Al-Ahsa which is one of the largest province in Saudi Arabia has the biggest&nbsp;number of horses with each horse supplemented with all the luxuries one can imagine.

The beautiful Saudi horses are blue like a pigeon in the shadow with a black mane and tail galloping as they prepare for a treacherous obstacle course, but&nbsp;in their own swimming pools.

These horses have their own veterinarian doctors, their own house box and even a swimming pool to build muscles.&nbsp;

There are over 400 horse stables in Al-Ahsa with each stable housing over twenty&nbsp;horses.&nbsp;

The annual horse production in Saudi reaches 3,000. This year onwards Saudi Arabia embarked on a new sporting era, a stellar line-up for the horsing race, however, some still turn a blind eye to the cruelty to horses during grand events in which riders are required to carry a whip.

Nearly every year&nbsp;race horses sustain injuries and many have paid with their lives.

Al-Ahsa which is one of the largest province in Saudi Arabia has the biggest number of horses with each horse supplemented with all the luxuries one can imagine.

Al-Ahsa which is one of the largest province in Saudi Arabia has the biggest number of horses with each horse supplemented with all the luxuries one can imagine. The beautiful Saudi horses are blue like a pigeon in the shadow with a black mane and tail galloping as they prepare for a treacherous obstacle course, but in their own swimming pools. These horses have their own veterinarian doctors, their own house box and even a swimming pool to build muscles. There are over 400 horse stables in Al-Ahsa with each stable housing over twenty horses. The annual horse production in Saudi reaches 3,000. This year onwards Saudi Arabia embarked on a new sporting era, a stellar line-up for the horsing race, however, some still turn a blind eye to the cruelty to horses during grand events in which riders are required to carry a whip. Nearly every year race horses sustain injuries and many have paid with their lives.

Saudi horses in Al-Ahsa have their own swimming pools

Meet India's Rafale ace Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh

The first ever high-level US, Bangladesh consultation on economic partnership took place on Wednesday through a virtual platform. During the meeting both co-chairs and participants shared their thoughts on developing a vision to advance bilateral economic partnership between the two countries in all potential areas.

The first ever high-level US, Bangladesh consultation on economic partnership took place on Wednesday through a virtual platform. During the meeting both co-chairs and participants shared their thoughts on developing a vision to advance bilateral economic partnership between the two countries in all potential areas. The two sides emphasised on the need for close cooperation between the government and industry to address the continually evolving challenges related to health and economy amid the coronavirus crisis and the post-COVID-19 global pandemic situation. In the meeting, advisor Rahman underscored that Bangladesh would continue to pursue economic diplomacy pro-actively with neighbouring, regional and global players as he welcomed US interest and involvement in the new initiative. Several important issues were discussed in the meeting including public health cooperation, investment, digital policy, blue economy, agricultural capacity building, energy, transportation and infrastructure development and ways to enhance the overall economic partnership between Bangladesh and United States. Adviser Rahman during the meeting said that the US is Bangladesh's single largest export destination and also the largest investor. Undersecretary Krach appreciated the Bangladesh government's initiative to attract foreign direct investment(FDI). The co-chairs expressed their optimism that US companies would take advantage of Bangladesh's competitiveness and invest in ICT, energy and pharmaceuticals. Both sides noted the excellent cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic while highlighting the supply of world class PPE by Bangladesh to the US in a short time. The two sides signed an air transport agreement with the hope to continue positive engagement between US federal Aviation Administration(FAA) and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh(CAAB) The meeting was attended by MP Salman F. Rahman, the adviser for private industry and investment to the PM of Bangladesh and Keith Krach, US undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and environment and co-chaired by MP Md Shahriar Alam, state minister for foreign affairs, Bangladesh ambassador to USA, Principal secretary to PM and senior officials from various departments and ministries of both countries.

US, Bangladesh take part in high-level consultation on economic partnership

The United States, UK and Russia have called for 'immediate' ceasefire in Karabakh even as Turkish President Erdogan said a ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh was only possible if Armenian forces pull back.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/armenia-azerbaijan-clashes-fighting-continues-for-the-fourth-day-world-news-331624/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The way for a lasting ceasefire in this region depends on Armenians' withdrawal from every span of Azerbaijani territory," Erdogan said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/armenia-and-azerbaijan-a-decades-long-bloody-rivalry-330840#nagorny-karabakh-330823">See Pics: Armenia and Azerbaijan: A decades-long bloody rivalry</a>

In a statement French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, said: "We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the relevant military forces."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-rises-in-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-despite-calls-for-peace-331000">Read:&nbsp;</a><a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/death-toll-rises-in-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-despite-calls-for-peace-331000" hreflang="en">Death toll rises in Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict despite calls for peace</a>

"We also call on the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to commit without delay to resuming substantive negotiations," the leaders added.

Amid the calls for peace, Armenian and Azerbaijani forces intensified shelling in which 130 people have died so far. The Armenian defence ministry said that fighting had "intensified" while claiming that it had inflicted "enormous losses" killing at least 350-360 Azerbaijani troops.

However, Azerbaijan's defence ministry said that it had &nbsp;carried out "crushing artillery strikes against Armenian forces' positions in the occupied territories".&nbsp;

The United States, UK and Russia have called for 'immediate' ceasefire in Karabakh even as Turkish President Erdogan said a ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh was only possible if Armenian forces pull back.

The United States, UK and Russia have called for 'immediate' ceasefire in Karabakh even as Turkish President Erdogan said a ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh was only possible if Armenian forces pull back. Watch: "The way for a lasting ceasefire in this region depends on Armenians' withdrawal from every span of Azerbaijani territory," Erdogan said. See Pics: Armenia and Azerbaijan: A decades-long bloody rivalry In a statement French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, said: "We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the relevant military forces." Read: Death toll rises in Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict despite calls for peace "We also call on the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to commit without delay to resuming substantive negotiations," the leaders added. Amid the calls for peace, Armenian and Azerbaijani forces intensified shelling in which 130 people have died so far. The Armenian defence ministry said that fighting had "intensified" while claiming that it had inflicted "enormous losses" killing at least 350-360 Azerbaijani troops. However, Azerbaijan's defence ministry said that it had carried out "crushing artillery strikes against Armenian forces' positions in the occupied territories".

Amid Armenia, Azerbaijan clash, US, Russia & UK urge 'immediate' ceasefire in Karabakh as fighting continues

According to reports, the Nepal government has put several restrictions on foreign trekkers and mountaineers in order to minimise the threat of coronavirus in the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepals-ang-rita-sherpa-first-to-climb-mount-everest-ten-times-dies-329178">Also Read:&nbsp;Nepal's Ang Rita Sherpa, first to climb Mount Everest ten times, dies</a>

Nepal tourism ministry will now ask tourists for entry visa and they will have to carry PCR test report conducted not more than 72 hours ago including booking document for hotel stay to ensure seven-day quarantine period.

Reports say if a person tests positive then they would have stay in quarantine for as long as they do not test negative.

The Nepal government will also check tourist papers to see if people coming from abroad have&nbsp;insurance of $5,000.&nbsp;

The Himalayan Kingdom currently has Nepal 74,745 coronavirus cases including 481 deaths. The Nepal government had allowed mountaineering activities from July 30 after halting it for five months due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, it had cancelled permits for the spring season this year on March 13 as the pandemic hit various countries.

Nepal economy depends heavily on tourism and mountaineering which is its major source of revenue. Last year, the country had issued 381 permits for Mount Everest costing $11,000 per person.

According to reports, the Nepal government has put several restrictions on foreign trekkers and mountaineers in order to minimise the threat of coronavirus in the country.

According to reports, the Nepal government has put several restrictions on foreign trekkers and mountaineers in order to minimise the threat of coronavirus in the country. Also Read: Nepal's Ang Rita Sherpa, first to climb Mount Everest ten times, dies Nepal tourism ministry will now ask tourists for entry visa and they will have to carry PCR test report conducted not more than 72 hours ago including booking document for hotel stay to ensure seven-day quarantine period. Reports say if a person tests positive then they would have stay in quarantine for as long as they do not test negative. The Nepal government will also check tourist papers to see if people coming from abroad have insurance of $5,000. The Himalayan Kingdom currently has Nepal 74,745 coronavirus cases including 481 deaths. The Nepal government had allowed mountaineering activities from July 30 after halting it for five months due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, it had cancelled permits for the spring season this year on March 13 as the pandemic hit various countries. Nepal economy depends heavily on tourism and mountaineering which is its major source of revenue. Last year, the country had issued 381 permits for Mount Everest costing $11,000 per person.

Nepal issues new coronavirus guidelines for mountaineers

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, 77, on Tuesday&nbsp;released his 2019 tax returns just hours ahead of the first US elections TV debate&nbsp;with President Trump in Cleveland.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-election-2020-trump-biden-pre-debate-campaign-clash-331270/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Biden's move comes after the New York Times reported that the US president had paid taxes just ten times in the last 15 years and had just $750 in income taxes in 2016 and 2017.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-biden-first-tv-debate-may-prove-to-be-a-gamechanger-in-us-elections-331243">Also Read:&nbsp;Trump-Biden first TV debate may prove to be a gamechanger in US elections</a>

According to Biden's tax records, the Democratic presidential hopeful and his wife Jill paid more than $346,000 in taxes in 2019 while showing an income of $985,000. Biden also claimed $47,000 for reportedly overpaying the government.

Senator Kamala Harris who is Biden's vice-president pick also released her income tax returns.&nbsp;

The Biden campaign also implored President Trump,74, to release his returns. The issue of taxes is expected to be one of the big debates on which the two candidates are likely to clash even as opinion polls nationwide show Biden holding a sizeable advantage over the US president.

The debate has been divided into six segments with coronavirus pandemic, violence in US cities, economy, election fairness, US Supreme Court set to dominate the proceedings.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, 77, on Tuesday released his 2019 tax returns just hours ahead of the first US elections TV debate with President Trump in Cleveland.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, 77, on Tuesday released his 2019 tax returns just hours ahead of the first US elections TV debate with President Trump in Cleveland. Watch: Biden's move comes after the New York Times reported that the US president had paid taxes just ten times in the last 15 years and had just $750 in income taxes in 2016 and 2017. Also Read: Trump-Biden first TV debate may prove to be a gamechanger in US elections According to Biden's tax records, the Democratic presidential hopeful and his wife Jill paid more than $346,000 in taxes in 2019 while showing an income of $985,000. Biden also claimed $47,000 for reportedly overpaying the government. Senator Kamala Harris who is Biden's vice-president pick also released her income tax returns. The Biden campaign also implored President Trump,74, to release his returns. The issue of taxes is expected to be one of the big debates on which the two candidates are likely to clash even as opinion polls nationwide show Biden holding a sizeable advantage over the US president. The debate has been divided into six segments with coronavirus pandemic, violence in US cities, economy, election fairness, US Supreme Court set to dominate the proceedings.

Biden releases tax returns just hours ahead of TV debate with Trump

The world is desperate for a vaccine for the Wuhan virus and there is not one yet but Chinese citizens are set to get a jab.&nbsp;

First, the workers of state-owned companies will receive a jab, teachers, supermarket employees and more will also get a shot.

However, China's vaccines are not approved. Earlier this month, China showed off the vaccines to the world. It was a move to build global hype, by displaying the vials Beijing wanted to send a message - China has the ultimate cure to the Wuhan virus. The Communist Party wants a head start in the global vaccine race even when the Chinese vaccines haven't received a stamp of approval from the world.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-is-giving-unproven-vaccines-to-thousands-of-citizens-331283/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

China is inoculating its own population. Chinese citizens are the guinea pigs in one of the largest human trials in the world. First, employees of state-owned companies were given the vaccine, now China is expanding its program administering it to teachers, supermarket employees and people travelling to risky areas abroad being injected.

Two objectives could be driving Beijing, the Communist Party is eager to show China as a superpower in science and by winning the vaccine race, China would be able to deflect some of the criticism over the cover-up in Wuhan.

So China is injecting its own citizens, it is even offering the vaccine to the rest of the world. Chinese officials are promising more vaccines and one billion doses by next year but experts have been raising serious doubts over China's vaccine program. No other country has injected so many people with an unproven vaccine. The number of people who have already received a shot is not clear.

No one knows whether China is even tracking them to check for any harmful side effects. There is fear that Chinese vaccines could have harmful side effects or encourage behaviour that could lead to more infections but China seems to be putting politics above science.

The local government of Shaoyang city in the Zhejiang province issued a message for local officials asking them to look for more people who could be given the vaccine. On the list of potential candidates were people in schools, kindergartens and nursing homes. China's moves are dangerous, this desperation to win the vaccine race could upend the global efforts to find a cure for the Wuhan virus.

The world is desperate for a vaccine for the Wuhan virus and there is not one yet but Chinese citizens are set to get a jab. First, the workers of state-owned companies will receive a jab, teachers, supermarket employees and more will also get a shot.

The world is desperate for a vaccine for the Wuhan virus and there is not one yet but Chinese citizens are set to get a jab. First, the workers of state-owned companies will receive a jab, teachers, supermarket employees and more will also get a shot. However, China's vaccines are not approved. Earlier this month, China showed off the vaccines to the world. It was a move to build global hype, by displaying the vials Beijing wanted to send a message - China has the ultimate cure to the Wuhan virus. The Communist Party wants a head start in the global vaccine race even when the Chinese vaccines haven't received a stamp of approval from the world. China is inoculating its own population. Chinese citizens are the guinea pigs in one of the largest human trials in the world. First, employees of state-owned companies were given the vaccine, now China is expanding its program administering it to teachers, supermarket employees and people travelling to risky areas abroad being injected. Two objectives could be driving Beijing, the Communist Party is eager to show China as a superpower in science and by winning the vaccine race, China would be able to deflect some of the criticism over the cover-up in Wuhan. So China is injecting its own citizens, it is even offering the vaccine to the rest of the world. Chinese officials are promising more vaccines and one billion doses by next year but experts have been raising serious doubts over China's vaccine program. No other country has injected so many people with an unproven vaccine. The number of people who have already received a shot is not clear. No one knows whether China is even tracking them to check for any harmful side effects. There is fear that Chinese vaccines could have harmful side effects or encourage behaviour that could lead to more infections but China seems to be putting politics above science. The local government of Shaoyang city in the Zhejiang province issued a message for local officials asking them to look for more people who could be given the vaccine. On the list of potential candidates were people in schools, kindergartens and nursing homes. China's moves are dangerous, this desperation to win the vaccine race could upend the global efforts to find a cure for the Wuhan virus.

How China's unapproved COVID-19 vaccine drive is putting citizens at risk

A special CBI court in Lucknow on Wednesday will deliver the verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

The verdict will be delivered by judge SK Yadav. The judge had earlier directed all 32 accused to be present in the special court on September 30 during the announcement of the verdict.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/babri-masjid-demolition-case-supreme-court-directs-trial-court-to-conclude-hearing-in-9-months-237055">Also Read: Supreme Court directs trial court to conclude hearing in 9 months</a>

Former Union ministers Murli Manohar Joshi, LK Advani and Uma Bharti are one of the accused in the case, including former Uttar Pradesh CM Kalyan Singh. The final arguments in the case was held on September 1.

Last year, India's apex court has directed the trial court judge hearing the Babri Masjid demolition case against LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti to conclude their hearing in nine months.

In July, BJP leader Advani had recorded his statement before the court through video conferencing while denying involvement in the conspiracy to demolish the mosque.

On April 19, 2017, India's top court had ordered a day-to-day trial to be concluded in two years. The Supreme Court had allowed CBI's plea on restoration of criminal conspiracy charge against the VVIP accused in the case.

Supreme Court had earlier termed the Allahabad High Court's February 12, 2001 verdict dropping conspiracy charge against Advani and others as "erroneous". Security has been beefed up in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the verdict.

Babri Masjid was demolished in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

A special CBI court in Lucknow on Wednesday will deliver the verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case. The verdict will be delivered by judge SK Yadav. The judge had earlier directed all 32 accused to be present in the special court on September 30 during the announcement of the verdict.

A special CBI court in Lucknow on Wednesday will deliver the verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case. The verdict will be delivered by judge SK Yadav. The judge had earlier directed all 32 accused to be present in the special court on September 30 during the announcement of the verdict. Also Read: Supreme Court directs trial court to conclude hearing in 9 months Former Union ministers Murli Manohar Joshi, LK Advani and Uma Bharti are one of the accused in the case, including former Uttar Pradesh CM Kalyan Singh. The final arguments in the case was held on September 1. Last year, India's apex court has directed the trial court judge hearing the Babri Masjid demolition case against LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti to conclude their hearing in nine months. In July, BJP leader Advani had recorded his statement before the court through video conferencing while denying involvement in the conspiracy to demolish the mosque. On April 19, 2017, India's top court had ordered a day-to-day trial to be concluded in two years. The Supreme Court had allowed CBI's plea on restoration of criminal conspiracy charge against the VVIP accused in the case. Supreme Court had earlier termed the Allahabad High Court's February 12, 2001 verdict dropping conspiracy charge against Advani and others as "erroneous". Security has been beefed up in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the verdict. Babri Masjid was demolished in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

CBI court set to deliver Babri Masjid demolition case verdict

In less than 10 hours from now, the biggest event in the election calendar will take place with the US presidential debates set to kick off.

US President Donald Trump will come face-to-face with Democratic nominee and former vice-president Joe Biden in Cleveland, Ohio. There will be six segments of approximately 15 minutes each and the moderator will open each segment with a question.

Trump and Biden will have two minutes each to respond. They will also be allowed to rebut each other.

The six segments include Trump and Biden's records, the Supreme Court, Wuhan virus pandemic, US economy, race and violence in US cities and the integrity of the US presidential elections. The segments may change in case of a big news development.

Fox News host Chris Wallace will be the moderator of the first presidential debate. Wallace has said that he won't fact-check Trump or Biden given the president's love for alternative facts it will be interesting to see if Biden spends his time fact-checking the president or whether he will use it to put forward his argument.

Another thing to look out for will be the impact of Trump's tax report. Reports claim that the US president has not been paying his taxes for years.

The presidential debates are an old tradition in the US and have been happening for decades.

A Google search will tell you that the first televised presidential debate was held in 1960 between Democratic nominee John F. Kennedy and Republican vice president Richard Nixon. However, the first televised debate was held four years earlier in 1956 as Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson challenged incumbent Republican president Dwight Eisenhower but the men did not appear for debates, their representatives did!

Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt represented the Democrats, she was taken on by Republican Senator Margaret Chase Smith. So technically, the first televised "presidential" debate featured two women. What happened over the next four years was very interesting as the candidates were new to television camera, Kennedy knew how to use the camera to engage his voters. He looked straight into the lens, Nixon, on the other hand, kept looking from one side to another as he addressed the reporters in the studio instead of addressing the voters.

So, Kennedy ended up looking confident and Nixon seemed disinterested. It did not help that Nixon also looked shifty and sweaty, the vice president was recovering from a hospital visit and had reportedly refused to wear make-up to the debate. The result was Nixon looked very sick on-air and went on to lose the election. The debates went on to become a case study on the importance of body language - television dos and don ts and the role of charisma in the US elections.

However, there's no proof that these debates influence election results. Former President Barack Obama did not have a great debate season against Mitt Romney in 2012, but Obama sealed his re-election anyway as personal insults dominated Hillary Clinton and Trump's 2016 debates, Clinton spoke about Trump's sexually aggressive remarks on women but that did not stop Trump from winning the election.

This year's debates mark the 60th anniversary of the Kennedy-Nixon debates but 2020 is a little different, courtesy the Wuhan virus. A large portion of the US electorate is voting early either in-person or in mail. Many of them would have voted before the third debate. So, if at all, the debates have the potential of swinging votes, the first and the second one will be the game-changers.

In less than 10 hours from now, the biggest event in the election calendar will take place with the US presidential debates set to kick off. US President Donald Trump will come face-to-face with Democratic nominee and former vice-president Joe Biden in Cleveland, Ohio.

In less than 10 hours from now, the biggest event in the election calendar will take place with the US presidential debates set to kick off. US President Donald Trump will come face-to-face with Democratic nominee and former vice-president Joe Biden in Cleveland, Ohio. There will be six segments of approximately 15 minutes each and the moderator will open each segment with a question. Trump and Biden will have two minutes each to respond. They will also be allowed to rebut each other. The six segments include Trump and Biden's records, the Supreme Court, Wuhan virus pandemic, US economy, race and violence in US cities and the integrity of the US presidential elections. The segments may change in case of a big news development. Fox News host Chris Wallace will be the moderator of the first presidential debate. Wallace has said that he won't fact-check Trump or Biden given the president's love for alternative facts it will be interesting to see if Biden spends his time fact-checking the president or whether he will use it to put forward his argument. Another thing to look out for will be the impact of Trump's tax report. Reports claim that the US president has not been paying his taxes for years. The presidential debates are an old tradition in the US and have been happening for decades. A Google search will tell you that the first televised presidential debate was held in 1960 between Democratic nominee John F. Kennedy and Republican vice president Richard Nixon. However, the first televised debate was held four years earlier in 1956 as Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson challenged incumbent Republican president Dwight Eisenhower but the men did not appear for debates, their representatives did! Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt represented the Democrats, she was taken on by Republican Senator Margaret Chase Smith. So technically, the first televised "presidential" debate featured two women. What happened over the next four years was very interesting as the candidates were new to television camera, Kennedy knew how to use the camera to engage his voters. He looked straight into the lens, Nixon, on the other hand, kept looking from one side to another as he addressed the reporters in the studio instead of addressing the voters. So, Kennedy ended up looking confident and Nixon seemed disinterested. It did not help that Nixon also looked shifty and sweaty, the vice president was recovering from a hospital visit and had reportedly refused to wear make-up to the debate. The result was Nixon looked very sick on-air and went on to lose the election. The debates went on to become a case study on the importance of body language - television dos and don ts and the role of charisma in the US elections. However, there's no proof that these debates influence election results. Former President Barack Obama did not have a great debate season against Mitt Romney in 2012, but Obama sealed his re-election anyway as personal insults dominated Hillary Clinton and Trump's 2016 debates, Clinton spoke about Trump's sexually aggressive remarks on women but that did not stop Trump from winning the election. This year's debates mark the 60th anniversary of the Kennedy-Nixon debates but 2020 is a little different, courtesy the Wuhan virus. A large portion of the US electorate is voting early either in-person or in mail. Many of them would have voted before the third debate. So, if at all, the debates have the potential of swinging votes, the first and the second one will be the game-changers.

Trump-Biden first TV debate may prove to be a gamechanger in US elections

According to data submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) to India's Supreme Court in 2015, the country has at least 31 lakh registered NGOs.

The number is more than double the number of schools in the country and 250 times the number of government hospitals and it means India has one NGO for every 400 people as against one policeman for more than 700 people.

Less than 10 per cent of NGOs have complied with the rules and more than 90 per cent did not submit their balance sheets. They are supposed to submit statements with the registrar of societies but they did not.

There is an urgent need for regulation especially for those which get funds from outside India. According to a report, India has more than 21,000 foreign-funded NGOs. An amendment to India's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act(FCRA) is awaiting presidential nod.

For decades, governments have been trying to knit together balanced rules to check the misuse of foreign funding because there is no such thing as a free lunch. While the role of civil society is crucial to the functioning of a democracy, foreign funding, if unchecked, can hamper the country's sovereignty.

This is where a balanced rule comes in and in its absence, India has had to resort to ad hoc crackdowns. NGOs have always played a big role in India be it in development or disaster relief but many of them have misused their influence to sell foreign narratives, push vested interests and promote religious conversion.

Recently, India suspended FCRA clearance for four Christian NGOs. Since 2014, India has cancelled the FCRA licence of 14,800 NGOs. In 2015 alone, 10,000 licences were cancelled among them were Ford Foundation, Greenpeace and Human Rights Advocacy group - lawyers collective.

In 2017, Michael Bloomberg's NGO Bloomberg Philanthropies was under the government's scanner. The NGO was accused of running a campaign to target Indian tobacco businesses. It was apparently lobbying against the sector.

Critics have often looked at these cases as India's crackdown on dissent. Earlier this year, India's apex court had said that the government of India cannot deprive NGOs of their right to receive foreign money but in the very same ruling, the Supreme Court of India said that organisations with "avowed political objectives in their memorandum of associations or bye-laws, cannot be permitted &nbsp;to access foreign funding."

Between 1993 and 2012, 39 countries enacted laws to restrict funding of foreign NGOs and these were developing countries. Hungary recently approved a law that made foreign-funded NGOs declare their foreign status on websites and promotional material.&nbsp;

Egypt, Russia, Israel and some other countries have similar laws and then we have China which has Gongos which are government organised NGOs which in other words are sitting oxymorons. India cannot have that it is a democracy. So it must regulate actively and balance transparency and internal security with dissent, foreign money cannot be allowed to influence policy and political discourse in India.

According to data submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) to India's Supreme Court in 2015, the country has at least 31 lakh registered NGOs. The number is more than double the number of schools in the country and 250 times the number of government hospitals and it means India has one NGO for every 400 people as against one policeman for more than 700 people.

According to data submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) to India's Supreme Court in 2015, the country has at least 31 lakh registered NGOs. The number is more than double the number of schools in the country and 250 times the number of government hospitals and it means India has one NGO for every 400 people as against one policeman for more than 700 people. Less than 10 per cent of NGOs have complied with the rules and more than 90 per cent did not submit their balance sheets. They are supposed to submit statements with the registrar of societies but they did not. There is an urgent need for regulation especially for those which get funds from outside India. According to a report, India has more than 21,000 foreign-funded NGOs. An amendment to India's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act(FCRA) is awaiting presidential nod. For decades, governments have been trying to knit together balanced rules to check the misuse of foreign funding because there is no such thing as a free lunch. While the role of civil society is crucial to the functioning of a democracy, foreign funding, if unchecked, can hamper the country's sovereignty. This is where a balanced rule comes in and in its absence, India has had to resort to ad hoc crackdowns. NGOs have always played a big role in India be it in development or disaster relief but many of them have misused their influence to sell foreign narratives, push vested interests and promote religious conversion. Recently, India suspended FCRA clearance for four Christian NGOs. Since 2014, India has cancelled the FCRA licence of 14,800 NGOs. In 2015 alone, 10,000 licences were cancelled among them were Ford Foundation, Greenpeace and Human Rights Advocacy group - lawyers collective. In 2017, Michael Bloomberg's NGO Bloomberg Philanthropies was under the government's scanner. The NGO was accused of running a campaign to target Indian tobacco businesses. It was apparently lobbying against the sector. Critics have often looked at these cases as India's crackdown on dissent. Earlier this year, India's apex court had said that the government of India cannot deprive NGOs of their right to receive foreign money but in the very same ruling, the Supreme Court of India said that organisations with "avowed political objectives in their memorandum of associations or bye-laws, cannot be permitted to access foreign funding." Between 1993 and 2012, 39 countries enacted laws to restrict funding of foreign NGOs and these were developing countries. Hungary recently approved a law that made foreign-funded NGOs declare their foreign status on websites and promotional material. Egypt, Russia, Israel and some other countries have similar laws and then we have China which has Gongos which are government organised NGOs which in other words are sitting oxymorons. India cannot have that it is a democracy. So it must regulate actively and balance transparency and internal security with dissent, foreign money cannot be allowed to influence policy and political discourse in India.

Why regulation is needed to monitor foreign funding in NGOs

Amid reports of Chinese foreign minister seeking to meet Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, &nbsp;a Japanese academician has claimed that the&nbsp;government rejected an offer from China to reduce tensions in the disputed East China Sea.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-china-targets-south-china-sea-rivals-with-vaccine-diplomacy-327773">Also Read:&nbsp;Now, China targets South China Sea rivals with vaccine diplomacy</a>

Japan has been concerned over Chinese naval activities in the East China Sea. Professor Liu Qingbin from Yokohama National University in Japan told a newspaper that China had almost completely stopped activities in the East China Sea ahead of President Xi's visit in April but it could not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Suga had earlier held a telephonic conversation with President Xi as the Japanese prime minister stressed on the importance of stable Japan-China ties.

Shinzo Abe was the Japanese prime minister at the time as reports claimed that China reduced its activities in Diaoyu Islands, which Japan calls the Senkaku Islands. However, &nbsp;Liu asserted that the peace moves were met with hostility as Japan's right-wing groups reportedly hired fishing boats and entered the East China Sea region leading to clashes.

Shinzo Abe stepped down earlier this month over health reasons making way for Liberal Democratic Party's Suga. Abe had visited Beijing in earlier in October 2018.

The new prime minister of Japan said that he had agreed to pursue high-level contacts with President Xi during his talks with Xi.

"Stable relations are important not just for our countries but for the region and the international community. I want to fulfil that responsibility," Suga told pubic broadcaster NHK after speaking Xi.

Amid reports of Chinese foreign minister seeking to meet Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, a Japanese academician has claimed that the government rejected an offer from China to reduce tensions in the disputed East China Sea.

Amid reports of Chinese foreign minister seeking to meet Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, a Japanese academician has claimed that the government rejected an offer from China to reduce tensions in the disputed East China Sea. Also Read: Now, China targets South China Sea rivals with vaccine diplomacy Japan has been concerned over Chinese naval activities in the East China Sea. Professor Liu Qingbin from Yokohama National University in Japan told a newspaper that China had almost completely stopped activities in the East China Sea ahead of President Xi's visit in April but it could not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic. Suga had earlier held a telephonic conversation with President Xi as the Japanese prime minister stressed on the importance of stable Japan-China ties. Shinzo Abe was the Japanese prime minister at the time as reports claimed that China reduced its activities in Diaoyu Islands, which Japan calls the Senkaku Islands. However, Liu asserted that the peace moves were met with hostility as Japan's right-wing groups reportedly hired fishing boats and entered the East China Sea region leading to clashes. Shinzo Abe stepped down earlier this month over health reasons making way for Liberal Democratic Party's Suga. Abe had visited Beijing in earlier in October 2018. The new prime minister of Japan said that he had agreed to pursue high-level contacts with President Xi during his talks with Xi. "Stable relations are important not just for our countries but for the region and the international community. I want to fulfil that responsibility," Suga told pubic broadcaster NHK after speaking Xi.

Japanese academic claims Abe government snubbed President Xi's East China Sea peace offer

India's Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) said today that Amnesty International has been denied FCRA approval by successive governments since it's not eligible to get such approval.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amnesty-international-used-commercial-tools-to-bypass-fcra-cbi-262554">Also Read:&nbsp;Amnesty International used commercial tools to bypass FCRA, says&nbsp;CBI</a>

"In order to circumvent FCRA regulations, Amnesty UK remitted large amounts of money to four entities registered in India, by classifying it as FDI," the MHA said.

Earlier, the Indian arm of the group had said that the government had frozen all its bank accounts prompting it to halt all of its work in the country. The watchdog had also accused the government of indulging in a "witchhunt" against human rights organisations.

The ministry, however, asserted that the stand and statements by Amnesty International were "unfortunate, exaggerated and far from the truth."

The group had said a freeze was put on its bank accounts on September 10 and as a result, it has had to lay off staff and shut operations.

The government however said that, "Amnesty International had received permission under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) only once &amp; that too 20 years ago (19.12.2000)."&nbsp;

"Owing to these illegal practices of Amnesty, the previous government had also rejected repeated applications of Amnesty to receive funds from overseas. This had led Amnesty to suspend its India operations once during that period as well," the ministry informed while adding that Amnesty International "is free to continue humanitarian work in India".

"However, India doesn't allow interference in domestic political debates by entities funded by foreign donations. This law applies equally to all and it shall apply to Amnesty International as well," the government said.

India's Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) said today that Amnesty International has been denied FCRA approval by successive governments since it's not eligible to get such approval.

India's Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) said today that Amnesty International has been denied FCRA approval by successive governments since it's not eligible to get such approval. Also Read: Amnesty International used commercial tools to bypass FCRA, says CBI "In order to circumvent FCRA regulations, Amnesty UK remitted large amounts of money to four entities registered in India, by classifying it as FDI," the MHA said. Earlier, the Indian arm of the group had said that the government had frozen all its bank accounts prompting it to halt all of its work in the country. The watchdog had also accused the government of indulging in a "witchhunt" against human rights organisations. The ministry, however, asserted that the stand and statements by Amnesty International were "unfortunate, exaggerated and far from the truth." The group had said a freeze was put on its bank accounts on September 10 and as a result, it has had to lay off staff and shut operations. The government however said that, "Amnesty International had received permission under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) only once & that too 20 years ago (19.12.2000)." "Owing to these illegal practices of Amnesty, the previous government had also rejected repeated applications of Amnesty to receive funds from overseas. This had led Amnesty to suspend its India operations once during that period as well," the ministry informed while adding that Amnesty International "is free to continue humanitarian work in India". "However, India doesn't allow interference in domestic political debates by entities funded by foreign donations. This law applies equally to all and it shall apply to Amnesty International as well," the government said.

To circumvent FCRA, Amnesty remitted large amounts of money to entities in India by classifying it as FDI: Home ministry

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