity near the Ukrainian capital and the northern city of Chernihiv to promote trust between the two sides. And Ukrainian forces exploited the pullback by mounting counterattacks and retaking towns and villages.But Ukraine and its allies warned that the Kremlin is not de-escalating but resupplying its troops and redeploying them to the country's east for an intensified assault on the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas region, which includes Mariupol.The latest negotiations, taking place by video, follow a meeting Tuesday in Turkey, where Ukraine reiterated its willingness to abandon a bid to join NATO and declare itself neutral. In return, it proposed that its security be guaranteed by several other countries.The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, wrote on social media that Moscow's positions on retaining control of the Crimean Peninsula — seized from Ukraine in 2014 — and expanding the territory in eastern Ukraine held by Russia-backed separatists “are unchanged.”On the outskirts of Kyiv, where Russian troops have withdrawn, damaged cars lined the streets of Irpin, a once-quiet suburban area popular with young families, now in ruins. Emergency workers carried elderly people on stretchers over a destroyed bridge to safety.Three wooden crosses next to a residential building that was damaged in a shelling marked the graves of a mother and son and an unknown man. A resident who gave her name only as Lila said she helped hurriedly bury them on March 5, just before Russian troops moved in.“They were hit with artillery and they were burned alive,” she said.An Irpin resident who gave his name only as Andriy said the Russians packed up their equipment and left on Tuesday. The next day, they shelled the town for close to an hour before Ukrainian soldiers retook it.“I don’t think this is over,” Andriy said. “They will be back.”To the south, the International Committee for the Red Cross struggled to work out an operation to send emergency aid into Mariupol and bring civilians out by bus.The strategic port city on the Sea of Azov has seen some of the worst suffering of the war, with weeks of heavy fighting and shortages of water, food and medicine. Around 100,000 people are believed to be in the city, down from a prewar 430,000.“We are running out of adjectives to describe the horrors that residents in Mariupol have suffered,” Red Cross spokesperson Ewan Watson said. “The situation is horrendous and deteriorating, and it’s now a humanitarian imperative that people be allowed to leave and aid supplies be allowed in.”City authorities said the Russians were blocking access to Mariupol and it was too dangerous for people lucky enough to have working vehicles and fuel to leave on their own.“We do not see a real desire on the part of the Russians and their satellites to provide an opportunity for Mariupol residents to evacuate to territory controlled by Ukraine,” Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.He said Russian forces “are categorically not allowing any humanitarian cargo, even in small amounts, into the city.”On Thursday, Russian forces blocked a 45-bus convoy attempting to evacuate people from Mariupol, and only 631 people were able to leave in private cars, the Ukrainian government said. Russian forces also seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies bound for Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.In the past few days, the Kremlin, in a seeming shift in its war aims, said its “main goal” now is gaining complete control of the Donbas. Mariupol's capture would be a major prize for the Russians, giving them an unbroken land bridge to Crimea.The Donbas is the industrial region of eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014. The separatists have declared two areas independent republics.Despite its pledge to scale back, Russian forces have subjected both Chernihiv and Kyiv to continued air- and ground-launched missile strikes. But Ukraine’s military said it has retaken control of 29 settlements in the two regions, where Russia has pulled back some of its troops.Russian troops in the northeast also continued to shell Kharkiv, and in the southeast sought to seize the cities of Popasna and Rubizhne as well as Mariupol, the Ukrainian military said.Invading forces also withdrew from the heavily contaminated Chernobyl site in northern Ukraine early Friday.Ukraine’s state power company, Energoatom, said Russian soldiers had received “significant doses” of radiation from digging trenches in the exclusion zone around the closed nuclear power plant. But the International Atomic Energy Agency said it could not independently confirm that, and there was no immediate comment from the Kremlin.Energoatom gave no details on the condition of the soldiers and did not say how many were affected.ALSO READ | India ready to contribute to peace efforts to resolve Russia-Ukraine conflict, PM Modi tells RussiaAlso Read | 'If India wants to buy anything from us, ready to discuss': Russia's FM amid US pressure 

Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking oil depot near Ukrainian border; Kiev refutes allegations

The Russian claim could not immediately be verified. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he could “neither confirm nor reject the claim that Ukraine was involved in this, simply because I do not possess all the military information.”

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 The first meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was held on Friday on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires in Argentina.  China on Monday reacted cautiously to the first trilateral summit between the leaders of Japan, America and India, saying it "remained open" to normal cooperation between them, and hoped they will play a constructive role in promoting peace in the region. The first meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was held on Friday on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires in Argentina. Related Stories G20 Summit: PM Modi meets EU leaders, discusses ways to counter terrorism in all formsIndia to host G20 Summit in 2022, the 75th year of independence: PM Modi in Buenos AiresXi Jinping, Donald Trump hold 'successful meeting', agree not to impose tariffs G-20 endorses multilateral trade system, WTO reforms; India to host summit in 2022From holding trilaterals to hosting G20 summit in 2022; Key takeaways from PM Modi's Buenos Aires visit Modi described the Japan-America-India partnership as JAI.The meeting assumed importance in the backdrop of China expanding its influence in the Indo-Pacific region.Asked how China views the meeting between the three leaders, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the media, "We remain open to the normal cooperation among relevant parties”. "We hope such cooperation will promote mutual trust and cooperation in this region and play a constructive role in promoting the peace, development and prosperity of the region," he said.     Commenting on the meeting, Chinese analysts said it will not lead to an alliance against China as stated by media reports."Neither Japan nor India wants to damage their improving relations with China, but admittedly they also want to maintain good ties with the US, which wants to see China in trouble," state-run Global Times quoted a Chinese expert as saying on the trilateral meeting. Qian Feng, a research fellow at Tsinghua University's National Strategy Institute, told the Global Times that the meeting is more of a symbolic move of the US to manifest that its Indo-Pacific strategy is smoothly moving forward. Qian said that while China needs to stay vigilant over activities that may harm its interests, it is too soon to conclude that Japan and India will join the US in dealing with China.However, the three countries have different agendas in the Indo-Pacific, Qian said.Japan and India are moving toward restoring their relations with China, and it doesn't do any good for them to openly risk damaging ties, Qian said. China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counter-claims. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in the East China Sea too with Japan. Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. On the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and Russia, India, China (BRIC) leaders meetings held on the sidelines of the G20 meeting, Geng said the meetings while focussing on in-depth cooperation in security and improving global governance and rule-based trading system headed by World Trade Organisation (WTO) called for action against multilateralism and protectionism.  "This reflects that the BRICS belief in the core values and principles of the WTO," Geng said. China has been calling for international efforts to oppose protectionist policies being pursued by Trump as part of his America first policy.On the BRICS meeting, Geng said the three are important countries as they are also strategic cooperative partners."The international situation is complex and volatile with the rising unilateralism and protectionism. We are facing severe challenges. "The two meetings sent out voice to strengthen multilateralism, strengthen international cooperation for win-win and mutually beneficial outcomes. The meetings demonstrated shared will of the developing countries and emerging market for solidarity and cooperation," he said.

'We're open to forge ties with them as it will play constructive role in promoting peace': China reacts to first JAI summit

The first meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was held on Friday on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires in Argentina.

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AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine medical supplies us to India Joe Biden administrationThe Biden administration has come under intense pressure from various quarters, including the powerful US Chambers of Commerce, lawmakers and eminent Indian-Americans, to ship AstraZeneca and other COVID-19 vaccines along with several life-saving medical supplies to India, which is witnessing a deadly surge in coronavirus cases."As the Covid pandemic inflicts a heavy toll on countries around the globe, the US Chamber strongly encourages the administration to release the millions of AstraZeneca vaccine doses in storage - as well as other life-saving support - for shipment to India, Brazil, and other nations hard-hit by the pandemic," said Myron Brilliante, executive vice president and head of international affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce.He said these vaccine doses will not be needed in the United States, where it's estimated that vaccine manufacturers will be able to produce enough doses by early June to inoculate every American.This move would affirm US leadership, including in initiatives such as COVAX, and as we work with partners around the globe because no one is safe from the pandemic until we are all safe from it, Brilliante said.The US Chambers issued the statement after Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar sought global help in the fight against COVID-19. "Will strive to ensure that our supply chains are as smooth as possible in a difficult global situation. The world must support India, as India helps the world," he said in a tweet.US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter told reporters that the United States continues to work closely with India to facilitate the movement of essential supplies and also address the bottlenecks of the supply chains."The COVID-19 situation in India is a global concern," she said."We also continue to collaborate with our partners in India to battle this at the highest level. We know Secretary (of State, Tony) Blinken spoke to his counterpart on Tuesday and we remain deeply engaged with India at all levels as we work to combat this crisis of the pandemic together,” Porter said.Congresswoman Rashida Talib tweeted that the COVID-19 crisis in India is a harsh reminder that the pandemic is not over until the whole world is safe.President Biden "must support a patent waiver to ramp up global production now," she said."As we look to our Indian friends battling this pandemic, we'll also acknowledge the toll that it's taking, not only on the people of India, but as well as all throughout South Asia and, quite frankly, all over the world," Porter said.The Washington Post in a lead editorial hoped that all of India can seize the moment and begin to reverse the course of this disaster. "India is not a faraway problem. In pandemic time and distance, every place is nearby," it said.Major Democratic fundraiser for Biden's presidential campaign Shekar Narasimhan urged the US President to speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We have to do something in the face of a humanitarian disaster. Every friend I know in the US with family in India reports that relatives have died or been affected," he said.President "please speak to Prime Minister and see if we can lend 10M doses of AZ vaccine like tomorrow. 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Pressure mounts on Biden admin to ship AstraZeneca vaccine, other medical supplies to India

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter told reporters that the United States continues to work closely with India to facilitate the movement of essential supplies and also address the bottlenecks of the supply chains.

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A shopper wears a mask as he passes by a closed storefront featuring a portrait of actor James Dean on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in Los Angeles.Over 8 lakh 50 thousand confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported worldwide including 40,000 deaths. As per the latest figures, the number of COVID-19 cases in the world currently stands at 858,669 while the death toll stands at 42,151. The United States of America is leading the number of cases chart with 188,530 cases while Italy has the most deaths of any country -- 12,428. Europe, which took the baton from China as the epicenter of COVID-19, remains the hub of most of the deaths due to the mysterious new virus that has brought the life across the globe to a standstill. After Italy, Spain (8,464), USA (3,889) and France (3,523) have seen the most fatalities. The global economy has also suffered a major brunt of the coronavirus impact. Most of the major indices in the world traded at their decade lows in the last month amid large-scale lockdown inflicted by governments to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. In India, 1,397 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been confirmed including 35 deaths. The whole country remains on lockdown until April 15.

COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc worldwide; over 850,000 infected, 42,000 dead

Over 8 lakh 50 thousand confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported worldwide including 40,000 deaths. As per the latest figures, the number of COVID-19 cases in the world currently stands at 858,669 while the death toll stands at 42,151.

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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles during a reception to celebrate the start of the Platinum Jubilee.British Queen Elizabeth II came in support of the victims of the Russia - Ukraine War. The 95-year-old monarch recently made a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).The DEC which represents the British Red Cross among 14 other groups, had appealed to people for donations to help Ukrainian civilians affected by Russia's military operation. The update about Queen's donation was shared on DEC's Twitter handle."Many thanks to Her Majesty The Queen for continuing to support the Disasters Emergency Committee and for making a generous donation to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal," the organization tweeted. Earlier, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall had held an emotional meeting with Ukrainians in London.Meanwhile, The head of the UN atomic agency said that a Ukrainian nuclear plant was hit by a Russian “projectile” but that the building it struck was a training center and there has been no release of radiation. International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Friday that the building was “not part of the reactor.”Russia’s state media regulator Roskomnadzor is blocking access to the websites of five international media organizations. The sites were blocked for hosting what Roskomnadzor told RIA was “false information” about Russian military actions in Ukraine, including reports of attacks on civilians and the Russian military’s losses.Also Read | Russia Ukraine war: US Senator Lindsey Graham calls for Vladimir Putin's assassinationAlso Read | Russia Ukraine War: UK to seek UNSC meeting after fire at Ukraine's nuclear power plant

Queen Elizabeth II makes 'generous donation' to aid victims of Ukraine crisis

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) which represents the British Red Cross among 14 other groups, had appealed to people for donations to help Ukrainian civilians affected by Russia's military operation.

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US teen coughs on groceries for 'prank' in US, charged (Representational image)A 14-year-old boy, who allegedly coughed on groceries as a prank at a store in the US state of Texas amidst the coronavirus scare, has been charged with tampering with consumer products, officials said. The grocer in northwest Harris county called 911 and reported a disturbance, following which the deputies arrived the store, they said. In a Facebook post, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the deputies responded to the disturbance call at the Food City. He said the teen "intentionally coughed on produce"."Apparently it was a prank," wrote Gonzalez. "Not a very funny one. The teen was charged with Tampering with Consumer Products." The incident took place at a time when confirmed cases of novel coronavirus are on the rise in Houston area. As of Sunday noon, COVID-19 cases in the area have climbed to 928.An estimated 58 people in the area who have tested positive for the virus have recovered, according to reports from a number of health officials.Meanwhile, Governor Greg Abbott is tightening travel to Texas by ordering some motorists from Louisiana to self-quarantine for two weeks.The new travel restrictions come as Louisiana's status as a novel coronavirus hotspot grew Sunday to more than 3,500 positive cases statewide. Abbott said drivers with commercial, medical, emergency response, military or critical infrastructure purposes for entering Texas would be exempted.State troopers will enforce the order at checkpoints at major roadways along the border. Those asked to quarantine will be required to provide an address for where they plan to hold up in Texas, either for two weeks or until their return to Louisiana, whichever comes first. 

US teen coughs on groceries for 'prank' in US, charged

A 14-year-old boy, who allegedly coughed on groceries as a prank at a store in the US state of Texas amidst the coronavirus scare, has been charged with tampering with consumer products, officials said.

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Afghanistan: Shocking video shows 3 people falling off plane mid-air in KabulKabul airport latest news: With the Taliban establishing its rule over Afghanistan after completing the capture of capital Kabul, shocking visuals from the country are pouring in showing panic-stricken people desperate to flee the country. Shortly after a video of a huge crowd jostling to get into an aircraft at Kabul airport flooded the social media on Monday, another unforeseen video splashed TV screens all over. Desperate scenes at Kabul airport as hundreds try to board plane after Taliban takeover | VIDEOThe unbelievable video showed an airplane taking off from Kabul airport and at least three people falling off a US military plane. According to reports, locals near Kabul airport claimed that they saw three men holding themselves onto the wheels of the aircraft and later fell to their death."One of the locals confirmed this and said that the fall of these people made a loud and terrifying noise,"Asvaka News said in a tweet. Earlier, at least 5 people were killed and several others were injured in firing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The incident took place when hundreds of people tried to forcibly enter planes leaving the Afghanistan capital fearing an onslaught by the Taliban.ALSO READ: Who are the Taliban and what's happening in Afghanistan? Explained

Afghanistan: Shocking video shows 3 people falling off plane mid-air in Kabul

Shortly after a video of a huge crowd jostling to get into an aircraft at Kabul airport flooded the social media on Monday, another unforeseen video splashed TV screens all over.

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Breaking News November 2The total number of global coronavirus cases has surpassed 46 million, including 1,205,044 fatalities. As many as 33,742,814 patients are reported to have recovered. Follow this breaking news blog for live updates on the coronavirus pandemic as it continues to pose a challenge for health workers and scientists who are in a race against time to produce a vaccine/medicine.IndiaTvNews.com brings you the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis that has resulted in job losses in millions and changing the way we work. Stay Home, Stay Safe, and Stay Informed as our team of dedicated editors/reporters bring you the latest news on coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine trial updates, photos, video, news, views and top stories from monsoon rains, business, politics, education, science, yoga, and much more in India and worldwide.

Breaking News: November 2, 2020 | Highlights

Get all the latest news on coronavirus cases, news on the vaccine, monsoon rains, business, politics, science, education and much more in India and worldwide.

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Ex-Pak President Musharraf admitted to hospital in DubaiFormer Pakistan president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was admitted to a Dubai hospital due to serious health issues on Monday. As per medical reports, Musharraf is suffering from cardiac problems and has blood pressure issues, Pakistan Today reported. Since 2016, Musharraf has been living in a self-imposed exile in Dubai for "seeking medical treatment" and has not returned to the country since. He is wanted by authorities in connection to the high treason case filed against him.Last month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) stopped the special court from announcing the verdict in the matter. The order came before a special court was scheduled to announce the verdict on the basis of the available record.The IHC was hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan government seeking an adjournment of the verdict's announcement. A similar petition was also filed by Musharraf in the Lahore High Court.The court has also directed the government to notify a new prosecutor or a team of prosecution in the treason case by December 5. It has also asked the special court to fix a date "for affording a reasonable opportunity of hearing" to the notified prosecutor or prosecution team as well as the counsel appointed for Musharraf.The special court on November 19 concluded the trial proceedings in the high treason case against Musharraf for declaring a state emergency on November 3, 2007. The trial of the former leader has been pending since December 2013 when he was booked in the case.Musharraf was indicted on March 31, 2014, and the prosecution had tabled the entire evidence before the special court in September the same year. However, due to litigation at appellate forums, the trial of the former president lingered on and he left Pakistan in March 2016 "to seek medical treatment."The retired general was that year declared an absconder as he failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons and court directives issued to the Federal Investigation Agency to arrest him.Also Read | Pak govt denotifies prosecution team in Musharraf caseAlso Read | Islamabad High Court rejects Musharraf's plea to drop terror charges​

Musharraf hospitalised following cardiac problem, blood pressure issues

The special court on November 19 concluded the trial proceedings in the high treason case against Musharraf for declaring a state emergency on November 3, 2007. The trial of the former leader has been pending since December 2013 when he was booked in the case.

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French health minister confirms first Coronavirus death in EuropeAn 80-year-old Chinese tourist, infected with Coronavirus, died on Friday in a hospital in France. French health minister Agnes Buzyn confirmed the first fatality from Coronavirus in Europe. On January 25, the man was placed in a quarantine of a hospital in Paris after he arrived in France on January 16. According to the French health minister, the deceased man's daughter has also been infected but she is believed to be recovering.Earlier, only three countries other than China had confirmed deaths due to Coronavirus. These countries are Hong Kong, Japan, and the Philippines.Currently, France has 11 confirmed cases of the fast-spreading respiratory virus while over 63,000 cases are around the world. More than 1,500 people have died till the date. At least 27 countries have identified positive cases of Covid-19. ALSO READ | 'It was apocalyptic': Air India pilot who evacuated stranded Indians from Wuhan shares first hand experienceALSO READ | Fatigue, dry cough, muscle pain and other early symptoms of coronavirus | Full List

French health minister confirms first Coronavirus death in Europe

An 80-year-old Chinese tourist, infected with Coronavirus, died on Friday in a hospital in France. French health minister Agnes Buzyn confirmed the first fatality from Coronavirus in Europe.

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Trains collide in southern Egypt, killing at least 32Two trains collided on Friday in southern Egypt, causing three passenger cars to flip over, killing at least 32 people and leaving at least 66 injured, health authorities said. Dozens of ambulances rushed to the scene in the southern province of Sohag, according to a statement by Egypt’s heath ministry. At least 50 wounded were transferred to four nearby hospitals.Egypt’s Railway Authorities issued another statement saying the accident happened when someone activated the emergency brakes of a passenger train that had been headed to the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. The breaks caused it to stop abruptly and be struck from behind by another incoming train. The collision caused two cars from the first train to flip over.Local media displayed videos from the scene showing flipped cars with passengers trapped inside and surrounded by rubble. Some victims seemed unconscious, while others could be seen bleeding. Bystanders carried bodies and laid them out on the ground near the site.Egypt’s railway system has a history of badly maintained equipment and poor management. Official figures show that 1,793 train accidents took place in 2017 across the country.In 2018, a passenger train derailed near the southern city of Aswan, injuring at least six people and prompting authorities to fire the chief of the country’s railways.The same year, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said the government lacks about 250 billion Egyptian pounds, or $14.1 billion, to overhaul the run-down rail system. El-Sissi spoke a day after a passenger train collided with a cargo train, killing at least 12 people, including a child.A year earlier, two passenger trains collided just outside the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, killing 43 people. In 2016, at least 51 people were killed when two commuter trains collided near Cairo.Egypt's deadliest train crash took place in 2002, when over 300 people were killed when fire erupted in speeding train traveling from Cairo to southern Egypt.

Trains collide in southern Egypt, killing at least 32

Dozens of ambulances rushed to the scene in the southern province of Sohag, according to a statement by Egypt’s heath ministry.

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A metallurgical plant is seen on the outskirts of the city of Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. The UN Security Council will vote on a draft resolution on Friday tabled by the US and Albania that will condemn in the strongest terms possible Russia's aggression, invasion and violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, a move that seeks to isolate permanent and veto-wielding member Moscow on the global stage after Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to attack its neighbour.The Council will vote on the draft resolution at 3 pm Friday (New York time), two days after it held an emergency meeting on the situation in Ukraine just as Putin had announced Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.A senior US administration official said Washington is putting forward the resolution ôwith every expectation that Russia will use its vetoö and in doing so, "they will underscore their isolation". The draft resolution will condemn, "in the strongest terms possible", Russia's aggression, invasion and violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. The official said the resolution reaffirms the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine. It also requires Russia to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its forces.The official said the UNSC resolution is just a first step, a precursor to action expected to take place in the coming days in the UN General Assembly, where on Wednesday several countries took the podium to condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine, even before the dramatic escalation and invasion."Beyond the Security Council, we see the General Assembly and the mobilisation of member states from across the globe as a key part of the response to this egregious act," the official said.Just around the time Putin announced his decision to carry out a 'military operation' in eastern Ukraine on Monday, India called for immediate de-escalation and cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis.Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said in New Delhi that India has seen the draft UNSC resolution, but it will undergo considerable changes. "We will wait to see the shape that this resolution takes before we can pronounce" on India's position on the issue. "It is an evolving situation both on the ground and in the United Nations," Shringla said.During a telephone conversation with Putin on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi "appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue".US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss Russia's premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine, the State Department said. Blinken stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia's invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire.Albania's Mission to the UN said it, along with the US, have tabled the resolution in the Security Council to mobilise the world against aggression & in support of Ukraine's independence. "All peace-loving nations must make their voice heard and join the co-sponsors list!"All eyes will be on India to see how it votes on the resolution. On January 31, India abstained on a procedural vote taken in the Security Council ahead of a meeting to discuss the situation on the Ukraine border.Following the Russian attack on Ukraine on Thursday, India has underlined the need for dialogue among the key parties and that it will be more than happy to facilitate that engagement.Russia had called for the procedural vote to determine whether the open meeting should go ahead. Russia and China voted against the meeting while India, Gabon and Kenya abstained. All other 10 Council members -- including Norway, France, the US, the UK, France, Ireland, Brazil and Mexico -- voted in favour of the meeting going through.At the UNSC meeting on Ukraine two days ago, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti called for immediate de-escalation and refraining from any further action that could contribute to a worsening of the situation."We believe that the solution lies in sustained diplomatic dialogue between the concerned parties. In the meantime, we strongly emphasise the vital need for all sides to maintain international peace and security by exercising the utmost restraint," Tirumurti said at the Council meeting.He cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis and expressed deep concern over the developments, which if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region.Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences they had never seen".READ MORE: Ukraine's President says ‘left alone’ to fight Moscow; 137 killed so farREAD MORE: Dialogue, diplomacy best way forward to defuse Ukraine crisis: Jaishankar

UNSC to vote on resolution condemning Russian invasion in Ukraine; US says fully expect Moscow to veto

Russia has launched a barrage of air and missile strikes on Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, Russian troops have rolled into the country from the north, east and south.

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A file photo of Pakistan PM Imran KhanIn provocative remarks, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the Indian government was planning on repeating a “Myanmar-style” campaign in the country by introducing the new citizenship law. The Pakistan Prime Minister’s remarks came during an exclusive interview with Turkey-based Anadolu News Agency in Islamabad."This is exactly what happened in Myanmar when they first started the registration act and that's how they excluded the Muslims and then the genocide took place. I am afraid this is where it is heading in India," Khan is reported to have said.Only a few excerpts from Khan’s interview have been released by the news agency.Khan is further learnt to have said that approximately 500 million people could be excluded from the ambit of the new citizenship law.Khan’s comments come despite repeated pleas of the Indian government stating that the new citizenship law is India’s internal matter, in which it would brook no interference. New Delhi has also sought to assuage the apprehensions of the critics of the new law, clarifying that it is meant to grant citizenship to the persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan rather than snatching away the citizenship of Indians. 

India wants to repeat a Myanmar-style campaign in garb of CAA: Pak PM Imran Khan

"This is exactly what happened in Myanmar when they first started the registration act and that's how they excluded the Muslims and then the genocide took place. I am afraid this is where it is heading in India," Imran is reported to have said

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Chaos, violence, mockery as pro-Trump mob occupies Congress, 1 killed“Where are they?” a Trump supporter demanded in a crowd of dozens roaming the halls of the Capitol, bearing Trump flags and pounding on doors. They — lawmakers, staff members and more — were hiding under tables, hunkered in lockdowns, saying prayers, and seeing the fruits of the country’s divisions up close and violent.Guns were drawn. A woman was shot and killed. A Trump flag hung on the Capitol. The graceful Rotunda reeked of tear gas. Glass shattered.On Wednesday, hallowed spaces of American democracy, one after another, yielded to the occupation of Congress.The pro-Trump mob took over the presiding officer’s chair in the Senate, the offices of the House speaker, and the Senate dais, where one yelled, “Trump won that election.”They mocked its leaders, posing for photos in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, one with his feet propped on her desk, another sitting in the same seat Vice President Mike Pence had occupied only moments before during the proceedings to certify the Electoral College vote.This began as a day of reckoning for President Donald Trump’s futile attempt to cling to power as Congress took up the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. It devolved into scenes of fear and agony that left a prime ritual of American democracy in tatters.Trump told his morning crowd at the Ellipse that he would go with them to the Capitol, but he didn’t. Instead he sent them off with incendiary rhetoric.“If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” he said. “Let the weak ones get out,” he went on. “This is a time for strength.”His lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told the crowd, “Let’s have trial by combat.”What happened Wednesday was nothing less than an attempted coup, said Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., a frequent Trump critic, said: “Today, the United States Capitol — the world’s greatest symbol of self-government — was ransacked while the leader of the free world cowered behind his keyboard.”Sasse went on: “Lies have consequences. This violence was the inevitable and ugly outcome of the president’s addiction to constantly stoking division.”Authorities eventually regained control, as night fell, and Congress resumed its process of confirming Biden’s Electoral College win.Heavily armed officers brought in as reinforcements started using tear gas in a coordinated effort to get people moving toward the door, then combed the halls for stragglers, pushing the mob farther out onto the plaza and lawn, in clouds of tear gas, flash-bangs and percussion grenades.Video footage also showed officers letting people calmly walk out the doors of the Capitol despite the rioting and vandalism. Only about a dozen arrests were made in the hours after authorities regained control. They said a woman was shot in the chest inside the building during the chaos, was taken to a hospital and died.Early on, some inside the Capitol saw the trouble coming outside the windows. Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota surveyed the growing crowd on the grounds not long after Trump had addressed his supporters by the Ellipse, fueling their grievances over an election that he and they say he won, against all evidence.“I looked out the windows and could see how outmanned the Capitol Police were,” Phillips said. Under the very risers set up for Biden’s inauguration, Trump supporters clashed with police who blasted pepper spray in an attempt to hold them back.It didn’t work. Throngs of maskless MAGA-hatted demonstrators tore down metal barricades at the bottom of the Capitol’s steps. Some in the crowd were shouting “traitors” as officers tried to keep them back. They broke into the building.Announcements blared: Due to an “external security threat,” no one could enter or exit the Capitol complex, the recording said. A loud bang sounded as officials detonated a suspicious package to make sure it was not dangerous.It was about 1:15 p.m. when New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas, a Democrat, said Capitol Police banged on his door and “told us to drop everything, get out as quickly as we could.”“It was breathtaking how quickly law enforcement got overwhelmed by these protesters,” he told The Associated Press.Shortly after 2 p.m., Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Vice President Mike Pence were evacuated from the Senate as protesters and police shouted outside the doors.“Protesters are in the building,” were the last words picked up by a microphone carrying a live feed of the Senate before it shut off.Police evacuated the chamber at 2:30 p.m., grabbing boxes of Electoral College certificates as they left.Phillips yelled at Republicans, “This is because you!”Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., told reporters he was in the House chamber when protesters began storming it. He said security officers urged lawmakers to put gas masks on and herded them into a corner of the massive room.“When we got over to other side of the gallery, the Republican side, they made us all get down, you could see that they were fending off some sort of assault, it looked like,” he said. “They had a piece of furniture up against the door, the door, the entry to the floor from the Rotunda, and they had guns pulled.” The officers eventually escorted the lawmakers out of the chamber.Shortly after being told to put on gas masks, most members were quickly escorted out of the chamber. But some members remained in the upper gallery seats, where they had been seated due to distancing requirements.Along with a group of reporters who had been escorted from the press area and Capitol workers who act as ushers, the members ducked on the floor as police secured a door to the chamber down below with guns pointed. After making sure the hallways were clear, police swiftly escorted the members and others down a series of hallways and tunnels to a cafeteria in one of the House office buildings.Describing the scene, Democratic Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut said “there was a point there where officers had their guns and weapons pointed at the door, they were obviously expecting a breach through the door. It was clear that there were pretty close to pulling the trigger so they asked us all to get down in the chamber.”As he walked out of the Capitol, Himes said he lived in Latin America and “always assumed it could never happen here.”“We’ve known for for years that our democracy was in peril and this is hopefully the worst and final moment of it,” Himes said. “But with a president egging these people on, with the Republicans doing all they can to try to make people feel like their democracy has been taken away from them even though they’re the ones doing the taking, it’s really hard, really sad. I spent my entire political career reaching out to the other side. And it’s really hard to see this.”Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley was also in the balcony. “It’s not good to be around terrified colleagues, with guns drawn toward people who have a barricade ... people crying. Not what you want to see.”“This is how a coup is started,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif. “This is how democracy dies.”Also Read: Twitter, Facebook suspend Trump's account over comments on US Capitol riots

US Capitol Riots: Chaos, violence, mockery as pro-Trump mob occupies Congress, 1 killed

The pro-Trump mob took over the presiding officer’s chair in the Senate, the offices of the House speaker, and the Senate dais, where one yelled, “Trump won that election.”

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Pakistan: Outrage against government over inflation, unemployment in Gilgit Baltistan. Unprecedented inflation and a sharp uptick in the unemployment rate in the illegally occupied Gilgit Baltistan have triggered massive protests across different districts of the region. Hundreds of people took to the streets of Ghizer district to demonstrate against the government for their false promises made during the election campaign and have now unleashed a multi-layered economic crackdown on the natives. Subsidy on a number of items has been lifted, the inflation rate has gone through the roof and unemployment is on a historic high. Widespread unemployment has not just affected the socio-economic standards of the people of the region but has also pushed the natives towards debt and depression.According to locals, the mental health of an individual in an illegally occupied region has taken a massive toll due to the unemployment situation. The unemployment rate is especially high among the graduates, postgraduates and doctorates who do not have enough opportunities. They accused the government of pushing more and more people into vagrancy through a systematic policy. Pakistan had promised the people of Gilgit Baltistan jobs, education and prosperity when they resisted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a few years back.Meanwhile, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have been reeling under abject poverty with not even little hope in sight. They have expressed their helplessness on a number of occasions in the past but that has barely moved the stance of Pakistan towards the region.(With ANI inputs)

Pakistan: Outrage against government over inflation, unemployment in Gilgit Baltistan

According to locals, the mental health of an individual in an illegally occupied region has taken a massive toll due to the unemployment situation.

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PM Modi/File ImageThe economic growth of developing nations has decreased by 1.5 per cent due to terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the 11th BRICS Summit in Brazil on Thursday. Modi said the menace of terrorism has resulted in the loss of USD 1 trillion to the world economy. The prime minister was addressing the BRICS Plenary Session at the iconic Itamaraty Palace in the presence of the Presidents of Brazil, China, Russia and South Africa. Modi said that terrorism is the biggest threat to development, peace and prosperity.Shanghai-headquartered New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) with an initial authorised capital of the bank is USD 100 billion. The idea for setting up the NDB was proposed by India at the 4th BRICS summit in 2012 held in New Delhi. Its creation of the main theme of the meeting. ALSO READ | India world's most open, investment friendly economy: PM Modi at BRICS Business Forum ALSO READ | PM Modi hopes BRICS summit will boost economic, cultural links

PM Modi at BRICS Summit: Terrorism results in USD 1 trillion loss to world economy

Developing nations' economic growth decreased by 1.5 per cent due to terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the BRICS Summit in Brazil on Thursday.

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Pakistan's coronavirus cases rise to 453Pakistan's coronavirus cases sharply rose to 453 on Thursday, as the military said measures are being taken to make the armed forces' medical facilities available for an "extreme emergency" situation. Pakistan on Wednesday reported its first two casualties due to the coronavirus that has spread to more than 160 countries, killing over 9,000 people.On Thursday, the maximum new cases were recorded in Balochistan where the number of infected people rose to 81 from 23. Punjab was the next where the number rose from 33 to 78, the Dawn reported.But the worst-hit Sindh province was still on the top with 245 confirmed cases, while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had 23, Islamabad 2 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan 24, the paper said.Army spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar told the media that army was fully geared up to support the civil administration in fighting coronavirus. "Medical facilities of armed forces will be available in case of emergency," he said.Pakistan also announced on Thursday to close down Wagah border with India for two weeks.The interior ministry through a notification said that it closed the key border point with India "for an initial period of two weeks (14 days) with immediate effect".It said the measure was taken to "prevent the spread of COVID-19, in the best interest of both countries."Pakistan's western border with Iran and Afghanistan had already been closed to curb the spread of the deadly virus."Pakistan was taking measures to stop the spread of the infection," the Prime Minister's Advisor on Health Dr Zafar Mirza told the media.He said that Pakistan would learn from China’s experience. "Our doctors will be trained by Chinese doctors through video conferences," he said.Mirza asked people to practice social distancing which will help to reduce the infections.Religious affairs minister Noor ul Haq Qadri said that training programs for Haj pilgrims were suspended as part of the preventive measure.In Karachi, which is one of worst-hit areas, Christian leaders suspended Church services.The Foreign Office announced to hold indirect press conference as a precautionary measure to control the spread of coronavirus.Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said that reporters can submit questions through email and answers will be published on the ministry's website.Majority of Pakistan's COVID-19 cases are linked to those who went on pilgrimage to Iran, one of the countries hardest-hit by the disease, while less than half a dozen are locally transmitted.Pakistan shares a 960-kilometre border with Iran, with the main crossing point at Taftan in Balochistan province.The Taftan border has been closed since March 16, but thousands of Pakistan Shia pilgrims who were visiting religious sites in Iran have been allowed to return subject to two weeks' quarantine.The federal government has banned public gatherings, closed all educational institutions until April 5 and cancelled Pakistan Day parade on March 23. It also limited international flights operations to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.ALSO READ | Pakistan's coronavirus cases rise to 448ALSO READ | Coronavirus: Pakistan reports first two deaths; confirmed cases at 301

Pakistan's coronavirus cases rise to 453

Pakistan's coronavirus cases sharply rose to 453 on Thursday, as the the military said measures are being taken to make the armed forces' medical facilities available for an "extreme emergency" situation.

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Image for representation One of the world's largest diamonds weighing a whopping 1,758 carats has been found in Botswana, a mining company said.A Canadian company running the Karowe diamond mine in central east Botswana said the retrieved stone was one of the largest diamonds ever to have been unearthed and the largest ever in the southern African nation, reports Xinhua news agency. The huge diamond that was retrieved on Thursday weighed nearly 352 grams and measured 83mm x 62mm x 46mm."Lucara's technologically advanced, XRT diamond recovery circuit has once again delivered historic results," said Eira Thomas, Lucara's CEO.According to Lucara, since the new XRT plant was established, some 12 diamonds exceeding 300 carats have been sourced. This includes two stones that weighed over 1,000 carats.Lucara owns 100 percent of the Karowe Botswana mine and is a leading independent producer of large exceptional quality Type IIa diamonds, the company said in a statement.Botswana is the world's leading producer of high quality diamonds. (Information in public domain suggests that earliest well-attested well attested weight of Kohinoor diamond is 38.2 grams. Weight of the diamond found in Botswana in the story abover is reported to be 352 grams)Also Read | Kohinoor diamond was not 'gifted', but surrendered to British: ASI

Diamond 9-times bigger than Kohinoor unearthed in Africa

A Canadian company running a diamond mine in Botswana in Africa said that the diamond weighs a whopping 1,758 carats (352 grams)

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United States President Donald Trump said that the assailant who shot five people five people, including the House Majority Whip Steven Scalise, at a GOP Congressional baseball practice session in Alexandria, Virginia, has died from his injuries. Five people, including the House Majority Whip Steven Scalise, were injured in a shooting after a gunman reportedly opened fire at a GOP Congressional baseball practice session in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday morning.Trump said Wednesday morning that the gunman who shot Rep. Steve Scalise, of Louisiana, had died. The assailant has been identified as James T. Hodgkinson.Scalise was shot at a congressional baseball practice just outside of Washington. Officials said several other people were also wounded. Trump said Scalise “was badly wounded and is now in stable condition.”Trump praised the “heroic actions” of the Capital Police at the scene.Republican Mo Brooks told media outlets that five people were injured in the shooting as House Republicans were practicing for the upcoming congressional baseball game. Steve Scalise, the third-ranking House Republican, was among those injured, he said, adding that Scalise was shot in the hip area.A congressional aide said Scalise was in stable condition at George Washington University Hospital, AP reported. His wounds were not believed to be life-threatening.Republican Mike Bishop said Scalise was standing on second base when he was shot. "I was looking right at him," Bishop told Detroit radio station WWJ. "He was a sitting duck."Both US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence took to Twitter to talk about the incident. Four others, including two capitol hill cops, were also reportedly injured. Brooks said security detail fired back at the shooter. The gunman is believed to have fired several shots taking cover behind a dugout before he was arrested.Alexandria police said a suspect in the shooting was in custody. White House spokesman Sean Spicer earlier said the President and the Vice President were aware of the situation.Katie Filous was walking her two dogs near the field when she heard "a lot of shots, probably more than 20." She said the shooting "went on for quite a while."Filous said she saw the shooter hit a uniformed law enforcement officer, who she said was later evacuated by helicopter. She said the officer had gotten out of a parked car, drawn a handgun and shouted something to the gunman, who then fired.Scalise is the Republican majority whip in the House of Representatives – the congressman responsible for counting votes and maintaining party discipline.The Louisianan, a father of two, is counted among conservatives in Congress who tend to back President Donald Trump's more controversial initiatives, including calling his famous travel ban a 'prudent' measure. He was first elected to the House in 2008 after serving in the state legislature.Republican Jeff Duncan said in a statement that he was at the practice and "saw the shooter.""Please pray for my colleagues," Duncan said.More details awaited.(With agencies)  

US Congressman Steve Scalise shot at baseball practice in Virginia, Trump says attacker dead

Republican Mo Brooks told media that five people, including Scalise, were injured in the shooting as House Republicans were practicing for the upcoming congressional baseball game

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Emmanuel Macron, the newly elected French President, is getting noticed for his ability to keep secrets which is considered to be one of the necessary skills for the job.Even some of Emmanuel Macron's most trusted collaborators say they don't know whom he will name as prime minister — the most important first appointment after he takes power on Sunday.Speculation surrounds a half-dozen names, some fairly well-known, others less so, but the fact that one in particular hasn't leaked from the president-elect's inner circle suggests either that Macron still hasn't made up his mind or that his entourage is particularly disciplined and loyal.A turning point in Macron's run for the presidency also offered a clue that the 39-year-old keeps his own counsel and his aides on a tight leash when necessary. In a meeting with members of his campaign team on Feb. 22, Macron told them that he was about to get an endorsement from Francois Bayrou, a centrist former three-time presidential candidate whose support helped boost Macron's campaign.Macron ordered his team to keep the news under wraps until Bayrou himself went public with it later that afternoon."Don't tweet or SMS anyone, right, kids?" Macron said, staring around the room and pointing his right index finger — a scene captured in a fly-on-the-wall documentary aired this week by broadcaster TF1.Among those who say they are in the dark about Macron's choice of prime minister is Richard Ferrand, a prominent figure of the Macron universe. As secretary-general of the president-elect's Republic on the Move party, Ferrand is working to secure the parliamentary majority in June legislative elections that Macron will need to govern effectively."Frankly, I don't know," Ferrand said Friday on BFM television. "And that's good, because if I knew I'd be obliged to lie to you."In choosing a prime minister, Macron will want both someone he can work with on his reform program and someone who can help him secure the majority he needs in parliament to push change through. The centrist Macron is trying to rally lawmakers from both the left and right to his cause.Picking a prime minister from the right of French politics could help swing like-minded legislators behind Macron, and siphon away votes from his party's rivals in the June 11 and 18 legislative elections.As well as putting his government in place, Macron's agenda is rapidly filling with other commitments. He'll meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday, his first full day in office, the German government said Friday.(With AP inputs)

New French President Macron proving a keeper of secrets

Emmanuel Macron, the newly elected French President, is getting noticed for his ability to keep secrets which is considered to be one of the necessary skills for the job.

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As President Donald Trump remained out of sight and silent, pressure mounted from both sides of the aisle for him to explicitly condemn white supremacists and hate groups involved in deadly, race-fueled clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia.Trump, who has been at his New Jersey golf club on a working vacation, was set to make a one-day return to Washington on Monday to sign an executive action on China’s trade practices. But he will likely be unable to escape questions and criticism for his initial response to the Saturday’s violence, for which he blamed bigotry on “many sides.”The White House tried to stem the damage on Sunday. Senior aides were dispatched to the morning news shows, yet they struggled at times to explain the president’s position. A new White House statement on Sunday explicitly denounced the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi groups, but it was attributed to an unnamed spokesperson and not the president himself.Vice President Mike Pence, traveling in South America, condemned “these dangerous fringe groups” and said they “have no place in American public life and in the American debate.”Trump said nothing, save for a few retweets. One was about two Virginia state policemen killed in a helicopter crash while monitoring the Charlottesville protests, another about a Justice Department probe into the violence.In the hours after a car plowed into a group of anti-racist counter-protesters on Saturday, Trump addressed the violence in broad strokes, saying that he condemns “in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.”Speaking slowly from his New Jersey golf club while on a 17-day working vacation, Trump added: “It’s been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump. Not Barack Obama. It’s been going on for a long, long time.”The White House statement Sunday went further. “The president said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry and hatred and of course that includes white Supremacists, KKK, neo-Nazi and all extremist groups.” It added: “He called for national unity and bringing all Americans together.”The White House did not attach a name to the statement. Usually, a statement would be signed by the press secretary or another staffer; not putting a name to one eliminates an individual’s responsibility for its truthfulness and often undercuts its significance.Trump’s national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said Sunday that he considered the attack to be terrorism. On Saturday, Trump had not responded to reporters’ shouted questions about terrorism.“I certainly think anytime that you commit an attack against people to incite fear, it is terrorism,” McMaster told ABC’s “This Week.” ″It meets the definition of terrorism. But what this is, what you see here, is you see someone who is a criminal, who is committing a criminal act against fellow Americans.”The president’s homeland security adviser, Tom Bossert, defended the president’s initial statement by suggesting that some of the counter-protesters were violent, too. When pressed during a contentious interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” he specifically condemned the racist groups.The president’s daughter and White House aide, Ivanka Trump, tweeted Sunday morning: “There should be no place in society for racism, white supremacy and neo-nazis.”Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, said he spoke to Trump in the hours after the clashes and that he twice told the president “we have to stop this hateful speech, this rhetoric.” He said he urged Trump “to come out stronger” against the actions of white supremacists.Republicans joined Democrats in criticizing the president for not specifically calling out white nationalists. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo. said on NBC Sunday that “This isn’t a time for innuendo or to allow room to be read between the lines. This is a time to lay blame.”The president did not have any public events on Sunday. White House staff did not share any information on his activities except that he and his staff were monitoring the aftermath of the violence in Virginia.White nationalists had assembled in Charlottesville to vent their frustration against the city’s plans to take down a statue of Confederal Gen. Robert E. Lee. Counter-protesters massed in opposition.Alt-right leader Richard Spencer and former Ku Klux Klan member David Duke attended the demonstrations. Duke told reporters that the white nationalists were working to “fulfill the promises of Donald Trump.”Trump’s initial comments drew praise from the neo-Nazi website Daily Stormer, which wrote: “Trump comments were good. He didn’t attack us. He just said the nation should come together. Nothing specific against us. ... No condemnation at all.” The website had been promoting the Charlottesville demonstration as part of its “Summer of Hate” edition.Charlottesville Mayor Michael Signer, a Democrat, slammed Trump’s stance toward hate groups, saying on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he hopes Trump “looks himself in the mirror and thinks very deeply about who he consorted with.”“Old saying: when you dance with the devil, the devil doesn’t change, the devil changes you,” Signer said.In Cartagena, Colombia, Pence responded to a reporter’s question about the violence in Charlottesville and said, in part: “We have no tolerance for hate and violence, white supremacists or neo-Nazis or the KKK. These dangerous fringe groups have no place in American public life and in the American debate, and we condemn them in the strongest possible terms.”Trump, as a presidential candidate, frequently came under scrutiny for being slow to offer his condemnation of white supremacists. His strongest denunciation of the movement has not come voluntarily, only when asked, and he occasionally trafficked in retweets of racist social media posts during his campaign. His chief strategist, Steve Bannon, once declared that his former news site, Breitbart, was “the platform for the alt-right.”

Pressure, criticism mount for President Trump after Charlottesville clashes

Trump, who has been at his New Jersey golf club on a working vacation, was set to make a one-day return to Washington on Monday to sign an executive action on China’s trade practices

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Members of a civil society hold a demonstration to condemn Friday’s deadliest suicide bombing, in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday. As Pakistan observed a day of national mourning following the massacre of nearly 150 people in terror attacks ahead of the general elections, leading newspapers have questioned the claims of the government and the Army that they have crushed terrorism in the country. Three deadly back-to-back attacks on election rallies in the restive provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that killed two prominent political leaders along with around 150 civilians have renewed concerns that violence could disrupt the elections scheduled for July 25. Related Stories Pak terror groups used children in Kashmir during clashes with security forces: UNSG reportPakistan: Death toll in twin blasts at election rallies touches 133, Islamic State claims responsibility Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam sent to makeshift jail; PML-N supporters clash with police in LahoreReacting to the spate of terror attacks, the Express Tribune, in a stinging editorial, said, "There is a blood-drenched hole in the claim of the government to have rolled back the forces of terrorism in Pakistan." The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is one of the terror outfits said to be in retreat as a result of sustained efforts by the police, paramilitary and military forces, but not so far in retreat as to be unable to mount lethal bombing operations, it noted. With campaigning now in full swing the attack calls into question the effectiveness of the state when it comes to countering organisations such as the TTP, it said. The caretaker government has been briefed as to the clear and present dangers faced by campaigning politicians, and at the very least ought to be extending the duty of care to encompass the security of candidates of all parties, the editorial said. The Dawn newspaper in its editorial noted that the sudden upsurge in terrorist incidents calls for several urgent responses, including state protection extended to all candidates who ask for it -- without delay. All three candidates who came under attack this week had survived previous attempts on their lives. Electioneering is a public activity requiring a guarantee of public safety. It is a poor indication of the health of this election if on-ground campaigning is suppressed or forcibly suspended, the editorial said. It pointed out that these mass-casualty attacks were carried out without apparent warning indicates lapses in intelligence gathering. In order to ensure peaceful elections, the authorities should not only beef up security but also mobilise the entire intelligence apparatus to do the job they are actually meant to, i.e. preventing attacks, the paper noted. With just days for the polling day, every effort must be made to ensure that the election is not derailed by elements hostile to the democratic process, for that is what the perpetrators of these attacks are. "In many ways, the real battle in 2018 is between pro-democracy and anti-democracy forces. Even now, it is not too late, if the political class were to stand in solidarity to defeat these elements. "Over 100 Pakistanis lost their lives this week exercising their democratic right to participate in defining this country's future. It is time to realise what is at stake," the editorial said. The News in its editorial said that as the death toll continued to go up, people watched in horror at the violence that has suddenly become a daily nightmare. "Even though we have repeatedly been told that the back of militancy has been broken, that so many attacks could be carried out in such a short time shows that is far from the case," it said. The state needs to explain why it has not done enough to ensure the integrity of the elections by providing those under threat sufficient security. When certain parties are being targeted by militancy, their campaigns are naturally hamstrung putting them at a disadvantage to other parties, the editorial said. "All this has led to observations that perhaps declarations of victory in the fight against militancy were premature. In fact, we now face many threats as militants wage as it were war on our democracy," the News said.Three attacks in less than a week are more than enough to discourage people from taking part in the polling process, The Nation commented in its editorial."The fact that terrorists are succeeding in targeting political candidates without any hindrance tells us how weak security arrangements are in such sensitive days," it said.Though the interim government has condemned all the attacks, it is to remind the government that mere condemnation does not absolve it from the responsibility of ensuring safe and secure elections."It is the foremost duty of the interim setup to guarantee not only free and fair elections but also to assure that no one sabotages the entire process by terror means. The attackers are targeting the political parties and their candidates without any discrimination. The state should take notice of the fact that these attacks are nothing but an attempt to sabotage the election process, the editorial said.The recent terror attacks on politicians are proof that the fight against militancy is far from over, it said."All those institutions making tall claims of ensuring free and fair elections need to re-evaluate their performance. The state should use all its resources to ensure the safety of people in the coming polls," the editorial added. 

Pakistan yet to crush terror groups despite tall claims by govt: Media

Three deadly back-to-back attacks on election rallies in the restive provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that killed two prominent political leaders along with around 150 civilians have renewed concerns that violence could disrupt the elections scheduled for July 25.

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Over 600,000 UK workers lose jobs amid COVID-19 hitThe number of employees on British payrolls fell by more than 600,000 as lockdown restrictions hit labor market heavily amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Tuesday. Early indicators for May suggest that the number of employees in Britain on payrolls fell by 2.1 per cent, down 612,000 compared with March, the ONS said in a report, Xinhua news reported.ONS's data showed from March to May, there were an estimated 476,000 vacancies across Britain, around 342,000 fewer than in the previous quarter (from December 2019 to February 2020), recording the "largest quarterly fall" since the current series started in 2001.Notably, hit by social distancing measures with hotels, restaurants and retail stores being closed, the vacancies in the "wholesale, retail trade and repair of motor vehicles" industrial sector declined by 49.9 per cent quarterly and the "accommodation and food service activities" sector decreased by 70.7 per cent, figures revealed."Latest UK labour market data overall show clear deterioration," said Howard Archer, chief economic adviser at EY ITEM Club, an economics forecasting group, adding that the poor labor market "markedly increased hit to pay, squeezing purchasing power."To tackle the devastating blow due to the lockdown, the British government allowed non-essential retailers on high streets of England to reopen from Monday in a move to recover its economy."From Monday, shops selling books, clothes, and electronics are able to open for business for the first time in more than two months, as part of our plan to gradually and safely reopen the economy," said Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.According to the official data, the non-essential retail sector employs 1.3 million people and provides 46.6 billion pounds (about US $58.9 billion) to its economy every year.Meanwhile, the country's Claimant Count, a statistic of the number of people claiming benefit principally for being unemployed, increased to 2.8 million in May, representing a monthly increase of 23.3 per cent and a rise of 125.9 per cent since March 2020, according to the ONS report.

Over 600,000 UK workers lose jobs amid COVID-19 hit

The number of employees on British payrolls fell by more than 600,000 as lockdown restrictions hit labor market heavily amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Tuesday.

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Terrorists stormed the upscale Intercontinental Hotel here, triggering heavy fighting with security forces that ended on Sunday leaving 10 persons including all four attackers dead, authorities said.Seven others were wounded in the attack, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesperson Nasrat Rahimi told Efe news.Meanwhile, AFP reported that Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that five of its men were involved in the attack.  The incident occurred late on Saturday when gunmen burst into the heavily guarded hotel, located atop a hill in the west of the Afghan capital."The attack has ended completely after all the assailants were eliminated," the spokesperson said.Rahimi added that six civilians died and another seven were wounded in the attack on the hotel where police and investigators arrived on Sunday morning to clear the area of explosives.Security forces rescued 151 guests, including 41 foreigners, and hotel staff, the Interior Ministry told the media, adding that one foreigner was among the dead, without specifying the victim's nationality."All hotel rooms have been cleared and searched one by one. The hotel is completely cleared and the operation has ended. None of the terrorists remain (alive) in the hotel," an official said.The hotel, which was the target of a similar attack in June 2011 that left 21 dead including nine attackers, caters to wealthy Afghans and foreigners, and often hosts private parties and official events such as press briefings, seminars and conferences.Earlier this month, 11 people, including five policemen, were killed and 25 were wounded after a suicide bomber detonated explosives near security forces guarding a demonstration in Kabul.The attack comes just days after the US embassy in Kabul issued a warning about hotels in the city."We are aware of reports that extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul," the embassy said in an alert published on Thursday though it highlighted another hotel near the international airport as a possible target.(With IANS inputs)

Kabul hotel attack: 6 civilians killed, all four attackers shot dead; Taliban claims responsibility

Terrorists stormed the upscale Intercontinental Hotel here, triggering heavy fighting with security forces that ended on Sunday leaving 10 persons including all four attackers dead.

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Afghanistan's Taliban rulers refused to allow dozens of women to board several flights, including some overseas, because they were traveling without a male guardian, two Afghan airline officials said.Afghanistan's Taliban rulers refused to allow dozens of women to board several flights, including some overseas, because they were travelling without a male guardian, two Afghan airline officials said Saturday.The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions from the Taliban, said dozens of women who arrived at Kabul's international airport Friday to board domestic and international flights were told they couldn't do so without a male guardian.Some of the women were dual nationals returning to their homes overseas, including some from Canada, according to one of the officials. Women were denied boarding on flights to Islamabad, Dubai and Turkey on Kam Air and the state-owned Ariana Airline, said the officials.The order came from the Taliban leadership, said one official.By Saturday, some women travelling alone were given permission to board an Ariana Airlines flight to western Herat province, the official said.However, by the time the permission was granted they had missed their flight, he said.The airport's president and police chief, both from the Taliban movement and both Islamic clerics, were meeting Saturday with airline officials. “They are trying to solve it,” the official said.ALSO READ | Hours after reopening, Taliban orders shutting down of secondary girl schools in AfghanistanIt was still unclear whether the Taliban would exempt air travel from an order issued months ago requiring women traveling more than 45 miles (72 kilometers) to be accompanied by a male relative.This latest assault on women's rights in Taliban-run Afghanistan comes just days after the all-male religiously driven government broke its promise to allow girls to return to school after the sixth grade.The move enraged the international community, which has been reluctant to recognize the Taliban-run government since the Taliban swept into power last August, fearing they would revert to their harsh rule of the 1990s.The Taliban's refusal to open up education to all Afghan children also infuriated large swaths of the Afghan population.On Saturday, dozens of girls demonstrated in the Afghan capital demanding the right to go to school.After the Taliban's ban on girls education beyond the sixth grade, women's rights activist Mahbouba Seraj went on Afghanistan's TOLO TV to ask: “How do we as a nation trust you with your words anymore? What should we do to please you? Should we all die?”An Afghan charity called PenPath, which runs dozens of "secret' schools with thousands of volunteers, is planning to stage countrywide protests to demand the Taliban reverse its order, said Matiullah Wesa, PenPath founder.On Saturday at the Doha Forum 2022 in Qatar, Roya Mahboob, an Afghan businesswoman who founded an all-girl robotics team in Afghanistan, was given the Forum Award for her work and commitment to girls education..In an interview after receiving the award, Mahboob called on the many global leaders and policy makers attending the forum to press the Taliban to open schools for all Afghan children.The robotics team fled Afghanistan when the Taliban returned to power but Mahboob said she still hoped a science and technology center she had hoped to build in Afghanistan for girls could still be constructed.“I hope that the international community, the Muslim communities (have not) forgotten about Afghanistan and (will) not abandon us,” she said. "Afghanistan is a poor country. It doesn't have enough resources. And if you take (away) our knowledge, I don't know what's going to happen." 

Taliban's latest diktat: Women without male companions barred from entering flights

Dozens of women who arrived at Kabul's international airport Friday to board domestic and international flights were told they couldn't do so without a male guardian, said officials.

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Horrific video captures collision between speed boats in Thailand; 2 kids dead Two high-speed boats collided into each other off the coast of Phuket resulting in the death of two Russian Children. The incident that took place on Monday morning injured over 20 Russian citizens. A 12-year-old boy and a 6-year-old boy were both declared dead by Phuket hospital."At this time, the investigation into the collision is still ongoing. Officers will inspect the scene of the accident before travelling to see the injured persons at the hospitals next", Marine Police Region 8 Chief Col Prasert Srikhunrat said in a statement. As per reports, there were a total of 39 people on the two boats. The Russian Embassy later confirmed that over 20 of those injured were Russian nationals. A Twitter user by the name P.Phuket posted the video on Twitter showing the two boats collide.  

Horrific video captures collision between speed boats in Thailand; 2 kids dead

Two high-speed boats collided into each other off the coast of Phuket resulting in the death of two Russian Children. The incident that took place on Monday morning injured over 20 Russian citizens. A 12-year-old boy and a 6-year-old boy were both declared dead by Phuket hospital.

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US and Afghan forces in joint operation (Representation Image)Afghan and American commanders are planning to leverage the anticipated lull in fighting, stemming from the proposed cease-fire with the Taliban, to turn up the pressure on Islamic State’s factions in the country, the top U.S. commander said Friday.Afghan commando units backed by American special operations forces currently carrying out combat operations against the Islamic State’s cell in the country, known as Islamic State in Iraq and Syria - Khorasan Group or ISIS-K, in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province could intensify in the days and weeks following the announced cease-fire.Related Stories US slaps sanctions against 3 Pakistan-based 'global terrorists' for their links with LeT, TalibanUNSC calls upon Taliban to go ahead with peace talks without any preconditionsAfghanistan President Ashraf Ghani announces ceasefire with Taliban for Eid NATO appeals Taliban to lay down arms, engage in talks in Afghanistan“These [operations] will continue, in fact will even be intensified, during this period of cease-fire,” against the Taliban, Gen. John Nicholson, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said regarding the ongoing operation against ISIS-K in Nangarhar.“Our goal is their complete destruction … there is no appeal for ISIS among the Afghan people,” the four-star general told a select group of reporters here, ahead of addressing alliance’s military leaders on the progress of the 18-year war.Afghan-led operations against ISIS-K enclaves in the country’s northern province of Jowzjan have “started to disintegrate” under military pressure from Afghan and coalition forces, said Gen. Nicholson. The anticipated acceleration of military operations against ISIS will focus on the group’s redoubts in Nangarhar, which have been underway since April as part of Operation Hamza.“They are intensifying now, we have already started … and that is going to continue,” throughout the duration of the Taliban cease-fire, set in motion a day earlier by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Gen. Nicholson said.Under the cease-fire, Afghan forces will refrain from carrying out offensive operations against Taliban targets until the Eid-al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, which is slated to begin on June 14th.While the U.S. is backing Kabul’s call for a lull in fighting against the Taliban, it will continue to conduct combat operations against the Islamic State cells and al Qaeda elements still active in the country.However, concerns over the Taliban’s ability to rearm and regroup during the cease-fire amid the proposed ramp-up of operations against ISIS, is casting a shadow over Mr. Ghani’s unprecedented call to suspend fighting.Gen. Nicholson on Friday pushed back against the notion, saying U.S. and NATO commanders would keep a careful eye on Taliban leaders, poised to respond immediately to any violation of the cease-fire.“We are going to take all the requisite steps to defend ourselves and our NATO allies, if somebody chooses not to be a party to this [cease fire] and take advantage of it,” he said.Mr. Ghani’s proffer of a cease-fire comes less than a week after a suicide bombing targeting a high-profile meeting of top religious leaders in Kabul left seven dead and scores wounded. The meeting of senior Islamic clerics was to condemn the use of suicide attacks against other Muslims in Afghanistan. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the strike, which was the latest in several to hit the Afghan capital over the last several months.On Friday, a suicide bomber launched an attack on the home of Afghan lawmaker Fraidoon Mohmand at his home in Jalalabad City in Nangarhar. Local police killed the bomber before he was able to enter the Mr. Mohamand’s compound, but not before detonating the explosive device, killing a police officer and wounding four more in the explosion.When asked Friday whether the cease-fire would allow American and Afghan commanders to flood additional troops and weapons into the anti-ISIS fight, while continuing to protect local and coalition forces deployed elsewhere in the replied: “Conceivably.”“We are going to leave resources devoted to protecting our forces and watching the enemy … while intensifying the pressure on ISIS,” Gen. Nicholson said.“I do not know what the Taliban will do, but we are prepared either way,” he added.

U.S., Afghan forces to intensify operations against ISIS cell during Taliban cease-fire

Under the cease-fire, Afghan forces will refrain from carrying out offensive operations against Taliban targets until the Eid-al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, which is slated to begin on June 14th.

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Patients wear personal protective equipment while maintaining social distancing as they wait in line for a COVID-19 test at Elmhurst Hospital Center, Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo sounded his most dire warning yet about the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday, saying the infection rate in New York is accelerating and the state could be as close as two weeks away from a crisis that sees 40,000 people in intensive care. Such a surge would overwhelm hospitals, which now have just 3,000 intensive care unit beds statewide.More than 90,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported from the United States, the record high single-day total since the onset of the pandemic in the country. According to various media reports, the country took only 14 days to add one million new cases from eight million to nine million, the fastest rate since the pandemic began.Cases and deaths have skyrocketed across the United States in recent days. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 90,155 new COVID-19 cases and 1,055 new deaths on Thursday, marking the fourth time in a week that daily cases topped 80,000.Nine states reported their record high single-day of new cases ever on Thursday, including Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota and Ohio.The seven-day average case count has been on a sharp rise recently, standing at nearly 77,000, CDC data show.More data are revealing the critical resurgence of the pandemic. The COVID Tracking Project on Thursday reported a new US record of more than 500,000 infections recorded this week.Twenty-five states have set a new record for cases in the last two weeks, including 17 states with record highs since last Wednesday.According to the tracking project, hospitalizations nationally have risen to an average of almost 43,000 people, up from around 30,000 at the beginning of the month.The surge in cases was not driven by an increasing number of tests, according to the project. The country reported a record number of tests at 8.2 million, but case growth, which is 24 per cent, far outpaced test growth, which is 9 percent.Since October 1, the seven-day average for new cases has risen 61 per cent, while tests are only up 14 per cent in the same period. Meanwhile, the number of patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 has risen 40 per cent in October thus far, according to the tracking project."This is the hardest point in this pandemic right now -- the next two months," Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, said during an interview with CNBC on Thursday. "We can't give up our guard right now."Gottlieb warned the United States will cross the 100,000 cases per day threshold sometime in the next couple of weeks -- or maybe even this week.He added that this is due to the public's behaviour and lack of caution. "The reality is that I think we're not going to start to see a slowdown in the pandemic until you see consumer behaviour change and until you see mobility data start to decline. That's been the lesson of the past surges in the virus."According to the new forecast from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, it is most likely that by mid-January, 2,250 Americans will be dying every day from COVID-19, which is about three times the current rate at around 800 deaths per day.The death toll would reach 399,163 by February 1, according to the projection."If states do not react to rising numbers by re-imposing mandates, cumulative deaths could reach 514,000 by the same date," the IHME said in a statement.Hospital systems, particularly ICUs, are expected to be under extreme stress in December and January in 18 states, said the IHME. "Scaling up mask-wearing can delay the need for further social distancing mandates and save 62,000 lives by February 1."Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reiterated caution on the nation's outlook."I think it will be easily by the end of 2021, and perhaps even into the next year, before we start having some semblances of normality," Fauci said during a panel discussion earlier this week.The United States has recorded more than 9,015,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 229,300 deaths as of Friday afternoon, according to the real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University.(With inputs from IANS)

US hits record high single-day total with over 90,000 COVID-19 cases; tally surpass 9 mn

More than 90,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported from the United States, the record high single-day total since the onset of the pandemic in the country. According to various media reports, the country took only 14 days to add one million new cases from eight million to nine million, the fastest rate since the pandemic began.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held bilateral talks with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the ongoing G20 Summit in Hamburg. After Justin Trudeau’s meeting with PM Modi, the Canadian PM’s office tweeted that the two leaders affirmed the strength of the bond between Canada and India. “Today in Hamburg, PM Justin Trudeau and PM Narendra Modi affirmed the strength of the bond between Canada and India,” Trudeau’s office tweeted.Regarding Modi’s meeting with Shinzo Abe, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral relations, including in important projects, since their last meeting in Japan during the Indian prime minister’s visit in November 2016. Modi expressed satisfaction at developments in bilateral ties. He said that he looked forward to Abe’s forthcoming visit to India for the next annual summit and hoped it would further strengthen their cooperation. PM Modi also had a brief chat with many top world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. At the BRICS leaders’ gathering here, Modi held informal meetings with Brazilian President Michel Temer and South African President Jacob Zuma. Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping also shook hands at the BRICS meet and had a conversation on a “range of issues”.  The interaction between Modi and Xi took place amidst bilateral tensions over the Sikkim standoff.  He later met Abe and Trudeau and discussed a host of issues. He said that he looked forward to Abe’s forthcoming visit to India for the next annual summit and hoped it would further strengthen their cooperation. A family photo of the BRICS leaders was taken earlier.  Modi will have bilateral meetings with head of the governments of South Korea, Italy, Mexico, Argentina, the UK and Vietnam today.He will also participate in G20 sessions on - Partnership with Africa; Migration and Health; and Digitalisation, Women’s Empowerment and Employment.  After attending the concluding session in evening, the Indian prime minister will leave for New Delhi.(With PTI inputs)

G20 Summit: PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Shinzo Abe, Justin Trudeau

PM Modi said that he looked forward to Abe’s forthcoming visit to India for the next annual summit and hoped it would further strengthen their cooperation.

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SCO Summit: PM Modi calls for respect for sovereignty, economic growth, connectivity, and unity among member nations Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for respect for sovereignty, economic growth, connectivity and unity among the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).In his address at the Plenary session of the 18th SCO summit, Modi coined an acronym 'SECURE' which he explained: ‘S' for security for citizens, ‘E' for economic development, ‘C' for connectivity in the region, ‘U' for unity, ‘R' for respect of sovereignty and integrity, ‘E' for environment protection.Talking about the importance of linking the region with transport corridors, Modi said connectivity does not only mean geographical link but it should ensure people-to-people contact."India welcomes any such project which is inclusive, sustainable and transparent. And which respects member states' sovereignty and territorial integrity," Modi said, in a veiled dig at China's 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR) project.For live updates on SCO Summit 2018 click hereIndia has been stridently opposing the project as a part of it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.The Prime Minister said connectivity was key to economic development of the region."We have again reached a stage where physical and digital connectivity is changing the definition of geography. Therefore, connectivity with our neighbourhood and in the SCO region is our priority," Modi said.Modi said India would like to extend all cooperation to the SCO and that the bloc gives India immense opportunities to enhance friendship with resource-rich Central Asian nations.Referring to challenges of terrorism, Modi said Afghanistan is an "unfortunate example" of the effects of terrorism and extremism."I hope the bold steps towards peace taken by President Ghani will be respected by all in the region," he said, referring to a ceasefire announced by the Afghan leader for Eid.In his address, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced offering a 30 billion yuan (USD 4.7 billion) loan to SCO for joint projects.Noting that only 6 percent of foreign tourists in India are from SCO countries, Prime Minister Modi said this can easily be doubled.Also read | PM Modi, Pak Pres Hussain shake hands at SCO Summit"Increasing awareness of our shared cultures can help boost this number. We will organise a SCO food festival and a Buddhist festival in India," he said.The Prime Minister arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit to attend the SCO summit.It is Modi's second visit to China in little over five weeks after he travelled to Wuhan in April end for an informal summit with President Xi.It is for the first time the Indian prime minister attended the SCO summit after India along with Pakistan became full-fledged members of the grouping, jointly dominated by China and Russia, which has been increasingly seen as a counter to NATO.The SCO currently has eight member countries which represents around 42 percent of the world's population and 20 percent of the global GDP.The bloc was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its members last year.Besides Modi, other leaders attending the summit include President Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain.Watch video: 

SCO Summit: PM Modi calls for respect for sovereignty, economic growth, connectivity, and unity among member nations

In his address at the Plenary session of the 18th SCO summit, Modi coined an acronym 'SECURE' which he explained: ‘S' for security for citizens, ‘E' for economic development, ‘C' for connectivity in the region, ‘U' for unity, ‘R' for respect of sovereignty and integrity, ‘E' for environment protection.

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President Donald Trump has said US cities should be "sanctuaries" for Americans not for criminal "aliens", a week after a US court acquitted a Mexican immigrant accused of fatally shooting an American woman. On July 1, 2015, 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle, while walking with her father and a friend was shot by Mexican national Jose Inez Garcia Zarate in the Embarcadero district of San Francisco. The shot ricocheted off the concrete deck of a pier striking the victim in the back. Steinle died two hours later in the hospital as a result of her injuries. The shooting elicited controversy and political debate over San Francisco's status as a sanctuary city, as Zarate was a Mexican national who was unlawfully residing in the US. Trump has highlighted the case as an example of the failure of "sanctuary cities", where local officials did not work with authorities to enforce immigration laws. Asserting that no American should be separated from their loved ones because of preventable crime committed by those illegally in the country, Trump said that cities should be sanctuaries for Americans not for criminal aliens. "No American should be separated from their loved ones because of preventable crime committed by those illegally in our country. Our cities should be Sanctuaries for Americans not for criminal aliens," Trump said in his weekly address to the nation. Last week, in a "final injustice", Kate's killer was acquitted on all of the most serious charges, he said. This he said is one more reason Americans are so upset by sanctuary cities and politicians who shield "criminal aliens" from federal law enforcement and all of the problems involved with the whole concept of a sanctuary city. "They are no good. We mourn for all of the American families, of all backgrounds, who will have any empty seat at Christmas this year because our immigration laws were not enforced," Trump said. "Unfortunately, Democrats in Congress not only oppose our efforts to stop illegal immigration and crack down on sanctuary cities now they are demanding amnesty as a condition for funding the government, holding troop funding hostage and putting our national security at risk. We cannot allow it," he said. Trump said every Senator and Congressman will have to make a choice: do they want to protect American citizens or do they want to protect "criminal aliens". In his address, Trump said Steinle's death is a tragedy that was entirely preventable. "She was shot by an illegal alien and a 7-time convicted felon who had been deported five times but he was free to harm an innocent American because our leaders refused to protect our border, and because San Francisco is a sanctuary city," he said. "In sanctuary states and cities, innocent Americans are at the mercy of criminal aliens because state and local officials defy federal authorities and obstruct the enforcement of our immigration laws," Trump said.

US cities should be sanctuaries for Americans not for criminal, aliens: Donald Trump

Trump has highlighted the case as an example of the failure of "sanctuary cities", where local officials did not work with authorities to enforce immigration laws.

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A joint investigation team that probed the Panamagate graft case against Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family has found "glaring disparities" between their known sources of income and their actual wealth in its final report submitted to the Supreme Court today, a media report said. The JIT that investigated the Sharif family's business dealings has recommended that the National Accountability Bureau open a reference against Sharif and his family after the probe panel found "glaring disparities" between their known sources of income and their actual wealth, the Dawn reported. The JIT report suggests that a reference should be filed against Prime Minister Sharif and his sons Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, as well as daughter Maryam Nawaz, under Section 9 of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) ordinance 1999, the daily said. The JIT has found that the assets of all four respondents have been found to be more than the sources of their income in the probe completed today."Significant gap/disparity amongst the known and declared sources of income and the wealth accumulated by the Respondent No. 1, 6, 7 and 8 have been observed," the JIT observed in its concluding remarks. The report said the financial structure and health of companies in Pakistan having linkage to Sharif family also do no substantiate their wealth. JIT chief Wajid Zia presented the report along with evidence to a three-member special bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal, Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan. The six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was set up in May by the Supreme Court with the mandate to probe the Sharif family for allegedly failing to provide the trail of money used to buy properties in London in 1990s. The JIT has also probed several serving and former officials in connection with the case. The six-member JIT included Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Additional Director General Wajid Zia, Military Intelligence's Brig Kamran Khurshid, National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) Director Irfan Naeem Mangi, State Bank of Pakistan's Amer Aziz, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan's (SECP) Executive Director Bilal Rasool and Inter- Services Intelligence's Brig Muhammad Nauman Saeed. Last year, the Panama Papers revealed that three of Prime Minister Sharif's children owned offshore companies and assets not shown on his family's wealth statement. The assets in question include four expensive flats in Park Lane, London. The top court took up the case in October last year on petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Awami Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami and reserved the verdict in February after conducting hearings on a daily basis.

Panama probe: Pakistan JIT finds disparities in PM Nawaz Sharif's family income

A JIT set up by Pakistan Supreme Court to probe Panamagate case against PM Nawaz Sharif and his family has found "glaring disparities" between their known sources of income and their actual wealth in its final report.

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Nankana SahibPakistan cabinet on Tuesday approved the construction of a railway station at the Sikh holy city of Nankana Sahib in Punjab and decided to name it after the faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev.Nankana Sahib is the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev, who also first began preaching here. The city has high historic and religious value and a popular pilgrimage site for Sikhs from all over the world."The cabinet has approved the construction of a train station at Sikh holy city of Nankana Sahib in Punjab and it will be named after Baba Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism," Fawad Chaudhry, Information Minister, told reporters here. Last November, India and Pakistan agreed to set up the border crossing linking Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district.Kartarpur Sahib is located in Pakistan's Narowal district across the river Ravi, about four km from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine.Pakistan had said that it would provide land for the construction of a railway station. The Pakistan cabinet also gave it's nod for the construction of 135,000 apartments for the shelterless and government employees as part of a major election promise by Prime Minister Imran Khan.Khan had pledged to start building 5 million low-priced houses under his pet Naya Pakistan Housing Authority project in the first 100 days of his government. But the project was delayed inviting a lot of criticism from the opposition.Chaudhry said the cabinet meeting chaired by PM Khan has decided to start the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority project.“Initially 135,000 apartments are being constructed and Prime Minister will inaugurate the project on April 17 in Islamabad where 25,000 units will be built,” Chaudhry said.Another 110,000 apartments will be built in the coastal city Gwadar in Balochistan, which is also hub of economic activities under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.The Gwadar project will be launched by the prime minister in provincial capital Quetta after April 20.

Pakistan cabinet approves construction of railway station at Nankana Sahib

Nankana Sahib is the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev, who also first began preaching here. The city has high historic and religious value and a popular pilgrimage site for Sikhs from all over the world.

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A disgruntled man went on a shooting spree at his former workplace in the US state of Florida today, killing five of his colleagues including a woman before turning the gun on himself. Today's shooting incident comes a week ahead of the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando. It was the deadliest mass shooting in US history in which 49 people were killed by a gunman on June 12. Deputies responded to today's shooting at the Fiamma Inc building on Forsyth Road in Orlando around 8 am. The 45-year-old shooter, a disgruntled employee who was fired in April, also killed himself, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told reporters. He ruled out a terrorist incident. "The shooter was carrying a gun and an knife. He was fired from this business. The individual shot former co-workers," he said. According to the Sheriff, there were no reports of any specific threats to this business. The name of the shooter will be released after next of kin notified, he said. "We are all on heightened alert from the tragic incidents across the globe. We cannot connect this incident to any global terrorism," Demings said. Florida Governor Rock Scott urged people of the state to pray for the families of the victims killed in "this senseless" act of violence. "Over the past year, the Orlando community has been challenged like never before. I have been briefed by our law enforcement officials on this tragic incident and Ann and I are praying for the families who lost loved ones today," he said. "I ask all Floridians to pray for the families impacted by this senseless act of violence. I will remain in contact with the Orlando law enforcement community throughout the day as more information is made available," Scott said. 

Six dead in Orlando workplace shooting

Today's shooting incident comes a week ahead of the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando. It was the deadliest mass shooting in US history in which 49 people were killed by a gunman on June 12.

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Pakistan to resume commercial flights to Kabul from MondayPakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced that it has decided to resume commercial flights to Kabul starting from Monday onwards, the first since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. "The official flag carrier of Pakistan is going to start again its flight operations for Kabul," Arshad Malik, CEO of the PIA, told Xinhua news agency on Saturday.Malik added that the first flight will leave for the Afghan capital on Monday from Islamabad.The PIA official said that permission to land at the Kabul airport has been granted by Afghanistan's Civil Aviation Authority.Meanwhile, PIA's Spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said that Pakistan has got all the technical clearance for flight operations, and an Airbus A320 jet is scheduled to take passengers from Islamabad to Kabul.Following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban last month, the PIA had temporarily suspended its operations to the Afghan capital.(With IANS inputs)Also Read | Pak ISI chief meets intelligence heads of regional countries, including China, on Afghanistan /* .jw-reset-text, .jw-reset{line-height: 2em;}*/ .jw-time-tip .jw-time-chapter{display:none;} if ('' == comscore_jw_loaded || 'undefined' == comscore_jw_loaded || undefined == comscore_jw_loaded) { var comscore_jw_loaded = 1; firstjw = document.getElementsByClassName('jwvidplayer')[0]; cs_jw_script = document.createElement('script'); cs_jw_script.src = 'https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/internal-c2/plugins/streamingtag_plugin_jwplayer.js'; firstjw.parentNode.insertBefore(cs_jw_script, firstjw.nextSibling); } var jwconfig_2284497969 = { "file": "https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8", "image": "https://static.indiatvnews.com/ins-web/images/lazy-big.jpg", "title": "India TV Video", "height": "440px", "width": "100%", "aspectratio": "16:9", "autostart": false, "controls": true, "mute": false, "volume": 25, "floating": false, "sharing": { "code": "", "sites": [ "facebook", "twitter", "email" ] }, "stretching": "exactfit", "primary": "html5", "hlshtml": true, "sharing_link": "", "advertising": { "client": "vast", "autoplayadsmuted": true, "skipoffset": 5, "cuetext": "", "skipmessage": "Skip ad in xx", "skiptext": "SKIP", "preloadAds": true, "schedule": [ { "offset": "pre", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_PreRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "type": "linear" }, { "offset": "50%", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_MidRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=" }, { "offset": "post", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_PostRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "type": "linear" } ] } }; var jwvidplayer_2284497969 = ''; jwsetup_2284497969(); function jwsetup_2284497969() { jwvidplayer_2284497969 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_2284497969").setup(jwconfig_2284497969); jwvidplayer_2284497969.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_2284497969, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"\", ns_st_pr=\"India TV Video\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"India TV Video\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"India TV Video\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"1970-01-01\", ns_st_tdt=\"1970-01-01\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_2284497969.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_2284497969.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_2284497969.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_2284497969.stop(); jwvidplayer_2284497969.remove(); jwvidplayer_2284497969 = ''; jwsetup_2284497969(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_2284497969.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_2284497969.stop(); jwvidplayer_2284497969.remove(); jwvidplayer_2284497969 = ''; jwsetup_2284497969(); return; }); jwvidplayer_2284497969.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2284497969.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2284497969.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2284497969.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2284497969.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2284497969.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }

Pakistan to resume commercial flights to Kabul from Monday

The PIA official said that permission to land at the Kabul airport has been granted by Afghanistan's Civil Aviation Authority.

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Pakistan seeks 'more evidence' from India on JeM's involvement in Pulwama attackPakistan on Wednesday sought "more information/evidence" from India on the involvement of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in the deadly Pulwama terror attack and the presence of camps of the UN-proscribed terror outfit in the country.Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria was called to the Foreign Ministry by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and the "preliminary findings" on the "Pulwama incident" were shared with him, the Foreign Office said, referring the deadly terror attack as an "incident".Related Stories Pakistan Govt gives green signal to opening Sharda Peeth Corridor in KashmirAfter FATF, APG may also grey-list Pakistan: ReportPakistan opens its airspace; PIA resumes normal flightPak man claims Hindu woman embraces Islam, marries him; FIR says she is minor, abductedPakistan calls for stronger international laws to stop India-like ASAT missile testsThe preliminary findings were shared with India after examining the Indian dossier on the Pulwama attack, it said in a statement.India handed over the dossier to the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in New Delhi on February 27 with specific details of JeM's complicity in the Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel on February 14 and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan."We have sought further information/evidence from India to take the process forward," the Foreign Office said.Stating that Prime Minister Imran Khan had offered cooperation in the investigation if "credible evidence" was provided by India, the FO said, "in response to this offer, a paper was handed over to Pakistan."Pakistan has acted with a high sense of responsibility and extended full cooperation, it claimed. "We do so in the interest of regional peace and security," the FO said as it sought more evidence from India to take the process forward. 

Pakistan seeks 'more evidence' from India on JeM's involvement in Pulwama attack

Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria was called to the Foreign Ministry by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and the "preliminary findings" on the "Pulwama incident" were shared with him, the Foreign Office said, referring the deadly terror attack as an "incident".

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Declaring a victory in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation.Putin’s visit marks his first trip to Syria, drawing a symbolic line under the campaign that has shored up President Bashar Assad’s government. It is also the first visit by a foreign head of state to war-ravaged Syria since its bloodletting started nearly seven years ago.Putin’s brief stop at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia while on route to Egypt comes days after the Russian president declared his bid to run for re-election in the March 18 vote, helping encourage the feelings of pride about Russia’s revived global clout and prestige.It also follows the Russian announcement last week that the Syrian army under the Russian air cover routed the Islamic State in eastern Syria and fully restored control over the border with Iraq.In a televised speech to the Russian troops at the base, the Russian leader hailed their valor.“You have shown the best qualities of a Russian soldier,” Putin said.The Hemeimeem base, in the heartland of Assad’s Alawite minority, has served as the main foothold for the Russian military campaign in Syria.In a speech to the troops, Putin said that he had ordered the military to withdraw a “significant part” of the Russian contingent in Syria.“Friends, the Motherland is waiting for you,” Putin said. He added that “if the terrorists again raise their heads, we will deal such blows to them they have never seen.”Russian television stations showed Putin walking off the plane, embracing and shaking hands with Assad at the air base.Putin said that the Russian military will maintain their presence at the Hemeimeem air base and the naval facility in Tartus.Syrian TV said Assad thanked Putin for his troops’ effective contribution to the fight against terrorism in Syria.Russia launched its air campaign in Syria at the end of September 2015 when Assad’s government was teetering on the brink of collapse and quickly changed the course of the conflict in its favor.

Vladimir Putin declares victory in Syria, announces partial pullout of forces

In a speech to the troops, Vladimir Putin said that he had ordered the military to withdraw a “significant part” of the Russian contingent in Syria.

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Tina Nguyen, a nurse at at the International Community Health Services clinic in Seattle's International District, examines a nose swab while conducting walk- and drive-up testing for COVID-19, Friday, May 15, 2020. As testing supplies for coronavirus have become more abundant, the clinic has been able to offer testing to anyone in the community by appointment if they are experiencing symptoms. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)As businesses reopened Friday in more of the U.S., an overwhelming majority of states still fall short of the COVID-19 testing levels that public health experts say are necessary to safely ease lockdowns and avoid another deadly wave of outbreaks, according to an Associated Press analysis.Rapid, widespread testing is considered essential to tracking and containing the coronavirus. But 41 of the nation’s 50 states fail to test widely enough to drive their infections below a key benchmark, according to an AP analysis of metrics developed by Harvard’s Global Health Institute.Among the states falling short are Texas and Georgia, which recently moved aggressively to reopen stores, malls, barbershops and other businesses.Also Friday, Democrats approved a massive $3 trillion coronavirus response bill in the House over Republican opposition. It aims aims to prop up a U.S. economy in free fall and a health care system overwhelmed by a pandemic. But the measure has no chance of passing the GOP-controlled Senate and has already drawn a White House veto threat.As health authorities expand testing to more people, the number of positive results should shrink compared with the total number of people tested. The World Health Organization and other health researchers have said a percentage above 10% indicates inadequate testing. South Korea, a country praised for its rapid response, quickly pushed its positive cases to below 3%.Most governors are moving ahead with unlocking their states, even in cases where they are not meeting broad guidelines recommended by the White House.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has set a goal of 30,000 tests per day as his state launched one of the nation’s most aggressive reopenings on May 1. He never set a firm date on when the state would hit the 30,000 mark, but for most of May, the daily testing numbers fell short of that.Local leaders say tests are still in short supply. El Paso officials have pleaded with the governor to postpone easing up any more business restrictions in light of the COVID-19 cases there surging 60% over the past two weeks.The first stage of Maryland’s reopening began Friday evening, when some retail stores were allowed to reopen and a stay-at-home order was lifted. Some of the hardest-hit parts of the state, including the suburbs of Washington, D.C., extended restrictions for residents and businesses.Maryland averaged 4,265 tests per day this week, compared with about 4,900 the previous week. Nearly 22 percent of people tested positive in Maryland on average over the last seven days.Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan made headlines last month when the state acquired 500,000 test kits from a South Korean company in a confidential deal, but Maryland has not had all the components needed for testing — like swabs — to meet demand. Hogan said Maryland just received swabs this week from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.“We requested 350,000,” Hogan said Wednesday. “They’ve committed to 225,000, and I think we got 75,000 yesterday with another 125,000 that are supposedly days away, along with the tubes and the stuff that goes with them. So it’s not enough, but it helps us.”Harvard University researchers have calculated that the U.S. needs to test at least 900,000 people daily to safely reopen the economy, based on the 10% positivity rate and other key metrics. That goal is nearly three times the country’s current daily testing tally of about 360,000, according to figures compiled by the COVID Tracking Project website.“The fact that testing has become the Achilles’ heel that has made it hard for us to have a great national response to this pandemic is a tragedy,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard’s Global Health Institute.President Donald Trump insisted again this week that his administration “met the moment” and “prevailed” on testing, even as he continued shifting responsibility for the effort to the governors. Administration officials said they will provide states with enough testing supplies to conduct about 400,000 tests per day in May and June. That’s less than half the total recommended by the Harvard team.Only nine states met the daily rate recommended by Jha and his colleagues, according to the AP analysis. Most of those states are large and rural, such as Montana, Alaska, North Dakota and Wyoming. Meanwhile, states with some of the biggest testing shortfalls, including New York and New Jersey, have signaled they will keep stay-at-home orders in place or only partially ease restrictions.“I really do feel there are dangers here to opening up without enough tests, but I don’t feel it’s a uniform danger everywhere in the country,” Jha said.In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo will allow many smaller cities and rural regions of upstate New York to gradually reopen first, industry by industry, in areas that have been spared the brunt of the coronavirus outbreak.The first wave of businesses includes retail — though only for curbside or in-store pickup — along with construction and manufacturing. Cuomo also announced beaches would be allowed to open in time for the Memorial Day weekend.New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy will let individual shore towns decide whether to reopen beaches. His long-awaited guidance Thursday directed them to set occupancy limits, require 6 feet (2 meters) of space between beachgoers, except family members or couples, and prohibit groups of 10 or more from congregating on the beach.California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state’s testing reached 35,000 daily this week and that more than 1 million tests have been administered. The state remains on lockdown, though Southern California’s beaches are open with restrictions.North Carolina also has made testing progress, reporting on an all-time high of more than 12,000 additional tests completed Friday compared to the previous day. But the state’s seven-day rolling average of just over 6,000 tests is still well below the 11,000 daily tests recommended by the Harvard team. The testing increases over the past few weeks contributed in part to Gov. Roy Cooper and state leaders feeling comfortable with easing his stay-at-home order May 8.Grand Canyon National Park reopened Friday to allow visitors in for day trips but not overnight. By 7:30 a.m., more than two dozen people were enjoying South Rim viewpoints. Signs reminded tourists to keep their distance from one another and stay in groups of less than 10.Volume of testing isn’t the only concern. The Food and Drug Administration said late Thursday that it was investigating preliminary data suggesting a rapid COVID-19 test used daily to test Trump and key members of his staff can miss infections. Trump expressed confidence in the test from Abbott Laboratories.Worldwide, there have been more than 4.4 million coronavirus infections reported and 300,000 deaths, while nearly 1.6 million people have recovered, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Most US states fall short of recommended testing levels amid COVID-19 pandemic

As businesses reopened Friday in more of the U.S., an overwhelming majority of states still fall short of the COVID-19 testing levels that public health experts say are necessary to safely ease lockdowns and avoid another deadly wave of outbreaks

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Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif gets conditional bail on health groundsFormer Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been granted conditional bail, said Pakistani media. The former PM is currently serving a jail term over a corruption case. Nawaz Sharif's health is deteriorating and hence he has been given a conditional bail of 8 weeks.Sharif underwent medical tests on Sunday. According to the tests, the blood platelet count of the 69-year-old Sharif has fallen from 45,000 to 25,000 within a day.Sharif was rushed to the Services Hospital on Monday night from the anti-graft body's custody after his platelets dropped to a critical low level of 2,000.The three-time prime minister on Saturday also suffered angina attack while undergoing treatment at a Lahore hospital. Angina is a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.Watch | Former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif suffers minor heart attack /* .jw-reset-text, .jw-reset{line-height: 2em;}*/ .jw-time-tip .jw-time-chapter{display:none;} if ('' == comscore_jw_loaded || 'undefined' == comscore_jw_loaded || undefined == comscore_jw_loaded) { var comscore_jw_loaded = 1; firstjw = document.getElementsByClassName('jwvidplayer')[0]; cs_jw_script = document.createElement('script'); cs_jw_script.src = 'https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/internal-c2/plugins/streamingtag_plugin_jwplayer.js'; firstjw.parentNode.insertBefore(cs_jw_script, firstjw.nextSibling); } var jwconfig_4927221416 = { "file": "https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_khwopkds_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_khwopkds_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif suffers minor heart attack", "height": "440px", "width": "100%", "aspectratio": "16:9", "autostart": false, "controls": true, "mute": false, "volume": 25, "floating": false, "sharing": { "code": "", "sites": [ "facebook", "twitter", "email" ] }, "stretching": "exactfit", "primary": "html5", "hlshtml": true, "sharing_link": "", "advertising": { "client": "vast", "autoplayadsmuted": true, "skipoffset": 5, "cuetext": "", "skipmessage": "Skip ad in xx", "skiptext": "SKIP", "preloadAds": true, "schedule": [ { "offset": "pre", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_PreRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "type": "linear" }, { "offset": "50%", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_MidRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=" }, { "offset": "post", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_PostRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "type": "linear" } ] } }; var jwvidplayer_4927221416 = ''; jwsetup_4927221416(); function jwsetup_4927221416() { jwvidplayer_4927221416 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_4927221416").setup(jwconfig_4927221416); jwvidplayer_4927221416.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_4927221416, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_khwopkds\", ns_st_pr=\"Former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif suffers minor heart attack\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif suffers minor heart attack\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif suffers minor heart attack\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2019-10-26\", ns_st_tdt=\"2019-10-26\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_khwopkds_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_4927221416.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_4927221416.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_4927221416.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_4927221416.stop(); jwvidplayer_4927221416.remove(); jwvidplayer_4927221416 = ''; jwsetup_4927221416(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_4927221416.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_4927221416.stop(); jwvidplayer_4927221416.remove(); jwvidplayer_4927221416 = ''; jwsetup_4927221416(); return; }); jwvidplayer_4927221416.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_4927221416.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_4927221416.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_4927221416.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_4927221416.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_4927221416.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }

Nawaz Sharif gets conditional bail on health grounds

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been granted conditional bail, said Pakistani media. The former PM is currently serving a jail term over a corruption case. Nawaz Sharif's health is deteriorating and hence he has been given a conditional bail of 8 weeks.

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Shocking Video captures Dive boat catching fire in California; 34 killedAerial footage from the U.S. Coast Guard shows smoke pouring from a dive boat that caught fire off the Southern California coast early Monday, killing 34 people who were below deck.The bodies of 20 victims have been recovered, and divers have seen between four and six others in the sunken wreckage, Santa Barbara Sheriff Bill Brown said.Authorities are trying to stabilize the boat that sank in about 60 feet (18 meters) of water so divers can recover those remains.Only five crew members sleeping on the top deck were able to escape by jumping off and taking a small boat to safety.Investigators have not yet determined how the fire started.

Shocking video captures dive boat catching fire in California that claimed 34 lives

Authorities are trying to stabilize the boat that sank in about 60 feet (18 meters) of water so divers can recover those remains.

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Omicron variant to be detected in 20 minutes by molecular diagnosis test: ReportKorean researchers have developed molecular diagnostics technology that can detect Omicron variants. The technology development has been currently completed, and it is expected to take time for commercialization. POSTECH announced on the 10th that a research team led by Professor Lee Jung-wook of the Department of Chemical Engineering has developed molecular diagnostic technology that can detect the Omicron variant in just 20-30 minutes and will publish the results online.Omicron is a variant in which 26-32 mutations in the spike, which is used to infect cells by the COVID-19 virus.According to the research team, molecular diagnostics technology can distinguish mutations at the single-nucleotide base, so it can detect 'Stealth Omicron,' which are difficult to be detected by PCR tests.Currently, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is using three methods to detect COVID-19 variants: whole-genome analysis, target DNA (mutations such as spike protein) analysis, and PCR test. In the case of the Delta variant, it can be detected by the current PCR test, but Omicron cannot.The newly developed technology this time is not a sequencing method that reads DNA or RNA sequences, but the molecular diagnostic technology.The existing technology screens only specific areas of the virus, but the molecular diagnostic technology was designed to cause nucleic acid-binding reactions only when the COVID-19 RNA exists, enabling rapid detection.According to Professor Lee, Omicron has a strong signal for N genes in PCR tests but has a weak signal for S genes. In the case of 'Stealth Omicron,' both N and S genes confirmed positive, making it difficult to distinguish from other variants. The molecular diagnostic technology works in different mechanisms from PCR, detecting the Omicron variant efficiently.Unlike conventional technology that generally processes up to 96 samples per device, the new technology can process more than 125 in 30 minutes (more than 250 samples per hour). In addition, this technology does not need specialized equipment, thus can make diagnostic kits simply and easily.As the method can develop the diagnosis kit in 4 days, it is expected to respond quickly even if a new variant or virus occurs in the future."I hope the disclosure of this technology will help us return to normal daily life as soon as possible," said Professor Lee. "We will try to quickly diagnose and respond to new variants that may come out after COVID-19."This technology is currently before commercialization. However, it can be used as an auxiliary in current situations where the PCR test for Omicron has not been developed.Professor Lee said, "I think this technology will be close to commercialization in the second half of next year after clinical trials. The reason why I disclose the technology is to share it with others to develop better technologies for overcoming COVID-19 and to allow underdeveloped countries also analyze COVID-19 variants."(With ANI inputs)ALSO READ | Omicron Variant Live Updates I Nagpur reports its 1st Omicron case

Omicron variant to be detected in 20 minutes by molecular diagnosis test: Report

POSTECH announced on the 10th that a research team led by Professor Lee Jung-wook of the Department of Chemical Engineering has developed molecular diagnostic technology that can detect the Omicron variant in just 20-30 minutes and will publish the results online.

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India and Russia will soon sign a contract for jointly developing the much-delayed fifth-generation fighter aircraft, a top Russian official has said. Sergei Chemezov, the CEO of Rostec State Corporation, said that all decisions over the multi-billion dollar project to jointly develop the fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) will be finalised in the "nearest future". India and Russia inked an inter-governmental pact for the FGFA project in 2007."As for the 5th generation (fighter aircraft) - the work is underway. Stage one is over. Now we are discussing the second stage. And I think that in the nearest future, all decisions will be made and the contract documents will be signed," Chemezov told reporters on the sidelines of Russia's premier air show MAKS 2017 here."But the work is going, it is very complicated, so it is not going fast," said the head of Rostec, Russia's umbrella organisation of 700 hi-tech civilian and military firms. He stressed that Russia was the only country for India that without any restrictions transfers all technologies.Chemezov's remarks came more than two months after government sources in New Delhi had said that almost all the ground work had been completed to finalise the deal for the design of the FGFA jet as well as some other critical issues."The contract for the detailed design would be signed soon and that will be a major milestone. It should be signed in the second half of the year," a top official involved in the negotiations with Russia on the project had said.The official had said that both the countries are co-developers and India will have equal rights over the technology.In February last year, India and Russia had revived talks on the project after a clearance from then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. Since then, a lot of issues related to work share, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and technology transfer among others have been sorted out between the two sides, along with the monetary commitments.In December 2010, India agreed to pay USD 295 million towards the preliminary design of the fighter, which is called in India as the 'Perspective Multi-role Fighter' (PMF). However, negotiations faced various hurdles in the subsequent years.Chemezov also talked about Russia's own fifth generation fighter jet programme PAK FA."Today one of Rostec's key project milestones is the development of the second stage engine for PAK FA. New construction solutions have been used in the development process, which are unparalleled in Russian engine building," he said.Talking about other projects of Indo-Russia cooperation, Chemezov said apart from the Ka-226, the two sides have an enterprise that has been working for a long time producing cruise missiles Brahmos."They are already completely localised today. Already completely produced in India. This is one of the first projects that we implemented in India. As well as, T 90, Su-30MKI. That is a fairly large number of projects - some have already been implemented, some are being implemented," he added.

India, Russia contract soon on 5th generation fighter aircraft

Sergei Chemezov, the CEO of Rostec State Corporation, said that all decisions over the multi-billion dollar project to jointly develop the fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) will be finalised in the "nearest future".

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CPEC was launched in 2015 when President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan. India continues to oppose the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of Beijing's One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, as it "encroaches" on sovereignty and territorial integrity, a senior government official has said. "We have a problem there. We have a problem with CPEC, our problems are well known because it completely encroaches on our sovereignty and territorial integrity. And that is not acceptable," the official told PTI, requesting anonymity. Related Stories Pakistan suspects India may target CPEC installations: ReportCPEC being extended to Afghanistan, says report Jinping asks Pakistan PM Abbasi to speed up CPEC constructionPM Modi calls for responsible pricing for affordable energy to all "We have to keep making them aware that this is a sensitive issue...there are sensitivities and you can't be insensitive to somebody's core concerns and we will articulate it," the official added. Asked about the country's stance at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on lending to OBOR projects, the official claimed that New Delhi's posturing gives a "balance" at the multilateral bank. "Our perspective gets a balance.... otherwise it will be tilted too much one way," the official said. China is the largest shareholder of AIIB with a 31 per cent holding, while India is the second largest with over 8 per cent holding. In the last two years, India has been the biggest beneficiary of AIIB's activities, with over USD 1.6 billion being committed across seven projects. On India's stance on funding for projects at the AIIB, the official said we will not "shy away" from funding. When asked about engagements like the one at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) recently, the official said, "There are areas where there is immense scope for collaboration, we will continue to work." The comments from the official came after AIIB president Jin Liqun yesterday made a mention about China's Belt and Road Initiative in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "It is an invitation by China to other sovereign nations and multilateral partners to cooperate and collaborate in line with the principles of broad consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits," he said. AIIB will "promote co-operation" in all such areas provided the projects meet the bank's expectations of high standards, he added. The multilateral development bank concluded a two-day annual meeting of its highest decision making body, the board of governors, in the financial capital yesterday. There was intense speculation on India's stance on the OBOR in the run up to the event. On the eve of the meeting, a senior bureaucrat had been guarded in his response on the issue, while on Monday, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal had said that we should not worry about the projects which AIIB may finance but should rather focus on how we can benefit from its lending. "I think we should look at what we can do and what we can benefit from engagements (with AIIB) rather than focusing on what they should be not doing," Goyal had said. The multi-billion-dollar initiative by Beijing aims at building transcontinental roads, railhead and ports linking Asia with Europe. New Delhi has gone public with its concerns on Beijing's strategic initiative at various international fora over the past two years. So far, no project lending proposal linked to the OBOR has come up for funding before the AIIB, economic affairs secretary S C Garg had said on Monday. The government is specifically concerned over the USD 57-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through the Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir and is fully funded by Beijing under the OBOR. "The AIIB is a multilateral development bank. It is as much an Indian bank as it is a Chinese or British bank," AIIB vice-president Sir Danny Alexander had said. He had further said no project would be financed unless it meets the laid-down principles which are created by all AIIB member-countries and that the approval of the board is necessary for any funding. When asked specifically if AIIB is sympathetic to Indian concerns over the CPEC, he said, "Our bank is apolitical. We don't comment on the internal affairs of any member-country, be it India or anybody else. What drives our investments is projects, not politics." 

CPEC encroaches on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity: Official

"We have a problem there. We have a problem with CPEC, our problems are well known because it completely encroaches on our sovereignty and territorial integrity. And that is not acceptable," said a senior government official.

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The experts believe that the massive cyber attack, which hit India and nearly hundred other countries, was carried out with the help of "cyber weapons" stolen from the US' National Security Agency (NSA).According to US media outlets, the cyber attack was first reported from Sweden, Britain and France.An increase in activity of the malware was noticed yesterday, security software company Avast reported, adding that it "quickly escalated into a massive spreading".Within hours, over 75,000 attacks have been detected worldwide, the company said. Meanwhile, the MalwareTech tracker detected over 100,000 infected systems over the past 24 hours.Security researchers with Kaspersky Lab have recorded more than 45,000 attacks in 99 countries, including the UK, Russia, Ukraine, India, China, Italy, and Egypt. In Spain, major companies including telecommunications firm Telefonica were infected.The most disruptive attacks were reported in the UK, where hospitals and clinics were forced to turn away patients after losing access to computers.The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (USCRT) under the Department of Homeland Security said it has received multiple reports of WannaCry ransomware infections in many countries around the world.The ransomware is a type of malicious software that infects a computer and restricts users' access to it until a ransom is paid to unlock it. It demands users pay USD 300 worth of cryptocurrency Bitcoin to retrieve their files, though it warns that the payment will be raised after a certain amount of time. The malware spreads through email.Individuals and organisations are discouraged from paying the ransom, as this does not guarantee access will be restored, the USCERT said.According to it, ransomware spreads easily when it encounters unpatched or outdated software. A Microsoft spokeswoman said that the company was aware of the reports and was looking into the situation.According to The Wall Street Journal, the malware believed to be behind the attacks encrypts data on infected computers and essentially holds it for ransom."Known as WannaCry or Wanna Decryptor, the so-called ransomware programme homes in on vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows systems," the daily said.In a statement, international shipper FedEx said it has been badly hit by the cyber attack."Like many other companies, FedEx is experiencing interference with some of our Windows-based systems caused by malware. We are implementing remediation steps as quickly as possible," it said."This event should serve as a globalwake-upcall — the means of delivery and the delivered effect is unprecedented," Rich Barger, the director of threat research at security firm Splunk, said in a separate statement.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it is actively sharing information related to this event and stands ready to "lend technical support and assistance as needed to our partners, both in the United States and internationally".The DHS has a cadre of cyber security professionals that can provide expertise and support to critical infrastructure entities, it said in a statement.The malware was made available online on April 14 through a dump by a group called Shadow Brokers, which claimed last year to have stolen a cache of "cyber weapons" from the National Security Agency (NSA). At the time, there was scepticism about whether the group was exaggerating the scale of its hack.Whistleblower Edward Snowden blamed the NSA for not preventing the global cyber attack."Despite warnings, (NSA) built dangerous attack tools that could target Western software," Snowden said. "Today we see the cost.""If @NSAGov had privately disclosed the flaw used to attack hospitals when they *found* it, not when they lost it, this may not have happened," he said.Some cyber security experts and privacy advocates said the massive attack reflected a flawed approach by the US to dedicate more cyber resources to offence rather than defence, a practice they argued makes the internet less secure.

Around 100 countries, including India, hit by cyber attack using stolen NSA bug

The experts believe that the massive cyber attack, which hit India and nearly hundred other countries, was carried out with the help of "cyber weapons" stolen from the US' National Security Agency (NSA).

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Pentagon spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. Just weeks before the U.S. is scheduled to end its war in Afghanistan, the Biden administration is rushing 3,000 fresh troops to the Kabul airport to help with a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy. The move highlights the stunning speed of a Taliban takeover of much of the country, including their capture of Kandahar, the second-largest city and the birthplace of the Taliban movement.The State Department said the embassy will continue functioning, but Thursday’s dramatic decision to bring in thousands of additional U.S. troops is a sign of waning confidence in the Afghan government’s ability to hold off the Taliban surge. The announcement came just hours after the Taliban captured the western city of Herat as well as Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital south of Kabul. The advance, and the partial U.S. Embassy evacuation, increasingly isolate the nation’s capital, home to millions of Afghans.“This is not abandonment. This is not an evacuation. This is not a wholesale withdrawal,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said. “What this is is a reduction in the size of our civilian footprint.”Price rejected the idea that Thursday’s moves sent encouraging signals to an already emboldened Taliban, or demoralizing ones to frightened Afghan civilians. “The message we are sending to the people of Afghanistan is one of enduring partnership,” Price insisted.President Joe Biden, who has remained adamant about ending the 19-year U.S. mission in Afghanistan at the end of this month despite the Taliban sweep, conferred with senior national security officials overnight, then gave the order for the additional temporary troops Thursday morning.Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday. The U.S. also warned Taliban officials directly that the U.S. would respond if the Taliban attacked Americans during the temporary U.S. military deployments.Britain’s ministry of defense said Thursday that it will send around 600 troops to Afghanistan on a short-term basis to help U.K. nationals leave the country. And Canadian special forces will deploy to Afghanistan to help Canadian staff leave Kabul, a source familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. That official, who was not authorized to talk publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not say how many special forces would be sent.The Pentagon’s chief spokesman, John Kirby, said that in addition to sending three infantry battalions — two from the Marine Corps and one from the Army — to the airport, the Pentagon will dispatch 3,500 to 4,000 troops from a combat brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division to Kuwait to act as a reserve force. He said they will be on standby “in case we need even more” than the 3,000 going to Kabul. /* .jw-reset-text, .jw-reset{line-height: 2em;}*/ .jw-time-tip .jw-time-chapter{display:none;} if ('' == comscore_jw_loaded || 'undefined' == comscore_jw_loaded || undefined == comscore_jw_loaded) { var comscore_jw_loaded = 1; firstjw = document.getElementsByClassName('jwvidplayer')[0]; cs_jw_script = document.createElement('script'); cs_jw_script.src = 'https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/internal-c2/plugins/streamingtag_plugin_jwplayer.js'; firstjw.parentNode.insertBefore(cs_jw_script, firstjw.nextSibling); } var jwconfig_8250388792 = { "file": "https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/08/0_uyxtbhxh/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_uyxtbhxh_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Blast near Afghanistan's defence facility in Kabul, several civilians injured", "height": "440px", "width": "100%", "aspectratio": "16:9", "autostart": false, "controls": true, "mute": false, "volume": 25, "floating": false, "sharing": { "code": "", "sites": [ "facebook", "twitter", "email" ] }, "stretching": "exactfit", "primary": "html5", "hlshtml": true, "sharing_link": "", "duration": "697", "advertising": { "client": "vast", "autoplayadsmuted": true, "skipoffset": 5, "cuetext": "", "skipmessage": "Skip ad in xx", "skiptext": "SKIP", "preloadAds": true, "schedule": [ { "offset": "pre", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_PreRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "type": "linear" }, { "offset": "50%", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_MidRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=" }, { "offset": "post", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_PostRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "type": "linear" } ] } }; var jwvidplayer_8250388792 = ''; jwsetup_8250388792(); function jwsetup_8250388792() { jwvidplayer_8250388792 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_8250388792").setup(jwconfig_8250388792); jwvidplayer_8250388792.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_8250388792, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_uyxtbhxh\", ns_st_pr=\"Blast near Afghanistan's defence facility in Kabul, several civilians injured\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Blast near Afghanistan's defence facility in Kabul, several civilians injured\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Blast near Afghanistan's defence facility in Kabul, several civilians injured\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2021-08-04\", ns_st_tdt=\"2021-08-04\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/08/0_uyxtbhxh/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_8250388792.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_8250388792.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_8250388792.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_8250388792.stop(); jwvidplayer_8250388792.remove(); jwvidplayer_8250388792 = ''; jwsetup_8250388792(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_8250388792.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_8250388792.stop(); jwvidplayer_8250388792.remove(); jwvidplayer_8250388792 = ''; jwsetup_8250388792(); return; }); jwvidplayer_8250388792.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_8250388792.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_8250388792.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_8250388792.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_8250388792.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_8250388792.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }

US sending 3000 troops for partial Afghan embassy evacuation

With security rapidly deteriorating in Afghanistan, the United States is evacuating some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, and U.S. troops with be assisting at the Kabul airport.

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Magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits Port Moresby, Papua New GuineaAn earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck 174km North North-East (NNE) of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Friday. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCN) the earthquake struck at 8:20 am. More details awaited. 

Magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

An earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck 174km North North-East (NNE) of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Friday. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCN) the earthquake struck at 8:20 am.

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Sri Lankans shout anti-government slogans during a protest outside the president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, April 11, 2022.Amid rising protests in Sri Lanka over the unprecedented economic crisis, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday offered to hold talks with the agitators who are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and all members of his family from the government. The protests entered their fifth day on Wednesday and since they began on Saturday, it was carried out round the clock by youths demanding a total transformation of the "corrupt political culture", which they claim has been prevailing in the island nation since it gained Independence from Britain in 1948.According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Rajapaksa is willing to hold discussions with the protesting youths who are camping at Galle Face esplanade located near President Gotabaya's secretariat. The prime minister has said if the protestors are ready for talks, he would extend an invitation for their representatives to meet for discussions, the statement noted.The youths are demanding that President Gotabaya and his entire family -- who are all part of the government -- should quit, while their alleged ill-gotten wealth be brought back to the country to pay the debt. Prime Minister Mahinda is the elder brother of President Gotabaya. Basil, the youngest, was holding the finance portfolio till he was sacked earlier this month by the president amidst the economic crisis. The eldest brother, Chamal, controls the agriculture ministry and nephew Namal is the sports minister.The protest campaign has been running on social media, urging youths to gather at Galle Face. Besides, there have been continuing protests across the island, blaming the government for its mishandling of the forex crisis which led to severe shortages of essentials. President Gotabaya who got his ministers to resign as a response to public dissatisfaction failed to win support for his call on the Opposition parties to join a unity Cabinet.The main Opposition, meanwhile, announced that its leader Sajith Premadasa has signed three motions that would soon be tabled in Parliament -- a motion of no trust, an impeachment motion against President Gotabaya and a motion to repeal 20 amendments that had given him absolute power as president in 2020. Maithripala Sirisena, the former president and a member of the ruling partner Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), told reporters Tuesday night that they would no longer attend political talks with the government. They had proposed an 11-point plan, including the formation of an all-party interim government, to overcome the current political impasse.Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the UK in 1948. People have been protesting for weeks over lengthy power cuts and shortage of fuel, food and other daily essentials. President Gotabaya has defended his government's actions, saying the foreign exchange crisis was not his making and the economic downturn was largely pandemic driven by the island nation’s tourism revenue and inward remittances waning.Saddled with a huge forex crisis, Sri Lanka on Tuesday suspended servicing external public debt pending the completion of its discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the preparation of a comprehensive debt restructuring programme covering the obligations. The policy shall be in effect for all international bonds, all bilateral loans excluding swaps between the Central Bank and a foreign central bank, all loans with commercial banks and institutional lenders, the Finance Ministry has said.In a televised address to the nation On Monday, Prime Minister Mahinda, who is under growing pressure to quit, said he understands the people’s sufferings. “We have to strengthen the economy. We will take the responsibility to resolve the economic issue in the same way we ended the 30-year war,” he had said, referring to his military victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.The LTTE, which led a separatist war for a separate Tamil homeland, was crushed by the Lankan military in 2009 after the death of its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran. Mahinda had said the government is working round-the-clock to overcome the economic crisis. He appealed to the protesters to end their anti-government agitation and said that every minute spent on the streets deprives the country of dollar inflow.ALSO READ | 'Every second you protest on the road, we are losing dollars', says Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa ALSO READ | India helped the maximum, thankful to neigbhour, says Ex Sri Lankan PM amid economic crisis

Sri Lanka crisis: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa offers to hold talks with protesting youths

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Rajapaksa is willing to hold discussions with the protesting youths who are camping at Galle Face esplanade located near President Gotabaya's secretariat.

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US: Rare case of Monkeypox virus detected in Texas resident who traveled from NigeriaA rare case of a person infected with the monkeypox virus has been detected in the US state of Texas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said."The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed on July 15 a case of human monkeypox in a US resident who recently traveled from Nigeria to the United States," the CDC in a press release said on Friday.The infected individual is currently hospitalised in the city of Dallas. The individual travelled from Lagos, Nigeria, to Dallas with a layover stop in Atlanta, and health officials are working to contact airline passengers and others who may have had contact with the infected individual, the release said.According to CDC, Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness that typically begins with flu-like illness and swelling of the lymph nodes and progresses to a widespread rash on the face and body. Most infections last 2-4 weeks. Monkeypox is in the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes a milder infection.The CDC believes the spread of monkeypox through respiratory droplets to others on airplanes and in airports is low, the release added.Prior to the current case, there have been at least six reported monkeypox cases in travellers returning from Nigeria (including cases in the United Kingdom, Israel, and Singapore). This case is not related to any of these previous cases, CDC added.(With ANI inputs)ALSO READ: Five or more symptoms in first week of infection linked to long COVID: Study

US: Rare case of Monkeypox virus detected in Texas resident who traveled from Nigeria

The individual travelled from Lagos, Nigeria, to Dallas with a layover stop in Atlanta, and health officials are working to contact airline passengers and others who may have had contact with the infected individual.

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The United Nations headquarters is reflected in a window Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, on 1st Ave. in New YorkPressure keeps building on increasingly anxious world leaders to ratchet up efforts to fight climate change. There’s more of it coming this week in one of the highest-profile forums of all — the United Nations.For the second time in four days, this time out of U.N. headquarters in New York, leaders will hear pleas to make deeper cuts of emissions of heat-trapping gases and give poorer countries more money to develop cleaner energy and adapt to the worsening impacts of climate change.“I’m not desperate, but I’m tremendously worried,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told The Associated Press in a weekend interview. “We are on the verge of the abyss and we cannot afford a step in the wrong direction.”So on Monday, Guterres and United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson are hosting a closed-door session with 35 to 40 world leaders to get countries to do more leading up to the huge climate negotiations in Scotland in six weeks. Those negotiations in the fall are designed to be the next step after the 2015 Paris climate agreement.And all this comes after Friday, when U.S. President Joe Biden convened a private forum on climate to coax leaders to act now.“We are rapidly running out of time,” Guterres said at Biden’s forum. “There is a high risk of failure” of negotiations in Glasgow.This week’s focus on climate change comes at the end of another summer of disasters related to extreme weather, including devastating wildfires in the western United States, deadly flooding in the U.S., China and Europe, a drumbeat of killer tropical cyclones worldwide and unprecedented heat waves everywhere.Achieving some kind of success in emission-cut pledges or financial help during the week of U.N. sessions would ease the path to an agreement in Glasgow, just as early announcements of pollution curbs did in 2015, especially those from China and the United States, experts said. Now those two nations are key again. But, Guterres said, their relationship is “totally dysfunctional.”Nigel Purvis, a former U.S. State Department climate negotiator and CEO of the private firm Climate Advisers, said the political forces going into Glasgow don’t look as optimistic as they did four months ago after a Biden virtual climate summit.But, he says, there is still hope. Countries like China, the world’s top carbon emitter, have to strengthen their Paris pledges to cut carbon pollution, while rich nations like the United States that did increase their emissions promises need to do more financially to help poorer countries.“The Glasgow meeting is not shaping up to be as well politically prepared as the Paris conference was in 2015,” Purvis said. And Pete Ogden, vice president of the United Nations Foundation for Energy and Climate, cited “worrying mistrust between nations at a time when greater solidarity is needed.”As the world’s leaders gather, activists, other government leaders and business officials gather in New York City for Climate Week, a giant cheerleading session for action that coincides with the high-level U.N. meeting. And throughout the week the push is on the rich nations, the G-20, to do more.“It is true that the G-20 countries bear the biggest part of the responsibility for carbon emissions. And in that regard, of course it is absolutely crucial that we see them accelerating in a very important way their actions,” U.N. climate conference chief Patricia Espinosa said Friday as her agency announced that emission pledges for the Scotland conference were falling far short of the Paris goals.The most stringent one seeks to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. That translates to about 0.4 degree Celsius (0.7 degrees Fahrenheit) from now because of warming that’s already happened.A UN report on Friday showed that current pledges to cut carbon emissions set the world on a path toward 2.7 degrees Celsius (4.9 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming since the pre-industrial era. That shoots way past even the weaker Paris goal of limiting warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).“That is catastrophic,” Guterres said in the interview. “The world could not live with a 2.7-degree increase in temperature.”The overall goal is to have “net zero” carbon emissions by the middle of the 21st century. That refers to a moment when the world’s economies are putting the same amount of carbon dioxide into the air as plants and oceans take out of it, thus not adding to global warming.Guterres is pushing for rich nations to fulfill their longtime pledges of $100 billion a year in climate aid to poor nations, with at least half of that going to help them cope with the impacts of global warming. So far, the world is falling about $75 billion a year short, according to a new study by Oxfam. Funding to cope with climate change’s impacts fell 25% last year for small island nations, “the most vulnerable of the vulnerable,” he said.Under the Paris agreement, every five years the nations of the world must come up with even more stringent emission cuts and more funding for the poorer nations to develop cleaner energy systems and adapt to climate change.While the leaders convene for the U.N. meetings, activists, business leaders and lower-level government officials will be part of the cheerleading in a “climate week” series of events. Planners include big name corporations announcing billions of dollars worth of commitments to fighting climate change, lots of talk by big names such as Bill Gates about climate solutions, and even all seven late-night U.S. talk show hosts focusing on climate change Wednesday night.“You’ve got the world leaders there, and so you can remind them about climate and get them focused on it” said Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group , which is coordinating climate week.What counts most is what happens in six weeks in Glasgow, says Jonathan Overpeck, dean of environment at the University of Michigan, “But,” he said, “the more that can be agreed upon early, the easier it will be to get the commitments that are needed to put an end to climate change. ... We’re not yet on an emissions reductions path that is safe for our planet and its people.”

To curtail global warming, you must do more: UN to world leaders

Under the Paris agreement, every five years the nations of the world must come up with even more stringent emission cuts and more funding for the poorer nations to develop cleaner energy systems and adapt to climate change.

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Coronavirus confirmed cases in US surpasses 13,000 mark.The United States is facing the brunt of deadly coronavirus as the country reported over 13,347 new cases and over 247 deaths in one single day. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in US has surpassed 68,203, becoming number 3 country to have maximum number of confirmed cases after China and Italy. There are about 66782 active cases out of which 1,452 are critical. Meanwhile, the global coronavirus positive cases toll is over 4,70,000 and more than 21,000 deaths have been reported so far. India has so far reported 606 confirmed cases and 10 deaths. Almost half of the world population is under lockdown as according to experts, it is the most effective way to contain the deadly virus from further spreading. India has also been put under 21-day lockdown after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday requested citizens to maintain social distancing and seriously follow lockdown. The Prime Minister said it is very important for every citizen to obey the lockdown because if we fail to do so and virus spreads further then India will be in big trouble whose impact would be devastating for all. PM Modi also addressed the nation on Wednesday evening and once again appealed everyone to follow the lockdown. Modi shared a WhatsApp number for people who are looking for information regarding coronavirus, asking citizens to remain vigilant and not to fall for any information without cross-checking it.ALSO READ: COVID-19 Crisis LIVE: Top Headlines At This Hour

247 COVID-19 deaths reported in US in a day, total confirmed cases surpass 68,000 mark

The United States is facing the brunt of deadly coronavirus as the country reported over 13,347 new cases and over 247 deaths in one single day. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in US has surpassed 68,203, becoming number 3 country to have maximum number of confirmed cases after China and Italy.

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The Russian missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet is seen anchored in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol. Russia-Ukraine war news: The flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, a guided-missile cruiser that became a potent target of Ukrainian defiance in the opening days of the war, sank Thursday after it was heavily damaged in the latest setback for Moscow's invasion. Ukrainian officials said their forces hit the vessel with missiles, while Russia acknowledged a fire aboard the Moskva but no attack. U.S. and other Western officials could not confirm what caused the blaze. The loss of the warship named for the Russian capital is a devastating symbolic defeat for Moscow as its troops regroup for a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine after retreating from much of the north, including the capital, Kyiv. The Russian Defense Ministry said the ship sank in a storm while being towed to a port. Russia earlier said the flames on the ship, which would typically have 500 sailors aboard, forced the entire crew to evacuate. Later it said the blaze had been contained. The Moskva had the capacity to carry 16 long-range cruise missiles, and its removal reduces Russia’s firepower in the Black Sea. It's also a blow to Moscow's prestige in a war already widely seen as a historic blunder. Now entering its eighth week, the invasion has stalled amid resistance from Ukrainian fighters bolstered by weapons and other aid sent by Western nations.Why it's a blow to RussiaIn his nightly video address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alluded to the sinking as he told Ukrainians they should be proud of having survived 50 days under attack when the Russians “gave us a maximum of five.” Listing the many ways Ukraine has defended against the invasion, he noted “those who showed that Russian warships can sail away, even if it’s to the bottom” of the sea. It was his only reference to the missile cruiser.During the first days of the war, the Moskva was reportedly the ship that called on Ukrainian soldiers stationed on Snake Island in the Black Sea to surrender in a standoff. In a widely circulated recording, a soldier responded: “Russian warship, go (expletive) yourself.” The Associated Press could not independently verify the incident, but Ukraine and its supporters consider it an iconic moment of defiance. The country recently unveiled a postage stamp commemorating it.The news of the flagship overshadowed Russian claims of advances in the southern port city of Mariupol, where Moscow's forces have been battling the Ukrainians since the early days of the invasion in some of the heaviest fighting of the war — at a horrific cost to civilians. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Wednesday that 1,026 Ukrainian troops surrendered at a metals factory in the city. But Vadym Denysenko, adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, rejected the claim, telling Current Time TV that “the battle over the seaport is still ongoing today.” It was unclear how many forces were still defending Mariupol.Russian state television broadcast footage that it said was from Mariupol showing dozens of men in camouflage walking with their hands up and carrying others on stretchers. One man held a white flag. Mariupol has been the scene of the some the war's worst suffering. Dwindling numbers of Ukrainian defenders are holding out against a siege that has trapped well over 100,000 civilians in desperate need of food, water and heating. David Beasley, executive director of the U.N. World Food Program, told AP in an interview Thursday that people are being “starved to death” in the besieged city. Mariupol’s mayor said this week that more than 10,000 civilians had died and the death toll could surpass 20,000, after weeks of attacks and privation left bodies “carpeted through the streets.”Mariupol's capture is critical for Russia because it would allow its forces in the south, which came up through the annexed Crimean Peninsula, to fully link up with troops in the Donbas region, Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland and the target of the coming offensive. The Russian military continues to move helicopters and other equipment together for such an effort, according to a senior U.S. defense official, and it will likely add more ground combat units “over coming days.” But it’s still unclear when Russia could launch a bigger offensive in the Donbas. Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukraine in the Donbas since 2014, the same year Russia seized Crimea. Russia has recognized the independence of the rebel regions in the Donbas. The loss of the Moskva could delay any new, wide-ranging offensive.Maksym Marchenko, the governor of the Odesa region, across the Black Sea to the northwest of Sevastopol, said the Ukrainians struck the ship with two Neptune missiles and caused “serious damage.” Russia’s Defense Ministry said ammunition on board detonated as a result of a fire, without saying what caused the blaze. It said the “main missile weapons” were not damaged. In addition to the cruise missiles, the warship also had air-defense missiles and other guns. The Neptune is an anti-ship missile that was recently developed by Ukraine and based on an earlier Soviet design. The launchers are mounted on trucks stationed near the coast, and, according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, the missiles can hit targets up to 280 kilometers (175 miles) away. That would have put the Moskva within range, based on where it was when the fire began.Launched as the Slava in 1979, the cruiser saw service in the Cold War and during conflicts in Georgia and Syria, and helped conduct peacetime scientific research with the United States. During the Cold War, it carried nuclear weapons. In 1989, the Slava was supposed to host a meeting off Malta between Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and U.S. President George H.W. Bush, but gale-force winds moved the talks to the docked cruiser Maxim Gorky. On Thursday, other Russian ships that were also in the northern Black Sea moved further south after the Moskva caught fire, said a senior U.S. defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal military assessments. Before the Moskva sank, Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, told AP its removal would mean “we can only have a sigh of relief.”While the U.S. was not able to confirm Ukraine’s claims of striking the warship, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan called it “a big blow to Russia." “They’ve had to kind of choose between two stories: One story is that it was just incompetence, and the other was that they came under attack, and neither is a particularly good outcome for them,” Sullivan told the Economic Club of Washington. Russia invaded on Feb. 24 and has lost potentially thousands of fighters. The conflict has killed untold numbers of Ukrainian civilians and forced millions more to flee.It has also further inflated prices at grocery stores and gasoline pumps, while dragging on the global economy. The head of the International Monetary Fund said Thursday that the war helped push the organization to downgrade economic forecasts for 143 countries. Also Thursday, Russian authorities accused Ukraine of sending two low-flying military helicopters some 11 kilometers (7 miles) across the border and firing on residential buildings in the village of Klimovo, in Russia's Bryansk region. Russia’s Investigative Committee said seven people, including a toddler, were wounded. Russia’s state security service had earlier said Ukrainian forces fired mortar rounds at a border post in Bryansk as refugees were crossing, forcing them to flee. The reports could not be independently verified. Earlier this month, Ukrainian security officials denied that Kyiv was behind an air strike on an oil depot in the Russian city of Belgorod, some 55 kilometers (35 miles) from the border.Also Read | War Day 50: Ukraine claims strike on Russian warship Moskva, Zelensky thanks US for $800 million aid ​Also Read | Russia warns of nuclear deployments in Baltic region if Finland, Sweden join NATO 

Here's why sinking of guided-missile warship is a "big blow" to Russia

In his nightly video address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alluded to the sinking as he told Ukrainians they should be proud of having survived 50 days under attack when the Russians “gave us a maximum of five.”

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North Korea says released Australian student was spyingNorth Korea said Saturday that an Australian student who it detained for a week had spread anti-Pyongyang propaganda and engaged in spying by providing photos and other materials to news outlets with critical views toward the North.Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, said North Korea deported Alek Sigley on Thursday after he pleaded for forgiveness over his activities, which the agency said infringed on the country's sovereignty.Sigley arrived in Tokyo on Thursday after telling reporters he was in "very good" condition, but without saying what happened to him.He had been studying at a Pyongyang university and guiding tours in the North Korean capital before disappearing from social media contact with family and friends.KCNA said Sigley, who was caught "red-handed" by a "relevant institution" of the North on June 25, had abused his status as a student by "combing" through Pyongyang and providing photos and other information to news sites such as NK News and other "anti-DPRK" media, a reference to the North's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The news agency said the North expelled Sigley out of "humanitarian leniency.""He honestly admitted his spying acts of systematically collecting and offering data about the domestic situation of the DPRK and repeatedly asked for pardon, apologizing for encroachment upon the sovereignty of the DPRK," the agency said.The North had not commented on Sigley before Saturday.Sigley was released by North Korea following intervention by Swedish diplomats. After Sigley's arrival in Beijing, he went to Tokyo to reunite with his Japanese wife, who he married in Pyongyang last year.During his time in North Korea, Sigley often shared details about his life in Pyongyang through social media and the website of his travel agency, Tongil Tours, frequently challenging negative outside perceptions about the North and at times boasting about the extraordinary freedom he had as one of the few foreign students living there.He also wrote op-eds and essays that appeared in the Western media, including NK News, although none of them seemed outwardly critical about the North's government and political system.In a statement published on its site, NK News CEO Chad O'Carroll said it would be a "misrepresentation" for the North to describe the articles Sigley wrote for the outlet as anti-state. He said NK News is an independent, specialist information website that aims to provide objective news and analysis about North Korea."Alek Sigley's well-read columns presented an apolitical and insightful view of life in Pyongyang which we published in a bid to show vignettes of ordinary daily life in the capital to our readers," O'Carroll said."The six articles Alek published represent the full extent of his work with us and the idea that those columns, published transparently under his name between January and April 2019, are 'anti-state' in nature is a misrepresentation which we reject," he said.North Korea has been accused in the past of detaining Westerners and using them as political pawns to gain concessions. Sigley's father, Gary Sigley, a professor of Asian studies at the University of Western Australia, said his son was treated well in North Korea.It was a much happier outcome than the case of American college student Otto Warmbier, who was convicted of attempting to steal a propaganda poster and imprisoned in North Korea. Warmbier died shortly after being sent back home to the U.S. in a vegetative state in June 2017.

North Korea says released Australian student was spying

Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, said North Korea deported Alek Sigley on Thursday after he pleaded for forgiveness over his activities, which the agency said infringed on the country's sovereignty.

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Russia fines Twitter for failure to delete illegal contentA Moscow court on Friday fined Twitter 8.9 million rubles (about $116,568) for violating Russia's Internet legislation by failing to remove content banned in the country.Part of the content in question urged minors to take part in illegal protests, promoted drug use, and spread child pornography, the Xinhua news agency reported.Twitter has 60 days to pay the fines from the day the ruling comes into force.Last month, Russia's telecom watchdog Roskomnadzor started to limit Twitter's traffic due to its failure to remove banned content, and warned about the possibility of completely blocking Twitter.ALSO READ: 7 Hong Kong democracy leaders convicted as China clamps down

Russia fines Twitter for failure to delete illegal content

Part of the content in question urged minors to take part in illegal protests, promoted drug use, and spread child pornography, the Xinhua news agency reported.

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Pakistan coronavirus cases rise to 6,919; 58% cases locally transmittedPakistan's coronavirus cases rose to 6,919 on Thursday as the health department said that about 58 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases in the country are now locally transmitted. According to the Ministry of National Health Services, 128 people have died due to the virus so far in Pakistan,  while 1,645 patients recovered. It said that worst-hit Punjab province has registered 3,291 cases, Sindh 2,008, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 912, Balochistan 280, Gilgit-Baltistan 237, Islamabad 145 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 46.The authorities have conducted 78,979 tests so far, including 5,540 in the last 24 hours.The data released by the National Command and Operation Centre on Thursday showed that around 58 per cent of the country's total coronavirus cases are locally transmitted.When the pandemic began spreading in the country last month, the number of imported cases was much higher than locally transmitted ones.But the scales began tilting gradually, with imported cases slowing as the government suspended international flights on March 21, and reports of virus patients with no travel history began making the rounds, Dawn reported.Prime Minister Imran Khan has chided his advisor on health for his "irresponsible attitude" and failing to brief the Supreme Court on the efforts of his government to contain the disease.The apex court on Tuesday expressed displeasure on the handling of pandemic by the government and directed the removal of Dr Zafar Mirza as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health for failing to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.Prime Minister Khan in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday reprimanded Mirza for his "irresponsible attitude" during his recent appearance before the court. Mirza was appointed as Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health last year after the then Health Minister Amir Kayani was removed from his post for failing to check spiralling drug prices.Mirza's removal would be a major setback to the Imran Khan government as he is one who is leading the campaign against COVID-19 in Pakistan and addressing the media daily about the steps being taken to control its outbreak.The Supreme Court has also criticised the entire Cabinet for the failure to address the problems by the country, resulting in debate on social media, with some users lashing at the court.Khan was also angered at the people who debated the court ruling on social media and some of them criticized the court.He ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe against the people responsible for running a social media campaign against the country’s top judge and other members of the superior judiciary.According to a notification by Khan’s Office, the prime minister has taken a very serious view of the recent campaign on social media in which “uncalled, immoderate and intemperate language” was used against the superior judiciary of Pakistan.Meanwhile, Pakistan railways ministry has finalised a strategy for partially resuming train operations across all four provinces upon the end of a lockdown or any relaxation, the Express Tribune reported.The services were suspended last month as part of the lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus.“Train operations will partially resume in all four provinces and 24 trains will start functioning for up and down operations after approval from the prime minister," the paper said, citing sources.The train staff and passengers must adhere to safety guidelines during the special train operation while strict action would be taken as per railway rules in case of any violations.The booking for a train would only be done online and it would be stopped after the reservation of 60 per cent of seats as part of policy to maintain social distancing."No irrelevant person will be allowed to enter the railway station and those coming to see off must remain at least 200 metres away from the station,” the report said.The passengers are advised to carry their own masks, sanitisers and soaps.The State Bank of Pakistan has reduced interest rate by 2 per cent from 11 to 9 which was the second cut in less than month. The reduction by the bank since the coronavirus crisis was 4.25 per cent.Meanwhile, Pakistan was included in the group of countries eligible for debt relief announced by the G20 countries in their Riyadh meeting, according to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.Khan was lobbying to get relief for the developing poor nations to effectively combat the virus.Also, Pakistan said it was bringing back its citizens stranded in India through the Wagah border.High Commission of Pakistan in Delhi said the citizens had gone to India on different visas "including visit, pilgrimage and medical and had been stuck in Agra, Delhi and parts of Haryana and Punjab".There are still some 145 Pakistanis stuck in India, the statement added. 

Pakistan coronavirus cases rise to 6,919; 58% cases locally transmitted

Pakistan's coronavirus cases rose to 6,919 on Thursday as the health department said that about 58 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases in the country are now locally transmitted. A

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The United States says it no longer considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be a violation of international law, reversing four decades of American policy and further undermining the Palestinians’ effort to gain statehood. The US is repudiating the 1978 State Department legal opinion that held that civilian settlements in the occupied territories are “inconsistent with international law," secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday. Pompeo told reporters at the State Department that the Trump administration believes any legal questions about settlements should be resolved by Israeli courts and that declaring them a violation of international law distracts from larger efforts to negotiate a peace deal.“Calling the establishment of civilian settlements inconsistent with international law has not advanced the cause of peace,” Pompeo said. “The hard truth is that there will never be a judicial resolution to the conflict, and arguments about who is right and who is wrong as a matter of international law will not bring peace.”The change reflects the administration’s embrace of a hard-line Israeli view at the expense of the Palestinian quest for statehood. Similar actions have included President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the movement of the U.S. Embassy to that city and the closure of the Palestinian diplomatic office in Washington.“The U.S. administration has lost its credibility to play any future role in the peace process,” said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.The European Union warned of the potential repercussions in a statement following the announcement that did not mention the U.S.“All settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace,” said the statement from the 28-nation bloc. “The EU calls on Israel to end all settlement activity, in line with its obligations as an occupying power.”Even though the decision is largely symbolic, it could give a boost to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is fighting for his political survival after failing to form a coalition government following recent elections.It could also spell further trouble for the administration’s peace plan, which is unlikely to gather much international support by endorsing a position contrary to the global consensus.The Netanyahu government was dealt a blow on settlements just last week when the European Court of Justice ruled products made in Israeli settlements must be labeled as such.The 1978 legal opinion on settlements is known as the Hansell Memorandum. It had been the basis for more than 40 years of carefully worded U.S. opposition to settlement construction that had varied in its tone and strength, depending on the president’s position.The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements illegal based in part on the Fourth Geneva Convention, which bars an occupying power from transferring parts of its own civilian population to occupied territory.Pompeo said that the U.S. would not take a position on the legality of specific settlements, that the new policy would not extend beyond the West Bank and that it would not create a precedent for other territorial disputes.He also said the decision did not mean the administration was prejudging the status of the West Bank in any eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.For Netanyahu, the welcome boost comes at a time when he has been weakened domestically by mounting legal woes and two inconclusive elections this year.Unable to secure a parliamentary majority, Netanyahu is now anxiously waiting to see if his chief rival, Benny Gantz, can put together a coalition. If Gantz fails, the country could be forced into a third election, with Netanyahu facing the distraction of a trial.Netanyahu’s office released a statement saying the policy shift “rights a historical wrong” concerning settlements.“This policy reflects an historical truth - that the Jewish people are not foreign colonialists in Judea and Samaria,” it said, using the Israeli terms for the West Bank.Gantz, meanwhile, applauded Pompeo’s “important statement, once again demonstrating its firm stance with Israel and its commitment to the security and future of the entire Middle East.”Pompeo dismissed suggestions that the decision would further isolate the U.S. or Israel in the international community, though Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi wrote on Twitter that the settlements hurt peace prospects. “We warn of the seriousness of the change in the U.S. position towards the settlements and its repercussions on all efforts to achieve peace,” he said.Shortly after Pompeo’s announcement, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued an advisory warning for Americans planning to travel in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza, saying, “Individuals and groups opposed to (Pompeo’s) announcement may target U.S. government facilities, U.S. private interests, and U.S. citizens.” It called on them “to maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness in light of the current environment.”Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war and quickly began settling the newly conquered territory.Today, some 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the two areas, which are both claimed by the Palestinians for their state.After the war, it immediately annexed east Jerusalem, home to the holy city’s most important religious sites, in a move that is not internationally recognized.But Israel has never annexed the West Bank, even as it has dotted the territory with scores of settlements and tiny settlement outposts.While claiming the fate of the settlements is a subject for negotiations, it has steadily expanded them. Some major settlements have over 30,000 residents, resembling small cities and serving as suburbs of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.The Palestinians and most of the world say the settlements undermine hopes for a two-state solution by gobbling up land sought by the Palestinians.Israel’s settlement activities have also drawn attention to its treatment of Palestinians.While Jewish settlers can freely enter Israel and vote in Israeli elections, West Bank Palestinians are subject to Israeli military law, require permits to enter Israel and do not have the right to vote in Israeli elections.Also Read | US draws fewer new foreign students for 3rd straight yearAlso Read | Two US chemistry professors arrested for cooking meth at university​​

US no longer considers Israeli settlements in West Bank as illegal

Even though the decision is largely symbolic, it could give a boost to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is fighting for his political survival after failing to form a coalition government following recent elections.

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Germany's outgoing Chancellor Angela MerkelGermany's centre-left Social Democrats and outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right bloc both laid claim Sunday to lead the country's next government, even as projections showed the long-time leader's party heading for its worst-ever result in a national election. The outcome appeared to put Europe's biggest economy on course for lengthy haggling to form a new government, while Merkel stays on in a caretaker role until a successor is sworn in.A three-party governing coalition, with two opposition parties that have traditionally been in rival ideological camps — the environmentalist Greens and the business-friendly Free Democrats — would provide the likeliest route to power for both leading candidates.Only one of the three candidates to succeed Merkel, who chose not to run for a fifth term, looked happy after Sunday's vote: the Social Democrats' Olaf Scholz, the outgoing vice chancellor and finance minister who pulled his party out of a years-long slump.Scholz said the predicted results were “a very clear mandate to ensure now that we put together a good, pragmatic government for Germany.”A partial count based on 267 of the 299 constituencies showed the Social Democrats leading with 25.7 per cent of the vote against 24.6 per cent for the Union bloc. No winning party in a German national election had previously taken less than 31 per cent of the vote.The Greens, who made their first bid for the chancellery with co-leader Annalena Baerbock, were running in third place with 14.1 per cent, while the pro-business Free Democrats had 11.5 per cent of the vote, according to the partial count.Armin Laschet, the governor of North Rhine-Westphalia state who outmaneuvered a more popular rival to secure the nomination of Merkel's Union bloc, had struggled to motivate the party's base and suffered a series of missteps.“Of course, this is a loss of votes that isn't pretty,” Laschet said of results that looked set to undercut by a distance the Union's previous worst showing of 31 per cent in 1949. But he added that with Merkel departing after 16 years in power, “no one had an incumbent bonus in this election.”Laschet told supporters that “we will do everything we can to form a government under the Union's leadership, because Germany now needs a coalition for the future that modernizes our country.” Both Laschet and Scholz will be courting the same two parties. The Greens traditionally lean toward the Social Democrats and the Free Democrats toward the Union, but neither ruled out going the other way.The other option was a repeat of the outgoing “grand coalition” of the Union and Social Democrats that has run Germany for 12 of Merkel's 16 years in power, but there was little obvious appetite for that after years of government squabbling.“Everyone thinks that this grand coalition' isn't promising for the future, regardless of who is No. 1 and No. 2,” Laschet said. “We need a real new beginning.”The Free Democrats' leader, Christian Lindner, appeared keen to govern, suggesting that his party and the Greens should make the first move.“About 75 per cent of Germans didn't vote for the next chancellor's party,” Lindner said in a post-election debate with all parties' leaders on public broadcaster ZDF.“So it might be advisable that the Greens and Free Democrats first speak to each other to structure everything that follows.” Baerbock insisted that “the climate crisis is the leading issue of the next government, and that is for us the basis for any talks even if we aren't totally satisfied with our result.”While the Greens improved their support from the last election in 2017, they had higher expectations for Sunday's vote.Two parties weren't in contention to join Germany's next government. The Left Party was projected to win only 4.7 per cent of the vote and risked being kicked out of parliament entirely. The far-right Alternative for Germany — which no one else wants to work with — was seen winning 10.6 per cent. This was about 2 percentage points less than in 2017, when it first entered parliament.Merkel, who has won plaudits for steering Germany through several major crises, won't be an easy leader to follow. Her successor will have to oversee the country's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, which Germany so far has weathered relatively well thanks to large rescue programs.Germany's leading parties have significant differences when it comes to taxation and tackling climate change. Foreign policy didn't feature much in the campaign, although the Greens favor a tougher stance toward China and Russia. Whichever parties form the next German government, the Free Democrats' Lindner said it was “good news” that it would have a majority with centrist parties.“All of those in Europe and beyond who were worried about Germany's stability can now see: Germany will be stable in any case,” he said.Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sent early congratulations to Scholz. “Spain and Germany will continue to work together for a stronger Europe and for a fair and green recovery that leaves no one behind,” he wrote on Twitter.In two regional elections also held Sunday, the Social Democrats looked set to defend the post of Berlin mayor that they have held for two decades. The party was also on course for a strong win in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania.

Germany Election: Angela Merkel's center-right bloc stumbles badly; horse-trading ahead

Angela Merkel, who has won plaudits for steering Germany through several major crises, won't be an easy leader to follow.

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US asks Pakistan, India to work towards stable relationshipJust before the all-important visit of Secretary of State Antony Blinken to India and other destinations of South Asia and the Middle East, the US has issued a statement, encouraging arch-rivals India and Pakistan to work for a more stable relationship. Blinken is scheduled to visit India and other countries between July 26-29 in what is being said is an important tour in reference to the developing situation and increasing Afghan Taliban control in Afghanistan.As per Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Affairs Dean Thompson, Blinken would be discussing different options for what he called a "negotiated settlement" in Afghanistan.Blinken is going to be landing in New Delhi on July 28 and is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.As per details, India's role in Afghanistan and relations with Pakistan is going to be on Blinken's agenda during his visit to India."We strongly believe that India and Pakistan's issues are ones for them to work out between themselves. Washington would continue to encourage better ties between South Asia's two nuclear-armed neighbours," said Thompson."We are pleased to see that ceasefire that went into place earlier this year has remained intact, and we certainly always encourage them to continue their efforts to find ways to build a more stable relationship going forward," he added.The US seems to have a keen interest in engaging India in seeing its increased role in Afghanistan, especially after the withdrawal of all foreign forces."We expect that all the countries in the region have a shared interest in a stable and secure Afghanistan going forward. We will certainly be talking to our Indian partners about how we can work together to realise that goal, to find ways to bring the partners together, and continue to pursue a negotiated settlement to the longstanding war," said Thompson.Interestingly, Blinken's visit does not include a visit to Islamabad. 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Ahead of Blinken's visit, US asks Pakistan, India to work towards stable relationship

As per Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Affairs Dean Thompson, Blinken would be discussing different options for what he called a "negotiated settlement" in Afghanistan.

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COVID-19: EU launches data sharing platform for researchersThe European Commission together with several partners on Monday launched a European COVID-19 Data Platform to enable the rapid collection and sharing of available research data in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. The European Commission said in a press release that the new platform will provide an open, trusted, and scalable European and global environment where researchers can store, share and analyze a wide variety of findings on coronavirus, Xinhua reported.The datasets will include DNA sequences, protein structures, data from pre-clinical research and clinical trials, epidemiological data, among others."Scientists around the world have already produced a wealth of knowledge on coronavirus. But no researcher, lab or country could find the solution alone."This is why we want to help scientists to access data and share it with the others, across borders, disciplines and healthcare systems... It will make science respond even better and faster to what society needs," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a video speech.

COVID-19: EU launches data sharing platform for researchers

The European Commission together with several partners on Monday launched a European COVID-19 Data Platform to enable the rapid collection and sharing of available research data in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

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3 killed after van falls into ravine in northwest Pakistan(REPRESENTATIONAL  IMAGE)Three members of a wedding party were killed and several others injured on Thursday when a van carrying them fell into a ravine in northwest Pakistan, police said. The incident took place at Chakdara area in Dir Lower district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when the driver lost control over the vehicle after its brakes failed and it plunged into a ravine.The deceased were all women, police said. Two of the injured were admitted to a hospital in Peshawar in serious condition, they added. The exact number of injured is yet to be known. ALSO READ | Pakistan reschedule one-off ODI at Bangladesh's requestALSO READ | 8 killed, 24 injured in Gujarat road accident

3 killed after van falls into ravine in northwest Pakistan

Three members of a wedding party were killed and several others injured on Thursday when a van carrying them fell into a ravine in northwest Pakistan, police said.

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Christopher Wray on Thursday assumed charge as the new FBI Director and pledged to work for the good of the US and the cause of justice. A former US Assistant Attorney for the Criminal Division, Wray, 50, replaces James Comey, who was abruptly fired by President Donald Trump amid a probe into the Trump campaign's alleged collusion with Russia to influence the last year's presidential election. He was sworn in as the eighth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation by Attorney General Jeff Sessions who lauded his "spirit" and "strength of character." Wray, 50, who was confirmed by the US Senate through an overwhelming majority of 92-5 votes on the Senate floor, termed it "the honour of a lifetime" to serve as the director. "It is the honour of a lifetime to serve as Director. I long ago grew to know and admire the FBI from my earliest days as a line prosecutor to my years as assistant attorney general," Wray said in a statement after being sworn in. "I am excited, humbled and grateful, therefore, to have this chance to work side-by-side again with these fine professionals for the good of the country and the cause of justice," he said. In a statement, Sessions praised Wray's "spirit" and "strength of character," saying: "I am confident that the FBI, the premier investigative agency in the world, is in great hands with Director Chris Wray at the helm." "I congratulate him for being overwhelmingly confirmed to that post and look forward to working with him every day to keep America safe," he said. As a former federal prosecutor and head of the Department of Justice's Criminal Division, Wray has successfully prosecuted terrorists, drug kingpins, and white-collar criminals, Sessions said. FBI directors are approved by the Senate to serve for 10 years, but the president has unilateral authority to fire them at any time.

Former criminal lawyer Christopher Wray sworn is an new FBI Director

Christopher Wray on Thursday assumed charge as the new FBI Director and pledged to work for the good of the US and the cause of justice

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Trump’s son Barron tested positive for COVID-19, reveals MelaniaBarron Trump, the teenage son of US President Donald Trump, contracted coronavirus after his parents tested positive for COVID-19 but has since tested negative, First Lady Melania Trump has said. In a blog posted on the White House website, Melania said that Barron, 14, exhibited no symptoms, a departure from herself and the president, who have both said they experienced mild symptoms.Trump announced that he and the First Lady had tested positive in the early-morning hours on October 1, after the news that one of the president’s closest aides Hope Hicks had contracted the virus. Both have now recovered from the disease. ”My fear came true when he was tested again and it came up positive. Luckily, he is a strong teenager and exhibited no symptoms. In one way I was glad the three of us went through this at the same time so we could take care of one another and spend time together. He has since tested negative,” Melania said on Wednesday.While Melania and Barron stayed at the White House, Trump had to spend three nights and four days at a military hospital to recover from the disease. The president is now back on his campaign trail. Sharing her experience, Melania said that she was very fortunate as her diagnosis came with minimal symptoms, though they hit her all at once and it seemed to be a roller coaster of symptoms in the days after.”I experienced body aches, a cough and headaches, and felt extremely tired most of the time. I chose to go a more natural route in terms of medicine, opting more for vitamins and healthy food. We had wonderful caretakers around us and we will be forever grateful for the medical care and professional discretion we received from Dr. Conley and his team,” she said. ”It was an unfamiliar feeling for me to be the patient instead of a person trying to encourage our nation to stay healthy and safe. It was me being taken care of now, and getting the first-hand experience with all that COVID-19 can do,” she said.”As the patient, and the person benefitting from so much medical support, I found myself even more grateful and in awe of caretakers and first responders everywhere. To the medical staff and the residence staff who have been taking care of our family thank you doesn’t say enough,” she wrote in an essay entitled ”My Personal Experience with Covid-19”. The First Lady encouraged everyone to continue to live the healthiest life they can. A balanced diet, fresh air, and vitamins really are vital to keep our bodies healthy, she said.”For your complete well-being, compassion and humility are just as important in keeping our minds strong. For me personally, the most impactful part of my recovery was the opportunity to reflect on many things family, friendships, my work, and staying true to who you are,” she wrote. An event at the White House on September 26, for the unveiling of Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, was thought to be the root of the localised outbreak. The White House press secretary, former Trump counsellor Kellyanne Conway and two senators were among the people around the president who tested positive for the virus.The US has recorded more than 7.8 million coronavirus cases and 216,000 deaths, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University

Trump’s son Barron tested positive for COVID-19, reveals Melania

Trump announced that he and the First Lady had tested positive in the early-morning hours on October 1, after the news that one of the president’s closest aides Hope Hicks had contracted the virus. Both have now recovered from the disease.

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) today denied permission to Pakistan to play a purported "confessional" video of retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav at a public hearing here. To support its allegations that Jadhav was sent by India to carry out spying and espionage activities in Pakistan and was arrested from the restive Balochistan province, Pakistan delegation at the ICJ sought permission to play the purported video showing the Indian national admitting that he was a "spy". However, the ICJ denied permission to the Pakistani side to play the video at the hearing, Indian officials in New Delhi said. Earlier, India demanded the immediate suspension of Jadhav's death sentence, expressing fears that Pakistan could execute him even before the hearing at ICJ. Vienna Convention provisions on consular access were not intended for a "spy" involved in terror activities, Pakistan today told the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is hearing India's plea on the death sentence given to its national Kulbhushan Jadhav. India's application on Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year and sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities, was "unnecessary and misconceived" and must be dismissed, Pakistan told the UN's highest judicial body. India had been unable to provide an explanation for Jadhav's passport which bears a Muslim name, Mohammed Faisal of the Pakistan Foreign Office said in his opening remarks in response to India's submissions earlier in the day. India was using the court as the "scene of political theatre" but "we will not respond in kind", Faisal told the ICJ which held daylong proceedings to decide the fate of the former Indian Navy officer. There has been deafening silence and no response from India on Pakistan's accusations on Jadhav, Pakistan's lawyer Khawar Qureshi said. Expressing the fear that Jadhav, 46, might be executed before the hearing was over, India accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna convention and conducting a "farcical trial" without a "shred of evidence". Pakistan had denied India its 16 requests for consular access, India's lead attorney Harish Salve said. The urgent hearing comes after the ICJ last week stayed Jadhav's execution. While India presented its argument over 90 minutes, Pakistan, which claims that Jadhav is an agent of India's external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), took less than an hour. India wants the ICJ to annul Jadhav's death sentence and for Pakistan to ensure that no action is taken that may prejudice the rights of India or of Jadhav. Jadhav, the latest flashpoint in the tensions between Pakistan and India, was sentenced last month.Indian on Monday sought an immediate suspension of the death sentence awarded to alleged spy Kulbushan Jadhav in Pakistan saying there was a fear that he may be executed even before the decision of the international court."Jadhav has not got the right to get proper legal assistance and the right to consular access. There is an immediate threat to him to be executed even before a decision is passed" by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Deepak Mittal, Indian official, told the court in his opening remarksMittal termed the military court trial of Jadhav as "farcical".Mittal told ICJ President Ronny Abraham, who presided over the proceedings, that India's repeated requests to Pakistan on consular access to Jadhav were denied."India learnt from press reports that the death sentence was awarded to Jadhav on the basis of an alleged confession. Pakistan has not provided the chargesheet, any documents on the case despite repeated requests," Mittal told the court."It is clear that Jadhav has been denied of his right to seek legal counsel. Jadhav's parents have applied for visa to travel to Pakistan which has fallen on deaf ears."V.D. Sharma, a Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry and co-agent, said Pakistan had failed to comply with all its legal obligations by denying consular access to Jadhav ever since he was arrested in March 2016.India is seeking relief in the form of immediate suspension of the death sentence. Jadhav has been accused of espionage by Pakistan.Sharma also urged the court to restrain Pakistan from "giving effect to the sentence awarded by the military court" and to direct it to annul its decision.Reflecting the chill in Indo-Pak ties, a curt 'namaskar' was all that a senior Indian diplomat had to offer to an extended hand of a member of the Pakistani delegation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), hearing the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. Ahead of the hearing today, Deepak Mittal, who is the head of the Pakistan division in the external affairs ministry and is representing India in the retired Navy officer's case at the ICJ, ignored the handshake gesture by Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan's DG for South Asia and SAARC, and offered a 'namaskar' instead. Interestingly, Mittal shook hands with some of the Pakistan delegation members, including the Pakistani attorney general, the main lawyer in the case from the Pakistan government. On May 8, India moved the ICJ against the death penalty handed down to Jadhav by a Pakistan military court, alleging violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. On May 9, the highest court in the UN gave Jadhav a lease of life. India, in its appeal to the ICJ, had asserted that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he was involved in business activities after retiring from the Indian Navy. India has denied that he has any connection with the government. (With PTI inputs) 

ICJ denies Pakistan request to play Jadhav's 'confessional' video

Pakistan, which began its submission in response to India's presentation earlier in the day, said India was using the court as the "scene of political theatre".

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Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, and Health Minister Matt Hancock visit Bassetlaw District General Hospital on their General Election campaign in Worksop, England. Matt Hancock has tested positive for the new coronavirus, Friday March 27, 2020, the same day as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was confirmed to have COVID-19.The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, has tested positive for COVID-19. In his tweet confirming the infection, Johnson said, "Over the last 24 hours, I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus. I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus. Together we will beat this."6:47 PM: After Boris Johnson, UK's Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also tested positive for coronavirus. Read full story here6:08 PM: As United Kingdom's Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive for coronavirus, messages started pouring in from world leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished a speedy recovery to his UK counterpart in a tweet.In a statement recorded by the British Prime Minister he said, "I have developed mild symptoms of coronavirus -- mild temperature and mild cough. On the advice of the chief medical officer, I took a test of coronavirus that came out positive. Therefore, I am working from home and self-isolating and that is entirely the right thing to do."Johnson, 55, then went on to thank the medical authorities and public in general and said that if the measures are complied with, properly, the UK will come through the epidemic and bounce back strong."Be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with my team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus," he further addedA number of people sent their wishes to Boris Johnson on Twitter, wishing him a speedy recovery. Downing Street will be carrying out a press conference soon on the matter. As per Sky News, Dominic Raab, The First Secretary of State in the UK, is expected to take over some of the functions in the PM office. Earlier, heir to the British Throne, Prince Charles of Wales, also contracted the virus. Prince Charles, 71, has been in self-isolation at his palace and is in stable condition, reports have confirmed.

COVID-19 Crisis in Westminster: UK PM Boris Johnson, Health Secretary test coronavirus positive

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19. In his tweet confirming the infection, Johnson said, "Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus. I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus. Together we will beat this."

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Suicide bombing in Kabul kills ten (Representational Image)A suicide attack Saturday in Afghanistan’s capital killed at least ten people and wounded 20 others, including schoolchildren, the interior ministry said. The explosion struck outside an education center in a heavily Shiite neighborhood of western Kabul. The interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian says that the attacker was trying to enter the center when he was stopped by security guards.No group claimed immediate responsibility for the bombing. The Taliban rejected any connection with the attack.An Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for a similar suicide attack at an education center in August 2018, in which 34 students were killed. Within Afghanistan, IS has launched large-scale attacks on minority Shiites, whom it views as apostates.The U.S. signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February, opening up a path toward withdrawing American troops from the conflict. U.S. officials said the deal would also help refocus security efforts on fighting the Islamic State, which is a rival of the Taliban in Afghanistan.There has been an upsurge in violence between Taliban and Afghan forces in the country recently, even as representatives from the two warring sides begin their own peace talks in Doha to end the decades-long war in Afghanistan.Earlier Saturday a roadside bomb killed nine people in eastern Afghanistan after it struck a minivan full of civilians, a local official said.Ghazni province police spokesman Ahmad Khan Sirat said that a second roadside bomb killed two policemen, after it struck their vehicle that was making its way to the victims of the first explosion.Sirat added that the bombings had wounded several others, and that the attacks were under investigation.No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks. The provincial police spokesman claimed the Taliban had placed the bomb.

Suicide bombing in Kabul kills ten, including children

A suicide attack Saturday in Afghanistan’s capital killed at least ten people and wounded 20 others, including school children, the interior ministry said.

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Police shoot at 'rampaging' man at Berlin CathedralPolice said they shot today at a man "rampaging" at Berlin Cathedral and armed officers cordoned off the entrances to the landmark in the heart of the German capital,Police said the officer fired to stop the man “rioting” and that the incident was not believed to be terror-related.“One of our officers shot a rioting man at Berlin cathedral shortly after 4pm,” Berlin police said in a tweet. “He was injured in the legs.”There were unconfirmed reports a police officer was also injured. The cathedral was sealed off and witnesses were taken to hospital to be treated for shock.It was not immediately clear whether anyone else was hurt in the incident at Berlin's main Protestant cathedral, one of the city's top tourist attractions.The iron-domed house of worship is on Museum Island off east Berlin's main Unter den Linden boulevard and close to the Alexanderplatz shopping district. DPA news agency said some witnesses were taken away to receive psychological counselling. 

Police shoot at 'rampaging' man at Berlin Cathedral, no sign of 'terrorist motive'

Police said the officer fired to stop the man “rioting” and that the incident was not believed to be terror-related.

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Warplanes from the US-led coalition operating over Syrian airspace west of the Euphrates River will be treated as potential targets, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday, a day after the US military shot down a Syrian air force jet.Russia, Syria's main ally, also said it is suspending a cooperative pact with the US aimed at maintaining airspace safety in Syria, BBC reported. The latest spat came a day after an American F18E Super Hornet fighter jet downed on Sunday a Syrian SU-22 which was targeting areas held by a US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-Arab coalition militia fighting the Islamic State in the city of Raqqa.Syria condemned America's "flagrant attack", saying it would have "dangerous repercussions"."Any aircraft, including planes and drones belonging to the international coalition operating west of the Euphrates river, will be tracked by Russian anti-aircraft forces in the sky and on the ground and treated as targets," the ministry said.The memorandum had been in place to avoid incidents occurring between the US and Russian air forces, both of which conduct parallel aerial operations over Syria as they offer support to distinct native forces on the ground.Russia decried the downing as "cynical" and accused the international coalition of failing to use the appropriate communications channels that would have resolved the situation, Efe news reported.The ministry insisted that the SU-22 jet had been on a mission in Syrian government airspace.The Pentagon said, however, that the bombing against the SDF in Taqba, to the west of Raqqa, occurred in spite of US warnings.The Pentagon said that it did not seek to fight the Syrian regime, Russia or pro-regime forces, but was merely acting in defence of its coalition partners in Syria.A host of international parties are embroiled in the Syrian civil war to varying degrees, with Russia and Iran aiding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who receives further ground support from Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah.Meanwhile, Turkey backs members of the Free Syrian Army in the provinces backing onto the Turkish border.The US uses airstrikes to clear the way for the SDF in Syria amid a huge onslaught to re-capture the IS's self-proclaimed regional capital Raqqa.

Russia warns US after downing of Syrian warplane

Russia, Syria's main ally, also said it is suspending a cooperative pact with the US aimed at maintaining airspace safety in Syria, BBC reported.

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 People keep social distancing amid concerns over the country's coronavirus outbreak, during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, April 19, 2020. More than 2,000 people took to the streets on Sunday, demonstrating against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to form an "emergency" government with his chief rival and accusing him of using the coronavirus crisis to escape prosecution on corruption charges. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)More than two thousand Israelis on Sunday gathered in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square while also maintaining social distancing to protest against "anti-democratic" measures and policies implemented by Netanyahu's government during the coronavirus crisis. The Black Flag protest organizers marked spots and handed out face masks during the event. The protesters accused Netanyahu of using the coronavirus crisis to escape prosecution on corruption charges.Gantz, who during three bitter election campaigns over the past year vowed never to sit in a government with Netanyahu due to his legal problems, announced last month that he had accepted the prime minister’s suggestion to form an “emergency” government to deal with the coronavirus crisis. The announcement infuriated many of Gantz’s supporters and caused his Blue and White party to fracture.“You don’t fight corruption from within. If you’re inside, you’re part of it,” said Yair Lapid, Gantz’s former political partner, who withdrew from the Blue and White alliance last month.Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of justice and accepting bribes. He denies the charges and says he is the victim of a hostile media and aggressive police and prosecutors.Protesters on Sunday accused Netanyahu of exploiting the crisis to evade his looming trial and cement his lengthy rule.Citing the pandemic, Netanyahu’s hand-picked justice minister delayed the prime minister’s trial just two days before it was to begin until late May.Since then, Netanyahu’s coalition talks with Gantz have reportedly stalled due to demands by the prime minister to gain more control over judicial appointments and assurances that he can remain in office even if he gives up the prime minister’s job in a proposed power-sharing arrangement with Gantz. Under Israeli law, public officials, with the exception of the prime minister, must resign if charged with a crime.Demonstrators repeatedly chanted “democracy” and accused the prime minister of endangering the country’s democratic institutions. “Corona equals virus in the service of a dictator,” said one sign.(With inputs from AP)ALSO READ | COVID-19 Crisis: Top Headlines This hour

Israelis brave COVID-19 health risks to protest against Netanyahu; maintain social distancing | WATCH

More than two thousand Israelis on Sunday gathered in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square while also maintaining social distancing to protest against "anti-democratic" measures and policies implemented by Netanyahu's government during the coronavirus crisis. The Black Flag protest organizers marked spots and handed out face masks during the event.

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FILEShould one completely rely on a negative COVID-19 report? Of late, many have argued that one should not solely depend on a negative report or treat it as ticket to venture out of houses. Scientists are of the view that there is no guarantee that a negative report will be safe, a report in the HT said. It creates "false hope", they say.According to sicentists, it is advisable that a person who has been exposed to Sars-CoV-2 should still follow the mandated guidelines as a precautionary measure. "You should not rely on test results alone to safely socialise in person. A test can only tell you if you are positive at a given moment in time, and can also fail to detect cases if you are infected but not shedding substantial virus," Dr Angela Rasmussen, a virologist affiliated with Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security, was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.READ MORE: Three commuters test positive on day 1 of random Covid screening at Delhi-Noida border Experts believe that a test result could fail to detect the presence of the virus in the body if the exposed person is tested shortly after getting infected. They say that the virus needs to reproduce enough copies of itself for it to be detected in the COVID-19 tests. The incubation period for COVID-19 is up to 14 days. Before that, a person can test negative and have no symptoms at all. So don't go out yet. Experts also see a possibility of a person contracting the virus after getting the test done. They deem it advisable for the exposed person to stay under quarantine for at least a week after exposure to the virus. The report said that there was also a high chance of getting a false negative report with a rapid antigen test.READ MORE: CM Kejriwal convenes all-party meeting, allows MBBS students, interns to assist doctors

COVID-19 negative report gives false hopes, say experts

​Should one completely rely on a negative COVID-19 report? Of late, many have argued that one should not solely depend on a negative report or treat it as ticket to venture out of houses. Scientists are of the view that there is no guarantee that a negative report will be safe, a report in the HT said. It creates "false hope", they say.

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A luxury super yacht owned by embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, before he reportedly abandoned it last year after his arrest on an extradition warrant in the UK, has been seized by authorities in Europe this week over unpaid wages to its crew. The 95-metre vessel named 'Indian Empress' was "arrested" in Malta as a maritime professionals' union makes attempts to recover over USD 330,000 in unpaid wages and other costs on behalf of its members. Related Stories Vijay Mallya extradition case: UK court grants bail to liquor baron till April 2India inches closer to Vijay Mallya’s extradition, inks pact on illegal migrants’ return with UKVijay Mallya loses court battle linked to Kingfisher Airlines in UK, told to pay Rs 579 croreUK court allows three-fold increase in Vijay Mallya’s weekly allowanceNautilus International says that Mallya, who is facing an extradition trial in London on fraud and money laundering charges involving his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines' default of bank loans amounting to nearly Rs 9,000 crores, had "effectively abandoned" the vessel in September last year leaving the crew with unpaid wages amounting to nearly USD 1 million. "Our members onboard gave their employer and the shipowner multiple opportunities to pay monthly wages, displaying a loyalty and restraint greater than many would show in such situations. These opportunities were regularly ignored by the owner, leaving us with no option but to take the case to the courts," said Nautilus International strategic organiser Danny McGowan. The union said it had been successful in securing a "milestone" payment for crew members via the insurers using a safety net provision in the international Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). While around USD 615,000 amounting to four months' overdue salary has been recovered, there are more than 40 crew on the yacht and other associated individuals who are owed anything between USD 6,250 to more than USD 92,000. The crew members, many of whom remain on board, include some Indians and a mixture of other nationalities including British and east Europeans. "The superyacht sector is seen as one of glamour and glitz, but the sad reality is that crew members can experience exploitation and abuse and that is why Nautilus has become increasingly involved in such justice cases," said Charles Boyle, Nautilus International's director of legal services. He said that the union's success in enforcing the financial security provisions of the MLC for the first time in the superyacht industry marked a significant development for the sector. In line with the "safety net" financial security provisions of the convention, the union ensured the initial payments for the crew by the Norwegian protection and indemnity insurance specialists Skuld last week, he said. The detaining of the 'Indian Empress' in Malta is aimed at enforcing a "maritime lien", seeking the payment of further outstanding wages and other costs over and above the amounts covered by the MLC. The Isle of Man-flagged superyacht will remain docked at Malta until all the remaining unpaid wages and costs are recovered. Mallya had bought the yacht in 2006 and spent millions on refitting it in 2016. The luxury vessel can accommodate up to 12 guests across 17 cabins and boasts an entire deck dedicated to the master suite that includes a gym, sauna and steam room. Most of the 62-year-old businessman's international assets remain frozen or under litigation, with a UK high court order last month allowing him an increase in his "ordinary living expenses allowance" to a maximum of 18,325.31 pounds a week. Meanwhile, the Indian government's extradition case against Mallya is set to return for one of its final hearings before Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on March 16, with a judgment expected in May. The businessman remains on a 650,000-pound bail bond, extended until April 2 at the last hearing in the trial in January. Mallya had been arrested on an extradition warrant by Scotland Yard in April last year and has since been appearing in the extradition trial which opened on December 4 to establish if he can be forced to return to India to face fraud and money laundering allegations. 

Vijay Mallya's abandoned luxury yacht 'Indian Empress' seized over unpaid wages

The 95-metre vessel named 'Indian Empress' was "arrested" in Malta as a maritime professionals' union makes attempts to recover over USD 330,000 in unpaid wages and other costs on behalf of its members.

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Breaking news LIVE: Top Headlines This HourToday is going to be a big day in world's fight against coronavirus pandemic as scientists at Oxford University are going to come out with the results of their phase three of human trials. The world has made some significant development in terms of finding a solution to this pandemic. The prestigious Oxford University scientists and researchers have successfully conducted the human trials of coronavirus vaccine and they are going to announce the results today. Earlier, reports said that Oxford researchers were confident of getting the vaccine ready by September this year. Oxford's coronavirus vaccine will be produced by AstraZeneca. In India, pharma company Bharat Biotech is also beginning the human trials at AIIMS. The project is being monitored by ICMR. Meanwhile, the coronavirus cases in India has seen a dramatic rise in the past few days. States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Bihar have shown steep rise in numbers with total number of COVID-19 positive cases in country nearing 11-lakh mark. The total number of global coronavirus cases has surpassed 14.6 million, including more than 6 lakh deaths. More than 8,735,158 patients are reported to have recovered.Follow this breaking news blog for live updates on coronavirus pandemic as it continues to pose a challenge for health workers and scientists who are in a race against time to produce a vaccine/medicine. IndiaTvNews.com brings you the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis that has resulted in job losses in millions and changing the way we work. Our team of dedicated editors/reporters bring you the latest news on coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine trial updates, photos, video, news, views and top stories from monsoon rains, business, politics, education, science, yoga and much more in India and worldwide.

Breaking news: June 20, 2020 | As it happened

Get all the latest news on India's coronavirus cases, updates on COVID-19 vaccine, monsoon rains, business, politics, science, education and much more in India and worldwide.

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Countries like India and Japan, Brazil and Germany must be given permanent seats in the UN Security Council, Bhutan today said as it backed reforms in the world body to revitalise and strengthen it. Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said the UN reforms would be incomplete without reforming the Security Council to reflect the changing realities of the world. "As such, countries like India and Japan, Brazil and Germany must be called upon to serve as permanent members in the Security Council. And Africa must be appropriately represented," Tobgay said in his address to the UN General Assembly. "And Africa must be appropriately represented," Tobgay added. The Secretary General's reform initiatives will provide the much-needed framework to revitalise and strengthen the UN. Bhutan joins all member states in backing this bold endeavour, he said. Asking member countries to join him in observing a moment of silence to remember the victims of global terrorism, Tobgay said the recent acts of terrorism have brought pain and suffering to countless people in nearly every part of the world, and far too many lives have been cruelly lost. "The horrific acts committed by terrorist groups undermine global peace and security, and Bhutan joins the call for united action to combat these extremists. To win the fight against terrorism we have no option but to strengthen the United Nations, so that multilateralism and global cooperation are further enhanced," he said. Referring to the three recent hurricanes that battered communities in the Caribbean and in the United States, and the devastating floods in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka that have taken more than 1200 lives, he said these disasters are not isolated incidents. "Experts are increasingly convinced that natural disasters like hurricanes and floods are made worse by climate change. Climate change is a reality. Each of the last three years has been the hottest in recorded history. Sixteen of the 17 hottest years on record have all occurred in this new century. And this must alarm us, for we are only in 2017," Tobgay said. "There is no room for complacency, hesitation or finger pointing, excuses or procrastination. The urgency is now. Our wellbeing is at stake. The survival of future generations is at risk," he said. "The Paris Agreement is proof that we have accepted that climate change is a reality, and that we are willing to come together, to work together, to fight climate change together. I urge all countries to fulfil the promises they made in Paris," he added.

Bhutan backs G-4 countries' bid for permanent UNSC membership

Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said the UN reforms would be incomplete without reforming the Security Council to reflect the changing realities of the world.

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Former President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran KhanPakistan's former president Asif Ali Zardari has vowed to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan to end the people's misery, as he accused the government of unleashing a tsunami of price hike and failing to generate employment.Zardari's comments came as he addressed party workers in Sindh's Daulatpur province. Related Stories Pakistani lookalike of Salman Khan spotted in Karachi market, watch viral videoPulwama Terror Attack: Javed Akhtar, Shabani Azmi turn down Karachi Arts Council’s invitation to an eventPakistan arts community disappointed over Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar cancelling Karachi visit4 policemen killed, 11 injured in blast in Pakistan"If the prime minister was not removed soon, he will bring the nation to a point where we too won’t be able to run the country," Dawn newspaper quoted Zardari as saying."I am not hungry for power, but the present government must be sent packing. Otherwise, the life of the most of the people will become a misery," Zardari warned.He further said his Pakistan Peoples Party had always served the masses as it was “our manifesto and we believe in serving people at their doorstep”."Soon after Eid we will declare our plans and this will signal the beginning of the end," he said. Pakistan is celebrating Eid on Wednesday.Zardari said the present government has snatched jobs from people and has unleashed a tsunami of price hike. Zardari said unemployment and price hike has increased in the country by 500 per cent. He said the present prime minister was forcibly imposed on the people of Pakistan. 

Asif Ali Zardari vows to remove Imran Khan's govt

Zardari said the present government has snatched jobs from people and has unleashed a tsunami of price hike. Zardari said unemployment and price hike has increased in the country by 500 per cent.

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Rescue workers search bodies at the site of a burnt chemical factory in Karachi. At least 16 people died after a fire broke out at a factory in Pakistan's Karachi on Friday, local media reported citing police and rescue officials. According to Dawn, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Additional Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said that 16 bodies had been brought to the hospital so far, adding that more were expected.She said 12 of the bodies had been identified and were taken away by relatives, while four could not be identified immediately. All of the deceased were aged between 18 and 38, she added.Korangi SSP Shah Jehan said that police had been informed that there were 25 people still trapped in the building and feared that they may have died, according to Dawn.According to a spokesman for the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), the area had been cordoned off and Rangers personnel were engaged in relief efforts with rescue teams. The spokesperson said that the fire had occurred at a chemical factory in Mehran Town, adding that the blaze was now under control and rescue efforts were underway.According to police officials, an Edhi volunteer, Saddam, 30, also sustained injuries while trying to extinguish the fire. Saddam, along with three other injured people, was taken to JPMC, Dawn reported.(With inputs from ANI) /* .jw-reset-text, .jw-reset{line-height: 2em;}*/ .jw-time-tip .jw-time-chapter{display:none;} if ('' == comscore_jw_loaded || 'undefined' == comscore_jw_loaded || undefined == comscore_jw_loaded) { var comscore_jw_loaded = 1; firstjw = document.getElementsByClassName('jwvidplayer')[0]; cs_jw_script = document.createElement('script'); cs_jw_script.src = 'https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/internal-c2/plugins/streamingtag_plugin_jwplayer.js'; firstjw.parentNode.insertBefore(cs_jw_script, firstjw.nextSibling); } var jwconfig_8288356898 = { "file": "https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/07/0_1v339uhs/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_1v339uhs_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Fire broke out at Covid hospital in Iraq, 50 killed", "height": "440px", "width": "100%", "aspectratio": "16:9", "autostart": false, "controls": true, "mute": false, "volume": 25, "floating": false, "sharing": { "code": "", "sites": [ "facebook", "twitter", "email" ] }, "stretching": "exactfit", "primary": "html5", "hlshtml": true, "sharing_link": "", "duration": "123", "advertising": { "client": "vast", "autoplayadsmuted": true, "skipoffset": 5, "cuetext": "", "skipmessage": "Skip ad in xx", "skiptext": "SKIP", "preloadAds": true, "schedule": [ { "offset": "pre", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_PreRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "type": "linear" }, { "offset": "50%", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_MidRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=" }, { "offset": "post", "tag": "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/8323530/Eng_Video_Desktop_PostRoll&description_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatvnews.com&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", "type": "linear" } ] } }; var jwvidplayer_8288356898 = ''; jwsetup_8288356898(); function jwsetup_8288356898() { jwvidplayer_8288356898 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_8288356898").setup(jwconfig_8288356898); jwvidplayer_8288356898.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_8288356898, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_1v339uhs\", ns_st_pr=\"Fire broke out at Covid hospital in Iraq, 50 killed\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Fire broke out at Covid hospital in Iraq, 50 killed\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Fire broke out at Covid hospital in Iraq, 50 killed\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2021-07-13\", ns_st_tdt=\"2021-07-13\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/07/0_1v339uhs/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_8288356898.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_8288356898.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_8288356898.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_8288356898.stop(); jwvidplayer_8288356898.remove(); jwvidplayer_8288356898 = ''; jwsetup_8288356898(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_8288356898.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_8288356898.stop(); jwvidplayer_8288356898.remove(); jwvidplayer_8288356898 = ''; jwsetup_8288356898(); return; }); jwvidplayer_8288356898.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_8288356898.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_8288356898.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_8288356898.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_8288356898.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_8288356898.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }  

Fire at chemical factory kills 16 in Pakistan's Karachi

She said 12 of the bodies had been identified and were taken away by relatives, while 4 could not be identified immediately.

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President Donald Trump today supported a top American Senator's proposal for a bill to stop the US aid to Pakistan for failing to clamp down on terror groups and divert the money for building roads and bridges in the US."Good idea Rand!" Trump tweeted, sharing a video of Republican Senator Rand Paul promoting his bill to stop US aid to Pakistan and use the money towards domestic infrastructure projects.Related Stories US suspends security assistance to Pakistan for purchase of military equipmentDonald Trump's pressure on Pakistan may push it closer to China: ReportDonald Trump ‘frustrated’ with Pakistan for supporting terror groups: US NSA McMaster All options on the table to deal with Pakistan: White House"I'm introducing a bill to end aid to Pakistan in the coming days. My bill will take the money that would have gone to Pakistan and put it in an infrastructure fund to build roads and bridges here at home," Paul said."The US should not give one penny to countries that burn our flag and chant Death to America. Countries like Pakistan that stonewall access to key information in fighting terrorism don't deserve our money," Paul said.The Trump administration yesterday suspended about USD 2 billion in security aid to Pakistan for failing to clamp down on the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network terror groups and dismantle their safe havens.The freezing of all security assistance to Pakistan comes after President Trump in a New Year's Day tweet accused the country of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists in return for USD 33 billion aid over the last 15 years.The suspended amount also include USD 255 million in Foreign Military Funding (FMF) for the fiscal year 2016 as mandated by the Congress.In addition, the Department of Defense has suspended the entire USD 900 million of the Coalition Support Funds (CSF) money to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2017 and other unspent money from previous fiscal years.According to a senior Trump administration official, Trump is "frustrated" at Pakistan’s inability to take decisive actions against terrorist groups. "He's talking with leaders of countries in the region. He is monitoring Pakistan and how Pakistan has reacted to our requests," said the official on condition of anonymity."It is a matter of frustration (for him). And the kind of information that was coming to him was not satisfying in terms of what we're looking for from Pakistan to support the South Asia strategy," the official said. 

Donald Trump backs proposal to divert US aid to Pakistan for infra projects

"Good idea Rand!" Trump tweeted, sharing a video of Republican Senator Rand Paul promoting his bill to stop US aid to Pakistan and use the money towards domestic infrastructure projects.

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indonesia An operation was underway on Tuesday to evacuate thousands of tourists who were stranded after a deadly earthquake jolted Indonesia's Lombok Island killing 98 people and injuring over 200 others. An estimated 20,000 people have been displaced by the massive earthquake.A video released by authorities showed hundreds of people, many believed to be foreign tourists, crammed onto a beach on the island of Gili Trawangan as evacuation measures got underway.The island, famous for its white sandy beaches and clear waters, is located near the epicentre of the 6.9 magnitude quake on Lombok that struck on Sunday evening.Rescue efforts earlier were hampered by shallow waters, but rising sea waters have paved the way for nine ships to dock on Gili island.So far, up to 2,700 tourists have been moved from the Gili Island. Lombok's airport was now open around the clock and had significantly increased its flight schedule.The epicentre of the quake was in northern Lombok, a more residential, less developed part of the island. The majority of Lombok's tourist resorts are on the island's southern coast.Rescue teams on Tuesday also continued searching under debris from collapsing buildings for more survivors.Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesperson of the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), said the teams rescued a survivor from a collapsed mosque in northern Lombok, the most affected area where 72 people were found dead.The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Bali. More than 100 aftershocks continued to rattle the region after the main quake. The devastation comes exactly a week after the region was hit by a 6.4 magnitude quake that left at least 15 people dead and 162 injured.

Indonesia Earthquake: Rescue operation underway for thousands of tourists

An operation was underway on Tuesday to evacuate tourists stranded on Indonesia's Lombok Islands after a deadly earthquake hit islands killing 98 people and injuring over 200 others.

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Jamaat-e-Islami responsible for violence in Kashmir: US Congressman Jim BanksMuch of the violence in Kashmir is tied to organisations linked to separatist outfit Jamat-e-Islami and its partners, an influential US lawmaker has said, noting that the group has committed acts of violence against minority groups, including Hindus and Christians. Congressman Jim Banks made the comments while addressing a seminar hosted by the Middle East Forum at the US Capitol on Wednesday. The programme was organised in association with South Asia Minorities Alliance Foundation.Jamat-e-Islami is a violent, theocratic group that has committed violent acts against minority Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Ahmadis, he said.The Republican Congressman from Indiana said that “much of the violence in Kashmir is linked to the organisations linked to Jamat-e-Islami and its terrorist partners”.India had earlier this year banned the Jamat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir for five years under the anti-terror law on grounds that it was "in close touch" with militant outfits and was supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere.Referring to the activities of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Banks said that it is a thinly veiled partner group of Jamat-e-Islami within the US.The ICNA invites Jamat operatives to its conferences to raise funds to support group's cause, he said.“We must prevent the spread of this threat before it starts impacting Americans at home. I introduced HR-160 resolution earlier this year, and this bipartisan resolution calls on the USAID and State Department to refrain from any partnership with organisations affiliated with radical Islamist groups,” Banks concluded.In her address, Abha Shankar of the Washington-based Investigative Project on Terrorism presented the findings of her organisation's extensive research about the close links between the Jamat-e-Islami and the ICNA.South Asia Minority Alliance Chairman Nadeem Nusrat who also heads Voice of Karachi, said that no other religious group did more to radicalize Pakistan religiously than Jamat-e-Islami.This group also played an abhorring role to suppress the freedom movement in the former East Pakistan (Bangladesh), where its affiliated terror groups- al-Badr and al-Shams- actively participated along with Pakistani military in the massacre of nearly three million Bengalis, he alleged.South Asia expert Seth Oldmixon highlighted the role of the outfit in promoting and exporting religious extremism and terrorism on a global scale and warned of the dangers of ignoring its activities and its affiliates in North America.ALSO READ | Kashmiris trained in Pakistan to fight Indian army, admits Musharraf | WATCH

Jamaat-e-Islami responsible for violence in Kashmir: US Congressman Jim Banks

Jamat-e-Islami is a violent, theocratic group that has committed violent acts against minority Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Ahmadis, he said.