Zelensky, China's Xi Have 'Meaningful Call', First Since Russian Invasion

BEIJING, April 26: Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky by phone on Wednesday, Beijing and Kyiv said, the first call between the two leaders since the start of Russia's invasion.

Beijing says it is neutral in the Ukraine conflict and Xi has never condemned the Russian invasion, but the Chinese leader has come under increased pressure from Western nations to step in and mediate.

A 12-point "position paper" published by China in February was seen by many Western governments as skewed towards Russia, and a friendly Moscow visit in March by Xi to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin led to widespread criticism.

"I had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping," Zelensky said on Twitter.

"I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations," he wrote.

Zelensky's spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov said on Facebook that the two leaders had "an almost one-hour-long telephone conversation".

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that during the call -- which was initiated by Kyiv -- Xi told Zelensky that "talks and negotiation" were the "only way out" of the war.

"On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China has always stood on the side of peace and its core position is to promote peace talks," CCTV reported Xi as saying.
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According to a readout of the call, Xi said China "will neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the crisis to profit".

"When dealing with the nuclear issue, all parties concerned should remain calm and restrained, truly focus on the future and destiny of themselves and all mankind, and jointly manage and control the crisis," Xi said.

China also said it would send a delegation and a "special representative" of its government to Ukraine with the aim of finding a "political settlement" to the conflict.

Zelensky has said repeatedly he would be open to talks with his Chinese counterpart, and Wednesday's telephone call "was initiated by the Ukrainian side", Yu Jun from China's foreign ministry told a press conference.

February's 12-point paper called for a "political settlement" to the crisis and portrayed China as a neutral party, urging the two sides to enter into peace negotiations.

Its first point was that "the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld".

But China has consistently refused to expand upon how that relates to the specifics of the Ukraine war, which was triggered when Moscow's forces invaded their neighbour.

In the paper, Beijing called on Russia and Ukraine to resume peace talks, stating that "dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution".

"The international community should stay committed to the right approach of promoting talks for peace, help parties to the conflict open the door to a political settlement as soon as possible, and create conditions and platforms for the resumption of negotiation," the paper read.

The document was met with scepticism from Ukraine's allies, with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg saying Beijing "doesn't have much credibility because they have not been able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine".

Many at the time pointed to the fact that Xi had met with Putin but not even called Zelensky as evidence that China was not the impartial observer it claimed to be.

The Chinese leader's Moscow visit -- during which Xi said ties with Russia were entering "a new era" -- was viewed as a coup for Putin.

"I am sure that Russian-Chinese cooperation has truly unlimited possibilities and prospects," Putin said following the talks, where he toasted the "prosperity" of Russian and Chinese people and highlighted the "special nature" of the relationship between the two countries.

Putin called the talks with Xi "meaningful and frank" and said that Russia, which has been largely cut out of European markets because of sanctions, would be able to meet China's "growing demand" for energy.

UK Warns China Against Any Attack On Taiwan

LONDON, April 26: Britain on Tuesday warned China against any attack on Taiwan, telling Beijing it risked triggering domestic and global turmoil if it failed to uphold its international obligations.

In a set-piece foreign policy speech, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly restated that London wants to see a "peaceful settlement" to sovereignty claims.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to seize it one day, by force if necessary.

Earlier this month, Chinese forces held military exercises simulating targeted strikes and a blockade of the island.

But Cleverly said conflict in the Taiwan Strait would have a catastrophic impact on world supply chains, particularly of advanced semi-conductors.

"A war across the Strait would not only be a human tragedy, it would destroy world trade worth $2.6 trillion, according to the Nikkei Asia," he added.

"No country could shield itself from the repercussions," he told an audience at the Mansion House in the City of London financial district.

"Distance would offer no protection from this catastrophic blow to the global economy –- and to China most of all.

"I shudder to contemplate the human and financial ruin that would follow. So it's essential that no party takes unilateral action to change the status quo."

Cleverly's speech comes as Britain seeks to reset its foreign policy priorities after its departure from the European Union, with a "tilt" towards the Indo-Pacific region.

He recently returned from a swing through the region to cement political, trade and military links, in response to Chinese expansion.

Tensions between London and Beijing have been strained in recent years, notably over China's squeeze on civil rights in the former British colony of Hong Kong.

Tempers have risen also over the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority and a block on tech firm Huawei's involvement in the roll-out of Britain's 5G telecoms network.

Hawkish elements in Britain's ruling Conservative party have urged the government to take a tougher stance on China.

But Cleverly instead urged a pragmatic, constructive and united Western approach to China's rising power, acknowledging the need to work in partnership with the Asian power.

"It would be clear and easy -- and perhaps even satisfying -- for me to declare a new Cold War and say that our goal is to isolate China," he said.

"Clear, easy, satisfying -- and wrong, because it would be a betrayal of our national interest and a wilful misunderstanding of the modern world.

"Instead, this government will advance British interests directly with China, alongside our allies, while steadfastly defending our national security and our values."

Cleverly said "profound disagreements" could be expected when dealing with the Chinese leadership, not least over a clash of values.

But he said Western powers owed it to future generations to speak their mind and to engage, given China's increasing importance to issues such as fighting climate change, global health, tech and finance.

He urged China to uphold its international obligations, including the Joint Declaration it signed with Britain to preserve Hong Kong's freedoms, and the UN Charter.

"If China breaks them, we are entitled to say so and to act -- and we will," he added, urging Beijing not to see that as interference in domestic affairs.

"Peaceful co-existence has to begin with respecting fundamental laws and institutions, including the UN Charter, which protects every country against invasion," he said.

Cleverly also urged Beijing to abandon its neutral stance on Russian aggression in Ukraine.

"A country that wants a respected place at the apex of the world order should stand up for its own principles, and keep its solemn obligation to defend the laws at the very foundation of that order," he added.

"This responsibility goes hand-in-hand with China's right to play a global role commensurate with its size and history."

Sydney To Host 2023 Quad Leaders' Summit On May 24

SYDNEY, April 26: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that Sydney will host the 2023 Quad Leaders' summit on May 24, the third in-person meeting of the leaders of Australia, the United States, India and Japan.
"I am honoured to host the first ever Quad Leaders' Summit in Australia in Sydney," Albanese said.

"The Quad is committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is respectful of sovereignty and ensures security and growth for all."

Albanese said the leaders will discuss how the Quad can work alongside partners and regional groupings, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum, to strengthen cooperation and shape the region.

India, the United States, Japan and Australia are members of the Quad, an informal group that Washington has been promoting to work as a potential bulwark against China's increasing political, commercial and military activity in the Indo-Pacific.

China sees the Quad as an attempt to push back against its growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Albanese said he also plans to visit the US when Biden hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the second half of the year.

Bodies Of 73 Cult Members, Who Starved To 'Meet Jesus', Found In Kenya

MALINDI (Kenya), April 25: The death count in a case involving a Kenyan cult that practised starvation climbed to 73 Monday, police sources said as investigators unearthed more corpses from mass graves in a forest near the coast.

A major search is under way near the coastal town of Malindi where dozens of bodies were exhumed over the weekend, sending shockwaves through the country as President William Ruto vowed to crack down on "unacceptable" religious movements.

A full-scale investigation has been launched into the Good News International Church and its leader, named in court documents as Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, who preached that death by starvation delivered followers to God.

Police had previously named the suspect as Makenzie Nthenge.

It is believed some of his devotees could still be hiding in the bush around Shakahola, which was raided by police earlier this month after a tip-off from a local non-profit group.

Since then, a number of people have been rescued and dozens of bodies unearthed in mass graves dug in shallow pits.

"We have 73 bodies from the forest by this evening and the exercise will continue tomorrow," said a police officer involved in the probe on condition of anonymity.

"It is a very sad state of affairs on how these people died and were buried in shallow graves because we found six bodies squeezed in one grave today," he said.

Another senior police official also confirmed the death count, saying: "Some of the bodies were just in the forest and had not even been buried."

The count had earlier stood at 58, according to police chief Japhet Koome who visited the site on Monday.

A 325-hectare (800-acre) area of woodland has been declared a crime scene as teams clad in overalls search for more burial sites and possible cult survivors.

Ruto, speaking in Kiambu county neighbouring Nairobi, said there was "no difference" between rogue pastors like Nthenge -- who has been arrested and is awaiting trial -- and terrorists.

"Terrorists use religion to advance their heinous acts. People like Mackenzie are using religion to do exactly the same thing."

"I have instructed the agencies responsible to take up the matter and to get to the root cause and to the bottom of the activities of... people who want to use religion to advance weird, unacceptable ideology."

As authorities try to uncover the true scale of what is being dubbed the "Shakahola Forest Massacre", questions have emerged about how the cult was able to operate undetected despite Nthenge attracting police attention six years earlier.

"The unfolding horror that is the Shakahola cult deaths should and must be a wake-up call to the nation, more particularly the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and our community policing programme," Amason Jeffah Kingi, the speaker of the senate, said in a statement.

"How did such a heinous crime, organized and executed over a considerable period of time, escape the radar of our intelligence system?"

Nthenge was arrested in 2017 on charges of "radicalisation" after urging families not to send their children to school, saying education was not recognised by the Bible.

He was arrested again last month, according to local media, after two children starved to death in the custody of their parents.

He was released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings ($700) before surrendering to police following the Shakahola raid.

India, China military talks on LAC fail to make headway, all eyes on Chinese defence minister’s visit

NEW DELHI, April 24: The 18th round of India China Corps Commander level talks held Sunday failed to make headway on the contentious issue of the Depsang Plains and de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, it has been learnt by ThePrint.

All eyes are now on the visit of Chinese Defence Minister Gen Li Shangfu here for a meeting of the Shaghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) scheduled for April 27 and 28. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to hold bilateral talks with Li.

Sources in the defence and security establishment Monday said that no breakthrough has been achieved in the talks during which India side strongly pressed for de-escalation along the LAC and also easing of tensions in the Depsang Plains.

However, they described the talks as “forward looking” and added that the Depsang issue and de-escalation was discussed in detail.

A statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry Monday, which was not a joint statement unlike in the past, said two sides had a frank and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector so as to restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas, which will enable progress in bilateral relations.

It added that in line with the guidance provided by the state leaders and further to the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers in March 2023, they had an exchange of views in an open and candid manner.

“In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the western sector. The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest,” the statement said.

While both militaries have disengaged from the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Tso, Gogra and the Hot Springs area since the stand-off began in May 2020, tensions remain in Depsang Plains and Demchok.

Both countries have failed to make any headway with regard to Depsang and Demchok, where tensions predate the ongoing stand-off.

Both India and China have been blocking each other to patrol beyond an area called Bottleneck.

Also, though troops have disengaged at several locations along the LAC, they continue to remain deployed in forward areas, along with their armoured and artillery equipment.

India has sought for de-escalation, which would entail the return of all additional troops and equipment in forward areas to their pre-April 2020 positions.

The talks are being held on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo meeting point after a gap of nearly four months since the last round of talks was held in December 2022.

Govt Launches 'Operation Kaveri' To Rescue Indians Stranded In Sudan

NEW DELHI, April 24: India today launched 'Operation Kaveri' to rescue its citizens stranded in Sudan amidst violent conflict between the country's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Foreign Minister S Jaishankar announced on Twitter.

About 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan for evacuation, and more are on their way, Jaishankar said.

"Two Indian Air Force C-130J are currently positioned on standby in Jeddah. And, INS Sumedha has reached Port Sudan," the government earlier said in a statement.

India has already positioned two heavy-lift military transport aircraft in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah and a naval ship at a key port in Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate stranded Indians.

The government had on Friday said it was focusing on the safety of over 3,000 Indian citizens presently located throughout Sudan.

Violence broke out in the capital Khartoum and across other regions in Sudan on April 15 between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The former allies seized power in a 2021 coup but later fell out in a bitter power struggle.

Mohammad Shahabuddin Takes Oath As Bangladesh's New President

DHAKA, April 24: Veteran politician Mohammed Shahabuddin was sworn in as the 22nd president of Bangladesh on Monday at a state ceremony attended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet colleagues.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath to 73-year-old Shahabuddin at the historic Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban. Besides premier Hasina and family members of the new president, politicians, Supreme Court judges, and senior civil and military officials attended the event.

Shahabuddin succeeds Abdul Hamid whose tenure ended on Sunday. After the swearing-in ceremony, Shahabuddin signed the oath documents for the office of the president.

He was elected as president unopposed in February this year as a candidate of the ruling Awami League.

Despite being largely ornamental head of the state, the office of the president draws extra attention particularly during the general elections as he appoints the prime minister and becomes the constitutional guardian of the country.

Bangladesh is set for general elections in December or in January next year, amid growing diferences between the ruling Awami League and its main opposition the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over the electoral system.

In a media interview last week, Shahabuddin, a lower court judge, said it was largely the responsibility of the Election Commission to create the atmosphere to encourage voters to cast their votes and expected the independent constitutional body to play its due role.

He said, after assuming his office, he would review the political situation and assess if he needed to play any role in minimising disputes between the political parties.

Born in 1949 and hailing from the northwestern Pabna district, Shahabuddin is a retired district judge who later served as one of the commissioners of the independent Anti-Corruption Commission.

He later joined politics and became a member of the Awami League Advisory Council, which comprises senior party leaders and technocrats, but his election to the highest office would require him to relinquish the party post.

In his early life, Shahabuddin was a leader of the Awami League's student and youth wings and took part in the 1971 Liberation War.

He was imprisoned following the 1975 assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Prime Minister Hasina. In 1982, he was inducted into the country's judicial service.

Shahabuddin's wife Rebeka Sultana is the former joint secretary of the government. The couple has one son.

'We Are Excited': Australian MP On PM Modi's Visit To Australia In May

MELBOURNE, April 24: Australian Member of Parliament (MP), Jason Wood, on Sunday said that the country is very excited about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's forthcoming visit to Australia in May.

Speaking on the sidelines of Sadbhavana, Wood, who is the shadow minister for Community Safety, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Australia said, "Prime Minister Modi, you've got the biggest democracy in the world. We're very proud to say you'll be coming to Australia and you're doing an incredible job. And can I just say, the Australian Indian community is so excited about your visit. I'm excited about it. The wider Australian community be excited about it. To have the world's number one leader coming to Australia. We very much look forward to your visit and it's going to be truly a great honour for me if I get the chance to meet Modi."

Modi will be travelling to Australia in May to take part in the QUAD leadership summit.

The announcement was made during the joint press conference hosted by the Prime Minister along with Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, who was on a four-day visit to India in March.

"India and Australia are both members of the Quad. I thank PM Albanese for inviting me to Australia for the Quad Leaders' Summit in May. I have invited him to India for the G20 summit in September," Modi had said.

The leaders of the QUAD group have met on four occasions earlier and their next meeting will be held in Australia. The group's importance in the region has increased due to its keen interest in sustainable and inclusive economic growth and increasing people-to-people connections not only between QUAD members but also between non-QUAD members.

Indian Prime Minister on several occasions has highlighted that QUAD is a force of global good and is aimed at developing the region while protecting the interests of all members of the Indo-Pacific region.

Wood also said that besides the Australian community, the Indian Australian community is very excited about Modi's forthcoming visit to Australia. Wood said that Modi has a great following in Australia and his leadership skills are respected by all people.

"We admire Modi's ability to respect all people and the spirit of working together and his humbleness. Under his leadership, India now is being regarded as having entrepreneurs and where your hard work is rewarded," Jason Wood said.

"And you have a great following in Australia and you're doing an incredible job. What I like about his leadership is his ability to respect all people, work together and be very humble, which is something I cannot say, not all political leaders are. And that's something about his quality and that's why he's so loved around the world, too," he said.

Praising India's progress on the economic front he said, "India is now a country regarded as having entrepreneurs. It's regarded as a country where you have a go at what you are doing and you'll get achievements with rewards from your hard work. And that's what I know Mr Modi has put in place, is the framework, that if you got to work hard, there's going to benefit behind that."

Sadbhawana event is an initiative started by NID Foundation taking the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' where he called the whole world as 'one family', to every corner of the world.

The event was attended by religious leaders, intellectuals, scholars, preachers and researchers.

"This was a fabulous event to have all the religious leaders together with one voice of peace and harmony. It was wonderful to see so many faith leaders talk about the need for world peace. It is important to have religious leaders sending positive messages around the world," said Wood.

47 Bodies Of Suspected Cult Members Found In Kenya: Police

NAIROBI, April 23: Kenyan police said Sunday they had uncovered bodies of another 26 people believed to be members of a cult, bringing to 47 the number of corpses linked to the movement found in three days.

"Today we have exhumed 26 more bodies and this brings the total number of bodies from that place to 47," said the head of criminal investigations in Malindi, eastern Kenya, Charles Kamau.

On Saturday police sources said 21 bodies had been exhumed in Kenya in a probe into a cult whose followers are believed to have starved themselves to death.

Officials had earlier reported seven deaths in connection with the investigation in eastern Kenya following the arrest of Makenzie Nthenge, who reportedly told followers to starve themselves in order to "meet Jesus".

Nthenge, leader of the Good News International Church, turned himself in to police and was charged last month, according to local media, after two children starved to death in the custody of their parents.

He was later released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings ($700).

Police reported his arrest on April 15 after discovering the bodies of four of Nthenge's followers. Kenyan police said on Friday that they had exhumed three other bodies.

Eleven other followers of the church -- the youngest just 17 -- were taken to hospital, three of them in critical condition, after being rescued on April 14.

Russia To Expel Over 20 German Diplomats In Response To 'Mass Explusions'

MOSCOW, April 22: The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman on Saturday announced the expulsion of "more than 20" German diplomats as a retaliatory measure for "mass expulsion" of Russian embassy staff from Berlin.

Maria Zakharova told state-run television Zvezda that Moscow had decided to expel "more than 20" diplomats.

Her statement came shortly after her ministry denounced "another mass expulsion of employees of Russian diplomatic missions in Germany."

The German foreign ministry said it took note of the Russian statements.

It said that "the Federal government and the Russian side have been contact in recent weeks on personnel matters in their respective representations abroad."

"Today's flight is part of that process," it said, though without specifically talking about any expulsion.

Moscow accused Berlin of "continuing to demonstratively destroy the entire range of Russia-Germany relations."

"As a response to Berlin's hostile actions, the Russian side has decided to mirror the decision and expel German diplomats from Russia," the foreign ministry said.

Moscow will also limit the maximum number of employees in German diplomatic missions in the country, and said Germany's ambassador Geza Andreas von Geyr was notified of the measures on April 5.

Japan Orders Military To Prepare To Shoot Down North Korean Missile

TOKYO, April 22: Japan ordered its military Saturday to prepare to shoot down a North Korean ballistic missile after Pyongyang said this week it was ready to launch its first military spy satellite.

Placing the satellite into orbit would require a long-range projectile, which North Korea is banned from launching because the United Nations views such exercises as tests of ballistic missile technology.

On Saturday Japanese minister Yasukazu Hamada told the country's Self-Defense Forces "there is a possibility of ordering destructive measures against ballistic missiles and others", according to a statement from the ministry of defence.

Hamada instructed troops to "implement measures necessary to limit damage in the event of a ballistic missile falling".

He ordered preparations for the deployment of destroyers equipped with SM-3 missile interceptors, as well as military units in the southern prefecture of Okinawa that can operate Patriot PAC-3 missiles.

In 2012 and 2016, North Korea tested ballistic missiles that Pyongyang called satellite launches.

Both missiles flew over the Okinawa region.

Japanese media reported Saturday that the defence ministry issued the same preparation orders in 2012.

Pyongyang has not provided a launch date, with leader Kim Jong Un only saying the satellite will be sent up "at the planned date".

On Tuesday G7 foreign ministers meeting in Japan demanded North Korea refrain from any further ballistic missile tests following a spate of launches this year.

The group of rich nations also warned Pyongyang against carrying out an expected nuclear weapons test and said there would be a "robust" response if it did not comply.

A week ago Pyongyang said it had successfully tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, hailing it as a breakthrough for the country's nuclear counterattack capabilities.

Over 400 killed, 3,500 injured in Sudan fighting

NEW YORK, April 21: Over 400 people have been killed and over 3,500 others have been injured in the fighting in Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said, “Four hundred and thirteen people have died and 3,551 people have been injured ... that we know of.” Citing Sudanese health ministry figures, the WHO spokeswoman said 20 health facilities had stopped functioning and 12 were at risk of stopping in the country.

This would affect "not only the people who have been injured during this terrible fighting, but the people who were needing treatment before", the spokeswoman said.

United Nations children's agency UNICEF informed that at least nine children were among the dead. More than 50 children had been wounded, the agency informed.

“It's taking a devastating toll on the country's children. As long as fighting continues, children will continue to pay the price. The fighting means many families are trapped, with little or no access to electricity, terrified of running out of food, water and medicine,” UNICEF spokesman James Elder said.

Sudan already had one of the world's highest rates of child malnutrition and owing to the conflict critical life-saving care has now been disrupted, he said.

"This is life-threatening," he said, adding, the most critical cases are "being fed with tubes because that's literally the only way they can be fed. When the bombing or shelling begins outside the hospital and where medical staff need to flee, then what?"

He also warned that the fighting was putting cold storage of more than $40 million worth of vaccines and insulin at risk.

"We need forces to immediately cease hostilities and for all parties to respect their international obligations to protect children from harm," he said.

Taiwan To Buy 400 US Anti-Ship Missiles Amid China Tensions: Report

TAIPEI, April 18: Taiwan will buy as many as 400 U.S. land-launched Harpoon missiles in the face of rising threat from China, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing a trade group's leader and people familiar with the issue.

A contract with Boeing that the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command issued on Taiwan's behalf marks the first time the island will get the mobile, land-launched version, the report said citing Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council. It previously purchased the ship-launched version.

This month, U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in California and stressed the need to accelerate arms deliveries to Taiwan in the face of rising threats from China.

After the meeting, Mike Gallagher, Republican chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said he would like to look for ways to get Harpoon anti-ship missiles to Taiwan ahead of those scheduled to go to Saudi Arabia.

In 2020, Taiwan said that it planned to buy land-based Boeing-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles as part of its military modernization efforts.

EU Ambassador To Sudan 'Assaulted' In Home Amid Protest: Top Diplomat

KHARTOUM, Apriln 18: The European Union ambassador to Sudan was attacked in his home in Khartoum on Monday, the bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell said, as fighting between rival generals gripped the nation.

"A few hours ago, the EU Ambassador in Sudan was assaulted in his own residency," Borrell wrote on Twitter, without detailing any injuries to the envoy.

"Security of diplomatic premises and staff is a primary responsibility of Sudanese authorities and an obligation under international law," he added.

The European Union's ambassador to Sudan is 58-year-old Irish diplomat Aidan O'Hara. EU spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said that he was "OK" following the assault.

"The security of the staff is our priority," she said. "The EU delegation has not been evacuated. Security measures are being assessed."

Ireland's deputy prime minister and foreign minister Micheal Martin said O'Hara was "not seriously hurt" but that the assault was "a gross violation of obligations to protect diplomats under the Vienna Convention".

"Aidan is an outstanding Irish and European diplomat who is serving the EU under the most difficult circumstances," Martin said.

"We thank him for his service and call for an urgent cessation of violence in Sudan, and resumption of dialogue."

Fighting between the Sudanese army and a rival paramilitary faction has killed around 200 people and wounded 1,800 after three days of urban warfare.

The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire and international bodies, including the European Union, have expressed grave concern.

21 Killed In Fire In Beijing Hospital: Report

BEIJING, April 18: A fire in a Beijing hospital has killed 21 people, the state-run Beijing Daily said on Tuesday.

Emergency response teams first received word just before 1 pm (0500 GMT) that a fire had broken out at the Beijing Changfeng Hospital in the capital city's Fengtai District, the Beijing Daily report said.

The fire was extinguished about half an hour later and rescue efforts continued for about another two hours, by which time a total of 71 patients had been evacuated and taken to another location.

The death count was put at 21 by 6 pm, the report said.

The Beijing Daily said "the cause of the accident is under further investigation".

Social media users posted videos through the afternoon of people sitting on external air conditioning units, while others clinging to ropes jumped from the building.

It was not immediately clear if all the occupants of the hospital had been found and evacuated from the fire, which was in the east building of the private hospital's inpatient department.

The deaths were confirmed after the victims were taken to another unidentified hospital for emergency treatment, the report said.

Further details were not available on the number of injuries suffered in the fire or their condition.

Beijing Changfeng Hospital is in the capital's western urban area, about 25 minutes by car from central Tiananmen Square.

US Warship Sails Through Taiwan Strait Following China War Games

TAIPEI, April 17: The US warship USS Milius sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the US Navy said on Monday, describing it as a "routine" transit, but coming just days after China ended its latest war games around the island.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, officially ended its three days of exercises around Taiwan last Monday where it practiced precision strikes and blockading the island.

It staged the drills to express anger at Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The US Navy's 7th Fleet said the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius conducted a "routine Taiwan Strait transit" through waters "where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law".

The ship's transit demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, it added.

16 Killed, 9 Injured In Dubai Apartment Block Fire

DUBAI, April 16: A fire in a residential building in Dubai has killed 16 people and injured nine others, the Gulf emirate's government said on Sunday.

The fire broke out at midday on Saturday on the fourth floor of the building in the Al-Ras neighbourhood in the old part of the city.

The civil defence force said preliminary investigations showed the fire was caused by a "lack of compliance with building security and safety requirements", the government's media office said in a statement.

Firefighting teams were at the blaze within six minutes of being notified, it added.

Dubai, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, has a population of around 3.3 million, of whom almost 90 percent are foreigners.

The nationalities of the victims have not been revealed officially, but local media reports said four Indians, three Pakistanis, one Cameroonian, one Sudanese and one West African were among the dead.

Thousands of workers, mostly from Asia and Africa, live in the Al-Ras area, with up to 15 people sometimes living in apartments in low-rise buildings.

The neighbourhood, close to the traditional gold and spice markets, is in the Deira district, and is also known for its bustling streets and historic landmarks.

On Sunday, entrances to the building where the fire took place were sealed off by police with yellow tape.

Dubai city has experienced spectacular fires in the past, with extensive damage caused but few casualties.

In 2017, the authorities announced the adoption of stricter construction regulations to minimise the risk of fire, attributed mainly to flammable materials used in the exterior cladding of buildings.

Germany Ends Nuclear Era, Switches Off Last 3 Power Reactors

BERLIN, April 16: Germany switched off its last three nuclear reactors on Saturday, exiting atomic power even as it seeks to wean itself off fossil fuels and manage an energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.

While many Western countries are upping their investments in atomic energy to reduce their emissions, Germany brought an early end to its nuclear age.

It's "the end of an era," the RWE energy firm said in a statement shortly after midnight confirming the three reactors had been disconnected from the electricity grid.

Europe's largest economy has been looking to leave behind nuclear power since 2002, but the phase-out was accelerated by former chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

The exit decision was popular in a country with a powerful anti-nuclear movement, stoked by lingering fears of a Cold War conflict and atomic disasters such as Chernobyl in Ukraine.

"The risks of nuclear power are ultimately unmanageable," said Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, who this week made a pilgrimage to the ill-fated Japanese plant ahead of a G7 meeting in the country.

Anti-nuclear demonstrators took to the streets in several German cities to mark the closures.

Greenpeace, at the heart of the anti-nuclear movement, organised a celebratory party at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

"We are putting an end to a dangerous, unsustainable and costly technology," said Green MP Juergen Trittin.

In front of the Brandenburg Gate, activists symbolically slayed a model dinosaur.

Initially planned for the end of 2022, Germany's nuclear exit was delayed as Russian gas supplies dwindled.

Germany, the largest emitter in the European Union, also powered up some of its mothballed coal-fuelled plants to cover the potential gap left by gas.

The challenging energy situation had increased calls domestically for the exit from nuclear to be delayed.

Germany had to "expand the supply of energy and not restrict it any further" in light of potential shortages and high prices, the president of the German chamber of commerce Peter Adrian told the Rheinische Post daily.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition CDU party, said the abandonment of nuclear power was the result of an "almost fanatical bias".

Meanwhile the conservative daily FAZ headlined its Saturday edition "Thanks, nuclear energy," as it listed benefits it said nuclear had brought the country over the years.

Outside observers have been similarly irked by Germany's insistence on exiting nuclear while ramping up its coal usage, with climate activist Greta Thunberg in October slamming the move as "a mistake".

As expected, the Isar 2 reactor in the southeast of the country, the Neckarwestheim facility in the southwest and Emsland in the northwest were disconnected from the electricity network before midnight.

Earlier, Guido Knott, CEO of PreussenElektra, which operates Isar 2, said it would be "a very moving moment" to power down the reactor.

The three final plants provided just six percent of Germany's energy last year, compared with 30.8 percent from all nuclear plants in 1997.

"Sooner or later" the reactors will start being dismantled, Economy Minister Robert Habeck told the Funke group ahead of the scheduled decommissioning, brushing aside the idea of an extension.

The government has the energy situation "under control", Habeck assured, having filled gas stores and built new infrastructure for the import of liquefied natural gas to bridge the gap left by Russian supplies.

Instead, the minister is focused on getting Germany to produce 80 percent of its energy from renewables by 2030.

To this end, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for the installation of "four to five wind turbines a day" over the next few years -- a tall order given that just 551 were installed last year.

But the current rate of progress on renewables could well be too slow for Germany to meet its climate protection goals.

Despite planning to exit nuclear, Germany has not "pushed ahead enough with the expansion of renewables in the last 10 years", Simon Mueller from the Agora Energiewende think tank said.

To build enough onshore wind capacity, according to Mueller, Germany now has to "pull out all the stops".

Ukraine Will 'Test, Use' Any Non-Banned Weapons To Retake Crimea: Official

KYIV, April 14: Ukraine will "test and use" any non-banned weapons to liberate its territory, including Russian-occupied Crimea, the head of its National Security and Defence Council said on Friday.

Oleksiy Danilov's comment comes with Kyiv expected to mount a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months aimed at retaking Russian-held territory in the south and east.

"Crimea is the territory of Ukraine, and we will test and use there any weapons not prohibited by international laws, that will help liberate our territories," he tweeted.

Kyiv's Western partners have provided crucial military support, including modern battle tanks and armoured vehicles, since Russia's full-scale invasion last year.

But they have stopped short of providing heavier weapons, such as F-16 fighter jets, which Ukraine has asked for.

Kyiv has also been developing its own weapons, such as drones and the Neptune missile, which it says it used to sink the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet last year.

Russia seized control of the Crimean peninsula in 2014.

German foreign minister warns China against the use of force on Taiwan

BEIJING, April 14: German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock and Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on Friday traded barbs at each other while addressing a joint press conference in Beijing after the former said “destabilising Taiwan” would lead to a “horror scenario”.

Baerbock is currently in Beijing and her remarks will anger the Communist Party of China chief and President Xi Jinping, who found some relief from Europe after French President Macron during his visit to Beijing said Europe should not necessarily follow the US’ lead when it comes to China and Taiwan.

“We remain committed to our one China policy, but at the same moment we are concerned about the current situation in the strait of Taiwan. (A) military escalation would be a horror scenario for the whole world,” Baerbock was quoted as saying by news agency Bloomberg. She further added that a change in Taiwan’s status would be “unacceptable”.

Qin Gang was quick to fire back, the Bloomberg report pointed out. “There’s only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of it. The Chinese government and its people are defending the country’s territorial integrity,” Gang said, adding that the “world needs to respect that Taiwan is part of China”.

China says democratic, self-governing Taiwan is part of China and it will be reunified with the ‘Motherland’ if needed, by force and has warned US and other nations against forging diplomatic relations with Taipei.

Germany earlier this week criticised the war drills China conducted around Taiwan to express its displeasure over Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the US and meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

“We have the impression that measures such as threatening military gestures… increase the risk of unintended military clashes,” the German foreign ministry said at that time.

On Thursday, at Tianjin, Baerbock was cryptic in her response to Macron’s stance on Taiwan, where he said that France will not be “vassal” of the US when it comes to the East Asian nation.

“Despite all the differences that we have in the European Union… we are not only close to each other on the central issues of our interests and values, but we (also) pursue common strategic approaches,” Baerbock said, according to AFP.

“We not only have a common position with regard to the European stance, but if we share a common internal market, then we cannot have different positions on the EU’s largest trading partner,” she further added.

On Friday, Qin Gang was also irked when Baerbock made some observations regarding Beijing’s global leader aspirations. Baerbock said the world is watching which path China will take as it announces its intention to become a world power pointing out that Europe chose to become a global power through a policy of “expansionism, oppression and colonialism”.

“Europe has achieved its own rise 150 years ago with expansionism, oppression and colonialism. Many people are therefore now listening carefully when China today announces its goal to become a world power until 2049. These people are asking themselves which path China will choose,” Baerbock was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.

Qin said that China will not use such means during its ascent. “Western colonisation brought a lot of suffering to the world. China will not use the old paths of Western colonialism, but will instead build a world in which humanity will find peace and security,” Qin said.

He said that there should be mutual respect between China and Western nations. “What China doesn’t need is a master teacher from the West,” Qin said.

China Blames 'Negative Impact' Of US Military Drills For North Korea Tensions

BEIJING, April 13: China on Thursday blamed the "negative impact" of US military drills for tensions on the Korean peninsula, after Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile that prompted Japan to briefly issue a seek shelter warning.

South Korea's military said it had detected one "medium range or longer" ballistic missile from the Pyongyang area on Thursday morning, adding it was likely a "new type" that may have used advanced solid fuel.

Japan briefly issued the seek shelter warning to residents of the northern Hokkaido region, but later said the missile had not fallen within the country's territory and posed no threat.

In response to a question about the missile launch at a regular press briefing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said: "The current round of tension on the peninsula has its causes. The negative impact of the US military drills and deployment of strategic weapons around the peninsula is obvious to all."

Washington and Seoul have intensified defence cooperation recently, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and high-profile US strategic assets.

North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion, and on Tuesday described them as "frantic" drills "simulating an all-out war against" Pyongyang.

The United States has said it "strongly condemns" North Korea for Thursday's missile test.

It is the latest in a string of banned weapons tests conducted by North Korea, which has already fired several of its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles this year.

Wang said Beijing called on all parties to "remain calm and restrained" and to stop "exerting pressure and confrontation".

"The US side especially should take concrete actions at an early date and respond to the reasonable concerns of the DPRK (North Korea) and create conditions for easing tension and restarting dialogue as soon as possible," he added.

Climate and environment ministers from the Group of Seven are due to meet this weekend in Sapporo, Hokkaido's regional capital, a month before the group holds its summit in Hiroshima.

North Korea Likely Fired 'New Type' Of Ballistic Missile: Seoul

SEOUL, April 13: North Korea likely fired a "new type" of ballistic missile Thursday that may have used advanced solid fuel, Seoul's military said, representing a potential technical breakthrough for Pyongyang's banned weapons programs.

"North Korea appears to have fired a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel," said Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

All of Pyongyang's known intercontinental ballistic missiles are liquid-fuelled, and solid-fuel ICBMs that can be launched from land or submarines have long been on top of leader Kim Jong Un's wish list.

Such missiles are easier to store and transport, more stable and quicker to prepare for launch, and thus harder to detect and destroy pre-emptively.

At a military parade in Pyongyang in February, North Korea showed off a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles, including what analysts said was possibly a new solid-fuelled ICBM.

Seoul's military on Thursday said it had detected one "medium range or longer" ballistic missile launched on a lofted trajectory -- up not out -- from the Pyongyang area at 0723 (1023 GMT), which flew 1,000 km (621 miles).

Japan, which briefly issued a seek shelter warning to residents of the northern Hokkaido region, said the missile had not fallen within the country's territory and posed no threat to residents.

Climate and environment ministers from the Group of Seven are due to meet this weekend in Sapporo, Hokkaido's regional capital, a month before the group holds its summit in Hiroshima.

The United States said it "strongly condemns" North Korea for the test of what it described as a "long-range ballistic missile".

The launch is the latest in a string of banned weapons tests conducted by North Korea, which has already fired several of its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles this year.

It has also tested what its state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones -- known as Haeil, the Korean word for tsunami -- which it says are capable of unleashing a "radioactive tsunami".

On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a meeting of the Central Military Commission to discuss ways to "cope with the escalating moves of the US imperialists and the south Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression", Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency said.

Kim ordered that the country's deterrence capabilities be strengthened with "increasing speed" and in a "more practical and offensive" manner.

Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang last year declaring itself an "irreversible" nuclear power, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks.

Earlier this year, Kim ordered the military to intensify drills to prepare for a "real war".

In response, Washington and Seoul have intensified defence cooperation, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and high-profile US strategic assets.

North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion, and on Tuesday described them as "frantic" drills "simulating an all-out war against" Pyongyang.

The latest test was likely a bid by the North "to put pressure on the South and the United States over their joint military exercises," said Choi Gi-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University.

South Korea on Tuesday also accused North Korea of being "irresponsible" after Pyongyang cut hotline contact with Seoul last week.

North Korea has not answered the twice-daily calls made through a military hotline and an inter-Korean liaison channel since Friday, according to Seoul's unification ministry.

The links were cut a day after Seoul accused Pyongyang of continued unauthorised use of a joint industrial complex in the North Korean city of Kaesong.

"Pyongyang's provocations continue past its protest of US-South Korea defense exercises because Kim Jong Un hasn't finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation."

Modi Phones Rishi Sunak, Review Bilateral Issues

NEW DELHI, April 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak today reviewed progress on various bilateral issues.

The phone call comes weeks after pro-Khalistan supporters pulled down the national flag at the Indian embassy in London, raising questions over the security of the diplomatic mission.

We also agreed on the need to take strong action against anti-India elements and to ensure security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK. We also discussed the issue of economic offenders.

"PM Modi raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and called for strong action against anti-India elements by the UK Government. Mr Sunak conveyed that the UK considers the attack on Indian High Commission totally unacceptable and assured of security of the Indian Mission and its personnel," said an official release.

Modi also sought progress on the return of economic offenders who have taken shelter in the UK.

The two Prime Ministers reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues, especially in trade and economic sectors. They also agreed on the need for early conclusion of an India-UK Free Trade Agreement, the release said.

Modi also conveyed his greetings on the eve of Baisakhi to Sunak. He also invited Sunak for the G20 summit set to be held in September, while the latter reiterated the UK's full support to India's ongoing G20 Presidency.

The two leaders last met at a G20 meeting in Indonesia's Bali last November.

Myanmar Military Airstrike: Death Count Reaches 133, Including Women

NAY PYI TAW, April 13: At least 133 people were killed, including women and children in an airstrike by the military Junta on a village in Central Myanmar, CNN reported citing the human rights minister of the ousted shadow National Unity Government Aung Myo Min.

The attack which took place on Tuesday in Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region of the country is seen as one of the deadliest attacks since the junta seized power in a coup two years ago.

According to CNN, 50 people were hurt during the strike, the Kyunhla activist group said, which was there. At least 20 children were killed.

Although there have been no additional strikes, military jets have continued to fly over the town, preventing first responders and medical professionals from reaching the attack site, according to Aung Myo Min, who told CNN.

Sagaing region -- near the country's second-largest city, Mandalay -- has put up some of the fiercest resistance to the military's rule, with intense fighting raging there for months.

Reacting to the incident, UN rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday he was "horrified" by the deadly air strikes, whose victims he said included schoolchildren performing dances, with the global body calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.

Photos from the village being shared on social media showed more than a dozen burned and mutilated bodies, while videos showed a destroyed building, burned motorcycles and debris scattered over a wide area. Rescuers at the scene confirmed the authenticity of the images with The New York Times.

The apparent target of the attack was a celebration to mark the local resistance movement's opening of an administration office. Only the charred frame of the building remained standing after the air raid, a video and photos showed.
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Myanmar's military, which has battled armed ethnic groups for territorial control since soon after independence in 1948, has a long history of brutal attacks on civilians.

Nearly 100 Killed At Myanmar Ceremony, Military Justifies Deadly Attack

NAY PYI TAW, April 12: Myanmar's military said it carried out a deadly attack on a village gathering organised by its insurgent opponents this week and if civilians were also killed it was because they were being forced to help the "terrorists".

Up to 100 people, including children, were killed in Tuesday's air strike in the Sagaing area in northwest Myanmar, according to media reports, making it the deadliest in a recent string of military air attacks.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a 2021 coup ended a decade of tentative reform that included rule by a civilian government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Some opponents of military rule have taken up arms, in places joining ethnic minority insurgents, and the military has responded with air strikes and heavy weapons, including in civilian areas.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the air attack in Sagaing and called for those responsible to be held accountable, his spokesperson said, adding that Guterres "reiterates his call for the military to end the campaign of violence against the Myanmar population throughout the country".

Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told military broadcast channel Myawaddy late on Tuesday the attack on the ceremony held by the National Unity Government (NUG), a shadow administration, for their armed People's Defence Force was aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region.

"During that opening ceremony, we conducted the attack. PDF members were killed. They are the ones opposing the government of the country, the people of the country," said Zaw Min Tun.

"According to our ground information we hit the place of their weapons' storage and that exploded and people died due to that," he said.
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Referring to accusations of civilian casualties, he said "some people who were forced to support them probably died as well".

Zaw Min Tun said photographs showed some of those killed were in uniform and some in civilian clothes, accusing the PDF of falsely claiming civilian deaths when their forces were killed.

He also accused members of the PDF of committing "war crimes" and killing "monks, teachers and innocent residents" in the area who did not support the opposition.

U.N. Human Rights chief Volker Turk condemned the attack in a message before the junta's comment was widely reported, saying it "appears schoolchildren performing dances, as well as other civilians...were among the victims".

Citing residents of the region, BBC Burmese, Radio Free Asia (RFA) Burmese, and the Irrawaddy news portal reported between 80 and 100 people, including civilians, had been killed in the attack by the military.

According to a PDF member, about 100 bodies, including 16 children, had been cremated.

"The exact death toll is still unclear since...body parts are scattered all over the place," said the PDF member, who declined to be identified.

Myanmar's lightly armed opposition fighters have no effective defences against the military's air force.

In October, a military jet attacked a concert, killing at least 50 civilians, singers and members of an ethnic minority insurgent force in Kachin State in the north.

Kyaw Zaw, a spokesman for the NUG, said it believed nearly 100 people were killed in the Tuesday attack when air force jets dropped bombs on villagers and helicopter gunships then followed up, calling it "another senseless, barbaric, brutal attack by the military".

The military denies accusations it has committed atrocities against civilians and says it is fighting "terrorists" determined to destabilise the country.

The military has ruled Myanmar for most of the past 60 years saying it is the only institution capable of holding the diverse country together.

Suu Kyi, 77, is serving 33 years in prison for various offences that she denied and her party has been disbanded.

Putin Suffers From 'Blurred Vision And Numb Tongue', Doctors Panic Over His Health: Report

MOSCOW, April 11: Ever since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin's health has always been a topic of discussion. Now, a new report says that his health has worsened, with the Russian President suffering "severe pain in his head, blurred vision, and numbness of the tongue," causing doctors to panic, according to Metro.

The new development comes at a time when there are various rumours surrounding the Russian President's deteriorating health condition

The latest claims regarding the Russian President's health were made by the General SVR Telegram channel, a Russian outlet that has been making claims about Putin's ailing health.

The report further said that Putin also reported "partial loss of sensation in his right arm and leg" requiring urgent medical attention. It added that a council of doctors performed first aid, and ordered Putin to take medication and rest for several days.

However, the Russian president reportedly refused to rest and instead was presented with reports from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The post further added that his condition improved, easing concern among his large team of medics.

"The president's relatives were more worried, For them such a sharp deterioration in Vladimir Putin's health caused a nervous reaction, more like panic. The temporary sharp deterioration in the president's health has already made those closest to him tense. The sudden death of Putin will put them all in front of the unknown, or rather, on the brink of survival," said General SVR.

In February 2023, a video of the President's unusual feet movement also raised concern about his health. During his meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, the Russian President could not control his twitching feet, as was seen in several videos shared on social media.

According to Spanish news outlet Marca, it is believed that the Russian President is battling cancer and Parkinson's disease. This was confirmed by a security service insider in leaked Kremlin emails, "I can confirm he has been diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson's disease, but it's already progressing. This fact will be denied in every possible way and hidden," the source had said in the emails, as per the outlet.

However, the Kremlin and Russian minister have time and again busted health reports and said that the Russian president is in perfect health.

9 Chinese Warships, 26 Planes Detected Around Taiwan, Day After Drills End

TAPEI, April 11: Chinese warships and aircraft were still operating around Taiwan on Tuesday, the island's defence ministry said, a day after Beijing declared an end to its massive war games.

China launched three days of military exercises around self-ruled Taiwan on Saturday that saw it simulate targeted strikes and practise a blockade of the island.

The show of force from Beijing, which claims the island as part of its territory, was a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke retaliatory measures.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the island as of 11:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday.

China "organised military aircraft this morning and crossed the median line from the north, the centre, and the south," the ministry said, referring to the unofficial but once largely adhered-to border that runs down the middle of the Taiwan Strait.

On Monday, the final day of the drills, the ministry said it had detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island, with 54 planes crossing into Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

The ADIZ incursions were the highest recorded in a single day since October 2021.

During the exercises, J15 fighter jets had been deployed off China's Shandong aircraft carrier and were among the aircraft that crossed the median line, the defence ministry added.

The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwan's territorial airspace, and includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China's own ADIZ and even some of the mainland.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen condemned the military drills on Monday, hours after they officially came to an end, saying China was using Taiwan's engagement with the United States as an "excuse to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region".

"Although China's military exercise has come to an end, our military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country," Tsai said in a post on Facebook.

After the three-day exercise, the Chinese military said it had "successfully completed" tasks related to its "Joint Sword" drills.

The war games saw Beijing simulate "sealing" off the island, with state media reporting dozens of planes had practised an "aerial blockade".

The United States, which had repeatedly called for China to show restraint, on Monday sent the USS Milius guided-missile destroyer through contested parts of the South China Sea.

"This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea," the US Navy said in a statement.

The deployment triggered condemnation from China, which said the vessel had "illegally intruded" into its territorial waters.

Separately, Beijing warned that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were "mutually exclusive", blaming Taipei and unnamed "foreign forces" supporting it for the tensions.

The White House made clear that relations with Beijing were rocky following the drills.

India rejects China's objection to Shah's Arunachal Visit

NEW DELHI, April 11: India has rejected comments by China over Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying such objections do not change the ground reality. China had firmly opposed Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, claiming his visit to the area was a violation of Beijing's territorial sovereignty.

"We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement today.

"Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality," he said.

The Foreign Ministry's statement echoed what the Home Minister said at the launch of a village welfare programme in Arunachal Pradesh's Anjaw district, some 11 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and 40 km from the India, China and Myanmar tri-junction.

"Gone are those days when people could encroach into our land. Now, they cannot even take a pin's tip worth of our land," Mr Shah said.

Last week, China "renamed" some places in Arunachal Pradesh that it claims as part of its territory.

"Zangnan is China's territory," Chinese spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to a question on the visit by Shah. "The Indian official's visit to Zangnan violates China's territorial sovereignty, and is not conducive to the peace and tranquillity of the border situation," Wenbin said.

India has always maintained that Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable part of the country, and China giving its own inventive names will not change the ground reality.

Crimea Episode Has Lesson For India: Ukraine Minister Cites China, Pak

NEW DELHI, April 11: Ukraine has suggested India to recognise the dangers of not stopping those who prefer to push their agenda with "impunity" in what was seen as alluding to India's two big neighbours - Pakistan and China.

Emine Dzhaparova, the First Deputy Minister of Ukraine's foreign ministry, told the diplomatic corps, former envoys and reporters at the ICWA today that the events preceding the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine last year could serve as an example of how to handle "difficult neighbours".

"There is one message with which I have come to India. Ukraine really wants India and Ukraine to be closer. Yes, there is a history between us. But we want to start a new relationship with India," Ms Dzhaparova said at the Delhi-based Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), a government institute of national importance that was set up exclusively to study international relations and foreign affairs.

"India also has a difficult neighbourhood with China and Pakistan. The Crimea episode has a lesson for India as well. Whenever impunity happens and if it is not stopped, it becomes bigger," she said.

Her comments were seen as alluding to India's territorial disputes with Pakistan and China amid the ongoing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, where Chinese troops often try to change the status quo despite de-escalation talks.

Russia seized eastern Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, eight years before launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2016, Ukraine was certain Russia was planning a large invasion as President Vladimir Putin ordered troop build-up on its border and resumed hostile rhetoric that preceded his annexation of Crimea two years earlier.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year. The war is still going on.

Ms Dzhaparova, however, made it clear that Ukraine is not in a position to request India about how it maintains its economic relations with other countries, in an apparent reference to New Delhi's energy ties with Moscow. India has been buying cheap Russian oil - despite the West's sanctions on Russia - citing Indians' need for affordable oil comes first before everything else and India will go wherever it gets a good deal.

She said Ukraine would welcome National Security Adviser Ajit Doval if he visits their country. "We expect the visit of Ajit Doval. Russia has more time to make visits. We are facing a war. Sometimes you may want to do something but can't... My visit is a mark of friendship, for a better relationship with India, but it requires reciprocity," Ms Dzhaparova said.

There is speculation that one of the objectives of her visit is to explore the possibility of having Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speak at the G20.

The Ukrainian minister called India a "Vishwaguru". "The message of any spiritual teaching is justice. But sometimes there are countries that choose war. India should play a bigger role... We signed up to the Minsk Agreement because we were weak at that time. But after February 24, this logic will not be acceptable to us," she said, referring to the day of the Russian invasion in 2022, and the previous agreement with Russia after the 2014 Crimea invasion that has some highly disadvantageous clauses for Ukraine.

China Simulates Striking Taiwan On Second Day Of Military Drills: Report

TAIPEI, April 9: Chinese fighter jets and warships simulated strikes on Taiwan Sunday as they encircled the island during a second straight day of military drills that were launched in response to its president meeting the US House speaker.

The exercises sparked condemnation from Taipei and calls for restraint from Washington, which said it was "monitoring Beijing's actions closely".

Dubbed "Joint Sword", the three-day operation -- which includes rehearsing an encirclement of Taiwan -- will run until Monday, the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command said.

"I am a little worried; I would be lying to you if I say that I am not," said 73-year-old Donald Ho, who was exercising in a park on Sunday morning in Taipei, in the far north of the self-ruled island.

"I am still worried because if a war broke out both sides will suffer quite a lot," he said.

China's war games saw planes, ships and personnel sent into "the maritime areas and air space of the Taiwan Strait, off the northern and southern coasts of the island, and to the island's east", the army said as it launched the exercises, engineered to flex Beijing's military muscles in front of Taiwan and the world.

A report from state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday said drills had "simulated joint precision strikes against key targets on Taiwan island and surrounding waters", adding that forces "continued to maintain the situation of closely encircling the island".

The write-up went on to say the air force had deployed dozens of aircraft to "fly into the target airspace", and ground forces had carried out drills for "multi-target precision strikes".

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen immediately denounced the drills, which come after she met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

She pledged to work with "the US and other like-minded countries" in the face of "continued authoritarian expansionism".

In Washington, a State Department spokesperson said the United States had "consistently urged restraint and no change to the status quo", but noted it had ample resources to fulfil its security commitments in Asia.

The United States has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily, although for decades it has sold weapons to Taipei to help ensure its self-defence.

Exercises on Monday will include live-fire drills off the rocky coast of China's Fujian province, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Taiwan's Matsu Islands and 186 kilometres from Taipei.

"These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking 'Taiwan independence' and external forces and against their provocative activities," said Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman.

"The operations are necessary for safeguarding China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

A news agency saw no immediate signs of enhanced military manoeuvres on the northern coast of Pingtan, a Chinese island across the strait from Taiwan where the live-ammunition exercises will kick off on Monday.

A smattering of tourists wandered the golden sands on Sunday morning, as fishing boats bobbed in the wharf beyond.

China views democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Sunday it had detected nine Chinese warships and 58 aircraft around the island. On Saturday the same number of ships were tracked, along with more than 70 aircraft.

The ministry said it was monitoring Chinese military "movements through (a) joint intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance system", adding the warplanes detected until 12 pm local time (0400 GMT) included a mix of fighter jets and bombers.

The number of aircraft crossings into Taiwan's southwestern air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Saturday was the highest recorded in a single day this year, according to data collected.

"The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) has continued to conduct military exercises around the Taiwan Strait and since this morning it has successively dispatched multiple batches of aircraft... as well as a number of ships in the area," the defence ministry said on Sunday.

"The military has been closely monitoring the situation for relevant developments, and tasked aircraft, ships and ground missile systems to respond accordingly," it added.

The drills came hours after the departure from Beijing of French President Emmanuel Macron, who was in China to urge his counterpart Xi Jinping to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

In August last year, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan in its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor, Nancy Pelosi.

Tsai returned to Taiwan on Friday after visiting her island's dwindling band of official diplomatic allies in Latin America, with two US stopovers that included meetings with McCarthy and other lawmakers.

China's military drills have "simulated joint precision strikes against key targets on Taiwan island and surrounding waters", state media reported on Sunday.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the air force deployed dozens of aircraft to "fly into the target airspace", and ground forces carried out drills for "multi-target precision strikes".

North Korea Says It Carried Out Nuclear-Capable Underwater Weapon Test

SEOUL, April 9: North Korea carried out an underwater strategic weapon system test from April 4 to April 7, state media KCNA said on Saturday.

The country tested another kind of a nuclear-capable unmanned underwater attack weapon called "Haeil-2", after it disclosed a new underwater drone system designed to make sneak attacks in enemy waters.

"The test perfectly proved the reliability of the underwater strategic weapon system and its fatal attack ability," the North's state news agency said.

North Korea has ramped up its military activities in recent weeks in a show of force against the United States and South Korea that conduct joint military drills.

It unveiled new, smaller nuclear warheads and fired an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States.

3 Rockets Fired By Syria After Israel Mobilizes Forces

JERUSALEM, April 9: Rockets were fired from Syria late Saturday after Israel began calling up police and army reservists following attacks that killed three people, including an Italian tourist, and earlier rocket fire from Lebanon.

Despite appeals for restraint, violence has surged since Israeli police forcibly entered the Al-Aqsa mosque on Wednesday after they said Palestinians barricaded themselves inside.

Israel bombarded both Gaza and Lebanon in response to rocket fire by Palestinian militants.

Late Saturday three rockets were fired from Syria, the Israeli army said.

"One of the rockets crossed into Israeli territory and landed in open areas in the southern Golan Heights" which are occupied by Israel, the army said.

The unrest comes as the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, Jewish Passover, and Christian Easter coincide.

It is the latest in escalating Israeli-Palestinian violence since the new government of veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took power in December, a coalition with extreme right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.

The Italian was killed and seven other tourists wounded when an Israeli Arab ploughed a car into pedestrians on the Tel Aviv seafront on Friday evening.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni named the dead man as Alessandro Parini, 36.

The car flipped over before the driver was shot dead, police and emergency services said. Police identified the driver as a 45-year-old from the Arab town of Kfar Kassem in central Israel.

"The terrorist was neutralised," a spokesman said.

Three of the injured were still in hospital on Saturday as passers-by left flowers and lit candles at the scene.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella condemned in a press release a "despicable terrorist act". The Rome public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation.

Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, called the attack a "natural and legitimate response" to Israel's "aggression" in the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Earlier Friday, two British-Israeli sisters aged 16 and 20 were killed and their mother seriously wounded when their car was fired on in the Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

After the Tel Aviv attack, Netanyahu instructed the police to "mobilise all reserve border police units" and directed the army to "mobilise additional forces", his office said.

Police said four reserve battalions of border police would be deployed in city centres from Sunday.

The defence ministry confirmed late Saturday it had mobilised soldiers to support the police, and that it would tighten entry restrictions into Israel for Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza, in particular workers.

Earlier, an Israeli military post came under fire in a drive-by shooting in the northern West Bank town of Yabad overnight Friday-Saturday, the army said.

Soldiers returned fire and hit one person in the vehicle, the army said.

Friday's attacks came after Israel launched air strikes and an artillery bombardment before dawn in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

It was the heaviest rocket fire from Lebanon since Israel fought a 34-day war with Iran-backed group Hezbollah in 2006, and the first time Israel has confirmed an attack on Lebanese territory since April 2022.

Israel "struck targets, including terror infrastructures, belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation in southern Lebanon", the army said.

In Gaza, Israel's military said it had hit two tunnels and "two weapon manufacturing sites" in response to the "security violations of Hamas".

It said air defences had intercepted 25 rockets from Lebanon on Thursday, while five had hit Israeli territory.

Israel "will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to operate from within Lebanon", it said.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which patrols the area along the border, urged restraint, noting: "Both sides have said they do not want a war."

On Friday evening, the army said it had shot down a drone that entered Israel's airspace from Lebanon.

On Wednesday, Israeli riot police forcibly entered the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque in a pre-dawn raid, aiming to dislodge "law-breaking youths and masked agitators" they said had barricaded themselves inside.

Ramadan coincided with the Jewish Passover holiday this year, raising tensions with the tens of thousands of Palestinians who pray at Al-Aqsa during the Muslim fasting month.

The Palestinians fear Netanyahu's hard-right government may change longstanding rules that allow Jews to visit but not pray in the mosque compound, despite his repeated denials.

The upsurge of violence drew condemnation from the European Union and the United States.

A Qatari official said Doha was mediating between Israel and the Palestinians.

Counting On Xi Jinping To "Bring Russia To Its Senses": Emmanuel Macron

BEIJING, April 6: French President Emmanuel Macron told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday that he was counting on him to "bring Russia to its senses" over its war in Ukraine.

The French president, who arrived on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, has made clear he is seeking to dissuade China from supporting Russia's invasion of its neighbour.

"I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table," the French head of state told Xi during a bilateral meeting in Beijing.

Macron was greeted by Xi moments earlier outside the Great Hall of the People, the heart of power in China's capital, as the countries' national anthems played.

To coincide with their meeting, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV released a report in which Xi hailed China's "positive and steady" ties with France as the world undergoes "profound historical changes".

Macron has said during his trip that Beijing can play a "major role" in finding a path to peace in the conflict and welcomed China's "willingness to commit to a resolution".

His visit to China -- his first since 2019 -- comes as Western pressure mounts on Beijing to help push for peace in Ukraine.

Though Beijing is officially neutral, Xi has never condemned the Russian invasion.

While he recently went to Moscow to reaffirm his alliance with Vladimir Putin -- framed as an anti-Western front -- Xi has not spoken on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Macron, who is accompanied on his visit by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, said he wants to "be a voice that unites Europe" over Ukraine, and that coming to China with her serves to "underline the consistency of this approach".

In a Thursday morning meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People, Macron stressed the importance of dialogue between China and France "in these troubled times".

"The ability to share a common analysis and build a common path is essential," he said.

And in a separate meeting with Li, von der Leyen told the premier that relations between the EU and China had grown "complex in recent years".

"It is important that we discuss all aspects of this relationship together today," she said, especially in the current "volatile geopolitical environment".

Following Macron's talks with Xi, the pair will give statements to the press, followed by a meeting with von der Leyen and then a state dinner.

Macron will travel to Guangzhou in southern China to meet local students on Friday, taking with him a broad delegation of top politicians, business leaders and even celebrities, including composer Jean-Michel Jarre.

The visit comes in the face of mounting Chinese pressure on Taiwan, with the island's President Tsai Ing-wen meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday.

Macron told journalists Wednesday he did not think his Chinese counterparts had "a desire to overreact" to the meeting.

Tsai hailed the talks, saying they showed the self-ruled island was "not isolated" on the international stage.

Beijing baulks at any official contact between Taipei and the rest of the world, insisting there is only "one China".

China had repeatedly warned both sides that the meeting should not take place and deployed an aircraft carrier near Taiwan hours before the talks went ahead.

Three additional warships were detected in waters separating the island from China, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said on Thursday.

Beyond talks on Ukraine, Macron's trip has an important economic component, with the French leader keen to firm up a crucial trade partnership.

Macron is accompanied by more than 50 French business leaders on his visit, including top bosses of Airbus, EDF and Veolia.

"Several important contracts will be signed" on Thursday, he has promised, warning against an economic decoupling from China.

Von der Leyen has also pledged to raise the EU's yawning trade deficit with China during her meetings this week.

"Our economies are strongly interconnected but the EU trade deficit is increasing due to discriminatory practices," she said in a tweet.

'An Honour': Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma Meets King Of Bhutan

NEW DELHI, April 6: Paytm Founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma on Wednesday met the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and shared delightful pictures of their meeting. Notably, King Wangchuck arrived in India on Monday for a two-day visit amid some concerns in New Delhi over China's attempts to expand its influence over Thimphu.

Sharma said that it was an honour to meet the Bhutanese King and to hear his plans for the future. Sharing the pictures on Twitter, Sharma wrote, "An honour to spend evening, meeting His Majesty the King of Bhutan and hearing his vision of what's coming next."

The pictures have gone viral, and many users called it ''a meeting of two kings.''

Vishal Gondal, CEO and Founder of GOQii commented on the picture saying, "two kings of their own realms. Can't wait to see what the future holds for the happiest country and digital payments!" Another user commented, "Epic Moment Captured! The King of Mobile Payments in India @vijayshekhar ​meets the King of Bhutan."

The King also met the chairman of EazyDiner Kapil Chopra. Tweeting a picture of their meet, Mr Chopra wrote, ''An honour to be invited for dinner with His Majesty, The King of Bhutan. His kindness, intelligence and humility is inspiring for everyone around him.''

Notably, the Bhutanese King was received at the Delhi airport by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday.

“Warm welcome to India, Your Majesty! His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrived in India a short while ago. His Majesty was received by EAM @DrSJaishankar at the airport,” the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held talks with the Bhutanese King focusing on ways to bolster bilateral engagement in a range of areas including economic cooperation. The King also held talks with President Droupadi Murmu.

Bhutan is a strategically important country for India and the defence and security ties between the two sides have witnessed significant expansion in the last few years.

India Rejects China 'Renaming' Places In Arunachal

GUWAHATI, April 4: India rejected China renaming 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh and asserted that the state has "been" and will "always be" an integral part of India.

China yesterday has released a set of new names for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh as part of its efforts to reemphasize its claim over the state. This is the third time that China has 'renamed' places in Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls "Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet".

The list of names released by China includes five mountain peaks, two land areas, two residential areas, and two rivers.

The first two such lists were released in 2018 and 2021. China issued a list of six names in 2017, while in 2021 it 'renamed' 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh.

New Delhi issued a statement and said that China was inventing names which would not alter reality.

"We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright.." External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

"Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality," he said.

According to The Global Times, which is part of the ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece People's Daily group of publications in China, the Chinese authorities are calling this move 'standardised geographical names'.

The first set of names was announced by China in 2017 days after the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. China was sharply critical of the Tibetan spiritual leader's visit.

The Dalai Lama fled from Tibet through Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and sought refuge in India in 1959 after China took military control of the Himalayan region in 1950.

India and Chinese troops had clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the state's Tawang sector last December, in a face-off that came amid a months-long border standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had then accused China of trying to "unilaterally" change the status quo along the LAC.

'Have Serious Dispute With China, There's Tension On Border': S Jaishankar

BENGALURU, April 3: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has asserted that India's stance on the Line of Actual Control, which separates India from China, will remain undeterred.

Jaishankar was speaking at an interaction session with intellectuals in Dharwad. A programme was organised by the BJP Mahanagar unit at Dharwad on Sunday.

"We have serious a dispute with China and after 2020, there is tension on the border," he said, adding, "Our relationship with China is not normal and it could not be normal if there is a large military force at the Line of Actual Control."

In context with the Chinese aggression on the Line of Actual Control, Jaishankar said, "In 2020, even when Covid was going on, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no hesitation in moving the Indian Army and Indian Air Force in very large numbers to the borders to make sure because the only answer you can give to a neighbour who brings military, in violation of agreements, to the Line of Actual Control, is to counter deploy the military."

Jaishankar also said, "Our soldiers were deployed on the China border in a manner in which that are well looked after and they have the right kind of equipment to deal with challenges they face. Until we get a satisfactory solution, our posture on that border will not change, we will maintain whatever we have to maintain because that is really the conviction of the Prime Minister."

While answering a query on border security and relation with neighbouring countries, Jaishankar said, "We have many neighbours, with most of them relations are extremely good. With two of them, we have problems and I think we should be hesitant in accepting that and describing that."

"First, Pakistan where problems are very obvious. It is also a fact that we have been much more tolerant of it than we should have been," he added.

The External Affairs Minister also said, "We have to be firm, we have to expose them, we have to delegitimise terrorism. If we couldn't take a strong stand, don't expect the world to take a strong stand because we are the primarily affected party."
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"Big difference after 2014, we have been absolutely relentlessly uncompromising on this issue," said Jaishankar, adding, "For us whichever forum we have been strongly keeping terrorism as a focal point. Even in the G20, we have also made sure that world recognises today that terrorism is just not acceptable."

Petteri Orpo: 5 Points On Finland's Next Likely Prime Minister

APRIL 3: Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin conceded defeat in the country's tightly-fought parliamentary election, paving way for 53-year-old conservative leader Petteri Orpo to led the country.

Here are five points on Petteri Orpo:

Orpo was born in 1969 in rural south-west Finland, according to a news agency. He has has a university degree in political science. His centre-right National Coalition Party claimed victory on Sunday securing 20.7 per cent of votes counted.

Orpo was first elected to Parliament in 2007 and has previously served as a finance, interior and agriculture minister, as per reports. He is considered a moderate and a smooth negotiator.

Raised in southwestern Finland, he became involved in student politics while studying economics at university. Due to his involvement in student politics, it took Orpo 12 years to graduate with a master's degree in political science, majoring in economics.
Married and with two children, Mr Orpo is also a reserve officer in Finland's national defence force.

Orpo is a fan of hiking, the outdoors and fishing, and is known to have taken snowmobile trips with his party colleague President Sauli Niinisto in Lapland.