It's official now. The Quad will hold its first-ever summit this week on Friday. Leaders from the United States, Japan, India and Australia will hold a virtual summit. The agenda will be wide-ranging but the focus is clear-- countering the common threat-- and the warning is specific. It comes from Admiral Philip Davidson, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific command.&nbsp;

Davidson says, "China is the greatest long term strategic threat to security in the 21st century and if the US and its allies do not act, they could be left behind."&nbsp;

China's approach to the region includes an effort of coercing, corrupt and collapse governments, businesses, organisations and the people of the Indo-Pacific.&nbsp;

As China continues to increase the size of the PLA and advance their own joint capabilities, the military imbalance in the Indo-Pacific is becoming more unfavourable for the United States and its allies.&nbsp;

So what is the threat assessment of the commander?&nbsp;

China is speeding up plans to overtake the US on the world stage but the threat is not limited to the US. China could invade Taiwan within the next six years. The Chinese military is expanding its assets in the region and the US believes the level of deterrence is reducing.

What about India?&nbsp;

The admiral had something to say about India too. It's about the border standoff. The US commander says it's not over yet. "The PLA has not yet withdrawn from several forward positions it seized following the initial clash, and the consequent escalation of tensions between the PRC and India has resulted in casualties on both sides.”&nbsp;

The commander believes Chinese aggression on the LAC is a manifestation of Beijing's 'expansionary territorial ambitions'. China's large-scale mobilisation of troops is a matter of concern, not just for India but for the US too. Admiral Davidson told US lawmakers that China had deployed 'roughly 50,000&nbsp;soldiers' along the LAC. He believes this was a major move. Such a massive deployment on difficult terrain signals that Beijing is ready to use force to achieve desired outcomes. It raises the threat of war so any country that has interests in the Indo-Pacific, must be wary of China's growing military moves. So, what's the solution?&nbsp;

The US military establishment is banking on the Quad. While testifying before the lawmakers, Admiral Davidson described the Quad as ''a diamond of democracies''.&nbsp;

The US defence department says building alliances with partners is now 'tremendously important' as the statement suggests the Quad cannot just have a military dimension. It must have a bigger mandate. The Quad could change the way the world approaches global economy, critical technologies like telecommunications and 5G, and even collaboration on the international order.&nbsp;

The potential of the Quad is immense but what has been lacking is the political will as the leaders sit down for their first summit on this Friday. They should appreciate the weight of expectations and the criticality of their situation.&nbsp;

It's official now. The Quad will hold its first-ever summit this week on Friday. Leaders from the United States, Japan, India and Australia will hold a virtual summit.

It's official now. The Quad will hold its first-ever summit this week on Friday. Leaders from the United States, Japan, India and Australia will hold a virtual summit. The agenda will be wide-ranging but the focus is clear-- countering the common threat-- and the warning is specific. It comes from Admiral Philip Davidson, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific command. Davidson says, "China is the greatest long term strategic threat to security in the 21st century and if the US and its allies do not act, they could be left behind." China's approach to the region includes an effort of coercing, corrupt and collapse governments, businesses, organisations and the people of the Indo-Pacific. As China continues to increase the size of the PLA and advance their own joint capabilities, the military imbalance in the Indo-Pacific is becoming more unfavourable for the United States and its allies. So what is the threat assessment of the commander? China is speeding up plans to overtake the US on the world stage but the threat is not limited to the US. China could invade Taiwan within the next six years. The Chinese military is expanding its assets in the region and the US believes the level of deterrence is reducing. What about India? The admiral had something to say about India too. It's about the border standoff. The US commander says it's not over yet. "The PLA has not yet withdrawn from several forward positions it seized following the initial clash, and the consequent escalation of tensions between the PRC and India has resulted in casualties on both sides.” The commander believes Chinese aggression on the LAC is a manifestation of Beijing's 'expansionary territorial ambitions'. China's large-scale mobilisation of troops is a matter of concern, not just for India but for the US too. Admiral Davidson told US lawmakers that China had deployed 'roughly 50,000 soldiers' along the LAC. He believes this was a major move. Such a massive deployment on difficult terrain signals that Beijing is ready to use force to achieve desired outcomes. It raises the threat of war so any country that has interests in the Indo-Pacific, must be wary of China's growing military moves. So, what's the solution? The US military establishment is banking on the Quad. While testifying before the lawmakers, Admiral Davidson described the Quad as ''a diamond of democracies''. The US defence department says building alliances with partners is now 'tremendously important' as the statement suggests the Quad cannot just have a military dimension. It must have a bigger mandate. The Quad could change the way the world approaches global economy, critical technologies like telecommunications and 5G, and even collaboration on the international order. The potential of the Quad is immense but what has been lacking is the political will as the leaders sit down for their first summit on this Friday. They should appreciate the weight of expectations and the criticality of their situation.

Quad looks to 'checkmate' aggressive China  

A fossil assumed to be a toe bone of a dinosaur dating back to 120 million years has been discovered on a western island, the city government of Ansan said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The city government of Ansan, southwest of Seoul, said the 4.5-centimetre-long fossil was found by a citizen on&nbsp;Daebu&nbsp;Island last month, Yonhap news agency reported.&nbsp;

It is believed to have belonged to a plant-eating basal ceratopsian dinosaur known as&nbsp;Koreaceratops, which existed on the Korean Peninsula about 120 million years ago during the Albian age.&nbsp;

The phalanx fossil was almost perfectly preserved, officials said.&nbsp;

The city government reported the finding to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) in the country.&nbsp;

The CHA views the remains as having academic value and plans to send it to the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage for a more detailed study.&nbsp;

In 2000, five dinosaur footprints, likely left about 100 million years ago, were found at a quarry on the island.&nbsp;

A fossil assumed to be a toe bone of a dinosaur dating back to 120 million years has been discovered on a western island, the city government of Ansan said on Wednesday.

A fossil assumed to be a toe bone of a dinosaur dating back to 120 million years has been discovered on a western island, the city government of Ansan said on Wednesday. The city government of Ansan, southwest of Seoul, said the 4.5-centimetre-long fossil was found by a citizen on Daebu Island last month, Yonhap news agency reported. It is believed to have belonged to a plant-eating basal ceratopsian dinosaur known as Koreaceratops, which existed on the Korean Peninsula about 120 million years ago during the Albian age. The phalanx fossil was almost perfectly preserved, officials said. The city government reported the finding to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) in the country. The CHA views the remains as having academic value and plans to send it to the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage for a more detailed study. In 2000, five dinosaur footprints, likely left about 100 million years ago, were found at a quarry on the island.

Dinosaur toe bone found in South Korea

A British police officer, whose job was to guard diplomatic buildings, has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder over the disappearance of a woman last seen a week ago, a development described as disturbing by senior officers.&nbsp;

Sarah Everard, 33, was last seen at 2130 GMT on March 3 as she walked home from a friend's house in south London.&nbsp;

Police said the officer, who is in his 40s and works for the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was in custody after being detained on Tuesday evening. He is also under suspicion of indecent exposure.&nbsp;

A woman in her 30s was also arrested at the same location on suspicion of assisting an offender.&nbsp;

The London force said the officer, whose job it was to carry out uniformed patrols of diplomatic premises, had not been on duty the night Everard disappeared.&nbsp;

"The arrest this evening is a serious and significant development," Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said.&nbsp;

"We will continue to work with all speed on this investigation but the fact that the arrested man is a serving Metropolitan Police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing."&nbsp;

Police have launched an extensive investigation to find Everard, with officers searching streets and nearby areas on her route home, that went near the large grassy Clapham Common area.&nbsp;

Officers are also searching locations in Kent, southeast of London, including a property in the seaside town of Deal and an area of woodland near Ashford.&nbsp;

Asked by reporters if Everard was still alive on Wednesday, Ephgrave said, "We are searching as hard as we can to find Sarah so we really hope that is the case."&nbsp;

He said he could not give further details on whether the pair knew each other, or how long the man had been a police officer for. The organisation charged with policing the conduct of officers is aware of the arrest.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A British police officer, whose job was to guard diplomatic buildings, has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder over the disappearance of a woman last seen a week ago, a development described as disturbing by senior officers.

A British police officer, whose job was to guard diplomatic buildings, has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder over the disappearance of a woman last seen a week ago, a development described as disturbing by senior officers. Sarah Everard, 33, was last seen at 2130 GMT on March 3 as she walked home from a friend's house in south London. Police said the officer, who is in his 40s and works for the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was in custody after being detained on Tuesday evening. He is also under suspicion of indecent exposure. A woman in her 30s was also arrested at the same location on suspicion of assisting an offender. The London force said the officer, whose job it was to carry out uniformed patrols of diplomatic premises, had not been on duty the night Everard disappeared. "The arrest this evening is a serious and significant development," Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said. "We will continue to work with all speed on this investigation but the fact that the arrested man is a serving Metropolitan Police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing." Police have launched an extensive investigation to find Everard, with officers searching streets and nearby areas on her route home, that went near the large grassy Clapham Common area. Officers are also searching locations in Kent, southeast of London, including a property in the seaside town of Deal and an area of woodland near Ashford. Asked by reporters if Everard was still alive on Wednesday, Ephgrave said, "We are searching as hard as we can to find Sarah so we really hope that is the case." He said he could not give further details on whether the pair knew each other, or how long the man had been a police officer for. The organisation charged with policing the conduct of officers is aware of the arrest. (With inputs from agencies)

Serving UK police officer held for murder of missing woman 

Yehya Al-Sinwar&nbsp;has been re-elected to head Hamas in the Gaza Strip for a second term, officials said on Wednesday, reflecting his control over both political and military wings of the Islamist group that rules the Palestinian enclave.&nbsp;

Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza since 2017, was freed in a 2011 prisoner swap with Israel after spending more than 20 years behind bars on charges that included killing suspected informants against Palestinian militants.&nbsp;

While he supports Hamas' opposition to co-existence with Israel,&nbsp;Sinwar&nbsp;has maintained a relatively stable standoff across the Gaza border.&nbsp;

He has also sought improved ties with Egypt, which maintains restrictions along its frontier with Gaza, a small Mediterranean coastal territory.&nbsp;

"Sinwar's&nbsp;victory shows the man maintains a strong grip on things inside the movement, especially within its vital components such as the military wing," said Gaza political analyst Adnan Abu Amer.&nbsp;

"The win will enable&nbsp;Sinwar&nbsp;to pursue his policies, whether inside Gaza or with regional countries and the handling of the conflict with Israel."&nbsp;

Sinwar's&nbsp;main challenger in the election, which is only open to&nbsp;Hamas&nbsp;members including those in Israeli prisons, was Nizar Awadallah, a long-time official and co-negotiator of the 2011 swap deal.&nbsp;

In a statement issued by Awadallah, he stressed his support for&nbsp;Sinwar, saying: "We stand by his side in every position to achieve the goals of our project and our movement."&nbsp;

Hamas has yet to elect a leader for the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Sources said his identity would be kept secret as protection against Israel or the administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a Hamas rival.&nbsp;

Filling the position of Hamas’s political chief, who also speaks for its military wing, will require more time. The overall leader of Hamas is Ismail Haniyeh, who is also based in Gaza.&nbsp;

Haniyeh is facing a challenge this time by the former head of the group, Khaled&nbsp;Meshaal, who lives in Qatar.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Yehya Al-Sinwar has been re-elected to head Hamas in the Gaza Strip for a second term, officials said on Wednesday, reflecting his control over both political and military wings of the Islamist group that rules the Palestinian enclave.

Yehya Al-Sinwar has been re-elected to head Hamas in the Gaza Strip for a second term, officials said on Wednesday, reflecting his control over both political and military wings of the Islamist group that rules the Palestinian enclave. Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza since 2017, was freed in a 2011 prisoner swap with Israel after spending more than 20 years behind bars on charges that included killing suspected informants against Palestinian militants. While he supports Hamas' opposition to co-existence with Israel, Sinwar has maintained a relatively stable standoff across the Gaza border. He has also sought improved ties with Egypt, which maintains restrictions along its frontier with Gaza, a small Mediterranean coastal territory. "Sinwar's victory shows the man maintains a strong grip on things inside the movement, especially within its vital components such as the military wing," said Gaza political analyst Adnan Abu Amer. "The win will enable Sinwar to pursue his policies, whether inside Gaza or with regional countries and the handling of the conflict with Israel." Sinwar's main challenger in the election, which is only open to Hamas members including those in Israeli prisons, was Nizar Awadallah, a long-time official and co-negotiator of the 2011 swap deal. In a statement issued by Awadallah, he stressed his support for Sinwar, saying: "We stand by his side in every position to achieve the goals of our project and our movement." Hamas has yet to elect a leader for the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Sources said his identity would be kept secret as protection against Israel or the administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a Hamas rival. Filling the position of Hamas’s political chief, who also speaks for its military wing, will require more time. The overall leader of Hamas is Ismail Haniyeh, who is also based in Gaza. Haniyeh is facing a challenge this time by the former head of the group, Khaled Meshaal, who lives in Qatar. (With inputs from agencies)

Sinwar re-elected as Hamas chief in Gaza 

An Israeli-Canadian lobbyist hired by Myanmar's junta will be paid $2 million to 'assist in explaining the real situation' of the army's coup to the United States and other countries, documents filed with the US Justice Department show.&nbsp;

More than 60 protesters have been killed and 1,900 people have been arrested since February 1, when Myanmar's generals seized power and detained civilian leaders including State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.&nbsp;

Ari Ben-Menashe and his firm, Dickens &amp; Madson Canada, will represent Myanmar's military government in Washington, as well as lobby Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Russia, and international bodies like the United Nations, according to a consultancy agreement.&nbsp;

The Montreal-based firm will 'assist the devising and execution of policies for the beneficial development of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and also to assist in explaining the real situation in the Country,' read the agreement, submitted on Monday to the Justice Department as part of compliance with the US Foreign Agents Registration Act and published online.&nbsp;

A spokesman for the Myanmar military government did not answer telephone calls seeking comment.&nbsp;

In a pitch that has been met with widespread scepticism, Ben-Menashe said he had been tasked with convincing the United States that Myanmar's generals wanted to move closer to the West and away from China. He said the generals wanted to resettle Rohingya Muslims, who fled a 2017 military assault for which the United Nations has accused those same generals of overseeing a genocide.&nbsp;

"It is highly implausible that he could convince the United States of the narrative he’s proposing," said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.&nbsp;

Other documents submitted by Ben-Menashe showed the agreement was reached with the junta's defence minister, General Mya Tun Oo and that the government would pay the firm $2 million.&nbsp;

Mya Tun Oo and other top generals have been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department and the Canadian government, so the paperwork says the payment will be made 'when legally permissible'.&nbsp;

Lawyers said that Ben-Menashe could be in breach of sanctions.&nbsp;

“To the extent that he is providing services to sanctioned parties from the United States without authorisation, that would appear to be a violation of US law,” said Peter Kucik, a former senior sanctions adviser at the US Treasury.&nbsp;

The US Treasury Department declined to comment.&nbsp;

Ben-Menashe said he had received legal advice that he would need licenses from the Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) and the Canadian government to accept the payment, but that he would not be breaking the law by lobbying for the junta.&nbsp;

"There's technicalities here but we'll leave it to the lawyers and OFAC to deal with it," he said, adding his lawyers were in touch with Treasury officials.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

An Israeli-Canadian lobbyist hired by Myanmar's junta will be paid $2 million to 'assist in explaining the real situation' of the army's coup to the United States and other countries, documents filed with the US Justice Department show.

An Israeli-Canadian lobbyist hired by Myanmar's junta will be paid $2 million to 'assist in explaining the real situation' of the army's coup to the United States and other countries, documents filed with the US Justice Department show. More than 60 protesters have been killed and 1,900 people have been arrested since February 1, when Myanmar's generals seized power and detained civilian leaders including State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. Ari Ben-Menashe and his firm, Dickens & Madson Canada, will represent Myanmar's military government in Washington, as well as lobby Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Russia, and international bodies like the United Nations, according to a consultancy agreement. The Montreal-based firm will 'assist the devising and execution of policies for the beneficial development of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and also to assist in explaining the real situation in the Country,' read the agreement, submitted on Monday to the Justice Department as part of compliance with the US Foreign Agents Registration Act and published online. A spokesman for the Myanmar military government did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. In a pitch that has been met with widespread scepticism, Ben-Menashe said he had been tasked with convincing the United States that Myanmar's generals wanted to move closer to the West and away from China. He said the generals wanted to resettle Rohingya Muslims, who fled a 2017 military assault for which the United Nations has accused those same generals of overseeing a genocide. "It is highly implausible that he could convince the United States of the narrative he’s proposing," said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. Other documents submitted by Ben-Menashe showed the agreement was reached with the junta's defence minister, General Mya Tun Oo and that the government would pay the firm $2 million. Mya Tun Oo and other top generals have been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department and the Canadian government, so the paperwork says the payment will be made 'when legally permissible'. Lawyers said that Ben-Menashe could be in breach of sanctions. “To the extent that he is providing services to sanctioned parties from the United States without authorisation, that would appear to be a violation of US law,” said Peter Kucik, a former senior sanctions adviser at the US Treasury. The US Treasury Department declined to comment. Ben-Menashe said he had received legal advice that he would need licenses from the Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) and the Canadian government to accept the payment, but that he would not be breaking the law by lobbying for the junta. "There's technicalities here but we'll leave it to the lawyers and OFAC to deal with it," he said, adding his lawyers were in touch with Treasury officials. (With inputs from agencies)

Lobbyist to get $2 million to 'explain' Myanmar's coup for junta 

Bahraini security forces have beaten children and threatened them with rape and electric shocks after detaining them in protest-related cases last month, the anniversary of a 2011 pro-democracy uprising, rights groups said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

A government spokesperson did not comment on the specifics of the accusations in response to a detailed query. The spokesperson said in a statement, Bahrain takes the protection of human rights 'extremely seriously' and had a 'zero-tolerance policy' towards mistreatment within the justice system.&nbsp;

A joint statement by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said that around 13 children aged 11-17 were detained in early to mid-February as authorities tried to dissuade protesters from gathering to mark the 10th anniversary of the uprising.&nbsp;

"Five children, arrested on February 14 and 15, said that police from the station beat, insulted, and threatened them with electric shocks from a car battery," the statement said, quoting the children and their families.&nbsp;

"An officer hit a 13-year-old on his head and threatened to rape him, give him electric shocks, and beat his genitals."&nbsp;

The rights groups' statement said Bahraini police in some cases arrested children for allegedly burning tires or blocking a road on the day of their arrest. It said police also accused children of vandalism, planting a fake bomb and throwing petrol bombs in November 2020.&nbsp;

Four of the children remain in detention, including a 16-year-old with a serious medical condition, HRW and BIRD said.&nbsp;

The Bahrain government spokesperson also said the Gulf Arab country's criminal justice system, when dealing with people under age 18, makes decisions based on considerations of 'each individual child's best interests, as well as their rehabilitation and place in society'.&nbsp;

Bahrain's US-backed, Sunni Muslim monarchy suppressed the uprising, led mostly by members of the Shiite Muslim majority, by force in 2011 and cracked down hard on sporadic unrest and dissent afterwards. It was the only Gulf state to experience one of the 'Arab Spring' uprisings a decade ago.&nbsp;

Mass trials followed and thousands of people were imprisoned and many others fled abroad. Bahrain has since seen sporadic clashes between protesters and security forces, who have been targeted by bomb attacks.&nbsp;

Rights groups including Amnesty International have criticised the kingdom’s lack of an independent judiciary and accused its security forces of committing torture and other forms of ill-treatment with impunity. The government denies the charges.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Bahraini security forces have beaten children and threatened them with rape and electric shocks after detaining them in protest-related cases last month, the anniversary of a 2011 pro-democracy uprising, rights groups said on Wednesday.

Bahraini security forces have beaten children and threatened them with rape and electric shocks after detaining them in protest-related cases last month, the anniversary of a 2011 pro-democracy uprising, rights groups said on Wednesday. A government spokesperson did not comment on the specifics of the accusations in response to a detailed query. The spokesperson said in a statement, Bahrain takes the protection of human rights 'extremely seriously' and had a 'zero-tolerance policy' towards mistreatment within the justice system. A joint statement by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said that around 13 children aged 11-17 were detained in early to mid-February as authorities tried to dissuade protesters from gathering to mark the 10th anniversary of the uprising. "Five children, arrested on February 14 and 15, said that police from the station beat, insulted, and threatened them with electric shocks from a car battery," the statement said, quoting the children and their families. "An officer hit a 13-year-old on his head and threatened to rape him, give him electric shocks, and beat his genitals." The rights groups' statement said Bahraini police in some cases arrested children for allegedly burning tires or blocking a road on the day of their arrest. It said police also accused children of vandalism, planting a fake bomb and throwing petrol bombs in November 2020. Four of the children remain in detention, including a 16-year-old with a serious medical condition, HRW and BIRD said. The Bahrain government spokesperson also said the Gulf Arab country's criminal justice system, when dealing with people under age 18, makes decisions based on considerations of 'each individual child's best interests, as well as their rehabilitation and place in society'. Bahrain's US-backed, Sunni Muslim monarchy suppressed the uprising, led mostly by members of the Shiite Muslim majority, by force in 2011 and cracked down hard on sporadic unrest and dissent afterwards. It was the only Gulf state to experience one of the 'Arab Spring' uprisings a decade ago. Mass trials followed and thousands of people were imprisoned and many others fled abroad. Bahrain has since seen sporadic clashes between protesters and security forces, who have been targeted by bomb attacks. Rights groups including Amnesty International have criticised the kingdom’s lack of an independent judiciary and accused its security forces of committing torture and other forms of ill-treatment with impunity. The government denies the charges. (With inputs from agencies)

Cops beat, threaten detained children with rape in Bahrain: Rights groups

Myanmar security forces fired tear gas and surrounded hundreds of anti-junta protesters at two places in Yangon on Wednesday, witnesses said, prompting the US Embassy to call for their withdrawal.&nbsp;

In New York, the UN Security Council failed to agree on a statement that would have condemned the coup in Myanmar, called for restraint by the military and threatened to consider 'further measures'.&nbsp;

Talks on the statement would likely continue, diplomats said, after China, Russia, India and Vietnam all suggested amendments late on Tuesday to a British draft, including removal of the reference to a coup and the threat to consider further action.&nbsp;

More than 60 protesters have been killed and 1,900 people have been arrested in the turmoil in Myanmar since the February 1 coup, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an advocacy group, has said.&nbsp;

The military has brushed off condemnation of its actions, as it has in past periods of army rule when outbreaks of protest were forcibly repressed.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, police stormed a compound in Yangon housing railway staff and surrounded hundreds of protesters in North Okkalapa district, in another part of the city. More than 100 people were arrested at the two sites, witnesses said.&nbsp;

Many of the railway staff are part of a civil disobedience movement that has crippled government business and included strikes at banks, factories and shops since the army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government.&nbsp;

"We are seeing reports of innocent students and civilians surrounded by security forces in North Okkalapa, as well as arrests," the US Embassy said in a statement.&nbsp;

"We call on those security forces to withdraw from the area, release those detained, and allow people to depart safely."&nbsp;

Police and army officials did not respond to requests for comment.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, Zaw Myat Linn, an official from Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), died in custody after he was arrested, the second party figure to die in detention in two days.&nbsp;

"He's been participating continuously in the protests," said Ba Myo Thein, a member of the dissolved upper house of parliament. The cause of death was not clear.&nbsp;

In a Facebook live broadcast before he was detained, Zaw Myat Linn urged people to continue fighting the army, 'even if it costs our lives'.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Myanmar security forces fired tear gas and surrounded hundreds of anti-junta protesters at two places in Yangon on Wednesday, witnesses said, prompting the US Embassy to call for their withdrawal.

Myanmar security forces fired tear gas and surrounded hundreds of anti-junta protesters at two places in Yangon on Wednesday, witnesses said, prompting the US Embassy to call for their withdrawal. In New York, the UN Security Council failed to agree on a statement that would have condemned the coup in Myanmar, called for restraint by the military and threatened to consider 'further measures'. Talks on the statement would likely continue, diplomats said, after China, Russia, India and Vietnam all suggested amendments late on Tuesday to a British draft, including removal of the reference to a coup and the threat to consider further action. More than 60 protesters have been killed and 1,900 people have been arrested in the turmoil in Myanmar since the February 1 coup, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an advocacy group, has said. The military has brushed off condemnation of its actions, as it has in past periods of army rule when outbreaks of protest were forcibly repressed. On Wednesday, police stormed a compound in Yangon housing railway staff and surrounded hundreds of protesters in North Okkalapa district, in another part of the city. More than 100 people were arrested at the two sites, witnesses said. Many of the railway staff are part of a civil disobedience movement that has crippled government business and included strikes at banks, factories and shops since the army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government. "We are seeing reports of innocent students and civilians surrounded by security forces in North Okkalapa, as well as arrests," the US Embassy said in a statement. "We call on those security forces to withdraw from the area, release those detained, and allow people to depart safely." Police and army officials did not respond to requests for comment. On Tuesday, Zaw Myat Linn, an official from Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), died in custody after he was arrested, the second party figure to die in detention in two days. "He's been participating continuously in the protests," said Ba Myo Thein, a member of the dissolved upper house of parliament. The cause of death was not clear. In a Facebook live broadcast before he was detained, Zaw Myat Linn urged people to continue fighting the army, 'even if it costs our lives'. (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar security forces surround, arrest protesters as US calls for withdrawal 

The United States has prevented Turkey from supplying 30 locally made attack helicopters to Pakistan, Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said.&nbsp;

During a briefing on Monday, Kalin noted that the US blocked Turkey's helicopter sale to Pakistan, which will likely lead to Islamabad buying it from China and cause more detriment to Washington down the line, Daily Sabah reported. &nbsp;

The ATAK-12 is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform and is equipped with American engines, according to Dawn. &nbsp;

The US is holding up export clearance for the LHTEC engine. Turkey and Pakistan signed a USD 1.5 billion deal for the Turkish-made helicopter gunships in July 2018. But the delivery date was pushed back after the Pentagon refused to issue the Turkish company an export license for the engines, Dawn reported.&nbsp;

United States' blockade comes as the impact of US sanctions on Turkey, triggered by Ankara's decision to buy S-400 missiles from Russia. The United States announced the first blockade in July 2019, days before a meeting between the former US president, Donald Trump, and Prime Minister Imran Khan in Washington.&nbsp;

In January 2020, the head of Turkey's Defence Industries (SSB) said that Ankara and Islamabad had extended the delivery deal by another year to ensure a smooth delivery. The agreement gives Pakistan the option to buy the Chinese Z-10 helicopters should the Turkish deal not materialise.&nbsp;

Reports in the Turkish media said that the Turkish-built T-129 ATAK helicopter was still on the Pakistan Army shopping list.&nbsp;

In August 2020, Turkey hired a Washington law firm to lobby with the US administration and Congress for securing an export licence, which will help complete its biggest-ever defence deal with Pakistan.&nbsp;

The latest blockade, however, is likely to force the two allies to cancel the deal, persuading Islamabad to look for other options. US officials in Washington were contacted for comments on the announcement made in Ankara but did not respond, Dawn reported.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The United States has prevented Turkey from supplying 30 locally made attack helicopters to Pakistan, Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said. During a briefing on Monday, Kalin noted that the US blocked Turkey's helicopter sale to Pakistan, which will likely lead to Islamabad buying it from China and cause more detriment to Washington down the line, Daily Sabah reported.

The United States has prevented Turkey from supplying 30 locally made attack helicopters to Pakistan, Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said. During a briefing on Monday, Kalin noted that the US blocked Turkey's helicopter sale to Pakistan, which will likely lead to Islamabad buying it from China and cause more detriment to Washington down the line, Daily Sabah reported. The ATAK-12 is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform and is equipped with American engines, according to Dawn. The US is holding up export clearance for the LHTEC engine. Turkey and Pakistan signed a USD 1.5 billion deal for the Turkish-made helicopter gunships in July 2018. But the delivery date was pushed back after the Pentagon refused to issue the Turkish company an export license for the engines, Dawn reported. United States' blockade comes as the impact of US sanctions on Turkey, triggered by Ankara's decision to buy S-400 missiles from Russia. The United States announced the first blockade in July 2019, days before a meeting between the former US president, Donald Trump, and Prime Minister Imran Khan in Washington. In January 2020, the head of Turkey's Defence Industries (SSB) said that Ankara and Islamabad had extended the delivery deal by another year to ensure a smooth delivery. The agreement gives Pakistan the option to buy the Chinese Z-10 helicopters should the Turkish deal not materialise. Reports in the Turkish media said that the Turkish-built T-129 ATAK helicopter was still on the Pakistan Army shopping list. In August 2020, Turkey hired a Washington law firm to lobby with the US administration and Congress for securing an export licence, which will help complete its biggest-ever defence deal with Pakistan. The latest blockade, however, is likely to force the two allies to cancel the deal, persuading Islamabad to look for other options. US officials in Washington were contacted for comments on the announcement made in Ankara but did not respond, Dawn reported. (With inputs from agencies)

US blocks Turkey's 30 locally-made attack helicopter sale to Pakistan 

With the aim to encourage the need to ensure proper healthcare and hygiene, Mobius Foundation organised several mobile health camps in two phases in the remote areas of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;

In the Phase I, 48 mobile health camps were organised in the remote areas of Sonipat and Panipat districts of Haryana. These camps were held between June 2018 and March 2019 to create awareness about the importance of healthcare and hygiene among 2,000 households.&nbsp;

Around 23 mobile health camps were organised in the remote areas of UP – Durana, Sirsad, Ramghar, Mandi, Naulhta and Gohana in the Mobile Health Camps Phase II. &nbsp;

Be it students, youth, women or farmers, all sections of the society in these areas took active participation in these camps. Over 1,700 patients were treated in these camps this year.&nbsp;

Established in 2015, Mobius Foundation has been catering to the long-standing demands of basic healthcare facilities of different communities. &nbsp;

Considering it as the need of the hour, Mobius Foundation has been making concerted efforts to ensure these camps are successfully able to bring a positive change in the society.&nbsp;

Through different projects, Mobius Foundation aims to instil a sense of responsibility for the environment amongst Indian citizens. “Through these camps, the foundation is looking at the larger objective of creating awareness about health and hygiene amongst the villagers, which will ultimately lead to happiness and well-being,” said Pradip Burman, chairman, Mobius Foundation.&nbsp;

With education, environment and population stabilisation as its core focus, the Mobius Foundation is committed to support environmental sustainability, strengthening systems with empowering technologies and encouraging healthy behaviour.&nbsp;

To instil the importance of sustainable consciousness in Indian citizens, Mobius Foundation looks to collaborate with a diverse range of public and civil partners.&nbsp;

The Mobius Foundation is leaving no stone unturned to make sound health as the basis of the overall well-being of a person.

With the aim to encourage the need to ensure proper healthcare and hygiene, Mobius Foundation organised several mobile health camps in two phases in the remote areas of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

With the aim to encourage the need to ensure proper healthcare and hygiene, Mobius Foundation organised several mobile health camps in two phases in the remote areas of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. In the Phase I, 48 mobile health camps were organised in the remote areas of Sonipat and Panipat districts of Haryana. These camps were held between June 2018 and March 2019 to create awareness about the importance of healthcare and hygiene among 2,000 households. Around 23 mobile health camps were organised in the remote areas of UP – Durana, Sirsad, Ramghar, Mandi, Naulhta and Gohana in the Mobile Health Camps Phase II. Be it students, youth, women or farmers, all sections of the society in these areas took active participation in these camps. Over 1,700 patients were treated in these camps this year. Established in 2015, Mobius Foundation has been catering to the long-standing demands of basic healthcare facilities of different communities. Considering it as the need of the hour, Mobius Foundation has been making concerted efforts to ensure these camps are successfully able to bring a positive change in the society. Through different projects, Mobius Foundation aims to instil a sense of responsibility for the environment amongst Indian citizens. “Through these camps, the foundation is looking at the larger objective of creating awareness about health and hygiene amongst the villagers, which will ultimately lead to happiness and well-being,” said Pradip Burman, chairman, Mobius Foundation. With education, environment and population stabilisation as its core focus, the Mobius Foundation is committed to support environmental sustainability, strengthening systems with empowering technologies and encouraging healthy behaviour. To instil the importance of sustainable consciousness in Indian citizens, Mobius Foundation looks to collaborate with a diverse range of public and civil partners. The Mobius Foundation is leaving no stone unturned to make sound health as the basis of the overall well-being of a person.

Mobile health camps held to sensitise people over healthcare, hygiene

In collaboration with ‘Logical Indian’ and Marta Vanduzer Snow, Mobius Foundation has taken several crucial steps to set up eco toilets in the villages of Uttar Pradesh (UP). &nbsp;

The foundation has funded Marta, who has been working in the villages of UP under ‘Better Village Better World’ project, to set up five demonstration units of eco toilets in Kakrana, Dhaulana and Ghaziabad in October 2018. The foundation has also helped her in Jagatpur village, Uttar Pradesh. &nbsp;

Understanding the repercussions of open defecation prevalent in several areas on health, the foundation is looking to come up eco-friendly toilets, which are low-maintenance, safe and hygienic.&nbsp;

If reports are to be believed, nearly 600 million people lack access to adequate sanitation, clean water and proper sewage infrastructure in India. This has led to open defecation and a long list of health and social issues.&nbsp;

Open defecation can be credited to contamination of food and water, transmitting diarrhea-related diseases. It has also been leading to mental and cognitive stunting in young children.&nbsp;

Thus, there is a need to provide low-cost and easy-to-operate alternatives to traditional waste disposal models to the general public. It is highly crucial for the success of the initiative.&nbsp;

An American native living in India, Marta has built 143 cost-efficient eco toilets so far. These 10-feet-wide toilets are equipped with 122-metre-long permeable roads and French drains that help in rainwater harvesting. A unit can be constructed at a cost of Rs 10,639, while a normal toilet under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan costs Rs 17,000.&nbsp;

In order to bring down the cost of construction of these toilets, broken bricks and recycled materials are used wherever possible, including fly ash bricks and used tires.&nbsp;

The eco toilets are based on the scientific model of evapotranspiration, which is self-cleansing and requires less land.&nbsp;

These green toilets are crucial in generating awareness about sanitation among the masses and gaining community support, realising the ultimate goal of a sustainable India.&nbsp;

These toilets can also be operated at low cost as it only needs the occasional cleaning of the squatting platform. In the unlined twin pit toilet model, the toilet tank is filled with waste and later emptied.&nbsp;

In the general toilets, the opening in the septic tank helps the urine and fecal matter enter the soil, leading to several health issues. Instead, these toilets based on evapotranspiration are self-cleaning and the waste is filtered without human intervention.&nbsp;

These eco toilets are also onsite sanitation systems for chemical and biological treatment, and reuse household black-water. It has been developed and popularised over two decades by permaculture practitioners in several countries, such as the US and Brazil.&nbsp;

The substructure layers of these toilets use anaerobic digestion, capillary action, evaporation and transpiration processes to filter, release and absorb the waste matter. The anaerobic digestion converts a portion of the human excreta into biogas, exiting out the back-standpipe. The digested matter travels up and out through capillary action. The nutrients leave the system by incorporating into the plants’ biomass through mineralisation and absorption through its roots, while evapotranspiration removes the liquid, either transpiring through the plants or evaporating at the surface of the soil.

In collaboration with ‘Logical Indian’ and Marta Vanduzer Snow, Mobius Foundation has taken several crucial steps to set up eco toilets in the villages of Uttar Pradesh (UP).

In collaboration with ‘Logical Indian’ and Marta Vanduzer Snow, Mobius Foundation has taken several crucial steps to set up eco toilets in the villages of Uttar Pradesh (UP). The foundation has funded Marta, who has been working in the villages of UP under ‘Better Village Better World’ project, to set up five demonstration units of eco toilets in Kakrana, Dhaulana and Ghaziabad in October 2018. The foundation has also helped her in Jagatpur village, Uttar Pradesh. Understanding the repercussions of open defecation prevalent in several areas on health, the foundation is looking to come up eco-friendly toilets, which are low-maintenance, safe and hygienic. If reports are to be believed, nearly 600 million people lack access to adequate sanitation, clean water and proper sewage infrastructure in India. This has led to open defecation and a long list of health and social issues. Open defecation can be credited to contamination of food and water, transmitting diarrhea-related diseases. It has also been leading to mental and cognitive stunting in young children. Thus, there is a need to provide low-cost and easy-to-operate alternatives to traditional waste disposal models to the general public. It is highly crucial for the success of the initiative. An American native living in India, Marta has built 143 cost-efficient eco toilets so far. These 10-feet-wide toilets are equipped with 122-metre-long permeable roads and French drains that help in rainwater harvesting. A unit can be constructed at a cost of Rs 10,639, while a normal toilet under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan costs Rs 17,000. In order to bring down the cost of construction of these toilets, broken bricks and recycled materials are used wherever possible, including fly ash bricks and used tires. The eco toilets are based on the scientific model of evapotranspiration, which is self-cleansing and requires less land. These green toilets are crucial in generating awareness about sanitation among the masses and gaining community support, realising the ultimate goal of a sustainable India. These toilets can also be operated at low cost as it only needs the occasional cleaning of the squatting platform. In the unlined twin pit toilet model, the toilet tank is filled with waste and later emptied. In the general toilets, the opening in the septic tank helps the urine and fecal matter enter the soil, leading to several health issues. Instead, these toilets based on evapotranspiration are self-cleaning and the waste is filtered without human intervention. These eco toilets are also onsite sanitation systems for chemical and biological treatment, and reuse household black-water. It has been developed and popularised over two decades by permaculture practitioners in several countries, such as the US and Brazil. The substructure layers of these toilets use anaerobic digestion, capillary action, evaporation and transpiration processes to filter, release and absorb the waste matter. The anaerobic digestion converts a portion of the human excreta into biogas, exiting out the back-standpipe. The digested matter travels up and out through capillary action. The nutrients leave the system by incorporating into the plants’ biomass through mineralisation and absorption through its roots, while evapotranspiration removes the liquid, either transpiring through the plants or evaporating at the surface of the soil.

Organisations come together to set up eco toilets in UP villages

Climate activists from Greenpeace landed a paraglider on top of the European Central Bank's press centre on Wednesday and hung a banner accusing the bank of funding polluters.&nbsp;

After flying over the Main river in Frankfurt, the two activists landed at the low-rise ECB complex and unfurled a banner that demanded the ECB 'stop funding climate killers'.&nbsp;

An ECB spokesperson confirmed the breach and said that police had been called. He added that the bank was conducting a review of its strategy and this process included an in-depth analysis of how to respond to the climate crisis.&nbsp;

The Greenpeace protest followed a think tank report, which argued that the ECB's lending rules, particularly its collateral requirements, favoured carbon intensive industries and perpetuated a market failure to properly price polluting assets.&nbsp;

The ECB has long been criticised for not taking long term climate risk into account when it buys bonds and gives credit.&nbsp;

While policymakers, including ECB President Christine Lagarde, have acknowledged that markets are not appropriately pricing climate risk, the bank has yet to change course, awaiting the results of its review, now due around September.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Climate activists from Greenpeace landed a paraglider on top of the European Central Bank's press centre on Wednesday and hung a banner accusing the bank of funding polluters.

Climate activists from Greenpeace landed a paraglider on top of the European Central Bank's press centre on Wednesday and hung a banner accusing the bank of funding polluters. After flying over the Main river in Frankfurt, the two activists landed at the low-rise ECB complex and unfurled a banner that demanded the ECB 'stop funding climate killers'. An ECB spokesperson confirmed the breach and said that police had been called. He added that the bank was conducting a review of its strategy and this process included an in-depth analysis of how to respond to the climate crisis. The Greenpeace protest followed a think tank report, which argued that the ECB's lending rules, particularly its collateral requirements, favoured carbon intensive industries and perpetuated a market failure to properly price polluting assets. The ECB has long been criticised for not taking long term climate risk into account when it buys bonds and gives credit. While policymakers, including ECB President Christine Lagarde, have acknowledged that markets are not appropriately pricing climate risk, the bank has yet to change course, awaiting the results of its review, now due around September. (With inputs from agencies)

In a first, Greenpeace paragliders land on ECB building to protest 

Hawaii Governor David Ige declared an emergency in the US state after heavy rains brought floods, landslides and fear of dam failures, and authorities ordered the evacuation of several thousand people from communities threatened by rising waters.&nbsp;

The move came after a dam overflowed on the island of Maui, forcing evacuations and destroying homes, with the dam's 'unsatisfactory' condition leading to it being scheduled for removal this year, the land department has said.&nbsp;

"The emergency proclamation makes state general funds available that can be used quickly and efficiently to help those impacted by the severe weather," Ige said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Poor weather was expected to run until Friday, he added, and flood advisories stayed in place for a second day.&nbsp;

The emergency declaration covers the counties of Hawaii, Maui, Kalawao, Oahu and Kauai, the governor's office said in a statement, while the disaster relief period runs until May 8.&nbsp;

The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management directed people to leave Haleiwa, a community of a few thousand people to the north of state capital Honolulu.&nbsp;

Hawaii News Now reported that two people were swept away in raging waters on Tuesday. One of them, a 27-year-old man, was rescued by authorities. A search for the other would resume on Wednesday, according to the report.&nbsp;

There were no other immediate reports of injuries or casualties.&nbsp;

In Maui, heavy rains damaged roads, leaving them impassable, with one bridge completely washed out and another displaced, the governor's office said.&nbsp;

State emergency management officials had said the rains led to the cresting of the Kaupakalua dam in the northern region of Haiku, prompting authorities to open evacuation shelters and urge people not to return home.&nbsp;

Six homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, said Maui mayor Michael Victorino.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Hawaii Governor David Ige declared an emergency in the US state after heavy rains brought floods, landslides and fear of dam failures, and authorities ordered the evacuation of several thousand people from communities threatened by rising waters.

Hawaii Governor David Ige declared an emergency in the US state after heavy rains brought floods, landslides and fear of dam failures, and authorities ordered the evacuation of several thousand people from communities threatened by rising waters. The move came after a dam overflowed on the island of Maui, forcing evacuations and destroying homes, with the dam's 'unsatisfactory' condition leading to it being scheduled for removal this year, the land department has said. "The emergency proclamation makes state general funds available that can be used quickly and efficiently to help those impacted by the severe weather," Ige said on Tuesday. Poor weather was expected to run until Friday, he added, and flood advisories stayed in place for a second day. The emergency declaration covers the counties of Hawaii, Maui, Kalawao, Oahu and Kauai, the governor's office said in a statement, while the disaster relief period runs until May 8. The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management directed people to leave Haleiwa, a community of a few thousand people to the north of state capital Honolulu. Hawaii News Now reported that two people were swept away in raging waters on Tuesday. One of them, a 27-year-old man, was rescued by authorities. A search for the other would resume on Wednesday, according to the report. There were no other immediate reports of injuries or casualties. In Maui, heavy rains damaged roads, leaving them impassable, with one bridge completely washed out and another displaced, the governor's office said. State emergency management officials had said the rains led to the cresting of the Kaupakalua dam in the northern region of Haiku, prompting authorities to open evacuation shelters and urge people not to return home. Six homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, said Maui mayor Michael Victorino. (With inputs from agencies)

After heavy rains cause havoc, Hawaii declares emergency, orders evacuations 

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Gandharv Walia

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