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Maldives President Abdulla YameenThe Maldives’ opposition party Wednesday raised concerns over conduct of the presidential elections on Sunday in a free and fair manner by the country’s poll body, which it alleged has deployed activists of the ruling dispensation for the poll duty.President Abdulla Yameen, of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), is seeking a second five-year term in the Indian Ocean archipelago, a popular high-end tourist destination. Related Stories When Maldives is the new honeymoon destination for many Kerala-residentsDon't need your military helicopters, personnel: Maldives tells IndiaTwo Indian military choppers to stay back in Maldives for few months Air India aircraft with 136 people, lands on under-construction runway in MaleYemeen had imposed a state of emergency in February after the Supreme Court quashed the conviction of nine opposition leaders, including the country’s first democratically elected president Mohamed Nasheed.Nasheed, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader, is currently in exile in Sri Lanka. He has been barred from contesting the Sunday’s polls.The Maldives’ Elections Commission has appointed 107 PPM activists and members and tasked them with the official work on the election day, the MDP said here Wednesday.“In yet another egregious example of bias, the Elections Commission has given the PPM activists official roles in administrating the voting, vote counting, and complaint procedures on election day. These PPM activists, as officials, will have sole discretion on how to adjudicate a complaint at the polling booth,” a MDP release said.The opposition party claimed that the Commission had rejected its written complaint, demanding political activists be relieved of their poll responsibilities.The MDP also alleged that the Commission was headed by a staunch Yameen loyalist, who was the General Secretary of Yameen’s former political party.The commission had refused to allow political parties to use a copy of the final signed voter register. It is planning to use tablet computers to tally the vote, and ordering officials at the ballot boxes not to announce the vote until it is verified by the central Elections Commission. These were clear breach of election law and precedence, the opposition claimed.It further alleged that the use of tablet computers to collate election results from polling stations on election day will create an opportunity for rigging and fraud. President Yameen is pitted against the joint opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.Ahead of polls, the government has sent to jail his main rivals after speedy trials for charges ranging from terrorism to corruption. It has also and introduced new vote-counting rules that observers say will prevent them from seeing individual ballot papers, leading to doubts about the legitimacy of the vote.

Maldives' opposition party raises alarm over fair conduct of presidential poll

President Abdulla Yameen, of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), is seeking a second five-year term in the Indian Ocean archipelago, a popular high-end tourist destination.

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Too many countries heading in wrong direction; COVID-19 getting 'worse and worse': WHO warnsWith the rising number of coronavirus cases worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned that the pandemic has the potential to get far worse if all nations do not adhere to basic healthcare precautions. In a virtual briefing from WHO headquarters in Geneva, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said too many countries are heading in the wrong direction and the "virus remains public enemy number one.""If populations do not follow the basic public health principles of physical distancing, hand washing, wearing masks, coughing etiquette and staying at home when sick; If the basics aren’t followed, there is only one way this pandemic is going to go. It’s going to get worse and worse and worse," he said.He further said that yesterday, 230,000 cases of COVID-19 were reported to WHO and almost 80 per cent of those cases were reported from just 10 countries, and 50 per cent come from just two countries. "Although the number of daily deaths remains relatively stable, there is a lot to be concerned about. All countries are at risk of the virus, as you know, but not all countries have been affected in the same way.""Let me blunt, too many countries are headed in the wrong direction.The virus remains public enemy number one, but the actions of many governments and people do not reflect this.The only aim of the virus is to find people to infect," he added. WHO said there will be no return to the “old normal” for the foreseeable future However there is a roadmap to a situation where the virus can be controlled. "This is going to require three things: First, a focus on reducing mortality and suppressing transmission. Second, an empowered, engaged community that takes individual behaviour measures in the interest of each other. And third, we need strong government leadership and coordination of comprehensive strategies that are communicated clearly and consistently."Coronavirus cases rose above 13 million across the world on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, climbing by one million in just five days in a pandemic that has killed more than half a million people.  

Too many countries heading in wrong direction; COVID-19 getting 'worse and worse': WHO warns

With the rising number of coronavirus cases worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned that the pandemic has the potential to get far worse if all nations do not adhere to basic healthcare precautions.

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Donald TrumpCiting "lack of progress" on peninsula denuclearisation, US President Donald Trump on Friday asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel his upcoming trip to North Korea.Shooting off a series of tweets, Trump said: "I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."He added that "Secretary Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future.""In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!," Trump said.Earlier on Thursday, Pompeo said that he has appointed Stephen Biegun as the new special envoy for North Korea.He also said that he and Biegun will travel to Pyongyang next week "to make further diplomatic progress towards our objective."Pompeo has visited North Korea three times, respectively in April, May and July.Trump on August 20 said he would "most likely" meet with Kim for a second time, and he believed Pyongyang had taken specific steps toward denuclearization.In the joint statement after the June 12 Trump-Kim meeting in Singapore, Trump committed to provide security guarantees to North Korea, while Kim reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. (With IANS inputs)

Citing 'lack of progress' on peninsula denuclearisation, Trump asks Pompeo to cancel North Korea trip

"In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!," Trump said.

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A sign reading 'Stay safe' in Regent Street, in London, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021Days after being identified in South Africa, the new potentially more contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus popped up in more European countries on Saturday, leaving governments around the world scrambling to stop the spread. The UK on Saturday tightened its rules on mask-wearing and on testing of international arrivals after finding two cases. New cases were confirmed Saturday in Germany and Italy, with Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong also reporting that the variant has been found in travelers.In the US, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious diseases expert, said he would not be surprised if the omicron variant was already in the United States, too.“We have not detected it yet, but when you have a virus that is showing this degree of transmissibility.. it almost invariably is ultimately going to go essentially all over,” Fauci said on NBC television.Because of fears that the new variant has the potential to be more resistant to the protection offered by vaccines, there are growing concerns around the world that the pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions will persist for far longer than hoped.Nearly two years since the start of the pandemic that has claimed more than 5 million lives around the world, countries are on high alert. Many have already imposed travel restrictions on flights from southern Africa as they seek to buy time to assess whether the omicron variant is more transmissible than the current dominant delta variant.Omicron variant - What UK PM Johnson saidIn Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was necessary to take “targeted and precautionary measures” after two people tested positive for the new variant in England.“Right now this is the responsible course of action to slow down the seeding and the spread of this new variant and to maximize our defenses,” he told a news conference.Among the measures announced, Johnson said anyone arriving in England must take a PCR test for COVID-19 on the second day after their arrival and self-isolate until they provide a negative test. And if someone tests positive for the omicron variant, then he said their close contacts will have to self-isolate for 10 days regardless of their vaccination status — currently, close contacts are exempt from quarantine rules if they are fully vaccinated.He also said mask-wearing in shops and on public transport will be required and said the independent group of scientists that advises the British government on the rollout of coronavirus vaccines has been asked to accelerate the vaccination program. This could involve widening the booster program to younger age groups, reducing the time period between a second dose and a booster and allowing older children to get a second dose.“From today we’re going to boost the booster campaign,” he said.Britain’s Department of Health said the two cases found in the UK were linked and involved travel from southern Africa. One of the two new cases was in the southeastern English town of Brentwood, while the other was in the central city of Nottingham. The two confirmed cases are self-isolating with their households while contact tracing and targeted testing takes place.The British government also added four more countries — Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia — onto the country’s travel red list from Sunday. Six others — Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe — were added Friday. That means anyone permitted to arrive from those destinations will have to quarantine.New variant confirmed in several countriesMany countries have already slapped restrictions on various southern African countries over the past couple of days, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Thailand and the United States, in response to warnings over the transmissibility of the new variant. This goes against the advice of the World Health Organization, which has warned against any overreaction before the variant was thoroughly studied.Despite the banning of flights, there are mounting concerns that the variant has already been widely seeded around the world.Italy and Germany were the latest to report confirmed cases of the omicron variant.An Italian who had traveled to Mozambique on business landed in Rome on Nov. 11 and returned to his home near Naples. He and five family members, including two school-age children, have since tested positive, the Italian news agency LaPresse said. All are isolated in the Naples suburb of Caserta in good condition with light symptoms.The variant was confirmed by Sacco hospital in Milan, and Italy’s National Health Institute said the man had received two doses of the vaccine. Italy’s health ministry is urging all regions to increase its tracing of the virus and sequencing to detect cases of the new variant first identified in South Africa.In Germany, the Max von Pettenkofer Institute, a Munich-based microbiology center, said the omicron variant was confirmed in two travelers who arrived on a flight from South Africa on Nov. 24. The head of the institute, Oliver Keppler, said that genome sequencing has yet to be completed, but it is “proven without doubt that it is this variant,” German news agency dpa reported.The Dutch public health institute said the omicron variant was “probably found in a number of the tested persons” who were isolated after arriving Friday in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa. The institute said in a statement that further sequencing analysis is underway to determine for sure that it is the new variant. The results were expected Sunday. A total of 61 people were tested.Israel said it detected the new strain in a traveler who had returned from Malawi and was tracing 800 travelers who returned recently from southern African countries. And Australia said early Sunday its scientists were working to determine whether two people who tested positive for COVID after arriving from southern Africa are infected with the omicron variant.What vaccine makers sayThe variant’s swift spread among young people in South Africa has alarmed health professionals even though there was no immediate indication whether the variant causes more severe disease.A number of pharmaceutical firms, including AstraZeneca, Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer, said they have plans in place to adapt their vaccines in light of the emergence of omicron. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said they expect to be able to tweak their vaccine in around 100 days.Professor Andrew Pollard, the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, which developed the AstraZeneca vaccine, expressed cautious optimism that existing vaccines could be effective at preventing serious disease from the omicron variant, noting that most of the mutations appear to be in similar regions as those in other variants.“At least from a speculative point of view we have some optimism that the vaccine should still work against a new variant for serious disease, but really we need to wait several weeks to have that confirmed,” he told BBC radio.Some experts said the variant’s emergence illustrated how rich countries’ hoarding of vaccines threatens to prolong the pandemic.Fewer than 6 per cent of people in Africa have been fully immunized against COVID-19, and millions of health workers and vulnerable populations have yet to receive a single dose. Those conditions can speed up spread of the virus, offering more opportunities for it to evolve into a dangerous variant.“One of the key factors to the emergence of variants may well be low vaccination rates in parts of the world, and the WHO warning that none of us is safe until all of us are safe and should be heeded,” said Peter Openshaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Saturday with his South African counterpart, Naledi Pandor, and they stressed the importance of working together to help African nations vaccinate their populations, the State Department said in a statement. It said Blinken praised South Africa’s scientists for quickly identifying the omicron variant and the government for its transparency in sharing this information, “which should serve as a model for the world.”(With inputs from AP)Also Read | Panic grips Europe as UK reports 2 cases of 'Omicron' Covid variant

New COVID variant Omicron spreads to more countries; health professionals alarmed

In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was necessary to take “targeted and precautionary measures” after two people tested positive for the new variant in England.

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 Iran president: US sanctions on foreign minister ‘childish’Iran’s president lambasted new U.S. sanctions by the Trump administration targeting the country’s foreign minister, describing the move on Thursday as “childish” and a barrier to diplomacy.Hassan Rouhani’s remarks came after the Trump administration announced Wednesday it had imposed financial sanctions on Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as part of its escalating campaign of pressure against the Islamic Republic.The highly unusual action of penalizing another nation’s top diplomat followed President Donald Trump’s executive order placing sanctions on Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.“They have started doing childish things,” Rouhani said in a speech in western Azerbaijan province.“Every day they claim: ‘We want to negotiate with Iran, without any pre-conditions’. and then they put sanctions on the country’s foreign minister,” he said.The European Union expressed its regret at the U.S. sanctions levied on Zarif and said it would continue to keep contact with him regardless of Washington’s move.“We will continue to work with Mr. Zarif, as Iran’s most senior diplomat, and in view of the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels,” European Commission spokesman Carlos Martin Ruiz de Gordejuela told reporters in Brussels.This latest round of sanctions comes amid a spike in tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. has boosted its military presence in the Persian Gulf while Iran has begun openly exceeding limits on its nuclear activities set in a 2015 accord with world powers.Trump withdrew the United States from Iran’s nuclear deal, which Germany, Britain, France, Russia and China are still signatories to, before imposing crippling sanctions on the country, targeting key industries like Iran’s oil exports and sending its economy into free fall.Zarif, a relative moderate within Iran’s clerically overseen political system, was an architect of the nuclear deal, which offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for internationally-monitored limits on its nuclear program.U.S. sanctions targeting the foreign minister, however, do not inhibit Zarif’s travels to New York for official United Nations business, in accordance with America’s international obligations. They also have little impact on Zarif financially.“It has no effect on me or my family, as I have no property or interests outside of Iran,” Zarif himself tweeted about the U.S. move.Meanwhile, the U.S. Fifth Fleet naval force said allied nations met in Bahrain on Wednesday to discuss a Trump administration initiative to boost maritime security in the Persian Gulf region. The U.S. has declined to name which countries participated in the meeting, which the statement said focused on ways to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Oman.Trump administration officials have floated the idea of what’s been named the “Sentinel Program” to allies, but already Germany has ruled out joining, saying priority should be given to diplomacy and efforts at de-escalation with Iran.

Iran president: US sanctions on foreign minister ‘childish’

Hassan Rouhani’s remarks came after the Trump administration announced Wednesday it had imposed financial sanctions on Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as part of its escalating campaign of pressure against the Islamic Republic.

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US President Donald TrumpThe United States on Tuesday urged countries to consider long-term implications of adopting 5G technology from nations that have pursued a totalitarian vision of the role of the state in peoples' lives, a comment directed at China and its controversy-embroiled tech giant Huawei."We think that it's absolutely critical for countries to be considering all of the long-term consequences and ramifications of going with suppliers from countries that have pursued a totalitarian vision for the role of the state in peoples' lives and in the economy and in the culture and the like," said a senior administration official."So that's really something that all countries need to take heed of," the official said when asked about its message to countries that are planning to opt for 5G technology from Huawei, which has links with the Chinese government.Raising security concerns, the Trump Administration has been asking countries, including India, to not opt for Huawei.Irrespective of the country, the United States believes that having a safe and reliable infrastructure for 5G systems is critical for all nations' ability to preserve their sovereignty in the 5G era, the official noted.With 5G one is talking about a paradigm shift in technology, not an incremental one, the official emphasized. "One in which all of our daily lives are going to be saturated with sensors that are going to be communicating with one another, not just the old paradigm of a couple of cell phones talking to a core network through cell phone towers and routers and then coming back down to another cell user," said the official.5G will permit devices to communicate very rapidly with one another, and that creates enormous opportunities for predatory and authoritarian states to steal the most intimate data, whether it's a personal data as citizens or corporate secrets or very sensitive government and security-related secrets, said the official.Also Read: US approves $125m support package for Pakistan's F-16sAlso Read: US to increase surveillance in Middle East waterwaysAlso Read: Iran, US clash over claim that US downed Iranian drone

US urges countries to consider long-term implications of adopting 5G tech from totalitarian states

The United States on Tuesday urged countries to consider long-term implications of adopting 5G technology from nations that have pursued a totalitarian vision of the role of the state in peoples' lives, a comment directed at China and its controversy-embroiled tech giant Huawei.

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This April 3, 2020 photo provided by Northwestern University shows discoloration on a teenage patient's toes at the onset of the condition informally called "COVID toes." The red, sore and sometimes itchy swellings on toes look like chilblains, something doctors normally see on the feet and hands of people who’ve spent a long time outdoors in the coldSkin doctors suddenly are looking at a lot of toes — whether by emailed picture or video visit — as concern grows that for some people, a sign of COVID-19 may pop up in an unusual spot. Boston dermatologist Esther Freeman expected to see skin complaints as the pandemic unfolded — various kinds of rashes occur when people get very ill from other viruses.“But I was not anticipating those would be toes,” said Freeman of Massachusetts General Hospital, who has viewed via telemedicine more toes in the last several weeks than in her entire career.They’re being called “COVID toes,” red, sore and sometimes itchy swellings on toes that look like chilblains, something doctors normally see on the feet and hands of people who’ve spent a long time outdoors in the cold.Don’t race to the emergency room if toes are the only worry, said the American Academy of Dermatology.Earlier this month, it issued advice that a telemedicine check is the first step for people wondering if they have “COVID toes” and who have no other reason for urgent care. Doctors then should decide if the patient should stay in home isolation or get tested.The most common coronavirus symptoms are fever, a dry cough and shortness of breath -- and some people are contagious despite never experiencing symptoms. But as this bewildering virus continues to spread, less common symptoms are being reported including loss of smell, vomiting and diarrhea, and increasingly, a variety of skin problems.In one report, dermatologists evaluated 88 COVID-19 patients in an Italian hospital and found 1 in 5 had some sort of skin symptom, mostly red rashes over the trunk. In another, Spanish doctors reported a series of 375 confirmed virus patients with a range of skin complaints, from hives to chickenpox-like lesions to the toe swellings.Pictures of reddened toes and rashes all over social media and doctor chat groups have “already enabled the rapid recognition of skin signs by dermatologists. It is now time for rigorous science” to understand the link, Dr. Kanade Shinkai of the University of California, San Francisco wrote in a recent JAMA Dermatology editorial.Boston’s Freeman directs an international COVID-19 registry for doctors to report cases of possibly virus-linked skin symptoms. Of 500 reports since late March, about half are chilblain-like spots on the feet, she said.Chilblains, what doctors call “pernio,” are an inflammatory reaction. When pernio-like reactions appear in coronavirus-infected patients is one of many mysteries. For some people, it’s the first or even only symptom they notice. Others see the toe problem at the same time or even a few weeks after experiencing more common and serious COVID-19 symptoms.It’s showing up in young people too, according to Dr. Amy Paller of Northwestern University, who is part of a pediatric dermatology registry also collecting images of patients’ toes.Among the theories: Is it just inflammation triggered by an infection instead of the cold? Is the virus irritating the lining of blood vessels in the skin, or perhaps causing microscopic blood clots?“The public health message is not to panic,” Freeman said, noting that most toe patients she’s seen haven’t become severely ill.Are they contagious? “We can’t tell just by looking at your toes,” she said. Other medical conditions, such as lupus, can cause similar spots — another reason doctors should discuss each patient’s overall health and next steps for testing or other needed care.

‘COVID toes,’ other rashes latest possible rare virus signs

Skin doctors suddenly are looking at a lot of toes — whether by emailed picture or video visit — as concern grows that for some people, a sign of COVID-19 may pop up in an unusual spot

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Massive A74 iceberg, nearly the size of Greater London, brushes past Antarctic coastA massive iceberg, nearly the size of Greater London, has brushed past the coast of Antarctica. The A-74 iceberg has been floating in Antarctica's Weddell Sea and has remained close to the shelf due to ocean currents that spun it around the western tip of Brunt. According to the details, the A74 iceberg is made just a faint contact with the coast, with reports saying it would probably have knocked off a similarly sized iceberg had it been any firmer. Scientists in the United Kingdom have been keeping a close watch on the icy liaison because one of their bases is nearby. According to a report with the BBC, Dr. Ollie Marsh from the British Antarctic Survey said they've been monitoring the situation very closely for the past six months because A74 has been drifting around in the same kind of area."But then there were some really strong easterly winds and these seemed to trigger a rapid movement in A74 that saw it scrape along the edge of the western Brunt," he said. The Brunt is what's called an ice shelf. It's an amalgam of glacier ice that has flowed off the land and floated out to sea.It's still attached to the train of ice behind - but only just. An enormous crack, called Chasm 1, has opened up in recent years in the shelf's far-western sector. An area measuring some 1,700 sq km is on the verge of breaking free.Many thought a big nudge from the passing A74 iceberg might be the event that made it all happen. But it didn't; or at least, it hasn't happened yet.Meanwhile, the European Space Agency (ESA) has captured radar images of the movement of the iceberg, which is 1,270 square kilometres in size. The iceberg remains attached in the vicinity of McDonald Ice Rumples, where the ice shelf is grounded on the seabed amid reports of minor impact.Also Read | Indian Ocean warming at faster pace, India to witness increased heat waves, flooding: Report

Massive A74 iceberg, nearly the size of Greater London, brushes past Antarctic coast

Many thought a big nudge from the passing A74 iceberg might be the event that made it all happen. But it didn't; or at least, it hasn't happened yet.

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Forced conversions, oppression and suppression has resulted in a drastic decline in the Hindu population in Pakistan – about 23 per cent in 1947 to only 6 per cent now, Islamabad’s leading newspaper The Nation reported.The report claims that minority Hindu girls are being kidnapped, forcibly converted and married to Muslims, resulting in an extreme drop in the Hindu population. It further said that the majority of the Hindu population is settled in Sindh, which has witnessed a rise in crimes targeting the religious minority. Hindu girls are specifically targeted to convert them to Islam. Several incidents of lower caste Hindus being forcibly converted, and upper-caste Hindus being abducted for ransom have been reported in the recent past. This raises questions on the fact that Pakistan’s Constitution allows everyone to practice his/her religion freely. Hindus in the Islamic nation have even been denied the freedom to live with respect. According to a report by Movement for Solidarity and Peace, 1000 non-Muslim girls are converted to Islam every year in Pakistan and in Sindh, the ratio is 20 or more girls per month.“A number of Muslim MNAs, he said, have mocked Hindus for worshiping cows. In their mindless hate-spewing, they ignore the fact that four million Hindus live in Pakistan and their derogatory words hurt the religious sentiments of the local Hindu community. Perhaps, they too need to be sensitised and educated that all Hindus are not Indians and all Indians are not Hindus. India has over 200 million Muslims and other minority groups as well,” the Dawn had quoted Lal Malhi, PTI’s MNA on a minority seat, as saying earlier.The atrocities by the Pakistani government and the stern conditions of the Sharia Law has resulted into the migration of 5000 Hindu families from Pakistan to India per year.Even the Pakistani police refuse to take any action, and after a couple of days the girl is brought back with legal documents of conversion. This ensures the legal cover to avoid being punished by law.The issue was raised by the Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC), Dr Ramesh Kumar who argued that religious pressure groups promote hate mongering in the region and create enough pressure to stop anyone from taking any action.       

Forced conversions, oppression leading to mass exodus of Hindus from Pakistan: report

Forced conversions, oppression and suppression has resulted in a drastic decline in the Hindu population in Pakistan – about 23 per cent in 1947 to only 6 per cent now, Islamabad’s leading newspaper The Nation reported

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President Donald Trump's overall health "is excellent" and he did "exceedingly well" on cognitive screening, the Navy doctor who performed Trump's first medical checkup said on Tuesday.Ronny Jackson had issued a blanket declaration that Trump was in "excellent health" after last Friday's exam, and promised to provide a fuller readout on Tuesday.Related Stories No trip to London because of embassy choice: Donald TrumpDonald Trump pushes for merit-based immigration systemDonald Trump goes after the Democrat who surfaced his immigration remarkHe reported that the 6-foot-3 president weighed in at 239 pounds — three pounds heavier than he was in September 2016, the last time Trump revealed his weight to the public.Trump's blood pressure was 122 over 74, and his total cholesterol was 223, which is higher than recommended.Trump was 70 when he took office on January 20, 2017, making him the oldest person ever elected to the presidency.Trump's heart exam was normal, with regular rhythm and no abnormal sounds, which Jackson said led him to conclude with confidence that Trump "has a very strong and a very probable possibility of making it completely through his presidency with no medical issues." Trump has no heart disease and no family history of it.The 71-year-old president performed "exceedingly well" on cognitive screening, which is not standard but was requested by Trump. The doctor said he had "absolutely no concerns" about Trump's cognitive abilities. He speculated that Trump requested the exam in an attempt to beat back the narrative of the past few weeks that he is mentally unfit for office."He's very sharp. He's very articulate when he speaks to me," Jackson said. "I've never known him to repeat himself when he's around me. I found no reason whatsoever to think the president has any issues whatsoever with his thought process."Trump last revealed details about his health two months before the November 2016 election.Trump's cholesterol reading from Friday's exam was borderline high even though he takes a low dose of the statin drug Crestor. Jackson said he would increase that dose in an effort to get Trump's so-called "bad" cholesterol, or LDL level, below 120; it currently is 143.Trump's body mass index, or BMI, of 29.9 puts him in the category of being overweight for his height. A BMI of 30 and over is considered obese.Jackson said he prescribed a diet lower in fat and carbohydrates, and exercise. He'd like the president to lose 10 to 15 pounds over the next year.Despite the diet and cholesterol concerns, Jackson stressed that Trump's "cardiac health is excellent." He passed a battery of heart exams including a stress test that Jackson said showed an above-average exercise capacity for a man of his age, despite some calcium buildup in his arteries. He also takes a low-dose aspirin for heart health.With such a bad dietary history, how can that be? Jackson said Trump has avoided some big heart risks — he's never smoked and isn't diabetic — and has no family history of heart problems.Trump did not undergo a psychiatric exam. But in a surprise, Jackson said he did perform a cognitive screening test, at Trump's request. Called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, it is designed to detect early signs of memory loss and other neurologic functions — and Trump had a perfect score.Cognitive assessments aren't routine in standard physicals, although they recently became covered in Medicare's annual wellness visits for seniors.

Donald Trump's overall health 'is excellent', fit for presidency, says doctor

President Donald Trump's overall health "is excellent" and he did "exceedingly well" on cognitive screening, the Navy doctor who performed Trump's first medical checkup said.

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Bolsonaro threatens to withdraw Brazil from WHOBrazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has threatened to withdraw his country from the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing the body of being "partisan" and "political". Addressing the media on Friday, Bolsonaro said Brazil will consider leaving the WHO unless it stops being a "partisan political organization", reports Xinhua news agency.Earlier in the day, when asked about efforts to ease social-distancing orders in Brazil despite the growing number of COVID-19 deaths and cases, the WHO said a key criteria for lifting lockdowns was slowing transmission."The epidemic, the outbreak, in Latin America is deeply, deeply concerning," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a news conference in Geneva.She said that among six key criteria for easing quarantines, "one of them is ideally having your transmission declining".Bolsonaro's threat came the same day Brazil registered 1,005 deaths in a day, a record high.Brazil currently accounts for the second highest number of COVID-19 cases and the third highest deaths in the world.As of Saturday morning, the total number of cases increased to 614,941, with 34,021 deaths.Last month, US President Donald Trump had announced that Washington would also end its relationship with the WHO.

Bolsonaro threatens to withdraw Brazil from WHO

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has threatened to withdraw his country from the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing the body of being "partisan" and "political".

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China to build a major dam on Brahmaputra riverChina will build a major hydropower project on Brahmaputra river in Tibet and a proposal for this has been clearly put forward in the 14th Five-Year Plan to be implemented from next year, the official media on Sunday quoted the head of a Chinese company tasked to build the dam as saying.Yan Zhiyong, chairman of the Power Construction Corp of China, said China will "implement hydropower exploitation in the downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River” (the Tibetan name for Brahmaputra) and the project could serve to maintain water resources and domestic security, the Global Times reported.Speaking at a conference on Thursday, Yan said the project was clearly put forward in the proposals for formulating the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and its long-term goals through 2035 made by the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), it quoted an article on the WeChat account of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China on Sunday."There is no parallel in history… it will be a historic opportunity for the Chinese hydropower industry," Yan told the conference organised to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the China Society for Hydropower Engineering.The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 were adopted by Plenum - a key policy body of the CPC - last month.Details of the plan were expected to be released after the formal ratification by National People’s Congress (NPC) early next year.Proposals for dams on the Brahmaputra have evoked concerns in India and Bangladesh, the riparian states, and China has downplayed such anxieties saying it would keep their interests in mind.As a lower riparian State with considerable established user rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, the Indian government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas.China has already operationalised the USD 1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, the largest in Tibet in 2015.About the new dam, the Global Times report said that speculation about China planning to build a "super hydropower station" in Medog county, where the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is located, have circulated for years.Medog is the last county in Tibet which borders Arunachal Pradesh.In his address, Yan said that the hydropower exploitation of the Yarlung Zangbo River downstream is more than a hydropower project. It is also meaningful for the environment, national security, living standards, energy and international cooperation.According to the report, the mainstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River has the richest water resources in Tibet Autonomous Region, about 80 million kilowatt hours (kWh), while the 50-kilometer section of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon has 70 million kWh that could be developed with a 2,000-meter drop, which equals more than three Three Gorges power stations in Hubei province.Tibet has about 200 million kWh of water resources, accounting for 30 per cent of the total in China.The 60 million kWh hydropower exploitation at the downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River could provide 300 billion kWh of clean, renewable and zero-carbon electricity annually. The project will play a significant role in realising China's goal of reaching a carbon emissions peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2060, he said."It is a project for national security, including water resources and domestic security," he said, noting that the project will also smooth cooperation with South Asia.The hydropower station could generate income of 20 billion yuan (USD three billion) annually for the Tibet Autonomous Region, he said.India and China established Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers.Under existing bilateral Memorandums of Understanding, China provides hydrological information of Brahmaputra River and Sutlej River to India during the flood seasons.Under the arrangement, China provides flood season data of the Brahmaputra river between May 15 and October 15 every year.

China to build a major dam on Brahmaputra river: Official

The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 were adopted by Plenum - a key policy body of the CPC - last month.

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Pakistan air crash: Forensic experts identify 75 bodies so farA total of 75 bodies out of 97 people killed in the plane crash in Karachi last month have been identified so far through DNA tests, according to a media report. The Airbus A320 aircraft of the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had 91 passengers and a crew of eight when it crashed into the Jinnah Garden area near Model Colony in Malir on May 22, minutes before its landing.Ninety-Seven passengers were killed. Eleven people on the ground were injured.Pakistani authorities have been conducting DNA tests to identify the severely charred bodies.Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Sunday said that out of the 97 deceased, 75 have been identified and their bodies handed over to their family members.“Now eight bodies kept in Chhipa mortuary and another 14 at the Edhi morgue are left to be identified,” he was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune on Sunday.He assured that the DNA matching of the bodies was underway and that they would be handed over to their family members soon after identification.The Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory (SFDL) at the University of Karachi on Sunday said that it will complete the process of identifying the bodies of the victims in the next 24 hours, the report said.In a press release, the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) at the University of Karachi said SFDL has completed a total of 37 cross-match so far, and their reports have also been dispatched to the Sindh police department.“SFDL with the help of 20 scientists and volunteers is currently engaged in massive undertaking of identifying bodies of unfortunate victims of the air crash,” an ICCBS spokesman was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.According to the statistics, maintained by the SFDL, as many as 67 samples have been received from the families of the victims, and 69 samples of the victims have been received from the police department so far.SFDL is the first of its kind facility in Sindh that specialises in the detection, identification and analysis of human DNA from evidence samples collected by law enforcement agencies from crime scenes.

Pakistan air crash: Forensic experts identify 75 bodies so far

A total of 75 bodies out of 97 people killed in the plane crash in Karachi last month have been identified so far through DNA tests, according to a media report.

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Washington National Guard members walk in formation away from the Legislative Building.Around 150 to 200 National Guard troops deployed to Washington, DC, to provide security for President Joe Biden's inauguration have tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, news agency ANI reported. Joe Biden was sworn in as US president in Washington, with around 25,000 troops deployed for the event. The ratio of coronavirus infected security guards is a small fraction of the more than 25,000 troops deployed in Washington DC on January 21. The US President's inauguration took place two weeks after rioters loyal to former President Donald Trump besieged the Capitol.After the deadly attack that killed five on January 6, the Secret Service stepped up security for the inauguration early, essentially locking down the nation’s capital. More than 25,000 troops and police were called to duty. The National Mall was closed. Checkpoints were set up at intersections.Meanwhile, 12 National Guard members were removed from the security operation a day earlier after vetting by the FBI, including two who had made extremist statements in posts or texts about Wednesday’s event. Pentagon officials would not give details on the statements.The FBI vetted all 25,000 members in an extraordinary security effort in part over the presence of some ex-military in the riot.The United States has confirmed 25,390,042 cases of coronavirus and 424,177 fatalities so far. However, 15,222,719 Covid patients have recovered from the contagious disease while 9,743,146 are still fighting against the virus. As many as 206,357 US Military officials have tested positive till now, out of which, 76,966 are active cases. A total of 225 military personnel have lost their lives due to coronavirus while 129,166 people have been recovered. ALSO READ | US first lady Dr. Jill Biden’s & Vice President Kamala Harris's inauguration day look were statement-making

Over 150 National Guard troops deployed to US President's inauguration test positive for COVID-19

Around 150 to 200 National Guard troops deployed to Washington, DC, to provide security for President Joe Biden's inauguration have tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday.

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Six passengers shot in Greyhound bus in California, USMultiple people were reported injured after a man opened fire in a Greyhound bus from Los Angeles to San Francisco. All injured persons were rushed to a nearby hospital. The shooting took place in the Grapevine area, on Interstate 5 near Fort Tejon Road.The bus was carrying about 40 passengers. A suspect has been taken into custody. The shooter is said to be a passenger on the bus The Kern County sheriff’s and fire departments responded to the scene near Lebec in Kern County, north of Los Angeles and south of Bakersfield. Photos from the scene showed the bus parked at a Valero gas station at the base of the Grapevine section of the freeway.

Shooting in Greyhound bus in California, multiple injured

Multiple people were reported injured after a man opened fire in a Greyhound bus from Los Angeles to San Francisco. All injured persons were rushed to a nearby hospital. The shooting took place in the Grapevine area, on Interstate 5 near Fort Tejon Road.

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US President Donald Trump and Democratic Presidential candidate Joe BidenThe United States of America will soon have its 46th President. Come November 3, the country will decide whether Donald Trump would continue in office or will Joe Biden take over. The US politics is dominated by two parties -- The Republican Party and the Democrats. The candidates will compete to win electoral college votes. And remember, this is the first major election in between a health pandemic, so things are different this time around. The results may also take longer than before. The US Presidential election, the most-keenly watched, is set to be held on November 3. To become president, either candidate needs to win a majority of 538 electors, i.e. 270 electors. All 50 US states and Washington DC have a specific number of "electors" in the electoral college, roughly proportionate to the size of each state. Each state gets at least three electoral votes. Washington DC too gets three electorate college votes, which means a total of 538 electors form the Electoral College. With 55 electoral votes, California is the largest state, followed by Texas with 38. New York and Florida have 29 each. Only two states - Maine and Nebraska - use a winner-takes-all system. If you win the most votes in a state, you take its entire share of electoral college votes. DONALD TRUMP - The Republican nominee"Make America Great Again" - This is what Donald Trump, the current president of the US, is banking on with his eyes set on retaining his coveted chair as a Republican nominee for a second term. Trump is the 45th President of the United States. In November 2016, Trump was elected President in the largest electorate college landslide for a Republican in 28 years, defeating the Democratic nominee, former US senator and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, in the general election. He won more than 2,600 counties nationwide, the most since President Ronald Reagan in 1984. At age 70, Trump became the oldest presidential candidate ever to be newly elected.Image Source : FILEDonald TrumpDonald TrumpJOE BIDEN- The Democratic nomineeHaving served in public life for around a half-century, Joe Biden is now up against Donald Trump in the race for US presidency. Biden, a Democratic nominee, was a United States senator for 36 years and vice president for eight. Biden had run for presidentship twice before becoming vice president under President Barack Obama. In a ceremony at the White House, President Obama had awarded Joe Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction—the nation’s highest civilian honor.Image Source : APJoe BidenJoe BidenMIKE PENCE - The Republican nomineeMike Pence, the Republican nominee for vice president, has spent 12 years in the United States House of Representatives and four years as governor of Indiana when presidential candidate Donald Trump picked him as his running mate in 2016. Pence had launched a successful bid for his local Congressional seat in 2000, entering the United States House of Representatives at the age of 40. After serving in Congress for 12 years, Mike Pence was elected the 50th Governor of Indiana in 2012. Indiana's success story, Pence's record of legislative and executive experience is believed to have prompted Trump to select him as his running mate. His wife, Karen Pence, is believed to be his closest adviser. Image Source : APMike PenceMike PenceKAMALA HARRIS - The Democratic nomineeKamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for vice president, has many firsts -- first female and first Black elected attorney general in California; first South Asian American to serve in the United States Senate; and first Asian American or Black woman nominated for vice president. Harris grew up with her Indian heritage. Her parents were immigrants - mother from India and father from Jamaica, came to the United States for their further education. She is serving a six-year term representing California in the Senate. However, she might have to give up the seat two years early if the Democrats win in November and she becomes vice president.Image Source : APKamala HarrisKamala HarrisThe task of counting the votes usually begins late on the election day, which is November 3. The result process is expected to take several days. Most mail-ballots should be received within a couple of days of November 3. Though there are some exceptions. Some key states including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Minnesota, Nevada and Ohio allow ballots to be sent in late. States will begin to certify results from November 10, however, there could be a delay in case of a recount. Barring California, every state must complete the certification by December 8.On January 20, 2021, the US will welcome its new President. The President-elect and the Vice President-elect will take the oath of office, which will be followed by an inaugural address. After being sworn in, the President would attend a ceremonial parade from the US Capitol to his new residence — White House.

US Election 2020: Poll Date, Presidential, Vice-Presidential candidates - all you need to know

The United States of America will soon have its 46th President. Come November, the country will decide whether Donald Trump would continue in office or will Joe Biden take over. The US politics is dominated by two parties -- The Republican Party and the Democrats. The candidates will compete to win electoral college votes. And remember, this is the first major election in between a health pandemic, so things are different this time around. The results may also take longer than before.

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4.9 magnitude of earthquake jolts Iran's Bushehr A 4.9-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday has struck near the Bushehr nuclear plant. This earthquake happened hours after a missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq, and a Ukrainian plane crashing near Tehran. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake struck 10 km southeast of Borazjan, Iran. It is a nearly 70-km drive away from Bushehr."The depth and epicenter indicate it was a natural event and unrelated to this evening's [US time] events. A similar earthquake struck in late December," the website Strategic Sentinel tweeted.The earthquake hit on a morning when the world woke up to news of Iranian missile strikes on Iraqi bases housing US-led coalition personnel, and the crash of a Ukrainian passenger jet near Tehran's airport.The Iranian offensive was retaliation for a US drone strike that killed the Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani. A top Iranian official has now warned that any "adverse military action" by the US would lead to an "all out war across the region".(With inputs from agencies)ALSO READ | Trump tweets 'All is well' after Iran bombs Iraqi bases housing US troops, to issue statement later

Hours after missile attack, tremors felt near Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant

A 4.9-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday has struck near the Bushehr nuclear plant. This earthquake happened hours after a missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq, and a Ukrainian plane crashing near Tehran.

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Sandra Lindsay, left, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by Dr. Michelle Chester, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York.  US President Donald Trump on Monday said that the first coronavirus vaccine was administered in the country. Taking to Twitter, Trump said: "First vaccine administered. Congratulations USA! Congratulations WORLD!"Critical care nurse Sandra Lindsay at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens got the first shot to vaccinate front line health care workers. The head of the hospital system, Michael Dowling, stood over Lindsay as a doctor, Michelle Chester, administered the dose.The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had on Friday issued emergency use authorisation (EAU) to the vaccine developed by American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech to combat the disease that has killed over 294,000 people in the country.READ MORE: US CDC director signs recommendation to use Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine“Today our nation has achieved a medical miracle. We have delivered a safe and effective medicine in just nine months. This is one of the greatest scientific accomplishments in history. It will save millions of lives and soon end the pandemic once and for all. I am thrilled to report that the FDA has authorised the Pfizer vaccine,” Trump had said in a video soon after the FDA approval.READ MORE: Pfizer prepares for COVID-19 vaccine rollout, biggest vaccination effort in US historyAccording to the FDA, the vaccine contains messenger RNA (mRNA), which is genetic material. The vaccine contains a small piece of the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s mRNA that instructs cells in the body to make the virus’s distinctive “spike” protein. 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US rolls out Covid vaccine, first shot administered to New York nurse

​U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that the first vaccine was administered in the country. Taking to Twitter, Trump said: "First vaccine administered. Congratulations USA! Congratulations WORLD!"

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This is the first time that the Chinese government has effectively banned a reporter from the Journal.China has expelled a Wall Street Journal reporter from the country -- a month after the newspaper published a report detailing allegations against a cousin of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.The publication had said one of President Xi's cousins was involved in high-stakes gambling and potential money laundering in Australia.Chinese authorities told the Journal on Friday that press credentials would not be renewed for Chun Han Wong, a Singapore national who has covered Chinese politics out of the paper's Beijing bureau since 2014. Those credentials expired Friday.This is the first time that the Chinese government has effectively banned a reporter from the Journal.Wong was one of two authors of a July 30 report disclosing a far-reaching Australian law-enforcement and intelligence probe into Ming Chai, one of Xi's cousins and an Australian citizen.The report cited Australian officials and casino documents and detailed Chai's lavish spending in resorts.The story also noted there were no indications Xi knew about his cousin's activities in Australia or that the Chinese leader was implicated in any wrongdoing.The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China said, in a statement, that Wong was the sixth journalist to leave the country since 2013, and condemned the move "in the strongest possible terms."(with inputs from agencies)

China expels Wall Street Journal reporter after article on President Xi's cousin

The publication had said one of President Xi's cousins was involved in high-stakes gambling and potential money laundering in Australia.

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Afghan women pass next of Taliban fighter in Kabul, AfghanistanAfghanistan has undergone a dramatic transformation in half a year of Taliban rule.The country feels safer, less violent than it has in decades, but the once aid-fuelled economy is barreling toward collapse. Tens of thousands of Afghans have fled or have been evacuated, including large numbers of the educated elites. They either fear for their economic future or lack of freedom under a group that ascribes to a strict interpretation of Islam and during its previous rule in the late 1990s barred girls from school and women from work.Tuesday marks six months since the Afghan capital of Kabul was ceded to the Taliban with the sudden and secret departure of the country's US-backed president. The takeover of Kabul had been preceded by a months-long Taliban military campaign to take control of provincial areas, many of which fell with hardly a fight.Image Source : APA Taliban fighter passes in front of a street vendor who sells red heart-shaped balloons for Valentine's Day in KabulA Taliban fighter passes in front of a street vendor who sells red heart-shaped balloons for Valentine's Day in KabulToday, the sight of armed Taliban fighters roaming the street still jars and frightens residents. But women have returned to the streets, and many young men have put on Western clothes again after initially shedding them for the traditional shalwar kameez, the long shirt and baggy pants favoured by the Taliban.Unlike in the 1990s, the Taliban are allowing some women to work. Women are back in their jobs in the health and education ministries, as well as at Kabul International airport, often next to men. But women are still waiting to return to work in other ministries. Thousands of jobs have been lost in the economic downward spiral, and women have been hit hardest.The Taliban have cracked down on women's protests and harassed journalists, including briefly detaining two foreign journalists working with the UN refugee agency last week.Image Source : APAfghan stand in a park in front of Taliban fighters near Kabul, AfghanistanAfghan stand in a park in front of Taliban fighters near Kabul, AfghanistanOn Monday, the detention of some young men selling heart-shaped flowers in recognition of Valentine's Day was a stark reminder that the new all-male religion-driven administration has no tolerance for Western ideas of romance.Girls in grades 1-6 have been going to school, but those in the higher grades are still locked out in most parts of the country.  The Taliban promised all girls will be in school after the Afghan new year at the end of March. Universities are gradually reopening and private universities and schools never closed.Poverty is deepening. Even those who have money have a hard time accessing it. At banks, lines are long as residents wait for hours, sometimes even days, to withdraw a limit of $200 a week.More than USD 9 billion in Afghanistan's foreign assets were frozen after the Taliban takeover. Last week, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that promised USD 3.5 billion — out of USD 7 billion of Afghanistan's assets frozen in the United States — would be given to families of America's 9/11 victims. The other USD 3.5 billion would be freed for Afghan aid.Afghans across the political spectrum have decried the order, accusing the US of taking money that belongs to Afghans. The Taliban have campaigned for international recognition of their all-male, all-Taliban government, but they are being pressed to create an inclusive administration and guarantee the rights of women and religious minorities.Image Source : APAfghans lineup outside the Iranian embassy, to apply for avisa, in Kabul, Afghanistan.Afghans lineup outside the Iranian embassy, to apply for avisa, in Kabul, Afghanistan.Graeme Smith, a senior consultant for the International Crisis Group's Asia Program, warned against using sanctions, saying that would backfire."Keeping economic pressure on the Taliban will not get rid of their regime, but a collapsing economy could lead to more people fleeing the country, sparking another migration crisis," he said.He also noted that this round of Taliban rule “probably ranks as the most peaceful six-month period that Afghanistan has enjoyed in four decades.”The Taliban have re-opened the country's passport office, which is clogged with thousands of people a day. The Taliban have promised Afghans they can travel but only with proper documents. Those trying to leave seem largely driven by fear of a failing economy or the desire for greater freedom in a more liberal society.Several officials linked to the former US-backed government have returned. One of the returnees, former ambassador Omar Zakhilwal, said he encountered no rancor from the Taliban.He said he hoped that the Taliban will “find the courage” to open their ranks, guarantee minorities a say in the government and go further to guarantee rights of all Afghans. Also Read | 7 killed, 9 injured in minivan bomb blast, Taliban officials sayAlso Read | Taliban ban display of female mannequin heads in shops; music in cars, taxis

Six months of Taliban rule: How Afghanistan became less hopeful, poorer but safer

Today marks six months since the Afghan capital of Kabul was ceded to the Taliban with the sudden and secret departure of the country's US-backed president.

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Pakistan police to seek ban on China's PUBG, other videogames after youth shoots mother, siblings deadPakistan police have decided to send recommendations to the provincial and federal governments for banning dangerous video games including China's PUBG after youth shot dead his mother and three siblings in the Lahore district of Punjab province.According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, the decision to send recommendations amid the fueling rising trend of firing and violence so that the younger generation of the country could be protected from their harmful effects, The News International reported.Citing an incident, the police said that the decision was also taken in view of a tragic incident in which a youth, a chronic player of the PUBG game, shot dead his mother and three siblings in the Kahna area."Ali Zain shot dead his mother, two sisters, and a brother on January 19, 2022, and hid the pistol," The News International quoting police spokesperson reported.Repeated defeats in the PUBG game increased the stress and he fired shots thinking that everyone would come back to life like in the game. The spokesperson said that investigation into all aspects of the incident was underway and the accused would be severely punished after fulfilling the requirements of law and justice. (With ANI inputs)ALSO READ | ​Pakistan: Roadside bomb explodes in Balochistan, 4 dead, 10 injured

PUBG addict Pakistani boy shoots mother, 3 siblings dead thinking they will come back to life like in game

Repeated defeats in the PUBG game increased the stress and he fired shots thinking that everyone would come back to life like in the game.

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COVID-19 deaths in US top 40,000The United States recorded more than of 40,000 deaths due to coronavirus, till Sunday noon. According to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, the death toll due to COVID-19 in the US has reached 40,585. A total of 742,442 cases have been reported in the country, according to the CSSE, local media reported. The state of New York suffered the most deaths at 18,921 among 2,42,570 cases, with 14,451 deaths from New York City. In other hardest-hit states, New Jersey reported 4,364 fatalities, Michigan reported 2,308 deaths and Massachusetts recorded 1,560 deaths, the data showed.Meanwhile, governors in several states of the United States have been under pressure to lift stay-at-home orders that limit public gatherings in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus. Groups of protesters in the city of Denver, for example, gathered at the state capitol Sunday. Other protests in at least three other states planned to hold demonstrations against business closures.There were glimmers of hope throughout the country on Saturday. Governors in New York and New Jersey said they were seeing evidence they had "flattened the curve" of the spread. Lady Gaga led a star-studded lineup for an eight-hour Global Citizens Festival concert "One World: Together at Home," raising millions of dollars for the World Health Organization's pandemic response. Also Read | Global health crisis pits economic against health concernsAlso Read | Coronavirus: Russia records maximum number of fresh Covid-19 infections​

US reports 40,585 deaths due to coronavirus; New York continues to be worst-hit

The state of New York suffered the most deaths at 18,921 among 2,42,570 cases, with 14,451 deaths from New York City. In other hardest-hit states, New Jersey reported 4,364 fatalities, Michigan reported 2,308 deaths and Massachusetts recorded 1,560 deaths.

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8 students killed in Chinese elementary school attackAn attacker killed eight students and injured two others at an elementary school in central China on the first day of the new semester, police said Tuesday.The attack occurred around 8 a.m. Monday in Chaoyangpo village of Enshi city in Hubei province, Enshi police said in a statement.The suspect is a 40-year-old man surnamed Yu, who is in custody and being investigated. How the children were attacked was not disclosed. The motive for the attack was unclear.According to the Guangzhou-based Southern Weekly, which cited staff from Hubei prison, the suspect was released last June after serving his sentence for attempted murder.In June last year, two children were stabbed to death by a man outside an elementary school in Shanghai.In April last year, nine were killed and more than a dozen injured outside a middle school in northwestern Shaanxi province by an attacker who allegedly was a former pupil seeking revenge for having been bullied.

8 students killed in Chinese elementary school attack

The suspect is a 40-year-old man surnamed Yu, who is in custody and being investigated. How the children were attacked was not disclosed. The motive for the attack was unclear.

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Donald Trump condemns supporters for storming Capitol, pledges peaceful transition of powerPresident Donald Trump has condemned the violent supporters who stormed the US Capitol, saying they do not represent America, as he vowed to ensure a peaceful and smooth transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden. In a new video message, Trump said America is, and must always be a nation of law and order."Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem. I immediately deployed the national guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders," Trump said in the recorded video posted on YouTube on Thursday and released by the White House.The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy, he added.   "To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay. We have just been through an intense election and emotions are high, but now tempers must be cooled, and calm restored," he said.READ MORE: Speaker, Congress leaders urge Mike Pence to invoke 25th Amendment to remove Donald TrumpIn an unprecedented assault on democracy in the US, thousands of supporters of outgoing President Trump stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday and clashed with police, resulting in four deaths and interrupting a constitutional process by Congress to affirm the victory of  Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the November 3 election.Trump also accepted the result of the election and pledged a "smooth transition" of power to Biden."Now, Congress has certified the results a new administration will be inaugurated on January 20th. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power," Trump said."We must get on with the business of America. My campaign vigorously pursued every legal avenue to contest the election results. My only goal was to ensure the integrity of the vote and so doing, I was fighting to defend American democracy," said the outgoing president.Trump said that he continues to strongly believe that the US must reform election laws to verify the identity and eligibility of all voters and to ensure faith and confidence in all future elections.READ MORE: Can Donald Trump be removed before Joe Biden's inauguration? ExplainedObserving that the moment calls for healing and reconciliation, Trump said that 2020 has been a challenging time for Americans. "A menacing pandemic has upended the lives of our citizens, isolated millions in their homes, damaged our economy and claimed countless lives," he said."Defeating this pandemic and rebuilding the greatest economy on earth will require all of us working together. It will require a renewed emphasis on the civic values of patriotism, faith, charity, community, and family," he said.Earlier White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters that the violence at the Capitol Hill was appalling, reprehensible, and antithetical to the American way. "We condemn it -- the president and this administration -- in the strongest possible terms. It is unacceptable, and those that broke the law should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," she said."Those who violently besieged our Capitol are the opposite of everything this administration stands for. The core value of our administration is the idea that all citizens have the right to live in safety, peace, and freedom," she said. Trump, who hours before the video had continued to claim falsely that the election had been stolen from him, said that "serving as your president has been the honour of my lifetime".READ MORE: US Capitol Police chief announces resignation after violence /* .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_6567081382 = { "file": "https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/01/0_0bcwoy54/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_0bcwoy54_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Trump admits defeat after Congress certifies Joe Biden's victory", "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": "64", "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_6567081382 = ''; jwsetup_6567081382(); function jwsetup_6567081382() { jwvidplayer_6567081382 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_6567081382").setup(jwconfig_6567081382); jwvidplayer_6567081382.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_6567081382, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_0bcwoy54\", ns_st_pr=\"Trump admits defeat after Congress certifies Joe Biden's victory\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Trump admits defeat after Congress certifies Joe Biden's victory\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Trump admits defeat after Congress certifies Joe Biden's victory\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2021-01-08\", ns_st_tdt=\"2021-01-08\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/01/0_0bcwoy54/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_6567081382.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_6567081382.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_6567081382.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_6567081382.stop(); jwvidplayer_6567081382.remove(); jwvidplayer_6567081382 = ''; jwsetup_6567081382(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_6567081382.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_6567081382.stop(); jwvidplayer_6567081382.remove(); jwvidplayer_6567081382 = ''; jwsetup_6567081382(); return; }); jwvidplayer_6567081382.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_6567081382.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_6567081382.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_6567081382.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_6567081382.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_6567081382.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }

Donald Trump concedes defeat day after Capitol violence, pledges peaceful transition of power

Thousands of supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday and clashed with police, resulting in four deaths.

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US President Trump said he is most likely to be tested for coronavirusUS President Donald Trump, who had met coronavirus infected press secretary of Brazilian President, has said he will most likely be tested for the novel coronavirus, though added he had displayed no symptoms. "I didn't say I wasn't going to be tested … Most likely, yeah," Trump said on Friday.His remark came after he was repeatedly asked at a press conference at the White House Rose Garden as to why he was not undergoing tests given that he had last weekend met a Brazilian official who was found positive for the virus later.Trump had met Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his communications chief Fabio Wajngarten at his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago. Wajngarten tested positive for the virus, while Bolsonaro tested negative."Not for that reason, but because I think I will do it anyway," Trump said, two days after the White House said there was no need for the president to undergo tests for the coronavirus.The US president said the tests would be conducted "fairly soon". "We're working on that. We're working out a schedule," he said.To a question, Trump said he has "no symptoms" of the virus."We have no symptoms whatsoever. We had a great meeting with the president of Brazil, Bolsonaro, great guy, very, very tremendous. He's doing a fantastic job for Brazil. He tested negative, meaning nothing wrong this morning," he said."We got that word too because we did have dinner with him. We were sitting next to each other for a long period of time,” Trump said, adding that he sat with Bolsonaro for probably two hours, "but he's tested negative, so that's good".Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham had said, "The President has not received COVID-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms.""President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him," the press secretary had said.The White House Medical Unit and the United States Secret Service has been working closely with various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the first and second Families, and all White House staff healthy.(With inputs from PTI)ALSO READ | Trump declares national emergency over coronavirusALSO READ | 'Sort of weird feeling but...': Trump after greeting Irish PM with 'namaste' | Watch

Trump most likely to be tested for coronavirus

US President Donald Trump, who had met coronavirus infected press secretary of Brazilian President, has said he will most likely be tested for the novel coronavirus, though added he had displayed no symptoms.

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Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari indicted in Park Lane and Thatta Water casesAn anti-corruption court in Pakistan on Monday indicted former president Asif Ali Zardari in the Park Lane and Thatta Water Supply cases. Zardari, 63, the co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), was present in the Islamabad-based court and pleaded not guilty.During the hearing, the court indicted 19 others accused in the Park Lane case and 15 others in the Thatta water supply case.The court last week had indicted Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur in a mega money laundering case.In the Park Lane case, Zardari and his son Bilawal Ali Zardari are accused of purchasing 2,460 kanals of prime property in Islamabad at extremely depreciated rates using frontmen.In the Thatta water supply case, a private contractor was illegaly awarded project contracts. In the money laundering case, it is alleged fake accounts were used by the former president and other accused to park and launder ill-gotten wealth.The court has rejected Zardari's plea seeking acquittal in all three cases.The husband of the country's first woman prime minister Benazir Bhutto was arrested last year by the National Accountability Bureau and probed for months before being released in December on medical grounds.Zardari has maintained the allegations against him are a vilification campaign by Prime Minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari indicted in Park Lane and Thatta Water cases

An anti-corruption court in Pakistan on Monday indicted former president Asif Ali Zardari in the Park Lane and Thatta Water Supply cases.

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Pakistan today summoned India's deputy high commissioner here for the second consecutive day over alleged ceasefire violations along the LoC, claiming that more civilians were killed in firing by the Indian troops. Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh was summoned again to "condemn and lodge protest over more civilian casualties at the LoC due to unprovoked ceasefire violations by India," Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement. The Foreign Office spokesman alleged that three more civilians were killed in Chirikot and Satwal Sectors yesterday by the Indian troops, increasing the total civilian toll to five, including one man and four women. Director-General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal who summoned Singh "condemned further unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces. He said "the deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws." During the meeting yesterday, Singh had conveyed to Faisal that the ceasefire violations were initiated by Pakistani troops in Poonch and Krishnaghatti sectors and the Indian forces only responded appropriately. A strong protest was also lodged over the death of two Indian civilians in the yesterday's ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops. The Director General today urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC.

Ceasefire violations: Pak summons India's deputy high commissioner for second day in a row

Pakistan today summoned India's deputy high commissioner here for the second consecutive day over alleged ceasefire violations along the LoC.

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Fu Cong, a Foreign Ministry director general, speaks at a briefing for foreign journalists at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. China went on the offensive Wednesday ahead of the release of a U.S. intelligence report on the origins of the coronavirus, bringing out the senior official to accuse the United States of politicizing the issue by seeking to blame China.  The international scientists dispatched to China by the World Health Organization to find out where the coronavirus came from said Wednesday the search has stalled and warned that the window of opportunity for solving the mystery is “closing fast.”Meanwhile, a U.S. intelligence review ordered up by President Joe Biden proved inconclusive about the virus’s origin, including whether it jumped from an animal to a human or escaped from a Chinese lab, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.In a commentary published in the journal Nature, the WHO-recruited experts said the origins investigation is at “a critical juncture” requiring urgent collaboration but has instead come to a standstill. They noted among other things that Chinese officials are still reluctant to share some raw data, citing concerns over patient confidentiality.Earlier this year, WHO sent a team of experts to Wuhan, where the first human COVID-19 cases were detected in December 2019, to probe what might have triggered the pandemic now blamed for nearly 4.5 million deaths worldwide, with more than 10,000 people a day succumbing despite more than 5 billion doses of vaccine administered.In their analysis, published in March, the WHO team concluded the virus probably jumped to humans from animals, and they described the possibility of a laboratory leak as “extremely unlikely.”But the WHO experts said their report was intended only as a first step and added, “The window of opportunity for conducting this crucial inquiry is closing fast: any delay will render some of the studies biologically impossible.”For example, they said, “Antibodies wane, so collecting further samples and testing people who might have been exposed before December 2019 will yield diminishing returns.”China said Wednesday that officials should “concentrate on other possible avenues that may help trace the origin” of COVID-19 and suggested studies should be pursued in other countries.Fu Cong, a director-general in China’s Foreign Ministry, agreed it was a “pity” the search for COVID-19’s origins had stalled but said it wasn’t China’s fault. “China has always supported and will continue to participate in the science-based origin tracing efforts,” he said.He accused the U.S. of “hyping the lab leak theory” and trying to shift the blame onto China, and implied the coronavirus might be linked to high-level American research labs, suggesting the United States invite WHO to investigate some of its installations.Marion Koopmans and her WHO-recruited colleagues listed a number of priorities for further research, including conducting wider antibody surveys that might identify places where COVID-19 was spreading undetected, both in China and beyond, testing wild bats and farm-raised animals as potential reservoirs of the virus, and investigating any credible new leads.Some other scientists fear the best opportunities to collect samples might have been missed during the first few weeks after some of the earliest human cases appeared linked to a Wuhan seafood market.Chinese researchers collected hundreds of environmental samples immediately after the coronavirus was found, but it is unclear how many people or animals were tested.“Once you have wildlife traders shifting over to other kinds of employment because they’re worried about whether they’ll be able to do this anymore, that window starts to close,” said Maciej Boni, a Pennsylvania State University biology professor who has studied virus origins and was not part of the WHO team.Still, Boni said scientists might be able to pinpoint COVID-19’s animal source by hunting for closely related viruses in species like raccoon dogs, mink or ground squirrels. But he said it could take about five years to do the kind of extensive studies necessary.The search for COVID-19’s origins has become a bitter source of dispute between the U.S. and China, with increasing numbers of American experts calling for the two Wuhan laboratories close to the seafood market to be investigated, something China has flatly rejected and branded “scapegoating.”Biden in May ordered a 90-day review by U.S. intelligence agencies of both the animal-to-human hypothesis and the lab-leak theory. In July, even WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Gheybreyesus said it was premature to have rejected the lab theory, adding that research accidents are common.

Search for Covid origins has stalled, window of opportunity 'closing fast': Experts on WHO team

​The international scientists dispatched to China by the World Health Organization to find out where the coronavirus came from said Wednesday the search has stalled and warned that the window of opportunity for solving the mystery is “closing fast.”

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Rejoin Paris pact, lift Muslim travel ban and more: Joe Biden reverses Trump policies on day 1President Joe Biden is moving swiftly to dismantle Donald Trump’s legacy on his first day in office, signing a series of executive actions that reverse course on immigration, climate change, racial equity and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The new president signed the orders just hours after taking the oath of office at the Capitol, pivoting quickly from his pared-down inauguration ceremony to enacting his agenda.With the stroke of a pen, Biden ordered a halt to the construction of Trump’s US-Mexico border wall, ended the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, declared his intent to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization and revoked the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, aides said.The 15 executive actions, and two directives, amount to an attempt to rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed. Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office — and each signed just one. But Biden, facing the debilitating coronavirus pandemic, a damaged economy and a riven electorate, is intent on demonstrating a sense of urgency and competence that he argues has been missing under his Republican predecessor.“There’s no time to start like today,” Biden said in his first comments to reporters as president.READ MORE: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris begin Democrat era in US | As it happenedBiden wore a mask as he signed the orders in the Oval Office — a marked departure from Trump, who rarely wore a face covering in public and never during events in the Oval Office. But virus precautions are now required in the building. Among the executive actions signed Wednesday was one requiring masks and physical distancing on federal property and by federal employees.Biden’s order also extended the federal eviction freeze to aid those struggling from the pandemic economic fallout, created a new federal office to coordinate a national response to the virus and restored the White House’s National Security Council directorate for global health security and defense, an office his predecessor had closed.The actions reflected the new president’s top policy priority — getting a handle on a debilitating pandemic. In his inaugural address, Biden paused for what he called his first act as president — a moment of a silent prayer for the victims of the nation’s worst public health crisis in more than a century.He declared that he would “press forward with speed and urgency” in coming weeks. “For we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities — much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain,” he said in the speech.But Biden’s blitz of executive actions went beyond the pandemic. He targeted Trump’s environmental record, calling for a review of all regulations and executive actions that are deemed damaging to the environment or public health, aides said Tuesday as they previewed the moves.Another order instructs federal agencies to prioritize racial equity and review policies that reinforce systemic racism. Biden also revoked a Trump order that sought to exclude people in the U.S. illegally from the numbers used for apportioning congressional seats among the states and ordered federal employees to take an ethics pledge that commits them to upholding the independence of the Justice Department.The president also revoked the just-issued report of Trump’s “1776 Commission” that promotes “patriotic education.”READ MORE: 'Will repair our alliances, engage with the world once again': Biden in fiery inauguration speechThose moves and others will be followed by dozens more in the next 10 days, the president’s aides said, as Biden looks to redirect the country without having to go through a Senate that Democrats control by the narrowest margin and will soon turn to the impeachment trial of Trump, who is charged by the House of inciting the insurrection at the Capitol.Republicans signaled that Biden will face fierce opposition on some parts of his agenda.One of his orders seeks to fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, a signature effort of the Obama administration that provided hundreds of thousands of young immigrants protection from deportation and a pathway to citizenship. That’s part of a broader immigration plan Biden sent to Congress on Wednesday that would provide an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status.The plan would lead to “a permanent cycle of illegal immigration and amnesty that would hurt hard-working Americans and the millions of legal immigrants working their way through the legal immigration process,” said Chris Hartline, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.Even that familiar criticism seemed a return to the normalcy Biden has promised after years of disruptive and overheated politics. Hewing to tradition,Biden started his day by attending church with both Democratic and Republican leaders of Congress. His press secretary, Jen Psaki, held a briefing for reporters, a practice the Trump White House had all but abandoned in the final two months of the presidency. Psaki said she intended to restore regular briefings as part of the White House’s commitment to transparency.READ MORE: 'Committed to taking India-US partnership to even greater heights': PM Modi congratulates Joe Biden“I have deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in our democracy and for the role all of you play,” she said.Biden took other steps to try to signal his priorities and set the tone in his White House. As he swore in dozens of political appointees in a virtual ceremony, he declared he expected “honesty and decency” from all that worked for his administration and would fire anyone who shows disrespect to others “on the spot.”“Everyone is entitled to human decency and dignity,” Biden said. “That’s been missing in a big way for the last four years.” /* .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_6483081725 = { "file": "https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/01/0_dombrj4i/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_dombrj4i_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Joe Biden calls for unity in first speech as US President", "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": "1320", "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_6483081725 = ''; jwsetup_6483081725(); function jwsetup_6483081725() { jwvidplayer_6483081725 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_6483081725").setup(jwconfig_6483081725); jwvidplayer_6483081725.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_6483081725, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_dombrj4i\", ns_st_pr=\"Joe Biden calls for unity in first speech as US President\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Joe Biden calls for unity in first speech as US President\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Joe Biden calls for unity in first speech as US President\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2021-01-20\", ns_st_tdt=\"2021-01-20\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/01/0_dombrj4i/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_6483081725.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_6483081725.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_6483081725.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_6483081725.stop(); jwvidplayer_6483081725.remove(); jwvidplayer_6483081725 = ''; jwsetup_6483081725(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_6483081725.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_6483081725.stop(); jwvidplayer_6483081725.remove(); jwvidplayer_6483081725 = ''; jwsetup_6483081725(); return; }); jwvidplayer_6483081725.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_6483081725.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_6483081725.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_6483081725.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_6483081725.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_6483081725.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }

Rejoin Paris pact, lift Muslim travel ban and more: Joe Biden reverses Trump policies on day 1

The 15 executive actions, and two directives, amount to an attempt to rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed. Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office — and each signed just one.

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks at a press conference to discuss sexual assault allegations against a male staffer at Parliament House in Canberra.Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday apologized to a former government staffer who alleged she was raped by a colleague in a minister’s office two years ago.The former staffer Brittany Higgins alleged in a television interview on Monday that a colleague had raped her in the office of the then-Defense Industry Minister Linda Reynolds weeks before the 2019 election and that she did not receive the support she needed from bosses or other colleagues.The man she accused, who has not been named, was fired for a security breach in taking Higgins into the minister’s office and leaving her there on a couch after a night of heavy drinking.Higgins, who was Reynolds’ media adviser, said she decided not to pursue a police complaint at the time because she felt pressure that doing so would affect her employment.She resigned in January this year and said she plans to reinstate her police complaint.“I think that resigning is the only thing I can personally do to say that I don’t think anyone else should go through what I went through,” Higgins told Network Ten.Morrison said Reynolds should not have questioned Higgins about her accusation in the same office where Higgins alleged the rape took place.“That should not have happened, and I do apologize,” Morrison told reporters.Reynolds, who is now defense minister, also apologized for raising the matter with Higgins in her office, adding that the minister had not done enough to support the then 24-year-old staffer.“I deeply, deeply regret conducting the meeting in my office where the alleged incident occurred,” Reynolds said.Reynolds told the Senate she never gave Higgins a choice between her job and making a police complaint.Morrison described Higgins’ allegation as a wake-up call that must drive change within Parliament House.“It shatters me that still, in this day and age, a young woman can find herself in the vulnerable situation that she was in, not her doing,” Morrison said.“We have to do more, whether it’s in this workplace or any other workplace in the country, to ensure people can work safely in their place and be at their best and do what they went into that job to do,” he added.Morrison appointed government lawmaker Celia Hammond to work with political parties to investigate Parliament House culture, improve workplace standards and to protect staff.An automatic reporting obligation to department officials will be established for such allegation, Morrison said.Morrison said he first heard of Higgins’ allegation on Monday and his office only learned about it on Friday last week.The opposition questioned how Morrison could continue to have confidence in Reynolds since she hadn’t told him of the alleged rape.“My understanding is the minister acted in good faith toward Brittany and sought to support Brittany,” Morrison replied.Higgins issued a media statement on Tuesday thanking Morrison for his apology.“The prime minister’s announcement of an investigation into the culture in Parliament House is a welcomed first step, though it is long overdue,” Higgins said.“It should not have taken my story, or the story of other victim-survivors to air on national television for the prime minister — or any Member of Parliament — to take action on workplace sexual harassment, assault or bullying,” she added.Parliament House needed an independent reporting mechanism for staff so that they could confidently and safely make complaints, Higgins said.The Associated Press does not usually identify alleged victims of sexual assault, but Higgins has chosen to identify herself in the media.Opinion polls pointed to Morrison’s conservative coalition government losing power at the 2019 election which took place weeks after the alleged rape. But the government achieved a narrow victory.

Australian PM apologizes to ex-staffer who alleged she was raped in a minister's office

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday apologized to a former government staffer who alleged she was raped by a colleague in a minister’s office two years ago.

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Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, a renowned scientist and former president, is a revered figure in India whose name is taken with utmost respect. Many roads and educational institutions have been named after the People's President in a tribute to his service to the nation. But his popularity is not limited to national boundaries. NASA, the premier space agency of the world, has also recognised his contribution to science and has paid a tribute to much-loved Dr. Kalam. Scientists at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have named a new organism discovered by them after the late Indian President. Till date, the new organism -- a form of a bacteria -- has been found only on the International Space Station (ISS) and has not been found on earth! Researchers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the foremost lab of NASA for work on inter-planetary travel, discovered the new bacteria on the filters of the International Space Station (ISS) and named it Solibacillus kalamii to honour the late president, who was a renowned aerospace scientist. Kalam had his early training at NASA in 1963 before he set up India's first rocket-launching facility in the fishing village of Thumba in Kerala. "The name of the bacterium is Solibacillus kalamii, the species name is after Dr Abdul Kalam and genus name is Solibacillus which is a spore forming bacteria," said DrKasthuri Venkateswaran, senior research scientist, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group at JPL.The filter on which the new bug was found remained on board the ISS for 40 months. Called a high-efficiency particulate arrestance filter or HEPA filter, this part is the routine housekeeping and cleaning system on board the international space station. This filter was later analysed at JPL and only this year did Venkateswaran publish his discovery in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. According to Venkateswaran, even as it orbits the earth some 400 kilometres above, the ISS is home to many types of bacteria and fungi which co-inhabit the station with the astronauts who live and work on the station. Venkateswaran said even though Solibacillus kalamii has never been found on earth till date, it is really not an extra-terrestrial life form or ET. "I am reasonably sure it has hitch hiked to the space station on board some cargo and then survived the hostile conditions of space," explained Venkateswaran. Naming the new microbe after Kalam was natural to Venkateswaran and his team. "Being a fellow Tamilian, I am aware of the huge contributions by Dr. Kalam," he said. New bacteria are usually named after famous scientists. Venkateswaran is part of a team which is asking that eternal question "are we alone in the universe?" Towards that, his responsibilities include monitoring the bug levels on the ISS and he also has to ensure that all spacecraft that fly to other planets are free of terrestrial bugs. One of his big jobs was to ensure that NASA's Mars Curiosity rover -- the massive car-sized almost 1000 kg buggy -- was totally sterile when it left earth. By international law, this extreme hygiene is required else other planets could get contaminated by bugs that reach the Martian or other planets hidden on human satellites. Today the ISS is the size of a football field and its construction started with a launch in 1998 and as of now it is the largest human-made object orbiting the earth. Weighing about 419 tonnes, it can house a maximum of six astronauts and has costs roughly USD 150 billion. Till date, 227 astronauts have flown to the space station. This makes the space station actually a very dirty place and maintaining hygiene is critical so that humans can live on it with ease. On the space station all the air and water is recycled, being a completely closed environment there is a rapid build- up of moulds and bacteria on the station. These not only have to be cleaned but monitored to ensure that they do not corrode the walls of the space station and do not turn hazardous to the astronauts. Venkateswaran's main job is to monitor the environment of the space station so that harmful bugs do not proliferate. He heads the 'Microbial Observatory' on the ISS projects to measure microorganisms associated with compartments owned by the US.  According to NASA, he also directs several research and development tasks for the JPL - Mars Program Office, which enables the cleaning, sterilisation, and validation of spacecraft components. He directs several NASA competitive awards on the microbial monitoring of spacecraft and associated environments for the Exploration System Mission Directorate, closed habitats like ISS or its earth analogues for the Human Exploration and Operation Mission Directorate. But is the new bug of some use. "These spore formers tend to withstand high radiation and also produce some useful compounds protein wise which will be helpful for biotechnology applications," Venkateswaran said. His team has not characterised the bacteria fully but he hints that the new bug could be a key source for chemicals that can help protect against radiation damage.(With PTI inputs)

NASA's tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam: New species named after late Indian President

Scientists at NASA have named a new organism discovered by them after late Indian President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.

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Issuing a stern warning to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he will “truly regret” any hostile acts against Guam, any other US territory or any US allies. “If he (Kim Jong-Un) utters one threat, in the form of an overt threat, which by the way he has been uttering for years, and his family has been uttering for years, or if he does anything with respect to Guam, or any place else that’s an American territory or an American ally, he will truly regret it and he will regret it fast,” Trump told reporters at his summer vacation home in Bedminster, New Jersey on Thursday.  “I hope that they are going to fully understand the gravity of what I said, and what I said is what I mean. Those words are very easy to understand," he added.Earlier in the day, the US President told his 35.5 million followers on Twitter that military solutions against the nuclear-armed North Korean regime were “locked and loaded” for use if Pyongyang acted “unwisely”.  “Military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely. Hopefully (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un will find another path!” he wrote in a tweet. “USAF B-1B Lancer bombers on Guam stand ready to fulfil USFK’s fight tonight mission if called upon to do so,” the Pacific Command said in a tweet. Trump defended his stand against North Korea and claimed that Americans are happy with his remarks.  “My critics are only saying that because it’s me. If somebody else uttered the exact same words that I uttered, they’d say what a great statement, what a wonderful statement,” he said. “But I will tell you, we have tens of millions of people in this country that are so happy with what I am saying, because they say finally we have a president that’s sticking up for our nation and frankly, sticking up for our friends and our allies. This man will not get away with what he is doing, believe me,” he added. Talking about his tweet on the military solutions in Guam, Trump said, “I think it’s pretty obvious. We are looking at that very carefully and I hope they are going to fully understand the gravity of what I said, and what I said is what I mean.” He said he does not want to talk about back channel talks with North Koreans as being reported by some media outlets.  “We don’t want to talk about progress, we don’t want to talk about backchannels. We want to talk about a country that has misbehaved for many many years, decades actually, through numerous administrations and they didn’t want to take on the issue and I had no choice but to take it on, and I’m taking it on,” he said. “We will either be very, very successful quickly or we’re going to be very, very successful in a different way,  quickly,” he added.Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised Donald Trump’s handling of the North Korean stand-off during a press conference in Berlin on Thursday."I believe that an escalation of rhetoric will not contribute to a solution of this conflict. I do not see a military solution to this conflict rather I see continuous work like we saw in the UN Security Council with members with resolutions in view of North Korea,” she added.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also expressed his worry over ‘direct threats of force’ being exchanged between Donald Trump’s America and Kim Jong-un’s North Korea. "Unfortunately, the rhetoric in Washington and Pyongyang is now starting to go over the top. We still hope and believe that common sense will prevail," he said."The risks are very high, especially taking into account the rhetoric," he added.(With agency inputs)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un will ‘truly regret’ threats to US and allies, warns Donald Trump

“I hope that they are going to fully understand the gravity of what I said, and what I said is what I mean. Those words are very easy to understand," Trump added.

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Imran Khan- File photoPakistan government has decided to go ahead with the sale of luxury surplus vehicles of the Prime Minister House under the austerity drive of the new government, said a report on Saturday.A list of the luxury vehicles has been prepared to be sold during an auction set for September 17 at the Prime Minister House.Related Stories ‘We stand by our readout’: US insists Mike Pompeo discussed terrorism with Pakistan PM Imran KhanImran Khan delivers on austerity promise, bans first-class air travel for top Pakistan officialsPakistan’s new government bans VIP culture at airports Imran Khan's govt preparing proposal to resolve Kashmir issue: Pak minister Shireen MazariThe fleet of luxury vehicles includes eight BMWs, three cars of 2014 model, three 5000cc SUVs and two 3000cc SUVs of 2016 model, the Dawn reported.The list also contains four Mercedes Benz cars of 2016 model. Two of them are 4,000cc bullet-proof vehicles. There are 16 Toyota cars. One of them is 2004 Lexus car, one 2006 Lexus SUV and two 2004 Land Cruisers. Eight cars range from 2003 to 2013 models, the report said.Apart from these, four bullet-proof Land Cruiser vehicles of 2015 model are also up for auction.There is one Honda Civic 1800cc car and three Suzuki vehicles, including two Cultus cars and one APV, all of them are of 2013 model. The list also includes a 1994 model Hino bus, it said.Prime Minister Imran Khan, after his swearing on August 18, moved into a modest three-bed room house of his military secretary along with two servants.He had announced that he would not be staying in the sprawling PM House which has a staff of 524 and fleet of 80 vehicles, keeping his pledge to cut down the expenditure of the cash-strapped government.

Imran Khan’s govt executes austerity drive, to auction PM House’s luxury cars

A list of the luxury vehicles has been prepared to be sold during an auction set for September 17 at the Prime Minister House.

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PM Narendra Modi today visited Hindu and Buddhist temples and a mosque in ChinatownIn a demonstration of the age-old people to people contact between India and Singapore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited Hindu and Buddhist temples and a mosque in Chinatown.The prime minister, who is here on a three-day tour, visited Sri Mariamman Temple and participated in prayers. Sri Mariamman is the oldest Hindu temple in the country. The priest of the temple gifted a golden stole to Modi. "Reinforcing our strong cultural connect, PM @narendramodi visited the Mariamman Temple," Ministry of External Affiars spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. Built in 1827, the temple was constructed for worship by immigrants from Nagapatnam and Cuddalore districts of South India. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Mariamman, known for her power in curing epidemic illnesses and diseases. He also visited Chulia mosque which was built by Chulia Muslim merchants from India's Coromandal Coast under the leadership of Anser Sahib. This is one of the earliest mosques in Singapore. The mosque was established in 1826. Modi was presented a green shawl at the mosque. "Demonstrating the age-old people-to-people contact between our two countries," Kumar said. After the mosque, Modi visited the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. "Shared Buddhist heritage! PM @narendramodi visited the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum in Singapore accompanied by the Culture Minister Grace Fu Hai Yien," Kumar said. The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple was built in 2007, but the temple's richly designed interiors and comprehensive exhibits on Buddhist art and history tell stories of culture over hundreds of years old. The temple gets its name from what the Buddhists regard as the left canine tooth of Buddha, which has been recovered from his funeral pyre in Kushinagar Uttar Pradesh and displayed in its grounds. WATCH THE FULL VIDEO:  /* .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_5404791365 = { "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_5404791365 = ''; jwsetup_5404791365(); function jwsetup_5404791365() { jwvidplayer_5404791365 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_5404791365").setup(jwconfig_5404791365); jwvidplayer_5404791365.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_5404791365, { 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_5404791365.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_5404791365.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_5404791365.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_5404791365.stop(); jwvidplayer_5404791365.remove(); jwvidplayer_5404791365 = ''; jwsetup_5404791365(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_5404791365.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_5404791365.stop(); jwvidplayer_5404791365.remove(); jwvidplayer_5404791365 = ''; jwsetup_5404791365(); return; }); jwvidplayer_5404791365.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_5404791365.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_5404791365.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_5404791365.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_5404791365.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_5404791365.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }  

PM Modi in Singapore: PM visits Hindu, Buddhist temples and mosque

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited Hindu and Buddhist temples and a mosque in Chinatown. This ensured the demonstration of the age-old people-to-people contact between India and Singapore.

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The ceremony for the reopening of the Disneyland theme park is held in Shanghai Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractions.Visitors wearing face masks streamed into Shanghai Disneyland as China’s most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy. The park, which closed Jan. 25, will limit visitor numbers and is keeping some attractions closed in line with social distancing guidelines, company executives said.The reopening adds to efforts by companies and the ruling Communist Party to revive the world’s second-largest economy following a shutdown that plunged it into its worst slump since at least the 1960s.“We hope that today’s reopening serves as a beacon of light across the globe, providing hope and inspiration to everyone,” the president of Shanghai Disney Resort, Joe Schott, told reporters.China, where the pandemic began in December, was the first economy to shut down and the first to reopen after the ruling party declared the disease under control in early March.Factories and shops have reopened but cinemas, karaoke parlors, gyms and other businesses still are closed.Image Source : APVisitors, wearing face masks, wait to enter the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai as it reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractionsVisitors, wearing face masks, wait to enter the Disneyland theme park in Shanghai as it reopened, Monday, May 11, 2020. Visits will be limited initially and must be booked in advance, and the company said it will increase cleaning and require social distancing in lines for the various attractionsDisney guests, many wearing Mickey Mouse ears, and children dressed as movie characters were checked for the virus’s telltale fever at the gate. The company’s signature tune, “When You Wish Upon a Star” played over loudspeakers.Decals on sidewalks and at lines for attractions show visitors where to stand to keep a safe distance. The company said rides will be limited to one group of visitors per car to keep strangers separated.“Excited about the opening of the gate!” people in the first group of guests shouted as they entered the park.Visitors are required to make advance reservations, show government-issued identification and download a smartphone app issued by the Shanghai city government that tracks their health and their contacts with anyone who might have been exposed to the virus.That allows the company to “understand and regulate the flow of traffic,” said Andrew Bolstein, the park’s senior vice president for operations.Activities including children’s play areas and indoor theater shows are closed in line with government restrictions, Bostein said.“We hope to bring them back some time soon,” he said.ALSO READ | US virus patients and businesses sue China over coronavirus pandemicALSO READ | China's state TV's deleted social media post claiming entire Mt Everest continues to draw flak in Nepal

Shanghai Disneyland reopens with anti-virus controls

Visitors wearing face masks streamed into Shanghai Disneyland as China's most prominent theme park reopened Monday in a new step toward rolling back anti-coronavirus controls that shut down its economy.

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Russia Ukraine War: Chinese firms aiding Russia could be shut down, US official warnsChinese companies that defy Western sanctions on Russia and Belarus can be subjected to "devastating" actions, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said on Tuesday. On February 24, Russia started the invasion of Ukraine. Since then, dozens of countries, including Japan, South Korea and Australia, have imposed financial sanctions and travel bans against Russia."We could essentially shut SMIC [Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation] down because we prevent them from using our equipment and our software," Raimondo said told The New York Times (NYT) in an interview about Chinese firms that continue working with Russia.US Commerce Secretary added that SMIC or any Chinese companies breaching US export control measures can be shut down should they deliver chips and other high-tech items to the sanctioned countries.The NYT report said the export controls prohibit the sale of certain high-tech products, including advanced semiconductors, to Russia and Belarus.According to the report, the export controls apply not just to US firms, but also to companies that use American software or technology to manufacture their products.Raimondo's remarks come a day after the US had issued a warning saying, Washington has the means to "take steps" against China if Beijing does not abide by the sanctions on Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine."We have also seen China abide by the sanctions that have been put in place. They obviously abstained, also from the UN Security Council vote, and have made some comments about the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. If they don't abide by the sanctions we always have, you know, we clearly have means to take steps but that's what we have seen today," White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said during a press briefing. (With inputs from ANI)Also Read | Biden announces ban on all Russian oil imports; says 'Ukraine will never be a victory for Putin'

Russia Ukraine War: Chinese firms aiding Russia could be shut down, US official warns

US Commerce Secretary said that SMIC or any Chinese companies breaching US export control measures can be shut down should they deliver chips and other high-tech items to the sanctioned countries.

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Horrified witnesses of the terror attacks at two central London landmarks today narrated tales of the gruesome events that unfolded when three knife-wielding men mowed down people and launched a stabbing spree when many were out for dinner or drinks in restaurants and pubs. Bethany Atkin, a journalist, was at Boro Bistro at small restaurant which sits under a small bridge on Borough High Street."We were sitting outside under umbrellas underneath the bridge and there was a shower of rubble that landed on the umbrellas, a van had crashed into the bridge. "We stood up, everyone was moving, I saw a man who was bleeding. I don't know how he was injured. We ran into the restaurant and tried to find a safe place but there wasn't one," Atkin, who works for the Guardian newspaper, said. Running back outside, Atkin said he saw another casualty. "We saw a woman with blood, about 20 metres from the bridge. I saw her lying down on the floor." A witness called Mark told the BBC Radio 5 Live programme he saw a van hit a group of people on the bridge. "It knocked a person about 20ft in the air. Within my line of sight there must have been about five or six people on the ground. They looked either dead or dying," he said. Police boats were searching the Thames River - apparently looking for people who may have been thrown off the bridge. BBC reporter Holly Jones, who was on the bridge at the time of the attack, said a van driven by a man was "probably travelling at about 80km an hour" before it hit a number of people."He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people. He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind," she said. "I'd say there are about four severely injured people. They all have paramedics assisting them at the moment." Speaking to the Press Association, Will Orton described being in a pub in the area and seeing people coming running inside. "We didn't really know what was going on. We thought maybe there was a fight or something outside. And then there were almost hundreds of people coming inside," he said. "The bouncers did a really good job, they shut the doors and locked everyone in. There was panic - it seemed like it was literally outside the door. People were coming inside and saying they had witnessed people being stabbed." Alex Shellum told Fairfax Media that he was at the Mudlark pub underneath London Bridge at about 10 pm when a woman entered bleeding from the neck. "At around 10:00 pm an injured woman came into the pub seeking assistance. It appeared that her throat had been cut." Another witness in the Mudlark, 54-year-old Jeff Whitsey, said the woman, in her 20s, staggered into the pub, aided by her friends. She was clearly seriously injured. "It was a very deep cut. There was blood everywhere... blood was spurting out. It was awful. Absolutely awful." Gerard Vowls, 47, had been watching the Champions League final at the Ship pub in Borough. He was at the start of the south side of London Bridge and saw a woman being stabbed by three men 10 or 15 times. "She was going, 'Help me, help me' and I couldn't do nothing," he said. "I want to know if this girl is still alive. I've been walking around for an hour and a half crying my eyes out. I don't know what to do." Vowls said he was throwing chairs, glasses and bottles at the attackers in a bid to stop them. Men brandishing knives reportedly jumped from a van that crashed near Brindisa restaurant and began stabbing people. "They literally just started kicking them, punching them, they took out knives. It was a rampage really," one man told the BBC. The group of attackers headed towards Southwark Cathedral. "Throughout the whole way across the bridge, there were people littered across bleeding. People were trying to help each other," the witness said. Owen Evans, 39, was in The Wheatsheaf pub nearby on Stoney Street, with friends when shooting broke out. "I was in the back of the pub. A wave of about 30 people ran in and tried to get into the cellar or cupboard. Then there were shots outside. They didn't seem real - like a kid letting off firecrackers. We saw police lights and everyone got down under a table. People turned tables over," he said. The attack comes almost two weeks after 22 people died in a suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester. In March, five people died in London when a car was driven at pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and a police officer was stabbed outside Parliament.

Witnesses share horrific details of London terror attacks

Horrified witnesses of the terror attacks at two central London landmarks today narrated tales of the gruesome events that unfolded when three knife-wielding men mowed down people and launched a stabbing spree.

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Trump's meeting with Putin in Helsinki was his first time sharing the international stage. (Photo/AP)In an extraordinary embrace of a longtime US enemy, President Donald Trump on Monday openly questioned his own intelligence agencies' firm finding that Russia meddled in the 2016 US election to his benefit, seeming to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's insistence that Moscow's hands were clean.The reaction back home was immediate and visceral, among fellow Republicans as well as usual Trump critics. "Shameful," ''disgraceful," ''weak," were a few of the comments. Makes the US "look like a pushover," said GOP Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee.Related Stories Donald Trump’s comment on Brexit left people confused if it’s funny or sad. Watch videoHelsinki summit: Trump says he sees no reason why Russia would interfere in 2016 US Presidential electionTrump-Putin Summit: Russian President says he did not interfere in 2016 US Presidential electionsTrump's meeting with Putin in Helsinki was his first time sharing the international stage with a man he has described as an important US competitor — but whom he has also praised a strong, effective leader.His remarks, siding with a foe on foreign soil over his own government, was a stark illustration of Trump's willingness to upend decades of US foreign policy and rattle Western allies in service of his political concerns. A wary and robust stance toward Russia has been a bedrock of his party's world view. But Trump made clear he feels that any firm acknowledgement of Russia's involvement would undermine the legitimacy of his election.Standing alongside Putin, Trump steered clear of any confrontation with the Russian, going so far as to question American intelligence and last week's federal indictments that accused 12 Russians of hacking into Democratic email accounts to hurt Hillary Clinton in 2016.Image Source : AP Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a soccer ball to US President Donald Trump, left, during a press conference after their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)  Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a soccer ball to US President Donald Trump, left, during a press conference after their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) "I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today."He just said it's not Russia. I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be," Trump said.His skepticism drew a quick formal statement — almost a rebuttal — from Trump's director of national Intelligence, Dan Coats."We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy, and we will continue to provide unvarnished and objective intelligence in support of our national security," Coats said.Fellow GOP politicians have generally stuck with Trump during a year and a half of turmoil, but he was assailed as seldom before as he returned home Monday night from what he had hoped would by a proud summit with Putin.Sen. John McCain of Arizona was most outspoken, declaring that Trump made a "conscious choice to defend a tyrant" and achieved "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." House Speaker Paul Ryan, who rarely criticizes Trump, stressed there was "no question" that Russia had interfered.Even staunch Trump backer Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, called Trump's comments "the most serious mistake of his presidency" and said they "must be corrected_-immediately."Former CIA Director John Brennan, who served under President Barack Obama, called Trump's words "nothing short of treasonous." Brennan tweeted: "Not only were Trump's comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???"In a Fox News Channel interview after the summit, Putin pronounced the meetings "the beginning of the path" back from the West's past efforts to isolate Russia. "I think you see for yourself that these efforts failed, and they were never bound to succeed," he said.As he flew home to Washington aboard Air Force One, Trump tried to clarify his position via tweet, saying: "As I said today and many times before, 'I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people.' However, I also recognize that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past - as the world's two largest nuclear powers, we must get along!"In their totality, Trump's remarks amounted to an unprecedented embrace of a man who for years has been isolated by the US and Western allies for actions in Ukraine, Syria and beyond. And it came at the end of an extraordinary trip to Europe in which Trump had already berated allies, questioned the value of the NATO alliance and demeaned leaders including Germany's Angela Merkel and Britain's Theresa May.The two leaders' long-awaited summit began with a private face-to-face sitdown — just the leaders and their interpreters — that lasted more than two hours, before additional meetings joined by senior aides.The pair had held lengthy talks before — on the sidelines of world leader meetings in Germany and Vietnam last year — but this was their first official summit and was being watched closely, especially following the announcement Friday of new indictments against 12 Russian intelligence officers accused of hacking Democratic emails to help Trump's campaign.Asked about the indictments, Putin suggested that Moscow and Washington could jointly conduct the investigation, inviting special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators to come to Russia to interview the 12 people— an idea Trump hailed as an "incredible offer."Putin said he'd expect the US to return the favor and cooperate in the Russian probe against William Browder, a British investor charged with financial crimes in Russia. Browder, an outspoken Putin critic, was a driving force behind a US law targeting Russian officials over human rights abuses.The summit began just hours after Trump blamed the United States — and not Russian election meddling or its annexation of Crimea — for a low-point in US-Russia relations."Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse," Trump tweeted Monday morning, blaming "many years of US foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!"The Russian foreign ministry responded by liking Trump's tweet and then replying: "We agree."Asked whether Russia was responsible at all, Trump said "we're all to blame" for the soured relations.However, "that changed," he said, "as of about four hours ago."Putin ridiculed as "sheer nonsense" allegations that Russian intelligence agencies had collected compromising information on Trump during his visit to Moscow years before the election, saying that he had no idea Trump was even visiting.Still, Putin said he had indeed wanted Trump to win the election — a revelation that might have made more headlines if not for Trump's performance — but had taken no action to make it happen."Yes, I wanted him to win because he spoke of normalization of Russian-US ties," Putin said. "Isn't it natural to feel sympathy to a person who wanted to develop relations with our country? It's normal."At the closing press conference, Putin, riding high after hosting a successful World Cup, unveiled a gift he'd brought for Trump: a red and white soccer ball, which he tossed to Trump at the neighboring lectern. Trump passed it over to his wife, and said they'd give it to their soccer-loving 12-year-old son, Barron.Out on the streets, the summit attracted a grab-bag of protesters, with abortion-rights activists wearing artificially bulging bellies and Trump masks, anti-fascist protesters bearing signs with expletive-laden insults, and free traders, anti-war Ukrainians and gay rights supporters making their voices hear.Watch: What happened when Trump met Putin in Helsinki /* .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_2749356352 = { "file": "https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_w1u3qmbo_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_w1u3qmbo_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Trump-Putin Helsinki Summit: US leader hails 'good start' with Russian President", "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_2749356352 = ''; jwsetup_2749356352(); function jwsetup_2749356352() { jwvidplayer_2749356352 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_2749356352").setup(jwconfig_2749356352); jwvidplayer_2749356352.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_2749356352, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_w1u3qmbo\", ns_st_pr=\"Trump-Putin Helsinki Summit: US leader hails 'good start' with Russian President\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Trump-Putin Helsinki Summit: US leader hails 'good start' with Russian President\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Trump-Putin Helsinki Summit: US leader hails 'good start' with Russian President\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2018-07-17\", ns_st_tdt=\"2018-07-17\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_w1u3qmbo_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_2749356352.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_2749356352.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_2749356352.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_2749356352.stop(); jwvidplayer_2749356352.remove(); jwvidplayer_2749356352 = ''; jwsetup_2749356352(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_2749356352.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_2749356352.stop(); jwvidplayer_2749356352.remove(); jwvidplayer_2749356352 = ''; jwsetup_2749356352(); return; }); jwvidplayer_2749356352.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2749356352.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2749356352.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2749356352.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2749356352.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2749356352.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }

Trump faces backlash in US after he questions CIA during meeting with Putin

The summit began just hours after Trump blamed the United States — and not Russian election meddling or its annexation of Crimea — for a low-point in US-Russia relations.

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Pakistan Air Force aircraft crashes during routine training mission (Representational Image)An aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force crashed on Wednesday in the northwestern part of the country during a routine training mission, the third such accident within a month. The PAF spokesperson said in a statement that the jet was on a routine training mission when it crashed near Takht Bhai area of Mardan district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province."The pilot ejected safely,” according to the statement.It said a board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of the accident.The statement did not identify the model of the aircraft.It was the second PAF aircraft to suffer the mishap in less than a week. On February 7, a Mirage jet crashed during a routine operational training mission near the Shorkot area in Punjab province.The PAF suffers periodic accidents during training missions.On January 7, two Pakistan Air Force pilots were killed when their China-made trainer aircraft crashed in Punjab province. 

Pakistan Air Force aircraft crashes during routine training mission

An aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force crashed on Wednesday in the northwestern part of the country during a routine training mission, the third such accident within a month.

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Hafiz SaeedDespite Pakistan government outlawing his organisation Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed on Saturday led Eidul Fitr prayers at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore.Addressing the gathering, Hafiz Saeed asked Pakistani citizens to extend their full support to the people of Kashmir.Related Stories Hafiz Saeed's political ambitions dashed as Pakistan EC rejects application to register his Milli Muslim LeagueHafiz Saeed's MML to contest Pakistan polls under banner of AAT Despite the ban on JuD, the Pakistani government has allowed Hafiz Saeed to hold public rallies and lead gatherings in the country.Hafiz Saeed carries a $10-million US bounty on his head for his role in terror activities and the United States had declared his outfit JuD as a foreign terrorist organisation in June 2014.In 2017, Pakistan had promulgated an ordinance to amend the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act to list JuD and the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) as terror organisations. The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people.(With PTI inputs)

Defying ban on his outfit JuD, Hafiz Saeed leads Eid prayers in Lahore

Hafiz Saeed carries a $10-million US bounty on his head for his role in terror activities and the United States had declared his outfit JuD as a foreign terrorist organisation in June 2014.

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US President Donald Trump unveils colour scheme for new Air Force One jets US President Donald Trump has unveiled a red, white and blue colur scheme for new Air Force One jets.Trump, who has expressed an intention to replace the traditional baby blue and white exterior with a fresh design, touted some designs during a TV interview in the Oval Office on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency.Related Stories Donald Trump suspends Mexico tariffs after reaching migration dealKeep this tweet away from your children's reach: Trump trolled after he claims moon part of MarsYou are making a giant mistake: Trump yells at Twitter over banned conservative voicesPM Modi, Xi Jinping to discuss Donald Trump's trade war: ChinaUS can no longer be fooled: Trump targets India for imposing 50% tariff on American motorcyclesChina going to make trade deal with United States: Donald TrumpChina getting hurt by United Stated tarrifs badly wants a deal with America: Donald Trump"Here's your new Air Force One and I'm doing that for other presidents, not for me," Trump said.The redesign was part of a contract with Boeing to build a fleet of two new presidential jets, scheduled to arrive by 2024.The Air Force One is one of the most recognized symbols of the US presidency.

Donald Trump unveils colour scheme for new Air Force One jets

The redesign was part of a contract with Boeing to build a fleet of two new presidential jets, scheduled to arrive by 2024.

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Tough competition between PTI, PML-N in Pak by-electionThe ruling PTI and the main opposition PML-N were neck and neck as results started pouring in from across Pakistan after the by-election in 35 national and provincial assemblies on Sunday. The polling for 11 national and 24 provincial assembly seats started at 8 am and closed at 5 pm local time, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).The counting began soon after the closure of the voting.Related Stories Pakistan to give nationality to Bangladeshi immigrants, announces Imran KhanImran Khan government auctions 70 luxury cars as part of austerity drivePakistan: Imran Khan government hikes gas prices by up to 143 per cent Pakistan's 'cricketer' PM Imran Khan to watch India-Pak Asia Cup match in Dubai tomorrow: Local mediaImran Khan embarks on first overseas visit after becoming PMImran Khan writes to PM Modi, urges resumption of India-Pakistan talks Pak opposition slams PM Imran Khan for 'diplomatic debacle' with IndiaPakistan: Supreme Court rejects petition seeking PM Imran Khan's disqualificationPakistan: Cash-starved Imran Khan govt auctions 8 buffaloes kept by Nawaz Sharif at PM HousePak ex-PMs Nawaz, Abbasi appear before Lahore Court in treason case linked to Mumbai attackPakistan successfully test-fires nuclear-capable Ghauri ballistic missileChina to sell 48 high-end military drones to PakistanSevere balance-of-payments crisis forces Pakistan to seek largest loan package from IMFPakistan threatens India of '10 surgical strikes', says 'don't doubt our capabilities'Dawn reported that Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf PTI and former premier Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslims League-Nawaz PML-N were leading on four seats each in the National Assembly.Pakistan Muslims League-Quadi was leading on two seats and Muttahida Majlis Amal leading on one seat.Geo TV reported that former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi won from NA-124 Lahore.Elections were held in nine national assembly constituencies in Punjab and one each in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 24 provincial assemblies’ seats, including 11 in Punjab, nine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two each in Sindh and Balochistan.Most of these seats were vacated by those candidates who had won on more than one seat during general elections on July 25.Prime Minister Khan had won five seats and vacated four.Thousands of soldiers had been deployed to provide security at 7,489 polling stations.The deployment of troops started on Friday and they will remain on election duty till October 15.The Election Commission had designated as many as 1,727 polling stations as 'highly sensitive' where extra troops were deployed and security cameras were installed.They include 848 polling stations in Punjab, 544 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 201 in Sindh and 134 in Balochistan.Soldiers have been deployed inside and outside of the polling stations in order to avoid any untoward incident.

Pakistan by-election: Initial results show tough competition between ruling PTI, opposition PML-N

Elections were held in nine national assembly constituencies in Punjab, one each in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 24 provincial assemblies’ seats.

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UNESCO adds 5 more sites to World Heritage List.The World Heritage Committee has added four cultural sites, located in Russia, Italy, Slovenia and the UK and one natural site in Africa to the Unesco's World Heritage List.The additions made on Wednesday were decided the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee held online and chaired from Fuzhou, China, which is examining nominations from both 2020 and 2021, according to a Unesco statement.In Russia, "Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea", containing 4,500 petroglyphs carved in the rocks during the Neolithic period dated 6,000 to 7,000 years ago, is one of the largest such sites in Europe with petroglyphs that document Neolithic culture in Fennoscandia.The serial property encompasses 33 sites in two component parts 300 km apart: 22 petroglyph sites at Lake Onega in the district of Pudozhsky featuring a total of over 1,200 figures and 3,411 figures in 11 sites by the White Sea in the district of Belomorsky."They show significant artistic qualities and testify to the creativity of the Stone Age," said the committee.In Italy, the "Porticoes of Bologna" comprises 12 component parts consisting of ensembles of porticoes and their surrounding areas built from the 12th century to the present."Together, the selected porticoes reflect different typologies, urban and social functions and chronological phases. Defined as private property for public use, the porticoes have become an expression and element of Bologna's urban identity," said the committee.The urban design work of Joze Plecnik carried in Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia, between World War I and World War II were inscribed on the list as it consists of a series of public spaces and public institutions that were sensitively integrated into the pre-existing urban, natural and cultural context and contributed to the city's new identity.The committee noted that "it is an exceptional case of creating public spaces, buildings and green areas according to the vision of a single architect within a limited time, the limited space of an existing city, and with relatively limited resources".The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales in the UK became a World Heritage site as it "offers an important and remarkable example of interchange of materials, technology and human values".The territory, extending from mountain-top to sea-coast, presented opportunities and constraints that were used and challenged by the large-scale industrial processes undertaken by landowners and capital investors, which reshaped the agricultural landscape into an industrial centre for slate production during the Industrial Revolution (1780-1914).The new natural site is Ivindo National Park situated on the equator in northern Gabon. The largely pristine site encompasses an area of almost 300,000 hectares crossed by a network of picturesque blackwater rivers.It features rapids and waterfalls bordered by intact rainforest, which make for a landscape of great aesthetic value. The site's aquatic habitats harbour endemic freshwater fish species, 13 of which are threatened, and at least seven species of Podostemaceae riverweeds, with probable micro-endemic aquatic flora at each waterfall.The committee also approved an extension to the existing transnational World Heritage site of "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe".The property now comprises 94 component parts across 18 countries and "represents an outstanding example of relatively undisturbed, complex temperate forests and exhibit a wide spectrum of comprehensive ecological patterns and processes of pure and mixed stands of European beech across a variety of environmental conditions". /* .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_3860331342 = { "file": "https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_7q83u993_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_7q83u993_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Mughal gardens of Kashmir to be included in UNESCO world heritage sites", "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": "253", "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" } ] } }; 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UNESCO adds 5 more sites to World Heritage List

The additions made on Wednesday were decided the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee held online and chaired from Fuzhou, China, which is examining nominations from both 2020 and 2021, according to a Unesco statement.

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Representational Image.A Hindu temple in the Hague was vandalised earlier this week. Alleging the act as 'intentional', the chairman of the temple temple Siddarth Ramdhani said; "not only during Ramadan, but also during our religious festivities, youths are harassing us.""The temple is a mess. The windows were broken by several large stones that were found inside. They were probably thrown from a fairground opposite the temple.They had to make considerable effort, because both windows are double glazed", he added.The Hindu temple is in The Hague’s 'Schilderswijk area', allegedly known for being a hotbed for jihadist and ISIS sympathisers.Earlier in 2014, several radicals were arrested and sentenced by a Dutch court for being members of a criminal organisation following a large anti-Israel demonstration that took place in the area.

Hindu temple vandalised near Muslim suburb in the Netherlands

The Hindu temple is in The Hague’s 'Schilderswijk area', allegedly known for being a hotbed for jihadist and ISIS sympathisers.

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Sara Danius, the first woman to lead the Swedish institution that awards the Nobel Prize in literatureSara Danius, the first woman to lead the Swedish institution that awards the Nobel Prize in literature, has died at age 57.Her family told Swedish news agency TT that Danius, a literary scholar, critic and author, passed away early Saturday following a long illness.Swedish media said she had breast cancer.Danius was elected to a lifetime position on the Swedish Academy’s board in 2013 and because the body’s first female permanent secretary in 2015. She resigned the position in 2018.The Stockholm University professor published a book last year about singer-songwriter Bob Dylan after playing a central role in the Swedish Academy’s decision to make him a Nobel laureate in 2016.“Everything she did was characterized by a rare strength and luminosity,” read a brief obituary on the Swedish Academy’s website Saturday.Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustav said he was sad to hear of Danius’ death. The monarch, who is the academy’s patron, said they held regular meetings with “interesting conversations” during her time there.“A strong cultural figure has left us, way too early,” Carl XVI Gustav said in a statement.Danius resigned as head of the prestigious institution in early 2018 after an internal dispute grew into a sexual misconduct and financial crime scandal that aroused concerns in the king and brought criticism from the Nobel Foundation’s board.Danius wasn’t accused of personal wrongdoing. When she stepped down as permanent secretary, she said her academy colleagues had lost confidence in her leadership and acknowledged the internal turmoil had “already affected the Nobel Prize quite severely.”The Swedish Academy didn’t award the literature prize last year so named two winners - one for 2018 and one for 2019 - on Thursday.ALSO READ | Nobel Prize in Literature for 2018, 2019 announcedALSO READ | Nobel Prize in Literature won't be awarded this year following sex-abuse charges, financial scandals: Swedish Academy

First female head of Nobel’s literature award body has died

Danius was elected to a lifetime position on the Swedish Academy’s board in 2013 and because the body’s first female permanent secretary in 2015. She resigned the position in 2018.

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Nations need to come together to provide vital treatment to suppress COVID-19 transmissionDescribing the coronavirus as the number one "global security threat" facing the world today, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that nations need to come together to provide vital treatment to suppress transmission and save lives over the next year. "This is also the moment when the international community needs to come together to defeat the virus. Many pin their hopes on a vaccine - but let’s be clear: there is no panacea in a pandemic. A vaccine alone cannot solve this crisis; certainly not in the near term,” Guterres said at a press conference on Wednesday.He said nations need to massively expand new and existing tools that can respond to new cases and provide vital treatment to suppress transmission and save lives, especially over the next 12 months.Guterres voiced concern that the outbreak is out of control and the world will soon pass "the grimmest of milestones” with one million lives lost to the virus."The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis unlike any in our lifetimes, and so this year’s General Assembly session will be unlike any other, too,” he said."In this 75th anniversary year, we face our own 1945 moment. We must meet that moment,” he said, calling for solidarity and unity “like never before” to overcome today’s emergency, get the world moving and working and prospering again.Guterres underscored the importance of making a coronavirus vaccine affordable and available to all while also calling for combating misinformation and mistrust about a vaccine that may hinder its wide dissemination."Starting now, a vaccine must be seen as a global public good, because COVID-19 respects no borders. We need a vaccine to be affordable and available to all - a people’s vaccine,” he said, adding that this means a quantum leap in funding for the ACT-Accelerator and its COVAX Facility.Guterres stressed that for any vaccine to work, people across the globe need to be willing to take it."But with the spread of the virus, we are also seeing a proliferation of misinformation about a future vaccine. This is fuelling vaccine hesitancy and igniting wild conspiracy theories. Mistrust in vaccines is on the rise around the world,” he said.Guterres noted with concern the alarming reports of large segments of the population in some countries indicating their reluctance or even refusal to take a COVID-19 vaccine. “In the face of this lethal disease, we must do our utmost to halt deadly misinformation,” he said.The 75th session of the UN General Assembly commenced Tuesday and for the first time in the history of the world organization, world leaders will not be travelling to New York to address the annual high-level session and summits due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, nations will send in pre-recorded video statements of their Heads of State and Government that will be played in the General Assembly hall, beginning with the General Debate that begins on September 22.Guterres said in his speech to the 193-member organization on the opening day of the General Debate, he will make an appeal to the international community to mobilize all efforts for the global ceasefire to become a reality by the end of the year, calling on nations to make a new collective push for peace. 

Nations need to come together to provide vital treatment to suppress COVID-19 transmission: UN chief

Describing the coronavirus as the number one "global security threat" facing the world today, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that nations need to come together to provide vital treatment to suppress transmission and save lives over the next year.

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At least 88 people were killed and scores of others wounded following attacks by bandits in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kebbi, local police confirmed on Saturday. At least 88 people were killed and scores of others wounded following attacks by bandits in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kebbi, local police confirmed on Saturday.The bandits unleashed terror on eight different communities in the Danko-Wasagu local government area of the state on Thursday, Nafi'u Abubakar, the state police spokesperson told reporters in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital."Initially, the bodies recovered were 66 but as I am talking to you now, about 88 bodies have been recovered," Abubakar said. Security operatives were deployed to the communities to forestall further attacks, he said.In late April, nine policemen and two members of a civilian defense group in Kebbi were killed while repelling an attack by gunmen.  (ANI Inputs)Also Read: Nigerian government-enforced Twitter suspension takes effectAlso Read: Nigeria suspends Twitter over president's deleted tweet

Gunmen kill nearly 88 people in attacks in NW Nigeria

At least 88 people were killed and scores of others wounded following attacks by bandits in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kebbi, local police confirmed on Saturday.

a3d803bf034bd9d50e4447e6588d6933

US President Donald Trump with Chinese President Xi JinpingTop officials from the US and China will resume negotiations to resolve the ongoing trade war between the two world powers, Chinese Commerce Ministry said on Thursday.Ministry's spokesman Gao Feng told reporters that the heads of the two economic and trade teams would hold trade talks according to instructions passed down from the Presidents of the two countries.Related Stories Rupee logs third straight loss; Indo-US trade tiff weighsXi Jinping's North Korea visit has nothing to do with US: ChinaTrump to hold extended talks with Xi on sidelines of G20 in Japan next weekWithout offering further details, the spokesperson said that Beijing's stand regarding the conflict had not changed and urged Washington to resolve the main Chinese concerns in the next round of discussions, which should be held "as equals", Efe news reported.The announcement comes soon after US President Donald Trump said he would meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during the G20 summit on June 28-29 in Osaka, Japan.The two leaders had a telephonic conversation on Wednesday in which Trump expressed confidence that dialogue between the negotiating teams would help in ending the dispute "as early as possible", while Xi acknowledged that ties with the US had "encountered some difficulties".Although both Beijing and Washington have often talked of "substantial" progress in negotiations and leaked news about an imminent deal, the last round of talks in May ended in a complete breakdown of negotiations.Both sides had blamed each other for the deadlock. While the US said China had gone back on its commitment, Beijing said Washington continued to add new demands in each meeting, some of which undermined its sovereignty.Trump's reaction was swift. He fulfilled his threat of hiking import tariffs from 10 per cent to 25 per cent on Chinese products worth $200 billion. Beijing responded with a similar measure, imposing fresh tariffs on American products worth $60 billion.The next exchange of blows took place when Washington banned Chinese tech giant Huawei in the US, citing threats to national security. Beijing announced the establishment of a blacklist for foreign companies that "seriously harm Chinese firms' rights and legitimate interests".

China, US to resume trade negotiations

Ministry's spokesman Gao Feng told reporters that the heads of the two economic and trade teams would hold trade talks according to instructions passed down from the Presidents of the two countries.

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Pakistan's coronavirus tally crosses 19,000; death toll at 440Pakistan's coronavirus tally crossed 19,000 on Sunday after 989 new patients were diagnosed in the last 24 hours. The Ministry of National Health Services said 23 patients died in this period, taking the total toll to 440. So far, 4,817 people have recovered from the deadly virus, the ministry said. Out of the total 19,103 virus patients in the country, Punjab has reported 7,106 cases, Sindh 7,102, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 2,907, Balochistan 1,172, Islamabad 393, Gilgit-Baltistan 356 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 67 cases.The authorities so far have conducted 203,025 tests, including 8,716 in the last 24 hours. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday night said he was not sure when the vaccine against COVID-19 will be available and expressed fears that "we may have to live with the coronavirus for six months or (even) a year".Khan said the war against the pandemic can be won by wisdom and not by using force to shut down the masses.ALSO READ | Pakistan: Sindh province reports 253 children with COVID-19

Pakistan's coronavirus tally crosses 19,000; death toll at 440

Pakistan's coronavirus tally crossed 19,000 on Sunday after 989 new patients were diagnosed in the last 24 hours. The Ministry of National Health Services said 23 patients died in this period, taking the total toll to 440.

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Indian national sentenced to 22 yrs for defrauding Americans. A US court has sentenced an Indian national to 22 years in prison for defrauding over 4,000 Americans of more than USD 10 million with his operation of an overseas robocall scam.Shehzadkhan Pathan, 40, operated a call center in Ahmedabad from which automated robocalls were made to victims in the United States.After establishing contact with victims through these automated calls, Pathan and other “closers” at his call center would coerce, cajole, and trick victims into sending bulk cash through physical shipments and electronic money transfers, the Department of Justice said on Thursday.Pathan and his conspirators used a variety of schemes to convince victims to send money, including impersonating law enforcement officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and representatives of other government agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, to threaten victims with severe legal and financial consequences.Conspirators also convinced victims to send money as initial installments for falsely promised loans, federal prosecutors said.“This defendant has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for being the mastermind and leader of an extensive multimillion-dollar robocall scheme that, from overseas, exploited over 4,000 American victims,” said Raj Parekh, Acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.“The impact of the harm inflicted on the victims of these robocall schemes can be devastating. The victims, many of whom are elderly, continue to endure significant financial hardship from the defendant’s vast fraud enterprise,” he said.Pathan operated and supervised the call center and was the ‘closer’ when speaking to victims. He managed the money couriers who illegally sent millions of stolen and hard-earned funds belonging to the victims back to his call center, Parekh said.“When you consider the sheer number of victims this defendant extorted and the magnitude of their losses, the scale of harm and pain he caused is enormous.“As this case demonstrates, we will continue to work closely with our partners to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute transnational criminal enterprises that steal from vulnerable American victims, and will bring the perpetrators of these scams to justice no matter where they are located,” he said.Pathan is the fourth of six defendants in this case to be sentenced for their role in the conspiracy. Co-defendants Pradipsinh Parmar, 41, and Sumer Patel, 38, both from Ahmedabad acted as money couriers during the conspiracy, and are scheduled to be sentenced on September 20. /* .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_1312426582 = { "file": "https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_3o8ns2m0_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_3o8ns2m0_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Crime against women, children in UP: 23 accused sentenced to life imprisonment in last 24 hrs", "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": "74", "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_1312426582 = ''; jwsetup_1312426582(); function jwsetup_1312426582() { jwvidplayer_1312426582 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_1312426582").setup(jwconfig_1312426582); jwvidplayer_1312426582.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_1312426582, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_3o8ns2m0\", ns_st_pr=\"Crime against women, children in UP: 23 accused sentenced to life imprisonment in last 24 hrs\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Crime against women, children in UP: 23 accused sentenced to life imprisonment in last 24 hrs\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Crime against women, children in UP: 23 accused sentenced to life imprisonment in last 24 hrs\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2020-10-21\", ns_st_tdt=\"2020-10-21\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_3o8ns2m0_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_1312426582.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_1312426582.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_1312426582.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_1312426582.stop(); jwvidplayer_1312426582.remove(); jwvidplayer_1312426582 = ''; jwsetup_1312426582(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_1312426582.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_1312426582.stop(); jwvidplayer_1312426582.remove(); jwvidplayer_1312426582 = ''; jwsetup_1312426582(); return; }); jwvidplayer_1312426582.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_1312426582.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_1312426582.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_1312426582.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_1312426582.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_1312426582.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }

Indian national sentenced to 22 years for defrauding Americans

Shehzadkhan Pathan, 40, operated a call center in Ahmedabad from which automated robocalls were made to victims in the United States.

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Biden looks to restore, expand Obama administration policiesStop and reverse. Restore and expand. Joe Biden is promising to take the country on a very different path from what it has seen over the past four years under President Donald Trump, on issues ranging from the coronavirus and health care to the environment, education and more. The Democratic presidential nominee is promising to reverse Trump policy moves on things such as withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and weakening protections against environmental pollution. While Trump wants to kill the Affordable Care Act, Biden is proposing to expand “Obamacare” by adding a public option to cover more Americans. Here’s what we know about what a Biden presidency might look like. ECONOMY, TAXES AND THE DEBT Biden argues that the economy cannot fully recover until COVID-19 is contained. For the long-term recovery, the former vice president is pitching sweeping federal action to avoid an extended recession and to address long-standing wealth inequality that disproportionately affects nonwhite Americans. He would cover the cost of some of his big ticket environmental and health insurance proposals by rolling back much of the 2017 GOP tax overhaul. He wants a corporate income tax rate of 28% — lower than before but higher than now — and broad income and payroll tax increases for individuals with more than $400,000 of annual taxable income. All that would generate an estimated $4 trillion or more over 10 years. Biden also frames immigration as an economic matter. He wants to expand legal immigration slots and offer a citizenship path for about 11 million people who are in the country illegally but who, Biden notes, are already economic contributors as workers and consumers. An analysis from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that Biden’s campaign proposals would increase the national debt by about $5.6 trillion over 10 years. The national debt now stands at more than $20 trillion. CORONAVIRUS PANDEMICStop and reverse. Restore and expand.Joe Biden is promising to take the country on a very different path from what it has seen over the past four years under President Donald Trump, on issues ranging from the coronavirus and health care to the environment, education and more.The Democratic presidential nominee is promising to reverse Trump policy moves on things such as withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and weakening protections against environmental pollution.While Trump wants to kill the Affordable Care Act, Biden is proposing to expand “Obamacare” by adding a public option to cover more Americans.Here’s what we know about what a Biden presidency might look like.ECONOMY, TAXES AND THE DEBTBiden argues that the economy cannot fully recover until COVID-19 is contained.For the long-term recovery, the former vice president is pitching sweeping federal action to avoid an extended recession and to address long-standing wealth inequality that disproportionately affects nonwhite Americans.He would cover the cost of some of his big ticket environmental and health insurance proposals by rolling back much of the 2017 GOP tax overhaul. He wants a corporate income tax rate of 28% — lower than before but higher than now — and broad income and payroll tax increases for individuals with more than $400,000 of annual taxable income. All that would generate an estimated $4 trillion or more over 10 years.Biden also frames immigration as an economic matter. He wants to expand legal immigration slots and offer a citizenship path for about 11 million people who are in the country illegally but who, Biden notes, are already economic contributors as workers and consumers.An analysis from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that Biden’s campaign proposals would increase the national debt by about $5.6 trillion over 10 years.The national debt now stands at more than $20 trillion.Biden draws some of his sharpest contrasts with Trump on the pandemic, arguing that the presidency and federal government exist for such crises. Unlike Trump, he doesn’t believe the leading role in the virus response should belong to state governors, with the federal government in support.Biden endorses generous federal spending to help businesses and individuals, along with state and local governments, deal with the financial cliffs of the pandemic slowdown. He’s promised aggressive use of the Defense Production Act, the wartime law a president can use to direct manufacture of critical supplies. Trump has used that law on such things as ventilator production.Biden promises to elevate the government’s scientists and physicians to communicate a consistent message to the public, and he would have the United States rejoin the World Health Organization.He has promised to use his transition period before taking office to convene meetings with every governor and ask those leaders to impose what would be a nationwide mask mandate because the federal government doesn’t have that power. Biden says he would go around holdouts by securing such rules from county and local officials — though enforcement of all such orders may be questionable.HEALTH CAREThe health care law known as “Obamacare” was a hallmark of the Obama administration, and Biden wants to build on that to provide coverage for all. He would create a “Medicare-like public option” to compete alongside private insurance markets for working-age Americans, while increasing premium subsidies that many people already use. Solid middle-class households would have access to subsidized health insurance.Biden estimates his plan would cost about $750 billion over 10 years. That positions Biden between Trump, who wants to scrap the 2010 health law, and progressives who want a government-run system to replace private insurance altogether. Biden sees his approach as the next step toward universal coverage and one he could get through Congress.The Supreme Court, which now has a solid conservative majority, is scheduled to hear a case challenging the law soon after Tuesday’s election. If Biden wins, he would have to deal with the fallout from that eventual decision.On prescription drugs, Biden supports legislation allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for government programs as well as private payers. He would prohibit drug companies from raising prices faster than inflation for people covered by Medicare and other federal programs. He would also limit the initial prices for “specialty drugs” to treat serious illnesses, using what other countries pay as a yardstick.Biden would put a limit on annual out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare enrollees, a change that Trump sought but was unable to get through Congress. Also similar to Trump, Biden would allow importation of prescription drugs, subject to safety checks.IMMIGRATIONBiden has called Trump’s actions on immigration an “unrelenting assault” on American values and says he would “undo the damage” while continuing to maintain border enforcement.Biden says he would immediately reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which allowed people brought to the U.S. illegally as children to remain as legal residents, and end the restrictions on asylum imposed by Trump.He also said he would end the Trump administration’s “public charge rule,” which would deny visas or permanent residency to people who use public services such as Medicaid, food stamps or housing vouchers. Biden would support a 100-day freeze on all deportations while his administration studied ways to roll back Trump policies. But Biden would eventually restore an Obama-era policy of prioritizing the removal of immigrants who have come to the U.S. illegally and who have been convicted of crimes or pose a national security threat, as opposed to all immigrants who have come to the country illegally — Trump’s approach. Biden has said he would halt all funding for construction of new walls along the U.S.-Mexico border.FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITYBiden supports a strategy of fighting extremist militants abroad with U.S. special forces and airstrikes instead of planeloads of U.S. troops. He wants to see the U.S. close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. He has backed some U.S. military interventions, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq that he now says was a mistake, but he leans toward diplomacy and trying to achieve solutions through alliances and global institutions.He is a strong supporter of NATO. He warns that Moscow is chipping away at the foundation of Western democracy by trying to weaken NATO, divide the European Union and undermine the U.S. electoral system. He also alleges that Russia is using Western financial institutions to launder billions of dollars to use to influence politicians.Biden calls for increasing the Navy’s presence in the Asia-Pacific and strengthening alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia and Indonesia. He joins Trump in wanting to end the wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan, but thinks the U.S. should keep a small force in place to counter terrorism.He says Trump’s decisions to exit bilateral and international treaties such as the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord have led other nations to doubt Washington’s word. Biden wants to invite all democratic nations to a summit to discuss how to fight corruption, thwart authoritarianism and support human rights.Biden, who claims “ironclad” support for Israel, wants to curb annexation and has backed a two-state solution in the long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He says he would keep the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem after Trump moved it from Tel Aviv.Biden criticizes Trump’s diplomacy with Kim Jong Un, saying Trump’s one-on-one diplomacy gave legitimacy to the North Korea leader and has not convinced Kim that he should give up his nuclear weapons.ENVIRONMENTBiden is proposing a $2 trillion push to slow global warming by throttling back the burning of fossil fuels, aiming to make the nation’s power plants, vehicles, mass transport systems and buildings more fuel efficient and less dependent on oil, gas and coal.Biden says his administration would ban new permits for oil and gas production on federal lands, although he says he does not support a fracking ban.Biden’s public health and environment platform also calls for reversing the Trump administration’s slowdown of enforcement against polluters, which in several categories has fallen to the lowest point in decades. That would include establishing a climate and environmental justice division within the Justice Department.Biden emphasizes environmental justice, which is about addressing the disproportionate harm to lower-income and minority communities from corporate polluters. Biden says he would support climate lawsuits targeting fossil fuel-related industries.He said he would reverse Trump’s plan to exit the Paris climate accord.EDUCATIONEducation is a family affair for Biden. His wife, Jill, has taught in high school and community college, and she delivered her speech to the Democratic National Convention this year from her old classroom.Biden has proposed tripling the federal Title I program for low-income public schools, with a requirement that schools provide competitive pay and benefits to teachers. He wants to ban federal money for for-profit charter schools and to provide new dollars to public charters only if they show they can serve needy students. He opposes voucher programs, where public money is used to pay for private school education.He has pledged to restore Obama-era policies that were rolled back by the Trump administration, including rules on campus sexual misconduct and a policy that aimed to cut federal money to for-profit colleges that left students with heavy debt and unable to find jobs to pay it back.Biden supports legislation to make two years of community college free and to make public colleges free for families with incomes below $125,000. His proposed student loan overhaul would not require repayment for people who make less than $25,000 a year, and would limit payments to 5% of discretionary income for others.He is proposing a $70 billion increase in funding for historically Black colleges and universities, and other schools that serve underrepresented students.ABORTIONBiden supports abortion rights and has said he would nominate federal judges who would uphold Roe v. Wade.He would rescind Trump’s family planning rule, which has prompted many clinics to leave the federal Title X program that provides birth control and basic medical care for low-income women.In a switch from his previous stance, Biden now says he supports “repeal” of the Hyde Amendment, opening the way for federal programs such as Medicaid to pay for abortions.SOCIAL SECURITYBiden has a Social Security plan that would expand benefits, raise taxes for upper-income people, and add some years of solvency.He would revamp Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment by linking it to an inflation index that more closely reflects changes in costs for older people, particularly health care. That’s been a priority for advocates. He would also increase minimum benefits for lower-income retirees, addressing financial hardship among the elderly.Biden would raise Social Security taxes by applying the payroll tax to earnings above $400,000 a year. The 12.4% tax, equally distributed among employees and employers, currently only applies to the first $137,700 of a person’s earnings. The tax increase would pay for Biden’s proposed benefit expansions and also extend the life of program’s trust fund by five years, to 2040, according to the nonpartisan Urban Institute.GUNSBiden led efforts as a senator to establish the background check system now in use when people buy guns from a federal licensed dealer. He also helped pass a 10-year ban on a group of semi-automatic guns, or “assault weapons,” during the Clinton presidency.Biden has promised to seek another ban on the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Owners would have to register existing assault weapons with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He would also support a program to purchase assault weapons.Biden supports legislation restricting the number of firearms an individual may purchase per month to one and would require background checks for all guns sales with limited exceptions, such as gifts between family members.Biden would also support legislation to prohibit all online sales of firearms, ammunition, kits, and gun parts.VETERANSBiden says he would work with Congress to improve health services for women, the military’s fastest-growing subgroup, such as by placing at least one full-time women’s primary care physician at each Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical center.He promises to provide $300 million to better understand the impact of traumatic brain injury and toxic exposures, hire more VA staff to cut down office wait times for vets at risk of suicide to zero as well as continue the efforts of the Obama-Biden administration to stem homelessness.TRADELike Trump, Biden accuses China of violating international trade rules, subsidizing its companies and stealing U.S. intellectual property. But he doesn’t think Trump’s tariffs have worked and wants to join with U.S. allies to form a bulwark against Beijing.Biden has joined a growing bipartisan embrace of “fair trade” abroad — a twist on decades of “free trade” talk as Republican and Democratic administrations alike expanded international trade. Biden wants to juice U.S. manufacturing by directing $400 billion of federal government purchases to domestic companies (part of that for buying pandemic supplies) over a four-year term.He wants $300 billion in new support for U.S. technology firms’ research and development. Biden says the new domestic spending must come before he enters into any new international trade deals.He pledges tough negotiations with China, the world’s other economic superpower, on trade and intellectual property matters. China, like the U.S., is not yet a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the multilateral trade agreement that Biden advocated for when he was vice president. As a senator, Biden voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement that the Trump administration renegotiated. The replacement went into effect on July 1.Also Read: Joe Biden on brink of White House as he wins Michigan, Wisconsin; leads Trump 264-214

Biden looks to restore, expand Obama administration policies

The Democratic presidential nominee is promising to reverse Trump policy moves on things such as withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and weakening protections against environmental pollution.

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Trump is fuming, he remains defiant and continues to allege "fraud" in Pennsylvania.US Election Result 2020: It's almost three days after voting in the US Presidential Election 2020 closed and counting of votes have been continuing, incumbent President Donald Trump's campaign on Friday said that this election is not over.The TEAM TRUMP on its Twitter handle in a note said, "This election is not over. The false projection of Joe Biden as the winner is based on results in four states that are far from final. Georgia is headed for a recount, where we are confident we will find ballots improperly harvested, and where President Trump will ultimately prevail. There are many irregularities in Pennsylvania, including having election officials prevent our volunteer, legal observers from having meaningful access to vote counting location. We prevailed in court on our challenge, but were deprived of valuable time and denied the transparency we are entitled to under state law. In Nevada, there appears to be thousands of individuals who improperly cast mail ballots." FULL COVERAGE"Finally, the President is on course to win Arizona outright, despite irresponsible and erroneous 'calling' of the state for Biden by Fox News and the Associated Press. Biden is relying on these states for his phony claim on the White House, but once the election is final, President Trump will be re-elected."Meanwhile, looking at other developments, Trump's chances of winning are narrowing down. Joe Biden has already taken a lead in Pennsylvania and Georgia, though the latter state has called for re-count of razor thin votes.The election result scenario in US is changing with new twist and turn everyday. Uptill now, Donald Trump needed a win in four battleground states that are Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina. Now if going by Trump's claim, Republicans register a victory in Arizona, then they can afford to lose Nevada where President is trailing Biden with over 12,000 votes. But in any case, Trump has to win at least four more states to narrow the gap and take a jump from 214 to 270.ALSO READ | Joe Biden takes lead in Pennsylvania, Georgia to recount razor-thin vote; Trump says election not over /* .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_5035632338 = { "file": "https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_ovk9tqir_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_ovk9tqir_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Trump or Biden: Who will win US Presidential Election 2020", "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": "304", "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_5035632338 = ''; jwsetup_5035632338(); function jwsetup_5035632338() { jwvidplayer_5035632338 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_5035632338").setup(jwconfig_5035632338); jwvidplayer_5035632338.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_5035632338, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_ovk9tqir\", ns_st_pr=\"Trump or Biden: Who will win US Presidential Election 2020\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Trump or Biden: Who will win US Presidential Election 2020\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Trump or Biden: Who will win US Presidential Election 2020\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2020-11-06\", ns_st_tdt=\"2020-11-06\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_ovk9tqir_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_5035632338.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_5035632338.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_5035632338.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_5035632338.stop(); jwvidplayer_5035632338.remove(); jwvidplayer_5035632338 = ''; jwsetup_5035632338(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_5035632338.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_5035632338.stop(); jwvidplayer_5035632338.remove(); jwvidplayer_5035632338 = ''; jwsetup_5035632338(); return; }); jwvidplayer_5035632338.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_5035632338.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_5035632338.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_5035632338.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_5035632338.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_5035632338.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); } Democratic voters went all in on using the mail vote, while Republicans turned out on election day. That's what we're seeing in the numbers coming out on Friday. Pennsylvania had just two ways to vote: Mail or in person. There was no in-person early voting possible here. So, it figures that votes getting counted on Friday are skewing blue and adding more to Biden's total rather than Trump's tally.The Biden campaign believes it has crossed the Pennsylvania challenge and is "joyous", according to reporters on the ground in Delaware, the Biden headquarters.Millions of votes are still to be counted but even before we have the final tally, Biden has already 73 million votes nationally, the most in American political history.Trump is fuming, he remains defiant and continues to allege "fraud" in Pennsylvania. His children have chimed into the overall White House meltdown, in terms that generally occupy the wide arc between what's "legal" and "illegal".Biden leads Trump 253 to 214 in the electoral vote tally. A victory in Pennsylvania means it is game over for Trump, who ran a wild campaign in 2016 and has transformed the White House in the strangest of ways in the last four years.Biden is a sharp contrast to Trump, both in the personal and political realm.The last three days have shown Americans glimpses of that very contrast.Biden spent every day since the election trying to ease tensions and delivering his messages with little outward show of anxiety."I ask everyone to stay calm. The process is working," Biden has said repeatedly. "It is the will of the voters. No one, not anyone else who chooses the president of the United States of America."ALSO READ | What effect could lawsuits have on US election result as counting underway | EXPLAINER /* .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_2671294669 = { "file": "https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_g40q1zkg_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_g40q1zkg_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Biden pulls ahead of Trump in Georgia", "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": "84", "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_2671294669 = ''; jwsetup_2671294669(); function jwsetup_2671294669() { jwvidplayer_2671294669 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_2671294669").setup(jwconfig_2671294669); jwvidplayer_2671294669.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_2671294669, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_g40q1zkg\", ns_st_pr=\"Biden pulls ahead of Trump in Georgia\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Biden pulls ahead of Trump in Georgia\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Biden pulls ahead of Trump in Georgia\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2020-11-06\", ns_st_tdt=\"2020-11-06\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_g40q1zkg_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_2671294669.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_2671294669.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_2671294669.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_2671294669.stop(); jwvidplayer_2671294669.remove(); jwvidplayer_2671294669 = ''; jwsetup_2671294669(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_2671294669.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_2671294669.stop(); jwvidplayer_2671294669.remove(); jwvidplayer_2671294669 = ''; jwsetup_2671294669(); return; }); jwvidplayer_2671294669.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2671294669.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2671294669.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2671294669.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2671294669.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2671294669.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }  

Election not over... President Trump will be re-elected: Team Trump

US Election Result 2020: It's almost three days after voting in the US Presidential Election 2020 closed and counting of votes have been continuing, incumbent President Donald Trump's campaign on Friday said that this election is not over.

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Memo from legal experts to President Donald Trump on resurrecting his stalled travel ban: Quit Twitter.Trump’s 140-character musings Monday may have undercut his own efforts to persuade the Supreme Court to reinstate his revised travel ban, which Trump called a “watered-down, politically correct” version of what he’d originally sought. Just as Trump’s Justice Department is arguing the ban doesn’t target Muslims, legal experts said the president seems to be suggesting the opposite.Those who oppose the travel ban said Trump’s Tweetstorm, ironically, helps their case. Neal Katyal, the former acting solicitor general representing Hawaii in its lawsuit against the ban, said it was as if Trump was his co-counsel.“We don’t need the help but will take it!” Katyal wrote in his own Twitter post.The courts in January halted Trump’s initial order, which banned travel from seven majority-Muslim countries and indefinitely halted entry to Syrian refugees. Trump begrudgingly scaled back the order by removing Iraq from the list and making the Syria refugee ban only temporary, but that order was blocked by the courts, too.At the heart of the legal wrangling is whether Trump’s proposed ban violates the Constitution by discriminating on the basis of religion. As a candidate, Trump called for a “Muslim ban,” comments that came back to haunt him as president when the courts determined that even his scaled-down order was “rooted in religious animus and intended to bar Muslims from this country.”Not so, the Justice Department has argued, insisting the temporary ban is based on credible national security concerns unrelated to religion, and his campaign statements should be ignored. But Stephen Vladeck, a University of Texas law professor, said Trump was making that argument much less tenable by calling the revised order “politically correct.”“These tweets are basically winking at his supporters to say, obviously, I’m only doing this so that the courts will uphold it,” Vladeck said. “It makes it harder to argue this is not a Muslim ban, and more importantly, it makes it harder to argue that the president’s statements should be irrelevant.”In a series of early-morning tweets, Trump bashed the Justice Department for its decision to ask the Supreme Court to review the second version of the ban — which he signed.“The Justice Dept. should have stayed with the original Travel Ban, not the watered down, politically correct version they submitted to S.C.,” Trump said. He urged the Justice Department, which he oversees, to seek a “much tougher version” of the order.Hoping to shore up the order’s legal underpinnings, both the White House and Trump’s Homeland Security chief have insisted it’s not actually a “travel ban,” criticizing reporters for mischaracterizing it. But Trump on Monday was having none of it.“People, the lawyers and the courts can call it whatever they want, but I am calling it what we need and what it is, a TRAVEL BAN!” Trump wrote.He pounded the point home Monday night, tweeting, “That’s right, we need a TRAVEL BAN for certain DANGEROUS countries, not some politically correct term that won’t help us protect our people!”The inconsistency put White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders in a delicate spot Monday afternoon as questions streamed in about why Trump was contradicting his aides. His Twitter missive notwithstanding, Sanders insisted Trump “isn’t concerned with what you call it,” only with protecting Americans.Sanders said the president had asked the Justice Department to pursue an expedited hearing at the Supreme Court, adding that Trump “wants to go as far and as strong as possible under the Constitution to protect the people of this country.” Still, she said he’d signed the revised ban “for the purposes of expediency” and wasn’t considering a third version of the ban.Trump argues the ban is crucial for safeguarding American security, and he has intensified his push for it in the wake of the weekend vehicle and knife attack in London that left seven people dead and dozens injured. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack.The second-guessing about Trump’s Twitter strategy extended to the husband of one Trump’s senior advisers. New York lawyer George T. Conway III, whose wife is White House aide Kellyanne Conway, wrote that online statements “may make some ppl feel better,” but won’t help win a Supreme Court majority.“Sad,” he said on Twitter, borrowing a phrase from Trump’s own Twitter.Conway had been considered for at least two high-ranking Justice Department jobs, including solicitor general, the government lawyer who represents the president at the Supreme Court.Josh Blackman, a law professor at South Texas College of Law in Houston, called Trump “the worst client” for the solicitor general.“When you’re a lawyer what you want is your client to stay silent,” he said.Trump has the authority to order the Justice Department to pursue a different strategy. It’s unclear whether the president has conveyed his requests to the department in a forum other than Twitter. The Justice Department declined to comment.Trump has used attacks around the world to justify his pursuit of the travel and immigration ban, one of his first acts since taking office. The original order, signed at the end of his first week in office, was hastily unveiled without significant input from top Trump national security advisers or relevant federal agencies.After that order was struck down, the administration decided to write a second directive rather than appeal the initial ban to the Supreme Court. The narrower would temporarily halt entry to the U.S. from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.If anything, Supreme Court may be more likely to hear the case in light of the tweets, to determine once and for all how far the president’s power goes, said Peter S. Margulies, a law professor at Roger Williams.It’s unclear when it will make that decision.

‘Quit Twitter’: Legal experts to Trump on resurrecting stalled travel ban

The courts in January halted Trump’s initial order, which banned travel from seven majority-Muslim countries and indefinitely halted entry to Syrian refugees

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At least eight people were killed and eleven seriously injured after a man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial today.The 29-year-old suspect was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was "Allahu Akbar!," Arabic for "God is great," authorities said.NEW YORK TERROR ATTACK: AS IT HAPPENED#Indian-origin CEOs of tech giants Google and Microsoft condemned the New York terror attack. "So sad to see the senseless loss of lives in NYC, thoughts and prayers with everyone affected there. Gratitude to NYPD, FDNY and first responders there #NYCStrong," Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted.#"Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those in New York City impacted by this horrific act of violence," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a tweet.# Congress president Sonia Gandhi has strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack in New York. Terming it an unacceptable act of brutal terror against innocent citizens, she said our heart goes out to the families of those who have lost the family members.#Uber has confirmed that the man suspected of driving a vehicle down a bike path near the World Trade Center site, killing eight people, was one of its drivers.# Argentina's Foreign Ministry says five of the nation's citizens were among the eight people killed in the truck attack on a New York City bike path.# The deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister of Belgium says in a tweet one of the dead was Belgian.# "Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with those injured," tweets PM Narendra Modi.# President Donald Trump says he has ordered the Department of Homeland Security "to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program" following the deadly truck rampage on a New York City bike path.# Two law enforcement officials say a note was recovered inside the truck that barreled down a bike path near the World Trade Center, killing eight people.ALSO READ | 'We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country': President Trump responds to lower Manhattan terror attack  #Police investigating a rented Home Depot truck's deadly rampage down a bike path near New York's World Trade Center have surrounded a white Toyota minivan with Florida plates parked in a New Jersey Home Depot lot.#New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) has increased security at airports, bridges, tunnels and mass transit systems around the state following a vehicle attack on a bike path near the World Trade Center.#The head of the New York City schools system says two staff members and two students were injured in a school bus that was struck by a motorist who drove a rented truck onto a bike path, killing eight people.# A US official familiar with the investigation into a man suspected of driving a rented truck down a bike path near the World Trade center and killing eight people says the man is from Uzbekistan and came to the US in 2010.#Boston police say there's no threat to their city after a vehicle attack on a bike path near New York's World Trade Center site and memorial left at least eight people dead and 11 others injured.#The driver of the truck, hired from Home Depot, was arrested by the police not before he opened fires with his gun in his attempt to flee.#"The suspect is in custody," New York Police Department (NYPD) said.ALSO READ | New York terror attacker identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov: What we know about him so far# Shocked to hear of terrorist attack in New York. Our condolences to bereaved families. India stands by United States: President Ram Nath Kovind.# Halloween parade marches on amid heavy security after Manhattan terror attack.# Officials who were not authorised to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity identified the attacker as Sayfullo Saipov and said he is from Uzbekistan and came to the US in 2010.#Condemning the attack, US president Donald Trump said "we must not allow ISIS to return". "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!" Trump tweeted.#"We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!" he said in another tweet.#The incident that took place in Manhattan, the most densely populated of New York City's 5 boroughs, has sent shocking waves across the country.#Police said the vehicle entered the bike path at about 3 p.m. on West Street a few blocks from the new World Trade Center, the site of the deadliest terror attack in US history. The truck then turned at Chambers Street, hitting the school bus and injuring two adults and two children.Authorities stand near a damaged Home Depot truck after a motorist drove onto a bike path near the World Trade Center memorial, striking and killing several people. # A paintball gun and a pellet gun were found at the scene, police said. At least two covered-over bodies could be seen lying on the bike path, and the front end of the pickup was smashed in, as was the side of the school bus.#"The president has been briefed on the incident in NYC by Chief of Staff (John) Kelly and will be continually updated as more details are known. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.#Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke has been briefed on the apparent act of terrorism that occurred in New York City, an official statement said.#The department is closely monitoring the situation and working with federal, state and local partners in responding to and investigating this tragedy.#Police closed off streets across the western edge of lower Manhattan along the Hudson River, and officers rushed into the neighborhood just as people were preparing for Halloween festivities, including the big annual parade through Greenwich Village.ALSO READ | Halloween parade marches on amid heavy security after New York attack#"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.#New York and other cities around the globe have been on high alert against attacks by extremists in vehicles. The Islamic State has been exhorting its followers to mow down people, and England, France and Germany have all seen deadly vehicle attacks in the past year or so.People and media watch the scene after a motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people.#New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called it a "lone wolf" attack and said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.#New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill said a statement the driver made as he got out of the truck and the method of attack led police to conclude it was a terrorist act. /* .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'; 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New York terror attack: Truck driver kills eight, President Donald Trump vows to step up 'extreme vetting' of foreign entrants

The 29-year-old suspect was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was "Allahu Akbar!," Arabic for "God is great," authorities said.

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Bangladesh 'very concerned' over China building dams on Brahmaputra Amid reports of China trying to build dams over the mighty Brahmaputra river, Bangladesh today said it is "very concerned" about diversion of water and prepared to participate in a joint water basin management. Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali batted for joint-dredging of rivers and said the prime ministers of the two countries had an extensive discussions on the issue. Responding to a question on China building dams on the Brahmaputra, he said: "On the Brahmaputra basin, we are very concerned about diversion of water and Bangladesh is prepared to join a joint basin management concept where we will discuss the points of water as it flows from the point of origin to the point of exit in the sea." "And naturally, we will be very happy to fully cooperate with all regional joint agencies," he said. Speaking to reporters at an interaction organised at the Indian Women Press Corps in New Delhi, he added Bangladesh believes in joint river basin management both in the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet. In China, it is known as Yarlung Zangbo. A major river, it enters Bangladesh, where it meets the Ganges and drains into the Bay of Bengal. The envoy also sought to assuage India's concern amid reports of Bangladesh's growing proximity with China. He said Dhaka's relationship with Beijing is primarily in the sphere of economics, trade and commerce. "China has offered us lines of credit. But that is not free and we have to return it to them. We are also using credit on projects where there is comparative advantage," Ali said. He, however, added that Bangladesh has chosen only those lines of credit from China where it has an advantage. "We have economic relations with China, but with China we don't have the kind of projects we have with India. There are certain areas where the Chinese have an advantage. For example, the longer time to repay (the credit) but not all Chinese credit lines are used. "We do not want to get into the debt trap. Bangladesh has not faltered on any of its debt with the World Bank, with China, with India or with any country. Individually, I have not forgotten the 1971," he added. On the Teesta water-sharing agreement, he said discussions have been going on within India between the states of Sikkim, West Bengal and the Centre. The Teesta river originates in Sikkim and flows through West Bengal as well as Bangladesh, which wants a higher share of water than it gets now. "We will be happy to sign that agreement," he added, noting that it would be good if that happens before the general elections in Bangladesh next year. 

Bangladesh 'very concerned' over China building dams on Brahmaputra

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali batted for joint-dredging of rivers and said the prime ministers of the two countries had an extensive discussions on the issue.

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Al-Qaeda operates under Taliban protection: UN report (Representational Image)The United Nations has warned in a new report that the threat from terror groups such as Daesh and Al-Qaeda is expanding in many places in Afghanistan. It said the security situation remains fragile with uncertainty surrounding the peace process and a risk of further deterioration.The report by the UN Security Council, published on Thursday, said that despite territorial, leadership, manpower and financial losses during 2020 in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, Daesh's Khorasan branch, or ISIL-K, has moved into other provinces of Afghanistan, including Nuristan, Badghis, Sar-e-Pul, Baghlan, Badakhshan, Kunduz and Kabul, where the fighters have formed sleeper cells, Tolo News reported.The report said that the group has strengthened its positions in and around Kabul, where it conducts most of its attacks, targeting minorities, activists, government employees and personnel of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.The report said that most recently, Daesh had claimed responsibility for the brutal attack of June 8, wherein 10 humanitarian deminers working with HALO Trust in Baghlan Province were killed and 16 others were injured.Tolo News said that in its efforts to resurge, the ISIL-K has prioritised the recruitment and training of new supporters; its leaders also hope to attract intransigent Taliban and other militants who reject the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the US and the Taliban, and to recruit fighters from the Syrian Arab Republic, Iraq and other conflict zones.The report stated that the estimates of the strength of Daesh's Khorasan branch range widely, with one member state reporting between 500 and 1,500 fighters and another stating that it may rise to as many as 10,000 over the medium term."One member state stressed that ISIL-K was largely underground and clandestine," the report said., adding: "Its leader, Shahab al-Muhajir, alias Sanaullah, cooperates with Sheikh Tamim, head of the al-Sadiq office."The report said that Tamim and his office are tasked by the Daesh core group to oversee the network connecting the Khorasan branch with Daesh presences in the wider region.The UN report said that as reported by the UN Monitoring Team in its 12th report to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1988 (2011), Al-Qaeda is present in at least 15 Afghan provinces, primarily in the eastern, southern and south-eastern regions.The report said that Al-Qaeda's weekly Thabat newsletter reports on its operations inside Afghanistan.Tolo News said that the Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operates under Taliban protection from Kandahar, Helmand and Nimroz provinces.Since the death of Asim Umar in 2019, AQIS has been led by Osama Mahmood, the report said, adding that the group consists mainly of Afghan and Pakistani nationals, as also individuals from Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.On March 30, AQIS commander Dawlat Bek Tajiki (alias Abu Mohammad al-Tajiki) was killed by Afghan forces in Gyan district of Paktika province."Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is assessed by the member states to be alive but ailing in Afghanistan. SayfAl Adl, his most likely successor, is reported to remain in the Islamic Republic of Iran," the report stated.The member states differ as to what Al Adl's options would be if he is called upon to succeed al-Zawahiri, but most assess that he would have to move as basing himself in Afghanistan might not be an option, the report said.The leadership succession calculations of Al-Qaeda are complicated by the peace process in Afghanistan where, under the Doha agreement of February 2020, the Taliban is committed to suppressing any international terrorist threat, the report said, but added that it is unclear whether Sayf-Al Adl would be able to travel to Afghanistan to take up the position of the leader of Al-Qaeda.The report mentioned that some member states point to his history of living and operating from Africa and assess that he might choose to base himself there.The report also said that the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, IMU, faces financial difficulties and a Taliban that is less accommodating than it used to be, Tolo News said.ALSO READ | High time international community urged Pak to take ‘verifiable’ action against terror outfits: India at UNALSO READ | Support for Afghan Taliban increasing in Pakistan /* .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; 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Al-Qaeda operates under Taliban protection: UN report

The report said that the group has strengthened its positions in and around Kabul, where it conducts most of its attacks, targeting minorities, activists, government employees and personnel of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.

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Australia to cut university fee support for failing studentsThe Australian government announced on Thursday that it will stop subsidizing university fees for first-year students who fail half their subjects. Minister for Education Dan Tehan announced the changes, saying that they would prevent students from taking on study loads they can't handle, reports Xinhua news agency.Under the new measures, students who fail at least half of their first eight subjects in a degree will lose access to the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP), through which Australian citizens and other eligible students receive zero-interest loans from the government to pay for their tertiary education.However, universities will be able to maintain a students' access to the scheme if their performance was affected by exceptional circumstances."These measures will ensure students not to take on a study load they won't complete," Tehan said.The government held A$66.6 billion ($47 billion) worth of HELP debt in financial year 2018-19.According to the Department of Education, one student accrued A$663,000 in HELP debt after enrolling in 44 courses at 26 institutions and attaining no qualifications."The lack of transparency of a student's enrolment has allowed some non-genuine students to enrol and re-enrol at multiple providers at the same time," Tehan said.Andrew Norton, a higher education expert from Australian National University (ANU), said that approximately six percent of students fail every subject in their first year at university."Many fails are avoidable if disengaged students leave before the HELP census date or the usually later date to withdraw without academic penalty."The government's legislation would put more pressure on universities to check that students are engaged, especially as they move from first to second semester," he told the media.

Australia to cut university fee support for failing students

The Australian government announced on Thursday that it will stop subsidizing university fees for first-year students who fail half their subjects.

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Detailed project report of Indo-Nepal railway line finalised (representational image)In what can be big news for lakhs of people living near the India-Nepal, the Nepalese government has approved the DPR (Detailed Project Report) of Indo-Nepal 18.5-km of the railway line. The cross-border railway line will connect Rupaidiya in eastern Uttar Pradesh to Kohalpur in Nepal. Having received the detailed project report (DPR) from India on the proposed cross-border railway line between India's Rupaidiya and Kohalpur in Banke, the Nepal government is preparing to start the process of land acquisition for the project, the Himalayan Times reported.The 18.5-km railway track will start from Rupaidiya Railway Station in eastern Uttar Pradesh and pass through Jayaspur, Indrapur, Guruwa Gaun, Hawaldalpur, Rajhena to end in Kohalpur in Nepal.As per the DPR submitted to Banke District Administration, the proposed railway track will run parallel and between the East-West Highway and the Postal Highway."Constructing the railway above the East-West Highway means clearing a huge swathe of national parks to make way for laying the railway track. So the project report has been devised in such a way that the sanctuaries are safe," said Railway Department Engineer Kiran Karki."As per the DPR, the railway line will be constructed two to three kilometres away from the East-West Highway. Some human settlements may fall on the way, but I hope the government will do the needful to manage the settlements," Karki added.The government aims to develop 4,000-km railway network in two decades. According to officials at the Railway Department, 750-km long railway network will be developed in five years.Also Read | 'Indefinite blockade' on Indo-Nepal border in Bihar cripples tradeAlso Read | Garib Rath Express will continue to run, no hike in fares: Railway Ministry

Decks cleared for 18.5-km Indo-Nepal railway line connecting eastern Uttar Pradesh to Nepal

In what can be big news for lakhs of people living near the India-Nepal, the Nepalese government has approved the DPR (Detailed Project Report) of Indo-Nepal 18.5-km of the railway line. The cross-border railway line will connect Rupaidiya in eastern Uttar Pradesh to Kohalpur in Nepal.

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Gutted cars following a night air raid in the village of Bushiv, 40 kilometers west of Kyiv, UkraineIn a private video call with American lawmakers over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a “desperate” plea to the United States to help Kyiv get more warplanes to fight Russia’s invasion and retain control of its airspace.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Washington has given a “green light” to the idea and is currently “very, very actively” looking at a proposal under which Ukraine’s neighbor Poland would supply Kyiv with Soviet-era fighters and in turn receive American F-16s to make up for their loss.However, the proposition is fraught with uncertainty and Poland has been less than enthusiastic about it in public, largely because Russia has warned that supporting Ukraine’s air force would be seen in Moscow as participating in the conflict and open up suppliers to possible retaliation. Official comment from NATO and European Union member Poland has been only to confirm continuing talks on the subject.Ukraine’s air force uses Soviet-made Mig-29 and Su jet fighters to defend its skies and territory from Russia’s military invasion that began Feb. 24 and has appealed for more warplanes to be able to continue the mission in the long run.The air force has been far outnumbered by the much more powerful Russian air force, but Ukrainian pilots have continued to fly combat sorties and claim kills in combat despite repeated assertions by the Russian military that it has suppressed Ukraine’s air power and air defense assets.WHY NOT US WARPLANES?Ukraine’s military pilots aren’t trained to fly U.S. jet fighters and would be far more equipped to handle MiG-29 or Su planes that are currently used by former Soviet-bloc NATO members Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia.Ukrainian pilots would be able to fly MiGs right away, but Poland isn’t eager to lose significant amounts of its air force without replacements. U.S.-made F-16s are becoming the mainstay of Poland’s air force as it modernizes its military.WHAT IS POLAND’S RESPONSE?Blinken has said there is a “green light” for Poland to send planes to Ukraine.“We are looking actively now at the question of airplanes that Poland can provide to Ukraine and looking at how we might be able to backfill should Poland decide to supply those planes. I can’t speak to a timeline, but I can just tell you we’re looking at it very, very actively,” Blinken said on Sunday in Moldova.The response from Poland was restrained, though.“As far as sending planes, I can only repeat that no decisions have been taken on the subject,” government spokesman Piotr Mueller said.Mueller denied allegations that Poland could be making its airfields available to Ukrainian warplanes. Russia alleges that Romania and some other countries it didn’t name are hosting Ukraine’s warplanes.Meanwhile, Poland has been supportive of Ukraine both politically, supporting it’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and on a humanitarian level, opening its border to refugees from the non-EU country.WHY IS POLAND NON-COMMITAL?Despite its supportive stance toward Ukraine in its struggle, Warsaw is facing a crucial and challenging decision regarding making its planes available to Ukraine.Russia has warned Ukraine’s neighbors against hosting its warplanes on their territory saying Moscow could consider that as their “engagement in the military conflict.” That could mean an opening of hostilities.Russia’s words could be taken as a wider warning against aiding Ukraine’s air forces.Poland also borders Russia, through the Kaliningrad exclave, and has a long border with Russia’s close ally Belarus. Relations between Warsaw and Moscow have been at a low point since a right-wing government took office in Poland in 2015.OTHER CONSIDERATIONSOne of the main issues is where these MiGs, if made available, would be based as they couldn’t be on NATO soil. It isn’t clear if Ukraine would be able to safely house and service them in the long run, given the warfare on its territory.Another question to resolve would be how to deliver the planes to Ukraine. Polish pilots, who are also NATO pilots, couldn’t fly them to Ukraine without risking NATO involvement in the conflict, and sending Ukrainian pilots to Poland to fly them back could present similar issues.There is also an F-16 production backlog, which means the countries that potentially give away their MiGs and Su fighters to Ukraine would need to wait for the backfill for some time.U.S. Senator Marco Rubio summed it up by saying: “There’s complications that come with. It’s not just as easy as handing it over. You got to fly those in. You got to station them somewhere on the ground.“And ... the Russians have launched a pretty -- anywhere in between eight to 12 rockets at an airport in the sort of west of Ukraine. And it’s just a part of a strategy to deny them places to move that airframe,” said Rubio, a Republican from Florida.Also Read | Russian banks switch to Chinese UnionPay after withdrawal of Visa, MasterCard

Russia Ukraine War: Why does Ukraine need foreign warplanes | EXPLAINER

Ukraine’s military pilots aren’t trained to fly U.S. jet fighters and would be far more equipped to handle MiG-29 or Su planes that are currently used by former Soviet-bloc NATO members Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia.

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'Commend your leadership': Bill Gates lauds PM Modi govt's effort in dealing with COVID-19Microsoft founder and Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi commending him for his leadership in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in India.  In a letter to PM Modi, Gates said, "We commend your leadership and the proactive measures you and your government have taken to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 infection rate in India, such as adopting a national lockdown..expanding focused testing to identify hot spots for isolation, quarantining, and care, and significantly increasing health expenditures to strengthen the health system response and promote R&D and digital innovation.""I’m glad your government is fully utilizing its exceptional digital capabilities in its COVID-19 response and has launched the Aarogya Setu digital app for coronavirus tracking, contact tracing, and to connect people to health services," he further said. He said it is grateful to see that PM Modi is seeking to balance public health imperatives with the need to ensure adequate social protection for all Indians.

'Commend your leadership': Bill Gates lauds Modi govt's effort in dealing with COVID-19

Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi commending him for his leadership in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in India.

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Coronavirus Treatment: Gene therapy, select antivirals most promising for defeating COVID-19, says studyGene therapy and selected antivirals such as remdesivir are the most promising approaches in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, according to a review of studies. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, analysed approaches for not only SARS-CoV-2 and its relatives such as SARS-Cov that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and MERS-Cov that causes the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), but also as yet unknown strains which will inevitably emerge in the future.“Coronaviruses represent a true threat to human health and the global economy,” said Ralph Baric, a professor at the University of North Carolina in the US. “We must first consider novel countermeasures to control the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic virus and then the vast array of high-threat zoonotic viruses that are poised for human emergence in the future,” Baric said.To help focus the global search for a treatment, the researchers aim to provide a comprehensive resource of possible lines of attack against SARS-Cov-2 and related coronaviruses. They said first, and most effective approach is using vaccines.In the present case, the most successful are likely to carry the receptor binding domain of the virus’s S-protein, which allows it to bind to and fuse with host cells, the researchers said. Besides the traditional live attenuated, inactivated, and subunit-based vaccines, modern types such as DNA/RNA-based and nanoparticle- or viral vector-borne vaccines should be considered, they said.The researchers noted the second-most likely effective are broad-spectrum antivirals such as nucleoside analogues, which mimic the bases in the virus’s RNA genome and get mistakenly incorporated into nascent RNA chains, stalling the copy process. But because coronaviruses have a so-called “proofreading” enzyme which can cut such mismatches out, most nucleoside analogues don’t work well, according to the researchers.However, exceptions seem to be beta-D-N4-hydroxycytidine and remdesivir, proposed by them as good candidates against SARS-Cov-2, they said.The researchers also analysed nonvalescent blood plasma from patients who recovered, with low levels of a range of antibodies against the virus; or preferably monoclonal antibodies, isolated and mass-produced through biotechnology. Such “passive immunisation” can give short-term immunity, the said.The most attractive alternative until a vaccine is produced is gene therapy delivered through the adeno-associated virus (AAV), the researchers said. This would entail the fast, targeted delivery of antibodies, immunoadhesins, antiviral peptides, and immunomodulators to the upper airways, to give short-term protection, they said.The researchers noted that because of the rapid turnover of cells here, risks of toxicity are minimal. They estimate that such tools can be developed, adapted, and tested within a month.“AAV-based passive immunisation can be used as a quick alternative. It is straightforward and only contains two components, the viral vector and the antibody. Multiple AAV vectors have been proven to be safe and effective for human use,” said study co-author Long Ping Victor Tse.“In theory, a single dose could mount a protective response within a week and last for more than a year. The currently high price could be reduced when treating infectious diseases, which have a larger market,” Victor Tse said.

Coronavirus Treatment: Gene therapy, select antivirals most promising for defeating COVID-19, says study

Gene therapy and selected antivirals such as remdesivir are the most promising approaches in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, according to a review of studies.

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People stand next to a mass grave in Bucha, on the outskirts of KyivThe United States on Wednesday announced sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two adult daughters and said it was toughening penalties against Russian banks in retaliation for “war crimes” in Ukraine.The moves against Sberbank and Alfa Bank prohibit assets from touching the U.S. financial system and bar Americans from doing business with those institutions.In addition to sanctions aimed at Putin’s adult daughters, Mariya Putina and Katerina Tikhonova, the U.S. is targeting Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin; the wife and children of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; and members of Russia’s Security Council, including Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and prime minister.The penalties cut of all of Putin’s close family members off from the U.S. financial system and freeze any assets they hold in the United States.Videos and images of bodies in the streets of Bucha after it was recaptured from Russian forces have unleashed a wave of indignation among Western allies, who have drawn up new sanctions as a response.The European Commission’s proposed ban on coal imports would be the first EU sanctions targeting Russia’s lucrative energy industry over its war in Ukraine.EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said energy was key to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war coffers.“A billion euro is what we pay Putin every day for the energy he provides us since the beginning of the war. We have given him 35 billion euros. Compare that to the one billion that we have given to Ukraine in arms and weapons,” Borrell said.After several European countries announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats, the European Commission proposed the fifth package of sanctions including a ban on coal imports that could be adopted as soon as Wednesday once unanimously approved by the 27-nation bloc's ambassadors. Western allies have already cut out several Russian banks of the SWIFT financial messaging system, which daily moves countless billions of dollars around more than 11,000 banks and other financial institutions around the world.ALSO READ | Not in India’s best interest to continue investing in Russian military equipment: US   

After Bucha killings, US targets Putin's daughters and Russian banks in new sanctions

In addition to sanctions aimed at Putin’s adult daughters, Mariya Putina and Katerina Tikhonova, the U.S. is targeting Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin; the wife and children of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; and members of Russia’s Security Council, including Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and prime minister.

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French waiter shot dead over 'slow service'A waiter in a cafe near Paris was shot and killed by a customer irate over delay in preparing the sandwich he had ordered, reports said on Sunday.The incident occurred in the Paris suburb of Noisy-le-Grand on Friday evening.According to the deceased man's colleagues at the pizza and sandwich shop, the customer shot the waiter in the shoulder after losing his temper over the time it took to deliver the meal, the BBC reported.Though medical aid arrived soon, the waiter succumbed to his injuries on the spot.The attacker fled the scene and is still to be apprehended.The killing has stunned local residents and shopkeepers, though some of them complained that crime has increased in the area and more instances of drug trade and public drunkenness were being been reported.ALSO READ | Bullet rounds fired during Eid fair in Gujarat, FIR filed | Watch VideoALSO READ | Man shoots dead brother after heated argument in UPALSO READ | Journalist shot at by unidentified assailants in Bihar's Madhubani

French waiter shot dead over 'slow service'

The killing has stunned local residents and shopkeepers, though some of them complained that crime has increased in the area and more instances of drug trade and public drunkenness were being been reported.

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Nawaz Sharif 'unlikely' to return by September 10Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is unlikely to return to the country by September 10 to face cases against him as his surgery in London is said to take place this month, the media reported on Friday."Sharif's treatment in London is scheduled in a couple of weeks. How can he return home leaving his treatment in midway? Neither the Sharif family nor the party is ready to compromise on his health and they want him to return after completion of his treatment," an informed source told Dawn news on Thursday.He said the Sharif family had been in consultation with its legal team and weighing options like filing an appeal against the court's decision (directing him to return by September 10) or submitting ‘fresh medical reports and upcoming treatment schedule' on next hearing of the case.The source further said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwarts had also requested the former premier "get well first" before making up his mind to return home to face cases and take part in politics.PML-N president and opposition leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif has also hinted at no "immediate plan to return".Last week, the Islamabad High Court had directed the three-time former premier to appear before the court and surrender to the authorities by September 10 or face legal proceedings for absconsion, Dawn news reported.Nawaz Sharif had left for London in November 2019 after the Lahore High Court granted him a four-week permission to go abroad for his treatment.He had submitted an undertaking to the court citing his record of facing the law and justice that he would return within four weeks or as soon as he was declared healthy and fit to travel by doctors. 

Nawaz Sharif 'unlikely' to return by September 10

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is unlikely to return to the country by September 10 to face cases against him as his surgery in London is said to take place this month, the media reported on Friday.

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US President Donald Trump on Friday asked Republican senators to  immediately repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare, if it was not possible for them to replace it owing to lack of votes. "If Republican Senators are unable to pass what they are working on now, they should immediately REPEAL, and then REPLACE at a later date!" Trump tweeted.   He had wanted lawmakers to pass a healthcare plan to replace the 2010 ACA prior to the July 4 holiday, but the lack of consensus among Republicans and uniform opposition from Democrats has made that goal nearly impossible.The Senate leadership's job is particularly tricky because the bill faces opposition from both the GOP's conservative and moderate wings.The healthcare overhaul bill being discussed by the Senate would leave an additional 22 million people without health insurance by 2026, 15 million of whom would drop off the roles in the first year after its implementation, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated in a report released on Monday.The Senate bill differs only slightly from an ACA repeal and replacement bill passed by the House of Representatives in May, a measure that the CBO said would result in 23 million more uninsured people.Trump last week once again railed against Democrats for refusing to support the ACA replacement bill in the Senate."Democrats slam GOP healthcare proposal as Obamacare premiums and deductibles increase by over 100%," he tweeted on June 24.(With IANS inputs)

Senators should repeal Obamacare if they lack votes to replace it: Donald Trump

"If Republican Senators are unable to pass what they are working on now, they should immediately REPEAL, and then REPLACE at a later date!" Trump tweeted.

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Taiwan extends level-3 COVID alert to July 12. Taiwan will extend its level-3 Covid-19 alert by another two more weeks until July 12 in response to the continued risk posed by the local transmission of cases, health authorities announced.The level-3 alert, the second-highest in Taiwan's four-tier Covid-19 alert scale, was first imposed in Taipei and New Taipei on May 15, reports Xinhua news agency.It was implemented across Taiwan on May 19 and initially scheduled to end on May 28, but was subsequently extended twice through June 14 and then June 28.Taiwan is struggling to contain its worst Covid-19 outbreak amid a lack of vaccines and strained medical resources.In the last 24 hours, Taiwan reported 104 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 24 deaths.The overall infection tally has thus increased to 14,260, including 13,041 locally transmitted cases.A total of 599 deaths have been reported till date. /* .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; 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Taiwan extends level-3 COVID alert to July 12

The level-3 alert, the second-highest in Taiwan's four-tier Covid-19 alert scale, was first imposed in Taipei and New Taipei on May 15, reports Xinhua news agency.

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Coronavirus death toll crosses 1,000The death toll due to novel coronavirus has crossed 1,000 as China has reported more casualties due to the deadly infection. Hubei province, the epicentre out the outbreak, reported 103 deaths on Monday - the most in any single day - after 91 deaths on Sunday. But the 2,097 new cases were down from the previous day when there were 2,618. Meanwhile, more offices and stores in Beijing and other parts of China finally reopened Monday after the Lunar New Year break was extended to discourage travel and contain the new coronavirus, but many workers and shoppers appeared to stay home.Public health authorities are watching closely to see whether the return to business worsens the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 40,000 people globally and killed over 900, with the vast majority of cases in China.Even before the slow and cautious reopening, China on Monday reported a rise in new cases, dimming optimism that the near-quarantine of some 60 million people and other disease-control measures might be working.A notice announces no entry to customers without protective face masks at a pharmacy in Hong Kong, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. China is reporting a rise in new virus cases, denting optimism that disease control measures which isolated major cities might be working. AP Photo/Vincent Yu)Britain, meanwhile, declared the virus a “serious and imminent threat to public health” and said it would forcibly detain infected people if necessary. France tested scores of children and their parents after five British tourists contracted the virus at a ski resort. The director-general of the World Health Organization said that the agency is still unable to predict where the outbreak is heading but that he believes there is still an opportunity to contain it.“In recent days, we have seen some concerning instances of onward transmission from people with no travel history to China, like the cases reported in France yesterday and the U.K. today,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The detection of the small number of cases could be the spark that becomes a bigger fire, but for now, it’s only a spark.” Also Read | China's President Xi Jinping appears in public for first time after Coronavirus outbreakAlso Read | Coronavirus spreading via feces? 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Coronavirus death toll crosses 1,000 as China reports 103 casualties in a day

Even before the slow and cautious reopening, China on Monday reported a rise in new cases, dimming optimism that the near-quarantine of some 60 million people and other disease-control measures might be working.

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Sri Lankan Catholic clergy protest against the economic crisis in ColomboSri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late Tuesday night revoked the state of emergency he had declared on April 1 with immediate effect in his island nation. In a gazette notification no 2274/10 issued on Tuesday night, the president said he has withdrawn the emergency rule ordinance which gave security forces sweeping powers to curb any disturbance in the country.President Rajapaksa has declared a public emergency on April 1 amid a spate of protests over the worst economic crisis in the country.The emergency was imposed because of the mass scale protests planned for April 3 against the current economic hardships faced by the people.Later, the government imposed an island-wide curfew. Protests continued despite curfew and the state of emergency with senior ruling party figures having their homes surrounded by angry protesters who urged the government for solutions to the economic crisis.Several people were injured and vehicles were set on fire as the agitation turned violent. Police fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters after they pulled down a steel barricade placed near the president's residence. Following the incident, several people were arrested and a curfew was briefly imposed in most parts of Colombo city.A foreign exchange crunch in Sri Lanka has led to a shortage of essential goods such as fuel and cooking gas. Power cuts that last up to 13 hours a day. The revocation of the gazette assumes significance as the ruling coalition appeared to have lost its majority in the 225 member Parliament with over 40 MPs declaring independence from the ruling coalition.The emergency approval needs to be ratified in the assembly after 2 weeks of it coming into effect.The Opposition demanded in Parliament on Monday to debate the emergency for its approval.The second largest group within the ruling Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) coalition had officially conveyed to Rajapaksa that their 14 members would not back the motion.If those who declared independence did not vote with the government there was a chance that emergency regulations could not be passed in the assembly.Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis in history. With long lines for fuel, cooking gas, essentials in short supply and long hours of power cuts the public has been suffering for weeks.Rajapaksa has defended his government's actions, saying the foreign exchange crisis was not his making and the economic downturn was largely pandemic-driven where the island’s tourism revenue and inward remittances waned.(With inputs from PTI)Also Read | Sri Lanka crisis: Rajapaksa’s grip on power weakens; Finance Minister resigns within 24 hours

Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa revokes state of emergency amid worst economic crisis in country

A foreign exchange crunch in Sri Lanka has led to a shortage of essential goods such as fuel and cooking gas. Power cuts that last up to 13 hours a day.

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PM Modi holds productive discussions with UN chief Antonio GuterresPrime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres held "fruitful discussions" on a wide range of issues of mutual interest here on Sunday.Modi met Guterres on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit being held in this in this picturesque southwestern seaside French town. The prime minister arrived in Biarritz from Manama, the capital of Bahrain after concluding the first-ever prime ministerial visit to the Gulf nation."PM Narendra Modi met UN Secretary General Mr Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. The two leaders had fruitful discussions on a wide range of subjects," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted."PM Narendra Modi met with UNSG Antonio Guterres on the margins of G7 summit in Biarritz. Good exchange of views on India's participation at the Climate Action Summit at the UN and other issues of mutual interest," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.Their meeting came against the backdrop of the Indian government revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories.The two leaders are here to attend the G-7 Summit. Modi arrived in Biarritz from Bahrain after concluding his three-nation tour to France, the UAE and Bahrain.Earlier this month, Guterres urged India and Pakistan to exercise "maximum restraint" and refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir. He had also highlighted the Simla Agreement which rejects any third-party mediation on the issue after Islamabad asked him to play his "due role" following New Delhi's decision on Kashmir.A rare closed-door consultations on Kashmir by the Security Council ended without any outcome or statement from the powerful 15-nation UN organ, dealing a huge snub to Pakistan and its all-weather ally China to internationalise the issue, which an overwhelming majority stressed is a bilateral matter between New Delhi and Islamabad.The meeting of Modi and Guterres also comes a day after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called the UN chief to apprise him about the "evolving and delicate situation" in Jammu and Kashmir.Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated the State into two Union Territories on August 5.India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.Guterres had told Qureshi that he was ready today as he was before to defuse the tension and will meet Prime Minister Modi in France.ALSO READ | PM Narendra Modi arrives in France for G7 SummitALSO READ | Lost my good friend Arun: PM Modi gets emotional at Bahrain eventALSO READ | PM Modi meets Bahraini Crown Prince

PM Modi holds productive discussions with UN chief Antonio Guterres

Modi met Guterres on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit being held in this in this picturesque southwestern seaside French town. The prime minister arrived in Biarritz from Manama, the capital of Bahrain after concluding the first-ever prime ministerial visit to the Gulf nation.

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Pak foreign minister Shah Qureshi to visit LankaPakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka during which he will call on the country's President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and hold discussions on bilateral ties. Qureshi, who will arrive in Colombo on Sunday night, during his meeting with President Rajapaksa will also officially invite him to visit Pakistan.Qureshi will also meet his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena on Monday. Qureshi's visit comes immediately after President Rajapaksa's recent visit to India during which he met President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Gotabhaya, 70, stormed to victory in Sri Lanka's presidential elections, the results of which came on November 17.ALSO READ | US woman shed over 8 kg left with excess skin of 9 kgALSO READ | At least 14 dead in Mexico gunbattle near Texas border

Pak foreign minister Shah Qureshi to visit Lanka

Qureshi will also meet his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena on Monday. Qureshi's visit comes immediately after President Rajapaksa's recent visit to India during which he met President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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India Inc on Tuesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the Plenary Session of the World Economic Forum 2018 in Davos.PM Modi, who delivered the opening keynote address at the summit, said that 125 crore of India are capable of creating a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025.Related Stories World Economic Forum 2018: Team Modi delivers a strong message - India means businessWEF 2018: India means business, PM Modi tells global CEOs; holds talks with Swiss PresidentWEF 2018 LIVE | PM Modi in Davos: '125cr Indians capable of creating a $5 trillion economy by 2025'During his address, PM Modi told the world leaders and top CEOs to invest in India and assured them that the government and the people of the country will welcome them with open hands and hearts.Last year, the honour of opening speech was given to Chinese premier Xi Jinping. Here are the LIVE Updates on reactions to PM Modi speech at Davos: Read: 40 Key Highlights of PM Modi's opening address at WEF 2018 summit in Davos06:55 pm: BJP president Amit Shah praised PM Modi's speech at WEF 2018. In a series of tweets, Shah said that the PM raised key issues like terrorism, climate change and protectionism, which is is a reason of pride for all Indians."PM @narendramodi's speech at @wef plenary in Davos is a reason of pride for all Indians. He has perfectly articulated India's strengths and aspirations in the multi-conceptual world!," he tweeted."PM @Narendramodi has raised his voice against terrorism at every global forum. At @wef too, he gives a clarion call to the world, to unite to defeat the menace of terrorism," the BJP presidnet said in another tweet. 05:45 pm: I think PM lived up to expectations of the entire world community. He asked the world to come together & also lived up to the expectation of offering a lead to world community to discover their future: Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO 05:38 pm: PM gave an excellent speech. It is a historical day for India. PM gave very good message to global community especially on geopolitics, terrorism & environmental issues.: N. Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh CM 05:26 pm: PM has a vision of creating a new India by 2022, He is saying that why not create a new World at the same time when we create a new India. That is the substance of his speech, 'New World with New India': Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister 05:07 pm: Rahul Gandhi continues his attack at PM Modi. "Dear PM, Welcome to Switzerland! Please tell DAVOS why 1% of India’s population gets 73% of its wealth?  I’m attaching a report for your ready reference," Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweets after PM's speech. 05:00 pm: PM spoke as a global statesman speaks not only about India but also globalisation & larger issues of climate change & terrorism. Yes he spoke about reforms, the world is going inward and India is globalising and is ready for business: Rajan Mittal, VC & MD of Bharti Enterprises04:59 pm: It was a very enthusiastic speech, PM talked about how Indian ethos can be a global role model in today's conflicting times: Dharmendra Pradhan,Union MinisterWatch full speech of PM Modi at Plenary Session of World Economic Forum 2018 in Davos here:Read also: All you need to know about World Economic Forum 2018 in Davos and PM Modi’s schedule

Modi at WEF 2018 in Davos: PM's speech a matter of pride for all Indians, says Amit Shah

India Inc on Tuesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the Plenary Session of the World Economic Forum 2018 in Davos.

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President Donald Trump is criticizing the Senate intelligence committee over its investigation into possible collusion between Russia and associates of the Trump campaign.Trump said on Twitter Thursday: “Why Isn’t the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up-FAKE!”Leaders of the committee said Wednesday they have not determined, roughly nine months into their investigation, whether Russia coordinated with the Trump campaign to try to sway the 2016 presidential election.The Republican committee chairman, North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, said the committee has interviewed more than 100 witnesses as part of its investigation and that more work still needs to be done. Burr said: “The issue of collusion is still open.”Burr, along with the panel’s top Democrat, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, provided the first major update on a congressional investigation that was launched the same month as President Donald Trump was inaugurated.“The committee continues to look at all evidence to see if there was any hint of collusion,” Burr said, adding, “I am not going to even discuss initial findings, because we haven’t any.”Burr and Warner said that the committee has interviewed more than 100 witnesses, including former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner. More than 100,000 pages of documents have been reviewed.But the committee has yet to interview some witnesses related to the Trump campaign and a June 2016 meeting that Kushner, Manafort and the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., held with Russians. The committee wants to interview Trump Jr. and everyone else involved with the meeting.The lawmakers said that though they have reached no conclusion about whether the campaign colluded with the Kremlin — the question also at the heart of a separate criminal investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller — their investigation has left no doubt about a multipronged Russian effort to meddle in American politics.“The Russian intelligence service is determined, clever, and I recommend every campaign and every election official take this very seriously,” Burr said.

Donald Trump targets Senate intelligence committee over Russia probe

The Republican committee chairman, North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, said the committee has interviewed more than 100 witnesses as part of its investigation.

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According to the sources, the SAARC meeting, slated to be held on September 25, is now cancelled. (Representational Image)The meeting of the foreign ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which was scheduled to be held in New York on the sidelines of the high-level 76th UN General Assembly session on September 25, has been cancelled, according to sources.The SAARC Foreign Ministers meeting, traditionally held on the sidelines of the annual UNGA session, sees the ministers of India and Pakistan come face to face for the meeting.According to the sources, the SAARC meeting, slated to be held on September 25, is now cancelled.Last year in his address at the virtual SAARC foreign ministers informal meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that the SAARC must overcome three key challenges of cross-border terrorism, blocking of connectivity and obstruction in trade, a clear criticism of Pakistan.Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also among the participants of the meeting which was organised in continuation of a tradition of informal exchanges among the foreign ministers of the grouping on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.Tensions between India and Pakistan have spiked since New Delhi abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.India’s decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of the Article 370 was its internal matter.India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.ALSO READ: Dilemma over SAARC foreign ministers meeting continues, who will represent Afghanistan?ALSO READ: Afghan crisis, ways to contain terrorism to figure prominently in Modi-Biden talks

SAARC foreign ministers meeting scheduled to be held on UNGA sidelines cancelled: Sources

The SAARC Foreign Ministers meeting, traditionally held on the sidelines of the annual UNGA session, sees the ministers of India and Pakistan come face to face for the meeting.

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Sick Gaza child caught in Israeli permit system dies aloneWhen Palestinian preschooler Aisha a-Lulu came out of brain surgery in a strange Jerusalem hospital room, she called out for her mother and father. She repeated the cry over and over, but her parents never came.Instead of a family member, Israeli authorities had approved a stranger to escort Aisha from the blockaded Gaza Strip to the east Jerusalem hospital. As her condition deteriorated, the child was returned to Gaza unconscious. One week later, she was dead.A photo of Aisha smiling softly in her hospital bed, brown curls swaddled in bandages, drew an outpouring on social media. The wrenching details of her last days have shined a light on Israel’s vastly complex and stringent system for issuing Gaza exit permits.It is a bureaucracy that has Israeli and Palestinian authorities blaming each other for its shortfalls, while inflicting a heavy toll on Gaza’s sick children and their parents.Image Source : APSick Gaza child caught in Israeli permit system dies aloneSick Gaza child caught in Israeli permit system dies alone“The most difficult thing is to leave your child in the unknown,” said Waseem a-Lulu, Aisha’s father. “Jerusalem is just an hour away, but it feels as though it is another planet.”So far this year, roughly half of applications for patient companion permits were rejected or left unanswered by Israel, according to the World Health Organization. That has forced over 600 patients, including some dozen children under 18, to make the trek out of the territory alone or without close family by their side.Image Source : APSick Gaza child caught in Israeli permit system dies aloneSick Gaza child caught in Israeli permit system dies aloneThe system stems from the Hamas militant group’s takeover of Gaza in 2007, when it violently ousted the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. Israel and Egypt responded by imposing a blockade that tightly restricted movement in and out of Gaza.The blockade, which Israel says is necessary to prevent Hamas from arming, has precipitated a financial and humanitarian crisis in the enclave. For years, Gaza’s 2 million residents have endured rising poverty and unemployment, undrinkable groundwater and frequent electricity outages.Public hospitals wrestle with chronic shortages of drugs and basic medical equipment. Israel blames Hamas, which it considers a terrorist group, for the crisis.Image Source : APSick Gaza child caught in Israeli permit system dies aloneSick Gaza child caught in Israeli permit system dies aloneIn what it portrays as a humanitarian gesture to help Gaza’s civilians, Israel permits Palestinian patients to seek medical treatment at hospitals in Israel and the West Bank once they pass a series of bureaucratic hurdles.COGAT, the Israeli defense body that issues the permits, says it insists that all patients cross with an escort, usually a close relative, unless they wish to go alone or require immediate treatment that doesn’t allow time for security screening.

Sick Gaza child caught in Israeli permit system dies alone

A photo of Aisha smiling softly in her hospital bed, brown curls swaddled in bandages, drew an outpouring on social media. The wrenching details of her last days have shined a light on Israel’s vastly complex and stringent system for issuing Gaza exit permits.

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Israeli protesters dance and cheer during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his official residence in JerusalemIsrael is set to swear in a new government on Sunday that will send Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into the opposition after a record 12 years in office and end a political crisis that sparked four elections in two years. Naftali Bennett, the head of a small ultranationalist party, will take over as prime minister. But if he wants to keep the job, he will have to maintain an unwieldy coalition of parties from the political right, left and center.The eight parties, including a small Arab faction that is making history by sitting in the ruling coalition, are united in their opposition to Netanyahu and new elections but agree on little else. They are likely to pursue a modest agenda that seeks to reduce tensions with the Palestinians and maintain good relations with the U.S. without launching any major initiatives.Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, remains the head of the largest party in parliament and is expected to vigorously oppose the new government. If just one faction bolts, it could lose its majority and would be at risk of collapse, giving him an opening to return to power.The new government is promising a return to normalcy after a tumultuous two years that saw four elections, an 11-day Gaza war last month and a coronavirus outbreak that devastated the economy before it was largely brought under control by a successful vaccination campaign.The driving force behind the coalition is Yair Lapid, a political centrist who will become prime minister in two years, if the government lasts that long.Israel's parliament, known as the Knesset, will convene to vote on the new government at 4 pm local time. It is expected to win a narrow majority of at least 61 votes in the 120-member assembly, after which it will be sworn in. The government plans to hold its first official meeting later this evening.It's unclear if Netanyahu will attend the ceremony or when he will move out of the official residence. He has lashed out at the new government in apocalyptic terms and accused Bennett of defrauding voters by running as a right-wing stalwart and then partnering with the left.Netanyahu's supporters have held angry protests outside the homes of rival lawmakers, who say they have received death threats naming their family members. Israel's Shin Bet internal security service issued a rare public warning about the incitement earlier this month, saying it could lead to violence.Netanyahu has condemned the incitement while noting that he has also been a target. His place in Israeli history is secure, having served as prime minister for a total of 15 years — more than any other, including the country's founder, David Ben-Gurion.Netanyahu began his long rule by defying the Obama administration, refusing to freeze settlement construction as it tried unsuccessfully to revive the peace process. Relations with Israel's closest ally grew even rockier when Netanyahu vigorously campaigned against President Barack Obama's emerging nuclear deal with Iran, even denouncing it in an address to the US Congress.But he suffered few if any consequences from those clashes and was richly rewarded by the Trump administration, which recognized contested Jerusalem as Israel's capital, helped broker normalization agreements with four Arab states and withdrew the U.S. from the Iran deal.Netanyahu has portrayed himself as a world-class statesman, boasting of his close ties with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has also cultivated ties with Arab and African countries that long shunned Israel over its policies toward the Palestinians.But he has gotten a far chillier reception from the Biden administration and is widely seen as having undermined the long tradition of bipartisan support for Israel in the United States.His reputation as a political magician has also faded at home, where he has become a deeply polarizing figure. Critics say he has long pursued a divide-and-conquer strategy that aggravated rifts in Israeli society between Jews and Arabs and between his close ultra-Orthodox allies and secular Jews.In November 2019, he was indicted for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He refused calls to step down, instead lashing out at the media, judiciary and law enforcement, going so far as to accuse his political opponents of orchestrating an attempted coup. Last year, protesters began holding weekly rallies across the country calling on him to resign.

Israel to swear in government, ending Netanyahu's long rule

Israel is set to swear in a new government on Sunday that will send Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into the opposition after a record 12 years in office.

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Multiple people injured in series of stabbings in BirminghamBritish police say that multiple people have been injured in a series of stabbings in a busy nightlife area of the central England city of Birmingham.West Midlands Police said officers were called to reports of a stabbing in the city center shortly after midnight on Sunday. That was soon followed by reports of other stabbings in the area.“We are aware of a number of injured people, but at the moment we are not in a position to say how many or how serious,” the force said. “Work is still going on to establish what has happened.”Police cordoned off an area in the center of the city full of bars and nightclubs. Witnesses said they were busy on Saturday night, with many people eating and drinking at outdoor tables.Emergency services were at the scene to ensure the injured received medical care. Police said the response would continue “for some time” and urged people to stay away from the area.It was not immediately clear what the nature of the stabbings was or how seriously the victims were injured.The police force urged people to “remain calm but vigilant.”

Multiple people injured in series of stabbings in Birmingham

British police say that multiple people have been injured in a series of stabbings in a busy nightlife area of the central England city of Birmingham.

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Pompeo: State Deptartment will follow law in impeachment inquirySecretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday the State Department intends to follow the law in the House impeachment investigation and vigorously defended President Donald Trump, dismissing questions about the president’s attempts to push Ukraine and China to investigate a Democratic political rival.The Trump administration and House Democrats often disagree about what the law requires, leaving open the question of how Pompeo may interpret Democrats’ demands for key information about Trump’s handling of Ukraine.Pompeo, speaking in Greece, said the State Department sent a letter to Congress Friday night as its initial response to the document request and added, “We’ll obviously do all the things that we’re required to do by law.” He has allowed Democrats to interview a series of witnesses next week. Among them is Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, another key figure in the probe.The administration has struggled to come up with a unified response to the quickly progressing investigation. Democrats have warned that defying their demands will in itself be considered “evidence of obstruction” and a potentially impeachable offense.Pompeo has become a key figure in the Democrats’ investigation. He was on the line during the July phone call in which Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter — sparking a whistleblower complaint and now the impeachment inquiry.Pompeo had initially tried to delay a handful of current and former officials from cooperating with the inquiry and accused Democrats trying to “bully” his staffers.On Saturday, Pompeo did not back off his defense of Trump’s call with Ukraine.“There has been some suggestion somehow that it would be inappropriate for the United States government to engage in that activity and I see it just precisely the opposite,” he said.Trump has offered a series of contradictory statements when it comes to the Democrats’ subpoena of White House records.Asked Wednesday whether the White House intended to comply, Trump told reporters, “I always cooperate,” even as he dismissed the inquiry as “a hoax.” A day later, however, Trump had a different answer for the same question, saying he would instead leave the matter to his lawyers.“That’s up to them to decide,” he said, “But the whole investigation is crumbling.”By Friday, however, Trump confirmed reports the White House was preparing a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., arguing that Congress cannot undertake an impeachment investigation without first having a vote to authorize it. Pelosi has insisted the House is well within its rules to conduct oversight of the executive branch under the Constitution regardless.It was unclear Saturday when or if that letter would be sent.Pompeo, meanwhile, made clear that the State Department had yet to turn over any document, but intended to follow a proper review. And he said he would do so faster than the Obama administration.“I remember precisely once when I was on that side and we were looking for documents, I remember precisely how long it took for those documents to come across,” he said in an apparent reference to his experience as a congressman during the investigation into the 2012 attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya.“We’re going to beat that. We’re going to be more responsive than the Obama administration was in the years that preceded this particular Congress,” he said.A congressional aide familiar with Pompeo’s response confirmed that the State Department had indeed been in contact, even if Pompeo had failed to meet a Friday deadline to produce documents required by the subpoena.Trump, meanwhile, continued to seethe Saturday, denouncing the investigation as yet another “Witch Hunt!” and “a fraud against the American people!”In a series of tweets Saturday, including several sent as his presidential motorcade ferried him back and forth to his Virginia golf course, Trump defended his conduct and lashed out at critics, including a past foil, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah.“I’m hearing that the Great People of Utah are considering their vote for their Pompous Senator, Mitt Romney, to be a big mistake. I agree! He is a fool who is playing right into the hands of the Do Nothing Democrats!” Trump wrote. He ended his tweet with an extraordinary call to impeach a senator from his own party.Yet Romney was joined Saturday in his criticism by a second Republican senator, Susan Collins of Maine, who said “it’s not OK” for a president to encourage a foreign state to investigate a political rival.Speaking after a firefighter memorial service in Maine, Collins said Trump made a “big mistake” when he piled on his outreach to Ukraine by publicly calling on China to investigate the Bidens.Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska is the only other Republican senator to publicly criticize the president’s comments that further fueled an impeachment inquiry.Lawmakers are focused on Trump’s efforts to push Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. A whistleblower complaint said that Trump sought to use military assistance for Ukraine as leverage to push the newly elected Zelenskiy to launch an inquiry into the 2020 Democratic hopeful.Late Thursday, House investigators released a cache of text messages that showed top U.S. diplomats encouraging Zelenskiy to conduct an investigation linked to Biden’s family in return for granting a high-profile visit with Trump in Washington.The release followed a 10-hour interview with one of the diplomats, Kurt Volker, who stepped down as special envoy to Ukraine after the impeachment inquiry had begun.Also Read: Canada to Kartarpur via Paris: Bus with Sikh pilgrims crosses Atlantic Ocean on ship | Watch videoAlso Read: Once an ally, Pakistan Army Chief Gen Bajwa slowly creates problems for PM Imran Khan

Pompeo: State Department will follow law in impeachment inquiry

The Trump administration and House Democrats often disagree about what the law requires, leaving open the question of how Pompeo may interpret Democrats’ demands for key information about Trump’s handling of Ukraine.

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Partnership is the best way to describe burgeoning Indo-US ties, the top Indian diplomat here has said as he highlighted the role of highly-skilled professionals from India in making American companies globally competitive. Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna's remarks came amid the Trump administration's clampdown on H1B visas, the most sought after by Indian IT professionals. In April, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order for tightening the rules of the H-1B visa programme to stop "visa abuses". Trump said his administration is going to enforce 'Hire American' rules that are designed to protect jobs and wages of workers in the US. Sarna said that Indian Diaspora and the industry has played a key role in strengthening the Indo-US relationship. "What people may know less is that a large number of Indian corporates are invested in the United States, and are investing money and technology and also sharing very highly skilled professions, which frankly are a crucial factor in making American companies globally competitive," he said. He said that "partnership" is the best way to describe India-US relationship. Other than partnership, Sarna said, "It's very difficult to see, where does India fit in with the US." "It is not an ally in classical sense and neither it is part of an umbrella grouping. India's relationship with the US is many ways that of a partnership, as the countries who have a lot to offer each other at the moment," he said. "I think that is the sort of perspective that if you put that spotlight on the relationship you tend to get the most out of it, and then that governs how you treat each other, how you relate to each other, how you plan to move ahead together," Sarna said ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden trip to the US later this month. And frankly, he said, it's very difficult to think of another partner for the US, which is such a thriving and huge democracy with very deep democratic roots. "If you are looking at that sort of partner who understands these, then I don't think frankly, on the scale of India, there is any other country in the world," Sarna said. 

Partnership is best way to describe Indo-US ties, says envoy Navtej Sarna

Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna's remarks came amid the Trump administration's clampdown on H1B visas, the most sought after by Indian IT professionals.

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US completes H-1B initial electronic registration selection processThe US has received enough electronic applications during the initial registration period to reach the 2022 fiscal year cap for the H-1B foreign workers visa, the most sought-after work visa among Indian professionals.The US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency which screens and allocates H-1B applications, said it was randomly selected from among the registrations properly submitted to reach the cap.The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.The USCIS has notified all prospective petitioners with selected registrations that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected registration.The federal agency said that H-1B cap-subject petitions for fiscal 2022, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, may be filed with the USCIS beginning April 1, if based on a valid, selected registration.Last month, the USCIS said it received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the Congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa US advanced degree exemption, known as the master's cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2021.The Biden administration in February announced that it was delaying the H-1B policy of the previous Trump administration on the allocation of the popular foreign work visas by continuing with the lottery system until December 31, 2021, to give the immigration agency more time to develop, test and implement the modifications to the registration system.On January 7, the USCIS announced to do away with the traditional lottery system in deciding the successful applicants for the H-1B visas. The Trump-era rule was scheduled to go into effect on March 9.ALSO READ: Joe Biden nominates Indian-American Rupa Ranga Puttagunta as judge of DC District Cour

US completes H-1B initial electronic registration selection process

The US has received enough electronic applications during the initial registration period to reach the 2022 fiscal year cap for the H-1B foreign workers visa

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Indonesia plane crashLion Air, the airline whose plane crashed early Monday while traveling from Jakarta to an island off Indonesia's Sumatra with 189 people on board, is a fast-growing low-cost airline with a mixed safety record. The privately-owned carrier was founded in 1999 to provide access to air travel to everyone. It offers dozens of flights a day both internationally and within the archipelago's more than 17,000 islands.The biggest airline in the country in terms of passenger numbers and one of the largest low-cost carriers after Malaysia-based AirAsia, it mostly flies Boeing 737s.Related Stories Indonesia tsunami death toll rises to 1,234, may go further upIndonesia tsunami: Before and after pics depict scale of disaster that claimed 1,234 livesIndonesia earthquake-tsunami: Over 5,000 people feared missing after deadly catastrophe Indonesia earthquake-tsunami: Death toll nears 2,000, more bodies recovered after deadly catastropheIndonesia earthquake, tsunami death toll crosses 2000, thousands unaccounted forIndonesia: 3 killed after magnitude 6 earthquake hits Bali Lion Air disaster Latest Updates: Indonesian flight crashes with 189 onboard, Indian pilot Bhavye Suneja diesLion Air jet crash: India's Bhavye Suneja, pilot of ill-fated Indonesian flight clocked over 6,000 flight hoursBefore Monday's crash the airline had not reported a fatal accident since 2004, when 25 people died when the DC-9 they were on crashed amid heavy rain at Solo City in central Java.Monday's disaster was a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and United States.The European Union barred Indonesian airlines from flying to Europe in 2007 due to safety concerns. Lion Air was allowed to resume flights to Europe as of June 2016, and the ban on all other Indonesian airlines was lifted earlier this year.The U.S. lifted a decadelong ban in 2016.Last month, two Lion Air-owned aircraft had a wingtip strike while they were on the tarmac at Jakarta's airport. An investigation attributed the incident to a rushed departure. In April, a Lion Air Boeing 737-800 overran the runway at Gorontalo Airport on the island of Sulawesi. Afterward, investigators and the airline issued instructions on improving safety awareness and procedures.No one was reported injured in either of those incidents, according to reports on the website Aviation Safety Network.Lion Air announced early this year that it was among three major Indonesian airlines, including Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air, that were upgraded to the highest level of safety rating after Indonesia passed a key international audit under the International Civil Aviation Organization's Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program.Lion Air has been expanding bullishly in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing region of more than 600 million people. Earlier this year it confirmed a deal to buy 50 new Boeing narrow-body aircraft worth an estimated $6.24 billion.In a record transaction, Lion Air signed a deal to buy 230 Boeing jets for $21.7 billion during a visit by then-President Barack Obama in November 2011.The carrier was founded by Indonesian-Chinese brothers Rusdi and Kusnan Kirana, who pooled money to set up a travel agency and then began their airline with one leased aircraft. Rusdi Kirana, chief executive officer of the airline, was named Indonesia's ambassador to Malaysia in 2017 after serving as an adviser to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.The carrier operates with regional partners Thai Lion Air, Malindo Air, Wings Air, Batik Air and Lion Bizjet. It also has a freight business, Lion Parcel.

Low-cost high flyer: Indonesian airline whose plane crashed with 189 people onboard

Before Monday's crash the airline had not reported a fatal accident since 2004, when 25 people died when the DC-9 they were on crashed amid heavy rain at Solo City in central Java.

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Breaking News LIVE: Top Headlines This HourThe total number of global coronavirus cases has surpassed 33.8 million, including more than 1,012,000 fatalities. More than 25,143,990 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: September 30, 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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COVID-19 cases could breach 1 million mark today; deaths near 50,000The confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world are likely to breach the one million mark today as the global death toll nears 50,000. As per the latest figures, 935,571 coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide including 47,206 deaths. Italy, which has emerged as the hotspot for most deaths due to coronavirus has seen over 13,000 people die due to the disease including 727 deaths on Tuesday. The United States of America, which saw over 1,000 deaths yesterday has seen over 200,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. New York City, known as the financial hub of the world, has been the worst affected city in the US by the growing influence of the pandemic. In the next few days, the world will see confirmed COVID-19 cases reach one million and death tally climb to 50,000, the chief of World Health Organization (WHO) noted on Wednesday. "As we enter the fourth month since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am deeply concerned about the rapid escalation and global spread of infection," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a daily briefing.Noting a near-exponential growth of new COVID-19 cases over the past five weeks around the world, Tedros said the death toll has more than doubled in the past week.​

COVID-19 cases could breach 1 million mark today; deaths near 50,000

The confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world are likely to breach the one million mark today as the global death toll nears 50,000. As per the latest figures, 935,571 coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide including 47,206 deaths.

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Ban on Air India, Vistara flights in Hong Kong till Oct 30 over COVID +ve fliersHong Kong has banned Air India and Vistara flights from October 17 to 30 after a few passengers on their flights tested positive for COVID-19 post arrival. This is the third time that Air India flights from India have been banned by the Hong Kong government for bringing passengers who tested positive for the infection after arrival. Previous bans were during September 20-October 3 and August 18-August 31.Vistara's flights are being banned for the first time by the Hong Kong government during the coronavirus pandemic.Passengers from India can arrive in Hong Kong only if they have a COVID-19 negative certificate from a test done within 72 hours prior to the journey, according to rules issued by the Hong Kong government in July. Moreover, all international passengers are required to undergo a post-flight COVID-19 test at the Hong Kong airport.Besides India, a pre-flight COVID-19 negative certificate is mandatory for all passengers from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa and the US, according to the Hong Kong government''s rules.An airline operating a flight to Hong Kong from any of these nine countries has to submit a form before departure, stating that all passengers onboard have COVID-19 negative certificates.When asked for a statement on the recent ban on its Hong Kong flights, Air India spokesperson told PTI, "Only passengers with COVID-negative reports are being allowed to board from India (as per the rules of the Hong Kong government)."Another mandatory COVID-19 test is being carried out for passengers after landing in Hong Kong and reports of the same may vary from the reports of tests conducted 72 hours before taking the flight, the spokesperson noted."Hence, Air India cannot be held responsible for any lacunae on the issue of passenger test reports," the spokesperson added. Air India has just four flights scheduled for Hong Kong between October 17 and October 30, the spokesperson said.The spokesperson said Air India is following all rules and protocols of the Hong Kong government and they are clearly communicated to passengers on its website.Vistara did not comment on the ban on its flights to Hong Kong."A few passengers who travelled on Delhi-Hong Kong flight of Air India and Chennai-Hong Kong flight of Vistara on Thursday tested positive for COVID-19 post arrival," the senior government official said."Consequently, the flights of these two airlines have been barred from October 17 to October 30 by the Hong Kong government," the official added. Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the pandemic.However, the Indian airlines have been permitted to operate special international flights under the Vande Bharat mission since May this year and under the bilateral air bubble pacts since July this year.Under a bilateral air bubble pact, the airlines of both countries can operate international flights with certain restrictions. India has formed such pacts with approximately 17 countries. (With PTI inputs)

Ban on Air India, Vistara flights in Hong Kong till Oct 30 over COVID +ve fliers

Hong Kong has banned Air India and Vistara flights from October 17 to 30 after a few passengers on their flights tested positive for COVID-19 post arrival.

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Afghanistan likely to plunge into civil war after Taliban's victory: ExpertA Taliban's victory does not mean a "better future" for Afghanistan as there could be local outbreaks of civil war and insurgencies against the terror group, said political commentator Harlan Ullman.In an opinion piece in The Hill, Ullman, a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council, said that the few had predicted that a collapse of Afghanistan would take place "so suddenly" with Taliban control surging to about 85 per cent of the country."Obviously, if or when the Kabul government falls or cedes power, nation-building and democratization, again, will be losers. A Taliban victory, likewise, does not mean a better future for that country. Very likely, Taliban rule will vary across the provinces," Ullman said."In some cases, local war lords will remain in power, accommodate the Taliban or suffer strangulation by being cut-off from access beyond its limited areas of control. That could ignite local outbreaks of civil war and insurgencies against the Taliban. Whether these will be persistent and widespread will depend on the brutality of Taliban rule and the capacity of Afghans to continue the fight after decades of violence and conflict," he added.Ullman believes that Pakistan will attempt to impose greater influence on the Taliban through the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI) and this will doom "Prime Minister Imran Khan's outreach to improve relations with the U.S. to failure.""The U.S. has no illusions about Pakistan's past duplicity in denying its support of the Afghan Taliban. And, as extremism grows, so will western concerns about the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons," Ullman wrote.The expert is of the opinion that China would play a "more reserved role" as instability is not good for business."Aside from an interest in Afghanistan's rare earth mineral and other resources, China's Belt and Road initiative is not suited for these conditions and thus won't reach Afghanistan," he wrote.The Biden administration, the expert said, will be rightly chastised for abandoning many tens of thousands of Afghans and their families who supported and worked for coalition forces.Afghanistan is witnessing a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified its offensive against Afghan forces and civilians with the complete pullback of foreign forces just a few weeks away.Due to rising violence in the country by the Taliban, the situation is deteriorating badly as the terror group has been looting people and killing civilians after capturing multiple areas from the government.The Taliban escalated its offensive against the Afghan forces soon after the US forces started leaving Afghanistan in large numbers after the peace deal signed between Washington and the Taliban in February last year.Taliban has toppled six provincial capitals in the past 24 hours which brings the total number of provinces fallen to the terrorists to 18, local media reported on Friday. Khaama Press reported that centers of Kandahar, Helmand, Herat, Badghis, Ghor, Logar, Zabul, and Oruzgan provinces fell to the Taliban in the past 24 hours.(With ANI inputs)ALSO READ: ​Taliban sweep across Afghanistan’s south; take 4 more cities

Afghanistan likely to plunge into civil war after Taliban's victory: Expert

The expert is of the opinion that China would play a "more reserved role" as instability is not good for business.

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Supporters of President Donald Trump rally in Beverly Hills, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by the historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil. Chanting “This isn’t over!” and “Stop the steal,” supporters of President Donald Trump protested at state capitols across the country Saturday, refusing to accept defeat and echoing Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations that the Democrats won by fraud.From Atlanta and Tallahassee to Austin, Bismarck, Boise and Phoenix, crowds ranging in size from a few dozen to a few thousand — some of them openly carrying guns — decried the news of Joe Biden’s victory after more than three suspense-filled days of vote-counting put the Democrat over the top. Skirmishes broke out in some cities.In Atlanta, outside the state Capitol in the longtime Republican stronghold of Georgia, chants of “Lock him up!” rang out among an estimated 1,000 Trump supporters. Others chanted, “This isn’t over! This isn’t over!” and “Fake news!” The streets were awash with American flags and Trump banners.No immediate violence was reported, though at one point, police moved to separate Trump opponents from supporters. Biden held a slim lead in Georgia, which hasn’t gone for a Democrat since 1992.Jordan Kelley, a 29-year-old from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, drove three-plus hours to Atlanta to attend the pro-Trump rally.Image Source : APSupporters of President Donald Trump attend a rally to protest against President-elect Joe Biden's win Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 in Salem, Ore. Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by a historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil.  Supporters of President Donald Trump attend a rally to protest against President-elect Joe Biden's win Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 in Salem, Ore. Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by a historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil. “There’s election fraud going on here,” said Kelley, claiming that voters in Georgia, a state with a GOP governor and secretary of state, had improperly counted the ballots to put Biden ahead. “Even though I live in Tennessee, I’m an American, and I want to make sure Americans have a voice in the election.”He planned to make the 10-hour trip to Washington next week to demonstrate on the steps of the Supreme Court, where Trump and his lawyers have vowed to eventually make his case.Underscoring the hard feelings on both sides of the nation’s deep political divide, anti-Trump protesters in Washington booed, yelled obscenities, shouted “Loser! Loser!” and gave the finger to Trump’s motorcade as the president returned to the White House from a golf outing Saturday.Two signs posted in front of Trump’s Washington hotel read “Don’t be a sore loser” and “Face Reality.”For his part, Biden pleaded for unity and reconciliation in a televised address Saturday night, saying it is time for Americans to “put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature” and “stop treating our opponents like enemies.”“Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now,” he said.Contrary to the claims of Trump supporters, there has been no evidence of any serious vote fraud. And some Republican elected officials around the country began to distance themselves from Trump and urge him to accept the outcome gracefully.Image Source : APSupporters of President Trump, left, fight with a counterprotester, center right, at the Oregon State Capitol building Saturday, Nov 7, 2020, in Salem, Ore. Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday.  Supporters of President Trump, left, fight with a counterprotester, center right, at the Oregon State Capitol building Saturday, Nov 7, 2020, in Salem, Ore. Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday. The utter rejection of Biden as the legitimate president by Trump and his supporters appears to represent something new in American political history, said Barbara Perry, presidential studies director at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center.“We typically haven’t had a leader who loses the presidency who then tells his followers, `This is false. This has been stolen from us,’” Perry said. “Incumbent presidents have been mad, so mad they didn’t go to the inauguration, but not like this, where they are leading those people to say this is fraudulent.”A couple of thousand Trump supporters gathered at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania played a crucial role in Biden’s victory.“If we don’t stop this today, it’ll all be over,” Bruce Fields, 66, said of news organizations declaring Biden the winner. “Otherwise we can kiss freedom goodbye.”About two dozen heavily armed men, some wearing camouflage, joined the rally.At the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix, a crowd swelled to more than 1,000 within hours. Biden won Arizona on his way to victory in the Electoral College.“It’s very suspicious that President Trump, with the red wave we’ve been seeing in Arizona, is struggling,” Kelli Ward, former state senator and chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party, told boisterous pro-Trump demonstrators. “I want to know if there is any discrepancy with the numbers coming out of the machines.”More than 1,000 people gathered at the Texas Capitol in Austin, with police keeping Trump and Biden supporters on opposite sides of the street. Several hundred demonstrators turned out in Salem, Oregon, for a “Stop the Steal” rally.Even in a place that wasn’t close, Trump supporters gathered in droves to express support for him and vent frustration over the outcome of the election. Outside North Dakota’s Capitol in Bismarck, the state’s all-Republican congressional delegation joined chanting, sign-carrying protesters.A few skirmishes broke out between Trump backers and pro-Biden and Black Lives Matters demonstrators, with one BLM supporter attempting to handcuff himself to a Trump supporter. The two men began wrestling on the ground.An officer escorted the Black Lives Matter supporter to a squad car. It was unclear if he had been arrested.In Lansing, Michigan, about 50 Trump supporters and a smaller group of marchers carrying Black Lives Matter flags converged on the state Capitol, where they pushed, shoved and shouted at one another in a tense standoff. But within moments of the race being called, a few from both sides broke into prayer, and at least one pair hugged.Frank Dobbs, 40, of Henderson, Nevada, brought a bullhorn and a Trump 2020 flag that he wrestled with in a stiff wind during a rally outside the Clark County registrar of voters office in North Las Vegas.“It’s not over until it’s over. There’s still the courts. If ever there’s ever a time to expose widespread fraud, this is the president to do it,” Dobbs said. “The media doesn’t decide who wins the presidency. The legal voters of this country decide.”

‘This isn’t over!’: Trump supporters refuse to accept defeat

Chanting “This isn’t over!” and “Stop the steal,” supporters of President Donald Trump protested at state capitols across the country Saturday, refusing to accept defeat and echoing Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations that the Democrats won by fraud.

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Suu Kyi's party spokesperson detainedThe main spokesperson for Myanmar's former de factor leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League of Democracy (NLD) has been detained, a party member said on Friday. The spokesperson, Kyi Toe, and at least one other party member are now in custody, DPA news agency quoted party member Phyo Zayar Thaw as saying.Kyi Toe has been the NLD member most often in contact with the media since the February 1 coup and the most responsible for sharing the party's comments in recent weeks.The other detainee is reportedly a youth member of the NLD.Friday's development came a day after new allegations were levelled against Suu Kyi.In a TV broadcast, U Maung Weik, a business owner, was seen explaining how he handed over envelopes full of cash to Suu Kyi or her associates starting in 2017.In all, Weik said he had handed over a total of $550,000 during four separate incidents.A news reader said the businessman has been found guilty of bribery and that the country's anti-corruption commission is investigating.After Suu Kyi was dislodged by the February 1 coup, the military has piled on charges against her, from illegally importing walkie-talkies to sowing disorder by inducing others to commit offences against the state to mishandling the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.The coup was staged as the military alleged massive voting fraud in the 2020 general elections, which NLD win a majority of seats in both houses of parliament.In response to the coup, Myanmar has witnessed continued protests demanding the release of the former de facto leader and other senior officials, as well as restoring the democratically elected government.While more than 200 protesters have been killed in firings by security forces across Myanmar, mostly in cities like Yangon, Mandalay, and Dawei, over 600 others suffered serious injuries, some life-threatening or delibitating.ALSO READ | Martial law imposed in parts of Myanmar city as deaths rise

Suu Kyi's party spokesperson detained

The main spokesperson for Myanmar's former de factor leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League of Democracy (NLD) has been detained, a party member said on Friday.

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Another attack likely, pledges more strikes on IS: Joe Biden.In order to keep up airstrikes against the Islamic extremist group whose suicide bombing at the Kabul airport killed scores of Afghans and 13 American service members, United States (US) President Joe Biden promised on Saturday. He said, another terror attack, is 'highly likely' this weekend as the US winds down its evacuation.The Pentagon said that the remaining contingent of US forces at the airport, now numbering less than 4,000, had begun their final withdrawal ahead of Joe Biden’s deadline for ending the evacuation on Tuesday.After getting briefed on a US drone mission in eastern Afghanistan that the Pentagon said killed two members of the Islamic State (IS) group’s Afghanistan affiliate early Saturday, Biden added the extremists can expect more. “This strike was not the last,” Biden said in a statement. “We will continue to hunt down any person involved in that heinous attack and make them pay.” He paid tribute to the “bravery and selflessness” of the American troops executing the hurried airlift of tens of thousands from Kabul airport, including the 13 U.S. service members who were killed in Thursday’s suicide bombing at an airport gate.The evacuation proceeded as tensions rose over the prospect of another IS attack.“Our commanders informed me that an attack is highly likely in the next 24-36 hours,” Biden said, adding that he has instructed them to take all possible measures to protect their troops, who are securing the airport and helping bring onto the airfield Americans and others desperate to escape Taliban rule.The remains of the 13 American troops were on their way to the United States, the Pentagon said. Their voyage marked a painful moment in a nearly 20-year American war that cost more than 2,400 U.S. military lives and is ending with the return to power of a Taliban movement that was ousted when U.S. forces invaded in October 2001.The remains of troops killed in action overseas are usually flown back to the U.S. via Dover Air Base in Delaware, where fallen troops’ return to U.S. soil is marked by a solemn movement known as the “dignified transfer.”The White House on Saturday did not say if Biden would travel to Dover for the troops’ return. Biden’s press secretary, Jen Psaki, said shortly after the attack that the president “would do everything he can to honor the sacrifice and the service” of those killed.The Pentagon released the names of those killed- 11 Marines, one Navy sailor and one Army soldier. Twelve of them were in the 20s; some were born in 2001, the year America’s longest war began. The oldest was 31.They were the first U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan since February 2020, the month the Trump administration struck an agreement with the Taliban in which the militant group halted attacks on Americans in exchange for a U.S. agreement to remove all troops and contractors by May 2021. Biden announced in April that the 2,500 to 3,000 troops who remained would be out by September, ending what he has called America’s forever war.With Biden’s approval, the Pentagon this month sent thousands of additional troops to the Kabul airport to provide security and to facilitate the State Department’s chaotic effort to evacuate thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Afghans who had helped the United States during the war. The evacuation was marred by confusion and chaos as the U.S. government was caught by surprise when the Afghan army collapsed and the Taliban swept to power Aug. 15.About 5,400 Americans have been evacuated from the country so far, including 300 in the last day. The State Department believes about 350 more want out; it said there are roughly 280 others who have said they are Americans but who have not told the State Department of their plans to leave the country, or who have said they plan to remain.Untold numbers of vulnerable Afghans, fearful of a return to the brutality of pre-2001 Taliban rule, are likely to be left behind. Biden and the leaders of other Western countries have said they would try to work with the Taliban to allow Afghans who had worked with them to leave after the U.S.-led evacuation ends.The Pentagon said that about 6,800 people, mostly Afghans, were flown out in the 24 hours that ended Saturday morning, bringing to 113,500 the total number of people of all nationalities evacuated since the hurried exit was begun Aug. 14.Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. military force at the Kabul airport, which peaked at about 5,800, had begun its final withdrawal. The number had dropped below 4,000 on Saturday, according to a U.S. official who discussed details not yet publicly released on condition of anonymity. Kirby said that for security reasons the Pentagon will not provide a day-by-day description of the final stages of the military’s withdrawal, which includes flying home troops as well as equipment.The Pentagon said an airstrike early Saturday local time in the eastern province of Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, killed two IS “planners and facilitators.”“They have lost some capability to plan and to conduct missions, but make no mistake, nobody’s writing this off and saying, ‘Well, we got them. We don’t have to worry about ISIS-K anymore.’ Not the case,” Kirby told a news conference, using an abbreviation for the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan.Biden also faces the problem over the longer term of containing an array of potential extremist threats based in Afghanistan, which will be harder with fewer U.S. intelligence assets and no military presence in the nation. Critics say Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan leaves the door open for al-Qaida, the Islamic State and other extremist groups to grow and potentially threaten the United States. It was al-Qaida’s use of Afghanistan as a base, with the Taliban’s acquiescence, that prompted the United States to invade the country in October 2001, beginning the longest war in U.S. history.Saturday’s drone mission came less than two days after the Kabul attack and a public pledge by Biden that he would make IS “pay” for their suicide bomb attack. Officials made no claim that the two individuals killed played a direct role in Thursday’s Kabul airport attack.Kirby declined to release the names and nationalities of the two killed. He said one other person was wounded in the strike. The speed with which the U.S. retaliated reflected its close monitoring of IS and years of experience in targeting extremists in remote parts of the world. But it also shows the limits of U.S. power to eliminate the threat from extremists, who some believe will have more freedom of movement in Afghanistan now that the Taliban is in power.Kirby said the U.S. had “the ability and the means to carry over-the-horizon counterterrorism capabilities and we’re going to defend ourselves,” referring to the military’s use of aircraft based in the Persian Gulf area and elsewhere to carry out strikes in Afghanistan.(With inputs from AP) /* .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_2811391762 = { "file": "https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/08/0_4q760mr7/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_4q760mr7_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Another attack at Kabul airport highly likely in 24-36 hours, warns Biden ", "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": "396", "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_2811391762 = ''; jwsetup_2811391762(); function jwsetup_2811391762() { jwvidplayer_2811391762 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_2811391762").setup(jwconfig_2811391762); jwvidplayer_2811391762.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_2811391762, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_4q760mr7\", ns_st_pr=\"Another attack at Kabul airport highly likely in 24-36 hours, warns Biden\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Another attack at Kabul airport highly likely in 24-36 hours, warns Biden\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Another attack at Kabul airport highly likely in 24-36 hours, warns Biden\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2021-08-29\", ns_st_tdt=\"2021-08-29\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/08/0_4q760mr7/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_2811391762.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_2811391762.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_2811391762.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_2811391762.stop(); jwvidplayer_2811391762.remove(); jwvidplayer_2811391762 = ''; jwsetup_2811391762(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_2811391762.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_2811391762.stop(); jwvidplayer_2811391762.remove(); jwvidplayer_2811391762 = ''; jwsetup_2811391762(); return; }); jwvidplayer_2811391762.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2811391762.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2811391762.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2811391762.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2811391762.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_2811391762.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }

Another attack at Kabul airport highly likely in 24-36 hours, warns Joe Biden

After getting briefed on a US drone mission in Afghanistan that the Pentagon said killed 2 members of IS group’s Afghanistan affiliate early Saturday, Prez Biden said the extremists can expect more.

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RepresentativeWesley Mathews, the Indian-American foster father of three-year-old Sherin Mathews, was sentenced to life in prison by a judge in Dallas on Wednesday for the death of the Indian toddler in 2017.Mathews, 39, pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge of injury to a child in Sherin's death. He was originally charged with capital murder by authorities in the US state of Texas.Mathews stared ahead and did not look at jurors as the judge sentenced him to life in prison, US media reports said.The 12-member jury deliberated Wednesday afternoon for about three hours before coming to a unanimous decision to give Mathews a sentence of life in the death of his adopted daughter, Sherin.Prosecutors argued that Mathews, hailing from Kerala, killed Sherin in October 2017. She was adopted by Mathews and his wife Sini Mathews from an orphanage in Bihar in 2016. Mathews claimed she accidentally choked to death on milk.While prosecutors asked the jury to hand down a life sentence, defence attorney Rafael De La Garza argued that Mathews was a good father who panicked when his daughter choked and did not call for help.After the verdict was read, De La Garza called the sentence "cruel and unusual punishment", WFAA TV reported.Mathews initially told police that Sherin went missing on October 7, 2017, after he put her outside their home at 3 am in Richardson, Texas because she would not drink her milk. Her badly decomposed body was found 15 days later in a culvert near the family's home.His story evolved during the course of the investigation. He originally told police that Sherin was alive when he put her outside. He later admitted she died when he "physically assisted" her in drinking the milk and got chocked.On the witness stand during the sentencing trial, Mathews said he panicked after his daughter's accidental death. He said he wrapped her body in a blue trash bag and put her in a culvert so she would be near the home.Police charged Sherin's foster mother Sini with child abandonment in November 2017, after her husband told officials the couple left the toddler alone the night of her death while they went to dinner with their biological daughter.Sini's case was dismissed in March this year after prosecutors said they could not prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.

Indian-American adoptive father of Sherin Mathews sentenced to life

Wesley Mathews, the Indian-American foster father of three-year-old Sherin Mathews, was sentenced to life in prison by a judge in Dallas on Wednesday for the death of the Indian toddler in 2017.

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Breaking news The total number of global coronavirus cases has surpassed 6 million, including more than 366,000 fatalities. More than 2,656,000 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. Stay Home, Stay Safe and Stay Informed as our team of dedicated editors/reporters bring you the latest news on coronavirus:

Coronavirus Update: May 30, 2020 | As it happened

The total number of global coronavirus cases has surpassed 6 million, including more than 366,000 fatalities. More than 2,656,000 patients are reported to have recovered. Follow this LIVE blog for the latest on coronavirus and its global economic fallout.

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Russia-Ukraine war: Facebook restricts several social media accounts in Ukraine Access to several accounts in Ukraine has been blocked by Meta (formerly Facebook). The social networking giant also said it is reviewing other governments' requests to restrict access to these accounts in their countries. In a threaded tweet, Nick Clegg, vice president of global affairs at Meta early on Monday said that the company has been in contact with the Government of Ukraine."At their request, we have also restricted access to several accounts in Ukraine, including those belonging to some Russian state media organisations," Clegg posted."We are also reviewing other government requests to restrict Russian state-controlled media," he added.The Ukrainians have also suggested that Meta remove access to Facebook and Instagram in Russia."However, people in Russia are using FB and IG to protest and organise against the war and as a source of independent information," he informed."The Russian government is already throttling our platform to prevent these activities. We believe turning off our services would silence important expression at a crucial time," he noted.Hit by partial restrictions, Meta (formerly Facebook) last weekend prohibited Russian state media from running ads or monetising on its platform anywhere in the world.Meta has established a special operations centre staffed by experts from across the company, including native Russian and Ukrainian speakers, who are monitoring the platform around the clock, allowing the company to respond to issues in real-time."We've added several safety features in Ukraine, including the ability for people to lock their Facebook profile, removing the ability to view and search friends lists, and additional tools on Messenger," the company informed.Meta said it is also providing more transparency around state-controlled media outlets, prohibiting ads from Russian state media and demonetising their accounts.Google-owned YouTube has also announced it is temporarily halting the ability of a number of Russian channels, including state-sponsored RT, to monetise their content on the platform.Earlier, Russia also blocked Twitter to stifle the flow of information as its invasion of Ukraine escalates.(With inputs from IANS)Also Read | Dreaming of bright future, Indian student reached Ukrainian university minutes before war began

Russia-Ukraine war: Facebook restricts several social media accounts in Ukraine

Hit by partial restrictions, Meta (formerly Facebook) last weekend prohibited Russian state media from running ads or monetising on its platform anywhere in the world.

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Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday challenged the verdict of an anti-terrorism court in the assassination case of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, arguing that the two guilty policemen as well as the five men acquitted of all charges deserve capital punishment.The anti-terrorism court in its August 31 verdict had acquitted five Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan suspects and announced 17-year imprisonment for two former police officers. The court had also declared former President Pervez Musharraf an absconder in the case.The FIA moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the sentence through two separate petitions submitted on Friday. The counsel for the agency also said that the anti-terrorism court passed the verdict in a hurry without fulfilling legal requirements, Dawn online reported. According to the petition, the two police officers -- former Rawalpindi Central Police Office Saud Aziz and former Rawalpindi Town Superintendent Khurram Shahzad -- were sentenced under only two clauses each, whereas several other clauses, including terrorism, were also part of the case.The petition said that the 17-year imprisonment for the two police officials was "much less than what they deserved", demanding capital punishment for them.The second petition stated that the five accused who were set free had also confessed to their involvement before a magistrate, so they also deserved "rigorous sentences".Bhutto, the Pakistan Peoples Party chief and a two-time Prime Minister, was killed along with 21 people in a gun-and-bomb attack outside Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh during an election campaign rally on December 27, 2007. The FIA asked the LHC to overturn the anti-terrorism court's decision and the court, accepting the petition, will hear the case on October 2. PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari also challenged the anti-terrorism court's verdict in LHC's Rawalpindi bench earlier this month, seeking death penalty for Musharraf and the two senior police officers.A bench will hear Zardari's appeals on November 27.

Benazir Bhutto murder case: Pakistan's investigative agency challenges verdict

The anti-terrorism court in its August 31 verdict had acquitted five Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan suspects and announced 17-year imprisonment for two former police officers.

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Kim Jong-Un orders North Koreans to give up pet dogs to save country from food shortageNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has, reportedly, ordered citizens to give up their pet dogs, so that the canines can be killed for their meat. The country is currently fighting an acute food shortage while trying to manage the coronavirus pandemic.To quell discontent among his people, the Supreme Leader has ordered people to hand over their pet dogs. He used class difference as an excuse to justify the move, which has been described as brutal and inhuman.According to a report by The Mirror, he said that the ordinary people raise livestock and cattle while only the rich and elite have pet dogs. He called having pet dogs a sign of "capitalism" and "bourgeois ideology."Dogs in North Korea have always been associated with capitalist notions and the rule banning pet dogs has been implemented on and off since the 1980s.According to the South China Morning Post, in 2018, North Korea asked its people to give up their dogs' fur ahead of the Party Foundation Day (one of North Korea's biggest and most important holidays). If they refused, they would have to hand over the US $148 worth of rice to the state.Kim Jong-un, whose focus has been to improve the country’s defence, has spent a lot of resources to develop and test nuclear weapons. Now, owing to a fall in trade with China, its economic condition has worsened. According to the UN, several families are able to afford only one meal a day. Approximately 60 per cent of the 25.5 million population in North Korea is suffering from starvation.According to multiple reports, North Korea has also been facing a shortage of food. The New York Times reported once confiscation of pooches begins in Pyongyang, some of them will be sent to zoos and some to restaurants for meat.Authorities have been tasked to identify families in North Korea with pet dogs, and it is highly likely that the family will not be able to do much once authorities are at their doorstep to take away their pets.

Kim Jong-Un orders North Koreans to give up pet dogs to save country from food shortage

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has, reportedly, ordered citizens to give up their pet dogs, so that the canines can be killed for their meat. The country is currently fighting an acute food shortage while trying to manage the coronavirus pandemic.

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BioNTech CEO Ugur SahinAs the world grapples with the pandemic amid the origin of newer and potentially lethal strains, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin has said that the deadly virus is going to stay with us for the next decade at least. In a virtual press conference this week, Sahin spoke about the potential virus deadline when asked when life could return to normal."We need a new definition of normal. The virus will stay with us for the next 10 years," he told mediapersons.BioNTech's vaccine, developed with the US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, has been authorised for use in more than 45 countries, including Britain and the US.Sahin also said that the vaccine can be adjusted for the new UK variant in about six weeks."In principle, the beauty of the messenger technology is that we can directly start to engineer a vaccine which completely mimics this new mutation - we could be able to provide a new vaccine technically within six weeks," he was quoted as saying in media reports.Sahin said he was confident that the new variant of the Covid-19 strain in the UK would not impact the efficacy of the vaccine.The new strain of Covid is causing worry all around the world including in India, and it remains to be seen what effect it could have.After the discovery of a second new variant of the novel coronavirus in Britain, the UK has reported the highest number of Covid-19 fatalities this week, since late April.Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the second new variant was reportedly related to travellers from South Africa, and two cases have been reported so far."This new variant is highly concerning because it is yet more transmissible and it appears to have mutated further than the new variant that has been discovered in the UK," he said this week.On December 19, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the discovery of a first mutant Covid-19 strain which is said to be about 70 per cent more transmissible.As a result, Johnson imposed Tier Four restrictions om London and other parts of England.ALSO READ | India records 22,273 new COVID cases in 24 hours, tally at 1.01 cr; active cases drop to 2.81 lakh

Coronavirus will stay with us for next 10 years: BioNTech CEO

As the world grapples with the pandemic amid the origin of newer and potentially lethal strains, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin has said that the deadly virus is going to stay with us for the next decade at least.

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Pakistan summoned India's acting Deputy High Commissioner here to condemn the alleged "ceasefire violation" today along the Line of Control by Indian forces, in which a Pakistani man was killed.Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement that Indian forces resorted to firing in Kotli/Nikial Sector, which killed a 22-year-old man in Balakot village and injured four people, including three women.Pakistan "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation" which India was committing "despite calls for restraint," the FO said."The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," it said.The FO urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, instruct its forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, and maintain peace on the LoC and working boundary.Pakistan also urged India to permit the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.India maintains that the UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.The FO claimed Indian forces have carried out more than 873 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the working boundary this year, which have resulted in the deaths of 40 civilians and injuries to 148 others, as compared to 382 ceasefire violations in 2016.

Pakistan summons Indian envoy over alleged firing on LoC

Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement that Indian forces resorted to firing in Kotli/Nikial Sector, which killed a 22-year-old man in Balakot village and injured four people, including three women.

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LIVE track Santa Claus on Christmas 2019Christmas is here and people round the world are excited about Santa Claus and Christmas presents. But does anyone know where exactly is Santa Claus at present? What if you can track Santa Claus, just like you do while ordering online food? North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is tracking the live status of Santa, so that your wait for Christmas presents gets a timeline. NORAD has been tracking Santa's sleigh since 4 am on Tuesday, right when Santa Claus embarked his flight with his nine reindeer.His first stops were in eastern Russia and Asia, just in time for Christmas Day there.Not just NORAD, US space agency NASA is also keeping an eye on Santa’s sleigh. Those who want to know the exact location status of Santa Claus can track his journey on NORAD's official Santa Tracker, Moreover, you can also call 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) to speak live with NORAD trackers. The group uses infrared sensors to follow the glow of Rudolph's nose, enabling them to pinpoint the location of his sleigh."We are proud to carry on the tradition of tracking Santa as he travels along his yuletide flight path," NORAD commander Terrence O'Shaughnessy was quoted by CNN as saying.  What is NORAD? North American Aerospace Defense Command comes up with an annual Christmas-themed program that starts on December 1. The actual Santa-tracking starts at midnight of December 23. The program is in the tradition of the September 1897 editorial "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" in the New York Sun. How did Santa tracking begin?On December 24, 1948, the United States Air Force issued a communique claiming that an "early warning radar net to the north" had detected "one unidentified sleigh, powered by eight reindeer, at 14,000 feet [4,300 meters], heading 180 degrees." The Associated Press passed this "report" along to the general public. It was the first time that the United States Armed Forces issued a statement about tracking Santa Claus's sleigh on Christmas Eve, although it was a one-time event, not repeated over the next several years.The program originated before the actual formation of NORAD, as an annual event on December 24, 1955. On November 30, the same year, a child trying to reach Santa Claus on a hotline number provided in a Sears advertisement misdialed the number and instead reached Shoup at his desk at CONAD. Shoup responded gruffly to the child and no additional Santa Claus-related calls came in to CONAD.According to legend, a Sears department store then placed an advertisement in the Colorado Springs newspaper The Gazette, which told children that they could place a call to Santa Claus and included the number ME 2-6681.In some versions of the story, the calls were coming in to the "red telephone" hotline that connected CONAD directly to command authorities at the Strategic Air Command. Colonel Harry Shoup, who was a Crew Commander on duty, answered the first call and supposedly told his staff to give all children who called in later a "current location" for Santa Claus.Also Read | US ready for any Christmas gift from North Korea: TrumpAlso Read | India weather forecast for Christmas Day 2019: Fog, cold wave to prevail​ /* .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_4968896071 = { "file": "https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_rjbqk15w_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_rjbqk15w_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "World celebrates Christmas", "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_4968896071 = ''; jwsetup_4968896071(); function jwsetup_4968896071() { jwvidplayer_4968896071 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_4968896071").setup(jwconfig_4968896071); jwvidplayer_4968896071.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_4968896071, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_rjbqk15w\", ns_st_pr=\"World celebrates Christmas\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"World celebrates Christmas\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"World celebrates Christmas\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2019-12-25\", ns_st_tdt=\"2019-12-25\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_rjbqk15w_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_4968896071.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_4968896071.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_4968896071.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_4968896071.stop(); jwvidplayer_4968896071.remove(); jwvidplayer_4968896071 = ''; jwsetup_4968896071(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_4968896071.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_4968896071.stop(); jwvidplayer_4968896071.remove(); jwvidplayer_4968896071 = ''; jwsetup_4968896071(); return; }); jwvidplayer_4968896071.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_4968896071.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_4968896071.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_4968896071.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_4968896071.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_4968896071.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); } ​ 

Christmas 2019: Waiting for Santa Claus? Here's how you can LIVE track his route

People all over the world are celebrating Christmas today and children are waiting for Santa Claus and gifts. In a good news for all those who await the arrival of Santa Claus, you can now keep a track of Santa Claus' route. Read on to find out how you can watch Santa Claus approaching your city.

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Wreckage of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 at the scene of the crash in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Iran’s judiciary said Tuesday that arrests have been made for the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane that killed all 176 people on board just after takeoff from Tehran last week.The announcement came amid an upswell of anger and protests by Iranians in recent days over the downing of the jetliner last Wednesday and apparent attempts by senior officials in Iran to cover-up the cause of the crash.Iran, which initially dismissed allegations that a missile had brought down the plane, acknowledged only on Saturday — three days after and in the face of mounting evidence — that its Revolutionary Guard had shot down the plane by mistake.Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili was quoted by Iranian state media saying that “extensive investigations have taken place and some individuals are arrested.” He did not say how many individuals had been detained or name them.Iran’s president on Tuesday also called for a special court to be set up to probe the incident.“The judiciary should form a special court with a ranking judge and dozens of experts,” President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech televised in Iran. “This is not an ordinary case. The entire the world will be watching this court.”Rouhani called the incident “a painful and unforgivable” mistake and promised that his administration would pursue the case “by all means.”“The responsibility falls on more than just one person,” he said, adding that those found culpable “should be punished.”“There are others, too, and I want that this issue is expressed honestly,” he said, without elaborating.Rouhani called the government’s admission that Iranian forces shot down the plane the “first good step”.The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians — including many Iranians with dual citizenship — and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. There were several children among the passengers, including an infant.Iran shot down the plane when it was bracing for possible U.S. retaliation for a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq. No one was hurt in that attack, which was carried out to avenge the stunning killing of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike in Baghdad.Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guard’s aerospace division, said over the weekend his unit accepts full responsibility for the shootdown. He said when he learned about the downing of the plane, “I wished I was dead.”The incident raised questions about why Iran did not shut down its international airport or airspace the day it was bracing for U.S. military retaliation.The shootdown and the lack of transparency around it has reignited anger in Iran at the country’s leadership. Online videos appeared to show security forces firing live ammunition and tear gas to disperse protests in the streets.Also Tuesday, Iran’s judiciary said that 30 people had been detained in the protests, and that some were released, without elaborating further.Iranian authorities briefly arrested British Ambassador Rob Macaire on Saturday evening. He’s said he went to a candlelight vigil to pay his respects for the victims of the Ukrainian plane shootdown and left as soon as the chanting began and it turned into a protest.Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador on Sunday to protest what it said was his presence at an illegal protest. Britain, in turn, summoned Iran’s ambassador on Monday “to convey our strong objections” over the weekend arrest.

Iran announces arrests over downing of Ukrainian plane that killed 176 passengers

​Iran’s judiciary said Tuesday that arrests have been made for the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane that killed all 176 people on board just after takeoff from Tehran last week.

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9 people killed in plane crash in South Dakota, United States. (Representational)Authorities say nine people have been killed after a plane crashed in South Dakota. Peter Knudson with the National Transportation Safety Board tells The Associated Press 12 people were aboard the Pilatus PC-12 when it crashed about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, shortly after taking off from Chamberlain, about 140 miles (225.3 kilometers) west of Sioux Falls. Knudson says nine people were killed and three were injured. The single-engine plane was bound for Idaho Falls, Idaho.Media reports say Chamberlain and central south-central South Dakota were under a winter storm warning at the time of the crash.​Knudson says weather will be among several factors NTSB investigators will review, but no cause has yet been determined. He says inclement weather is making travel to the site difficult.No further information was immediately available.

9 people killed in plane crash in South Dakota, United States

Shortly after taking off from Chamberlain, about 140 miles (225.3 kilometers) west of Sioux Falls. Nine people were killed and three were injured. The single-engine plane was bound for Idaho Falls, Idaho.

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The United States says as many as 1,500 Americans may be awaiting evacuation from Afghanistan amid growing warnings Thursday of terrorist threats targeting the Kabul airport as President Joe Biden's deadline for withdrawing troops fast approaches.Untold thousands of at-risk Afghans are struggling to get into the airport even as many thousands of other Afghans already had been flown to safety in nearly two weeks of round-the-clock flights.The airlift continued Thursday despite warnings of vehicle-borne bomb threats near the airport. The White House said 13,400 people had been evacuated in the 24 hours that ended early Thursday morning Washington time. That included 5,100 people aboard U.S. military planes and 8,300 on coalition and partner aircraft. That was a substantial drop from the 19,000 airlifted by all means the day before.Several of the Americans working phones and trying to pull strings to get out former Afghan colleagues, women's advocates, journalists, and other vulnerable Afghans said they were still waiting for U.S. action.“It's 100% up to the Afghans to take these risks and try to fight their way out,” said Sunil Varghese, policy director with the International Refugee Assistance Project.Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized at a State Department briefing on Wednesday that “ evacuating Americans is our top priority.”He added: “We're also committed to getting out as many Afghans at-risk as we can before the 31st," when Biden plans to pull out the last of thousands of American troops.As more nations began shutting down their evacuation flights and pulling out before the U.S. withdrawal, there were new European warnings about the threats. British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told the BBC that there was ”very, very credible reporting of an imminent attack” at the airport, possibly within “hours.”The U.S. Embassy in Kabul, the capital, issued a security alert Wednesday warning American citizens away from three specific airport gates. Senior U.S. officials said the warning was related to ongoing and specific threats involving the Islamic State and potential vehicle bombs, which have set U.S. officials on edge in the final days of the American drawdown. The officials insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing military operations.Blinken said the State Department estimates about 6,000 Americans were wanting to leave Afghanistan when the airlift began Aug. 14, as the Taliban took the capital after a stunning military conquest. About 4,500 Americans have been evacuated so far, Blinken said, and among the rest “some are understandably very scared.”The 6,000 figure is the first firm estimate by the State Department of how many Americans were seeking to get out. U.S. officials early in the evacuation estimated as many as 15,000, including dual citizens, lived in Afghanistan. The figure does not include U.S. Green Card holders.About 500 Americans have been contacted with instructions on when and how to get to the chaotic Kabul airport to catch evacuation flights.In addition, 1,000 or perhaps fewer are being contacted to determine whether they still want to leave. Blinken said some of these may already have left the country, some may want to remain and some may not be American citizens.Blinken emphasized that the U.S. and other governments plan to continue assisting Afghans and Americans who want to leave after the deadline for Biden's planned end to the evacuation and the two-decade U.S. military role in Afghanistan.Biden has cited what the U.S. says are rising security threats to U.S. forces, including from an affiliate of the Islamic State terror group, for his determination to stick with Tuesday's withdrawal deadline.The U.S. Embassy has already been evacuated; staff is operating from the Kabul airport and the last are to leave by Tuesday.Biden said this week he had asked his national security team for contingency plans in case he decides to extend the deadline. Taliban leaders who took control of Afghanistan this month say they will not tolerate any extensions to the Tuesday deadline. But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted that “people with legal documents” will still be able to fly out via commercial flights after Tuesday.U.S. troops are anchoring a multinational evacuation from the airport. The White House says the airlift overall has flown out 82,300 Afghans, Americans, and others on a mix of U.S., international and private flights.The withdrawal comes under a 2020 deal negotiated by President Donald Trump with the Taliban.Refugee groups are describing a different picture than the Biden administration is when it comes to many Afghans: a disorganized, barely-there U.S. evacuation effort that leaves the most desperate to risk beatings and death at Taliban checkpoints. Some Afghans are reported being turned away from the Kabul airport by American forces controlling the gates, despite having approval for flights.U.S. military and diplomatic officials appear to still be compiling lists of eligible Afghans but have yet to disclose how many may be evacuated — and how — private Americans and American organizations said.“We still have 1,200 Afghans with visas that are outside the airport and haven't got in,” said James Miervaldis with No One Left Behind, one of the dozens of veterans groups working to get out Afghans who worked with the U.S. military during America's nearly 20 years of combat in the country. “We're waiting to hear from the US. government and haven't heard yet.”U.S.-based organizations, speaking on background to discuss sensitive matters, cite accounts from witnesses on the ground as saying some American citizens, and family members of Afghans with green cards, still were having trouble pushing and talking their way into the Kabul airport for flights.Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. military will preserve as much airlift capacity at the airport as possible in the coming days. But he added that in the final days and hours there will have to be a balance in getting out U.S. troops and their equipment as well as evacuees. /* .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_1140321693 = { "file": "https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/08/0_nl3sqz34/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_nl3sqz34_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Kabul attack: 13 dead in serial blasts outside airport, several 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": "2242", "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_1140321693 = ''; jwsetup_1140321693(); function jwsetup_1140321693() { jwvidplayer_1140321693 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_1140321693").setup(jwconfig_1140321693); jwvidplayer_1140321693.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_1140321693, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_nl3sqz34\", ns_st_pr=\"Kabul attack: 13 dead in serial blasts outside airport, several injured\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Kabul attack: 13 dead in serial blasts outside airport, several injured\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Kabul attack: 13 dead in serial blasts outside airport, several injured\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2021-08-26\", ns_st_tdt=\"2021-08-26\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://vod-indiatv.akamaized.net/hls/2021/08/0_nl3sqz34/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_1140321693.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_1140321693.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_1140321693.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_1140321693.stop(); jwvidplayer_1140321693.remove(); jwvidplayer_1140321693 = ''; jwsetup_1140321693(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_1140321693.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_1140321693.stop(); jwvidplayer_1140321693.remove(); jwvidplayer_1140321693 = ''; jwsetup_1140321693(); return; }); jwvidplayer_1140321693.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_1140321693.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_1140321693.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_1140321693.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_1140321693.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_1140321693.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); }

Afghanistan crisis: US says up to 1,500 Americans await airlift as threats grow

Untold thousands of at-risk Afghans are struggling to get into the airport even as many thousands of other Afghans already had been flown to safety in nearly two weeks of round-the-clock flights.

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JAI SHRI RAM! Loud chants echo as PM Modi speaks in Japan's Kobe | VIDEOJAI SHRI RAM! That's what echoed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a hall filled with the Indian diaspora in Japan's Kobe on Thursday. Just as the prime minister concluded his address at the Hyogo Prefecture Guest House, the crowd began chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' with more and more voices joining in. At present, the 'Jai Shri Ram' chant is definitely at the centrestage of a huge controversy in India in backdrop of the Jharkhand mob lynching case. Jai Shri Ram means 'Hail Lord Rama' or 'Victory to Lord Rama', Hindu deity and the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. Modi arrived in Japan on Thursday for the G20 Summit during which he will attend important plurilateral meetings and meet with the world leaders including US President Donald Trump. /* .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_3924695763 = { "file": "https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_9wiv8wmv_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8", "image": "https://thumbs.indiatvnews.com/vod/0_9wiv8wmv_big_thumb.jpg", "title": "Slogans of 'Vande Mataram', 'Jai Sri Ram' raised after PM Modi speech in Kobe, Japan", "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_3924695763 = ''; jwsetup_3924695763(); function jwsetup_3924695763() { jwvidplayer_3924695763 = jwplayer("jwvidplayer_3924695763").setup(jwconfig_3924695763); jwvidplayer_3924695763.on('ready', function () { ns_.StreamingAnalytics.JWPlayer(jwvidplayer_3924695763, { publisherId: "20465327", labelmapping: "c2=\"20465327\", c3=\"IndiaTV News\", c4=\"null\", c6=\"null\", ns_st_mp=\"jwplayer\", ns_st_cl=\"0\", ns_st_ci=\"0_9wiv8wmv\", ns_st_pr=\"Slogans of 'Vande Mataram', 'Jai Sri Ram' raised after PM Modi speech in Kobe, Japan\", ns_st_sn=\"0\", ns_st_en=\"0\", ns_st_ep=\"Slogans of 'Vande Mataram', 'Jai Sri Ram' raised after PM Modi speech in Kobe, Japan\", ns_st_ct=\"null\", ns_st_ge=\"News\", ns_st_st=\"Slogans of 'Vande Mataram', 'Jai Sri Ram' raised after PM Modi speech in Kobe, Japan\", ns_st_ce=\"0\", ns_st_ia=\"0\", ns_st_ddt=\"2019-06-27\", ns_st_tdt=\"2019-06-27\", ns_st_pu=\"IndiaTV News\", ns_st_cu=\"https://indiatv-vh.akamaihd.net/i/vod/0_9wiv8wmv_,20,21,22,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8\", ns_st_ty=\"video\"" }); }); jwvidplayer_3924695763.on('all', function (r) { if (jwvidplayer_3924695763.getState() == 'error' || jwvidplayer_3924695763.getState() == 'setupError') { jwvidplayer_3924695763.stop(); jwvidplayer_3924695763.remove(); jwvidplayer_3924695763 = ''; jwsetup_3924695763(); return; } }); jwvidplayer_3924695763.on('error', function (t) { jwvidplayer_3924695763.stop(); jwvidplayer_3924695763.remove(); jwvidplayer_3924695763 = ''; jwsetup_3924695763(); return; }); jwvidplayer_3924695763.on('mute', function () { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_3924695763.on('adPlay', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_3924695763.on('adPause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_3924695763.on('pause', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_3924695763.on('error', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); jwvidplayer_3924695763.on('adBlock', function (event) { ga('send', 'event', 'JW Player Events', 'Errors', event.message); }); } During his address to the Indian community in Kobe, Modi said the ties between India and Japan have become stronger from the time the two countries cooperated to make a car to coming together to manufacture the bullet trains. He said Japan has played an important role in India's economic development. Modi said the bilateral ties are going to become more robust as India aims to become a USD 5 trillion economy in the next five years.ALSO READ | G-20 Summit: PM Narendra Modi meets Japanese PM Shinzo AbeALSO READ | Japanese PM Shinzo Abe wants G20 Summit to unite on trade, Middle East

JAI SHRI RAM! Loud chants echo as PM Modi speaks in Japan's Kobe | VIDEO

JAI SHRI RAM! That's what echoed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a hall filled with the Indian diaspora in Japan's Kobe on Thursday. Watch Video.

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US COVID-19 cases top 1.1 million; death toll reaches 64,789The United States reported more than 1.1 million cases of novel coronavirus, with the death toll exceeding 64,700. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 1,100,197, and a total of 64,789 deaths related to the disease were recorded as of 7.40 p.m. (Friday), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, Xinhua news agency reported.New York remains the hardest-hit state, with 308,314 cases and 24,039 deaths, followed by New Jersey with 121,190 cases and 7,538 deaths. Other states with over 50,000 cases include Massachusetts, Illinois, and California, according to the CSSECoronavirus worldwide cases have crossed 3.4 million mark taking confirmed cases to 34,00,674 including 2,39,586 deaths and 10,81,590 recovered patients. Spain is the next major outbreak centre for coronavirus with 2,42,988 cases including 24,824 deaths becoming the second most affected nation that has been hit by COVID-19. Meanwhile, Italy has so far recorded 207,428 cases while UK toll surges to 177,454. France at present has 167,346 confirmed coronavirus cases. ALSO READ | Coronavirus worldwide cases cross 3.4 million mark; death toll at 2,39,586 

US COVID-19 cases top 1.1 million; death toll reaches 64,789

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 1,100,197, and a total of 64,789 deaths related to the disease were recorded as of 7.40 p.m. (Friday), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, Xinhua news agency reported.