Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital on Sunday afternoon for "scheduled surgery" on his colon later in the day, the Vatican said.

Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope, 84, was suffering from "symptomatic diverticular stenosis" of the colon, a condition that can cause recurrent abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel habits.

Bruni said the operation would take place later on Sunday in Rome's Gemelli hospital, which is the institution where popes receive medical treatment. Another statement would be issued afterwards.

It is the first time the pope has been admitted to hospital since his election in 2013.

The pope appeared to be in fine health several hours earlier when he addressed thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his Sunday blessing and announcing a trip to Slovakia and Budapest for September.

Francis is sometimes short of breath because a part of one of his lungs was removed following an illness when he was a young man in his native Argentina.

Francis also suffers from sciatica, a condition that causes pain that radiates from the lower back along the sciatic nerve to the legs.

He is sometimes seen walking with difficulty because of the pain and receives regular physical therapy for it.

The condition forced him to miss several events at the beginning of this year. Last year, a bad cold kept him from taking part in a week-long Lenten retreat with his with senior aides south of Rome.

In 2014, a year after he was elected pope, Francis was forced to cancel several engagements because of what was believed to be a stomach ailment.

Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital on Sunday afternoon for "scheduled surgery" on his colon later in the day, the Vatican said. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope, 84, was suffering from "symptomatic diverticular stenosis" of the colon, a condition that can cause recurrent abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel habits.

Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital on Sunday afternoon for "scheduled surgery" on his colon later in the day, the Vatican said. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope, 84, was suffering from "symptomatic diverticular stenosis" of the colon, a condition that can cause recurrent abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel habits. Bruni said the operation would take place later on Sunday in Rome's Gemelli hospital, which is the institution where popes receive medical treatment. Another statement would be issued afterwards. It is the first time the pope has been admitted to hospital since his election in 2013. The pope appeared to be in fine health several hours earlier when he addressed thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his Sunday blessing and announcing a trip to Slovakia and Budapest for September. Francis is sometimes short of breath because a part of one of his lungs was removed following an illness when he was a young man in his native Argentina. Francis also suffers from sciatica, a condition that causes pain that radiates from the lower back along the sciatic nerve to the legs. He is sometimes seen walking with difficulty because of the pain and receives regular physical therapy for it. The condition forced him to miss several events at the beginning of this year. Last year, a bad cold kept him from taking part in a week-long Lenten retreat with his with senior aides south of Rome. In 2014, a year after he was elected pope, Francis was forced to cancel several engagements because of what was believed to be a stomach ailment.

Pope Francis in hospital for 'scheduled surgery' on colon

Rebels in Ethiopia's war-torn Tigray region accepted a ceasefire "in principle" on Sunday. However, they have set strict conditions to formalise the ceasefire.

The rebels are demanding withdrawal of Eritrean fighters and fighters from neighbouring Ethiopian region (Amhara) from Tigray. Both these groups are helping Ethiopian army.

Tigray region has seen fierce fighting for last many months after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent army to topple dissident Tigray authorities.

The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner accused them of orchestrating attacks on Ethiopian military bases.&nbsp;

After early successes and a premature declaration of victory, government forces were bogged down in a vicious and months-long battle with pro-TPLF fighters -- the Tigray Defence Forces, or TDF. The Ethiopian army was backed by troops from the neighbouring Amhara region and the army of Eritrea, which borders Tigray.

On Monday, the TDF recaptured Mekele, held by the Ethiopian army since 28 November.&nbsp;

The government in Addis Ababa immediately declared a unilateral ceasefire, but this was swiftly derided as a "joke" by the rebel forces, which vowed to continue fighting.

Now the rebels have agreed to a ceasefire in principle but another of their conditions is the restoration of what Addis Ababa considers the rebel government in Tigray.

The United Nations and numerous government have called for a ceasefire to be respected, especially to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilian populations.

"As long as we have a foolproof guarantee that the security of our people will not be compromised by a second round of invasions, we accept a ceasefire in principle," a statement signed by the "government of Tigray" said on Sunday.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Rebels in Ethiopia's war-torn Tigray region accepted a ceasefire "in principle" on Sunday. However, they have set strict conditions to formalise the ceasefire. The rebels are demanding withdrawal of Eritrean fighters and fighters from neighbouring Ethiopian region (Amhara) from Tigray.

Rebels in Ethiopia's war-torn Tigray region accepted a ceasefire "in principle" on Sunday. However, they have set strict conditions to formalise the ceasefire. The rebels are demanding withdrawal of Eritrean fighters and fighters from neighbouring Ethiopian region (Amhara) from Tigray. Both these groups are helping Ethiopian army. Tigray region has seen fierce fighting for last many months after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent army to topple dissident Tigray authorities. The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner accused them of orchestrating attacks on Ethiopian military bases. After early successes and a premature declaration of victory, government forces were bogged down in a vicious and months-long battle with pro-TPLF fighters -- the Tigray Defence Forces, or TDF. The Ethiopian army was backed by troops from the neighbouring Amhara region and the army of Eritrea, which borders Tigray. On Monday, the TDF recaptured Mekele, held by the Ethiopian army since 28 November. The government in Addis Ababa immediately declared a unilateral ceasefire, but this was swiftly derided as a "joke" by the rebel forces, which vowed to continue fighting. Now the rebels have agreed to a ceasefire in principle but another of their conditions is the restoration of what Addis Ababa considers the rebel government in Tigray. The United Nations and numerous government have called for a ceasefire to be respected, especially to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilian populations. "As long as we have a foolproof guarantee that the security of our people will not be compromised by a second round of invasions, we accept a ceasefire in principle," a statement signed by the "government of Tigray" said on Sunday. (With inputs from agencies)

Tigray rebels accept ceasefire 'in principle'

Marine Le Pen got re-elected as head of National Rally on Sunday. The re-election took place at a party congress where she is seeking support for her 2022 presidential bid. The party has performed badly in regional polls.

The National Rally (RN) was tipped for strong gains in regional elections last month. But the party could not win any of the 13 regions of mainland France.

The results raised questions about Le Pen's strategy of trying to detoxify her party's brand and position it as a more mainstream right-wing force.

However, there was no challenge for the party leadership. She received support from 98.35 per cent of member in online and postal ballots.

Le Pen, addressing reporters, said she felt "extremely combative' about her chances of winning presidency on her third attempt.

"I have no doubts about what needs to be done for France," said Le Pen, who will use a keynote address later Sunday to rally party faithful for the 2022 campaign.

Polls show the election coming down to another duel between Le Pen and centrist President Emmanuel Macron, who defeated the anti-immigration candidate handily in the second round of the 2017 vote.

But that scenario is no longer seen as a foregone conclusion.

Macron is also seen as being weakened by the poor performance of his Republic on the Move (LREM) party in the regional election.

LREM, which was founded in 2016, finished last of the big parties, winning just 7 percent of second-round votes in a contest characterised by record low turnout.

(With agency inputs)

Marine Le Pen got re-elected as head of National Rally on Sunday. The re-election took place at a party congress where she is seeking support for her 2022 presidential bid.

Marine Le Pen got re-elected as head of National Rally on Sunday. The re-election took place at a party congress where she is seeking support for her 2022 presidential bid. The party has performed badly in regional polls. The National Rally (RN) was tipped for strong gains in regional elections last month. But the party could not win any of the 13 regions of mainland France. The results raised questions about Le Pen's strategy of trying to detoxify her party's brand and position it as a more mainstream right-wing force. However, there was no challenge for the party leadership. She received support from 98.35 per cent of member in online and postal ballots. Le Pen, addressing reporters, said she felt "extremely combative' about her chances of winning presidency on her third attempt. "I have no doubts about what needs to be done for France," said Le Pen, who will use a keynote address later Sunday to rally party faithful for the 2022 campaign. Polls show the election coming down to another duel between Le Pen and centrist President Emmanuel Macron, who defeated the anti-immigration candidate handily in the second round of the 2017 vote. But that scenario is no longer seen as a foregone conclusion. Macron is also seen as being weakened by the poor performance of his Republic on the Move (LREM) party in the regional election. LREM, which was founded in 2016, finished last of the big parties, winning just 7 percent of second-round votes in a contest characterised by record low turnout. (With agency inputs)

Marine Le Pen re-elected as head of French far-right

Statues of Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth toppled in Canada

The Taliban have taken control of a key Kandahar district after fierce night time fighting, officials said on Sunday. Kandahar is a former bastion of the Taliban. The officials added that scores of families fled from the area. The fight between the Taliban and Afghan forces took place during the night.

The Taliban have continued their offensive since early May when US military began its final withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The fall of Panjwai district in the southern province of Kandahar comes just two days after US and NATO forces vacated their main Bagram Air Base near Kabul, from where they led operations for two decades against the Taliban and their Al-Qaeda allies. Panjwai is the fifth district in the Kandahar region to fall to Taliban.

The Taliban also have control of a border post with Tajikistan in northern Afghanistan.

Over the years, the Taliban and Afghan forces have regularly clashed in and around Panjwai, with the insurgents aiming to seize it given its proximity to Kandahar city, the provincial capital.

The leader of the Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, hails from Panjwai.

The province of Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban, who went on to rule Afghanistan with a harsh version of Islamic sharia law until being overthrown by a US-led invasion in 2001.

Panjwai district governor Hasti Mohammad said Afghan forces and the Taliban clashed during the night, resulting in government forces retreating from the area.

"The Taliban have captured the district police headquarters and governor's office building," he told AFP. 
Kandahar provincial council head Sayed Jan Khakriwal confirmed the fall of Panjwai, but accused government forces of "intentionally withdrawing".

'Taliban don't want peace'

Scores of families of Panjwai fled their homes after the Taliban captured the district, an AFP correspondent reported.

"The Taliban fired on our car as I was fleeing with my family. At least five bullets hit my car," Giran, a resident of Panjwai told AFP as he took refuge in Kandahar city.

"The Taliban are on top of the mountains and firing at any moving vehicles. The Taliban don't want peace." 
Assadullah, a commander of border police in the area, said it was only the police force that was fighting against the insurgents.

"The army and the commandos who have better military equipment are not fighting at all," he said. 
Panjwai is the fifth district in Kandahar province to fall to the insurgents in recent weeks.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban have taken control of a key Kandahar district after fierce night time fighting, officials said on Sunday. Kandahar is a former bastion of the Taliban.

The Taliban have taken control of a key Kandahar district after fierce night time fighting, officials said on Sunday. Kandahar is a former bastion of the Taliban. The officials added that scores of families fled from the area. The fight between the Taliban and Afghan forces took place during the night. The Taliban have continued their offensive since early May when US military began its final withdrawal from Afghanistan. The fall of Panjwai district in the southern province of Kandahar comes just two days after US and NATO forces vacated their main Bagram Air Base near Kabul, from where they led operations for two decades against the Taliban and their Al-Qaeda allies. Panjwai is the fifth district in the Kandahar region to fall to Taliban. The Taliban also have control of a border post with Tajikistan in northern Afghanistan. Over the years, the Taliban and Afghan forces have regularly clashed in and around Panjwai, with the insurgents aiming to seize it given its proximity to Kandahar city, the provincial capital. The leader of the Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, hails from Panjwai. The province of Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban, who went on to rule Afghanistan with a harsh version of Islamic sharia law until being overthrown by a US-led invasion in 2001. Panjwai district governor Hasti Mohammad said Afghan forces and the Taliban clashed during the night, resulting in government forces retreating from the area. "The Taliban have captured the district police headquarters and governor's office building," he told AFP. Kandahar provincial council head Sayed Jan Khakriwal confirmed the fall of Panjwai, but accused government forces of "intentionally withdrawing". 'Taliban don't want peace' Scores of families of Panjwai fled their homes after the Taliban captured the district, an AFP correspondent reported. "The Taliban fired on our car as I was fleeing with my family. At least five bullets hit my car," Giran, a resident of Panjwai told AFP as he took refuge in Kandahar city. "The Taliban are on top of the mountains and firing at any moving vehicles. The Taliban don't want peace." Assadullah, a commander of border police in the area, said it was only the police force that was fighting against the insurgents. "The army and the commandos who have better military equipment are not fighting at all," he said. Panjwai is the fifth district in Kandahar province to fall to the insurgents in recent weeks. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban seize key Kandahar district

President Joe Biden’s plan to celebrate “independence from the virus” on the Fourth of July is running into an unpleasant reality: Less than half the country is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, and the highly contagious delta variant is threatening new outbreaks.

The president and first lady Jill Biden have invited 1,000 military personnel and essential workers to an Independence Day bash on the South Lawn of the White House. Biden and his advisers, eager to claim credit for the virus’s retreat in the United States, are talking about a “summer of joy and freedom.”

The president will visit Traverse City, Michigan, on Saturday as part of what the White House calls the “America’s Back Together” celebration. Jill Biden will also take to the road, as will Vice President Kamala Harris, her husband, Doug Emhoff, and various Cabinet officials who will attend festivals, parades and cookouts around the nation.

But public health experts fear that scenes of cross-country celebrations — including a White House party with a liberation theme — will send the wrong message when wide swaths of the population remain vulnerable and true independence from the worst public health crisis in a century may be a long way off.

“We’re still in the middle of this marathon,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University. Despite considerable progress in decreasing the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the United States over the past few months, he said, it remains too early to “unfurl the ‘mission accomplished’ banner.”

Suggesting that the country is moving past the pandemic is a delicate task for Biden and his fellow Democrats, who must balance caution with bolstering the economy and getting national morale back on track.

The Democratic National Committee this week released an upbeat ad titled “America’s Coming Back.” Its spokesperson wrote on Twitter that the “America’s Back” mobile — a bus with the president’s image on it — would be traveling the country and offering free Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, a gourmet brand favored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The blowback was swift. “Need to rename this the ‘USS Tone Deaf McCovid Mobile,’” a Twitter user wrote.

Several family members of COVID-19 victims said it was difficult to hear Biden suggest that the nation was returning to normal while they were still grieving.

“There’s no return to normalcy for us,” said Sabila Khan, 42, of Jersey City, New Jersey, who created a Facebook support group after her father died of COVID-19. “It’s very nerve-racking when the government is encouraging you to just move beyond it. We lost our loved ones. We are never moving past this.”

White House officials said Biden was hardly declaring victory or “mission accomplished,” but simply wanted to take stock of the gains the United States had made against the virus since he took office. To combat the spread of the delta variant, the administration is sending “COVID-19 surge response teams” to communities at risk, Jeffrey Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, told reporters Thursday.

“The Fourth of July is a moment for us to step back and celebrate our progress,” Zients said. “There’s a lot more work to do.”

The United States has made significant progress against the pandemic since Biden took office Jan. 20, warning of a “dark winter” ahead. Daily reports of new cases are holding steady at about 12,000, the lowest since testing became widely available, according to a New York Times database — down from about 200,000 on Inauguration Day.

For the first time since March 2020, the country is averaging fewer than 300 newly reported deaths a day, a decline of about 20% over the past two weeks. Hospitalizations are also dropping.

But the advances have been uneven, with a large portion of U.S. cases emerging in a handful of hot spots, particularly where vaccination rates are low. Las Vegas, rural Utah, rural Arkansas, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the Missouri Ozarks are among the places with upticks. And because the national trend lines are flat, experts do not know precisely which way they will go.

“If you looked a couple of weeks ago, most of those projections were trending downwards; it looked like we were sailing into summer,” said Lauren Ancel Meyers, a public health researcher at the University of Texas at Austin. “Those projections now have flatlined. We’re not necessarily seeing an indication yet that things are going to surge in parts of the country, but we aren’t sure what’s going to happen.”

A number of governors are planning to lift their public health emergency orders in the coming weeks; Maryland and Virginia lifted their orders Thursday, bringing an end to mask mandates and other restrictions.

But the national emergency declared by former President Donald Trump remains in effect through late July, and the White House has told governors that Biden plans to extend it, officials said.

The vaccination campaign, meanwhile, is plodding along, with about 1 million shots administered each day. Biden had hoped to have 70% of adults at least partly vaccinated by July 4, but the White House conceded last month that it would not meet that goal.

The truer measure of protection, experts say, is whether people are fully vaccinated; only 46% of Americans fall into that category. With children under 12 still ineligible for the vaccine, it will be some time before a vast majority of the United States is fully vaccinated. Public health officials are particularly worried about outbreaks once school resumes in the fall.

In an era when vaccination has become a subject of fierce political debate, White House officials are not requiring guests at the July 4 party to be vaccinated. But they will be asked to present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of the event, and the White House has advised those who are unvaccinated that they “should wear a mask,” Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said this week.

Meyers, of the University of Texas, said the requirements were “very sensible” and a show of responsible behavior. “Testing, face masks, vaccinations: Those are our tickets to freedom from this threat,” she said.

But the absence of a vaccination requirement for White House party guests is also evidence of the challenges ahead, said Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“There is so much toxic politics around COVID that it’s constraining sensible action,” he said. “Obviously it makes sense to require proof of vaccination in various settings, but that has become a political lightning rod.”

Frieden and other experts said they feared that if the delta variant continues to circulate, it will mutate in a way that leaves even the vaccinated vulnerable. That already seems to be happening elsewhere in the world; even countries like South Korea and Israel, where the virus seemed to be in check, have new clusters of disease.

“Compared to many other countries, we are in a much more secure situation,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, a public health researcher at Johns Hopkins University. But, she added, “I really do worry that as America enjoys its freedoms, we forget about the rest of the world, and that could come back to bite us.”

When Biden announced his July 4 vaccination goal in early May, he said meeting it would demonstrate that the United States had taken “a serious step toward a return to normal.” For many people, that seems to be the case. The president said then that Americans would be able to gather in backyards for small Independence Day barbecues; his gathering of 1,000 guests is partly aimed at showing the country that his administration has exceeded expectations even if vaccinations have stalled.

While Biden has repeatedly spoken of “independence from the virus,” Arthur L. Caplan, director of NYU Langone Medical Center’s medical ethics division, said the president should be careful about the language he uses.

“Before I went out and had my fireworks and sipped piña coladas on the White House veranda, I would say, ‘I’ve got to make clear, as president, we have major challenges unresolved,’” Caplan said. “I would say, ‘We’re doing well at halftime.’”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president’s top medical adviser for the pandemic, said there was nothing contradictory about the administration’s message.

“You can still celebrate at the same time as you get your message very, very clear,” he said, adding that the White House message remains the same: “If you are vaccinated, you have a high degree of protection. If you are not, you should wear a mask and you should think very seriously about getting vaccinated.”

President Joe Biden’s plan to celebrate “independence from the virus” on the Fourth of July is running into an unpleasant reality: Less than half the country is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, and the highly contagious delta variant is threatening new outbreaks.

President Joe Biden’s plan to celebrate “independence from the virus” on the Fourth of July is running into an unpleasant reality: Less than half the country is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, and the highly contagious delta variant is threatening new outbreaks. The president and first lady Jill Biden have invited 1,000 military personnel and essential workers to an Independence Day bash on the South Lawn of the White House. Biden and his advisers, eager to claim credit for the virus’s retreat in the United States, are talking about a “summer of joy and freedom.” The president will visit Traverse City, Michigan, on Saturday as part of what the White House calls the “America’s Back Together” celebration. Jill Biden will also take to the road, as will Vice President Kamala Harris, her husband, Doug Emhoff, and various Cabinet officials who will attend festivals, parades and cookouts around the nation. But public health experts fear that scenes of cross-country celebrations — including a White House party with a liberation theme — will send the wrong message when wide swaths of the population remain vulnerable and true independence from the worst public health crisis in a century may be a long way off. “We’re still in the middle of this marathon,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University. Despite considerable progress in decreasing the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the United States over the past few months, he said, it remains too early to “unfurl the ‘mission accomplished’ banner.” Suggesting that the country is moving past the pandemic is a delicate task for Biden and his fellow Democrats, who must balance caution with bolstering the economy and getting national morale back on track. The Democratic National Committee this week released an upbeat ad titled “America’s Coming Back.” Its spokesperson wrote on Twitter that the “America’s Back” mobile — a bus with the president’s image on it — would be traveling the country and offering free Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, a gourmet brand favored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The blowback was swift. “Need to rename this the ‘USS Tone Deaf McCovid Mobile,’” a Twitter user wrote. Several family members of COVID-19 victims said it was difficult to hear Biden suggest that the nation was returning to normal while they were still grieving. “There’s no return to normalcy for us,” said Sabila Khan, 42, of Jersey City, New Jersey, who created a Facebook support group after her father died of COVID-19. “It’s very nerve-racking when the government is encouraging you to just move beyond it. We lost our loved ones. We are never moving past this.” White House officials said Biden was hardly declaring victory or “mission accomplished,” but simply wanted to take stock of the gains the United States had made against the virus since he took office. To combat the spread of the delta variant, the administration is sending “COVID-19 surge response teams” to communities at risk, Jeffrey Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, told reporters Thursday. “The Fourth of July is a moment for us to step back and celebrate our progress,” Zients said. “There’s a lot more work to do.” The United States has made significant progress against the pandemic since Biden took office Jan. 20, warning of a “dark winter” ahead. Daily reports of new cases are holding steady at about 12,000, the lowest since testing became widely available, according to a New York Times database — down from about 200,000 on Inauguration Day. For the first time since March 2020, the country is averaging fewer than 300 newly reported deaths a day, a decline of about 20% over the past two weeks. Hospitalizations are also dropping. But the advances have been uneven, with a large portion of U.S. cases emerging in a handful of hot spots, particularly where vaccination rates are low. Las Vegas, rural Utah, rural Arkansas, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the Missouri Ozarks are among the places with upticks. And because the national trend lines are flat, experts do not know precisely which way they will go. “If you looked a couple of weeks ago, most of those projections were trending downwards; it looked like we were sailing into summer,” said Lauren Ancel Meyers, a public health researcher at the University of Texas at Austin. “Those projections now have flatlined. We’re not necessarily seeing an indication yet that things are going to surge in parts of the country, but we aren’t sure what’s going to happen.” A number of governors are planning to lift their public health emergency orders in the coming weeks; Maryland and Virginia lifted their orders Thursday, bringing an end to mask mandates and other restrictions. But the national emergency declared by former President Donald Trump remains in effect through late July, and the White House has told governors that Biden plans to extend it, officials said. The vaccination campaign, meanwhile, is plodding along, with about 1 million shots administered each day. Biden had hoped to have 70% of adults at least partly vaccinated by July 4, but the White House conceded last month that it would not meet that goal. The truer measure of protection, experts say, is whether people are fully vaccinated; only 46% of Americans fall into that category. With children under 12 still ineligible for the vaccine, it will be some time before a vast majority of the United States is fully vaccinated. Public health officials are particularly worried about outbreaks once school resumes in the fall. In an era when vaccination has become a subject of fierce political debate, White House officials are not requiring guests at the July 4 party to be vaccinated. But they will be asked to present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of the event, and the White House has advised those who are unvaccinated that they “should wear a mask,” Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said this week. Meyers, of the University of Texas, said the requirements were “very sensible” and a show of responsible behavior. “Testing, face masks, vaccinations: Those are our tickets to freedom from this threat,” she said. But the absence of a vaccination requirement for White House party guests is also evidence of the challenges ahead, said Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “There is so much toxic politics around COVID that it’s constraining sensible action,” he said. “Obviously it makes sense to require proof of vaccination in various settings, but that has become a political lightning rod.” Frieden and other experts said they feared that if the delta variant continues to circulate, it will mutate in a way that leaves even the vaccinated vulnerable. That already seems to be happening elsewhere in the world; even countries like South Korea and Israel, where the virus seemed to be in check, have new clusters of disease. “Compared to many other countries, we are in a much more secure situation,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, a public health researcher at Johns Hopkins University. But, she added, “I really do worry that as America enjoys its freedoms, we forget about the rest of the world, and that could come back to bite us.” When Biden announced his July 4 vaccination goal in early May, he said meeting it would demonstrate that the United States had taken “a serious step toward a return to normal.” For many people, that seems to be the case. The president said then that Americans would be able to gather in backyards for small Independence Day barbecues; his gathering of 1,000 guests is partly aimed at showing the country that his administration has exceeded expectations even if vaccinations have stalled. While Biden has repeatedly spoken of “independence from the virus,” Arthur L. Caplan, director of NYU Langone Medical Center’s medical ethics division, said the president should be careful about the language he uses. “Before I went out and had my fireworks and sipped piña coladas on the White House veranda, I would say, ‘I’ve got to make clear, as president, we have major challenges unresolved,’” Caplan said. “I would say, ‘We’re doing well at halftime.’” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president’s top medical adviser for the pandemic, said there was nothing contradictory about the administration’s message. “You can still celebrate at the same time as you get your message very, very clear,” he said, adding that the White House message remains the same: “If you are vaccinated, you have a high degree of protection. If you are not, you should wear a mask and you should think very seriously about getting vaccinated.”

Is Biden declaring ‘independence from the virus’ too soon?

Hundreds of Palestinians on Saturday protested against President Mahmud Abbas and demanded his resignation. The protest took place in West Bank. The protests were sparked by last month's death of activist. The activist died in custody.

Relatives of Nizar Banat, who died after security forces stormed his home and violently arrested him, were at the forefront of the protest in Ramallah where Abbas's Palestinian Authority (PA) is based.

Mother of Banat held up a portrait of her son.

Demonstrators also carried pictures of Banat, a vocal critic of alleged corruption within the PA, while others held up a huge banner that carried the words "Abbas Leave", an AFP reporter said.

"This rally is a message of allegiance to Nizar Banat and to the authorities, who must bring to justice those responsible for his death," Hassan Khreishah, a former head of the Palestinian Legislative Council, told AFP. 
Palestinian police and security forces blocked the road leading to Abbas's headquarters in Ramallah.

A counter-protest organised by Abbas's Fatah faction was meanwhile held in the city of Hebron to express support for the Palestinian leader.

Banat's death on June 24 sparked days of protest in the occupied West Bank and triggered international condemnation.

The 43-year-old had registered as a candidate in Palestinian parliamentary elections that were set for May, until Abbas postponed them indefinitely.

According to an autopsy, he had been beaten on the head, chest, neck, legs and hands, with less than an hour elapsing between his arrest and his death.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hundreds of Palestinians on Saturday protested against President Mahmud Abbas and demanded his resignation. The protest took place in West Bank. The protests were sparked by last month's death of activist.

Hundreds of Palestinians on Saturday protested against President Mahmud Abbas and demanded his resignation. The protest took place in West Bank. The protests were sparked by last month's death of activist. The activist died in custody. Relatives of Nizar Banat, who died after security forces stormed his home and violently arrested him, were at the forefront of the protest in Ramallah where Abbas's Palestinian Authority (PA) is based. Mother of Banat held up a portrait of her son. Demonstrators also carried pictures of Banat, a vocal critic of alleged corruption within the PA, while others held up a huge banner that carried the words "Abbas Leave", an AFP reporter said. "This rally is a message of allegiance to Nizar Banat and to the authorities, who must bring to justice those responsible for his death," Hassan Khreishah, a former head of the Palestinian Legislative Council, told AFP. Palestinian police and security forces blocked the road leading to Abbas's headquarters in Ramallah. A counter-protest organised by Abbas's Fatah faction was meanwhile held in the city of Hebron to express support for the Palestinian leader. Banat's death on June 24 sparked days of protest in the occupied West Bank and triggered international condemnation. The 43-year-old had registered as a candidate in Palestinian parliamentary elections that were set for May, until Abbas postponed them indefinitely. According to an autopsy, he had been beaten on the head, chest, neck, legs and hands, with less than an hour elapsing between his arrest and his death. (With inputs from agencies)

Palestinians protest in Ramallah, demand Abbas' resignation

Thousands took to the streets of Burkina Faso's capital on Saturday to call for a tougher government response to a wave of jihadist attacks that has destabilised the West African country in recent years.

Some had travelled hundreds of kilometres to attend the opposition-led demonstration in Ouagadougou, where protesters waved the red and green Burkinabe flag and blew whistles.

"We had to show our dissatisfaction, show the distress of citizens who are crying out for security and peace," said opposition supporter Alpha Yago on the sidelines of the protest.

Groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State originally based in neighbouring Mali have embedded themselves across the north and east of the country, launching regular attacks on civilians, including one in June that killed more than 130 people, the worst in years.

One protester held a placard with a photo of flag-draped coffins and the slogan: "Mr President, have the courage to decide. We are fed up!"

Pressure has increased on President Roch Kabore to take control and end a humanitarian crisis in which more than a million people have been displaced by the violence.

Last Wednesday Kabore took the role of defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle aimed at appeasing opposition leaders, who have demanded the resignation of the government.

One group of protesters had travelled nearly 400 kilometres (250 miles) from the eastern town of Madjoari, which has seen thousands of residents flee the jihadist threat.

"We cannot understand how a population suffers day after day and for over a month with no reaction from the government. It is deplorable," said Madjoari's deputy mayor Djergou Kouare, as fellow residents waved cardboard placards saying "SOS Madjoari".

Despite the presence of thousands of U.N. peacekeepers, attacks by jihadists in West Africa's Sahel region have risen sharply since the start of the year, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, with civilians bearing the brunt.

Thousands took to the streets of Burkina Faso's capital on Saturday to call for a tougher government response to a wave of jihadist attacks that has destabilised the West African country in recent years.

Thousands took to the streets of Burkina Faso's capital on Saturday to call for a tougher government response to a wave of jihadist attacks that has destabilised the West African country in recent years. Some had travelled hundreds of kilometres to attend the opposition-led demonstration in Ouagadougou, where protesters waved the red and green Burkinabe flag and blew whistles. "We had to show our dissatisfaction, show the distress of citizens who are crying out for security and peace," said opposition supporter Alpha Yago on the sidelines of the protest. Groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State originally based in neighbouring Mali have embedded themselves across the north and east of the country, launching regular attacks on civilians, including one in June that killed more than 130 people, the worst in years. One protester held a placard with a photo of flag-draped coffins and the slogan: "Mr President, have the courage to decide. We are fed up!" Pressure has increased on President Roch Kabore to take control and end a humanitarian crisis in which more than a million people have been displaced by the violence. Last Wednesday Kabore took the role of defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle aimed at appeasing opposition leaders, who have demanded the resignation of the government. One group of protesters had travelled nearly 400 kilometres (250 miles) from the eastern town of Madjoari, which has seen thousands of residents flee the jihadist threat. "We cannot understand how a population suffers day after day and for over a month with no reaction from the government. It is deplorable," said Madjoari's deputy mayor Djergou Kouare, as fellow residents waved cardboard placards saying "SOS Madjoari". Despite the presence of thousands of U.N. peacekeepers, attacks by jihadists in West Africa's Sahel region have risen sharply since the start of the year, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, with civilians bearing the brunt.

Thousands protest in Burkina Faso over jihadist attacks

Srinagar's downtown area has always been in news for wrong reasons. However, it has something positive to showcase now. To revive the legacy of football in the old city of Srinagar, a group of people have come forward and made a football club called "Downtown Heroes FC"

The old city of Srinagar was known for producing top-class footballers who even went on to represent Jammu &amp; Kashmir at the national and International level. And the downtown area was known as the hub of football in Kashmir but in recent years it has lost its touch with the most followed sport in Kashmir.&nbsp;

The club is specially made for the youngsters of the downtown area of Srinagar.&nbsp;

"We want football to be popular in the old city again. We have developed a robust framework to produce not only star footballers but star individuals. This academy would be open for all old city players. It's also a great way channeling the energy of youth and keeping them away from social evils like drugs (case of) which have unfortunately grown rapidly in Srinagar," said club’s chairman, Irfan Shahmiri.&nbsp;

Downtown Heroes FC was started with an aim to revive the lost glory of football in the old city. It was launched in 2019 and the club has already made a name for itself. In its inaugural season, It went to play in the Premier League, Real Kashmir Cup and also went on to win Doon Knockout football tournament title. It has received a lot of applause from the people in the valley.&nbsp;

"Today the club has launched two new teams for Under-16 and Under-12. The main motive behind this club is for holistic development of young people. We have received great response from people and we want it to continue," said Mushtaq Bashir, founder of the club&nbsp;

Now, the club is hoping to collaborate with government sports councils.

Srinagar's downtown area has always been in news for wrong reasons. However, it has something positive to showcase now. To revive the legacy of football in the old city of Srinagar, a group of people have come forward and made a football club called "Downtown Heroes FC" The old city of Srinagar was known for producing top-class footballers who even went on to represent Jammu & Kashmir at the national and International level.

Srinagar's downtown area has always been in news for wrong reasons. However, it has something positive to showcase now. To revive the legacy of football in the old city of Srinagar, a group of people have come forward and made a football club called "Downtown Heroes FC" The old city of Srinagar was known for producing top-class footballers who even went on to represent Jammu & Kashmir at the national and International level. And the downtown area was known as the hub of football in Kashmir but in recent years it has lost its touch with the most followed sport in Kashmir. The club is specially made for the youngsters of the downtown area of Srinagar. "We want football to be popular in the old city again. We have developed a robust framework to produce not only star footballers but star individuals. This academy would be open for all old city players. It's also a great way channeling the energy of youth and keeping them away from social evils like drugs (case of) which have unfortunately grown rapidly in Srinagar," said club’s chairman, Irfan Shahmiri. Downtown Heroes FC was started with an aim to revive the lost glory of football in the old city. It was launched in 2019 and the club has already made a name for itself. In its inaugural season, It went to play in the Premier League, Real Kashmir Cup and also went on to win Doon Knockout football tournament title. It has received a lot of applause from the people in the valley. "Today the club has launched two new teams for Under-16 and Under-12. The main motive behind this club is for holistic development of young people. We have received great response from people and we want it to continue," said Mushtaq Bashir, founder of the club Now, the club is hoping to collaborate with government sports councils.

Downtown Srinagar is now buzzing with footballers

Since May 1, or the start of the US military's&nbsp;final withdrawal of about 2,500 troops, Afghan forces and the Taliban have clashed fiercely across the rugged countryside as peace talks between them have faltered. After the recent&nbsp;US and NATO&nbsp;troops'&nbsp;evacuation of their main Bagram Air Base, the Afghan&nbsp;Ministry of Defence claims that in the last 24 hours, more than 300 Taliban fighters were killed in fighting with government forces. However, the Taliban has refuted these claims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, following&nbsp;former US President Donald Trump's banning from social media platform&nbsp;Twitter, his team has launched a similar app GETTR. The app describes itself as a “non-bias social network for people all over the world", however, it has been flagged by&nbsp;users as a&nbsp;'Place of hate'.

Click on headlines to read more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-fighting-rages-as-us-forces-seek-exit-by-end-august-395583">Afghanistan: Fighting rages as US forces seek exit by end of August</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/05/01/193423-afghanistan.jpg" />Afghan officials say since the announcement of US troop withdrawal, hundreds of Taliban fighters were killed in fighting across several provinces of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/place-of-hate-donald-trumps-team-launches-twitter-like-social-media-platform-gettr-395473">'Place of hate': Donald Trump's team launches Twitter-like social media platform GETTR</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/07/03/200822-gettr.jpg" />Keeping in mind former US president Donal Trump's love for&nbsp;the social media platform Twitter, his team has now launched a similar platform called GETTR.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/possible-in-future-to-mix-vaccine-doses-says-german-health-minister-395572">Possible in future to mix vaccine doses, says German health minister</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/06/17/198819-corbevax.JPG" />German Health Minister Jens Spahn told reporters on Friday that it would be possible in future to mix vaccine doses. In Spahn's opinion, it would be possible to combine the first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine with a second shot of the mRNA vaccine like those from Pfizer or Moderna.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-planes-practise-bombing-ships-in-black-sea-395591">Russian planes practise bombing ships in Black Sea</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/07/03/200875-russia-3.jpg" />Russia says that its warplanes practised bombing enemy ships in the Black Sea during training exercises. There is tension between Russia and the West over NATO drills in the region and recent incidents with a British warship.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-denies-links-to-attacks-on-us-forces-in-iraq-syria-395540">Iran denies links to attacks on US forces in Iraq, Syria</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/07/03/200855-iran-un.jpg" />Condemning&nbsp;US&nbsp;airstrikes on Iraq,&nbsp;Iran denied&nbsp;US&nbsp;accusations that the country&nbsp;supported attacks on US&nbsp;forces in Iraq and Syria.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-urges-nations-to-build-great-wall-of-immunity-against-coronavirus-395538">China urges nations to build 'Great Wall of Immunity' against coronavirus</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2019/09/19/110497-china11main.jpg" />China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the international community to build a 'Great Wall of Immunity' to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that&nbsp;"We should face the imminent challenges together,".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-protesters-burn-junta-leaders-images-on-his-birthday-395520">Myanmar protesters burn junta leader's images on his birthday</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/07/03/200846-myanmar-1.jpg" />In the latest demonstrations against the coup that over five months ago that has plunged the Southeast Asian country into chaos, protesters burned mock coffins and pictures of Myanmar's army ruler Min Aung Hlaing.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/more-than-2000-flee-as-philippine-volcano-spews-toxic-gas-395524">More than 2,000 flee as Philippine volcano spews toxic gas</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/01/13/123758-untitled-design.jpg" />Philippine officials announce&nbsp;that over 2,000 people have fled from the eruption of the Taal volcano that has filled the air near the Philippine capital with toxic gas.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-poor-attitude-towards-human-rights-results-in-decline-in-popularity-in-developed-countries-study-395523">China's poor attitude towards human rights results in decline in popularity in developed countries: Study</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2020/06/18/145271-jinping.jpg" />

A new study&nbsp;conducted by Pew Research Center has revealed that China’s popularity in developed countries has seen a major fall due to the way the country has been treating minority groups and the excessive restrictions on freedom and human rights.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/titus-the-t-rex-goes-on-display-in-england-395589">Titus the T-Rex goes on display in England</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/07/03/200874-untitled-design-2021-07-03t185234559.jpg" />The Wollaton Hall Natural History Museum will display the T-Rex's skeleton, discovered in Montana in 2018,&nbsp;as part of a new exhibition about the dinosaur's life and environment.

Since May 1, or the start of the US military's final withdrawal of about 2,500 troops, Afghan forces and the Taliban have clashed fiercely across the rugged countryside as peace talks between them have faltered.

Since May 1, or the start of the US military's final withdrawal of about 2,500 troops, Afghan forces and the Taliban have clashed fiercely across the rugged countryside as peace talks between them have faltered. After the recent US and NATO troops' evacuation of their main Bagram Air Base, the Afghan Ministry of Defence claims that in the last 24 hours, more than 300 Taliban fighters were killed in fighting with government forces. However, the Taliban has refuted these claims. Meanwhile, following former US President Donald Trump's banning from social media platform Twitter, his team has launched a similar app GETTR. The app describes itself as a “non-bias social network for people all over the world", however, it has been flagged by users as a 'Place of hate'. Click on headlines to read more Afghanistan: Fighting rages as US forces seek exit by end of August Afghan officials say since the announcement of US troop withdrawal, hundreds of Taliban fighters were killed in fighting across several provinces of Afghanistan. 'Place of hate': Donald Trump's team launches Twitter-like social media platform GETTR Keeping in mind former US president Donal Trump's love for the social media platform Twitter, his team has now launched a similar platform called GETTR. Possible in future to mix vaccine doses, says German health minister German Health Minister Jens Spahn told reporters on Friday that it would be possible in future to mix vaccine doses. In Spahn's opinion, it would be possible to combine the first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine with a second shot of the mRNA vaccine like those from Pfizer or Moderna. Russian planes practise bombing ships in Black Sea Russia says that its warplanes practised bombing enemy ships in the Black Sea during training exercises. There is tension between Russia and the West over NATO drills in the region and recent incidents with a British warship. Iran denies links to attacks on US forces in Iraq, Syria Condemning US airstrikes on Iraq, Iran denied US accusations that the country supported attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria. China urges nations to build 'Great Wall of Immunity' against coronavirus China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the international community to build a 'Great Wall of Immunity' to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that "We should face the imminent challenges together,". Myanmar protesters burn junta leader's images on his birthday In the latest demonstrations against the coup that over five months ago that has plunged the Southeast Asian country into chaos, protesters burned mock coffins and pictures of Myanmar's army ruler Min Aung Hlaing. More than 2,000 flee as Philippine volcano spews toxic gas Philippine officials announce that over 2,000 people have fled from the eruption of the Taal volcano that has filled the air near the Philippine capital with toxic gas. China's poor attitude towards human rights results in decline in popularity in developed countries: Study A new study conducted by Pew Research Center has revealed that China’s popularity in developed countries has seen a major fall due to the way the country has been treating minority groups and the excessive restrictions on freedom and human rights. Titus the T-Rex goes on display in England The Wollaton Hall Natural History Museum will display the T-Rex's skeleton, discovered in Montana in 2018, as part of a new exhibition about the dinosaur's life and environment.

Top 10 world news: Afghan govt claims 300 Taliban killed in 24 Hours, Trump's team launches GETTR to replace Twitter & more

At least two were feared dead in central Japanese city of Atami due to landslides triggered by heavy rains, said public broadcaster NHK. Ground as well as drone footage showed half-submerged and collapsed houses as water rushed into the city with mud and debris.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has convened an emergency task force to tackle the crisis. He has asked people in the affected areas to remain on alert.

The floods are a reminder of the natural disasters - including earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunami - that plague Japan, where the capital Tokyo is to host the summer Olympics starting this month.

Japan's military sent emergency rescuers to the city, where about 80 people are evacuated, NHK said.

Some 2,830 households in the area face power outages, it said, citing the Tokyo Electric Power.

(With inputs from agencies)

At least two were feared dead in central Japanese city of Atami due to landslides triggered by heavy rains, said public broadcaster NHK. Ground as well as drone footage showed half-submerged and collapsed houses as water rushed into the city with mud and debris.

At least two were feared dead in central Japanese city of Atami due to landslides triggered by heavy rains, said public broadcaster NHK. Ground as well as drone footage showed half-submerged and collapsed houses as water rushed into the city with mud and debris. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has convened an emergency task force to tackle the crisis. He has asked people in the affected areas to remain on alert. The floods are a reminder of the natural disasters - including earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunami - that plague Japan, where the capital Tokyo is to host the summer Olympics starting this month. Japan's military sent emergency rescuers to the city, where about 80 people are evacuated, NHK said. Some 2,830 households in the area face power outages, it said, citing the Tokyo Electric Power. (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese city battles with landslides after heavy rains

Russia said on Saturday that its warplanes practised bombing enemy ships in the Black Sea during training exercises. There is tension between Russia and the West over NATO drills in the region and recent incident with a British warship.

Last week, Russia challenged right of British navy warship HMS Defender to pass through waters near Crimean. UK maintained that it has every right to do so. Russia has annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. However, most of the world still considers Crimea to be part of Ukraine.

Russia assertively maintained that the vessel had illegally entered its territorial waters. It also accused London of "provocation"

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-accuses-us-of-involvement-in-british-warship-row-with-russia-395002">Putin accuses US of involvement in British warship row with Russia</a> 
 
Moscow has said it could bomb British naval vessels if there are more such actions by the British navy off Crimea.

On Saturday, Russia's Black Sea Fleet said warplanes from its aviation units and those of the southern military district had taken part in training drills.

"Aircraft crews ... conducted training flights over the Black Sea, practicing missile and bombing strikes against simulated enemy ships," it was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

The drills involved aircraft including Sukhoi Su-30SM multi-purpose fighters, Sukhoi Su-24M bombers, Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers and Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets, the report said.

The exercise comes as NATO, Ukraine and allies conduct their large-scale Sea Breeze drills in the region.

Those drills are set to last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft, with U.S. missile destroyer USS Ross and the U.S. Marine Corps taking part.

Moscow had called for the exercise to be cancelled and the Russian defence ministry has said it will react to safeguard national security if necessary.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia said on Saturday that its warplanes practised bombing enemy ships in the Black Sea during training exercises. There is tension between Russia and the West over NATO drills in the region and recent incident with a British warship.

Russia said on Saturday that its warplanes practised bombing enemy ships in the Black Sea during training exercises. There is tension between Russia and the West over NATO drills in the region and recent incident with a British warship. Last week, Russia challenged right of British navy warship HMS Defender to pass through waters near Crimean. UK maintained that it has every right to do so. Russia has annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. However, most of the world still considers Crimea to be part of Ukraine. Russia assertively maintained that the vessel had illegally entered its territorial waters. It also accused London of "provocation" Also Read | Putin accuses US of involvement in British warship row with Russia Moscow has said it could bomb British naval vessels if there are more such actions by the British navy off Crimea. On Saturday, Russia's Black Sea Fleet said warplanes from its aviation units and those of the southern military district had taken part in training drills. "Aircraft crews ... conducted training flights over the Black Sea, practicing missile and bombing strikes against simulated enemy ships," it was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency. The drills involved aircraft including Sukhoi Su-30SM multi-purpose fighters, Sukhoi Su-24M bombers, Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers and Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets, the report said. The exercise comes as NATO, Ukraine and allies conduct their large-scale Sea Breeze drills in the region. Those drills are set to last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft, with U.S. missile destroyer USS Ross and the U.S. Marine Corps taking part. Moscow had called for the exercise to be cancelled and the Russian defence ministry has said it will react to safeguard national security if necessary. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian planes practise bombing ships in Black Sea

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