China’s Top Diplomat in Moscow Surprise U.S. Talks

 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s four-day trip comes on the back of weekend meetings with White House officials in Malta.

SINGAPORE—China’s top diplomat was set to begin a four-day visit to Russia after a surprise stopover in Malta for weekend talks with White House officials, as Beijing lays the groundwork for separate meetings between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his U.S. and Russian counterparts.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China in October—his first trip abroad since the International Criminal Court in March issued an arrest warrant over his role in the forced deportation of children from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Anticipation is growing that Xi and President Biden could meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco the following month.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip follows on the heels of several meetings with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in Malta this past weekend.

The previously unannounced Malta talks came after the pair held a secret meeting in Vienna in May. That meeting followed months of tensions over a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that drifted across the U.S., derailing plans by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to make his first visit to China in February.

The Vienna talks helped set the stage for the revival of high-level contacts that unfolded over the summer with the Beijing visits by Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, special climate envoy John Kerry and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo despite criticisms from Republican lawmakers, who say Biden appears to be making concessions without any response in kind from China.

“Beijing should recognize that the Biden administration is continuing efforts to remain engaged with China despite domestic pushback," said Paul Haenle, a China expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The only time Biden and Xi have met as heads of state was at the G-20 summit on the Indonesian island of Bali last November.

The Malta talks showed that U.S.-China ties remain a “work in progress," said Wu Xinbu, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Shanghai’s Fudan University, adding that although the lack of detail showed many issues remained unresolved, the two sides were on “the right track."

The meetings covered an array of topics, including Ukraine as well as other global security issues, statements from both sides said. Sullivan stressed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to the U.S. statement. The Chinese readout said that Wang had warned that Taiwan, the self-ruled island China claims as its own territory, is the “first insurmountable red line of Sino-U. S. relations."

China sent more than 100 warplanes on sorties near Taiwan between Sunday and Monday mornings, a recent high for such flights, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said, with 40 of those entering the Taiwanese air-defense identification zone. Nine Chinese naval vessels were also detected in nearby waters, it said.

Both sides also noted that they intended to expand high-level engagement in the coming months, with China’s readout saying that the U.S. and China had agreed to hold bilateral consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs, maritime affairs and foreign policy. Beijing had suspended various communication channels following former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last summer.

The timing of Wang’s back-to-back meetings appeared to reflect a growing strategic relationship and increased coordination between China and Russia, said Carnegie Endowment’s Haenle.

Fudan University’s Wu said that the Russia trip had most probably been scheduled a long time in advance to discuss preparations for Putin’s visit.

Wang’s meetings with his American and Russian counterparts are taking place as Beijing is struggling with a slowing economy and dealing with what appears to be turmoil among top-ranking party personnel. Wang returned to his job as China’s foreign minister in July after Qin Gang was removed from the post without explanation.

In August, China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu visited Russia and Belarus and called for closer military cooperation. This month, Li was taken away by authorities for questioning, The Wall Street Journal reported, while U.S. officials said he is being removed from his post.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, asked at a routine briefing on Friday to comment on whether Li was under investigation, said she wasn’t aware of the situation.

The recent meetings and engagements between China and the U.S. were important for gaining visibility into China and figuring out how it is dealing with the various challenges, said Haenle. “It is become harder and harder to know what China wants to do. It is becoming more and more like a black box."

Joyu Wang in Taipei contributed to this article.

Vivek Ramaswamy to change H-1B Visa Program: how it affects Indians?

 Vivek Ramaswamy has promised to replace the existing system with meritocratic admission.

Republican candidate of the 2024 US Presidential elections, Vivek Ramaswamy has stirred the hornet's nest with his annoucment that he would "gut" the H-1 B visa programme if elected to the office. He has promised to replace the existing system with meritocratic admission.

“The lottery system needs to be replaced by actual meritocratic admission. It’s a form of indentured servitude that only accrues to the benefit of the company that sponsored an H-1B immigrant. I’ll gut it,” Ramaswamy said in a statement accessed by Politico.

“The people who come as family members are not the meritocratic immigrants who make skills-based contributions to this country," he continued.

What's the H-1 B visa programme and its significance for Indians?

H-1 B visa programme allows companies in the US, to hire nonimmigrant foreigners as workers in specialty occupations. According to the official website of US Department Of Labor, "a specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialised knowledge and the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent."

The H-1 B visa programme is a win-win for both the employers and the workers as the former get to hire talented workforce which might not be available locally while the latter get to work in the US legally. Moreover, as per the guidelines on the official website of US Department Of Labor, employers have to pay wages to the H-1B nonimmigrant workers that are " at least equal to the actual wage paid by the employer to other workers with similar experience and qualifications for the job in question, or the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area of intended employment – whichever is greater."

Reportedly, Indians are the biggest beneficiaries of the H-1 B visa programme. As per reports, Indians made up to 73% of the 4.42 lakh H-1B workers in the 2022 fiscal year. Therefore, any change in the existing system will surely affect Indians.

Rifle, fur hat, drones: Kim returns with gifts from Russia

 Kim was presented with five one-way attack drones and a Geranium-25 reconnaissance drone, which is widely used in the war in Ukraine.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is heading home on Monday, most likely with gifts from his Russian hosts including a rifle, a cosmonaut's glove, and military drones - which on their own are a violation of UN sanctions.

Following are some of the items he is bringing back to the "friendship" museum, where gifts received by the North's three generations of leaders are kept.

GIFTS FROM RUSSIA

After his summit with Russian President Putin, Kim received a Russian-made rifle "of the highest quality," according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Kim reciprocated with a rifle for Putin "made by North Korean craftsmen".

Putin also presented a glove from a spacesuit worn in space, Russia's TASS news agency said.

Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of the Primorsky region, presented Kim with a set of modern, lightweight body armour designed for assault operations that protects the chest, shoulders, throat and groin, Russia media said.

Kim was also presented with five one-way attack drones and a Geranium-25 reconnaissance drone, which is widely used in the war in Ukraine, TASS said.

That violates at least two UN Security Council resolutions against the North - which Moscow voted to approve - imposed for its banned missile and nuclear activities.

Kim received a fur hat from Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Vladivostok, where he inspected Russian nuclear bombers, fighter jets equipped with hypersonic missiles and a warship.

There had been a scramble to determine the right size of the hat, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang, Alexander Matsegora, suggested a size slightly smaller than his own "very large head", which turned out to be just right.

"It’s also important that this is a gift from the heart. And Comrade Kim Jong Un liked it,” Matsegora said.

Kim began his visit with a stop in Russia's border town of Khasan, where he was presented with a photo of Yuri Gagarin, the cosmonaut who was the first human to orbit the Earth.

'COMPARABLE TO THE LOUVRE'

North Korea has put much effort into showcasing the gifts that Kim, as well as his father, Kim Jong-il, and grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung, received from foreign dignitaries, dedicating a special museum for them.

Nestled in the hills of the Myohyangsan mountain 160 km (99 miles) from Pyongyang, the International Friendship Exhibition is two imposing concrete structures built in the traditional architectural style with blue tiled roofs.

Opened in 1978, the museum comprises more than 100 showrooms with more than 115,000 items from more than 200 countries, according to the North's state media.

The scale and importance of the collection make it comparable to the Louvre in Paris, North Korea's state media have said.

WHO ELSE SENT GIFTS?

The collection includes crystalware sent from former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, tea cup set from French President Francois Mitterrand, a basketball signed by Michael Jordan given by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on her visit in 2000 and a rifle given by the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Propaganda plays heavily into how gifts from South Koreans are displayed, with the large-screen television set from former President Kim Dae-jung, who engaged Pyongyang with peace policies, receiving prominent showing.

The Dynasty sedan, which was Hyundai Motor's flagship, was gifted to Kim Jong Il by the North Korean-born founder of the Hyundai Group, Chung Ju-yung, who spearheaded investment in the North after the 2000 inter-Korean summit.

No ‘median line’ in Taiwan Strait: Chinasending 103 warplanes around Taiwan

 The number of incursions marked a new high in recent times, posing a "serious challenge" to security in the Taiwan Strait and wider region, the ministry said.

China on September 18 dismissed the existence of a "median line" in the volatile Taiwan Strait after Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected a record 103 Chinese warplanes flying around the self-ruled island in a 24-hour period.

"First of all, this is not a question about foreign affairs. I suggest you refer to competent Chinese authorities for specifics," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said without commenting on Beijing's latest military provocation.

"Let me say that Taiwan is part of China's territory. There is no so-called "median line" in the Taiwan Strait," Ms. Mao asserted when a reporter sought her response to Taiwan's defence ministry's statement that 40 of the 103 Chinese People’s Liberation Army warplanes crossed the "median line" on the Taiwan Strait in a 24-hour span between Sunday and Monday.

China views Taiwan — a democratically governed island of 24 million — as part of its territory, despite having never governed it.

The ruling Communist Party of China has long vowed that the island must be unified with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary, while Taiwan strongly rejects China's territorial claims over it.

According to a flight map provided by Taiwan's defence ministry, 40 of the 103 Chinese warplanes crossed the "median line" on the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s self-declared air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

Those 40 incursions were made by 10 Su-30 fighter jets, 12 J-10 fighter jets, four J-11 fighter jets, 10 J-16 fighter jets, two Y-20 aerial refuelling aircraft, and two KJ-500 airborne early warning and control planes, it said.

The ministry said it had tasked combat air patrol aircraft, navy vessels and land-based missile systems to respond.

The number of incursions marked a new high in recent times, posing a "serious challenge" to security in the Taiwan Strait and wider region, the ministry said.

"Continued harassment by the Chinese military is likely to cause a sharp rise in tensions and deteriorate regional security," it said, calling on Beijing to "immediately cease such destructive and unilateral behaviour." The latest military action from Beijing came days after China decided to impose sanctions on two US defence companies - Lockheed Martin Corporation and Northrop Grumman - for their involvement in arms sales to Taiwan.

In disregard of China's firm opposition, the U.S. government deliberately supplies weapons to China's Taiwan region, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ms. Mao said.

The United States is going further down the wrong and dangerous path of arming Taiwan, Mao said at a press briefing.

The Chinese government never wavers in its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mao said.

"We call on the United States to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, stop arms sales to Taiwan, stop military collusion with Taiwan, and stop arming Taiwan, otherwise it will be met with China's resolute response," she warned.

Shantiniketan-UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Shantiniketan, founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in West Bengal, was earlier added to the list.

Santiniketan was established in 1901 by the famous poet Tagore. It has functioned as a residential school and centre for art which has its roots embedded in ancient Indian traditions and carries a vision of the unity of humans across religious and cultural boundaries.

In 1921, a ‘world university’ was set up at Santiniketan which called for unity of humanity or “Visva Bharati”.

For a long time, India has been trying to get a UNESCO tag for this cultural site.

The inclusion of the Hoysala Empire temples and Shantiniketan in the UNESCO World Heritage list is a reminder of India's legacy as a repository of rich and diverse cultural treasures.

Hoysala empire temples in India listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Hoysala empire temples in India's southern state of Karnataka have been inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on Monday (September 18). This is the 42nd addition of India to the heritage list. The announcement comes after Shantiniketan in West Bengal received the UNESCO world heritage status on Sunday (September 17).

Among the nations who supported India's bid for listing of Hoysala Temples in Karnataka as UNESCO heritage site are Japan, Nigeria, Oman, Greece, Italy, Russia, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Africa, Qatar, Mali, St Vincent & gradients, Belgium, Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee, at its 45th session, recognised the cultural significance and historical importance of these temples and through a vote arrived at the decision to add the site to the list. The session was held in the capital city of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh.

The Hoysala Empire, which flourished between the 10th and 14th centuries, is renowned for its contributions to art, architecture, and culture in the southern region of India.

The Hoysala dynasty, which was founded by King Nripa Kama in the 10th century, gained prominence during an era of cultural revival in southern India.

Their reign was signified by substantial advancements in culture and the arts. They laid strong emphasis on building temples. 

The Hoysalas' architectural accomplishments, particularly in temple construction, showcase a fusion of diverse South Indian architectural influences.

Karnataka is already home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Hampi ruins, Pattadakal monuments, and the Western Ghats.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar-Khalistani Terrorist At Centre Of India Vs Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed Parliament that there were "credible allegations" linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in British Columbia.

On Monday, Canada accused the India involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last June and expelled an Indian diplomat in Ottawa in retaliation.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down on June 18, 2023, in Canada. He was shot multiple times outside a Gurudwara in Surrey.

Nijjar was a native of the village Bhar Singh Pura in Jalandhar. He relocated from Punjab to Canada in 1997 and worked as a plumber. He was married and had two sons. 

He had a long tryst with Khalistan militancy since migrating to Canada. He was the "mastermind" of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) - a banned terrorist group. He was also part of the banned separatist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). He was declared a designated terrorist by India in 2020.

Nijjar was wanted in several cases, including the 2007 blast that killed six and injured around 40 people in Ludhiana, Punjab. He was also involved in the assassination of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat President Rulda Singh (Patiala, 2009). 

Last July, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of ₹ 10 lakh on Nijjar in connection with the murder of a Hindu priest in Jalandhar, Punjab. It is also probing the recent attacks on Indian diplomatic missions in Canada, UK and US.

Taiwan detects 103 Chinese warplanes near island in ‘recent high’

 China has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan in recent years as relations have soured.

Taiwan's defence ministry on Monday sounded alarm bells about heightened military activity by China, saying it had detected 103 Chinese warplanes around the island in a 24-hour period.

"Between the morning of September 17th to 18th, the Ministry of National Defence had detected a total of 103 Chinese aircraft which was a recent high and has posed severe challenges to the security across the Taiwan Strait and in the region," it said in a statement.

Beijing's "continued military harassment can easily lead to a sharp spike in tension and worsen regional security," the ministry said, as it called on China to "immediately stop such destructive unilateral actions.

This latest episode comes as part of a series of increasing military manoeuvres by Beijing near Taiwan. The Chinese government has consistently asserted its claim over Taiwan, which it considers a part of its territory, despite the island having its own government, military, and constitution.

The core of China's claim on Taiwan is the One-China policy, which asserts that there is only one sovereign state called "China," and both Taiwan and the mainland are part of that single entity. The PRC insists that Taiwan is a province of China that is temporarily separated and must eventually be reunified with the mainland, either through peaceful means or, if necessary, by force.

Beijing has sought to isolate Taiwan diplomatically by pressuring other countries not to officially recognize it as a separate country. Most nations in the world follow the One-China policy and do not formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. However, many countries maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan and engage in trade, cultural, and economic exchanges.

Earthquake today: Japan region hit by 6.3 magnitude tremor, no report of casualty yet

 The quake was at a depth of 171km (106.25 miles), GFZ said.

An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck northeast of Taiwan region on Monday, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The earthquake was also confirmed by United States Geological Survey (USGS).

This is breaking news.

Centre's direct tax collections jump 23.5% to ₹8.65 lakh crore, advance tax collections up by 20.7%

 The direct tax collections include Corporation Tax of ₹4.16 lakh crore and Personal Income Tax including Securities Transaction Tax (STT) of ₹4.47 lakh crore.

The provisional direct tax collections of the government reached ₹8,65,117 crore as of 16 September. The collections witnessed a 23.5% jump from the corresponding period of the last fiscal during which the collections was ₹7,00,416 crore. The government has issued refunds amounting to ₹Rs. 1,21,944 crore in fiscal year 2023-24 till 16 September.

The direct tax collections include Corporation Tax (CIT) of ₹4,16,217 crore (net of refund) and Personal Income Tax (PIT) including Securities Transaction Tax (STT) of ₹4,47,291 crore (net of refund).

“The provisional figures of Gross collection of Direct Taxes (before adjusting for refunds) for the Financial Year 2023-24 stands at Rs. 9,87,061 crore compared to Rs. 8,34,469 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding financial year, showing a growth of 18.29%," the release from Central Board of Direct Taxes said.

Advance tax collections up by 20.7%

The provisional advance tax collections for this fiscal year till 16 September stood at ₹3,55,481 crore which is 20.7% higher than advance tax collections of ₹2,94,433 crore for the corresponding period last fiscal year. The advance tax collection of ₹3,55,481 crore as of 16 September comprises Corporation Tax (CIT) of ₹2,80,620 crore and Personal Income Tax (PIT) of ₹74,858 crore.

“The Gross collection of ₹9,87,061 crore includes Corporation Tax (CIT) at ₹4,71,692 crore and Personal Income Tax (PIT) including Securities Transaction Tax (STT) at ₹5,13,724 crore. The minor head-wise collection comprises Advance Tax of ₹3,55,481 crore; Tax Deducted at Source of ₹5,19,696 crore; Self-Assessment Tax of ₹82,460 crore; Regular Assessment Tax of ₹21,175 crore; and Tax under other minor heads of ₹8,248 crore," the release added.

The growing direct tax collection displays success in the government's efforts on enforcement and use of technology in the tax collection process.

iOS 17 Release Time: When is iOS 17 coming?

 At the “Wonderlust” event held on September 12, 2023, Apple confirmed that the polished, stable versions of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 will be released for public use on Monday, September 18. On the other hand, macOS Sonoma will be coming next week on September 26. While Apple didn’t announce a release time for iOS 17, the Cupertino-based tech giant usually releases its updates around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. If you’re curious to know at what time iOS 17 is coming out in your region, we’ve got you covered. We’ve listed the iOS 17 release time for all the major countries. Go ahead and check out when iOS 17 will be available for you.

Here’s the iOS 17 release time in various time zones below. Please note that unless stated otherwise, all the mentioned timings are for Monday, 18th September 2023.

Alaska: 09:00 a.m. AKDT

Australia (Northern Territory): 02:30 a.m. ACST (Tuesday, 19th September)

Australia: 3:00 a.m. AEST (Tuesday, 19th September)

Belgium: 07:00 p.m. CEST

Brazil: 02:00 p.m. BRT

Canada: 1:00 p.m. EDT

China: 1:00 a.m CST (Tuesday, 19th September)

France: 07:oo p.m. PDT

Germany: 07:00 p.m. CEST

India: 10:30 p.m. IST

Japan: 2:00 a.m. (Tuesday, 19th September)

Russia: 8:00 p.m. MSK

Singapore: 01:00 a.m. GST (Tuesday, 19th September)

South Africa: 07:00 p.m. SAST

United Arab Emirates: 9:00 p.m. GST

United Kingdom: 06:30 p.m. BST

United States: 10:00 a.m. PST.

iOS 17 Supported Devices

We know you’ll be super-excited to install iOS 17 on your iPhones. Before you move ahead, make sure to check out if you can use iOS 17 on your iPhone. Here’s a list of iOS 17 compatible iPhones:

• iPhone XR, XS, XS Max
• iPhone 11 Series
• iPhone 12 Series
• iPhone 13 Series
• iPhone 14 Series
• iPhone SE (2nd gen or later)

All the models of the newest iPhone 15 series come with iOS 17 out of the box.

So, if you’ve got an iOS 17 compatible device, you can enjoy new iOS 17 features, including StandBy mode, NameDrop, Interactive Widgets, Contact Posters, and more.

SC raps Maha Speaker for 'sitting on disqualification pleas' of CM Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena rebel MLAs

 The Supreme Court of India on Monday rebuked the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker for 'sitting on disqualification pleas' of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and other 56 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs. The apex court has asked the Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly to list before him for hearing the disqualification petitions within a week and set down a time schedule to decide disqualification pleas.

The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud flagged the delay in decision and said the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar is bound to abide by the dignity of the Supreme Court.

“Speaker has to honour dignity of Supreme Court", said CJI DY Chandrachud over the delay in deciding pleas for disqualification of Shiv Sena MLAs.

The apex court sought for a timeline on the hearing on the disqualification petitions, even as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argues that the Speaker “cannot be treated like a school child".

Supreme Court further condemned the delay in decision of plea against the disqualification of CM Eknath Shinde and other Shiv Sena rebel MLAs and said it expects deference, dignity to directions issued by it while pronouncing verdict on Maharashtra political row.

The Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena had filed disqualification petitions against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other MLAs, including some cabinet ministers.

The Balasahebanchi Shivsena was formed after a split in the Shiv Sena party due to an rebellion led by now CM Eknath Shinde in 2022.

Shinde boasted of support from majority MLAs in then undivided Shiv Sena, which uktimately led to the downfall of the Uddhav Thackeray governemnt paving way for Shinde to takeover as Chief Minister in coalition with Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) with Devendra Fadnavis as the deputy CM of Maharashtra.

The duo was joined by another rebel leader, Ajit Pawar of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2023, who went on to take oath as the second Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut accused Maharashtra speaker Rahul Narwekar of deliberately delaying a decision on disqualification petitions filed against MLAs from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's camp by the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.

This inaction shows Narwekar is supporting the "unconstitutional" government, he alleged while speaking to reporters.

He said the Supreme Court has made it clear that some MLAs of a political party switching to another party does not mean a split.

"Despite a clear directive from the Supreme Court, the speaker is wasting time when it comes to deciding on the disqualification petitions. He is supporting the unconstitutional government in the state," Raut alleged.

Fourteen killed in plane crash during bad weather in Brazil’s Amazon

 Heavy rainfall and poor visibility likely caused the pilot to misjudge the landing route, officials say.

Fourteen people on a small jet died when the plane crashed in Brazil’s northern Amazonas state.

The aircraft’s pilot approached the tourist town of Barcelos in heavy rain with low visibility, and appeared to inadvertently start landing halfway down the runway, Amazonas state security secretary Vinicius Almeida told a news conference.

The plane ran out of the landing strip and crashed, he added. Media reports showed the white jet belly-down on a dirt track, its front end crumpled into dense vegetation.

“I deeply regret the death of the 12 passengers and two crew members who were victims of the plane crash in Barcelos on Saturday,” said Wilson Lima, governor of Amazonas state, on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Our teams have been working from the outset to provide the necessary support. My sympathy and prayers go out to their families and friends.”

In an interview with O Globo newspaper, Lima said the bodies were removed from the aircraft and all the victims were Brazilian tourists.

The region faces heavy rainfall and the most likely cause of the accident was an error in the route taken at the time of landing, Lima added.

US military seeks unusual public help to locate ‘missing’ multimillion-dollar F-35 fighter jet

 US Military seeks public help to find missing multimillion-dollar F-35 jet, a stealth-capable US fighter jet that vanished, not from prying eyes but from the American military.

The United States Military has sought public help to track or find the missing F-35 jet after a "mishap" caused its pilot to eject on Sunday afternoon. The fighter jet of the US Marine Corps went missing mid-air after an emergency caused its pilot to eject.

A stealth-capable US fighter jet vanished, not from prying eyes but rather from the American military, prompting an unusual call to the public to help locate the missing multimillion-dollar plane.

Joint Base Charleston said on Facebook that the aircraft was a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II belonging to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The pilot ejected safely and was transported to a local medical centre.

"If you have any information that may help our recovery teams locate the F-35, please call the Base Defense Operations Center," a post from the base read on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Anyone with information about the jet's whereabouts is urged to contact JB Charleston Base Defense Operations Center at 843-963-3600." the Joint Base Charleston's Facebook account wrote.

Emergency response teams have been deployed to find the jet.

According to an AP report, the planes and pilots were with the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 based in Beaufort, not far from South Carolina's Atlantic coast.

The report also stated, based on the missing plane's location and trajectory, the search for the F-35 Lightning II jet was focused on Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, said Senior Master Sgt. Heather Stanton at Joint Base Charleston. Both lakes are north of North Charleston.

Base authorities said they were searching, in coordination with federal aviation regulators, around two lakes north of the city of Charleston.

The planes, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, cost around $80 million each, reports AFP.

There is no additional information about the incident at this time. Authorities are actively investigating the situation.

Weapons and vodka: Kim Jong Un wraps up Russia trip, takes home ‘explosive’ gift

 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un left Russia on Sunday after a rare six-day visit. Kim Jong Un's visit focused intensely on military cooperation, including a symbolic exchange of rifles.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un left Russia on Sunday after a rare six-day visit that appeared to solidify his country's ties with President Vladimir Putin, fanning Western fears that Pyongyang could provide Moscow with weapons for its assault on Ukraine.

Kim's tour of Russia's Far East, which began on Tuesday, has focused intensely on military cooperation, including a symbolic exchange of rifles with Putin and an inspection of state-of-the-art Russian weapons.

Kim's first official visit abroad since the coronavirus pandemic has sparked concerns that Moscow and Pyongyang will defy Western sanctions to secure an arms deal that could help the Kremlin continue its assault against Ukraine.

In comments broadcast on national television on Sunday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia will pursue cooperation with North Korea despite UN sanctions.

"We did not announce sanctions against North Korea, the Security Council did," he said.

"We will be developing equal, fair interaction with the DPRK," Lavrov said, using North Korea's official name.

Before departing from Vladivostok, the Pacific port city just over the border, Kim was presented with five explosive drones, a reconnaissance drone and a bulletproof vest as gifts from the governor of the Primorye region, which borders China and North Korea.

He also visited the Far Eastern State University and appeared particularly pleased as he watched a walrus show at a local oceanarium.

Vodka toasts

Summing up the North Korean leader's visit, Russian Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov, who accompanied him, said "a lot" had been discussed.

"Kim Jong Un was very interested in and paid attention to minute details," Kozlov said.

He made no mention of any agreements concerning military matters, but said the two sides discussed increasing supplies of grain and the resumption of regular air travel. The two countries also discussed reviving long-muted infrastructure projects, he said.

Government officials from the two countries also agreed to meet in Pyongyang in November, Kozlov added.

At the end of Kim's visit, official Russian video footage showed him waving goodbye from his heavily armoured train to a Russian delegation, before the Russian march "Farewell of Slavianka" was played as the train departed.

Russia and North Korea, historic allies, are both under rafts of global sanctions -- Moscow for its Ukraine offensive, Pyongyang for its nuclear weapon tests.

On Saturday, Kim met Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Vladivostok, where he inspected state-of-the-art weapons including a hypersonic missile system.

The pair were seen smiling as they inspected some of Russia's nuclear bombers at an airfield before boarding a warship.

North Korean news agency KCNA later published pictures of a smiling Kim wearing a traditional Russian fur hat and raising a glass of vodka with Shoigu and their delegations.

Greater cooperation

On Wednesday, Putin and Kim held talks at Russia's new Vostochny cosmodrome, roughly 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) from Moscow.

After the meeting Putin talked up the prospect of greater cooperation with North Korea and the "possibilities" for military ties.

Moscow is believed to be interested in buying North Korean ammunition to continue fighting in Ukraine, while Pyongyang wants Russia's help to develop its internationally condemned missile programme.

The Kremlin has said no agreement has or will be signed.

North Korean news agency KCNA has described Kim's visit as "fervent and warm" and said a "new era of friendship, solidarity and cooperation" was opening between North Korea and Russia.

While meeting Kim, Putin accepted an invitation to visit North Korea and offered to send a North Korean to space, which would be a first.

"I'll Finally Fix It": Vivek Ramaswamy's New Remark On H-1B Visa

 In an interview with Politico, Ramaswamy termed the H-1B visa programme "indentured servitude" and said he would "gut" the lottery-based system.

New Delhi: Following the row over his remarks on the H-1B visa programme, Indian-American US presidential aspirant Vivek Ramaswamy has said he understands what he wants to reform and stressed that the H-1B programme was "senseless".

In an interview with Politico, Ramaswamy termed the H-1B visa programme "indentured servitude" and said he would "gut" the lottery-based system and replace it with meritocratic admission if he is elected US President next year.

The Indian-American entrepreneur, a Republican aspirant for the US President's post, came into the spotlight after a presidential debate last month. Donald Trump is still leading the Republican race for the top post. The other frontrunners are Ramaswamy, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley.

Ramaswamy's remarks on H-1B are in line with the tough stand taken by Trump during his 2016 campaign. Trump had, however, softened his stand following his election.

Behind the row over Ramaswamy's remarks is the fact that H-1B visa is in high demand among Indian IT professionals. It is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in jobs that require theoretical or technical expertise. Interestingly, Ramaswamy has used the visa programme 29 times.

Responding to the row, Ramaswamy posted on X, "@Politico tried to play 'gotcha' by saying I want to gut the H1-B system even though my companies have used it to hire foreign graduates from top US: universities. Well, US energy sector regulations are badly broken, but I still use water & electricity. Turns out I actually understand the things I want to reform: the foreign visa 'lottery' is senseless & the H1-B regime is a form of indentured servitude that's a product of corporate lobbying. I'll finally fix it."

The Indian-American entrepreneur, who has said his parents came to US "with no money", has pushed for tightening the immigration policy. Earlier, he has said he would use the military to secure borders and deport US-born children of undocumented immigrants.

19 Keralite nurses land in Kuwait jail after raid on clinic

 Kochi: A raid by the Kuwait Human Resources Committee officials on a private clinic at Maliya in Kuwait City has landed 19 Keralite nurses among 30 Indians in jail last week.

According to relatives of the Malayali nurses, 60 people, including the Indians, were caught during the raid on charges of violation of the foreign residency laws in Kuwait.

According to the Kuwait Home Ministry, the nurses did not have relevant licences or required qualifications to work in Kuwait.

However, the family members of the Keralite nurses claimed that they were qualified and had been working there with proper work visas and sponsorships.

Several of them have been working there for the past three to 10 years in the same clinic. People from Philippines, Egypt and Iran have also been caught by the authorities on similar charges. The hospital is owned by an Iranian national and according to the relatives of the nurses, a dispute between the owner and the sponsor had led to the raid and arrest.

Among the arrested Malayali nurses are five feeding mothers. Jessin is one among them, who has a one-month-old infant daughter, Jeffiamol, at home. Even though the jail authorities have allowed Jessin to breastfeed her daughter at a specified time, it has become a huge problem for the family now. The nurse's husband Bijoy, a native of Adoor in Kerala, has been taking the baby to the jail for the past six days.

According to the family members, Jessin was arrested on the very day she rejoined duty after her maternity leave. Bijoy and Jessin live in a flat at Jollibee with their two daughters.

Kin of the arrested Malayali nurses have sought the intervention of the Union Government and the Indian Embassy for the early release of the nurses.

‘Firing from Pakistani post…’: Indian Army on third terrorist killed in Baramulla encounter

 Brigadier PMS Dhillon said three terrorists were eliminated and the bodies of two them were recovered.

Brigadier PMS Dhillon, commander of the Pir Panjal Brigade, on Saturday said the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police foiled a major infiltration bid by killing three terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri town of Baramulla district.

Dhillon said while two terrorists were eliminated and their bodies were recovered, the third terrorist was killed but the retrieval of the body was interfered with by the firing from a Pakistani post in the vicinity.

"Based on specific inputs, in a joint operation launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, an infiltration bid was foiled today in Baramulla. Three terrorists tried to infiltrate and were engaged by alert troops. Two terrorists were eliminated and their bodies were recovered, the third terrorist was killed but the retrieval of the body was interfered with by the firing from a Pakistani post in the vicinity. Search operations are underway," the brigadier said at a press briefing.

The Army, in a statement, said the three killed terrorists had attempted to infiltrate through the Hathlanga forward area of Uri at 6:45am.

On being spotted, terrorists opened fire on the Army which led to the encounter and a fierce gunfight started, the statement added.

Giving details of the operation Khanda, the officials said that two terrorists were killed in the ensuing gunfight and their bodies were recovered.

"The army came under heavy firing across the border from Pakistan army when they were attempting to retrieve the body of third killed terrorist," the Indian Army said in its statement.

Earlier Jammu and Kashmir police said that two terrorists were killed and the search operation was going on.

The infiltration bid and the subsequent encounter come at a time when an operation is underway in Anantnag district to neutralise terrorists who have taken positions in the forest area in a hilly terrain. The gunfight entered its fourth day on Saturday.

As per officials, two-three terrorists are believed to be engaging security forces in the hilly terrain of Anantnag district.

Sharing a statement of additional director general of police (ADGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar, the Kashmir Zone Police posted on micro-blogging site X on Friday, “Rtd Police/Army officers should avoid ‘Ambush Hypothesis’. It is a specific input based ops. Ops is in progress and all 2-3 trapped terrorists will be neutralised.”

The Army has maintained a tight cordon-off in the area, it said. Meanwhile, a soldier who had been reported missing Thursday lost his life in the ongoing encounter, officials said on Friday.

An Army colonel in the Rashtriya Rifles lost his life in the ongoing gunfight in the Anantnag district. An Army major and a deputy superintendent of the Jammu and Kashmir Police also fell to enemy fire in the Kokernag area. The slain senior officers were identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonak, and DSP Humayun Bhat.

What To Know About The Deadly Nipah Virus As India Races To Contain Outbreak

 Health officials in India have shuttered schools, offices and public transport and are testing hundreds of people in an effort to track and contain an outbreak of Nipah virus that has killed two people, but can kill as many as three in four people it infects and has been flagged by experts as having the potential to seed a new pandemic.

KEY FACTS

Nipah is a rare and potentially deadly virus that was first discovered in 1999 after an outbreak among pigs and pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore.

Nipah is a zoonotic virus—meaning it can spread from animals to humans—and can infect humans through direct contact with infected animals or their bodily fluids or after eating contaminated food such as fruit products contaminated with urine or saliva from infected bats.

Cases of human-to-human transmission of Nipah have also been reported during past outbreaks, particularly among the families and caregivers of infected people.

In humans, symptoms typically arise between a few days and two weeks after infection, according to the World Health Organization, though periods as long as 45 days have been reported and it’s possible people may be infectious during this time (the WHO says pigs are “highly contagious” during this incubation period).

Nipah symptoms typically start with fever, headache and signs of respiratory illness like coughing that can rapidly worsen to brain swelling (encephalitis) and seizures that lead to a coma within a day or two.

Between 40% to 75% of people infected with Nipah will die from the virus, health agencies estimate, with the specific rate depending on the outbreak and strength of local medical systems managing the disease (long term neurological conditions like seizures and personality changes have been reported among those who recover from encephalitis).

Health officials in India’s southern state of Kerala are rushing to track and contain an outbreak of Nipah that has already killed two people and hospitalized three others. According to news reports, public health workers have tested hundreds of workers and schools, government buildings, religious institutions, public transport and public offices have been closed or suspended in at-risk areas to curb potential spread. It is the state’s fourth outbreak since 2018 and experts warn the area might be at particular risk from virus spillovers given the destruction of natural bat habitats by humans in the region.

Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural hosts for Nipah. Nipah is in the same group of viruses as a number of pathogens known to cause disease in humans, including measles and mumps. Infection does not appear to cause noticeable disease in the fruit bats but the virus is known to infect a wide range of hosts—including humans, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, cats and dogs—and has been documented to cause severe disease in at least humans and pigs in past outbreaks. Its ability to infect a wide variety of hosts can make it harder for public health experts to track and to contain its spread. Nipah outbreaks have previously been reported in Bangladesh and India—the main places where the disease has been recorded since 2001—as well as Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. Between 1998 and 2015, there were some 600 cases of Nipah reported, according to the WHO.

Nipah in Kerala: Containment zones created, ICMR delivers antibody | 10 points

 Nipah virus: Kerala is battling its fourth outbreak since 2018 of a virus for which there is no vaccine, and which kills up to 75% of those infected.

The outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in Kerala's Kozhikode district has prompted the administration to introduce Covid era-like containment zones in nine panchayats. The authorities are scrambling to identify high-risk contacts after the state reported two deaths from the brain-damaging virus, which causes respiratory distress and encephalitis. Five more patients infected with the Nipah virus are undergoing treatment at the hospitals. This is the fourth outbreak of the Nipah virus in Kerala since 2018 when the state first reported the disease.

Here are the latest updates on the Nipah virus

1. The containment zones have been created in a five-kilometre radius of the homes of the two men who died of infection from the Nipah virus on August 30 and September 11.
2. The state had sent 11 more samples to Pune’s National Institute of Virology for testing, which, in a relief to the government, returned negative results for the virus, reported PTI quoting a person aware of the matter.
3. The samples of another 15 people on the high-risk contact list have also been sent for tests, according to PTI.
4. A five-member team comprising experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, RML Hospital and NIMHANS has been stationed in Kerala to take stock of the situation and assist the state government in the management of the Nipah infection.
5. Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has delivered the monoclonal antibody on the state's request to combat the deadly Nipah virus.
6. The antiviral is the only option available to the government to treat infections, although its efficacy has not been clinically proven yet.
7. Kerala health minister Veena George said the stability of the antiviral was discussed with a central expert committee.
8. A mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety Level-3) laboratory was also sent to ground zero to test samples for the virus in the district itself.
9. Kerala government has decided to take body-fluid samples of all of those who are on the 'high-risk' contact list linked to the first Nipah victim.
10. The Rajasthan government has directed medical officials to remain "alert" in the wake of Nipah cases being reported from Kerala.

10 of 16 states surveyed have footprints of Nipah virus but only Kerala sees repeated infection. Why?

 HIGHLIGHTS

Kerala's Nipah virus different from the strains found in Bangladesh, Malaysia: NIV study

No comparative study done yet to find differences, if any, in symptoms, pathogenicity, and affinity to affect organs; data required for making vaccines and monoclonal antibodies

Kozhikode: An ongoing study by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune found the footprint of Nipah virus in bats in 10 of the 16 states and Union Territories surveyed in India.

The study found Nipah viral antibodies in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Puducherry. 

Yet, only Kerala is seeing repeated Nipah viral infection among humans, almost annually. The 2018 outbreak killed 17 of the 18 persons who were confirmed to have been infected by the viral disease in Kozhikode. In 2019, one case was reported in Ernakulam. In 2021, a 12-year-old boy died of encephalitis, a symptom of Nipah viral infection, in Kozhikode. This year, two persons succumbed to the viral infection, and five others are battling for their lives.

"Not just Kerala, in states along the Western Ghats, human habitations are either close to the forest or within the forests," she told Onmanorama.com, implying that proximity to forest areas could increase human exposure to infected bats and other host animals. In the North, forested areas are far from human habitations, she said.

But that is not the only reason. Kerala could be reporting Nipah virus infections because of better surveillance, said Dr Yadav, a senior scientist at the national lab run by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Without adequate surveillance, human infections can go unreported. "We don't know if it is causing infection in other states. A certain level of monitoring and surveillance is required to pick up every case," she said, and added: "Hospital-based surveillance should be increased in other states as well".

Prof Rajendra Pilankatta, an expert in the core committee of the Institute of Advanced Virology, Thiruvananthapuram, went one step ahead and called for a retrospective review of all fever deaths in similar zones along the Western Ghats. "Fever is a symptom, not the cause. Analysis of these unexplained fever deaths can be the start for better surveillance," said Pilankatta, professor at the Central University of Kerala's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

The other states where the survey was done but did not find antibodies in bats were Telangana, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Kerala strain is different from Bangladesh, but no comparative study done

Dr Yadav said the Nipah virus strain found in Kerala was different from the genotypes found in Bangladesh (B) and Malaysia (M), the two major strains with common descent. She called the one found in Kerala the 'I' genotype.

When the first Nipah outbreak happened in India in Siliguri district in 2001 and then in Nadia district in 2007, the strains were more like the Bangladesh strain, she said.

"But the sequence we received from bats and humans in Kerala has some difference," she said. The dissimilarities ranged between 14.86 percentage points for the Malaysia genotype and 3.85 percentage points for the Bangladesh genotype, said her study published in 'Emerging Infectious Diseases' journal. Though the dissimilarities with the Bangladesh strain are less, the Kerala Nipah virus strain forms a separate cluster, it said.

In the same journal, researchers from Australia published their findings on why the Bangladesh strain was more lethal than the strain found in Malaysia.

Nipah virus spreads from person to person in Bangladesh but not in Malaysia, according to the study led by Glenn Marsh, Principal Research Scientist in the Dangerous Pathogens Team at the Australian government's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

When they infected ferrets, they found higher concentrations of the Bangladesh strain in secretions from the mouth. "Increased oral excretion of the Bangladesh strain in humans might explain why person-to-person transmission of Nipah virus occurs in that region," the study said.

No such comparative study has been done with the Indian genotype, said Dr Yadav."We don't have the virus 'isolate' from Bangladesh or Malaysia. So we cannot compare," she said. (An isolate is the virus isolated from an infected host and propagated in culture.)

Without the comparative study, scientists cannot tell if there is any significant difference in symptoms and pathogenicity, that is the ability of an organism to harm its host or cause disease. "We need to know the differences and how the differences impact therapeutic goods," she said.

Dr Yadav said such pieces of information were needed for making vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, which are made-in-lab proteins meant to stimulate the immune system.

Who Was Jaahnavi Kandula, Indian Student Killed By Police Vehicle In US

 Jaahnavi Kandula was hit and killed by a police car while crossing the street in Seattle on January 23 this year.

US has assured of a fair probe after a video showing a cop joking about the death of an Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula in Seattle after she was hit by a speeding police car went viral. The Indian Consulate in San Francisco had expressed concern over the handling of the case. The video shows officer Daniel Auderer laughing about the deadly crash and saying there was no need for a criminal investigation against his colleague Kevin Dave, who was driving the car.

Who was Jaahnavi Kandula?

The 23-year-old was from Andhra Pradesh and pursuing a master's degree from the Northeastern University campus in South Lake Union.

She went to the US from Bengaluru on a student exchange programme in 2021 and was due to graduate this December.

Ms Kandula's family is deeply distressed by the revelations. Her grandfather told NDTV that the family had not recovered from loss and the policeman's behaviour makes it worse. "How can anyone speak like that after a tragic accident?" he asked.

What happened on January 23?

Ms Kandula was hit and killed by a police car while crossing the street. According to The Seattle Times, Kevin Dave, the police officer driving the car was going 119 kmph and the graduate student's body was thrown more than 100 feet.

Ms Kandula was taken to Harbourview Medical Centre, but died due to her injuries.

How the police officer on the scene reacted?

TheSeattle Times said that officer Auderer was called to the scene and his body camera recorded audio from a call he made to a colleague.

"But she is dead," the officer is heard saying before laughing. "No, it's a regular person. Yeah, just write a cheque," he says, before laughing again.

"Eleven thousand dollars. She was 26, anyway. She had limited value."

After the Seattle Police Department released the footage on Monday, it led to outrage on social media. "Sue the Police department...that's how they will learn to respect dead," one user said on X (formerly Twitter).

"If this was an American citizen killed on Indian soil then USA would have shaken up Indian government to the roots! Those policemen should be punished in prison or their licence should be permanently suspended," said another.

What officer Audrer said after the outrage?

Officer Auderer said his comments were taken out of context. Jason Rantz, a radio host, said he has a written statement from the police officer saying his comments were meant to mimic how city attorneys might try to minimise liability for the woman's death.

But Mr Kandula's family is surprised why this information was not revealed earlier. "We have lost our child but this is beyond shocking," her grandfather told NDTV.

India's Kerala state reports two deaths from Nipah virus

 NEW DELHI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - India has recorded two deaths from the rare Nipah virus in the state of Kerala, an official from the National Institute of Virology said on Tuesday.

One person died this month while another death occurred on Aug. 30, said the official, who declined to be named.

Two more people from the same family were also suspected to have been infected and their samples have been sent for testing, the official said, adding the virology institute had sent its report to the federal health ministry.

The deadly brain-damaging Nipah virus, which is transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs or other people, was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak of illness affecting pig farmers and others in close contact with pigs in Malaysia and Singapore.

There are no treatments or vaccines against the virus.

Mass testing will begin in the area where the latest cases were found and some quarantine measures have been put in place.

This is the fourth Nipah outbreak in Kerala since 2018. The first and worst outbreak began with a 26-year-old man who went to hospital with a fever and cough that spread to family members and other patients before it was diagnosed as Nipah.

Twenty one of the 23 infected people died then. In 2019 and 2021, Nipah claimed two more lives.

A Reuters investigation published in May identified parts of Kerala as among the places most at risk globally for outbreaks of bat viruses. Extensive deforestation and urbanization have brought people and wildlife into close contact.

Justin Trudeau: Stranded Canadian PM leaves India after plane snag fixed

 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has left India after a problem with his aircraft extended a testing visit to India's capital by two days.

He was meant to fly on Sunday after the G20 summit ended but an embarrassing mechanical snag grounded him.

Opponents at home and Indian social media users mocked him for the delay, which came after Mr Trudeau had a tense meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi.

Canada-India relations have grown increasingly strained in recent months.

Mr Trudeau's visit "did nothing to mend the frosty ties that he has developed with India", reported India Today on Tuesday.

Days before he flew to Delhi, Mr Trudeau unexpectedly said his country was pausing talks on a trade treaty between the two countries.

Protests by Canada's large Sikh population have been a major flashpoint in the tensions. India is concerned about the activities of Sikh separatists - it denies any hand in the murder of a prominent advocate of Sikh independence in British Columbia in June.

An unsolved murder in Canada fuels rifts with India

Media bus hits Justin Trudeau's campaign plane

In Sunday's meeting with Mr Trudeau, Mr Modi aired concerns about the "continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada" and said they were promoting secessionism and inciting violence, according to his office.

Meanwhile, Mr Trudeau's team said the Canadian prime minister had "raised the importance of respecting the rule of law, democratic principles, and national sovereignty".

Mr Trudeau later told a press conference he had also discussed foreign interference in Canada's affairs with Mr Modi. Canada is including India in its sweeping investigation into election interference, which is also looking into China and Russia.

Eyebrows were raised when the Canadian prime minister didn't attend a weekend dinner for world leaders hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu - reports said his office didn't give a reason. Some observers also thought he was quick to pull out of a handshake with Mr Modi.

How he's filled the last two days is unclear. With no further diplomatic engagements, he's thought to have spent the time at his hotel, according to media reports.

Neither Mr Trudeau nor the Indian government have publicly commented on the delay in his return home.

But an Indian minister did turn out to give him an official send-off and wish him and his entourage "a safe trip back home" on the behalf of Mr Modi's government.

On Monday, Canada's Department of National Defence told the BBC that Mr Trudeau's aircraft - a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-150 Polaris with the tail number '01' - suffered a "maintenance problem" stemming from a "component that will have to be replaced".

"The safety of all passengers is critical to the RCAF and pre-flight safety checks are a regular part of all our flight protocols," the statement added. "The discovery of this issue is evidence that these protocols are effective."

The defence department said a replacement aircraft was being sent to India to retrieve Mr Trudeau.

The Toronto Star reported that the RCAF sent a technician to India, who was able to fix the issue. It added that the CC-150 Polaris plane is part of an older fleet that has often faced snags and is set to be replaced soon.

The incident is not the first time that Mr Trudeau has had plane-related travel issues.

In 2019, a plane carrying journalists collided with the wing of an aircraft chartered to transport him on the campaign trail. He was not onboard the aircraft at the time.

Kim Jong Un arrives in Russia: A peek into his swanky, bulletproof train

 Since Kim assumed power in 2011, he has predominantly gone abroad by train, much like his father and grandfather, piquing curiosity about it. During Kim Jong Il's era, the train reportedly had luxurious bedrooms and high-tech communication. It served live lobsters and fine wines. For entertainment, there were ‘lady conductors’ to sing.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (September 12). The two leaders are expected to discuss the possibility of North Korea providing Moscow with weapons to support its invasion of Ukraine.

Kim reached the country from Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, in his favoured mode of transport: a swanky, bulletproof but agonisingly slow train. Since he assumed power in 2011, Kim has predominantly gone abroad by train, much like his father and grandfather, piquing curiosity about it.

His train consists of about 21 carriages, painted in olive green with yellow piping and tinted windows. But why does a modern-day dictator prefer to travel by train? What is so special about it? What kind of food and entertainment is provided on the train?

The tradition of North Korean dictators using trains for foreign trips goes back to Kim’s grandfather Kim Il-sung — the founder of the country. He began travelling by them during the Korean War (1950-1953) and continued to do so throughout his rule. His son, Kim Jong Il, also preferred rail over air travel as he was afraid of flying.

In December 2011, Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack while aboard his train, according to the BBC. He had been travelling for one of his “field guidance” tours, said the state agency. His successor, Kim Jong Un, carried on the tradition but occasionally travelled by plane. For instance, he used a Boeing 747 operated by Air China in 2018 for a high-profile diplomatic summit with then-US President Donald Trump.

Despite the interest in Kim’s train, many of its details remain a mystery. Whatever is known about it comes from intelligence reports, recollections of officials allowed to travel on board during the times of Kim’s father and rare state news media footage, according to The New York Times.

A 2009 South Korean news report said there were about 90 armoured, high-security carriages at the leader’s disposal. Written during Kim Jong Il’s reign, the report added he used six luxury trains for his travel and 20 stations were built within the country for his use.

“When he travelled, three separate trains would run together in a caravan — a lead train to handle security checks and reconnaissance, the leader’s train, and a third containing his bodyguards and support personnel,” The Washington Post quoted the report as saying.

As each of the carriages was bulletproof, they were thousands of pounds heavier than average. This made the trains exceptionally slow. The report said the trains’ top speed was 59.5 km per hour.

During the foreign trips, the train carrying the leader would be heavily guarded. “According to the 2009 report, 100 security officers travelled in the advance train, searching stations for bombs and other threats and testing the safety of the track. Additionally, military helicopters and airplanes would fly overhead to provide more security,” The NYT said.

Moreover, the train also carried two armoured Mercedes to take Kim to and from the train.

Luxurious and cosy interiors

Over the years, rare videos released by state news media gave a sneak peek of the train’s interiors. For example, a 2015 video showed Kim Jong Un sitting at a long white table in what seemed to be a conference room. Similarly, in footage from 2011, his father appeared addressing officials at the same spot.

“In footage of the elder Mr Kim’s trips, the leader is seen in an audience car with plush seats, leading a meeting in a dining car and attending a banquet in a car panelled in dark wood,” The NYT reported.

A report by South China Morning Post noted that Kim Jong Il’s trains were believed to be decked out with conference rooms, bedrooms, and audience chambers, with hi-tech communications such as satellite phones and flat-screen television screens.

Overloaded with delicacies and entertainment

Konstantin Pulikovsky, a Russian official who travelled with Kim Jong Il during a 2011 trip through Russia, wrote a detailed account of the grandeur of the train. “It was possible to order any dish of Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and French cuisine,” he wrote in his memoirs, ‘Orient Express’.

Pulikovsky recounted that live lobster and other fresh delicacies were delivered to the train on the former dictator’s demand as it went through Siberia during trips to Russia. Not only this, crates of fine wines like Bordeaux were flown in from Paris, The NYT reported.

But what about entertainment? The Russian official wrote there were “beautiful lady conductors” onboard, who would sing in Korean and Russian.

He added that even Putin’s rail transportation “did not have the comfort of Kim Jong Il’s train.”

The details of what Kim Jong Un does for nourishment and entertainment while travelling remain unknown, however, his “appetite is known to rival his father’s,” The NYT said. The current North Korean dictator reportedly “prefers Swiss cheese, Cristal Champagne and Hennessy cognac,” it added.

Morocco rescuers scour rubble for survivors after quake kills 2,000

 The first foreign rescuers flew in to help after Morocco’s strongest-ever quake killed at least 2,012 people and injured more than 2,000, many seriously.

Using heavy equipment and even their bare hands, rescuers in Morocco on Sunday stepped up efforts to find survivors of a devastating earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people and flattened villages.

The first foreign rescuers flew in to help after the North African country's strongest-ever quake killed at least 2,012 people and injured more than 2,000, many seriously, according to the official figures.

Friday's 6.8-magnitude quake struck 72 km southwest of the tourist hub of Marrakesh, wiping out entire villages in the hills of the Atlas mountains.

On Sunday an aftershock of magnitude 4.5 rattled already-traumatised residents in the same region.

The mountain village of Tafeghaghte, 60 km from Marrakesh, was almost entirely destroyed, an AFP team reported, with very few buildings still standing.

Amid the debris, civilian rescuers and members of Morocco's armed forces searched for survivors and the bodies of the dead.

AFP saw them recover one body from the ruins of a house. Four others were still buried there, residents said.

"Everyone is gone! My heart is broken. I am inconsolable," cried Zahra Benbrik, 62, who said she had lost 18 relatives, with only the body of her brother still trapped.

"I want them to hurry and get him out so I can mourn in peace," she said.

Many houses in remote mountain villages were built from mud bricks.

In the village of Amizmiz, near Tafeghaghte, a backhoe dragged away the heaviest pieces of rubble before rescuers dug into the dusty debris with their bare hands to remove a body that appeared to be under a quilt.

The two villages lie in Al-Haouz province, site of the quake epicentre, which suffered the most deaths, 1,293, followed by Taroudant province with 452 lives lost, authorities reported.

Citizens on Sunday rushed to hospitals in Marrakesh to donate blood to help the injured.

Spain's Defence Ministry said an A400 airlifter took off from Zaragoza with 56 rescuers and four search dogs headed for Marrakesh to "help in the search and rescue of survivors".

"We will send whatever is needed because everyone knows that these first hours are key, especially if there are people buried under rubble," Defence Minister Margarita Robles told Spanish public television.

Many residents of the usually bustling tourist hotspot of Marrakesh spent a second night sleeping on the streets, huddled together under blankets and among bags filled with their belongings.

One of them, Fatema Satir, said many stayed outside for fear of their houses collapsing.

"There is no help for us," Satir said. "Our houses have been cracked, others destroyed -- like my daughter's house which was wiped out. We are in a chaotic state."

In the city's historic Jemaa el-Fna square, about 20 people were huddled on the ground, wrapped in blankets, while others stayed on the lawn of the nearby town hall, its 12th-century ramparts partially collapsed.

The kingdom declared three days of national mourning, and a prayer for the quake victims was to be held Sunday in all of the kingdom's mosques.

Morocco's Interior Ministry said on Saturday evening that authorities are "mobilised to speed up rescue operations and evacuate the injured."

In addition to Spain, several countries offered aid.

French President Emmanuel Macron said his country has mobilised "all technical and security teams to be able to intervene, when the Moroccan authorities deem it useful."

Mr. Macron, along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the heads of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Union and European Commission, also pledged, in a joint statement, to "mobilise our technical and financial tools and assistance" to help the people of Morocco.

The United States said it also had search-and-rescue teams ready to deploy, and Pope Francis on Sunday again expressed support for those affected by the disaster.

"I thank the rescuers and all those who are working to alleviate the suffering of the people," he said from the Vatican window above St Peter's Square.

Algeria, which has long had tense relations with neighbouring Morocco, opened its airspace, which had been closed for two years, to flights carrying humanitarian aid and evacuating the injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country in 2020 established ties with Morocco, offered to send search-and-rescue teams, declaring that "Israel stands by Morocco in its difficult time".

The Red Cross warned that it could take years to repair the damage.

"It won't be a matter of a week or two... We are counting on a response that will take months, if not years," said Hossam Elsharkawi, its Middle East and North Africa director.

The quake was the deadliest in Morocco since a 1960 earthquake destroyed Agadir and killed more than 12,000 people.

G-20 shows the importance of multipolar world: Brazil President Lula

 Addressing a press conference following the G-20 summit on September 10, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said it was very gratifying that an important meeting like G-20, which Brazil was a founder of, showed the importance of a multipolar world.

Speaking after the conference, the President said the biofuel alliance is something Brazil fought for a long time, and the country has a particular competence in this. “What happened at G20 is more important than the money spent in organizing it. The global biofuel alliance is one great initiative, so we should say India invested the money, not spent the money.”

India on September 9 announced the launch of the Global Biofuel Alliance and urged G-20 nations to join the initiative with a plea to take ethanol blending with petrol globally to 20%. The Alliance was launched by Mr. Modi along with a host of global leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, Mr. Lula, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit.

“Glad PM Modi and President Biden could be part of it,” Mr. Lula added.

Mr. Lula further said that it’s a huge challenge for Brazil to take over G-20. “We will put inequality at the top: inequality of gender, race, education, health, poverty and hunger. The world needs balance.”

Mr. Modi on September 10 handed over the ceremonial gavel to Mr. Lula, initiating the process of transition of the President’s chair for the next round of the G-20 in Brazil.

Mr. Lula also said that another big priority for us is the reform of multilateral institutions: the World Bank, and UNSC, where we need to reorganize the UN’s top body.

“What is the explanation that 130 million people go hungry today?” he asked. “We need to move towards growth, but also equity otherwise the GDP growth will go to just a few people. If it’s more equitable we will have less unrest, less hunger and poverty,” he said. The African debt of $800 billion should be converted into public works programmes for building infrastructure and alleviate poverty, he added.

My task was to put Brazil back on the geopolitical map, to speak up again for the inequality in the world, the President said.

He also congratulated India for organising a successful summit. “The people of Brazil will organise a good event...We want to use many Brazilian cities and make G-20 popular with the civil society. We want a more democratic G-20,” he said.

It would be up to Brazil’s judiciary to decide if Russian President Putin would be arrested or not if he attends next year’s G20 summit in the South American country, he said. “If Mr. Putin decides to join, it is the judiciary’s power to decide and not my government,” Mr. Lula told reporters 

The Brazilian President also said he was not aware of why Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mr. Putin did not attend the summit. “I hope that they will come to Rio next year, and I also hope there’s no more war in Ukraine.”

Mr. Lula said that the G-20 contains BRICS and all G7 countries, and it is very important as it becomes an umbrella organisation for both. There is a need to change the multilateral system, and for this, we need to be in the G-20 together.

“Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) countries are already in G20— Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. African Union membership was very important. Let’s see if the situation develops to take other groupings as well,” he said.

Mr. Lula also said Brazil would not be joining the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The African Union became a full member of the G-20 on September 9, 2023. Welcoming the African Union’s Chairperson Azaly Assoumani to the table of the G-20 leaders, Mr. Modi said the inclusion of the African bloc will enhance the effectiveness of the G-20. After the EU, the African Union is the second regional bloc to join the G20.

After Canada PM's "Foreign Interference" Comment, India's Strong Reaction

 During the meeting, PM Modi highlighted that India-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting with Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau and raised "strong concerns" about the continuous "anti-India activities" by extremist elements in Canada, and stated that it is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats.

The two leaders held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

PM Trudeau also congratulated PM Modi on the success of India's G20 Presidency.

During the meeting, PM Modi highlighted that India-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

"He conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship," the MEA said in a statement.

It added, "The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats".

Prime Minister Modi also mentioned that a relationship based on mutual respect and trust is essential for the progress of India-Canada relationship.

Earlier in the day, Trudeau had said that he had many conversations with PM Narendra Modi on the issue of Khalistan extremism and "foreign interference", and Canada will always defend freedom of expression, and at the same time will always be there to prevent violence.

He further emphasized that the "actions of the few" do not represent the entire community or Canada.

"Both the issues came up. Over the years, with PM Modi, we have had many conversations on both of those issues. Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us. At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred," PM Trudeau said.

He added, "I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada. The flip side of it, we also highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law and we did talk about foreign interference."

PM Modi tweeted after his meeting with Trudeau "Met PM @JustinTrudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. We discussed the full range of India-Canada ties across different sectors."

Prior to their discussion, the world leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau paid a visit to Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday morning.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in India on Friday to attend the G20 Summit. The Canadian PM, accompanied by his son Xavier, was received by the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The Canadian PM had recently called India a key partner in the promotion of shared values of democracy.

Trudeau said Canada is home to one of the largest Indian diasporas in the world, adding that nearly 1.4 million people of Indian origin live in the country.

Back ‘Enormous opportunity’, UK PM Rishi Sunak optimistic about signing FTA with India this year

 UK PM Rishi Sunak says India and the UK have made huge progress towards signing a free-trade agreement.

In a strong indication to clinch a deal this year, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that India and the United Kingdom have made enormous progress toward signing a free-trade agreement. The remarks came at the G20 Summit in Delhi on Friday.

Speaking to ANI, Rishi Sunak said, "Both Modi Ji and I are keen to see a comprehensive and ambitious trade deal concluded between our two countries. Both of us think that there is a good deal to be done."

The British premier stressed there was “still hard work to do" and said an agreement had to “work for both countries", as per Bloomberg reports, citing ANI. 

“I think there is an enormous opportunity for both India and the UK to strengthen our economic cooperation which will bring real benefits to our citizens in both countries," the UK PM added. 

The two leaders (PM Modi and Rishi Sunak) noted with satisfaction the progress in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation as per the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well as the Roadmap 2030, particularly in economy, defense and security, technology, green technology and climate change, health, and mobility sectors. 

Both leaders also exchanged views on international and regional issues of importance and mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs said. 

They also reviewed the progress of Free Trade Agreement negotiations and expressed hope that the remaining issues could be addressed at the earliest so that a balanced, mutually beneficial, and forward-looking Free Trade Agreement is concluded soon, the statement read. 

In August, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman indicated that India was close to a “final call" on signing the FTA with the UK. Talks have been ongoing since 2021 with 13 rounds of talks thus far. Bilateral trade between the two countries hit USD 20.36 billion in 2022-23.

“Prime Minister Modi invited PM Sunak for a bilateral visit at an early, mutually convenient date for a more detailed discussion. Prime Minister Sunak accepted the invitation and congratulated PM Modi for a successful G20 Summit," the release added. 

As pictures of UK PM Rishi Sunak’s visit to Akshardham with his wife go viral, know why Akshata Murthy was not present in one of the photos

 UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is in India to attend the G-20 Summit, arrived at the Akshardham temple in Delhi on Sunday, September 10, before his other commitments for the day. Sunak was in the temple for about 45 minutes with his wife Akshata Murthy, offered prayers, participated in the aarti and also met saints and seers.

Pictures of Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murthy’s visit to Akshardham have gone viral on social media. In these pictures, the UK PM and his wife can be seen walking around the Akshardham temple complex having darshan and performing aarti.

In most images, Akshata Murthy is seen alongside her husband Rishi Sunak. However, a couple of photographs feature Rishi Sunak without his wife. In one of these pictures, Rishi Sunak is seen standing with folded hands in the company of saints and seers from the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha within the premises of the Akshardham temple. In another photo, the saints are seen applying tilak on him. It is worth noting that the management of the Akshardham temple in Delhi is under the purview of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

In the images featuring sadhus and saints, only Rishi Sunak appears and Akshata Murthy is not seen. This is due to the adherence to a fundamental rule within the Swaminarayan sect, where initiated saints are required to observe Brahmacharya (celibacy), refraining from any contact with women. This longstanding rule, rooted in the teachings of Sahajanand Swami, the sect’s founder, has been upheld since the sect’s inception and remains in practice even today.

Swaminarayan Sect and Brahmacharya of Sadhus

Swaminarayan Sampradaya was founded by Sahajanand Swami (1781-1830). He asked the saints to observe Nishkam, Nisneh, Niswad, Nirman, and Nirlobh. The first of these five principles is Nishkam, that is, giving up desires. For this, he asked them to follow Ashtanga Brahmacharya. In that, it has been said to give up eight ways of contact with women.

In 1826, Sahajanand Swami authored the ‘Shikshapatri‘, a comprehensive guide that provides teachings on ideal conduct for individuals ranging from common people to kings and monks. It also contains specific rules and guidelines for sadhus within its teachings.

For the Naishtika Brahmacharis, Swami Sahajanand says that such sadhus should not touch or communicate with women and should not knowingly meet or face women. (Shikshapatri – 175) He also asked the sadhus not to talk to women and avoid reciting stories and kirtans of God aimed at addressing women. (Shikshapatri – 176, 179) Apart from this, other things have also been mentioned, such as not touching the clothes worn by a woman and not touching the image or idol of a woman who is not a deity. Nevertheless, it was instructed that in situations of grave danger or emergencies, where the safety and well-being of a woman or one’s own life were at risk, it was permissible to make physical contact or communicate with women to ensure their protection. (Shikshapatri – 182)

Sahajanand Swami also said that these rules should be followed at all times. Sahajanand Swami also said that if there is an order of a Guru asking the sages to break this rule, then it should not be followed. (Shikshapatri – 180)

There are many other rules for the saints of the Swaminarayan sect, such as they cannot go to the house of any householder except for alms, and that too on only two occasions. Further, on these two occasions, they should ask for raw food, cook with their own hands offer ‘Naivedya’ to God and take food.

The saints of the sect stick to this rule of celibacy and that is the reason why they do not come in contact with women. However, no restriction has been imposed on the entry of women anywhere in the temples of the sect. They can go to the temple, and take part in worship or aarti.

Sahajanand Swami is said to have done many things for the upliftment of women during his life. He actively worked against the Sati tradition prevailing at that time and the practice of killing the girl child and made efforts to eradicate these societal evils. Apart from this, he also made active efforts for the education of women and their empowerment in society.