Following North Korea’s unsuccessful attempt to launch a spy satellite last week, the United States imposed sanctions Thursday on two men and a Moscow-registered firm accused of supporting North Korea’s ballistic missile program.
The decision was taken shortly after the White House revealed recent intelligence indicating an exchange of letters between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This correspondence suggests Russia’s interest in procuring additional munitions from North Korea to support the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Treasury sanctioned Russia-based Jon Jin Yong and Sergei Kozlov, who it said worked together to coordinate the use of North Korean construction workers in Russia. It said they “directly supported or helped generate revenue” for North Korean organizations linked to the development of weapons of mass destruction, in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The U.S. said Jon led a team of North Korean IT workers in Russia and worked with Russians to procure identification for the workers. Some of the identity documents were from family members or Russian employees of Kozlov, Treasury said.
Treasury also sanctioned Moscow-registered firm Intellekt LLC, described as being owned or controlled by Kozlov and connected with a Moscow-based construction project coordinated by Jon.
The latest sanctions action was taken in coordination with the South Korean and Japanese governments.
Brian E. Nelson, Treasury’s undersecretary of terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement that the U.S. will continue to coordinate closely with both countries to combat North Korea’s “unlawful and destructive activities.”
The Biden administration has said Russia has increasingly turned to North Korea and Iran for the arms it needs to fight its war against Ukraine. In March, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Russia was offering North Korea food in exchange for munitions.
North Korea has failed twice in recent months to launch a spy satellite into orbit. The nation’s National Aerospace Development Administration said it would make a third attempt in October.
U.N. Security Council resolutions ban any launches by North Korea using ballistic technologies.
With inputs from AP.
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After the government in Pakistan approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for approval regarding its proposal to alleviate the concerns of citizens regarding increased electricity bills, the IMF has reportedly asked Islamabad to provide a written plan before releasing relief measures to the people who are suffering from inflation.
People have taken to the streets to protest the sky-high electricity bills across the country, while the caretaker government is considering different ways in which to bring the tariff down – and quickly.
Last week, concerned over the nationwide protests erupted against the massive electricity bills and relevant hashtags started trending on social media, Pakistan caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul-haq Kakar called an emergency meeting on August 27 to discuss the issue.
Pakistan, which is facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1947, was on March 31, 2023, ranked fifth in the list of countries with the highest borrowing from IMF.
The unprecedented fuel shortage and its adverse effects on the Pakistan Army’s operational readiness underline the profound impact of the country’s political and economic instability on its defence forces.
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Google has announced its upcoming “Made By Google” event, which is set to include a livestream keynote to unveil new hardware, likely including the Pixel 8 smartphone and the Pixel Watch 2.
The event is scheduled for October 4 at 10:00 AM ET and will be organised in New York City. Similar to past events, Google will livestream the event on YouTube and other social media platforms.
It is expected that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones will be revealed during the event, with the Pixel Watch 2 making its debut as well. This event aims to capture attention during the competitive phone launch season and showcase Google’s latest hardware offerings.
While Google’s I/O event earlier this year didn’t offer much insight into the Pixel 8, leaks have filled the void with information on the upcoming device. One notable leak even came from Google itself, albeit unintentionally. The Pixel 8 Pro is expected to feature Google’s Tensor G3 chip, which is the third iteration following the Tensor G2 from the Pixel 6. Leaks have suggested that the G3 chip will come with nine CPU cores, promising enhanced performance. Graphics are also anticipated to improve, with 10 GPU cores running at 890MHz, compared to the Tensor G2’s 7 cores.
The Pixel 8 is expected to have a camera upgrade, introducing a 64 MP ultrawide sensor. The phone might also revert to its previous design with more curved corners and adopt colour options found on the Pixel Fold, such as Porcelain, Obsidian, and a blue hue referred to as “Sea.”
Regarding the Pixel Watch 2, reports indicate that the smartwatch will transition to the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chip, and its battery life is expected to significantly improve compared to its predecessor. Rumours suggest that it could operate for up to 24 hours with the always-on display active. The Pixel Watch 2 is also likely to run on Wear OS 4.
While it’s uncertain whether Google will introduce a new Pixel Tablet, considering the relatively recent launch of the first one last year, there is a possibility of new Nest devices being unveiled. However, compared to the rumours surrounding Google’s phone and wearable lines, there’s been limited information regarding potential new Nest products.
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A map released by China that shows its sovereignty claims, including those in the South China Sea, has been dismissed as unfounded by the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Beijing stated on Thursday that the image should be assessed logically and objectively.
A chart depicting China’s famed U-shaped line, which makes up almost 90% of the South China Sea and is the subject of numerous disagreements in one of the most contentious waterways in the world and through which more than $3 trillion in trade passes annually, was made public on Monday.
On Thursday, the Philippines urged China “to act responsibly and abide by its obligations” under international law and an arbitral decision from 2016 that had ruled the line lacked legal justification.
Malaysia declared that it has lodged a diplomatic objection over the map.
According to China, the line is based on ancient Chinese maps. It was unclear right away whether the most recent map indicated any fresh claims to land.
China’s U-shaped line passes into the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia and extends as far as 1,500 km (932 miles) south of its Hainan island.
“This latest attempt to legitimise China’s purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law,” the Philippine Foreign Ministry said.
Its Malaysian counterpart stated in a statement that Malaysia “also views the South China Sea as a complex and sensitive matter” and that the new map has no legal force on Malaysia.
The map was distinct from a more condensed rendition of the South China Sea that China had presented to the UN in 2009 and which contained their infamous ‘nine-dash line’.
The most recent version, which covered a larger geographic region and resembled a 1948 map of China, contained a line with ten dashes that included Taiwan, which is democratically ruled. 2013 saw the release of a map featuring a tenth dash in China.
Jeff Liu, a spokesman for the Taiwan Foreign Ministry, responded that Taiwan was “absolutely not a part of the People’s Republic of China” when asked about the most recent map.
“No matter how the Chinese government twists its position on Taiwan’s sovereignty, it cannot change the objective fact of our country’s existence,” he told a press briefing.
China is currently having a “national map awareness publicity week”, state broadcaster China Central Television reported on Tuesday.
When asked why Beijing had been clear about its borders, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded that the most recent map featured 10 dashes whereas the earlier one had nine.
“China’s position on the South China Sea issue has always been clear. The competent authorities of China regularly update and release various types of standard maps every year,” he told a regular briefing.
“We hope that relevant parties can view this in an objective and rational manner.”
India slams China map
The latest irritation in tense relations between the Asian powers, India announced on Tuesday that it had raised a strong protest with China over a new map that stakes claim to Indian territory.
Vietnam’s foreign ministry claimed late on Thursday that China’s claims based on the map are invalid and in violation of both Vietnamese law and international law.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pham Thu Hang stated that Vietnam “resolutely rejects any claims in the East Sea by China that are based on the dashed line,” alluding to the South China Sea.
(With agency inputs)
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In Virginia, a 37-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly abusing 15-year-old twins sexually.
The woman allegedly told one of the twins she would marry him when he turned 17, police officials reported.
Since June 2022, Ashleigh Watts, 37, of Chesapeake, Virginia, has been accused of having sexual contact with one of the teenage guys.
Watts now faces three counts of indecency with a child in connection with the troubling ties she reportedly had with the teenagers.
The claims surfaced after a neighbor called 911 and said Watts had engaged in sexual activity with the twin brothers.
According to the lawsuit, Watts’ husband discovered her topless on the couch with one of the teens who was “pretending to be asleep” in February.
The adolescent then revealed his father that he had engaged in sexual actions with Watts on several occasions.
Furthermore, the same adolescent told another neighbor that he had been in a sexual relationship with Watts since June 2022 and that they were in love. Watts was also accused of telling the boy that they planned to marry when the kid reached 17.
In response to the claimed interaction, the teenager allegedly ran away from home the following month and was later discovered hiding in Watts’ bedroom on July 26.
The second twin sibling reportedly told cops that Watts had given him her underpants and offered him marijuana. He also accused her of unwanted touching, but claimed that he had asked her to stop.
Watts was arrested on August 17, according to 13 News Now. It is not clear whether Watts has retained legal counsel or filed a plea.
Watts’ husband told cops that both families were tight and that they had an ‘open door rule’ between their homes.
Watts now faces up to 30 years in jail if convicted.
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North Korea has announced the launch of two short-range ballistic missiles in a move aimed at simulating nuclear attacks on military sites within South Korea. The country’s state media conveyed that these tests were conducted as a direct response to the United States’ deployment of strategic bombers in the vicinity.
The missiles were reportedly fired from North Korea’s east coast around midnight, as reported by South Korean media. These launches coincide with the annual military exercises conducted by Washington and Seoul, exercises that consistently elicit a reaction from North Korea.
For a while now, Pyongyang has decried these joint drills as rehearsals for war orchestrated by the US. In a statement, North Korea’s army explained that the recent missile firings, occurring on Wednesday, were part of a “tactical nuclear strike drill to replicate devastating assaults on major command centers and operational airfields” located in South Korea.
“The primary objective of this drill is to convey a distinct message to those who pose a challenge to us through military provocations, including deploying strategic nuclear assets despite our continuous warnings,” the army conveyed.
Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, expressed criticism of these missile launches. He articulated that they jeopardize not only the tranquility and stability of Japan but also the international community at large.
Throughout this year, North Korea has undertaken a significant number of weapons tests, showcasing a propensity for militaristic activities. The timing of these recent tests is particularly noteworthy as they took place just a day before the culmination of an 11-day joint military exercise between South Korea and the US, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield.
Reports from South Korean media suggest that at least one US B-1B strategic bomber was deployed above the Korean Peninsula as part of the defense maneuvers.
Notably, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un personally observed a drill on Tuesday, overseeing the training of his top commanders for a scenario of full-scale conflict with South Korea. The simulation involved repelling a sudden invasion and then launching a counter-offensive aimed at gaining control over the entirety of the southern region.
Despite facing sanctions from the United Nations, Kim Jong-Un has consistently pledged to enhance the production of nuclear warheads and the development of more potent weaponry for his nation. In this year alone, Pyongyang has carried out a series of missile trials, continuing a trend that began in 2022 – even including missiles capable of reaching US territories.
Over the past months, there have been unsuccessful attempts by North Korea to launch two space satellites. In a separate development, the United States reported on Wednesday that North Korea was actively engaged in negotiations with Russia concerning a potential arms agreement.
Last month, Russia’s defense minister visited Pyongyang, during which he received a public tour of North Korea’s military assets. The US alleges that Mr. Shoigu, the Russian defense minister, utilized this visit to persuade North Korea to supply weapons and ammunition.
John Kirby, the spokesperson for the US National Security Council, communicated to journalists on Wednesday, “Following these discussions, there is a possibility of further high-level talks in the coming months. Among the potential agreements, Russia is anticipated to acquire substantial quantities of various munitions from North Korea, with the intent of utilizing them in Ukraine.”
Pyongyang has consistently dismissed allegations that it has been providing arms to Russia in support of the latter’s intervention in Ukraine.
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The Indian community members in London on Wednesday assembled to demand the repatriation of baby Ariha to India.
In a video posted on news agency ANI, Indians, mostly children, can be seen appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help reunite baby Ariha Shah, currently in German state services custody, with her Indian parents.
“Modi ji ask Germany to send Ariha back home to India, Germany send Ariha home,” they can be seen chanting.
#WATCH | United Kingdom: The Indian community in London assembled to demand the repatriation of baby Ariha to India. pic.twitter.com/3I0R9NkxR3
Waving the tricolour and holding banners reading, the kids along with their parents made an appeal for the two-year-old toddler to be returned to her parents Bhavesh and Dhara Shah.
The parents have been fighting for their daughter since September 2021, when the German authorities intervened amid allegations of harassment.
Ariha, a Jain Gujarati baby girl, was born in Berlin while her father was posted in Germany on a work visa as a software engineer. The paternal grandmother accidentally injured the baby when the parents took her to hospital. They were later accused of sexual assault and the baby was removed from their custody.
While a criminal investigation was closed without charge in February last year, the baby is yet to be returned to the parents after Berlin Child Services filed a civil custody case.
With inputs from agencies
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British judges will be given new powers to force criminals to attend sentencing, the UK government said on Wednesday, following outrage over several high-profile cases where killers refused to appear in the dock to hear their punishment.
The reforms will enable judges to order an offender to attend, or face an extra two years in prison in some cases, and also give custody officers the legal power to use reasonable force, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said.
The move comes after nurse Lucy Letby last week refused to leave the cell to hear she would spend the rest of her life in jail for killing seven newborn babies. The mother of one of the victims described it as a final act of wickedness.
“It is unacceptable that some of the country’s most horrendous criminals have refused to face their victims in court. They cannot and should not be allowed to take the coward’s way out,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement.
“We are giving judges the power to order vile offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, with those who refuse facing being forced into the dock or spending longer behind bars,” he said.
The British government said the legislation to introduce the changes would be set out “in due course”.
The MoJ said a criminal could face an extra two years in prison if they continue to resist attending their sentencing after being ordered to by a judge. This would apply in cases where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, including serious sexual or violent crimes.
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Airlines in the United States cancelled more than 1,000 flights on Wednesday as Hurricane Idalia slammed into the Big Bend region of Florida, but the storm’s power decreased as it headed toward Georgia.
Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) cancelled more than 220 flights, while Delta Airlines (DAL.N) cancelled 157 flights, as of 12 p.m. ET, according to flight-tracking website Flightaware.com. Nearly 2,000 flights were also delayed.
Airports at Tampa, Clearwater and Tallahassee shut down operations and were monitoring the status of the storm.
Drawing strength from the Gulf of Mexico’s warm waters, Idalia unleashed destructive winds and torrential rain that were forecast to cause coastal flooding up to 16 feet (5 m) deep along the state’s Gulf Coast.
Idalia grew from a tropical storm into a hurricane early on Tuesday, a day after passing west of Cuba, where it damaged homes, knocked out power, flooded villages and prompted mass evacuations.
“With Tampa Airport closing at midnight Tuesday, we cancelled everything there through at least afternoon today and we’re awaiting a decision from the airport as to when it will re-open to commercial service,” Southwest Airlines said on Wednesday.
The airline also ceased operations for the day at Jacksonville International Airport.
American Airlines (AAL.O) said it had suspended operations at multiple airports in Florida including Tampa, Sarasota and Tallahassee, and cancelled 167 flights as of Wednesday morning.
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Employing a centuries-old tactic to counter the emerging threat posed by Ukrainian sea drones, Russia has strategically “sunk” several vessels near the Crimean bridge, as revealed by satellite images obtained by Sky News.
Over a span of seven days, six shadowy structures materialized in a row near the Crimean bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge. This critical passage is the solitary direct link between Russia’s transportation network and the Crimean Peninsula, and it has frequently faced assaults during the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine’s intelligence ministry (GUR) has alleged that Russia planned the deliberate “sinking of at least six watercraft” to establish a defensive “corridor” in front of the bridge. According to a recent Telegram post from GUR, Russia’s intention is to position barriers amidst the sunken vessels, thus shielding the bridge from potential harm.
Satellite images captured by Planet Labs PBC on the 19th of August exhibit an absence of objects in the waters south of the bridge. However, by the 21st of August, two vessels appear on the scene. Subsequently, on the 23rd of August, another vessel emerges on the water’s surface.
Notably, by the 26th of August, six entities positioned uniformly and measuring around 30 metres in length manifest in a darker hue – suggesting potential submersion beneath the water. Experts speculate that these ships might have been deliberately sunk to create a barrier.
Security and defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke elucidates that the use of “block ships,” strategically sunken vessels to establish a physical obstruction, serves as a time-honoured countermeasure to the modern threat posed by Ukrainian sea drones. He observes that Russia is responding to this innovative challenge with a tactic dating back two centuries.
Clarke elaborates, “Given the vast expanse of the area, a series of ships along with intermediary barriers such as chains or steel nets could be employed to prevent any incursion.” While this response might appear archaic, he affirms that it is potentially the most effective way for Russia to counter sea drone attacks.
In July, Ukraine’s domestic intelligence agency (SBU) admitted responsibility for a sabotage operation that inflicted substantial damage on the Kerch Bridge on the 8th of October in the preceding year. The SBU disclosed to CNN that it executed another attack on the bridge on the 17th of July this year, utilizing a sea drone – an unmanned aquatic vessel.
The Kerch Bridge holds paramount significance for Russia, serving as a vital supply route for its troops post the invasion of Ukraine. This passage facilitates the movement of forces from Crimea to seize portions of Ukraine’s southern regions, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Professor Clarke accentuates that while the application of block ships is not novel in the realm of defence strategies, it is the first instance of Russia employing this tactic since its invasion of Ukraine in February of the previous year.
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The United States announced a new package of military support measures for Ukraine. These measures includes extra provisions for air defence and artillery munitions, tools for mine clearing, and medical vehicles.
The recently unveiled package involves supplementary mine clearing equipment, surface-to-air missiles, ammunition for artillery usage, as well as HIMAR (High Mobility Artillery Rocket) systems.
Additionally, more than three million rounds of small-arms ammunition are part of the package. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed in an official statement that the United States, along with its allies and partners, stands firmly by Ukraine’s side for however long the situation requires, reported Reuters.
The funding for this equipment is drawn from previously approved allocations by Congress. This move builds upon the extensive history of US military aid to Ukraine, which has totaled over $43 billion since the commencement of Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Recently, US President Joe Biden called upon Congress to authorise an extra $24 billion in assistance.
While support for Ukraine aid garners backing from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, a subset of far-right Republicans, particularly those aligned with former President Donald Trump, seek to scale down this assistance.
With inputs from agencies
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The United States and India are stronger when they work together, according to US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, and there is nothing the two nations cannot do. The envoy added that the American dream and the Indian dream are the same thing while addressing at the 2023 EducationUSA “Study in the U.S.” university fair on Tuesday.
“This year, going around the country we have seen so much demand for EducationUSA university events because there is so much excitement. What I think at this moment between United States and India is that Indians in India know Americans in America much better than America and Americans know India and Indians. But that’s beginning to change. Every business, every student, every government personnel in Washington is like ‘tell me more about India’. So, I feel like I am kind of at the right place at the right time,” said Garcetti.
“I am here as an ambassador now, and this bridge that you are helping us build really shows the flip side of the same coin. The Indian dream and American dream are the same thing,” he added.
In his remarks, Garcetti also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s acknowledgement of the historic developments between “another Al – America and India” during his recent State visit to the US, highlighting the growing friendship and notable advancement between the two countries.
“Thank you to the American universities who say that we want Indian students. We gonna produce great Indian students for you and vice versa. Every Indian student that comes through here, tell him or her to tell a classmate, you know, you should come to India, be an ambassador to India, learn something about India, study in India, work here in India. Because I believe that US and India are stronger together, and together there’s nothing we can’t do,” Garcetti said.
“I think PM Modi said when he came to state dinner that the future is AI (America and India), so let’s get that together”, he added.
A university fair was held on Tuesday at EducationUSA at the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), New Delhi, in association with the US Embassy to give students and their parents the chance to speak with representatives of 38 accredited universities and colleges from various regions of the United States.
Participating American higher education institutions at the fair offer a variety of academic programmes at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels and reflect a diverse geographic and disciplinary landscape.
“The United States continues to be the most popular international study destination for Indian students. Over the years, EducationUSA at USIEF has been committed to supporting the informational needs of prospective students who aspire to study at US higher education institutions. This year, we are happy to bring back our signature ‘in-person’ fairs where students can interact face-to-face with representatives of a wide variety of accredited US universities and colleges, all under one roof. We strongly encourage students and parents to seize this opportunity to seek authentic and unbiased information and take advantage of the wide variety of educational options available at U.S. college campuses”, said Adam Grotsky, Executive Director, United States-India Educational Foundation.
From August 26 to September 3, these physical fairs will be held in eight Indian cities: Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
(With agency inputs)
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US President Joe Biden will visit Vietnam next month to meet with top officials on issues ranging from technology and the economy to regional stability and climate change, as Washington eyes closer ties in a region where China looms large.
Biden will meet with Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other top Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi on September 10 before traveling to Alaska to commemorate the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the White House said.
Washington is eager to upgrade relations with Hanoi, considering it a key partner in the region at a time when US relations with Beijing are increasingly strained. Vietnam, meanwhile, must weigh the reaction of its powerful neighbour as China becomes more assertive.
The Biden administration has sought to strengthen US relations in Asia, and Biden will arrive in Vietnam from India, where he is scheduled to visit from September 7-10 and attend a G20 summit. However, he is not attending the ASEAN meetings early next month, instead dispatching Vice President Kamala Harris.
Vietnam’s foreign ministry on Tuesday said the visits by the leaders of the two countries will strengthen the Vietnam-US relationship.
The visits “will develop bilateral relationship in a sustainable, substantive and long-term manner, contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and in the world,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said in a statement.
Washington is focussed on Vietnam as a key regional partner, especially as the memory of the Vietnam War era increasingly fades. Biden and Trong spoke by phone in March, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the southeast Asian nation a month later.
The United States is Vietnam’s largest export market, and the two former foes are celebrating the 10th anniversary of a “comprehensive partnership” this year.
Trong, Vietnam’s most powerful figure, last year became the first foreign leader to meet President Xi Jinping in Beijing after the Chinese leader secured a precedent-breaking third term.
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In an incident that can only be described as an egg of face moment for many of Apple’s top executives, several Apple VPs were found to be following a fake Instagram profile of Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
Upon realising that the account was fake and seemed so legitimate that it fooled even Apple employees, Instagram had to delete the account.
Earlier this week, an Instagram profile using the name of Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, was spotted on the platform, which garnered some serious attention. This is so because Tim Cook is a very private person, and has a reserved take on social media. However, despite that, key figures from Apple’s leadership began following it, without knowing that it was an impersonator, a fraudulent account.
The impersonator actually took some significant steps and efforts to set the account up. First, he used the username @tim.d.cook. Second, the account’s inaugural post skillfully emulated Cook’s style of writing, as well as how he speaks in public. The account made this post on August 20 which coincided with World Photography Day.
The post showcased two captivating images captured using an iPhone, which, people assumed to be the upcoming iPhone 15 Ultra.
Furthermore, on August 23, the account shared a 30-second advertisement that aligned with a collaborative campaign involving 3DPets, a project that Apple has been pushing across their social media channels and through certain influencers.
People started believing that the account was credible, mainly because the account was able to attract some prominent people as followers, including some notable Vice Presidents of the Cupertino-based tech giant.
However, the people soon realised that the account was a fake one, being run by an impersonator which led to Instagram taking down the account they had verified the facts.
How did Instagram find out that it was a fake account? By its lack of a verified badge, or blue tick.
It should be noted that Tim Cook isn’t exactly a fan of social media and has very sparingly used the new medium. Cook has exclusively maintained a presence on Twitter since 2013. He has also established a presence on Weibo, a significant microblogging platform in China, mainly because that’s the most widely used social media platform in the country.
However, he seldom posts across both these accounts
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Protests in the government-held parts of southern Syria demanding President Bashar al-Assad have entered the second week.
Protesters converged in the southern city of Suwayda on Monday, effectively shutting down provincial roads and paralyzing the city, reported the Guardian.
Suwayda has remained under government control since the beginning of Syria’s 2011 uprising and is a significant hub for the country’s Druze minority.
Videos shared by Suwayda24, an activist-led organization, depicted hundreds of people assembling in a central square, brandishing Druze flags and chanting slogans such as “long live Syria, and down with Bashar al-Assad.” Another video that circulated online captured activists chanting after sealing shut the doors of a branch of the ruling Ba’ath party in the town of Melh, located in the eastern part of Suwayda province.
The choice of this target was explained by a protester who pointed out the building’s involvement in suppressing earlier protests that demanded improvements in basic services like water and electricity. Addressing President Assad directly, he declared, “From Melh we call on you, Bashar al-Assad … we say leave, we don’t want you, you’re going to fall,” adding a stern ultimatum: “You have two options: either you leave with your dignity, or you are destined to die.”
What began as demonstrations against rising fuel prices and frustrations over economic corruption and mismanagement rapidly evolved into a broader anti-government movement, punctuated by repeated calls for President Assad’s resignation. These demonstrations have been steadily gaining momentum across the southern region of Syria.
Protesters in Suwayda held signs referencing a UN Security Council resolution calling for a transitional government, and others demanding the release of thousands who have been forcibly disappeared by the Syrian security apparatus since the initial outbreak of protests 12 years ago.
Rayan Marouf, the exiled leader of Suwayda24, emphasized the unique nature of these protests, highlighting that they are primarily about political change, distinct from previous economic grievances. Marouf remarked, “If they wanted economic reforms they would have protested differently,” indicating that the protesters are resolutely focused on seeing Assad step down.
These demonstrations, predominantly occurring in areas with a Druze majority, have garnered support from local clerics and other regional groups, including the Bedouin. These movements are further weakening the Assad regime’s standing, which has historically touted its safeguarding of the country’s minority communities.
Against the backdrop of a deteriorating economy, the Syrian pound has plummeted to historic lows, almost reaching 15,000 to the dollar on the black market. The currency’s value has diminished significantly since last year. The government, amidst a costly restructuring effort on subsidies for essential commodities like bread and petrol, has been raising wages in an attempt to mitigate the crisis.
The United Nations’ reports from June revealed that Syria’s prolonged 12-year conflict has pushed 90% of the remaining population below the poverty line. Escalating food costs, coupled with reduced access to electricity and fuel, have exacerbated the dire situation.
President Assad’s attempts to re-establish relationships with former adversaries in the Gulf and seek readmission to the Arab League have been met with limited success. His control over Syrian territories remains fragmented, while the country grapples with an unrelenting economic crisis.
The government’s official response to these protests has been minimal, with Omar Rahmoun, the state’s head of reconciliation, taking to social media to accuse protesters of being conduits for extremist groups.
Damascus has attributed its crumbling economy to Western sanctions, which intensified following the exposure of war crimes committed by the Assad regime and its involvement in the regional drug trade.
Marouf, reflecting on the ongoing protests, underscores that Assad’s attempts to assert control have failed to quell public anger, even within areas under government control. He asserted, “The world thinks that Bashar al-Assad has won after being readmitted to the Arab League, but it’s those on the ground who decide whether he’s a legitimate ruler or not.” As the protests persist and the calls for political change grow louder, the future of President Assad’s regime hangs in the balance.
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A tragic incident unfolded on the campus of the University of North Carolina on Monday, resulting in the death of a faculty member due to gun violence. A suspect was arrested, leading to the elimination of the immediate threat by late afternoon.
“I’m devastated the UNC (University of North Carolina) community lost a faculty member in an act of violence on campus,” the institution’s chancellor, Kevin Guskiewicz, said in a statement.
Campus authorities alerted the police about gunshots being fired at the Chapel Hill, North Carolina campus. The chancellor confirmed that the suspected individual was under arrest.
Approximately two hours after the initial alert, the police issued a notification declaring the campus to be safe and free from any ongoing danger. Throughout the standoff, the campus was heavily guarded by law enforcement, as depicted in media coverage of the incident.
Before the suspect was arrested, law enforcement had circulated the image of the male suspect through the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). At that point, he was considered a “person of interest in today’s armed and dangerous person situation.”
As of now, the identities of both the deceased faculty member and the arrested suspect have not been disclosed by the authorities.
“In response, we have canceled classes and all campus events for the rest of the day on Monday, Aug. 28 and Tuesday, Aug. 29,” the chancellor added.
The university has a student population of about 32,000, along with about 4,100 faculty and 9,000 staff members.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said earlier on Monday he had “pledged all state resources needed” to protect the university campus.
The university had asked those on campus to stay sheltered in place for much of the afternoon while the suspect was still at large. The shooting took place in the campus’ Caudill Laboratories.
With inputs from agencies
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China on Monday formally unveiled the version of its standard map for 2023 that includes the disputed territories, such as its claims to Arunachal Pradesh, the Aksai Chin region, Taiwan, and the South China Sea.
India has repeatedly said that the state of Arunachal Pradesh has “always been” and will “always be” an integral part of the country.
“The 2023 edition of China’s standard map was officially released on Monday and launched on the website of the standard map service hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources,” state-run Global Times said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The 2023 edition of China’s standard map was officially released on Monday and launched on the website of the standard map service hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources. This map is compiled based on the drawing method of national boundaries of China and various countries… pic.twitter.com/bmtriz2Yqe
The White House said on Monday that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Vietnam on September 10 and meet with senior officials to address a variety of topics, including technology, the economy, regional stability, and climate change.
Before departing for Alaska to observe the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Biden will have a meeting with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other important figures in Hanoi, it was reported.
While in Hanoi, Biden and Vietnamese officials will discuss deepening the two countries’ ties as well as boosting “a technology-focused and innovation-driven Vietnamese economy,” the White House said in a statement after Biden earlier this month announced plans for the trip.
The once-rivalling nations are debating their relations as a more adamant China looms large. While Washington is anxious to improve ties, Vietnam must also consider how its big neighbour would respond.
With the memory of the Vietnam War era fading, Washington regards Hanoi as one of its main regional allies. In March, Biden and Trong spoke on the phone. A month later, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a visit to the country in Southeast Asia.
The most powerful person in Vietnam, Trong, was the first foreign leader to visit President Xi Jinping in Beijing last year after the Chinese president was elected to a record-breaking third term.
(With agency inputs)
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Japan’s defence ministry said on Monday it scrambled fighter jets to monitor a Chinese BZK-005 military drone that was spotted flying between Japan’s westernmost Yonaguni island and Taiwan in the morning.
The spy drone allegedly came from the East China Sea north of Taiwan and went to the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan’s southern coast and the Philippines, the ministry said.
Earlier on Friday, Japan also scrambled its Air Self-Defense Force fighters to monitor Chinese bombers flying near Japan’s Okinawa island, home to a major US military base, as well as to drones spotted near self-ruled Taiwan.
Two Chinese H-6 bombers were spotted flying through the strait between southwest Japan’s Okinawa and Miyako islands connecting the East China Sea and the Pacific on Friday morning, the ministry said.
The Okinawa base is one of the major American military bases in the Asia-Pacific and the centre of Japan and the United States’ defence buildup. It was set up to deter China from attacking Taiwan or any of the nearby Japanese islands.
In a separate statement, the ministry said it also spotted a Chinese military drone and another “likely Chinese” drone flying between Japan’s westernmost Yonaguni island and Taiwan during the day.
Japan dispatched its jets to follow the drones, which eventually turned towards mainland China, it said.
Taiwan’s defence ministry had reported renewed Chinese military activity around the island earlier, including 13 aircraft entering Taiwan’s “response” zone and five ships carrying out combat readiness patrols.
China, at the time had said it was routine military exercises being followed in the area.
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Russia is preparing to introduce a new laser gun to counter the emerging threat of drones that have been targeting Russian territories.
The successful field tests of laser gun, which is made to eliminate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), was executed at one of the Russian military training sites. The laser weapon exhibited remarkable efficacy in engaging UAVs, reported Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
This testing phase comes at a time when Russia has been subjected to drone attacks, and it claims that Ukraine is responsible for these attacks.
Russian defence forces are reportedly working extensively to counter drone attacks along the frontlines and in other areas.
The term ‘Laser’ stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.
A laser-based weapon would enhance Russia’s defence capabilities, as drone warfare gains popularity on modern battlefields due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of production and operation.
A laser weapon constitutes a distinct type of directed-energy weapon that inflicts damage on targets by delivering rapid sequences of light pulses. Various types of lasers can be employed as non-lethal disabling weapons. In contrast to conventional projectile weapons like bullets and missiles, lasers and other directed-energy weapons offer notable advantages, according to The Eurasian Times.
The operational simplicity and precision of laser weapons, which cause minimal collateral damage and avoid unintended casualties, have been driving factors for the development of such weapons in advanced militaries worldwide.
Not just Russia, but many countries are actively engaged in the development of tactical laser systems for suppression and destruction, particularly targeting airborne drones and missiles.
With inputs from agencies
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Japan’s space agency on Monday suspended the scheduled rocket launch, which was intended to carry the nation’s first spacecraft to land on the moon.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the operator, attributed this delay to elevated wind speeds. Despite the H-IIA rocket being Japan’s primary launch vehicle with an impressive 98 per cent success rate, unfavorable wind conditions in the upper atmosphere led to the decision to halt the launch less than half an hour before the originally planned liftoff, reported Reuters.
“High-altitude winds hit our constraint for a launch… which had been set to ensure no impact from falling debris outside of pre-warned areas,” said MHI’s launch unit chief Tatsuru Tokunaga.
The new launch date has not been decided, but will be no sooner than Thursday because of necessary processes such as re-fuelling, he added. MHI and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have said a launch could take place as late as 15 September.
The rocket was to be launched from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on Monday morning; it had already been postponed twice since last week because of bad weather. It will mark the 47th H-IIA Japan has launched.
The rocket is carrying JAXA’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), which would be the first Japanese spacecraft to land on the moon. Tokyo-based startup ispace’s (9348.T) Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander crashed on the lunar surface in April.
JAXA was planning to start SLIM’s landing from lunar orbit in January-February 2024 after Monday’s launch, aiming to follow the success of India’s Chandrayaan-3 moon exploration mission this month.
The rocket is also carrying an X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite, a joint project of JAXA, NASA and the European Space Agency.
H-IIA, jointly developed by JAXA and MHI, has been Japan’s flagship space launch vehicle, with 45 successful launches in 46 tries since 2001. However, after JAXA’s new medium-lift H3 rocket failed on its debut in March, the agency postponed the launch of H-IIA No. 47 for several months to investigate the cause.
Despite its goal to send astronauts on the lunar surface in the late 2020s, Japan’s space missions have faced recent setbacks, with the launch failure of the Epsilon small rocket in October 2022, followed by an engine explosion during a test last month.
With inputs from agencies
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In a bold move, the French government is poised to dispose of millions of litres of wine and even uproot vineyards in a bid to counteract the steep decline in prices brought about by plummeting sales.
The surge in popularity of craft beer, the prevailing cost-of-living predicament, and the lingering impacts of Covid lockdowns have all been implicated in the sharp plunge in sales figures.
Despite this downturn, wine production has continued to surge, resulting in an overabundance of unsold wine that poses a substantial risk of driving prices down further. This oversupply is particularly straining major wine-producing regions, including the renowned Bordeaux area of France.
Responding to this crisis, the French government has unveiled an ambitious £170 million initiative to acquire substantial quantities of the surplus wine for subsequent disposal. Notably, the excess alcohol content will be repurposed for the creation of hand sanitizers, cleaning agents, or perfumes.
Marc Fesneau, the French Minister of Agriculture, explained that this financial provision was designed to “preclude the collapse of prices and to offer vintners avenues for generating revenue once again.” Fesneau, however, underscored the necessity for the industry to “cast an eye to the future, consider shifts in consumer preferences… and adjust accordingly.”
A significant proportion of the funding, amounting to £135 million, is secured from the European Union.
According to statistics released by the European Commission, wine consumption estimates for the ongoing year depict a 15 per cent decrease in France, a 7 per cent decrease in Italy, a 10 per cent decrease in Spain, and an astounding 34 per cent decrease in Portugal. Meanwhile, wine production within the European Union has recorded a 4 per cent increase.
The Commission has highlighted that regions in France, Spain, and Portugal renowned for producing reds and rosés have suffered the most severe repercussions.
The preference for beer and other alternative beverages has contributed to the decline in wine consumption, a trend that has been exacerbated by the inadequate resurgence of sales post the pandemic-induced closure of numerous restaurants and bars.
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Switzerland has been left astounded as audacious thieves successfully conquered one of the nation’s most formidable protected climbing routes. Scaling heights of 2,350 meters and navigating narrow gorges via slender steel cables, their mission was to raid a contribution box.
The targeted box is the property of a nearby mountaineering club, entrusted with upkeeping Switzerland’s lengthiest safeguarded climbing route, situated along the Gemmi pass above the village of Leukerbad.
The element that has induced the most disbelief is that only the most skilled climbers can access the donation box. The route, identified as a via ferrata, is designated as level 5 – the highest difficulty grade. It entails demanding rock climbing, ascending ladders firmly secured to vertical rock faces, and traversing gorges on precarious steel cables.
In a post on its Facebook page, the climbing club expressed, “What manner of individuals are these? The climbing club dedicates itself to maintaining the via ferrata without remuneration, expecting nothing in return. And now, someone has absconded with the funds meant for its preservation.”
The culprits, presumed to have meticulously planned their act well in advance, were discovered to be adept climbers, furnished with all the necessary mountaineering equipment. They also carried the means to forcibly unlock the donation box, as disclosed by the climbing club.
In an astonishing turn of events, the thieves apparently continued their ascent, taking the stolen money with them to the summit of Dauberhorn, which stands at an impressive 2,941 meters.
Identifying the perpetrators could prove to be a formidable challenge. The recent days have provided impeccable climbing weather, attracting numerous mountaineers to the via ferrata.
While the exact amount of stolen funds remains uncertain, Richard Werlen, a member of the club and a mountain guide, informed the BBC that it is likely to be a minimum of 400-500 Swiss francs (€420-520; $450-560).
Switzerland remains a nation where cash transactions are commonplace, and the population takes pride in voluntarily preserving hiking trails and climbing pathways. Consequently, contributions for such endeavors are anticipated and willingly given.
However, entities like the climbing club may now contemplate altering their fundraising approaches. The prevalence of cash in Switzerland has already led to a series of thefts targeting better-protected ATM machines. Millions of francs have been purloined in recent years, prompting the Swiss Federal Police to caution that these often inadequately supervised cash dispensers are attracting thieves from all corners of Europe.
For now, the climbing club holds hope that the guilty culprits will be plagued by remorse and return the ill-gotten gains discreetly. In a small comfort, Richard Werlen reported that a local benefactor has stepped in, contributing 500 francs to replace the stolen funds.
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A racially motivated shooting that took place inside a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida, has left three individuals dead, as reported by the city’s sheriff.
The assailant, identified as a white male in his twenties, entered the store shortly before 2 p.m., armed with both a high-powered rifle and a handgun. He proceeded to shoot and fatally wound two men and one woman, all of whom were Black, before turning the weapon on himself.
At a press briefing, Sheriff TK Waters disclosed, “His animosity towards Black individuals was profound. There exists no concrete proof linking the perpetrator to any larger collective.”
Sheriff Waters outlined that the shooter employed a Glock handgun and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, one of which bore a swastika emblem. The shooter also left behind a series of written statements, addressed to the media, his parents, and law enforcement, explicitly expressing his abhorrence towards Black people. These written accounts led investigators to believe that he orchestrated the attack to coincide with the fifth anniversary of another shooting incident in Jacksonville.
The sheriff lamented, “The hatred that fueled this assailant’s rampage adds an additional layer of sorrow.”
Reportedly, the shooter had driven to the scene from the adjacent Clay County. Just before the assault, he had sent a message to his father, urging him to inspect his computer. The father stumbled upon the writings and promptly contacted emergency services, though by that time, the attack had already unfolded.
Sheriff Waters revealed that the shooter had been spotted at a nearby historically Black institution, Edward Waters University. There, he donned a tactical vest and a mask prior to heading to Dollar General, a nationwide discount store chain.
“While I cannot decipher his thoughts during that period, he did venture there,” the sheriff noted.
Edward Waters University responded by confining students to their dormitories, as conveyed through an official statement. The institution emphasized that neither students nor faculty were believed to have been involved.
Sheriff Waters voiced, “This is a somber chapter in Jacksonville’s chronicle. Our community has no tolerance for hatred. I am disheartened by the ideological stance of this perpetrator.” He affirmed that the investigation would persist and that the shooter’s residence was under scrutiny.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, having conversed with the sheriff, branded the shooter as a “disgraceful individual” and unequivocally denounced his racially prejudiced motives.
DeSantis asserted, “This individual chose to end his life rather than confront the consequences of his deeds. He opted for a cowardly exit.” DeSantis was away in Iowa, pursuing the Republican presidential nomination.
Former Dollar General employee Penny Jones shared with the Associated Press that she resided just blocks away from the store in a predominantly Black neighborhood. She expressed, “I’m anxiously awaiting updates about my former colleagues. I’m unsure if it’s prudent to venture around the locality.”
Jones conveyed her unease, admitting to feeling “uncomfortable and apprehensive.”
Special Agent in Charge of the Jacksonville FBI division, Sherri Onks, conveyed that federal authorities had initiated an inquiry into civil rights violations and would pursue the incident as a hate crime.
Onks affirmed, “Hate crimes consistently hold a preeminent position on the FBI’s agenda, as they target not only an individual victim but also aim to intimidate an entire community.”
The shooting took place precisely five years subsequent to a separate episode in Jacksonville, when a gunman opened fire during a video game tournament, killing two before taking his own life.
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Japan’s fisheries agency said on Saturday fish tested in waters around the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant did not contain detectable levels of the radioactive isotope tritium, Kyodo news service reported.
Nets were set up on Thursday when plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) began releasing treated radioactive water into the Pacific, angering fishermen and many others in Japan, alarming consumers in neighbouring countries and prompting China to ban Japanese aquatic products.
The agency plans to announce test results daily. Tepco said on Friday seawater near the plant contained less than 10 becquerels of tritium per litre, below its self-imposed limit of 700 becquerels and far below the World Health Organization’s limit of 10,000 becquerels for drinking water.
The fisheries agency did not respond to the test results published on Saturday.
After lengthy debate, the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided on Tuesday to allow the release of 1.3 million tons of treated water from the Fukushima plant, destroyed by a 2011 tsunami, because Tepco was running out of storage space.
The utility filters most radioactive elements out of the water, but it dilutes tritium, an isotope of hydrogen, which is difficult to separate from water.
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A Pakistani doctor, who worked in the United States on an H-1B visa, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to terror organisation ISIS and conduct “lone wolf” terrorist attacks in the US.
Muhammad Masood, 31, was sentenced on Friday to 18 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a Department of Justice statement said.
He pleaded guilty in August last year and was sentenced before Senior Judge Paul A. Magnuson.
According to court documents, Masood was a licensed medical doctor in Pakistan and was formerly employed as a research coordinator at a medical clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, under an H-1B visa.
Between January 2020 and March 2020, Masood used an encrypted messaging application to facilitate his travel overseas to join a terrorist organization. Masood made multiple statements about his desire to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS), and he pledged his allegiance to the designated terrorist organization and its leader.
Masood also expressed his desire to conduct “lone wolf” terrorist attacks in the United States. In February 2020, Masood purchased a plane ticket from Chicago, Illinois, to Amman, Jordan, and from there planned to travel to Syria. In March that year, Masood’s travel plans changed because Jordan closed its borders to incoming travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Masood then agreed to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to meet up with an individual who, he believed, would assist him with travel via cargo ship to deliver him to an ISIS territory.
He travelled from Rochester to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to board a flight bound for Los Angeles, California. Upon arrival at MSP, Masood checked in for his flight and was subsequently arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
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Singapore is ready for a non-Chinese prime minister at any time, presidential candidate Tharman Shanmugaratnam has said ahead of the September 1 election, calling it a marker of the society’s progress in the country dominated by Chinese-origin population.
Race is a factor in politics everywhere, he said on Friday, citing former US president Barack Obama, who has spoken and written about it.
However, Singaporeans today, unlike 40 or 50 years ago, look at all factors and not just race, said 66-year-old Tharman, a Singaporean of Indian origin.
“They look at people in totality… Singapore is ready at any time. If someone comes up who is a superior candidate for prime minister, the person can be made the prime minister. I believe they can,” he said during an election meeting to share his vision for the presidency.
It is a marker of Singapore’s progress as a society, added the former senior minister, who resigned from the ruling People’s Action Party in July to contest for the presidency.
“Singapore is ready any time for a non-Chinese prime minister,” The Straits Times quoted Tharman, who goes by his popular first name, as saying.
Singaporeans are to vote for the 9th President on September 1.
Tharman, an economist, also said that as important as they are, only government policies cannot make Singapore a fairer and better place. Instead, things must go much deeper, and the next phase of Singapore’s development is to pay attention to things that cannot be measured, he said.
Stressing that there are many people who are doing meaningful jobs that are not visible, he said. “Every skill and every job deserves respect. Better pay for the low-paid but (also) respect and dignity,” he said.
Chinese-origin Singaporeans Tan Kin Lian and Ng Kok Song, are also contesting the presidential election.
Tan, 75, is a former trade union-related insurance group NTUC Income’s chief executive while NG, also 75, is the former chief investment officer at the state-owned GIC.
Chinese people account for about 75 per cent of Singapore’s multi-racial population. An estimated 13.5 per cent are Malays and about nine per cent are Indians, with others making up the remainder.
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Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that he gave Russian mercenary group Wagner chiefs, Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, a heads up and asked them to not leave the country.
Both Progozhin and Dmitry Utkin were said to have died in a recent plane crash in Russia. Many observers continue to have a sceptical view of the reports though. Especially given that back in 2019 also there were reports of Prigozhin’s death in a crash, but he reappeared in three days.
Prigozhina had been living in Belarus since leaving Russia in June after a failed mutiny.
The Wagner group claimed to mount a rebellion against the Russian defence ministry after prolonged tensions between the two. However, the mercenary group called off their march to Moscow following a deal that allowed Prigozhin a safe passage to Belarus in lieu of retreating peacefully.
Lukashenko, who is close to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, was the one who brokered the deal.
On Friday, he claimed that during the mutiny he persuaded Putin to not ‘wipe out’ Prigozhin and the Wagner group.
Lukashenko said that he had warned the mercenary chiefs twice, but they dismissed his concerns.
The first time, he claimed, was during the mutiny itself. He warned Prigozhin that he would “die” if he kept up with his march on Moscow, to which, Lukashenko claimed, Prigozhin replied, “To hell with it — I will die.”
The second time was when Prigozhin and Utkin called on him. He warned the two, saying, “Lads-you watch out,” Lukashenko claimed.
However, it was not clear as to when the said conversation took place.
‘It’s just too rough and unprofessional a job’
Western countries have suggested that Prigozhin may have been killed on orders from the Kremlin.
However, Lukashenko opined that the way in which Prigozhin was killed was too ‘unprofessional’ for Putin to be behind it.
“I know Putin: He is calculating, very calm, even tardy,” Lukashenko said.
“I cannot imagine that Putin did it, that Putin is to blame. It’s just too rough and unprofessional a job.”
The Kremlin, on Friday, called the Western suggestions of it behind the crash which killed Prigozhin an “absolute lie”
What is the future for Wagner after Prigozhin?
Now that Prigozhin is reportedly dead, it is pertinent to ask what will be the future of his mercenary group.
Lukashenko claims that the Wagner fighters will remain in Belarus.
“Wager lived, Wagner is living and Wagner will live in Belarus,” Lukashenko said.
“As long as we need this unit, they will live and work with us.”
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Pakistan on Friday said the country has not made any formal request to join the BRICS grouping, after its recent summit concluded in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the country will examine the latest developments and make a determination about its future engagement with BRICS, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan.
“We have followed the BRICS related developments in Johannesburg. We have also noted its openness to inclusive multilateralism. Pakistan has said several times in the past that it is an ardent supporter of inclusive multilateralism,” Baloch said during a media briefing on Friday.
“Pakistan has not made any formal request to join BRICS. We will examine the latest developments and make a determination about our future engagement with BRICS. Pakistan is an ardent supporter of multilateralism and as a member of several multilateral organizations it has always played an important role for global peace and development,” she added.
She said that Pakistan is also an important developing country that has made many important contributions to promote peace, solidarity and cooperation among countries of the South. “We shall continue our efforts at the international fora for fostering the spirit of international cooperation and revitalization of inclusive multilateralism,” she indicated.
On India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson said: “I can only say that it is a great scientific achievement, for which ISRO scientists deserve appreciation.”
BRICS group of nations on Thursday decided to include six new members — Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The new membership will be effective from January 1, 2024.
Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) supported the expansion of the grouping, the first such expansion since 2010 when South Africa was inducted into the group.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said that Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE have been invited to join the BRICS as part of the first phase of expansion.
With this expansion, six of the world’s nine largest oil producers are now part of BRICS.
Ramaphosa made the announcement while issuing the Johannesburg Declaration of 15th BRICS Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India has always supported the expansion of BRICS and has always believed that adding new members will strengthen BRICS as an organisation.”
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Russia’s military cooperation with Iran will not succumb to geopolitical pressure, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, following reports that Washington has asked Teheran to stop selling drones to Moscow.
“There are no changes, and cooperation with Iran will continue,” Ryabkov said, according to a report on Saturday from Russian state news agency RIA. “We are independent states and do not succumb to the dictates of the United States and its satellites.”
The US is pressing Iran to stop selling the armed drones, which Russia is using in the war in Ukraine, the Financial Times reported earlier this month, citing an Iranian official and another person familiar with the talks.
Russia began using the Iranian-made Shahed drones to attack deep inside Ukraine last year.
The so-called kamikaze unmanned drones do not need a runway to launch and explode on impact. Iran has acknowledged sending drones to Russia but said in the past they were sent before Russia’s February 2022 invasion in Ukraine.
Moscow has denied its forces used Iranian drones in Ukraine.
A White House official said in June that Iran had transferred several hundred drones to Russia since August 2022.
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The new military regime in Niger has given the Ambassador of France 48 hours ultimatum to leave the country.
This comes as relations between the new regime in Niamey and several Western powers, as well as the West African bloc ECOWAS, have deteriorated since the coup on 26 July.
France’s government quickly rejected the order against its ambassador, repeating that it did not recognise the military rulers’ authority.
“The putschists do not have the authority to make this request, the ambassador’s approval coming solely from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities,” the French foreign ministry told AFP.
A few days back ECOWAS threatened military action to reverse last month’s coup, which overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.
Paris has repeatedly backed calls by ECOWAS for the reinstatement of Bazoum.
France has 1,500 soldiers based in Niger who had been helping Bazoum in the fight against jihadist forces that have been active in the country for years .
Pressure from ECOWAS
Earlier Friday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urged Niger’s coup leaders to reconsider their position and pushed for a return to civilian rule, with the threat of force still “very much on the table”.
While the generals who ousted Bazoum have called for a three-year transition period, ECOWAS demands the immediate return to constitutional order.
With delegations shuttling into Niamey, ECOWAS said negotiations remained its priority as defence chiefs prepared a standby mission for a possible “legitimate use of force” to restore democracy if needed.
“Even now, it is not too late for the military to reconsider its action and listen to the voice of reason as the regional leaders will not condone a coup d’etat,” ECOWAS commission president Omar Alieu Touray told reporters in Abuja.
“The real issue is the determination of the community to halt the spiral of coup d’etats in the region.”
ECOWAS has already applied sanctions against Niger to pressure the new regime.
Three other governments have fallen to military rebellions in the Sahel region since 2020, and jihadists control swathes of territory.
ECOWAS leaders are already negotiating with military administrations in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea who are all working towards transitions to democracy after their own coups.
After initially balking, Niger’s new rulers have said they remain open to negotiations.
But they have sent mixed messages, including a threat to charge Bazoum — who remains detained at his official residence with his family — with treason.
Aggression
Niger’s military leaders have also warned against any intervention, accusing ECOWAS of preparing an occupying force in league with an unnamed foreign country.
The officers on Thursday said they would let troops from neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso intervene in Niger in case of an aggression.
But Touray dismissed plans for ECOWAS “declaring war” or an “invasion” of Niger, insisting the standby mission would be a legitimate force allowed under ECOWAS statutes agreed by members.
“The instruments include the use of force. So it is very much on the table, as are other measures we are working on,” he said.
“If peaceful means fail, ECOWAS cannot just fold its hands.”
ECOWAS has intervened militarily in past crises, including in civil wars. Few details of the new standby force have emerged.
But preparations for any possible use of military force in Niger are risky and already face political resistance in northern Nigeria, a key player in ECOWAS and the region.
Niger’s northern neighbour Algeria has also warned of disastrous consequences for the region from an intervention.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf this week toured West African countries to try to find a solution to a crisis in which Algiers firmly opposes any military option.
“There is a time for everything and we are currently in the time of finding peaceful solutions,” he said on a visit to Benin.
“Let’s put all our imagination into giving every chance to a political solution.”
With inputs from AFP
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Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency said on Friday a Ukrainian drone attack had hit a Russian military base deep inside annexed Crimea, while residents reported casualties, explosions and a road closure.
Early on Friday, Russia reported one of the biggest coordinated Ukrainian air raids yet over Russian-controlled territory but said air defence systems had downed all 42 drones attacking Crimea before they could hit their targets.
Ukrainian intelligence officials said the attack struck Russia’s 126th Coastal Defence Brigade based in Perevalnoye, a town more than 200 km (120 miles) from Ukraine-controlled territory.
“We confirm that there was a hit,” said GUR spokesman Andriy Yusov, according to Ukrainian media outlet Liga.Net.
Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014, declaring it Russian territory. The United States says it supports Ukrainian attacks on Russian military targets on the Black Sea peninsula of because it should be demilitarised.
“People – not only on the Ukrainian mainland but also in Crimea – need to remember and believe that our victory and their liberation are not far away,” Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said of Friday’s strike.
Perevalnoye residents, posting on the Telegram messaging app, reported hearing blasts from the military base and cited casualties.
“Two people died on a firing range, one was taken to a hospital in a severe condition. This is information from above, from the firing range,” said a user nicknamed Abdul Has, whose profile picture shows a man in camouflaged uniform.
Another user, Vlad the Local, said roughly one person was dead.
“Why was a gate to the military town closed?” user Julia asked.
Another resident with the call sign Lis asked others not to disclose information.
“Residents of Perevalnoye, I strongly recommend – don’t write here what happened and how,” Lis wrote. “We help them to direct fire in the future with that.”
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There was a lot at stake for India at the BRICS Summit in South Africa. And Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the difference once again. There was increased speculation that he would meet with Chinese president Xi Jinping. The leaders held talks on the sidelines of the gathering and discussed the military stand-off between India and China in Ladakh since May 2020.
The outcome is what experts have dubbed a breakthrough to reduce tensions between the two neighbours.
We take a look at what unfolded at the meeting and what can we expect next.
What did Modi and Xi discuss?
PM Modi expressed concerns about the “unresolved issues” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during his meeting with Xi. The two leaders have agreed to “direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation” of troops at the border.
The prime minister underlined that maintenance of peace, and tranquillity in border areas and that respecting the LAC was essential for the normalisation of India-China ties, according to Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra.
#WATCH | Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra says, “Prime Minister had interactions with other BRICS leaders. In a conversation with President Xi Jinping of China, Prime Minister highlighted India’s concerns on the unresolved issues along the LAC in the western sector of the… pic.twitter.com/37YoxHeuC4
“It was a conversation with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Prime Minister had interaction with other BRICS leaders. In the conversation with President Xi Jinping, the Prime Minister highlighted India's concerns over unresolved issues along the LAC and other areas along the India-China border,” Kwatra told reporters late Thursday.
Indian officials had said that there was no scheduled bilateral between the two. Modi and Xi came face to face at the BRICS leaders’ retreat hosted by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, on Tuesday. And then on Thursday, the two leaders were seen chatting and shaking hands after the joint media statements.
There were no interpreters present when the two spoke to each other and there was no one taking notes, according to a report by The Indian Express.
The meeting came amid strained ties between the two countries over border issues. While the two leaders had a brief encounter and exchanged pleasantries during a G20 dinner in Bali last year, this was their first handshake and talk since the dispute between the Indian Army and China’s Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in eastern Ladakh in 2020.
However, the talks have triggered another diplomatic row. China claimed that the meeting in South Africa took place at the request of India. However, this has been refuted by New Delhi. “There was a pending request from the Chinese side for a bilateral meeting,” government sources said, according to a report by NDTV.
The development comes days ahead of the Chinese president’s likely arrival in the National Capital for the G20 Summit hosted by India on 9 and 10 September.
PM Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping at BRICS Summit in South Africa. ANI
Is a pullout of troops expected?
While Modi and Xi spoke about de-escalation, the extent of disengagement or where on the LAC will it take remains unclear.
However, a report in ThePrint suggests that the talks could mean that both sides could pull back some troops from the border. The militaries of both sides have reportedly discussed this as a confidence-building measure. The changes along the LAC could come in the next fortnight, ahead of the crucial G20 meeting.
On 14 August, India and China held the 19th round of Corps Commander-level talks at Chushul as part of the ongoing efforts for overall disengagement and de-escalation to resolve the stand-off in eastern Ladakh. Since they were unsuccessful, the talks were restarted a few days later.
Discussions were held at major general rank and below starting last Friday during which the effort was on to thrash out a workable solution, reports ThePrint. Both sides had agreed to “resolve the remaining issues in an expeditious manner” and to stop additional build-up for troops at the LAC.
Indian soldiers stand guard on the Indian side in Ladakh. File photo/PTI
What is the situation along the LAC now?
The Corps commander-level talks began in 2020. Since then, India and China have undertaken disengagement from five friction points: Galwan, the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, and Patrolling Points (PP) 15 and 17A in the Gogra-Hot Springs area.
The last movement was in September when the two militaries disengaged from PP-15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area after several rounds of talks. The disengagement in some areas led to the creation of buffer zones, which restricted patrolling by the troops.
However, both armies have thousands of troops and military equipment along the border. Even before 2020 incursions by the Chinese army, issues of Depsang Plains and Demchok exist.
The Depsang Plains are close to Daulat Beg Oldie, a military base located in northern Ladakh. The friction began in 2013 when China troops intruded 18 km into the area. They have been blocking India’s access to PPs 10 to 13 from a bottleneck known as the Y-junction and the 972 sq km tract of land there, according to a report in The Indian Express.
The two countries agreed to withdraw from their positions but PLA has not vacated the area completely. India has deployed a separate brigade.
In Demchok in easter Ladakh, the Chinese army has stopped Indian graziers at the Saddle Pass of the Charding Ninglung Nullah (CNN) junction several times, The Indian Express reports, adding that it is within India’s perception of the LAC.
With inputs from agencies
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This also marks the first time an Indian prime minister has visited Greece in 40 years.
An Indian businessman said, “We feel great that PM Modi has come here. I am sure the PM’s visit to Greece will raise the name of the country here.”
#WATCH | “We feel great that PM Modi has come here. I am sure the PM’s visit to Greece will raise the name of the country here,” says an Indian businessman who has been in Greece for over two decades now. pic.twitter.com/QZpQlo4ffv
Another member of the Indian diaspora said, “We have high expectations from PM Modi’s visit to Greece…He is a very good Prime Minister who listens to everyone.”
#WATCH | “We have high expectations from PM Modi’s visit to Greece…He is a very good Prime Minister who listens to everyone,” says another member of the Indian community in Athens. pic.twitter.com/TPodZG4QPy
Upon his arrival in the capital city of Athens, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “A packed day of engagements lie ahead in Athens as PM Modi has touched down in the country after attending the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.”
Here’s what PM Modi’s day look like
After a 3-day-long trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he engaged in bilateral talks with several leaders, PM Modi has another busy day ahead in Greece.
On PM Modi’s one-day Greece visit, MEA spox Arindam Bagchi says, “The PM will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Thereafter, he will meet the President of Greece, hold talks with the Greek PM and meet with business leaders of both sides. Before departing, the PM… pic.twitter.com/JKLJThPFmO
Donald Trump has had his photo snapped innumerable times till now. But his new picture is a little different, bearing a significance of its own. The Republican leader got his mug shot taken on Thursday (24 August) at an Atlanta jail as he surrendered to face charges for trying to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election results in the state of Georgia.
As per Sky News, Trump was released less than half an hour after surrendering at Atlanta’s Fulton County Jail as he paid the agreed $200,000 bond.
Let’s take a closer look at why Donald Trump’s mug shot is a big deal.
Brief history of mug shots
According to The Economist newspaper, the mug shot, as we know it today, was invented by Alphonse Bertillon, a French policeman and anthropologist, to set up a system to nab serial offenders.
After an arrest, the suspect’s photo was taken and the person was measured with various instruments. “The method was painstakingly prescriptive: the correct way to measure the length of the head was outlined in 18 steps. If police suspected they had a repeat offender on their hands, they could use his measurements to find his filed mug shot, should it exist,” says The Economist article.
This picture was called portrait parlé, or speaking image. Although Bertillon’s measurements have made way for fingerprinting now, mug shots have survived. They have helped authorities identify the accused if they flee or do not appear in court, and later, to use it if they are a suspect in another crime.
From American singer Frank Sinatra and English musician David Bowie to civil-rights activist John Lewis, there are many celebrity mug shots.
Although for a US president – former or incumbent – this is a first. The closest an American president came to getting his picture taken by the police was when in 1872 Ulysses S Grant was taken to a local police station in Washington, DC for speeding in his horse-drawn carriage. But there was no mug shot taken, as per Time magazine.
Why Donald Trump’s mug shot matters
Trump’s mug shot shows the 77-year-old former US president glaring at the camera lens. Donning a blue suit, white shirt and red tie, his mouth is “flattened in a grimace”, noted Time.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office booked Trump as inmate P01135809 and listed him as a “White Male 6’ 3” 215 lbs” (approximately 98 kg) with “Blond or Strawberry” hair and “blue” eyes.
While what the image conveys may differ for the former president’s followers and his critics, one thing that is certain is that it is a historic photo.
“It will be forever part of the iconography of being alive in this time,” Marty Kaplan, a professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communications, told Associated Press (AP).
“’Indictment’ is a sort of bloodless word. And words are pale compared to images. A mug shot is a genre. Its frame is, ‘This is a deer caught in the headlights. This is the crook being nailed.’ It’s the walk of shame moment,” Kaplan added.
Supporters of Donald Trump wait near the entrance of the Fulton County Jail on 24 August. Reuters
As Sky News’ US correspondent James Matthews put it, “The effect will come down to the eye of the beholder – different people will think different things, depending on their view of Trump.”
“On one thing, all can agree – the history of it all. America’s picture book has a new entry.”
Speaking to AP, Mitchell Stevens, a professor emeritus at New York University, said, “There’s a power to the still image, which is inarguable. It kind of freezes a moment, and in this case it’s freezing an unhappy moment for Donald Trump”.
“And it’s not something he can click away. It’s not something he can simply brush off. That moment is going to live on. And it’s entirely possible that it will end up as the image that history preserves of this man.”
Trump’s indictment in the Georgia case was the fourth one in the last few months. However, while the Republican has been booked before, his mug shot was not taken in other cases.
As per Time magazine, in previous cases, the court agreed Trump did not need to have a mug shot taken.
His attorneys were earlier successful in saving the former president from this “iconic symbol of a run-in with the law”, noted the magazine.
Donald Trump surrendered at an Atlanta jail on 24 August. AP
But not this time, thus, making Trump not only the first president to be indicted and that too multiple times, but also the first to get his mug shot taken.
Before Trump’s surrender, Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat had told local news station WSB-TV, “Unless somebody tells me differently, we are following our normal practices, and so it doesn’t matter your status, we’ll have a mug shot ready for you”, reported Vox.
Merch out
Even before Trump’s mug shot was captured on Thursday in the Georgia case, his campaign had been selling T-shirts with a fake booking photo of him and with the words “not guilty”, reported AP.
And now, the real deal is also out. As per New York Post, Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign site was offering merchandise, including T-shirts and coffee mugs, featuring the former US president’s frowning mug shot.
The tagline in this mug shot-inspired gear reads “NEVER SURRENDER!” in all caps.
Trump reacts after surrender
Trump returned to X, formerly known as Twitter, just hours after his surrender at the Atlanta jail.
His first tweet since 8 January 2021 is a photo of his mug shot and the words, “Election interference. Never surrender!”
Trump’s account was suspended after the storming of the US Capitol building on 6 January 2021. However, shortly after Elon Musk took over the company, Trump’s account was reinstated last November, noted AP.
In an interview with Newsmax, the Republican called his experience at the jail “terrible” and “very sad”. “In my whole life I didn’t know anything about indictments and now I’ve been indicted like four times,” he added.
Will this affect Trump’s prospects?
Despite his multiple indictments, Trump remains the frontrunner in the 2024 Republican primary, as per CNN.
While Trump loyalists may not be much deterred from voting for him in the next US presidential elections, the Georgia case could have an impact on swing voters.
A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll revealed that 64 percent of independent voters believe the criminal charges in this case are serious, reported Vox.
“Of all Donald Trump’s legal issues, the Georgia indictment is the most politically dangerous,” John Cluverius, director of survey research at the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion, was quoted as saying by Vox. “It’s another reminder to Georgia voters, particularly those in the suburbs, that Trump tried to steal the 2020 election and subvert their fairly counted ballots.”
As per CNN, “Regardless of where one stands, the former president of the United States turning himself in for charges stemming from the effort to reverse the democratic will of the American people should sink in as a historic moment in the United States.”
With inputs from agencies
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