July 7 in history: Second Sino-Japanese War begins and more

Saudi Arabia's deputy defence minister on Tuesday became the highest-ranking Saudi envoy to visit Washington since Joe Biden became president in January, and held talks with senior officials on the Yemen war and threats from Iran. 
 
The minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, is the younger brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler.

A White House statement on the minister's meeting with national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sullivan "emphasised the importance of progress in advancing human rights in the Kingdom." 
 
The two officials discussed the US&nbsp;partnership with Saudi Arabia, regional security and "the US&nbsp;commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups." 
 
The prince also met with Colin Kahl, the US&nbsp;defence undersecretary for policy, and the two discussed 'efforts to end the war in Yemen and the shared US-Saudi commitment to counter Iran's destabilising activities' and other issues, the Pentagon said. 
 
The meetings were to give Saudi Arabia a sense of how relations with the United States have shifted from the pro-Saudi policies of former Republican President Donald Trump. 
 
A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 after the Iran-aligned Houthi group ousted the country's government from Sanaa. The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system. 
 
Yemen President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government is now in Aden, though Hadi is based in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Tens of thousands of Yemenis, mostly civilians, have died in six years of war and millions are on the brink of famine. 
 
Psaki said talks would also cover Saudi defence needs. 
 
"They'll discuss the longstanding partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, regional security and the US&nbsp;commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups," she said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Saudi Arabia's deputy defence minister on Tuesday became the highest-ranking Saudi envoy to visit Washington since Joe Biden became president in January, and held talks with senior officials on the Yemen war and threats from Iran.

Saudi Arabia's deputy defence minister on Tuesday became the highest-ranking Saudi envoy to visit Washington since Joe Biden became president in January, and held talks with senior officials on the Yemen war and threats from Iran. The minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, is the younger brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler. A White House statement on the minister's meeting with national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sullivan "emphasised the importance of progress in advancing human rights in the Kingdom." The two officials discussed the US partnership with Saudi Arabia, regional security and "the US commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups." The prince also met with Colin Kahl, the US defence undersecretary for policy, and the two discussed 'efforts to end the war in Yemen and the shared US-Saudi commitment to counter Iran's destabilising activities' and other issues, the Pentagon said. The meetings were to give Saudi Arabia a sense of how relations with the United States have shifted from the pro-Saudi policies of former Republican President Donald Trump. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 after the Iran-aligned Houthi group ousted the country's government from Sanaa. The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system. Yemen President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government is now in Aden, though Hadi is based in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Tens of thousands of Yemenis, mostly civilians, have died in six years of war and millions are on the brink of famine. Psaki said talks would also cover Saudi defence needs. "They'll discuss the longstanding partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, regional security and the US commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

Saudi official in US for talks on Yemen, Iran

For the first time, Sri Lanka's Central Bank has minted two gold and one silver commemorative coins to mark the centenary of the Communist Party of China and celebrate the 65th anniversary of bilateral relations with Beijing.

The last time a gold coin was issued by Sri Lanka was in 1998 to celebrate the country's 50th anniversary of independence from Britain.

This is for the first time ever that Sri Lanka has issued coins to honour a political party of a foreign country. "The coins have been issued at the request of the government as an accolade for long-standing friendship and mutual trust between the two countries," the bank said. The commemorative coins are of rupees 1,000 denominations.

In 2012, the Central Bank had issued a nickel-plated silver coin to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Japan.

China's ruling Communist Party celebrated its 100th anniversary on Thursday at Tiananmen Square, with thousands of party workers and school children singing songs praising the party and the country.

Addressing the centenary celebrations, President Xi Jinping called for building a strong military to defend the country and warned that the Chinese people will never allow any foreign force to 'bully, oppress, or subjugate them'.

Founded by Mao Zedong on July 1, 1921, the CPC formally completed 100 years of existence on Thursday. It also remained in power since the People's Republic of China (PRC) was formed in 1949.

For the first time, Sri Lanka's Central Bank has minted two gold and one silver commemorative coins to mark the centenary of the Communist Party of China and celebrate the 65th anniversary of bilateral relations with Beijing.

For the first time, Sri Lanka's Central Bank has minted two gold and one silver commemorative coins to mark the centenary of the Communist Party of China and celebrate the 65th anniversary of bilateral relations with Beijing. The last time a gold coin was issued by Sri Lanka was in 1998 to celebrate the country's 50th anniversary of independence from Britain. This is for the first time ever that Sri Lanka has issued coins to honour a political party of a foreign country. "The coins have been issued at the request of the government as an accolade for long-standing friendship and mutual trust between the two countries," the bank said. The commemorative coins are of rupees 1,000 denominations. In 2012, the Central Bank had issued a nickel-plated silver coin to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Japan. China's ruling Communist Party celebrated its 100th anniversary on Thursday at Tiananmen Square, with thousands of party workers and school children singing songs praising the party and the country. Addressing the centenary celebrations, President Xi Jinping called for building a strong military to defend the country and warned that the Chinese people will never allow any foreign force to 'bully, oppress, or subjugate them'. Founded by Mao Zedong on July 1, 1921, the CPC formally completed 100 years of existence on Thursday. It also remained in power since the People's Republic of China (PRC) was formed in 1949.

Sri Lanka marks Chinese Communist Party's centenary with commemorative coins

Pope Francis' recovery from colon surgery at a Rome hospital continues to be 'regular and satisfactory', the Vatican said on Wednesday. 
 
Spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the 84-year-old pope was eating regularly and that he was no longer receiving medication intravenously. 
 
He said the final results of a biopsy on the removed part of the colon confirmed that the pontiff had been suffering from "severe diverticular stenosis," which is a narrowing of the colon. 
 
Bruni said the pope was touched by the many messages of good wishes and prayers he had received since he entered hospital on Sunday.

Pope Francis' recovery from colon surgery at a Rome hospital continues to be 'regular and satisfactory', the Vatican said on Wednesday. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the 84-year-old pope was eating regularly and that he was no longer receiving medication intravenously.

Pope Francis' recovery from colon surgery at a Rome hospital continues to be 'regular and satisfactory', the Vatican said on Wednesday. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the 84-year-old pope was eating regularly and that he was no longer receiving medication intravenously. He said the final results of a biopsy on the removed part of the colon confirmed that the pontiff had been suffering from "severe diverticular stenosis," which is a narrowing of the colon. Bruni said the pope was touched by the many messages of good wishes and prayers he had received since he entered hospital on Sunday.

Pope's post-operative condition continues satisfactorily, says Vatican

During a prolonged lockdown in Malaysia,&nbsp;the #benderaputih (white flag) campaign has gained momentum on social media. It seeks to&nbsp;encourage people to help others in distress.

A 73-year-old Malaysian woman Hadijah Neamat, recently hung a scrap of white cloth outside her window to get help as she was&nbsp;struggling to cope during the coronavirus-induced&nbsp;lockdown.

Seeing the flag,&nbsp;a neighbour came by to offer her food and other items&nbsp;shortly. 
 
Hadijah, who lives in a densely populated district of Petaling Jaya in Selangor state near the capital, Kuala Lumpur, said,&nbsp;she was surprised by the act of generosity on her doorstep.

Hadijah's husband, Mohd Rusni Kahman, 59, has a disability and has not been able to work since losing his job last year. 
 
Malaysia has reported more than 785,000 cases of COVID-19, the third-highest tally in Southeast Asia, and has been in lockdown since June 1. 
 
The pandemic has put a particular strain on low-income families, with reports of many forced to ration food. 
 
In response to the white flag campaign, neighbours, businesses, politicians and even celebrities have stepped in to donate. 
 
"It takes a lot of courage (to display the white flag)... Because it's actually telling everyone that you... can't manage," lawmaker Maria Chin Abdullah told Reuters. 
 
"But I think I take it positively - it's something that this country actually needs because we can't cover everybody. So it's good that... you indicate that you need help and we'll come to you," she said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

During a prolonged lockdown in Malaysia, the #benderaputih (white flag) campaign has gained momentum on social media. It seeks to encourage people to help others in distress.

During a prolonged lockdown in Malaysia, the #benderaputih (white flag) campaign has gained momentum on social media. It seeks to encourage people to help others in distress. A 73-year-old Malaysian woman Hadijah Neamat, recently hung a scrap of white cloth outside her window to get help as she was struggling to cope during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Seeing the flag, a neighbour came by to offer her food and other items shortly. Hadijah, who lives in a densely populated district of Petaling Jaya in Selangor state near the capital, Kuala Lumpur, said, she was surprised by the act of generosity on her doorstep. Hadijah's husband, Mohd Rusni Kahman, 59, has a disability and has not been able to work since losing his job last year. Malaysia has reported more than 785,000 cases of COVID-19, the third-highest tally in Southeast Asia, and has been in lockdown since June 1. The pandemic has put a particular strain on low-income families, with reports of many forced to ration food. In response to the white flag campaign, neighbours, businesses, politicians and even celebrities have stepped in to donate. "It takes a lot of courage (to display the white flag)... Because it's actually telling everyone that you... can't manage," lawmaker Maria Chin Abdullah told Reuters. "But I think I take it positively - it's something that this country actually needs because we can't cover everybody. So it's good that... you indicate that you need help and we'll come to you," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

Malaysians turn to white flags to seek help as lockdown torments

The container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March and has been detained there since is due to finally resume its journey on Wednesday after the owner and insurers reached a compensation settlement with the canal authority. 
 
One of the world's largest container ships, the Ever Given became wedged diagonally across a single-lane stretch of the canal for six days, disrupting global trade. 
 
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) demanded more than $900 million in compensation for the salvage operation and other losses, later lowered to $550 million. It held the ship under court order as it pursued the claim, creating a dispute with the ship's insurers and Japanese owner Shoei Kisen. 
 
The ship and its Indian crew have been anchored for more than three months in the Great Bitter Lake, between two stretches of the canal. 
 
After protracted negotiations, an undisclosed settlement between the parties was reached and the SCA announced that the ship would be released on Wednesday. 
 
A ceremony is due to be held at the canal to mark the departure of the vessel, which is loaded with about 18,300 containers. 
 
Canal sources said the Ever Given will be escorted by two tugboats and guided by two experienced pilots.

The container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March and has been detained there since is due to finally resume its journey on Wednesday after the owner and insurers reached a compensation settlement with the canal authority.

The container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March and has been detained there since is due to finally resume its journey on Wednesday after the owner and insurers reached a compensation settlement with the canal authority. One of the world's largest container ships, the Ever Given became wedged diagonally across a single-lane stretch of the canal for six days, disrupting global trade. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) demanded more than $900 million in compensation for the salvage operation and other losses, later lowered to $550 million. It held the ship under court order as it pursued the claim, creating a dispute with the ship's insurers and Japanese owner Shoei Kisen. The ship and its Indian crew have been anchored for more than three months in the Great Bitter Lake, between two stretches of the canal. After protracted negotiations, an undisclosed settlement between the parties was reached and the SCA announced that the ship would be released on Wednesday. A ceremony is due to be held at the canal to mark the departure of the vessel, which is loaded with about 18,300 containers. Canal sources said the Ever Given will be escorted by two tugboats and guided by two experienced pilots.

Ever Given container ship set to leave Suez Canal

A British teenager was found guilty of murdering two sisters&nbsp;on Tuesday as part of a pact he believes to have&nbsp;made with demonic forces to kill at least six women every six months in exchange for a lottery win in future. 
 
In a savage attack, now 19-year-old Danyal Hussein, stabbed to death 46-year-old Bibaa Henry&nbsp;and 27-year-old Nicole Smallman, in a country park in northwest London in June 2020 after they celebrated Henry's birthday with friends, police said.

According to the police, Hussein made a 'contract' with the demon 'Mighty King Lucifuge Rofocale' by&nbsp;signing with his own blood to&nbsp;perform a minimum of six sacrifices every six months for as long as he is free and physically capable.&nbsp;He carried out these murders to fulfil it.

Hoping his reward would be to 'win the Mega Millions Super Jackpot',&nbsp;Hussein&nbsp;bought&nbsp;three lottery tickets&nbsp;after the murders.&nbsp;Police have found the tickets.&nbsp;

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding, who led the investigation, said, "I am totally convinced and my team are that he would have gone on to commit more murders. It is difficult for any normal person to comprehend. It's almost sort of movie like." 
 
Close sisters Henry and Smallman had gone to Wembley's Fryent Park to celebrate with friends but stayed alone into the early hours. They took 150 photos, Harding said, with the last 'haunting' picture showing them looking sideways at what police believe was the arrival of Hussein. 
 
He stabbed Henry eight times and Smallman suffered 28 wounds after putting up a 'very brave fight', Harding said. After the murders, he dragged the bodies into woodland where they were found intertwined the following day by Smallman's boyfriend. 
 
Hussein, who lived with his mother, was traced by bloodstains found at the scene and was arrested almost four weeks later, police told reporters. They believe only a hand injury he suffered during the murders prevented him carrying out further killings. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A British teenager was found guilty of murdering two sisters on Tuesday as part of a pact he believes to have made with demonic forces to kill at least six women every six months in exchange for a lottery win in future.

A British teenager was found guilty of murdering two sisters on Tuesday as part of a pact he believes to have made with demonic forces to kill at least six women every six months in exchange for a lottery win in future. In a savage attack, now 19-year-old Danyal Hussein, stabbed to death 46-year-old Bibaa Henry and 27-year-old Nicole Smallman, in a country park in northwest London in June 2020 after they celebrated Henry's birthday with friends, police said. According to the police, Hussein made a 'contract' with the demon 'Mighty King Lucifuge Rofocale' by signing with his own blood to perform a minimum of six sacrifices every six months for as long as he is free and physically capable. He carried out these murders to fulfil it. Hoping his reward would be to 'win the Mega Millions Super Jackpot', Hussein bought three lottery tickets after the murders. Police have found the tickets. Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding, who led the investigation, said, "I am totally convinced and my team are that he would have gone on to commit more murders. It is difficult for any normal person to comprehend. It's almost sort of movie like." Close sisters Henry and Smallman had gone to Wembley's Fryent Park to celebrate with friends but stayed alone into the early hours. They took 150 photos, Harding said, with the last 'haunting' picture showing them looking sideways at what police believe was the arrival of Hussein. He stabbed Henry eight times and Smallman suffered 28 wounds after putting up a 'very brave fight', Harding said. After the murders, he dragged the bodies into woodland where they were found intertwined the following day by Smallman's boyfriend. Hussein, who lived with his mother, was traced by bloodstains found at the scene and was arrested almost four weeks later, police told reporters. They believe only a hand injury he suffered during the murders prevented him carrying out further killings. (With inputs from agencies)

British teen found guilty of murdering sisters in demonic pact to win lottery

Iran has begun the process of producing enriched uranium metal, the UN&nbsp;atomic watchdog said on Tuesday, a move that could help it develop a nuclear weapon and that three European powers said threatened talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. 
 
Iran's steps, disclosed by the International Atomic Energy Agency,&nbsp;also drew criticism from the United States, which called them an 'unfortunate step backwards'. Meanwhile,&nbsp;Tehran said it is taking these steps to develop fuel for a research reactor. 
 
US&nbsp;and European officials made clear that Iran's decision would complicate, and potentially torpedo, indirect US-Iranian talks seeking to bring both nations back into compliance with the 2015 deal, which was abandoned by former President Donald Trump. 
 
The deal imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear programme to make it harder for Tehran to develop fissile material for nuclear weapons in return for the lifting of economic sanctions. After Trump withdrew, Iran began violating many of the restrictions. 
 
Tehran has already produced a small amount of uranium metal this year that was not enriched. That is a breach of the deal, which bans all work on uranium metal since it can be used to make the core of a nuclear bomb. 
 
"Today, Iran informed the Agency that UO2 (uranium oxide) enriched up to 20% U–235 would be shipped to the R&amp;D laboratory at the Fuel Fabrication Plant in Esfahan, where it would be converted to UF4 (uranium tetrafluoride) and then to uranium metal enriched to 20% U–235, before using it to manufacture the fuel," an IAEA statement said. 
 
A confidential IAEA report said the agency had confirmed that Iran had taken steps to begin the process of producing enriched uranium metal.

Britain, France and Germany said on Tuesday they had 'grave concern' about Iran's decision, which violates the nuclear deal, formally named the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). 
 
"Iran has no credible civilian need for uranium metal R&amp;D and production, which are a key step in the development of a nuclear weapon," they said in a joint statement issued by Britain's foreign ministry. 
 
"With its latest steps, Iran is threatening a successful outcome to the Vienna talks despite the progress achieved in six rounds of negotiations," they said, and urged Iran to return to the talks in the Austrian capital, which began in April and adjourned on June 20. No date has been set for a next round.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran has begun the process of producing enriched uranium metal, the UN atomic watchdog said on Tuesday, a move that could help it develop a nuclear weapon and that three European powers said threatened talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Iran has begun the process of producing enriched uranium metal, the UN atomic watchdog said on Tuesday, a move that could help it develop a nuclear weapon and that three European powers said threatened talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Iran's steps, disclosed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, also drew criticism from the United States, which called them an 'unfortunate step backwards'. Meanwhile, Tehran said it is taking these steps to develop fuel for a research reactor. US and European officials made clear that Iran's decision would complicate, and potentially torpedo, indirect US-Iranian talks seeking to bring both nations back into compliance with the 2015 deal, which was abandoned by former President Donald Trump. The deal imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear programme to make it harder for Tehran to develop fissile material for nuclear weapons in return for the lifting of economic sanctions. After Trump withdrew, Iran began violating many of the restrictions. Tehran has already produced a small amount of uranium metal this year that was not enriched. That is a breach of the deal, which bans all work on uranium metal since it can be used to make the core of a nuclear bomb. "Today, Iran informed the Agency that UO2 (uranium oxide) enriched up to 20% U–235 would be shipped to the R&D laboratory at the Fuel Fabrication Plant in Esfahan, where it would be converted to UF4 (uranium tetrafluoride) and then to uranium metal enriched to 20% U–235, before using it to manufacture the fuel," an IAEA statement said. A confidential IAEA report said the agency had confirmed that Iran had taken steps to begin the process of producing enriched uranium metal. Britain, France and Germany said on Tuesday they had 'grave concern' about Iran's decision, which violates the nuclear deal, formally named the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "Iran has no credible civilian need for uranium metal R&D and production, which are a key step in the development of a nuclear weapon," they said in a joint statement issued by Britain's foreign ministry. "With its latest steps, Iran is threatening a successful outcome to the Vienna talks despite the progress achieved in six rounds of negotiations," they said, and urged Iran to return to the talks in the Austrian capital, which began in April and adjourned on June 20. No date has been set for a next round. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran takes steps to make enriched uranium metal; US, Europe powers dismayed

Thousands of Peruvians took to the streets on Tuesday to protest uncertainty over the result of the presidential election a month ago, as the confirmation of leftist Pedro Castillo is held up by ballot challenges from his conservative rival. 
 
Supporters of Castillo, carrying colourful Wiphala Andean flags and banners with pictures of the socialist former teacher, marched toward Congress demanding that his narrow lead of some 44,000 votes be upheld. 
 
Across town, supporters of right-wing Keiko Fujimori rallied to back her claims of voter fraud and attempts to annul some ballots, a push her party has stuck with even though election observers say the vote was carried out cleanly. 
 
"Peru wants a president and here we have professor Pedro Castillo elected," said Santos Saavedra, the head of a rural defence group known as the Rondas Campesinas said during a march. "We are going to defend that popular will." 
 
Castillo, 51, the son of peasant farmers, came out ahead in the June 6 run-off vote, rattling Peru's political and business establishment with pledges to shake up the copper-rich Andean country's constitution and hike taxes on mining. 
 
Electoral authorities are scrutinising ballots after challenges by Fujimori, who has claimed fraud with little evidence. They must complete the process before confirming the result, with the new president set to take office on July 28. 
 
"The match is not over and there is still no winner. We are waiting for that result," Fujimori said in another part of Lima, the capital, surrounded by her followers. 
 
Fujimori's push to flip the result has, however, lost some momentum with allies appearing to pull support for the delay. The interim government has rejected her request for an international audit of the vote. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Thousands of Peruvians took to the streets on Tuesday to protest uncertainty over the result of the presidential election a month ago, as the confirmation of leftist Pedro Castillo is held up by ballot challenges from his conservative rival.

Thousands of Peruvians took to the streets on Tuesday to protest uncertainty over the result of the presidential election a month ago, as the confirmation of leftist Pedro Castillo is held up by ballot challenges from his conservative rival. Supporters of Castillo, carrying colourful Wiphala Andean flags and banners with pictures of the socialist former teacher, marched toward Congress demanding that his narrow lead of some 44,000 votes be upheld. Across town, supporters of right-wing Keiko Fujimori rallied to back her claims of voter fraud and attempts to annul some ballots, a push her party has stuck with even though election observers say the vote was carried out cleanly. "Peru wants a president and here we have professor Pedro Castillo elected," said Santos Saavedra, the head of a rural defence group known as the Rondas Campesinas said during a march. "We are going to defend that popular will." Castillo, 51, the son of peasant farmers, came out ahead in the June 6 run-off vote, rattling Peru's political and business establishment with pledges to shake up the copper-rich Andean country's constitution and hike taxes on mining. Electoral authorities are scrutinising ballots after challenges by Fujimori, who has claimed fraud with little evidence. They must complete the process before confirming the result, with the new president set to take office on July 28. "The match is not over and there is still no winner. We are waiting for that result," Fujimori said in another part of Lima, the capital, surrounded by her followers. Fujimori's push to flip the result has, however, lost some momentum with allies appearing to pull support for the delay. The interim government has rejected her request for an international audit of the vote. (With inputs from agencies)

'Peru wants a president': Thousands march in Lima as election result drags

A drone attacked Erbil airport in northern Iraq with explosives on Tuesday, aimed at the US&nbsp;base on the airport grounds, Kurdish security sources told Reuters. 
 
Sirens were blaring from the US&nbsp;consulate in the city, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, the sources said. 
 
Flights were suspended following the attacks, they said. 
 
In a statement, the Pentagon said it was aware of reports about a drone attack, but initial information did not indicate structural damage, or injuries or casualties. 
 
The attack comes one day after rockets and a drone targeted Ain al-Asad air base, which houses US&nbsp;troops and the US&nbsp;embassy in Baghdad, on Monday. 
 
In April, a drone dropped explosives near the US&nbsp;forces stationed at Erbil airport. It was then the first known attack carried out by an unmanned aerial drone against US&nbsp;forces in Erbil, amid a steady stream of rocket attacks on bases hosting US&nbsp;forces and the embassy in Baghdad that Washington blames on Iran-backed militias. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A drone attacked Erbil airport in northern Iraq with explosives on Tuesday, aimed at the US base on the airport grounds, Kurdish security sources told Reuters. Sirens were blaring from the US consulate in the city, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, the sources said.

A drone attacked Erbil airport in northern Iraq with explosives on Tuesday, aimed at the US base on the airport grounds, Kurdish security sources told Reuters. Sirens were blaring from the US consulate in the city, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, the sources said. Flights were suspended following the attacks, they said. In a statement, the Pentagon said it was aware of reports about a drone attack, but initial information did not indicate structural damage, or injuries or casualties. The attack comes one day after rockets and a drone targeted Ain al-Asad air base, which houses US troops and the US embassy in Baghdad, on Monday. In April, a drone dropped explosives near the US forces stationed at Erbil airport. It was then the first known attack carried out by an unmanned aerial drone against US forces in Erbil, amid a steady stream of rocket attacks on bases hosting US forces and the embassy in Baghdad that Washington blames on Iran-backed militias. (With inputs from agencies)

Explosive-laden drone hit Erbil airport in Iraq, aimed at US base: Report

As&nbsp;Virgin&nbsp;Galactic&nbsp;finalises plans for founder Richard Branson to join five others on a test flight to the edge of space on July 11, the British billionaire said his wife may be nervous about the launch but he himself wasn't the least bit afraid. 
 
"I've been looking forward to this for 17 years," Branson said in an interview on Tuesday from Spaceport America near the remote town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. 
 
He said pre-flight preparations only add to the excitement ahead of Sunday's scheduled launch, which will be taking place one week before his 71st birthday. 
 
"Every bit about it is a pinch-me moment," he said. 
 
The launch of Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc's VSS Unity rocket plane over the desert will mark the space tourism company's fourth crewed test mission beyond Earth's atmosphere. But it will be the first to carry a full complement of space travellers, consisting of Branson, two pilots and three mission specialists. 
 
Unity will be launched at an altitude of about 50,000 feet from a Virgin Galactic carrier plane, then soar on its own rocket power to the boundary of space, where the crew will experience about 4 minutes of weightlessness before beginning a descent back to Earth. 
 
The trip is not without the inherent hazards of spaceflight. An earlier prototype of the rocket plane crashed during a 2014 test flight over California's Mojave Desert, killing one pilot and seriously injuring the other. 
 
Asked how his family reacted to the news last week that he would join Sunday's crew, Branson said his children, adventurous like him, were excited, but suggested his wife, Joan, while supportive, was more wary. 
 
"My wife is the sort of person who would be terrified on a&nbsp;Virgin&nbsp;Atlantic airplane," he said. "She's the last person who would want to do something like this. But she's known me since I tried to balloon across the Atlantic or the Pacific or around the world, and she still seems to love us." 
 
He laughed as he quoted his wife telling him: "If you're foolish enough to do these wonderful things, you can do it, but I won't be going to your funeral."

(With inputs from agencies)

As Virgin Galactic finalises plans for founder Richard Branson to join five others on a test flight to the edge of space on July 11, the British billionaire said his wife may be nervous about the launch but he himself wasn't the least bit afraid.

As Virgin Galactic finalises plans for founder Richard Branson to join five others on a test flight to the edge of space on July 11, the British billionaire said his wife may be nervous about the launch but he himself wasn't the least bit afraid. "I've been looking forward to this for 17 years," Branson said in an interview on Tuesday from Spaceport America near the remote town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. He said pre-flight preparations only add to the excitement ahead of Sunday's scheduled launch, which will be taking place one week before his 71st birthday. "Every bit about it is a pinch-me moment," he said. The launch of Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc's VSS Unity rocket plane over the desert will mark the space tourism company's fourth crewed test mission beyond Earth's atmosphere. But it will be the first to carry a full complement of space travellers, consisting of Branson, two pilots and three mission specialists. Unity will be launched at an altitude of about 50,000 feet from a Virgin Galactic carrier plane, then soar on its own rocket power to the boundary of space, where the crew will experience about 4 minutes of weightlessness before beginning a descent back to Earth. The trip is not without the inherent hazards of spaceflight. An earlier prototype of the rocket plane crashed during a 2014 test flight over California's Mojave Desert, killing one pilot and seriously injuring the other. Asked how his family reacted to the news last week that he would join Sunday's crew, Branson said his children, adventurous like him, were excited, but suggested his wife, Joan, while supportive, was more wary. "My wife is the sort of person who would be terrified on a Virgin Atlantic airplane," he said. "She's the last person who would want to do something like this. But she's known me since I tried to balloon across the Atlantic or the Pacific or around the world, and she still seems to love us." He laughed as he quoted his wife telling him: "If you're foolish enough to do these wonderful things, you can do it, but I won't be going to your funeral." (With inputs from agencies)

Virgin Galactic's Branson calls his upcoming spaceflight a 'pinch-me moment'

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday, stressing the need for all parties to commit to an immediate and indefinite ceasefire in the northern Tigray region, the State Department said. 
 
The conflict in Tigray has killed thousands of people, displaced more than two million and pushed hundreds of thousands to the brink of famine, with international pressure building on both sides to end hostilities. 
 
The Ethiopian government declared a unilateral ceasefire last week after its troops pulled out of the Tigray capital of Mekelle in what it called a strategic withdrawal. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) dismissed that truce as a joke and said it had driven the government out of the city. 
 
"That unilateral announcement needs to be followed up with concrete changes on the ground to end the conflict, to stop the atrocities and importantly, to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters at a regular news briefing. 
 
Blinken also called for Abiy to commit to steps outlined by the UN Security Council last week, including the withdrawal of both Eritrean and Amhara forces from Tigray and the establishment of a process to hold those responsible for human rights abuses and atrocities accountable, Price said in a statement. 
 
Abiy's government has been battling the TPLF since early November, when it accused the then-governing party of Tigray of attacking military bases across the region. The TPLF has denied the charges. 
 
The commander of rebel forces in Tigray on Tuesday called for a negotiated ceasefire with the Ethiopian government and a political solution to the conflict, saying the government could not win the war. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday, stressing the need for all parties to commit to an immediate and indefinite ceasefire in the northern Tigray region, the State Department said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday, stressing the need for all parties to commit to an immediate and indefinite ceasefire in the northern Tigray region, the State Department said. The conflict in Tigray has killed thousands of people, displaced more than two million and pushed hundreds of thousands to the brink of famine, with international pressure building on both sides to end hostilities. The Ethiopian government declared a unilateral ceasefire last week after its troops pulled out of the Tigray capital of Mekelle in what it called a strategic withdrawal. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) dismissed that truce as a joke and said it had driven the government out of the city. "That unilateral announcement needs to be followed up with concrete changes on the ground to end the conflict, to stop the atrocities and importantly, to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters at a regular news briefing. Blinken also called for Abiy to commit to steps outlined by the UN Security Council last week, including the withdrawal of both Eritrean and Amhara forces from Tigray and the establishment of a process to hold those responsible for human rights abuses and atrocities accountable, Price said in a statement. Abiy's government has been battling the TPLF since early November, when it accused the then-governing party of Tigray of attacking military bases across the region. The TPLF has denied the charges. The commander of rebel forces in Tigray on Tuesday called for a negotiated ceasefire with the Ethiopian government and a political solution to the conflict, saying the government could not win the war. (With inputs from agencies)

Blinken calls for indefinite ceasefire in call with Ethiopia's Abiy

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Gandharv Walia

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