<p>Kurdish forces arrested dozens in an operation launched to apprehend suspected family members of Islamic State militant in a camp in northeast Syria.</p>

<p>Al-Hol is the largest such settlement controlled by Kurdish authorities, who warn it is emerging as an extremist powder keg following dozens of murders in the camp since the start of the year.</p>

<p>The camp has almost 62,000 people, mostly women and children. The residents include Syrians, Iraqi and thousands from Europe and Asia.</p>

<p>"More than thirty women and men have been arrested" in a sweeping anti-IS operation in and around the Al-Hol camp, said Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.</p>

<p>"The arrests are ongoing" as part of a days-long operation by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is the Kurdish regional administration's main fighting force, the Kurdish YPG militia and a local police force, Abdul Rahman said.</p>

<p>Syrians and foreigners "suspected of supporting IS" have been arrested, he said.</p>

<p>SDF officials confirmed the operation, with one of them saying it would run at least 10 days.</p>

<p>An SDF statement said 5,000 security personnel were deployed in Al-Hol to "protect residents" during the sweep.</p>

<p>It said nine people, including an "ISIS leader" had been detained so far.</p>

<p>A video released by the YPG showed the militia marching off a group of men towards vehicles.</p>

<p><strong>(With AFP inputs)</strong></p>


Kurdish forces arrested dozens in an operation launched to apprehend suspected family members of Islamic State militant in a camp in northeast Syria. Al-Hol is the largest such settlement controlled by Kurdish authorities, who warn it is emerging as an extremist powder keg following dozens of murders in the camp since the start of the year.

Kurdish forces arrested dozens in an operation launched to apprehend suspected family members of Islamic State militant in a camp in northeast Syria. Al-Hol is the largest such settlement controlled by Kurdish authorities, who warn it is emerging as an extremist powder keg following dozens of murders in the camp since the start of the year. The camp has almost 62,000 people, mostly women and children. The residents include Syrians, Iraqi and thousands from Europe and Asia. "More than thirty women and men have been arrested" in a sweeping anti-IS operation in and around the Al-Hol camp, said Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "The arrests are ongoing" as part of a days-long operation by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is the Kurdish regional administration's main fighting force, the Kurdish YPG militia and a local police force, Abdul Rahman said. Syrians and foreigners "suspected of supporting IS" have been arrested, he said. SDF officials confirmed the operation, with one of them saying it would run at least 10 days. An SDF statement said 5,000 security personnel were deployed in Al-Hol to "protect residents" during the sweep. It said nine people, including an "ISIS leader" had been detained so far. A video released by the YPG showed the militia marching off a group of men towards vehicles. (With AFP inputs)

Kurdish forces arrest dozens in security sweep against IS families

<p>Dark matter is something that has best scientific minds in the world a bit confused. After all, Dark Matter is extremely hard to spot. However, it is considered that most of the matter in the universe is Dark Matter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dark Matter can only be detected through the effect it has on celestial bodies. Now Physicists think that dark matter may be warming core of the planets.</p>

<p>Rebecca Leane, a theoretical particle physicist at MIT, and Juri Smirnov, an astroparticle physicist at the Ohio State University (OSU) think that Dark Matter particles are absorbed by planets and due to their gravity, reach the core where they have a warming effect. The researchers have published their study in Physical Review Letters.</p>

<p>They propose use of such exoplanets as 'Dark Matter detectors'. The Physicists say that if we see core of a planet for example, having 14 times the mass of Jupiter, heating up from 200 K to 500 K, we can assume it to be because of Dark Matter.</p>

<p>Not just any planet would do for this exercise, however. The planet must have cooled off after its birth as fiery mass. This means that it should be several billion years old. In addition, the planet must be sufficiently far from heat of the star around which it revolves.</p>

<p>It is considered that centre of a galaxy contains more Dark Matter. The researchers say if we detect a planet getting warmer as it comes closer to the centre. We can treat it as a 'smoking gun' for the effect of Dark Matter.</p>


Dark matter is something that has best scientific minds in the world a bit confused. After all, Dark Matter is extremely hard to spot. However, it is considered that most of the matter in the universe is Dark Matter.

Dark matter is something that has best scientific minds in the world a bit confused. After all, Dark Matter is extremely hard to spot. However, it is considered that most of the matter in the universe is Dark Matter. Dark Matter can only be detected through the effect it has on celestial bodies. Now Physicists think that dark matter may be warming core of the planets. Rebecca Leane, a theoretical particle physicist at MIT, and Juri Smirnov, an astroparticle physicist at the Ohio State University (OSU) think that Dark Matter particles are absorbed by planets and due to their gravity, reach the core where they have a warming effect. The researchers have published their study in Physical Review Letters. They propose use of such exoplanets as 'Dark Matter detectors'. The Physicists say that if we see core of a planet for example, having 14 times the mass of Jupiter, heating up from 200 K to 500 K, we can assume it to be because of Dark Matter. Not just any planet would do for this exercise, however. The planet must have cooled off after its birth as fiery mass. This means that it should be several billion years old. In addition, the planet must be sufficiently far from heat of the star around which it revolves. It is considered that centre of a galaxy contains more Dark Matter. The researchers say if we detect a planet getting warmer as it comes closer to the centre. We can treat it as a 'smoking gun' for the effect of Dark Matter.

Dark matter in space may be heating up core of planets

Pope leads Palm Sunday service in Vatican, mass takes place in Jerusalem

<p>Russian ambassador to Egypt said Russia was prepared to offer "any possible assistance" to free the ship stuck in Suez Canal. The ship MV Ever Given has been stuck diagonally in the Suez canal thus blocking the traffic through one of the world's most important waterway.</p>

<p>"We hope that this problem will be overcome in the very near future, that the work of the channel will be restored, and, naturally, we are ready to provide our Egyptian friends with any possible assistance from our side," said Georgy Borisenko, the Russian ambassador. He was speaking Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency.</p>

<p>Borisenko added that Egypt has not reached out to Moscow for support, but said Russia "empathises with what's happening now in the Suez Canal", describing it as "an important waterway for the whole world".</p>

<p>On Saturday, Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie had told reporters that the massive ship could be afloat by Sunday night.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The blockage of Suez Canal is costing shipping companies billions of dollars as they have been forced to operate their ships around Africa adding more days in the travel.</p>

<p>Another Russian ambassador had earlier this week seized on the Suez Canal blockage to promote Russia's northern shipping route as a reliable alternative, part of a broader push by Moscow to develop the Arctic and capitalise on climate change.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moscow has invested heavily in the development of the Northern Sea Route that allows ships to cut the journey to Asian ports by 15 days compared with the conventional route via the Suez Canal.</p>

<p><strong>(With AFP inputs)</strong></p>


Russian ambassador to Egypt said Russia was prepared to offer "any possible assistance" to free the ship stuck in Suez Canal. The ship MV Ever Given has been stuck diagonally in the Suez canal thus blocking the traffic through one of the world's most important waterway.

Russian ambassador to Egypt said Russia was prepared to offer "any possible assistance" to free the ship stuck in Suez Canal. The ship MV Ever Given has been stuck diagonally in the Suez canal thus blocking the traffic through one of the world's most important waterway. "We hope that this problem will be overcome in the very near future, that the work of the channel will be restored, and, naturally, we are ready to provide our Egyptian friends with any possible assistance from our side," said Georgy Borisenko, the Russian ambassador. He was speaking Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency. Borisenko added that Egypt has not reached out to Moscow for support, but said Russia "empathises with what's happening now in the Suez Canal", describing it as "an important waterway for the whole world". On Saturday, Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie had told reporters that the massive ship could be afloat by Sunday night. The blockage of Suez Canal is costing shipping companies billions of dollars as they have been forced to operate their ships around Africa adding more days in the travel. Another Russian ambassador had earlier this week seized on the Suez Canal blockage to promote Russia's northern shipping route as a reliable alternative, part of a broader push by Moscow to develop the Arctic and capitalise on climate change. Moscow has invested heavily in the development of the Northern Sea Route that allows ships to cut the journey to Asian ports by 15 days compared with the conventional route via the Suez Canal. (With AFP inputs)

Russia offers to help Egypt in freeing Suez Canal ship

<p>In an unimaginable act of cruelty, Myanmar security forces on Sunday opened fire at a funeral, witnesses said. This comes just a day after security forces killed 114 protesters. The incident of securitymen firing at funeral took place in the town of Bago near Yangon.</p>

<p>There were no immediate reports of casualties, said Reuters.</p>

<p>"While we are singing the revolution song for him, security forces just arrived and shot at us," said a woman called Aye, who was at the service for Thae Maung Maung, a 20-year-old student who was shot on Saturday. "People, including us, run away as they opened fire."</p>

<p>In a separate firing incident, two people were killed in firing on protests. &nbsp;One person was killed when troops opened fire overnight on a group of protesters near the capital Naypyitaw, Myanmar Now news reported.</p>

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<p>Till Sunday afternoon, there were no reports of large-scale protests in Yangon or Mandalay. These cities saw large number of killings on Saturday. Funerals were held in many places.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-over-100-protesters-killed-by-security-forces-in-single-day-373778">Myanmar: Over 100 protesters killed by security forces in single day</a></strong></p>

<p>At least six children between the ages of 10 and 16 were among those killed on Saturday, according to news reports and witnesses.</p>

<p>The bloodshed drew renewed Western condemnation. The U.N. Special Rapporteur for Myanmar said the army was carrying out "mass murder" and called on the world to isolate the junta and halt its access to weapons.</p>

<p>Foreign criticism and sanctions imposed by some Western nations have failed so far to sway the military leaders, as have almost daily protests around the country since the junta took power and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.</p>

<p>"We salute our heroes who sacrificed lives during this revolution and We Must Win This REVOLUTION," one of the main protest groups, the General Strike Committee of Nationalities (GSCN), posted on Facebook.</p>

<p>Saturday also brought some of the heaviest fighting since the coup between the army and the ethnic armed groups that control swathes of the country.</p>

<p>Military jets had killed at least three people in a raid on a village controlled by an armed group from the Karen minority, a civil society group said on Sunday, after the Karen National Union faction earlier said it had overrun an army post near the Thai border, killing 10 people. The air strikes sent villagers fleeing into the jungle.</p>

<p><strong>(With Reuters&nbsp;inputs)</strong></p>


In an unimaginable act of cruelty, Myanmar security forces on Sunday opened fire at a funeral, witnesses said. This comes just a day after security forces killed 114 protesters.

In an unimaginable act of cruelty, Myanmar security forces on Sunday opened fire at a funeral, witnesses said. This comes just a day after security forces killed 114 protesters. The incident of securitymen firing at funeral took place in the town of Bago near Yangon. There were no immediate reports of casualties, said Reuters. "While we are singing the revolution song for him, security forces just arrived and shot at us," said a woman called Aye, who was at the service for Thae Maung Maung, a 20-year-old student who was shot on Saturday. "People, including us, run away as they opened fire." In a separate firing incident, two people were killed in firing on protests. One person was killed when troops opened fire overnight on a group of protesters near the capital Naypyitaw, Myanmar Now news reported. × Till Sunday afternoon, there were no reports of large-scale protests in Yangon or Mandalay. These cities saw large number of killings on Saturday. Funerals were held in many places. Also Read | Myanmar: Over 100 protesters killed by security forces in single day At least six children between the ages of 10 and 16 were among those killed on Saturday, according to news reports and witnesses. The bloodshed drew renewed Western condemnation. The U.N. Special Rapporteur for Myanmar said the army was carrying out "mass murder" and called on the world to isolate the junta and halt its access to weapons. Foreign criticism and sanctions imposed by some Western nations have failed so far to sway the military leaders, as have almost daily protests around the country since the junta took power and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. "We salute our heroes who sacrificed lives during this revolution and We Must Win This REVOLUTION," one of the main protest groups, the General Strike Committee of Nationalities (GSCN), posted on Facebook. Saturday also brought some of the heaviest fighting since the coup between the army and the ethnic armed groups that control swathes of the country. Military jets had killed at least three people in a raid on a village controlled by an armed group from the Karen minority, a civil society group said on Sunday, after the Karen National Union faction earlier said it had overrun an army post near the Thai border, killing 10 people. The air strikes sent villagers fleeing into the jungle. (With Reuters inputs)

Myanmar: Security forces open fire at a funeral

<p>NASA began water drop tests on its Orion spacecraft that has been selected as a space vehicle for its ambitious Artemis space missions. The tests began at Langley Research Center's Landing and Impact Research Facility in Hampton, Virginia</p>

<p>Engineers began carrying out tests that will yield vital data that will give more idea about what astronauts will go through when they return to Earth after a space mission.</p>

<p>The tests began earlier this week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The @NASA_Orion spacecraft is making a big splash! Engineers at @NASA_Langley began a series of four water impact drop tests to better understand what Orion &amp; its crew may experience when they land in the Pacific Ocean after #Artemis missions to the Moon," tweeted Kathy Lueder, head of NASA's human spaceflight program</p>

<p>These tests may appear to be unimportant to a casual eye but in reality, they are absolutely necessary to ensure safety of the astronauts during 'reentry', the part of the space mission when space capsule with astronauts onboard attempts to land on Earth in oceans. The slightest miscalculation during the re-entry has the potential for the space capsule to explode, instantly killing the astronauts.</p>

<p>NASA suffered such a situation in which astronaut Kalpana Chawla was killed along with her crewmates in the year 2000.</p>

<p><strong>About Orion spacecraft</strong></p>

<p>Orion spacecraft is built to take humans "farther than they've ever gone before", says NASA. Orion spacecraft has been chosen to be a space capsule in Artemis missions, which will see first woman landing on the Moon and humans setting foot on Mars.</p>


NASA began water drop tests on its Orion spacecraft that has been selected as a space vehicle for its ambitious Artemis space missions. The tests began at Langley Research Center's Landing and Impact Research Facility in Hampton, Virginia Engineers began carrying out tests that will yield vital data that will give more idea about what astronauts will go through when they return to Earth after a space mission.

NASA began water drop tests on its Orion spacecraft that has been selected as a space vehicle for its ambitious Artemis space missions. The tests began at Langley Research Center's Landing and Impact Research Facility in Hampton, Virginia Engineers began carrying out tests that will yield vital data that will give more idea about what astronauts will go through when they return to Earth after a space mission. The tests began earlier this week. "The @NASA_Orion spacecraft is making a big splash! Engineers at @NASA_Langley began a series of four water impact drop tests to better understand what Orion & its crew may experience when they land in the Pacific Ocean after #Artemis missions to the Moon," tweeted Kathy Lueder, head of NASA's human spaceflight program These tests may appear to be unimportant to a casual eye but in reality, they are absolutely necessary to ensure safety of the astronauts during 'reentry', the part of the space mission when space capsule with astronauts onboard attempts to land on Earth in oceans. The slightest miscalculation during the re-entry has the potential for the space capsule to explode, instantly killing the astronauts. NASA suffered such a situation in which astronaut Kalpana Chawla was killed along with her crewmates in the year 2000. About Orion spacecraft Orion spacecraft is built to take humans "farther than they've ever gone before", says NASA. Orion spacecraft has been chosen to be a space capsule in Artemis missions, which will see first woman landing on the Moon and humans setting foot on Mars.

NASA begins water drop tests on Orion spacecraft

<p>Authorities in India's western state of Maharashtra imposed night curfews on Sunday to tackle a record surge in COVID-19 cases with the financial capital Mumbai reporting 6,123 new cases, the highest single-day spike since March last year.</p>

<p>"We are seeing a higher COVID positive rate in high-rise residential buildings than in slums...to stop the spread only essential services will be allowed (at night)," said Mumbai Mayor Kishor Pednekar, adding that hotels, pubs and shopping malls must observe the night curfew rules.</p>

<p>Residential areas with five or more reported COVID-19 cases in the city have been ordered to be sealed off.</p>

<p>India recorded 62,714 cases of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the country’s Health Ministry said on Sunday, the highest single-day tally since mid-October last year. With 312 deaths, single-day fatalities were also at their highest since Christmas, according to ministry data.</p>

<p>Several government hospitals reported they were running out of critical-care beds in Mumbai city.</p>

<p>While Maharashtra leads the surge, several other states - Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh - are also seeing a rise in cases.</p>

<p>In parts of the country, especially Delhi and Mumbai, authorities have imposed bans or restrictions on the Hindu festival of Holi and the Muslim "day of forgiveness", Shab-e-Baraat, which are both observed over this weekend.</p>

<p>Holi is usually celebrated with large gatherings in which people smear each other with colour, while Muslim men typically hold large prayer gatherings at mosques on Shab-e-Barat.</p>

<p><strong>ELECTION SEASON</strong></p>

<p>The surge in COVID-19 cases in India comes amid a vital election season, as the eastern state of West Bengal and Assam started voting for state assemblies on Saturday.</p>

<p>The elections will indicate how support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding up after a year of the pandemic and months of mass protests over farm laws his government enacted late last year.</p>

<p>The export of COVID-19 vaccines is facing sharp criticism from many Indians. India is a major producer of vaccines and has supplied 61 million doses to as many as 77 countries as part of both grants and commercial arrangements.</p>

<p>The government said last week it has decided to focus on its domestic vaccination programme and there will be no immediate expansion of vaccine exports.</p>

<p>More than 40 million people have received at least one dose so far, less than 4% of the 1.35 billion population, according to official figures.</p>

<p>"The vaccination drive has to be scaled up massively, and test and trace and isolation protocols have to be strengthened across the country," said S.K. Sinha, a Health Ministry official.</p>


Authorities in India's western state of Maharashtra imposed night curfews on Sunday to tackle a record surge in COVID-19 cases with the financial capital Mumbai reporting 6,123 new cases, the highest single-day spike since March last year.

Authorities in India's western state of Maharashtra imposed night curfews on Sunday to tackle a record surge in COVID-19 cases with the financial capital Mumbai reporting 6,123 new cases, the highest single-day spike since March last year. "We are seeing a higher COVID positive rate in high-rise residential buildings than in slums...to stop the spread only essential services will be allowed (at night)," said Mumbai Mayor Kishor Pednekar, adding that hotels, pubs and shopping malls must observe the night curfew rules. Residential areas with five or more reported COVID-19 cases in the city have been ordered to be sealed off. India recorded 62,714 cases of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the country’s Health Ministry said on Sunday, the highest single-day tally since mid-October last year. With 312 deaths, single-day fatalities were also at their highest since Christmas, according to ministry data. Several government hospitals reported they were running out of critical-care beds in Mumbai city. While Maharashtra leads the surge, several other states - Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh - are also seeing a rise in cases. In parts of the country, especially Delhi and Mumbai, authorities have imposed bans or restrictions on the Hindu festival of Holi and the Muslim "day of forgiveness", Shab-e-Baraat, which are both observed over this weekend. Holi is usually celebrated with large gatherings in which people smear each other with colour, while Muslim men typically hold large prayer gatherings at mosques on Shab-e-Barat. ELECTION SEASON The surge in COVID-19 cases in India comes amid a vital election season, as the eastern state of West Bengal and Assam started voting for state assemblies on Saturday. The elections will indicate how support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding up after a year of the pandemic and months of mass protests over farm laws his government enacted late last year. The export of COVID-19 vaccines is facing sharp criticism from many Indians. India is a major producer of vaccines and has supplied 61 million doses to as many as 77 countries as part of both grants and commercial arrangements. The government said last week it has decided to focus on its domestic vaccination programme and there will be no immediate expansion of vaccine exports. More than 40 million people have received at least one dose so far, less than 4% of the 1.35 billion population, according to official figures. "The vaccination drive has to be scaled up massively, and test and trace and isolation protocols have to be strengthened across the country," said S.K. Sinha, a Health Ministry official.

Maharashtra imposes night curfew after record COVID spike

<p>In a major&nbsp;development, Iran and China have signed '25-year strategic cooperation pact'. This has brought&nbsp;the two US rivals closer to each other. It will be interesting to observe the ramifications of this move on the future of US-Iran nuclear deal.</p>

<p>An AFP correspondent reported that the deal was signed by Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The pact was kept under wraps.</p>

<p>The pact, which was first proposed in January 2016, forms part of Beijing's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, a plan to fund infrastructure projects and increase its sway overseas that has been a flagship project for Chinese President Xi Jinping.</p>

<p>The pact is expected to include Chinese investment in Iran's energy and infrastructure sectors. China is Iran's long time ally. In 2016, China agreed to boost bilateral trade by more than ten times to $600 billion in the next decade.</p>

<p>"We believe this document can be very effective in deepening" Iran-China relations, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said, recalling that the pact had first been proposed during a visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping in January 2016.</p>

<p>Xi and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani agreed then to establish a roadmap for "reciprocal investments in the fields of transport, ports, energy, industry and services."</p>

<p>"Iran's government and people are striving as they always have to broaden relations with trustworthy, independent countries like China," supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said at the time, describing the proposed cooperation agreement as "correct and reasonable".</p>

<p>Xi has championed the Belt and Road Initiative, a plan to fund infrastructure projects and increase China's sway overseas.</p>

<p><strong>'Nothing secret'</strong></p>

<p>In July last year, controversy erupted over the proposed deal after former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad charged that negotiations were being held for a "new, 25-year agreement with a foreign country" without the knowledge of the Iranian people.</p>

<p>The foreign minister was heckled in parliament when he assured lawmakers there was "nothing secret" in the proposed deal, which he promised would be publicly announced "once it has been finalised".</p>

<p>The government has yet to honour that promise and few details have been made public.</p>

<p>Wang's visit to Tehran comes just days after he hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for talks in the Chinese city of Guilin.</p>

<p>The three governments all face difficult relations with Washington after President Joe Biden's administration vowed to remain firm in its dealings with them, despite a renewed emphasis on diplomacy.</p>

<p>China and Russia are both parties to the troubled 2015 nuclear accord with Iran that Biden has said he hopes to revive.</p>

<p>They were both deeply critical of the unilateral sanctions on Iran reimposed by Trump and have backed efforts to revive the agreement.</p>

<p>Biden has said he is not seeking "confrontation" with China, but that there will be intense competition between the rival superpowers.</p>

<p>"I told him (Xi) in person on several occasions we're not looking for confrontation, though we know that there will be steep, steep competition," the US president said.</p>

<p><strong>(With AFP inputs)</strong></p>


In a major development, Iran and China have signed '25-year strategic cooperation pact'. This has brought the two US rivals closer to each other. It will be interesting to observe the ramifications of this move on the future of US-Iran nuclear deal.

In a major development, Iran and China have signed '25-year strategic cooperation pact'. This has brought the two US rivals closer to each other. It will be interesting to observe the ramifications of this move on the future of US-Iran nuclear deal. An AFP correspondent reported that the deal was signed by Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The pact was kept under wraps. The pact, which was first proposed in January 2016, forms part of Beijing's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, a plan to fund infrastructure projects and increase its sway overseas that has been a flagship project for Chinese President Xi Jinping. The pact is expected to include Chinese investment in Iran's energy and infrastructure sectors. China is Iran's long time ally. In 2016, China agreed to boost bilateral trade by more than ten times to $600 billion in the next decade. "We believe this document can be very effective in deepening" Iran-China relations, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said, recalling that the pact had first been proposed during a visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping in January 2016. Xi and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani agreed then to establish a roadmap for "reciprocal investments in the fields of transport, ports, energy, industry and services." "Iran's government and people are striving as they always have to broaden relations with trustworthy, independent countries like China," supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said at the time, describing the proposed cooperation agreement as "correct and reasonable". Xi has championed the Belt and Road Initiative, a plan to fund infrastructure projects and increase China's sway overseas. 'Nothing secret' In July last year, controversy erupted over the proposed deal after former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad charged that negotiations were being held for a "new, 25-year agreement with a foreign country" without the knowledge of the Iranian people. The foreign minister was heckled in parliament when he assured lawmakers there was "nothing secret" in the proposed deal, which he promised would be publicly announced "once it has been finalised". The government has yet to honour that promise and few details have been made public. Wang's visit to Tehran comes just days after he hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for talks in the Chinese city of Guilin. The three governments all face difficult relations with Washington after President Joe Biden's administration vowed to remain firm in its dealings with them, despite a renewed emphasis on diplomacy. China and Russia are both parties to the troubled 2015 nuclear accord with Iran that Biden has said he hopes to revive. They were both deeply critical of the unilateral sanctions on Iran reimposed by Trump and have backed efforts to revive the agreement. Biden has said he is not seeking "confrontation" with China, but that there will be intense competition between the rival superpowers. "I told him (Xi) in person on several occasions we're not looking for confrontation, though we know that there will be steep, steep competition," the US president said. (With AFP inputs)

Iran-China sign '25-year strategic cooperation pact'

<p>The fear of COVID in itself is enough for people to move well beyond the minimum required social distance. The once-in-a-generation pandemic has had the world in its clutches for more than a year now. There are now vaccines available ofcourse. But the scare remains.</p>

<p>But what if we told that there is a microbe that is invisible to our immune system? In theory, if these microbes entered our body, the immune system will not be able to mount a defence.</p>

<p>Scared yet?</p>

<p>Researchers associated with Harvard Medical School and other institutions have collected sea microbes that exhibit 'immunosilence'. The findings have challenged the notion in Immunovbiology that human immune system has evolved to detect every micro-organism with a view to protect us.</p>

<p>The microbes were collected from a mile below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. For this, the scientists chose a spot in central Pacific Ocean in Phoenix Islands in Kiribati, 1650 miles (2655 kilometers) from Hawaii. One of the authors of the study has been quoted in media as saying that it was "most deep, ancient, remote, and protected part" of the ocean.</p>

<p>The researchers collected the bacteria and added human and mouse immune cells to the culture. It was found that 80 per cent of the microbes (prominently Moritella) escaped detection.</p>

<p>This has led scientists involved in the study to exclaim that immune system may be "locally defined" by pathogens in the local environment.</p>

<p>In spite of the spooky findings of the bacteria being invisible to human immune system, those observed in the study don't pose risk of infecting people, said the scientists.</p>

<p>They have published their findings in the journal Science Immunology.</p>


The fear of COVID in itself is enough for people to move well beyond the minimum required social distance. The once-in-a-generation pandemic has had the world in its clutches for more than a year now.

The fear of COVID in itself is enough for people to move well beyond the minimum required social distance. The once-in-a-generation pandemic has had the world in its clutches for more than a year now. There are now vaccines available ofcourse. But the scare remains. But what if we told that there is a microbe that is invisible to our immune system? In theory, if these microbes entered our body, the immune system will not be able to mount a defence. Scared yet? Researchers associated with Harvard Medical School and other institutions have collected sea microbes that exhibit 'immunosilence'. The findings have challenged the notion in Immunovbiology that human immune system has evolved to detect every micro-organism with a view to protect us. The microbes were collected from a mile below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. For this, the scientists chose a spot in central Pacific Ocean in Phoenix Islands in Kiribati, 1650 miles (2655 kilometers) from Hawaii. One of the authors of the study has been quoted in media as saying that it was "most deep, ancient, remote, and protected part" of the ocean. The researchers collected the bacteria and added human and mouse immune cells to the culture. It was found that 80 per cent of the microbes (prominently Moritella) escaped detection. This has led scientists involved in the study to exclaim that immune system may be "locally defined" by pathogens in the local environment. In spite of the spooky findings of the bacteria being invisible to human immune system, those observed in the study don't pose risk of infecting people, said the scientists. They have published their findings in the journal Science Immunology.

You think COVID virus is bad? There's a sea microbe that's invisible to our immune system

<p>Images from Mars are aplenty these days. And it's not a surprise as NASA has landed a Perseverance rover on the surface of the Red Planet. But NASA has more eyes on Mars. In addition to 'boots on ground', so to speak, NASA's 'Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter' (MRO) is currently in orbit around Mars.</p>

<p>The MRO has sent a brilliant image of Mars's frosty dunes. NASA has posted the picture on Instagram.</p>

<p>"...Our Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) beamed back another striking image taken on the Red Planet captured by our powerful HiRISE camera, this time showing the stunning image of frosty sand dunes. The field of sand dunes occupies a crater that stretches for 5 kilometers, found in the high-latitudes of Mars’ northern plains. The stripes and other features are the result of sublimated ice that comes with the ‘seasonal thaw." says NASA in its Instagram post. The post is heading fast towards 1 million likes.</p>

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<p>The image has been clicked by the MRO using HiRise, a camera it has on board.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter keeps an eye on Mars' geology and climate. It provides valuable information that can come in handy to decide about future landings on Mars. MRO was launched in the year 2006 and was placed in orbit around Mars in 2015.</p>


Images from Mars are aplenty these days. And it's not a surprise as NASA has landed a Perseverance rover on the surface of the Red Planet. But NASA has more eyes on Mars.

Images from Mars are aplenty these days. And it's not a surprise as NASA has landed a Perseverance rover on the surface of the Red Planet. But NASA has more eyes on Mars. In addition to 'boots on ground', so to speak, NASA's 'Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter' (MRO) is currently in orbit around Mars. The MRO has sent a brilliant image of Mars's frosty dunes. NASA has posted the picture on Instagram. "...Our Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) beamed back another striking image taken on the Red Planet captured by our powerful HiRISE camera, this time showing the stunning image of frosty sand dunes. The field of sand dunes occupies a crater that stretches for 5 kilometers, found in the high-latitudes of Mars’ northern plains. The stripes and other features are the result of sublimated ice that comes with the ‘seasonal thaw." says NASA in its Instagram post. The post is heading fast towards 1 million likes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × The image has been clicked by the MRO using HiRise, a camera it has on board. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter keeps an eye on Mars' geology and climate. It provides valuable information that can come in handy to decide about future landings on Mars. MRO was launched in the year 2006 and was placed in orbit around Mars in 2015.

NASA posts brilliant image of frosty sand dunes on Mars

<p>Positive news came from Suez canal on Saturday as the Dutch salvage firm said that the stuck ship will be freed from the canal bed early next week. Billions of dollars are at stake as shipping through Suez canal, a vital sea-route between East and West has stopped due the ship. Shipping companies have been forced to re-route traffic around the southern tip of Africa.</p>

<p>The president of Shoei Kisen -- the Japanese firm which owns the giant container vessel sounded more optimistic as he said that the vessel will be freed on Saturday itself.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Egypt's Suez Canal Authority chief has said that strong wind was not the main reason for grounding of the ship</p>

<p>"Strong winds and weather factors were not the main reasons for the ship's grounding, there may have been technical or human errors," Osama Rabie said at a press conference in Suez.</p>

<p>Billions of dollars of cargo are now stalled at either end of the vital shipping lane between Asia and Europe, with their owners mulling whether to wait it out or take the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope at the cost of up to 12 additional days at sea.</p>

<p>The MV Ever Given, which is longer than four football fields, has been wedged diagonally across the span of the canal since Tuesday, blocking the waterway in both directions.</p>

<p>At a press conference in Japan Friday, Shoei Kisen president Yukito Higaki told local media there were no signs of damage to its engines and various instruments.</p>

<p>"The ship is not taking water. There is no problem with its rudders and propellers. Once it refloats, it should be able to operate," Higaki said, according to the Asahi Shimbun.</p>

<p>The company aims to free the ship "tomorrow night Japan time", he added, the Nikkei news agency said.</p>

<p>"We are continuing work to remove sediment as of now, with additional dredging tools."</p>

<p>In the Netherlands, the executive director of Royal Boskalis, parent company of Smit Salvage, set a less demanding target.</p>

<p>"With the ships we'll have in place by then, the earth we've managed to dredge, and the high tide, let's hope that'll be enough to budge the ship at the start of next week," Peter Berdowski told a public television chat-show late Friday.</p>

<p>"We are already in the process of installing a crane on land. That will allow us to eventually remove all the containers from the foredeck, which could involve hundreds of containers."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The blockage has caused a huge traffic jam of more than 200 ships at both ends of the 193-kilometre (120-mile) long canal and major delays in the delivery of oil and other products.</p>

<p><strong>(With AFP inputs)</strong></p>


Positive news came from Suez canal on Saturday as the Dutch salvage firm said that the stuck ship will be freed from the canal bed early next week. Billions of dollars are at stake as shipping through Suez canal, a vital sea-route between East and West has stopped due the ship.

Positive news came from Suez canal on Saturday as the Dutch salvage firm said that the stuck ship will be freed from the canal bed early next week. Billions of dollars are at stake as shipping through Suez canal, a vital sea-route between East and West has stopped due the ship. Shipping companies have been forced to re-route traffic around the southern tip of Africa. The president of Shoei Kisen -- the Japanese firm which owns the giant container vessel sounded more optimistic as he said that the vessel will be freed on Saturday itself. Meanwhile, Egypt's Suez Canal Authority chief has said that strong wind was not the main reason for grounding of the ship "Strong winds and weather factors were not the main reasons for the ship's grounding, there may have been technical or human errors," Osama Rabie said at a press conference in Suez. Billions of dollars of cargo are now stalled at either end of the vital shipping lane between Asia and Europe, with their owners mulling whether to wait it out or take the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope at the cost of up to 12 additional days at sea. The MV Ever Given, which is longer than four football fields, has been wedged diagonally across the span of the canal since Tuesday, blocking the waterway in both directions. At a press conference in Japan Friday, Shoei Kisen president Yukito Higaki told local media there were no signs of damage to its engines and various instruments. "The ship is not taking water. There is no problem with its rudders and propellers. Once it refloats, it should be able to operate," Higaki said, according to the Asahi Shimbun. The company aims to free the ship "tomorrow night Japan time", he added, the Nikkei news agency said. "We are continuing work to remove sediment as of now, with additional dredging tools." In the Netherlands, the executive director of Royal Boskalis, parent company of Smit Salvage, set a less demanding target. "With the ships we'll have in place by then, the earth we've managed to dredge, and the high tide, let's hope that'll be enough to budge the ship at the start of next week," Peter Berdowski told a public television chat-show late Friday. "We are already in the process of installing a crane on land. That will allow us to eventually remove all the containers from the foredeck, which could involve hundreds of containers." The blockage has caused a huge traffic jam of more than 200 ships at both ends of the 193-kilometre (120-mile) long canal and major delays in the delivery of oil and other products. (With AFP inputs)

Suez canal blockage: Ship may be freed early next week, says salvage firm

<p>Supporters of gun control lashed out at President Joe Biden on Friday for suggesting a day earlier that gun legislation would not be his next priority even after two mass shootings in a week.</p>

<p>Biden initially said Tuesday that he did not need to “wait another minute” to address the epidemic of gun violence, calling on the Senate to pass a ban on assault weapons and to close background check loopholes.</p>

<p>But on Thursday, at the first formal news conference of his presidency, Biden left gun control proponents dumbstruck and disappointed when he said the key to legislative success was ordering priorities, and that infrastructure — not guns — was next on his list.</p>

<p>“I’m disappointed he has the nerve and audacity to say he’s going to do things in sequential order,” said Maisha Fields, the vice president of organizing for Brady: United Against Gun Violence, a nonprofit group. “It’s out of order to have to bury your child. It’s out of order to be shopping for eggs and to have your life disrupted.”</p>

<p>At his news conference, Biden was asked specifically about his plans for promoting gun legislation or using executive actions on the issue. In response, he pivoted to a lengthy explanation of why infrastructure was a bigger priority for him.</p>

<p>To some, the response was a pragmatic approach by a president dealing with crises on multiple fronts and a blockade of opposition by Republicans to any gun control measures.</p>

<p>But gun control supporters said they were appalled by his shift in tone from a year ago, when Biden said on the campaign trail that “every day that we do nothing in response, it is an insult to the innumerable lives across this nation that have been forever shattered by gun violence.”</p>

<p>During the campaign, Biden also promised on his first day in office to send a bill to Congress that would repeal liability protections for gun manufacturers and close background-check loopholes. He has not done so yet, 65 days into his term.</p>

<p>“I was very frustrated that he pivoted to infrastructure week,” said Igor Volsky, the founder of Gun Down America. That the administration has not approached gun legislation with the same intensity that it brought to its $1.9 trillion pandemic rescue plan — which passed with no Republican support — only added to his frustration, he said.</p>

<p>“We saw what they can do when they hit the gas pedal,” Volsky said. “They got it across despite unanimous opposition. That’s the kind of leadership we need to see on this issue.”</p>

<p>The House passed two gun control bills this month but they are languishing in the Senate in the face of Republican opposition and the chamber’s 60-vote threshold for passing most legislation.</p>

<p>“This crisis is beyond any other crisis we’ve seen,” said Greg Jackson, the national advocacy director for the Community Justice Action Fund, a group focused on gun violence in communities of color.</p>

<p>After the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six adults were murdered, President Barack Obama vowed to press Congress to ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, expand background checks and toughen gun-trafficking laws. He has described his failure to pass any legislation as one of his biggest regrets.</p>

<p>In 2019, President Donald Trump briefly said he would push for what he described as “very meaningful background checks,” after a pair of deadly mass shootings in Texas and Ohio. But after discussions with officials from the National Rifle Association, he reversed himself, saying that he was concerned with protecting the Second Amendment and that the country had “very strong background checks right now.”</p>

<p>Notably absent from the public chorus of disapproval Friday was Everytown for Gun Safety, one of the most influential gun violence prevention organizations in the country. While John Feinblatt, the group’s president, has been encouraging Biden to act immediately, he has so far not openly criticized him for a delay.</p>

<p>A spokeswoman for Everytown, Stacey Radnor, said the group was continuing to work closely with the White House to carry out executive actions and pressure Congress to act.</p>

<p>Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said at a news briefing Friday that Biden understood the frustration among gun control proponents. But, she added, that “frustration should be vented at the members of the House and Senate who voted against the measures the president supports, and we’d certainly support their advocacy in that regard.”</p>

<p>Po Murray, chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance, said the administration’s “inconsistent” messaging was a problem.</p>

<p>“We’re trying to figure out what’s happening here,” she said. “We pushed for it, we supported him, we expected a better response after the election.”</p>

<p>The administration has been working on three executive actions on guns but has yet to roll them out.</p>

<p>One would classify so-called ghost guns — kits that allow a gun to be assembled from pieces — as firearms, which would require their sales to be subject to background checks. Another would fund community violence intervention programs, and the third would strengthen the background checks system, according to congressional aides familiar with the conversations.</p>

<p>Psaki declined to provide a timetable for any executive actions.</p>

<p>Some gun control supporters also said they wanted to see a more senior official at the White House overseeing the issue. Susan Rice, the director of Biden’s Domestic Policy Council, has been serving as the internal point person on efforts addressing gun violence. But Obama put his vice president, Biden, in charge of the issue after the Sandy Hook shootings.</p>

<p>Murray said she had the perfect figure in mind to serve as Biden’s point person on the issue.</p>

<p>“We’ll take Barack Obama,” she said.</p>


Supporters of gun control lashed out at President Joe Biden on Friday for suggesting a day earlier that gun legislation would not be his next priority even after two mass shootings in a week.

Supporters of gun control lashed out at President Joe Biden on Friday for suggesting a day earlier that gun legislation would not be his next priority even after two mass shootings in a week. Biden initially said Tuesday that he did not need to “wait another minute” to address the epidemic of gun violence, calling on the Senate to pass a ban on assault weapons and to close background check loopholes. But on Thursday, at the first formal news conference of his presidency, Biden left gun control proponents dumbstruck and disappointed when he said the key to legislative success was ordering priorities, and that infrastructure — not guns — was next on his list. “I’m disappointed he has the nerve and audacity to say he’s going to do things in sequential order,” said Maisha Fields, the vice president of organizing for Brady: United Against Gun Violence, a nonprofit group. “It’s out of order to have to bury your child. It’s out of order to be shopping for eggs and to have your life disrupted.” At his news conference, Biden was asked specifically about his plans for promoting gun legislation or using executive actions on the issue. In response, he pivoted to a lengthy explanation of why infrastructure was a bigger priority for him. To some, the response was a pragmatic approach by a president dealing with crises on multiple fronts and a blockade of opposition by Republicans to any gun control measures. But gun control supporters said they were appalled by his shift in tone from a year ago, when Biden said on the campaign trail that “every day that we do nothing in response, it is an insult to the innumerable lives across this nation that have been forever shattered by gun violence.” During the campaign, Biden also promised on his first day in office to send a bill to Congress that would repeal liability protections for gun manufacturers and close background-check loopholes. He has not done so yet, 65 days into his term. “I was very frustrated that he pivoted to infrastructure week,” said Igor Volsky, the founder of Gun Down America. That the administration has not approached gun legislation with the same intensity that it brought to its $1.9 trillion pandemic rescue plan — which passed with no Republican support — only added to his frustration, he said. “We saw what they can do when they hit the gas pedal,” Volsky said. “They got it across despite unanimous opposition. That’s the kind of leadership we need to see on this issue.” The House passed two gun control bills this month but they are languishing in the Senate in the face of Republican opposition and the chamber’s 60-vote threshold for passing most legislation. “This crisis is beyond any other crisis we’ve seen,” said Greg Jackson, the national advocacy director for the Community Justice Action Fund, a group focused on gun violence in communities of color. After the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six adults were murdered, President Barack Obama vowed to press Congress to ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, expand background checks and toughen gun-trafficking laws. He has described his failure to pass any legislation as one of his biggest regrets. In 2019, President Donald Trump briefly said he would push for what he described as “very meaningful background checks,” after a pair of deadly mass shootings in Texas and Ohio. But after discussions with officials from the National Rifle Association, he reversed himself, saying that he was concerned with protecting the Second Amendment and that the country had “very strong background checks right now.” Notably absent from the public chorus of disapproval Friday was Everytown for Gun Safety, one of the most influential gun violence prevention organizations in the country. While John Feinblatt, the group’s president, has been encouraging Biden to act immediately, he has so far not openly criticized him for a delay. A spokeswoman for Everytown, Stacey Radnor, said the group was continuing to work closely with the White House to carry out executive actions and pressure Congress to act. Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said at a news briefing Friday that Biden understood the frustration among gun control proponents. But, she added, that “frustration should be vented at the members of the House and Senate who voted against the measures the president supports, and we’d certainly support their advocacy in that regard.” Po Murray, chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance, said the administration’s “inconsistent” messaging was a problem. “We’re trying to figure out what’s happening here,” she said. “We pushed for it, we supported him, we expected a better response after the election.” The administration has been working on three executive actions on guns but has yet to roll them out. One would classify so-called ghost guns — kits that allow a gun to be assembled from pieces — as firearms, which would require their sales to be subject to background checks. Another would fund community violence intervention programs, and the third would strengthen the background checks system, according to congressional aides familiar with the conversations. Psaki declined to provide a timetable for any executive actions. Some gun control supporters also said they wanted to see a more senior official at the White House overseeing the issue. Susan Rice, the director of Biden’s Domestic Policy Council, has been serving as the internal point person on efforts addressing gun violence. But Obama put his vice president, Biden, in charge of the issue after the Sandy Hook shootings. Murray said she had the perfect figure in mind to serve as Biden’s point person on the issue. “We’ll take Barack Obama,” she said.

Supporters of gun control assail Biden over delay on action

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