<p>US ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, as per a statement issued on Tuesday, has expressed 'grave concerns' that &nbsp;Russian mercenaries may be deployed to Mali and undermine international efforts to defeat violent extremism</p>

<p>"We believe Niger’s partners must address security together," Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement after her&nbsp;<br />
talks with Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum.</p>

<p>Security provision must be "inclusive, equitable," while respecting human rights, she said, praising Niger's own democratic example.</p>

<p>"To that end, I expressed our grave concerns about reports that Russian mercenaries may deploy to Mali and the risk that would pose to regional peace and security and the broader Sahel," Thomas-Greenfield said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Russian mercenaries engage in human rights abuses of civilians, extract steep costs in payments and mineral concessions, and deprive local citizens of critically needed resources," the US envoy said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Any role for Russian mercenaries in the region will likely exacerbate the current security situation. Instead, we hope Niger will work with us on our common goal: countering terrorism and denying violent extremism a home."</p>

<p>Mali has seen two coups in last nine months. The UN delegation visited Mali on Saturday and Sunday to press the military-led interim government to restore democracy.</p>

<p>The Wagner group, with which Moscow denies any link, provides maintenance services, military equipment and training in the countries where they are deployed.</p>

<p>But France and other critics accuse the Wagner group of benefitting from their resources and of serving Kremlin interests.</p>

<p>Wagner personnel have been reported in the Central African Republic and other African countries, as well as in Syria and Libya.</p>

<p>Despite a 2015 peace agreement, poor and landlocked Mali, home to at least 20 ethnic groups, has been racked by jihadist and intercommunal violence, as well as coups in August 2020 and May this year.</p>

<p>Military intervention by France and the UN has failed to quell an Islamist insurgency that has swept into central Mali and spilled over into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, leaving thousands dead and forcing hundreds of thousands more from their homes.</p>

<p>French officials say the possible future presence of the Wagner group would be incompatible with the French military presence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the start of October, the French army said it had seen no sign of a Wagner deployment in Mali.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


US ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, as per a statement issued on Tuesday, has expressed 'grave concerns' that Russian mercenaries may be deployed to Mali and undermine international efforts to defeat violent extremism "We believe Niger’s partners must address security together," Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement after her talks with Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum.

US ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, as per a statement issued on Tuesday, has expressed 'grave concerns' that Russian mercenaries may be deployed to Mali and undermine international efforts to defeat violent extremism "We believe Niger’s partners must address security together," Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement after her talks with Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum. Security provision must be "inclusive, equitable," while respecting human rights, she said, praising Niger's own democratic example. "To that end, I expressed our grave concerns about reports that Russian mercenaries may deploy to Mali and the risk that would pose to regional peace and security and the broader Sahel," Thomas-Greenfield said. "Russian mercenaries engage in human rights abuses of civilians, extract steep costs in payments and mineral concessions, and deprive local citizens of critically needed resources," the US envoy said. "Any role for Russian mercenaries in the region will likely exacerbate the current security situation. Instead, we hope Niger will work with us on our common goal: countering terrorism and denying violent extremism a home." Mali has seen two coups in last nine months. The UN delegation visited Mali on Saturday and Sunday to press the military-led interim government to restore democracy. The Wagner group, with which Moscow denies any link, provides maintenance services, military equipment and training in the countries where they are deployed. But France and other critics accuse the Wagner group of benefitting from their resources and of serving Kremlin interests. Wagner personnel have been reported in the Central African Republic and other African countries, as well as in Syria and Libya. Despite a 2015 peace agreement, poor and landlocked Mali, home to at least 20 ethnic groups, has been racked by jihadist and intercommunal violence, as well as coups in August 2020 and May this year. Military intervention by France and the UN has failed to quell an Islamist insurgency that has swept into central Mali and spilled over into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, leaving thousands dead and forcing hundreds of thousands more from their homes. French officials say the possible future presence of the Wagner group would be incompatible with the French military presence. At the start of October, the French army said it had seen no sign of a Wagner deployment in Mali. (With inputs from agencies)

US worries over possible 'Russian mercenaries' in Mali

<p>Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday warned Turkey to stop 'aggressive posturing' over maritime dispute and engage in talks. His statement came during a visit to Saudi Arabia made with an aim of strebngthening ties with Gulf countries.</p>

<p>The PM warned that Greece had "drawn our lines very, very clearly" after signing defence deals with the United States and France earlier this month.</p>

<p>"We are secure. I don't think there is a geopolitical threat," Mitsotakis told the elite annual meeting dubbed 'Davos in the Desert', with Prince Mohammed in the audience.</p>

<p>"And I think at the end of the day Turkey will also realise that this aggressive posturing in the eastern Mediterranean is not going to lead anywhere."</p>

<p>Tensions between Greece and Turkey soared last year when Turkey sent gas exploration ship and small navy flotilla to hunt for resources in waters Greece considers its own under treaties.</p>

<p>In July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan endorsed a formal partition of Cyprus, which Ankara invaded in 1974 in response to a coup engineered by Greece's then military junta.</p>

<p>Greece also blames Turkey for not taking sufficient action to curb smugglers who send out migrants in unsafe boats and dinghies from its shores.</p>

<p>According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, more than 2,500 people have crossed the Aegean from neighbouring Turkey this year, compared to over 9,700 in 2020.</p>

<p>"I think we've set up our alliances, we've drawn our lines very, very clearly," Mitsotakis said.</p>

<p>"And I do hope that at some point, Turkey will constructively engage with us to resolve the one main outstanding issue we have which is the delineation of maritime shores."</p>

<p>He added: "We're always open for dialogue, but we will not be intimidated and we will not accept our sovereign rights to be compromised."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday warned Turkey to stop 'aggressive posturing' over maritime dispute and engage in talks. His statement came during a visit to Saudi Arabia made with an aim of strebngthening ties with Gulf countries.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday warned Turkey to stop 'aggressive posturing' over maritime dispute and engage in talks. His statement came during a visit to Saudi Arabia made with an aim of strebngthening ties with Gulf countries. The PM warned that Greece had "drawn our lines very, very clearly" after signing defence deals with the United States and France earlier this month. "We are secure. I don't think there is a geopolitical threat," Mitsotakis told the elite annual meeting dubbed 'Davos in the Desert', with Prince Mohammed in the audience. "And I think at the end of the day Turkey will also realise that this aggressive posturing in the eastern Mediterranean is not going to lead anywhere." Tensions between Greece and Turkey soared last year when Turkey sent gas exploration ship and small navy flotilla to hunt for resources in waters Greece considers its own under treaties. In July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan endorsed a formal partition of Cyprus, which Ankara invaded in 1974 in response to a coup engineered by Greece's then military junta. Greece also blames Turkey for not taking sufficient action to curb smugglers who send out migrants in unsafe boats and dinghies from its shores. According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, more than 2,500 people have crossed the Aegean from neighbouring Turkey this year, compared to over 9,700 in 2020. "I think we've set up our alliances, we've drawn our lines very, very clearly," Mitsotakis said. "And I do hope that at some point, Turkey will constructively engage with us to resolve the one main outstanding issue we have which is the delineation of maritime shores." He added: "We're always open for dialogue, but we will not be intimidated and we will not accept our sovereign rights to be compromised." (With inputs from agencies)

Greece warns Turkey to stop 'aggressive posturing'

<p>Do we search for alien life to kill the feeling of loneliness or to search for a new vista of scientific research? The question is complex. Whatever the reason may be, we are keen to see if there's is anyone out there in wide expanse of the space besides us. Till date we have had predictions but not confirmation.</p>

<p>But NASA chief is remarkably open to the possibility of life existing in some corner of space.</p>

<p>Bill Nelson, who was sworn in as administrator of NASA in May was speaking during University of Virginia's Center for Politics.</p>

<p>“My personal opinion is that the universe is so big, and now, there are even theories that there might be other universes. If that’s the case, who am I to say that planet Earth is the only location of a life form that is civilized and organized like ours?” Nelson told Larry Sabato, a professor of politics at UVA. He continued: “Are there other planet Earths out there? I certainly think so, because the universe is so big.”</p>

<p>Nelson is a Congressman and even went to space himself aboard Columbia shuttle in 1986.</p>

<p>Although he was open about possibility of life in space and even termed it as NASA's mission. He was also mindful of the fact that along with searching for intelligent life we should also be alert about damage we are causing to our own planet.</p>

<p>“I’ll tell you what that makes me think. I’d better be a better steward of what we have, because we’re messing it up, and we’re messing it up just the way we’re treating each other,” he said. “So I know what my mission is, to be a better steward of this planet and be a better citizen of planet Earth.”</p>


Do we search for alien life to kill the feeling of loneliness or to search for a new vista of scientific research? The question is complex. Whatever the reason may be, we are keen to see if there's is anyone out there in wide expanse of the space besides us.

Do we search for alien life to kill the feeling of loneliness or to search for a new vista of scientific research? The question is complex. Whatever the reason may be, we are keen to see if there's is anyone out there in wide expanse of the space besides us. Till date we have had predictions but not confirmation. But NASA chief is remarkably open to the possibility of life existing in some corner of space. Bill Nelson, who was sworn in as administrator of NASA in May was speaking during University of Virginia's Center for Politics. “My personal opinion is that the universe is so big, and now, there are even theories that there might be other universes. If that’s the case, who am I to say that planet Earth is the only location of a life form that is civilized and organized like ours?” Nelson told Larry Sabato, a professor of politics at UVA. He continued: “Are there other planet Earths out there? I certainly think so, because the universe is so big.” Nelson is a Congressman and even went to space himself aboard Columbia shuttle in 1986. Although he was open about possibility of life in space and even termed it as NASA's mission. He was also mindful of the fact that along with searching for intelligent life we should also be alert about damage we are causing to our own planet. “I’ll tell you what that makes me think. I’d better be a better steward of what we have, because we’re messing it up, and we’re messing it up just the way we’re treating each other,” he said. “So I know what my mission is, to be a better steward of this planet and be a better citizen of planet Earth.”

Life probably exists elsewhere in universe too, says NASA chief

<p>UK's Queen Elizabeth will not attend COP26 UN climate conference in Glasgow, her Buckingham Palace office said on Tuesday. The office said that her absence will be due to "advice to rest" she received from doctors following a recent overnight stay at hospital.</p>

<p>"Her Majesty has regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow" for a November 1 reception, the palace said in a statement, adding that she "will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message".</p>

<p>Queen Elizabeth had a busy schedule in early October but she cancelled a visit to Northern Ireland last week due to her health.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-president-xi-may-not-attend-cop26-report-424175">Chinese President Xi may not attend COP26: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>On Thursday, she spent the night at the private Edward VII hospital in London for "preliminary investigations".<br />
The stay &nbsp;-- her first since 2013 -- and the palace's delay in revealing it have raised fears over her health, given her age.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the queen resumed official duties Tuesday, greeting new ambassadors to Britain in video audiences from Windsor castle west of London.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-plant-based-dishes-to-dominate-the-menu-with-80-scottish-food-423610">Cop26: Plant-based dishes to dominate the menu with 80% Scottish food</a></strong></p>

<p>Elizabeth II has reigned since 1952 and will celebrate her platinum jubilee next year.</p>

<p>At almost daily public engagements, she has always appeared in good health -- although she was seen using a walking stick for the first time at a major public event this month.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


UK's Queen Elizabeth will not attend COP26 UN climate conference in Glasgow, her Buckingham Palace office said on Tuesday. The office said that her absence will be due to "advice to rest" she received from doctors following a recent overnight stay at hospital.

UK's Queen Elizabeth will not attend COP26 UN climate conference in Glasgow, her Buckingham Palace office said on Tuesday. The office said that her absence will be due to "advice to rest" she received from doctors following a recent overnight stay at hospital. "Her Majesty has regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow" for a November 1 reception, the palace said in a statement, adding that she "will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message". Queen Elizabeth had a busy schedule in early October but she cancelled a visit to Northern Ireland last week due to her health. Also Read | Chinese President Xi may not attend COP26: Report On Thursday, she spent the night at the private Edward VII hospital in London for "preliminary investigations". The stay -- her first since 2013 -- and the palace's delay in revealing it have raised fears over her health, given her age. But the queen resumed official duties Tuesday, greeting new ambassadors to Britain in video audiences from Windsor castle west of London. Also Read | Cop26: Plant-based dishes to dominate the menu with 80% Scottish food Elizabeth II has reigned since 1952 and will celebrate her platinum jubilee next year. At almost daily public engagements, she has always appeared in good health -- although she was seen using a walking stick for the first time at a major public event this month. (With inputs from agencies)

Queen Elizabeth not to attend COP26 climate summit due to medical advice: Buckingham Palace

<p>Bats have already got a bad name in times of the pandemic. The coronavirus that rattled the world and even made major lifestyle changes for everyone allegedly originated from wet markets in China and bats were the agency.</p>

<p>But even after all the bad publicity, bats may win an award of a sort in New Zealand. The race is on for 'Bird of the year' and if an independent conservation organisation in the country is to be believed, bats are well in front.</p>

<p>“It’s winning overall, yeah,” said Forest and Bird spokesperson Laura Keown. “Actually, when you look at the number one and number two rankings, it’s not winning by a little. It’s winning by quite a lot.”</p>

<p>The spokesperson was quoted by The Guardian.</p>

<p>The competition to select bird of the year takes place annually and has been going on for 16 years. Keown said that bat had been given an entry into the fray this year to raise awareness about its status as endangered species.</p>

<p>The specific species of bats in the race is called pekapeka-tou-roa, or long-tailed bat. This one of New Zealand's only land-based mammals that are native to the country.</p>

<p>The bat has found a powerful endorsement that is likely helping it lead the race for bird of the year. New Zealand's environment ministry has recently declared that it was backing the bat's candidacy in the race.</p>


Bats have already got a bad name in times of the pandemic. The coronavirus that rattled the world and even made major lifestyle changes for everyone allegedly originated from wet markets in China and bats were the agency.

Bats have already got a bad name in times of the pandemic. The coronavirus that rattled the world and even made major lifestyle changes for everyone allegedly originated from wet markets in China and bats were the agency. But even after all the bad publicity, bats may win an award of a sort in New Zealand. The race is on for 'Bird of the year' and if an independent conservation organisation in the country is to be believed, bats are well in front. “It’s winning overall, yeah,” said Forest and Bird spokesperson Laura Keown. “Actually, when you look at the number one and number two rankings, it’s not winning by a little. It’s winning by quite a lot.” The spokesperson was quoted by The Guardian. The competition to select bird of the year takes place annually and has been going on for 16 years. Keown said that bat had been given an entry into the fray this year to raise awareness about its status as endangered species. The specific species of bats in the race is called pekapeka-tou-roa, or long-tailed bat. This one of New Zealand's only land-based mammals that are native to the country. The bat has found a powerful endorsement that is likely helping it lead the race for bird of the year. New Zealand's environment ministry has recently declared that it was backing the bat's candidacy in the race.

Amid global pandemic, bats lead race for 'bird of the year' in New Zealand

<p>Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the 6th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) via video conference on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Every year at the Annual Meeting, the Board of Governors meets to take key decisions on important matters relating to AIIB, and its future vision. India is a founding member and the second-largest shareholder in AIIB.India also has one of the largest project portfolios within AIIB.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This year`s annual meeting has been jointly organized by AIIB and the Government of the United Arab Emirates on the theme of "Investing Today and Transforming Tomorrow".The finance minister shared her thoughts in the Governor`s Roundtable Discussion on the theme "COVID-19 Crisis and Post-COVID Support".</p>

<p>Sitharaman appreciated AIIB`s prompt actions in providing financial support to Member Countries, including India, in their efforts to contain and combat COVID-19.The Finance Minister said that the social protection and economic stimulus packages brought out by the Government of India, along with timely structural reforms in various sectors, have been pivotal in India`s economic recovery process.</p>

<p>The stimulus packages, including the credit guarantee scheme for microfinance institutions, boosters for project exports through National Export Insurance Account, additional subsidies for fertilizers, free food grains for 800 million people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, and several welfare schemes with a strong public health focus, helped to effectively and efficiently boost the economy and protect lives and livelihoods, especially of the poor and vulnerable.</p>

<p>Sitharaman emphasised the Government of India`s successful drive to rapidly vaccinate its citizens, administering over 1 billion vaccines - a milestone achieved with the help of the strong scientific and technological ecosystem in India.</p>

<p>The Finance Minister also highlighted India`s "Vaccine Maitri" initiative, a global health outreach, under which 70 million doses of the `Made in India` COVID-19 vaccines have been supplied to 95 countries and UN entities, including nearly 20 million doses to 47 countries under the COVAX facility and more than 12 million vaccine doses as a grant to 47 countries and UN peacekeepers.Sitharaman pointed out that the current crisis and the looming climate crisis have reinforced the importance of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and the urgency for supplementing country efforts with multilateral development finance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this context, she highlighted some of the expectations from the Bank, including the need to explore investment opportunities in the creation and development of assets in social infrastructure sectors; to further intensify private sector capital mobilisation for inclusive and green development; and to set up a Resident Board and Regional Offices to ensure accountability, transparency and quality of operations and investments.</p>

<p>Sitharaman assured India`s cooperation and support to the AIIB for its future endeavours as a leading financial institution.&nbsp;</p>


Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the 6th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) via video conference on Tuesday.

Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the 6th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) via video conference on Tuesday. Every year at the Annual Meeting, the Board of Governors meets to take key decisions on important matters relating to AIIB, and its future vision. India is a founding member and the second-largest shareholder in AIIB.India also has one of the largest project portfolios within AIIB. This year`s annual meeting has been jointly organized by AIIB and the Government of the United Arab Emirates on the theme of "Investing Today and Transforming Tomorrow".The finance minister shared her thoughts in the Governor`s Roundtable Discussion on the theme "COVID-19 Crisis and Post-COVID Support". Sitharaman appreciated AIIB`s prompt actions in providing financial support to Member Countries, including India, in their efforts to contain and combat COVID-19.The Finance Minister said that the social protection and economic stimulus packages brought out by the Government of India, along with timely structural reforms in various sectors, have been pivotal in India`s economic recovery process. The stimulus packages, including the credit guarantee scheme for microfinance institutions, boosters for project exports through National Export Insurance Account, additional subsidies for fertilizers, free food grains for 800 million people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, and several welfare schemes with a strong public health focus, helped to effectively and efficiently boost the economy and protect lives and livelihoods, especially of the poor and vulnerable. Sitharaman emphasised the Government of India`s successful drive to rapidly vaccinate its citizens, administering over 1 billion vaccines - a milestone achieved with the help of the strong scientific and technological ecosystem in India. The Finance Minister also highlighted India`s "Vaccine Maitri" initiative, a global health outreach, under which 70 million doses of the `Made in India` COVID-19 vaccines have been supplied to 95 countries and UN entities, including nearly 20 million doses to 47 countries under the COVAX facility and more than 12 million vaccine doses as a grant to 47 countries and UN peacekeepers.Sitharaman pointed out that the current crisis and the looming climate crisis have reinforced the importance of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and the urgency for supplementing country efforts with multilateral development finance. In this context, she highlighted some of the expectations from the Bank, including the need to explore investment opportunities in the creation and development of assets in social infrastructure sectors; to further intensify private sector capital mobilisation for inclusive and green development; and to set up a Resident Board and Regional Offices to ensure accountability, transparency and quality of operations and investments. Sitharaman assured India`s cooperation and support to the AIIB for its future endeavours as a leading financial institution.

Indian finance minister participates in AIIB board meet

<p>You must remember the cartoon The Jetsons that showed a family in distant future flying around in personal vehicles. In that highly developed world road-transport was obsolete and every citizen owned a flying car that took him from home to office and anywhere.</p>

<p>Well a namesake vehicle Jetson One has been launched by a Swedish startup by the name of Jetson. And like in the futuristic world, this is personal vehicle that flies. And oh, it runs on electric power.</p>

<p>The company was founded by Peter Ternstrom and Tomasz Patan in 2017. The company specialises in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL vehicles).</p>

<p>According to company website, Jetson One can fly at a maximum speed of 63 mph. The current version of the flying vehicle lets it fly for 20 minutes at a time on a single charge.</p>

<p>The company has also posted videos on social media in which the flying vehicle can be seen zooming across a desert landscape.</p>

<p>Take a look</p>

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<p>Jetson's plans involve shipping the commercial version of the prototype in 2023. The personal flying vehicle will not come cheap however.</p>

<p>If you wish to reserve one for yourself, you will have to shell out USD 92,000.</p>

<p>Like all new technologies, this one may be too costly as it enters the market but if this becomes cheap enough for mass production, each one of us may zoom our way to destinations in not so distant future.</p>


You must remember the cartoon The Jetsons that showed a family in distant future flying around in personal vehicles. In that highly developed world road-transport was obsolete and every citizen owned a flying car that took him from home to office and anywhere.

You must remember the cartoon The Jetsons that showed a family in distant future flying around in personal vehicles. In that highly developed world road-transport was obsolete and every citizen owned a flying car that took him from home to office and anywhere. Well a namesake vehicle Jetson One has been launched by a Swedish startup by the name of Jetson. And like in the futuristic world, this is personal vehicle that flies. And oh, it runs on electric power. The company was founded by Peter Ternstrom and Tomasz Patan in 2017. The company specialises in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL vehicles). According to company website, Jetson One can fly at a maximum speed of 63 mph. The current version of the flying vehicle lets it fly for 20 minutes at a time on a single charge. The company has also posted videos on social media in which the flying vehicle can be seen zooming across a desert landscape. Take a look View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jetson (@jetsonaero) × Jetson's plans involve shipping the commercial version of the prototype in 2023. The personal flying vehicle will not come cheap however. If you wish to reserve one for yourself, you will have to shell out USD 92,000. Like all new technologies, this one may be too costly as it enters the market but if this becomes cheap enough for mass production, each one of us may zoom our way to destinations in not so distant future.

Want a flying car? You may take a look at Jetson One

<p>It's a big decision in favour of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) with respect to the matter of Invesco trying to illegally take of ZEEL. In a major development on Tuesday, Bombay High Court temporarily barred Invesco from calling EGM. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, hours after Reliance Industries Limited in its media statement confirmed that it had made a proposal for merger of its media properties with Zee and wanted Punit Goenka to continue as Managing Director &amp; CEO of ZEEL, Punit Goenka released a statement saying, "Silence may be the best answer at times, but I have realised that in certain situations it is better to break it at the right time, so that truth comes to the fore."</p>

<p>The statement from the desk of Punit Goenka said, "I have been compelled to break my silence on the ongoing matter, and this is the reason that I am writing this note today. I have always been extremely transparent in all my communications and vide this statement, I would like to share my thoughts about the current situation. That said, I truly hope that this will be my first and last communication on this matter, so that we can focus on our value-creation journey at ZEE."</p>

<p>"Firstly, I would like to acknowledge that Invesco has been an extremely strong support to the Company, for the most part. It pains me to see this relationship going sour today and the unfortunate circumstances that we are all facing," said Goenka.</p>

<p>Invesco had tried to force ZEEL into a deal with Reliance group. Zee had refused the deal because the group's entities, which were to be merged with Zee, was given an inflated valuation by at least Rs 10,000 crore.</p>

<p>Invesco had called for the EGM to push for the ouster of directors Ashok Kurien and Manish Chokhani, apart from MD and CEO Punit Goenka. However, Kurien and Chokhani have already resigned from their posts, thereby, making the resolution moved by Invesco "infructuous".</p>

<p>Moreover, Invesco sought the appointment of six new directors - Surendra Singh Sirohi, Naina Krishna Murthy, Rohan Dhamija, Aruna Sharma, Srinivasa Rao Addepalli, and Gaurav Mehta.</p>


It's a big decision in favour of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) with respect to the matter of Invesco trying to illegally take of ZEEL. In a major development on Tuesday, Bombay High Court temporarily barred Invesco from calling EGM.

It's a big decision in favour of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) with respect to the matter of Invesco trying to illegally take of ZEEL. In a major development on Tuesday, Bombay High Court temporarily barred Invesco from calling EGM. Earlier, hours after Reliance Industries Limited in its media statement confirmed that it had made a proposal for merger of its media properties with Zee and wanted Punit Goenka to continue as Managing Director & CEO of ZEEL, Punit Goenka released a statement saying, "Silence may be the best answer at times, but I have realised that in certain situations it is better to break it at the right time, so that truth comes to the fore." The statement from the desk of Punit Goenka said, "I have been compelled to break my silence on the ongoing matter, and this is the reason that I am writing this note today. I have always been extremely transparent in all my communications and vide this statement, I would like to share my thoughts about the current situation. That said, I truly hope that this will be my first and last communication on this matter, so that we can focus on our value-creation journey at ZEE." "Firstly, I would like to acknowledge that Invesco has been an extremely strong support to the Company, for the most part. It pains me to see this relationship going sour today and the unfortunate circumstances that we are all facing," said Goenka. Invesco had tried to force ZEEL into a deal with Reliance group. Zee had refused the deal because the group's entities, which were to be merged with Zee, was given an inflated valuation by at least Rs 10,000 crore. Invesco had called for the EGM to push for the ouster of directors Ashok Kurien and Manish Chokhani, apart from MD and CEO Punit Goenka. However, Kurien and Chokhani have already resigned from their posts, thereby, making the resolution moved by Invesco "infructuous". Moreover, Invesco sought the appointment of six new directors - Surendra Singh Sirohi, Naina Krishna Murthy, Rohan Dhamija, Aruna Sharma, Srinivasa Rao Addepalli, and Gaurav Mehta.

Boost to ZEEL: Bombay High Court bars Invesco from calling EGM

<p>The United Nations said on Tuesday said that Asia suffered its hottest year on record in 2020. The statement has been made just ahead of the COP26 summit due to take place in Glasgow. UN said that the temperature rise and extreme weather are taking a heavy toll on continent's development.</p>

<p>UN's World Meteorological Organisation in its annual "State of the Climate in Asia" report has said that every part of the region had been affected.</p>

<p>"Extreme weather and climate change impacts across Asia in 2020 caused the loss of life of thousands of people, displaced millions of others and cost hundreds of billions of dollars, while wreaking a heavy toll on infrastructure and ecosystems," the WMO said.</p>

<p>"Sustainable development is threatened, with food and water insecurity, health risks and environmental degradation on the rise."</p>

<p>The report has come just days before COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference. The conference is due to be held in Glasgow from Sunday to November 12.</p>

<p>The report also mentioned total annual average losses suffered by Asian countries due to climate related hazards.</p>

<p>China suffered an estimated $238 billion, followed by India at $87 billion, Japan with $83 billion and South Korea on $24 billion.</p>

<p>But when the size of the economy is considered, the average annual losses are expected to be as high as 7.9 percent of gross domestic product for Tajikistan, 5.9 percent for Cambodia and 5.8 percent for Laos.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The United Nations said on Tuesday said that Asia suffered its hottest year on record in 2020. The statement has been made just ahead of the COP26 summit due to take place in Glasgow.

The United Nations said on Tuesday said that Asia suffered its hottest year on record in 2020. The statement has been made just ahead of the COP26 summit due to take place in Glasgow. UN said that the temperature rise and extreme weather are taking a heavy toll on continent's development. UN's World Meteorological Organisation in its annual "State of the Climate in Asia" report has said that every part of the region had been affected. "Extreme weather and climate change impacts across Asia in 2020 caused the loss of life of thousands of people, displaced millions of others and cost hundreds of billions of dollars, while wreaking a heavy toll on infrastructure and ecosystems," the WMO said. "Sustainable development is threatened, with food and water insecurity, health risks and environmental degradation on the rise." The report has come just days before COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference. The conference is due to be held in Glasgow from Sunday to November 12. The report also mentioned total annual average losses suffered by Asian countries due to climate related hazards. China suffered an estimated $238 billion, followed by India at $87 billion, Japan with $83 billion and South Korea on $24 billion. But when the size of the economy is considered, the average annual losses are expected to be as high as 7.9 percent of gross domestic product for Tajikistan, 5.9 percent for Cambodia and 5.8 percent for Laos. (With inputs from agencies)

In 2020, Asia suffered hottest year on record: UN

<p>Police around the world arrested 150 suspects involved in buying or selling illegal goods online on dark web, Europol said on Tuesday. The arrests include several high-profile targets.</p>

<p>Millions of euros in cash and bitcoin, drugs and guns were also recovered in&nbsp;Operation Dark HunTOR.</p>

<p>The bust stems from a German-led police sting earlier this year taking down the "world's largest" darknet marketplace.</p>

<p>Dark HunTOR, "was composed of a series of separate but complementary actions in Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States," the Hague-based Europol said.</p>

<p>In the United States alone, police arrested 65 people, while 47 were held in Germany, 24 in Britain, and four each in Italy and the Netherlands, among others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A number of those arrested "were considered high-value targets" by Europol.</p>

<p>Law agents also confiscated 26.7 million euros ($31 million) in cash and virtual currencies, as well as 45 guns and 234 kilogrammes (516 pounds) of drugs, including 25,000 ecstasy pills.</p>

<p>Italian police also shut down the "DeepSea" and "Berlusconi" marketplaces, "which together boasted over 100,000 announcements of illegal products", said Europol, which coordinated the operation together with its twin judicial agency Eurojust.&nbsp;</p>

<p>German police in January closed down the "DarkMarket" online marketplace, used by its alleged operator, an Australian, to facilitate the sale of drugs, stolen credit card data and malware.</p>

<p><strong>'Trove of evidence'</strong></p>

<p>Europol said the arrest of the alleged operator, caught near the German-Danish border at the time, and the seizure of the criminal infrastructure provided "investigators across the world with a trove of evidence".</p>

<p>German prosecutors at the time said DarkMarket came to light in the course of a major investigation against the web-hosting service Cyberbunker, located in a former NATO bunker in southwest Germany.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Europol's European Cybercrime Centre EC3 has since been compiling intelligence packages to identify the key targets, the continent's policing agency said.</p>

<p>The secret "darknet" includes websites that can be assessed only with specific software or authorisations, ensuring anonymity for users.</p>

<p>They have faced increased pressure from international law enforcement in recent months.</p>

<p>"The point of operations such as this is to put criminals operating on the dark web on notice (that) the law enforcement community has the means and global partnerships to unmask them and hold them accountable for their illegal activities," Europol deputy director of operations Jean-Philippe Lecouffe said.</p>

<p>Rolf van Wegberg, cybercrime investigator at the TU Delft university said the operation signalled a break in the trend of recent police actions against suspected online criminals.</p>

<p>"This kind of operations in the past looked at arresting the controllers of these marketplaces, we now see police services targeting the top sellers," he told investigative journalists at the Dutch KRO-NCRV public broadcaster.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Police around the world arrested 150 suspects involved in buying or selling illegal goods online on dark web, Europol said on Tuesday. The arrests include several high-profile targets.

Police around the world arrested 150 suspects involved in buying or selling illegal goods online on dark web, Europol said on Tuesday. The arrests include several high-profile targets. Millions of euros in cash and bitcoin, drugs and guns were also recovered in Operation Dark HunTOR. The bust stems from a German-led police sting earlier this year taking down the "world's largest" darknet marketplace. Dark HunTOR, "was composed of a series of separate but complementary actions in Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States," the Hague-based Europol said. In the United States alone, police arrested 65 people, while 47 were held in Germany, 24 in Britain, and four each in Italy and the Netherlands, among others. A number of those arrested "were considered high-value targets" by Europol. Law agents also confiscated 26.7 million euros ($31 million) in cash and virtual currencies, as well as 45 guns and 234 kilogrammes (516 pounds) of drugs, including 25,000 ecstasy pills. Italian police also shut down the "DeepSea" and "Berlusconi" marketplaces, "which together boasted over 100,000 announcements of illegal products", said Europol, which coordinated the operation together with its twin judicial agency Eurojust. German police in January closed down the "DarkMarket" online marketplace, used by its alleged operator, an Australian, to facilitate the sale of drugs, stolen credit card data and malware. 'Trove of evidence' Europol said the arrest of the alleged operator, caught near the German-Danish border at the time, and the seizure of the criminal infrastructure provided "investigators across the world with a trove of evidence". German prosecutors at the time said DarkMarket came to light in the course of a major investigation against the web-hosting service Cyberbunker, located in a former NATO bunker in southwest Germany. Europol's European Cybercrime Centre EC3 has since been compiling intelligence packages to identify the key targets, the continent's policing agency said. The secret "darknet" includes websites that can be assessed only with specific software or authorisations, ensuring anonymity for users. They have faced increased pressure from international law enforcement in recent months. "The point of operations such as this is to put criminals operating on the dark web on notice (that) the law enforcement community has the means and global partnerships to unmask them and hold them accountable for their illegal activities," Europol deputy director of operations Jean-Philippe Lecouffe said. Rolf van Wegberg, cybercrime investigator at the TU Delft university said the operation signalled a break in the trend of recent police actions against suspected online criminals. "This kind of operations in the past looked at arresting the controllers of these marketplaces, we now see police services targeting the top sellers," he told investigative journalists at the Dutch KRO-NCRV public broadcaster. (With inputs from agencies)

Police arrest 150 in dark web sting operation, says Europol

<p>President Joe Biden huddled with key Democrats on Sunday to iron out crucial spending and tax provisions as they raced to wrap up their expansive social safety net legislation before his appearance at a U.N. climate summit next week.</p>

<p>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said Democrats were close to completing the bill, displaying confidence that the negotiations over issues like paid leave, tax increases and Medicare benefits that have bedeviled the party for months would soon end.</p>

<p>“We have 90% of the bill agreed to and written. We just have some of the last decisions to be made,” Pelosi said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” adding that she hoped to pass an infrastructure bill that had already cleared the Senate and have a deal in hand on the social policy bill by the end of the week. “We’re pretty much there now.”</p>

<p>Her comments came as Biden met with Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, one of the critical centrist holdouts on the budget bill. The White House called the breakfast at Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, a “productive discussion.”</p>

<p>For weeks, intraparty divisions over the scope and size of their marquee domestic policy plan have delayed an agreement on how to trim the initial $3.5 trillion blueprint Democrats passed this year. In order to bypass united Republican opposition and pass the final bill, Democrats are using an arcane budget process known as reconciliation, which shields fiscal legislation from a filibuster but would require every Senate Democrat to unite behind the plan in the evenly divided chamber. The party’s margins in the House are not much more forgiving.</p>

<p>Facing opposition over the $3.5 trillion price tag, White House and party leaders are coalescing around a cost of up to $2 trillion over 10 years. They have spent days negotiating primarily with Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., another centrist holdout.</p>

<p>House Democratic leaders hope to advance both a compromise reconciliation package and the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package. Liberals have so far balked at voting on the bipartisan deal until the more expansive domestic policy package — which is expected to address climate change, public education and health care — is agreed upon.</p>

<p>But Democrats are facing a new sense of urgency to finish the legislation before Biden’s trip to a major United Nations climate change conference, where he hopes to point to the bill as proof that the United States is serious about leading the effort to fight global warming.</p>

<p>“The president looked us in the eye, and he said: ‘I need this before I go and represent the United States in Glasgow. American prestige is on the line,’” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who met with Biden last week at the White House, said on "Fox News Sunday."</p>

<p>Democrats are also increasingly eager to deliver the bipartisan legislation to Biden’s desk before elections for governor in Virginia and New Jersey on Nov. 2, to show voters the party is making good on its promise to deliver sweeping social change. And a number of transportation programs will lapse at the end of the month without congressional action on either a stopgap extension or passage of the infrastructure bill, leading to possible furloughs.</p>

<p>The legislation is expected to include a one-year extension of payments to most families with children, first approved as part of the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan, as well as an increase in funds for Pell grants, support for home and elder care, and billions of dollars for affordable housing. It would also provide tax incentives to encourage use of wind, solar and other clean energy.</p>

<p>While aides cautioned that details were in flux, the plan is also expected to address a cap on how much taxpayers can deduct in state and local taxes, a key priority for Schumer and other lawmakers who represent higher-income residents of high-tax states affected by the limit.</p>

<p>Negotiators on Sunday were still haggling over a number of outstanding pieces, including the details of a federal paid and medical leave program — already cut to four weeks from 12 weeks — Medicaid expansion and a push to expand Medicare benefits to include dental, vision and hearing. With Manchin pushing for a $1.5 trillion price tag, Democratic officials are urging him to accept more spending in order to avoid dropping other programs.</p>

<p>Biden raised the prospect of an $800 voucher to help grant access to those benefits, but he said during a CNN town hall event Thursday that he believed Manchin and Sinema both had reservations about the program. Talks are also continuing with moderate Democrats in both chambers over a proposal that would help lower the cost of prescription drugs.</p>

<p>While Sinema has refused to embrace increasing either the corporate or individual tax rates, she has privately committed to enough proposals that would fully fund up to $2 trillion in spending. The details of those specific proposals, however, remain unclear.</p>

<p>Sinema and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have spoken repeatedly about a number of alternatives that would ensure that corporations and wealthy people pay more in taxes without addressing those rates, according to an aide, some of which Warren had initially proposed earlier this year.</p>

<p>Pelosi said Sunday that she expected Senate Democrats to unveil as soon as Monday a proposal that would raise hundreds of billions of dollars to pay for the bill with a wealth tax on American billionaires.</p>

<p>Liberals are also worried about the package’s ability to sufficiently address the toll of climate change, particularly after Biden publicly conceded that a $150 billion program to more quickly transition to clean energy would be altered because of fervent opposition from Manchin.</p>

<p>“Joe is open to my convincing him that I can use it to increase environmental progress without it being that particular deal,” Biden said during the CNN town hall.</p>

<p>“I know there will be disappointment as some of the threads in this social spending package get pulled out,” Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., said in a recent interview, adding that he had pressed Biden repeatedly on ensuring the strength of the package’s climate provisions. But, he added, “it’s just different on the climate side of this package — we will not have a second or third chance.”</p>


President Joe Biden huddled with key Democrats on Sunday to iron out crucial spending and tax provisions as they raced to wrap up their expansive social safety net legislation before his appearance at a U.

President Joe Biden huddled with key Democrats on Sunday to iron out crucial spending and tax provisions as they raced to wrap up their expansive social safety net legislation before his appearance at a U.N. climate summit next week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said Democrats were close to completing the bill, displaying confidence that the negotiations over issues like paid leave, tax increases and Medicare benefits that have bedeviled the party for months would soon end. “We have 90% of the bill agreed to and written. We just have some of the last decisions to be made,” Pelosi said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” adding that she hoped to pass an infrastructure bill that had already cleared the Senate and have a deal in hand on the social policy bill by the end of the week. “We’re pretty much there now.” Her comments came as Biden met with Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, one of the critical centrist holdouts on the budget bill. The White House called the breakfast at Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, a “productive discussion.” For weeks, intraparty divisions over the scope and size of their marquee domestic policy plan have delayed an agreement on how to trim the initial $3.5 trillion blueprint Democrats passed this year. In order to bypass united Republican opposition and pass the final bill, Democrats are using an arcane budget process known as reconciliation, which shields fiscal legislation from a filibuster but would require every Senate Democrat to unite behind the plan in the evenly divided chamber. The party’s margins in the House are not much more forgiving. Facing opposition over the $3.5 trillion price tag, White House and party leaders are coalescing around a cost of up to $2 trillion over 10 years. They have spent days negotiating primarily with Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., another centrist holdout. House Democratic leaders hope to advance both a compromise reconciliation package and the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package. Liberals have so far balked at voting on the bipartisan deal until the more expansive domestic policy package — which is expected to address climate change, public education and health care — is agreed upon. But Democrats are facing a new sense of urgency to finish the legislation before Biden’s trip to a major United Nations climate change conference, where he hopes to point to the bill as proof that the United States is serious about leading the effort to fight global warming. “The president looked us in the eye, and he said: ‘I need this before I go and represent the United States in Glasgow. American prestige is on the line,’” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who met with Biden last week at the White House, said on "Fox News Sunday." Democrats are also increasingly eager to deliver the bipartisan legislation to Biden’s desk before elections for governor in Virginia and New Jersey on Nov. 2, to show voters the party is making good on its promise to deliver sweeping social change. And a number of transportation programs will lapse at the end of the month without congressional action on either a stopgap extension or passage of the infrastructure bill, leading to possible furloughs. The legislation is expected to include a one-year extension of payments to most families with children, first approved as part of the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan, as well as an increase in funds for Pell grants, support for home and elder care, and billions of dollars for affordable housing. It would also provide tax incentives to encourage use of wind, solar and other clean energy. While aides cautioned that details were in flux, the plan is also expected to address a cap on how much taxpayers can deduct in state and local taxes, a key priority for Schumer and other lawmakers who represent higher-income residents of high-tax states affected by the limit. Negotiators on Sunday were still haggling over a number of outstanding pieces, including the details of a federal paid and medical leave program — already cut to four weeks from 12 weeks — Medicaid expansion and a push to expand Medicare benefits to include dental, vision and hearing. With Manchin pushing for a $1.5 trillion price tag, Democratic officials are urging him to accept more spending in order to avoid dropping other programs. Biden raised the prospect of an $800 voucher to help grant access to those benefits, but he said during a CNN town hall event Thursday that he believed Manchin and Sinema both had reservations about the program. Talks are also continuing with moderate Democrats in both chambers over a proposal that would help lower the cost of prescription drugs. While Sinema has refused to embrace increasing either the corporate or individual tax rates, she has privately committed to enough proposals that would fully fund up to $2 trillion in spending. The details of those specific proposals, however, remain unclear. Sinema and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have spoken repeatedly about a number of alternatives that would ensure that corporations and wealthy people pay more in taxes without addressing those rates, according to an aide, some of which Warren had initially proposed earlier this year. Pelosi said Sunday that she expected Senate Democrats to unveil as soon as Monday a proposal that would raise hundreds of billions of dollars to pay for the bill with a wealth tax on American billionaires. Liberals are also worried about the package’s ability to sufficiently address the toll of climate change, particularly after Biden publicly conceded that a $150 billion program to more quickly transition to clean energy would be altered because of fervent opposition from Manchin. “Joe is open to my convincing him that I can use it to increase environmental progress without it being that particular deal,” Biden said during the CNN town hall. “I know there will be disappointment as some of the threads in this social spending package get pulled out,” Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., said in a recent interview, adding that he had pressed Biden repeatedly on ensuring the strength of the package’s climate provisions. But, he added, “it’s just different on the climate side of this package — we will not have a second or third chance.”

Biden meets with Manchin and Schumer as Democrats race to finish social policy bill

<p>The Covid pandemic not only changed our lifestyle, it also made a face a new era of misinformation through social media. In the initial days of the pandemic, there was confusion over many aspects of the disease and before social media platforms and governments took steps to provide channels disseminating accurate information, there were claims galore.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Then came the vaccines, but with them also came unscientific claims by people including prominent world leaders. The anti-vaxxers still oppose vaccination against Covid.</p>

<p>A new study has shown that those believing in Covid conspiracies have a greater chance of getting infected with the deadly virus.</p>

<p>"Even if a conspiracy theory is extremely implausible according to logic or scientific evidence, if it seems real to a perceiver, it has a genuine impact on attitudes, emotions, and behavior," say researchers in a paper published in journal Psychological medicine.</p>

<p>Social psychologist Jan-Willem van Prooijen from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands is first author of the study.</p>

<p>For the research, van Prooijen and fellow researchers surveyed 5,745 participants.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These participants were asked early in the pandemic (April 2020), about whether they believe in conspiracy theories like the COVID-19 virus was made by the scientists as a bioweapon and other similar claims.</p>

<p>The same group of participants was asked whether they had tested themselves for the virus and whether the test was positive.</p>

<p>It was found that those who believed in conspiracy theories, were less likely to get themselves tested. But even among those who got tested, those who believed in conspiracy theories were more likely to have been found positive for the infection. The increased likelihood was found to have been due to such participant not having been on guard as compared to those who did not believe in conspiracy theories.</p>


The Covid pandemic not only changed our lifestyle, it also made a face a new era of misinformation through social media. In the initial days of the pandemic, there was confusion over many aspects of the disease and before social media platforms and governments took steps to provide channels disseminating accurate information, there were claims galore.

The Covid pandemic not only changed our lifestyle, it also made a face a new era of misinformation through social media. In the initial days of the pandemic, there was confusion over many aspects of the disease and before social media platforms and governments took steps to provide channels disseminating accurate information, there were claims galore. Then came the vaccines, but with them also came unscientific claims by people including prominent world leaders. The anti-vaxxers still oppose vaccination against Covid. A new study has shown that those believing in Covid conspiracies have a greater chance of getting infected with the deadly virus. "Even if a conspiracy theory is extremely implausible according to logic or scientific evidence, if it seems real to a perceiver, it has a genuine impact on attitudes, emotions, and behavior," say researchers in a paper published in journal Psychological medicine. Social psychologist Jan-Willem van Prooijen from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands is first author of the study. For the research, van Prooijen and fellow researchers surveyed 5,745 participants. These participants were asked early in the pandemic (April 2020), about whether they believe in conspiracy theories like the COVID-19 virus was made by the scientists as a bioweapon and other similar claims. The same group of participants was asked whether they had tested themselves for the virus and whether the test was positive. It was found that those who believed in conspiracy theories, were less likely to get themselves tested. But even among those who got tested, those who believed in conspiracy theories were more likely to have been found positive for the infection. The increased likelihood was found to have been due to such participant not having been on guard as compared to those who did not believe in conspiracy theories.

Those believing in Covid conspiracy more likely to be infected: Study

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