The under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya will be strong enough to withstand earthquakes or even if the Saryu river changes course.

All technical experts including IIT engineers are busy brainstorming to boost the temple construction, which is said to be 1,000 years old. Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, told IANS on Wednesday that all the homework is being done for the construction of the temple.

As Ayodhya is situated on the banks of Saryu river, when the remains of the temple were excavated, crumbly sand emerged creating a challenge for laying the foundation. Asked about this, Rai said, "This challenge has been accepted by the Indian engineers. The river has a bank and the river may change course. Earthquakes may occur in the future. Below is the crumbly sand. Taking all these things seriously, experts are preparing for strong construction."

Rai said, "Sand has been found up to 60 metres below the proposed site for construction of the temple. We have also asked for photos from ISRO. It has been revealed that Saryu river has changed direction five times. The river may change direction in the next 500 years also. The temple construction committee is taking all these things into account."

Rai said, "There was brainstorming of experts on this subject. It has been decided that the way a dam wall is built, that method should be adopted for the construction of the temple foundation."

"Engineers at IIT-Bombay, Delhi, Chennai, and Guwahati, experts from Larsen &amp; Toubro and Tata are working on drawing up a strong foundation for the temple. We expect the foundation to be built in the next 2-3 days. The map will also be ready."

The Ram temple will be constructed with stones. The height of each floor will be 20 feet, length 360 feet and width 235 feet. The construction work is under the supervision of Nripendra Mishra, former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rai, who is also vice-president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, told IANS that a grand Ram temple would be completed in Ayodhya in the next three years. The map of the temple will be wider than the old map, because now more land is available.

The under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya will be strong enough to withstand earthquakes or even if the Saryu river changes course. All technical experts including IIT engineers are busy brainstorming to boost the temple construction, which is said to be 1,000 years old.

The under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya will be strong enough to withstand earthquakes or even if the Saryu river changes course. All technical experts including IIT engineers are busy brainstorming to boost the temple construction, which is said to be 1,000 years old. Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, told IANS on Wednesday that all the homework is being done for the construction of the temple. As Ayodhya is situated on the banks of Saryu river, when the remains of the temple were excavated, crumbly sand emerged creating a challenge for laying the foundation. Asked about this, Rai said, "This challenge has been accepted by the Indian engineers. The river has a bank and the river may change course. Earthquakes may occur in the future. Below is the crumbly sand. Taking all these things seriously, experts are preparing for strong construction." Rai said, "Sand has been found up to 60 metres below the proposed site for construction of the temple. We have also asked for photos from ISRO. It has been revealed that Saryu river has changed direction five times. The river may change direction in the next 500 years also. The temple construction committee is taking all these things into account." Rai said, "There was brainstorming of experts on this subject. It has been decided that the way a dam wall is built, that method should be adopted for the construction of the temple foundation." "Engineers at IIT-Bombay, Delhi, Chennai, and Guwahati, experts from Larsen & Toubro and Tata are working on drawing up a strong foundation for the temple. We expect the foundation to be built in the next 2-3 days. The map will also be ready." The Ram temple will be constructed with stones. The height of each floor will be 20 feet, length 360 feet and width 235 feet. The construction work is under the supervision of Nripendra Mishra, former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rai, who is also vice-president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, told IANS that a grand Ram temple would be completed in Ayodhya in the next three years. The map of the temple will be wider than the old map, because now more land is available.

'Ram temple to be built to withstand quakes, even if Saryu changes course'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at US sanctions over Turkey's purchase of Russian missile systems. Erdogan called this an attack on Turkey's sovereignty. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's civil servants took a pledge of loyalty to the government. Brexit trade deal talks are at a crucial stage. Read this and more in our top 10 world news.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-over-russian-defence-system-open-attack-against-sovereignty-says-erdogan-350218">US sanctions over Russian defence system 'open attack against sovereignty', says Erdogan</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-over-russian-defence-system-open-attack-against-sovereignty-says-erdogan-350218"><img alt="Erdogan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0aebdb05-1a0e-4364-9450-93287c15e1b9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Erdogan.JPG" /></a> 
Erdogan hit back on after the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian ground-to-air defences and targeted the top Turkish defence development body, its president, and three employees

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/intense-talks-on-a-post-brexit-trade-deal-continue-eu-chief-says-next-days-decisive-350154">Intense talks on a post-Brexit trade deal continue, EU chief says 'next days decisive'</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/intense-talks-on-a-post-brexit-trade-deal-continue-eu-chief-says-next-days-decisive-350154"><img alt="Brexit deal" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b5953b75-3008-4eca-83ca-08e56c961526" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Brexit_3.JPG" /></a> 
British and European negotiators have made little progress towards agreeing fair trade rules but are still far apart on access to fishing, she said as intense talks on a post-Brexit trade deal continued nearby in Brussels.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-hong-kong-civil-servants-made-to-pledge-loyalty-to-government-350244">Now, Hong Kong civil servants made to pledge loyalty to government</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-hong-kong-civil-servants-made-to-pledge-loyalty-to-government-350244"><img alt="Hong Kong" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="65981041-95e9-4569-84d4-a9e5a6173e7f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Hong%20Kong_0.JPG" /></a> 
Several hundred thousand civil servants are expected to take the oath in the coming weeks, reports say.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-rouhani-says-he-is-happy-that-lawless-terrorist-trump-is-leaving-office-350162">Iran's Rouhani says he is happy that 'lawless terrorist' Trump is leaving office</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-rouhani-says-he-is-happy-that-lawless-terrorist-trump-is-leaving-office-350162"><img alt="Iran" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="264b9198-0228-440a-bf8a-c912d37e4327" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Rouhani.JPG" /></a> 
 
President-elect Joe Biden, who defeated Trump at the ballot box in November, has signalled a willingness to return to diplomacy with Iran after four tense years under the outgoing president.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-records-highest-covid-19-death-toll-on-first-day-of-partial-lockdown-350210">Germany records highest COVID-19 death toll on first day of partial lockdown</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-records-highest-covid-19-death-toll-on-first-day-of-partial-lockdown-350210"><img alt="Germany lockdown" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fffb39df-4cd0-403c-97ab-a877e10157a9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Germany_0.JPG" /></a> 
The World Health Organization(WHO) has declared that there is a "high risk" of virus resurgence in Europe in early 2021.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-invokes-emergency-to-stop-by-elections-as-covid-19-cases-rise-350158">Malaysia invokes emergency to stop by-elections as COVID-19 cases rise</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-invokes-emergency-to-stop-by-elections-as-covid-19-cases-rise-350158"><img alt="Malaysia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0cb99035-4ffb-4002-b9a9-69b9d331acbc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Malaysia.JPG" /></a> 
 
The Southeast Asian nation has seen a sharp jump in cases since September, with the total number of infections climbing above 86,000 and with 422 deaths as of Tuesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jeff-bezos-ex-wife-mackenzie-scott-donates-42-billion-in-four-months-350207">Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott donates $4.2 billion in four months</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jeff-bezos-ex-wife-mackenzie-scott-donates-42-billion-in-four-months-350207"><img alt="Jeff Bezos" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9188af44-6f23-40c5-b95a-2d4f31c9d138" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Bezos_0.JPG" /></a> 
 
In a round of donations early this year, Scott gave nearly $1.7 billion to groups devoted to race, gender and economic equality, as well as other social causes

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-health-organization-experts-to-visit-china-next-month-to-investigate-animal-origins-of-coronavirus-350234">World Health Organization experts to visit China next month to investigate animal origins of coronavirus</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-health-organization-experts-to-visit-china-next-month-to-investigate-animal-origins-of-coronavirus-350234"><img alt="WHO" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3281791b-e147-484e-a5d8-50602653f1b1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Coronavirus_0.JPG" /></a> 
Amid the rising number of cases, the WHO said that, "There is a high risk of further resurgence in the first weeks and months of 2021."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-pharmaceutical-company-fosun-pharma-to-buy-100-million-doses-of-biontechs-covid-19-vaccine-350176">Chinese pharmaceutical company Fosun Pharma to buy 100 million doses of BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-pharmaceutical-company-fosun-pharma-to-buy-100-million-doses-of-biontechs-covid-19-vaccine-350176"><img alt="Vaccine" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="40d9255a-eb34-410a-a5cd-bb76f1e62e69" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/VACCINE.JPG" /></a> 
Pfizer and BioNTech's mRNA vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in countries such as the US, the UK, and Singapore

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/snakes-are-lurking-on-australias-foam-filled-beaches-now-350220">Snakes are lurking on Australia's foam-filled beaches now</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/snakes-are-lurking-on-australias-foam-filled-beaches-now-350220"><img alt="Snakes" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5df1b68e-091d-4e2b-80e2-c0dbbef0c651" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Snakes.JPG" /></a> 
 
This means that you won't know what's around your feet as you enter water or even roam the beach

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at US sanctions over Turkey's purchase of Russian missile systems. Erdogan called this an attack on Turkey's sovereignty.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at US sanctions over Turkey's purchase of Russian missile systems. Erdogan called this an attack on Turkey's sovereignty. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's civil servants took a pledge of loyalty to the government. Brexit trade deal talks are at a crucial stage. Read this and more in our top 10 world news. US sanctions over Russian defence system 'open attack against sovereignty', says Erdogan Erdogan hit back on after the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian ground-to-air defences and targeted the top Turkish defence development body, its president, and three employees Intense talks on a post-Brexit trade deal continue, EU chief says 'next days decisive' British and European negotiators have made little progress towards agreeing fair trade rules but are still far apart on access to fishing, she said as intense talks on a post-Brexit trade deal continued nearby in Brussels. Now, Hong Kong civil servants made to pledge loyalty to government Several hundred thousand civil servants are expected to take the oath in the coming weeks, reports say. Iran's Rouhani says he is happy that 'lawless terrorist' Trump is leaving office President-elect Joe Biden, who defeated Trump at the ballot box in November, has signalled a willingness to return to diplomacy with Iran after four tense years under the outgoing president. Germany records highest COVID-19 death toll on first day of partial lockdown The World Health Organization(WHO) has declared that there is a "high risk" of virus resurgence in Europe in early 2021. Malaysia invokes emergency to stop by-elections as COVID-19 cases rise The Southeast Asian nation has seen a sharp jump in cases since September, with the total number of infections climbing above 86,000 and with 422 deaths as of Tuesday. Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott donates $4.2 billion in four months In a round of donations early this year, Scott gave nearly $1.7 billion to groups devoted to race, gender and economic equality, as well as other social causes World Health Organization experts to visit China next month to investigate animal origins of coronavirus Amid the rising number of cases, the WHO said that, "There is a high risk of further resurgence in the first weeks and months of 2021." Chinese pharmaceutical company Fosun Pharma to buy 100 million doses of BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer and BioNTech's mRNA vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in countries such as the US, the UK, and Singapore Snakes are lurking on Australia's foam-filled beaches now This means that you won't know what's around your feet as you enter water or even roam the beach

Top 10 world news: Turkey slams US, Hong Kong's loyalty pledge, more 

Australia is a wonderful and bizarre place. The continent is filled with creatures and scary insects unique to it. And many of them are not as meek-looking as Kangaroos. Social media is rife with images of giant spiders and whatnot that scare the hell out of people not from the Land Down Under.

Now tourists will have to keep another advisory in mind as they go to Australia. Because sea-snakes are lurking in the waters of northern New South Wales beaches.

And to make matters worse, the beaches and the sea are covered in dense foam that has formed due to storms. The storms have made sure that the seawater mixes and churns with algae, salts, pollutants and fats to form this foam that has covered the surface of water.

This means that you won't know what's around your feet as you enter water or even roam on the beach.

Want know how scary that could be? Watch video in the tweet below. A dog was lost in the sea foam and was rescued.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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A dog has been rescued from sea foam churned up along <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Australia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Australia</a>’s east coast, as storms batter the country. <a href="https://t.co/J4UiZnxS2F">https://t.co/J4UiZnxS2F</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mloz4C1dHt">pic.twitter.com/Mloz4C1dHt</a>
— Atlantide (@Atlantide4world) <a href="https://twitter.com/Atlantide4world/status/1338660587321094144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The authorities have warned people to stay off these beaches and avoid swimming.

Just to drive home the point that Australia is indeed land for the tough, we leave you with this tweet.

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I have sprayed the outdoor and indoor areas of my house with spider stuff.... Twice in the last two months. 
 
There is a big black spider under my cats water bowl like: 
 
϶o 
 
How did you survive, pleb? No matter. I need to go get more spray. 
 
Australia is scary af dude. <a href="https://t.co/E6NPG7r8UX">pic.twitter.com/E6NPG7r8UX</a>
— notreya (@notreya_) <a href="https://twitter.com/notreya_/status/1225242913547776000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Australia is a wonderful and bizarre place. The continent is filled with creatures and scary insects unique to it. And many of them are not as meek-looking as Kangaroos.

Australia is a wonderful and bizarre place. The continent is filled with creatures and scary insects unique to it. And many of them are not as meek-looking as Kangaroos. Social media is rife with images of giant spiders and whatnot that scare the hell out of people not from the Land Down Under. Now tourists will have to keep another advisory in mind as they go to Australia. Because sea-snakes are lurking in the waters of northern New South Wales beaches. And to make matters worse, the beaches and the sea are covered in dense foam that has formed due to storms. The storms have made sure that the seawater mixes and churns with algae, salts, pollutants and fats to form this foam that has covered the surface of water. This means that you won't know what's around your feet as you enter water or even roam on the beach. Want know how scary that could be? Watch video in the tweet below. A dog was lost in the sea foam and was rescued. A dog has been rescued from sea foam churned up along #Australia’s east coast, as storms batter the country. https://t.co/J4UiZnxS2F pic.twitter.com/Mloz4C1dHt — Atlantide (@Atlantide4world) December 15, 2020 × The authorities have warned people to stay off these beaches and avoid swimming. Just to drive home the point that Australia is indeed land for the tough, we leave you with this tweet. I have sprayed the outdoor and indoor areas of my house with spider stuff.... Twice in the last two months. There is a big black spider under my cats water bowl like: ϶o How did you survive, pleb? No matter. I need to go get more spray. Australia is scary af dude. pic.twitter.com/E6NPG7r8UX — notreya (@notreya_) February 6, 2020 ×

Snakes are lurking on Australia's foam-filled beaches now

Coronavirus lockdown was hard on everyone. Some found ways to spend the period constructively but there are few who took it to another level. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri from Tamil Nadu is one of those few. The girl learnt how to cook during the lockdown and now has made a world record.

She cooked 46 dishes in 58 minutes on Tuesday (December 15) to earn a place in UNICO Book of World Records.

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Tamil Nadu: A girl entered UNICO Book Of World Records by cooking 46 dishes in 58 minutes in Chennai yesterday. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri said, "I learnt cooking from my mother. I am very happy". <a href="https://t.co/AmZ60HWvYX">pic.twitter.com/AmZ60HWvYX</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1338980785139769346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Lakshmi's mother said that she taught her to cook during the lockdown and she did really well. Looking at her daughter's progress and interest in cooking, her father suggested that Lakshmi should try to set a record.

As per her father's information, previous such record was held by a 10-year-old girl from Kerala who had cooked 30 dishes in under an hour.

As she cooked 46 dishes in 58 minutes, Lakshmi broke the previous record and set a new one. 
&nbsp;

Coronavirus lockdown was hard on everyone. Some found ways to spend the period constructively but there are few who took it to another level. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri from Tamil Nadu is one of those few.

Coronavirus lockdown was hard on everyone. Some found ways to spend the period constructively but there are few who took it to another level. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri from Tamil Nadu is one of those few. The girl learnt how to cook during the lockdown and now has made a world record. She cooked 46 dishes in 58 minutes on Tuesday (December 15) to earn a place in UNICO Book of World Records. Tamil Nadu: A girl entered UNICO Book Of World Records by cooking 46 dishes in 58 minutes in Chennai yesterday. SN Lakshmi Sai Sri said, "I learnt cooking from my mother. I am very happy". pic.twitter.com/AmZ60HWvYX — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2020 × Lakshmi's mother said that she taught her to cook during the lockdown and she did really well. Looking at her daughter's progress and interest in cooking, her father suggested that Lakshmi should try to set a record. As per her father's information, previous such record was held by a 10-year-old girl from Kerala who had cooked 30 dishes in under an hour. As she cooked 46 dishes in 58 minutes, Lakshmi broke the previous record and set a new one.

Indian girl who learnt to cook during lockdown makes cooking world record

1971 war anniversary: PM Modi lights 'Swarnim Vijay Mashal'

Fijians living in the path of an approaching super cyclone Yasa were told to stay put inside their homes or immediately seek adequate shelter on Wednesday. The authorities have warned that the storm has the potential to destroy buildings and cause mass destruction.&nbsp;

The Fiji Meteorological Service said Cyclone Yasa had intensified to top-of-the scale Category Five storm the winds are expected to gust upto 280 kilometres per hour (174 miles per hour). Fiji's National Disaster Management Office said tow-thirds of Fiji's population of 900,000 is in the cyclone's path. Cyclone Yasa is expected to hit Fiji on Thursday.

National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko urged anyone who doubted their home's structural integrity to prioritise survival over protecting their property and escape right away.

"If you need to move to an evacuation centre, we are pleading that you move before it gets dark," Soko said.

"If you know that your house cannot survive strong winds, let alone the cat five cyclone that is on the way, please take yourselves, your children and your valuables to the evacuation centre."

Soko said Cyclone Yasa was likely to have a larger impact than Cyclone Harold in April this year, another Category Five storm that gouged a trail of destruction across the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga.

In Fijian capital Suva, residents were boarding up their windows and storefronts

Fiji's military is on alert in order to carry out swift rescue and salvage efforts.

Category Five cyclones were once rare but have now become much common in Fiji.

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama among those blaming the trend on climate change.

"We can see the eye (of Cyclone Yasa) and the area that's of concern -- it's not just part of Fiji like Harold, it's the whole of Fiji," Soko said.

"It's strong enough to uproot trees. It's strong enough to uproot buildings that are not well secured. It can also create a lot of flying debris."

She added that authorities were considering a curfew and movement restrictions, with Fiji's military on standby if needed.

(With AFP inputs)

Fijians living in the path of an approaching super cyclone Yasa were told to stay put inside their homes or immediately seek adequate shelter on Wednesday. The authorities have warned that the storm has the potential to destroy buildings and cause mass destruction.

Fijians living in the path of an approaching super cyclone Yasa were told to stay put inside their homes or immediately seek adequate shelter on Wednesday. The authorities have warned that the storm has the potential to destroy buildings and cause mass destruction. The Fiji Meteorological Service said Cyclone Yasa had intensified to top-of-the scale Category Five storm the winds are expected to gust upto 280 kilometres per hour (174 miles per hour). Fiji's National Disaster Management Office said tow-thirds of Fiji's population of 900,000 is in the cyclone's path. Cyclone Yasa is expected to hit Fiji on Thursday. National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko urged anyone who doubted their home's structural integrity to prioritise survival over protecting their property and escape right away. "If you need to move to an evacuation centre, we are pleading that you move before it gets dark," Soko said. "If you know that your house cannot survive strong winds, let alone the cat five cyclone that is on the way, please take yourselves, your children and your valuables to the evacuation centre." Soko said Cyclone Yasa was likely to have a larger impact than Cyclone Harold in April this year, another Category Five storm that gouged a trail of destruction across the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga. In Fijian capital Suva, residents were boarding up their windows and storefronts Fiji's military is on alert in order to carry out swift rescue and salvage efforts. Category Five cyclones were once rare but have now become much common in Fiji. Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama among those blaming the trend on climate change. "We can see the eye (of Cyclone Yasa) and the area that's of concern -- it's not just part of Fiji like Harold, it's the whole of Fiji," Soko said. "It's strong enough to uproot trees. It's strong enough to uproot buildings that are not well secured. It can also create a lot of flying debris." She added that authorities were considering a curfew and movement restrictions, with Fiji's military on standby if needed. (With AFP inputs)

Fiji braces for impact as super Cyclone Yasa approaches

UPS and FedEx usually compete fiercely for business. Now, the rivals are working closely together to ship the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, the first of the vaccines to win U.S. government approval.

The two shipping companies said they have put the plans they have been working on for months into action after the Food and Drug Administration gave the vaccine emergency authorization late Friday.

In a statement Saturday, UPS said it would transport doses of the vaccine from storage sites in Michigan and Wisconsin to its air cargo hub in Louisville, Kentucky. From there, the doses will be distributed to hospitals and other medical facilities across the country using its Next Day Air service, arriving the day after leaving the Pfizer facilities.

“This is the moment of truth we’ve been waiting for,” Wes Wheeler, president of the company’s health care division, said in a statement. “The time has arrived to put the plan into action.”

Even before the vaccine was approved, UPS had started shipping out kits with the medical supplies needed to administer it, such as alcohol wipes and syringes, Wheeler recently told a Senate subcommittee. UPS and FedEx will split distribution of the vaccine throughout the country, he said. After those shipments arrive, all Pfizer dosing sites will receive another shipment from UPS of 40 pounds of extra dry ice to keep the vaccines at a frigid temperature.

“You have two fierce rivals here, and competitors, in FedEx and UPS, who literally are teaming up to get this delivered,” Richard Smith, a FedEx executive, told the Senate’s Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety on Thursday.

Both companies said the shipments will be closely tracked and monitored and will be given priority over other packages. To ship its vaccine, Pfizer designed specialized containers packed with enough dry ice to keep a minimum of 975 doses cool for up to 10 days. Each comes with a tracking device.

UPS and FedEx said they will also affix their own tracking tags to vaccine shipments. And Wheeler told senators that each UPS truck carrying the doses will have a device that tracks its location, temperature, light exposure and motion. The company’s trucks will have escorts, too, he said. It is not clear whether he meant the local police or other government officials, or possibly private guards, and the company declined to specify.

The vaccine administration kits were assembled by McKesson, a medical supplier that was asked by federal authorities to act as a centralized distributor of the vaccines and supplies, such as syringes and alcohol wipes. Unlike Pfizer, Moderna, whose vaccine could be approved soon, plans to have McKesson package its vaccines alongside the supplies, Smith said.

In the case of Pfizer, UPS plans to deliver the kits — from a McKesson site in Kentucky — in advance of the vaccine, allowing it to identify any errors with addresses in its system, Wheeler said. The kits contain a syringe, a substance used to dilute the vaccines, personal protective equipment, instructions and mixing vials, he said.

Shippers have spent months upgrading cold storage infrastructure for the Pfizer vaccine, which must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit. UPS, for example, has been installing ultralow-temperature freezer farms that are able to keep goods as cold as minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit near its air cargo hubs in the United States and Europe. It also plans to produce more than 24,000 pounds of dry ice per day at its hub in Louisville. FedEx has added ultracold freezers throughout its U.S. network, too.

Airlines have also been preparing to transport the vaccines, working with plane manufacturers and the Federal Aviation Administration to safely carry more dry ice than is typically allowed. UPS is also sending the agency a daily file of its flights so it can help prioritize them over others, Wheeler said. The company, he said, is in daily contact with officials involved in Operation Warp Speed, the federal effort to accelerate vaccine development.

UPS and FedEx usually compete fiercely for business. Now, the rivals are working closely together to ship the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, the first of the vaccines to win U.

UPS and FedEx usually compete fiercely for business. Now, the rivals are working closely together to ship the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, the first of the vaccines to win U.S. government approval. The two shipping companies said they have put the plans they have been working on for months into action after the Food and Drug Administration gave the vaccine emergency authorization late Friday. In a statement Saturday, UPS said it would transport doses of the vaccine from storage sites in Michigan and Wisconsin to its air cargo hub in Louisville, Kentucky. From there, the doses will be distributed to hospitals and other medical facilities across the country using its Next Day Air service, arriving the day after leaving the Pfizer facilities. “This is the moment of truth we’ve been waiting for,” Wes Wheeler, president of the company’s health care division, said in a statement. “The time has arrived to put the plan into action.” Even before the vaccine was approved, UPS had started shipping out kits with the medical supplies needed to administer it, such as alcohol wipes and syringes, Wheeler recently told a Senate subcommittee. UPS and FedEx will split distribution of the vaccine throughout the country, he said. After those shipments arrive, all Pfizer dosing sites will receive another shipment from UPS of 40 pounds of extra dry ice to keep the vaccines at a frigid temperature. “You have two fierce rivals here, and competitors, in FedEx and UPS, who literally are teaming up to get this delivered,” Richard Smith, a FedEx executive, told the Senate’s Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety on Thursday. Both companies said the shipments will be closely tracked and monitored and will be given priority over other packages. To ship its vaccine, Pfizer designed specialized containers packed with enough dry ice to keep a minimum of 975 doses cool for up to 10 days. Each comes with a tracking device. UPS and FedEx said they will also affix their own tracking tags to vaccine shipments. And Wheeler told senators that each UPS truck carrying the doses will have a device that tracks its location, temperature, light exposure and motion. The company’s trucks will have escorts, too, he said. It is not clear whether he meant the local police or other government officials, or possibly private guards, and the company declined to specify. The vaccine administration kits were assembled by McKesson, a medical supplier that was asked by federal authorities to act as a centralized distributor of the vaccines and supplies, such as syringes and alcohol wipes. Unlike Pfizer, Moderna, whose vaccine could be approved soon, plans to have McKesson package its vaccines alongside the supplies, Smith said. In the case of Pfizer, UPS plans to deliver the kits — from a McKesson site in Kentucky — in advance of the vaccine, allowing it to identify any errors with addresses in its system, Wheeler said. The kits contain a syringe, a substance used to dilute the vaccines, personal protective equipment, instructions and mixing vials, he said. Shippers have spent months upgrading cold storage infrastructure for the Pfizer vaccine, which must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit. UPS, for example, has been installing ultralow-temperature freezer farms that are able to keep goods as cold as minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit near its air cargo hubs in the United States and Europe. It also plans to produce more than 24,000 pounds of dry ice per day at its hub in Louisville. FedEx has added ultracold freezers throughout its U.S. network, too. Airlines have also been preparing to transport the vaccines, working with plane manufacturers and the Federal Aviation Administration to safely carry more dry ice than is typically allowed. UPS is also sending the agency a daily file of its flights so it can help prioritize them over others, Wheeler said. The company, he said, is in daily contact with officials involved in Operation Warp Speed, the federal effort to accelerate vaccine development.

UPS and FedEx say vaccine shipment plans are underway

With the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of a coronavirus vaccine on Friday, the United States became the third highly developed Western country — after Britain and Canada — to approve such a shot and is expected to start inoculating people within days.

But the three countries have very different health care systems. And they face different challenges in the race to get the vaccine to millions of people.

Here are some similarities and contrasts.

Is it the same vaccine?

For now, yes.

The first vaccine authorized by U.S. regulators, and the first approved by their British and Canadian counterparts, is the one developed by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and a small company, BioNTech. It could gain European Union approval within weeks.

But several others are close behind, particularly a vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, and another from AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford. It could well be that half a dozen or more vaccines are approved in the coming months.

So as 2021 unfolds, which shots (most of the inoculations would require two injections, weeks apart) someone gets could vary widely by country, depending on the speed of regulatory approvals, what deals governments have made to buy supplies and how much the vaccines cost. Even within a country, there could be differences based on how easy it is to distribute and use a particular vaccine.

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna-NIH vaccines are of a new type never used before; they require ultracold storage and are more expensive than the likely competitors. The Pfizer shot has to be kept especially cold, at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit, which most health care facilities aren’t equipped to handle.

How centralized is the rollout?

In Britain, very. In the United States, not. In Canada, somewhere in between.

With a strong central government and a National Health Service that covers all of its people, Britain, which began giving the vaccine this past week, is directing the process from London. The national government chose the 50 hospitals that would initially get the vaccine and made sure they were prepared; decided how much each one would receive; and drafted the rules determining in what order people would be eligible to get it.

The Trump administration has deferred much of the decision-making to the states. The federal government will have the vaccine distributed to each state based on population, not need, but some states have complained that they do not know enough about the arrangements.

It will be up to the states to decide how to divide the doses among hospitals, clinics and, ultimately, drugstores and doctors’ offices, but at first, at least, the vaccine will go to hospitals with ultracold storage.

A committee advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drawing up a priority list, starting with medical workers. But that work is still underway, and the guidelines are nonbinding. States are expected to differ somewhat in their approach.

Like Britain, Canada has a universal health care system, but like the United States, it has a federal government. The Canadian health care system is decentralized, administered by the provinces and territories.

For vaccine distribution, the central government plans to work through those regional governments. Ottawa will play a large role in directing the process.

How many people will get it at first?

That remains a bit murky.

Canada had ordered enough of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for all of its people, Britain enough for 30% and the United States enough for 15%.

But those numbers reflect deliveries that are expected to take months to complete, and Pfizer, like other companies, has hit snags in ramping up production. In addition, all three countries have made advance purchases from other companies, as well, so the pace of vaccine approval could significantly affect the speed of the rollout.

That speed will also be affected by the need for vaccination sites to be equipped with the right freezers, the staff to prepare the shots, and enough syringes and protective gear.

The initial shipments are a small fraction of the pre-purchases — 800,000 doses to Britain and an expected 249,000 this month to Canada.

U.S. officials have said they hope to have 40 million doses of the vaccine by the end of the month, which may be optimistic. That would be enough to inoculate 20 million people.

Rural areas where hospitals are not equipped to keep the vaccines at the right temperatures, or do not have the staff to prepare them for injection, will not receive the Pfizer shots. That is more of an obstacle in the United States and Canada, huge countries with vast, sparsely populated regions, than in Britain, which is much more compact.

In Canada, where the military is playing a central role in vaccine distribution, the government is sending shipments to all 10 provinces. The three northern territories will have to wait.

In the United States, FedEx and UPS will ship vaccines from distribution centers to every part of the country. But the holiday season is the busiest time of the year for delivery services, which could slow things down.

How fast will most people get vaccines?

That is even murkier.

Britain, Canada, the United States and the European Union have all followed similar strategies, preordering huge numbers of doses — more than enough to inoculate everyone — from multiple makers, hedging their bets in case some of the vaccines are not approved or some manufacturers have production breakdowns.

Relative to their populations, the United States has ordered far fewer doses than Canada or Britain, and last summer it passed up an offer to increase its advance order from Pfizer. Administration officials say the numbers are misleading, because the government has signed options to buy far more of the vaccine if it sees the need.

But in the face of intense global demand, it is not clear how fast pharmaceutical companies will be able to fulfill the orders they have, much less any additional orders.

And again, the speed of development, approval and production will affect how quickly supplies reach people. A country that places a bigger bet on one vaccine could be much better off than one that relies more heavily on another.

With the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of a coronavirus vaccine on Friday, the United States became the third highly developed Western country — after Britain and Canada — to approve such a shot and is expected to start inoculating people within days.

With the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of a coronavirus vaccine on Friday, the United States became the third highly developed Western country — after Britain and Canada — to approve such a shot and is expected to start inoculating people within days. But the three countries have very different health care systems. And they face different challenges in the race to get the vaccine to millions of people. Here are some similarities and contrasts. Is it the same vaccine? For now, yes. The first vaccine authorized by U.S. regulators, and the first approved by their British and Canadian counterparts, is the one developed by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and a small company, BioNTech. It could gain European Union approval within weeks. But several others are close behind, particularly a vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, and another from AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford. It could well be that half a dozen or more vaccines are approved in the coming months. So as 2021 unfolds, which shots (most of the inoculations would require two injections, weeks apart) someone gets could vary widely by country, depending on the speed of regulatory approvals, what deals governments have made to buy supplies and how much the vaccines cost. Even within a country, there could be differences based on how easy it is to distribute and use a particular vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna-NIH vaccines are of a new type never used before; they require ultracold storage and are more expensive than the likely competitors. The Pfizer shot has to be kept especially cold, at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit, which most health care facilities aren’t equipped to handle. How centralized is the rollout? In Britain, very. In the United States, not. In Canada, somewhere in between. With a strong central government and a National Health Service that covers all of its people, Britain, which began giving the vaccine this past week, is directing the process from London. The national government chose the 50 hospitals that would initially get the vaccine and made sure they were prepared; decided how much each one would receive; and drafted the rules determining in what order people would be eligible to get it. The Trump administration has deferred much of the decision-making to the states. The federal government will have the vaccine distributed to each state based on population, not need, but some states have complained that they do not know enough about the arrangements. It will be up to the states to decide how to divide the doses among hospitals, clinics and, ultimately, drugstores and doctors’ offices, but at first, at least, the vaccine will go to hospitals with ultracold storage. A committee advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drawing up a priority list, starting with medical workers. But that work is still underway, and the guidelines are nonbinding. States are expected to differ somewhat in their approach. Like Britain, Canada has a universal health care system, but like the United States, it has a federal government. The Canadian health care system is decentralized, administered by the provinces and territories. For vaccine distribution, the central government plans to work through those regional governments. Ottawa will play a large role in directing the process. How many people will get it at first? That remains a bit murky. Canada had ordered enough of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for all of its people, Britain enough for 30% and the United States enough for 15%. But those numbers reflect deliveries that are expected to take months to complete, and Pfizer, like other companies, has hit snags in ramping up production. In addition, all three countries have made advance purchases from other companies, as well, so the pace of vaccine approval could significantly affect the speed of the rollout. That speed will also be affected by the need for vaccination sites to be equipped with the right freezers, the staff to prepare the shots, and enough syringes and protective gear. The initial shipments are a small fraction of the pre-purchases — 800,000 doses to Britain and an expected 249,000 this month to Canada. U.S. officials have said they hope to have 40 million doses of the vaccine by the end of the month, which may be optimistic. That would be enough to inoculate 20 million people. Rural areas where hospitals are not equipped to keep the vaccines at the right temperatures, or do not have the staff to prepare them for injection, will not receive the Pfizer shots. That is more of an obstacle in the United States and Canada, huge countries with vast, sparsely populated regions, than in Britain, which is much more compact. In Canada, where the military is playing a central role in vaccine distribution, the government is sending shipments to all 10 provinces. The three northern territories will have to wait. In the United States, FedEx and UPS will ship vaccines from distribution centers to every part of the country. But the holiday season is the busiest time of the year for delivery services, which could slow things down. How fast will most people get vaccines? That is even murkier. Britain, Canada, the United States and the European Union have all followed similar strategies, preordering huge numbers of doses — more than enough to inoculate everyone — from multiple makers, hedging their bets in case some of the vaccines are not approved or some manufacturers have production breakdowns. Relative to their populations, the United States has ordered far fewer doses than Canada or Britain, and last summer it passed up an offer to increase its advance order from Pfizer. Administration officials say the numbers are misleading, because the government has signed options to buy far more of the vaccine if it sees the need. But in the face of intense global demand, it is not clear how fast pharmaceutical companies will be able to fulfill the orders they have, much less any additional orders. And again, the speed of development, approval and production will affect how quickly supplies reach people. A country that places a bigger bet on one vaccine could be much better off than one that relies more heavily on another.

How the vaccine rollout will compare in Britain, Canada and the US

Nigerian authorities on Sunday stepped up efforts to rescue students abducted by armed men who raided their hostels.

UN children agency UNICEF condemned the assault on the school in Katsina. the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Gunmen on motorcycles stormed the Government Science School at Kankara late on Friday and engaged security forces in a fierce gunbattle, forcing hundreds of students to flee and hide in surrounding bushes and forest.

State governor Aminu Bello Masari who visited the school on Saturday said soldiers were working to locate and free the hostages.

"Soldiers are currently in the bushes fighting the bandits. We will do all we can to ensure all the abducted children are reclaimed," he said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boko-haram-jihadists-kill-27-in-attack-in-niger-349563">Boko Haram Jihadists kill 27 in attack in Niger</a>

National police spokesman Frank Mbas said "additional operational and investigative assets to support the ongoing search and rescue operations in Kankara," had been deployed.

Masari said it was still not clear how many students were "in the hands of the bandits" and how many had managed to escape.

"The school has a population of 839 and so far, we are yet to account for 333 students," Masari told a federal government delegation in his office on Sunday.

"We are still counting because more are still coming out of the forest," said the governor.

"Up till this moment, no one can give a precise figure of the children abducted", he said, adding that students who escaped confirmed some of their colleagues were taken.

Masari directed the school to take a headcount of the students to determine those who went back home.&nbsp;

'Cowardly bandits'

Osama Aminu Maale was one of the students who escaped the abductors and returned to his parents.

"There were a total of 520 of us that were taken by the gunmen from the school," the 18-year old student, told AFP on the phone.&nbsp;

"After they took us away we stopped inside the bus where they made the older students take a headcount. We counted 520," he said.&nbsp;

The hostages were split into groups and before Maale and four others escaped.

"One of the gunmen hit me repeatedly when I failed to keep up with the rest of the group due to my failing health before he let me trail behind, giving me the chance to escape", he said.

Since the attack, all secondary schools in the state have been shut.

UNICEF in a statement on Sunday said it "condemns in the strongest possible terms this brutal attack and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all children and their return to their families".

The global children body said it was "deeply concerned about these acts of violence."

"Attacks on schools are a violation of children’s rights. This is a grim reminder that abductions of children and widespread grave violations of children’s rights continue to take place in northern Nigeria."

UNICEF however commended the Nigerian government for deploying security forces to rescue the students.

Buhari on Saturday urged security forces to arrest the gunmen.

"I strongly condemn the cowardly bandits' attack on innocent children at the Science School, Kankara. Our prayers are with the families of the students, the school authorities and the injured," he said.

Katsina is among several areas in northwest Nigeria that have been repeatedly attacked by "bandits" who kidnap for ransom and rustle cattle.

Nigerian authorities on Sunday stepped up efforts to rescue students abducted by armed men who raided their hostels. UN children agency UNICEF condemned the assault on the school in Katsina.

Nigerian authorities on Sunday stepped up efforts to rescue students abducted by armed men who raided their hostels. UN children agency UNICEF condemned the assault on the school in Katsina. the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari. Gunmen on motorcycles stormed the Government Science School at Kankara late on Friday and engaged security forces in a fierce gunbattle, forcing hundreds of students to flee and hide in surrounding bushes and forest. State governor Aminu Bello Masari who visited the school on Saturday said soldiers were working to locate and free the hostages. "Soldiers are currently in the bushes fighting the bandits. We will do all we can to ensure all the abducted children are reclaimed," he said. Also Read | Boko Haram Jihadists kill 27 in attack in Niger National police spokesman Frank Mbas said "additional operational and investigative assets to support the ongoing search and rescue operations in Kankara," had been deployed. Masari said it was still not clear how many students were "in the hands of the bandits" and how many had managed to escape. "The school has a population of 839 and so far, we are yet to account for 333 students," Masari told a federal government delegation in his office on Sunday. "We are still counting because more are still coming out of the forest," said the governor. "Up till this moment, no one can give a precise figure of the children abducted", he said, adding that students who escaped confirmed some of their colleagues were taken. Masari directed the school to take a headcount of the students to determine those who went back home. 'Cowardly bandits' Osama Aminu Maale was one of the students who escaped the abductors and returned to his parents. "There were a total of 520 of us that were taken by the gunmen from the school," the 18-year old student, told AFP on the phone. "After they took us away we stopped inside the bus where they made the older students take a headcount. We counted 520," he said. The hostages were split into groups and before Maale and four others escaped. "One of the gunmen hit me repeatedly when I failed to keep up with the rest of the group due to my failing health before he let me trail behind, giving me the chance to escape", he said. Since the attack, all secondary schools in the state have been shut. UNICEF in a statement on Sunday said it "condemns in the strongest possible terms this brutal attack and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all children and their return to their families". The global children body said it was "deeply concerned about these acts of violence." "Attacks on schools are a violation of children’s rights. This is a grim reminder that abductions of children and widespread grave violations of children’s rights continue to take place in northern Nigeria." UNICEF however commended the Nigerian government for deploying security forces to rescue the students. Buhari on Saturday urged security forces to arrest the gunmen. "I strongly condemn the cowardly bandits' attack on innocent children at the Science School, Kankara. Our prayers are with the families of the students, the school authorities and the injured," he said. Katsina is among several areas in northwest Nigeria that have been repeatedly attacked by "bandits" who kidnap for ransom and rustle cattle.

Nigeria steps up rescue efforts for abducted students

In another horrific attack in recent weeks, Boko Haram Jihadists killed at least 27 people in an attack in Niger. The attack took place overnight in the village of Toumour in Difffa region. Many others are wounded. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Witnesses and other officials confirmed the attack, which came as municipal and regional elections went ahead across the country.

On November 28, Boko Haram terrorists <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boko-haram-kills-at-least-43-farm-workers-in-nigeria-346154">struck in Nigeria</a>. Around 30 of the men were beheaded in the attack in the village of Zabarmari.

"Some victims were killed or wounded by bullets, others were burnt inside their houses, consumed by the flames of an enormous fire set by the attackers," said an&nbsp;official.

Between 800 and 1,000 houses, the central market and numerous vehicles were also destroyed in the fire, he added.

Roughly 70 attackers arrived at Toumour at around 1745 GMT on foot, having swum across Lake Chad, said the official. The attack itself lasted three hours.

"They first attacked the residence of the traditional chief, who only just managed to escape," he said.

"It was an attack of unprecedented savagery," said a local elected official who asked not to be named. "Nearly 60 percent of the village has been destroyed."

(With agency inputs)

In another horrific attack in recent weeks, Boko Haram Jihadists killed at least 27 people in an attack in Niger. The attack took place overnight in the village of Toumour in Difffa region.

In another horrific attack in recent weeks, Boko Haram Jihadists killed at least 27 people in an attack in Niger. The attack took place overnight in the village of Toumour in Difffa region. Many others are wounded. Witnesses and other officials confirmed the attack, which came as municipal and regional elections went ahead across the country. On November 28, Boko Haram terrorists struck in Nigeria. Around 30 of the men were beheaded in the attack in the village of Zabarmari. "Some victims were killed or wounded by bullets, others were burnt inside their houses, consumed by the flames of an enormous fire set by the attackers," said an official. Between 800 and 1,000 houses, the central market and numerous vehicles were also destroyed in the fire, he added. Roughly 70 attackers arrived at Toumour at around 1745 GMT on foot, having swum across Lake Chad, said the official. The attack itself lasted three hours. "They first attacked the residence of the traditional chief, who only just managed to escape," he said. "It was an attack of unprecedented savagery," said a local elected official who asked not to be named. "Nearly 60 percent of the village has been destroyed." (With agency inputs)

Boko Haram Jihadists kill 27 in attack in Niger

In an interesting comment, Morocco's foreign minister said on Sunday that the country's ties with Israel were 'already normal' before diplomatic relations were normalised recently.

Morocco on Thursday announced a "resumption of relations" with Israel, shortly after US President Donald Trump tweeted that Rabat and the Jewish state had "agreed to full diplomatic relations". &nbsp;

Morocco had closed its liaison office in Tel Aviv in 2000 when second Palestinian uprising started.

Morocco's announcement is widely seen as making it the fourth Arab country this year to unveil plans to normalise ties with Israel through a US-brokered deal, following the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.&nbsp;

But in an interview with Israel's Yediot Ahronot newspaper published Sunday, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said, "Israel's relations with Morocco are special and can't be compared to the relations that Israel has with any other Arab country."&nbsp;

"From our perspective, we aren't talking about normalisation because relations were already normal," Bourita was quoted as saying by the paper. &nbsp;

"We're talking about (re-formalising) the relations between the countries to the relations we had, because there have been relations the entire time. They never stopped," he added.&nbsp;

A palace statement last week said King Mohammed VI had agreed to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel with "minimal delay".

That followed Trump's recognition of Morocco's contested sovereignty in Western Sahara, infuriating the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which controls about one-fifth of the vast, arid region.&nbsp;

Bourita, in the interview, highlighted Morocco's enduring connection to Israel through its domestic Jewish community and the estimated 700,000 Israeli Jews of Moroccan descent.&nbsp;

"Morocco has an important history with the Jewish community, a history that is special in the Arab world," he told the paper.

(With AFP inputs)

In an interesting comment, Morocco's foreign minister said on Sunday that the country's ties with Israel were 'already normal' before diplomatic relations were normalised recently.

In an interesting comment, Morocco's foreign minister said on Sunday that the country's ties with Israel were 'already normal' before diplomatic relations were normalised recently. Morocco on Thursday announced a "resumption of relations" with Israel, shortly after US President Donald Trump tweeted that Rabat and the Jewish state had "agreed to full diplomatic relations". Morocco had closed its liaison office in Tel Aviv in 2000 when second Palestinian uprising started. Morocco's announcement is widely seen as making it the fourth Arab country this year to unveil plans to normalise ties with Israel through a US-brokered deal, following the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan. But in an interview with Israel's Yediot Ahronot newspaper published Sunday, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said, "Israel's relations with Morocco are special and can't be compared to the relations that Israel has with any other Arab country." "From our perspective, we aren't talking about normalisation because relations were already normal," Bourita was quoted as saying by the paper. "We're talking about (re-formalising) the relations between the countries to the relations we had, because there have been relations the entire time. They never stopped," he added. A palace statement last week said King Mohammed VI had agreed to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel with "minimal delay". That followed Trump's recognition of Morocco's contested sovereignty in Western Sahara, infuriating the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which controls about one-fifth of the vast, arid region. Bourita, in the interview, highlighted Morocco's enduring connection to Israel through its domestic Jewish community and the estimated 700,000 Israeli Jews of Moroccan descent. "Morocco has an important history with the Jewish community, a history that is special in the Arab world," he told the paper. (With AFP inputs)

Ties with Israel were 'already normal', says Morocco

UK businesses urged for compromise on Sunday after UK PM Boris Johnson said failure remains the 'most likely' outcome of negotiations to strike a post-Brexit trade deal with European Union. Although UK and EU have agreed to continue the talks beyond the agreed deadline of Sunday, December 13, both sides appear far from reaching an agreement.

"I'm afraid we're still very far apart on some key things, but where there's life there's hope," Johnson told reporters, after agreeing with EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to push on with negotiations.

"The UK certainly won't be walking away from the talks. I still think there's a deal to be done if our partners want to do it," Johnson said at 10 Downing Street after briefing his cabinet about the call.

Confederation of British Industry director-general Tony Danker said the news of talks continuing "gives hope", but demanded the government fix the IT rollout and offer more support to businesses.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-deal-talks-to-continue-says-eu-chief-on-day-of-the-deadline-349522">Brexit deal talks to continue, says EU chief on day of the deadline</a>

UK and EU are ironing out details over competition rules, fishing rights and economic fair play.

"The most likely thing now is of course we have to get ready for WTO terms," Johnson added, referring to tariffs and quotas on the basic rules of trade set by the World Trade Organization.

The trade between UK and EU will be carried out as per World Trade Organisation (WTO) regulations in the event of no-deal Brexit.

"Either way, whatever happens, the UK will do very, very well," said Johson.

UK businesses welcomed the agreement to keep talking, but disagreed strongly with Johnson's cheerful forecasts for Britain's future if it severs all ties with its biggest overall trading partner from the New Year.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-bank-of-england-talks-of-disruption-in-financial-services-in-new-year-349028">Brexit: Bank of England talks of 'disruption' in financial services in new year</a>

"We now need negotiators to finish the job and agree the deal we all so desperately need," Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Mike Hawes tweeted.

'Catastrophic'

Hawes added: "'No deal' would be nothing less than catastrophic for the automative sector, its workers and their families, and represent a stunning failure of statecraft. Quite simply, it has to be ruled out."

Nissan has warned that a no-deal Brexit would make its Sunderland car factory in northeast England, which employs more than 6,000 workers, unviable due to the restoration of tariffs on cross-Channel trade.

Last week, Japanese automaker Honda suspended production at its British plant for a day after suffering a shortfall in parts, owing to blockages at ports caused by the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit stockpiling.

(With AFP inputs)

UK businesses urged for compromise on Sunday after UK PM Boris Johnson said failure remains the 'most likely' outcome of negotiations to strike a post-Brexit trade deal with European Union.

UK businesses urged for compromise on Sunday after UK PM Boris Johnson said failure remains the 'most likely' outcome of negotiations to strike a post-Brexit trade deal with European Union. Although UK and EU have agreed to continue the talks beyond the agreed deadline of Sunday, December 13, both sides appear far from reaching an agreement. "I'm afraid we're still very far apart on some key things, but where there's life there's hope," Johnson told reporters, after agreeing with EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to push on with negotiations. "The UK certainly won't be walking away from the talks. I still think there's a deal to be done if our partners want to do it," Johnson said at 10 Downing Street after briefing his cabinet about the call. Confederation of British Industry director-general Tony Danker said the news of talks continuing "gives hope", but demanded the government fix the IT rollout and offer more support to businesses. Also Read | Brexit deal talks to continue, says EU chief on day of the deadline UK and EU are ironing out details over competition rules, fishing rights and economic fair play. "The most likely thing now is of course we have to get ready for WTO terms," Johnson added, referring to tariffs and quotas on the basic rules of trade set by the World Trade Organization. The trade between UK and EU will be carried out as per World Trade Organisation (WTO) regulations in the event of no-deal Brexit. "Either way, whatever happens, the UK will do very, very well," said Johson. UK businesses welcomed the agreement to keep talking, but disagreed strongly with Johnson's cheerful forecasts for Britain's future if it severs all ties with its biggest overall trading partner from the New Year. Also Read | Brexit: Bank of England talks of 'disruption' in financial services in new year "We now need negotiators to finish the job and agree the deal we all so desperately need," Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Mike Hawes tweeted. 'Catastrophic' Hawes added: "'No deal' would be nothing less than catastrophic for the automative sector, its workers and their families, and represent a stunning failure of statecraft. Quite simply, it has to be ruled out." Nissan has warned that a no-deal Brexit would make its Sunderland car factory in northeast England, which employs more than 6,000 workers, unviable due to the restoration of tariffs on cross-Channel trade. Last week, Japanese automaker Honda suspended production at its British plant for a day after suffering a shortfall in parts, owing to blockages at ports caused by the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit stockpiling. (With AFP inputs)

Brexit: UK businesses urge PM Boris Johnson for trade deal with EU

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Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.