Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is still at risk of collapse after being<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/notre-dame-cathedral-was-probably-caused-by-accident-say-french-prosecutors-210901"> gutted by a fire in April</a>, with more stonework falling during the recent heatwave in the French capital, the government said on Wednesday.

France's culture ministry insisted that the urgent need to make the cathedral safe had dictated the pace of the works, following criticism that it had ignored the risks of lead poisoning.

Work to secure the cathedral was suspended on July 25 to allow for decontamination of the lead that had spread during the fire. The work should resume next week.

The culture ministry said that in the aftermath of the fire all work on the cathedral had been aimed at avoiding its collapse, and had not yet involved any kind of restoration.

"There were recently new falls of stones from the nave vaults due to the heatwave," it said.

"It is only the urgency linked to the persistent risk of a collapse that justifies the rhythm of work undertaken" since the fire.

French investigative news site Mediapart published a report this week accusing the ministry of repeatedly ignoring warnings by labour inspectors about the dangers posed by the lead until the works were finally suspended on July 25.

But the ministry rejected Mediapart's allegations that it had failed to pay attention to the risks encountered by workers on the site.

"All the state services involved at the site have made the health of the workers the absolute priority, above all other consideration," it said.

President Emmanuel Macron has set an ambitious target of five years for the restoration to be finished. But the ministry said restoration work would not even begin until next year.

"The first restoration works will not take place -- at the very earliest -- before the first half of 2020," it said.

Hundreds of tonnes of lead in the roof and steeple melted during the April 15 blaze that nearly destroyed the gothic masterpiece, with winds spreading the particles well beyond the church's grounds.

Paris prosecutors said in June that a poorly stubbed-out cigarette or an electrical fault could have started the fire and opened an investigation into criminal negligence, without targeting any individual.

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is still at risk of collapse after being gutted by a fire in April, with more stonework falling during the recent heatwave in the French capital, the government said on Wednesday.

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is still at risk of collapse after being gutted by a fire in April, with more stonework falling during the recent heatwave in the French capital, the government said on Wednesday. France's culture ministry insisted that the urgent need to make the cathedral safe had dictated the pace of the works, following criticism that it had ignored the risks of lead poisoning. Work to secure the cathedral was suspended on July 25 to allow for decontamination of the lead that had spread during the fire. The work should resume next week. The culture ministry said that in the aftermath of the fire all work on the cathedral had been aimed at avoiding its collapse, and had not yet involved any kind of restoration. "There were recently new falls of stones from the nave vaults due to the heatwave," it said. "It is only the urgency linked to the persistent risk of a collapse that justifies the rhythm of work undertaken" since the fire. French investigative news site Mediapart published a report this week accusing the ministry of repeatedly ignoring warnings by labour inspectors about the dangers posed by the lead until the works were finally suspended on July 25. But the ministry rejected Mediapart's allegations that it had failed to pay attention to the risks encountered by workers on the site. "All the state services involved at the site have made the health of the workers the absolute priority, above all other consideration," it said. President Emmanuel Macron has set an ambitious target of five years for the restoration to be finished. But the ministry said restoration work would not even begin until next year. "The first restoration works will not take place -- at the very earliest -- before the first half of 2020," it said. Hundreds of tonnes of lead in the roof and steeple melted during the April 15 blaze that nearly destroyed the gothic masterpiece, with winds spreading the particles well beyond the church's grounds. Paris prosecutors said in June that a poorly stubbed-out cigarette or an electrical fault could have started the fire and opened an investigation into criminal negligence, without targeting any individual.

Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris 'still at risk of collapse' after fire

European stocks fell on Wednesday as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/germanys-metro-says-66-billion-bid-undervalues-company-229824">Germany's economy </a>went into reverse, reviving fears of global recession and tempering a rally for equities after Washington delayed tariffs on some Chinese imports.

Europe's biggest economy shrank 0.1 per cent in the second quarter as the trade war and weak demand dragged on German manufacturers.

&nbsp;The eurozone as a whole reported gross domestic product grew just 0.2 per cent in the same quarter.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy?page=12">The Euro STOXX 600 fell 0.4 per cent</a>. Markets in London, Frankfurt, and Paris lost from 0.2per cent to 0.6per cent.&nbsp;

Wall Street futures gauges were also lower.

Bond markets were also flashing warning signals of recession.&nbsp;

The gap between US two-year and 10-year Treasury yields, a closely watched metric for signs of a slowdown, fell to less than a basis point after shrinking on Tuesday to its narrowest since June 2007.

The German figures, along with data showing the slowest growth for Chinese industrial output in 17 years stoking recession worries, knocked the wind out the sails for stocks.

Equity investors on Wall Street and Asia had cheered earlier when US&nbsp;President Donald Trump pushed back a Sept. 1 deadline for new tariffs on remaining Chinese imports.

The S&amp;P 500, which had fallen 1per cent on Monday, rose 1.5per cent overnight, sending Asian stocks outside Japan up 0.6per cent.&nbsp;

Benchmarks in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo all mirrored the surge in US stocks.

But the momentum ebbed in Europe, as optimism faded that Trump's move meant tensions were easing and Germany's slowdown showed the damage already done by the trade war.

"The trade war and the dispute between US and China have already had an impact, especially when you look at countries most sensitive to global trade like Germany and even Italy," said Christophe Barraud, chief economist and strategist at Market Securities in Paris.

The MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was flat.

In another sign the trade dispute is dragging on economic growth, China's industrial output slowed more than expected in July.&nbsp;

Its 4.8per cent growth was the lowest in 17 years.

The Japanese yen, considered a safe haven, gained 0.3per cent to 106.42 per dollar as the Chinese data signalled that any resolution to the trade war was a long way off.

Mirroring that view, the offshore Chinese yuan fell 0.4per cent against the dollar to 7.0337, erasing gains made the day before and remaining weaker than the 7 to the dollar it reached last week.

In commodity markets, oil prices fell after the Chinese data from China and a rise in US crude inventories, erasing some of the gains made after Trump's tariff delay.

Brent crude was down 54 cents, or 0.9per cent, at $60.76 a barrel at 0744 GMT, after rising 4.7per cent on Tuesday, its biggest percentage gain since December.

European stocks fell on Wednesday as Germany's economy went into reverse, reviving fears of global recession and tempering a rally for equities after Washington delayed tariffs on some Chinese imports.

European stocks fell on Wednesday as Germany's economy went into reverse, reviving fears of global recession and tempering a rally for equities after Washington delayed tariffs on some Chinese imports. Europe's biggest economy shrank 0.1 per cent in the second quarter as the trade war and weak demand dragged on German manufacturers. The eurozone as a whole reported gross domestic product grew just 0.2 per cent in the same quarter. The Euro STOXX 600 fell 0.4 per cent. Markets in London, Frankfurt, and Paris lost from 0.2per cent to 0.6per cent. Wall Street futures gauges were also lower. Bond markets were also flashing warning signals of recession. The gap between US two-year and 10-year Treasury yields, a closely watched metric for signs of a slowdown, fell to less than a basis point after shrinking on Tuesday to its narrowest since June 2007. The German figures, along with data showing the slowest growth for Chinese industrial output in 17 years stoking recession worries, knocked the wind out the sails for stocks. Equity investors on Wall Street and Asia had cheered earlier when US President Donald Trump pushed back a Sept. 1 deadline for new tariffs on remaining Chinese imports. The S&P 500, which had fallen 1per cent on Monday, rose 1.5per cent overnight, sending Asian stocks outside Japan up 0.6per cent. Benchmarks in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo all mirrored the surge in US stocks. But the momentum ebbed in Europe, as optimism faded that Trump's move meant tensions were easing and Germany's slowdown showed the damage already done by the trade war. "The trade war and the dispute between US and China have already had an impact, especially when you look at countries most sensitive to global trade like Germany and even Italy," said Christophe Barraud, chief economist and strategist at Market Securities in Paris. The MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was flat. In another sign the trade dispute is dragging on economic growth, China's industrial output slowed more than expected in July. Its 4.8per cent growth was the lowest in 17 years. The Japanese yen, considered a safe haven, gained 0.3per cent to 106.42 per dollar as the Chinese data signalled that any resolution to the trade war was a long way off. Mirroring that view, the offshore Chinese yuan fell 0.4per cent against the dollar to 7.0337, erasing gains made the day before and remaining weaker than the 7 to the dollar it reached last week. In commodity markets, oil prices fell after the Chinese data from China and a rise in US crude inventories, erasing some of the gains made after Trump's tariff delay. Brent crude was down 54 cents, or 0.9per cent, at $60.76 a barrel at 0744 GMT, after rising 4.7per cent on Tuesday, its biggest percentage gain since December.

Stocks take fright as recession warnings grow

When Beijing said this week that it saw the "first signs of terrorism" among Hong Kong's young pro-democracy protesters, it marked an ominous step in a progression of escalating rhetoric.

When Beijing said this week that it saw the "first signs of terrorism" among Hong Kong's young pro-democracy protesters, it marked an ominous step in a progression of escalating rhetoric. Weeks of rallies, demonstrations, and occupations have seen millions of people take to Hong Kong's streets in the biggest challenge to China's rule of the semi-autonomous city since its 1997 handover from Britain. And as tensions between demonstrators and Hong Kong authorities intensify so has the messaging from the central Chinese government, as it seeks to shape how the protests are perceived both overseas and on the mainland, where social media and news outlets are tightly controlled. Here's how Beijing's framing of the protests has evolved: Pro-extradition crowds On June 9, crowds bring central Hong Kong to a standstill to protest a controversial extradition law that critics say would erode freedoms in the city. Organisers say more than a million people marched through the streets in opposition to the bill. State-run news agency Xinhua downplays it as a "public procession." That evening's main news broadcast by state-run CCTV does not mention the protests and censored searches for the demonstration on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform yield no results. But in the following days, state media changes tactics: they de-emphasise the opposition marches and focus on support for the bill instead. "800,000 say 'yes' to rendition bill," reads one-China Daily piece, which describes the opposition rally as a much smaller counter-protest of "about 240,000" people. A Chinese-language People's Daily article echoes the same line, claiming "all walks of life have expressed their support for the amendment." External forces Soon after that rally, China begins blaming the protests on what it says is a small group of organisers colluding with Western governments. In mid-June, the People's Daily accuses "external forces" of interfering in China's internal affairs, a common refrain from China's foreign ministry whenever the country faces international criticism. This rhetoric amplifies as Western politicians throw their support behind Hong Kong protesters, whose demands to shelve the extradition bill had evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms. When Britain's foreign minister calls Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam to voice concern about the protests, China says Britain is "stirring up trouble" in the semi-autonomous city. At a press briefing in Beijing, Yang Guang, spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, links foreign interference with separatism. One of their goals is to "turn Hong Kong into a base for opposing the central government and a pawn to pin down China," he tells reporters. Violent radicals Violence in Hong Kong escalates throughout the summer and police use tear gas, rubber bullets, and batons to disperse projectile-throwing crowds. At the end of July, anger boils over after masked men, suspected of being triad gangsters attack protesters inside a train station. Demonstrators, frustrated by the government's intransigence, overrun the city's legislature and vandalise the walls of Beijing's office in Hong Kong. Chinese authorities blame a "few radicals" among protesters, while coverage of alleged police brutality is censored on the mainland. Official state news agency Xinhua warns "violent radicals" are pushing Hong Kong into an "abyss" and says there should be no compromise to their demands. Terrorism August sees a sharp increase in rhetoric and propaganda. On August 1, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison in Hong Kong releases a slick video showing armed troops practising to quell a protest. "The primary goal would be to intimidate Hong Kong protesters by suggesting they might move in and restore 'stability' by force," said Andrew Chubb, a Chinese politics and foreign policy researcher at Lancaster University. State-run outlets like the Global Times and People's Daily circulate footage of police drills and military vehicles near the Shenzhen border in southern China. On Monday, the day protesters cripple Hong Kong's busy airport, Beijing's language stiffens and it says the demonstrations show "the first signs of terrorism emerging". It repeats the charge on Wednesday, saying airport protesters are guilty of "terrorist-like actions". "The Communist Party uses its words very carefully," said Ben Bland, a research fellow at Lowy Institute. "The choice of words, in this case, is designed to signal to the Hong Kong authorities that they can use a higher degree of violence and repression," he told AFP. "It’s designed to scare off the protesters by saying, 'We view this very seriously.'"

From silence to 'terrorism': Beijing's evolving rhetoric on Hong Kong

Snap Inc said Tuesday it will launch a new version of its Spectacles sunglasses that will have the capability of capturing photos and videos and uploading them directly to its unit Snapchat.

Snap has struggled to make money from its Spectacles business, and wrote down $40 million in unsold glasses in 2017.

Production will be smaller for its new Spectacles 3 version, allowing Snap to continue experimenting with augmented reality, a key focus for the technology company.

Spectacles 3, which will begin shipping in the fall, will cost $380, almost twice the $200 cost of the previous version.

It will have dual cameras to add depth and dimension to photos and videos. After uploading the content to the messaging app Snapchat, users can add new lighting, landscapes and three-dimensional effects to the images, Snap said.

Snap gained fame among users in part through its augmented reality (AR) features, including lenses that can overlay effects like dog ears on photos, or even change a user's gender in Snap images.

The company added 13 million users in the second quarter, of which 7 million to 9 million were from the new AR lenses, Snap said.

Last week, Snap said it would raise $1.1 billion in debt to fund further investments in AR, content and possible acquisitions.

Snap should focus on earning more money from its content, and could potentially make investments in music, "a natural thing for people to share" on social media, said Jim McVeigh, founder of Cyndx, an investment search platform that connects companies with firms seeking to be acquired or to raise capital.

Snap Inc said Tuesday it will launch a new version of its Spectacles sunglasses that will have the capability of capturing photos and videos and uploading them directly to its unit Snapchat.

Snap Inc said Tuesday it will launch a new version of its Spectacles sunglasses that will have the capability of capturing photos and videos and uploading them directly to its unit Snapchat. Snap has struggled to make money from its Spectacles business, and wrote down $40 million in unsold glasses in 2017. Production will be smaller for its new Spectacles 3 version, allowing Snap to continue experimenting with augmented reality, a key focus for the technology company. Spectacles 3, which will begin shipping in the fall, will cost $380, almost twice the $200 cost of the previous version. It will have dual cameras to add depth and dimension to photos and videos. After uploading the content to the messaging app Snapchat, users can add new lighting, landscapes and three-dimensional effects to the images, Snap said. Snap gained fame among users in part through its augmented reality (AR) features, including lenses that can overlay effects like dog ears on photos, or even change a user's gender in Snap images. The company added 13 million users in the second quarter, of which 7 million to 9 million were from the new AR lenses, Snap said. Last week, Snap said it would raise $1.1 billion in debt to fund further investments in AR, content and possible acquisitions. Snap should focus on earning more money from its content, and could potentially make investments in music, "a natural thing for people to share" on social media, said Jim McVeigh, founder of Cyndx, an investment search platform that connects companies with firms seeking to be acquired or to raise capital.

Snap's new version of spectacles allows you to capture photos, videos

India's domestic passenger vehicle sales in July dived at the steepest pace in nearly two decades, an auto industry body said on Tuesday, as a financing crunch deepened a crisis in the country's autos sector and triggered large-scale job losses.

Sales of passenger vehicles to car dealers plunged 30.9% to 200,790 in July, the ninth straight month of declines, data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed.

The drop in sales is the worst since December 2000, when the industry sold a fifth of the vehicles it sells currently.

The crisis in the autos sector presents a major problem for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, just as he begins his second term in office, as the sector accounts for nearly half of India's manufacturing output.&nbsp;

The auto industry employs over 35 million people directly and indirectly.

"If this industry goes down, then everything gets hurt. Manufacturing, jobs and revenue to the government," Vishnu Mathur, director general, SIAM, told reporters on Tuesday, adding that car and motorcycle manufacturers have already slashed about 15,000 jobs.

The pace of decline has accelerated in recent months, as a liquidity crunch in India's shadow banking sector has dried up lines of credit to both auto dealers and potential car buyers.

Reuters reported last week that companies in the sector - which includes manufacturers, auto parts makers and dealerships - have so far cut as many as 350,000 jobs.

The Indian unit of German auto parts maker Bosch Ltd told Indian exchanges on Tuesday it would restructure its operations and adjust workforce in the light of a sector slowdown.

India's jobless rate climbed to 7.51% in July from 5.66% a year earlier, according to private data group CMIE.

The latest auto sales figures imply that India's GDP growth that has already slid to a near five-year low, is likely to show signs of further erosion for April-June when fresh data will be released later this month.

The downturn - regarded by industry executives as the worst ever suffered by the Indian auto industry - has already sent the S&amp;P BSE auto sector index tumbling more than 23% this year, while shares of the country's top carmaker Maruti Suzuki have slumped more than 20% since the beginning of 2019.

The domestic autos industry asked for tax breaks and easier access to finance for dealers and buyers at a meet with Indian government officials last week.

"The data shows an urgent need for a revival package from the government. The industry is doing everything possible to increase sales, but it needs government support to prevent the crisis from worsening," Mathur told reporters in New Delhi.

Motorcycle and scooters sales fell 16.8% to about 1.51 million units, while passenger car sales dived 36% to 122,956 units, the data showed.&nbsp;

Commercial vehicles sales plunged 25.7% to 56,866 units, SIAM said.

The data also showed that domestic passenger vehicle production was down nearly 17% in the month.

"We are hopeful of a revival package soon," Mathur said.

India's domestic passenger vehicle sales in July dived at the steepest pace in nearly two decades, an auto industry body said on Tuesday, as a financing crunch deepened a crisis in the country's autos sector and triggered large-scale job losses.

India's domestic passenger vehicle sales in July dived at the steepest pace in nearly two decades, an auto industry body said on Tuesday, as a financing crunch deepened a crisis in the country's autos sector and triggered large-scale job losses. Sales of passenger vehicles to car dealers plunged 30.9% to 200,790 in July, the ninth straight month of declines, data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed. The drop in sales is the worst since December 2000, when the industry sold a fifth of the vehicles it sells currently. The crisis in the autos sector presents a major problem for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, just as he begins his second term in office, as the sector accounts for nearly half of India's manufacturing output. The auto industry employs over 35 million people directly and indirectly. "If this industry goes down, then everything gets hurt. Manufacturing, jobs and revenue to the government," Vishnu Mathur, director general, SIAM, told reporters on Tuesday, adding that car and motorcycle manufacturers have already slashed about 15,000 jobs. The pace of decline has accelerated in recent months, as a liquidity crunch in India's shadow banking sector has dried up lines of credit to both auto dealers and potential car buyers. Reuters reported last week that companies in the sector - which includes manufacturers, auto parts makers and dealerships - have so far cut as many as 350,000 jobs. The Indian unit of German auto parts maker Bosch Ltd told Indian exchanges on Tuesday it would restructure its operations and adjust workforce in the light of a sector slowdown. India's jobless rate climbed to 7.51% in July from 5.66% a year earlier, according to private data group CMIE. The latest auto sales figures imply that India's GDP growth that has already slid to a near five-year low, is likely to show signs of further erosion for April-June when fresh data will be released later this month. The downturn - regarded by industry executives as the worst ever suffered by the Indian auto industry - has already sent the S&P BSE auto sector index tumbling more than 23% this year, while shares of the country's top carmaker Maruti Suzuki have slumped more than 20% since the beginning of 2019. The domestic autos industry asked for tax breaks and easier access to finance for dealers and buyers at a meet with Indian government officials last week. "The data shows an urgent need for a revival package from the government. The industry is doing everything possible to increase sales, but it needs government support to prevent the crisis from worsening," Mathur told reporters in New Delhi. Motorcycle and scooters sales fell 16.8% to about 1.51 million units, while passenger car sales dived 36% to 122,956 units, the data showed. Commercial vehicles sales plunged 25.7% to 56,866 units, SIAM said. The data also showed that domestic passenger vehicle production was down nearly 17% in the month. "We are hopeful of a revival package soon," Mathur said.

India's passenger vehicle sales drop at steepest pace in nearly two decades

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday organised a condolence meet to pay tribute to former External Affair Minister and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-final-rites-sushma-swarajs-mortal-remains-moved-to-bjp-headquarters-241315">BJP leader Sushma Swaraj</a>.

The meet was organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/video-pm-modi-bids-emotional-farewell-to-sushma-swaraj-241293">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a>, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and many other senior cabinet ministers and BJP leaders arrived to pay their respects.

Several other diplomats and leaders across the political spectrum are also expected to attend the event.

Watch:&nbsp;The remarkable political journey of Sushma Swaraj

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-remarkable-political-journey-of-sushma-swaraj-241414/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sushma-swaraj-former-external-affairs-minister-passes-away-at-age-67-241220">Swaraj passed away</a> on the night of August 6 following a cardiac arrest.

Thousands bid adieu to their beloved leader as she was cremated with full state honours.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday organised a condolence meet to pay tribute to former External Affair Minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj. The meet was organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday organised a condolence meet to pay tribute to former External Affair Minister and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj. The meet was organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and many other senior cabinet ministers and BJP leaders arrived to pay their respects. Several other diplomats and leaders across the political spectrum are also expected to attend the event. Watch: The remarkable political journey of Sushma Swaraj Swaraj passed away on the night of August 6 following a cardiac arrest. Thousands bid adieu to their beloved leader as she was cremated with full state honours.

BJP organises condolence meet for former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation on Wednesday on the eve of the 73rd Independence Day.

The address will be broadcast from 7 pm onwards on the entire national network of All India Radio (AIR) and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version, read a statement.

Broadcast of the address in Hindi and English on Doordarshan will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan. AIR will broadcast regional language versions from 8 pm onwards on its respective regional networks.&nbsp;

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation on Wednesday on the eve of the 73rd Independence Day. The address will be broadcast from 7 pm onwards on the entire national network of All India Radio (AIR) and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version, read a statement.

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation on Wednesday on the eve of the 73rd Independence Day. The address will be broadcast from 7 pm onwards on the entire national network of All India Radio (AIR) and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version, read a statement. Broadcast of the address in Hindi and English on Doordarshan will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan. AIR will broadcast regional language versions from 8 pm onwards on its respective regional networks.

President Ram Nath Kovind to address nation on eve of 73rd Independence Day

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/body-found-in-hunt-for-franco-irish-teen-in-malaysia-242760">body found in Malaysia</a> on Tuesday is of Franco-Irish teen Nora Quoirin, who went missing 10 days ago, police said.

"The family has confirmed it is the body of Nora," Mohamad Mat Yusop, police chief of Negeri Sembilan state, told AFP.

Nora Quoirin, 15, went missing on August 4, a day after checking into the resort with her London-based family.

They suspected she was abducted but Malaysian police classified it as a missing person case.

More than 350 people were deployed to hunt through dense jungle next to the Dusun Resort, not far from Kuala Lumpur, backed by helicopters, drones, sniffer dogs and divers.

The body found in Malaysia on Tuesday is of Franco-Irish teen Nora Quoirin, who went missing 10 days ago, police said. "The family has confirmed it is the body of Nora," Mohamad Mat Yusop, police chief of Negeri Sembilan state, told AFP.

The body found in Malaysia on Tuesday is of Franco-Irish teen Nora Quoirin, who went missing 10 days ago, police said. "The family has confirmed it is the body of Nora," Mohamad Mat Yusop, police chief of Negeri Sembilan state, told AFP. Nora Quoirin, 15, went missing on August 4, a day after checking into the resort with her London-based family. They suspected she was abducted but Malaysian police classified it as a missing person case. More than 350 people were deployed to hunt through dense jungle next to the Dusun Resort, not far from Kuala Lumpur, backed by helicopters, drones, sniffer dogs and divers.

Body found in Malaysia is of missing teen Nora Quoirin: Police

The death toll in flood-hit Kerala has gone up to 91 with 59 still missing, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) informed on Tuesday.

''91 deaths, 59 people missing, &amp; 34 injured due to flood-related incidents across the state, between 8th August to 13th August,'' KSDMA said.

As many as 1,332 relief camps are currently operational in the state.

Earlier, Chief Minister's Office tweeted that red alert has been issued for three districts and orange alerts for nine other districts.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Alert: Forecasters predict heavy rains across most parts of the State. Red alert has been issued for 3 districts; Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Idukki. Orange alert issued for 9 other districts. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KeralaFloods?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KeralaFloods</a> <a href="https://t.co/xMTvP48ibg">pic.twitter.com/xMTvP48ibg</a>
— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMOKerala/status/1161176893707603968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted "cloudy sky with a few spells of rain or thundershowers" for the next five days in the state.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has left from Thiruvananthapuram and will visit flood-affected areas of Wayanad and Malappuram later in the day.

(With inputs from agencies)

The death toll in flood-hit Kerala has gone up to 91 with 59 still missing, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) informed on Tuesday. ''91 deaths, 59 people missing, & 34 injured due to flood-related incidents across the state, between 8th August to 13th August,'' KSDMA said.

The death toll in flood-hit Kerala has gone up to 91 with 59 still missing, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) informed on Tuesday. ''91 deaths, 59 people missing, & 34 injured due to flood-related incidents across the state, between 8th August to 13th August,'' KSDMA said. As many as 1,332 relief camps are currently operational in the state. Earlier, Chief Minister's Office tweeted that red alert has been issued for three districts and orange alerts for nine other districts. Alert: Forecasters predict heavy rains across most parts of the State. Red alert has been issued for 3 districts; Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Idukki. Orange alert issued for 9 other districts. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/xMTvP48ibg — CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) August 13, 2019 × The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted "cloudy sky with a few spells of rain or thundershowers" for the next five days in the state. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has left from Thiruvananthapuram and will visit flood-affected areas of Wayanad and Malappuram later in the day. (With inputs from agencies)

Death toll reaches 91 with 59 missing as rains wreak havoc in Kerala

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Tuesday he was working to prevent two rescue ships operated by French and Spanish charities from bringing more than 500 migrants to Italy in the latest Mediterranean stand-off.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Tuesday he was working to prevent two rescue ships operated by French and Spanish charities from bringing more than 500 migrants to Italy in the latest Mediterranean stand-off. The Ocean Viking, which is run by French non-governmental groups (NGOs) Doctors Without Borders and SOS Mediterranee, has picked up some 356 migrants off the coast of Libya since Friday, while Spanish boat Open Arms has saved some 160 people. Both vessels are in the central Mediterranean, within easy sailing distance of the Italian island of Lampedusa and are seeking a safe port to disembark the mainly African migrants. But Salvini, the leader of the far-right League who has seen his popularity in Italy soar since he took office last year and launched a fierce anti-immigration crackdown, said on Tuesday the boats were not Rome's problem. "I am at work in the ministry this morning to prevent more than 500 migrants from disembarking from two NGO boats, one French and one Spanish," Salvini wrote on Facebook. "I will let you know how this ends. I will not give up." Earlier this month, Salvini introduced a new law hiking fines for ships that enter Italian waters without authorisation to up to 1 million euros ($1.12 million). It also provides for the arrest of captains who ignore orders to stay away and calls on naval authorities to seize their boats automatically. Buoyed by his success in the polls, Salvini is looking to trigger an early election in the autumn by bringing down the Italian government, confident he would emerge as prime minister from any new vote. As such, a high-profile clash with foreign charities will bolster his anti-migrant credentials. UN alarm Salvini said Libya had offered to take back the migrants aboard the Ocean Viking and said Open Arms should go to Spain. Doctors Without Borders has ruled out taking migrants to violence-plagued Libya, saying migrants are routinely tortured and abused there. Open Arms has called for the European Union to coordinate the re-distribution of the migrants around the bloc. The United Nations refugee agency called on European governments to intervene, warning that storms were approaching. "To leave people who have fled war and violence in Libya on the high seas in this weather would be to inflict suffering upon suffering," said Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR Special Envoy for the Central Mediterranean. "They must be immediately allowed to dock, and allowed to receive much-needed humanitarian aid." Spain said Italy should deal with immediate care. "International law states that a rescue takes place in the closest safe port. Without a doubt, right now that means Italy. If it was us, we would do it," Spain's acting development minister Jose Luis Abalos told Telecinco television on Tuesday. However, he also said Europe needed to forge a "wider" policy to handle migrant arrivals from Africa. Italy has taken in more than 600,000 boat migrants since 2014, but new arrivals have fallen sharply over the past two years, with the decline accelerating over the past year. Latest figures say 4,265 migrants have reached Italy so far in 2019, down 78 per cent on the same period in 2018 and down 96 per cent on 2017 levels.

In a new migrant standoff, Italy's Salvini blocks two NGO boats

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/all-check-ins-suspended-at-hong-kong-airport-as-protests-escalate-242706">All check-ins suspended at Hong Kong airport as protests escalate</a>

Authorities at Hong Kong airport on Tuesday suspended all departure check-ins after protesters blocked the facility for a second day, but some flights were still arriving and taking off.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/concerned-poland-says-india-pakistan-must-resolve-kashmir-issue-through-dialogue-242711">'Concerned’ Poland hopes India, Pakistan resolve Kashmir issue through dialogue</a>

Poland's ambassador to India Adam Burakowski on Tuesday said that India and Pakistan have to resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-britain-might-free-oil-tanker-soon-irna-242778">Iran says Britain might free oil tanker soon; Gibraltar government source denies claim</a>

Iran said on Tuesday that Britain might free its oil tanker Grace 1 soon in a maritime saga that has exacerbated frictions between Tehran and the West.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sydney-knife-attack-currently-not-classed-as-a-terrorist-incident-police-242764">Sydney knife attack currently not classed as a terrorist incident: Police</a>

After a man went on a stabbing attack in downtown Sydney killing one woman and wounding another, police said he was carrying a knife and a computer thumb drive containing information about deadly attacks in North America and New Zealand when he went on the frenzy as a "lone actor".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/if-everything-stays-normal-we-will-meet-people-of-jammu-and-kashmir-without-guns-says-army-chief-general-bipin-rawat-242769">If everything stays normal, we will meet people of Jammu and Kashmir without guns, says Army Chief General Bipin Rawat</a>

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday downplayed Pakistan ramping up troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of abrogation of Article 370.

All check-ins suspended at Hong Kong airport as protests escalate Authorities at Hong Kong airport on Tuesday suspended all departure check-ins after protesters blocked the facility for a second day, but some flights were still arriving and taking off.

All check-ins suspended at Hong Kong airport as protests escalate Authorities at Hong Kong airport on Tuesday suspended all departure check-ins after protesters blocked the facility for a second day, but some flights were still arriving and taking off. 'Concerned’ Poland hopes India, Pakistan resolve Kashmir issue through dialogue Poland's ambassador to India Adam Burakowski on Tuesday said that India and Pakistan have to resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally. Iran says Britain might free oil tanker soon; Gibraltar government source denies claim Iran said on Tuesday that Britain might free its oil tanker Grace 1 soon in a maritime saga that has exacerbated frictions between Tehran and the West. Sydney knife attack currently not classed as a terrorist incident: Police After a man went on a stabbing attack in downtown Sydney killing one woman and wounding another, police said he was carrying a knife and a computer thumb drive containing information about deadly attacks in North America and New Zealand when he went on the frenzy as a "lone actor". If everything stays normal, we will meet people of Jammu and Kashmir without guns, says Army Chief General Bipin Rawat Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday downplayed Pakistan ramping up troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of abrogation of Article 370.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Measles cases nearly tripled globally during the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2018, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-health-organization-says-e-cigarettes-undoubtedly-harmful-238779">World Health Organization said Tuesday</a>, amid growing concern over public resistance to the vaccine.

So far this year, 364,808 measles cases were reported around the world, compared to 129,239 cases during the first seven months a year earlier.&nbsp;

These numbers are "the highest (registered) since 2006," WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva.

The numbers are especially worrying since only about one in 10 actual measles cases are believed to be reported worldwide, according to WHO.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-health-organisation-says-investigators-conclude-ebola-victim-did-not-enter-rwanda-237160">Measles, which is highly contagious</a>, can be entirely prevented through a two-dose vaccine, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has in recent months sounded the alarm overslipping vaccination rates.&nbsp;

Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Ukraine registered the highest number of cases, WHO said.

In Madagascar, which registered around 127,500 cases during the first half of this year alone, numbers have meanwhile dropped considerably in recent months following an emergency national vaccination campaign, the UN health agency stressed.

Measles cases have soared worldwide, with the African region seeing a 900 per cent jump in cases year-on-year, while cases rose 230 per cent in the western Pacific.

Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sudan, South Sudan and Thailand have all seen major outbreaks of the disease.

The United States has meanwhile registered 1,164 cases so far this year, compared to 372 for all of 2018 and the highest number on record in a quarter-century.

And in the European region, nearly 90,000 cases have been registered this year, well above the 84,462 cases registered last year.

Measles, an airborne infection causing fever, coughing and rashes that can be deadly in rare cases had been officially eliminated in many countries with advanced healthcare systems.

But the so-called anti-vax movement, driven by fraudulent claims linking the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, and risk of autism in children has gained traction.

WHO pointed out that the reasons for people not being vaccinated vary significantly between communities and countries, with a lack of access to quality healthcare or vaccination services hindering some from getting the jabs, while others are led astray by "misinformation about vaccines, or low awareness about the need to vaccinate."

The measles vaccine is a "safe and highly effective vaccine", WHO stressed in a statement, urging "everyone to ensure their measles vaccinations are up to date."

Measles cases nearly tripled globally during the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2018, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, amid growing concern over public resistance to the vaccine.

Measles cases nearly tripled globally during the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2018, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, amid growing concern over public resistance to the vaccine. So far this year, 364,808 measles cases were reported around the world, compared to 129,239 cases during the first seven months a year earlier. These numbers are "the highest (registered) since 2006," WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva. The numbers are especially worrying since only about one in 10 actual measles cases are believed to be reported worldwide, according to WHO. Measles, which is highly contagious, can be entirely prevented through a two-dose vaccine, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has in recent months sounded the alarm overslipping vaccination rates. Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Ukraine registered the highest number of cases, WHO said. In Madagascar, which registered around 127,500 cases during the first half of this year alone, numbers have meanwhile dropped considerably in recent months following an emergency national vaccination campaign, the UN health agency stressed. Measles cases have soared worldwide, with the African region seeing a 900 per cent jump in cases year-on-year, while cases rose 230 per cent in the western Pacific. Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sudan, South Sudan and Thailand have all seen major outbreaks of the disease. The United States has meanwhile registered 1,164 cases so far this year, compared to 372 for all of 2018 and the highest number on record in a quarter-century. And in the European region, nearly 90,000 cases have been registered this year, well above the 84,462 cases registered last year. Measles, an airborne infection causing fever, coughing and rashes that can be deadly in rare cases had been officially eliminated in many countries with advanced healthcare systems. But the so-called anti-vax movement, driven by fraudulent claims linking the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, and risk of autism in children has gained traction. WHO pointed out that the reasons for people not being vaccinated vary significantly between communities and countries, with a lack of access to quality healthcare or vaccination services hindering some from getting the jabs, while others are led astray by "misinformation about vaccines, or low awareness about the need to vaccinate." The measles vaccine is a "safe and highly effective vaccine", WHO stressed in a statement, urging "everyone to ensure their measles vaccinations are up to date."

Global measles cases triple year-on-year: World Health Organization

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Riya Gupta

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

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