Britain and Singapore will on Monday start negotiations on a new digital trade agreement that could remove barriers, part of London's push to become what it calls a 'global tech powerhouse' post-Brexit. 
 
Since completing its exit from the European Union at the end of last year, Britain has been pressing ahead with new trade deals especially with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, with the most recent agreement signed with Australia. 
 
Digital trade is seen as key by the government to support British tech companies in capitalising on investment opportunities abroad to try to help a post-COVID recovery. 
 
The government said any agreement with Singapore could remove barriers to digital trade and enable British exporters to expand into high-tech markets. The talks will be kicked off in a video call. 
 
"A cutting-edge deal with Singapore will keep us at the forefront of the technological revolution, ensuring we lead the way in digitally delivered trade and industries like fintech and cybersecurity," British trade minister Liz Truss said. 
 
"The UK will be the first European country to ever negotiate a Digital Economy Agreement, which shows what we can do as a sovereign trading nation," she said in a statement. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Britain and Singapore will on Monday start negotiations on a new digital trade agreement that could remove barriers, part of London's push to become what it calls a 'global tech powerhouse' post-Brexit.

Britain and Singapore will on Monday start negotiations on a new digital trade agreement that could remove barriers, part of London's push to become what it calls a 'global tech powerhouse' post-Brexit. Since completing its exit from the European Union at the end of last year, Britain has been pressing ahead with new trade deals especially with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, with the most recent agreement signed with Australia. Digital trade is seen as key by the government to support British tech companies in capitalising on investment opportunities abroad to try to help a post-COVID recovery. The government said any agreement with Singapore could remove barriers to digital trade and enable British exporters to expand into high-tech markets. The talks will be kicked off in a video call. "A cutting-edge deal with Singapore will keep us at the forefront of the technological revolution, ensuring we lead the way in digitally delivered trade and industries like fintech and cybersecurity," British trade minister Liz Truss said. "The UK will be the first European country to ever negotiate a Digital Economy Agreement, which shows what we can do as a sovereign trading nation," she said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

UK, Singapore launch talks on digital trade agreement

Hong Kong police arrested a former senior journalist with the Apple Daily newspaper at the international airport on Sunday night on a suspected national security charge as he tried to leave the city, according to media reports. 
 
Fung Wai-kong would be the seventh staffer at the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper to be arrested on national security grounds in recent weeks. He was an editor and columnist at the now-closed paper, Hong Kong media reported. 
 
Police said in a statement that a 57-year-old man had been arrested at the airport for 'conspiring to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security'. They added that he had been detained and investigations were continuing. 
 
A former Apple Daily journalist, Jack Hazelwood, said on Twitter that Fung was attempting to board a flight to London and called on British authorities to take action. 
 
Apple Daily, a popular tabloid, was forced to fold following a raid by several hundred police on its headquarters on June 17 and the freezing of key assets and bank accounts. It printed its last edition last Thursday. 
 
Authorities say dozens of the paper's articles may have violated a China-imposed national security law, the first instance of authorities taking aim at media reports under the legislation. 
 
Critics of the law, introduced last June, say it has been used to stifle dissent and erode fundamental freedoms in the former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997. 
 
Some of the critics also say the closure of Apple Daily, which mixes pro-democracy views with celebrity gossip and investigations of those in power, marks the end of an era for media freedom in the city. 
 
Officials in Hong Kong and China have repeatedly said media freedoms are respected but not absolute, and cannot endanger national security. 
 
The shutdown of Apple is the latest setback for media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the newspaper's owner and a staunch Beijing critic, whose assets have been frozen under the legislation and who is serving prison sentences for taking part in illegal assemblies. 
 
Lai is also awaiting trial after being charged with collusion with foreign forces, which carries up to life in jail. 
 
The Hong Kong Journalists'&nbsp;Association, reacting to reports of the airport arrest, condemned the police for targeting journalists again, and asked them to explain the incident. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong police arrested a former senior journalist with the Apple Daily newspaper at the international airport on Sunday night on a suspected national security charge as he tried to leave the city, according to media reports.

Hong Kong police arrested a former senior journalist with the Apple Daily newspaper at the international airport on Sunday night on a suspected national security charge as he tried to leave the city, according to media reports. Fung Wai-kong would be the seventh staffer at the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper to be arrested on national security grounds in recent weeks. He was an editor and columnist at the now-closed paper, Hong Kong media reported. Police said in a statement that a 57-year-old man had been arrested at the airport for 'conspiring to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security'. They added that he had been detained and investigations were continuing. A former Apple Daily journalist, Jack Hazelwood, said on Twitter that Fung was attempting to board a flight to London and called on British authorities to take action. Apple Daily, a popular tabloid, was forced to fold following a raid by several hundred police on its headquarters on June 17 and the freezing of key assets and bank accounts. It printed its last edition last Thursday. Authorities say dozens of the paper's articles may have violated a China-imposed national security law, the first instance of authorities taking aim at media reports under the legislation. Critics of the law, introduced last June, say it has been used to stifle dissent and erode fundamental freedoms in the former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Some of the critics also say the closure of Apple Daily, which mixes pro-democracy views with celebrity gossip and investigations of those in power, marks the end of an era for media freedom in the city. Officials in Hong Kong and China have repeatedly said media freedoms are respected but not absolute, and cannot endanger national security. The shutdown of Apple is the latest setback for media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the newspaper's owner and a staunch Beijing critic, whose assets have been frozen under the legislation and who is serving prison sentences for taking part in illegal assemblies. Lai is also awaiting trial after being charged with collusion with foreign forces, which carries up to life in jail. The Hong Kong Journalists' Association, reacting to reports of the airport arrest, condemned the police for targeting journalists again, and asked them to explain the incident. (With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong police arrest former Apple Daily journalist at airport: Media

Two more Catholic churches have been destroyed by fires in Canada.&nbsp;The two churches were located in indigenous communities in Western Canadian region of British Columbia. The incident follows grim discoveries of nearly 1,000 unmarked graves,&nbsp;at former church-run indigenous residential schools in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

T Ann's Catholic Church on the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and the&nbsp;Chopaka&nbsp;Catholic Church in the Lower Similkameen Indian Band are believed to have been set ablaze less than an hour apart in the early morning hours of Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sergeant Jason Bayda of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement, "Both churches have been destroyed. (fires&nbsp;are) suspicious, and (authorities) are looking to determine any possible connection to the church fires in both Penticton and Oliver."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two other Catholic Churches had been destroyed in fires a week ago, on the day which Canada marks as the National Indigenous People's Day. No arrests have been made so far.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The destruction of the four Churches comes at a testing time for Canada's indigenous peoples. The community is still struggling with the discovery of nearly a thousand bodies of indigenous children in mass graves at Church-run residential schools in Canada.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The remains of 215 schoolchildren were discovered at a former residential school in Kamloops last month. While ground-penetrating radar mapping also helped locate 751 more unmarked graves at another school in&nbsp;Marieval&nbsp;this week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau&nbsp;apologised&nbsp;for the&nbsp;'harmful'&nbsp;government policy of indigenous assimilation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A truth and reconciliation commission concluded Canada had committed&nbsp;'cultural genocide'.&nbsp;

The Canadian government's indigenous assimilation policy operated between 1831&nbsp;and&nbsp;1996.&nbsp;The policy backed residential schools run by the Catholic Church&nbsp;where&nbsp;over 150,000 indigenous children were forcefully enrolled.&nbsp;

Around&nbsp;4,000 children died of disease and neglect as&nbsp;many indigenous children were physically&nbsp;and&nbsp;sexually assaulted in these schools.&nbsp;Many indigenous children were&nbsp;also&nbsp;never reintegrated in their communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trudeau has urged the Pope to come to Canada&nbsp;and&nbsp;apologise&nbsp;for the Church's role in running these indigenous residential schools.

The Canadian Prime Minister said, "I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to impress upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on&nbsp;our&nbsp;soil. I know that the Catholic church leadership is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Pope Francis stopped short of a direct apology but said he was pained by the discovery of the remains of 215 children and called for respect for the rights and cultures of native people.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two more Catholic churches have been destroyed by fires in Canada. The two churches were located in indigenous communities in Western Canadian region of British Columbia.

Two more Catholic churches have been destroyed by fires in Canada. The two churches were located in indigenous communities in Western Canadian region of British Columbia. The incident follows grim discoveries of nearly 1,000 unmarked graves, at former church-run indigenous residential schools in the country. T Ann's Catholic Church on the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and the Chopaka Catholic Church in the Lower Similkameen Indian Band are believed to have been set ablaze less than an hour apart in the early morning hours of Saturday. Sergeant Jason Bayda of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement, "Both churches have been destroyed. (fires are) suspicious, and (authorities) are looking to determine any possible connection to the church fires in both Penticton and Oliver." Two other Catholic Churches had been destroyed in fires a week ago, on the day which Canada marks as the National Indigenous People's Day. No arrests have been made so far. The destruction of the four Churches comes at a testing time for Canada's indigenous peoples. The community is still struggling with the discovery of nearly a thousand bodies of indigenous children in mass graves at Church-run residential schools in Canada. The remains of 215 schoolchildren were discovered at a former residential school in Kamloops last month. While ground-penetrating radar mapping also helped locate 751 more unmarked graves at another school in Marieval this week. On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised for the 'harmful' government policy of indigenous assimilation. A truth and reconciliation commission concluded Canada had committed 'cultural genocide'. The Canadian government's indigenous assimilation policy operated between 1831 and 1996. The policy backed residential schools run by the Catholic Church where over 150,000 indigenous children were forcefully enrolled. Around 4,000 children died of disease and neglect as many indigenous children were physically and sexually assaulted in these schools. Many indigenous children were also never reintegrated in their communities. Trudeau has urged the Pope to come to Canada and apologise for the Church's role in running these indigenous residential schools. The Canadian Prime Minister said, "I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to impress upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on our soil. I know that the Catholic church leadership is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken." Earlier this month, Pope Francis stopped short of a direct apology but said he was pained by the discovery of the remains of 215 children and called for respect for the rights and cultures of native people.

Two more Catholic churches destroyed by fires in Canada 

Police have fined two men who had to be rescued from an Australian forest after they were chased by a deer while sunbathing naked on a beach and became lost.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The men called for help about 6 pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Sunday after they became lost in the Royal National Park south of Sydney, a police statement said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Unbelievably, we saw two men sunbaking naked on a beach on the South Coast,"&nbsp;Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told reporters.&nbsp;"They were startled by a deer, ran into the national ... Park and got lost."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Their rescue involved police aircraft, the State Emergency Service and ambulance officers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The men, aged 30 and 49, were fined 1,000 Australian dollars ($759) each for breaching a stay-home pandemic order that restricted them to Sydney, police said&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The younger man was found&nbsp;'naked and carrying a backpack?’&nbsp;while the older man&nbsp;was&nbsp;'partially clothed’," the police statement said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Clearly putting people at risk by leaving home without a proper reason, ... Then getting lost in the national park and diverting important resources away from the health operation, I think they should be embarrassed,"&nbsp;Fuller said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The pair were among 44 people fined by police on Sunday for breaching a public health order after Sydney began a two-week lockdown on Friday due to a new COVID-19 cluster.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Police have fined two men who had to be rescued from an Australian forest after they were chased by a deer while sunbathing naked on a beach and became lost. The men called for help about 6 pm on Sunday after they became lost in the Royal National Park south of Sydney, a police statement said.

Police have fined two men who had to be rescued from an Australian forest after they were chased by a deer while sunbathing naked on a beach and became lost. The men called for help about 6 pm on Sunday after they became lost in the Royal National Park south of Sydney, a police statement said. "Unbelievably, we saw two men sunbaking naked on a beach on the South Coast," Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told reporters. "They were startled by a deer, ran into the national ... Park and got lost." Their rescue involved police aircraft, the State Emergency Service and ambulance officers. The men, aged 30 and 49, were fined 1,000 Australian dollars ($759) each for breaching a stay-home pandemic order that restricted them to Sydney, police said on Monday. The younger man was found 'naked and carrying a backpack?’ while the older man was 'partially clothed’," the police statement said. "Clearly putting people at risk by leaving home without a proper reason, ... Then getting lost in the national park and diverting important resources away from the health operation, I think they should be embarrassed," Fuller said. The pair were among 44 people fined by police on Sunday for breaching a public health order after Sydney began a two-week lockdown on Friday due to a new COVID-19 cluster. (With inputs from agencies)

Police rescue spooked nude sunbathers from Australian forest  

Alert Army troops fired at two drones found hovering over the Ratnuchak-Kaluchak military areas, a defence spokesperson said on Monday, a day after two drones dropped bombs at an IAF station. &nbsp;&nbsp;

One drone was spotted at 11.45 pm on Sunday night and the other at 2.40 am, the officials said. Both drones 'flew away' after alert sentries fired at them. &nbsp;&nbsp;

He said a high alert was sounded immediately and Quick Reaction Teams engaged the drones with firing, Jammu-based Army PRO Lt Col Devender Anand said in a statement here. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Both drones flew away. A major threat was thwarted by the alertness and proactive approach of troops," he said, adding the security forces are on high alert and a search operation is in progress. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier, official sources said that the sentries had swiftly opened fire on noticing the drones to bring them down. &nbsp;&nbsp;

They said the whole area outside the military station was cordoned off immediately and a massive search operation was going on when the last reports were received. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Nothing objectionable was found on the ground, the sources said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The latest incident comes barely a day after a drone, in a first-of-its kind strike, dropped two bombs at Indian Air Force (IAF) station here, causing minor injuries to two personnel.

Alert Army troops fired at two drones found hovering over the Ratnuchak-Kaluchak military areas, a defence spokesperson said on Monday, a day after two drones dropped bombs at an IAF station.

Alert Army troops fired at two drones found hovering over the Ratnuchak-Kaluchak military areas, a defence spokesperson said on Monday, a day after two drones dropped bombs at an IAF station. One drone was spotted at 11.45 pm on Sunday night and the other at 2.40 am, the officials said. Both drones 'flew away' after alert sentries fired at them. He said a high alert was sounded immediately and Quick Reaction Teams engaged the drones with firing, Jammu-based Army PRO Lt Col Devender Anand said in a statement here. "Both drones flew away. A major threat was thwarted by the alertness and proactive approach of troops," he said, adding the security forces are on high alert and a search operation is in progress. Earlier, official sources said that the sentries had swiftly opened fire on noticing the drones to bring them down. They said the whole area outside the military station was cordoned off immediately and a massive search operation was going on when the last reports were received. Nothing objectionable was found on the ground, the sources said. The latest incident comes barely a day after a drone, in a first-of-its kind strike, dropped two bombs at Indian Air Force (IAF) station here, causing minor injuries to two personnel.

Army opens fire at two drones found hovering over Ratnuchak-Kaluchak military areas  

A 21-year-old man was shot once in the back Sunday afternoon in Times Square in a brazen act of violence in one of the city’s best-known tourist destinations, according to a New York City Police Department spokesperson.

The man was in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital, police said.

The shooting took place shortly after 5 p.m., near Seventh Avenue and West 46th Street, officials said.

The victim was not the intended target of the shooting, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation. Six men were arguing near the area when one of them pulled a gun and fired several shots, the official said. One of the bullets struck the victim, who was walking with his family.

By 7 p.m., activity in the area had returned to normal, with tourists stopping only to snap photos of the billboards in Times Square or take curious glances at the officers lining the streets. One tourist, who said he did not feel comfortable providing his name, said, “I saw a SWAT van earlier, but other than that, nothing.”

The shooting, about a block from where a 4-year-old girl and two women were shot last month, comes as New York City has had a rise in shootings over the past year. The suspect in that earlier shooting was arrested days later in Florida. That episode helped make crime a central issue in the closing days of the Democratic primary for mayor. As votes continue to be counted, a former police captain who vowed to tackle the issue head-on is leading the field of candidates.

As of June 20, 777 people have been shot throughout New York City in 680 shootings, according to department crime figures online. That is an increase of 48% in the number of victims compared with the same time last year, in 53% more shootings, according to the Police Department.

The area by Seventh Avenue and West 46th Street is surrounded by Broadway theaters, many of which temporarily closed their doors during the coronavirus pandemic and are now preparing to reopen. Bruce Springsteen’s one-man show at the St. James Theater, about a block away from the site of Sunday's shooting, reopened Saturday.

A 21-year-old man was shot once in the back Sunday afternoon in Times Square in a brazen act of violence in one of the city’s best-known tourist destinations, according to a New York City Police Department spokesperson.

A 21-year-old man was shot once in the back Sunday afternoon in Times Square in a brazen act of violence in one of the city’s best-known tourist destinations, according to a New York City Police Department spokesperson. The man was in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital, police said. The shooting took place shortly after 5 p.m., near Seventh Avenue and West 46th Street, officials said. The victim was not the intended target of the shooting, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation. Six men were arguing near the area when one of them pulled a gun and fired several shots, the official said. One of the bullets struck the victim, who was walking with his family. By 7 p.m., activity in the area had returned to normal, with tourists stopping only to snap photos of the billboards in Times Square or take curious glances at the officers lining the streets. One tourist, who said he did not feel comfortable providing his name, said, “I saw a SWAT van earlier, but other than that, nothing.” The shooting, about a block from where a 4-year-old girl and two women were shot last month, comes as New York City has had a rise in shootings over the past year. The suspect in that earlier shooting was arrested days later in Florida. That episode helped make crime a central issue in the closing days of the Democratic primary for mayor. As votes continue to be counted, a former police captain who vowed to tackle the issue head-on is leading the field of candidates. As of June 20, 777 people have been shot throughout New York City in 680 shootings, according to department crime figures online. That is an increase of 48% in the number of victims compared with the same time last year, in 53% more shootings, according to the Police Department. The area by Seventh Avenue and West 46th Street is surrounded by Broadway theaters, many of which temporarily closed their doors during the coronavirus pandemic and are now preparing to reopen. Bruce Springsteen’s one-man show at the St. James Theater, about a block away from the site of Sunday's shooting, reopened Saturday.

Man wounded in weekend gunfire at New York's Times Square

Behind roadblocks and hundreds of police in the Chinese capital of Beijing on Friday, fireworks resembling the national flag bloomed over the city as part of secretive and tightly choreographed rehearsal for the 100th anniversary of China's Communist Party. 
 
Beijing has shut down traffic, decked streets in patriotic flower arrangements and national flags, and ramped up surveillance and security this week in preparation for the centenary event on July 1. 
 
The covert rehearsals represent the final stages of a year-long planning effort, designed to glorify Party history and cement domestic loyalty to China's socialist system. 
 
"Without the Communist Party, there is no new China," read new propaganda posters throughout the city. 
 
Plans for the event haven't been fully revealed, though state media and government agencies have hinted at a large-scale theatrical event in Tiananmen Square. A performance is scheduled for Monday at the Bird's Nest stadium, built for the 2008 Olympics. 
 
The anniversary has been preceded by a clampdown on potential dissident activity, including a spate of arrests this year under a law banning the defamation of national heroes, and an online venue for citizens to report 'historical nihilists'," a phrase referring to those sharing unsanctioned versions of Party history. 
 
Upgraded security and its attendant disruption isn't unusual ahead of major political events in the capital, but the fanfare has taken on added importance amid new political challenges to the Party at home and abroad.

(With inputs from agencies)

Behind roadblocks and hundreds of police in the Chinese capital of Beijing on Friday, fireworks resembling the national flag bloomed over the city as part of secretive and tightly choreographed rehearsal for the 100th anniversary of China's Communist Party.

Behind roadblocks and hundreds of police in the Chinese capital of Beijing on Friday, fireworks resembling the national flag bloomed over the city as part of secretive and tightly choreographed rehearsal for the 100th anniversary of China's Communist Party. Beijing has shut down traffic, decked streets in patriotic flower arrangements and national flags, and ramped up surveillance and security this week in preparation for the centenary event on July 1. The covert rehearsals represent the final stages of a year-long planning effort, designed to glorify Party history and cement domestic loyalty to China's socialist system. "Without the Communist Party, there is no new China," read new propaganda posters throughout the city. Plans for the event haven't been fully revealed, though state media and government agencies have hinted at a large-scale theatrical event in Tiananmen Square. A performance is scheduled for Monday at the Bird's Nest stadium, built for the 2008 Olympics. The anniversary has been preceded by a clampdown on potential dissident activity, including a spate of arrests this year under a law banning the defamation of national heroes, and an online venue for citizens to report 'historical nihilists'," a phrase referring to those sharing unsanctioned versions of Party history. Upgraded security and its attendant disruption isn't unusual ahead of major political events in the capital, but the fanfare has taken on added importance amid new political challenges to the Party at home and abroad. (With inputs from agencies)

China leaves nothing to chance ahead of Communist Party centenary

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that 10,000 Islamic State fighters continue to be held in detention in camps run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and that this situation was 'untenable'. 
 
Speaking at the opening of a meeting in Rome to renew international efforts to combat the Islamist militia, Blinken said Washington continued to urge countries, including the 78 member countries of the coalition against Islamic State, to take back their citizens, who had joined the group. 
 
"This situation is simply untenable. It just can't persist indefinitely. The United States continues to urge countries of origin, including coalition partners, to repatriate, rehabilitate, and where applicable, prosecute their citizens," Blinken said in his opening remarks. 
 
Another key element of defeating Islamic State on a permanent basis required addressing the threats from the group outside Iraq and Syria, and namely in Africa, Blinken said. 
 
Originally an offshoot of al Qaeda, Islamic State seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria from 2014, imposing a reign of terror with public beheadings and attacks by supporters abroad. 
 
Islamic State was declared militarily defeated in 2017 but has since waged a steady insurgency across parts of northern Iraq and a porous border with neighbouring Syria. 
 
Recent months have witnessed more than 25 deadly attacks that Iraqi officials attribute to Islamic State militants. The January bombing of a crowded Baghdad market killed more than 30 people. 
 
Militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have also grown stronger in recent years, despite the deployment of thousands of regional, Western and UN&nbsp;troops across West Africa's Sahel region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that 10,000 Islamic State fighters continue to be held in detention in camps run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and that this situation was 'untenable'.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that 10,000 Islamic State fighters continue to be held in detention in camps run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and that this situation was 'untenable'. Speaking at the opening of a meeting in Rome to renew international efforts to combat the Islamist militia, Blinken said Washington continued to urge countries, including the 78 member countries of the coalition against Islamic State, to take back their citizens, who had joined the group. "This situation is simply untenable. It just can't persist indefinitely. The United States continues to urge countries of origin, including coalition partners, to repatriate, rehabilitate, and where applicable, prosecute their citizens," Blinken said in his opening remarks. Another key element of defeating Islamic State on a permanent basis required addressing the threats from the group outside Iraq and Syria, and namely in Africa, Blinken said. Originally an offshoot of al Qaeda, Islamic State seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria from 2014, imposing a reign of terror with public beheadings and attacks by supporters abroad. Islamic State was declared militarily defeated in 2017 but has since waged a steady insurgency across parts of northern Iraq and a porous border with neighbouring Syria. Recent months have witnessed more than 25 deadly attacks that Iraqi officials attribute to Islamic State militants. The January bombing of a crowded Baghdad market killed more than 30 people. Militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have also grown stronger in recent years, despite the deployment of thousands of regional, Western and UN troops across West Africa's Sahel region.

Blinken: 'Untenable' for 10,000 IS fighters still to be held in Syria

Racism against people of African descent remains systemic in many parts of the world, the UN&nbsp;human rights chief said on Monday, calling for states to dismantle discrimination and prosecute law enforcement officials for unlawful killings. 
 
Michelle Bachelet, in a global report sparked by the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020, said that police use of racial profiling and excessive force is entrenched in much of North America, Europe and Latin America. 
 
Structural racism creates barriers to minorities' access to jobs, healthcare, housing, education and justice, she said. 
 
“I am calling on all states to stop denying, and start dismantling, racism; to end impunity and build trust; to listen to the voices of people of African descent; and to confront past legacies and deliver redress," she said in the report to the Human Rights Council. 
 
Bachelet welcomed a 'promising initiative' by US&nbsp;President Joe Biden in signing an executive order in January to address racial inequity across the United States. 
 
Her report cited 190 deaths of Africans and people of African descent worldwide at the hands of law enforcement officials who are 'rarely held accountable'. 
 
It selected seven 'emblematic cases', including that of Floyd. A judge sentenced former police officer Derek Chauvin on Friday to 22-1/2 years for his murder, video of which galvanised the national Black Lives Matter protest movement. 
 
Other victims include an Afro-Brazilian boy, 14, shot dead in an anti-drug police operation in Sao Paulo in May 2020 and a Frenchman of Malian origin, 24, who died in police custody in July 2016. 
 
"Racism and racial discrimination against Africans and people of African descent are often rooted in policies and practices grounded in the debasement of the status of individuals in society," the report said. 
 
The scourge is most prevalent in countries with a legacy of slavery, the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, or colonialism resulting in large communities of people of African descent, it added. 
 
"Systemic racism needs a systemic response," Bachelet said. "There is today a momentous opportunity to achieve a turning point for racial equality and justice."

Racism against people of African descent remains systemic in many parts of the world, the UN human rights chief said on Monday, calling for states to dismantle discrimination and prosecute law enforcement officials for unlawful killings.

Racism against people of African descent remains systemic in many parts of the world, the UN human rights chief said on Monday, calling for states to dismantle discrimination and prosecute law enforcement officials for unlawful killings. Michelle Bachelet, in a global report sparked by the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020, said that police use of racial profiling and excessive force is entrenched in much of North America, Europe and Latin America. Structural racism creates barriers to minorities' access to jobs, healthcare, housing, education and justice, she said. “I am calling on all states to stop denying, and start dismantling, racism; to end impunity and build trust; to listen to the voices of people of African descent; and to confront past legacies and deliver redress," she said in the report to the Human Rights Council. Bachelet welcomed a 'promising initiative' by US President Joe Biden in signing an executive order in January to address racial inequity across the United States. Her report cited 190 deaths of Africans and people of African descent worldwide at the hands of law enforcement officials who are 'rarely held accountable'. It selected seven 'emblematic cases', including that of Floyd. A judge sentenced former police officer Derek Chauvin on Friday to 22-1/2 years for his murder, video of which galvanised the national Black Lives Matter protest movement. Other victims include an Afro-Brazilian boy, 14, shot dead in an anti-drug police operation in Sao Paulo in May 2020 and a Frenchman of Malian origin, 24, who died in police custody in July 2016. "Racism and racial discrimination against Africans and people of African descent are often rooted in policies and practices grounded in the debasement of the status of individuals in society," the report said. The scourge is most prevalent in countries with a legacy of slavery, the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, or colonialism resulting in large communities of people of African descent, it added. "Systemic racism needs a systemic response," Bachelet said. "There is today a momentous opportunity to achieve a turning point for racial equality and justice."

UN rights chief calls for 'systemic racism' to be dismantled

Ukraine and the United States will start a military exercise involving more than 30 countries in the Black Sea and southern Ukraine on Monday, despite Russian calls to cancel the drills. 
 
Sea Breeze 2021 follows a rise in tensions between NATO and Moscow, which said last week it had fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of a British warship to chase it out of Black Sea waters off the coast of Crimea. Britain rejected Russia's account of the incident. 
 
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and says it is Russian territory, but the peninsula is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine. 
 
Russia's embassy in Washington called last week for the drills to be cancelled, and the Russian defence ministry said it would react if necessary to protect its own national security. 
 
Sea Breeze 2021 will last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft. US&nbsp;missile destroyer USS Ross and the US&nbsp;Marine Corps will take part. 
 
Ukraine says the main goal is to gain experience in joint actions during multinational peacekeeping and security operations. 
 
Relations between Kyiv and Moscow plummeted after Russia seized Crimea and over Russia's support for a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine. 
 
Tension rose again this year when Russia massed troops on the border with Ukraine, where some of them remain along with their equipment.

Ukraine and the United States will start a military exercise involving more than 30 countries in the Black Sea and southern Ukraine on Monday, despite Russian calls to cancel the drills.

Ukraine and the United States will start a military exercise involving more than 30 countries in the Black Sea and southern Ukraine on Monday, despite Russian calls to cancel the drills. Sea Breeze 2021 follows a rise in tensions between NATO and Moscow, which said last week it had fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of a British warship to chase it out of Black Sea waters off the coast of Crimea. Britain rejected Russia's account of the incident. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and says it is Russian territory, but the peninsula is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine. Russia's embassy in Washington called last week for the drills to be cancelled, and the Russian defence ministry said it would react if necessary to protect its own national security. Sea Breeze 2021 will last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft. US missile destroyer USS Ross and the US Marine Corps will take part. Ukraine says the main goal is to gain experience in joint actions during multinational peacekeeping and security operations. Relations between Kyiv and Moscow plummeted after Russia seized Crimea and over Russia's support for a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine. Tension rose again this year when Russia massed troops on the border with Ukraine, where some of them remain along with their equipment.

Ukraine, US to start Black Sea military drills despite Russian protest

A group of fighters from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram pledged allegiance to rivals the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) weeks after the former group's leader died, according to a video.&nbsp; 
 
The video fuels fears that ISWAP is consolidating control of the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria following the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau last month. But not all observers are convinced the video is proof that all Boko Haram fighters are ready to join ISWAP. 
 
The groups engaged in a violent rivalry for years, and if ISWAP absorbs Boko Haram fighters, it could focus attention on attacking the Nigerian military. 
 
Some 350,000 people have died as a result of the 12-year insurgency and subsequent humanitarian crisis, the United Nations said this week. 
 
The video, produced by Islamic State's official media arm, showed clips of several hundred men, many of whom were armed, gathering in the bush. Several made statements to camera. 
 
"We will unite together to fight the (unbelievers)," one Boko Haram fighter said in Hausa. "What will happen now will by far exceed what transpired in the past now that we're united." 
 
Vincent Foucher, a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, who is an expert on the conflict, said the video adds to evidence that ISWAP was gaining control. 
 
"It is one more indication that ISWAP has won," he said. 
 
Foucher said other indicators of ISWAP's consolidation of power included its claims of attacks in areas that had been Boko Haram zones of influence and a significant drop in violence against civilians in areas where Boko Haram operated. 
 
However, Bulama Bukarti, a senior analyst with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, dismissed the video as propoganda, noting that it did not feature senior Boko Haram leaders. 
 
"I think Boko Haram is still very much divided and they will continue to fight each other," Bukarti said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A group of fighters from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram pledged allegiance to rivals the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) weeks after the former group's leader died, according to a video.

A group of fighters from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram pledged allegiance to rivals the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) weeks after the former group's leader died, according to a video. The video fuels fears that ISWAP is consolidating control of the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria following the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau last month. But not all observers are convinced the video is proof that all Boko Haram fighters are ready to join ISWAP. The groups engaged in a violent rivalry for years, and if ISWAP absorbs Boko Haram fighters, it could focus attention on attacking the Nigerian military. Some 350,000 people have died as a result of the 12-year insurgency and subsequent humanitarian crisis, the United Nations said this week. The video, produced by Islamic State's official media arm, showed clips of several hundred men, many of whom were armed, gathering in the bush. Several made statements to camera. "We will unite together to fight the (unbelievers)," one Boko Haram fighter said in Hausa. "What will happen now will by far exceed what transpired in the past now that we're united." Vincent Foucher, a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, who is an expert on the conflict, said the video adds to evidence that ISWAP was gaining control. "It is one more indication that ISWAP has won," he said. Foucher said other indicators of ISWAP's consolidation of power included its claims of attacks in areas that had been Boko Haram zones of influence and a significant drop in violence against civilians in areas where Boko Haram operated. However, Bulama Bukarti, a senior analyst with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, dismissed the video as propoganda, noting that it did not feature senior Boko Haram leaders. "I think Boko Haram is still very much divided and they will continue to fight each other," Bukarti said. (With inputs from agencies)

Boko Haram fighters pledge allegiance to Islamic State in video, worrying observers

Israel has serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal being put together in Vienna, new foreign minister Yair Lapid told his American counterpart, as he pledged to fix 'the mistakes made' in US-Israeli relations in recent years. 
 
In their first face-to-face meeting since Israel's new government was sworn in two weeks ago, US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Lapid had a very positive and warm discussion, according to US&nbsp;officials. 
 
The main topics were the nuclear deal and Israel's normalisation accords with Gulf Arab states, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza and the status of East Jerusalem, a topic that helped fuel the latest wave of violence between the Israelis and Palestinians in May. 
 
"Israel has some serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal that is being put together in Vienna. We believe the way to discuss those disagreements is through direct and professional conversations, not in press conferences," Lapid said, in brief remarks ahead of the meeting in Rome. 
 
Iran and the United States have been holding indirect talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers that imposed restrictions on Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions. 
 
Blinken told Lapid that Washington would remain in close contact with Israel over the Iran negotiations, US&nbsp;officials said. 
 
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a nationalist atop a cross-partisan coalition, has hewed to the opposition of his conservative predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, whose caps on projects with bomb-making potential Israel deemed too lax. 
 
Netanyahu's particularly close ties with Trump followed an acrimonious relationship with his predecessor Barack Obama, which some critics said had alienated Democrats and compromised US&nbsp;bipartisan support for Israel. 
 
Biden, since taking office on January&nbsp;20, has repeatedly expressed Washington's support for Israel but has been more measured in his approach than Trump. 
 
Lapid acknowledged the need for repair. "In the past few years, mistakes were made. Israel's bipartisan standing was hurt. We will fix those mistakes together." 
 
Blinken also reiterated to Lapid Washington's concerns over Israeli attempts to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, and the status of the city's al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, US&nbsp;officials said. 
 
Blinken also conveyed to Lapid the necessity of getting humanitarian assistance into Gaza, where 250 Palestinians were killed and scores of buildings were destroyed last month by Israeli air strikes. 
 
Biden has worked to repair ties with the Palestinians and abandon what they said was the one-sided US&nbsp;policy towards the conflict. His administration has pledged to resume hundreds of millions of dollars in economic and humanitarian assistance and work towards reopening the Palestinians' diplomatic mission in Washington.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel has serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal being put together in Vienna, new foreign minister Yair Lapid told his American counterpart, as he pledged to fix 'the mistakes made' in US-Israeli relations in recent years.

Israel has serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal being put together in Vienna, new foreign minister Yair Lapid told his American counterpart, as he pledged to fix 'the mistakes made' in US-Israeli relations in recent years. In their first face-to-face meeting since Israel's new government was sworn in two weeks ago, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Lapid had a very positive and warm discussion, according to US officials. The main topics were the nuclear deal and Israel's normalisation accords with Gulf Arab states, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza and the status of East Jerusalem, a topic that helped fuel the latest wave of violence between the Israelis and Palestinians in May. "Israel has some serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal that is being put together in Vienna. We believe the way to discuss those disagreements is through direct and professional conversations, not in press conferences," Lapid said, in brief remarks ahead of the meeting in Rome. Iran and the United States have been holding indirect talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers that imposed restrictions on Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions. Blinken told Lapid that Washington would remain in close contact with Israel over the Iran negotiations, US officials said. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a nationalist atop a cross-partisan coalition, has hewed to the opposition of his conservative predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, whose caps on projects with bomb-making potential Israel deemed too lax. Netanyahu's particularly close ties with Trump followed an acrimonious relationship with his predecessor Barack Obama, which some critics said had alienated Democrats and compromised US bipartisan support for Israel. Biden, since taking office on January 20, has repeatedly expressed Washington's support for Israel but has been more measured in his approach than Trump. Lapid acknowledged the need for repair. "In the past few years, mistakes were made. Israel's bipartisan standing was hurt. We will fix those mistakes together." Blinken also reiterated to Lapid Washington's concerns over Israeli attempts to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, and the status of the city's al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, US officials said. Blinken also conveyed to Lapid the necessity of getting humanitarian assistance into Gaza, where 250 Palestinians were killed and scores of buildings were destroyed last month by Israeli air strikes. Biden has worked to repair ties with the Palestinians and abandon what they said was the one-sided US policy towards the conflict. His administration has pledged to resume hundreds of millions of dollars in economic and humanitarian assistance and work towards reopening the Palestinians' diplomatic mission in Washington. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel tells US it has serious reservations about Iran nuclear deal

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