Multicultural News Australia May 2023; Vol 1, Issue 10

Singapore’s Deputy PM discusses bilateral ties with PM Albanese

Australian undergraduates visit Fiji to understand Indo-Pacific

Canberra, May 18 (MCNA Newsdesk)

To build understanding of the Indo- Pacific in Australia, the Australian Government is supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region.

Canberra, June 2 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his first official visit to Singapore for the 8th Annual Leaders’ Meeting recently. The Deputy Prime Minister Wong

met Albanese on behalf of Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is recovering from Covid. In a Facebook post Singapore’s Deputy PM wrote, “I last met PM Albanese in 2017, during his visit to Singapore for the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship.”

continued on pg. 9

Iconic Luminous Lantern Parade illuminates Queensland as it welcomes new inhabitants

Eight students from University of the Sunshine Coast HighPerformance Sports Program were recently in Fiji for a two-week study tour supported by the New Colombo Plan mobility grant.

The students had the opportunity to learn about Fijian culture through sport and build relationships with Fijian athletes, sports

science and education students and coaching administrators. A highlight was meeting the mighty Fijiana Drua – two-time

champions of the Super W Rugby Competition. Fiji’s participation in the Super Rugby Competition

continued on pg. 16

Zelensky describes Ukraine dam breach as ‘environmental bomb of mass destruction’

Kiev, June 8 (IANS) As fears loom over an ecological catastrophe due to the breaching of a major dam in southern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that “Russian terrorists have detonated an environmental bomb of mass destruction”.

In a social media post on Wednesday, the President said:

Brisbane, June 9 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Queenslanders were all decked up to get back to the celebratory mood as the Luminous Lantern Parade showcased the very best of all it had. Luminous Lantern Parade is in its 16th year, and Multicultural Australia, the

group that organises the event, has been welcoming migrants and refugees in Brisbane and Australia for 25 years now. The event is being recognized as one of Queensland’s largest welcome events mesmerizing Queenslanders with its use of light in a manner which symbolizes hope and creates an

continued on pg. 14

Canada to host assembly of 185 nations to address climate change

“The whole world knows about this Russian war crime, the crime of ecocide -- the deliberate destruction of the dam and other structures of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant by the Russian occupiers.

“In fact, Russian terrorists have detonated an environmental bomb of mass destruction.”

The breach of the dam and the subsequent destruction of a hydro-electric power plant in the Russian-controlled Nova Kakhovka region in the early

hours of Tuesday, led to mass evacuations as water levels downstream rapidly increased. Officials have said that 30 towns and villages along the river have been flooded and nearly 2,000 homes have been submerged in the city of Kherson -- the region’s capital controlled by Ukraine.

Of the 30 flooded towns and villages, 20 are controlled by

Ukraine and 10 are occupied by Russia.

Kiev and Moscow have traded accusations over the dam’s destruction, without providing concrete proof that the other is culpable.

It is not yet clear whether the dam was deliberately attacked or whether the breach was the result of structural failure.

continued on pg. 9

S.Korea, 4 others elected non-permanent members of UN Security Council

United Nations, June 7 (IANS) South Korea, Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia were elected non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for a two-year term.

The newly elected members will take up their new responsibilities on January 1, 2024, and serve till December 31, 2025, Xinhua news agency reported.

South Korea, Algeria, Guyana, and Sierra Leone were running unopposed on Tuesday. Slovenia and Belarus contended the one seat for Eastern Europe.

Ottawa, June 6 (IANS) As the world experiences the triple crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, Canada continues to show leadership in advancing environmental action at home and around the world

by bringing diverse partners together to find solutions for a healthy planet.

Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific

continued on pg. 9

The five newly elected members will replace the outgoing non-permanent members of Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates. A candidate must obtain the support of two-thirds of the UN member states present and voting at the General Assembly

session in order to secure a non-permanent seat on the Security Council, regardless of whether the candidacy is contested or not. This means that a minimum of 129 positive votes are required to win a seat if all 193 member states are present and voting. Member states that

abstain are considered not voting.

In Tuesday’s voting, Guyana won the support of all member states that were present and voting, with 191 votes. Sierra Leone won 188 votes, Algeria won 184 votes, and the Republic of Korea won 180 votes, according to results

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AAHYA organizes training course for Afghan migrants

Three Afghan youths honoured with youth awards

Canberra, May 13 (MCNA Newsdesk)

The Australian Afghan Hassanian Youth Association (AAHYA) held its second White Card Course Training for newly arrived migrants. AAHYA received many positive feedbacks from their first session. Many stated that it was an opportunity for young

migrants to attain nationally recognized qualification in order to increase their chances of finding a good career. It is one the most beneficial courses that AAHYA has provided for these newly arrived migrant Afghan refugees as they are now able to find employment as many were restricted due to their lack of skills and qualifications.

Nicky Bomba to star in Luminous World Music Concert

Canberra, May 28 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Three Afghan youths Nargis Karimi, Jawed Moosawi and Zahra Sulaiman received youth awards from two major organisations, Universal Peace Federation Australia and The Iraqi Renaissance, recently, according to the Australian Afghan Hassanian Youth Association sources. The Australian Afghan Hassanian Youth Association has welcomed it as a big honour for their youth to be recognised for their hard work and dedication they put towards the community especially at AAHYA. The Association

feels awarding these youth will definitely encourage them to work harder.

Afghan Ambassador discusses bi-lateral ties with Aussie leaders

Canberra, May 20 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Australia Wahidullah Waissi held a discussion with Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick, and President of the Senate Senator Sue Lines, at the Parliament of Australia. Their discussions were on

various crucial subjects, including the current situation in Afghanistan, human rights concerns, and the dire humanitarian crises facing our nation. Australia has been providing support to Afghanistan and is committed to providing assistance for the people of Afghanistan.

Humanitarian crisis in Sudan discussed

Brisbane, May 19 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Brisbane, May 29 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Nicky Bomba, front man of ARIA Award-winning group, the Melbourne Ska Orchestra (MSO), will be at the forefront in this year’s LUMINOUS World Music Concert.

Taking a brief break from MSO’s 20th anniversary tour, Nicky Bomba will be playing with Bustamento at LUMINOUS to bring summer back to

Queensland with their jazz-infused repertoire and Caribbean vibes. His rich, smooth vocals, along with his band’s playful horn and percussion showcase will turn South Bank into an island party extravaganza.

LUMINOUS is one of Queensland’s largest welcome events, capturing the imagination of Queenslanders with its spectacular use of light to symbolise hope and create welcome for new Queenslanders.

Multicultural Australia and the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma met with members of the Sudanese Community recently to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Voices from many parts of the Sudanese community in Queensland shared painful experiences of the devastating impact of war in their home country, and the weight that those in the diaspora feel as they fear for the safety and welfare of their loved ones back home.

The second-largest Sudanese community in Australia, the Sudanese community in Queensland has formed

the Sudanese Community Crisis Management Steering Committee, with the support of the Queensland African Communities Council. The Committee is calling on all Queenslanders to stand with them as they work to support those caught in and fleeing the

conflict, advocate for peace in Sudan, and support the Queensland-based diaspora. The Australian Red Cross and Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS ) have been exploring ways to offer practical support to the community.

Australia Awards alumnus from B’desh attends UNPFII Session

Afghanistan Embassy hosts Australian veteran David Savage

Australia Awards alumnus

Pallab Chakma participated in the 22nd Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) held on 17-28 April 2023 at UN Headquarters in New York. Pallab was a panelist in one of

the official side events of UNPFII

and used the opportunity to highlight the challenges indigenous human rights defenders face around the world.

He said, “It was a great opportunity to have substantive dialogue with indigenous representatives, experts, UN Special Mandate Holders, UN Agencies, Funds and

Programs, forum members, and member states.” “I also had the opportunity to meet Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People, Mr Justin Mohamed, he added. Pallab is the Executive Director of Kapaeeng Foundation in Bangladesh. His visit to UNPFII was made possible through an Australian Professional Opportunity (APO) supported by the Australia Awards. APOs for indigenous representatives, like Pallab, increase their voices and empower them in decision-making at the national level, helping to improve the quality of life of indigenous people, including through the delivery of social services, establishment of new legislation and ensuring representation in policy making.

Australian HC organizes workshop for NGO partners

Canberra, May 11 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Dhaka, May 26 (MCNA Newsdesk)

The Australian High Commission (HC) organised a workshop

for NGO partners under the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) in Bangladesh. Representatives from 20 national and international NGOs

participated in the event and discussed how NGOs can better support communities to improve livelihoods, food security and climate change resilience. The Australian High Commissioner, Jeremy Bruer, reminded participants the ANCP’s guiding principle was that projects should be locally led, locally understood and locally implemented. He said that the Australian Government valued how ANCP projects brought together the private sector, government and civil society, to bring sustainable change to vulnerable communities in Bangladesh and improve their livelihoods.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan hosted Australian veteran David Savage recently. He donated a captivating panorama of Chora Valley, a powerful symbol of friendship and remembrance. The event was opened by Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi, who delivered inspiring remarks, highlighting the significance of preserving the stories and memories of the past twenty years. His words showed a

commitment to fostering friendship and cooperation between Afghanistan and Australia. Renowned writer and critic Beejay Silcox engaged in a meaningful dialogue with David Savage, delving into his experiences in Afghanistan. Their insightful conversations shed light on the human side of conflict. The evening was made even more memorable with the soul-stirring performance of prominent singer and author Fred Smith.

Dhaka, May 30 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Minister Tim Watts Dhaka visit boosts Aussie-B’desh ties

Australia Awards alumni attend workshop on climate resilience

Dhaka, May 24 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Australia-Bangladesh

relations have a strong foundation in more than 50 years of friendship.

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts MP visited Dhaka recently and demonstrated Australia’s commitment to advancing political and economic cooperation with Bangladesh. His participation in the 6th Indian Ocean Conference

reiterated Australia’s advocacy for an inclusive, stable, peaceful, open and prosperous IndoPacific region.

During his visit, Tim Watts MP engaged with Bangladesh government representatives, Australian university alumni, cricketers and sports officials, journalists and custodians of Bangladesh’s history to build on our strong people-to-people links.

MA’s CEO participates in JSC on Migration’s public hearing

and permanent migration in nation building, and the policies that enable pathways to support these.

This follows Multicultural Australia’s submission to the inquiry in February 2023 outlining its own strategic pillars to create belonging, change the conversation and keep fit for the future, as an appropriate template for nation building.

Dhaka, June 1 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Six Australia Awards alumni from Bangladesh joined 36 other alumni from South Asia and Mongolia recently for the regional alumni workshop in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on the theme of ‘Building Back Better: Climate Resilience and Green Economic Recovery’.

The day was opened by Australia’s Ambassador to Mongolia, Katie Smith, who exhorted the alumni to be leaders for sustainable communities and create the change they wanted to see. Ambassador Smith highlighted the role that alumni played in strengthening the relationships between their

home countries and Australia. Alumni delivered presentations on topics, including renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, marine conservation, climate-related disaster recovery, and green economic initiatives, highlighting the breadth of their technical knowledge.

Australia-Bangladesh bi-lateral cooperation discussed

Brisbane, May 19 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Multicultural Australia’s (MA) CEO Christine Castley, and Chief Client Officer Rose Dash, participated in the Joint Standing Committee (JSC) on Migration’s public hearing on Migration, Pathway to Nation Building. They discussed the role of settlement services

Committee Chair Maria Vamvakinou, and co-chair Dr Anne Webster, were provided MA’s position on key objectives to underpin Australia’s migration policy and recommendations on the importance of ensuring longitudinal research and data, investment and planning into proposals for regional settlement, and equity in access to key services and supports to enable long-term settlement success for all migrants.

Dhaka, May 23 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts MP discussed opportunities for cooperation with political and

industry leaders in Bangladesh’s ICT, education and garments sectors during his recent visit to Dhaka.

ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury,

Kazi Nabil Ahmed MP, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan, and BASIS President Russel T Ahmed attended the dinner hosted by Jeremy Bruer, Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

Minister Tim Watts & Australian delegates visit Bhutan

Australia’s High Commissioner participates in Africa Day celebrations

Australian High Commission in India.

During the visit, the Assistant Foreign Minister met the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. He also called on Prime Minister Lyonchhen Dr. Lotey Tshering and Foreign Minister Lyonpo Dr. (Dasho) Tandi Dorji. He also interacted with Bhutanese alumni from Australian universities who are now leaders in politics, government, the private sector and civil society. Relations between Bhutan and Australia date back to the early 1960s, when Australian assistance in scholarships and animal-husbandry programmes began. Today, human resource development through Australian scholarships is the main focus of bilateral assistance from Australia. Australia is also home to the largest community of Bhutanese abroad.

Canberra, May 16 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia Tim Watts visited Bhutan from 15 to 16

AFP

gifts

May 2023. The Minister was accompanied by Ambassador of Australia to Bhutan Robert Barry O’Farrell, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 14 September 2002 and the two countries are currently celebrating the 20th anniversary. This is the first high-level visit from Australia in more than two decades. The visit will further strengthen the positive relations between the governments and peoples of the two countries.

vehicle to SL police to combat crime

Canberra, May 25 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Australia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Tegan Brink participated in celebrating Africa Day in Krugersdorp to recognize 60 years of regionalism in the

promotion of peace, unity and prosperity. Growing trade through regional integration under African Continental Free Trade Area can drive economic growth and development for Africa.

Colombo, June 2 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Australian Federal Police (AFP) gifted a vehicle to the Sri Lanka (SL) police as part of their support to enhance

Sri Lankan Police’s capacity to fight transnational organized crime in Sri Lanka. This vehicle will be used in a wide range of activities relating to transnational crime investigations and

to counter maritime people smuggling. Australia has been cooperating with the Sri Lanka Police in combating transnational crime.

Grant

contract signed for making North & East SL safe from landmines

Colombo, May 29 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Australian High Commissioner (HC) to Sri Lanka Paul Stephens and Country Director for MAG (Mines Advisory Group), Cristy

McLennan signed a new grant contract under Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The support will allow MAG to release a further 518,928m2 of land in the North and East of Sri Lanka, making it safe from landmines and other deadly explosive ordnance. Australia also funds MAG’s skills and

capacity development training for de-miners, supporting their eventual transition to alternative livelihood opportunities when Sri Lanka reaches its goal of becoming mine free. The multiyear investment aligns with Sri Lanka’s recently launched National Mine Action Strategy to address all known remaining landmine contamination in the country.

Since 2002, MAG has released over 55 million m2 of land in Sri Lanka and destroyed more than 67,000 landmines and 15,000 items of unexploded ordnance.

Australian Ambassador enlightens herself about Iraqi culture

Iraq celebrates World Environment Day with planting of trees

The ambassador learned more about Baghdad’s life, history, and spending time with artists and people working on environmental issues and conservation in Iraq. Previously, the Australian Ambassador Paula Ganly visited Iraqi friends at Al Wattar Heritage House. She learned more about Baghdad life and history and spending time with upcoming artists and people working on environment and conservation issues in Iraq.

Multicultural Australia hosts forum for jobseekers

Multicultural Australia’s Multicultural Jobs Forum delivered in partnership with the Springfield Regional Jobs Committee connected more than 40 jobseekers with employers in the region. Hosted at the Brighton Homes Arena in Springfield, it was a great opportunity for jobseekers to meet prospective employers, explore their options, and build confidence as they prepare for the next step in their career.

Canberra, June 5 (MCNA Newsdesk)

On the occasion of World Environment Day, World Vision Iraq, in collaboration with College of Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Mosul, organized a conference

at the university highlighting the importance of this day in raising awareness on environmental protection.

To mark the day, Australian embassy in Iraq helped the university with planting 528 trees at the university’s campus.

Moreover, World Vision Iraq’s Safe Return project, which is part of an Australian Aid Initiatives implemented by World Vision Iraq on behalf of Australian government, Australian Embassy, Iraq, planted around 7,600 drought resistant trees in schools, government directorates, community areas, and farmers’ lands promoting agro-forestry, reducing climate change effect, and reducing soil erosion, wind and heat damage.

Multicultural Framework Review launched to boost social cohesion

Awards alumni from SL attend regional alumni workshop

Australia

Canberra, May 30 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Australia Awards alumni from Sri Lanka (SL) joined others from South Asia and Mongolia for the first day of the Regional Alumni Workshop in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on the theme of “Building Back Better: Climate Resilience and Green Economic Recovery”.

The day was inaugurated by

Australia’s Ambassador to Mongolia, Katie Smith, who challenged the alumni to be leaders for sustainable communities and create the change they wanted to see. Ambassador Smith highlighted the role that alumni play in strengthening the relationships between their home countries and Australia. Alumni delivered presentations on a variety of topics,

including renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, marine conservation, climate-related disaster recovery, and green economic initiatives highlighting the breadth of their technical knowledge. Alumni of different backgrounds are already discussing potential collaborative projects.

Canberra, June 5 (MCNA Newsdesk)

The Australian federal government has announced the launching of the Multicultural Framework Review recently as part of national efforts to strengthen social cohesion in Australia.

Multicultural Australia’s Board Chair, Giri Sivaraman has welcomed the Review announcement and congratulated Multicultural Australia’s CEO, Christine Castley, on her appointment to the Expert Review Panel. The review will ensure that Australia’s multicultural policies and institutional arrangements fulfil the needs of the fast-growing cultural diversity in Australia.

In this regard Multicultural Australia’s Board Chair, Giri Sivaraman said, “We are very

pleased to hear of Christine’s appointment and have full confidence that she will bring with her the voices and ideas of our community to help build a strong, resilient and multicultural Australia,” said Sivaraman. He added, “We look forward to contributing to the Review, and engaging in the very important conversations that need to happen about how we can best meet the growing diversity of needs in our society, to ensure that we care for every individual regardless of who they are or where they come from.”

The 2021 Census revealed that Australia’s population is now predominantly of migrant background, with more than half of Australians either born overseas or with one parent born overseas.

Brisbane, May 20 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Canberra, June 1(MCNA Newsdesk) Australian Ambassador to

Iraq Paula Ghanley was in the company of Iraqi friends at the Heritage String House recently.

US Ambassador visits Marines in Northern Territory

US Consul General meets Monash University students

Darwin, May 24 (MCNA Newsdesk)

United States (US) Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy

recently visited the U.S. Marines at Marine Rotational Force Darwin in the Northern Territory. As part of their current exercise,

‘Crocodile Response,’ the Marines are working closely with partners Defence Australia and the Indonesian Armed Forces on their joint humanitarian assistance and crisis response capabilities to assist when and wherever needed in the IndoPacific region. One highlight of the visit: learning about the lightweight water purification system that the Marines can deploy to desalinate 1500 liters of water per hour in disaster settings where fresh water is scarce.

Australia Trade Commissioner visits Tanzania

Melbourne, May 15 (MCNA Newsdesk)

US Consul General, Melbourne Kathleen Lively visited Monash University recently to meet the students behind the Monash Nova Rover. The project aims to help students develop their skills in building the next generation of Mars and Lunar rovers.

Monash’s team is currently ranked 1st in Australia for the Australian University Rover Challenge and 2nd worldwide for the University Rover Challenge. In late May they will head off to Utah with their ‘Pink Rover’ to compete in the University Rover Challenge. The group work hard to ignite discussions about women in STEM.

Australian embassy celebrates end-of-school-year

Canberra, June 6 (MCNA Newsdesk)

The Australian Trade Commissioner for Africa, Scott Morriss, was in

Tanzania recently to boost Australia-Tanzania trade relations.

The Trade Commissioner and the Tanzania Minister of

Minerals, Dr Doto Biteko, Wizara ya Madini, hosted a gathering for Australian businesses and partners in Tanzania.

Canadian Creative Industries Trade Mission kicks-off in Sydney

Sydney, June 6 (MCNA Newsdesk)

The Canadian Creative Industries Trade Mission to Australia and New Zealand kicked-off in Sydney recently. The Canadian delegation

was welcomed by representatives of Patrimoine canadien from

“Canada Down Under”, as well as market partners. Round tables, B2B session and networking cocktail were also on the agenda.

On Day 2, delegates went to site

visits with key local actors in their creative subsectors and ended the day at the iconic Sydney Opera House. The delegation will next visit to Melbourne to continue the Mission.

Washington, June 7 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Embassy of Australia in the US celebrated the end of the school year recently with the Embassy adopted school John Tyler Elementary School.

Australia’s Ambassador to the US Dr Kevin Rudd welcomed the

5th grade students before they each shared a presentation on Australia to the Embassy staff. After the presentations, students were treated to homemade sausage rolls, Vegemite scrolls, lamingtons and Bundaberg Ginger Beer.

continued from pg. 1

Australia’s initiative to boost disaster preparedness in Solomon Islands

Economic Development Agency, Harjit S. Sajjan, announced on World Environment Day, which was celebrated on June 5, that Canada will host the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from August 22 to 26.

implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

During the recent meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further expand bilateral cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic

Partnership, especially in the areas of the green economy and supply chains. This includes new funds for SMEs to provide more collaborative opportunities in

Zelensky

In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky further said although the country’s “military and special services were rescuing people and doing as much as possible, despite the shelling... But large-scale efforts are needed”.

He called on international organisations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, to immediately join the rescue operation and help people in Nova Kakhovka. Also on Wednesday, Ukraine’s

Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin announced that the country has “initiated proceedings over this crime, qualifying it as a violation of the laws and customs of war and ecocide. It has caused severe long-term damage to people and the environment.”

“The consequences are catastrophic. More than 40,000 people have been affected.

Homes and infrastructure have been destroyed, land has become unsuitable for agriculture, and water supply has been disrupted

industry

our countries.

describes Ukraine dam breach as ‘environmental bomb of mass destruction’

in a number of regions, both in the government-controlled areas and in the territories temporarily occupied by Russia,” CNN quoted Kostin as saying in an official statement.

Concerns are now turning to the dangers to wildlife, farmlands, settlements and water supplies from the floodwaters and possible contamination from industrial chemicals and oil leaked from the hydropower plant into the Dnipro River. The flooding has already killed 300 animals at the Nova Kakhovka zoo, according to the Ukrainian Defence Ministry.

Before its collapse, the critical Nova Kakhovka dam was the largest reservoir in Ukraine in terms of volume.

It is the last of the cascade of six Soviet-era dams on the Dnipro River and supplied water for much of southeastern Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula that was annexed by Russia in 2014.

S.Korea, 4 others elected non-permanent members of UN Security Council

announced by Csaba Korosi, the current General Assembly president, who presided over the voting process.

Slovenia won outright in the first round with 153 votes, compared with 38 votes for rival Belarus.

All the five newly elected members have previously served on the Security Council. Algeria has served three times. Guyana and the Republic of Korea have each served twice. Sierra Leone and Slovenia have each served once.

The Security Council has 15 members, five of which are permanent ones: Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States. The 10 non-permanent seats of the council are allocated by geographic region, with five replaced each year.

The five newly elected countries represent Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Eastern European group. The group of Western Europe and other states is not contesting any seats this

year, as its two seats, currently held by Malta and Switzerland through 2024, come up for election every other year.

The Security Council is considered the most powerful body of the United Nations. The council, which is tasked to maintain international peace and security, can make legally binding decisions and has the power to impose sanctions and authorise the use of force against states.

After welcoming the world to Montreal, Quebec, for the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in December 2022, a conference marked by historic progress on protecting nature globally and agreeing to biodiversity financing, Canada continues its leadership as the host of the GEF Assembly this summer.

The GEF Assembly, which meets every four years, is the global body that coordinates financing for international efforts to address climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health. This meeting will bring together environmental leaders from 185 countries, including government ministers and representatives of international organizations, businesses, academia and civil society, as well as facilitating engagement with and input from Indigenous Peoples, women and young people.

The meeting comes at a time of significant diplomatic momentum with the historic Global Biodiversity Framework deal reached at COP15 and the high seas treaty agreed on in New York City in March.

This momentum will continue to build at the GEF Assembly, during which a key expected outcome is the launch of the new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, a critically needed source of funding for the protection of endangered species and their ecosystems. Its establishment could open new avenues for private sector and philanthropic support for nature.

The GEF, based in Washington, was selected to manage this new fund at COP15.

Canada is a founding member of the GEF, Canada’s primary mechanism for helping developing countries address climate change. At COP15, Canada announced it would provide $219 million between 2022 and 2026 to the GEF’s eighth replenishment to support developing countries’ efforts to address global environmental challenges and meet their commitments under international environmental conventions.

Canada also committed $350 million in new and additional funding to support developing countries in conserving biodiversity and to support the

In June 2021, Canada also doubled its climate finance commitment to $5.3 billion over five years (2021 to 2026) to support developing countries’ transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient, nature-positive and inclusive sustainable development.

“On the momentous occasion of World Environment Day’s 50th anniversary, I am honoured to announce that Canada will be hosting the GEF Assembly in Vancouver,a Indo-Canadian Sajjan said.

“Canada believes in the power of collaboration and inclusivity as the only way to build a more resilient future for everyone. Protecting our world’s nature, rivers, lakes, oceans and wildlife will ensure a healthy planet and healthy people. We look forward to working with international partners, Indigenous Peoples and youth to find innovative solutions to our shared environmental challenges and provide support to developing countries in their climate adaptation efforts.”

“We are delighted to be holding the Seventh GEF Assembly in Canada, whose steady leadership in environmental diplomacy has yielded enormous benefits around the world. This gathering of the GEF’s member governments and diverse partners gives us a unique chance to build on recent breakthroughs, including long-sought agreements on biodiversity and the high seas, and ensure that the urgent environmental challenges we face are addressed in an inclusive and integrated way,” GEF CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodriguez said. “This conference will serve as a platform to unite and inspire global leaders, experts and stakeholders. It provides an important opportunity for Canada to build on the momentum gained at COP15, where a historic agreement was reached to safeguard nature and halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Together, we will explore strategies, share best practices and forge partnerships to tackle the pressing environmental challenges we face and to promote the use of nature-based solutions in support of the poorest and most vulnerable countries impacted by climate change. By harnessing our collective strengths and empowering diverse voices, we can make a profound and lasting impact on our planet,” added Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Steven Guilbeault.

the green

between

Australia has been a longstanding friend and trusted partner to Singapore.

Canada to host assembly of 185 nations to address climate change

Riding motorbike to highlight Indian culture globally

Street renamed to honour Indian-Australian Anzac soldier

Perth, May 16 (MCNA Newsdesk)

The Indian community welcomed the young Bharat Ki Beti Ramabai Ramila Latpate who transited through Perth on a mission to travel through 40 countries across all continents to highlight the Indian culture and the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. She is riding on a motorbike wearing a traditional Marathi saree Nauvari. The King Bikers Australia

enthusiastically welcomed their fellow bike rider. Two Buddhist monks gave their spiritual blessings to Ramaa, while the members of the Marathi community welcomed her with aarti and tika in traditional style. The young kids, university students, representatives of various community associations, language and dance schools, academicians, ethnic media, representatives of Australia India Business Council

(AIBC), spiritual organizations, veterans and local Councillors came out in large numbers to meet and greet this brave daughter of India. Ramaa visited the Canningvale Gurdwara Sahib to receive the blessings of the Guru Granth Sahib. She interacted with the devotees and later joined them in langar. She also visited Perth Hindu Temple, Western Australia.

Stress on sport & education in Australia-India ties

Perth, May 23 (MCNA Newsdesk)

AStreet in the City of Perth has been renamed to honour Indian-Australian Anzac soldier Private Nain Singh Sailani. The renaming of Nelson Avenue, in East Perth, to Sailani Avenue has been timed to coincide with Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Australia. The naming ceremony to announce the Sailani Avenue in East Perth was led by John Carey MLA Office - Member for Perth, Minister for Lands, together with Basil Zempilas - Lord Mayor of Perth, Consul General, Sally Dawkins, Director, WA State Office, Department of Foreign Affair and Trade and CEOs of City of Perth and Landgate. Sailani Avenue memorialises the courage and sacrifice of Private Nain Singh Sailani,

an Indian-origin soldier of ANZAC, and other Indianorigin ANZACs from Western Australia. Members of the Indian community, including veterans of Indian Defence Forces and representatives of Sikh Association of Western Australia (SAWA), which annually conducts the Remembrance Service for Private Nain Singh Sailani every June, proudly attended the event and conveyed their appreciation and gratitude in honouring the memory of Pvt. Nain Singh Sailani.

Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi welcomed the WA Government’s decision to rename a road in the memory of Private Nain Singh Sailani, who served as an ANZAC from the Indian community during the First World War.

Australia’s High Commissioner discusses strategic priorities

Sydney, May 26 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Deputy High

Commissioner to India

Sarah Storey took part in a panel for Sydney’s UTS:

University of Technology Sydney recently, where she reflected on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Australia visit, and the power of sport and education in further boosting Australia and India

ties. She was joined by cricketers Lisa Sthalekar and Matthew Hayden, and international economist Tim Harcourt.

Japan’s Ambassador meets Foreign Minister Wong

Canberra, June 7 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Japan’s Ambassador to Australia Suzuki Kazuhiro met with Foreign Minister Penny Wong recently to discuss the broad scope of the Australia-Japan relationship. With cooperation between the two countries growing, the special strategic partnership continues to go from strength- to- strength.

London, May 18 (MCNA Newsdesk)

At “Meet the High Commissioner” which was organized at Australia House recently, Australia’s High Commissioner to UK Stephen Smith spoke of his strategic

priorities. They are AUKUS pillars I and II, the Australia-UK FTA, UK involvement in the Indo-Pacific security, Climate Change, and energy transition industries, and the referendum to give a Voice to Australia’s First Nations People.

Defence & security discussed at LDC

London, May 23 (MCNA Newsdesk)

UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australia’s High Commissioner to UK Stephen Smith were at the London Defence Conference (LDC)

recently. Both leaders focused on the deepening ties between Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security. AUKUS and support to Ukraine were key themes. Australia-UK relationship helps defend the rules-based system.

Rabindra Jayanti celebrated

Australian artist Del Kathryn Barton’s London exhibition organized

Perth, May 25 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Members of the Indian community in Western Australia celebrated Rabindra Jayanti recently. The event was organized jointly by the Bengali Association of Western Australia and the Consulate to commemorate the 162nd birth anniversary of the great poet, novelist, writer, philosopher and Noble Prize laureate from India. Consul General Amarjeet Singh Takhi was joined by Kevin Michel MLA in paying tributes to Gurudev. The event showcased his contributions to Indian literature, arts and culture, and music by the Bengali community members with much fervour.

The poetic fragrance of Rabindra Sangeet was spread by a series of community members who sung, recited and played the instrumental music on a series of Tagore poems, while the students of Academy Of Indian Classical & Bollywood Dance danced on ‘Ekla Chalo Re’ and another Hindi cinema song inspired by ‘Phoole Phoole Dhole Dhole’ by Tagore. Jayani Talukar rendered ‘Baba baithe pustak likhte hain’, a Hindi translation work of Gurudev’s poem ‘Sishu’.

The portrait of Gurudev painted by Manoj was presented by the artist to the Consulate.

Australia supporting Pacific female climate leaders

Australia is at the forefront in supporting Pacific female climate leaders ahead of Bonn Climate Conference, helping build Pacific agency in international climate negotiations. Delegates across the region, including a team from Solomon Islands, met recently for training in Fiji.

London, May 24 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Eminent Australian artist and two-time Archibald Prize winner, Del Kathryn Barton has had her first London solo exhibition.

Australia’s High Commissioner was there to open the exhibition and describe how the AustraliaUK FTA will help all Australians, including artists, to live and work in the UK to further their dreams.

Australia’s assistance helps in opening new clinics in PNG

Canberra, June 6 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea John Rosso and Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Dr Joanne Loundes opened two new health facilities to support more than 36,000 people in Lae recently. The Tent Siti and West Taraka urban clinics were built with

Canberra, May 26 (MCNA Newsdesk)

the support of the Australian Government and the Asian Development Bank (PGK 9.1 million and PGK7.7 million respectively).

The clinics will be fully staffed and provide first line of care for minor health conditions such as outpatient, maternal and child health services including birthing services and inpatient

WRD Programme launched in Solomon Islands

Australian High Commissioner launches MK Local Foods shop & café in SI

Canberra, May 31 (MCNA Newsdesk)

The Women’s Resilience to Disasters (WRD) Programme was launched in Honiara recently. Australia supports the Women’s Resilience to Disasters (WRD) Programme which empowers women and girls to better handle disasters and recover by enhancing their resilience and preparedness. It also prioritizes women as leaders in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and

addressing climate change impacts.

Secondary Secretary, Australian High Commission, Timothy Mitchell represented the Australian High Commission in Honiara at the launch of the Programme, which is supported by the Government of Australia. The Programme is being implemented by UN Women in partnership with the Government of the Solomon Islands and local civil society and women’s organizations.

Australian Embassy in Ethiopia hosts Director Peacekeeping

Canbera, June 1 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Rod Hilton launched MK Local Foods shop and café in Honiara recently. He also met Debbie Lukisi, a driver

of economic opportunity for her community, promoting Solomon Islands’ (SI) food, culture and people.

MK Local Foods sources supplies from around 300 farmers from Northeast Guadalcanal, and employs 10 permanent staff and

20 causal workers. As demand for her products increases, more farmers will benefit and more local communities will benefit. MK Local Foods is now online and Solomon Islanders living overseas and in Solomon Islands can place orders and be delivered to their families in and around Honiara.

Australia has partnered with MK Local Foods to support it for training farmers to establish new crops, basic business skills training, improving its administrative and logistics capacity, development of a database to track produce availability, marketing and new online shop.

Canberra, June 6 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Australian Embassy in Ethiopia hosted Director Peacekeeping, United Nations, Middle East, and Africa Dr Jacqueline Menager. This visit reinforced several

key relationships and signifies Australia’s historic commitment to Ethiopia and the African Union.

Australia and Ethiopia have a long-standing relationship going back many years and covering many different areas.

see SI athletes’ training

Solomon Islands’ PM visits Gold Coast to

Gold Coast, June 6 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Prime Minister of Solomon Islands (SI) Manasseh Sogavare and his delegation visited the Gold Coast Performance Centre at Runaway Bay recently, where many Solomon Islands’ athletes will complete their high performance

training in the lead up to the 2023 Pacific Games.

At the high performance centre, athletes have access to world class training and recovery facilities, sports technology, coaches, and the opportunity to compete against some of Australia’s best athletes to hone their skills.

The Australia-Solomon Islands SBD$100 million Pacific Games partnership is providing a range of facilities for use during the games, and Australian volunteers are working with the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport - SINIS to support athletes’ training and development.

Australia & NZ assisted program for controlling TADs in PNG

working with provincial administrations, NGOs, church-based organisations, community groups, and the private sector, to strengthen PNG’s preparedness and capabilities to respond to emergency animal diseases and resilience in livestock husbandry practices.

Australian High Commission discusses priority areas with NGOs

Canberra, June 7 (MCNA Newsdesk)

With support from Australia and New Zealand’s PHAMA Plus program, NAQIA has placed

increased emphasis on ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) control and prevention of other trans-boundary animal diseases (TADs).

NAQIA-PNG Biosecurity is

Critical biosecurity measures and the importance of value chain resilience to ensure animal production systems continue were part of discussions held in a recent workshop. PHAMA Plus will facilitate six more to support PNG manage ASF and TADs preparedness.

Australia supports local businesses in PNG

standards save lives” recognizes the importance of food standards in keeping consumers safe. Food safety standards aim to lower the incidence of food-borne illnesses by placing obligations on food businesses to produce food that is safe for consumption.

Canberra, June 5 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Canberra, June 7 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Australia is supporting local businesses such as Tapioca Delight

to transform the way food businesses operate in PNG. This is being done through PHAMA Plus program. This year’s World Food Safety Day theme, “Food

Tapioca Delight is on its way to being fully Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certified, meaning that Tapioca Delight will meet international standards of food safety and quality management system. Food safety certification such as HACCP helps PNG businesses trade in agricultural and horticultural export markets.

PNG’s Royal Pacific Islands Regiment installs solar battery systems

Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands (SI) engaged in a roundtable with Australian and Solomon Islands’ NGOs under Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). ANCP is a partnership between the Australian Government and highly effective NGOs. The roundtable was an opportunity to discuss priorities, share information, strengthen relationships and gain broader appreciation of the operating environment. Australian High Commissioner

to Solomon Islands Rod Hilton thanked NGOs for their critical role as development partners with extensive community networks, reach, connection and footprint. He said it was important that Australia-funded activities delivered by Australian and Solomon Islands’ NGOs align with the development priorities of the Solomon Islands’ Government.

Participants represented NGOs working in sectors like health, menstrual health and sexual reproductive health, livelihood, education, climate change, fisheries, gender equality and child protection.

Five 2023 Kor-Aussie Online Mates announced

Canberra, June 6 (MCNA Newsdesk)

The 2nd Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment has successfully installed and tested the first of eight solar battery systems.

This battery system will provide 20kw of renewable energy for the battalion headquarters. The next planned solar installation will be for the Moem Medical Centre.

Australia has been assisting Papua New Guinea (PNG) in infrastructure projects that improve the living and working conditions of the hardworking men, women and families of the PNG Defence Force.

Canberra, May 19 (MCNA Newsdesk)

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea announced five 2023 Kor-Aussie Online Mates, who share love for K-culture despite having different backgrounds. The aim of the Kor-Aussie Online

Mates project is to promote mutual understanding between the people of Australia and South Korea through digital communication.

The five new online mates will share their own Korea-related contents over the course of this year.

Iconic Luminous Lantern Parade illuminates Queensland as it welcomes new inhabitants

Brisbane, June 9 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Queenslanders were all decked up to get back to the celebratory mood as the Luminous Lantern Parade showcased the very best of all it had. Luminous Lantern Parade is in its 16th year, and Multicultural Australia, the

group that organises the event, has been welcoming migrants and refugees in Brisbane and Australia for 25 years now. The event is being recognized as one of Queensland’s largest welcome events mesmerizing Queenslanders with its use of light in a manner which symbolizes hope and creates an

ambience that welcomes new Queenslanders in a glorious way. It all began with a modest candlelight gathering 16 years ago. Now this annual event has developed into a movement of solidarity and support by the public at large for refugees, migrants, and people coming from outside the state. The

annual Luminous Lantern Parade sees tens of thousands of people flocking to the event from across the state in a spirit of warmth and friendship, showing the outstanding zeal of the Queenslanders who are always in readiness to welcome others to the state. This Parade has now assumed an

iconic status among the various events which are organized according to the annual Queensland events calendar. The Parade also coincides with Queensland Day, a day that celebrates Queensland’s birthday and its unique culture, heritage, people, places, and its industrial continued on pg. 15

network.

According to the schedule, the spectacular lantern procession began at Flowstate, South Bank, taking a short and symbolic walk down the promenade, and moving in the sites of the city skyline.

Finally, the Parade concluded at the South Bank Piazza, where a

vibrant World music concert was organized. Meanwhile, the lanterns were full of luminous light in a symbolic gesture welcoming a large number of people from all over the world, particularly the newest Queenslanders.

The Luminous Parade is an occasion that attracts its supporters from across the community,

which comprises besides the people in general, all levels of government, corporate, and community organizations also. It is an occasion that sees the intermingling of communities and is a welcome occasion for all, including indigenous elders, migrant and refugee communities, service providers, education

and training providers, church organizations, schools, various stakeholder groups and the wider community. All of them in large numbers walk in the Parade or take part in a range of Luminous satellite events.

This year Multicultural Australia has taken the Luminous Parade to the neighbourhood across

Brisbane and in Toowoomba and Rockhampton, aiming to propagate the message of welcome across Queensland.

Luminous Lantern Parade was organized on June 9 from Little Stanley Street, with the World Music Concert featuring diverse musicians and dancers commencing in the South Bank Piazza after the Parade.

Australian undergraduates visit Fiji to understand Indo-Pacific

Australia’s assistance helps in opening new clinics in PNG

is a great example of Australia’s support in sport development from grass-root level to elite sports.

The students were also hosted by The University of the South Pacific for information sharing about sport performance and development.

A second cohort is expected to visit Fiji in September.

wards as well as access to dental, laboratory, x-ray and minor surgical services, and referrals to higher level facilities In this regard Dr Loundes said, “Australia is proud to partner with the PNG Government to support its vision of healthcare for all, and pleased to have

funded the construction of the new clinics, which will significantly improve health services in the Tent Siti and West Taraka communities as well as Lae City.” These measures are further strengthening ties between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Australia raises minimum wage by 5.75% amid inflation

sought by employer groups, reports Xinhua news agency.

Announcing the decision, the FWC said the current combination of economic circumstances, namely low unemployment, falling real wages and high inflation, “is very unusual and presents a particular challenge in this year’s Review”.

value of these employees’ incomes and causing households financial stress.”

Australian PM visits Vietnam to strengthen bilateral ties

Canberra, June 2 (IANS)

Australia’s industrial relations tribunal has granted a 5.75 per cent increase in the national minimum wage, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) announced on Friday, adding that the adjustments will take effect on July 1.

The increase falls between the 7 per cent rise advocated by the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the about 4 per cent

The Commission said a further challenge would be the expected sharp slowdown in economic growth over the next year.

“In our consideration, we have placed significant weight on the impact of the current rate of inflation on the ability of modern award-reliant employees, especially the low paid, to meet their basic financial needs,” FWC said in the Announcement of Decision statement.

“Inflation is reducing the real

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, inflation hit 6.8 per cent in the 12 months to April, up from 6.3 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March. The spike was largely driven by an increase in fuel prices after the end of the temporary cut in the government’s fuel excise tax. In the same period, the prices of housing, food and transport all rose by over 7 per cent.

The commission acknowledged that the awarded increase would not maintain the real value of minimum wage or reverse the reduction in real wages amid the cost-of-living crisis but said 5.75 per cent was the most that could be justified in the current economic circumstances.

Hanoi, June 4 (IANS) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday, discussing enhancing bilateral relations between the two nations.

During the meeting, Albanese, who paid a two-day official visit to Vietnam, announced a package of 105 million Australian dollars ($69.5 million) to aid Vietnam in combating climate change, Xinhua news agency reported. Australia will also expand

a programme that enables collaboration between Australia’s national science agency and its Vietnamese counterparts to commercialise joint science research in areas like applied agriculture.

Albanese’s visit comes as Australia and Vietnam celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. Australia is Vietnam’s seventh-largest trading partner, while Vietnam ranks 10th among Australia’s trading partners.

Australia govt decides to triple size of Macquarie Island Marine Park

Canberra, June 5 (IANS)

The Australian government on Monday announced its decision to triple the size of the Macquarie Island Marine Park for world ocean protection. Under the expansion, the park, sitting between Tasmania and Antarctica, will grow from 162,000 square km to 475,465 square km, reports Xinhua news agency. Sitting between Tasmania and Antarctica, Macquarie Island and the surrounding waters are home to some of the world’s most iconic species including the endemic royal penguin, rockhopper penguin, subantarctic fur seal, southern elephant seal, black-browed albatross and the grey petrel.

Ninety-three per cent or 385,000 square km of the park -- an area larger than Germany -- will be completely closed to fishing, mining and other extractive activities, making a globally significant contribution to the health and resilience of the oceans. Following two months of public

consultation, the government has signed off on the marine park design. Over 14,700 submissions were received through the process, with more than 99 per cent in support.

Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek’s decision incorporates minor adjustments to the Patagonian Toothfish fishing zone in response to feedback provided by the sustainable commercial fishing industry that operate around Macquarie Island. The expanded marine park will not impact their existing operations.

This decision means marine parks will make up over 48 per cent of Australian oceans. “I want to protect our oceans for our kids and grandkids. This announcement is part of our mission to conserve Australia’s special places, particularly those that are home to threatened species,” the Minister was quoted as saying in an official statement. “Macquarie Island is an exceptional place. It’s a remote wildlife wonderland...”

New Zealand govt to back buyout of cyclone, flood affected homes

Wellington, June 1 (IANS) The New Zealand government will enter into a funding arrangement with local councils to offer a voluntary buyout for owners of residential properties affected by natural disasters in the cyclone and flood-affected regions in the first two months of this year, Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson said on Thursday.

“From the beginning of this process, the government has supported a locally-led response to the North Island weather events, as requested by councils and communities in affected regions,” Xinhua news agency quoted Robertson as saying. The government will work with councils to help some property owners build flood protection and other resilience measures, if possible, he said.

People in homes too risky to rebuild will be offered a voluntary buyout by councils, the costs of which will be shared between the government and councils, he

added.

Across all regions, there will be about 700 properties that are too risky to rebuild, which will be offered a buyout by the local government, said Associate Finance Minister Michael Wood. Severe tropical cyclone Gabrielle devastated the North Island of New Zealand in February 2023. It was the costliest tropical cyclone on record in the Southern Hemisphere, with total damages estimated to be at least NZ$13.5 billion ($8.4 billion). The country reported at least 11 fatalities.

Security solutions not enough to eliminate illegal immigration: Tunisian president

eliminate illegal immigration, according to a statement released by the presidency.

“Illegal immigration has become an incendiary issue that poisons relations between the countries of the northern and southern sides of the Mediterranean basin,” Saied said on Saturday during a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

The Tunisian President suggested that an international meeting must be held with the participation of all countries

297 orphans evacuated from Khartoum to safety: UN

concerned with the issue, Xinhua news agency reported. The two heads of state also discussed a number of other issues of common interest such as bilateral cooperation, economic and financial difficulties felt by Tunisia, and its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. Located in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia is one of the most popular transit points for illegal immigration toward Europe.

AU commission chief urges coordinated efforts to tackle crises in Congo,

Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the AU chairperson on Saturday emphasised that the only lasting solution to African crises is peace, dialogue and constructive compromises. He urged all parties to stay committed to this path.

Sudan

threat, and the illicit exploitation of natural resources.

Khartoum, June 9 (IANS) At least 297 orphaned children have been safely relocated from the Sudanese capital of Khartoum to a transit centre in a safer location in the violence-hit country.

“The safe movement of these incredibly vulnerable children to a place of safety offers a ray of light in the midst of the ongoing conflict in Sudan,” said Mandeep O’Brien, the Unicef Representative in Sudan, said in an official statement on Thursday.

“Many millions of children remain at risk across Sudan, threatened by the fighting, displacement and the subsequent impact of on the provision of lifesaving services-their lives and their futures are being endangered by this conflict every day.”

activities, and supporting carers for the relocated children.

The UN body has provided support to rehabilitate and prepare the transit centre where children have been relocated and is working with the relevant authorities in identifying foster families for the children.

Across Sudan, over 13.6 million children are in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian support, the highest number ever recorded in the country.

Luanda, June 4 (IANS)

Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa

Faki Mahamat has called for solidarity and active coordination of regional and continental efforts to effectively tackle the crises in Congo and Sudan during a meeting held in Luanda, the capital of Angola.

Addressing an extraordinary summit of the International

He announced that the AU Commission is preparing for a summit to bring together the Economic Community of Central African States, the Southern African Development Community, ICGLR, and the East African Community (EAC), Xinhua news agency reported. Describing the security situation in the region as catastrophic, with severe humanitarian consequences, he drew attention to the security challenges that hinder development, such as the resurgence of armed groups like the March 23 Movement, the Allied Democratic Force terrorist

He expressed the African Union’s appreciation for the EAC Regional Force’s deployment in eastern Congo and the troop-contributing countries for their dedication to promoting regional peace and security. He also stressed the need to rebuild trust in senior leadership.

Regarding the Sudan crises, Moussa Faki emphasised that the primary responsibility to find a solution without resorting to military means “must come from the Sudanese themselves”.

“We are doing everything possible to engage them as quickly as possible in an inclusive political dialogue that is fully appropriate for them. It is the only way to save the country from civil war and the entire region from chaos,” he said.

Airstrike kills 3 al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia

Somali government killed three al-Shabaab terrorists in southern Somalia, the US military said. Africom on Friday said the collective self-defence strike, which was carried out on Thursday at the request of the Somali government, occurred in the Wayanta area, about 60 km southwest of the southern port city of Kismayo.

According to the statement, the children are under the care of the ministries of Social Welfare and Health, with Unicef supporting the children’s medical care, feeding, psychosocial stimulation, play and educational

The impact of ongoing violence continues to threaten the lives and futures of families and children, leaving basic services cut off and many health facilities closed, damaged, or destroyed. Unicef is calling for$838 million to address the crisis, an increase of $253 million since the ongoing conflict began on April 15 between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict has so far killed more than 800 people, injured thousands others and displaced at least 1.6 million.

Remains of 1,240 genocide victims get burial in Rwanda

Kigali, June 4 (IANS) The remains of 1,240 victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide against the Tutsi were buried at the Mibirizi genocide memorial in western Rwanda. The remains were recently discovered on church-owned land in Rusizi district during terrace cultivation, Xinhua news agency reported.

Mogadishu, June 3 (IANS) An airstrike carried out by the United States Africa Command (Africom) in support of the

“Military actions are just one part of the Federal Government of Somalia’s efforts to comprehensively address their security challenges,” Africom said in the statement.

Africom added that its initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed, Xinhua news agency reported.

The latest airstrike came amid intensified onslaught against alShabaab since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an all-out war against the militants last year.

The airstrikes have largely targeted al-Shabaab figureheads who are based in southern and central Somalia, where the group still maintains a strong grip in some regions.

During the burial ceremony, Jean-Damascene Bizimana, minister of national unity and civic engagement, on Saturday expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, assuring them that the government stands in solidarity with them during this difficult time.

He also condemned the people who concealed information about the whereabouts of victims’ remains, even after several decades have passed since the genocide.

“It is deeply troubling that individuals are still withholding information about the locations of mass graves containing the remains of the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi,” Bizimana said. Bizimana also commended

the remarkable progress made in fostering unity among Rwandans, which has now reached an impressive rate of 94.3 per cent.

The achievement highlights the ongoing efforts to heal and reconcile the nation after the tragic events of the 1994 genocide.

The burial ceremony was attended by government officials and families of the victims. Remains of the victims are still being discovered in many parts of Rwanda, 29 years after the genocide. Rwandans on April 7 started the commemoration activities to mark the 29th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide under the theme “Remember-Unite-Renew.”

IOM says prolonged drought triggered significant displacement in Ethiopia

the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said.

The UN migration agency, in its Ethiopia Annual Report 2022 that was issued on Friday, said as the drought situation persists in parts of the East African country, there is a high probability of a sixth failed season in 2023, a phenomenon not seen or heard of in recorded history.

Ethiopia, while one out of five displaced persons in Ethiopia is displaced due to drought, Xinhua news agency reported.

Addis Ababa, June 3 (IANS) The prolonged drought in Ethiopia has triggered significant displacement that is likely to continue into 2023 across communities with eroded livelihoods,

“Communities in southern and eastern parts of Ethiopia have been suffering from a devastating drought following five consecutive failed rainy seasons,” it added.

IOM said the continued drought has resulted in a displacement and refugee crisis as nearly 1.8 million people are displaced in drought-affected regions of

The drought-affected regions comprise three quarters of the total land area of Ethiopia, in which Somali, Oromia and Afar regions are the most severely impacted, IOM added. Figures from the UN migration agency show that one in every four migrants leaving Ethiopia in 2022 was from drought-affected areas of the country, one in every four returning migrants was going back to drought-affected areas of the country. With multiple crises significantly increasing the needs of affected population in Ethiopia, IOM said it has continued to adapt,

be flexible, and respond at scale. It added that its response supported more than two million instances of multi-sectoral assistance to people in need across Ethiopia in 2022.

According to IOM, in addition to the prolonged drought, the two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia created high humanitarian needs across Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions, which remained largely unaddressed due to resource constraints.

It, however, said since the signing of the peace agreement back in November last year, improved security started to open opportunities for humanitarian access to areas that were inaccessible before, allowing humanitarian actors to continue

to expand and scale up much needed assistance.

IOM, describing the year 2022 as “critical” for Ethiopia and the wider East and Horn of Africa region, said the international community was challenged to respond to the increasing humanitarian needs due to armed confrontations in many parts of the country and consequent displacement, with frequent shortages of basic supplies and services.

It said as a country of origin, transit and destination for migrants, nearly 2,50,000 Ethiopians migrated, driven by natural and man-made disasters and severe economic hardship during the course of 2022.

Tunis, June 4 (IANS) Tunisian President Kais Saied said security solutions are not enough to

Death toll in train tragedy stands at 275, says Odisha govt SL braces for southwest monsoon with warnings issued

uploaded the pictures of the dead bodies on websites. If someone can identify the body of their family member, he/she can contact the helpline number 18003450061 /1929 (24A-7).”

Colombo, June 4 (IANS)

Bhubaneswar, June 4 (IANS)

The Odisha government on Sunday said the death figure in the tragic triple train accident at Bahanaga station in Balasore stood at 275.

“Some of the bodies have been counted twice at the accident site and also in hospitals. So, after proper counting, the final death figure stood at 275,” said Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena.

Out of 275 dead bodies, 78 bodies were identified and handed over to their family members after autopsy, he said, adding that

the handing over of another 10 bodies was also under process. Jena said of the remaining 187 bodies, 170 bodies have been brought to Bhubaneswar while another 17 bodies were in transit to the capital city from Balasore. The bodies have been brought to different mortuaries of Bhubaneswar in a dignified way by 85 ambulances. Only two bodies were brought in each ambulance, he informed. Stating that the major challenge before the government was to identify the bodies, the chief secretary said, “We have

The pictures of bodies have been uploaded on the websites: https://srcodisha.nic.in/, https:// www.bmc.gov.in, and https:// www.osdma.org. The list of injured have also been uploaded in these websites. The government has also taken steps to provide death certificates to the family members of deceased persons in a hassle-free manner, he informed.

As many as 1,175 patients were admitted to various hospitals, out of which 793 have been discharged. Most of the injured patients are in stable condition.

A total of 382 passengers were undergoing treatment in various government and private hospitals.

Pakistan opens barter trade with Afghanistan, Iran & Russia

from Afghanistan, which include fruits and nuts, vegetables and pulses, spices, minerals and metals, coal and its products, raw rubber items, raw hides and skins, cotton, and iron and steel.

Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology forecasted on Sunday that the southwest monsoon is likely to be gradually established across the country during the next few days.

Showers or thundershowers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces as well as in Galle and Matara districts, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the forecast.

According to the forecast, heavy showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Sabaragamuwa Province as well as in Galle, Matara and Kalutara districts.

“General public is kindly requested to take adequate

precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers,” it said.

The southwest monsoon brings rains mainly in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka between May and September, with flood and landslide warnings often issued during this period.

2,106 Afghan refugees return home from Iran

Islamabad, June 3 (IANS)

In another step to release pressures on dwindling foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan has opened up barter trade with Afghanistan, Iran and Russia for certain items including petroleum, LNG, coal, wheat, pulses, minerals, metals, and several food items.

According to a statutory regulatory order (SRO) issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Friday, the government allowed the import and export of goods under B2B barter trade with the three countries, The News reported.

At a time when the CPI (Consumer Price Index) touched 38 per cent and Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) based inflation clocked to 48 per cent, Pakistan took a decision to allow barter trade with neighbouring countries, in the wake of the IMF not coming up to rescue ailing economy of the country. The government has notified the products to be imported

From Iran, Pakistani importers are allowed to import fruits, nuts, vegetables, spices, minerals and metals, coal and related products, petroleum crude oil, LNG and LPG, chemical products, fertilisers, article of plastics and rubber, raw hides and skins, raw wool and articles of iron and steel.

From Russia, Pakistani traders will be allowed to import pulses, wheat, coal and related products, petroleum oils including crude, LNG and LPG, fertilisers, tanning and dying extracts, articles of plastic and rubber, minerals and metals, chemicals products, articles of iron and steel, and items of textile industrial machinery, The News reported.

The Ministry of Commerce, in its statement, said that they held several meetings with high-level delegations of various countries in this regard to make the barter trade system possible.

It was an ideal step taken by the current administration to stabilise the country’s economy. It will not only increase foreign reserves of the country but also increase the quantum of trade,

it added, The News reported. Sources said that the barter trade would help overcome banking transactions because, in the case of Iran, there was no possibility of transactions through official channels because of the economic sanction imposed by the US.

Khaqan Najeeb, a former advisor to Ministry of Finance, said it is hoped the barter trade mechanism would help the economy in the middle of prevailing gaps in Pakistan’s import and export potential.

He said regional trade is key to reaching a vast number of people so to facilitate barter trade with the three countries is a good idea. Barter can help discover innovative products, and trading opportunities and can help citizens near border areas to earn a better living, The News reported.

The business community has been advocating proposals aimed at moving forward to operationalise the barter trade arrangement with the three very important countries.

The government has agreed with the business community proposals at a time when the country faces a severe dollar liquidity crunch to pay for important supplies, he concluded

Pakistan’s inflation touches record high amid turmoil

than 50 per cent over May 2022, while average inflation for this fiscal year has reached 29.2 per cent, Dawn news reported citing the data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Kabul, June 4 (IANS) A total of 2,106 Afghan refugees returned to their homeland from neighbouring Iran on Saturday, Afghanistan’s Ministry for Refugees and Repatriation Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.

“A total of 2,106 Afghan refugees returned to their homeland Afghanistan on Saturday after years of living as refugees in Iran, and the process of returning the refugees to their country continues”, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement. Previously on May 31, the

ministry also reported the return of nearly 2,800 Afghan refugees from Iran. Nearly 60,000 Afghan refugees have reportedly returned home from Iran since January.

More than 2.5 million registered Afghan refugees reportedly have been living in Iran and about the same number of Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan.

The Afghan caretaker government has been calling upon Afghan refugees living abroad to return home and contribute to the reconstruction process of their war-ravaged country.

UN releases emergency funds for cyclone-hit refugees in Bangladesh

United Nations, June 2 (IANS)

The UN has released $3 million for emergency relief following tropical cyclone Mocha’s pounding of southeastern Bangladesh, a UN spokesman said.

consequences of what happens when the world body’s agencies run out of money to finance monthly rations for each person, Xinhua news agency reported.

Islamabad, June 2 (IANS)

Consumer inflation in Pakistan raced to 38 per cent in May, the highest annual rise in prices on record, driven mainly by skyrocketing costs of food, house rents, electricity and gas bills, and transport, official data revealed.

Non-perishable foods and transport costs climbed more

The May reading exceeded the Finance Ministry’s projection of 34-36 per cent for the month and comes as political turmoil continues to roil the country. Years of financial mismanagement, rupee depreciation and the government’s failure to unlock IMF funding have also played a role in taking annual price hikes to such record highs, Dawn reported. Official data showed that the average price of a 20 kg wheat flour bag more than doubled to around 2,700 PKR in May

compared to the same month a year ago.

The average price of chicken (live) rose by 38.6 per cent to 435 PKR per kg, that of milk by 41 per cent to 170 PKR a litre, and that of eggs by 85 per cent to 280 PKR a dozen.

Pulses and vegetables also became costlier, Dawn reported. However, monthly inflation -- measured by a basket of products and services called the Consumer Price Index (CPI) -- is likely to go down from June due to a high-base effect. It has been rising since mid2022 after the government took painful measures as part of fiscal adjustments demanded by the International Monetary Fund to unlock stalled funding.

UN Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths, who is also the emergency relief coordinator, authorised the allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund following the storm’s devastation last month in the camps for 40,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and their host communities, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Thursday.

“With this emergency funding, humanitarian partners will focus on shelter support, infrastructure repair, debris clearance and the replenishment of relief items,” Dujarric told a regular briefing. The spokesman took the opportunity to spell out the

“The World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to reduce the value of food vouchers to Rohingya refugees from $10 to $8 (per person) per month,” he said.

“That’s less than 9 cents per meal. This is the second time the WFP has had to cut rations in just three months in that particular area.”

Dujarric added that in March, the food vouchers were cut from $12 to $10 per person per month due to a funding crisis.

“This is yet another example of what happens when there is no money,” he said.

“In this case, that’s nearly one million Rohingya refugees who remain completely dependent on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs, including food.”

German, Italian leaders talk on energy security, migration

The two leaders met on Thursday over lunch behind closed doors at the Palazzo Chigi - the official seat of Italy’s government, Xinhua news agency reported. According to a statement issued by the Italian government, the leaders agreed to cooperate on improving energy security, including increasing the efficiency of industry, locking in alternate sources of natural gas and speeding up the development of renewable energy sources.

leaders to come up with a united stance to help defray migration costs and to help settle arrivals.

“I am convinced that reaching a solution is a priority, but I also think it is important to give attention to the claims of the countries that are the most under pressure,” Meloni said.

Eurozone slips into recession after economy shrinks 0.1% in Jan-March

Rome, June 9 (IANS) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz talked here about energy security, policies on migration, European stability and growth.

It was Scholz’ first visit to Rome since Meloni became Italy’s Prime Minister eight months ago.

On immigration issue, Meloni said the two leaders had a “constructive dialogue.” “We hope that we can meet halfway and defend the interests of all nations,” she added.

Italy, which is Europe’s top landing spot for asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East, has been lobbying other European

On the economics, Meloni said they agreed that it was necessary to introduce more flexible rules on the European Stability Pact, which sets limits for government budget deficits and public debt measures as a percentage of gross domestic product.

“On the stability and growth pact we agree that the old rules ... (are) outdated and new rules must be sought,” Meloni was quoted as saying in the statement.

Ukraine continues attacks in key Zaporizhzhia region: Report

on the Zaporizhzhia direction, reports the BBC.

On Thursday evening, Ukraine’s military stated only that the “enemy continues to be on the defensive” towards Zaporizhzhia as well as in neighbouring Kherson, a region hit by a massive flooding after a major dam collapsed earlier this week. It added that Russian troops had carried out air strikes there and used artillery during the day. Although Ukraine has continued to remain silent about the launch of its much-awaited counter-offensive against Russia, US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Thursday that Kiev has started it.

London, June 8 (IANS) The Eurozone has fallen into recession, new data show, as its economy contracted over the winter, according to a media report. GDP across the Euro area shrank by 0.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year, downgraded from a previous estimate that the economy stagnated, The Guardian reported. This follows a 0.1 per cent contraction in GDP in the fourth quarter of last year, meaning the 20-nation economy has shrunk for two quarters in a row - the standard definition of a recession, the report said.

It was dragged down by Ireland, where GDP fell by 4.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year - although economists have questioned whether that really

reflects the performance of the Irish economy.

Lithuania’s economy shrank by 2.1 per cent, while the Netherlands contracted by 0.7 per cent. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, shrank by 0.3 per cent and is also in recession. Europe’s economy has been hit by the economic disruption caused by the Ukraine war, which has pushed up energy and food prices.

That had prompted a series of interest rate hikes, as the European Central Bank tried to battle higher inflation, The Guardian reported.

Household final consumption expenditure decreased by 0.3 per cent in the Euro area during the first three months of this year, following a 1 per cent drop in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Central bank warns of risks to Sweden’s financial stability

Stockholm, June 2 (IANS) Due to high inflation and increasing interest rates, Sweden’s financial stability is strained and the risks are increasing, the country’s central bank (Riksbank) said in a report.

Kiev, June 9 (IANS) Ukrainian attacks have continued in the key southern region of Zaporizhzhia, most of which has already been seized by Russia, a media report said.

Shortly after Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it seized most of the region, home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Ukraine however, continues to control the regional capital city also known as Zaporizhzhia. Several Russian pro-Kremlin military bloggers reported late on Thursday that Ukraine had resumed its attacks overnight, the BBC said.

The bloggers said that armoured personnel carriers and drones directing artillery fire were also deployed.

Vladimir Rogov, a Moscowinstalled official in the region, said there had been “active fighting” in the area between Orikhovo and Tokmak, with Russian troops holding their positions.

The town of Tokmak is seen by many military experts as a key target for Ukraine as it seeks to advance to the Sea of Azov. In a statement earlier on Thursday, Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said that Russian forces were currently “in active defence”

The UK Defence Ministry also acknowledged that “amidst a highly complex operational picture, heavy fighting continues along multiple sectors of the front”.

It added that “in most areas Ukraine holds the initiative”. Ukraine has been planning the counter-offensive for months, but it wants to first train troops and receive advanced military equipment from Western allies. Last month, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, told the BBC that Kiev was ready to launch the attack, but did not specify a date.

Poles protest in Warsaw against government, demand change

new law accused of undermining Poland’s democracy, it said.

The law, criticised by the EU and US, sets up a commission to investigate undue Russian influence in Polish politics, and has the power to ban people from assuming public office for 10 years.

The government denies it is subverting democracy and President Andrzej Duda has proposed amendments to remove these powers.

“We have had many years of low inflation and low interest rates. This has increased risk-taking in the financial system and the economy in general,” Riksbank Governor Erik Thedeen said at a press conference held in connection with the release of the bank’s latest Financial Stability Report.

Since 2021, global inflation has been high and tightened monetary policy with rate hikes has followed in its wake, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the report, this has put pressure on property companies facing increasing funding costs, with many having large borrowing needs at a time when the value of their properties is falling. The report also points to the major problems faced by banks in the US and Switzerland earlier this spring.

“This illustrates how vulnerabilities can be exposed when economic conditions change rapidly and unexpectedly, and how difficult it is to predict

where problems will arise,” the report said.

Household indebtedness, which has steadily increased in Sweden due to years of low interest rates, and increasing property prices are also worrying the Riksbank as these “may entail risks for the stability of the macroeconomy, and in an unfavourable scenario, for financial stability”.

According to Statistics Sweden, year-on-year inflation in the country stood at 10.5 percent in April.

Although slightly lower than the 12 per cent recorded in February, Sweden had then seen eight consecutive months with an inflation rate above 10 per cent.

To curb inflation, the Riksbank has since May 2022 repeatedly raised the policy rate all the way up to the current 3.5 per cent, following more than seven years, when the rate was kept at or below zero.

UK property prices fall the most since 2009: Report

London, June 2 (IANS) Real estate prices in the UK fell 3.4 per cent on average in the year to May, the biggest decline since 2009, a mortgage lender said in a report.

Warsaw, June 4 (IANS) Hundreds of thousands of Poles, including former President Lech Walesawho had spearheaded the revolt against communist rule in the early 1980s - and former PM Donald Tusk, gathered in Warsaw on Sunday for a protest against the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, media reports said. Most opposition parties have called on supporters to join the march, billed as one of the largest since the fall of communism in 1989, the BBC reported. The Warsaw Mayor’s officer estimated half a million people

attended the event, including many coming to the capital from across the country.

Simultaneous demonstrations have been held in other Polish cities like Krakow.

Crowds of people have been pictured waving Polish and EU flags and holding placards, and participants told the BBC that protesters were chanting “democracy” and “we will win”. A wide variety of issues brought protests together, including frustrations over inflation, costs of living, and rights for women and LGBT, as well as concerns have also been raised against

But critics say it could still be used against people, including Tusk - Poland’s main opposition leader and head of the centrist Civic Platform party.

Tusk, a former head of the European Council, also welcomed supporters during the “record” march.

“Democracy dies in silence but you’ve raised your voice for democracy today, silence is over, we will shout,” said Tusk, who shared photos and videos of the massive protests on his Twitter account.

In May, houses cost 260,736 pounds ($326,552) on average, Xinhua news agency quoted the report by Nationwide Building Society. This price represented a 0.1 per cent decrease from April and remained 4 per cent below the August 2022 peak, it said.

The downward trend suggests buyers remain cautious about their spending, senior UK economist Gabriella Dickens at Pantheon Macroeconomics consultancy said.

Furthermore, following the release of April’s inflation data, the markets expect mortgage rates to rise again in the coming months, Dickens added.

The UK’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 8.7 per cent in the 12 months to April, greatly exceeding the consensus expectation and the Bank of England’s (BoE) forecast.

To combat high inflation, the BoE has raised its benchmark interest rate to 4.5 per cent, the highest level since 2008.

A typical household now will see 28 per cent of their disposable incomes sucked up by mortgage payments, compared to 22 per cent two years ago, Dicken said.

NATO chief to visit Turkey to push Sweden’s accession

after the conclusion of a two-day informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Oslo, Norway’s capital. The meeting was also attended by Sweden’s foreign minister, but Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was notably absent.

Stoltenberg welcomed Sweden’s new anti-terrorism laws that entered into force on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported.

that of Sweden, arguing that Turkey still expected Sweden to extradite 120 members of what it considers terrorist groups before his country approaches the Swedish membership bid “positively”.

Kids injured in France mass stabbing attack stable

Oslo, June 2 (IANS) Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, has said that he is working hard to ensure Sweden’s accession to the alliance is completed as soon as possible, and that he will soon travel to Turkey to facilitate the process.

He made the remarks on Thursday at a press conference

“That shows that Sweden has delivered on what they committed to do under the Trilateral Memorandum concluded last year in Madrid (by Finland, Sweden and Turkey),” he said. In March, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to ask his country’s Parliament to vote on Finland’s NATO membership bid, but delayed

Stoltenberg called the informal meeting of foreign ministers an “opportunity to discuss key issues as we prepare for our summit in Vilnius (Lithuania) in July”.

“(At the summit) we will take decisions to further strengthen our deterrence and defence. We will agree a new Defense Investment Pledge, with two per cent of GDP spent on defence as the minimum,” he said. He told reporters that the foreign ministers

Russia to keep missile launch notifications under 1988 agreement: Official

of the US intention, at least in words, to continue fulfilling the 1988 agreement on notifications of ICBM and SLBM launches,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying.

21 that Moscow would suspend its participation in New START but would not withdraw from it.

On March 1, Putin signed a law to officially suspend Russia’s participation in the treaty.

Paris, June 9 (IANS) Four children, aged between 1 to 3 years old, who were injured in a mass stabbing attack at a park in the French town of Annecy, are now in a stable condition, officials confirmed.

The officials told the BBC that the injured children, including a three-year-old British child, are currently being treated in hospital.

Two adults were also injured in Thursday’s attack, out of which one remains in a critical condition.

Video footage of the attack

uploaded to social media shows a little playground where children are running around, while their parents and minders are also present.

Then the suspect, a 31-year-old Syrian who had refugee status in Sweden, comes in with a knife and starts attacking the children, some in pushchairs, before fleeing the scene and stabbing an elderly man nearby. Police intervened and the perpetrator was shot in the legs. He was arrested at the scene. During the incident, the attacker invoked the name of Jesus Christ, reports the BBC.

Kremlin infighting ‘destroying the Russian state’, says Wagner chief

London, June 3 (IANS) Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday that Kremlin factions are destroying the state by trying to sow discord between him and Chechen fighters, a media report said. Prigozhin said a dispute between him and Chechen forces, who are also fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine, has been resolved, The Guardian reported.

Vladivostok, June 4 (IANS)

Russia will continue to provide notifications of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launches under the relevant 1988 agreement to avoid dangerous escalations, an official has said.

“We have certainly taken note

“Accordingly, within the framework of New START (New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), notifications will not be transmitted, but within this (1988) agreement, the relevant procedures will be maintained from our side,” he said. The US and the former Soviet Union signed Ballistic Missile Launch Notification Agreement in 1988.

“Therefore, a certain level of transparency and predictability will remain in this area, allowing us to avoid further dangerous escalations,” he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February

“Our decision to suspend New START is unshakable, irrespective of any measures or countermeasures from the American side. Furthermore, our condition for the treaty’s full-fledged functioning is the US renouncing its fundamentally hostile policy towards Russia,” Ryabkov said.

The US State Department had previously announced that starting from June 1, Washington would stop providing Moscow with data on the status and location of its missiles and launchers covered by New START.

But the Wagner chief blamed the discord on unidentified Kremlin factions - which he calls “Kremlin towers”, the report said. Their scheming got so out of hand that Russian President Vladimir Putin was forced to scold them at a security council meeting, he said.

In a message posted by his press service, Prigozhin said, “Pandora’s Box is already openwe are not the ones who opened it. Some Kremlin tower decided to play dangerous games. Dangerous games have become commonplace in the Kremlin towers ... they are simply destroying the Russian state,” The Guardian reported. While he did not identify the

Kremlin faction he said that if it continued its attempts to sow discord, it would have “hell to pay”.

The Kremlin did not comment on his remarks.

Ukraine is ready to launch its long-awaited offensive, President Vladimir Zelensky told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in an interview published on Saturday. He did not reveal the exact date, but said Kiev can no longer “wait for months”, RT reported. The operation is likely to inflict heavy losses on the Ukrainian troops, and might not go exactly as planned, Zelensky admitted, adding that Russia retaining air superiority would inevitably mean Kiev’s forces will be exposed to enemy fire.

Moldova presses for quicker EU accession ahead of European summit

(EU) accession, Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu said.

“We need to be showing, proving, and explaining Moldova’s progress toward implementing the right standards and making the country fit for the membership,” he said at a press conference in Chisinau.

About 50 European heads of state and government, as well as EU leaders, will take part in the summit at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca on Thursday.

hard on a daily basis to carry out reforms and meet the EU Commission’s conditions by improving the justice system and fighting corruption, among others.

facilitating Moldova’s integration into the EU energy market.

The EU delegation to Moldova will also “significantly increase” the number of staff, according to von der Leyen.

Chisinau, June 1 (IANS) The second European Political Community (EPC) summit on

Thursday will be an opportunity to showcase Moldova’s readiness toward the European Union

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said at another press conference that the country is working

Attending the press conference with Sandu, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new package of support measures to bring Moldova closer to the EU. New measures include lowering the roaming charges between the EU and Moldova, providing 1.6 billion euros of additional economic support, and

The bloc also inaugurated a partnership mission in Moldova on Wednesday focusing on providing advice and support to strengthen the country’s internal security sector.

Moldova was granted EU candidate status in June 2022 but it could take years to gain an official membership.

Erdogan vows introduction of new constitution in inauguration speech

has pledged to introduce a new constitution to replace the current one, as he officially began a new five-year term as the Turkish head of state.

In his inauguration speech at the presidential palace, Erdogan on Saturday said the current constitution was “a product of the (1980) coup” and that it needed to be replaced with “a libertarian, civil and inclusive one” that would strengthen democracy.

and has been amended 19 times since then. The last amendment in 2017 introduced a presidential system and abolished the parliamentary system, Xinhua news agency reported.

Ankara, June 4 (IANS) Turkish

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The current Turkish constitution was introduced in 1982

Erdogan, sworn in by the country’s parliament for a third term as President earlier on Saturday, also said the country had set foot on a new path and was entering what he called the “Century of Turkey,” urging the Turkish people to “transcend the limitations of election-focused discussions” and “turn

their gaze toward the future”. Erdogan won 52.18 per cent of votes in the presidential runoff on May 28 against his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the centre-left Republican People’s Party.

The President, who has been leading the country since he became Prime Minister in 2003, became the first executive president of Turkey in 2018 following a constitutional referendum in 2017 which changed Turkey’s parliamentary system into a presidential one.

Amid tech sanctions war, China sponsors global tech session

Valley -- after the country’s Covid reopening, more than 40 per cent of the speakers will be foreign guests, according to Yu.

Xi said on the opening day: “As a new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation continues to evolve, mankind needs international cooperation, openness and sharing more than ever in order to address common development problems.”

New Delhi June 2 (IANS) China is happy to be seen as leading a global forum canvassing to assess the reach of future technological revolutions. A global exhibition on tech in Beijing was inaugurated in the last week of May, with President Xi Jinping said China is ready to “join hands with other countries to promote sci-tech innovation”. The call still awaits a response from the West and it may take its time coming, considering both China and the US are currently locked in a new sanctions war over tech, with China taking the sanctions initiative this time. The six-day meeting, which has a theme of “open cooperation for a shared future”, will focus on the “frontiers of science and technology development”, including artificial intelligence (AI), Beijing vice-mayor Yu Yingjie said last week.

As the forum is the first major international conference held in the Zhongguancun area -- Beijing’s answer to the Silicon

The forum’s 55 parallel sessions brought together experts and innovators to discuss a diverse range of topics in frontier realms, such as AI, life sciences and clean energy, as well as hot topics including data governance, women in scientific and technological innovation and digital sports.

This year’s forum highlighted its characteristics as a State-level, cutting-edge and international event.

Guests from over 80 countries and regions attended, and nearly 200 foreign government departments, international organisations, and institutions participated, including nearly 120 top experts helping out with keynote speeches, including 17 Nobel laureates. Among them, more than 40 per cent of the keynote speakers are foreign guests.

Turing Award winner John Hopcroft and Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian, are among

the listed speakers, along with Baidu CEO Robin Li. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, attended as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the private charitable foundation he founded with his former wife.

The Zhongguancun Forum, which has been held every year since 2007, is organised by eight government agencies and affiliates, including the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The event has traditionally been a vehicle for Beijing to promote technology exchanges. In 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the conference, saying that China would take a “more open attitude” and take part in “global innovation networks.” However, increased tensions between Washington and Beijing over issues such as AI and semiconductor development have cast a shadow over the event.

The Biden administration is currently considering further restrictions on American investment in Chinese AI companies and other sensitive technologies, according to a Fox News report earlier this month.

In an action that only ignited tensions, Beijing declared that US chip maker Micron

Technology failed a cybersecurity review, and banned the sale of its products to China’s critical information infrastructure operators. Micron Technology, the largest US memory chip maker, is assessing its losses following a partial ban of its products in China, as South Korean firms like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix stand to benefit from its absence.

China’s move against Micron, seen as a retaliation against Washington’s tightened export controls of advanced US semiconductor technology, could shake up the memory chip supply chain in China and prove a boon for Korean chip makers. The impact of the ban on Micron will depend on the details of Beijing’s restrictions, such as its definition of critical information infrastructure operators (CIIOs), which have been prohibited from buying the company’s products, said Micron’s chief financial officer, Mark Murphy, at a JPMorgan conference in Boston recently.

“We are currently estimating a range of impact in the low single-digit percentage of our company’s total revenue at the low end, and high single-digit percentage of total company revenue at the high end,” he said. Beijing said products from the Boise, Idaho-based firm posed a “national security risk”, an allegation that the US commerce

department said has “no basis in fact”. Micron has said it would maintain communications with Chinese authorities.

The Cyber Security Review Office under the Cyberspace Administration of China, which announced an investigation into Micron products in late March, did not disclose which products it reviewed or the methods it used to review them.

Micron will lose close to 10 per cent of its revenue if it loses customers in networking, server and cloud, and government-owned sectors that use its advanced memory chips, according to estimates by market intelligence provider TrendForce.

Mainland China and Hong Kong-headquartered customers represent about 16 per cent of Micron’s revenue, according to the Nasdaq-listed company’s filings. Indirect sales through distributors to China, along with direct sales, make up about a quarter of its total revenue, said Murphy.

The US government rebuked Beijing’s decision.

In a statement on Monday the US Commerce Department said the Micron decision and recent raids at American consultancy firms by Chinese authorities contradicted the country’s commitment to market opening and providing a transparent regulatory framework.

S.Korea, Japan agree to hold talks to prevent recurrence of military dispute

maritime patrol aircraft made an unusually low-altitude flyby over a South Korean warship. Seoul has decried the plane’s approach as a “menacing” flight, while Tokyo has accused the South Korean vessel of having locked its fire-control radar on the plane.

“Regarding the issue, (we) agreed to resolve it by starting working-level talks and placing a focus on coming up with measures to prevent its recurrence,” Lee said.

Korea.

Their relations have recently taken a turn for the better after Seoul’s decision in March to compensate Korean victims of Japanese wartime forced labour on its own without asking for contributions from Japanese firms.

of a “long-range ballistic missile under the guise of a so-called satellite” last week as a “grave” violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning any launch using ballistic missile technology, the ministry said.

Singapore, June 4 (IANS) South Korea and Japan agreed on Sunday to craft measures to prevent the recurrence of a yearslong military dispute, involving their maritime operations, Seoul’s defence chief said, in the latest effort to improve bilateral relations.

After his talks with his Japanese

counterpart, Yasukazu Hamada, in Singapore, Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup said the two sides will hold working-level talks to address the issue -- still a lingering irritant in bilateral defence cooperation, Yonhap news agency reported. The dispute flared up in December 2018, when a Japanese

The two countries’ positions on the issue remain unchanged, but they agreed to focus on formulating measures to prevent such an incident from happening again, a senior Seoul official told reporters, requesting anonymity. The first defence ministerial talks between the countries since November 2019 came amid recent efforts to mend bilateral ties strained over long-running historical spats stemming from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of

During the talks, the two ministers agreed on the importance of further advancing security cooperation between their countries, as well as trilaterally with their shared ally, the US, to deter and respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, according to Seoul’s Defence Ministry.

On Saturday, Lee and Hamada held trilateral talks with their US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, on a range of issues, including trilateral cooperation against the security challenge that the North poses.

Lee and Hamada also “strongly condemned” Pyongyang’s launch

The North carried out the failed yet defiant launch of a purported space rocket Wednesday.

Lee and Hamada also agreed that the two countries’ defence authorities will continue close communication to enhance security cooperation, citing their leaders’ agreement to develop bilateral ties to another level, the ministry added.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Tokyo in March for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Kishida visited Seoul last month, resuming so-called shuttle diplomacy between the two countries’ leaders after 12 years.

Chinese censors remove protest site in Beijing from online maps

New Delhi, June 2 (IANS)

Chinese censors scrubbing the internet of any words or symbols that could be used to reference the Tiananmen Square massacre in the run-up to Sunday’s anniversary have a new target in their sights: a bridge in Beijing where a rare protest was staged last year, as per media reports. As the 34th anniversary of the 1989 massacre approaches, anyone searching in Chinese for Sitong Bridge on Baidu maps will draw a blank.

On October 13, 2022 white banners with large red characters criticising the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were hung over the bridge near Beijing’s university district in advance of a major CCP congress, The Guardian reported.

According to pictures posted on social media, the road sign for Sitong Bridge has been removed. Searches on Baidu for Sitong Bridge return the message: “No related places were found.”

It is still possible to search for

the bridge using the traditional Chinese characters used in Hong Kong and Taiwan, rather than the simplified characters used on the mainland. And it is still possible to find related locations, such as ‘Sitong Bridge East’ - a nearby bus stop - on Baidu. October’s Sitong Bridge banners called for “freedom”, “respect” and the right to be “citizens, not slaves,” as well as the removal of Xi Jinping, China’s leader, who was about to begin an unprecedented third term as

the CCP’s general secretary. The man responsible for the banners, Peng Lifa, was detained by police shortly after they appeared and has not been seen since, The Guardian reported.

He has come to be known as Bridge Man, a reference to the Tank Man of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

Peng’s stunt precipitated the White Paper protests, which called for an end to the zero-Covid policy that swept Chinese cities in late November

and early December. It was a period of mass unrest the likes of which have not been seen in China since 1989, The Guardian reported.

The Tiananmen Square massacre is one of the most sensitive topics in China. Discussion of the event, in which hundreds of protesters who had been calling for political reform were killed by the People’s Liberation Army, is strictly controlled.

US, global markets relieved as Congress raises govt borrowing limit, Biden had ‘Plan B’

ceiling bill on Wednesday night just days ahead of the June 5 deadline to avoid a catastrophic US default. Even as White House had initiated a Plan B simultaneously, if right wing hardliners refused to cooperate, heeding Donald Trump’s call to vote No, of invoking the 14th amendment to bypass the Congress. But luckily that did not come to that pass.

Washington, June 1 (IANS)

Global money markets and the White House heaved a sigh of relief as the Biden-McCarthy New Deal helped break the deadlock resulting in a bipartisan approach to passing the bill in the Congress to raise the borrowing limit beyond the $31.4 trillion it breached some months ago.

Many governments of different countries hold US Treasury bonds as reserves for their economy and enjoy interest payments from the US Treasury. Any failure to pass the bill would have resulted in a global economic crisis, economists said. The House passed the debt

The House voted in a bipartisan manner to pass Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt ceiling deal with President Joe Biden by a 314-117 vote. The bill now goes to the Senate ahead of Monday’s deadline to act or risk a catastrophic default on the nation’s debt. As Democrats hold the majority and the VP had a tie-breaking vote, passage is certain. Then it’s a matter of time that the President signs of on the bill to give a reprieve for the US Treasury which can take time, if needed, to prioritise interest payments to stakeholders. The vote was an acid test for McCarthy, who only months ago narrowly won the speakership in January and had faced threats to his gavel from far-right

members, NBC reported. Hard-line Republicans had rubbished the Biden-McCarthy agreement urging fellow members to vote NO, but the bill passed with bipartisan support after it cleared a key procedural vote earlier today. When it becomes law, the bill would suspend the debt ceiling for two years, through the next presidential election in 2024 and onto 2025, allowing for some modest spending cuts. McCarthy told a news conference he’s likely to seek more spending cuts from President Biden and new work requirements as Democrats have voted for them as per the deal.”It’s wonderful that they voted for it, because they are now on record, so they can’t sit there and yell, ‘This isn’t good.’ So I’ll bring something back.

“Let’s get the rest of the IRS agents, let’s get the rest of the work requirements, let’s cut more, because we are in a big debt,” McCarthy said. “This is fabulous. This is one of the best nights I’ve ever been here. I thought it would be hard. I thought it’d be almost

Seven in 10 Californians concerned about extreme weather: Survey

Studies (IGS) at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, showed that only 19 per cent of the respondents believe the recent extreme swings in the weather will not likely to be repeated in the near future while another 12 per cent have no opinion, reports Xinhua news agency.

San Francisco, June 2 (IANS)

Nearly seven in 10 Californians have said they expect the recent extreme swings in the US state’s weather to become more commonplace in the future due to climate change, according to a new survey.

The survey, conducted by the Institute of Governmental

Significant flooding is ongoing in some areas in California, which has experienced a multi-year extreme drought.

The poll also found that nearly a third of Californians say that the past year’s unusually wet weather, which produced heavy rains, record snowfalls and

flooding in some areas, impacted themselves or their families either “a great deal” (8 per cent) or “somewhat” (23 per cent).

In addition, a sizeable proportion (40 per cent) of those who reported being impacted a great deal say they are very concerned that they may need to move out of their area due to the risk of similar weather occurrences in the near future.

“The poll suggests that most California voters are taking the impact of extreme weather seriously and are concerned about the impact of climate change on their daily lives,” said IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler in a news release.

Biden will ‘at some point’ meet Xi: US NSA

Singapore, Li blamed Washington of “provoking bloc confrontation for self-interest” and said the US and its allies were making up rules to assert dominance over the region, reports CNN.

Any “severe confrontation” between the US and China would be “an unbearable disaster for the world”, the Defence Minister added.

impossible just to get to 218. Now I’ve found there’s a whole new day here. We’ve woken them up,” McCarthy claimed triumphantly after months of negotiations with the White House.

McCarthy didn’t talk to former President Donald Trump, known for his hardliner approach, and who had urged Republicans not to enable the passage of the bill if the GOP members did not get all that they wanted in the deal to allow the government to raise the borrowing limit.

Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, has placed the debt limit bill on the Senate calendar to set off the process for its passage by the senators to send it directly to the President Biden’s desk for a sign off to enact into law to allow government to borrow more money to pay interest to treasury bond owners across the globe and payouts to domestic welfare programmes including education and senior citizens and health programmes. White House had put a plan B in action in case the high-stakes talks with Republicans to raise the borrowing limit collapsed

and an economic disaster ensued. The White House was considering the unprecedented step of bypassing Congress altogether and invoking the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which states that “the validity of the public debt... shall not be questioned.”

President Biden was tensed up as time fell short for the inevitable court challenge to play out if he went down that road. But the idea was serious - so serious that the White House counsel’s office consulted at least two outside legal experts about the 14th Amendment just days before the deal was announced, people in the know said.

A lead House negotiator in the showdown with Biden, Rep. Garret Graves, told reporters on Wednesday that had Republicans spurned negotiations and let the nation default on its debt, it would have resulted “in the President trying to invoke the 14th Amendment”, as well as a missed opportunity for Republicans to press for spending cuts.

But that break-glass option wouldn’t be needed.

Biden falls on stage during Air Force Academy event, WH says ‘he’s fine’

Washington, June 2 (IANS) After handing out diplomas during a graduation event at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, President Joe Biden tripped on a sandbag and fell on stage, but the White House says “he’s fine”.

At the event on Thursday, Biden, who is the country’s oldest serving President at 80, had been standing for about an hour and a half to shake hands with each of the 921 graduating cadets, reports the BBC. The stumble began as Biden was jogging away from centre stage.

As he was moving toward his seat, he tripped, falling to the ground.

The president landed on his right hip before lifting himself up on his right hand, CNN reported.

A group of men, including an official with the Air Force Academy and two Secret Service agents, grasped onto Biden’s arms to help him back to his feet.

Footage of the incident showed the President appearing to point at one of two sandbags used to prop up his teleprompter as he was helped up by an Air Force official and two members of his Secret Service detail.

incident said said that “the whole thing is crazy”.

“I hope he wasn’t hurt... That’s not inspiring,” the BBC quoted Trump as saying from a campaign event in Iowa.

“You got to be careful about that because you don’t -- you don’t want that. Even if you have to tip toe down the ramp,” Trump said, apparently referring to his own careful walk off a stage that made headlines in 2020.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also reacted to the fall during a campaign event in New Hampshire, saying: “We hope and wish Joe Biden a swift recovery from any injuries he may have sustained.

Washington, June 5 (IANS) US

National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan said that President Joe Biden will “at some point” meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as the world’s two biggest economies work to resolve strained bilateral ties.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Sullivan said: “We will, I hope, soon see American officials engaging at senior levels with their Chinese counterparts over the coming months to continue that work. And then, at some point, we will see President Biden and President Xi come back together again.

“There is nothing inconsistent with, on the one hand, competing vigorously in important domains on economics and technology, and also ensuring that that competition does not veer into conflict or confrontation. That is the firm conviction of President Biden.”

The NSA’s remarks came just hours after Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu accused the US of trying to destabilise the Indo-Pacific region after warships from the two countries were involved in a near collision.

In an address to the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in

On Saturday, the US had accused a Chinese warship of cutting in front of an American vessel that was taking part in a joint exercise with the Canadian navy in the Taiwan Strait, forcing the American vessel to slow down to avoid a collision.

The incident marked the second time in two weeks that Chinese military personnel have engaged in aggressive maneuvers in the vicinity of US military personnel near China’s border.

Last week, a Chinese fighter jet conducted an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” during an intercept of a US spy plane in international airspace over the South China Sea.

He was seen walking back to his seat unassisted and later jogging back to his motorcade when the ceremony ended shortly after the accident.

Addressing reporters after stepping off Marine One Thursday evening, the President joked and said, “I got sandbagged”.

“He’s fine. There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands,” White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt wrote on Twitter.

At a regular press conference later in the day, White House Press Secretary Karine JeanPierre further assured that Biden was feeling “totally fine” and had boarded the plane flashing “a big smile”.

Meanwhile, Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump reacted to the

“But we also wish the United States of America a swift recovery from the injuries it has sustained because of Joe Biden and his policies.”

Biden has had previous stumbles in public, including falling to the ground during a bike ride last year in Delaware and he was also been seen slipping on the stairs as he boards Air Force One, reports CNN.

Despite those incidents, Biden’s doctor has said is physically fit to serve in office. I

n recent physicals, Biden’s doctor has examined the President’s stiff gait, determining it was a result of “wear and tear” changes on Biden’s spine. The most recent physical determined the condition was unchanged, albeit with “possibly tighter hamstrings and calves”.

5 shot dead in Israel’s Arab town: Police

were shot in Kafr Kanna, another Arab town north of Nazareth. According to statements from Magen David Adom and the police, they were hit by errant fire and suffered critical injuries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the killings in a video statement, expressing his “shock” and vowing to take immediate action. He pledged to reinforce police forces and deploy the Shin Bet security service, traditionally focused on terrorism, to combat the criminal organizations responsible for the violence.

Iran says its missile activities ‘conventional’

Tehran, June 9 (IANS) The Iranian Foreign Ministry has said that Iran’s missile activities are “conventional and defensive”, refuting some Western remarks on the matter as “groundless and meddlesome”.

In response to criticism voiced by the US, France and the UK about Tehran unveiling a hypersonic missile, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani noted on Thursday that the activities are “completely legitimate based on international law”, Xinhua news agency reported.

He noted that the AUKUS trilateral security agreement, under which the United States and Britain will assist Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, was a blatant example of violating the aims and objectives of the NonProliferation Treaty.

Iran on Tuesday unveiled the domestically-developed hypersonic missile Fattah in the capital Tehran, news agency IRNA reported.

Jerusalem, June 9 (IANS) Five Arab citizens of Israel were killed in a shooting in northern Israel amid mounting criticism over the government’s alleged inaction in addressing an “escalating crime” within Arab society.

The local Magen David Adom rescue service said in a press release that the five men were evacuated to the English Hospital in Nazareth. Their deaths were pronounced at the hospital, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement issued by the

police.

The police said that the shooting occurred outside a car wash in Yafa, an Arab town near the city of Nazareth. They described the incident as a criminal act but did not provide further details.

Israel’s state-owned Kan TV news reported that the shooting appeared to be a result of an ongoing conflict between two local crime families in the northern region.

Also on Thursday, a three-yearold girl and a man in his 30s, both Arab citizens of Israel,

Since the start of 2023, at least 96 Arab citizens of Israel have been killed amid soaring crime rates within Arab society, according to the police. Arab lawmakers and activists have accused the Israeli government of neglecting law enforcement in Arab towns, which they perceive as part of a broader discrimination against Arabs in the country.

Israeli Arabs, who constitute approximately 20 percent of the country’s 9.7 million population, are descendants of the Palestinians who stayed put during the 1948 Israeli War of Independence.

Egypt’s Suez Canal resumes traffic after stranded tanker freed

oil tanker that carried the flag of Malta crossing the artificial waterway from north to south, Rabie said, adding that the tanker would resume passage immediately after fixation, Xinhua news agency reported.

Kanaani said that such Western states “with track records of violating international obligations in non-proliferation have no right to comment on Iran’s legitimate capabilities”.

The missile boasts high tactical capabilities and is equipped with a solid-fuel propulsion system and a second-stage mobile nozzle, which allow it to reach a velocity of up to 15 Mach (5104.35 meters per second) and a range of 1,400 km, according to IRNA.

Egyptian, Israeli defence ministers discuss deadly border shootout

Cairo, June 4 (IANS) Egyptian Minister of Defence and Military Production Mohamed Zaki and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant discussed the deadly shootout that left three Israeli soldiers and one Egyptian policeman dead. During a phone conversation, the two ministers also discussed joint coordination to take the necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future, the Egyptian Armed Forces said on Saturday in a statement.

Zaki extended condolences to the victims of the incident from both sides, Xinhua news agency reported.

pursuit of drug smugglers by the Egyptian security personnel near the border with Israel.

Cairo, June 5 (IANS) An oil tanker that broke down in Egypt’s Suez Canal has been towed away, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Osama Rabie said. “Traffic in both directions

had resumed as normal after tugboats managed to move the stranded tanker,” he added on Sunday.

The SCA team reacted effectively to the technical failure in SEAVIGOUR, a 274-metre

Earlier on Sunday, the SCA had deployed three tugboats to pull the tanker which caused brief delays in the Suez Canal.

The Suez Canal is a major lifeline for global seaborne trade. Nearly 12 per cent of the world trade volume passes through the artificial canal, a major source of hard currency for Egypt.

Israel’s firefighters put out 220 fires amid extreme heatwave

crews overcame 220 fire incidents in open areas across Israel due to an extreme heatwave that hit the country, with no serious casualties reported, according to the country’s National Fire and Rescue Authority.

In several places in central and southern Israel, the temperature exceeded 43 degrees Celsius, breaking all-time records for June, showed data from the Israel Meteorological Service on Friday.

the fire authority issued an order prohibiting the lighting of fires throughout the country on Friday between 8 a.m. and midnight, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Israel Electric Corporation, an energy company, reported it had to carry out proactive power outages across the country due to peak electricity demands, fires that damaged infrastructure, and electricity breakdowns caused by abnormal loads.

Earlier on Saturday, three Israeli soldiers and a member of Egyptian security forces were killed in a shootout along the border between the two countries. The Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement that the assailant who killed the three soldiers was an Egyptian policeman. The Egyptian Army said that three Israeli soldiers and a member of Egyptian security forces were killed earlier on Saturday in a shootout during a

Such confrontations along the Israel-Egypt border are rare as the two countries have maintained close security ties under a peace agreement signed by the two sides in 1979.

The Israeli military frequently carry out search-and-arrest operations on the common border to prevent drug and weapons smuggling. In 2014, Israel completed the construction of a 242-km barrier along the shared border with Egypt, in an attempt to stop illegal immigration from African countries into Israel.

10 IS militants killed in attacks in Iraq

Jerusalem, June 3 (IANS) Fire

In preparation for the heatwave,

Jordan’s Crown Prince weds Saudi architect in lavish wedding

to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, through her mother, who hails from the kingdom’s prominent Al-Sudairi family.

The 28-year-old Crown Prince and Princess Rajwa headed to the Al Hussainiya Palace in a red motorcade that drove through the capital of Amman after the ceremony. Many Jordanians lined up along the streets leading to the Al Hussainiya Palace to celebrate the royal marriage.

Amman, June 2 (IANS) Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II married Saudi Arabian architect Rajwa Al-Saif during a lavish wedding ceremony attended by Arab and foreign dignitaries, the Royal Hashemite Court announced.

At the wedding ceremony held at

the Zahran Palace on Thursday, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania warmly welcomed international royals and heads of state, including Britain’s Prince and Princess of Wales and US First Lady Jill Biden, reports Xinhua news agency.

The 29-year-old bride is related

Upon arrival at the Al Hussainiya Palace, King Abdullah and Queen Rania hosted a wedding reception, which was attended by members of the royal family and members of the Al-Saif family, as well as the invited guests.

Baghdad, June 4 (IANS) At least 10 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in attacks targeting IS hideouts in Iraq’s eastern province of Diyala during the past 24 hours, the Iraqi military said.

Based on intelligence reports, Iraqi air forces conducted airstrikes on IS hideouts in the Himreen mountain range of northern Diyala on Friday and Saturday, destroying the hideouts and killing seven IS militants in total, according to a statement on Saturday issued by the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC).

According to the statement, the commandos of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service carried out attacks on IS

hideouts in the same area on Saturday, killing another three IS militants, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the warplanes bombarded an IS hideout in the rugged area of Wadi al-Shay, southwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, nearly 250 km north of the capital Baghdad, destroying the hideout and killing all militants inside, the JOC said in a separate statement, without giving exact fatality count.

The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted into urban centres, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.

Russian tourist killed in shark attack in Egypt

a type of tiger shark as being behind the attack, Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad said, confirming that the shark was caught and sent to the Ministry’s labs for examination. He called on holidaymakers to stick to the instructions and regulations in the region when dealing with natural resources of the Red Sea to save their life.

Over 100 refugees flown out of Libya for resettlement in Norway

Cairo, June 9 (IANS) A Russian tourist was killed in a shark attack in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Hurghada.

The Consulate General of Russia in Hurghada confirmed the death of the 24-year-old man as “a result of a shark attack” on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency The Consulate posted a warning on its Facebook page to Russian nationals currently in Hurghada to remain vigilant when they are in the sea and to strictly follow the Egyptian authorities’

instructions in terms of swimming and diving ban.

In response to the attack, the Egyptian Ministry of Environment has stopped swimming, snorkeling and other water sports in the Red Sea between Al-Gouna resort and Soma Bay for two days starting from Friday to conduct investigations and surveys.

A video circulated on social media showed the man being torn apart into two parts by a huge shark.

An Egyptian team has identified

The lifeguards of the hotel where the victim was staying, found one part of his body, a source told Xinhua. Another two tourists were also wounded in the shark attack, the source added.

Shark attacks are relatively rare at the Red Sea resorts in Egypt, but authorities last year had closed off a stretch of the country’s Red Sea coastline after two tourists were killed. Egypt’s Red Sea resorts, especially Hurghada, are popular destinations for Russian tourists.

Yemen urges int’l support for UN plan to avert looming oil tanker disaster

Carrying 1.1 million barrel of oil, the tanker has not undergone necessary maintenance due to the Yemeni war, posing a severe risk of an imminent and catastrophic oil spill.

On Tuesday, the engineering ship “Ndeavor” sailing from Djibouti arrived at the location of the deteriorating oil tanker, the UN office in Yemen confirmed in a statement.

Tripoli, June 2 (IANS) The UNHCR has said that more than 100 refugees, who will be resettled in Norway, have been flown out of Libya.

“Yesterday (May 31), more than 100 refugees left Libya for the Emergency Transit Centre in Romania, where they will be processed for their resettlement to Norway,” the UNHCR said on Thursday in a statement posted on its Facebook page. The evacuated refugees included individuals from Sudan, Eritrea,

Syria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, with several women and children at heightened risk, said the statement as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. The UNHCR urged other states to “consider offering similar safe and legal pathways for asylum-seekers and refugees in need of international protection”. Since 2017, the UNHCR has resettled more than 3,400 refugees to Europe, Canada and Australia, the statement added.

Egypt, Qatar to launch relief initiative for Sudan

Cairo, June 3 (IANS) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani have agreed to launch a joint initiative to support and provide relief to people in Sudan.

Aden (Yemen), June 2 (IANS)

Yemen urged international society to fund a UN plan to prevent a huge oil tanker moored off in the Red Sea from a catastrophic oil spill.

The country’s state-run Saba news agency reported on Thursday that the urgent call was made by Yemen’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdullah Al-Saadi, during a session of the UN’s General Assembly held on Wednesday. In a statement, Al-Saadi said that

the Yemeni side alone had been unable to address the oil spill threat and other environmental risks posed by the decaying FSO Safer due to depleted government resources during the eight-year civil war, calling for international financial support for the underfunded UN plan.

FSO Safer is a floating oil storage and offloading vessel that is moored in the Red Sea north of the Houthi-controlled city of Hodeidah in Yemen, Xinhua news agency reported.

It said that the ship would start working soon to make the super oil tanker safer before the crude oil extraction process begins.

The UN said in March that it had purchased a super oil tanker, named “Nautica,” to offload the more than one-million-barrel crude oil on FSO Safer. In April, the UN said it had received firm commitments for $95 million for the FSO Safer rescue plan, adding it still needs another $34 million to continue the project.

Iranian FM lauds BRICS upholder of mutilateralism, expresses Iran’s interest to join in

BRICS members standing at a “very good” level and having a total trade of more than $30 billion with them, Xinhua news agency reported.

Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Cape Town on Thursday at the invitation of his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor to attend the meeting.

During a phone conversation, both leaders stressed that the initiative aims to provide humanitarian and relief services to Sudanese people, especially refugees, the Egyptian presidency said on Friday in a statement. The two leaders also stressed the importance of intensive work to contain the humanitarian situation in Sudan, facilitating the flow of relief aid, and sparing civilians the repercussions of the fighting, according to the statement.

Sudan has witnessed deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in capital Khartoum and other areas since April 15, Xinhua news

agency reported.

According to the Sudanese Doctors Union, the number of civilian deaths since the beginning of the clashes has risen to 863 with 3,531 injuries.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently said that more than one million people have been displaced since the conflict began, fleeing to safer locations inside and outside Sudan.

New ‘positive’ atmosphere in Mideast benefits regional states: Iranian FM

Tehran, June 3 (IANS) The Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said that the new “positive” atmosphere in the Middle East is in the interests of all regional states, according to a statement published on the Foreign Ministry’s website.

Tehran, June 3 (IANS) Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein AmirAbdollahian has said that BRICS member states’ combined efforts to strengthen multilateralism have enabled the block to secure an important position in global relations and interactions.

Speaking at the Friends of BRICS meeting in South Africa, AmirAbdollahian noted that such a position will certainly be further enhanced if other like-minded powers would join the group, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Friday in a statement.

Iran can be a “reliable” partner

for BRICS in the future, the Minister said, stressing that the country has rich experience of active participation in international bodies and initiatives, abundant energy resources, cost-effective transport and transit networks, educated and skillful workforce, scientific and tech achievements, and “strong” dedication and determination to contribute to a fair world order. He added Iran is among the pioneers of promoting multilateralism in the world, with its bilateral political and economic relations with the

During his meeting with Pandor, the Iranian Minister expressed hope that the BRICS members would soon decide on a mechanism for recruiting new members.

For his part, Pandor assured him that the BRICS states will submit the results of the discussion on recruiting mechanism to the summit of the BRICS heads of state that her country hosts in August.

BRICS is the acronym for an emerging-market bloc that groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. South Africa assumed the BRICS presidency on January 1, 2023, taking over from China.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks on Friday in a meeting with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the Friends of BRICS meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa, where they discussed the bilateral and regional issues of common interest.

Noting a recent visit by the UAE Minister of State to Iran, the Iranian Foreign Minister said the two sides had agreed on holding a joint economic commission meeting to improve bilateral trade and economic relations.

For his part, the UAE Foreign Minister underlined the necessity of expanding bilateral relations in all areas, including the trade and economic fields, Xinhua news agency reported. The UAE will invite Iranian

President Ebrahim Raisi to the 28th UN climate conference it will host in November, he said. Relations between Iran and the UAE have been improving over the past months, especially after Iran and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on the resumption of their bilateral ties in March.

Iran appointed its first ambassador to the UAE since 2016 in early April, after the UAE reinstated its ambassador in Tehran in September 2022.

In 2016, the UAE downgraded its relations with Iran after Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran.

Typhoon Mawar likely to bring torrential rain to Japan’s Okinawa

island from Thursday evening to Friday, it added.

Strong winds are likely to affect Okinawa as well as Kagoshima prefecture’s Amami region through Friday.

Australia govt decides to triple size of Macquarie Island Marine Park

Tokyo, June 1 (IANS) Typhoon Mawar is expected to approach Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa between Thursday evening and Friday, prompting the weather agency to warn of violent winds, high waves and torrential rain.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said that as of noon on Thursday, typhoon Mawar was

travelling north-northeast at 15 km per hour, located about 80 km southeast of Okinawa’s Miyakojima Island, reports Xinhua news agency.

The storm, with winds of up to 108 km per hour near its centre and gusts of up to 144 km per hour, is expected to gradually shift its trajectory eastward and come closest to Okinawa’s main

Maximum instantaneous wind speeds are expected to reach 126 km per hour in those regions, according to the JMA. Rain will also intensify as the storm approaches.

In the 24 hours through noon on Friday, the Okinawa and Amami regions are expected to get 150 mm of rain, said the JMA. Weather officials warned residents of violent winds and high waves, urging caution against mudslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers.

Tropical storm Mawar brings heavy rain to wide swathes of Japan

Canberra, June 5 (IANS)

Tokyo, June 3 (IANS) Wide swathes of Japan are being hit by heavy downpours, especially in western regions, owing to bands of thick thunderclouds formed due to Tropical Storm Mawar’s presence in the Pacific, weather officials said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) on Friday said that as well as causing torrential rain in Kochi, Wakayama, and Nara

prefectures in western Japan, the band of thunderclouds was also causing heavy rain in the Tokai and Kanto-koshin region, which includes Tokyo.

The agency said conditions in the Kanto-koshin region could worsen on Saturday as more thunderclouds are expected to form, Xinhua news agency reported.

The weather agency also said the

bands of thick thunderclouds would affect regions for a protracted period from western to eastern Japan as the clouds and moist air from Tropical Storm Mawar hit a weather front. Heavy rain advisories were issued by the JMA on Friday for Kochi, Wakayama, and Nara prefectures, warning of possible landslides and floods in low-lying areas, as well as swollen rivers breaching their banks. Weather officials said Mawar is currently moving eastward on waters near Amami Island in Kagoshima prefecture.

Along with the Okinawa and Amami regions, weather officials said that areas in Kyushu are now within the storm’s zone of strong winds, and have warned residents to be vigilant of powerful wind gusts, floods, landslides, and lightning.

Unprecedented heat and drought threaten world’s wheat supply: Study

simultaneously, or at the same time as other staple crops, it could have serious impacts on the price and availability of food around the world. The study shows the range of conditions that people need to prepare for, even if they haven’t occurred yet.

The Australian government on Monday announced its decision to triple the size of the Macquarie Island Marine Park for world ocean protection. Under the expansion, the park, sitting between Tasmania and Antarctica, will grow from 162,000 square km to 475,465 square km, reports Xinhua news agency. Sitting between Tasmania and Antarctica, Macquarie Island and the surrounding waters are home to some of the world’s most iconic species including the endemic royal penguin, rockhopper penguin, subantarctic fur seal, southern elephant seal, black-browed albatross and the grey petrel. Ninety-three per cent or 385,000 square km of the park -- an area larger than Germany -- will be completely closed to fishing, mining and other extractive activities, making a globally significant contribution to the health and resilience of the oceans.

Following two months of public

consultation, the government has signed off on the marine park design. Over 14,700 submissions were received through the process, with more than 99 per cent in support.

Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek’s decision incorporates minor adjustments to the Patagonian Toothfish fishing zone in response to feedback provided by the sustainable commercial fishing industry that operate around Macquarie Island.

The expanded marine park will not impact their existing operations.

This decision means marine parks will make up over 48 per cent of Australian oceans.

“I want to protect our oceans for our kids and grandkids. This announcement is part of our mission to conserve Australia’s special places, particularly those that are home to threatened species,” the Minister was quoted as saying in an official statement. “Macquarie Island is an exceptional place. It’s a remote wildlife wonderland...”

New York, June 2 (IANS) The likelihood of extreme temperatures that could affect crop yields has increased significantly in wheat-producing regions of the US and China, finds a study. The findings, published in journals npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, predict heat waves that happened approximately once every hundred years in 1981 are now likely to happen once every six years in the Midwestern US and once every 16 years in Northeastern China. Both the US and China are considered global breadbaskets -- areas that produce significant amounts of the world’s grains. If these crops were to fail

“The historical record is no longer a good representation of what we can expect for the future,” said lead author Erin Coughlan de Perez, Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.

“We live in a changed climate and people are underestimating current-day possibilities for extreme events,” Coughlan de Perez said.

According to the most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the average global surface temperature in the last decade was 1.1 degrees Celsius higher than it was between 1850 and 1900. For the study, Coughlan de Perez and her team collected a large group of seasonal forecasts from the past 40 years.

They used this ensemble to generate thousands of possible variations in temperature and rainfall.

Winter wheat crops start their growth in the fall and are harvested the following summer. High temperatures in spring, when the plant is flowering, can affect the wheat’s development. At temperatures over 27.8 degrees Celsius, the plants start to suffer from heat stress. At temperatures over 32.8 degrees Celsius, important enzymes in the wheat start to break down. Record-breaking heat also tends to be associated with record-breaking drought, Coughlan de Perez said. The combination of these two hazards could severely impact the growing season. The researchers also identified regional and global atmospheric circulation patterns that could lead to severely hot and dry events. Their results can help inform climate adaptation plans in these regions and ensure that stakeholders can prepare for the unprecedented events to come.

Delhi’s

records coolest May in 36 years

New Delhi, June 1 (IANS) Delhi experienced its most coolest and refreshing May after 36 years as abundant rainfall contributed to a significant drop in the average maximum temperature this year. On Wednesday, the maximum temperature settled at 36.8 degrees Celsius.

Residents of the national capital also witnessed the beginning of June with a cooler weather as the skies remained overcast and the lingering effect of the recent rainfall prevailed.

The Safdarjung Observatory, the city’s main weather station, documented a minimum temperature of 20.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning, which was six degrees below the normal.

The India Meteorological

Department (IMD) has forecast predominantly cloudy skies, accompanied by light rainfall and gusty winds throughout the day. The maximum temperature is expected to reach around 35 degrees Celsius, as per the IMD’s predictions

“Light intensity rain/drizzle would occur over and adjoining areas of many places of Delhi, NCR ( Hindon AF Station, Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Manesar, Ballabhgarh) Mattanhail, Jhajjar, Farukhnagar, Sohana, Palwal, Aurangabad, Hodal (Haryana) Nandgaon, Barsana, Raya, Mathura, Tundla, Agra, Jajau (U.P.) Deeg, Bharatpur (Rajasthan) during next 2 hours,” the IMD said in a tweet.

OUR TAKE

Human Rights for all - a work in progress

As the world commemorates the 30th anniversary of the World Conference on Human Rights which was organized in Vienna in 1993, paving the way for the creation of the UN Human Rights Office, it is an opportunity to pause and consider how far the human rights situation has improved or worsened in the world today. To commemorate the occasion, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is in Vienna, from 5 to 8 June for a series of events which are being organized by the Austrian government in association with the UN Human Rights Office. Even as the celebrations are going on in full swing on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are pertinent issues concerning human rights and the impunity with which these rights are being violated in different parts of the world.

To understand human rights and the intrinsic values they possess, there is a need to visualize a world that lacks empathy and

Water wars: The new normal?

By Asad Mirza

The recent border clashes between Iran and Afghanistan have a really dreaded portent for the future, both at the local and global levels, besides being a pointer to how we have managed our environment resources in a foolish manner.

compassion for others. Human beings, no matter which part of the world they belong to or which section of the society they are affiliated with, are entitled to rights whether civil, political, economic, social or cultural in nature, because they are all inherent to the dignity of every person. The world today abhors slavery, colonialism, imperialism, autocratic rule and authoritarian governments for the sole reason that these systems take away the right of a human being to lead a life of dignity sans discrimination and hatred; a social, political, economic and cultural system that recognizes and implements rule of law with the characteristics of treating everyone equally before law, and ensuring justice for all. The institution of human rights is an obligation for all governments, institutions, and people at large to recognize that all human beings have the right to lead a dignified life, and desist from doing acts that take away such a right from any human being inhabiting the earth.

What the world is yet to learn from Covid-19 pandemic

another, at least that’s what it seemed to a layman.

As per reports from the Iranian Tasnim News Agency, deadly clashes broke out between border guards and the Afghan soldiers in the border area encompassing the Zabul district of Sistan and Baluchestan province on the Iranian side and the Keng district of Nimruz province in Afghanistan.

The deadly clashes resulted in death of two Iranian border guards in clashes with Taliban forces, while the Iranians, on their part, claimed to have killed 12 Taliban soldiers. Perplexingly, the issue over which tensions between the two neighbours ran high is how to divide the waters of the Helmand River, which the two nations must share.

Iran accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers of violating a 1973 treaty by restricting the flow of water from the Helmand River to Iran’s parched eastern regions, an accusation denied by the Taliban.

China’s Xinhua news agency reported that Iranian MP HosseinAli Shahriari, who represents Zahidan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province, charged the Taliban government in Afghanistan with stopping up the flow of the Helmand River and storing extra water in the Kamal Khan Dam and other reservoirs. He complained that the Afghans have recently built new dams that are storing water that would otherwise have flowed to Iran.

Though this development might be a shocking news to many, however this is not a new phenomenon but was bound to happen not just between Iran and Afghanistan but amongst other countries too. Journalist Fatemeh Aman wrote a good summary of this conflict for the Atlantic Council, noting that drought and climate change have exacerbated the tensions over water sharing. Both countries have built dams on the Helmand and irrigated off it, often to raise water-hungry crops not suitable to this arid environment.

Fatemeh noted that Helmand is the longest river in Afghanistan, constituting over 40 per cent of Afghanistan’s surface water. With 95 per cent of the Helmand located in Afghanistan, it is a critical source of livelihood for the country’s southern and southwestern provinces. The river further flows into Iran’s arid southwest to feed the Hamoun wetlands on the Iranian side and lakes on the Afghan side, but damming, irrigation, and drought have partially dried these up, creating conditions for toxic dust clouds.

As per environmentalists, Iran and Afghanistan are projected to heat up faster than the world average, twice as fast, in fact. Already, poor water management and extra heat have had a devastating effect on the Helmand basin. Extra heat dries

out the soil and contributes to more intense and more frequent droughts. It also causes greater and more rapid evaporation of water from lakes and rivers. The water resources are critical for people living in the increasingly drought-prone Sistan and Baluchestan region; in addition the Sistan wetland ecosystem also supports flamingos, pelicans, and other migratory birds. And while the history of conflict over the Helmand River is long, the scenario is similar to conflicts over water in other regions of the world. Many social scientists foresee water wars as a result. This border clash is a small omen of bigger conflicts to come.

Tensions between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the latter’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and Blue Nile River resources haven’t been resolved in years, with both Egypt and Ethiopia threatening a military response at various points. Last year, Russian troops destroyed a Dnieper River dam that diverted water away from Crimea and into Ukraine. Armed groups in Mali, Somalia and beyond destroyed water infrastructure needed by civilians. Mexico, Chile, Israel and Palestine, Kenya and Peru - the Water Conflict Chronology database lists hundreds of conflicts over water in the modern era, as well as across history.

Syria back in the Arab-fold

By Asad Mirza

When the Covid-19 pandemic struck the world in late 2019 and through 2020, the whole world was, as it was apparent, totally unprepared and clueless in dealing with the situation. It unfolded more like some sort of a dystopian drama with people dying in hordes, graves overflowing with bodies, people terrorized to the extent that is seen only when an unknown enemy strikes without any provocation. Media, more so social media, did its part remarkably in adding to the already prevailing confusion. And conspiracy theories were making rounds. New YouTube channels were opened, and online money-making machines ran amok. It was a time which was comparable, quite easily, to any of the many horror movies watched the world over by a very courageous audience. The medical fraternity had their own share of confusion, as statements from experts of various denominations were in the beginning conspicuous by their absence, followed by a period when they came thick and fast, mostly contradicting one

How does one decode a pandemic of this magnitude? Looking back, one needs to appreciate the fact that pandemics come at a time when nature has been severely damaged, and a pandemic is the only recourse left for nature to assert its authority. The worst disservice conspiracy theorists do to humankind is to take away their attention from the real causes underlying a phenomenon. To think of Covid-19 as some sort of a biological warfare unleashed by a certain country is to show an utter sense of irresponsibility in not realizing the real cause. Pathogens do not need humans to wage a war against other creatures, including the humans. They are potent enough to do so without any assistance from any human agency to fulfill their own purposes. In conditions of severe climate change, environmental pollution, unleashing of harmful radiations, and other natural and human causes, pathogens adapt quickly through mutations to ensure their survival.

This is known to most of the biology students already. If indiscriminate deforestation takes place, and many species of wildlife are lost, pathogens that they had safely harbored within themselves would be unleashed in the atmosphere. And these pathogens would invariably look for a new host because that is their nature, and this is the way they survive and thrive.

After more than a dozen years of ostracism by regional Arab and western leaders, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is officially back in the Arab fold, he was warmly embraced by regional leaders at the Arab League summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last week. Apparently it seems that the Arab League has lost its meaning and purpose and it is demonstrated by the manner in which member states takes its sessions in a non-serious manner. Morocco declined to host a summit in 2016, calling the event a waste of time.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, skipped last year’s gathering in Algeria on medical grounds. Heads of state are sometimes spotted falling asleep at the fora meetings. But it seems that at the moment no one would relish the regional Arab body more than Assad, who seemed euphoric to be invited to the Arab Summit. Syria was suspended from the league in 2011, when Assad began a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests that plunged the country into a civil war Assad’s deployment of chemical weapons against his own people along with mass arrests, torture and disappearances and killing of more than 3 million civilians in the country have no parallel elsewhere. This is a legacy, which

he inherited from his father, Hafez al-Assad, who reportedly massacred more than 10,000 people in the city of Hama during a 1982 siege.

On May 7 however, the regional Arab body agreed to re-admit Syria to its fold. Though an invitation from a dull talking shop crammed with dictators may seem unappealing to many but to Assad, it is the culmination of a long effort to end his Arab isolation - and, he may hope, another step towards acceptance in the West.

US stand on Syria

However, Assad’s regional Arab acceptance creates a “problem” for the US, which continues to oppose any sort of normalising ties with the Syrian government but has not been able to force its Arab partners from restoring ties with Damascus. US officials maintain that though they do not back normalisation with Assad, they share the objectives that restored relations could bring, including expanding

humanitarian access to conflict-torn regions, combating IS, reducing Iran’s influence and countering the trafficking of the drug Captagon.

Mona Yacoubian, vice president of the Middle East and North Africa centre at the US Institute of Peace (USIP), a think tank funded by the US Congress, told Al Jazeera that the US position under President Joe Biden reflects a “tricky, gnarly, complex challenge”.

But without accountability for Syrian government abuses, she added, Washington will not normalise its relations with Damascus or ease its heavy sanctions, including the blocking of foreign reconstruction funds.

Making the US stand quite clear, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week, “We do not believe that Syria merits readmission to the Arab League”. Still, Blinken said Washington and its Arab allies have broader common objectives in Syria.

FIFA U20 WC: Debutants Israel knockout Brazil to enter semifinal

French Open: Miyu Kato, Tim Puetz clinch mixed doubles title

San Juan (Argentina), June 4 (IANS) A solo goal scored by Dor Turgeman saw debutants

Israel come from behind to seal a historic 3-2 victory over Brazil and enter the FIFA U-20 World Cup semifinal, here at San Juan Stadium.

With the win on Saturday, Israel became the first debutant to reach the semifinals of a FIFA U-20 World Cup in eight years, since Senegal achieved the feat in 2015.

Israel will now play the winner

of the match between USA and Uruguay in the semifinals. Israel had the better of the first half, but Brazil had its best chance. Marcos Leonardo’s excellent strike put Brazil ahead at the start of the second half. But Anan Khalaili equalised with the header. Kaique Rocha then pulled off a superb save to deny Turgeman and send the game to extra time.

Andrey Santos’s exquisite flick set up Matheus Nascimento to restore Brazil’s lead, but Hamza

Shibli turned a cross in at the back post immediately to level things up again.

The decisive moment came at the end of the first half of extra time when Turgeman dribbled through Brazil’s defense before unleashing an unstoppable curler past Kaique.

An incredible second period of extra time saw Israel fail to score from the penalty spot twice, but Ofir Haim’s side were able to hold on and complete an historic victory.

Paris, June 8 (IANS) Japan’s Miyu Kato and Germany’s Tim Puetz clinched the French Open mixed doubles title on Thursday, defeating Bianca Andreescu and Michael Venus 4-6, 6-4, [10-6] in the final, here.

The French Open is Kato’s first Grand Slam title and capped off an emotional week for the 28-year-old Japanese doubles specialist, who was disqualified from the women’s doubles competition after inadvertently hitting a ball girl with a ball in the third-round match.

“It has been really challenging for me for the past few days. I want to thank all the players, coaches,

everyone for their heartfelt messages of support,” Kato was quoted as saying by WTA. Andreescu and Venus climbed from a break down to take the opening set (4-6) but Kato and Puetz struck back to level the match, taking the second set 6-4.

The Japanese/German duo built a 6-3 lead in the tiebreak after Venus struck a double-fault down 4-3 and Kato followed with courageous work at the net to extend the lead.

Kato and Puetz rode their momentum to the win, sealing the match after Venus’ forehand fell into the net.

LPL: Looking forward to have a great experience with Colombo Strikers, says Babar Azam

League, in what is the team’s first foray into the tournament and star batter is looking forward to have a great experience with the side.

The Colombo franchise will be closely watched and followed by the fans as they hope to see Babar destroy bowling attacks with immense grace. The top-order batter has amassed a whopping 9201 runs in 260 T20s at a brilliant average of 44.02.

for

Babar, who is also one of the first cricketers to join the Harvard Business School’s executive education program, along with Pakistan teammate Muhammad Rizwan, recently met up with Colombo Strikers’ owner Sagar Khanna for a chat ahead of the

Lanka Premier League 2023, which will begin on the July 31. The player auction for the Lanka Premier League is on June 14 and the Colombo Strikers will hope to sign some of the most talented players up for grabs. Along with Babar, Matheesha Pathirana, Naseem Shah and Chamika Karunarathne are already included in the squad for the Colombo Strikers. “It was great to catch up with Sagar and talk about cricket. Sagar is a fantastic person to work with and is quite keen and knowledgeable when it comes to the game of cricket. I hope to have more such conversations and chats with him in the future,” Babar was quoted as

saying in a media release.

“The Lanka Premier League with the Colombo Strikers will be a great experience for me and the others, with this kind of a management, who is always backing the players,” he added.

“Babar is a superb player and an inspiration to all the youngsters. His batting abilities and captaincy is fantastic and I am very happy that we are working together at the Colombo Strikers. It is always nice to talk cricket with him, and even better when it happens in person,” said Sagar Khanna.

The Colombo Strikers will be in action in their first season of the Lanka Premier League in July-August 2023.

WTC Final: Michael Neser named as replacement for Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s squad

against India starting at The Oval from June 7. As per the International Cricket Council (ICC), Hazlewood has been ruled out of the marquee match due to his ongoing left Achilles and left side issue.

Neser, who has played two Tests and as many ODIs for Australia, has been brought in for the WTC Final squad after his inclusion was approved by the Event Technical Committee.

Hazlewood had also missed this

summers due to side strains. His absence now means that Neser and specialist pacer Scott Boland are in contention for the third pacer slot and partner with captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

Chief selector George Bailey said Hazlewood should be available for selection for the first Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston, starting from June 16.

London, June 4 (IANS) Fastbowling all-rounder Michael Neser has been named as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood in Australias squad for the World Test Championship Final clash

‘ear’s tour of India due to a left Achilles tendon issue, which delayed his arrival in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. He then left the tournament after playing only three games for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) due to a side issue.

Hazlewood had also missed a majority of the last two home

“Josh was very, very close to being given the green light but we are cognisant that our upcoming schedule means this is not a one-off Test match of us,” Bailey was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Injuries in the last two years have meant Hazlewood has played only four of Australia’s last 19 Test matches and has not featured in consecutive

first-class games since early 2021. He was picked for the WTC Final squad subject to coming through heavy training loads. He had said to the ICC on May 31 that he was hopeful of being ready for the clash at The Oval and had even bowled a lot in the training session on Saturday. On the other hand, Neser has scored 311 runs and taken 19 wickets, with scores of 123, 86 and 90 so far being a standout from his time in the county championship with Glamorgan. Though he was left out of the initial 17-man Australia squad for the WTC Final and Ashes, Neser and Sean Abbott were training with the Test side at Beckenham. “Michael’s County form has been strong and knowing that he was going to be close by allowed for him to keep playing and for us

to be able to call on him. He is a great strength to have as part of the fast bowling group.”

“This will give Josh an ideal preparation leading into Edgbaston. With six Test matches in a little over seven weeks we will need all of our fast bowling assets,” added Bailey, the former Australia cricketer.

Updated Australia squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith (vice-captain), Mitchell Starc and David Warner Standby players: Mitch Marsh, Matthew Renshaw

Colombo, June 4 (IANS) Pakistan captain Babar Azam will turn out

the Colombo Strikers in the upcoming season Lanka Premier

but to demand a fair assessment from a competent court.”

He said the IBA’s case is a “watershed moment for all international federations as what is now is a litmus test to gauge the level of apathy within IFs and the Olympic movement”.

Golf: China’s Yuan enjoys fun 68 to trail by one at Canadian Open

Toronto (Canada), June 9 (IANS) China’s Carl Yuan produced some of his best golf in months with a stellar 4-under 68 in the first round of the Canadian Open, leaving him one shot off the lead on a jam-packed leaderboard.

Lausanne (Switzerland), June 8

(IANS) The International Boxing Association (IBA) has rejected as “truly abhorrent” and “purely political” the recommendation by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to withdraw IBA’s recognition over failure to resolve governance issues.

The IBA said the IOC EB has largely ignored and not taken into consideration all the efforts undertaken by the IBA, with its democratically elected leadership, in conducting international boxing during the last two years.

“The recommendation of the IOC EB does not reflect the reality of the situation where extraordinary progress on reforms and internationally recognized standards of good governance have been implemented under the guidance and supervision of Professor Dr Ulrich Haas’ Governance Reform Group and backed up by comprehensive investigation of the past conducted by Professor Richard McLaren’s team,” the IBA said in a statement posted on its official website.

“These positive steps for the organisation have been commended by boxers and stakeholders at the heart of the sport around the globe,” the statement said.

The IOC Executive Board (EB) had on Wednesday recommended to the IOC Session to withdraw recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA).

The IOC had in 2019 suspended the IBA over matters of governance, financial mismanagement and allegations of irregularities in referring and judging at the Olympics and Wednesday’s recommendation has been made in accordance with Rule 3.7 of the Olympic Charter (OC), the IOC informed in a media release. To discuss the matter and take

a final decision, the IOC EB and the IOC President have convened an Extraordinary IOC Session to be held remotely on Thursday, June 22, 2023.

The IBA, however, promised retaliatory measures against the IOC decision and said it will never accept that it is not compliant with the standards of good governance.

“The IBA as the home of boxing reserves its right to take retaliatory measures, as the organisation in its current state will never acknowledge the assertion that IBA is not compliant with the standards of good governance or that IBA does not deserve its place at the Olympic movement.

“In addition, IBA strongly denies all allegations that it has put the reputation of the Olympic movement in jeopardy but has rather respected the IOC’s recommendations and followed them,” the IBA said in its statement.

IBA President Umar Kremlev said, “From a disreputable organisation named AIBA governed by someone from the IOC’s upper echelon, we committed to and executed a change in the toxic and corrupt culture that was allowed to fester under the IOC for far too long.”

“We have made the International Boxing Association new, transparent, clean, and our successes were publicly acknowledged by international independent experts and there is only one organisation that has no interest in recognizing our tremendous progress,” he said.

He claimed, “For four years, the IBA has not received a single opportunity to present its achievements at an in-person meeting with the IOC, rather than only exchanging letters and emails instead. We accepted the process and the rules, but in the end, we were not assessed fairly. Now, we are left with no chance

“Strong, autonomous, and financially independent IFs should be keenly aware and concerned as they are witnessing the time-tested political and strategic tool of orchestrated coups for the sake of regime change, leaving only one winner, the organization seeking absolute power, and many losers consisting mainly the athletes. Today this happens to IBA and becomes a precedent for others, so everybody should be concerned about the unchecked power of the body that has no limits,” said Kremlev.

IBA Secretary General and CEO George Yerolimpos claimed the IBA has done the work necessary to regain its recognition. “We have continually requested the opportunity to meet and discuss the matters to no avail. An invitation to meet the IBA Adhoc Communication Committee composed of representatives from all continents including the five Presidents of IBA’s Confederations to allow for balanced representation was declined for reasons that can be only interpreted as stonewalling the opportunity for open dialogue between our two organizations,” he said.

“The IOC must comply with the Olympic Charter when deciding to withdraw IBA’s recognition. In April this year, the IBA requested the IOC to specify which rule, article and/ or paragraph of the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code, the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions, any other decision, or applicable regulation issued by the IOC has been violated by IBA to no IOC response. Further to that, no rule of the above-mentioned law was named by the IOC as a legal ground to withdraw full recognition of the IBA,” said the IBA statement. The IBA will inform its members about its further steps in due course, the statement said. The IBA is already facing another challenge with some top countries quitting it and joining a rival body, World Boxing. Members that have quit IBA include the United States, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The 26-year-old Yuan has been struggling to find his form in his rookie season on the PGA Tour, making the cut only five times in 16 starts. On Thursday, he opted for a carefree approach which saw him free-wheel his way to seven birdies at Oakdale Golf and Country Club here.

He trails first-round co-leaders -- Aaron Rai, Chesson Hadley, Corey Conners and Justin Lower -- in the US$9 million tournament, with two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy opening with a 71.

Korean S.H. Kim also enjoyed a

68 to share fifth place alongside Yuan, who posted his lowest opening-round score (in an individual tournament) since last October, as he continued to impress in his rookie season. He holds eight top-25 finishes and is chasing for a first PGA Tour victory.

His putter worked like a charm for Yuan as he holed birdie putts of 17 feet, 23 feet and 18 feet on Hole Nos. 12, 16 and 8 respectively on a challenging Oakdale course, and was particularly pleased he salvaged a bogey on the 13th hole, one of three blemishes on his card.

Playing alongside countryman Marty Dou, who carded a 75, Yuan is now determined to keep having fun in an attempt to turn his season around and retain his PGA Tour card, the PGA Tour said in a report.

Football: Karim Benzema to leave Real Madrid after 14 years

Madrid, June 4 (IANS) Karim Benzema will leave Real Madrid after 14 years at the end of the season, the Spanish club confirmed on Sunday. The former France international joined Spanish giants from hometown club Lyon in 2009 and has made 657 appearances, scoring 353 goals. Benzema has played 42 times in all competitions this term, scoring 30 goals and assisting six more. He did not feature in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Sevilla on May 27 but could feature for one final time in their final league match of the season against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night. The 35-year-old won five Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles with Madrid. Overall, he won a total of 25 major titles with Real Madrid, a record for the club.

“Real Madrid CF and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to end his brilliant and unforgettable period as a player for our club. Real Madrid would like to show its gratitude and affection for who is already one of our greatest legends,” the Spanish club said in a statement.

“Karim Benzema’s career at Real Madrid has been an example of conduct and professionalism, and he has represented the values of our club. Karim Benzema has earned the right to decide his future.

“Madridistas and all the fans around the world have enjoyed his magical and unique football, which has made him one of the

great icons of our club and one of the great legends of world football. Real Madrid is and will always be his home, and he wishes him and all his family the best in this new phase of his life,” it added.

An institutional act of homage and farewell to Karim Benzema will take place at Real Madrid Sport City on June 6 and it will be attended by club president Florentino Perez.

The Ballon d’Or-winning striker Benzema is the third first-team player confirmed to be leaving Madrid in two days after it was announced on Saturday that both Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio will also depart this summer. According to reports, Benzema is expected to move to the Saudi Pro League after 14 years at the Bernabeu.

David Warner plans to retire from Test cricket at SCG against Pakistan next year

from June 7-11, Australia’s veteran left-handed opener David Warner has revealed that he hopes to finish his Test career at the Sydney Cricket Ground against Pakistan in January 2024.

Warner also ruled out his participation for the two Tests against West Indies. He hopes to keep playing white-ball cricket for Australia until the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA.

score runs here and continue to play back in Australia -- I can definitely say I won’t be playing that West Indies series.

If I can get through this (WTC final and ensuing Ashes campaign) and make the Pakistan series I will definitely finish up then,” Warner was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

due to injuries. He averages only 26.04 in Tests in England, and had a terrible time during the last Ashes tour in 2019, averaging 9.50, with veteran pacer Stuart Broad taking his wicket seven times.

around to play. Who knows I might go back and play a Shield game for New South Wales,” he added.

London, June 3 (IANS) Ahead of the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval

“You’ve got to score runs. I’ve always said the (2024) World Cup would probably be my final game. I probably owe it to myself and my family -- if I can

Warner’s position in the Test team has been under scanner after being in lean form for almost the last three years.

Warner made just 26 runs in three innings in this year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India before returning home

“I want to play that 2024 World Cup. It is something that is on the back of my mind. We’ve got a lot of cricket before that, and then I think it stops from February. So for me, then I’ll have to play IPL some of the other franchise leagues and then get into that rhythm to play in June,” said Warner “There will be a bit of cricket

Warner signed off by saying his arm is feeling okay after being stuck in the practice nets on the same left elbow which ended his tour of India early.

“It was sore, it got me right on the same point but from a different angle. It went numb and I had to get it strapped, but it’s fine now -- a little bit sore, but lucky it didn’t hit me on top,” he concluded.

Global boxing body rejects IOC move to derecognise it as ‘truly abhorrent’ and ‘purely political’

Margot Robbie says ‘Barbie’ soundtrack fits perfectly into the film

Los Angeles, June 4 (IANS)

Actress Margot Robbie thinks the soundtrack to “Barbie” fits “perfectly” with the upcoming film.

The 32-year-old actress will star as the titular doll opposite Ryan Gosling as Ken in the upcoming movie and now that “Levitating” hitmaker Dua Lipa - who also has a part in the film - has released ‘Dance the Night”, says that Dua has “totally nailed it” with the dance record, reports ‘Female First UK’.

She told ‘The Sun’: “There are movies where you hear a song on the soundtrack and just think, ‘Wow, that fits perfectly’.

Ezra Miller lies low on ‘The Flash’, wants ‘conversation to be about the movie’

a high-profile showing at the Cannes Film Festival.

“Ezra wants the movie to open and the conversation to be about the movie and not about Ezra,” a source close to Miller, quoted by ‘Variety’, explains. “They are focused on their mental health and don’t want it to be transactional.” (Miller uses the pronouns they/them to refer to himself.)

Warner Bros. is attempting to pull off an unprecedented feat by taking its latest DC offering into the global marketplace without any promotion from its star, who was mired in controversy following arrests and erratic behaviour. but who has stayed out of trouble since last summer after seeking treatment for “complex mental health issues” following “a time of intense crisis”, says ‘Variety’.

That is what Dua has achieved with ‘Dance The Night’ - she has totally nailed it.”

In the lyrics, Dua sings: “I’ll still keep the party runnin’, not one hair out of place”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, the “Bombshell” star went on to add that the song will make fans want to “get up and dance” and joked that perhaps she and her co-stars will be out partying to the track following the London premiere.

“It not only fits the movie perfectly, but when you hear it, you will just want to get up and dance. Maybe after the London premiere, we can have a few

drinks and cut a few shapes to it on the dance floor. I am always down for that,” she added. Earlier this week, Dua’s co-writer Mark Ronson said that the whole prospect of teaming up with her for the film started with a DM and believes the movie will be “incredible”.

He said: “(I said to her) I only have the track so far, as they started rehearsals, but I would f****** love it if you would consider co-writing and starring in it. I honestly think the movie’s going to be incredible.”

“Barbie” will be released in cinemas on July 21, 2023.

Lily-Rose Depp ‘avoided’ The Weeknd while filming ‘The Idol’ due to method acting

Los Angeles, June 4 (IANS) “The Flash” is almost here, and the rollout has been anything but typical, says ‘Variety’. With just 13 days to go before the film’s June 16 release, titular star Ezra Miller has done no press and will make a low-profile appearance at the Los Angeles premiere on June 12, only posing for photos rather than doing interviews, ‘Variety’ notes. The film’s director, Andy Muschietti, and cast members Ben Affleck, Sasha Calle, and Michael Shannon will also hit the red carpet that will be missing

the standard press gauntlet. (The film’s Michael Keaton and fellow DC Universe superhero Jason Momoa will miss the premiere as they are filming movies in London and New Zealand, respectively.)

Typically, the star of a $190-million tentpole will promote the film in interviews across print, TV and oftentimes podcasts spanning multiple continents, ‘Variety’ points out, adding that Harrison Ford has been “ubiquitous” in the run-up to the June 30 bow of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”, including

But will Miller’s lack of shilling hurt box office prospects of “Flash”? The answer appears to be ‘no’.

The film is tracking for an estimated $75 million opening, higher than 2018’s standalone “Aquaman”, which went on to earn $1.15 billion worldwide after gaining huge momentum abroad.

In lieu of Miller’s junketing, Warners has been aggressive with its advertising, putting the film’s trailer into heavy rotation during the NBA and NHL playoffs, ‘Variety’ adds.

Los Angeles, June 4 (IANS)

Actress Lily-Rose Depp has admitted she “would steer clear” of The Weeknd while on set of their controversial new show ‘The Idol’.

The 24-year-old actress, daughter of Johnny Depp, said she would avoid her 33-year-old co-star when he verged on method acting as he often got “in his zone” while channelling his character, reports Mirror.co.uk. The new HBO drama, which has been described as “nasty and vulgar” by critics, sees Lily-Rose portray a derailed pop star named Jocelyn who is trying to regain her status as “the sexiest pop star in America.”

As per Mirror.co.uk, her dreams see her connect with nightclub

promoter and cult leader Tedros (The Weeknd). Ahead of the show’s debut, Lily-Rose has opened up about the atmosphere on set.

She explained: “I don’t think anybody went full methodnobody lost their minds. Well, sometimes when Abel would get - I don’t want to reveal too much about where Abel’s character goes, but when he would be in full Tedros mode sometimes, I would steer clear of him, I’d be like, ‘He’s in his zone right now’.” However, the actress praised the atmosphere on set, despite a report being released in March which described the behind-thescenes filming for the show as something which went “wildly, disgustingly off the rails.”

Los Angeles, June 4 (IANS)

With a few mystifying teasers and less than two months until the premiere of the live-action “Barbie” film, audiences still don’t know exactly how the film will unfold, according to ‘Variety’ The production team, however, has started sharing details of the making of the film -- including how they caused an international pink paint shortage.

In a recent ‘Architectural Digest’ profile with production designer Sarah Greenwood, set decorator Katie Spencer and director Greta Gerwig, reports ‘Variety’, the group explain that they set out “to capture what was so ridiculously fun” about Barbie’s world, especially Barbie’s Dreamhouse.

“I wanted the pinks to be very bright, and everything to be almost too much,” Gerwig said, according to ‘Variety’. She shared that “the ‘kid-ness’ was paramount” -- evoking the feeling of never forgetting “what made (her) love Barbie” as a young girl.

“Why walk down stairs when you can slide into your pool? Why trudge up stairs when you take an elevator that matches your dress?” said Gerwig.

To achieve that whimsy, Barbie’s world needed to become just that -- Barbie’s world. The only way,

‘Variety’ notes, the production team believed they could achieve the task was to create a world of pink props, sets, clothes and anything that was placed within the film’s frame.

That’s when Greenwood knew she needed to obtain that signature shade from the paint company Rosco until there was nothing left. “The world ran out of pink,” said the production designer.

Before running Rosco out of pink paint, Greenwood, Gerwig and the team built a set on the Warner Bros lot in London, pulling inspiration from the Palm Springs’ Kaufmann House, San Francisco Queen Anne Victorian manse, Wayne Thiebaud’s paintings, as well as film history’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” and Gene Kelly’s “An American in Paris”.

How Drake encouraged Nelly Furtado’s musical comeback

Los Angeles, June 4 (IANS)

Rapper Drake encouraged Nelly Furtado’s musical comeback. Nelly, 44, revealed that fellow Canadian Drake, 36, - who invited her to be a surprise guest for his All-Canadian North Stars event in Toronto last summerreminded her about her legacy and value to the music industry and urged her to get back in the studio to work on new music. She told Variety: “I have more gratitude nowadays so I know how blessed I am to be a performer and creator. I’m really leaning into my profession. I met Drake a year ago and we had some deep conversations about life and art and he blew up my head reminding me what a valuable artist I am and told me

to ‘boss up’ and make new music, and I listened. So, I couldn’t say no when he invited me on stage, I had to be brave and boss up and start the next chapter.”

As per Female First UK, Nelly has been working on her new album - her first since 2017’s ‘The Ride’ - since last year and she has enjoyed the collaborative, creative process.

As ‘Barbie’ fever spirals, the story of how the film consumed the world’s pink paint

Beyonce splurges around $2,500 at Chicken Shop for her pop-up event

Beyonce and have watched in excitement as ‘Bey-mania’ swept London this last week, so it was an honour to know we were her Fried Chicken Shop of choice when it came to satisfying the cravings of her guests at the Flannels exclusive event. Our Baker Street team was totally buzzed to serve over 300 meals for the big night!”

The brand shared photos of Beyonce’s huge order on Instagram. They captioned the post: “Bow down, because we’re buzzing to learn Queen Bey is Crazy in Love with Chicken Shop fried chicken! That’s right, @Beyonce catered her exclusive event at Flannels X Beyonce Renaissance pop-up on Oxford St last night, treating all her guests to a helping of our Straight Up Burger, Naked Tenders and House Fries! Big up our Baker Street team who served up over 300 portions of delicious fried chicken fries like absolute pros #NextLevelFriedChicken.”

The party comes after it was recently revealed the 41-year-old pop superstar gave VIP tickets for her ‘Renaissance’ shows to her butler, chef, and concierge at London’s Corinthia hotel to thank them for looking after her during her stay.

Los Angeles, June 4 (IANS)

Hollywood star Michael Keaton thought his vision of Batman was unlikely to happen. The 71-year-old actor took on the title role of the superhero in the 1989 film directed by Tim Burton and returned to star in its 1992 sequel ‘Batman Returns’. He explained that he believed his own views on the character would not make the final cut because he could not imagine anyone wanting to see him portrayed in that way, reports

Los Angeles, June 5 (IANS)

Singer Beyonce Knowles spent 2,000 pounds ($2,500) at fried chicken chain Chicken Shop. The ‘Formation’ singer curated an exclusive event at the FLANNELS x Beyonce Renaissance pop-up, which opened on London’s Oxford Street this week to mark her week of gigs in the city, reports

aceshowbiz.com.

The pop diva treated her guests to 50 Straight Up Burgers, 20 Korean Vegan Burgers, 200 portions of three Naked Tenders, and 75 servings of frees, which were supplied by the chain’s Baker Street restaurant.

John Nelson, Chicken Shop CEO, told BANG Showbiz: “At Chicken Shop, we’re big fans of

A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “Beyonce is really sweet and very gracious to everyone around her, so always wants to thank the people who are taking care of her. They have gone above and beyond to look after her while she has been in the UK, so she treated them to some of the best tickets you can get. She asked for the staff’s emails to personally thank them.”

‘Female First UK’. He told ‘Empire’ magazine: “I remember exactly where we were. He said, ‘I wanna talk to you about something. I just want you to read this, because I think I’m gonna make this movie’ What’s interesting if you think about this is that up until then, his and my relationship was only ‘Beetlejuice’. So there was something, I don’t know that I’ve

ever asked him this, actually, but something gave him the idea and so he said, ago home and read it.” He further mentioned, quoted by ‘Female First UK’, “I said, ‘Well, no one’s going to do what I think, this is probably not going to happen, because I can’t imagine anyone would want to make the movie that I see’ and all I said, ‘listen to me Tim’. And I started to go down the list of the guy, Bruce Wayne with him, my take on him and he didn’t say anything but his hair was long at the time and I could see it moving as he nodded, ‘yes, yes, Exactly’. He’s a rare breed, a true artist and a true original.”

“He was already seeing it and it was basically the Frank Miller stuff. And I wasn’t aware of all that stuff, I just knew what it was, but I knew I had to read the Miller stuff. And I thought, ‘oh, this could be interesting,” he added.

Los Angeles, June 4 (IANS) Pop icon Britney Spears says she has gained weight.

The 41-year-old pop star took to social media on Sunday to share a video of herself dancing around to the Janet Jackson hit ‘All Nite (Don’t Stop)’ where she wore white knee-high boots,

turquoise bikini bottoms and white crop top and noted in the caption - which was initially in Spanish - that she has put on a few pounds but is now able to “move her butt” all day, reports

‘Female First UK’.

She captioned the post: “I gained weight, but at least I have butt

now and can move it all day!”

The ‘Baby One More Time’ hitmaker - who regained control of her multimillion dollar fortune and various aspects of her life since a conservatorship that had been governed by her family for over a decade was terminated in November 2021 - recently took to social media to seemingly deny rumours that she had had a breast enhancement in the early days of her career.

As per ‘Female First UK’, alongside a throwback snap of herself in a bra, Britntey - who has sons Sean, 17, and 16-year-old Jayden with ex-husband Kevin Federline but is now married to actor Sam Asghari - wrote on Instagram: “Only shoot I ever did in the woods !!! Way back before I had kids. The only thing I remember is my stylist saying ‘Uhhhhhhhhhhh !!! Your b**** Britney a they’re huge, what happened ???’ I said I have no idea (sic)”.

Just weeks ago, the ‘Toxic’ singer was reunited with her mother Lynne after years of not speaking amid the conservatorship battle. Sources told TMZ that Lynne was driven from LAX airport to the home of Britney’s manager, Cade Hudson, and from there took an Uber to her daughter’s home.

Los Angeles, June 4 (IANS)

‘Moon Knight’ star Oscar Isaac is already imagining the next ‘Spider-Verse’ film and has a role for Pedro Pascal.

Oscar joined the cast of ‘SpiderMan: Across the Spider-Verse’ voicing the role of Miguel O’Hara, also known as SpiderMan 2099, a Spider-Man from an alternate universe, reports Deadline.

When talking to ‘British GQ’, Isaac said that production of the film is already “brilliant at finding the right person for the right character” but suggested the Last of Us star voice a character in the next film.

“Let’s find something for him. He should be a Spider-Person, like a cranky, old Spider-Person,” he told the magazine.

As per Deadline, the actor talked about voicing Miguel O’Hara and what he admires about the character.

“He’s got this particular unique quality to him, but there are lots of things about him that I think are very surprising and make

him such his own thing,” he said. “The fangs and claws and this violence that’s simmering underneath at all times? He’s just a really interesting character. Isaac also spoke about his experience voice acting versus regular acting.

“You only have your voice to be able to express a lot of what’s going on. There’s more collaboration involved because it’s your voice, it’s the animators, it’s the design, it’s all these things coming together to create the character,” Isaac said, quoted by Deadline.

“There’s something beautifully communal about putting that together and just adding one element and then seeing it all come together. It’s just such a beautiful work of art.”

He added: “The art in this thing is so incredible, but specifically with Miguel. The way that he transforms visually and becomes more feral as things fall apart, I just thought, was so, so amazing.”

Britney has gained weight - and she’s delighted: ‘At least I have a butt now’

Oscar Isaac wants Pedro to join ‘Spider-Verse’ as a ‘cranky, old Spider-Person’

Michael Keaton thought nobody wanted to see his ‘Batman’