Afghan acting deputy prime minister Abdul Ghani Baradar appeared in a video to deny reports that he was hurt in a clash with a rival faction of Taliban. The video was posted on Wednesday (September 15)

"No this is not true; I am OK and healthy," Baradar said in an interview with state TV which was posted on Twitter by the Taliban's political office in Doha.

"The media says that there is internal disputes. There is nothing between us, it is not true."

In the clip, he was seen seated on a sofa next to an interviewer with an RTA state television microphone, apparently reading from a sheet of paper.

"There is nothing to worry about," he said.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/are-two-top-taliban-leaders-alive-several-questions-arise-after-disappearance-413010">Are two top Taliban leaders alive? Several questions arise after disappearance &nbsp;</a>

An official from the Taliban's cultural commission had said on Twitter earlier that the interview would be shown on RTA TV to disprove "enemy propaganda". Taliban has been repeatedly denying in recent days that Baradar had been hurt.

There were rumours for days that supporters of Baradar had clashed with members of Haqqani network. It was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/are-two-top-taliban-leaders-alive-several-questions-arise-after-disappearance-413010">being speculated</a> whether Baradar was hurt or killed

In the clip, Baradar said he had been on a trip when the visit took place and had not been able to get back in time.

Baradar, one of the founding members of the Taliban and once seen as the likely head of a Taliban government, had not been seen in public for some time. He was not part of the ministerial delegation which met Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Kabul on Sunday.

On Wednesday, Anas Haqqani, younger brother of the Taliban's newly appointed Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, also issued a statement on Twitter denying reports of internal rifts in the movement.

The rumours follow speculation over rivalries between military commanders like Haqqani and leaders from the political office in Doha like Baradar, who led diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement with the United States.

(With inputs from agencies)

Afghan acting deputy prime minister Abdul Ghani Baradar appeared in a video to deny reports that he was hurt in a clash with a rival faction of Taliban. The video was posted on Wednesday (September 15) "No this is not true; I am OK and healthy," Baradar said in an interview with state TV which was posted on Twitter by the Taliban's political office in Doha.

Afghan acting deputy prime minister Abdul Ghani Baradar appeared in a video to deny reports that he was hurt in a clash with a rival faction of Taliban. The video was posted on Wednesday (September 15) "No this is not true; I am OK and healthy," Baradar said in an interview with state TV which was posted on Twitter by the Taliban's political office in Doha. "The media says that there is internal disputes. There is nothing between us, it is not true." In the clip, he was seen seated on a sofa next to an interviewer with an RTA state television microphone, apparently reading from a sheet of paper. "There is nothing to worry about," he said. Also read | Are two top Taliban leaders alive? Several questions arise after disappearance An official from the Taliban's cultural commission had said on Twitter earlier that the interview would be shown on RTA TV to disprove "enemy propaganda". Taliban has been repeatedly denying in recent days that Baradar had been hurt. There were rumours for days that supporters of Baradar had clashed with members of Haqqani network. It was being speculated whether Baradar was hurt or killed In the clip, Baradar said he had been on a trip when the visit took place and had not been able to get back in time. Baradar, one of the founding members of the Taliban and once seen as the likely head of a Taliban government, had not been seen in public for some time. He was not part of the ministerial delegation which met Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Kabul on Sunday. On Wednesday, Anas Haqqani, younger brother of the Taliban's newly appointed Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, also issued a statement on Twitter denying reports of internal rifts in the movement. The rumours follow speculation over rivalries between military commanders like Haqqani and leaders from the political office in Doha like Baradar, who led diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement with the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban's Baradar appears in video, refutes reports of him getting hurt

French forces killed head of Islamic State in greater Sahara, France President Emmanuel Macron tweeted on Thursday. The terrorist was wanted for deadly attacks on US soldiers and foreign aid workers.

Macron said in his tweet that Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi was "neutralised by French forces"

"This is another major success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel," Macron said, without giving the location or details of the operation.

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Adnan Abou Walid al Sahraoui, chef du groupe terroriste État islamique au Grand Sahara a été neutralisé par les forces françaises. Il s’agit d’un nouveau succès majeur dans le combat que nous menons contre les groupes terroristes au Sahel.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1438272942786351116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Sahrawi was behind killing of French aid workers in 2020. He was also wanted by the United States over deadly 2017 attack on US troops in Niger.

Islamic State in the Greater Sahara is blamed for most of the jihadist attacks in the Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso region.

The flashpoint "tri-border" area is frequently targeted by ISGS and the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM).

ISGS has carried out deadly attacks targeting civilians and soldiers in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

The United States had offered a $5 million reward for information on the whereabouts of Sahrawi, who was wanted over an October 4, 2017 attack in Niger that killed four US Special Forces and four Niger troops.

French forces killed head of Islamic State in greater Sahara, France President Emmanuel Macron tweeted on Thursday. The terrorist was wanted for deadly attacks on US soldiers and foreign aid workers.

French forces killed head of Islamic State in greater Sahara, France President Emmanuel Macron tweeted on Thursday. The terrorist was wanted for deadly attacks on US soldiers and foreign aid workers. Macron said in his tweet that Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi was "neutralised by French forces" "This is another major success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel," Macron said, without giving the location or details of the operation. Adnan Abou Walid al Sahraoui, chef du groupe terroriste État islamique au Grand Sahara a été neutralisé par les forces françaises. Il s’agit d’un nouveau succès majeur dans le combat que nous menons contre les groupes terroristes au Sahel. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 15, 2021 × Sahrawi was behind killing of French aid workers in 2020. He was also wanted by the United States over deadly 2017 attack on US troops in Niger. Islamic State in the Greater Sahara is blamed for most of the jihadist attacks in the Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso region. The flashpoint "tri-border" area is frequently targeted by ISGS and the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM). ISGS has carried out deadly attacks targeting civilians and soldiers in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. The United States had offered a $5 million reward for information on the whereabouts of Sahrawi, who was wanted over an October 4, 2017 attack in Niger that killed four US Special Forces and four Niger troops.

French forces kill Islamic State leader in Greater Sahara

SpaceX rocket ship lifted off from Florida on Wednesday carrying all-civilian crew. The crew includes billionaire e-commerce executive and three other private citizens. This is the first all-civilian crew. The lift-off took place just before sunset from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.

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Liftoff of <a href="https://twitter.com/inspiration4x?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Inspiration4X</a>! Go Falcon 9! Go Dragon! <a href="https://t.co/NhRXkD4IWg">pic.twitter.com/NhRXkD4IWg</a>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1438292412820979712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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A SpaceX webcast of the launch showed Jared Isaacman, 38, and his crewmates - Sian Proctor, 51, Hayley Arceneaux, 29, and Chris Sembroski, 42 - strapped into the pressurized cabin of their gleaming white SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, dubbed Resilience, wearing their helmeted black-and-white flight suits.

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The capsule carrying the crew was perched atop company's reusable two-stage Falcon-9 rocket. The Crew Dragon, fitted with a special observation dome in place of its usual docking hatch, reached orbit almost 10 minutes after the 8:03 p.m. EDT blastoff.

First-stage booster of the rocket descended back to Earth and touched down on a landing platform floating in the Atlantic on a drone ship. It had been named Just Read the Instructions.

The flight, marking the first crewed mission to orbit with no professional astronauts along for the ride, is expected to last about three days from launch to splashdown in the Atlantic, mission officials said.

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&nbsp;

It marked the debut flight of SpaceX owner Elon Musk's new orbital tourism business, and a leap ahead of competitors likewise offering rides on rocket ships to customers willing to pay a small fortune for the exhilaration - and bragging rights - of spaceflight.

Isaacman has paid an undisclosed sum to fellow billionaire Musk to send himself and his three crewmates aloft. Time magazine has put the ticket price for all four seats at $200 million.

The mission, called Inspiration4, was conceived by Isaacman mainly to raise awareness and support for one of his favorite causes, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a leading pediatric cancer center in Memphis, Tennessee.

Inspiration4 is aiming for an orbital altitude of 360 miles (575 km) above Earth, higher than the International Space Station or Hubble Space Telescope, and the farthest any human will have flown from Earth since the end of NASA's Apollo moon program in 1972, according to SpaceX.

At that height, the Crew Dragon will circle the globe once every 90 minutes at a speed of some 17,000 miles per hour (27,360 kph), or roughly 22 times the speed of sound.

(With inputs from agencies)

SpaceX rocket ship lifted off from Florida on Wednesday carrying all-civilian crew. The crew includes billionaire e-commerce executive and three other private citizens.

SpaceX rocket ship lifted off from Florida on Wednesday carrying all-civilian crew. The crew includes billionaire e-commerce executive and three other private citizens. This is the first all-civilian crew. The lift-off took place just before sunset from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. Liftoff of @Inspiration4X! Go Falcon 9! Go Dragon! pic.twitter.com/NhRXkD4IWg — SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 16, 2021 × A SpaceX webcast of the launch showed Jared Isaacman, 38, and his crewmates - Sian Proctor, 51, Hayley Arceneaux, 29, and Chris Sembroski, 42 - strapped into the pressurized cabin of their gleaming white SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, dubbed Resilience, wearing their helmeted black-and-white flight suits. The capsule carrying the crew was perched atop company's reusable two-stage Falcon-9 rocket. The Crew Dragon, fitted with a special observation dome in place of its usual docking hatch, reached orbit almost 10 minutes after the 8:03 p.m. EDT blastoff. First-stage booster of the rocket descended back to Earth and touched down on a landing platform floating in the Atlantic on a drone ship. It had been named Just Read the Instructions. The flight, marking the first crewed mission to orbit with no professional astronauts along for the ride, is expected to last about three days from launch to splashdown in the Atlantic, mission officials said. × It marked the debut flight of SpaceX owner Elon Musk's new orbital tourism business, and a leap ahead of competitors likewise offering rides on rocket ships to customers willing to pay a small fortune for the exhilaration - and bragging rights - of spaceflight. Isaacman has paid an undisclosed sum to fellow billionaire Musk to send himself and his three crewmates aloft. Time magazine has put the ticket price for all four seats at $200 million. The mission, called Inspiration4, was conceived by Isaacman mainly to raise awareness and support for one of his favorite causes, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a leading pediatric cancer center in Memphis, Tennessee. Inspiration4 is aiming for an orbital altitude of 360 miles (575 km) above Earth, higher than the International Space Station or Hubble Space Telescope, and the farthest any human will have flown from Earth since the end of NASA's Apollo moon program in 1972, according to SpaceX. At that height, the Crew Dragon will circle the globe once every 90 minutes at a speed of some 17,000 miles per hour (27,360 kph), or roughly 22 times the speed of sound. (With inputs from agencies)

SpaceX all-civilian crew mission 'Inspiration4' lifts off, reaches orbit

TikTok's lead data privacy regulator in the European Union has opened two inquiries into the Chinese-owned short-video platform related to the processing of children's personal data and transfers of personal data to China.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission, which is lead EU regulator for many of the world's top internet firms due to the location of their regional headquarters in Ireland, is allowed to impose fines of up to 4% of global revenue.

TikTok in August announced stricter privacy controls for teenagers, seeking to address criticism that it has failed to protect children from hidden advertising and inappropriate content.

Owned by China's ByteDance, TikTok has grown rapidly around the world, particularly among teenagers.

The first of the probes relates "to the processing of personal data in the context of platform settings for users under age 18 and age verification measures for persons under 13," the Data Protection Commission said in a statement.

The second probe will focus on transfers by TikTok of personal data to China and whether the company complies with EU data law in its transfers of personal data to countries outside the bloc, the statement said.

A spokesperson for TikTok said it had implemented extensive policies and controls to safeguard user data and relies on approved methods for data being transferred from Europe, such as standard contractual clauses.

"The privacy and safety of the TikTok community, particularly our youngest members, is our highest priority," the spokesperson said.

Ireland's data watchdog earlier this month levied a record 225 million euro ($265.64 million) fine on Facebook's WhatsApp under the EU's 2018 General Data Protection Regulation law (GDPR).

But the watchdog has faced criticism from other European regulators at the speed of its inquiries and the severeness of its sanctions.

The Irish regulator had 27 international inquiries in progress at the end of last year, including 14 into Facebook and its subsidiaries. 
&nbsp;

TikTok's lead data privacy regulator in the European Union has opened two inquiries into the Chinese-owned short-video platform related to the processing of children's personal data and transfers of personal data to China.

TikTok's lead data privacy regulator in the European Union has opened two inquiries into the Chinese-owned short-video platform related to the processing of children's personal data and transfers of personal data to China. Ireland's Data Protection Commission, which is lead EU regulator for many of the world's top internet firms due to the location of their regional headquarters in Ireland, is allowed to impose fines of up to 4% of global revenue. TikTok in August announced stricter privacy controls for teenagers, seeking to address criticism that it has failed to protect children from hidden advertising and inappropriate content. Owned by China's ByteDance, TikTok has grown rapidly around the world, particularly among teenagers. The first of the probes relates "to the processing of personal data in the context of platform settings for users under age 18 and age verification measures for persons under 13," the Data Protection Commission said in a statement. The second probe will focus on transfers by TikTok of personal data to China and whether the company complies with EU data law in its transfers of personal data to countries outside the bloc, the statement said. A spokesperson for TikTok said it had implemented extensive policies and controls to safeguard user data and relies on approved methods for data being transferred from Europe, such as standard contractual clauses. "The privacy and safety of the TikTok community, particularly our youngest members, is our highest priority," the spokesperson said. Ireland's data watchdog earlier this month levied a record 225 million euro ($265.64 million) fine on Facebook's WhatsApp under the EU's 2018 General Data Protection Regulation law (GDPR). But the watchdog has faced criticism from other European regulators at the speed of its inquiries and the severeness of its sanctions. The Irish regulator had 27 international inquiries in progress at the end of last year, including 14 into Facebook and its subsidiaries.

TikTok's lead EU regulator opens two data privacy probes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted India's commitment to restore degraded land while speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

He was speaking in his capacity as the President of the 14th Session of the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Joining the "UN High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought” virtually, he said, "We are on track to achieve our national commitment of land degradation neutrality. We are also working towards restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030." Adding, "This would contribute to India’s commitment to achieve an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of Carbon dioxide equivalent."

Desertification and&nbsp;land degradation are key global issues of concern as part of the climate change crisis. India is establishing a Centre of Excellence to promote a scientific approach towards land degradation issues.

The PM pointed out, "In India, over the last 10 years, around three million hectares of forest cover had been added. This has enhanced the combined forest cover to almost one-fourth of the country’s total area."

New Delhi is also assisting fellow developing countries to develop land restoration strategies as part of South-South Cooperation. Land degradation affects over two-thirds of the world today.

During the address, PM pointed out how in the Banni region of the Rann of Kutch in state of Gujarat, land restoration is done by developing grasslands. This has not only helped in "achieving land degradation neutrality" but also supports pastoral activities and livelihood by promoting animal husbandry.

"It is mankind’s collective responsibility to reverse the damage to land caused by human activity", PM said while terming leaving a "health planet for our future generations" a "sacred duty".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted India's commitment to restore degraded land while speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He was speaking in his capacity as the President of the 14th Session of the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted India's commitment to restore degraded land while speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He was speaking in his capacity as the President of the 14th Session of the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Joining the "UN High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought” virtually, he said, "We are on track to achieve our national commitment of land degradation neutrality. We are also working towards restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030." Adding, "This would contribute to India’s commitment to achieve an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of Carbon dioxide equivalent." Desertification and land degradation are key global issues of concern as part of the climate change crisis. India is establishing a Centre of Excellence to promote a scientific approach towards land degradation issues. The PM pointed out, "In India, over the last 10 years, around three million hectares of forest cover had been added. This has enhanced the combined forest cover to almost one-fourth of the country’s total area." New Delhi is also assisting fellow developing countries to develop land restoration strategies as part of South-South Cooperation. Land degradation affects over two-thirds of the world today. During the address, PM pointed out how in the Banni region of the Rann of Kutch in state of Gujarat, land restoration is done by developing grasslands. This has not only helped in "achieving land degradation neutrality" but also supports pastoral activities and livelihood by promoting animal husbandry. "It is mankind’s collective responsibility to reverse the damage to land caused by human activity", PM said while terming leaving a "health planet for our future generations" a "sacred duty".

At UNGA, PM Modi highlights India's commitments to restore degraded land

SpaceX 'Inspiration4' mission lifts off, know who's onboard

For weeks, President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil has been urging his supporters to take to the streets. So on Sept. 7, Brazil’s Independence Day, I was half expecting to see mobs of armed people in yellow-and-green jerseys, some of them wearing furry hats and horns, storming the Supreme Court building — our very own imitation of the Capitol riot.

Fortunately, that was not what happened. (The crowds eventually went home, and no one tried to sit in the Supreme Court justices’ chairs.) But Brazilians were not spared chaos and consternation.

For Mr. Bolsonaro, it was a show of force. In the morning, addressing a crowd of around 400,000 people in Brasília, he said he intended to use the size of the crowd as an “ultimatum for everyone” in the three branches of government. In the afternoon, at a demonstration in São Paulo of 125,000 people, the president called the elections coming in 2022 “a farce” and said that he will no longer abide by rulings from one of the Supreme Court justices. “I’m letting the scoundrels know,” he bellowed, “I’ll never be imprisoned!”

It seems to be part of a plan. By picking a fight in particular with the Supreme Court — which has opened several investigations of him and his allies, including about his role in a potentially corrupt vaccine procurement scheme and his efforts to discredit Brazil’s voting system — Mr. Bolsonaro is attempting to sow the seeds of an institutional crisis, with a view to retaining power. On Sept. 9 he tried to back down a little, saying in a written statement that he “never intended to attack any branch of government.” But his actions are plain: He is effectively threatening a coup.

Perhaps that’s the only way out for Mr. Bolsonaro. (Apart from properly governing the country, something that apparently doesn’t interest him.) The antics of the president, struggling in the polls and menaced by the prospect of impeachment, are a sign of desperation. But that doesn’t mean they can’t succeed.

Mr. Bolsonaro has good reason to be desperate. The government’s mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the deaths of 587,000 Brazilians; the country faces record rates of unemployment and economic inequality; and it’s also afflicted by soaring inflation, poverty and hunger. Oh, and there’s a huge energy crisis on the way, too.

That has taken its toll on Mr. Bolsonaro’s standing with Brazilians. In July, his disapproval rating rose to 51 percent, its highest-ever mark, according to Datafolha Institute. And ahead of next year’s presidential elections, things are not looking rosy. In fact, polling suggests he’s going to lose. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the center-left politician and former president, is comfortably outstripping Mr. Bolsonaro. As things stand, Mr. Bolsonaro would lose to all possible rivals in a second-round runoff.

This explains Mr. Bolsonaro’s eagerness to push unfounded claims of fraud in Brazil’s electronic voting system. “There’s no way of proving whether the elections were rigged or not,” he said about past elections (including the one he won), during a two-hour TV broadcast in July, while failing to provide any evidence to support his allegations. He has repeatedly threatened to call off the elections if the current voting system remains in place — and although Congress recently rejected his proposal to require paper receipts, he continues to cast doubt on the voting process. (Sound familiar, anyone?)

Then there’s the corruption. A growing number of corruption accusations have been made against the president and two of his sons, who both hold public office. (One is a senator; the other sits on Rio de Janeiro’s City Council.) Prosecutors have suggested that the Bolsonaro family took part in a scheme known as “rachadinha,” which involves hiring close associates or family members as employees and then pocketing a portion of their salary.

For Mr. Bolsonaro, who was elected in part for his promise to rout out corruption, these investigations cast a long shadow. Against this backdrop of ineptitude and scandal, the events of Sept. 7 were an attempt to distract and divert attention — and, of course, to cement divisions.

Efforts to remove Mr. Bolsonaro by parliamentary means are stalled. Though the opposition has so far filed 137 impeachment requests, the process must be initiated by the speaker of the lower house, Arthur Lira, who does not seem inclined to accept them. (That’s not especially surprising: Mr. Lira is a leader of a cluster of center-right parties, known as the “centrão,” to whom Mr. Bolsonaro has handed out important government positions, in the hope of shielding himself from impeachment proceedings.) Only enormous public protests can break the impasse.

There’s no time to lose. The demonstrations last week were not simply political showmanship. They were yet another move to strengthen Mr. Bolsonaro’s position for an eventual power grab ahead of next year’s elections. He didn’t get exactly what he wanted — the numbers, though substantial, were far less than organizers hoped for — but he will keep trying.

Sept. 7 now marks another signal moment in Brazil’s history — when the totalitarian aims of our president became unmistakably clear. For our young democracy, it could be a matter of life or death.

For weeks, President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil has been urging his supporters to take to the streets. So on Sept. 7, Brazil’s Independence Day, I was half expecting to see mobs of armed people in yellow-and-green jerseys, some of them wearing furry hats and horns, storming the Supreme Court building — our very own imitation of the Capitol riot.

For weeks, President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil has been urging his supporters to take to the streets. So on Sept. 7, Brazil’s Independence Day, I was half expecting to see mobs of armed people in yellow-and-green jerseys, some of them wearing furry hats and horns, storming the Supreme Court building — our very own imitation of the Capitol riot. Fortunately, that was not what happened. (The crowds eventually went home, and no one tried to sit in the Supreme Court justices’ chairs.) But Brazilians were not spared chaos and consternation. For Mr. Bolsonaro, it was a show of force. In the morning, addressing a crowd of around 400,000 people in Brasília, he said he intended to use the size of the crowd as an “ultimatum for everyone” in the three branches of government. In the afternoon, at a demonstration in São Paulo of 125,000 people, the president called the elections coming in 2022 “a farce” and said that he will no longer abide by rulings from one of the Supreme Court justices. “I’m letting the scoundrels know,” he bellowed, “I’ll never be imprisoned!” It seems to be part of a plan. By picking a fight in particular with the Supreme Court — which has opened several investigations of him and his allies, including about his role in a potentially corrupt vaccine procurement scheme and his efforts to discredit Brazil’s voting system — Mr. Bolsonaro is attempting to sow the seeds of an institutional crisis, with a view to retaining power. On Sept. 9 he tried to back down a little, saying in a written statement that he “never intended to attack any branch of government.” But his actions are plain: He is effectively threatening a coup. Perhaps that’s the only way out for Mr. Bolsonaro. (Apart from properly governing the country, something that apparently doesn’t interest him.) The antics of the president, struggling in the polls and menaced by the prospect of impeachment, are a sign of desperation. But that doesn’t mean they can’t succeed. Mr. Bolsonaro has good reason to be desperate. The government’s mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the deaths of 587,000 Brazilians; the country faces record rates of unemployment and economic inequality; and it’s also afflicted by soaring inflation, poverty and hunger. Oh, and there’s a huge energy crisis on the way, too. That has taken its toll on Mr. Bolsonaro’s standing with Brazilians. In July, his disapproval rating rose to 51 percent, its highest-ever mark, according to Datafolha Institute. And ahead of next year’s presidential elections, things are not looking rosy. In fact, polling suggests he’s going to lose. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the center-left politician and former president, is comfortably outstripping Mr. Bolsonaro. As things stand, Mr. Bolsonaro would lose to all possible rivals in a second-round runoff. This explains Mr. Bolsonaro’s eagerness to push unfounded claims of fraud in Brazil’s electronic voting system. “There’s no way of proving whether the elections were rigged or not,” he said about past elections (including the one he won), during a two-hour TV broadcast in July, while failing to provide any evidence to support his allegations. He has repeatedly threatened to call off the elections if the current voting system remains in place — and although Congress recently rejected his proposal to require paper receipts, he continues to cast doubt on the voting process. (Sound familiar, anyone?) Then there’s the corruption. A growing number of corruption accusations have been made against the president and two of his sons, who both hold public office. (One is a senator; the other sits on Rio de Janeiro’s City Council.) Prosecutors have suggested that the Bolsonaro family took part in a scheme known as “rachadinha,” which involves hiring close associates or family members as employees and then pocketing a portion of their salary. For Mr. Bolsonaro, who was elected in part for his promise to rout out corruption, these investigations cast a long shadow. Against this backdrop of ineptitude and scandal, the events of Sept. 7 were an attempt to distract and divert attention — and, of course, to cement divisions. Efforts to remove Mr. Bolsonaro by parliamentary means are stalled. Though the opposition has so far filed 137 impeachment requests, the process must be initiated by the speaker of the lower house, Arthur Lira, who does not seem inclined to accept them. (That’s not especially surprising: Mr. Lira is a leader of a cluster of center-right parties, known as the “centrão,” to whom Mr. Bolsonaro has handed out important government positions, in the hope of shielding himself from impeachment proceedings.) Only enormous public protests can break the impasse. There’s no time to lose. The demonstrations last week were not simply political showmanship. They were yet another move to strengthen Mr. Bolsonaro’s position for an eventual power grab ahead of next year’s elections. He didn’t get exactly what he wanted — the numbers, though substantial, were far less than organizers hoped for — but he will keep trying. Sept. 7 now marks another signal moment in Brazil’s history — when the totalitarian aims of our president became unmistakably clear. For our young democracy, it could be a matter of life or death.

Bolsonaro is getting desperate, and it’s clear what he wants

Peruvian authorities said Wednesday they will not turn over the body of the late guerilla leader Abimael Guzman to his widow until an investigation into his death in prison is concluded.

Guzman, the founder of the brutal Shining Path guerrilla group, which spread terror across Peru in the 1980s and 1990s, died on Saturday in a military prison at age 86.&nbsp;

His also-imprisoned widow, Elena Iparraguirre, the Shining Path's former second-in-command, has requested that Guzman's body be turned over to her for burial.

But officials are concerned that Guzman's gravesite could become a rallying point for his followers, and there is widespread support for Guzman's body to be cremated and the ashes spread in the Pacific Ocean.

Prosecutors said on Twitter that they have "rejected Elena Iparraguirre's request for the body of terrorist Abimael Guzman Reinoso to be handed over to her."

In his decision, prosecutor Vladimir Farfan Kehuarucho was guided by "public order and social interest," according to the prosecutor's office.

Guzman's body will remain in government custody until medical examiners finish their work. It was unclear what would happen after that.

An autopsy showed Guzman died of double pneumonia, an infection that inflames both lungs and has been associated with Covid-19. The body must still undergo more testing.

Guzman was serving a life sentence in the maximum security jail near Lima.

He and Iparraguirre were captured together in September 1992 and married in 2010, even though they were being held in different prisons.

A former philosophy professor, Guzman was the intellectual architect behind the Maoist guerilla group's brutal 20-year attempt to overthrow the Peruvian government from 1980 to 2000. The conflict claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Guzman embraced the brutal methods of Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, such as ordering the massacre of an Andean village in 1984 that left 117 people dead.

Peruvian authorities said Wednesday they will not turn over the body of the late guerilla leader Abimael Guzman to his widow until an investigation into his death in prison is concluded.

Peruvian authorities said Wednesday they will not turn over the body of the late guerilla leader Abimael Guzman to his widow until an investigation into his death in prison is concluded. Guzman, the founder of the brutal Shining Path guerrilla group, which spread terror across Peru in the 1980s and 1990s, died on Saturday in a military prison at age 86. His also-imprisoned widow, Elena Iparraguirre, the Shining Path's former second-in-command, has requested that Guzman's body be turned over to her for burial. But officials are concerned that Guzman's gravesite could become a rallying point for his followers, and there is widespread support for Guzman's body to be cremated and the ashes spread in the Pacific Ocean. Prosecutors said on Twitter that they have "rejected Elena Iparraguirre's request for the body of terrorist Abimael Guzman Reinoso to be handed over to her." In his decision, prosecutor Vladimir Farfan Kehuarucho was guided by "public order and social interest," according to the prosecutor's office. Guzman's body will remain in government custody until medical examiners finish their work. It was unclear what would happen after that. An autopsy showed Guzman died of double pneumonia, an infection that inflames both lungs and has been associated with Covid-19. The body must still undergo more testing. Guzman was serving a life sentence in the maximum security jail near Lima. He and Iparraguirre were captured together in September 1992 and married in 2010, even though they were being held in different prisons. A former philosophy professor, Guzman was the intellectual architect behind the Maoist guerilla group's brutal 20-year attempt to overthrow the Peruvian government from 1980 to 2000. The conflict claimed tens of thousands of lives. Guzman embraced the brutal methods of Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, such as ordering the massacre of an Andean village in 1984 that left 117 people dead.

Peruvian authorities refuse to hand over body of late guerilla leader to wife, for now

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (September 16) inaugurated Defence Offices Complexes at Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Africa Avenue in New Delhi.

The new Defence Offices Complexes will accommodate around 7,000 officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy and Air Force. The buildings will provide modern, secure and functional working spaces.

An Integrated Command and Control Centre has been established for managing building operations, while also catering to the end to end safety and surveillance of both the buildings.

<img alt="Central Vista" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2810a24e-70ed-4e0a-bb2c-74600cd0d493" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/central%20vista.jpg" />

During his address at the time of inauguration, PM Modi slammed critics of the Central Vista project that involves major overhaul of Indian capital's Lutyens area. Modi said that those criticising the project never mentioned that Defence Offices Complexes are also a part of the project as that would expose their 'falsity', adding that modern infrastructure is pertinent for economic development of the country.

"The people who were criticising the Central Vista project never mentioned the Defence Offices Complexes, which is also part of the Centra Vista... They knew their falsity would be exposed," he said.

"When we are focusing on ease of living and ease of doing business, modern infrastructure plays an equally important role. This is the idea behind the work that is being done in the development of the Central Vista," PM Modi said.

Mentioning the importance of the new complexes, he said: "These new Defence office complexes will now make it feasible for our armies to operate in better working conditions with all modern amenities."

"The construction of the Defence Offices Complexes completed within 12 months amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This provided employment to hundreds of labourers during the challenging pandemic period."

He also hoped that the construction of the new Parliament building will be completed in the time frame given earlier.

Speaking at the same event, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said: "Previous buildings were in a tattered state, affected working conditions of our officers, optimum utilisation of space was not done, which is why this complex has been brought up. Over 7,000 workers can be accommodated in good working conditions."

The new Defence Office Complexes are state-of-the-art and energy-efficient, with comprehensive security management measures. One of the defining features of these buildings is the use of new and sustainable construction technology called LGSF (Light gauge steel frame), which reduced construction time from 24-30 months in the case of conventional RCC construction. The buildings utilize resource-efficient green technology and promote environment-friendly.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (September 16) inaugurated Defence Offices Complexes at Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Africa Avenue in New Delhi. The new Defence Offices Complexes will accommodate around 7,000 officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (September 16) inaugurated Defence Offices Complexes at Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Africa Avenue in New Delhi. The new Defence Offices Complexes will accommodate around 7,000 officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy and Air Force. The buildings will provide modern, secure and functional working spaces. An Integrated Command and Control Centre has been established for managing building operations, while also catering to the end to end safety and surveillance of both the buildings. During his address at the time of inauguration, PM Modi slammed critics of the Central Vista project that involves major overhaul of Indian capital's Lutyens area. Modi said that those criticising the project never mentioned that Defence Offices Complexes are also a part of the project as that would expose their 'falsity', adding that modern infrastructure is pertinent for economic development of the country. "The people who were criticising the Central Vista project never mentioned the Defence Offices Complexes, which is also part of the Centra Vista... They knew their falsity would be exposed," he said. "When we are focusing on ease of living and ease of doing business, modern infrastructure plays an equally important role. This is the idea behind the work that is being done in the development of the Central Vista," PM Modi said. Mentioning the importance of the new complexes, he said: "These new Defence office complexes will now make it feasible for our armies to operate in better working conditions with all modern amenities." "The construction of the Defence Offices Complexes completed within 12 months amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This provided employment to hundreds of labourers during the challenging pandemic period." He also hoped that the construction of the new Parliament building will be completed in the time frame given earlier. Speaking at the same event, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said: "Previous buildings were in a tattered state, affected working conditions of our officers, optimum utilisation of space was not done, which is why this complex has been brought up. Over 7,000 workers can be accommodated in good working conditions." The new Defence Office Complexes are state-of-the-art and energy-efficient, with comprehensive security management measures. One of the defining features of these buildings is the use of new and sustainable construction technology called LGSF (Light gauge steel frame), which reduced construction time from 24-30 months in the case of conventional RCC construction. The buildings utilize resource-efficient green technology and promote environment-friendly. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian PM Modi inaugurates new defence offices, slams Central Vista critics

United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Deputy Director David Cohen said on Wednesday (local time) that there were early signs of Al Qaeda regrouping in Taliban ruled Afghanistan, says a report by intelnews.org

However, he added that CIA was already working to develop "methods to work within the horizon". Cohen reportedly referred to current intelligence reports of the CIA. He was speaking at Intelligence and National Security Summit in Washington DC. During his address, he reportedly acknowledged that shuttering of the United States embassy in Kabul, as well as the closure of a network of CIA stations across Afghanistan, had "diminished" the ability of American intelligence agencies to assess conditions on the ground

Cohen added that much of the intelligence that has been collected in recent weeks comes from "over-the-horizon platforms", meaning that the collection is taking place from countries that border Afghanistan.

At the moment, the United States intelligence community estimates that it could take Al Qaeda between one and two years to amass its former strike capability, so as to directly threaten American interests, reported Intelnews.org.The presence of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan was the primary reason behind the invasion of the country by the United States in 2001.

However, with the Taliban back in power in Afghanistan, there are concerns that Al Qaeda may make a comeback in the war-torn country.

Under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda worked closely with the upper echelons of the Taliban in the 1990s and early 2000s. Contacts between the two groups continue to exist, and could potentially deepen following the exit of the United States and its Western allies from Afghanistan, reported Intelnews.org.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Deputy Director David Cohen said on Wednesday (local time) that there were early signs of Al Qaeda regrouping in Taliban ruled Afghanistan, says a report by intelnews.

United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Deputy Director David Cohen said on Wednesday (local time) that there were early signs of Al Qaeda regrouping in Taliban ruled Afghanistan, says a report by intelnews.org However, he added that CIA was already working to develop "methods to work within the horizon". Cohen reportedly referred to current intelligence reports of the CIA. He was speaking at Intelligence and National Security Summit in Washington DC. During his address, he reportedly acknowledged that shuttering of the United States embassy in Kabul, as well as the closure of a network of CIA stations across Afghanistan, had "diminished" the ability of American intelligence agencies to assess conditions on the ground Cohen added that much of the intelligence that has been collected in recent weeks comes from "over-the-horizon platforms", meaning that the collection is taking place from countries that border Afghanistan. At the moment, the United States intelligence community estimates that it could take Al Qaeda between one and two years to amass its former strike capability, so as to directly threaten American interests, reported Intelnews.org.The presence of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan was the primary reason behind the invasion of the country by the United States in 2001. However, with the Taliban back in power in Afghanistan, there are concerns that Al Qaeda may make a comeback in the war-torn country. Under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda worked closely with the upper echelons of the Taliban in the 1990s and early 2000s. Contacts between the two groups continue to exist, and could potentially deepen following the exit of the United States and its Western allies from Afghanistan, reported Intelnews.org. (With inputs from agencies)

CIA says Al Qaeda is regrouping post Taliban takeover in Afghanistan: Report

Chinese authorities have ordered the country's six mining companies to stop mining operations and leave a province in Democratic Republic of Congo. This came after Congo's South Kivu province ordered the companies to suspend operations over illegal mining and destruction of environment.

On Tuesday, Director-General of African Affairs at China's foreign ministry Wu Peng tweeted that the companies had been ordered to leave the South Kivu province. Saying that Chinese companies will not be allowed to break local laws in DR Congo, Peng said the six companies found to be breaking Congolese laws will be "punished and sanctioned" by China.

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Recently, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DRC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DRC</a> governor ordered six Chinese and Sino-foreign joint venture mining companies in South Kivu province to suspend the operations for the illegal mining activities. We support the DRC in cracking down on illegal economic activities in accordance with the law.
— 吴鹏 Wu Peng (@WuPeng_MFAChina) <a href="https://twitter.com/WuPeng_MFAChina/status/1437744924921761798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

South China Morning Post however, reported that the companies were asked to leave DR Congo.

The governor of Congo’s eastern South Kivu province, Theo Kasi, suspended the operations of the six small Chinese companies on Aug 20, ordering all local and foreign staff to leave the sites.

Kasi said the suspension came after the companies missed a deadline to register their activities with the authorities.

Kasi identified the companies as BM Global Business, Congo Blueant Minerals, Orientale Ressource Congo, Yellow Water Ressources, New Continent Mineral, and Groupe Cristal, ordering all local and foreign staff to leave the sites. Reuters was unable to reach the companies for comment.

Chinese authorities have ordered the country's six mining companies to stop mining operations and leave a province in Democratic Republic of Congo. This came after Congo's South Kivu province ordered the companies to suspend operations over illegal mining and destruction of environment.

Chinese authorities have ordered the country's six mining companies to stop mining operations and leave a province in Democratic Republic of Congo. This came after Congo's South Kivu province ordered the companies to suspend operations over illegal mining and destruction of environment. On Tuesday, Director-General of African Affairs at China's foreign ministry Wu Peng tweeted that the companies had been ordered to leave the South Kivu province. Saying that Chinese companies will not be allowed to break local laws in DR Congo, Peng said the six companies found to be breaking Congolese laws will be "punished and sanctioned" by China. Recently, the #DRC governor ordered six Chinese and Sino-foreign joint venture mining companies in South Kivu province to suspend the operations for the illegal mining activities. We support the DRC in cracking down on illegal economic activities in accordance with the law. — 吴鹏 Wu Peng (@WuPeng_MFAChina) September 14, 2021 × South China Morning Post however, reported that the companies were asked to leave DR Congo. The governor of Congo’s eastern South Kivu province, Theo Kasi, suspended the operations of the six small Chinese companies on Aug 20, ordering all local and foreign staff to leave the sites. Kasi said the suspension came after the companies missed a deadline to register their activities with the authorities. Kasi identified the companies as BM Global Business, Congo Blueant Minerals, Orientale Ressource Congo, Yellow Water Ressources, New Continent Mineral, and Groupe Cristal, ordering all local and foreign staff to leave the sites. Reuters was unable to reach the companies for comment.

China orders six of its mining companies to leave Congolese region

Afghanistan and expansion of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) will be key focus at the grouping's heads-of-state-summit that will take place on Friday (September 17). The summit, being hosted by Tajikistan, will take place in its capital Dushanbe in a hybrid mode. The summit will see a meeting on Afghanistan in which SCO member countries will be present along with those part of Collective Security Treaty organisation (CSTO). The CSTO is an alliance of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan

SCO summit-host Tajikistan shares a land border with Afghanistan and since Taliban takeover, raised its concerns publicly many times.

SCO grouping has 8 member states--Russia, China, India, Pakistan, and 4 central Asian countries--Tajikistan, &nbsp;Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. Afghanistan is an observer member country and situation in the country impacts many of the SCO countries directly, especially central Asian states who share border with it and fear a refugee influx.

One of the key outcomes of the summit will on expansion of the grouping with process to incorporate Iran and a full member set to start and number of countries in the gulf getting dialogue or observer status. Iran will get full membership after completion of due SCO legal process.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the SCO heads of state summit on Friday. PM is expected to address the meet between 11.30 am to 11.40 am after the welcome address by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

External affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar will be representing India at the meet in person in Dushanbe. This is the 4th time India is participating in the summit as a full-fledged member state. India's key focus at the meet will expectedly be on counter-terror, economic cooperation and most significantly, Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said, "At the Summit, the leaders are expected to review the organization’s activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of future cooperation. Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed.'

On the sidelines of the meeting EAM will have number of bilateral meets including with his Tajik and Iranian counterparts. This will be the first in-person meet between EAM Jaishankar and Iran's new FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The heads of state and foreign minister will be arriving in the capital later today. EAM Jaishankar left for the city early on Thursday. On Friday, the summit will start around 11.30 am IST.

This Summit is significant as SCO celebrates 20th anniversary of its foundation in 2021 and Tajikistan marks 30 years of its independence. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Putin wil take part in this year's summit virtually, while Pakistani PM Imran Khan will be present in person. Last year, India chaired the 19th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in virtual format.

Afghanistan and expansion of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) will be key focus at the grouping's heads-of-state-summit that will take place on Friday (September 17).

Afghanistan and expansion of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) will be key focus at the grouping's heads-of-state-summit that will take place on Friday (September 17). The summit, being hosted by Tajikistan, will take place in its capital Dushanbe in a hybrid mode. The summit will see a meeting on Afghanistan in which SCO member countries will be present along with those part of Collective Security Treaty organisation (CSTO). The CSTO is an alliance of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan SCO summit-host Tajikistan shares a land border with Afghanistan and since Taliban takeover, raised its concerns publicly many times. SCO grouping has 8 member states--Russia, China, India, Pakistan, and 4 central Asian countries--Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. Afghanistan is an observer member country and situation in the country impacts many of the SCO countries directly, especially central Asian states who share border with it and fear a refugee influx. One of the key outcomes of the summit will on expansion of the grouping with process to incorporate Iran and a full member set to start and number of countries in the gulf getting dialogue or observer status. Iran will get full membership after completion of due SCO legal process. India Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the SCO heads of state summit on Friday. PM is expected to address the meet between 11.30 am to 11.40 am after the welcome address by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. External affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar will be representing India at the meet in person in Dushanbe. This is the 4th time India is participating in the summit as a full-fledged member state. India's key focus at the meet will expectedly be on counter-terror, economic cooperation and most significantly, Afghanistan. The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said, "At the Summit, the leaders are expected to review the organization’s activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of future cooperation. Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed.' On the sidelines of the meeting EAM will have number of bilateral meets including with his Tajik and Iranian counterparts. This will be the first in-person meet between EAM Jaishankar and Iran's new FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The heads of state and foreign minister will be arriving in the capital later today. EAM Jaishankar left for the city early on Thursday. On Friday, the summit will start around 11.30 am IST. This Summit is significant as SCO celebrates 20th anniversary of its foundation in 2021 and Tajikistan marks 30 years of its independence. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Putin wil take part in this year's summit virtually, while Pakistani PM Imran Khan will be present in person. Last year, India chaired the 19th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in virtual format.

Afghanistan, expansion key focus at SCO summit, PM Modi to address meet

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