July 14 in history: Taiwan ends 38 years of martial law and more

In order to help&nbsp;the&nbsp;country&nbsp;meet its widening trade deficit,&nbsp;overseas Pakis­tanis remitted a record $29.4 billion during 2020-21. It will also help&nbsp;in&nbsp;achieving&nbsp;expected current account deficit in the last month of the just-ended fiscal year, said a Dawn report.&nbsp;

According to the&nbsp;central bank,&nbsp;workers’ remittances continued their unprecedented streak of above $2bn for a record 13th consecutive month&nbsp;with inflows of around $2.7bn in June (9%&nbsp;growth year-on-year) and 8%&nbsp;(month-on-month).&nbsp;

The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) data, which was&nbsp;released on Tuesday,&nbsp;showed that remittances posted a 27 per cent year-on-year growth.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was the fastest rate of expansion since FY03.&nbsp;

The remittances’&nbsp;growth&nbsp;has&nbsp;helped&nbsp;in&nbsp;improving&nbsp;the country’s external sector position despite the challenging global economic conditions in the past year, said the State Bank.&nbsp;It also&nbsp;added&nbsp;that the seasonal pre-Eid related inflows helped to further boost remittances level during June.&nbsp;

Last month,&nbsp;two of Pakistan's main lenders, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), have withheld approval of another $1 billion (7,300 crore rupees) worth of loans due to a failure to fulfil certain conditions,&nbsp;according to Pakistani media sources.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

On June 28, the World Bank was expected to approve $800 million (Rs 5,800 crore) in policy loans, down from the initial plan of $1.5 billion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to a government source, the World Bank opted to cut the loan short after Pakistan failed to meet some of the terms.&nbsp;

Similarly, the ADB has postponed clearance of the second tranche of the $300 million loans for the energy sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In order to help the country meet its widening trade deficit, overseas Pakistanis remitted a record $29.4 billion during 2020-21. It will also help in achieving expected current account deficit in the last month of the just-ended fiscal year, said a Dawn report.

In order to help the country meet its widening trade deficit, overseas Pakistanis remitted a record $29.4 billion during 2020-21. It will also help in achieving expected current account deficit in the last month of the just-ended fiscal year, said a Dawn report. According to the central bank, workers’ remittances continued their unprecedented streak of above $2bn for a record 13th consecutive month with inflows of around $2.7bn in June (9% growth year-on-year) and 8% (month-on-month). The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) data, which was released on Tuesday, showed that remittances posted a 27 per cent year-on-year growth. It was the fastest rate of expansion since FY03. The remittances’ growth has helped in improving the country’s external sector position despite the challenging global economic conditions in the past year, said the State Bank. It also added that the seasonal pre-Eid related inflows helped to further boost remittances level during June. Last month, two of Pakistan's main lenders, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), have withheld approval of another $1 billion (7,300 crore rupees) worth of loans due to a failure to fulfil certain conditions, according to Pakistani media sources. On June 28, the World Bank was expected to approve $800 million (Rs 5,800 crore) in policy loans, down from the initial plan of $1.5 billion. According to a government source, the World Bank opted to cut the loan short after Pakistan failed to meet some of the terms. Similarly, the ADB has postponed clearance of the second tranche of the $300 million loans for the energy sector. (With inputs from agencies)

Overseas Pakis­tanis sent remittances worth record $29.4 billion in 2020-21 

According to the excerpts of a new book,&nbsp;the&nbsp;then-US&nbsp;President Donald Trump told&nbsp;several&nbsp;of his advisers&nbsp;that whoever leaked information about his stay in the White House bunker in May&nbsp;2020&nbsp;had committed treason and should be executed for sharing details with the press.&nbsp;

According to the&nbsp;CNN report,&nbsp;the&nbsp;excerpts have been&nbsp;obtained by&nbsp;the channel&nbsp;from Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender, who has written the book.&nbsp;The name of the book is&nbsp;'Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost’.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-told-chief-of-staff-hitler-did-good-things-book-396485">Trump told Chief of Staff, 'Hitler did good things': Book</a>

Trump, the then-first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron, were&nbsp;taken to the bunker for some time&nbsp;after the protesters gathered outside the building to&nbsp;protest&nbsp;against&nbsp;the killing of George&nbsp;Floyd.&nbsp;

In the book,&nbsp;Bender&nbsp;writes&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;held a meeting with top military, law enforcement and West Wing advisers&nbsp;following the time in the bunker. The former president had aired grievances over the leak in the meeting.&nbsp;

As per the&nbsp;Bender,&nbsp;"Trump boiled over about the bunker story as soon as they arrived and shouted at them to smoke out whoever had leaked it. It was the most upset some aides had ever seen the president."&nbsp;&nbsp;

The book reads,&nbsp;"'Whoever did that, they should be charged with treason!' Trump yelled. 'They should be executed!'”.&nbsp;

According to the excerpts of a new book, the then-US President Donald Trump told several of his advisers that whoever leaked information about his stay in the White House bunker in May 2020 had committed treason and should be executed for sharing details with the press.

According to the excerpts of a new book, the then-US President Donald Trump told several of his advisers that whoever leaked information about his stay in the White House bunker in May 2020 had committed treason and should be executed for sharing details with the press. According to the CNN report, the excerpts have been obtained by the channel from Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender, who has written the book. The name of the book is 'Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost’. Also Read | Trump told Chief of Staff, 'Hitler did good things': Book Trump, the then-first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron, were taken to the bunker for some time after the protesters gathered outside the building to protest against the killing of George Floyd. In the book, Bender writes Trump held a meeting with top military, law enforcement and West Wing advisers following the time in the bunker. The former president had aired grievances over the leak in the meeting. As per the Bender, "Trump boiled over about the bunker story as soon as they arrived and shouted at them to smoke out whoever had leaked it. It was the most upset some aides had ever seen the president." The book reads, "'Whoever did that, they should be charged with treason!' Trump yelled. 'They should be executed!'”.

Trump said White House bunker stay info leaker should be 'executed', claims new book  

The US&nbsp;general leading the war in Afghanistan, Austin Miller, relinquished command at a ceremony on Monday and quietly left the country, a symbolic end to America's longest conflict while Taliban insurgents gain momentum.

Miller, America's last four-star commander to serve on the ground in Afghanistan, climbed aboard a helicopter and lifted off from the military base in Kabul that long had been the nerve center for the two-decade-old war effort.

President Joe Biden has set a formal end to the US&nbsp;military mission for August&nbsp;31 as he looks to disengage from a conflict triggered by al Qaeda's attacks on the United States on September&nbsp;11, 2001.

About 2,400 US&nbsp;service members have been killed in Afghanistan and many thousands have been wounded.

Addressing a small group of US&nbsp;and Afghan officials, Miller vowed to remember lives lost in the fighting and called on the Taliban to halt attacks that have given them control of more territory than at any time since the conflict began. 
"What I tell the Taliban is they're responsible too. The violence that's going on is against the will of the Afghan people, and it needs to stop," Miller said.

US&nbsp;Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, whose Florida-based Central Command oversees US&nbsp;forces in hot spots including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, flew into Kabul to underscore America's future assistance to Afghan security forces, albeit mostly from overseas.

"You can count on our support in the dangerous and difficult days ahead. We will be with you," McKenzie said in his address.

Speaking separately to a small group of reporters, McKenzie cautioned that the Taliban, in his view, were seeking 'a military solution' to a war that the United States has unsuccessfully tried to end with a peace agreement between the Taliban and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government.

"We need to see some gesture from the Taliban here that they're not just completely intent on winning the military victory," McKenzie said.

"We're at a crossroads period right now in the history of Afghanistan." He said provincial capitals were at risk and added the Taliban appeared interested in taking Kandahar, Afghanistan's second-largest city and the Taliban birthplace. While voicing confidence in Afghan forces, he also warned of the consequences a Taliban victory could have for the people of Afghanistan.

"If this government is overthrown, if the Taliban prevail, I think we're going to expect a return to medieval standards here in Afghanistan, particularly in the domain of women's rights, human rights, education and so many other things," he said.

Afghan national security adviser Hamdullah Mohib acknowledged problems resupplying over-stretched Afghan troops but told reporters that planning was under way to focus the war effort on "where we needed to defend the most."

McKenzie will be able to authorise US&nbsp;air strikes against the Taliban through August&nbsp;31 in support of Ghani's Western-backed government.&nbsp;But after that, the Marine general said that when it comes to US&nbsp;strikes in Afghanistan, his focus will shift squarely to counter-terrorism operations against al Qaeda and Islamic State.

The US general leading the war in Afghanistan, Austin Miller, relinquished command at a ceremony on Monday and quietly left the country, a symbolic end to America's longest conflict while Taliban insurgents gain momentum.

The US general leading the war in Afghanistan, Austin Miller, relinquished command at a ceremony on Monday and quietly left the country, a symbolic end to America's longest conflict while Taliban insurgents gain momentum. Miller, America's last four-star commander to serve on the ground in Afghanistan, climbed aboard a helicopter and lifted off from the military base in Kabul that long had been the nerve center for the two-decade-old war effort. President Joe Biden has set a formal end to the US military mission for August 31 as he looks to disengage from a conflict triggered by al Qaeda's attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. About 2,400 US service members have been killed in Afghanistan and many thousands have been wounded. Addressing a small group of US and Afghan officials, Miller vowed to remember lives lost in the fighting and called on the Taliban to halt attacks that have given them control of more territory than at any time since the conflict began. "What I tell the Taliban is they're responsible too. The violence that's going on is against the will of the Afghan people, and it needs to stop," Miller said. US Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, whose Florida-based Central Command oversees US forces in hot spots including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, flew into Kabul to underscore America's future assistance to Afghan security forces, albeit mostly from overseas. "You can count on our support in the dangerous and difficult days ahead. We will be with you," McKenzie said in his address. Speaking separately to a small group of reporters, McKenzie cautioned that the Taliban, in his view, were seeking 'a military solution' to a war that the United States has unsuccessfully tried to end with a peace agreement between the Taliban and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government. "We need to see some gesture from the Taliban here that they're not just completely intent on winning the military victory," McKenzie said. "We're at a crossroads period right now in the history of Afghanistan." He said provincial capitals were at risk and added the Taliban appeared interested in taking Kandahar, Afghanistan's second-largest city and the Taliban birthplace. While voicing confidence in Afghan forces, he also warned of the consequences a Taliban victory could have for the people of Afghanistan. "If this government is overthrown, if the Taliban prevail, I think we're going to expect a return to medieval standards here in Afghanistan, particularly in the domain of women's rights, human rights, education and so many other things," he said. Afghan national security adviser Hamdullah Mohib acknowledged problems resupplying over-stretched Afghan troops but told reporters that planning was under way to focus the war effort on "where we needed to defend the most." McKenzie will be able to authorise US air strikes against the Taliban through August 31 in support of Ghani's Western-backed government. But after that, the Marine general said that when it comes to US strikes in Afghanistan, his focus will shift squarely to counter-terrorism operations against al Qaeda and Islamic State.

In symbolic end to war, US general departs Afghanistan

If you love to spend time in gazing upon the&nbsp;sky,&nbsp;you seem to be in for luck as you can get&nbsp;the&nbsp;dazzling view of Venus, Mars and the moon&nbsp;getting together.&nbsp;

According to a CNN report, which quoted&nbsp;EarthSky,&nbsp;Venus and Mars have been moving towards one another all weekend. They will&nbsp;come to&nbsp;their closest meeting&nbsp;during the early hours of Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

From&nbsp;the&nbsp;Earth, the planets will appear&nbsp;to be&nbsp;only half a degree apart, as&nbsp;per the&nbsp;NASA.&nbsp;This meeting of planets in the sky is&nbsp;called&nbsp;planetary conjunction.&nbsp;Although it is just an&nbsp;illusion as the two planets are extremely far away from each other in reality.&nbsp;

In a video on NASA's website,&nbsp;NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s&nbsp;research space scientist&nbsp;Giada&nbsp;Arney said, "Even during this conjunction, they will still be many millions of miles apart.&nbsp;But from our point of view here on Earth, they will appear to be close together."&nbsp;

As the&nbsp;timing of this meeting&nbsp;coincides with the young moon's return to the night sky,&nbsp;the&nbsp;conjunction of these planets&nbsp;will appear&nbsp;alongwith&nbsp;a slim crescent moon, which&nbsp;is only 10 per cent illuminated.&nbsp;

According to the NASA,&nbsp;skywatchers&nbsp;will be able to see the three celestial bodies both&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday and Tuesday evenings.&nbsp;

If you love to spend time in gazing upon the sky, you seem to be in for luck as you can get the dazzling view of Venus, Mars and the moon getting together. According to a CNN report, which quoted EarthSky, Venus and Mars have been moving towards one another all weekend.

If you love to spend time in gazing upon the sky, you seem to be in for luck as you can get the dazzling view of Venus, Mars and the moon getting together. According to a CNN report, which quoted EarthSky, Venus and Mars have been moving towards one another all weekend. They will come to their closest meeting during the early hours of Tuesday. From the Earth, the planets will appear to be only half a degree apart, as per the NASA. This meeting of planets in the sky is called planetary conjunction. Although it is just an illusion as the two planets are extremely far away from each other in reality. In a video on NASA's website, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s research space scientist Giada Arney said, "Even during this conjunction, they will still be many millions of miles apart. But from our point of view here on Earth, they will appear to be close together." As the timing of this meeting coincides with the young moon's return to the night sky, the conjunction of these planets will appear alongwith a slim crescent moon, which is only 10 per cent illuminated. According to the NASA, skywatchers will be able to see the three celestial bodies both on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Keep gazing as Mars, Venus, moon come close in the sky 

July 13 in history: Hollywood sign is officially displayed on the hills in Los Angeles and more

In an attempt to provide the much-needed boost to marriages,&nbsp;Iran has come up with a state-approved&nbsp;Islamic dating app, Hamdam.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The users of the&nbsp;app&nbsp;will first&nbsp;have to take a psychology test and&nbsp;later, the&nbsp;successful matches will be accompanied by a consultant for the first four years of marriage, &nbsp;The Guardian said in a report.

According to the state television,&nbsp;the country has come up with the app for&nbsp;facilitating 'lasting and informed marriage' for its youth.&nbsp;

The name, Hamdam, means&nbsp;companion in&nbsp;Farsi.&nbsp;The service allows users to 'search and choose spouse'.&nbsp;

Although&nbsp;dating apps are popular in the Islamic Republic, Iran’s cyberspace police chief Colonel Ali Mohammad Rajabi&nbsp;said,&nbsp;“This&nbsp;is the only state-sanctioned platform of its kind in the country.&nbsp;All others are illegal.”&nbsp;

This app has been developed by the&nbsp;Tebyan&nbsp;Cultural Institute, which is a&nbsp;part of Iran’s Islamic Propaganda&nbsp;Organisation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At the unveiling,&nbsp;Tebyan&nbsp;head Komeil Khojasteh, said, “Family values were threatened by outside forces. Family is the devil’s target, and (Iran’s enemies) seek to impose their own ideas on it. The app helps create 'healthy' families.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The website of the app claims it uses 'artificial intelligence' to find matches 'for bachelors seeking permanent marriage and a single spouse only'.&nbsp;

Before browsing&nbsp;the potential partners, the&nbsp;users have to first verify their identity and go through a ‘psychology test'.&nbsp;Registration is free on the app.&nbsp;

After a match is made,&nbsp;the app 'introduces the families together in the presence of service consultants', who will 'accompany' the couple for the first four years&nbsp;of&nbsp;marriage.&nbsp;

In an attempt to provide the much-needed boost to marriages, Iran has come up with a state-approved Islamic dating app, Hamdam. The users of the app will first have to take a psychology test and later, the successful matches will be accompanied by a consultant for the first four years of marriage, The Guardian said in a report.

In an attempt to provide the much-needed boost to marriages, Iran has come up with a state-approved Islamic dating app, Hamdam. The users of the app will first have to take a psychology test and later, the successful matches will be accompanied by a consultant for the first four years of marriage, The Guardian said in a report. According to the state television, the country has come up with the app for facilitating 'lasting and informed marriage' for its youth. The name, Hamdam, means companion in Farsi. The service allows users to 'search and choose spouse'. Although dating apps are popular in the Islamic Republic, Iran’s cyberspace police chief Colonel Ali Mohammad Rajabi said, “This is the only state-sanctioned platform of its kind in the country. All others are illegal.” This app has been developed by the Tebyan Cultural Institute, which is a part of Iran’s Islamic Propaganda Organisation. At the unveiling, Tebyan head Komeil Khojasteh, said, “Family values were threatened by outside forces. Family is the devil’s target, and (Iran’s enemies) seek to impose their own ideas on it. The app helps create 'healthy' families.” The website of the app claims it uses 'artificial intelligence' to find matches 'for bachelors seeking permanent marriage and a single spouse only'. Before browsing the potential partners, the users have to first verify their identity and go through a ‘psychology test'. Registration is free on the app. After a match is made, the app 'introduces the families together in the presence of service consultants', who will 'accompany' the couple for the first four years of marriage.

Iran government launches Islamic dating app to create 'healthy' families 

According to a CNN report, Taliban fighters have executed&nbsp;22 Afghan commandos.&nbsp;Several videos have come up, apparently&nbsp;of the incident.&nbsp;

In a&nbsp;clear but unsteady video,&nbsp;several commandos&nbsp;of&nbsp;Afghan Special Forces unit&nbsp;can be seen asked to surrender before they are&nbsp;shot to death amid cries of 'Allahu&nbsp;Akbar'.&nbsp;

The killings&nbsp;were carried out on&nbsp;June 16 in Dawlat Abad&nbsp;town,&nbsp;Faryab province,&nbsp;which is&nbsp;close to Afghanistan's border with Turkmenistan.&nbsp;The CNN report said&nbsp;it&nbsp;has obtained and verified several videos of the incident and has&nbsp;also&nbsp;spoken with witnesses.&nbsp;

The Red Cross has also confirmed that the bodies of 22 commandos were retrieved.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;commandos were forced to surrender when&nbsp;they ran out of ammunition after being surrounded by the Taliban fighters in&nbsp;a fierce battle to hold the town, witnesses said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Taliban attacks on security outposts in&nbsp;Gazni&nbsp;city were repelled by Afghan security forces on Sunday, TOLOnews reported, citing a police official.&nbsp;

The Taliban attacked security outposts in PD3, PD6, PD1 and PD5 in the early hours of Sunday morning, the provincial police statement said, adding "the Taliban faced a response from the joint security forces, and their attacks were pushed back."&nbsp;

Provincial police chief Fazel Ahmad assured people that security sources will defend the city.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The Taliban escaped from the areas after the arrival of the reinforcements. Several Taliban were killed and wounded in the clashes," he said.&nbsp;

There was no mention in the statement about possible casualties among the security forces, said TOLOnews.&nbsp;

General Shir Mohammad&nbsp;Andewal, a military commander in&nbsp;Ghazni, pledged that the security forces will "bravely" defend the city. The Taliban has not yet commented on the attacks.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

According to a CNN report, Taliban fighters have executed 22 Afghan commandos. Several videos have come up, apparently of the incident. In a clear but unsteady video, several commandos of Afghan Special Forces unit can be seen asked to surrender before they are shot to death amid cries of 'Allahu Akbar'.

According to a CNN report, Taliban fighters have executed 22 Afghan commandos. Several videos have come up, apparently of the incident. In a clear but unsteady video, several commandos of Afghan Special Forces unit can be seen asked to surrender before they are shot to death amid cries of 'Allahu Akbar'. The killings were carried out on June 16 in Dawlat Abad town, Faryab province, which is close to Afghanistan's border with Turkmenistan. The CNN report said it has obtained and verified several videos of the incident and has also spoken with witnesses. The Red Cross has also confirmed that the bodies of 22 commandos were retrieved. The commandos were forced to surrender when they ran out of ammunition after being surrounded by the Taliban fighters in a fierce battle to hold the town, witnesses said. Meanwhile, Taliban attacks on security outposts in Gazni city were repelled by Afghan security forces on Sunday, TOLOnews reported, citing a police official. The Taliban attacked security outposts in PD3, PD6, PD1 and PD5 in the early hours of Sunday morning, the provincial police statement said, adding "the Taliban faced a response from the joint security forces, and their attacks were pushed back." Provincial police chief Fazel Ahmad assured people that security sources will defend the city. "The Taliban escaped from the areas after the arrival of the reinforcements. Several Taliban were killed and wounded in the clashes," he said. There was no mention in the statement about possible casualties among the security forces, said TOLOnews. General Shir Mohammad Andewal, a military commander in Ghazni, pledged that the security forces will "bravely" defend the city. The Taliban has not yet commented on the attacks. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban kills 22 Afghan commandos after they try to surrender: Report 

After Richard Branson’s flight to the edge of space,&nbsp;Virgin Galactic’s shares&nbsp;have fallen back to earth after&nbsp;the firm’s&nbsp;announcement of its plans to sell up to $500m worth stock&nbsp;in a&nbsp;fundraising exercise.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;decision comes&nbsp;just&nbsp;a day&nbsp;after the company’s founder completed&nbsp;the&nbsp;memorable&nbsp;flight.&nbsp;

Although the company’s&nbsp;share price had risen by about 9% in pre-market trading on Monday, it&nbsp;changed course and plummeted by around&nbsp;14% after the&nbsp;announcement, according to a The Guardian report.&nbsp;

In a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission,&nbsp;the company revealed it entered into a distribution agency agreement with the Wall Street investment banks Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.&nbsp;

The company looks to use the proceeds of the sale 'for general corporate purposes, including working capital, general and administrative matters and capital expenditures for its manufacturing capabilities, development of its spaceship fleet and other infrastructure improvements'.&nbsp;

Calling it an 'experience of a lifetime', Richard Branson said through a live feed, "Congratulations to all our wonderful team at Virgin Galactic for 17 years of hard&nbsp;work to get us this far."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Branson, an entrepreneur known for his range of businesses and his adventurer spirit, said, "As a child, I wanted to go to space". He had been working on his dream since 2004 when he founded Virgin Galactic. However, he feared an end to that dream when an internal issue caused the death of a pilot of a test flight.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After Richard Branson’s flight to the edge of space, Virgin Galactic’s shares have fallen back to earth after the firm’s announcement of its plans to sell up to $500m worth stock in a fundraising exercise.

After Richard Branson’s flight to the edge of space, Virgin Galactic’s shares have fallen back to earth after the firm’s announcement of its plans to sell up to $500m worth stock in a fundraising exercise. The decision comes just a day after the company’s founder completed the memorable flight. Although the company’s share price had risen by about 9% in pre-market trading on Monday, it changed course and plummeted by around 14% after the announcement, according to a The Guardian report. In a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the company revealed it entered into a distribution agency agreement with the Wall Street investment banks Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. The company looks to use the proceeds of the sale 'for general corporate purposes, including working capital, general and administrative matters and capital expenditures for its manufacturing capabilities, development of its spaceship fleet and other infrastructure improvements'. Calling it an 'experience of a lifetime', Richard Branson said through a live feed, "Congratulations to all our wonderful team at Virgin Galactic for 17 years of hard work to get us this far." Branson, an entrepreneur known for his range of businesses and his adventurer spirit, said, "As a child, I wanted to go to space". He had been working on his dream since 2004 when he founded Virgin Galactic. However, he feared an end to that dream when an internal issue caused the death of a pilot of a test flight. (With inputs from agencies)

After historic flight, $500m stock sale announcement makes Virgin Galactic’s shares fall  

If researchers are to be believed, an&nbsp;underwater 'superhighway' stretches around 700 km&nbsp;deep in the Pacific Ocean.&nbsp;It is located between&nbsp;the marine reserves of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands and Cocos Island off the coast of Costa Rica.&nbsp;

According to a CNN Report,&nbsp;the&nbsp;'superhighway' is crucial for the sea life, such as&nbsp;sea turtles, whale sharks and hammerhead sharks. These&nbsp;aquatic animals&nbsp;move back and forth between the islands, looking for a place to nest or foraging for food.&nbsp;

The route can be dangerous&nbsp;as the&nbsp;swimway&nbsp;is open to fishing vessels, unlike the marine reserves at each end.&nbsp;

As per the&nbsp;data,&nbsp;the&nbsp;population of&nbsp;the&nbsp;migratory species&nbsp;is&nbsp;declining. Most of these species is also&nbsp;endangered.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Alex Hearn, a biology professor and founding member of&nbsp;MigraMar, which is a coalition of scientists and environmental groups, said, “Protecting biodiversity hotspots around the islands is not enough.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hearn’s&nbsp;team&nbsp;is campaigning for the entire&nbsp;swimway&nbsp;to be protected. This&nbsp;swimway&nbsp;is&nbsp;an area, which&nbsp;stretches&nbsp;over 240,000 square&nbsp;kilometres&nbsp;of ocean.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;team&nbsp;looks&nbsp;to get&nbsp;fishing restrictions&nbsp;extended&nbsp;beyond the current&nbsp;74-km radius around the Galapagos islands and&nbsp;22-km&nbsp;radius around Cocos Island. It will help in&nbsp;creating a narrow-protected channel between the two.&nbsp;

If researchers are to be believed, an underwater 'superhighway' stretches around 700 km deep in the Pacific Ocean. It is located between the marine reserves of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands and Cocos Island off the coast of Costa Rica.

If researchers are to be believed, an underwater 'superhighway' stretches around 700 km deep in the Pacific Ocean. It is located between the marine reserves of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands and Cocos Island off the coast of Costa Rica. According to a CNN Report, the 'superhighway' is crucial for the sea life, such as sea turtles, whale sharks and hammerhead sharks. These aquatic animals move back and forth between the islands, looking for a place to nest or foraging for food. The route can be dangerous as the swimway is open to fishing vessels, unlike the marine reserves at each end. As per the data, the population of the migratory species is declining. Most of these species is also endangered. Alex Hearn, a biology professor and founding member of MigraMar, which is a coalition of scientists and environmental groups, said, “Protecting biodiversity hotspots around the islands is not enough.” Hearn’s team is campaigning for the entire swimway to be protected. This swimway is an area, which stretches over 240,000 square kilometres of ocean. The team looks to get fishing restrictions extended beyond the current 74-km radius around the Galapagos islands and 22-km radius around Cocos Island. It will help in creating a narrow-protected channel between the two.

Scientists come to the rescue of a 'superhighway' of sharks, turtles  

Texas Democrats fled the state Monday in a last-ditch effort to prevent the passage of a restrictive new voting law by the Republican-controlled Legislature, heading to Washington to draw national attention to their cause.

The group left Austin, Texas, in midafternoon on a pair of chartered flights that arrived at Dulles International Airport just before sunset. Fifty-one of the 67 state House Democrats flew on the planes, leaders of the delegation said, and several others arrived separately in Washington; that’s enough to prevent Texas Republicans from attaining a quorum, which is required to conduct state business.

The hastily arranged departure added a cinematic element to the partisan wrangling in a state with a colorful political history. Democrats have fled to neighboring states in the past to try to block legislation, including in 2003, when they traveled to New Mexico and Oklahoma in an effort to avoid Republican attempts to redraw congressional districts.

The move could paralyze the Legislature for weeks if Democrats remain out of state until this special session ends in August. Still, it lays bare their limited options long term in a Legislature where the Republicans hold the majority in both chambers. Parliamentary procedures and efforts to add amendments can delay the process but not derail it. Republicans said Monday the Democrats’ gambit would ultimately fail.

State Rep. Briscoe Cain, a Houston-area Republican who chairs the House Elections Committee, said Democrats’ departure “slows things down” but would not prevent Republicans from prevailing.

“It’s just delaying the inevitable,” said State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Houston-area Republican who chairs the House Elections Committee. He described the move as “political theater.”

“We will eventually get it done, this special or another,” he added.

Nevertheless, by traveling en masse to Washington, the Texas Democrats were hoping to apply pressure to Democrats in the U.S. Senate who so far have been unable to pass federal legislation to address the issue.

On Monday night, members of the Texas delegation reiterated their resolve in a 15-minute news conference from an airport parking lot, which concluded with members singing the chorus of “We Shall Overcome.”

The group has scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Capitol, but has no concrete plans in Washington beyond that.

Texas Democrats fled the state Monday in a last-ditch effort to prevent the passage of a restrictive new voting law by the Republican-controlled Legislature, heading to Washington to draw national attention to their cause.

Texas Democrats fled the state Monday in a last-ditch effort to prevent the passage of a restrictive new voting law by the Republican-controlled Legislature, heading to Washington to draw national attention to their cause. The group left Austin, Texas, in midafternoon on a pair of chartered flights that arrived at Dulles International Airport just before sunset. Fifty-one of the 67 state House Democrats flew on the planes, leaders of the delegation said, and several others arrived separately in Washington; that’s enough to prevent Texas Republicans from attaining a quorum, which is required to conduct state business. The hastily arranged departure added a cinematic element to the partisan wrangling in a state with a colorful political history. Democrats have fled to neighboring states in the past to try to block legislation, including in 2003, when they traveled to New Mexico and Oklahoma in an effort to avoid Republican attempts to redraw congressional districts. The move could paralyze the Legislature for weeks if Democrats remain out of state until this special session ends in August. Still, it lays bare their limited options long term in a Legislature where the Republicans hold the majority in both chambers. Parliamentary procedures and efforts to add amendments can delay the process but not derail it. Republicans said Monday the Democrats’ gambit would ultimately fail. State Rep. Briscoe Cain, a Houston-area Republican who chairs the House Elections Committee, said Democrats’ departure “slows things down” but would not prevent Republicans from prevailing. “It’s just delaying the inevitable,” said State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Houston-area Republican who chairs the House Elections Committee. He described the move as “political theater.” “We will eventually get it done, this special or another,” he added. Nevertheless, by traveling en masse to Washington, the Texas Democrats were hoping to apply pressure to Democrats in the U.S. Senate who so far have been unable to pass federal legislation to address the issue. On Monday night, members of the Texas delegation reiterated their resolve in a 15-minute news conference from an airport parking lot, which concluded with members singing the chorus of “We Shall Overcome.” The group has scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Capitol, but has no concrete plans in Washington beyond that.

Texas Democrats flee state to block voting restriction legislation

After being&nbsp;criticised&nbsp;for&nbsp;years over&nbsp;the attraction's controversial depictions of Indigenous people,&nbsp;Disneyland&nbsp;is finally&nbsp;set to reopen its Jungle Cruise ride&nbsp;without&nbsp;the racially insensitive stereotypes, according to a CNN report.&nbsp;

Disneyland had&nbsp;announced it would rethink the Jungle Cruise ride in&nbsp;January. In it,&nbsp;a skipper ferried visitors along a waterway while making&nbsp;jokes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the past, it featured a scene, where&nbsp;'natives’ were&nbsp;depicted as primitive and threatening.&nbsp;In a statement at that time,&nbsp;Carmen Smith, creative development and inclusion strategies executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, said, “As Imagineers, it is our responsibility to ensure experiences we create and stories we share reflect the voices and perspective of the world around us."&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to a news release from Disney,&nbsp;the ride will&nbsp;be&nbsp;open once more in Disneyland,&nbsp;California&nbsp;from&nbsp;July 16.&nbsp;The updated version&nbsp;of the ride will get completed&nbsp;at Disney World in Florida&nbsp;by&nbsp;later this summer.&nbsp;

The announcement&nbsp;was made&nbsp;ahead of the July 28 release of a&nbsp;'Jungle Cruise'&nbsp;movie&nbsp;adaptation, which&nbsp;stars&nbsp;Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.&nbsp;

In this ride,&nbsp;both new scenes and new characters have been added,&nbsp;the company said. This&nbsp;includes&nbsp;a safari group stuck in a tree,&nbsp;etc.&nbsp;

After being criticised for years over the attraction's controversial depictions of Indigenous people, Disneyland is finally set to reopen its Jungle Cruise ride without the racially insensitive stereotypes, according to a CNN report.

After being criticised for years over the attraction's controversial depictions of Indigenous people, Disneyland is finally set to reopen its Jungle Cruise ride without the racially insensitive stereotypes, according to a CNN report. Disneyland had announced it would rethink the Jungle Cruise ride in January. In it, a skipper ferried visitors along a waterway while making jokes. In the past, it featured a scene, where 'natives’ were depicted as primitive and threatening. In a statement at that time, Carmen Smith, creative development and inclusion strategies executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, said, “As Imagineers, it is our responsibility to ensure experiences we create and stories we share reflect the voices and perspective of the world around us." According to a news release from Disney, the ride will be open once more in Disneyland, California from July 16. The updated version of the ride will get completed at Disney World in Florida by later this summer. The announcement was made ahead of the July 28 release of a 'Jungle Cruise' movie adaptation, which stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. In this ride, both new scenes and new characters have been added, the company said. This includes a safari group stuck in a tree, etc.

Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise ride to finally reopen sans racially insensitive stereotypes 

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Gandharv Walia

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.