Chinese President Xi Jinping has promoted Xu Qiling, Commander of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command which oversees the borders with India, to the rank of a General, amid the continued standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Xi, who is also Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the PLA, promoted 58-year-old Xu to the rank of General, the highest rank for officers in active service in China.

The other officers, who were promoted to the rank of General included Commander of the Southern Theatre Command Wang Xiubin, Commander of the PLA Army Liu Zhenli, and Commander of the PLA Strategic Support (Missile) Force Ju Qiansheng, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Xi presented certificates of the orders he signed to them at a ceremony held by the CMC in Beijing on Monday. 
Xu, who held the rank of Lt&nbsp;Gen&nbsp;previously, was appointed to head Western Theatre Command ground in June last year.

Xinhua in its report referred to Xu as the Commander of the PLA's Western Theatre Command.&nbsp;Regarded as the rising star in the PLA, Xu was one of the young generals promoted by Xi after he took the helm of the PLA in late 2012.

India and China were locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.&nbsp;However, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong Lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points. 
India has been particularly pressing for disengagement of troops in Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang.

According to military officials, each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive high altitude sector.&nbsp;There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach to this issue at the 11th round of military talks.

On June 25, India and China held a virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs during which they had agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement in remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.

The two sides had a 'frank exchange' of views and decided to maintain dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable solution for withdrawal of troops in all friction points to enable progress in the overall ties, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has promoted Xu Qiling, Commander of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command which oversees the borders with India, to the rank of a General, amid the continued standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has promoted Xu Qiling, Commander of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command which oversees the borders with India, to the rank of a General, amid the continued standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Xi, who is also Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the PLA, promoted 58-year-old Xu to the rank of General, the highest rank for officers in active service in China. The other officers, who were promoted to the rank of General included Commander of the Southern Theatre Command Wang Xiubin, Commander of the PLA Army Liu Zhenli, and Commander of the PLA Strategic Support (Missile) Force Ju Qiansheng, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Xi presented certificates of the orders he signed to them at a ceremony held by the CMC in Beijing on Monday. Xu, who held the rank of Lt Gen previously, was appointed to head Western Theatre Command ground in June last year. Xinhua in its report referred to Xu as the Commander of the PLA's Western Theatre Command. Regarded as the rising star in the PLA, Xu was one of the young generals promoted by Xi after he took the helm of the PLA in late 2012. India and China were locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year. However, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong Lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks. The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points. India has been particularly pressing for disengagement of troops in Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang. According to military officials, each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive high altitude sector. There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach to this issue at the 11th round of military talks. On June 25, India and China held a virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs during which they had agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement in remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh. The two sides had a 'frank exchange' of views and decided to maintain dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable solution for withdrawal of troops in all friction points to enable progress in the overall ties, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.

President Xi promotes PLA Commander overseeing India border to rank of General 

At least three people were found dead and more than 100 were missing after torrential rains triggered landslides in the central Japanese city of Atami over the weekend, a local official and media said on Monday. 
 
A person was confirmed dead, bringing the death toll to three with 113 people still missing in the seaside city of Atami 90 km (60 miles) southwest of Tokyo, spokesman Hiroki Onuma said, after floods, landslides and cascading mud collapsed and half-submerged houses on Saturday. 
 
The third person killed after the landslides was a woman, Kyodo news agency said. 
 
The torrential rains and landslides are a reminder of the natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcano eruptions and tsunami, that haunt Japan, where the capital Tokyo is to host the summer Olympics beginning this month. 
 
The landslides, which affected about 130 buildings, occurred around 10:30 am&nbsp;(0130 GMT) on Saturday in Atami, which is home to hot spring resorts and sits on a steep slope into a bay. 
 
The water, mud and debris are thought to have flowed along a river for about 2 km to the sea, local media said.

(With inputs from agencies)

At least three people were found dead and more than 100 were missing after torrential rains triggered landslides in the central Japanese city of Atami over the weekend, a local official and media said on Monday.

At least three people were found dead and more than 100 were missing after torrential rains triggered landslides in the central Japanese city of Atami over the weekend, a local official and media said on Monday. A person was confirmed dead, bringing the death toll to three with 113 people still missing in the seaside city of Atami 90 km (60 miles) southwest of Tokyo, spokesman Hiroki Onuma said, after floods, landslides and cascading mud collapsed and half-submerged houses on Saturday. The third person killed after the landslides was a woman, Kyodo news agency said. The torrential rains and landslides are a reminder of the natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcano eruptions and tsunami, that haunt Japan, where the capital Tokyo is to host the summer Olympics beginning this month. The landslides, which affected about 130 buildings, occurred around 10:30 am (0130 GMT) on Saturday in Atami, which is home to hot spring resorts and sits on a steep slope into a bay. The water, mud and debris are thought to have flowed along a river for about 2 km to the sea, local media said. (With inputs from agencies)

Three dead, 113 missing in Japan after heavy rains trigger landslides

Senior foreign executives of major telecommunications firms in Myanmar have been told by the junta that they must not leave the country without permission, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. 
 
A confidential order from Myanmar’s Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) in mid-June said senior executives, both foreigners and Myanmar nationals, must seek special authorisation to leave the country, the person said. 
 
A week later, telecom companies were sent a second letter telling them they had until Monday July 5 to fully implement intercept technology they had previously been asked to install to let authorities spy on calls, messages and web traffic and to track users by themselves, the source said. Reuters has not seen the orders. 
 
The directives follow pressure on the companies from the junta, which is facing daily protests from its opponents and a growing number of insurgencies to activate the spyware technology. 
 
A spokesman for the military did not answer multiple requests for comment. The junta has never commented on the electronic surveillance effort, but announced soon after seizing power its aim to pass a cybersecurity bill that would require telecoms providers to provide data when requested and remove or block any content deemed to be disrupting 'unity, stabilisation&nbsp;and peace'. It also amended privacy laws to free security forces to intercept communications. 
 
The travel ban comes after intensified pressure from military officials to finish the implementation of the surveillance equipment. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the ban was meant to pressure telecoms firms to finish activating the spyware technology, although the order itself does not specify a reason. 
 
Three other telecoms sources, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the authorities had stepped up pressure on the companies to implement the intercept, but declined to elaborate further. Two sources said companies had been warned repeatedly by junta officials not to speak publicly or to the media on the intercept. 
 
Telenor declined to comment. There was no immediate response to requests for comment from Ooredoo, state-owned MPT and Mytel, a joint venture between Vietnam's Viettel and a Myanmar military-owned conglomerate. 
 
Months before the February&nbsp;1 coup, telecom and internet service providers were ordered to install intercept spyware to allow the army to eavesdrop on the communications of citizens, Reuters reported in May. 
 
Reuters was not able to establish how broadly the surveillance technology has been installed and deployed, but four sources said Norway's Telenor ASA and Qatar's Ooredoo QPSC had yet to comply in full. 
 
Among the military's first actions on February&nbsp;1 was to cut internet access and it has still not been fully re-established, with telecoms given regular lists of websites and activist phone numbers to block. 
 
The moves have left the future unclear for Myanmar's telecom sector, which had been one of the fastest-growing globally. Telenor said on Friday it is evaluating the future of its operations in the country, with a source telling Reuters it is eying a sale of its Myanmar unit.

Senior foreign executives of major telecommunications firms in Myanmar have been told by the junta that they must not leave the country without permission, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Senior foreign executives of major telecommunications firms in Myanmar have been told by the junta that they must not leave the country without permission, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. A confidential order from Myanmar’s Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) in mid-June said senior executives, both foreigners and Myanmar nationals, must seek special authorisation to leave the country, the person said. A week later, telecom companies were sent a second letter telling them they had until Monday July 5 to fully implement intercept technology they had previously been asked to install to let authorities spy on calls, messages and web traffic and to track users by themselves, the source said. Reuters has not seen the orders. The directives follow pressure on the companies from the junta, which is facing daily protests from its opponents and a growing number of insurgencies to activate the spyware technology. A spokesman for the military did not answer multiple requests for comment. The junta has never commented on the electronic surveillance effort, but announced soon after seizing power its aim to pass a cybersecurity bill that would require telecoms providers to provide data when requested and remove or block any content deemed to be disrupting 'unity, stabilisation and peace'. It also amended privacy laws to free security forces to intercept communications. The travel ban comes after intensified pressure from military officials to finish the implementation of the surveillance equipment. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the ban was meant to pressure telecoms firms to finish activating the spyware technology, although the order itself does not specify a reason. Three other telecoms sources, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the authorities had stepped up pressure on the companies to implement the intercept, but declined to elaborate further. Two sources said companies had been warned repeatedly by junta officials not to speak publicly or to the media on the intercept. Telenor declined to comment. There was no immediate response to requests for comment from Ooredoo, state-owned MPT and Mytel, a joint venture between Vietnam's Viettel and a Myanmar military-owned conglomerate. Months before the February 1 coup, telecom and internet service providers were ordered to install intercept spyware to allow the army to eavesdrop on the communications of citizens, Reuters reported in May. Reuters was not able to establish how broadly the surveillance technology has been installed and deployed, but four sources said Norway's Telenor ASA and Qatar's Ooredoo QPSC had yet to comply in full. Among the military's first actions on February 1 was to cut internet access and it has still not been fully re-established, with telecoms given regular lists of websites and activist phone numbers to block. The moves have left the future unclear for Myanmar's telecom sector, which had been one of the fastest-growing globally. Telenor said on Friday it is evaluating the future of its operations in the country, with a source telling Reuters it is eying a sale of its Myanmar unit.

After pressuring telecom firms, Myanmar's junta bans executives from leaving

Militants killed three Pakistani soldiers close to the border with Afghanistan in the North Waziristan tribal region, where Pakistani Taliban fighters have been targeting the Pakistan military, security sources told Reuters. 
 
The militants fired on a checkpost in Spinwam district, in the latest of a spate of attacks on security forces, government officials and suspected collaborators in North Waziristan. The Pakistani military said it was looking into the report. 
 
The rash of violence in Pakistan's tribal lands has coincided with the Afghan Taliban's offensive against the government in Kabul, as the United States hastens its departure from Afghanistan. 
 
Afghanistan's government has regularly accused Pakistan's military of providing covert support for the Afghan Taliban, which the Pakistani government denies. 
 
The Pakistan government has said any peace deal with the Afghan Taliban should ensure groups, like the Pakistan Taliban, do not use Afghanistan as a safe haven for attacks on Pakistan once Western forces withdraw. 
 
On June 30, two soldiers were killed in the Dwatoi district of North Waziristan, after militants opened fire from across the Afghanistan border, Pakistan's military said. 
 
On June 20, a Pakistan soldier was killed in another attack in Spinwam district. In May, militants ambushed and killed four Pakistani soldiers fencing the disputed border with Afghanistan in the southwest province of Balochistan. 
 
In April, a car bomb at a luxury hotel in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, killed four people in an attack later claimed by the Pakistani Taliban that was meant to target the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan. 
 
And in March, a blast killed three Pakistani soldiers near the Chaman border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Militants killed three Pakistani soldiers close to the border with Afghanistan in the North Waziristan tribal region, where Pakistani Taliban fighters have been targeting the Pakistan military, security sources told Reuters.

Militants killed three Pakistani soldiers close to the border with Afghanistan in the North Waziristan tribal region, where Pakistani Taliban fighters have been targeting the Pakistan military, security sources told Reuters. The militants fired on a checkpost in Spinwam district, in the latest of a spate of attacks on security forces, government officials and suspected collaborators in North Waziristan. The Pakistani military said it was looking into the report. The rash of violence in Pakistan's tribal lands has coincided with the Afghan Taliban's offensive against the government in Kabul, as the United States hastens its departure from Afghanistan. Afghanistan's government has regularly accused Pakistan's military of providing covert support for the Afghan Taliban, which the Pakistani government denies. The Pakistan government has said any peace deal with the Afghan Taliban should ensure groups, like the Pakistan Taliban, do not use Afghanistan as a safe haven for attacks on Pakistan once Western forces withdraw. On June 30, two soldiers were killed in the Dwatoi district of North Waziristan, after militants opened fire from across the Afghanistan border, Pakistan's military said. On June 20, a Pakistan soldier was killed in another attack in Spinwam district. In May, militants ambushed and killed four Pakistani soldiers fencing the disputed border with Afghanistan in the southwest province of Balochistan. In April, a car bomb at a luxury hotel in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, killed four people in an attack later claimed by the Pakistani Taliban that was meant to target the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan. And in March, a blast killed three Pakistani soldiers near the Chaman border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Militants kill three Pakistani soldiers near Afghan border

Government forces plan a counteroffensive in Afghanistan's northern provinces after losing ground to the Taliban, Russia's RIA news agency quoted an adviser to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as saying on Monday. 
 
National security adviser Hamdullah Mohib, who was in Moscow on Monday for talks with senior security officials, told RIA in an interview that government forces had not expected the Taliban offensive but would 'absolutely, definitely' counterattack. 
 
Russia operates a military base in Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic bordering Afghanistan. 
 
Russia's foreign ministry said separately on Monday that the Russian consulate in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan was suspending its work because of security concerns, TASS news agency reported.

Earlier, the Taliban's march through northern Afghanistan gained momentum overnight with the capture of several districts from fleeing Afghan forces, several hundred of whom fled across the border into Tajikistan, officials said Sunday.

More than 300 Afghan military personnel crossed from Afghanistan's Badakhshan province as Taliban fighters advanced toward the border, Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security said in a statement.&nbsp;

The Afghan troops crossed over at about 6:30 pm local time on Saturday 'Guided by the principles of humanism and good neighbourliness,' the Tajik authorities allowed the retreating Afghan National Defence and Security Forces to cross into Tajikistan, said the statement.&nbsp;

Since mid-April, when US President Joe Biden announced the end to Afghanistan's 'forever war,'&nbsp;the Taliban have made strides throughout the country. But their most significant gains have been in the northern half of the country, a traditional stronghold of the US-allied warlords, who helped defeat them in 2001.

The Taliban now control roughly a third of all 421 districts and district centres in Afghanistan.

(With inputs from agencies)

Government forces plan a counteroffensive in Afghanistan's northern provinces after losing ground to the Taliban, Russia's RIA news agency quoted an adviser to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as saying on Monday.

Government forces plan a counteroffensive in Afghanistan's northern provinces after losing ground to the Taliban, Russia's RIA news agency quoted an adviser to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as saying on Monday. National security adviser Hamdullah Mohib, who was in Moscow on Monday for talks with senior security officials, told RIA in an interview that government forces had not expected the Taliban offensive but would 'absolutely, definitely' counterattack. Russia operates a military base in Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic bordering Afghanistan. Russia's foreign ministry said separately on Monday that the Russian consulate in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan was suspending its work because of security concerns, TASS news agency reported. Earlier, the Taliban's march through northern Afghanistan gained momentum overnight with the capture of several districts from fleeing Afghan forces, several hundred of whom fled across the border into Tajikistan, officials said Sunday. More than 300 Afghan military personnel crossed from Afghanistan's Badakhshan province as Taliban fighters advanced toward the border, Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security said in a statement. The Afghan troops crossed over at about 6:30 pm local time on Saturday 'Guided by the principles of humanism and good neighbourliness,' the Tajik authorities allowed the retreating Afghan National Defence and Security Forces to cross into Tajikistan, said the statement. Since mid-April, when US President Joe Biden announced the end to Afghanistan's 'forever war,' the Taliban have made strides throughout the country. But their most significant gains have been in the northern half of the country, a traditional stronghold of the US-allied warlords, who helped defeat them in 2001. The Taliban now control roughly a third of all 421 districts and district centres in Afghanistan. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghan forces plan counteroffensive in northern provinces: Adviser

A leaked health ministry document has prompted calls in Thailand for medical staff inoculated against COVID-19 to be given a booster of an mRNA vaccine, after it included a comment that such a move could dent public confidence in Sinovac Biotech's vaccine. 
 
The internal memo, which included various opinions, was reported by local media and shared widely on social media. It was confirmed by Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul as being authentic. 
 
It included a comment from an unnamed official who recommended authorities do not give a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine to frontline health workers, because such a move would be 'admitting that the Sinovac vaccine is not effective'. 
 
Thailand has administered Sinovac's inactivated virus vaccine to most health workers and its real-world study showed two doses were 95% effective in reducing mortality and severe symptoms. The study showed it was 71% to 91% effective in stopping infection with the Alpha variant. 
 
Sinovac in China did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the vaccine's efficacy. 
 
The comment in the leaked document prompted calls from prominent Thai health experts, including a top medical council official, to give health workers a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot. 
 
The hashtag 'Give Pfizer to medical personnel' was trending on Thai Twitter with more than 624,000 tweets on Monday. 
 
Senior health official Opas Karnkawinpong told reporters the document was not real, however, contradicting health minister Anutin. 
 
Anutin said the comment on the booster shot was 'just an opinion' and there was an expert panel to set vaccine policy. 
 
He said two doses of Sinovac's vaccine were effective and 'deliver results beyond the standard'. 
 
Thai experts have urged the government to use various types of coronavirus vaccine to better protect the population. 
 
It is relying mainly on AstraZeneca's locally manufactured viral vector vaccine, while authorities say Moderna's mRNA vaccine will also be available. 
 
Thailand has procured 20 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for future delivery and will this month receive 1.5 million doses donated by the United States. 
 
World Health Organization experts found the Sinovac vaccine was efficacious in preventing COVID-19 in adults under 60, but some quality data on the risk of serious adverse effects was lacking. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A leaked health ministry document has prompted calls in Thailand for medical staff inoculated against COVID-19 to be given a booster of an mRNA vaccine, after it included a comment that such a move could dent public confidence in Sinovac Biotech's vaccine.

A leaked health ministry document has prompted calls in Thailand for medical staff inoculated against COVID-19 to be given a booster of an mRNA vaccine, after it included a comment that such a move could dent public confidence in Sinovac Biotech's vaccine. The internal memo, which included various opinions, was reported by local media and shared widely on social media. It was confirmed by Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul as being authentic. It included a comment from an unnamed official who recommended authorities do not give a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine to frontline health workers, because such a move would be 'admitting that the Sinovac vaccine is not effective'. Thailand has administered Sinovac's inactivated virus vaccine to most health workers and its real-world study showed two doses were 95% effective in reducing mortality and severe symptoms. The study showed it was 71% to 91% effective in stopping infection with the Alpha variant. Sinovac in China did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the vaccine's efficacy. The comment in the leaked document prompted calls from prominent Thai health experts, including a top medical council official, to give health workers a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot. The hashtag 'Give Pfizer to medical personnel' was trending on Thai Twitter with more than 624,000 tweets on Monday. Senior health official Opas Karnkawinpong told reporters the document was not real, however, contradicting health minister Anutin. Anutin said the comment on the booster shot was 'just an opinion' and there was an expert panel to set vaccine policy. He said two doses of Sinovac's vaccine were effective and 'deliver results beyond the standard'. Thai experts have urged the government to use various types of coronavirus vaccine to better protect the population. It is relying mainly on AstraZeneca's locally manufactured viral vector vaccine, while authorities say Moderna's mRNA vaccine will also be available. Thailand has procured 20 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for future delivery and will this month receive 1.5 million doses donated by the United States. World Health Organization experts found the Sinovac vaccine was efficacious in preventing COVID-19 in adults under 60, but some quality data on the risk of serious adverse effects was lacking. (With inputs from agencies)

Leaked memo raises Thai concern about Sinovac vaccine's efficacy

After a year lost to the coronavirus, New York City's most well-known Fourth of July traditions were back.&nbsp;The traditional Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show was back in full form with a display over the East River, with shells being shot from five barges in a televised, choreographed spectacle. This year, crowds were welcome to gather.

The show was broadcasted live on NBC as part of a two-hour special featuring the Black Pumas, Coldplay, OneRepublic and Reba McEntire. The performers' appearances were pre-recorded from around the country in front of live audiences.

Last year, because of pandemic restrictions, there were a series of shorter fireworks shows in the days leading up to the holiday, with the locations kept secret in advance to keep people from congregating.

The annual spectacle of gluttony that is the Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest also once again welcomed live audiences to watch the epic chowdown in Brooklyn.

The event wasn't quite the same as usual. Instead of being at Surf and Stillwell avenues, just off the Coney Island boardwalk, this year's competition was held nearby in a minor league baseball stadium, Maimonides Park. Spectators were asked to register for free tickets in advance.

Last year, though, there were no spectators allowed as Chestnut ate a then-record 75 hot dogs and buns. 
He said on Sunday that hearing the fans again helped propel him to victory.

"They kept pushing me. They didn't give up on me," he said in an ESPN interview. "Even if I was uncomfortable, having everybody cheer me and push me, it made me feel good."

Landmarks around the state, from the World Trade Center's centerpiece tower to Niagara Falls, were lighted in red, white and blue to mark Independence Day.&nbsp;"If the last 16 months has reaffirmed anything, it's how precious life is and how vital liberty is to our identity as New Yorkers and Americans," Gov&nbsp;Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

After a year lost to the coronavirus, New York City's most well-known Fourth of July traditions were back. The traditional Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show was back in full form with a display over the East River, with shells being shot from five barges in a televised, choreographed spectacle.

After a year lost to the coronavirus, New York City's most well-known Fourth of July traditions were back. The traditional Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show was back in full form with a display over the East River, with shells being shot from five barges in a televised, choreographed spectacle. This year, crowds were welcome to gather. The show was broadcasted live on NBC as part of a two-hour special featuring the Black Pumas, Coldplay, OneRepublic and Reba McEntire. The performers' appearances were pre-recorded from around the country in front of live audiences. Last year, because of pandemic restrictions, there were a series of shorter fireworks shows in the days leading up to the holiday, with the locations kept secret in advance to keep people from congregating. The annual spectacle of gluttony that is the Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest also once again welcomed live audiences to watch the epic chowdown in Brooklyn. The event wasn't quite the same as usual. Instead of being at Surf and Stillwell avenues, just off the Coney Island boardwalk, this year's competition was held nearby in a minor league baseball stadium, Maimonides Park. Spectators were asked to register for free tickets in advance. Last year, though, there were no spectators allowed as Chestnut ate a then-record 75 hot dogs and buns. He said on Sunday that hearing the fans again helped propel him to victory. "They kept pushing me. They didn't give up on me," he said in an ESPN interview. "Even if I was uncomfortable, having everybody cheer me and push me, it made me feel good." Landmarks around the state, from the World Trade Center's centerpiece tower to Niagara Falls, were lighted in red, white and blue to mark Independence Day. "If the last 16 months has reaffirmed anything, it's how precious life is and how vital liberty is to our identity as New Yorkers and Americans," Gov Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

New York City marks July 4 with eating contest, fireworks

Controlled explosion brings down unstable remains of collapsed apartment block in Florida

Pope Francis is doing well following intestinal surgery, the Vatican said on Sunday after the 84-year-old pontiff was hospitalised for the first time since his election in 2013. 
 
Spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the pontiff 'responded well' to the surgery, which was done under general aesthesia and which the Vatican had said earlier had been scheduled and not prompted by an emergency. 
 
He gave no further details about the surgery or how long it lasted and did not say how long the pope would remain in Rome's Gemelli hospital. 
 
The pope entered the hospital early on Sunday afternoon and the statement was issued just before midnight Rome time. 
 
Francis underwent surgery for symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon, a condition where sac-like pouches protrude from the muscular layer of the colon, leading it to become narrow. The operation was carried out by a 10-person medical team. 
 
In addition to causing pain, the condition can lead to bloating, inflammation, and difficulty in bowel movement. It tends to affect older people more. 
 
The pope appeared to be in fine health several hours earlier when he addressed thousands of people in St&nbsp;Peter's Square for his Sunday blessing and announced a trip to Slovakia and Budapest for September. 
 
The sprawling Catholic-run Gemelli hospital and medical school in the northern part of Rome traditionally treats popes and a part of its 10th floor is permanently reserved for them.

As he does every year in July, Francis already had suspended all of his general and private audiences for the month. The surgery appeared to be timed to coincide with a period in which he has only one public commitment - his Sunday blessing in St&nbsp;Peter's Square.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pope Francis is doing well following intestinal surgery, the Vatican said on Sunday after the 84-year-old pontiff was hospitalised for the first time since his election in 2013.

Pope Francis is doing well following intestinal surgery, the Vatican said on Sunday after the 84-year-old pontiff was hospitalised for the first time since his election in 2013. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the pontiff 'responded well' to the surgery, which was done under general aesthesia and which the Vatican had said earlier had been scheduled and not prompted by an emergency. He gave no further details about the surgery or how long it lasted and did not say how long the pope would remain in Rome's Gemelli hospital. The pope entered the hospital early on Sunday afternoon and the statement was issued just before midnight Rome time. Francis underwent surgery for symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon, a condition where sac-like pouches protrude from the muscular layer of the colon, leading it to become narrow. The operation was carried out by a 10-person medical team. In addition to causing pain, the condition can lead to bloating, inflammation, and difficulty in bowel movement. It tends to affect older people more. The pope appeared to be in fine health several hours earlier when he addressed thousands of people in St Peter's Square for his Sunday blessing and announced a trip to Slovakia and Budapest for September. The sprawling Catholic-run Gemelli hospital and medical school in the northern part of Rome traditionally treats popes and a part of its 10th floor is permanently reserved for them. As he does every year in July, Francis already had suspended all of his general and private audiences for the month. The surgery appeared to be timed to coincide with a period in which he has only one public commitment - his Sunday blessing in St Peter's Square. (With inputs from agencies)

Pope doing well after intestinal surgery, says Vatican

All 96 passengers of the Philippine Air Force plane that crashed on Sunday killing 47 people have been accounted for, military chief Cirilito Sobejana said on Monday. 
 
Forty nine military personnel were injured in the crash, Sobejana said. 
 
The Department of National Defence said on Sunday three civilians on the ground were also killed, and four civilians were injured. 
 
The Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft, carrying troops bound for counter-insurgency operations, overshot the runway after it touched down at Jolo airport in southern Sulu province, according to a military spokesman, Colonel Edgard Arevalo. 
 
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he had ordered an investigation of the incident, which would begin after rescue and recovery operations had been completed. 
 
The military has not seen any sign of an attack on the plane. 
 
Sulu, about 950 km (600 miles) south of the capital, Manila, is a stronghold of the militant Abu Sayyaf group, notorious for banditry and piracy, which the military has clashed with. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

All 96 passengers of the Philippine Air Force plane that crashed on Sunday killing 47 people have been accounted for, military chief Cirilito Sobejana said on Monday.

All 96 passengers of the Philippine Air Force plane that crashed on Sunday killing 47 people have been accounted for, military chief Cirilito Sobejana said on Monday. Forty nine military personnel were injured in the crash, Sobejana said. The Department of National Defence said on Sunday three civilians on the ground were also killed, and four civilians were injured. The Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft, carrying troops bound for counter-insurgency operations, overshot the runway after it touched down at Jolo airport in southern Sulu province, according to a military spokesman, Colonel Edgard Arevalo. Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he had ordered an investigation of the incident, which would begin after rescue and recovery operations had been completed. The military has not seen any sign of an attack on the plane. Sulu, about 950 km (600 miles) south of the capital, Manila, is a stronghold of the militant Abu Sayyaf group, notorious for banditry and piracy, which the military has clashed with. (With inputs from agencies)

Philippines plane crash kills 47, injures 49; probe ordered

The owners and insurers of the Ever Given container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March said on Sunday a formal settlement had been agreed in a compensation dispute, and the canal authority said the vessel would be allowed to sail on July 7. 
 
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has held the giant ship and its crew in a lake between two stretches of the waterway since it was dislodged on March 29, amid a dispute over a demand for compensation by the SCA. 
 
The Japanese-owned Ever Given had become stuck in high winds and remained wedged across the canal for six days, disrupting global trade. 
 
"Preparations for the release of the vessel will be made and an event marking the agreement will be held at the Authority's headquarters in Ismailia in due course," Faz Peermohamed of Stann Marine, which represents owner Shoei Kisen and its insurers, said in a statement. 
 
The SCA said the settlement contract would be signed on Wednesday at a ceremony, and that participants would be able to watch the ship leaving. 
 
Stann Marine gave no details of the settlement. 
 
Osama Rabie, the SCA chairman, said the canal will receive a tug boat with a pulling capacity of about 75 tonnes as part of a settlement, without mentioning any other details. 
 
"We preserved the rights of the authority in full, preserved our relationship with the company and also political relations with Japan," he told a private TV channel on Sunday evening. 
 
The canal earned revenue of $3 billion in the first six months of 2021, up 8.8% compared with the same period last year, despite the Ever Given accident, Rabie said. 
 
Shoei Kisen and its insurers said last month they had reached an agreement in principle with the SCA. 
 
The SCA had demanded $916 million in compensation to cover salvage efforts, reputational damage and lost revenue before publicly lowering the request to $550 million. 
 
Shoei Kisen and the ship's insurers had disputed the claim and the ship's detention under an Egyptian court order. 
 
Earlier on Sunday, an Egyptian court adjourned hearings in the compensation dispute to July 11 to allow the canal and the ship's owner to finalise the settlement, court sources and a lawyer said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The owners and insurers of the Ever Given container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March said on Sunday a formal settlement had been agreed in a compensation dispute, and the canal authority said the vessel would be allowed to sail on July 7.

The owners and insurers of the Ever Given container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March said on Sunday a formal settlement had been agreed in a compensation dispute, and the canal authority said the vessel would be allowed to sail on July 7. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has held the giant ship and its crew in a lake between two stretches of the waterway since it was dislodged on March 29, amid a dispute over a demand for compensation by the SCA. The Japanese-owned Ever Given had become stuck in high winds and remained wedged across the canal for six days, disrupting global trade. "Preparations for the release of the vessel will be made and an event marking the agreement will be held at the Authority's headquarters in Ismailia in due course," Faz Peermohamed of Stann Marine, which represents owner Shoei Kisen and its insurers, said in a statement. The SCA said the settlement contract would be signed on Wednesday at a ceremony, and that participants would be able to watch the ship leaving. Stann Marine gave no details of the settlement. Osama Rabie, the SCA chairman, said the canal will receive a tug boat with a pulling capacity of about 75 tonnes as part of a settlement, without mentioning any other details. "We preserved the rights of the authority in full, preserved our relationship with the company and also political relations with Japan," he told a private TV channel on Sunday evening. The canal earned revenue of $3 billion in the first six months of 2021, up 8.8% compared with the same period last year, despite the Ever Given accident, Rabie said. Shoei Kisen and its insurers said last month they had reached an agreement in principle with the SCA. The SCA had demanded $916 million in compensation to cover salvage efforts, reputational damage and lost revenue before publicly lowering the request to $550 million. Shoei Kisen and the ship's insurers had disputed the claim and the ship's detention under an Egyptian court order. Earlier on Sunday, an Egyptian court adjourned hearings in the compensation dispute to July 11 to allow the canal and the ship's owner to finalise the settlement, court sources and a lawyer said. (With inputs from agencies)

Settlement agreed to release Ever Given ship that blocked Suez Canal

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out plans for the final step of easing lockdown in England on Monday, including guidance on social distancing, face coverings and working from home, the government said. 
 
The remaining legal restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are due to be lifted on July 19, with the decision whether to go ahead scheduled for July 12. 
 
Data suggests that cases will continue to rise as restrictions are eased, but the link to hospitalisations and deaths has been weakened by the vaccination programme, the government said. 
 
People will learn to live with COVID-19 as they do already with flu, Johnson is expected to say, meaning that hospitalisations, serious illness and deaths will continue but at a much lower level than before widespread vaccination. 
 
"Thanks to the successful rollout of our vaccination programme, we are progressing cautiously through our roadmap," Johnson said in a statement. 
 
"But I must stress that the pandemic is not over and that cases will continue to rise over the coming weeks. 
 
"As we begin to learn to live with this virus, we must all continue to carefully manage the risks from COVID-19 and exercise judgement when going about our lives." 
 
The take-up of vaccines in Britain has been strong, with 86% of adults receiving a first dose and 64% receiving two doses as of Sunday, government data shows. 
 
However, cases of COVID-19 have risen in recent weeks, driven by the now-dominant Delta variant, and the final step of lockdown easing was delayed by four weeks to enable more people to be vaccinated. 
 
Data from Public Health England shows that vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalisation from this variant, the government said. 
 
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said on Sunday face masks would no longer be mandatory after the final step in lockdown easing. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out plans for the final step of easing lockdown in England on Monday, including guidance on social distancing, face coverings and working from home, the government said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out plans for the final step of easing lockdown in England on Monday, including guidance on social distancing, face coverings and working from home, the government said. The remaining legal restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are due to be lifted on July 19, with the decision whether to go ahead scheduled for July 12. Data suggests that cases will continue to rise as restrictions are eased, but the link to hospitalisations and deaths has been weakened by the vaccination programme, the government said. People will learn to live with COVID-19 as they do already with flu, Johnson is expected to say, meaning that hospitalisations, serious illness and deaths will continue but at a much lower level than before widespread vaccination. "Thanks to the successful rollout of our vaccination programme, we are progressing cautiously through our roadmap," Johnson said in a statement. "But I must stress that the pandemic is not over and that cases will continue to rise over the coming weeks. "As we begin to learn to live with this virus, we must all continue to carefully manage the risks from COVID-19 and exercise judgement when going about our lives." The take-up of vaccines in Britain has been strong, with 86% of adults receiving a first dose and 64% receiving two doses as of Sunday, government data shows. However, cases of COVID-19 have risen in recent weeks, driven by the now-dominant Delta variant, and the final step of lockdown easing was delayed by four weeks to enable more people to be vaccinated. Data from Public Health England shows that vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalisation from this variant, the government said. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said on Sunday face masks would no longer be mandatory after the final step in lockdown easing. (With inputs from agencies)

UK PM Johnson to set out plans for final step of easing Covid lockdown

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