The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 to increase the number of Judges in the Supreme Court from present 30 to 33 excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2019 was passed after a reply by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

As on June 1, there were 58,669 cases pending in the apex court.

Prasad said it was not possible for the Chief Justice of India to constitute five Judges Bench on a regular basis to hear cases involving substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution as it would result in constitution of less number of division benches which would lead to delay in hearing of other civil and criminal matters.

The feeder cadre of Chief Justices and Judges of the High Courts has increased from 906 to 1,079 and presently new High Courts have also been established in the previous years, he said.

"This has led to an increase in the disposal of cases at the High Court level leading to a larger number of appeals to the Supreme Court. It is, therefore, proposed to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 to increase the number of Judges in the Supreme Court from present thirty to thirty-three excluding the Chief Justice of India", he said.

The Chief Justice of India had intimated the government that inadequate strength of judges is one of the prime reasons for the backlog of cases in the apex court.&nbsp;

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 to increase the number of Judges in the Supreme Court from present 30 to 33 excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 to increase the number of Judges in the Supreme Court from present 30 to 33 excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2019 was passed after a reply by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. As on June 1, there were 58,669 cases pending in the apex court. Prasad said it was not possible for the Chief Justice of India to constitute five Judges Bench on a regular basis to hear cases involving substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution as it would result in constitution of less number of division benches which would lead to delay in hearing of other civil and criminal matters. The feeder cadre of Chief Justices and Judges of the High Courts has increased from 906 to 1,079 and presently new High Courts have also been established in the previous years, he said. "This has led to an increase in the disposal of cases at the High Court level leading to a larger number of appeals to the Supreme Court. It is, therefore, proposed to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 to increase the number of Judges in the Supreme Court from present thirty to thirty-three excluding the Chief Justice of India", he said. The Chief Justice of India had intimated the government that inadequate strength of judges is one of the prime reasons for the backlog of cases in the apex court.

Lok Sabha passes bill to increase number of judges in Supreme Court

Heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Delhi and NCR on Tuesday morning causing inconvenience to commuters.

According to Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi received 12.6 mm rainfall till 8.30 am.

The Palam Observatory received 38.5 mm rainfall. Humidity was recorded at 97 per cent.

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Delhi: Rain lashes the national capital; visuals from Baba Kharak Singh Marg area. <a href="https://t.co/QywSPhRdXL">pic.twitter.com/QywSPhRdXL</a>
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Roads such as Fatehpuri T-point on S P Mukherjee Marg, Rajdhani Park, Kashmiri Gate, Mehrauli-Badarpur T-point and Pramod Mahajan Marg were waterlogged.

The Delhi traffic police also tweeted out some information for the commuters.&nbsp;

''I/P flyover has been temporarily closed for commuters due to overflow of sewer water in the area,'' Delhi traffic police tweeted.

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Traffic Alert 
 
Traffic is affected from Khyber Pass towards Model Town due to water logging near Mall Road.
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''Traffic is affected from Khyber Pass towards Model Town due to waterlogging near Mall Road. Traffic is affected from GPO to Nigam Bodh Ghat due to waterlogging near Kela Ghat,'' Traffic police further tweeted.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted cloudy sky with moderate rainfall and scattered thundershowers throughout the day.

Heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Delhi and NCR on Tuesday morning causing inconvenience to commuters. According to Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi received 12.

Heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Delhi and NCR on Tuesday morning causing inconvenience to commuters. According to Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi received 12.6 mm rainfall till 8.30 am. The Palam Observatory received 38.5 mm rainfall. Humidity was recorded at 97 per cent. Delhi: Rain lashes the national capital; visuals from Baba Kharak Singh Marg area. pic.twitter.com/QywSPhRdXL — ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019 × Roads such as Fatehpuri T-point on S P Mukherjee Marg, Rajdhani Park, Kashmiri Gate, Mehrauli-Badarpur T-point and Pramod Mahajan Marg were waterlogged. The Delhi traffic police also tweeted out some information for the commuters. ''I/P flyover has been temporarily closed for commuters due to overflow of sewer water in the area,'' Delhi traffic police tweeted. Traffic Alert Traffic is affected from Khyber Pass towards Model Town due to water logging near Mall Road. — Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) August 6, 2019 × ''Traffic is affected from Khyber Pass towards Model Town due to waterlogging near Mall Road. Traffic is affected from GPO to Nigam Bodh Ghat due to waterlogging near Kela Ghat,'' Traffic police further tweeted. The India Meteorological Department has predicted cloudy sky with moderate rainfall and scattered thundershowers throughout the day.

Heavy rain lashes several parts of Delhi and NCR, traffic severely affected

Days after losing trust vote in Assembly, former Karnataka chief minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-dont-need-any-coalition-now-hd-kumaraswamy-240612">HD Kumaraswamy said</a> that he is the happiest person now after vacating the office.

''I am&nbsp;the happiest person now after vacating the office as a Chief Minister. For 14 months, I worked for the development of the state, there is a little pain in my heart because nobody appreciated my work,'' Kumaraswamy said.

Kumaraswamy led the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka collapsed after 14 months after it lost the trust vote in the assembly recently.

''I had given full freedom to all the MLAs, and even Corporation Chairmen, why they are blaming me I don't know. For the last 14 months, I worked like a slave for these MLAs and our coalition partners,'' Kumaraswamy further added.

''Even when MLAs used to come without taking an appointment, I met them. Whatever requests they had for the development of their constituencies, I took decisions on them immediately. What previous Congress govt couldn't achieve, I did in 14 months,'' Kumaraswamy added.

The former minister also said that he has no interest to continue in politics but because of party workers, he is continuing.

Congress-JDS govt falls as Kumaraswamy loses trust vote

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''I am disgusted, personally I've no interest to continue in politics but because of my party workers, I am continuing. Caste politics, muscle power, &amp; money power is going on, there is no fairness in political activity nowadays. For good people, it is very difficult,'' Kumaraswamy said.

Earlier Kumaraswamy said that JD(S) will <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/be-prepared-for-elections-very-soon-kumaraswamy-to-party-workers-240560">fight the upcoming elections in the state on its own</a> and that there will be no coalition with any other party.

Days after losing trust vote in Assembly, former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said that he is the happiest person now after vacating the office. ''I am the happiest person now after vacating the office as a Chief Minister.

Days after losing trust vote in Assembly, former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said that he is the happiest person now after vacating the office. ''I am the happiest person now after vacating the office as a Chief Minister. For 14 months, I worked for the development of the state, there is a little pain in my heart because nobody appreciated my work,'' Kumaraswamy said. Kumaraswamy led the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka collapsed after 14 months after it lost the trust vote in the assembly recently. ''I had given full freedom to all the MLAs, and even Corporation Chairmen, why they are blaming me I don't know. For the last 14 months, I worked like a slave for these MLAs and our coalition partners,'' Kumaraswamy further added. ''Even when MLAs used to come without taking an appointment, I met them. Whatever requests they had for the development of their constituencies, I took decisions on them immediately. What previous Congress govt couldn't achieve, I did in 14 months,'' Kumaraswamy added. The former minister also said that he has no interest to continue in politics but because of party workers, he is continuing. Congress-JDS govt falls as Kumaraswamy loses trust vote ''I am disgusted, personally I've no interest to continue in politics but because of my party workers, I am continuing. Caste politics, muscle power, & money power is going on, there is no fairness in political activity nowadays. For good people, it is very difficult,'' Kumaraswamy said. Earlier Kumaraswamy said that JD(S) will fight the upcoming elections in the state on its own and that there will be no coalition with any other party.

Worked like a slave for 14 months for MLAs, coalition partners: HD Kumaraswamy

General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Core Group of Intelligence and Security agencies to review the "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pok-and-aksai-chin-also-part-of-jammu-and-kashmir-amit-shah-in-lok-sabha-241012">operational readiness in Jammu and Kashmir</a>".

"Necessary security arrangements have been put in place for ensuring peace and security,"&nbsp;Ranbir Singh said.

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had held a meeting in Raj Bhavan and reviewed the prevailing security and law and order situation in the state, in the aftermath of developments in the Parliament relating to Jammu and Kashmir.

The governor's meeting took place as former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, who were put under house arrest on Sunday night, were detained hours after resolution on scrapping of Article 370 was passed in the Rajya Sabha.

The Chief Secretary informed the Governor that there is no dearth of essential commodities in the Valley and there is sufficient stocking of the same for over three months.

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">The development comes as Union home minister Amit Shah presented the J&amp;K bill in Lok Sabha today after the Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill stated the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and revoking Article 370 and Article 35A.</div>

''PoK is part of Jammu and Kashmir,'' Amit Shah said while moving the resolution in Lok Sabha.

General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Core Group of Intelligence and Security agencies to review the "operational readiness in Jammu and Kashmir".

General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Core Group of Intelligence and Security agencies to review the "operational readiness in Jammu and Kashmir". "Necessary security arrangements have been put in place for ensuring peace and security," Ranbir Singh said. Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had held a meeting in Raj Bhavan and reviewed the prevailing security and law and order situation in the state, in the aftermath of developments in the Parliament relating to Jammu and Kashmir. The governor's meeting took place as former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, who were put under house arrest on Sunday night, were detained hours after resolution on scrapping of Article 370 was passed in the Rajya Sabha. The Chief Secretary informed the Governor that there is no dearth of essential commodities in the Valley and there is sufficient stocking of the same for over three months. The development comes as Union home minister Amit Shah presented the J&K bill in Lok Sabha today after the Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill stated the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and revoking Article 370 and Article 35A. ''PoK is part of Jammu and Kashmir,'' Amit Shah said while moving the resolution in Lok Sabha.

Army commander Ranbir Singh reviews operational readiness in Jammu and Kashmir

One soldier was injured in an exchange of fire along the Line of Control(LoC) on Tuesday after a major infiltration bid was foiled in the Macchal sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to reports, five to six terrorists infiltrated 500 metres into Indian territory.

The development occurred even as General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/army-commander-ranbir-singh-reviews-operational-readiness-in-jammu-and-kashmir-241021">chaired a meeting</a> of the Core Group of Intelligence and Security agencies to review the "operational readiness in Jammu and Kashmir".

"Necessary security arrangements have been put in place for ensuring peace and security," Ranbir Singh said.

One soldier was injured in an exchange of fire along the Line of Control(LoC) on Tuesday after a major infiltration bid was foiled in the Macchal sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

One soldier was injured in an exchange of fire along the Line of Control(LoC) on Tuesday after a major infiltration bid was foiled in the Macchal sector of Jammu and Kashmir. According to reports, five to six terrorists infiltrated 500 metres into Indian territory. The development occurred even as General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh chaired a meeting of the Core Group of Intelligence and Security agencies to review the "operational readiness in Jammu and Kashmir". "Necessary security arrangements have been put in place for ensuring peace and security," Ranbir Singh said.

Army foils major infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir; one soldier injured

After India's&nbsp;home minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-jammu-kashmir-situation-section-144-imposed-security-tightened-in-state-240732">Amit Shah announced the revoking of Article 370</a> and repealing of&nbsp;Article 35A of the Constitution of India which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and its residents,&nbsp;former finance minister Arun Jaitley congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for "correcting a historic blunder".

''A historical wrong has been undone today. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-is-article-35a-heres-all-you-need-to-know-240752">Article 35A</a> came through the back door without following the procedure under Article 368 of the Constitution of India. It had to go. My compliments to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and the Home Minister Shri Amit Shah for correcting a historical blunder,'' Arun Jaitley tweeted.

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My complements to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and the Home Minister Shri Amit Shah for correcting a historical blunder.
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) <a href="https://twitter.com/arunjaitley/status/1158269079964094464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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''The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-now-a-union-territory-ladakh-to-be-administered-from-delhi-as-ut-240769">decision of the government</a> will help the people of J&amp;K the most," he added.

"More investment, more industry, more private educational institutions, more jobs and more revenue. While <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/article-370-revoked-from-jammu-and-kashmir-all-you-need-to-know-240772">Article 370</a> and Article 35A decision benefits the residents of J&amp;K the most, the Kashmir regional leaders feel that they will not be able to whip up the fake issue of ‘sentiment vs. benefit’ to the people,'' Jaitley said in a series of tweets.

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While the Article 370 and Article 35A decision benefits the residents of J&amp;K the most, the Kashmir regional leaders feel that they will not be able to whip up the fake issue of ‘sentiment vs. benefit’ to the people.
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) <a href="https://twitter.com/arunjaitley/status/1158269068861792257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Former Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj also hailed the decision.

''A bold and historic decision. We salute our Great India - one India,'' Swaraj tweeted.

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बहुत साहसिक और ऐतिहासिक निर्णय. श्रेष्ठ भारत - एक भारत का अभिनन्दन. 
A bold and historic decision. We salute our Great India - one India.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/1158268717316231168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, reports said PM Modi is likey to speak to the nation on the Jammu and Kashmir situation on August 7.

After India's home minister Amit Shah announced the revoking of Article 370 and repealing of Article 35A of the Constitution of India which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and its residents, former finance minister Arun Jaitley congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for "correcting a historic blunder".

After India's home minister Amit Shah announced the revoking of Article 370 and repealing of Article 35A of the Constitution of India which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and its residents, former finance minister Arun Jaitley congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for "correcting a historic blunder". ''A historical wrong has been undone today. Article 35A came through the back door without following the procedure under Article 368 of the Constitution of India. It had to go. My compliments to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and the Home Minister Shri Amit Shah for correcting a historical blunder,'' Arun Jaitley tweeted. My complements to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and the Home Minister Shri Amit Shah for correcting a historical blunder. — Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) August 5, 2019 × ''The decision of the government will help the people of J&K the most," he added. "More investment, more industry, more private educational institutions, more jobs and more revenue. While Article 370 and Article 35A decision benefits the residents of J&K the most, the Kashmir regional leaders feel that they will not be able to whip up the fake issue of ‘sentiment vs. benefit’ to the people,'' Jaitley said in a series of tweets. While the Article 370 and Article 35A decision benefits the residents of J&K the most, the Kashmir regional leaders feel that they will not be able to whip up the fake issue of ‘sentiment vs. benefit’ to the people. — Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) August 5, 2019 × Former Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj also hailed the decision. ''A bold and historic decision. We salute our Great India - one India,'' Swaraj tweeted. बहुत साहसिक और ऐतिहासिक निर्णय. श्रेष्ठ भारत - एक भारत का अभिनन्दन. A bold and historic decision. We salute our Great India - one India. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 5, 2019 × Meanwhile, reports said PM Modi is likey to speak to the nation on the Jammu and Kashmir situation on August 7.

Historical wrong has been undone today, says Arun Jaitley on J&K situation

Manicured children strut down the catwalk at<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijings-new-multi-billion-dollar-starfish-airport-set-to-open-in-september-231977"> a Beijing</a> fashion show, one of the thousands of events driving huge demand for child models in China that insiders warn leaves minors vulnerable to physical abuse, 12 hour days and unrelenting pressure from pushy parents.

The kid's apparel market is growing faster than any other clothing sector in the country and was worth more than $40.5 billion in 2018 according to Euromonitor.&nbsp;

This combined with the rise of "kidfluencers" sponsored by brands to promote products on social media is spurring greater demand for young models but experts warn of the heavy cost of pursuing such deals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"If children don't listen to the parents then I think hitting them is quite standard," Lee Ku, founder of Le Show Stars modelling school, told AFP.

A video of a mother kicking her three-year-old daughter in fury at her failure to comply during a modelling job went viral earlier this year, causing outrage online.

And footage emerged in early August online of a young boy modelling thick winter clothes outside as temperatures soared to 37 degrees Celsius, also drawing heavy online criticism.&nbsp;

But in an industry where minors can earn 10,000 yuan ($1,450)a session, Lee says the clip is the tip of the iceberg and that from his experience, such violent behaviour from parents was not unusual on shoots.

Child models sometimes go through more than 100 outfit changes in a session, often working from morning till night.&nbsp;

But mental health experts warn it is not just physical exhaustion they have to contend with there may be long term emotional implications.&nbsp;

"Children from the age of zero to six are mentally developing, they need a lot of exploration and freedom," explained child psychologist Gong Xueping.

"At work, the child model will deliberately show a lot of different expressions... but this is contrary to the child's feelings of the moment. This limits the development of both emotional abilities and more complex psychological abilities for children, so I think it's a very bad choice," Gong added.&nbsp;

Hundreds of competitions

But there remains no shortage of parents interested in pushing their children into the profession.

Founded three years ago, Le Show Stars was one of the first modelling schools in Beijing, where customers pay up to 800 yuan for private one on one lessons.

Four-year-old twins Yumi and Yuki Xiao are not yet professional models but for nearly two years they have been taking classes where they are taught how to pose and pace the catwalk in the hopes that they can break into the industry.

"For some catwalking competitions, they have to be in the makeup room by 6 am," their father Xiao Liang said.&nbsp;

"The real competition starts at 2 pm, and they finish around 3 pm or 4. So the whole thing takes a whole day. From 6 am to 6 pm, 12 hours is pretty standard."

Their parents invest in taking them around the country to compete in hundreds of national child modelling competitions.&nbsp;

"It's a lot of fun I like being on stage," insisted Yumi.

Like many other parents, Xiao says he initially enrolled the two in child modelling to build their self-confidence, but after Yumi and Yuki showed interest they started to invest more time and money into building a possible child modelling career path for them.

Occasionally the twins are paid to model seasonal fashion lines for big brands.

"I think they are one of a kind, firstly, they're twins, and they're also boy-girl twins," father Xiao says proudly.&nbsp;

"They also like it, which is why we are giving them this opportunity. I think they have a natural advantage over other kids," he added.&nbsp;

'Lost childhoods'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-human-rights-lawyer-lands-in-us-despite-travel-ban-240624">China's laws</a> around child labour are complicated and parents of underage models are sometimes paid in secret to sidestep the red tape required to employ them.&nbsp;

Responding to the kicking video, Hangzhou authorities introduced regulations to limit the hour's children's work and ban children under 10 from being brand spokespeople.&nbsp;

But many feel authorities are doing too little to protect kids from exploitation.&nbsp;

More than 110 child retailers on e-commerce giant Taobao said they would scale back the use of young models, and also demanded more regulations.

Thousands have debated the topic online, calling for rules to be tightened to prevent abuse.&nbsp;

"To me, child models are nothing different from child labour. They have to finish their work no matter how tired they are when other children are playing and their short childhoods are lost making money for their parents. I suggest that we step up legislation...to protect their rights and interests," one Weibo user said.

Another commented some parents see their offspring only as a "money-making tool" adding: "The only way is to strengthen regulation, supervision, and protection."

Xiao and his wife Bai Yu said they were aware of the potential pitfalls of the profession and any decision to pursue the profession would be up to their son and daughter.&nbsp;

He said: "If they study well and they are interested in the prospect (of being a model), then I am sure to be 100 per cent supportive, as long as they are willing to spend their energy in this area." 
&nbsp;

Manicured children strut down the catwalk at a Beijing fashion show, one of the thousands of events driving huge demand for child models in China that insiders warn leaves minors vulnerable to physical abuse, 12 hour days and unrelenting pressure from pushy parents.

Manicured children strut down the catwalk at a Beijing fashion show, one of the thousands of events driving huge demand for child models in China that insiders warn leaves minors vulnerable to physical abuse, 12 hour days and unrelenting pressure from pushy parents. The kid's apparel market is growing faster than any other clothing sector in the country and was worth more than $40.5 billion in 2018 according to Euromonitor. This combined with the rise of "kidfluencers" sponsored by brands to promote products on social media is spurring greater demand for young models but experts warn of the heavy cost of pursuing such deals. "If children don't listen to the parents then I think hitting them is quite standard," Lee Ku, founder of Le Show Stars modelling school, told AFP. A video of a mother kicking her three-year-old daughter in fury at her failure to comply during a modelling job went viral earlier this year, causing outrage online. And footage emerged in early August online of a young boy modelling thick winter clothes outside as temperatures soared to 37 degrees Celsius, also drawing heavy online criticism. But in an industry where minors can earn 10,000 yuan ($1,450)a session, Lee says the clip is the tip of the iceberg and that from his experience, such violent behaviour from parents was not unusual on shoots. Child models sometimes go through more than 100 outfit changes in a session, often working from morning till night. But mental health experts warn it is not just physical exhaustion they have to contend with there may be long term emotional implications. "Children from the age of zero to six are mentally developing, they need a lot of exploration and freedom," explained child psychologist Gong Xueping. "At work, the child model will deliberately show a lot of different expressions... but this is contrary to the child's feelings of the moment. This limits the development of both emotional abilities and more complex psychological abilities for children, so I think it's a very bad choice," Gong added. Hundreds of competitions But there remains no shortage of parents interested in pushing their children into the profession. Founded three years ago, Le Show Stars was one of the first modelling schools in Beijing, where customers pay up to 800 yuan for private one on one lessons. Four-year-old twins Yumi and Yuki Xiao are not yet professional models but for nearly two years they have been taking classes where they are taught how to pose and pace the catwalk in the hopes that they can break into the industry. "For some catwalking competitions, they have to be in the makeup room by 6 am," their father Xiao Liang said. "The real competition starts at 2 pm, and they finish around 3 pm or 4. So the whole thing takes a whole day. From 6 am to 6 pm, 12 hours is pretty standard." Their parents invest in taking them around the country to compete in hundreds of national child modelling competitions. "It's a lot of fun I like being on stage," insisted Yumi. Like many other parents, Xiao says he initially enrolled the two in child modelling to build their self-confidence, but after Yumi and Yuki showed interest they started to invest more time and money into building a possible child modelling career path for them. Occasionally the twins are paid to model seasonal fashion lines for big brands. "I think they are one of a kind, firstly, they're twins, and they're also boy-girl twins," father Xiao says proudly. "They also like it, which is why we are giving them this opportunity. I think they have a natural advantage over other kids," he added. 'Lost childhoods' China's laws around child labour are complicated and parents of underage models are sometimes paid in secret to sidestep the red tape required to employ them. Responding to the kicking video, Hangzhou authorities introduced regulations to limit the hour's children's work and ban children under 10 from being brand spokespeople. But many feel authorities are doing too little to protect kids from exploitation. More than 110 child retailers on e-commerce giant Taobao said they would scale back the use of young models, and also demanded more regulations. Thousands have debated the topic online, calling for rules to be tightened to prevent abuse. "To me, child models are nothing different from child labour. They have to finish their work no matter how tired they are when other children are playing and their short childhoods are lost making money for their parents. I suggest that we step up legislation...to protect their rights and interests," one Weibo user said. Another commented some parents see their offspring only as a "money-making tool" adding: "The only way is to strengthen regulation, supervision, and protection." Xiao and his wife Bai Yu said they were aware of the potential pitfalls of the profession and any decision to pursue the profession would be up to their son and daughter. He said: "If they study well and they are interested in the prospect (of being a model), then I am sure to be 100 per cent supportive, as long as they are willing to spend their energy in this area."

China's child modelling industry booms amid controversy

United Nations investigators urged world leaders on Monday to impose targeted financial sanctions on companies linked to the military in Myanmar and said foreign firms doing business with them could be complicit in international crimes. 
&nbsp; 
A panel of human rights experts identified scores of companies tied to the army, which controls vast swathes of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/despite-myanmar-economy-rebound-investors-wary-of-rohingya-sanctions-risk-imf-128189/amp">Myanmar's economy</a> through holding firms and their subsidiaries, and is accused by the UN of executing a campaign with "genocidal intent" against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-delegation-holds-repatriation-talks-with-rohingya-in-bangladesh-238936">Rohingya minority</a>. 
&nbsp; 
More than 730,000 Rohingya, members of a persecuted Muslim minority, fled Myanmar's Rakhine state into neighbouring Bangladesh amid a military led crackdown in August 2017 that the UN and Western countries have said included mass killings and gang rapes. 
&nbsp; 
The UN investigatory panel condemned the violence in a report last year that called for the economic isolation of the military. Investigators said the purpose of the new report was to help countries cut financial ties with all army linked companies. 
&nbsp; 
"For the first time, this report comes out with a clear picture of the involvement of specific European and Asian companies, and makes a point that in fact there is this relationship and it's a violation of UN treaties and UN norms," panel chairman Marzuki Darusman said in an interview in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Sunday.

United Nations investigators urged world leaders on Monday to impose targeted financial sanctions on companies linked to the military in Myanmar and said foreign firms doing business with them could be complicit in international crimes.

United Nations investigators urged world leaders on Monday to impose targeted financial sanctions on companies linked to the military in Myanmar and said foreign firms doing business with them could be complicit in international crimes. A panel of human rights experts identified scores of companies tied to the army, which controls vast swathes of Myanmar's economy through holding firms and their subsidiaries, and is accused by the UN of executing a campaign with "genocidal intent" against the Rohingya minority. More than 730,000 Rohingya, members of a persecuted Muslim minority, fled Myanmar's Rakhine state into neighbouring Bangladesh amid a military led crackdown in August 2017 that the UN and Western countries have said included mass killings and gang rapes. The UN investigatory panel condemned the violence in a report last year that called for the economic isolation of the military. Investigators said the purpose of the new report was to help countries cut financial ties with all army linked companies. "For the first time, this report comes out with a clear picture of the involvement of specific European and Asian companies, and makes a point that in fact there is this relationship and it's a violation of UN treaties and UN norms," panel chairman Marzuki Darusman said in an interview in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Sunday.

United Nations urges sanctions on Myanmar army businesses, says foreign partners could be complicit

US President Donald Trump will address the nation on Monday after two shootings left 29 people dead and sparked accusations that his rhetoric was part of the problem.

The rampages turned innocent snippets of everyday life into nightmares of bloodshed: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/walmart-to-keep-selling-guns-despite-recent-shootings-at-its-stores-in-el-paso-240710">20 people were shot dead while shopping at a crowded Walmart</a> in El Paso, Texas on Saturday morning, and nine more outside a bar in a popular nightlife district in Dayton, Ohio just 13 hours later.

Trump will again find himself in the role of consoler-in-chief after a tragedy which he has struggled with in the past when he speaks at 10:00 am (1400 GMT).

Following the shootings, Trump said "hate has no place in our country," but he also blamed mental illness for the violence.

"These are real people that are very, very seriously mentally ill," he said, despite the fact that police have not confirmed this to be the case.

"We have to get it stopped. This has been going on for years... and years in our country," he said.

In Texas, 26 people were wounded, and 27 in Ohio, where the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sister-of-gunman-among-nine-dead-in-ohio-mass-shooting-240691">shooter was killed in roughly 30 seconds</a> by police who were patrolling nearby.

100 round drum magazine

Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl told a news conference that the quick police response was "crucial," preventing the shooter from entering a bar where "there would have been... catastrophic injury and loss of life."

Biehl said the shooter wore a mask and a bullet-proof vest and was armed with an assault rifle fitted with a 100 round drum magazine.

Police named the gunman as a 24-year-old white man called Connor Betts and said his sister was among those killed. She had gone with him to the scene of the shootings.

Six of the nine people shot dead were black, but Biehl said Betts' motive was still unclear.

In Texas, police said the suspect surrendered on a sidewalk near the scene of the massacre. He was described in media reports as a 21-year-old white man named Patrick Crusius.

He was believed to have posted online a manifesto denouncing a "Hispanic invasion" of Texas. El Paso, on the border with Mexico, is majority Latino.

'Amplifying and condoning' hate

Seven of the 20 people killed in the El Paso shooting were Mexican, the country's foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said Sunday.

The manifesto posted shortly before the shooting also praises the killing of 51 Muslims at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in March.

Police said the suspected shooter has been charged with murder offences that can carry the death penalty, and a federal official said investigators are treating the El Paso shooting as a case of domestic terrorism.

At the Walmart in El Paso, terrified shoppers cowered in aisles or ran out of the store as gunfire echoed.

Most of the victims were inside the store but some were also in the parking lot outside, police said.

"Shooting kids and women and men, to him it mostly mattered that they were Hispanic," said Manuel Sanchez, a resident of the city.

These were the 250th and 251st mass shootings this year in the US, according to the Gun Violence Archive, an NGO that defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people are wounded or killed.

Despite a string of horrific mass shootings in the US, where gun culture is deep-rooted, efforts to strengthen firearms regulations remain divisive.

The latest two shootings ended a particularly tragic week for gun violence in America: three people died in a shooting at a food festival last Sunday in California, and two more Tuesday in a shooting in a Walmart in Mississippi.

On Twitter, Trump described the El Paso attack as "an act of cowardice."

But critics said the president's habit of speaking in derogatory terms about immigrants is pushing hatred of foreigners into the political mainstream and encouraging white supremacism.

"To pretend that his administration and the hateful rhetoric it spreads doesn't play a role in the kind of violence that we saw yesterday in El Paso is ignorant at best and irresponsible at worst," said the Southern Poverty Law Center, a major civil rights group.

It cited Trump actions like calling Mexican migrants rapists and drug dealers and doing nothing when a crowd at a Trump rally chanted "send her back" about a Somali-born congresswoman.

The Republican mayor of El Paso, Dee Margo, seemed to discount any race element to the Texas shooting, telling Fox News the gunman was "deranged."

But multiple Democratic presidential hopefuls said Trump bears some of the blame for the violence.

"Our president isn't just failing to confront and disarm these domestic terrorists, he is amplifying and condoning their hate," Mayor Pete Buttigieg tweeted.

"Mr President: stop your racist, hateful and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Your language creates a climate which emboldens violent extremists," Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on Twitter.

US President Donald Trump will address the nation on Monday after two shootings left 29 people dead and sparked accusations that his rhetoric was part of the problem.

US President Donald Trump will address the nation on Monday after two shootings left 29 people dead and sparked accusations that his rhetoric was part of the problem. The rampages turned innocent snippets of everyday life into nightmares of bloodshed: 20 people were shot dead while shopping at a crowded Walmart in El Paso, Texas on Saturday morning, and nine more outside a bar in a popular nightlife district in Dayton, Ohio just 13 hours later. Trump will again find himself in the role of consoler-in-chief after a tragedy which he has struggled with in the past when he speaks at 10:00 am (1400 GMT). Following the shootings, Trump said "hate has no place in our country," but he also blamed mental illness for the violence. "These are real people that are very, very seriously mentally ill," he said, despite the fact that police have not confirmed this to be the case. "We have to get it stopped. This has been going on for years... and years in our country," he said. In Texas, 26 people were wounded, and 27 in Ohio, where the shooter was killed in roughly 30 seconds by police who were patrolling nearby. 100 round drum magazine Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl told a news conference that the quick police response was "crucial," preventing the shooter from entering a bar where "there would have been... catastrophic injury and loss of life." Biehl said the shooter wore a mask and a bullet-proof vest and was armed with an assault rifle fitted with a 100 round drum magazine. Police named the gunman as a 24-year-old white man called Connor Betts and said his sister was among those killed. She had gone with him to the scene of the shootings. Six of the nine people shot dead were black, but Biehl said Betts' motive was still unclear. In Texas, police said the suspect surrendered on a sidewalk near the scene of the massacre. He was described in media reports as a 21-year-old white man named Patrick Crusius. He was believed to have posted online a manifesto denouncing a "Hispanic invasion" of Texas. El Paso, on the border with Mexico, is majority Latino. 'Amplifying and condoning' hate Seven of the 20 people killed in the El Paso shooting were Mexican, the country's foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said Sunday. The manifesto posted shortly before the shooting also praises the killing of 51 Muslims at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in March. Police said the suspected shooter has been charged with murder offences that can carry the death penalty, and a federal official said investigators are treating the El Paso shooting as a case of domestic terrorism. At the Walmart in El Paso, terrified shoppers cowered in aisles or ran out of the store as gunfire echoed. Most of the victims were inside the store but some were also in the parking lot outside, police said. "Shooting kids and women and men, to him it mostly mattered that they were Hispanic," said Manuel Sanchez, a resident of the city. These were the 250th and 251st mass shootings this year in the US, according to the Gun Violence Archive, an NGO that defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people are wounded or killed. Despite a string of horrific mass shootings in the US, where gun culture is deep-rooted, efforts to strengthen firearms regulations remain divisive. The latest two shootings ended a particularly tragic week for gun violence in America: three people died in a shooting at a food festival last Sunday in California, and two more Tuesday in a shooting in a Walmart in Mississippi. On Twitter, Trump described the El Paso attack as "an act of cowardice." But critics said the president's habit of speaking in derogatory terms about immigrants is pushing hatred of foreigners into the political mainstream and encouraging white supremacism. "To pretend that his administration and the hateful rhetoric it spreads doesn't play a role in the kind of violence that we saw yesterday in El Paso is ignorant at best and irresponsible at worst," said the Southern Poverty Law Center, a major civil rights group. It cited Trump actions like calling Mexican migrants rapists and drug dealers and doing nothing when a crowd at a Trump rally chanted "send her back" about a Somali-born congresswoman. The Republican mayor of El Paso, Dee Margo, seemed to discount any race element to the Texas shooting, telling Fox News the gunman was "deranged." But multiple Democratic presidential hopefuls said Trump bears some of the blame for the violence. "Our president isn't just failing to confront and disarm these domestic terrorists, he is amplifying and condoning their hate," Mayor Pete Buttigieg tweeted. "Mr President: stop your racist, hateful and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Your language creates a climate which emboldens violent extremists," Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on Twitter.

Donald Trump to address the nation after US shootings leave 29 dead

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/chinas-debt-tops-300-of-gdp-now-15-of-global-total-institute-of-international-finance-237113">The Chinese yuan</a> fell to its lowest level against the dollar since August 2010 in morning trade on Monday, fuelling speculation that Beijing is allowing currency depreciation to counter threatened US tariffs.

The offshore currency weakened to 7.1085 to the dollar, days after US President Donald Trump announced a plan to impose fresh tariffs on another $300 billion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-hit-300-billion-worth-of-chinese-goods-with-10-tariff-donald-trump-240021">in Chinese goods</a>, sharpening trade war tensions between the world's two biggest economies.

The onshore yuan also tumbled, hitting 7.0307 in Monday morning trade to reach its lowest level since 2008.

Both the onshore and offshore yuan breached the 7.0 level against the dollar, which investors see as a key threshold in currency value.

Trump has frequently accused China of artificially devaluing its currency to support its exports charges long denied by Beijing.

The US president jolted global stock markets last week when he issued the threat of more tariffs just a day after US and Chinese trade negotiators revived talks aimed at ending the year-long dispute.

The extra 10 per cent duties Trump threatened to implement from September 1 would mean he has now targeted virtually all of the $500 billion in goods America buys from China every year.

Currency instability

China on Friday threatened to retaliate to any new US tariffs it has already imposed its duties on $110 billion in American goods, almost all of the products it imports from the country.

A report from Bloomberg News said China has also asked its state-owned enterprises to stop buying US farm goods, in a further sign of escalating tensions.

The yuan is not freely convertible and the government limits its movement against the US dollar to a two per cent range on either side of a central parity rate which the People's Bank of China (PBOC) sets each day to reflect the market trends and control volatility.

The daily central rate was at 6.9225 per dollar on Monday, 0.33 per cent weaker from Friday.

"It appears that the tariffs hike suggests the return of tit for tat moves and a suspension of trade talks, and the PBOC sees no need to keep the yuan stable in the near term," Ken Cheung, a senior currency strategist at Mizuho Bank, told Bloomberg News.

In a statement Monday morning, the PBOC said the exchange rate against the US dollar had been "affected by unilateralism and trade protectionism measures and the imposition of tariff increases on China".

The central bank said the yuan remained "stable and strong against the basket of currencies" and said it would "resolutely crack down on short term speculation and maintain stable operation of the foreign exchange market and stabilize market expectations".

It went on to say that it had the "experience, confidence and ability to keep the RMB exchange rate stable at a reasonable and balanced level".

Julian Evans-Pritchard, a senior China economist with Capital Economics, said the PBOC has "effectively weaponized the exchange rate" by linking the currency with the US trade war.

"Given that their goal is presumably to offset some of the impacts from additional US tariffs, they are likely to allow the currency to weaken further, probably by 5-10 per cent over the coming quarters," said Evans-Pritchard.

The Chinese yuan fell to its lowest level against the dollar since August 2010 in morning trade on Monday, fuelling speculation that Beijing is allowing currency depreciation to counter threatened US tariffs.

The Chinese yuan fell to its lowest level against the dollar since August 2010 in morning trade on Monday, fuelling speculation that Beijing is allowing currency depreciation to counter threatened US tariffs. The offshore currency weakened to 7.1085 to the dollar, days after US President Donald Trump announced a plan to impose fresh tariffs on another $300 billion in Chinese goods, sharpening trade war tensions between the world's two biggest economies. The onshore yuan also tumbled, hitting 7.0307 in Monday morning trade to reach its lowest level since 2008. Both the onshore and offshore yuan breached the 7.0 level against the dollar, which investors see as a key threshold in currency value. Trump has frequently accused China of artificially devaluing its currency to support its exports charges long denied by Beijing. The US president jolted global stock markets last week when he issued the threat of more tariffs just a day after US and Chinese trade negotiators revived talks aimed at ending the year-long dispute. The extra 10 per cent duties Trump threatened to implement from September 1 would mean he has now targeted virtually all of the $500 billion in goods America buys from China every year. Currency instability China on Friday threatened to retaliate to any new US tariffs it has already imposed its duties on $110 billion in American goods, almost all of the products it imports from the country. A report from Bloomberg News said China has also asked its state-owned enterprises to stop buying US farm goods, in a further sign of escalating tensions. The yuan is not freely convertible and the government limits its movement against the US dollar to a two per cent range on either side of a central parity rate which the People's Bank of China (PBOC) sets each day to reflect the market trends and control volatility. The daily central rate was at 6.9225 per dollar on Monday, 0.33 per cent weaker from Friday. "It appears that the tariffs hike suggests the return of tit for tat moves and a suspension of trade talks, and the PBOC sees no need to keep the yuan stable in the near term," Ken Cheung, a senior currency strategist at Mizuho Bank, told Bloomberg News. In a statement Monday morning, the PBOC said the exchange rate against the US dollar had been "affected by unilateralism and trade protectionism measures and the imposition of tariff increases on China". The central bank said the yuan remained "stable and strong against the basket of currencies" and said it would "resolutely crack down on short term speculation and maintain stable operation of the foreign exchange market and stabilize market expectations". It went on to say that it had the "experience, confidence and ability to keep the RMB exchange rate stable at a reasonable and balanced level". Julian Evans-Pritchard, a senior China economist with Capital Economics, said the PBOC has "effectively weaponized the exchange rate" by linking the currency with the US trade war. "Given that their goal is presumably to offset some of the impacts from additional US tariffs, they are likely to allow the currency to weaken further, probably by 5-10 per cent over the coming quarters," said Evans-Pritchard.

Chinese yuan falls to weakest level against the dollar since 2010

Only 200 out of 1,600 garment factories<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/awami-league-was-formed-to-bring-back-bangladeshs-independence-pm-sheikh-hasina-229724"> in Bangladesh</a> have met the requirements of an international accord on worker safety, and 400 factories have been barred from taking international orders, the industry body's president said on Sunday.

The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh was set up by European fashion brands to improve factory safety in Bangladesh after a garment factory complex collapsed in 2013 killing more than 1,100 people.

The five-year pact was originally due to expire in May 2018 but the transition period has been extended. The pact's factory oversight team will then hand over to a government body set up for that purpose.

Rubana Huq, president of Bangladesh <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-protests-against-gas-price-rise-233801">Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association </a>(BGMEA), accused the accord's members of unilaterally imposing new requirements that were hurting the sector. She said she had met with their inspectors on Saturday to urge them to consult with manufacturers on their decisions.

"We had an agreement with Accord in May this year that it will not take any decision unilaterally but that has not been honoured," she said.

"Since the formation of Accord, we implemented a lot of remediation as per its requirements that involved huge investment. Now, in the name of final checks, the Accord is asking for several remediations."

Huq also said that of the 1,600 factories inspected by the team between 2014 and 2019, only 200 had been awarded completion certificates.

At least 400 factories which inspectors found were to slow to comply with the new safety rules were as a consequence no longer allowed to accept orders from the Western brands that are members of the accord, she said.

The Bangladesh garment industry is the second-largest export earning country after China and the sector represents about 16 per cent of the economy and employs over 4 million workers.

In June, garment manufacturers demanded higher export subsidies from the government, saying proposals in the latest national budget, unveiled last week, was not enough to compensate for higher production costs and low prices.

Only 200 out of 1,600 garment factories in Bangladesh have met the requirements of an international accord on worker safety, and 400 factories have been barred from taking international orders, the industry body's president said on Sunday.

Only 200 out of 1,600 garment factories in Bangladesh have met the requirements of an international accord on worker safety, and 400 factories have been barred from taking international orders, the industry body's president said on Sunday. The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh was set up by European fashion brands to improve factory safety in Bangladesh after a garment factory complex collapsed in 2013 killing more than 1,100 people. The five-year pact was originally due to expire in May 2018 but the transition period has been extended. The pact's factory oversight team will then hand over to a government body set up for that purpose. Rubana Huq, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), accused the accord's members of unilaterally imposing new requirements that were hurting the sector. She said she had met with their inspectors on Saturday to urge them to consult with manufacturers on their decisions. "We had an agreement with Accord in May this year that it will not take any decision unilaterally but that has not been honoured," she said. "Since the formation of Accord, we implemented a lot of remediation as per its requirements that involved huge investment. Now, in the name of final checks, the Accord is asking for several remediations." Huq also said that of the 1,600 factories inspected by the team between 2014 and 2019, only 200 had been awarded completion certificates. At least 400 factories which inspectors found were to slow to comply with the new safety rules were as a consequence no longer allowed to accept orders from the Western brands that are members of the accord, she said. The Bangladesh garment industry is the second-largest export earning country after China and the sector represents about 16 per cent of the economy and employs over 4 million workers. In June, garment manufacturers demanded higher export subsidies from the government, saying proposals in the latest national budget, unveiled last week, was not enough to compensate for higher production costs and low prices.

Only one in eight Bangladesh garment factories passed international safety inspection: Industry head

Domestic equity benchmark BSE Sensex lost over 600&nbsp;points in early trade on Monday.

The 30-share index was trading 36,612.90 at 9:30am.&nbsp;

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty slumped over 160 points, to 10,832.60.

Among stocks, Yes Bank took a massive 8 per cent drop to trade at Rs 81.30 per share.&nbsp;

Tata Motors was down by 5.6 per cent, JSW Steel by 5.3 per cent, State Bank of India by 4.9 per cent and Vedanta by 4.6 per cent.

Last week on Friday, shares reversed course and ended higher led by gains in IT and auto stocks, after a media report said the government was discussing the tax surcharge on foreign portfolio investors (FPI) and its impact on markets.

India had proposed to increase taxes on those with annual incomes of more than 20 million rupees ($287,387.29) in its annual budget last month, which rattled many FPIs. Foreign investors took out $1.8 billion from Indian equities in July.

Domestic equity benchmark BSE Sensex lost over 600 points in early trade on Monday. The 30-share index was trading 36,612.90 at 9:30am. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty slumped over 160 points, to 10,832.

Domestic equity benchmark BSE Sensex lost over 600 points in early trade on Monday. The 30-share index was trading 36,612.90 at 9:30am. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty slumped over 160 points, to 10,832.60. Among stocks, Yes Bank took a massive 8 per cent drop to trade at Rs 81.30 per share. Tata Motors was down by 5.6 per cent, JSW Steel by 5.3 per cent, State Bank of India by 4.9 per cent and Vedanta by 4.6 per cent. Last week on Friday, shares reversed course and ended higher led by gains in IT and auto stocks, after a media report said the government was discussing the tax surcharge on foreign portfolio investors (FPI) and its impact on markets. India had proposed to increase taxes on those with annual incomes of more than 20 million rupees ($287,387.29) in its annual budget last month, which rattled many FPIs. Foreign investors took out $1.8 billion from Indian equities in July.

Sensex down over 600 points in early trade

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