A Chinese spacecraft will blast off from the Gobi Desert on a Long March rocket in the coming days, ferrying three men to an orbiting space module for a three-month stay, the first time China has sent humans into space for nearly five years. 
 
Shenzhou-12, meaning 'Divine Vessel', will be the third of 11 missions needed to complete China's space station by 2022. Among them, four will be missions with people on board, potentially propelling up to 12 Chinese astronauts into space - more than the 11 men and women that China has sent since 2003. 
 
The craft will also carry into space the hopes of some in Earth's most populous nation. 
 
"The motherland is powerful," one person wrote on Chinese social media, which has lit up with well-wishes for the Shenzhou-12 crew. "The launch is a gift to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party." 
 
Chinese astronauts have had a relatively low international profile. A US&nbsp;law banning NASA from any connection with China means its astronauts have not been to the more than two-decade-old International Space Station, visited by more than 240 men and women of various nationalities. 
 
China, which aims to become a major spacefaring power by 2030, in May became the second country to put a rover on Mars, two years after landing the first spacecraft on the far side of the moon. 
 
It also plans to put astronauts on the moon - the farthest celestial body that humans have travelled to. 
 
The Shenzhou-12 crew is to live on the Tianhe, 'Harmony of the Heavens', a cylinder 16.6 metres (55 feet) long and 4.2 metres (14 feet) in diameter. 
 
The planned three-month stay would break the country's record of 30 days, set by the 2016 mission - China's last crewed flight - of Chen Dong and Jing Haipeng to a prototype station. 
 
Three men from China's first and second batches of astronauts will be on this mission, Yang Liwei, director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office and China's first astronaut, told state tabloid Global Times last month. 
 
China's space bloggers speculate they will be Nie Haisheng - who at 56 would be China's oldest astronaut sent into space - Deng Qingming, 55, and Ye Guangfu, 40. 
 
The authorities typically do not announce a mission's crew until near or after the launch. China Manned Space did not respond to a fax request for comment. 
 
The oldest human in space was John Glenn, who flew on the space shuttle at age 77 in 1998 - after having been the first American to orbit the earth in 1962, a US&nbsp;senator and a presidential candidate. 
 
While no women are scheduled for the Shenzhou-12 mission, they are expected to participate in every following mission, Yang told Global Times. 
 
Two women, Liu Yang and Wang Yaping, were selected in 2011 among China's second cohort, after the first batch of 14 men in the mid-1990s. Liu was China's first woman in space in 2012, while Wang was the youngest, at 33, in 2013. 
 
China began building its space station in April with the launch of Tianhe, the first and largest of its three modules. This year, it aims to send a robotic cargo resupply spacecraft and three more astronauts, this time for a six-month stay. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A Chinese spacecraft will blast off from the Gobi Desert on a Long March rocket in the coming days, ferrying three men to an orbiting space module for a three-month stay, the first time China has sent humans into space for nearly five years.

A Chinese spacecraft will blast off from the Gobi Desert on a Long March rocket in the coming days, ferrying three men to an orbiting space module for a three-month stay, the first time China has sent humans into space for nearly five years. Shenzhou-12, meaning 'Divine Vessel', will be the third of 11 missions needed to complete China's space station by 2022. Among them, four will be missions with people on board, potentially propelling up to 12 Chinese astronauts into space - more than the 11 men and women that China has sent since 2003. The craft will also carry into space the hopes of some in Earth's most populous nation. "The motherland is powerful," one person wrote on Chinese social media, which has lit up with well-wishes for the Shenzhou-12 crew. "The launch is a gift to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party." Chinese astronauts have had a relatively low international profile. A US law banning NASA from any connection with China means its astronauts have not been to the more than two-decade-old International Space Station, visited by more than 240 men and women of various nationalities. China, which aims to become a major spacefaring power by 2030, in May became the second country to put a rover on Mars, two years after landing the first spacecraft on the far side of the moon. It also plans to put astronauts on the moon - the farthest celestial body that humans have travelled to. The Shenzhou-12 crew is to live on the Tianhe, 'Harmony of the Heavens', a cylinder 16.6 metres (55 feet) long and 4.2 metres (14 feet) in diameter. The planned three-month stay would break the country's record of 30 days, set by the 2016 mission - China's last crewed flight - of Chen Dong and Jing Haipeng to a prototype station. Three men from China's first and second batches of astronauts will be on this mission, Yang Liwei, director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office and China's first astronaut, told state tabloid Global Times last month. China's space bloggers speculate they will be Nie Haisheng - who at 56 would be China's oldest astronaut sent into space - Deng Qingming, 55, and Ye Guangfu, 40. The authorities typically do not announce a mission's crew until near or after the launch. China Manned Space did not respond to a fax request for comment. The oldest human in space was John Glenn, who flew on the space shuttle at age 77 in 1998 - after having been the first American to orbit the earth in 1962, a US senator and a presidential candidate. While no women are scheduled for the Shenzhou-12 mission, they are expected to participate in every following mission, Yang told Global Times. Two women, Liu Yang and Wang Yaping, were selected in 2011 among China's second cohort, after the first batch of 14 men in the mid-1990s. Liu was China's first woman in space in 2012, while Wang was the youngest, at 33, in 2013. China began building its space station in April with the launch of Tianhe, the first and largest of its three modules. This year, it aims to send a robotic cargo resupply spacecraft and three more astronauts, this time for a six-month stay. (With inputs from agencies)

'Divine Vessel' to mark China's first human spaceflight since 2016

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, thanked the G7 group of wealthy industrial nations on Sunday after it voiced support for Kyiv and called on Russia to withdraw troops and weapons from near Ukraine's eastern border. 
 
Leaders of the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan reaffirmed their backing for Ukraine and called on Moscow to stop its destabilising behaviour in a communique issued after a three-day summit in the UK. 
 
"Commend the unwavering support by #G7 states in the Summit's communiqué," Zelenskiy wrote in Twitter. 
 
"Grateful to leaders for the continued support for Ukraine's independence &amp; sovereignty &amp; the call to the aggressor to withdraw troops from Ukraine's borders &amp; Crimea. #Crimea is Ukraine!" 
 
Kyiv hopes pressure from Western allies could force Moscow to withdraw tens of thousands of its troops deployed in April near Ukraine's eastern border and in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. 
 
The West expressed concern about the worsening of the situation in the eastern region of Donbass, where Ukrainian troops fought Russian-backed forces in a conflict that Kyiv said had killed 14,000 people since 2014. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, thanked the G7 group of wealthy industrial nations on Sunday after it voiced support for Kyiv and called on Russia to withdraw troops and weapons from near Ukraine's eastern border.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, thanked the G7 group of wealthy industrial nations on Sunday after it voiced support for Kyiv and called on Russia to withdraw troops and weapons from near Ukraine's eastern border. Leaders of the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan reaffirmed their backing for Ukraine and called on Moscow to stop its destabilising behaviour in a communique issued after a three-day summit in the UK. "Commend the unwavering support by #G7 states in the Summit's communiqué," Zelenskiy wrote in Twitter. "Grateful to leaders for the continued support for Ukraine's independence & sovereignty & the call to the aggressor to withdraw troops from Ukraine's borders & Crimea. #Crimea is Ukraine!" Kyiv hopes pressure from Western allies could force Moscow to withdraw tens of thousands of its troops deployed in April near Ukraine's eastern border and in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. The West expressed concern about the worsening of the situation in the eastern region of Donbass, where Ukrainian troops fought Russian-backed forces in a conflict that Kyiv said had killed 14,000 people since 2014. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine's president thanks G7 nations for support

June 14 in history: US adopts Stars & Stripes flag replacing the Grand Union flag and more

Myanmar's junta-controlled media on Monday accused an ethnic armed group of killing 25 construction workers in the east of the country after abducting a group of 47 people last month. 
 
The Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) could not be&nbsp;reached&nbsp;for comment on the accusation. The junta spokesman did not answer calls to seek further comment. 
 
Conflicts in Myanmar's borderlands have reignited in several places since the army seized power on February&nbsp;1 and overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 
 
The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper and army controlled Myawaddy Television showed pictures of what appeared to be 25 dead bodies laid in a forest clearing. 
 
They said the men had been working on the Uhu Creek Bridge in the Myawaddy District, near the border with Thailand, and were abducted from the construction site on May 31 in a group that also included 10 children and six women. 
 
The Global New Light of Myanmar said a total of seven bodies were found on June 11, one burnt and the others with hands tied behind their backs. It said the other 18 bodies were found on June 12. 
 
"Officials from the bridge construction site checked the dead bodies with their identities to inform parents and relatives," it said. 
 
Fighting has intensified in eastern Myanmar since the coup and clashes have driven thousands of people from their homes. 
 
The KNDO, which has been fighting for greater autonomy for the Karen people since 1947, is among the ethnic armed groups that have strongly opposed the military takeover. 
 
The junta's forces have killed more than 860 people since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group. The junta has said the number is much lower. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar's junta-controlled media on Monday accused an ethnic armed group of killing 25 construction workers in the east of the country after abducting a group of 47 people last month.

Myanmar's junta-controlled media on Monday accused an ethnic armed group of killing 25 construction workers in the east of the country after abducting a group of 47 people last month. The Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) could not be reached for comment on the accusation. The junta spokesman did not answer calls to seek further comment. Conflicts in Myanmar's borderlands have reignited in several places since the army seized power on February 1 and overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper and army controlled Myawaddy Television showed pictures of what appeared to be 25 dead bodies laid in a forest clearing. They said the men had been working on the Uhu Creek Bridge in the Myawaddy District, near the border with Thailand, and were abducted from the construction site on May 31 in a group that also included 10 children and six women. The Global New Light of Myanmar said a total of seven bodies were found on June 11, one burnt and the others with hands tied behind their backs. It said the other 18 bodies were found on June 12. "Officials from the bridge construction site checked the dead bodies with their identities to inform parents and relatives," it said. Fighting has intensified in eastern Myanmar since the coup and clashes have driven thousands of people from their homes. The KNDO, which has been fighting for greater autonomy for the Karen people since 1947, is among the ethnic armed groups that have strongly opposed the military takeover. The junta's forces have killed more than 860 people since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group. The junta has said the number is much lower. (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar junta media accuse ethnic army of killing 25 workers

Cambodia has deployed its next generation of rat recruits to sniff out landmines as part of efforts to boost de-mining operations in a country plagued for decades by unexploded ordnance (UXO). 
 
Twenty African giant pouched rats were recently imported from Tanzania and have undergone intense training. 
 
"They are all easy to work with and they don't care about, who their handlers are," said handler So Malen, during an exercise on Friday for seven recruits in Preah Vihear province, bordering Thailand. 
 
"Any one of us can be their handler and most importantly, they don't bite." 
 
Scarred by decades of civil war, Cambodia is one of the world's most heavily landmined countries, with more than 1,000 sq km (621 sq miles) of land still contaminated. 
 
It has among the highest number of amputees per capita, with more than 40,000 people losing limbs to explosives. 
 
The new rat batch replaces a recently retired group that includes Magawa, who found 71 landmines and 38 UXO during his five-year career, according to APOPO, an international organisation that specialises in using rats to detect landmines and tuberculosis. 
 
Magawa received a gold medal last year from Britain's People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for 'lifesaving bravery and devotion to duty'. 
 
Handler So Malen said the rats have an extraordinary sense of smell that guarantees results, and that all that separated them was their work rate. 
 
"The small difference is that Magawa is a hero rat, who worked faster than others," So Malen said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Cambodia has deployed its next generation of rat recruits to sniff out landmines as part of efforts to boost de-mining operations in a country plagued for decades by unexploded ordnance (UXO).

Cambodia has deployed its next generation of rat recruits to sniff out landmines as part of efforts to boost de-mining operations in a country plagued for decades by unexploded ordnance (UXO). Twenty African giant pouched rats were recently imported from Tanzania and have undergone intense training. "They are all easy to work with and they don't care about, who their handlers are," said handler So Malen, during an exercise on Friday for seven recruits in Preah Vihear province, bordering Thailand. "Any one of us can be their handler and most importantly, they don't bite." Scarred by decades of civil war, Cambodia is one of the world's most heavily landmined countries, with more than 1,000 sq km (621 sq miles) of land still contaminated. It has among the highest number of amputees per capita, with more than 40,000 people losing limbs to explosives. The new rat batch replaces a recently retired group that includes Magawa, who found 71 landmines and 38 UXO during his five-year career, according to APOPO, an international organisation that specialises in using rats to detect landmines and tuberculosis. Magawa received a gold medal last year from Britain's People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for 'lifesaving bravery and devotion to duty'. Handler So Malen said the rats have an extraordinary sense of smell that guarantees results, and that all that separated them was their work rate. "The small difference is that Magawa is a hero rat, who worked faster than others," So Malen said. (With inputs from agencies)

Cambodia deploys new batch of rat recruits to sniff out landmines

Taiwan will be a 'force for good' and continue to seek even greater international support, the presidential office said, after the Chinese-claimed island won unprecedented backing from the Group of Seven of major democracies. 
 
The G7 leaders on Sunday scolded China over human rights in Xinjiang, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy and underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. 
 
Taiwan presidential office spokesman Xavier Chang said this was the first time the G7 leaders' communique has stressed the importance of peace and stability in the strait and first time since its founding there was 'content friendly to Taiwan', expressing deep thanks for the support. 
 
Taiwan and G7 member countries share basic values, such as democracy, freedom, and human rights, he added. 
 
"Taiwan will certainly adhere to its role as a responsible member of the region, and it will also firmly defend the democratic system and safeguard shared universal values," Chang said. 
 
Taiwan will continue to deepen its partnership with G7 states and other like-minded countries and strive for greater support from the international community, he said. 
 
Taiwan will also 'firmly contribute the greatest force for good' for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Chang added. 
 
China has stepped up its pressure against democratically-run Taiwan in recent months, with regular military drills near the island as it tries to assert Beijing's sovereignty. 
 
While most countries, including G7 members, have no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the grouping along with other Western allies have been bolstering their backing for the island. 
 
That includes calling for Taiwan to be given proper access to the World Health Organization during the coronavirus pandemic. Taiwan is not a member due to Chinese objections, which considers it merely one of its provinces with no right to the trappings of a state. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan will be a 'force for good' and continue to seek even greater international support, the presidential office said, after the Chinese-claimed island won unprecedented backing from the Group of Seven of major democracies.

Taiwan will be a 'force for good' and continue to seek even greater international support, the presidential office said, after the Chinese-claimed island won unprecedented backing from the Group of Seven of major democracies. The G7 leaders on Sunday scolded China over human rights in Xinjiang, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy and underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan presidential office spokesman Xavier Chang said this was the first time the G7 leaders' communique has stressed the importance of peace and stability in the strait and first time since its founding there was 'content friendly to Taiwan', expressing deep thanks for the support. Taiwan and G7 member countries share basic values, such as democracy, freedom, and human rights, he added. "Taiwan will certainly adhere to its role as a responsible member of the region, and it will also firmly defend the democratic system and safeguard shared universal values," Chang said. Taiwan will continue to deepen its partnership with G7 states and other like-minded countries and strive for greater support from the international community, he said. Taiwan will also 'firmly contribute the greatest force for good' for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Chang added. China has stepped up its pressure against democratically-run Taiwan in recent months, with regular military drills near the island as it tries to assert Beijing's sovereignty. While most countries, including G7 members, have no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the grouping along with other Western allies have been bolstering their backing for the island. That includes calling for Taiwan to be given proper access to the World Health Organization during the coronavirus pandemic. Taiwan is not a member due to Chinese objections, which considers it merely one of its provinces with no right to the trappings of a state. (With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan says will be 'force for good' after unprecedented G7 support

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce on Monday that the end of COVID-19 restrictions will be delayed following concern about the rapid rise of infections of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. 
 
Under a roadmap outlined by Johnson back in February, the government signalled all social restrictions imposed to control the spread of the disease would be lifted 'no earlier' than June 21, when pubs, clubs and other hospitality venues could fully reopen. 
 
But, in recent weeks there has been a fast growth again in the number of new cases caused by the Delta variant, first discovered in India, which health officials believe to be 60% more transmissible than the previous dominant strain and scientists warn could trigger a third wave of infections. 
 
Johnson has refused to deny suggestions in the British media that the end of lockdown would be delayed by up to a month, saying in recent days there was 'serious concern' about rising infections and hospitalisations. 
 
"We're continuing to look at the data, no final decision has been taken and the right time to fill everybody in on what we're going to do with ... June the 21st is tomorrow," Johnson told reporters at the conclusion of the Group of Seven leader's summit on Sunday. 
 
"That's when we'll be putting out the whole package of information so that everybody can see it together." 
 
On Sunday, Britain recorded 7,490 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths, with the number of new infections rising almost 50% between June 7 and 13 compared with the previous week. Hospitalisations were up 15% between June 2 and 8 compared with the previous seven days. 
 
The government has stressed any easing of restrictions would be irreversible, meaning it would always act with caution. 
 
The hesitancy comes despite Britain having one of the fastest rollouts of COVID-19 vaccinations in the world, with more than 41 million people having had their first shot. Nearly 30 million receiving both doses - about 56% of the adult population. 
 
Foreign minister Dominic Raab said the critical issue was data on the link between transmission of the virus and hospitalisations. 
 
"We know we've made great progress and weakening the link between transmission ... and hospitalisation and of course those who are more seriously sick," he told BBC TV on Sunday. "The question is whether we've severed and broken it." 
 
Hospitality bosses have said there must be more government support for businesses to keep them afloat if the lockdown restrictions are kept in place. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce on Monday that the end of COVID-19 restrictions will be delayed following concern about the rapid rise of infections of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce on Monday that the end of COVID-19 restrictions will be delayed following concern about the rapid rise of infections of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. Under a roadmap outlined by Johnson back in February, the government signalled all social restrictions imposed to control the spread of the disease would be lifted 'no earlier' than June 21, when pubs, clubs and other hospitality venues could fully reopen. But, in recent weeks there has been a fast growth again in the number of new cases caused by the Delta variant, first discovered in India, which health officials believe to be 60% more transmissible than the previous dominant strain and scientists warn could trigger a third wave of infections. Johnson has refused to deny suggestions in the British media that the end of lockdown would be delayed by up to a month, saying in recent days there was 'serious concern' about rising infections and hospitalisations. "We're continuing to look at the data, no final decision has been taken and the right time to fill everybody in on what we're going to do with ... June the 21st is tomorrow," Johnson told reporters at the conclusion of the Group of Seven leader's summit on Sunday. "That's when we'll be putting out the whole package of information so that everybody can see it together." On Sunday, Britain recorded 7,490 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths, with the number of new infections rising almost 50% between June 7 and 13 compared with the previous week. Hospitalisations were up 15% between June 2 and 8 compared with the previous seven days. The government has stressed any easing of restrictions would be irreversible, meaning it would always act with caution. The hesitancy comes despite Britain having one of the fastest rollouts of COVID-19 vaccinations in the world, with more than 41 million people having had their first shot. Nearly 30 million receiving both doses - about 56% of the adult population. Foreign minister Dominic Raab said the critical issue was data on the link between transmission of the virus and hospitalisations. "We know we've made great progress and weakening the link between transmission ... and hospitalisation and of course those who are more seriously sick," he told BBC TV on Sunday. "The question is whether we've severed and broken it." Hospitality bosses have said there must be more government support for businesses to keep them afloat if the lockdown restrictions are kept in place. (With inputs from agencies)

UK PM set to announce delay to end of COVID-19 restrictions

The head of the World Trade Organization said on Monday, she hoped that members could reach an agreement by July on improving access to COVID-19 vaccines after months of talks on waiving drug firms' intellectual property rights. 
 
"It's going to be tough because there are still differences but we hope we can get to a pragmatic approach," Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told a virtual UN&nbsp;forum. 
 
"I'm in a hurry and I want us to get some agreement by July because lives are important."

Recently, after months of debate, WTO members took a first, small step towards a deal aimed at boosting the production of Covid vaccines and treatments through patent waivers or compulsory licensing deals.

The World Trade Organization has struggled to move forward on the hotly debated issue, since all decisions at the global trade body must be reached by consensus of all 164 member states.

But during a meeting, countries finally backed launching a process towards drafting an agreement, and 'agreed on the urgency of this discussion', a Geneva-based trade official said.

Views on the matter meanwhile remain far apart, the trade official said, adding that an initial report on progress in the text-based discussions was expected around July 21-22.

Since October, the WTO has faced calls led by India and South Africa for the temporary removal of such intellectual property protections, in what proponents argue will boost production in developing countries of vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and other vital medical tools needed to battle Covid.

This, they have argued, could help address the dire inequity in access to vaccines especially.

That notion long met with fierce opposition from pharmaceutical giants and their host countries, which insisted patents were not the main roadblocks to scaling up production and warned the move could hamper innovation.

The positions seemed to shift some last month, when Washington came out in support of a global patent waiver for Covid jabs, with other long-time opponents voicing openness to discuss the matter.

But others have stuck to their guns.

Some countries, like Switzerland, prefer a scenario in which pharmaceutical companies enter into voluntary licensing deals, as AstraZeneca has done with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to make its Covid jabs.

And the European Commission last Friday presented a counter-proposal to the WTO calling for a multilateral pact aimed at boosting production of Covid-19 vaccines, not by suspending patents but through compulsory licensing deals and by urging countries to remove export restrictions.

That text, along with a revised proposal by India and South Africa that is backed by more than 60 countries, will form the basis for the negotiations.

Addressing Wednesday's debate, US Charge d'affaires David Bisbee stressed Washington's strong belief in IP protections.

"But we must do what is necessary to accelerate manufacturing and equitable distribution of vaccines," he said, insisting that "the WTO must show that it can step up in a global crisis and act efficiently to improve the lives of ordinary people."

"We must all come together to find a solution expeditiously, especially as the pandemic continues to spread with new variants."

Bisbee said Washington was still examining the revised proposal from India and South Africa, adding though that it appeared to mark a "relatively modest change".&nbsp;

The head of the World Trade Organization said on Monday, she hoped that members could reach an agreement by July on improving access to COVID-19 vaccines after months of talks on waiving drug firms' intellectual property rights.

The head of the World Trade Organization said on Monday, she hoped that members could reach an agreement by July on improving access to COVID-19 vaccines after months of talks on waiving drug firms' intellectual property rights. "It's going to be tough because there are still differences but we hope we can get to a pragmatic approach," Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told a virtual UN forum. "I'm in a hurry and I want us to get some agreement by July because lives are important." Recently, after months of debate, WTO members took a first, small step towards a deal aimed at boosting the production of Covid vaccines and treatments through patent waivers or compulsory licensing deals. The World Trade Organization has struggled to move forward on the hotly debated issue, since all decisions at the global trade body must be reached by consensus of all 164 member states. But during a meeting, countries finally backed launching a process towards drafting an agreement, and 'agreed on the urgency of this discussion', a Geneva-based trade official said. Views on the matter meanwhile remain far apart, the trade official said, adding that an initial report on progress in the text-based discussions was expected around July 21-22. Since October, the WTO has faced calls led by India and South Africa for the temporary removal of such intellectual property protections, in what proponents argue will boost production in developing countries of vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and other vital medical tools needed to battle Covid. This, they have argued, could help address the dire inequity in access to vaccines especially. That notion long met with fierce opposition from pharmaceutical giants and their host countries, which insisted patents were not the main roadblocks to scaling up production and warned the move could hamper innovation. The positions seemed to shift some last month, when Washington came out in support of a global patent waiver for Covid jabs, with other long-time opponents voicing openness to discuss the matter. But others have stuck to their guns. Some countries, like Switzerland, prefer a scenario in which pharmaceutical companies enter into voluntary licensing deals, as AstraZeneca has done with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to make its Covid jabs. And the European Commission last Friday presented a counter-proposal to the WTO calling for a multilateral pact aimed at boosting production of Covid-19 vaccines, not by suspending patents but through compulsory licensing deals and by urging countries to remove export restrictions. That text, along with a revised proposal by India and South Africa that is backed by more than 60 countries, will form the basis for the negotiations. Addressing Wednesday's debate, US Charge d'affaires David Bisbee stressed Washington's strong belief in IP protections. "But we must do what is necessary to accelerate manufacturing and equitable distribution of vaccines," he said, insisting that "the WTO must show that it can step up in a global crisis and act efficiently to improve the lives of ordinary people." "We must all come together to find a solution expeditiously, especially as the pandemic continues to spread with new variants." Bisbee said Washington was still examining the revised proposal from India and South Africa, adding though that it appeared to mark a "relatively modest change".

WTO head hopes for deal by July on vaccine-sharing

Lithuania told a summit of NATO leaders on Monday that Russia was trying to 'swallow' Belarus and that the Western military alliance needed to be united in deterring Moscow. 
 
"Belarus is losing the last elements of the independence, and those trends are very dangerous," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on arriving to the talks. 
 
"I would expect that (US) President Biden will send a very clear message about the decisiveness and unity of NATO, and will react with very clear messages to what is happening," he said, adding that NATO won't have closer ties with Russia for as long as Moscow does not change its course.

Recently,&nbsp;according to the Russian military, the country's defence forces started large-scale drills in the central part of the Pacific Ocean.

The Russian defence ministry said, "an operational exercise of the fleet’s combined arms forces is running in the distant maritime zone."

The Russian military exercise involves submarines and missile cruiser including the anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Panteleyev and the MiG-31 interceptor.

Russia has sent twenty warships including support vessels for the exercise along with the frigate "Marshal Shaposhnikov". The Russian navy will also showcase the Tu-142mz long-range anti-submarine aircraft during the exercise.

The Russian defence military's move comes as NATO launched one of its biggest air and missile exercise named “At-Sea-Demo/Formidable Shield” involving ten nations off Norway and Scotland last month.

NATO said part of the exercise was to 'detect and track' missiles at 20,000 km per hour.

"Ships will also defend against an array of anti-ship and other sub and supersonic missiles," NATO declared.

The NATO exercise ended on June 3 as several nations including France, Germany, Italy, UK, the US and Belgium took part.

Lithuania told a summit of NATO leaders on Monday that Russia was trying to 'swallow' Belarus and that the Western military alliance needed to be united in deterring Moscow.

Lithuania told a summit of NATO leaders on Monday that Russia was trying to 'swallow' Belarus and that the Western military alliance needed to be united in deterring Moscow. "Belarus is losing the last elements of the independence, and those trends are very dangerous," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on arriving to the talks. "I would expect that (US) President Biden will send a very clear message about the decisiveness and unity of NATO, and will react with very clear messages to what is happening," he said, adding that NATO won't have closer ties with Russia for as long as Moscow does not change its course. Recently, according to the Russian military, the country's defence forces started large-scale drills in the central part of the Pacific Ocean. The Russian defence ministry said, "an operational exercise of the fleet’s combined arms forces is running in the distant maritime zone." The Russian military exercise involves submarines and missile cruiser including the anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Panteleyev and the MiG-31 interceptor. Russia has sent twenty warships including support vessels for the exercise along with the frigate "Marshal Shaposhnikov". The Russian navy will also showcase the Tu-142mz long-range anti-submarine aircraft during the exercise. The Russian defence military's move comes as NATO launched one of its biggest air and missile exercise named “At-Sea-Demo/Formidable Shield” involving ten nations off Norway and Scotland last month. NATO said part of the exercise was to 'detect and track' missiles at 20,000 km per hour. "Ships will also defend against an array of anti-ship and other sub and supersonic missiles," NATO declared. The NATO exercise ended on June 3 as several nations including France, Germany, Italy, UK, the US and Belgium took part.

At NATO, Lithuania says Russia trying to 'swallow' Belarus

US&nbsp;citizen Nathan Maung has been released from detention in Myanmar and is due to fly out of the country on Tuesday, his lawyer Tin Zar Oo told Reuters. 
 
A court dismissed the case against the editor at Kamayut Media after the plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit, Tin Zar Oo said on Monday. 
 
The United States had expressed concern over the detention of Nathan Maung and another US&nbsp;citizen, Daniel Fenster, by the military authorities in the Southeast Asian country.

US citizen Nathan Maung has been released from detention in Myanmar and is due to fly out of the country on Tuesday, his lawyer Tin Zar Oo told Reuters. A court dismissed the case against the editor at Kamayut Media after the plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit, Tin Zar Oo said on Monday.

US citizen Nathan Maung has been released from detention in Myanmar and is due to fly out of the country on Tuesday, his lawyer Tin Zar Oo told Reuters. A court dismissed the case against the editor at Kamayut Media after the plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit, Tin Zar Oo said on Monday. The United States had expressed concern over the detention of Nathan Maung and another US citizen, Daniel Fenster, by the military authorities in the Southeast Asian country.

US journalist Nathan Maung released from detention in Myanmar: Lawyer

French European Affairs junior minister Clement Beaune said on Monday that current tensions over Brexit between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government and the European Union were 'a test' for Europe. 
 
The tensions between Britain and the EU threatened to overshadow the Group of Seven summit's conclusion on Sunday, with London accusing France of 'offensive' remarks that Northern Ireland was not part of the United Kingdom. 
 
"Mr Johnson thinks that you can sign deals with the Europeans and not respect them and that Europe will not react. It is a test for Europe," Beaune told Europe 1 radio. 
 
"I am telling the British people, (Brexit) commitments must be respected... If it is not the case, retaliatory measures could be taken," Beaune added. 
 
During talks with Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit, Johnson queried how the French president would react if Toulouse sausages could not be sold in Paris markets, echoing London's accusation that the EU is preventing sales of British chilled meats in Northern Ireland. 
 
"In Northern Ireland, there are sausage import problems... Why? Because when you leave the European Union, you have necessarily some (trade) barriers," Beaune said. 
 
"I cannot tell the French or the Europeans that Britain can export via (EU member) Ireland some products, such as meat without any control... That is what it is all about. Brexit has consequences."

French European Affairs junior minister Clement Beaune said on Monday that current tensions over Brexit between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government and the European Union were 'a test' for Europe.

French European Affairs junior minister Clement Beaune said on Monday that current tensions over Brexit between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government and the European Union were 'a test' for Europe. The tensions between Britain and the EU threatened to overshadow the Group of Seven summit's conclusion on Sunday, with London accusing France of 'offensive' remarks that Northern Ireland was not part of the United Kingdom. "Mr Johnson thinks that you can sign deals with the Europeans and not respect them and that Europe will not react. It is a test for Europe," Beaune told Europe 1 radio. "I am telling the British people, (Brexit) commitments must be respected... If it is not the case, retaliatory measures could be taken," Beaune added. During talks with Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit, Johnson queried how the French president would react if Toulouse sausages could not be sold in Paris markets, echoing London's accusation that the EU is preventing sales of British chilled meats in Northern Ireland. "In Northern Ireland, there are sausage import problems... Why? Because when you leave the European Union, you have necessarily some (trade) barriers," Beaune said. "I cannot tell the French or the Europeans that Britain can export via (EU member) Ireland some products, such as meat without any control... That is what it is all about. Brexit has consequences."

Brexit tensions are a test for Europe, says French minister

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that New Zealand's Muslim community should be the focus of any film about the Christchurch mosque attacks after some people raised objections to a movie focussing on her response to the bloodshed. 
 
A film called 'They Are Us' is being planned about the attacks on two mosques by a white supremacist gunman on March 15, 2019, in which 51 people were killed, the Hollywood Reporter said last week. 
 
The magazine described the film as an 'inspirational story' about Ardern's response to the violence. 
 
Ardern's office said last week, she and the government had no involvement with the film. Asked about it at a news conference, she said the Muslim community should be at the centre of any film about the shootings, not her. 
 
"This is very raw event for New Zealand and even more so for the community that experienced it," Ardern said. 
 
"I agree that there are stories that at some point should be told from March 15. But they are the stories from our Muslim community so they need to be at the centre of that. I don't consider mine to be one of the stories that needs to be told," she said. 
 
She said, however, it was not for her to say whether a project should go ahead or not. 
 
The film's title is drawn from Ardern's words on the day of the shootings. The 40-year-old leader's compassionate response united her shocked country and was praised globally. 
 
New Zealander Andrew Niccol would write and direct the film, the Hollywood Reporter said. It quoted him as saying it was not so much about the attacks but Ardern's handling of it. 
 
But some Muslims questioned the plan to make a film when the pain of victims' families, friends and the wider community was still so raw. They also questioned the plan to focus the film on the prime minister and not the victims. 
 
Muslim community advocate Guled Mire told the 1 NEWS network that he thought the film was 'distasteful'. 
 
"It completely feeds into this white saviour mentality," he said. 
 
Armed with high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, Australian Brenton Tarrant killed the 51 people and injured dozens when he opened fire in the two mosques during Friday prayers in Christchurch. 
 
Tarrant was last year sentenced to life in prison without parole. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that New Zealand's Muslim community should be the focus of any film about the Christchurch mosque attacks after some people raised objections to a movie focussing on her response to the bloodshed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that New Zealand's Muslim community should be the focus of any film about the Christchurch mosque attacks after some people raised objections to a movie focussing on her response to the bloodshed. A film called 'They Are Us' is being planned about the attacks on two mosques by a white supremacist gunman on March 15, 2019, in which 51 people were killed, the Hollywood Reporter said last week. The magazine described the film as an 'inspirational story' about Ardern's response to the violence. Ardern's office said last week, she and the government had no involvement with the film. Asked about it at a news conference, she said the Muslim community should be at the centre of any film about the shootings, not her. "This is very raw event for New Zealand and even more so for the community that experienced it," Ardern said. "I agree that there are stories that at some point should be told from March 15. But they are the stories from our Muslim community so they need to be at the centre of that. I don't consider mine to be one of the stories that needs to be told," she said. She said, however, it was not for her to say whether a project should go ahead or not. The film's title is drawn from Ardern's words on the day of the shootings. The 40-year-old leader's compassionate response united her shocked country and was praised globally. New Zealander Andrew Niccol would write and direct the film, the Hollywood Reporter said. It quoted him as saying it was not so much about the attacks but Ardern's handling of it. But some Muslims questioned the plan to make a film when the pain of victims' families, friends and the wider community was still so raw. They also questioned the plan to focus the film on the prime minister and not the victims. Muslim community advocate Guled Mire told the 1 NEWS network that he thought the film was 'distasteful'. "It completely feeds into this white saviour mentality," he said. Armed with high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, Australian Brenton Tarrant killed the 51 people and injured dozens when he opened fire in the two mosques during Friday prayers in Christchurch. Tarrant was last year sentenced to life in prison without parole. (With inputs from agencies)

Ardern says New Zealand mosque attack film should focus on Muslim community, not her

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