The Pentagon and Republican congressmen on Tuesday aired fresh concerns about China's build-up of its nuclear forces after a new report saying Beijing was building 110 more missile silos. 
 
An American Federation of Scientists (AFS) report on Monday said satellite images showed China was building a new field of silos near Hami in the eastern part of its Xinjiang region. 
 
The report came weeks after another on the construction of about 120 missile silos in Yumen, a desert area about 240 miles (380 km) to the southeast. 
 
"This is the second time in two months the public has discovered what we have been saying all along about the growing threat the world faces and the veil of secrecy that surrounds it," the US&nbsp;Strategic Command said in tweet linked to a New York Times article on the AFS report. 
 
The State Department in early July called China's nuclear buildup concerning and said it appeared Beijing was deviating from decades of nuclear strategy based around minimal deterrence. It called on China to engage with it "on practical measures to reduce the risks of destabilizing arms races." 
 
Republican Congressman Mike Turner, ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, said China's nuclear build-up was "unprecedented" and made clear it was "deploying nuclear weapons to threaten the United States and our allies." 
 
He said China's refusal to negotiate arms control "should be a cause for concern and condemned by all responsible nations." 
 
Another Republican, Mike Rogers, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the Chinese build-up showed the need to rapidly modernize the US&nbsp;nuclear deterrent. 
 
A 2020 Pentagon report estimated China's nuclear warhead stockpile in "the low 200s" and said it was projected to at least double in size as Beijing expands and modernizes its forces. Analysts say the United States has around 3,800 warheads, and according to a State Department factsheet, 1,357 of those were deployed as of March 1. 
 
Washington has repeatedly called on China to join it and Russia in a new arms control treaty. 
 
The report on the new silos comes as Assistant Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is due to hold arms control talks with Russia in Geneva on Wednesday. 
 
Sherman was in China earlier this week for talks at which Beijing accused Washington of creating an "imaginary enemy" to divert attention from domestic problems and suppress China. 
 
Beijing says its arsenal is dwarfed by those of the United States and Russia and it is ready to conduct bilateral dialogues on strategic security "on the basis of equality and mutual respect."

The Pentagon and Republican congressmen on Tuesday aired fresh concerns about China's build-up of its nuclear forces after a new report saying Beijing was building 110 more missile silos.

The Pentagon and Republican congressmen on Tuesday aired fresh concerns about China's build-up of its nuclear forces after a new report saying Beijing was building 110 more missile silos. An American Federation of Scientists (AFS) report on Monday said satellite images showed China was building a new field of silos near Hami in the eastern part of its Xinjiang region. The report came weeks after another on the construction of about 120 missile silos in Yumen, a desert area about 240 miles (380 km) to the southeast. "This is the second time in two months the public has discovered what we have been saying all along about the growing threat the world faces and the veil of secrecy that surrounds it," the US Strategic Command said in tweet linked to a New York Times article on the AFS report. The State Department in early July called China's nuclear buildup concerning and said it appeared Beijing was deviating from decades of nuclear strategy based around minimal deterrence. It called on China to engage with it "on practical measures to reduce the risks of destabilizing arms races." Republican Congressman Mike Turner, ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, said China's nuclear build-up was "unprecedented" and made clear it was "deploying nuclear weapons to threaten the United States and our allies." He said China's refusal to negotiate arms control "should be a cause for concern and condemned by all responsible nations." Another Republican, Mike Rogers, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the Chinese build-up showed the need to rapidly modernize the US nuclear deterrent. A 2020 Pentagon report estimated China's nuclear warhead stockpile in "the low 200s" and said it was projected to at least double in size as Beijing expands and modernizes its forces. Analysts say the United States has around 3,800 warheads, and according to a State Department factsheet, 1,357 of those were deployed as of March 1. Washington has repeatedly called on China to join it and Russia in a new arms control treaty. The report on the new silos comes as Assistant Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is due to hold arms control talks with Russia in Geneva on Wednesday. Sherman was in China earlier this week for talks at which Beijing accused Washington of creating an "imaginary enemy" to divert attention from domestic problems and suppress China. Beijing says its arsenal is dwarfed by those of the United States and Russia and it is ready to conduct bilateral dialogues on strategic security "on the basis of equality and mutual respect."

US concern over China nukes buildup after new silos report

England's High Court will begin hearing arguments on Wednesday from lawyers for four Russian billionaires including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and state-owned oil firm Rosneft about a book on President Vladimir Putin which they say defames them. 
 
In the 2020 book, British journalist Catherine Belton chronicles Putin's rise to power and how many of his associates from the former Soviet spy services rose to positions of wealth and influence after he won the top Kremlin job in 1999. 
 
Lawyers for the businessmen will tell the court that passages in the book "Putin's People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and then Took on the West", published by HarperCollins, are defamatory. Abramovich is suing both HarperCollins and Belton, according to case details filed with the courts and tribunals service. 
 
HarperCollins said it would "robustly defend this acclaimed and ground-breaking book and the right to report on matters of considerable public interest". 
 
Belton, a former Financial Times Moscow correspondent and now a Reuters special correspondent, declined to comment. Law firm Wiggin, which is representing HarperCollins and Belton, did not respond to a request for comment. 
 
"The book falsely alleges that our client has acted corruptly, and makes false claims about our client`s purchase, and the activities, of Chelsea Football Club. Such claims are totally unacceptable and are without foundation," Abramovich`s lawyers, Harbottle &amp; Lewis, said on March 22. 
 
Abramovich said in the same statement that "the false allegations in this book are having a damaging effect, not only on my personal reputation, but also in respect of the activities of Chelsea Football Club." 
 
A spokeswoman for Abramovich declined to comment further. Harbottle &amp; Lewis did not respond to a request for comment. 
 
Rosneft, Russia's largest oil producer, is also suing both HarperCollins and Belton for defamation. The firm, and its lawyers Carter-Ruck, did not did not respond to a request for comment. 
 
Businessman Mikhail Fridman is suing HarperCollins for defamation and on data protection grounds. His long-term business partner, Pyotr Aven, is suing on data protection grounds. 
 
A spokesman said both men regretted it had not been possible to resolve the matter before Wednesday`s hearing. 
 
"Ms Belton's book, which has been promoted as a 'definitive historical record', contains inaccurate and offensive statements about Mr Aven and Mr Fridman," the spokesman said.&nbsp;"It is important to them that the record is set straight." 
 
Businessman Shalva Chigirinsky is suing both HarperCollins and Belton for defamation. His lawyers, Taylor Wessing LLP, passed on to him a Reuters request for comment on the proceedings. He did not immediately respond.

England's High Court will begin hearing arguments on Wednesday from lawyers for four Russian billionaires including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and state-owned oil firm Rosneft about a book on President Vladimir Putin which they say defames them.

England's High Court will begin hearing arguments on Wednesday from lawyers for four Russian billionaires including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and state-owned oil firm Rosneft about a book on President Vladimir Putin which they say defames them. In the 2020 book, British journalist Catherine Belton chronicles Putin's rise to power and how many of his associates from the former Soviet spy services rose to positions of wealth and influence after he won the top Kremlin job in 1999. Lawyers for the businessmen will tell the court that passages in the book "Putin's People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and then Took on the West", published by HarperCollins, are defamatory. Abramovich is suing both HarperCollins and Belton, according to case details filed with the courts and tribunals service. HarperCollins said it would "robustly defend this acclaimed and ground-breaking book and the right to report on matters of considerable public interest". Belton, a former Financial Times Moscow correspondent and now a Reuters special correspondent, declined to comment. Law firm Wiggin, which is representing HarperCollins and Belton, did not respond to a request for comment. "The book falsely alleges that our client has acted corruptly, and makes false claims about our client`s purchase, and the activities, of Chelsea Football Club. Such claims are totally unacceptable and are without foundation," Abramovich`s lawyers, Harbottle & Lewis, said on March 22. Abramovich said in the same statement that "the false allegations in this book are having a damaging effect, not only on my personal reputation, but also in respect of the activities of Chelsea Football Club." A spokeswoman for Abramovich declined to comment further. Harbottle & Lewis did not respond to a request for comment. Rosneft, Russia's largest oil producer, is also suing both HarperCollins and Belton for defamation. The firm, and its lawyers Carter-Ruck, did not did not respond to a request for comment. Businessman Mikhail Fridman is suing HarperCollins for defamation and on data protection grounds. His long-term business partner, Pyotr Aven, is suing on data protection grounds. A spokesman said both men regretted it had not been possible to resolve the matter before Wednesday`s hearing. "Ms Belton's book, which has been promoted as a 'definitive historical record', contains inaccurate and offensive statements about Mr Aven and Mr Fridman," the spokesman said. "It is important to them that the record is set straight." Businessman Shalva Chigirinsky is suing both HarperCollins and Belton for defamation. His lawyers, Taylor Wessing LLP, passed on to him a Reuters request for comment on the proceedings. He did not immediately respond.

Russian billionaires vs British writer: Court battle begins over Putin book

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China. 
 
Cybersecurity has risen to the top of the agenda for the Biden administration after a series of high-profile attacks on entities such as network management company SolarWinds, the Colonial Pipeline company, meat processing company JBS and software firm Kaseya hurt the US&nbsp;far beyond just the companies hacked. Some of the attacks affected fuel and food supplies in parts of the United States. 
 
"I think it's more than likely we're going to end up, if we end up in a war - a real shooting war with a major power - it's going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence and it's increasing exponentially, the capabilities," Biden said during a half-hour speech while visiting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). 
 
During a June 16 summit in Geneva between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden shared a list of critical infrastructure the US&nbsp;considers off-limits to nation-state actors. 
 
Since then, senior members of the Biden administration's national security team have been in constant contact with senior members of the Kremlin over cyber attacks on the United States, the White House has said. 
 
Biden also highlighted the threats posed by China, referring to President Xi Jinping as "deadly earnest about becoming the most powerful military force in the world, as well as the largest and most prominent economy in the world by the mid-40s, the 2040s."

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China. Cybersecurity has risen to the top of the agenda for the Biden administration after a series of high-profile attacks on entities such as network management company SolarWinds, the Colonial Pipeline company, meat processing company JBS and software firm Kaseya hurt the US far beyond just the companies hacked. Some of the attacks affected fuel and food supplies in parts of the United States. "I think it's more than likely we're going to end up, if we end up in a war - a real shooting war with a major power - it's going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence and it's increasing exponentially, the capabilities," Biden said during a half-hour speech while visiting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). During a June 16 summit in Geneva between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden shared a list of critical infrastructure the US considers off-limits to nation-state actors. Since then, senior members of the Biden administration's national security team have been in constant contact with senior members of the Kremlin over cyber attacks on the United States, the White House has said. Biden also highlighted the threats posed by China, referring to President Xi Jinping as "deadly earnest about becoming the most powerful military force in the world, as well as the largest and most prominent economy in the world by the mid-40s, the 2040s."

Biden: If US has 'real shooting war' it could be result of cyber attacks

Tearing through Spanish and Greek countryside, raging wildfires have devastated several parts of southern Europe. The wildfires have forced around 1,000 people to flee their homes in Sardinia.&nbsp;

Describing the wildfires as a 'disaster without precedence', the local government of Italian island Sardinia has declared a state of emergency on Sunday.&nbsp;

In a statement on Monday, Christian Solinas, president, Sardinia region, said, "It is still not possible to estimate the damages caused by the fires that are still ongoing in the Oristano area." &nbsp;

Solinas added, "Vegetation destroyed, businesses and homes burnt and animals killed." &nbsp;

Providing an update on Tuesday, regional spokesman Ignazio Artissu told CNN, around 20,000 hectares of area has been burnt till now. The officials are still assessing the damage.&nbsp;

Although most of the fires have been put out, authorities are now focusing on taking the immediate steps to ensure fire doesn't start again, Artissu added.&nbsp;

The region has pressed into action around 20 aircrafts and 7,500 people to fight the wildfires recently.&nbsp;

France and Greece have also supported the neighboring Italy by deploying four planes to provide assistance in putting out the flames.&nbsp;

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said his government was monitoring the situation closely and expressed "full solidarity with the population that is working non-stop in the rescue interventions."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Tearing through Spanish and Greek countryside, raging wildfires have devastated several parts of southern Europe. The wildfires have forced around 1,000 people to flee their homes in Sardinia.

Tearing through Spanish and Greek countryside, raging wildfires have devastated several parts of southern Europe. The wildfires have forced around 1,000 people to flee their homes in Sardinia. Describing the wildfires as a 'disaster without precedence', the local government of Italian island Sardinia has declared a state of emergency on Sunday. In a statement on Monday, Christian Solinas, president, Sardinia region, said, "It is still not possible to estimate the damages caused by the fires that are still ongoing in the Oristano area." Solinas added, "Vegetation destroyed, businesses and homes burnt and animals killed." Providing an update on Tuesday, regional spokesman Ignazio Artissu told CNN, around 20,000 hectares of area has been burnt till now. The officials are still assessing the damage. Although most of the fires have been put out, authorities are now focusing on taking the immediate steps to ensure fire doesn't start again, Artissu added. The region has pressed into action around 20 aircrafts and 7,500 people to fight the wildfires recently. France and Greece have also supported the neighboring Italy by deploying four planes to provide assistance in putting out the flames. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said his government was monitoring the situation closely and expressed "full solidarity with the population that is working non-stop in the rescue interventions." (With inputs from agencies)

Wildfires’ wrath forces thousands to flee in ravaged southern Europe 

In an attempt to hold talks on peace process and security issues, Taliban’s nine-member delegation has visited China. In the two-day visit, the delegation met the foreign minister of the country, the group's spokesperson said on Wednesday. &nbsp;

Taliban spokesperson Mohammad Naeem tweeted, “Politics, economy and issues related to the security of both countries and the current situation of Afghanistan and the peace process were discussed in the meetings." &nbsp;

Taliban has made deep inroads into western and northern regions mainly in the rural areas as US troops pull out of the region. &nbsp;&nbsp;

President Joe Biden had announced the last US troops will pull out by August 31, reports say the bulk of NATO troops have already exited from the region. &nbsp;

The militant group has seized border crossings along the Pakistan border including with Iran and Tajikistan even as peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban remain inconclusive. &nbsp;

As the Taliban continues its offensive, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said the Taliban's military momentum needs to be slowed down as it continues to gain territories even as US Marine General Kenneth McKenzie had said his forces will continue to provide further air support to Afghan troops against the Taliban. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In an attempt to hold talks on peace process and security issues, Taliban’s nine-member delegation has visited China. In the two-day visit, the delegation met the foreign minister of the country, the group's spokesperson said on Wednesday.

In an attempt to hold talks on peace process and security issues, Taliban’s nine-member delegation has visited China. In the two-day visit, the delegation met the foreign minister of the country, the group's spokesperson said on Wednesday. Taliban spokesperson Mohammad Naeem tweeted, “Politics, economy and issues related to the security of both countries and the current situation of Afghanistan and the peace process were discussed in the meetings." Taliban has made deep inroads into western and northern regions mainly in the rural areas as US troops pull out of the region. President Joe Biden had announced the last US troops will pull out by August 31, reports say the bulk of NATO troops have already exited from the region. The militant group has seized border crossings along the Pakistan border including with Iran and Tajikistan even as peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban remain inconclusive. As the Taliban continues its offensive, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said the Taliban's military momentum needs to be slowed down as it continues to gain territories even as US Marine General Kenneth McKenzie had said his forces will continue to provide further air support to Afghan troops against the Taliban. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban delegation meets Chinese foreign minister, holds talks

India’s ambitious third mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-3, may get launched in the third quarter next year. The mission has been facing delays due to the pandemic. &nbsp;

In a written answer in the Parliament, Dr Jitendra Singh, minister of state for department of space, said, “Chandrayaan-3 is likely to be launched during the third quarter of 2022 assuming normal work-flow henceforth.”&nbsp;

Initially scheduled for late 2020 or early 2021, the mission was hit badly by the pandemic as it affected the schedule due to the manufacturing the modules.&nbsp;

The answer given by minister in Lok Sabha read, “The realisation of Chandrayaan-3 involves various processes, including finalisation of configuration, subsystem realisation (manufacturing), integration, spacecraft-level detailed testing and a number of special tests to evaluate the systems performance on Earth. The realisation process was hampered due to COVID-19 pandemic.”&nbsp;

Planned as only a lander-rover mission, the Chandrayaan-3 aimed to demonstrate the country’s capability of soft landing on a celestial body. It will be communicated with Earth via the existing orbiter from Chandrayaan-2. The orbiter’s lifespan has been estimated to be seven years.&nbsp;

It was announced a few months after the Vikram lander aboard Chandrayaan-2 mission crash-landed on the lunar surface in September 2019.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

India’s ambitious third mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-3, may get launched in the third quarter next year. The mission has been facing delays due to the pandemic.

India’s ambitious third mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-3, may get launched in the third quarter next year. The mission has been facing delays due to the pandemic. In a written answer in the Parliament, Dr Jitendra Singh, minister of state for department of space, said, “Chandrayaan-3 is likely to be launched during the third quarter of 2022 assuming normal work-flow henceforth.” Initially scheduled for late 2020 or early 2021, the mission was hit badly by the pandemic as it affected the schedule due to the manufacturing the modules. The answer given by minister in Lok Sabha read, “The realisation of Chandrayaan-3 involves various processes, including finalisation of configuration, subsystem realisation (manufacturing), integration, spacecraft-level detailed testing and a number of special tests to evaluate the systems performance on Earth. The realisation process was hampered due to COVID-19 pandemic.” Planned as only a lander-rover mission, the Chandrayaan-3 aimed to demonstrate the country’s capability of soft landing on a celestial body. It will be communicated with Earth via the existing orbiter from Chandrayaan-2. The orbiter’s lifespan has been estimated to be seven years. It was announced a few months after the Vikram lander aboard Chandrayaan-2 mission crash-landed on the lunar surface in September 2019. (With inputs from agencies)

India's moon mission Chandrayaan-3 may get launched in 2022’s third quarter, says Indian govt 

Being called a 'beacon of hope' for countries struggling with coronavirus, Bhutan, tiny Himalayan kingdom, has fully vaccinated 90% of its eligible adult population with COVID-19 vaccine shots in a week, said UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The feat is being lauded as a 'success story' by many. The campaign for inoculating the second dose of vaccine had begun on July 20. In just a week, 90% of the population had got their shots.&nbsp;

The campaign involved months of preparation, such as setting up of cold chain storage facilities in inaccessible health clinics, deploying helicopters to deliver jabs to remote locations and deploying an army of volunteers for distribution of the vaccines along mountain footpaths.&nbsp;

Out of an eligible population of 530,000 people, around 480,000 have been vaccinated by Tuesday, said UNICEF's Bhutan representative Will Parks from the capital Thimphu. &nbsp;

Parks added, it was "arguably the fastest vaccination campaign to be executed during a pandemic."&nbsp;

During its campaign for first dose of vaccine in March and April, Bhutan administered around 500,000 AstraZeneca vaccines, donated by India. For the second dose, Bhutan got 500,000 Moderna jabs from the United States through COVAX vaccine sharing programme while Denmark donated 250,000 doses of AstraZeneca.&nbsp;

Being called a 'beacon of hope' for countries struggling with coronavirus, Bhutan, tiny Himalayan kingdom, has fully vaccinated 90% of its eligible adult population with COVID-19 vaccine shots in a week, said UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday.

Being called a 'beacon of hope' for countries struggling with coronavirus, Bhutan, tiny Himalayan kingdom, has fully vaccinated 90% of its eligible adult population with COVID-19 vaccine shots in a week, said UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday. The feat is being lauded as a 'success story' by many. The campaign for inoculating the second dose of vaccine had begun on July 20. In just a week, 90% of the population had got their shots. The campaign involved months of preparation, such as setting up of cold chain storage facilities in inaccessible health clinics, deploying helicopters to deliver jabs to remote locations and deploying an army of volunteers for distribution of the vaccines along mountain footpaths. Out of an eligible population of 530,000 people, around 480,000 have been vaccinated by Tuesday, said UNICEF's Bhutan representative Will Parks from the capital Thimphu. Parks added, it was "arguably the fastest vaccination campaign to be executed during a pandemic." During its campaign for first dose of vaccine in March and April, Bhutan administered around 500,000 AstraZeneca vaccines, donated by India. For the second dose, Bhutan got 500,000 Moderna jabs from the United States through COVAX vaccine sharing programme while Denmark donated 250,000 doses of AstraZeneca.

Bhutan vaccinates 90% adult population, becomes a beacon of hope  

UN secretary general's special representative for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons, while addressing the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) meeting at the Presidential Palace, said on Wednesday, if there is no progress in the peace talks the world will not work with the Taliban. &nbsp;

Lyons said, "If there is no movement at the negotiating table, and instead human rights abuses and worse, still atrocities occur in districts they control, the Taliban will not be seen as a viable partner for the international community."&nbsp;&nbsp;

With the occupation of the territory, the Taliban have also inherited its responsibilities. Lyons added, "The world is watching closely how they are acting, especially towards civilian populations, women and minorities.” &nbsp;

The meeting was taking place in extraordinary circumstances in order to preserve the gains, never more urgent or challenging. “The Taliban have gained a certain legitimacy in recent years through their negotiations in Doha, but this legitimacy is promised on their commitment to a political negotiation with the government of Afghanistan, a commitment which their battle-focused strategy casts into doubt," the representative added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

UN secretary general's special representative for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons, while addressing the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) meeting at the Presidential Palace, said on Wednesday, if there is no progress in the peace talks the world will not work with the Taliban.

UN secretary general's special representative for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons, while addressing the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) meeting at the Presidential Palace, said on Wednesday, if there is no progress in the peace talks the world will not work with the Taliban. Lyons said, "If there is no movement at the negotiating table, and instead human rights abuses and worse, still atrocities occur in districts they control, the Taliban will not be seen as a viable partner for the international community." With the occupation of the territory, the Taliban have also inherited its responsibilities. Lyons added, "The world is watching closely how they are acting, especially towards civilian populations, women and minorities.” The meeting was taking place in extraordinary circumstances in order to preserve the gains, never more urgent or challenging. “The Taliban have gained a certain legitimacy in recent years through their negotiations in Doha, but this legitimacy is promised on their commitment to a political negotiation with the government of Afghanistan, a commitment which their battle-focused strategy casts into doubt," the representative added. (With inputs from agencies)

World will not work with Taliban if no progress in talks, says UN representative to Afghanistan  

Questioning the United States motive of Afghan invasion, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said the US has 'really messed it up in Afghanistan'. &nbsp;

At first, he questioned Afghan invasion of the US and then the superpower’s several attempts of seeking a peaceful solution with the adversary Taliban from a position of weakness.&nbsp;

In an appearance on US news programme, PBS NewsHour, which was aired on Tuesday night, the prime minister said, "I think the US has really messed it up in Afghanistan."&nbsp;

Khan heavily criticised the US for trying to "look for a military solution in Afghanistan, when there never was one". &nbsp;

Commenting on the situation, PM said by the time, the global power realised that there was no military solution, "unfortunately, the bargaining power of the Americans or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) forces had gone." It happened due to the reduction in the forces on the ground. &nbsp;

"But once they had reduced the troops to barely 10,000, and then, when they gave an exit date, the Taliban thought they had won. And so, therefore, it was very difficult for now to get them to compromise," he said.&nbsp;

Questioning the United States motive of Afghan invasion, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said the US has 'really messed it up in Afghanistan'. At first, he questioned Afghan invasion of the US and then the superpower’s several attempts of seeking a peaceful solution with the adversary Taliban from a position of weakness.

Questioning the United States motive of Afghan invasion, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said the US has 'really messed it up in Afghanistan'. At first, he questioned Afghan invasion of the US and then the superpower’s several attempts of seeking a peaceful solution with the adversary Taliban from a position of weakness. In an appearance on US news programme, PBS NewsHour, which was aired on Tuesday night, the prime minister said, "I think the US has really messed it up in Afghanistan." Khan heavily criticised the US for trying to "look for a military solution in Afghanistan, when there never was one". Commenting on the situation, PM said by the time, the global power realised that there was no military solution, "unfortunately, the bargaining power of the Americans or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) forces had gone." It happened due to the reduction in the forces on the ground. "But once they had reduced the troops to barely 10,000, and then, when they gave an exit date, the Taliban thought they had won. And so, therefore, it was very difficult for now to get them to compromise," he said.

US really messed it up, says Pakistan PM over Afghanistan’s situation 

If the reports are to be believed, world's largest star sapphire cluster seems to have been found in a backyard in the gem-rich Ratnapura area, all by accident. The Sri Lankan authorities have made the claim.&nbsp;

According to a gem trader, the stone, which is pale blue in colour, was found by labourers while digging a well in his home. Ratnapura, where he lives, is known to be the gem capital of the country. &nbsp;

The stone, which has been named the 'Serendipity Sapphire', has an estimated value of up to $100 million in the international market. It weighs around 510 kg.&nbsp;

The owner Gamage, who didn't want to share full name due to security reasons, told the BBC, "The person, who was digging the well, alerted us about some rare stones. Later, we stumbled upon this huge specimen."&nbsp;

The third-generation gem trader informed authorities about the find. And it took more than a year to clean it by removing mud and other impurities before it could be analysed and certified. &nbsp;

In the cleaning, the owner said some stones also fell out. They seem to be found to be high quality star sapphires.&nbsp;

If the reports are to be believed, world's largest star sapphire cluster seems to have been found in a backyard in the gem-rich Ratnapura area, all by accident. The Sri Lankan authorities have made the claim.

If the reports are to be believed, world's largest star sapphire cluster seems to have been found in a backyard in the gem-rich Ratnapura area, all by accident. The Sri Lankan authorities have made the claim. According to a gem trader, the stone, which is pale blue in colour, was found by labourers while digging a well in his home. Ratnapura, where he lives, is known to be the gem capital of the country. The stone, which has been named the 'Serendipity Sapphire', has an estimated value of up to $100 million in the international market. It weighs around 510 kg. The owner Gamage, who didn't want to share full name due to security reasons, told the BBC, "The person, who was digging the well, alerted us about some rare stones. Later, we stumbled upon this huge specimen." The third-generation gem trader informed authorities about the find. And it took more than a year to clean it by removing mud and other impurities before it could be analysed and certified. In the cleaning, the owner said some stones also fell out. They seem to be found to be high quality star sapphires.

World's largest star sapphire cluster found in a Sri Lankan backyard: Report 

We bring you the biggest stories of the day so far. From&nbsp;North and South Korea agreeing to restore communication channels and&nbsp;improving ties to&nbsp;UK court declaring Vijay Mallya bankrupt, we have it all. &nbsp;

You can also&nbsp;read about&nbsp;verdict expected in trial of first person charged under Hong Kong security law. Also check out&nbsp;Rupinder Pal Singh striking twice as India defeat Spain 3-0 in Pool A clash in&nbsp;Tokyo Olympics and&nbsp;Biden announcing ‘new phase’ in Iraq relations and end of ‘combat operations’.

Please click on the headline to read the full story.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-and-south-korea-agree-to-restore-communication-channels-improve-ties-400861">North and South Korea agree to restore communication channels, improve ties</a>

<img alt="Br1" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="29f63523-6416-4632-95b4-b7458480cf97" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Be1.JPG" />

North Korea announced on June 9, 2020 that it was cutting off all communications with South Korea in retaliation for activist defectors who have escaped to the South and routinely fly propaganda leaflets back across the border.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-rupinder-pal-singh-strikes-twice-as-india-defeat-spain-3-0-in-pool-a-clash-400867">Tokyo Olympics: Rupinder Pal Singh strikes twice as India defeat Spain 3-0 in Pool A clash</a>

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Indian hockey team defeated Spain 3-0 in the Pool A clash in men's hockey at Tokyo Olympics 2020 on Tuesday. Team India started well as they scored two goals in the first quarter against Spain.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/verdict-expected-in-trial-of-1st-person-charged-under-hong-kong-security-law-400876">Verdict expected in trial of 1st person charged under Hong Kong security law</a>

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In the trial of the first person charged under the national security law,&nbsp;three Hong Kong judges are expected to deliver a verdict on Tuesday. Former waiter Tong Ying-kit, 24, has pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism and inciting secession.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uk-court-declares-vijay-mallya-bankrupt-allowing-indian-banks-to-pursue-recovery-400877">UK court declares Vijay Mallya bankrupt, allowing Indian Banks to pursue recovery</a>

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The London High Court declared fugitive Indian businessman Vijay Mallya bankrupt on July 26 in a major victory for Indian banks.&nbsp;This will clear the way for a group of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India to seek a worldwide freezing order to seize Vijay Mallya's Indian assets to recover debt owed by his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-announces-new-phase-in-iraq-relations-end-of-combat-operations-400856">Biden announces ‘new phase’ in Iraq relations, end of ‘combat operations’</a>

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President Joe Biden opened talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi on Monday saying relations were in a "new phase" that would include the end of US combat operations in the country.

&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Lebanon President names businessman Najib Mikati as new Prime Minister

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We bring you the biggest stories of the day so far. From North and South Korea agreeing to restore communication channels and improving ties to UK court declaring Vijay Mallya bankrupt, we have it all.

We bring you the biggest stories of the day so far. From North and South Korea agreeing to restore communication channels and improving ties to UK court declaring Vijay Mallya bankrupt, we have it all. You can also read about verdict expected in trial of first person charged under Hong Kong security law. Also check out Rupinder Pal Singh striking twice as India defeat Spain 3-0 in Pool A clash in Tokyo Olympics and Biden announcing ‘new phase’ in Iraq relations and end of ‘combat operations’. Please click on the headline to read the full story. North and South Korea agree to restore communication channels, improve ties North Korea announced on June 9, 2020 that it was cutting off all communications with South Korea in retaliation for activist defectors who have escaped to the South and routinely fly propaganda leaflets back across the border. Tokyo Olympics: Rupinder Pal Singh strikes twice as India defeat Spain 3-0 in Pool A clash Indian hockey team defeated Spain 3-0 in the Pool A clash in men's hockey at Tokyo Olympics 2020 on Tuesday. Team India started well as they scored two goals in the first quarter against Spain. Verdict expected in trial of 1st person charged under Hong Kong security law In the trial of the first person charged under the national security law, three Hong Kong judges are expected to deliver a verdict on Tuesday. Former waiter Tong Ying-kit, 24, has pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism and inciting secession. UK court declares Vijay Mallya bankrupt, allowing Indian Banks to pursue recovery The London High Court declared fugitive Indian businessman Vijay Mallya bankrupt on July 26 in a major victory for Indian banks. This will clear the way for a group of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India to seek a worldwide freezing order to seize Vijay Mallya's Indian assets to recover debt owed by his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. Biden announces ‘new phase’ in Iraq relations, end of ‘combat operations’ President Joe Biden opened talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi on Monday saying relations were in a "new phase" that would include the end of US combat operations in the country. Watch: Lebanon President names businessman Najib Mikati as new Prime Minister ×

Morning news brief: North, South Korea to improve ties and more

A diesel cargo sent by Mexico's state-run Pemex is due to arrive in Cuba's Havana port on Monday, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and sources, after Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised humanitarian aid to the Communist-run island. 
 
The Jose Maria Morelos II, a tanker owned and managed by a Pemex unit, is on its way to the Caribbean island after Mexico's left-leaning government last week announced it would send two humanitarian shipments, including food and diesel, to Cuba. 
 
Authorities in Havana have long said that a decades-old US&nbsp;embargo on Cuba has caused widespread hardship on the island, where thousands took to the streets this month in protests. Cuba's vital tourism industry has also been hard hit by the slump in travel following the global coronavirus pandemic. 
 
The vessel departed from the Mexican port of Coatzacoalcos and is sailing with its transponder switched on, but has not updated its port of destination, according to Eikon. 
 
Monitoring service TankerTrackers.com and a shipping source said it is navigating half-loaded. A Pemex source told Reuters the cargo contains 20 million liters or about 126,000 barrels of diesel. 
 
Pemex declined to comment on the vessel's content and destination. The foreign affairs ministries of both Mexico and Cuba did not reply to requests for comment. 
 
A separate shipping source said the tanker departed last week from the Coatzacoalcos port's berth number four, after being given "priority," which is why it loaded immediately. 
 
The terminal is located nearby Pemex's Minatitlan refinery on the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
The US&nbsp;Treasury Department, which enforces sanctions, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. 
 
Mexico said it would assist Cuba after this month's rare protests by thousands of citizens against the dire economic conditions on the island and the government`s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. 
 
Mexico said its policy toward Cuba is a demonstration of international solidarity. 
 
López Obrador on Monday asked US&nbsp;President Joe Biden to make a decision about the embargo on Cuba to allow families in the island to receive remittances. 
 
Cuba's main fuel provider is Venezuela, whose own economy is mired in a deep recession that has sparked widespread shortages. Venezuela's oil production and refinery output has shrunk in recent years under lack of maintenance and tough US&nbsp;sanctions, reducing its exports to Cuba.

A diesel cargo sent by Mexico's state-run Pemex is due to arrive in Cuba's Havana port on Monday, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and sources, after Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised humanitarian aid to the Communist-run island.

A diesel cargo sent by Mexico's state-run Pemex is due to arrive in Cuba's Havana port on Monday, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and sources, after Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised humanitarian aid to the Communist-run island. The Jose Maria Morelos II, a tanker owned and managed by a Pemex unit, is on its way to the Caribbean island after Mexico's left-leaning government last week announced it would send two humanitarian shipments, including food and diesel, to Cuba. Authorities in Havana have long said that a decades-old US embargo on Cuba has caused widespread hardship on the island, where thousands took to the streets this month in protests. Cuba's vital tourism industry has also been hard hit by the slump in travel following the global coronavirus pandemic. The vessel departed from the Mexican port of Coatzacoalcos and is sailing with its transponder switched on, but has not updated its port of destination, according to Eikon. Monitoring service TankerTrackers.com and a shipping source said it is navigating half-loaded. A Pemex source told Reuters the cargo contains 20 million liters or about 126,000 barrels of diesel. Pemex declined to comment on the vessel's content and destination. The foreign affairs ministries of both Mexico and Cuba did not reply to requests for comment. A separate shipping source said the tanker departed last week from the Coatzacoalcos port's berth number four, after being given "priority," which is why it loaded immediately. The terminal is located nearby Pemex's Minatitlan refinery on the Gulf of Mexico. The US Treasury Department, which enforces sanctions, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Mexico said it would assist Cuba after this month's rare protests by thousands of citizens against the dire economic conditions on the island and the government`s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Mexico said its policy toward Cuba is a demonstration of international solidarity. López Obrador on Monday asked US President Joe Biden to make a decision about the embargo on Cuba to allow families in the island to receive remittances. Cuba's main fuel provider is Venezuela, whose own economy is mired in a deep recession that has sparked widespread shortages. Venezuela's oil production and refinery output has shrunk in recent years under lack of maintenance and tough US sanctions, reducing its exports to Cuba.

Fuel tanker owned by Mexico's Pemex on its way to Cuba: Report

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