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.