In a move likely to anger Beijing, a French nuclear attack submarine was among two navy ships that recently conducted a patrol through the South China Sea, its defence minister announced. &nbsp;

China claims most of the strategic waters as its territory.&nbsp;

On Twitter, Defence Minister Florence Parly said late on Monday, the SNA Emeraude was accompanied by support ship BSAM Seine for the passage.&nbsp;

"This extraordinary patrol has just completed a passage in the South China Sea. A striking proof of the capacity of our French Navy to deploy far away and for a long time together with our Australian, American and Japanese strategic partners," she tweeted along with a picture of the two vessels at sea.&nbsp;

China lays claim to nearly all of the South China Sea while Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all also claim parts of the region, believed to hold valuable oil and gas deposits.&nbsp;

US warships occasionally carry out 'freedom of navigation' missions through or close to waters claimed by Beijing to stress Washington's rejection of those claims.&nbsp;

The USS John S McCain last week sailed near islands in the South China Sea claimed by Beijing and conducted a transit through the Taiwan Strait, prompting a warning from China.&nbsp;

NATO member France has exclusive economic zones in the Pacific around its overseas territories and has stressed the importance of defending freedom of navigation in the region.&nbsp;

"Why such a mission? To enrich our knowledge of this area and affirm that international law is the only rule that is valid, whatever the sea where we sail," Parly tweeted.&nbsp;

The French patrol comes after the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, who has underscored support for Washington's Asian allies after four chaotic years of the Donald Trump administration.&nbsp;

In April 2019, there was a naval incident in the Taiwan Strait when Chinese ships told the French frigate Vendemiaire to leave the waterway that separates the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, another sensitive area claimed by Beijing.&nbsp;

In a move likely to anger Beijing, a French nuclear attack submarine was among two navy ships that recently conducted a patrol through the South China Sea, its defence minister announced.

In a move likely to anger Beijing, a French nuclear attack submarine was among two navy ships that recently conducted a patrol through the South China Sea, its defence minister announced. China claims most of the strategic waters as its territory. On Twitter, Defence Minister Florence Parly said late on Monday, the SNA Emeraude was accompanied by support ship BSAM Seine for the passage. "This extraordinary patrol has just completed a passage in the South China Sea. A striking proof of the capacity of our French Navy to deploy far away and for a long time together with our Australian, American and Japanese strategic partners," she tweeted along with a picture of the two vessels at sea. China lays claim to nearly all of the South China Sea while Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all also claim parts of the region, believed to hold valuable oil and gas deposits. US warships occasionally carry out 'freedom of navigation' missions through or close to waters claimed by Beijing to stress Washington's rejection of those claims. The USS John S McCain last week sailed near islands in the South China Sea claimed by Beijing and conducted a transit through the Taiwan Strait, prompting a warning from China. NATO member France has exclusive economic zones in the Pacific around its overseas territories and has stressed the importance of defending freedom of navigation in the region. "Why such a mission? To enrich our knowledge of this area and affirm that international law is the only rule that is valid, whatever the sea where we sail," Parly tweeted. The French patrol comes after the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, who has underscored support for Washington's Asian allies after four chaotic years of the Donald Trump administration. In April 2019, there was a naval incident in the Taiwan Strait when Chinese ships told the French frigate Vendemiaire to leave the waterway that separates the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, another sensitive area claimed by Beijing.

French nuclear attack sub patrols South China Sea

In the Arab world's first interplanetary mission, a spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates was set to swing into orbit around Mars on Tuesday, the first of three robotic explorers arriving at the red planet over the next week and a half.&nbsp;

The orbiter, which is called Amal, Arabic for Hope, traveled 300 million miles in nearly seven months to get to Mars with the goal of mapping its atmosphere throughout each season.&nbsp;

A combination of orbiter and lander from China is close behind, scheduled to reach the planet on Wednesday. It will circle Mars until the rover separates and attempts to land on the surface in May to look for signs of ancient life.&nbsp;

A rover from the US Named Perseverance is set to join the crowd next week, aiming for a landing on February 18. It will be the first leg in a decade-long US-European project to bring Mars rocks back to Earth to be examined for evidence the planet once harbored microscopic life.&nbsp;

About 60 per cent of all Mars missions have ended in failure, crashing, burning up or otherwise falling short in a testament to the complexity of interplanetary travel and the difficulty of making a descent through Mars' thin atmosphere.&nbsp;

If it pulls this off, China will become only the second country to land successfully on Mars. The US has done it eight times, the first almost 45 years ago. A NASA rover and lander are still working on the surface.&nbsp;

For the UAE, it was the country's first venture beyond Earth's orbit, making the flight a matter of intense national pride.&nbsp;

For days, landmarks across the UAE, including Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower on Earth, glowed red to mark Amal's anticipated arrival. This year is the 50th anniversary of the country's founding, casting even more attention on Amal.&nbsp;

The celestial weather station aimed for an exceptionally high Martian orbit of 13,670 miles by 27,340 miles (22,000 kilometers by 44,000 kilometers). It was set to join six spacecraft already operating around Mars: three US, two European and one Indian.&nbsp;

Amal was expected to perform an intricate, high-stakes series of turns and engine firings to maneuver into orbit and achieve what has eluded so many before.&nbsp;

In the Arab world's first interplanetary mission, a spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates was set to swing into orbit around Mars on Tuesday, the first of three robotic explorers arriving at the red planet over the next week and a half.

In the Arab world's first interplanetary mission, a spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates was set to swing into orbit around Mars on Tuesday, the first of three robotic explorers arriving at the red planet over the next week and a half. The orbiter, which is called Amal, Arabic for Hope, traveled 300 million miles in nearly seven months to get to Mars with the goal of mapping its atmosphere throughout each season. A combination of orbiter and lander from China is close behind, scheduled to reach the planet on Wednesday. It will circle Mars until the rover separates and attempts to land on the surface in May to look for signs of ancient life. A rover from the US Named Perseverance is set to join the crowd next week, aiming for a landing on February 18. It will be the first leg in a decade-long US-European project to bring Mars rocks back to Earth to be examined for evidence the planet once harbored microscopic life. About 60 per cent of all Mars missions have ended in failure, crashing, burning up or otherwise falling short in a testament to the complexity of interplanetary travel and the difficulty of making a descent through Mars' thin atmosphere. If it pulls this off, China will become only the second country to land successfully on Mars. The US has done it eight times, the first almost 45 years ago. A NASA rover and lander are still working on the surface. For the UAE, it was the country's first venture beyond Earth's orbit, making the flight a matter of intense national pride. For days, landmarks across the UAE, including Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower on Earth, glowed red to mark Amal's anticipated arrival. This year is the 50th anniversary of the country's founding, casting even more attention on Amal. The celestial weather station aimed for an exceptionally high Martian orbit of 13,670 miles by 27,340 miles (22,000 kilometers by 44,000 kilometers). It was set to join six spacecraft already operating around Mars: three US, two European and one Indian. Amal was expected to perform an intricate, high-stakes series of turns and engine firings to maneuver into orbit and achieve what has eluded so many before.

On historic flight, Arab spacecraft to enter Mars orbit

In order to keep a tab on the growing protests against the country's new military regime, Myanmar junta has initiated a nationwide internet blackout. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The development seems to have backfired as Myanmar witnessed its largest anti-coup protests yet on Saturday.&nbsp;

In a bid to denounce the regime, young demonstrators spilled on to the streets, many donning red headbands -- the colour associated with ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party. &nbsp;

Around 1,000 demonstrators marched on a road near Yangon University, most holding up the three-finger salute that has come to symbolise resistance to the army takeover. The crowd yelled, "Down with the military dictatorship!" &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-restricts-twitter-as-outrage-over-coup-grows-361666">Myanmar restricts Twitter as outrage over coup grows</a>

A large police contingent blocked nearby roads with two water cannon trucks parked at the scene. &nbsp;

The march came as Myanmar was plunged into its second nationwide internet blackout this week, similar in magnitude to an earlier shutdown that coincided with the arrest of Suu Kyi and other senior leaders on Monday.&nbsp;

Those dawn raids brought a sudden halt to Myanmar's brief 10-year experiment with democracy, and catalysed an outpouring of fury that has migrated from social media to the streets.&nbsp;

Online calls to protest the army takeover have prompted increasingly bold displays of defiance against the new regime, including the nightly deafening clamour of people around the country banging pots and pans -- a practice traditionally associated with driving out evil.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Some have shown their opposition by gathering for group photographs with banners decrying the coup and flashing a three-finger salute earlier adopted by democracy protesters in neighbouring Thailand.&nbsp;

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said a special envoy to the country had made 'first contact' with Myanmar's deputy military commander to urge the junta to relinquish power to the civilian government it toppled.&nbsp;

"We will do everything we can to make the international community united in making sure that conditions are created for this coup to be reversed," he told reporters on Friday. &nbsp;

State media in Myanmar reported on Saturday that junta figures had spoken with diplomats the previous day to respond to an international outcry and asked them to work with the new leaders. &nbsp;

"The Government understand the concerns of the international community on the continuation of Myanmar's democratic transition process," International Cooperation Minister Ko Ko Hlaing said in the meeting, according to the report.&nbsp;

In order to keep a tab on the growing protests against the country's new military regime, Myanmar junta has initiated a nationwide internet blackout. The development seems to have backfired as Myanmar witnessed its largest anti-coup protests yet on Saturday.

In order to keep a tab on the growing protests against the country's new military regime, Myanmar junta has initiated a nationwide internet blackout. The development seems to have backfired as Myanmar witnessed its largest anti-coup protests yet on Saturday. In a bid to denounce the regime, young demonstrators spilled on to the streets, many donning red headbands -- the colour associated with ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party. Around 1,000 demonstrators marched on a road near Yangon University, most holding up the three-finger salute that has come to symbolise resistance to the army takeover. The crowd yelled, "Down with the military dictatorship!" Also read | Myanmar restricts Twitter as outrage over coup grows A large police contingent blocked nearby roads with two water cannon trucks parked at the scene. The march came as Myanmar was plunged into its second nationwide internet blackout this week, similar in magnitude to an earlier shutdown that coincided with the arrest of Suu Kyi and other senior leaders on Monday. Those dawn raids brought a sudden halt to Myanmar's brief 10-year experiment with democracy, and catalysed an outpouring of fury that has migrated from social media to the streets. Online calls to protest the army takeover have prompted increasingly bold displays of defiance against the new regime, including the nightly deafening clamour of people around the country banging pots and pans -- a practice traditionally associated with driving out evil. Some have shown their opposition by gathering for group photographs with banners decrying the coup and flashing a three-finger salute earlier adopted by democracy protesters in neighbouring Thailand. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said a special envoy to the country had made 'first contact' with Myanmar's deputy military commander to urge the junta to relinquish power to the civilian government it toppled. "We will do everything we can to make the international community united in making sure that conditions are created for this coup to be reversed," he told reporters on Friday. State media in Myanmar reported on Saturday that junta figures had spoken with diplomats the previous day to respond to an international outcry and asked them to work with the new leaders. "The Government understand the concerns of the international community on the continuation of Myanmar's democratic transition process," International Cooperation Minister Ko Ko Hlaing said in the meeting, according to the report.

Myanmar’s nationwide internet blackout triggers protests’ surge

Central African Republic’s Parliament approved a six-month extension to the state of emergency declared by the government to help combat armed groups it accuses of seeking to mount a coup.&nbsp;

In a tweet, Prime Minister Firmin Ngrebada, thanked Parliament for the vote, saying it would "enable the government to pursue long-term operations to secure the country."&nbsp;

The National Assembly's press service said, the vote was approved by oral consent, which means that the number of MPs in favour or opposed is unknown.&nbsp;

The state of emergency was first declared for two weeks on January 21, after militia groups tried to advance on the capital Bangui ahead of presidential and legislative elections the previous month.&nbsp;

They were held back by government forces, UN peacekeepers and Russian and Rwandan military personnel, sent by their governments under bilateral accords.&nbsp;

The December 27 elections saw President Faustin Archange Touadera re-elected, but in a result that the opposition has dismissed as a sham.&nbsp;

Only around a third of the CAR's electorate was able to cast a vote.&nbsp;

Most of the country is controlled by armed groups that emerged after a civil war erupted in 2013 following the overthrow of Touadera's predecessor, Francois Bozize.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, forces loyal to the Central African Republic government have retaken a second town on an arterial highway from rebels, the prime minister said on Friday.&nbsp;

"The town of Yaloke is liberated..." Prime Minister Firmin Ngrebada said on Facebook. "Congratulations to our defence forces and allies."&nbsp;

By "allies", the CAR government usually refers to Rwandan troops and Russian paramilitaries.&nbsp;

Yaloke is located nearly 200 kilometres (125 miles) northwest of the Bangui and lies on a major highway that links the landlocked nation's capital to neighbouring Cameroon.&nbsp;

Earlier this week, loyalist forces retook the key town of Bossembele, around 150 kilometres (95 miles) northwest of Bangui and also on a vital road artery.&nbsp;

Central African Republic’s Parliament approved a six-month extension to the state of emergency declared by the government to help combat armed groups it accuses of seeking to mount a coup.

Central African Republic’s Parliament approved a six-month extension to the state of emergency declared by the government to help combat armed groups it accuses of seeking to mount a coup. In a tweet, Prime Minister Firmin Ngrebada, thanked Parliament for the vote, saying it would "enable the government to pursue long-term operations to secure the country." The National Assembly's press service said, the vote was approved by oral consent, which means that the number of MPs in favour or opposed is unknown. The state of emergency was first declared for two weeks on January 21, after militia groups tried to advance on the capital Bangui ahead of presidential and legislative elections the previous month. They were held back by government forces, UN peacekeepers and Russian and Rwandan military personnel, sent by their governments under bilateral accords. The December 27 elections saw President Faustin Archange Touadera re-elected, but in a result that the opposition has dismissed as a sham. Only around a third of the CAR's electorate was able to cast a vote. Most of the country is controlled by armed groups that emerged after a civil war erupted in 2013 following the overthrow of Touadera's predecessor, Francois Bozize. Meanwhile, forces loyal to the Central African Republic government have retaken a second town on an arterial highway from rebels, the prime minister said on Friday. "The town of Yaloke is liberated..." Prime Minister Firmin Ngrebada said on Facebook. "Congratulations to our defence forces and allies." By "allies", the CAR government usually refers to Rwandan troops and Russian paramilitaries. Yaloke is located nearly 200 kilometres (125 miles) northwest of the Bangui and lies on a major highway that links the landlocked nation's capital to neighbouring Cameroon. Earlier this week, loyalist forces retook the key town of Bossembele, around 150 kilometres (95 miles) northwest of Bangui and also on a vital road artery.

Central African Republic extends emergency by six months

Months after a monster port blast, a German firm has treated 52 containers of hazardous material at Beirut port and will ship them out of Lebanon, the German ambassador said on Saturday.&nbsp;

On Twitter, Andreas Kindl said the heavy lift transport company Combi Lift 'has treated 52 containers of hazardous and dangerous chemical material that had been accumulated over decades and were a threat to the people in Beirut'.&nbsp;

They stand ready to be shipped to Germany, he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The August 4 explosion of a stockpile of ammonium nitrate fertiliser that had been left to languish haphazardly at the Beirut port for years killed more than 200 people, wounded at least 6,500 others and ravaged swaths of the capital.&nbsp;

Lebanon's worst peace-time disaster sparked concerns over remaining shipments of hazardous chemicals still stored at the blast site.&nbsp;

In November, Lebanon signed a contract with Combi Lift, which was already working at the port, to clear containers carrying hazardous chemicals.&nbsp;

The containers, which include corrosive acids, had been stored in an open-air cargo zone for over a decade under the supervision of Lebanon’s customs authority, officials said at the time.&nbsp;

If they catch fire 'Beirut will be wiped out', interim port chief Bassem al-Kaisi said in November.&nbsp;

Kindl on Saturday published pictures on Twitter showing fraying containers at the port and what appears to be chemicals leaking from some of them.&nbsp;

Lebanese authorities have said Combi Lift will ship the chemicals in special containers as part of a $3.6 million deal, with the port authority reportedly to pay $2 million of that.&nbsp;

Lebanon's army and port authority have said they do not have the expertise to handle such a process.&nbsp;

Lebanon has launched an investigation into the August blast amid public anger against a political class widely blamed for the tragedy.&nbsp;

At least 25 people have been arrested, including the port chief and the head of the customs authority, but no politician has been held to account.&nbsp;

Months after a monster port blast, a German firm has treated 52 containers of hazardous material at Beirut port and will ship them out of Lebanon, the German ambassador said on Saturday.

Months after a monster port blast, a German firm has treated 52 containers of hazardous material at Beirut port and will ship them out of Lebanon, the German ambassador said on Saturday. On Twitter, Andreas Kindl said the heavy lift transport company Combi Lift 'has treated 52 containers of hazardous and dangerous chemical material that had been accumulated over decades and were a threat to the people in Beirut'. They stand ready to be shipped to Germany, he added. The August 4 explosion of a stockpile of ammonium nitrate fertiliser that had been left to languish haphazardly at the Beirut port for years killed more than 200 people, wounded at least 6,500 others and ravaged swaths of the capital. Lebanon's worst peace-time disaster sparked concerns over remaining shipments of hazardous chemicals still stored at the blast site. In November, Lebanon signed a contract with Combi Lift, which was already working at the port, to clear containers carrying hazardous chemicals. The containers, which include corrosive acids, had been stored in an open-air cargo zone for over a decade under the supervision of Lebanon’s customs authority, officials said at the time. If they catch fire 'Beirut will be wiped out', interim port chief Bassem al-Kaisi said in November. Kindl on Saturday published pictures on Twitter showing fraying containers at the port and what appears to be chemicals leaking from some of them. Lebanese authorities have said Combi Lift will ship the chemicals in special containers as part of a $3.6 million deal, with the port authority reportedly to pay $2 million of that. Lebanon's army and port authority have said they do not have the expertise to handle such a process. Lebanon has launched an investigation into the August blast amid public anger against a political class widely blamed for the tragedy. At least 25 people have been arrested, including the port chief and the head of the customs authority, but no politician has been held to account.

German firm to clear Beirut port of 52 hazardous containers

One of the biggest corruption investigations in history, Brazil's 'Operation Car Wash,' which felled presidents and powerful players across Latin America, wrapped up this week after falling into scandal itself.&nbsp;

The task force, which began as a probe into money laundering at a Brasilia gas station in March 2014, soon blew the lid off a sprawling tangle of corruption reaching the highest levels of government and industry in Brazil, with tentacles stretching across Latin America and into Africa.&nbsp;

Using aggressive plea-bargain tactics to get suspects to rat out their superiors, prosecutors uncovered how politicians systematically conspired with executives at companies, such as Brazilian oil giant Petrobras and construction giant Odebrecht to inflate government contracts and pocket the proceeds for themselves and their parties.&nbsp;

A fearsome force whose exploits inspired a movie and Netflix series, the hard-hitting prosecutors shared their dirt with colleagues around the world.&nbsp;

The long list of people sent to jail by the investigation and its international spinoffs includes former presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Alejandro Toledo of Peru and Ricardo Martinelli of Panama, plus top executives at Petrobras, Odebrecht and several other firms.&nbsp;

But despite the operation's spectacular list of accomplishments -- 174 people convicted in Brazil, 12 current or former presidents implicated across Latin America, $790 million returned to Brazil's public coffers, with nearly $2.8 billion more on the way -- the attorney general's office announced on Wednesday without fanfare that its main investigative team had been disbanded.&nbsp;

Ironically, the news came under a leader who arguably owes his job to Car Wash: far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, the self-styled outsider, who rode a wave of anti-establishment outrage to victory in Brazil's 2018 elections.&nbsp;

"The politician who most benefited from Brazil's anti-corruption probe has put the final nail in its coffin," Brazilian sociologist Celso Rocha de Barros wrote in Americas Quarterly.&nbsp;

One of the biggest corruption investigations in history, Brazil's 'Operation Car Wash,' which felled presidents and powerful players across Latin America, wrapped up this week after falling into scandal itself.

One of the biggest corruption investigations in history, Brazil's 'Operation Car Wash,' which felled presidents and powerful players across Latin America, wrapped up this week after falling into scandal itself. The task force, which began as a probe into money laundering at a Brasilia gas station in March 2014, soon blew the lid off a sprawling tangle of corruption reaching the highest levels of government and industry in Brazil, with tentacles stretching across Latin America and into Africa. Using aggressive plea-bargain tactics to get suspects to rat out their superiors, prosecutors uncovered how politicians systematically conspired with executives at companies, such as Brazilian oil giant Petrobras and construction giant Odebrecht to inflate government contracts and pocket the proceeds for themselves and their parties. A fearsome force whose exploits inspired a movie and Netflix series, the hard-hitting prosecutors shared their dirt with colleagues around the world. The long list of people sent to jail by the investigation and its international spinoffs includes former presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Alejandro Toledo of Peru and Ricardo Martinelli of Panama, plus top executives at Petrobras, Odebrecht and several other firms. But despite the operation's spectacular list of accomplishments -- 174 people convicted in Brazil, 12 current or former presidents implicated across Latin America, $790 million returned to Brazil's public coffers, with nearly $2.8 billion more on the way -- the attorney general's office announced on Wednesday without fanfare that its main investigative team had been disbanded. Ironically, the news came under a leader who arguably owes his job to Car Wash: far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, the self-styled outsider, who rode a wave of anti-establishment outrage to victory in Brazil's 2018 elections. "The politician who most benefited from Brazil's anti-corruption probe has put the final nail in its coffin," Brazilian sociologist Celso Rocha de Barros wrote in Americas Quarterly.

Landmark 'Car Wash' investigation ends with a whimper in Brazil

In the first conversation between top officials of the US and China since President Joe Biden took office, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed Beijing on its treatment of Uighurs, Tibetans and Hong Kongers.&nbsp;

About his call with senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi, Blinken said on Twitter, "I made clear the US will defend our national interests, stand up for our democratic values, and hold Beijing accountable for its abuses of the international system." &nbsp;

Blinken told Yang, the United States "will continue to stand up for human rights and democratic values, including in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.”&nbsp;

Blinken also "pressed China to join the international community in condemning the military coup in Burma," it said, using the former name of Myanmar.&nbsp;

The top US diplomat said the United States would hold Beijing "accountable for its efforts to threaten stability in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait, and its undermining of the rules-based international system."&nbsp;

The tough tone comes after Blinken in his confirmation hearing said he would continue former president Donald Trump's approach to China in a rare point of agreement between the two administrations.&nbsp;

Blinken has said he agrees with a determination by the State Department under Trump that Beijing is carrying out genocide in the western region of Xinjiang, where rights groups say more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking people have been rounded up in camps.&nbsp;

Beijing has also ramped up a crackdown in Hong Kong, arresting leading activists, after imposing a new law against subversion following major protests in the financial hub to which it had guaranteed a separate system.&nbsp;

Biden nonetheless offered a small olive branch during a speech on foreign policy on Thursday, saying that while the United states will ‘confront' China, "We are ready to work with Beijing when it's in America's interest to do so."&nbsp;

Blinken has previously spoken of climate change as an area of cooperation as China and the United State are the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases.&nbsp;

Beijing has long enjoyed a privileged relationship with Myanmar, supporting the junta that gave way to democracy a decade ago with US support.&nbsp;

The military in the Southeast Asian nation this week carried out a coup, arresting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in what Chinese state media described as 'a major cabinet reshuffle’.&nbsp;

Biden, who has vowed to promote democracy worldwide after Trump's flirtations with autocratic leaders, strongly condemned the coup and threatened sanctions if the military did not relinquish power.&nbsp;

In the first conversation between top officials of the US and China since President Joe Biden took office, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed Beijing on its treatment of Uighurs, Tibetans and Hong Kongers.

In the first conversation between top officials of the US and China since President Joe Biden took office, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed Beijing on its treatment of Uighurs, Tibetans and Hong Kongers. About his call with senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi, Blinken said on Twitter, "I made clear the US will defend our national interests, stand up for our democratic values, and hold Beijing accountable for its abuses of the international system." Blinken told Yang, the United States "will continue to stand up for human rights and democratic values, including in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.” Blinken also "pressed China to join the international community in condemning the military coup in Burma," it said, using the former name of Myanmar. The top US diplomat said the United States would hold Beijing "accountable for its efforts to threaten stability in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait, and its undermining of the rules-based international system." The tough tone comes after Blinken in his confirmation hearing said he would continue former president Donald Trump's approach to China in a rare point of agreement between the two administrations. Blinken has said he agrees with a determination by the State Department under Trump that Beijing is carrying out genocide in the western region of Xinjiang, where rights groups say more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking people have been rounded up in camps. Beijing has also ramped up a crackdown in Hong Kong, arresting leading activists, after imposing a new law against subversion following major protests in the financial hub to which it had guaranteed a separate system. Biden nonetheless offered a small olive branch during a speech on foreign policy on Thursday, saying that while the United states will ‘confront' China, "We are ready to work with Beijing when it's in America's interest to do so." Blinken has previously spoken of climate change as an area of cooperation as China and the United State are the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases. Beijing has long enjoyed a privileged relationship with Myanmar, supporting the junta that gave way to democracy a decade ago with US support. The military in the Southeast Asian nation this week carried out a coup, arresting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in what Chinese state media described as 'a major cabinet reshuffle’. Biden, who has vowed to promote democracy worldwide after Trump's flirtations with autocratic leaders, strongly condemned the coup and threatened sanctions if the military did not relinquish power.

Blinken warns China on Uighurs, Hong Kongers

Following first in-depth talks since President Joe Biden took office, the foreign ministers of France, Britain, Germany, and the United States on Friday said they wanted 'to revive' the transatlantic relationship. &nbsp;

In a statement, the German foreign ministry said, "The foreign ministers agreed that they want to revive the traditionally close transatlantic partnership and tackle global challenges together in future." &nbsp;

"This first, in-depth exchange between the foreign ministers since President Biden's inauguration was characterised by a trusting and constructive atmosphere." &nbsp;

The European foreign ministers and their new US counterpart Antony Blinken discussed the Iran nuclear deal, which has been in tatters since former President Donald Trump pulled out of the pact in 2018. &nbsp;

"The E3 and the US discussed how a united approach could address our shared concerns towards Iran," tweeted British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, with E3 referring to the three European signatories to the 2015 Iran deal. &nbsp;

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Twitter described the talks as an "important conversation on Iran" and handling nuclear and regional security challenges "together". &nbsp;

In a shift from Trump's go-it-alone 'America First' approach, State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Blinken 'underscored the US commitment to coordinated action to overcome global challenges’. &nbsp;

Blinken and his counterparts "affirmed the centrality of the transatlantic relationship in dealing with security, climate, economic, health and other challenges the world faces," Price said. &nbsp;

Following first in-depth talks since President Joe Biden took office, the foreign ministers of France, Britain, Germany, and the United States on Friday said they wanted 'to revive' the transatlantic relationship.

Following first in-depth talks since President Joe Biden took office, the foreign ministers of France, Britain, Germany, and the United States on Friday said they wanted 'to revive' the transatlantic relationship. In a statement, the German foreign ministry said, "The foreign ministers agreed that they want to revive the traditionally close transatlantic partnership and tackle global challenges together in future." "This first, in-depth exchange between the foreign ministers since President Biden's inauguration was characterised by a trusting and constructive atmosphere." The European foreign ministers and their new US counterpart Antony Blinken discussed the Iran nuclear deal, which has been in tatters since former President Donald Trump pulled out of the pact in 2018. "The E3 and the US discussed how a united approach could address our shared concerns towards Iran," tweeted British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, with E3 referring to the three European signatories to the 2015 Iran deal. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Twitter described the talks as an "important conversation on Iran" and handling nuclear and regional security challenges "together". In a shift from Trump's go-it-alone 'America First' approach, State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Blinken 'underscored the US commitment to coordinated action to overcome global challenges’.  Blinken and his counterparts "affirmed the centrality of the transatlantic relationship in dealing with security, climate, economic, health and other challenges the world faces," Price said.

US, UK, Germany, France to revive transatlantic ties

In a bid to strengthen the stability and future of American democracy, Microsoft on Friday said it is temporarily cutting off donations to politicians, who supported efforts to overturn President Joe Biden's victory or voted against certifying the US election results.&nbsp;

Contributions from shareholders, employees, and family members are channeled through a Microsoft Corporation Stakeholders Voluntary PAC, which will be withheld for these lawmakers through the 2022 election cycle, according to corporate vice president Fred Humphries.&nbsp;

The political action committee will also create a Democracy Forward Initiative to support campaign finance reform and voting rights, Humphries added.&nbsp;

"We believe these steps are appropriate given the importance of these issues for the stability and future of American democracy," he said in a blog post.&nbsp;

The PAC suspended political contributions after the deadly attack last month on the US Capitol Building by supporters of former president Donald Trump.&nbsp;

In an unprecedented second impeachment trial, Trump is accused of fomenting the attack by his supporters on the US legislature, forcing a halt to proceedings to certify Biden's victory in the November presidential election.&nbsp;

The January 6 violence continues to reverberate in Washington. Prosecutors have charged some 180 people in the attacks, according to a tally by the George Washington University Program on Extremism, and hundreds more are under investigation.&nbsp;

The Justice Department has suggested it could build a case for seditious conspiracy by some Trump-supporting extreme-right groups in the attack.&nbsp;

In a White House rally just before the attack, Trump encouraged supporters to reject the election results and to 'fight like hell’.&nbsp;

The Microsoft PAC is suspending all donations to members of Congress, who voted to object to the certification of the election results, according to Humphries.&nbsp;

More than 3,000 Microsoft employees donate to the PAC, and Humphries said the announced moves resulted from feedback gathered from many of them in video-meetings.&nbsp;

"We do realize that these steps, while significant, will be too much or too little for some employees," Humphries said.&nbsp;

"There were several other good ideas that arose from our recent meetings, and we will continue to consider other ways we can strengthen the MSVPAC."&nbsp;

In a bid to strengthen the stability and future of American democracy, Microsoft on Friday said it is temporarily cutting off donations to politicians, who supported efforts to overturn President Joe Biden's victory or voted against certifying the US election results.

In a bid to strengthen the stability and future of American democracy, Microsoft on Friday said it is temporarily cutting off donations to politicians, who supported efforts to overturn President Joe Biden's victory or voted against certifying the US election results. Contributions from shareholders, employees, and family members are channeled through a Microsoft Corporation Stakeholders Voluntary PAC, which will be withheld for these lawmakers through the 2022 election cycle, according to corporate vice president Fred Humphries. The political action committee will also create a Democracy Forward Initiative to support campaign finance reform and voting rights, Humphries added. "We believe these steps are appropriate given the importance of these issues for the stability and future of American democracy," he said in a blog post. The PAC suspended political contributions after the deadly attack last month on the US Capitol Building by supporters of former president Donald Trump. In an unprecedented second impeachment trial, Trump is accused of fomenting the attack by his supporters on the US legislature, forcing a halt to proceedings to certify Biden's victory in the November presidential election. The January 6 violence continues to reverberate in Washington. Prosecutors have charged some 180 people in the attacks, according to a tally by the George Washington University Program on Extremism, and hundreds more are under investigation. The Justice Department has suggested it could build a case for seditious conspiracy by some Trump-supporting extreme-right groups in the attack. In a White House rally just before the attack, Trump encouraged supporters to reject the election results and to 'fight like hell’. The Microsoft PAC is suspending all donations to members of Congress, who voted to object to the certification of the election results, according to Humphries. More than 3,000 Microsoft employees donate to the PAC, and Humphries said the announced moves resulted from feedback gathered from many of them in video-meetings. "We do realize that these steps, while significant, will be too much or too little for some employees," Humphries said. "There were several other good ideas that arose from our recent meetings, and we will continue to consider other ways we can strengthen the MSVPAC."

Microsoft cuts funds to politicians, who didn’t certify US poll results

Over some $50 million dollars in unpaid bills, hundreds of South Sudanese politicians have been kicked out of hotels where they have been staying during the country's peace process, a hotel association said on Thursday.&nbsp;

For several years, around 300 politicians from the ruling party, different opposition groups and the military, have been staying in more than 18 hotels in Juba.&nbsp;

In 2013, South Sudan plunged into war, and after several failed peace deals, signed a new agreement in September 2018, which led to the formation of a unity government in February last year, which remains fragile.&nbsp;

Many of those involved in the talks, members of the National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC), had been outside of the country, while some claimed they needed to be accommodated in hotels for security reasons.&nbsp;

Last month, the hotel industry issued two warnings to the government over the arrears, but to no avail.&nbsp;

"So, we decided to come with a final conclusion to chase out all the customers from NPTC that is including politicians, generals, who came for the implementation of peace," said Mel Garang, a representative of the South Sudan Hotel and Catering Association. &nbsp;&nbsp;

He said, some delegates had been in the hotels for three to four years.&nbsp;

"Last time, we were demanding more than $10 million but now, we realized some hotels were not with us and they are demanding up to $50 million (41 million euros)," said Garang.&nbsp;

Hotel owners, already faced with the depreciating South Sudanese pound, say they can no longer afford to pay their suppliers due to the mounting debt.&nbsp;

Tut Kew Gatluak, NPTC chairman and security adviser to President Salva Kiir, said, "we have paid some and some not yet."&nbsp;

A delegate, who was thrown out of the hotel, on condition of anonymity said the situation was embarassing.&nbsp;

Over some $50 million dollars in unpaid bills, hundreds of South Sudanese politicians have been kicked out of hotels where they have been staying during the country's peace process, a hotel association said on Thursday.

Over some $50 million dollars in unpaid bills, hundreds of South Sudanese politicians have been kicked out of hotels where they have been staying during the country's peace process, a hotel association said on Thursday. For several years, around 300 politicians from the ruling party, different opposition groups and the military, have been staying in more than 18 hotels in Juba. In 2013, South Sudan plunged into war, and after several failed peace deals, signed a new agreement in September 2018, which led to the formation of a unity government in February last year, which remains fragile. Many of those involved in the talks, members of the National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC), had been outside of the country, while some claimed they needed to be accommodated in hotels for security reasons. Last month, the hotel industry issued two warnings to the government over the arrears, but to no avail. "So, we decided to come with a final conclusion to chase out all the customers from NPTC that is including politicians, generals, who came for the implementation of peace," said Mel Garang, a representative of the South Sudan Hotel and Catering Association. He said, some delegates had been in the hotels for three to four years. "Last time, we were demanding more than $10 million but now, we realized some hotels were not with us and they are demanding up to $50 million (41 million euros)," said Garang. Hotel owners, already faced with the depreciating South Sudanese pound, say they can no longer afford to pay their suppliers due to the mounting debt. Tut Kew Gatluak, NPTC chairman and security adviser to President Salva Kiir, said, "we have paid some and some not yet." A delegate, who was thrown out of the hotel, on condition of anonymity said the situation was embarassing.

Over $50 million in unpaid bills, South Sudan hotels kick out politicians

Yemen's warring factions declared their readiness to act after US President Joe Biden called for renewed efforts to end their conflict, but experts said on Friday that a real solution appears out of reach.&nbsp;

The grinding six-year war in Yemen has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, triggering what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian disaster.&nbsp;

In his first major foreign policy speech since replacing Donald Trump last month, Biden appointed an envoy to push for peace and said the US would end all support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen.&nbsp;

"This war has to end," Biden said.&nbsp;

"To underscore our commitment, we are ending all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arm sales."&nbsp;

Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, welcomed his remarks and stressed the "importance of supporting diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis".&nbsp;

It hailed Timothy Lenderking's appointment as US envoy, describing it as "another important step" taken by the US to "end the war caused by the Iran-backed Huthis".&nbsp;

The Huthi rebels, who control much of the country, including the capital Sanaa, said they supported the approach of the new US administration.&nbsp;

"The real proof to achieve peace in Yemen is an end to the aggression and a lifting of the blockade," Huthi spokesman Mohamed Abdel Salam in a tweet.&nbsp;

"Yemen's missiles are for the defence of Yemen and stopping them comes when an end to the aggression and a lifting of the blockade are totally achieved," he added.&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia reacted by reasserting its commitment to a political solution in Yemen.&nbsp;

The kingdom also welcomed Biden's "commitment to cooperate with the kingdom to defend its sovereignty and counter threats against it," according to the official Saudi Press Agency.&nbsp;

But like the Yemeni government, it did not address Biden's decision to end military support to the war in Yemen.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Yemen's warring factions declared their readiness to act after US President Joe Biden called for renewed efforts to end their conflict, but experts said on Friday that a real solution appears out of reach.

Yemen's warring factions declared their readiness to act after US President Joe Biden called for renewed efforts to end their conflict, but experts said on Friday that a real solution appears out of reach. The grinding six-year war in Yemen has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, triggering what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian disaster. In his first major foreign policy speech since replacing Donald Trump last month, Biden appointed an envoy to push for peace and said the US would end all support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. "This war has to end," Biden said. "To underscore our commitment, we are ending all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arm sales." Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, welcomed his remarks and stressed the "importance of supporting diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis". It hailed Timothy Lenderking's appointment as US envoy, describing it as "another important step" taken by the US to "end the war caused by the Iran-backed Huthis". The Huthi rebels, who control much of the country, including the capital Sanaa, said they supported the approach of the new US administration. "The real proof to achieve peace in Yemen is an end to the aggression and a lifting of the blockade," Huthi spokesman Mohamed Abdel Salam in a tweet. "Yemen's missiles are for the defence of Yemen and stopping them comes when an end to the aggression and a lifting of the blockade are totally achieved," he added. Saudi Arabia reacted by reasserting its commitment to a political solution in Yemen. The kingdom also welcomed Biden's "commitment to cooperate with the kingdom to defend its sovereignty and counter threats against it," according to the official Saudi Press Agency. But like the Yemeni government, it did not address Biden's decision to end military support to the war in Yemen.

Warring factions welcome Biden peace push in Yemen

In order to help the micro-blogging platform with data processing and analytics based on machine learning tools, Google has signed a multi-year deal with Twitter.&nbsp;

In 2018, Twitter decided to work with Google Cloud to move cold data storage and its flexible compute Hadoop clusters to Google Cloud Platform (GCP), to enable the company enhance the experience and productivity of its engineering teams working with its data platform.&nbsp;

In a statement, Twitter CTO Parag Agrawal on Thursday said, "Our initial partnership with Google Cloud has been successful and enabled us to enhance the productivity of our engineering teams."&nbsp;

"Building on this relationship and Google's technologies will allow us to learn more from our data, move faster and serve more relevant content to the people who use our service every day," he added.&nbsp;

The Hadoop compute system is the core of Twitter's data platform, and Twitter runs multiple large Hadoop clusters that are among the biggest in the world.&nbsp;

The migration will enable faster capacity provisioning, increased flexibility, access to a broader ecosystem of tools and services, improvements to security and enhanced disaster recovery capabilities.&nbsp;

In an earlier statement, Agrawal said, "Architecturally, we will also be able to separate compute and storage for this class of Hadoop workloads, which has a number of long-term scaling and operational benefits."&nbsp;

Google Cloud Platform's data solutions and trusted infrastructure will provide Twitter with the technical flexibility and consistency that its platform requires.&nbsp;

In order to help the micro-blogging platform with data processing and analytics based on machine learning tools, Google has signed a multi-year deal with Twitter.

In order to help the micro-blogging platform with data processing and analytics based on machine learning tools, Google has signed a multi-year deal with Twitter. In 2018, Twitter decided to work with Google Cloud to move cold data storage and its flexible compute Hadoop clusters to Google Cloud Platform (GCP), to enable the company enhance the experience and productivity of its engineering teams working with its data platform. In a statement, Twitter CTO Parag Agrawal on Thursday said, "Our initial partnership with Google Cloud has been successful and enabled us to enhance the productivity of our engineering teams." "Building on this relationship and Google's technologies will allow us to learn more from our data, move faster and serve more relevant content to the people who use our service every day," he added. The Hadoop compute system is the core of Twitter's data platform, and Twitter runs multiple large Hadoop clusters that are among the biggest in the world. The migration will enable faster capacity provisioning, increased flexibility, access to a broader ecosystem of tools and services, improvements to security and enhanced disaster recovery capabilities. In an earlier statement, Agrawal said, "Architecturally, we will also be able to separate compute and storage for this class of Hadoop workloads, which has a number of long-term scaling and operational benefits." Google Cloud Platform's data solutions and trusted infrastructure will provide Twitter with the technical flexibility and consistency that its platform requires.

Google Cloud signs mega deal with Twitter

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Gandharv Walia

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