Misuse of diabetes medicines for weight loss by Hollywood celebs: How dangerous can it get | Explained

According to reports, demand has skyrocketed for the diabetes and obesity treatment Ozempic, as many social media influencers and celebrities are suspected of using the diabetic drug as a quick fix for weight loss. According to GBH news, patients taking the injection for its intended purpose are having trouble filling their prescriptions. And, the focus on celebrity weight loss is impacting body image and the body positivity movement, guests on Greater Boston said.

Ozempic drug which is used to help manage blood sugar level is becoming a huge craze among Hollywood celebrities. Amy Schumer, American comedian  has used this medication, according to insiders.com for weight loss and has denied it. According to  a report published in Newsweek, the diabetes medication Ozempic has become an ubiquitous part of the public conversation in recent months, not least because it has been touted as something of a weight loss wonder drug on social media.

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Weight loss is a crucial goal in managing type 2 diabetes, as emphasized by the American Diabetes Association and the European Association of Diabetes algorithm. In addition to targeting blood sugar levels (HbA1c), setting goals for weight loss is also essential.

Dr Rajiv Kovil, Diabetologist, Chairperson at Zandra Healthcare, Mumbai explains that a weight reduction of 5 to 7 percent can significantly benefit individuals with type 2 diabetes. Certain medications used to treat type 2 diabetes can facilitate weight loss. These medications fall into two categories: GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors. GLP-1 drugs work by reducing cravings, hunger, and intestinal movement, leading to a decreased food intake and a sense of fullness. On the other hand, SGLT-2 inhibitors contribute to weight loss by promoting the excretion of sugar through urine and subsequent weight reduction.

Diabetic medication for weight loss

The Newsweek report says, celebrities and influencers alike have endorsed the drug, Ozempic as a fat-melting miracle, and the hashtag #ozempic has amassed hundreds of millions of views on TikTok. Ozempic is an injectable prescription drug that is used to manage blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes. It is based on a naturally occurring human hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which plays an important role in regulating appetite and blood sugar levels.

But non-diabetics using these medications for weight loss, how safe is the situation is a big question mark. Dr Rajiv Kovil says that for weight loss purposes, two globally approved drugs initially used for people with type 2 diabetes for blood sugar control are now utilized by non-diabetics as well. “One of these drugs is an injectable called Liraglutide, which is approved for obesity treatment without diabetes at a daily dose of 3 milligrams. At lower doses, up to 1.8 milligrams per day, it is indicated for managing blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Another injectable medication, semaglutide, has shown remarkable weight loss results of approximately 12.5% in studies involving individuals with obesity but without diabetes.”

In the USA, liraglutide and injectable semaglutide have been approved for weight loss by the FDA for obese non-diabetic patients. However, these are prescription drugs and must be taken under medical supervision. Consequently, it can also be used by non-diabetics for weight loss, while still being effective for managing blood sugar levels in those with diabetes. Dr Rajiv Kovil further adds, “It’s important to note that oral semaglutide is available in strengths of 3, 7, and 14 milligrams, and while it is an antidiabetic drug, its approved indication is solely for treating blood sugar in people with diabetes. It should not be prescribed to non-diabetic individuals for obesity.  Healthcare practitioners must responsibly prescribe these medications based on their approved indications.”

Potential harms associated with these medications

It is crucial to avoid prescribing these medications to individuals with a family history of medullary thyroid cancer or those with a history of pancreatitis or high-risk factors for pancreatitis.

Unethical to prescribe these medications to non-diabetic patients

In India, injection Liraglutide is available up to a 1.8 milligram dose and with an approval for obesity treatment. Therefore, it can be used both for managing blood sugar in type 2 diabetes and for treating obesity. Experts says, Injection semaglutide has also received approval for use in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity; however, it has not yet been launched in India. It is essential to adhere to approved indications for these medications. Oral semaglutide, available in the country, has approval solely for treating blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, not for obesity.

Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker, Consultant Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Saifee, Namaha and Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Mumbai says, “As of now, only injectable semaglutide is approved in India as a weight loss medication, however, it is not available for use. The only other drug that is approved for weight loss in India is “orlistat” which has limited efficacy. It is not unethical to prescribe approved drugs for weight loss as it forms for another tool to battle the scourge of obesity. However, one must be careful with off label use of unapproved drugs for weight loss.”

Misuse of this drugs can be dangerous

Most of these drugs have gastro-intestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting. Hence it is important to escalate the dose gradually. In rare cases, gall bladder stones and pancreatitis have been reported. These drugs are also not prescribed to anyone with a family history of thyroid cancer of familial syndromes like Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN).

 

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Russian missiles kill 6 in Zelenskyy's hometown in central Ukraine

Russian ballistic missiles on Monday struck an apartment complex and a university building in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown, resulting in six deaths and 75 injuries.

The devastating blasts trapped numerous residents under rubble, leading to a frantic rescue operation involving more than 350 people, reported The Associated Press.

The missiles caused significant damage to the central city of Kryvyi Rih, with one of them destroying part of an apartment building. Among the deceased were a 10-year-old girl and her mother.

The incident occurred just a day after Zelenskyy made comments seemingly warning of potential attacks within Russia itself. He mentioned that the conflict might return to Russia’s symbolic centers and military bases, raising speculation that the missile strikes might be related to his statements.

In response to the missile strikes, Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted Moscow and its surroundings, resulting in some damage to a skyscraper in the Moscow City business district, which had already been previously targeted. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed the incident, stating that there were no casualties. However, it remains unclear why the same building was targeted twice in quick succession.

Additionally, in Donetsk, a Ukrainian artillery strike killed two people and injured six others in the regional capital. A bus in Donetsk was also hit multiple times during the day. In the Russian-held part of the Zaporizhzhia region, three people lost their lives, and 15 others were injured when Ukrainian shelling struck a store in the village of Basan, according to the Russia-backed acting regional governor, Yevgeny Balitsky.

With inputs from agencies

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Senegal dissolves opposition party, restricts internet ahead of next year's presidential election

A major opposition party in Senegal was disbanded by the country’s government on Monday, hours after the group’s popular leader and president claimed that a judge had ordered his arrest.

According to El Malick Ndiaye, the communications director for Ousmane Sonko’s party, the towering opposition leader who enjoys strong support from Senegal’s youth was in jail on Monday while he awaited trial on fresh criminal accusations. When the trial will take place is unknown. He is charged with inciting rebellion, plotting to overthrow the government, endangering national security, and other offences.

“I’ve just been unjustly placed under a committal order,” Sonko wrote on his Facebook page Monday, which communications director Ndiaye confirmed.

Earlier on Monday, Senegal’s interior minister issued a statement claiming Sonko’s opposition party had been dissolved.

The Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) party has “frequently called on its supporters to take part in insurrectionary movements,” Antoine Félix Diome, Senegal’s interior minister, alleged in a statement.

Diome blamed the opposition party’s leaders for causing loss of life and the looting of properties during protests in June against the prosecution of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who is seen as a key challenger in the election.

The opposition party’s dissolution was criticised by former Prime Minister Aminata Touré as an “unprecedented setback” in the West African nation’s democratic history. It further raised concerns about next year’s presidential election in Senegal, long considered a bastion of democracy and a regional leader in diplomacy.

“In his despotic determination to hold on to power in Senegal, albeit by proxy, Macky Sall has just opened the floodgates to chaos by imprisoning, on spurious grounds, his main opponent Ousmane Sonko,” said a PASTEF communiqué Monday, after Diome’s claimed to have disbanded the party.

“Even if they dissolve PASTEF, they can’t dissolve its spirit,” Ndiaye said.

The Senegalese government, meanwhile, restricted mobile internet services on Monday, a measure taken “due to the dissemination of hateful and subversive messages on social networks,” according to Moussa Bocar Thiam, the communications minister.

Residents throughout the country reported they were not able to access the internet.

Sonko said a local judge in the capital Dakar ordered him held temporarily following fresh charges against him Saturday, including conspiracy against the state and calls for insurrection. The charges are different from an earlier one of corrupting youth. That led to Sonko’s conviction in June, which ignited deadly protests across the nation with 23 people killed.

Sonko is popular among Senegal’s youth and has been seen as a threat to the ruling party ahead of the 2024 election. His supporters have said the charges are to prevent him from running again for president after he placed third in the 2019 race.

From his cell in Sebikotane prison, just outside the capital Dakar, Sonko can run for president in the 2024 election, communications director Ndiaye said, a claim the AP could not immediately verify.

“If the Senegalese people, for whom I have always fought, abdicate and decide to leave me in the hands of (President) Macky Sall’s regime, I will, as always, submit to God’s will,” Sonko wrote on his Facebook page.

Two killed in Senegal protests

Two people were killed Monday during protests in southern Senegal after the indictment and detention of opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, a presidential candidate for the 2024 election, AFP quoted the interior ministry as saying.

Sonko, President Macky Sall’s fiercest critic, on Monday was charged with fomenting insurrection and his party dissolved, prompting clashes between protesters and police.

The leading opposition figure has faced a string of legal woes, which he claims have been designed to keep him out of politics and jeopardise his participation in the February 2024 presidential election.

The interior ministry said protests erupted Monday afternoon in the southern city of Ziguinchor where “two lifeless male bodies” were discovered. The ministry press release did got give further details of the circumstances of the deaths in the city where Sonko is mayor.

With inputs from agencies

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Iran's official in-charge for enforcing hijab, chastity caught having gay sex on camera, fired

An Iranian official responsible for enforcing the controversial hijab law has been suspended from his position in the wake of a circulating video allegedly showing him engaging in gay sex.

The authenticity of the video, purportedly featuring Reza Tsaghati, the head of culture and Islamic guidance in Gilan province, has not been officially confirmed.

According reports, Tsaghati is known for establishing a cultural center that promotes piety and advocates for women’s adherence to wearing the hijab.

His removal from office comes as authorities claim to have had no prior knowledge of his actions.

Same-sex relations are prohibited in Iran, with potential penalties, even the death penalty, for those involved. The LGBTQ community in the country faces discrimination and marginalization.

Recently, during a visit to Uganda, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi strongly criticized Western attitudes toward the LGBTQ community. He accused the West of attempting to propagate homosexuality to disrupt human procreation.

In the past, Iran witnessed powerful protests related to the hijab and religious enforcement following the death of Mahsa Amini.

The young woman had been taken into custody by the morality police for alleged dress code violations. These demonstrations escalated into demands for the overthrow of Iran’s clerical rulers, as protesters accused them of corruption and repression.

The Iranian government attributed the protests to foreign interference but provided no concrete evidence to support their claims.

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Silent Sabotage: Chinese hackers target US military bases with malicious malware

The US government is on a quest to find a harmful computer code, allegedly planted by Chinese hackers, within vital networks controlling power grids, communications systems, and water supply at US military bases both at home and abroad.

According to sources speaking with the New York Times (NYT), the perpetrators are suspected to be affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army, though specific evidence linking the malware to China or its military remains undisclosed.

Anonymous officials from the US Army, intelligence, and national security circles, who disclosed information to the NYT, suggested that this code could be used by Beijing to disrupt American military operations in times of conflict, especially concerning Taiwan.

Tensions rise as China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while the US pledges support to the self-governing island and vows to protect it from any forceful takeover by Beijing.

Referred to as a potential “ticking time bomb” by a source in the US Congress, the malware possesses the capability to hinder or slow down US military deployments and resupply efforts by disabling essential utilities at American bases.

Additionally, concerns have been raised that this code could affect civilian infrastructure, as it shares common networks used to supply homes and businesses.

The initial signs of this issue surfaced in May when Microsoft detected unusual computer code in telecommunications systems on the Pacific island of Guam, home to significant American air and naval bases, as well as in other US territories.

However, since then, the extent of the malware’s spread has proved to be much greater, prompting ongoing efforts by US military and security agencies to assess its full impact.

In response to queries, the acting spokesman for the US National Security Council, Adam R. Hodge, assured the media that the Biden administration is working tirelessly to safeguard critical infrastructure, coordinating interagency efforts to protect water systems, pipelines, rail, aviation systems, and more.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington has vehemently denied the report, dismissing it as “groundless accusations” aimed at smearing China.

The embassy’s spokesperson, Haoming Ouyang, stressed that Beijing has always firmly opposed and cracked down on all forms of cyberattacks, acting in accordance with the law.

Moreover, Ouyang claimed that Chinese government agencies face numerous cyberattacks daily, with a significant number originating from US sources.

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How Pakistan is seeing a rise in terror attacks since Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan

Pakistan’s list of woes just doesn’t end. The cash-strapped nation, struggling to stay afloat economically, was a victim of a deadly suicide attack on Sunday, killing more than 40 people and injuring another 200 more.

The incident, which took place in Bajaur district near the Afghan border, has led to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to condemn the incident, stating that the attack’s perpetrators will face severe penalties.

The attack on Sunday isn’t a lone incident. The country has seen a spate of similar bombings in the first half of this year – 271 attacks to be precise. Pakistani authorities blame neighbouring Afghanistan, ruled now by the Taliban, for these attacks, claiming the latter allows for free movement of terrorists on their land, a claim they have denied repeatedly.

As Pakistan tries to pick up the pieces, here’s a closer look at what happened and how the country is seeing a resurgence of attacks by hardline terrorists.

Bloody Sunday

On Sunday (30 July) afternoon, a suicide bombing ripped across a rally for the conservative Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party (JUI-F), a government coalition partner, in Bajaur district in the north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The attack killed 44 people and wounded another 200 more, with KP health minister Riaz Anwar telling AFP, “It was a suicide attack, with the bomber detonating himself in close proximity to the stage.”

More than 500 supporters had gathered at a hall near a market for the rally, which was being held ahead of elections expected later this year, when the blast took place. Footage showed ambulances arriving to transfer the injured to hospitals.

“There was dust and smoke around, and I was under some injured people from where I could hardly stand up, only to see chaos and some scattered limbs,” said Adam Khan (45), who was knocked to the ground by the blast and hit by splinters in his leg and both hands.

Sabeeh Ullah, a 24-year-old who had his arm fractured by the blast, said the scale of injuries was horrifying. “I found myself lying next to someone who had lost their limbs. The air was filled with the smell of human flesh,” he told AFP by phone.

People transport an injured victim of a powerful bomb upon arrival at a hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan. AP

Reports have stated that among the dead is Maulana Ziaullah, the emir of the JUI-F party in Tehsil Khar.

JUI-F leaders, condemning the blast, said the attack was an attempt to remove them from the field before parliamentary elections in November, but added that such tactics would not work.

The bombing drew nationwide condemnation, with the ruling and opposition parties extending condolences to the families of those who died in the attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his profound sorrow for the precious lives lost. He asserted that such attacks on political parties clearly indicate an enmity against Pakistan’s democratic system. He also called for the prompt identification of the culprits and demanded that they be given appropriate punishment.

باجوڑ، خار میں جمیعتِ علماءِ اسلام (ف) کے ورکرز کنوینشن پر حملے کی جتنی بھی مزمت کی جائے کم ہے. سیاسی جماعتوں پر حملے سے واضح ہے کہ دشمن پاکستان میں جمہوری نظام کے خلاف ہے جسکی قطعاً اجازت نہیں دی جائے گی. ذمہ داران کی نشاندہی کرکے انہیں قرار واقعی سزا دی جائے گی. پاکستانی قوم،…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 30, 2023

President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi also expressed his condemnation and deep grief over the loss of lives in Bajaur. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and emphasised the immediate need to provide medical assistance to the injured.

While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, initial investigations suggested that the Islamic State group could be behind the attack. However, the Pakistan Taliban – the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – told the Associated Press that the bombing was aimed at setting Islamists against each other.

Rescue workers inspect the site after a bomb explosion in the Bajur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Sunday. AP

Rise in terrorism

Sunday’s attack, perhaps the worst in the north-west since 2014, is a clear reflection of the breakdown in law and order in the area and the rise of terrorism.

In fact, as per a report released by think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the country has witnessed a steady and alarming rise in terror and suicide attacks. The report states that there have been 271 militant attacks in the first half of 2023, resulting in the loss of 389 lives and injuring 656 individuals.

Graphic: Pranay Bhardwaj

Compare this to 2022 – Pakistan recorded 151 attacks, causing 293 deaths and 487 injuries. This shows a clear 79 per cent increase in attacks during the first half of 2023 compared to the corresponding period last year.

The report also showed that Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the most affected province during the first half of this year with 174 reported militant attacks, claiming 266 lives and injuring 463 others – a 51 per cent rise in attacks compared to the same period of time in 2022.

Following Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was Balochistan. The area reported 75 terror incidents in the first half of 2023, resulting in 100 deaths and 163 injuries. The data reveals a 103 per cent increase in terror attacks compared to the same period in the previous year.

Also read: Pakistan’s Taliban challenge: With over 100 attacks in two months, Islamabad faces grim security situation

The Afghanistan link

The rise in terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s north-west region is linked to Afghanistan and the takeover of the Taliban, say authorities. In fact, earlier this month, Pakistan’s defence minister Khwaja Asif accused the Taliban-led Afghanistan of providing safe havens to terrorists involved in bloodshed in his country.

“Pakistan would no longer tolerate this,” he said, warning the Taliban of providing refuge to TTP militants. This warning came just a week after Pakistan’s military chief issued a similar warning to the Taliban.

General Asim Munir had then said Pakistan’s armed forces were seriously concerned about the “safe havens and liberty of action” the Pakistani Taliban has in Afghanistan. He said he expected the Afghan Taliban to live up to their promises from a 2020 agreement with Washington to bar any terror group from using Afghan soil for attacks. If they fail to do so, these “intolerable attacks would draw an effective response,” he had then said.

Also read: Taliban back to bite Islamabad: How closure of crucial Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing is upending daily lives

The Taliban, on the other hand, continues to deny the existence of terrorists on their soil – a stance similar to what Pakistan takes when confronted by India.

Ever since the takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban in 2021, the TTP has been emboldened and carried out increasing number of attacks in Pakistan. For the unaware, the TTP, which came into existence in 2007, is an extension of the Afghan Taliban, aiming to implement its interpretation of Sharia in Pakistan, especially in the tribal areas.

Moreover, an end of the ceasefire with Pakistan in November last year has only seen TTP attacks rising. The TTP is also making efforts to broaden its appeal beyond the ethnic Pashtun community and is trying to lure Baloch separatists and other groups. On 12 April, the TTP claimed that two new militant groups from Balochistan’s Quetta and Kalat districts joined its ranks.

Since 2022 when the Pakistan Taliban ended the ceasefire with the government, they have increased their attacks in the region. File image/AFP

Madiha Afzal, a scholar at the Brookings Institution focusing on Pakistan told Deutsche Welle in an earlier report, “The TTP threat to Pakistan is significant, and it is growing.”

“The TTP have been emboldened by a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and the Pakistani state’s shaky, uncertain approach to the group in recent years. Pakistan has tried negotiating with the group many times over the years; negotiations always fail because the group is existentially opposed to the Pakistani state and constitution," she told DW.

“The only option the State has is to launch an extensive military operation against the group, as it did in 2014, but that is complicated this time around by the fact that the TTP can cross the border into Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, leaving Pakistan with a growing and hard-to-control terrorism problem on its hands.”

With inputs from agencies

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Elon Musk’s X Number of Problems: San Francisco launches investigation into new signage on HQ

The city of San Francisco has launched an investigation into a large “X” sign that was installed on top of the former Twitter headquarters, now owned by Elon Musk as part of his rebranding of the social media platform. City officials have raised concerns about the installation, stating that any alterations to building signage require a permit for design and safety considerations.

The appearance of the “X” sign came after workers were prevented from removing Twitter’s iconic bird and logo from the building earlier in the week due to safety issues. Replacement letters or symbols on the building’s facade would also need a permit to ensure they are in line with the building’s historic character and are securely attached.

Patrick Hannan, a spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspection, emphasized that erecting a sign atop a building necessitates a permit, along with planning review and approval. Consequently, the city has opened a complaint and is initiating an investigation.

Elon Musk introduced the new “X” logo to replace Twitter’s well-known blue bird, as he continues to revamp the social media platform he acquired for $44 billion the previous year. The “X” has started appearing on the desktop version of Twitter.

Elon Musk’s fascination with the letter “X” is not new, as he had already renamed Twitter’s corporate name to X Corp. after purchasing it, and one of his children is named “X,” whose actual name is a combination of letters and symbols.

Workers were seen adjusting the sign using a lift machine on Friday afternoon before leaving the site.

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Israeli deputy says normalisation with Saudis does not appear imminent

Due to what he described as “sticking points” in the current negotiations being held between Riyadh and U.S. mediators, a prominent Israeli lawmaker stated on Sunday that it did not look that Saudi Arabia and Israel would be establishing relations any time soon.

U.S. President Joe Biden stated on Friday that “there’s a rapprochement maybe under way” after sending his national security adviser to Saudi Arabia to explore a potential normalisation agreement with Israel, which he considers a policy priority.

The proposal has been under consideration ever since Saudi Arabia quietly approved of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates’ establishment of diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020. Riyadh, however, has not done so, contending that Palestinian demands must be satisfied first.

“I think it’s too early to talk about a deal being in the works,” Yuli Edelstein, head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee and a senior member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, told Israel’s Army Radio.

He dismissed the idea that the fundamental barrier was the standoff between Netanyahu’s hard-right administration and the aspirations of the politically split Palestinians for statehood.

“How shall I put this delicately? There are clauses that are far more important or problematic than such-and-such declarations in the Palestinian realm,” he said.

“Most of the Saudi discourse is with the Americans, and not with us,” he added, saying that when it came to Riyadh’s demands of Washington, “there are some things we can live with better, and some things we can live with less well”.

Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, asked by reporters as he entered the weekly cabinet meeting whether there would be progress in the Saudi talks, said: “I hope so.”

In order to construct a civilian nuclear project on its grounds, Saudi Arabia wants assistance from the United States. Saudi initiatives to improve American defence imports have been mentioned in Israeli and American media.

Israel will construct a 100 billion shekel ($27 billion) train expansion, according to Netanyahu, which will link its rural districts to metropolitan Tel Aviv and, in the future, might offer overland connections to Saudi Arabia.

(With agency inputs)

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Russia to launch e-visa for Indian passport holders from August 1

Russia will introduce Electronic Visa (e-visa) services for Indian passport holders from 1 August 2023. The decision aims to enhance bilateral relations and boost tourism between the two countries.

The recent development will enable Indian travelers to conveniently and efficiently apply for their Russian visa, providing them with enriching travel experience.

Approximately, citizens from 52 countries are allowed to access the opportunity of enjoying the advantages of the electronic visa system, according to a statement issued by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

The e-visa processing is anticipated to be completed in a maximum of four days , with a consular fee of $40 applicable for this service.

The newly introduced e-visa will facilitate entry into the Russian Federation for a variety of purposes, including business trips, guest visits, tourism, and taking part in various events.

According to the media reports, this initiative will ensure a seamless and hassle-free visa application process for Indian tourists, thereby reducing the need for extensive documentation and lengthy processing times.

Under the e-visa system guidelines, processing time for a single-entry visa will be restricted to a maximum of four calendar days. Additionally, the consular fee for the e-visa is set at approximately USD 40, making it a cost-effective choice for travelers who wish to explore Russia.

An informed official further stated that the introduction of the e-visa system marks a noteworthy advancement in promoting tourism and simplifying visa procedures for Indian visitors.

With the implementation of this initiative, along with Delhi-Moscow flights operated by Aeroflot airlines, Russia is poised to become more easily accessible to travelers. According to reports, tourists will be granted a visa validity of 60 days, allowing them to experience the wonders of Russia for a delightful stay of up to 16 days.

Russia has not only been a highly desirable tourist destination worldwide but has also been a favored holiday spot for Indians for a long time.

With the introduction of the e-visa system, Indian travelers can eagerly anticipate embarking on an unforgettable journey to explore Russia’s rich historical landmarks, vast landscapes, and vibrant culture. With streamlined visa procedures and a multitude of sightseeing opportunities, Russia aims to extend a warm invitation to tourists, encouraging them to immerse themselves in the country’s unmatched hospitality and unique charm.

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'Serene co-existence': Heartwarming video shows herd of deer seeking shelter alongside humans

Humans and animals were always meant to stride along in their mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship with each other. Even so, the association turned sour when one species sought dominance over the other based on its needs. But as disastrous as it may sound, the connection can be modified through more sympathy and less greed. Showing a cordial interconnection between the two, a video from Japan’s Nara is gaining traction on microblogging site X (earlier Twitter). The clip shows a herd of deer sitting serenely alongside humans as a heavy rains batter the city. The heartwarming video was shared by author and Appcircle CEO Tansu YEĞEN on his X account.

Check out the post:

The situation in the Japanese city of Nara during a downpour 😍 pic.twitter.com/Uy493dj91o

— Tansu YEĞEN (@TansuYegen) July 26, 2023

Uploaded a few days ago, the clip has amassed over 34.3 million views. It has over 5 lakh likes. Check out some of the comments below:

One user remarked, “Good Lord, they’re civilized.”

Good lord they’re civilized

— There¡s ThaT (@ghostmist5) July 26, 2023

“Nara is indeed a fascinating place,” said another, while sharing another clip showing animals behaving cordially to one another.

Nara is indeed an amazing place ❤️it pic.twitter.com/uiK17LYjrw

— 💭 (@RaymondAtWork) July 27, 2023

An account commented, “That’s so cool to see wildlife and residents living in harmony.”

That’s so cool to see the wildlife and residents living in harmony

— William Geronco (@williamgeronco) July 26, 2023

“Peaceful, serene coexistence,” said an individual.

Peaceful, serene coexistence. ❤️

— Susan Holden Martin, MBA, J.D. 🚀✨🇺🇸 🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@MarsTweep) July 26, 2023

 

Earlier, a clip of a deer eating wafer chips had won hearts. The adorable clip showcases a young girl offering chips to a deer. Take a look:

Two innocents know each other’s language! 💓💕pic.twitter.com/QgghxJ3NvG

— Figen (@TheFigen_) May 23, 2023

A sika deer, also known as the Spotted Deer or the Japanese Deer, is the symbol of Nara city in Japan. In the city’s parks and some temples like Tōdai-ji, they are considered to be messengers of the Shinto gods. As per a Yahoo! News report, the city made headlines in 2019 after plastic bags killed multiple deer. Following the unfortunate event, efforts have since been increased to protect wildlife.

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US slams Russia after drone hit with flare in Syria

When questioned about Russian assaults on American drones in Syria, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin called on Russia to respect aviation regulations and stop engaging in “irresponsible behaviour” on Saturday.

In the most recent of several near encounters between Russian and American military aircraft in the area, the U.S. military reported that a MQ-9 drone over Syria was “severely” damaged when it was struck by a flare from a Russian fighter jet earlier this week.

“We call upon the Russian leadership to make sure that they issue guidance to their troops to abide by the laws of the sky and make sure that they cease this irresponsible behaviour,” Austin said, when asked about the incident in a news conference in Brisbane, Australia.

Austin is in Australia for the annual Australia-U.S. Ministerial (AUSMIN) discussion, as is U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“We’ll continue to engage using the established channels to convey our concern and we’ll continue to engage senior leadership as appropriate. But, again, we will continue to operate, as we have always operated in the airspaces, and we will protect our interests and our resources,” said Austin.

(With agency inputs)

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US: Five people injured in shooting at Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighbourhood

Five people were injured in a late Friday shooting in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighbourhood that saw “dozens and dozens” of bullets fired, said Police Chief Adrian Diaz.

Among the injured, one person is in critical condition and has been taken to Harborview Medical Center. Meanwhile, two men and a woman are being treated for injuries that are not considered to be life-threatening, as confirmed by a hospital spokesperson.

Diaz mentioned that the fifth victim received medical treatment at the shooting scene. Currently, the Police are actively searching for at least two suspects in connection with the incident.

According to Diaz, the people injured were in their 20s and had been attending a community outreach event for distributing food, clothes and toys. The giveaway is held on Fridays.

The police chief siad it was not immediately known if the victims were targeted or what unfolded just before the shooting.
The shooting, which occurred just before 9 pm in the 9200 block of Rainier Avenue South, drew a massive police response and brought Mayor Bruce Harrell and Diaz to the scene, according to CNN.

Diaz said, “Honestly, this is really disturbing when you have victims that were really just trying to do an outreach effort, trying to help people…get people on the right path- And this is what they end up getting hit with.”

Diaz lamented the violence, noting that the police recently recovered the largest amount of guns they have in 15 years. The shooting occurred in front of a building once home to a King Donut shop, as per CNN.

With inputs from ANI

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WATCH: Dubai Sheikh's 46-feet long customised Hummer H1 is a treat for all car lovers

In what would be a treat for car lovers, Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan has grabbed attention with his customised Hummer H1 gracing the roads. According to production norms, General Motors’ SUV measures 184.5 inches long, 77 inches tall, and 86.5 inches wide. However, the Sheikh, popularly referred to as the ‘Rainbow Sheikh of Dubai’ owns a vehicle which is three times the size of the regular model. The Emirati royal, known for his impressive car collection, also holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of 4×4 vehicles.

An old clip showing the Emirate royal’s giant Hummer standing in line with other regular-sized vehicles on the road has gained traction again after it was circulated on the microblogging site X. Based on the post by @Rainmaker1973, the giant vehicle measures about 46 feet long, 21.6 feet tall and 19 feet wide. The four-wheeler has diesel engines on each wheel.

Check out the post:

Dubai Rainbow Sheikh’s giant Hummer H1 “X3” is three times bigger than a regular Hummer H1 SUV (14 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 5.8 meters high). The Hummer is also fully drivable

[read more: https://t.co/LlohQguhTM]pic.twitter.com/uV1Z4juHKx

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) July 27, 2023

The post has garnered over 20.9 million views. It has over 62,000 likes. Sharing further information on the vehicle, an account wrote, “The 21-foot tall vehicle is basically a small house on wheels with a toilet, living room and ladders to enter.”

The inside of the Dubai Giant Hummer — 3x bigger than a normal one — is insane.

The 21-foot tall vehicle is basically a small house on wheels with a toilet, living room and ladders to enter. pic.twitter.com/H8RqOrX0bf

— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) July 27, 2023

Check out some of the responses below:

One user said, “It’s almost as substantial as a haul truck.”

It’s almost as big as a haul truck lmao pic.twitter.com/0SmDAKPquA

— Brattani (@Bratt_world) July 27, 2023

One account described the vehicle as “Definition of boredom with money to burn”

Definition of boredom with money to burn

— Dr David Gotlieb. MD (@rheumatics) July 27, 2023

“On the one hand that looks ridiculous, but on the other hand I absolutely want to take it for a drive!” a user remarked.

On the one hand that looks ridiculous, but on the other hand I absolutely want to take it for a drive!

— Jeremy Kinman RDN, LD (@JeremyKinman) July 27, 2023

A report by South China Morning Post from last year cites Celebrity Net Worth while pointing out Sheik Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahya’s net worth to be worth over US$20 billion.

The same report, quoting Business Insider says that back in the early 1990s, the Sheikh commissioned an entire fleet of Mercedes S-class in every colour of the rainbow and this is the primary reason behind his nickname.

The report further points out that Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan also has various car museums, including one in Sharjah dedicated to off-road vehicles. It houses the giant Hummer H1, the world’s biggest Jeep, the world’s biggest SUV and many more.

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Australian authorities find debris from downed military helicopter that took part in Talisman Sabre

The Australian Police on Saturday said that debris from an Australian military helicopter, that crashed into the Pacific while taking part in the Talisman Sabre exercise, had been found in the ocean.

However, there is still no sign of the four missing crew members.

Militaries from at least three nations have joined police in looking for the crew of an MRH-90 Taipan that went down late Friday night in subtropical waters off the northeast coast of Australia.

“We have located a number of items of debris that would appear to be from the missing helicopter,” said Queensland Police Superintendent Douglas McDonald.

He insisted hope had not yet faded for finding the crew alive, saying “At this time it remains a search and rescue operation”.

He added that on Sunday planes and boats from the Australian, Canadian and US militaries  would join the search and rescue operations.

Talisman Sabre was paused after a defence helicopter that was part of the drills crashed into the Pacific.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said the MRH-90 Taipan went down late Friday night in sub-tropical waters near Hamilton Island, Queensland.

The chopper was taking part in Australia’s Talisman Sabre exercise which features over 30,000 military personnel from Australia, US and other nations.

The incident was, according to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, a “stark reminder of the risk that the men and women who serve us take, and the courage that they show every day in the service of their country.”

While both Australian and US officials expressed concern about the incident, they insisted drills were needed to ensure both militaries were “match fit”.

About Talisman Sabre

The Talisman Sabre exercise is a biennial combined Australian and United States (US) training activity that is participated by allied forces.

It is designed to train respective military force elements in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations to improve combat readiness and interoperability between the ADF and its allies.

It is a major combined (ie international) and joint (ie Army, Navy and Air Force and Marines) exercise involving thousands of troops on the land, sea and in the air and major assets such as Australian and allied warships, fighters, bombers, helicopters and armour and artillery.

With inputs from AFP

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'Glory to Hong Kong': High Court rejects govt's bid to ban pro-democracy song

The high court of Hong Kong has rejected the Chinese government’s bid to ban ‘Glory to Hong Kong’, a pro-democracy protest song.

The high court said that banning the song could create a “chilling effect” and seriously undermine the freedom of expression.

The government, on the other hand, argues that ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ insults China’s national anthem and that its distribution and online publication can give people the false impression that Hong Kong is an independent country.

“I am unable to see a solid basis for believing that the invocation of the civil jurisdiction can assist in the enforcement of the law in question,” Judge Anthony Chan said in his ruling.

Chan added that the court is entitled to the duty of protecting human rights which includes freedom of expression.

“Innocent people might be discouraged from legitimate activities involving the song for fear of the severe consequences of breaching the injunction,” he said.

In 2019, the song had become an unofficial anthem during the pro-democracy protests.

Human rights activists welcome ruling

The high court’s ruling was well received by Chinese human rights activists.

“The Hong Kong government should respect the decision and refrain from making further attempts to censor the protest song Glory to Hong Kong and other political expressions,” Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch said.

She added, “It should also stop its aggressive campaign to undermine internationally guaranteed human rights.”

Before the ruling was passed, aw-Nian Huang, an assistant professor at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University, had said that the injunction by the government, if passed, would have expanded Beijing’s aim to increase territorial control over Taiwan.

“For multinational tech companies, it implies that they will continue to confront in the Hong Kong market the dilemma they have faced in the Chinese market – choosing between adhering to existing international norms of internet freedom and compromising with China’s vigorously promoted digital authoritarian governance model for the sake of economic interests in the Chinese market,” he said.

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Australia halts Talisman Sabre military exercise after chopper crashes into Pacific; four missing

A major US-Australia military exercise was paused after a defence helicopter that was part of the drills crashed into the Pacific, leaving four crew members missing on Saturday.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said the MRH-90 Taipan went down late Friday night in sub-tropical waters near Hamilton Island, Queensland.

The chopper was taking part in Australia’s Talisman Sabre exercise which features over 30,000 military personnel from Australia, US and other nations.

“As we speak to you now, the four aircrew are yet to be found,” Marles said after a nearly overnight search, which is set to continue Saturday.

According to AFP, all four missing crew members are Australian.

“The families of the four aircrew have been notified of this incident and our hopes and thoughts are very much with the aircrew and their families,” Marles added.

“We desperately hope for better news during the course of this day.”

It is, however, still not clear what caused the accident.

About Talisman Sabre

The Talisman Sabre exercise is a biennial combined Australian and United States (US) training activity that is participated by allied forces.

It is designed to train respective military force elements in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations to improve combat readiness and interoperability between the ADF and its allies.

It is a major combined (ie international) and joint (ie Army, Navy and Air Force and Marines) exercise involving thousands of troops on the land, sea and in the air and major assets such as Australian and allied warships, fighters, bombers, helicopters and armour and artillery.

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Moscow claims shooting down Ukrainian missile over Russian city

The Russian military said on Friday that it had shot down a Ukrainian missile over the city of Taganrog in the south of the country and that missile pieces had hurt people and destroyed structures.

Since Ukraine rarely speaks out in response to attacks on areas under Russian or Ukrainian authority, there was no quick response.

Vasily Golubev, the governor of Russia’s Rostov region, which borders Ukraine and includes Taganrog, claimed that a cafe and a museum had both been struck and that a residential building’s windows had been blown out.

He claimed that although nine individuals had been injured and sent to the hospital, none had died.

Online videos from the incident revealed a low-rise building that was partially reduced to rubble.

A refinery for oil reportedly suffered damage from an explosion in the Russian city of Samara.

According to parliamentarian Alexander Khinshtein, the explosion at the Rosneft (ROSN.MM)-owned refinery seemed to be the result of a bomb. He posted on Telegram, “Fortunately there is no serious damage and no casualties.”

A suspect in the explosion has reportedly been captured, according to the TASS news agency.

Throughout the 17-month war, drone or mortar assaults have frequently targeted areas of Russia, particularly those close to the Ukrainian border. Weapons depots and energy installations have frequently been attacked.

(With agency inputs)

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'Tokyo is a natural partnership in this modernising India': EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that Japan is an “exemplary moderniser” and that the country has unleashed the self-reliance revolution in India.

Jaishankar was addressing the inaugural session of the India-Japan Forum. The event was also attended by different Japanese dignataries including Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

“What really does Japan means to India? Japan is in many ways the exemplary moderniser. It is an example of relevance…It’s also a country for which there is a lot of goodwill in history. Today under PM Modi, we also had great modernisation,” Jaishankar said.

He added, “A self-reliant India. Japan is a natural partnership in this modernising India. Japan has truly unleashed the revolution in India.”

Talking about the different revolutions that Japan brought about in the world and inspired others to work the same way, Jaishankar said, “The Suzuki revolution! The second revolution was the metro revolution. The third revolution is the high-speed rail in making. The fourth revolution is in Critical and emerging technologies and semi-conductors.”

#WATCH | Delhi: “…What really does Japan means to India? Japan is in many ways the exemplary moderniser. It is an example of relevance…It’s also a country for which there is a lot of goodwill in history. Today under PM Modi, we also had great modernisation. A self-reliant… pic.twitter.com/K5bRfhtVqK

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2023

Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi said, “To expand our bilateral relationship, it is important that we promote people-to-people exchange. Our PMs agreed to further promote exchanges.”

“This year 2023, we have named It as Japan India tourism year exchange. India is an integral partner in the United Nations security council where we have been working shoulder to shoulder in G4,” he added.

#WATCH | Delhi: “…To expand our bilateral relationship, it is important that we promote people-to-people exchange. Our PMs agreed to further promote exchanges. This year 2023, we have named It as Japan India tourism year exchange. India is an integral partner in the United… pic.twitter.com/rJCpgmpZOk

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2023

Hayashi said Japan is very keen to work hand-in-hand with India to make its G20 presidency successful, especially the upcoming summit of the intergovernmental forum.

The Japanese foreign minister said a call for upholding international law may sound like a mere slogan unless the challenges being faced by the Global South are dealt with effectively.

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Japan raises alarm over China’s growing military ties with Russia & its claims on Taiwan in new defence paper

In an annual defence paper released Friday, Japan has expressed concern over China’s assertiveness in the region, its growing military ties to Russia and its claims on Taiwan.

According to the 510-page report, China, Russia and North Korea contribute to “the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II,”.

The report says that China’s external stance and military activities have become a “serious concern for Japan and the international community and present an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge.”

According to the 2023 edition of Japan’s defence white paper approved by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet, the current security environment is the worst since the end of World War II.

It is the first under the National Security Strategy the government adopted in December, stating the need to bolster strike capability with long-range missiles like Tomahawks, a controversial plan seen as a break from Japan’s self-defence-only postwar principle.

The report highlights the deepening strategic ties between Russia and China, pointing to joint bomber flights and joint navigations of warships as demonstrations of force against Japan and the region. Notably, the report identifies at least five joint bomber flights conducted by China and Russia since 2019, including one in November of the previous year.

Moreover, the report predicts that China may possess 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035, signalling an increasing military advantage over Taiwan. This situation heightens regional tensions and poses a security threat, especially to Japan’s southwestern islands, including Okinawa, where residents fear a repeat of the tragic Battle of Okinawa, should a Taiwan emergency arise.

According to the report, China, Russia, and North Korea collectively contribute to creating the most severe and complex security environment Japan has faced since World War II. China’s external stance and military activities, in particular, have become a grave concern for Japan and the international community, posing an unprecedented and significant strategic challenge.

Many residents there have bitter memories of the Battle of Okinawa, in which Japan’s wartime military essentially sacrificed the local population in an attempt to delay a U.S. landing on the main Japanese islands. Many Okinawans worry they would be the first to suffer again, in the event of a Taiwan emergency.

While Okinawan Gov. Denny Tamaki has called for U.S. bases there to be reduced and for greater effort in diplomacy and dialogue with Beijing, the central government has been reinforcing the defences of the remote southwestern islands, including Ishigaki and Yonaguni, where new bases for missile defence have been installed.

Earlier this week, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno visited Ishigaki and acknowledged the challenges of evacuating residents from remote islands, and pledged to give firm support. Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama asked for airport and port facilities to be reinforced and for underground shelters to be built for residents in case of a Taiwan emergency.

China claims self-governing Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who in 2017 set a goal of building a “world-class military” by the mid-21st century, may move the target forward, the report said, noting his call for a rapid advancement of the People’s Liberation Army to world-class in his speech at the Communist Party congress in October.

North Korea is rapidly progressing in its nuclear and missile development and poses a graver, more imminent threat to Japan than ever before,” the report said. The North has test-fired around 100 missiles since the start of 2022, including ICBMs, and the report noted the country is now believed to have the ability to conduct nuclear attacks on Japan and the continental United States.

The report comes seven months after Kishida’s government adopted new national security and defence strategies that stated a decision to bolster Japan’s military capability and double the defence budget by 2027 to 43 trillion yen ($310 billion).

Questions have been raised about whether the ambitious expansion of military capability and funding for it is feasible in a country that has a rapidly ageing and shrinking population.

A government-commissioned panel recently adopted a package of measures, including scholarships, extension of retirement age, hiring retirees, improving workplace environments and tackling harassment.

With inputs from AP.

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Nearly 30 feared dead as boat capsizes in Philippines: Report

Around 30 passengers are feared dead and around 40 have been rescued after a small boat capsized in a lake near the Philippine capital on Thursday, according to a report.

According to Philippine News Agency, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that MBCA Princess Aya capsized about 50 yards away from Barangay Kalinawan in Binangonan.

The incident took place around 1 am when the motorised boat was battered by strong winds that caused passengers to panic and group to its port side, causing it to capsize, added the agency.

It noted that the number of individuals rescued and casualties are not yet finalised and are still being checked, reported Philippine News Agency.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the area.

With inputs from agencies

 

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China providing technology and equipment to Russia, claims US intel report

China is supplying technology and equipment to Russia, which is at war with Ukraine, according to a report from the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

According to a paper titled ‘Support Provided by the People’s Republic of China to Russia’, China has overtaken Western nations as Russia’s primary commercial partner since 2022, when trade with them began to decline.

“The customs records show PRC state-owned defence companies shipping navigation equipment, jamming technology, and fighter-jet parts to sanctioned Russian Government-owned defence companies,” the report read.

“Russia has continued to acquire chips through circuitous routes, with a large portion flowing through small traders in Hong Kong and mainland PRC, according to the foreign press,” it further added.

China’s buying has been spurred by steep discounts on oil and is providing Moscow much-needed revenue particularly after the Group of Seven (G-7) imposed a USD 60 price cap on Russian crude in December 2022, it said.

The report was mandated by the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, passed by Congress, and was released by House Intelligence Committee Democrats

According to the report, Russian imports from China have increased by 13 per cent to USD 76 billion in 2022, and its exports to the PRC increased by 43 per cent to USD 114 billion. Total bilateral trade between the PRC and Russia hit a record high level of USD 190 billion in 2022, which is a 30 per cent increase from 2021.

China is also providing supertankers and insurance coverage to move Russian Urals crude to PRC ports, as Moscow seeks vessels for exports after a G-7 oil price cap restricted the use of Western cargo services and insurance.

It is difficult to ascertain the extent to which the PRC has helped Russia evade and circumvent sanctions and export controls. Russia has turned to the PRC for critical components, according to PRC firms involved in the shipments, which has provided some measure of protection against the adverse effects of sanctions and export controls, the report read.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden-led administration has repeatedly raised concerns with China over its companies selling non-lethal equipment to Russia for use in Ukraine, but US officials say they have seen no signs so far that China has provided weapons or lethal military aid to Russia, CNN reported.

The US believes that at the outset of the war, China intended to sell Russia lethal weapons for use in Ukraine, a US official previously told CNN. But China significantly scaled back on those plans as the war progressed, this person said — something the Biden administration has considered a victory.

However, China has claimed neutrality over the war in Ukraine and called for peace in the conflict. But Beijing has also avoided publicly criticising Russia’s war efforts and the two countries have repeatedly emphasised their cooperation, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu declaring a “boundless” military partnership after a meeting in April.

With inputs from agencies

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Iraq: US-led coalition army helicopter crashes near Erbil

A military helicopter from the U.S.-led coalition crashed on Thursday in northern Iraq while making an emergency landing attempt, the coalition said in a statement, adding that no one was hurt.

According to early reports from Iraqi security sources, the helicopter crashed in the Makhmour region, roughly 60 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of the Kurdish capital of Erbil.

According to a coalition spokesman, the helicopter had “an in-flight mishap” on Thursday while carrying out a normal training operation close to Erbil.

The coalition chopper was damaged, but there were no coalition casualties or infrastructure damages, according to the statement.

(With agency inputs)

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Door open for New Zealand to engage on AUKUS, says US

The door is open for New Zealand to participate in the AUKUS weapons development and procurement project between the United States, Britain, and Australia, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday.

The multi-stage AUKUS project, launched in March, is expected to be completed in the late 2030s and early 2040s with the development and operation of a new submarine class, SSN-AUKUS, by the British and Australian governments. This project will also use “cutting edge” U.S. technologies.

“The door’s very much open for New Zealand and other partners to engage as they see appropriate going forward,” Blinken told a news conference in Wellington.

“We’ve long worked together on the most important national security issues. And so as we further develop AUKUS, as I said, the door is open to engagement.”

Blinken is spending a little over a day in New Zealand as part of a three-nation tour of the Pacific.

Chris Hipkins, the prime minister of New Zealand, and Nanaia Mahuta, the foreign minister, both met him. Later on Thursday, he will fly to Australia, where the biggest joint military exercise between the US and Australia will get underway.

Although Mahuta underlined on Thursday that New Zealand was “not prepared to compromise or change our nuclear-free position” and that it continued to support a nuclear-free Pacific, New Zealand has stated that it is open to discussions on a second phase of AUKUS that focuses on military technologies.

The international rules-based order, the increasingly contentious global environment, notably in the Pacific, and highlighted the importance of the rule of law were all topics covered in her warm and intimate chats with Blinken, she claimed.

Although their alliance was put on hold in the 1980s when New Zealand forbade the visit of American warships with nuclear propulsion or weapons, New Zealand and the US both regard themselves as close strategic partners.

Due to shared worries about China’s influence in the Pacific, particularly Beijing’s expanding defence and policing links with the Solomon Islands and its possible destabilising effect in the region, their relationship has gotten closer over the past few of years.

According to Mahuta, New Zealand respects the sovereignty of the Solomon Islands but also supports regional agreements that call on the Pacific region’s nations to band together when making decisions that could have an influence on the region.

(With agency inputs)

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Russian fighter jet strikes US drone over Syria for sixth time this month

In a series of provocative actions that are believed to heightened tensions between the two global powers, the White House reported on Wednesday that a Russian fighter jet fired flares and hit a US drone in Syrian airspace.

This is the sixth such incident this month and the second within 24 hours where Russian warplanes came dangerously close to American manned and unmanned aircraft, posing risks to crews and planes and raising concerns about the potential US response.

Two U.S. officials confirmed that the strike damaged the MQ-9 Reaper drone. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We’ve seen the reports, the early reports, of a second Russian fighter aircraft this week flying dangerously close to our drone” on a mission to counter Islamic State militants in Syria, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. She did not provide other details, but said Russia’s “close approach to and deployment of flares over U.S. drones during a routine mission” violates international norms.

In the incidents over the past two days, Russian warplanes have fired flares that struck U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones. On Tuesday, the flares damaged a drone’s propeller; on Wednesday, Russian-dropped flares hit a drone. In previous incidents, Russian jets have intercepted the U.S. planes at dangerously close distances, including one instance with a manned aircraft that the U.S. said put the lives of the four American crewmembers at risk.

A senior Russian military leader blamed the US for the latest incident and charged that aircraft from the U.S.-led coalition in Syria violated deconfliction protocols with Russia 10 times in the past 24 hours.

Rear Adm. Oleg Gurinov, the head of the Russian military’s Reconciliation Center in Syria, said that the U.S. drone flew dangerously close to a pair of Russian warplanes in the skies over Syria early Wednesday. Gurinov said that onboard systems of the Russian Su-34 and Su-35 aircraft spotted the aircraft being targeted and triggered the automatic release of flares.

“The United States are continuing to disinform the public about unlawful flights of its drones in the Syrian air space that have failed to undergo deconflicting procedure while accusing the Russian side of dangerous maneuvering,” Gurinov said in a statement carried by the Interfax news agency.

He also said the U.S. drone involved in the Tuesday encounter was not cleared through deconfliction procedures and was “entirely provocative.” He said Russian pilots “showed a high degree of professionalism and took timely steps to avoid a collision with the drone.”

U.S. and Russian military commanders routinely communicate over a deconfliction phone line that has been in place for several years to avoid unintended clashes in Syria. There are often many calls a day, and at times result in angry threats as commanders argue over an ongoing operation, according to a senior U.S. official.

Experts say Russia is likely conducting the harassing attacks to support Iran’s goal of ousting U.S. forces from Syria, with a senior U.S. defense official saying Iran wants to be able to more easily move lethal aid to Lebanese Hezbollah and threaten Israel. Russia relies on Iran’s support for the Kremlin’s war operations in Ukraine.

Toward that end, the U.S. has seen more cooperation, collaboration, planning and intelligence sharing, largely between mid-level Russian and Iranian Quds force leaders in Syria, said the senior U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military missions.

John Hardie, director of the Russia program for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the intercepts are part of a coordinated effort by Russia and Iran “to try to push the U.S. out of Syria, just kind of build pressure over time, in the hopes that Washington will eventually withdraw.”

But the intercepts raise questions as to how the U.S. will respond and whether the risk of a larger confrontation is increasing.

“It doesn’t seem like the Russians really want a direct, hot confrontation, but things that are sort of below that threshold, like messing with our drones, is right up their alley,” Hardie said.

He suggested that one option may be similar to how the U.S. responded after a Black Sea incident near Crimea, where a Russian jet collided with a U.S. drone. The U.S. relocated its patrols to avoid getting into a direct conflict.

Both the U.S. and Russia are conducting missions in Syria. Russia backs the government of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. is working with the Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in operations against IS extremists. The SDF is in a civil war with Assad.

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US Fed lifts rates, Powell leaves door open to another hike in September

In order to tackle above-target inflation, the US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark lending rate on Wednesday to the highest level since 2001 and signalled the possibility of further increases ahead.

The US central bank said the quarter percentage-point rise lifts the Fed’s key lending rate to a range between 5.25 percent and 5.5 per cent. It also added that it will “continue to assess additional information and its implications for monetary policy.”

The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) used similar language when it voted to hold rates steady in June, and the latest statement suggests that policymakers are mulling another pause at their next meeting in September.

However, the Fed also said it would assess a range of data points “in determining the extent of additional policy firming,” which indicates that they also see more monetary tightening ahead.

This would be in line with the median forecast of two additional rate hikes this year at the last FOMC meeting in June.

Key price measures are still increasing at more than double the Fed’s target. While inflation has been easing, that has so far happened with little apparent cost to the labor market, where the unemployment rate remains at a low 3.6%. Economic growth has remained above the Fed’s estimated 1.8% trend rate; economists polled by Reuters expect data on Thursday will show second-quarter gross domestic product expanded at just that level.

Powell acknowledged as a positive development that inflation has fallen from the highs of last year without serious damage to the economy.

But as the Fed enters a tricky period in its inflation fight, balancing the need for further rate increases against the risks of going too far, he said finishing the task on inflation will likely require some economic losses.

“My base case is that we will be able to achieve inflation moving back down to our target without a really significant downturn that results in high levels of job losses,” Powell said. “But it’s a long way to be sure and we have a lot left … Reducing inflation is likely to require a period of below-trend growth and some softening of labor market conditions.”

As stated after its meeting last month, the Fed said it would watch incoming data and study the impact of its rate hikes on the economy “in determining the extent of additional policy firming that may be appropriate” to reach its inflation target.

Though inflation data since the Fed’s June 13-14 meeting has been weaker than expected, policymakers have been reluctant to alter their hawkish approach until there is more progress in reducing price pressures. In their most recent projections, issued at the end of the June meeting, 12 of 18 policymakers said they anticipated at least one more rate increase would be needed by the end of this year for financial conditions to be restrictive enough to ensure inflation continued to decline.

Powell said decisions would continue to be made on a meeting-by-meeting basis and that officials can only provide limited guidance about what’s next for monetary policy in the current environment.

“It is certainly possible that we would raise the (federal) funds rate again at the September meeting if the data warranted, and I would also say it’s possible that we would choose to hold steady at that meeting” if that was the right policy call, Powell said.

He cautioned, however, against expecting any near-term easing in rates. “We’ll be comfortable cutting rates when we’re comfortable cutting rates, and that won’t be this year,” Powell said.

‘MODERATE’ GROWTH

U.S. Treasury yields slid in choppy trading after the release of the Fed policy statement, while U.S. stocks ended largely unchanged. Futures markets showed little change in bets on the path of Fed rate increases over the remainder of the year, with small odds given to a rise in September.

“The forward guidance remains unchanged as the committee leaves the door open to further rate hikes if inflation does not continue to trend lower,” said Kathy Bostjancic, chief economist at Nationwide. “Our view is the Fed is likely done with rate hikes for this cycle since continued easing of inflation will passively lead to tighter policy as the Fed holds the nominal fed funds rate steady into 2024.”

The Fed statement nodded to the economy’s continued outperformance.

That has been captured in data as varied as continued job growth, strong vehicle sales, and the gargantuan attendance numbers from the new “Barbie” movie to the Taylor Swift concerts that earned a mention in the central bank’s most recent “Beige Book” report on economic activity.

Job gains remain “robust,” the Fed said, while it described the economy as growing at a “moderate” pace, a slight upgrade from the “modest” pace seen as of the June meeting.

Powell said he’s still holding out hope the economy can achieve a “soft landing,” a scenario in which inflation falls, unemployment remains relatively low and a recession is avoided.

But his comments about the need for slower growth suggest a possible bias towards higher rates to put more pressure on demand. Though Powell said Fed staff had relaxed a prediction of a recession in coming months, outside analysts still think that’s what it may take to finish the inflation fight.

“We would still think that you need a recession or some deeper slowing at some point in order to get inflation back to 2%,” said Veronica Clark, an economist at Citi. “So if we’re not having a recession in the next year, inflation is not back to 2% either … You are still dealing with high inflation and you do still need to slow things more.”

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Australia slaps Meta with $14 million fine for illegally collecting user data, not disclosing it

A court in Australia has ruled that Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, must pay fines totalling 20 million Australian dollars ($13.5m). The fines were imposed because Meta collected user data through a smartphone application called Onavo without disclosing this action to its users.

The court also ordered Meta, along with its subsidiaries Facebook Israel and the now-defunct Onavo app, to pay 400,000 Australian dollars ($270,631) in legal costs to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which brought the civil lawsuit against Meta.

This legal issue is related to Meta’s handling of user information since the scandal involving data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica during the 2016 United States election. However, another civil court action against Meta by Australia’s Office of the Information Commissioner regarding its dealings with Cambridge Analytica in Australia is still ongoing.

The court’s judgment pertained to Onavo, a virtual private network (VPN) service that Facebook offered between early 2016 and late 2017, promoting it as a tool to protect personal information.

In reality, Facebook used Onavo to collect users’ location, time, and website visit frequency to bolster its advertising efforts.

“The failure to make sufficient disclosures … may have deprived tens of thousands of Australian consumers of the opportunity to make an informed choice about the collection and use of their data before downloading and/or using Onavo Protect,” Abraham wrote.

The potential fine for Meta’s actions could have been significantly higher, probably running into the billions, considering the number of app downloads and breaches of consumer law. The court could have fined Meta hundreds of billions of dollars since Australians downloaded the app 271,220 times and each breach of consumer law carried a fine of 1.1 million Australian dollars ($743,721).

However, the court viewed the contraventions as a single course of conduct and settled on the agreed-upon penalty, ensuring that it carries enough weight to discourage such behaviour as a mere cost of doing business.

In response to the ruling, Meta claimed that the ACCC acknowledged it never aimed to deceive customers and highlighted its efforts to provide greater transparency and control over data usage in recent years.

The ACCC Chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, emphasized that Australian consumers should have access to clear information and be able to make informed choices regarding their data.

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‘S3Xy’, 'eXposure,' 'eXult': Elon Musk renames conference rooms to match Twitter’s new X branding

After less than a year of acquiring the social media giant Twitter for a whopping $44 billion, Elon Musk decided to rebrand it as X.com. The transition has already begun at Twitter’s headquarters, where conference rooms have been renamed to reflect the change. According to The New York Times, Musk opted for names like “eXposure,” “eXult,” and “s3Xy” for these rooms. The official unveiling of the new X logo took place at the San Francisco headquarters, replacing the iconic bird logo that had been in use for over a decade.

Interestingly, the famous blue bird logo was also removed from the headquarters cafeteria. Additionally, there were plans to take down the six letters spelling “Twitter” from the building’s exterior, but this was halted by the San Francisco Police Department due to it being considered unauthorized work.

Musk explained the reason behind the rebranding, stating that he chose “X” because he envisions Twitter evolving into an “everything app.” He pointed out that the name “Twitter” made sense in the past when the platform was mainly used for short 140-character messages like birds tweeting. However, with the platform now capable of hosting various types of content, including lengthy videos, a more versatile name like “X” fits better.

In the coming months, Musk revealed that the company has plans to expand its offerings, including “comprehensive communications and the ability to conduct your entire financial world.”

The current CEO of Twitter, Linda Yaccarino, further explained the vision behind the new “X” logo, emphasizing that it represents the future of unlimited interactivity. This interactivity would be centred around various aspects such as audio, video, messaging, payments, and banking, essentially creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities. The use of AI would play a significant role in enabling these interactions, connecting people in ways that were previously unimaginable.

The concept of an “everything app” resembles China’s popular WeChat app, which serves as an all-in-one platform for numerous functions. It’s worth noting that Musk has been fond of the letter “X” and has used it repeatedly across his companies. He previously co-founded x.com, an online bank in 1999, which eventually became PayPal. Interestingly, Musk repurchased the domain x.com from PayPal in 2017 due to its sentimental value.

As a result of this rebranding, the domain x.com now redirects to Twitter.

In a memo to employees, Yaccarino shared that the company would now be focusing on developing new features related to audio, video, messaging, payments, and banking. The goal is to transform Twitter into a multifunctional platform, catering to a diverse range of user needs and experiences.

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Secret deals with Russia help Kim Jong Un fill depleted coffers, fund nuclear program

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has discovered new ways to replenish his depleted coffers, allowing him to disregard financial incentives intended to persuade the country to return to the negotiating table and continue with the development of his nuclear program.

With assistance from the Soviet Union, his grandfather, state founder Kim Il Sung, assumed power. Now, as North Korea gets ready to commemorate the armistice that ended the Korean War on 27 July, 1953, it must once more give credit to Russia.

The United Nations said last month that Russia has started supplying oil to North Korea again for the first time since 2020. That comes after grain supplies were resumed earlier.

Although it is impossible to predict what is moving in the opposite direction, the US government and unaffiliated analysts agree on one key point: North Korea’s massive stockpiles of weapons, according to a Bloomberg report.

These measures alone won’t be enough to revive a broken and isolated economy. However, aid from Russia is ensuring the economy remains stable enough to run, along with the restoration of economic relations with China and other money streams like cybercrime, allowing Kim to continue defying the international community, added the report.

“North Korea always manages to find a way to survive,” Bloomberg quoted Rachel Minyoung Lee, a regional issues manager at the Vienna-based Open Nuclear Network who worked as an analyst for the CIA’s Open Source Enterprise for almost two decades, as saying.

“There is no indication that it would return to nuclear talks anytime soon,” added Lee.

Russia and China are showing their support for Kim by sending high-profile delegations to North Korea to mark the anniversary — the first such visits by foreign envoys since the Covid-19 pandemic. The Russian group headed by Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu arrived Tuesday night and received a welcome from top cadres.

“The Russian delegation was ushered in with an official welcoming ceremony at the Sunan international airport (Pyongyang),” reported TASS News Agency.

“The Russian defence minister was welcomed by North Korean Defence Minister Kang Sun-nam,” it added.

Pyongyang rejects accusations of supplying arms to Russia

According to the Bloomberg report, Pyongyang, which has been banned from arms sales for about 15 years, rejects accusations it is supplying Russia.

Yet the White House in December said it had evidence North Korea completed an initial arms shipment to the Wagner Group for use in Ukraine that included infantry rockets and missiles.

One item that North Korea has and Russia likely wants is 152 mm artillery shells. These are interoperable with the Soviet-era weaponry that’s been pushed back into service in Ukraine.

The Kremlin’s war machine has been burning through thousands daily, according to the report citing Jamestown Foundation research group, and has been scrambling for supplies as the conflict continues.

North Korea possesses untold stores of munitions that could run into millions of rounds for an arsenal that has for decades held Seoul under the threat of devastation.

North Korea would likely jump at the chance to offload some of its stockpile at a hefty price, the report quoted weapons expert Joost Oliemans, who co-authored the book The Armed Forces of North Korea, as saying.

Exactly how much they’d get would be down to their ability to negotiate.

For example, if North Korea sold shells at $1,000 each, selling 250,000 would be equal to about 1% of its GDP, according to Bloomberg News calculations. That’s a conservative estimate because high demand has driven up prices, with the 155 mm shells used by NATO forces priced at about $3,000 each.

Trade picks up

Given that both North Korea and Russia are subject to UN sanctions, both seek to conceal exactly how much trade is going on. But there are numerous signs that activity is picking up.

In late 2022, the two countries restored a rail link that had been suspended for nearly three years, according to satellite images including those from November that show a train crossing from Russia into North Korea and stopping at a freight handling station.

Kang Mi-jin, a North Korean defector who now runs a company in South Korea that watches the economy of her former home, told Bloomberg that her contacts report that Russian sugar has made its way into markets in recent months. It’s been warily received since it’s coarser and a darker color than what North Koreans are used to, Kang said.

There are also indications of increased activity with China after the two countries reopened their main rail link last year that had been closed since Covid. Traffic between the Chinese border city of Dandong and North Korea’s nearby city of Sinuiju can be watched on the streets in China.

With inputs from agencies

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