The United States will donate 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan as part of the country's plan to share shots globally, US&nbsp;Senator Tammy Duckworth said on Sunday, offering a much-needed boost to the island's fight against the pandemic. 
 
Taiwan is dealing with a spike in domestic cases but has been affected like many places by global vaccines shortages. Only around 3% of its 23.5 million people have been vaccinated, with most getting only the first shot of two needed. 
 
Speaking at Taipei's downtown Songshan airport after arriving on a brief visit with fellow Senators Dan Sullivan and Christopher Coons, Duckworth said Taiwan would be getting 750,000 doses as part of the first tranche of US&nbsp;donations. 
 
"It was critical to the United States that Taiwan be included in the first group to receive vaccines because we recognise your urgent need and we value this partnership," she said at a news conference. She did not give details of which vaccines Taiwan would get or when. 
 
Taiwan has complained about China, which claims the democratically-ruled island as its own, trying to block the island from accessing vaccines internationally, which Beijing has denied. 
 
Standing by Duckworth's side, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu thanked the United States for the donation. 
 
"While we are doing our best to import vaccines, we must overcome obstacles to ensure that these life-saving medicines are delivered free from trouble from Beijing," he said. 
 
China has offered Taiwan Chinese-made vaccines, but the government in Taipei has repeatedly expressed concern about their safety, and in any case cannot import them without changing Taiwanese law, which bans their import. 
 
The senators will also meet with President Tsai Ing-wen to discuss security and other issues. 
 
US&nbsp;senators and congressmen visit Taiwan routinely in normal times, but coming in the middle of an upswing in infections on the island when its borders remain largely closed to visitors is a strong show of support. 
 
Unusually, they also arrived on a US&nbsp;Air Force C-17 Globemaster III freighter, rather than a private jet as is generally the case for senior US&nbsp;visitors. 
 
Taiwan's vaccine arrivals have been gathering pace. 
 
Japan delivered to Taiwan 1.24 million doses of AstraZeneca PLC's coronavirus vaccine on Friday for free, in a gesture that more than doubled the amount of shots the island has received to date. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The United States will donate 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan as part of the country's plan to share shots globally, US Senator Tammy Duckworth said on Sunday, offering a much-needed boost to the island's fight against the pandemic.

The United States will donate 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan as part of the country's plan to share shots globally, US Senator Tammy Duckworth said on Sunday, offering a much-needed boost to the island's fight against the pandemic. Taiwan is dealing with a spike in domestic cases but has been affected like many places by global vaccines shortages. Only around 3% of its 23.5 million people have been vaccinated, with most getting only the first shot of two needed. Speaking at Taipei's downtown Songshan airport after arriving on a brief visit with fellow Senators Dan Sullivan and Christopher Coons, Duckworth said Taiwan would be getting 750,000 doses as part of the first tranche of US donations. "It was critical to the United States that Taiwan be included in the first group to receive vaccines because we recognise your urgent need and we value this partnership," she said at a news conference. She did not give details of which vaccines Taiwan would get or when. Taiwan has complained about China, which claims the democratically-ruled island as its own, trying to block the island from accessing vaccines internationally, which Beijing has denied. Standing by Duckworth's side, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu thanked the United States for the donation. "While we are doing our best to import vaccines, we must overcome obstacles to ensure that these life-saving medicines are delivered free from trouble from Beijing," he said. China has offered Taiwan Chinese-made vaccines, but the government in Taipei has repeatedly expressed concern about their safety, and in any case cannot import them without changing Taiwanese law, which bans their import. The senators will also meet with President Tsai Ing-wen to discuss security and other issues. US senators and congressmen visit Taiwan routinely in normal times, but coming in the middle of an upswing in infections on the island when its borders remain largely closed to visitors is a strong show of support. Unusually, they also arrived on a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III freighter, rather than a private jet as is generally the case for senior US visitors. Taiwan's vaccine arrivals have been gathering pace. Japan delivered to Taiwan 1.24 million doses of AstraZeneca PLC's coronavirus vaccine on Friday for free, in a gesture that more than doubled the amount of shots the island has received to date. (With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan to get 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine shots from US

There were 'armed attacks on security forces' on the outskirts of the Jordanian capital of Amman on Saturday, state media reported, citing the Interior Ministry, and witnesses said the attacks were triggered by tribal supporters of a lawmaker, who was banned from Parliament. 
 
The lawmaker, Osama al Ajarma, was banned from Parliament for a year last week for insulting the body in a speech, inciting calls for protests by members of his tribe. 
 
In a separate statement published by state news agency Petra on Saturday, Jordan's Police said four members of a security force 'dealing with the riots in the Naour area were injured and they are under treatment'. 
 
The police media spokesman said the security force had been dealing on Saturday evening with riots and burning vehicles in the Naour. 
 
The Interior Ministry said on Saturday that it would not allow any gatherings that breached the law governing public gatherings. 
 
Clashes between some unruly members of Jordan's powerful frequently take place in a country where tribes are the backbone of the security forces and the army. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

There were 'armed attacks on security forces' on the outskirts of the Jordanian capital of Amman on Saturday, state media reported, citing the Interior Ministry, and witnesses said the attacks were triggered by tribal supporters of a lawmaker, who was banned from Parliament.

There were 'armed attacks on security forces' on the outskirts of the Jordanian capital of Amman on Saturday, state media reported, citing the Interior Ministry, and witnesses said the attacks were triggered by tribal supporters of a lawmaker, who was banned from Parliament. The lawmaker, Osama al Ajarma, was banned from Parliament for a year last week for insulting the body in a speech, inciting calls for protests by members of his tribe. In a separate statement published by state news agency Petra on Saturday, Jordan's Police said four members of a security force 'dealing with the riots in the Naour area were injured and they are under treatment'. The police media spokesman said the security force had been dealing on Saturday evening with riots and burning vehicles in the Naour. The Interior Ministry said on Saturday that it would not allow any gatherings that breached the law governing public gatherings. Clashes between some unruly members of Jordan's powerful frequently take place in a country where tribes are the backbone of the security forces and the army. (With inputs from agencies)

Jordanian police attacked; witnesses cite anger over banned lawmaker

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on Saturday that he will send a bill to Congress next week to make bitcoin legal tender in the country. 
 
"In the short term, this will generate jobs and help provide financial inclusion to thousands outside the formal economy," Bukele said in a video shown at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami. 
 
Strike, a mobile payments app that launched in El Salvador in March, said in a statement that it welcomed the legislation and was working with the country to make using bitcoin technology a success. 
 
“This is the shot heard 'round the world for bitcoin," Strike founder and CEO Jack Mallers was quoted as saying at the Miami conference. 
 
"Adopting a natively digital currency as legal tender provides El Salvador the most secure, efficient and globally integrated open payments network in the world," Mallers said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on Saturday that he will send a bill to Congress next week to make bitcoin legal tender in the country. "In the short term, this will generate jobs and help provide financial inclusion to thousands outside the formal economy," Bukele said in a video shown at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on Saturday that he will send a bill to Congress next week to make bitcoin legal tender in the country. "In the short term, this will generate jobs and help provide financial inclusion to thousands outside the formal economy," Bukele said in a video shown at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami. Strike, a mobile payments app that launched in El Salvador in March, said in a statement that it welcomed the legislation and was working with the country to make using bitcoin technology a success. “This is the shot heard 'round the world for bitcoin," Strike founder and CEO Jack Mallers was quoted as saying at the Miami conference. "Adopting a natively digital currency as legal tender provides El Salvador the most secure, efficient and globally integrated open payments network in the world," Mallers said. (With inputs from agencies)

El Salvador's president says will send bill to make bitcoin legal tender

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday called for leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations to make a commitment to vaccinate the entire world against COVID-19 by the end of 2022 when they meet in Britain next week. 
 
Johnson will host the first in-person summit in almost two years of G7 leaders, which follows a meeting of the group's finance ministers which wrapped up earlier in the day and said he would seek a pledge to hit the global vaccination goal. 
 
"Vaccinating the world by the end of next year would be the single greatest feat in medical history," Johnson said in a statement. "I’m calling on my fellow G7 leaders to join us to end this terrible pandemic and pledge we will never allow the devastation wreaked by coronavirus to happen again." 
 
The leaders of Germany, France, the United States, Italy, Japan, the European Union and Canada will join Johnson for the three-day summit in Cornwall, southwest England, which begins on Friday. It will be the first overseas trip for US&nbsp;President Joe Biden since he took office in January. 
 
While the richest nations have been vaccinating large numbers of their populations, many poorer countries have not had the same access to vaccines. And health experts have warned that unless more COVID-19 shots were donated, the virus will continue to spread and mutate. 
 
US&nbsp;Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in London for the finance ministers meeting, said it was urgent for the richest nations to promote vaccinations in poorer countries that could not afford to buy them. 
 
She also repeated the US&nbsp;position that patent rights should be removed for the vaccines, and said they were doing everything they could to address supply chain problems that were preventing a build-up of shots in other parts of the world. 
 
Britain has ordered more than 500 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for its population of 67 million and says it will donate any shots it does not need. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday called for leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations to make a commitment to vaccinate the entire world against COVID-19 by the end of 2022 when they meet in Britain next week.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday called for leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations to make a commitment to vaccinate the entire world against COVID-19 by the end of 2022 when they meet in Britain next week. Johnson will host the first in-person summit in almost two years of G7 leaders, which follows a meeting of the group's finance ministers which wrapped up earlier in the day and said he would seek a pledge to hit the global vaccination goal. "Vaccinating the world by the end of next year would be the single greatest feat in medical history," Johnson said in a statement. "I’m calling on my fellow G7 leaders to join us to end this terrible pandemic and pledge we will never allow the devastation wreaked by coronavirus to happen again." The leaders of Germany, France, the United States, Italy, Japan, the European Union and Canada will join Johnson for the three-day summit in Cornwall, southwest England, which begins on Friday. It will be the first overseas trip for US President Joe Biden since he took office in January. While the richest nations have been vaccinating large numbers of their populations, many poorer countries have not had the same access to vaccines. And health experts have warned that unless more COVID-19 shots were donated, the virus will continue to spread and mutate. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in London for the finance ministers meeting, said it was urgent for the richest nations to promote vaccinations in poorer countries that could not afford to buy them. She also repeated the US position that patent rights should be removed for the vaccines, and said they were doing everything they could to address supply chain problems that were preventing a build-up of shots in other parts of the world. Britain has ordered more than 500 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for its population of 67 million and says it will donate any shots it does not need. (With inputs from agencies)

UK's Johnson calls on G7 to vaccinate world by end of 2022

The death toll from the worst militant attack in Burkina Faso in recent years has risen to 132, the government said on Saturday, after armed assailants laid siege overnight to a village in the jihadist-plagued northeast. 
 
The attackers struck during the night on Friday, killing residents of the village of Solhan in Yagha province, bordering Niger. They also burned homes and the market, the government said in a statement. 
 
It declared a 72-hour period of national mourning, describing the attackers as terrorists, although no group has claimed responsibility. Another 40 residents were wounded, government spokesperson Ousseni Tamboura later told reporters. 
 
The United Nations said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was outraged by the attack, whose victims included seven children. 
 
Despite the presence of thousands of UN&nbsp;peacekeepers, attacks by jihadists linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in West Africa's Sahel region have risen sharply since the start of the year, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, with civilians bearing the brunt. 
 
The violence in Burkina Faso has displaced more than 1.14 million people in just over two years, while the poor, arid country is hosting some 20,000 refugees from neighbouring Mali. 
 
The latest attack pushes the number killed by armed Islamists in the Sahel region to over 500 since January, according to Human Rights Watch's West Africa director, Corinne Dufka. 
 
"The dynamic is the jihadists come in, they overpower the civil defence post and engage in collective punishment against the rest of the village - it's a pattern we've seen everywhere this year," Dufka said. 
 
In March, attackers killed 137 people in coordinated raids on villages in southwestern Niger. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The death toll from the worst militant attack in Burkina Faso in recent years has risen to 132, the government said on Saturday, after armed assailants laid siege overnight to a village in the jihadist-plagued northeast.

The death toll from the worst militant attack in Burkina Faso in recent years has risen to 132, the government said on Saturday, after armed assailants laid siege overnight to a village in the jihadist-plagued northeast. The attackers struck during the night on Friday, killing residents of the village of Solhan in Yagha province, bordering Niger. They also burned homes and the market, the government said in a statement. It declared a 72-hour period of national mourning, describing the attackers as terrorists, although no group has claimed responsibility. Another 40 residents were wounded, government spokesperson Ousseni Tamboura later told reporters. The United Nations said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was outraged by the attack, whose victims included seven children. Despite the presence of thousands of UN peacekeepers, attacks by jihadists linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in West Africa's Sahel region have risen sharply since the start of the year, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, with civilians bearing the brunt. The violence in Burkina Faso has displaced more than 1.14 million people in just over two years, while the poor, arid country is hosting some 20,000 refugees from neighbouring Mali. The latest attack pushes the number killed by armed Islamists in the Sahel region to over 500 since January, according to Human Rights Watch's West Africa director, Corinne Dufka. "The dynamic is the jihadists come in, they overpower the civil defence post and engage in collective punishment against the rest of the village - it's a pattern we've seen everywhere this year," Dufka said. In March, attackers killed 137 people in coordinated raids on villages in southwestern Niger. (With inputs from agencies)

At least 132 civilians killed in Burkina Faso's worst attack in years

The head of Israel's domestic security service issued a rare warning on Saturday of possible violence during one of the most politically charged periods in decades, with the country on the verge of unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, its longest serving leader. 
 
Netanyahu is facing the prospect of an end to his 12-year run as premier after Israel's centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid announced on Wednesday that he had succeeded in forming a governing coalition following a March 23 election. 
 
The new government, yet to be sworn in, is an unlikely patchwork of left-wing, liberal, rightist, nationalist and religious parties, as well as - for the first time in Israel's history - an Arab Islamist party. 
 
Netanyahu in online posts has warned the partnership was 'a dangerous leftist government'. 
 
Some right-wing groups are angry at Naftali Bennett, head of a small ultra-nationalist party, who is slated to replace Netanyahu in a power-sharing pact with Lapid, garnering many postings attacking him on social media. 
 
Before the election, Bennett had promised he would not join the centrist Lapid, or any Arab party in a coalition. 
 
"We have recently identified a rise in increasingly extreme violent and inciteful discourse particularly on social networks," Nadav Argaman, head of the Shin Bet security force, said in a statement without mentioning any names. 
 
"This discourse may be interpreted among certain groups or individuals, as one that permits violent and illegal activity that may even cause physical harm," he said. 
 
Since Bennett announced he was joining forces with Lapid, security services have ramped up his protection with right-wing demonstrations held near the homes of his party members, hoping to keep them from joining the government. 
 
Argaman called on political and religious leaders to show responsibility and tone down potential incitements. His warning was reminiscent to some in Israel of the days leading up to the 1995 assassination of then-prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was shot by a Jewish ultra-nationalist for pursuing a land-for-peace deal with the Palestinians. 
 
Israel's left has for years pointed the finger at Netanyahu, then head of the opposition, for playing a part in incitement that preceded the assassination. Netanyahu has vehemently rejected the accusation and has repeatedly condemned Rabin's killing. 
 
Lapid and Bennett have said they hope their 'unity government' will heal deep political divides among Israelis and end hate. A poll by Israel's N12 Television's Meet the Press on Saturday showed that 46% of Israelis support the Bennett-Lapid government, 38% would prefer another election - the fifth in about two years - and 15% did not state a preference. 
 
Tensions could flare further this week, when a Jewish right-wing march is expected to pass through Jerusalem's Old City's Damascus gate. Eleven days of intense fighting broke out last month between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, sparked by Israeli-Palestinian confrontations in Jerusalem, in and around the Old City. A similar march, its route diverted at the last minute, was held the day the fighting broke out. 
 
In the nearby flashpoint East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where the potential eviction of Palestinians by Jewish settlers played a major role in the buildup to the latest Israel-Hamas conflict, scuffles broke out on Saturday. 
 
Media network Al Jazeera said one of its reporters, Givara Budeiri, had been assaulted and arrested by Israeli police while covering a protest there. 
 
A police spokesperson said that Budeiri had assaulted officers and had refused to identify herself. Footage posted online showed Budeiri, wearing a press vest, being pulled and pushed while led away by three or four officers. Al Jazeera also said the reporter's camera was smashed. 
 
Al Jazeera said the journalist was released a few hours later and was banned from entering Sheikh Jarrah for 15 days. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The head of Israel's domestic security service issued a rare warning on Saturday of possible violence during one of the most politically charged periods in decades, with the country on the verge of unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, its longest serving leader.

The head of Israel's domestic security service issued a rare warning on Saturday of possible violence during one of the most politically charged periods in decades, with the country on the verge of unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, its longest serving leader. Netanyahu is facing the prospect of an end to his 12-year run as premier after Israel's centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid announced on Wednesday that he had succeeded in forming a governing coalition following a March 23 election. The new government, yet to be sworn in, is an unlikely patchwork of left-wing, liberal, rightist, nationalist and religious parties, as well as - for the first time in Israel's history - an Arab Islamist party. Netanyahu in online posts has warned the partnership was 'a dangerous leftist government'. Some right-wing groups are angry at Naftali Bennett, head of a small ultra-nationalist party, who is slated to replace Netanyahu in a power-sharing pact with Lapid, garnering many postings attacking him on social media. Before the election, Bennett had promised he would not join the centrist Lapid, or any Arab party in a coalition. "We have recently identified a rise in increasingly extreme violent and inciteful discourse particularly on social networks," Nadav Argaman, head of the Shin Bet security force, said in a statement without mentioning any names. "This discourse may be interpreted among certain groups or individuals, as one that permits violent and illegal activity that may even cause physical harm," he said. Since Bennett announced he was joining forces with Lapid, security services have ramped up his protection with right-wing demonstrations held near the homes of his party members, hoping to keep them from joining the government. Argaman called on political and religious leaders to show responsibility and tone down potential incitements. His warning was reminiscent to some in Israel of the days leading up to the 1995 assassination of then-prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was shot by a Jewish ultra-nationalist for pursuing a land-for-peace deal with the Palestinians. Israel's left has for years pointed the finger at Netanyahu, then head of the opposition, for playing a part in incitement that preceded the assassination. Netanyahu has vehemently rejected the accusation and has repeatedly condemned Rabin's killing. Lapid and Bennett have said they hope their 'unity government' will heal deep political divides among Israelis and end hate. A poll by Israel's N12 Television's Meet the Press on Saturday showed that 46% of Israelis support the Bennett-Lapid government, 38% would prefer another election - the fifth in about two years - and 15% did not state a preference. Tensions could flare further this week, when a Jewish right-wing march is expected to pass through Jerusalem's Old City's Damascus gate. Eleven days of intense fighting broke out last month between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, sparked by Israeli-Palestinian confrontations in Jerusalem, in and around the Old City. A similar march, its route diverted at the last minute, was held the day the fighting broke out. In the nearby flashpoint East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where the potential eviction of Palestinians by Jewish settlers played a major role in the buildup to the latest Israel-Hamas conflict, scuffles broke out on Saturday. Media network Al Jazeera said one of its reporters, Givara Budeiri, had been assaulted and arrested by Israeli police while covering a protest there. A police spokesperson said that Budeiri had assaulted officers and had refused to identify herself. Footage posted online showed Budeiri, wearing a press vest, being pulled and pushed while led away by three or four officers. Al Jazeera also said the reporter's camera was smashed. Al Jazeera said the journalist was released a few hours later and was banned from entering Sheikh Jarrah for 15 days. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel domestic security warns of violence as Netanyahu faces unseating

At least 12 people were killed on Saturday in an explosion near a petrol station in the Yemeni city of Marib which members of the Saudi-backed government blamed on a missile strike by Houthi forces. 
 
A medical source said dozens of people, many of them badly burned, had been taken to Marib General Hospital and 12 of them had died of their injuries, including five children. 
 
"The rest are receiving treatment and we expect the number of victims to rise," the source added. 
 
Confirming the explosion, the Marib Governorate blamed the incident on a missile fired by the Houthi militia fighting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen's civil war. It said on Facebook that 14 people had been killed. 
 
The health and information ministers in the internationally recognised Yemeni government also blamed Houthis for the attack. 
 
"More than 17 killed and injured, including this child burned by Houthi Rocket (attack) on Marib city today," Health Minister Qasem Buhaibeh wrote on Twitter alongside a picture of a burned figure. 
 
The Houthi forces could not be reached for comment. 
 
The Marib region is the last northern stronghold of the Saudi-backed government, which has been at war against the Iran-aligned Houthi forces since 2014. 
 
A Marib resident said the explosion was near a fuel station in the Shabwani market on the outskirts of Marib. 
 
"The fire broke out while many people were there and there was a large number of casualties. Ambulances and firefighters came and many of the injured were taken to hospital," the resident said. 
 
Saudi state TV El-Ekbarayia quoted the Yemeni army as saying Houthis had "targeted civilians in Marib with a ballistic missile and a drone." Yemen's information minister, Moammar al-Eryani, made similar accusations and put the death toll at 17. 
 
Fighting over Marib and its vast gas fields has killed thousands of fighters from both sides and threatened years of peace efforts. 
 
The United States has accused the Houthis of worsening Yemen's humanitarian crisis by attacking Marib. 
 
The civil war, which has been in a military stalemate for years, has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system and foreign aggression. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

At least 12 people were killed on Saturday in an explosion near a petrol station in the Yemeni city of Marib which members of the Saudi-backed government blamed on a missile strike by Houthi forces.

At least 12 people were killed on Saturday in an explosion near a petrol station in the Yemeni city of Marib which members of the Saudi-backed government blamed on a missile strike by Houthi forces. A medical source said dozens of people, many of them badly burned, had been taken to Marib General Hospital and 12 of them had died of their injuries, including five children. "The rest are receiving treatment and we expect the number of victims to rise," the source added. Confirming the explosion, the Marib Governorate blamed the incident on a missile fired by the Houthi militia fighting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen's civil war. It said on Facebook that 14 people had been killed. The health and information ministers in the internationally recognised Yemeni government also blamed Houthis for the attack. "More than 17 killed and injured, including this child burned by Houthi Rocket (attack) on Marib city today," Health Minister Qasem Buhaibeh wrote on Twitter alongside a picture of a burned figure. The Houthi forces could not be reached for comment. The Marib region is the last northern stronghold of the Saudi-backed government, which has been at war against the Iran-aligned Houthi forces since 2014. A Marib resident said the explosion was near a fuel station in the Shabwani market on the outskirts of Marib. "The fire broke out while many people were there and there was a large number of casualties. Ambulances and firefighters came and many of the injured were taken to hospital," the resident said. Saudi state TV El-Ekbarayia quoted the Yemeni army as saying Houthis had "targeted civilians in Marib with a ballistic missile and a drone." Yemen's information minister, Moammar al-Eryani, made similar accusations and put the death toll at 17. Fighting over Marib and its vast gas fields has killed thousands of fighters from both sides and threatened years of peace efforts. The United States has accused the Houthis of worsening Yemen's humanitarian crisis by attacking Marib. The civil war, which has been in a military stalemate for years, has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system and foreign aggression. (With inputs from agencies)

Explosion in Yemeni city of Marib kills at least 12, death toll may rise

At least 14 people have died and over 240,000 affected in flash floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains in Sri Lanka, officials said on Sunday.

Rains have been pounding several districts of the island nation since Thursday night, and many houses, paddy fields and roads have been inundated, blocking traffic.

The National Disaster Management Centre chief, Maj Gen Sudantha Ranasinghe, said 245,212 people belonging to 60,674 families in 10 districts have been affected due to adverse weather conditions.

"Over 3500 families are housed in relief camps," he said, adding that 72 relief camps have been set up to accommodate over 15,000 people displaced from these families.

The deaths have been reported from Gampaha (2), Ratnapura (3), Colombo (1), Puttalam (1), Kalutara (1), Kegalle (5) and Galle (1), officials said.

While 10 people died in floods, four lost their lives in mudslides, they said. The torrential monsoon rains left several districts under water, including Kalutara, Gampaha, Colombo, Ratnapura and Kegalle.

More rains are expected in the coming days, the Meteorology Department said. The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide warnings for six of the 25 administrative districts.

At least 14 people have died and over 240,000 affected in flash floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains in Sri Lanka, officials said on Sunday. Rains have been pounding several districts of the island nation since Thursday night, and many houses, paddy fields and roads have been inundated, blocking traffic.

At least 14 people have died and over 240,000 affected in flash floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains in Sri Lanka, officials said on Sunday. Rains have been pounding several districts of the island nation since Thursday night, and many houses, paddy fields and roads have been inundated, blocking traffic. The National Disaster Management Centre chief, Maj Gen Sudantha Ranasinghe, said 245,212 people belonging to 60,674 families in 10 districts have been affected due to adverse weather conditions. "Over 3500 families are housed in relief camps," he said, adding that 72 relief camps have been set up to accommodate over 15,000 people displaced from these families. The deaths have been reported from Gampaha (2), Ratnapura (3), Colombo (1), Puttalam (1), Kalutara (1), Kegalle (5) and Galle (1), officials said. While 10 people died in floods, four lost their lives in mudslides, they said. The torrential monsoon rains left several districts under water, including Kalutara, Gampaha, Colombo, Ratnapura and Kegalle. More rains are expected in the coming days, the Meteorology Department said. The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide warnings for six of the 25 administrative districts.

14 die as heavy rains lash Sri Lanka

A minivan carrying civilian passengers in northwest Afghanistan was hit by a roadside bomb, leaving at least 11 passengers dead, including three children, an Afghan official said on Sunday.

The minivan fell into a valley with the wave of the explosion on Saturday, said Badghis provincial Gov Hesamuddin Shams, adding that rescuers were still searching for bodies in the valley.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion but the provincial government accuses the Taliban of placing the bomb to target security forces. There was no immediate response from the Taliban.&nbsp;

A minivan carrying civilian passengers in northwest Afghanistan was hit by a roadside bomb, leaving at least 11 passengers dead, including three children, an Afghan official said on Sunday.

A minivan carrying civilian passengers in northwest Afghanistan was hit by a roadside bomb, leaving at least 11 passengers dead, including three children, an Afghan official said on Sunday. The minivan fell into a valley with the wave of the explosion on Saturday, said Badghis provincial Gov Hesamuddin Shams, adding that rescuers were still searching for bodies in the valley. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion but the provincial government accuses the Taliban of placing the bomb to target security forces. There was no immediate response from the Taliban.

Afghan official: 11 killed in roadside bombing in north

India reported 1,14,460 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 60 days, while the daily positivity rate further dropped to 5.62 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

With the fresh cases, the total tally of coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 2,88,09,339.&nbsp;The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,46,759 with 2,677 daily deaths, the lowest in 42 days, while the active cases dropped below 15,00,000, the data updated at 8 am showed.

A total of 96,982 new cases were recorded in a span of 24 hours on April 6.&nbsp;Also, 20,36,311 tests were conducted on Saturday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 36,47,46,522.

The daily positivity has further declined to 5.62 per cent. It has been less than 10 per cent for 13 consecutive days, the ministry said.&nbsp;The weekly positivity rate has declined to 6.54 per cent.

The active cases have reduced to 14,77,799 comprising 5.13 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 93.67 per cent. A net decline of 77,449 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

Recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases for the 24th consecutive day. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,69,84,781, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.20 per cent, the data stated.

A total of 23,13,22,417 vaccine doses have been administered so far.&nbsp;

The 2,677 new fatalities include 741 from Maharashtra, 443 from Tamil Nadu, 365 from Karnataka, 209 from Kerala, 120 from Uttar Pradesh and 118 from West Bengal.

A total of 3,46,759 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 99,512 from Maharashtra, 31,260 from Karnataka, 26,571 from Tamil Nadu, 24,557 from Delhi, 21,151 from Uttar Pradesh, 16,152 from West Bengal, 15,009 from Punjab and 13,192 from Chhattisgarh.

The ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. "Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.&nbsp;

India reported 1,14,460 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 60 days, while the daily positivity rate further dropped to 5.62 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

India reported 1,14,460 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 60 days, while the daily positivity rate further dropped to 5.62 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. With the fresh cases, the total tally of coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 2,88,09,339. The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,46,759 with 2,677 daily deaths, the lowest in 42 days, while the active cases dropped below 15,00,000, the data updated at 8 am showed. A total of 96,982 new cases were recorded in a span of 24 hours on April 6. Also, 20,36,311 tests were conducted on Saturday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 36,47,46,522. The daily positivity has further declined to 5.62 per cent. It has been less than 10 per cent for 13 consecutive days, the ministry said. The weekly positivity rate has declined to 6.54 per cent. The active cases have reduced to 14,77,799 comprising 5.13 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 93.67 per cent. A net decline of 77,449 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. Recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases for the 24th consecutive day. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,69,84,781, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.20 per cent, the data stated. A total of 23,13,22,417 vaccine doses have been administered so far. The 2,677 new fatalities include 741 from Maharashtra, 443 from Tamil Nadu, 365 from Karnataka, 209 from Kerala, 120 from Uttar Pradesh and 118 from West Bengal. A total of 3,46,759 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 99,512 from Maharashtra, 31,260 from Karnataka, 26,571 from Tamil Nadu, 24,557 from Delhi, 21,151 from Uttar Pradesh, 16,152 from West Bengal, 15,009 from Punjab and 13,192 from Chhattisgarh. The ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. "Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

COVID-19 count in India lowest in 60 days

A new Constitutional Bench of the Nepal Supreme Court was formed on Sunday to hear a bunch of petitions against the May 22 dissolution of the House of Representatives after differences among justices over its composition delayed the crucial hearing, according to media reports.

The bench was formed by Nepal's Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana on the seniority and expertise of the Supreme Court Justices. The new Constitutional Bench includes justices Dipak Kumar Karki, Anand Mohan Bhattarai, Mira Dhungana, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and the chief justice himself, The Himalayan Times reported.

Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the 275-member House of Representatives on May 22 for the second time in five months and announced snap elections on November 12 and November 19 on the advice of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, heading a minority government.

Following the illness of Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, his successor justices Bhattarai and Khatiwada were included in the Constitutional Bench. Earlier, the hearing was affected due to a dispute in the formation of the Constitutional Bench.

Chief Justice Rana had earlier picked justices Dipak Kumar Karki, Aanand Mohan Bhattarai, Tej Bahadur KC and Bam Kumar Shrestha for the bench to hear about 30 petitions registered against the 'unconstitutional' dissolution, the report said.

As many as 146 members of the dissolved House, including Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, who had staked a claim to form the new government under Article 76 (5) of the Constitution, have also filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking reinstatement of the House.

President Bhandari rejected the separate bids of both Prime Minister Oli and the Opposition alliance's claims to form a new government, saying the 'claims were insufficient'.&nbsp;

A controversy erupted after a lawyer of Deuba raised questions over two justices picked as members of the Constitutional Bench given their previous decision on the case of reviewing the Communist Party of Nepal's unity and registration.

After the justices under question, Tej Bahadur KC and Bam Kumar Shrestha, decided not to leave the bench, two other justices picked for the Constitutional Bench chose to opt-out of the bench. This forced Chief Justice Rana to reconstitute the bench to hear the writ petitions filed against the dissolution of Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Opposition alliance issued a joint statement on Saturday condemning the Cabinet reshuffle done by the Oli government. Oli on Friday reshuffled the Cabinet. The new Cabinet has three Deputy Prime Ministers, 12 cabinet ministers and two state ministers.

Oli has made a mockery of constitutional and democratic values by reshuffling the Cabinet at a time when his move dissolving the House is sub-judice in the Supreme Court, the Opposition alliance said in a statement.

The five-party alliance also said the government's announcement in the budget that it would allow the export of river materials from the Chure range could lead to desertification of the Tarai, and thus it was an anti-national and anti-people move. The alliance also condemned the government move to allow middlemen and racketeers to supply iodised salt.

Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 last year after President Bhandari dissolved the House at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Oli's move to dissolve the House sparked protests from a large section of the NCP led by his rival Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.

However, two months later, Chief Justice Rana-led Constitutional Bench on February 23 overturned the decision and reinstated the House of Representatives.

A new Constitutional Bench of the Nepal Supreme Court was formed on Sunday to hear a bunch of petitions against the May 22 dissolution of the House of Representatives after differences among justices over its composition delayed the crucial hearing, according to media reports.

A new Constitutional Bench of the Nepal Supreme Court was formed on Sunday to hear a bunch of petitions against the May 22 dissolution of the House of Representatives after differences among justices over its composition delayed the crucial hearing, according to media reports. The bench was formed by Nepal's Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana on the seniority and expertise of the Supreme Court Justices. The new Constitutional Bench includes justices Dipak Kumar Karki, Anand Mohan Bhattarai, Mira Dhungana, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and the chief justice himself, The Himalayan Times reported. Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the 275-member House of Representatives on May 22 for the second time in five months and announced snap elections on November 12 and November 19 on the advice of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, heading a minority government. Following the illness of Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, his successor justices Bhattarai and Khatiwada were included in the Constitutional Bench. Earlier, the hearing was affected due to a dispute in the formation of the Constitutional Bench. Chief Justice Rana had earlier picked justices Dipak Kumar Karki, Aanand Mohan Bhattarai, Tej Bahadur KC and Bam Kumar Shrestha for the bench to hear about 30 petitions registered against the 'unconstitutional' dissolution, the report said. As many as 146 members of the dissolved House, including Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, who had staked a claim to form the new government under Article 76 (5) of the Constitution, have also filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking reinstatement of the House. President Bhandari rejected the separate bids of both Prime Minister Oli and the Opposition alliance's claims to form a new government, saying the 'claims were insufficient'. A controversy erupted after a lawyer of Deuba raised questions over two justices picked as members of the Constitutional Bench given their previous decision on the case of reviewing the Communist Party of Nepal's unity and registration. After the justices under question, Tej Bahadur KC and Bam Kumar Shrestha, decided not to leave the bench, two other justices picked for the Constitutional Bench chose to opt-out of the bench. This forced Chief Justice Rana to reconstitute the bench to hear the writ petitions filed against the dissolution of Parliament. Meanwhile, the Opposition alliance issued a joint statement on Saturday condemning the Cabinet reshuffle done by the Oli government. Oli on Friday reshuffled the Cabinet. The new Cabinet has three Deputy Prime Ministers, 12 cabinet ministers and two state ministers. Oli has made a mockery of constitutional and democratic values by reshuffling the Cabinet at a time when his move dissolving the House is sub-judice in the Supreme Court, the Opposition alliance said in a statement. The five-party alliance also said the government's announcement in the budget that it would allow the export of river materials from the Chure range could lead to desertification of the Tarai, and thus it was an anti-national and anti-people move. The alliance also condemned the government move to allow middlemen and racketeers to supply iodised salt. Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 last year after President Bhandari dissolved the House at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Oli's move to dissolve the House sparked protests from a large section of the NCP led by his rival Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'. However, two months later, Chief Justice Rana-led Constitutional Bench on February 23 overturned the decision and reinstated the House of Representatives.

New Constitutional Bench formed to hear petitions against House dissolution in Nepal

When the sun rises over Omaha Beach, revealing vast stretches of wet sand extending toward distant cliffs, one starts to grasp the immensity of the task faced by Allied soldiers on June 6, 1944, landing on the Nazi-occupied Normandy shore.

Several ceremonies are scheduled on Sunday to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the decisive assault that led to the liberation of France and western Europe from Nazi control, and honor those who fell.

On D-Day, more than 150,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches code-named Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold, carried by 7,000 boats.

This year on June 6, the beaches stood vast and empty as the sun rose, exactly 77 years since the dawn invasion. For the second year in a row, anniversary commemorations are marked by virus travel restrictions that have prevented veterans or families of fallen soldiers from the US, Britain, Canada and other Allied countries making the trip to France.

Only a few officials were allowed exceptions. Most public events have been cancelled, and the official ceremonies are limited to a small number of selected guests and dignitaries.

Denis van den Brink, a WWII expert working for the town of Carentan, site of a strategic battle near Utah Beach, acknowledged the 'big loss, the big absence is all the veterans who couldn't travel'.&nbsp;"That really hurts us very much because they are all around 95, 100 years old, and we hope they're going to last forever. But, you know..." he said.

"At least we remain in a certain spirit of commemoration, which is the most important," he said. Over the anniversary weekend, many local residents have come out to visit the monuments marking the key moments of the fight and show their gratitude to the soldiers.

Dozens of French World War II history enthusiasts, and a few travellers from neighbouring European countries, could also be seen in jeeps and military vehicles on the small roads of Normandy.

Some reenactors came to Omaha Beach in the early hours of the day to pay tribute to those who fell that day, bringing flowers and American flags.

On D-Day, 4,414 Allied troops lost their lives, 2,501 of them Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded. On the German side, several thousand were killed or wounded.

A few kilometers (miles) away from Omaha Beach, the British Normandy Memorial is to be inaugurated on Sunday outside the village of Ver-sur-Mer. Visitors stand in awe at the solemnity and serenity of the place providing a spectacular view over Gold Beach and the English Channel.

The monument, built under a project launched in 2016, pays tribute to those under British command who died on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy. The names of more than 22,000 men and women, mostly British soldiers, are written on its stone columns.

Later on Sunday, another ceremony will take place at the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, on a bluff overseeing Omaha Beach. Charles Shay, 96, a Penobscot Native American, who now lives in Normandy, is expected to be the only veteran present in person. Some other veterans, and families of soldiers, will be able to watch the broadcast on social media.

The cemetery contains 9,380 graves, most of them for servicemen, who lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. Another 1,557 names are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing. Normandy has more than 20 military cemeteries holding mostly Americans, Germans, French, British, Canadians and Polish troops, who took part in the historic battle.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

When the sun rises over Omaha Beach, revealing vast stretches of wet sand extending toward distant cliffs, one starts to grasp the immensity of the task faced by Allied soldiers on June 6, 1944, landing on the Nazi-occupied Normandy shore.

When the sun rises over Omaha Beach, revealing vast stretches of wet sand extending toward distant cliffs, one starts to grasp the immensity of the task faced by Allied soldiers on June 6, 1944, landing on the Nazi-occupied Normandy shore. Several ceremonies are scheduled on Sunday to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the decisive assault that led to the liberation of France and western Europe from Nazi control, and honor those who fell. On D-Day, more than 150,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches code-named Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold, carried by 7,000 boats. This year on June 6, the beaches stood vast and empty as the sun rose, exactly 77 years since the dawn invasion. For the second year in a row, anniversary commemorations are marked by virus travel restrictions that have prevented veterans or families of fallen soldiers from the US, Britain, Canada and other Allied countries making the trip to France. Only a few officials were allowed exceptions. Most public events have been cancelled, and the official ceremonies are limited to a small number of selected guests and dignitaries. Denis van den Brink, a WWII expert working for the town of Carentan, site of a strategic battle near Utah Beach, acknowledged the 'big loss, the big absence is all the veterans who couldn't travel'. "That really hurts us very much because they are all around 95, 100 years old, and we hope they're going to last forever. But, you know..." he said. "At least we remain in a certain spirit of commemoration, which is the most important," he said. Over the anniversary weekend, many local residents have come out to visit the monuments marking the key moments of the fight and show their gratitude to the soldiers. Dozens of French World War II history enthusiasts, and a few travellers from neighbouring European countries, could also be seen in jeeps and military vehicles on the small roads of Normandy. Some reenactors came to Omaha Beach in the early hours of the day to pay tribute to those who fell that day, bringing flowers and American flags. On D-Day, 4,414 Allied troops lost their lives, 2,501 of them Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded. On the German side, several thousand were killed or wounded. A few kilometers (miles) away from Omaha Beach, the British Normandy Memorial is to be inaugurated on Sunday outside the village of Ver-sur-Mer. Visitors stand in awe at the solemnity and serenity of the place providing a spectacular view over Gold Beach and the English Channel. The monument, built under a project launched in 2016, pays tribute to those under British command who died on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy. The names of more than 22,000 men and women, mostly British soldiers, are written on its stone columns. Later on Sunday, another ceremony will take place at the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, on a bluff overseeing Omaha Beach. Charles Shay, 96, a Penobscot Native American, who now lives in Normandy, is expected to be the only veteran present in person. Some other veterans, and families of soldiers, will be able to watch the broadcast on social media. The cemetery contains 9,380 graves, most of them for servicemen, who lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. Another 1,557 names are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing. Normandy has more than 20 military cemeteries holding mostly Americans, Germans, French, British, Canadians and Polish troops, who took part in the historic battle. (With inputs from agencies)

Normandy commemorates D-Day with small crowds, but big heart

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Gandharv Walia

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