Terming bioterrorism as a "contagious plague," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/did-not-rest-even-for-a-day-in-100-days-work-done-is-incredible-rajnath-singh-248480">Defence Minister Rajnath Singh</a> on Thursday said that it was a real threat the world was facing today and asked the armed forces to be in the forefront of combating the menace.

Inaugurating the first-ever conference of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) countries on Military Medicine here, he also called upon the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) of SCO countries to devise ways to effectively deal with new threats posed to soldiers by the ever-advancing battlefield technology.

"The threat of nuclear, chemical and biological warfare adds to the complexity of the existing challenges and AFMS plays a vital role in identifying those challenges, defining the limits of human tolerance and suggesting strategies to mitigate the adverse health effects," he said.

Underlining the importance of building capabilities to deal with the menace of bioterrorism, the defence minister&nbsp;termed it as a real threat the world is facing today.

"The bio-terrorism is a `contagious plague`. The armed forces should be at the forefront of combating the menace," he said.

He asked the AFMS to have a clear, effective and rehearsed protocol with respect to casualty management strategies and said the protocols and strategies need to be devised taking into account not just the peculiarities of the operating environment and the nature of operations, but also competence and capabilities of AFMS.

Suggesting co-operation among countries during disasters to ensure that timely assistance reaches those in need even across international borders, he said the scale of magnitude of destruction following disasters can often overwhelm the resources and relief efforts of a nation and the medical services of Armed Forces form a vital component of humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.

Identifying "Patient Safety" as another area which needs to be further strengthened, Singh stressed on the need for awareness on healthy practices of patient safety that will greatly enhance the combat effectiveness of military services.

"Patient safety does not end at making correct diagnosis and prescribing correct medication. Dispensing that prescribed medicine to the correct patient via the correct method plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of patients," he said.

The Defence Minister said SCO is the "alliance of the East", due to its growing centrality in Asia-Pacific and described it as the primary security pillar in the region.

"SCO is the largest regional organisation in the world in terms of geographical coverage and population. It covers 22 per cent of the landmass, 40 per cent population and contribute to 20 per cent of world`s GDP," he said.

Singh said India has been making positive contribution to SCO and actively participated in Ex Peace Mission in Russia.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said, evolving technology translates into more and more complex casualties and therefore, it is imperative that AFMS keeps pace with technology and expertise.

Terming bioterrorism as a "contagious plague," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that it was a real threat the world was facing today and asked the armed forces to be in the forefront of combating the menace.

Terming bioterrorism as a "contagious plague," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that it was a real threat the world was facing today and asked the armed forces to be in the forefront of combating the menace. Inaugurating the first-ever conference of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) countries on Military Medicine here, he also called upon the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) of SCO countries to devise ways to effectively deal with new threats posed to soldiers by the ever-advancing battlefield technology. "The threat of nuclear, chemical and biological warfare adds to the complexity of the existing challenges and AFMS plays a vital role in identifying those challenges, defining the limits of human tolerance and suggesting strategies to mitigate the adverse health effects," he said. Underlining the importance of building capabilities to deal with the menace of bioterrorism, the defence minister termed it as a real threat the world is facing today. "The bio-terrorism is a `contagious plague`. The armed forces should be at the forefront of combating the menace," he said. He asked the AFMS to have a clear, effective and rehearsed protocol with respect to casualty management strategies and said the protocols and strategies need to be devised taking into account not just the peculiarities of the operating environment and the nature of operations, but also competence and capabilities of AFMS. Suggesting co-operation among countries during disasters to ensure that timely assistance reaches those in need even across international borders, he said the scale of magnitude of destruction following disasters can often overwhelm the resources and relief efforts of a nation and the medical services of Armed Forces form a vital component of humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. Identifying "Patient Safety" as another area which needs to be further strengthened, Singh stressed on the need for awareness on healthy practices of patient safety that will greatly enhance the combat effectiveness of military services. "Patient safety does not end at making correct diagnosis and prescribing correct medication. Dispensing that prescribed medicine to the correct patient via the correct method plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of patients," he said. The Defence Minister said SCO is the "alliance of the East", due to its growing centrality in Asia-Pacific and described it as the primary security pillar in the region. "SCO is the largest regional organisation in the world in terms of geographical coverage and population. It covers 22 per cent of the landmass, 40 per cent population and contribute to 20 per cent of world`s GDP," he said. Singh said India has been making positive contribution to SCO and actively participated in Ex Peace Mission in Russia. Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said, evolving technology translates into more and more complex casualties and therefore, it is imperative that AFMS keeps pace with technology and expertise.

Armed forces need to be in forefront to tackle bioterrorism: Defence minister Rajnath Singh

Huawei Technologies' device business, comprising mainly smartphones, made $1.55 billion profit in the first half of this year - as much as it earned in all of 2018 - a rare regulatory filing showed.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-says-to-decide-on-huawei-soon-but-china-must-play-by-rules-249046">Chinese tech giant was put on a trade blacklist</a> by the United States in May, which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/huawei-denies-us-allegations-of-technology-theft-247310">cut off its access to essential US components</a> and technology. The ban stops US&nbsp;companies such as Alphabet's Google from doing business with Huawei.

Analysts have said that the consumer business is the most vulnerable to Washington's sanctions, with the main impact likely to be felt in the second half of the year.

Huawei said last month that, while the impact of the curbs was weaker than previously expected, it would still push the smartphone unit's revenue lower by about $10 billion this year.

The company had so far disclosed annual profit figures for the entire company and the filing provide a rare window into the growing profit contribution from Huawei's consumer business.

Huawei previously said smartphone shipments in the first half of the year jumped 24 per cent jump to 118 million units, as demand surged from patriotic Chinese buyers amid rising rhetoric in local media that Huawei was being treated unfairly by the United States.

Its market share rose more than 10 percentage points to 38 per cent&nbsp;in the June quarter in China, the world's biggest smartphone market, according to market research firm Canalys showed.

The new profit numbers were disclosed in a bonds prospectus published on September 11 from Huawei's parent Huawei Investment &amp; Holding Co Ltd, looking to raise up to 20 billion yuan in its first attempt to tap the onshore yuan bond market.

Profit at Huawei Device (Shenzhen) Ltd, a wholly-owned unit of the parent and a proxy for the behemoth's smartphone business, was 11.2 billion yuan in the first half of 2019, while revenue was 211 billion yuan.

The unit earned the same amount of money in all of 2018 on revenue of 329 billion yuan, according to the prospectus that did not provide numbers for just the first half.

The filing also showed Huawei Technologies Limited, Huawei's main business entity, made a net profit of 30.27 billion yuan and revenue of 353 billion yuan in the first half of 2019.

The group recorded increases in gross margins across all three businesses of carrier network, consumer and enterprise business in the period. Revenue contribution from China rose to 58.12% in the first half, up from 52.02% for the full year of 2018.

Huawei Technologies' device business, comprising mainly smartphones, made $1.55 billion profit in the first half of this year - as much as it earned in all of 2018 - a rare regulatory filing showed.

Huawei Technologies' device business, comprising mainly smartphones, made $1.55 billion profit in the first half of this year - as much as it earned in all of 2018 - a rare regulatory filing showed. The Chinese tech giant was put on a trade blacklist by the United States in May, which cut off its access to essential US components and technology. The ban stops US companies such as Alphabet's Google from doing business with Huawei. Analysts have said that the consumer business is the most vulnerable to Washington's sanctions, with the main impact likely to be felt in the second half of the year. Huawei said last month that, while the impact of the curbs was weaker than previously expected, it would still push the smartphone unit's revenue lower by about $10 billion this year. The company had so far disclosed annual profit figures for the entire company and the filing provide a rare window into the growing profit contribution from Huawei's consumer business. Huawei previously said smartphone shipments in the first half of the year jumped 24 per cent jump to 118 million units, as demand surged from patriotic Chinese buyers amid rising rhetoric in local media that Huawei was being treated unfairly by the United States. Its market share rose more than 10 percentage points to 38 per cent in the June quarter in China, the world's biggest smartphone market, according to market research firm Canalys showed. The new profit numbers were disclosed in a bonds prospectus published on September 11 from Huawei's parent Huawei Investment & Holding Co Ltd, looking to raise up to 20 billion yuan in its first attempt to tap the onshore yuan bond market. Profit at Huawei Device (Shenzhen) Ltd, a wholly-owned unit of the parent and a proxy for the behemoth's smartphone business, was 11.2 billion yuan in the first half of 2019, while revenue was 211 billion yuan. The unit earned the same amount of money in all of 2018 on revenue of 329 billion yuan, according to the prospectus that did not provide numbers for just the first half. The filing also showed Huawei Technologies Limited, Huawei's main business entity, made a net profit of 30.27 billion yuan and revenue of 353 billion yuan in the first half of 2019. The group recorded increases in gross margins across all three businesses of carrier network, consumer and enterprise business in the period. Revenue contribution from China rose to 58.12% in the first half, up from 52.02% for the full year of 2018.

Despite US blacklist, Huawei smartphones made $1.55 billion profit in first half of 2019, records show

Fifty people were killed early Thursday when a train derailed in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the minister for humanitarian action, Steve Mbikayi, said in a tweet.

"Another disaster! Derailing at 3am (0100 GMT) in Tanganyika (province) near Mayibaridi. Provisional toll: 50 dead and several injured," he wrote.

Railways in the DRC have a poor record for safety, hampered by poor tracks and decrepit locomotives, many of them dating from the 1960s.

In March, at least 24 people were killed and 31 were injured Sunday when a freight train carrying illegal passengers crashed in the central region of Kasai.

In November last year, 10 stowaways were killed and 24 injured near the eastern town of Samba when the brakes failed on a freight train.

In November 2017, 35 people were killed when a freight train carrying 13 oil tankers plunged into a ravine in southern Lualaba province.

Fifty people were killed early Thursday when a train derailed in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the minister for humanitarian action, Steve Mbikayi, said in a tweet.

Fifty people were killed early Thursday when a train derailed in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the minister for humanitarian action, Steve Mbikayi, said in a tweet. "Another disaster! Derailing at 3am (0100 GMT) in Tanganyika (province) near Mayibaridi. Provisional toll: 50 dead and several injured," he wrote. Railways in the DRC have a poor record for safety, hampered by poor tracks and decrepit locomotives, many of them dating from the 1960s. In March, at least 24 people were killed and 31 were injured Sunday when a freight train carrying illegal passengers crashed in the central region of Kasai. In November last year, 10 stowaways were killed and 24 injured near the eastern town of Samba when the brakes failed on a freight train. In November 2017, 35 people were killed when a freight train carrying 13 oil tankers plunged into a ravine in southern Lualaba province.

At least 50 killed in train derailment in southeast DR Congo

At least four security forces officials were killed and three others injured&nbsp;on Thursday in a suicide attack in the south of Kabul close to a Special Forces base, an Afghan local news agency reported.

A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle on Kabul Commando Force base.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, which he said killed more than 200 commandos. The insurgents routinely issue exaggerated casualty claims.

Mujahid said the bomber had been infiltrated into the base well before the attack.

The base is located in Chahar Asyab district of Kabul.

Last week, a Taliban suicide blast killed at least 10 civilians and two NATO service members near the US embassy in Kabul.

At least four security forces officials were killed and three others injured on Thursday in a suicide attack in the south of Kabul close to a Special Forces base, an Afghan local news agency reported.

At least four security forces officials were killed and three others injured on Thursday in a suicide attack in the south of Kabul close to a Special Forces base, an Afghan local news agency reported. A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle on Kabul Commando Force base. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, which he said killed more than 200 commandos. The insurgents routinely issue exaggerated casualty claims. Mujahid said the bomber had been infiltrated into the base well before the attack. The base is located in Chahar Asyab district of Kabul. Last week, a Taliban suicide blast killed at least 10 civilians and two NATO service members near the US embassy in Kabul.

Taliban attacks Kabul commando base in Afghanistan; four killed

The number of blazes in Indonesia's rainforests has jumped sharply, satellite data showed Thursday, spreading smog across Southeast Asia and adding to concerns about the impact of increasing wildfire outbreaks worldwide on global warming.

Illegal blazes to clear land for agricultural plantations have been raging on Sumatra and Borneo islands, with Indonesia deploying water-bombing helicopters and thousands of security forces to tackle them.

It is just the latest such outbreak globally -- huge blazes have torn through the Amazon in South America while bushfires are sweeping across eastern Australia in an unusually ferocious and early start to the wildfire season.

Indonesia's forest fires are an annual problem but have been worsened this year by particularly dry weather, and in recent days sent toxic smog floating over Malaysia and triggered a diplomatic row.

The number of "hotspots" -- areas of intense heat detected by satellite which indicate a high chance of fire -- jumped sharply in Indonesia on Wednesday, according to the Singapore-based ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre.

There were 1,619 hotspots detected on the Indonesian part of Borneo and Sumatra up from 861 a day earlier, according to a tally from the centre, which monitors forest fires and smog outbreaks.

In hard-hit Riau province on Sumatra, firefighters were battling round the clock through charred forests as they sought to extinguish blazes belching thick white smog, AFP reporters said.

Provincial capital Pekanbaru was blanketed in dense smoke, leaving the sky dark even at midday. Residents sought to go about their daily lives as usual, with many wearing only rudimentary face masks.

Kiki Taufik, a forests campaigner with Greenpeace in Indonesia, told AFP there has been little rain in the past fortnight, particularly on Indonesian Borneo which saw the sharpest increase in hotspots.

Borneo is shared between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

Burning issue

Taufik saw similarities between the blazes in Indonesia and those in the Amazon, where farmers also start fires to clear land for agriculture.&nbsp;

"This should remind people we are facing a climate crisis," he said of the recent fires around the world.

"Industries are looking to expand plantations using fires."

And he warned Indonesia's blazes would add to the sprawling archipelago's climate-damaging emissions, already among the highest in the world.

In 2015 Indonesia suffered its worst forest fires for about two decades, which dramatically increased its greenhouse gas emissions.

Diplomatic tensions were also rising as Malaysian Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin accused her Indonesian counterpart of being "in denial", after Jakarta insisted fires in Malaysia had caused the smog there.

"Let the data speak for itself," she said in a Facebook post, indicating figures from the ASEAN centre which showed only a handful of hotspots in Malaysia compared to the hundreds in Indonesia.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will write to Indonesian President Joko Widodo raising concerns about the haze, she said.

Indonesian Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar hit back Wednesday, telling AFP that "hotspots are not only found in Indonesia, but also in Sarawak (on Malaysian Borneo) and peninsular Malaysia".

"We are not standing idly by," she added.

Indonesian personnel have been struggling to tame the blazes as many burn underground in carbon-rich peat, which has been cleared across vast areas of the country for plantations.

After being cleared and drained of water, peat is highly combustible and hard to extinguish once ablaze.

There have been some outbreaks of fire in the Malaysian part of Borneo. Drone footage taken by AFP in the area showed smoke rising from charcoal grey patches of smouldering earth, surrounded by pristine forest.

The number of blazes in Indonesia's rainforests has jumped sharply, satellite data showed Thursday, spreading smog across Southeast Asia and adding to concerns about the impact of increasing wildfire outbreaks worldwide on global warming.

The number of blazes in Indonesia's rainforests has jumped sharply, satellite data showed Thursday, spreading smog across Southeast Asia and adding to concerns about the impact of increasing wildfire outbreaks worldwide on global warming. Illegal blazes to clear land for agricultural plantations have been raging on Sumatra and Borneo islands, with Indonesia deploying water-bombing helicopters and thousands of security forces to tackle them. It is just the latest such outbreak globally -- huge blazes have torn through the Amazon in South America while bushfires are sweeping across eastern Australia in an unusually ferocious and early start to the wildfire season. Indonesia's forest fires are an annual problem but have been worsened this year by particularly dry weather, and in recent days sent toxic smog floating over Malaysia and triggered a diplomatic row. The number of "hotspots" -- areas of intense heat detected by satellite which indicate a high chance of fire -- jumped sharply in Indonesia on Wednesday, according to the Singapore-based ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre. There were 1,619 hotspots detected on the Indonesian part of Borneo and Sumatra up from 861 a day earlier, according to a tally from the centre, which monitors forest fires and smog outbreaks. In hard-hit Riau province on Sumatra, firefighters were battling round the clock through charred forests as they sought to extinguish blazes belching thick white smog, AFP reporters said. Provincial capital Pekanbaru was blanketed in dense smoke, leaving the sky dark even at midday. Residents sought to go about their daily lives as usual, with many wearing only rudimentary face masks. Kiki Taufik, a forests campaigner with Greenpeace in Indonesia, told AFP there has been little rain in the past fortnight, particularly on Indonesian Borneo which saw the sharpest increase in hotspots. Borneo is shared between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Burning issue Taufik saw similarities between the blazes in Indonesia and those in the Amazon, where farmers also start fires to clear land for agriculture. "This should remind people we are facing a climate crisis," he said of the recent fires around the world. "Industries are looking to expand plantations using fires." And he warned Indonesia's blazes would add to the sprawling archipelago's climate-damaging emissions, already among the highest in the world. In 2015 Indonesia suffered its worst forest fires for about two decades, which dramatically increased its greenhouse gas emissions. Diplomatic tensions were also rising as Malaysian Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin accused her Indonesian counterpart of being "in denial", after Jakarta insisted fires in Malaysia had caused the smog there. "Let the data speak for itself," she said in a Facebook post, indicating figures from the ASEAN centre which showed only a handful of hotspots in Malaysia compared to the hundreds in Indonesia. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will write to Indonesian President Joko Widodo raising concerns about the haze, she said. Indonesian Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar hit back Wednesday, telling AFP that "hotspots are not only found in Indonesia, but also in Sarawak (on Malaysian Borneo) and peninsular Malaysia". "We are not standing idly by," she added. Indonesian personnel have been struggling to tame the blazes as many burn underground in carbon-rich peat, which has been cleared across vast areas of the country for plantations. After being cleared and drained of water, peat is highly combustible and hard to extinguish once ablaze. There have been some outbreaks of fire in the Malaysian part of Borneo. Drone footage taken by AFP in the area showed smoke rising from charcoal grey patches of smouldering earth, surrounded by pristine forest.

Indonesia forest fires surge, stoking global warming fears

The British government faced a backlash on Thursday after it was forced to publish documents warning that a no-deal Brexit could lead to civil unrest and shortages of food and medicines.

The "Operation Yellowhammer" papers, which the government released late on Wednesday, revealed that preparedness for leaving the EU without an agreement remained "at a low level".

The documents -- disclosed after MPs voted Monday for their release -- warned of "a rise in public disorder and community tensions" in such a scenario, as well as logjams at Channel ports threatening to impact supplies.

"It is extraordinary that these are things that could flow from the government's own policy," opposition Labour lawmaker Hilary Benn said.&nbsp;

"Normally when you're protecting against something like this it's a natural disaster, it's the action of others, (things) you don't control."

Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-johnson-tells-parliament-you-can-tie-my-hands-but-i-will-not-delay-brexit-248705">Boris Johnson's government</a> said they were updating the scenarios, which were last compiled at the start of August, and that it envisaged "the worst case".

"We're spending the money on doing lots of things to mitigate those assumptions," Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC, noting there were daily meetings to prepare for no deal.

"We've planned for it and government does that well," he insisted.

Paul Carter, leader of the local authority in the southeast county of Kent, where there are fears of gridlock following a no-deal Brexit, said Johnson's administration had made "real progress" recently.

Watch: UK PM Boris Johnson's 2nd call for snap elections rejected

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-uk-pm-boris-johnsons-2nd-call-for-snap-elections-rejected-248875/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I'm pretty confident that we can avoid disruption in Kent," he told the BBC.

But the release has fuelled fears among MPs that a disorderly divorce would be calamitous.

"It is unprecedented," said MP Dominic Grieve, who was expelled from the ruling Conservatives last week for voting against the government over the issue.

"Even if we are ready for a no-deal Brexit, this is highly disruptive and costly."

'Nothing is changing'

Johnson took office in July promising to finally deliver on the referendum decision by leaving the EU on October 31 no matter what, but finds himself increasingly boxed in.

He has no majority in the Commons and suspended parliament on Monday until October 14 in an apparent bid to thwart opposition to a possible no-deal departure.

The controversial move provoked uproar across the political spectrum and several legal challenges.&nbsp;

A Scottish appeals court ruled Wednesday the suspension was "unlawful" but the government immediately appealed the decision, with the case set to be heard in the Supreme Court next Tuesday.

Parliament will for now stay shut, despite calls from opposition lawmakers for its immediate recall -- intensified by the release of the Yellowhammer documents.

"It is also now more important than ever that Parliament is recalled and has the opportunity to scrutinise these documents and take all steps necessary to stop no deal," Labour's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said.

However, a government source told AFP on Wednesday that "nothing is changing" until the case was concluded.

Meanwhile, another ruling on a legal challenge in Belfast that no deal would breach the terms of Northern Ireland's 1998 peace accord was expected Thursday.&nbsp;

'Great progress'

Ahead of the shutdown lawmakers outlawed a no-deal Brexit, but Johnson has insisted Britain will still depart the EU on October 31.

The British leader wants to renegotiate the divorce terms struck by his predecessor Theresa May, which MPs have repeatedly rejected.

But European leaders accuse him of offering no viable alternatives.

Johnson, whose EU adviser David Frost is currently in Brussels, insisted Wednesday they were making "great progress" towards getting a deal.

"The ice floes are cracking, there is movement under the keel of these talks," he said.

The British government faced a backlash on Thursday after it was forced to publish documents warning that a no-deal Brexit could lead to civil unrest and shortages of food and medicines.

The British government faced a backlash on Thursday after it was forced to publish documents warning that a no-deal Brexit could lead to civil unrest and shortages of food and medicines. The "Operation Yellowhammer" papers, which the government released late on Wednesday, revealed that preparedness for leaving the EU without an agreement remained "at a low level". The documents -- disclosed after MPs voted Monday for their release -- warned of "a rise in public disorder and community tensions" in such a scenario, as well as logjams at Channel ports threatening to impact supplies. "It is extraordinary that these are things that could flow from the government's own policy," opposition Labour lawmaker Hilary Benn said. "Normally when you're protecting against something like this it's a natural disaster, it's the action of others, (things) you don't control." Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government said they were updating the scenarios, which were last compiled at the start of August, and that it envisaged "the worst case". "We're spending the money on doing lots of things to mitigate those assumptions," Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC, noting there were daily meetings to prepare for no deal. "We've planned for it and government does that well," he insisted. Paul Carter, leader of the local authority in the southeast county of Kent, where there are fears of gridlock following a no-deal Brexit, said Johnson's administration had made "real progress" recently. Watch: UK PM Boris Johnson's 2nd call for snap elections rejected "I'm pretty confident that we can avoid disruption in Kent," he told the BBC. But the release has fuelled fears among MPs that a disorderly divorce would be calamitous. "It is unprecedented," said MP Dominic Grieve, who was expelled from the ruling Conservatives last week for voting against the government over the issue. "Even if we are ready for a no-deal Brexit, this is highly disruptive and costly." 'Nothing is changing' Johnson took office in July promising to finally deliver on the referendum decision by leaving the EU on October 31 no matter what, but finds himself increasingly boxed in. He has no majority in the Commons and suspended parliament on Monday until October 14 in an apparent bid to thwart opposition to a possible no-deal departure. The controversial move provoked uproar across the political spectrum and several legal challenges. A Scottish appeals court ruled Wednesday the suspension was "unlawful" but the government immediately appealed the decision, with the case set to be heard in the Supreme Court next Tuesday. Parliament will for now stay shut, despite calls from opposition lawmakers for its immediate recall -- intensified by the release of the Yellowhammer documents. "It is also now more important than ever that Parliament is recalled and has the opportunity to scrutinise these documents and take all steps necessary to stop no deal," Labour's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said. However, a government source told AFP on Wednesday that "nothing is changing" until the case was concluded. Meanwhile, another ruling on a legal challenge in Belfast that no deal would breach the terms of Northern Ireland's 1998 peace accord was expected Thursday. 'Great progress' Ahead of the shutdown lawmakers outlawed a no-deal Brexit, but Johnson has insisted Britain will still depart the EU on October 31. The British leader wants to renegotiate the divorce terms struck by his predecessor Theresa May, which MPs have repeatedly rejected. But European leaders accuse him of offering no viable alternatives. Johnson, whose EU adviser David Frost is currently in Brussels, insisted Wednesday they were making "great progress" towards getting a deal. "The ice floes are cracking, there is movement under the keel of these talks," he said.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson under fire over no-deal Brexit assessment

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-pm-hasina-accuses-myanmar-of-defying-promise-over-repatriation-of-rohingyas-225839">Bangladesh's prime minister has blamed Myanmar</a> for the failure of a recent attempt to repatriate Rohingya refugees, saying its neighbouring country did not do enough to win the community's trust.

The comments from Sheikh Hasina came three weeks after a fresh push to return the Muslim minority to Myanmar's conflict-scarred Rakhine state that fell flat when no-one turned up.

Some 740,000 Rohingya fled their villages in Rakhine following a military crackdown in August 2017, joining nearly 200,000 already living in squalid camps across the border in southeast Bangladesh.

"We've seen Myanmar could not win Rohingya's trust in creating a conducive situation (in Rakhine) for their dignified return," Hasina said in parliament late Wednesday.

"We had full preparation, but still the repatriation did not start uncertainty looms over Rohingya getting back their homes, land and other properties."

Hasina said she had asked other Asian nations including China, India, and Japan to help resolve the crisis.

Her comments reflect Dhaka's frustration over the lack of a resolution to the refugee crisis.

A previous repatriation offer was rejected by Rohingya leaders in October.

Watch: Bangladesh Feels ISI Could recruit from Rohingya Camps

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-bangladesh-feels-isi-could-recruit-from-rohingya-camps-246739/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Her government has also started to crack down on activity in the camps amid a recent outbreak of violence and rising tensions with locals.

Dhaka has imposed a virtual internet blackout in the camps in the border towns of Teknaf and Ukhia by cutting access to 3G and 4G mobile internet networks.

Expects have said 2G networks are too slow for internet use.

Rohingya leaders have repeatedly said the refugees will not return to their homeland unless their safety is ensured, their rights and citizenship are granted and they are allowed to resettle in their villages.

The Rohingya are not recognised as an official minority by the Myanmar government, which considers them Bengali interlopers despite many families having lived in the country for generations.

Bangladesh's prime minister has blamed Myanmar for the failure of a recent attempt to repatriate Rohingya refugees, saying its neighbouring country did not do enough to win the community's trust.

Bangladesh's prime minister has blamed Myanmar for the failure of a recent attempt to repatriate Rohingya refugees, saying its neighbouring country did not do enough to win the community's trust. The comments from Sheikh Hasina came three weeks after a fresh push to return the Muslim minority to Myanmar's conflict-scarred Rakhine state that fell flat when no-one turned up. Some 740,000 Rohingya fled their villages in Rakhine following a military crackdown in August 2017, joining nearly 200,000 already living in squalid camps across the border in southeast Bangladesh. "We've seen Myanmar could not win Rohingya's trust in creating a conducive situation (in Rakhine) for their dignified return," Hasina said in parliament late Wednesday. "We had full preparation, but still the repatriation did not start uncertainty looms over Rohingya getting back their homes, land and other properties." Hasina said she had asked other Asian nations including China, India, and Japan to help resolve the crisis. Her comments reflect Dhaka's frustration over the lack of a resolution to the refugee crisis. A previous repatriation offer was rejected by Rohingya leaders in October. Watch: Bangladesh Feels ISI Could recruit from Rohingya Camps Her government has also started to crack down on activity in the camps amid a recent outbreak of violence and rising tensions with locals. Dhaka has imposed a virtual internet blackout in the camps in the border towns of Teknaf and Ukhia by cutting access to 3G and 4G mobile internet networks. Expects have said 2G networks are too slow for internet use. Rohingya leaders have repeatedly said the refugees will not return to their homeland unless their safety is ensured, their rights and citizenship are granted and they are allowed to resettle in their villages. The Rohingya are not recognised as an official minority by the Myanmar government, which considers them Bengali interlopers despite many families having lived in the country for generations.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina blames Myanmar for Rohingya repatriation failure

Indian shares gave up gains in the last hour of trade to end lower on Thursday, with the blue-chip NSE index snapping five consecutive sessions of gains, as auto and financial stocks weighed.

The broader NSE Nifty closed down 0.48% at 10,982.80, while the benchmark BSE Sensex ended 0.45% lower at 37,104.28. The BSE Sensex snapped three sessions of gains.

The Nifty auto index ended 1.88% lower, with Tata Motors Ltd and Maruti Suzuki Ltd shedding 4.76% and 3.11%, respectively.

Shares of Yes Bank Ltd and Axis Bank Ltd were among the top percentage losers on the NSE Nifty, closing down 5.1% and 2.76%, respectively.

Airline stocks bucked the trend, with Interglobe Aviation Ltd rising 3.55% to a record high, while smaller rival SpiceJet Ltd rose as much as 5.51% — its best intraday spike ever.

Indian shares gave up gains in the last hour of trade to end lower on Thursday, with the blue-chip NSE index snapping five consecutive sessions of gains, as auto and financial stocks weighed.

Indian shares gave up gains in the last hour of trade to end lower on Thursday, with the blue-chip NSE index snapping five consecutive sessions of gains, as auto and financial stocks weighed. The broader NSE Nifty closed down 0.48% at 10,982.80, while the benchmark BSE Sensex ended 0.45% lower at 37,104.28. The BSE Sensex snapped three sessions of gains. The Nifty auto index ended 1.88% lower, with Tata Motors Ltd and Maruti Suzuki Ltd shedding 4.76% and 3.11%, respectively. Shares of Yes Bank Ltd and Axis Bank Ltd were among the top percentage losers on the NSE Nifty, closing down 5.1% and 2.76%, respectively. Airline stocks bucked the trend, with Interglobe Aviation Ltd rising 3.55% to a record high, while smaller rival SpiceJet Ltd rose as much as 5.51% — its best intraday spike ever.

Nifty, Sensex snap multi-day rally to end lower

Call it a shock discovery: DNA research has revealed two entirely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt.

The findings are evidence, researchers say, of the incredible diversity in the Amazon rainforest -- much of it still unknown to science -- and illustrate why it is so important to protect habitat at risk from deforestation, logging and fires.

"In spite of all human impact on the Amazon rainforest in the last 50 years, we can still discover giant fishes like the two new species of electric eels," said lead researcher C. David de Santana, a zoologist working with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

The research "indicates that an enormous amount of species are waiting to be discovered in the Amazon rainforest, many of which may harbour cures for diseases or inspire technological innovations," he told AFP.

The electric eel, in fact a kind of fish rather than an eel, inspired the design of the first electric battery.

For centuries, it was believed that a single species existed throughout the region known as Greater Amazonia, encompassing parts of countries including Brazil, Suriname and Guyana.

But as part of a project to better understand electric eels and map wildlife in remote parts of South America, de Santana and his team decided to test that conventional wisdom.

At first glance, they found little visible difference between creatures collected from different parts of the Amazon basin, suggesting the fish were indeed part of a single species.

But further analysis, including of DNA from 107 samples they collected, upended centuries of assumptions and revealed three different species: the previously known Electrophorus electricus, along with Electrophorus voltai and Electrophorus varii.

And their research also uncovered another stunning result: E. voltai is capable of delivering a jolt of 860 volts -- much more than the 650 volts previously recorded from electric eels -- "making it the strongest bioelectricity generator known."

'Hidden' functions

The findings, published Tuesday in the Nature Communications journal, theorise that the three species evolved from a shared ancestor millions of years ago.

The researchers found each of the three species has a clearly defined habitat, with E. electricus living in the Guiana Shield region, E. voltai in the Brazilian Shield, a highland further south, and E. varii inhabiting slow-flowing lowland Amazon basin waters.

And they suggest that the particularly strong electric shock that E. voltai can produce could be an adaptation to life in highland waters, where conductivity is less effective.

Electric eels use their shock tactics for a variety of reasons, including hunting prey, self-defence, and navigation.

They generate electricity from three specialised electric organs that can emit charges of varying strengths for different purposes.

But the discovery of the new species raises the possibility that different types of eels may have evolved different ways of generating electricity, perhaps better suited to their diverse environments.

De Santana hopes to compare the genomes of the three species, searching for clues that could offer insights useful to a variety of fields.

"Electric eel physiology inspired the design of Volta's first electric battery, provided a basis... for treating neurodegenerative diseases and recently promoted the advance of hydrogel batteries that could be used to power medical implants," he said.

The newly discovered species may reveal a "hidden variety" of functions "of interest to the broader scientific community."

Call it a shock discovery: DNA research has revealed two entirely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt.

Call it a shock discovery: DNA research has revealed two entirely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt. The findings are evidence, researchers say, of the incredible diversity in the Amazon rainforest -- much of it still unknown to science -- and illustrate why it is so important to protect habitat at risk from deforestation, logging and fires. "In spite of all human impact on the Amazon rainforest in the last 50 years, we can still discover giant fishes like the two new species of electric eels," said lead researcher C. David de Santana, a zoologist working with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The research "indicates that an enormous amount of species are waiting to be discovered in the Amazon rainforest, many of which may harbour cures for diseases or inspire technological innovations," he told AFP. The electric eel, in fact a kind of fish rather than an eel, inspired the design of the first electric battery. For centuries, it was believed that a single species existed throughout the region known as Greater Amazonia, encompassing parts of countries including Brazil, Suriname and Guyana. But as part of a project to better understand electric eels and map wildlife in remote parts of South America, de Santana and his team decided to test that conventional wisdom. At first glance, they found little visible difference between creatures collected from different parts of the Amazon basin, suggesting the fish were indeed part of a single species. But further analysis, including of DNA from 107 samples they collected, upended centuries of assumptions and revealed three different species: the previously known Electrophorus electricus, along with Electrophorus voltai and Electrophorus varii. And their research also uncovered another stunning result: E. voltai is capable of delivering a jolt of 860 volts -- much more than the 650 volts previously recorded from electric eels -- "making it the strongest bioelectricity generator known." 'Hidden' functions The findings, published Tuesday in the Nature Communications journal, theorise that the three species evolved from a shared ancestor millions of years ago. The researchers found each of the three species has a clearly defined habitat, with E. electricus living in the Guiana Shield region, E. voltai in the Brazilian Shield, a highland further south, and E. varii inhabiting slow-flowing lowland Amazon basin waters. And they suggest that the particularly strong electric shock that E. voltai can produce could be an adaptation to life in highland waters, where conductivity is less effective. Electric eels use their shock tactics for a variety of reasons, including hunting prey, self-defence, and navigation. They generate electricity from three specialised electric organs that can emit charges of varying strengths for different purposes. But the discovery of the new species raises the possibility that different types of eels may have evolved different ways of generating electricity, perhaps better suited to their diverse environments. De Santana hopes to compare the genomes of the three species, searching for clues that could offer insights useful to a variety of fields. "Electric eel physiology inspired the design of Volta's first electric battery, provided a basis... for treating neurodegenerative diseases and recently promoted the advance of hydrogel batteries that could be used to power medical implants," he said. The newly discovered species may reveal a "hidden variety" of functions "of interest to the broader scientific community."

DNA research reveals two new species of eel that delivers strongest electric jolt

Just over a month after resuming whaling, Japan on Sunday began its controversial dolphin hunt in the whaling town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
The controversial hunting method involves herding dolphins into a cove which is a bay with a narrow entrance that is sealed. The dolphins are&nbsp;reportedly slaughtered by fishermen inside the cove with knives in shallow water. 
 
Japan had announced in July that it was leaving the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and would <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-whales-caught-as-japan-resumes-commercial-hunt-after-30-years-232177">resume commercial whaling</a> from July 1. A global whaling moratorium was imposed in 1986.

Watch: Japan is hunting dolphins again

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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe belongs to Shimonoseki, a whaling centre. The Japanese prime minister had long campaigned to restart commercial whaling which began last month.

 
Reports said the island nation had resumed hunting minke whales in the coastal areas off Hokkaido on Monday and is likely to reach the "catch quota" by month-end. The Abe government has reportedly set 1,700 dolphins to be killed or captured. The dolphin hunting season usually lasts for six months. 
 
The Japanese government has apparently&nbsp;set&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-under-pressure-over-past-hunting-of-endangered-whales-243496">catch quota of 53 minke whales</a>&nbsp;in order&nbsp;to prevent over-hunting, however, fishermen could reach the quota in September. 
 
Whales are widely consumed in Japan amounting to roughly 40-50 grams per Japanese person a year although just over 300 people are directly linked to hunting. 
 
Japan had pulled out of International Whaling Commission in December last year as it decided to resume commercial whaling. Japan has now joined Iceland and Norway in whale hunting in open defiance of other countries who signed up to the International Whaling Commission.

Just over a month after resuming whaling, Japan on Sunday began its controversial dolphin hunt in the whaling town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture. The controversial hunting method involves herding dolphins into a cove which is a bay with a narrow entrance that is sealed.

Just over a month after resuming whaling, Japan on Sunday began its controversial dolphin hunt in the whaling town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture. The controversial hunting method involves herding dolphins into a cove which is a bay with a narrow entrance that is sealed. The dolphins are reportedly slaughtered by fishermen inside the cove with knives in shallow water. Japan had announced in July that it was leaving the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and would resume commercial whaling from July 1. A global whaling moratorium was imposed in 1986. Watch: Japan is hunting dolphins again × Prime Minister Shinzo Abe belongs to Shimonoseki, a whaling centre. The Japanese prime minister had long campaigned to restart commercial whaling which began last month. Reports said the island nation had resumed hunting minke whales in the coastal areas off Hokkaido on Monday and is likely to reach the "catch quota" by month-end. The Abe government has reportedly set 1,700 dolphins to be killed or captured. The dolphin hunting season usually lasts for six months. The Japanese government has apparently set a catch quota of 53 minke whales in order to prevent over-hunting, however, fishermen could reach the quota in September. Whales are widely consumed in Japan amounting to roughly 40-50 grams per Japanese person a year although just over 300 people are directly linked to hunting. Japan had pulled out of International Whaling Commission in December last year as it decided to resume commercial whaling. Japan has now joined Iceland and Norway in whale hunting in open defiance of other countries who signed up to the International Whaling Commission.

Now, Japan begins dolphin hunt in whaling town of Taiji

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze announced his resignation on Monday after little more than a year in the job and said the country must not be riven by political divisions that could play into Russia's hands.

Bakhtadze's resignation comes as the ruling Georgian Dream party's popularity has sagged following the brutal dispersal of an anti-Kremlin protest in Tbilisi on June 21. Parliamentary elections are due in October next year.

Bakhtadze, 37, a former finance minister who became prime minister in June last year, used a lengthy post on Facebook announcing his resignation to warn against damaging divisions in the country.

"...we must always remember that the only one who will win from the polarisation of Georgian society will be an occupying country," he wrote.

Georgia fought and lost a short war with Russia in 2008, prompting the countries to cut diplomatic ties. Russia went on to recognise the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions where it now has troops garrisoned.

Ties with Russia are therefore a politically divisive issue and a rally outside parliament this summer when a visiting Russian lawmaker addressed the chamber from the speaker's chair, descended into violent clashes with police.

The opposition, which says the current pro-Western government is too soft on Moscow, said that police used excessive force. The government said police were right to use force as protesters were trying to storm parliament.

Bakhtadze's warning also appeared a nod to divisions over domestic political issues such as media freedom and economic management.

The prime minister said he was stepping down because he had accomplished what he set out to do in the job.

"A strategic development framework has been created, implemented, and I have therefore decided to resign because I believe that I have fulfilled my mission at this stage," Bakhtadze said.

The ruling party is due to nominate a new prime minister on Tuesday.

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze announced his resignation on Monday after little more than a year in the job and said the country must not be riven by political divisions that could play into Russia's hands.

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze announced his resignation on Monday after little more than a year in the job and said the country must not be riven by political divisions that could play into Russia's hands. Bakhtadze's resignation comes as the ruling Georgian Dream party's popularity has sagged following the brutal dispersal of an anti-Kremlin protest in Tbilisi on June 21. Parliamentary elections are due in October next year. Bakhtadze, 37, a former finance minister who became prime minister in June last year, used a lengthy post on Facebook announcing his resignation to warn against damaging divisions in the country. "...we must always remember that the only one who will win from the polarisation of Georgian society will be an occupying country," he wrote. Georgia fought and lost a short war with Russia in 2008, prompting the countries to cut diplomatic ties. Russia went on to recognise the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions where it now has troops garrisoned. Ties with Russia are therefore a politically divisive issue and a rally outside parliament this summer when a visiting Russian lawmaker addressed the chamber from the speaker's chair, descended into violent clashes with police. The opposition, which says the current pro-Western government is too soft on Moscow, said that police used excessive force. The government said police were right to use force as protesters were trying to storm parliament. Bakhtadze's warning also appeared a nod to divisions over domestic political issues such as media freedom and economic management. The prime minister said he was stepping down because he had accomplished what he set out to do in the job. "A strategic development framework has been created, implemented, and I have therefore decided to resign because I believe that I have fulfilled my mission at this stage," Bakhtadze said. The ruling party is due to nominate a new prime minister on Tuesday.

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze steps down, warns against political divisions

A search was underway on Monday for 34 missing in a pre-dawn fire that sank a commercial diving boat off a Southern California island, authorities said, and some local media outlets reported that some passengers were killed.

Five crew members were rescued by a "good Samaritan pleasure craft" after the fire was reported at 3:15am local time as the 75-foot (23-meter) vessel sat about 20 yards (18 meters) off of Santa Cruz Island, the US Coast Guard said in a statement.

"The crew was already awake and on the bridge and jumped off" Coast Guard Captain Monica Rochester told a news conference.

Some local news outlets reported that rescuers said several people were dead, but the Coast Guard has not confirmed any fatalities in the fire which engulfed the Conception, a pleasured craft used by scuba divers.

The passengers had were all asleep below decks, according to the information the coast guard received, Rochester said.

A search was underway on Monday for 34 missing in a pre-dawn fire that sank a commercial diving boat off a Southern California island, authorities said, and some local media outlets reported that some passengers were killed.

A search was underway on Monday for 34 missing in a pre-dawn fire that sank a commercial diving boat off a Southern California island, authorities said, and some local media outlets reported that some passengers were killed. Five crew members were rescued by a "good Samaritan pleasure craft" after the fire was reported at 3:15am local time as the 75-foot (23-meter) vessel sat about 20 yards (18 meters) off of Santa Cruz Island, the US Coast Guard said in a statement. "The crew was already awake and on the bridge and jumped off" Coast Guard Captain Monica Rochester told a news conference. Some local news outlets reported that rescuers said several people were dead, but the Coast Guard has not confirmed any fatalities in the fire which engulfed the Conception, a pleasured craft used by scuba divers. The passengers had were all asleep below decks, according to the information the coast guard received, Rochester said.

At least 34 missing in California boat fire; five rescued: US Coast Guard

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