Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday (January 29) talked about the human rights violations in China's Xinjiang region against the Uyghur Muslims.&nbsp;

Giving a clean chit to China, he&nbsp;called&nbsp;West's reaction "double standards" as he tried to play up the same old Kashmir narrative.&nbsp;

During an interview with Chinese journalists in the nation's capital Islamabad, Khan as quoted by Pakistan media outlet DAWN said that "what we find very difficult to swallow in Pakistan" is that&nbsp;there's talk about Uyghur, but not about Kashmir.&nbsp;

Amid criticism by human rights organisations and Western countries over reported human rights abuses and accusations against China of mass detention, torture, forced labour and genocide in Xinjiang, Pakistan PM has dismissed all the reports.&nbsp;

PM Khan said Pakistan's ambassador to China had visited the region and found that "this is actually not true on the ground."&nbsp;

In a previous interview in July 2021, Khan had said Pakistan accepted Beijing's version regarding the treatment of Uyghurs due to "our extreme proximity and relationship".

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/after-rejection-from-new-zealand-pregnant-reporter-takes-help-from-taliban-448978">After rejection from New Zealand, pregnant reporter takes help from Taliban</a>

Important to note that the United States announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 Games.&nbsp;

After the US, other countries like Australia, the UK and Canada also confirmed that they will not send government officials to the Games.&nbsp;

The statements by PM Khan were made ahead of his scheduled visit to China to attend the Winter Olympics in Beijing.&nbsp;

Khan tried to reignite the Kashmir issue as he mentioned the "selective silence" of the Western countries on the Jammu and Kashmir issues in connection with international law.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/no-putin-imran-khan-bilateral-meeting-in-beijing-448815">No Putin-Imran Khan bilateral meeting in Beijing</a>

However, India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir "was, is and shall forever" remain an integral part of the country. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.&nbsp;

From time to time, India has emphasised that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.&nbsp;

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday (January 29) talked about the human rights violations in China's Xinjiang region against the Uyghur Muslims. Giving a clean chit to China, he called West's reaction "double standards" as he tried to play up the same old Kashmir narrative.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday (January 29) talked about the human rights violations in China's Xinjiang region against the Uyghur Muslims. Giving a clean chit to China, he called West's reaction "double standards" as he tried to play up the same old Kashmir narrative. During an interview with Chinese journalists in the nation's capital Islamabad, Khan as quoted by Pakistan media outlet DAWN said that "what we find very difficult to swallow in Pakistan" is that there's talk about Uyghur, but not about Kashmir. Amid criticism by human rights organisations and Western countries over reported human rights abuses and accusations against China of mass detention, torture, forced labour and genocide in Xinjiang, Pakistan PM has dismissed all the reports. PM Khan said Pakistan's ambassador to China had visited the region and found that "this is actually not true on the ground." In a previous interview in July 2021, Khan had said Pakistan accepted Beijing's version regarding the treatment of Uyghurs due to "our extreme proximity and relationship". ALSO READ | After rejection from New Zealand, pregnant reporter takes help from Taliban Important to note that the United States announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 Games. After the US, other countries like Australia, the UK and Canada also confirmed that they will not send government officials to the Games. The statements by PM Khan were made ahead of his scheduled visit to China to attend the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Khan tried to reignite the Kashmir issue as he mentioned the "selective silence" of the Western countries on the Jammu and Kashmir issues in connection with international law. ALSO READ | No Putin-Imran Khan bilateral meeting in Beijing However, India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir "was, is and shall forever" remain an integral part of the country. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda. From time to time, India has emphasised that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan gives clean chit to China over Uyghurs issues, pushes Kashmir narrative

Remembering Gandhi: Here are some inspirational quotes of the Father of the Nation

Every year on January 30, India observes ‘Shaheed Diwas’ or ‘Martyr’s Day’. The day marks the death anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, or Mahatma Gandhi.

On this day, India pays homage to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to secure freedom for India from the oppressive British regime.

Why is Martyr’s Day is observed on January 30?

Mahatma Gandhi is regarded as the Father of the Nation. He led India’s struggle for freedom and is revered by everyone for his non-violent approach against the British Raj.

However, there were many who opposed Gandhi's ideas, and blamed him for the partition of India.

On January 30, 1948, just five months after India gained independence, Gandhi was shot three times at point-blank range during a prayer meeting at Birla House compound in New Delhi. He was 78.

He was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. Gandhi died at the spot.

Since then, India observes that day as ‘Martyr’s Day’ to mourn the loss of its greatest freedom fighter.

How is ‘Martyr’s Day’ celebrated?

Every year on this day, the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and the three Service Chiefs —Army, Air Force, and Navy—pay tribute at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Raj Ghat in Delhi.

As per the government’s directions, two minutes of silence is observed in states and UTs on January 30 in the memory of martyred freedom fighters.

People across India observe seven Martyr's Day in a year. The day is celebrated to honour the martyrs of the nation.

The seven days are: January 30, March 23, May 19, October 21, November 17, November 19, and November 24.

What does Gandhi represent?

Gandhi is the symbol of non-violence. Many world leaders regard him as their inspiration.

Martin Luther King Jr, the African-American civil rights movement leader, Nelson Mandela, the great leader of the South African people, Dalai Lama and Albert Einstein, among many, revere Gandhi.

Gandhi's philosophy is based on three principles: non-violence, the fight for truth (satyagraha) and individual and political freedom (swaraj).

In his fight for peace, he sought advice from the teachings of Buddha and the Prophet Mohammed.

Gandhi believed that pure faith could unite people of different religions. “I can see that in the midst of death, life persists. In the midst of untruth, truth persists. In the midst of darkness, light persists. Hence, I gather that God is life, truth, light. He is love. He is the supreme good.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Every year on January 30, India observes ‘Shaheed Diwas’ or ‘Martyr’s Day’. The day marks the death anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, or Mahatma Gandhi.

Every year on January 30, India observes ‘Shaheed Diwas’ or ‘Martyr’s Day’. The day marks the death anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, or Mahatma Gandhi. On this day, India pays homage to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to secure freedom for India from the oppressive British regime. Why is Martyr’s Day is observed on January 30? Mahatma Gandhi is regarded as the Father of the Nation. He led India’s struggle for freedom and is revered by everyone for his non-violent approach against the British Raj. However, there were many who opposed Gandhi's ideas, and blamed him for the partition of India. On January 30, 1948, just five months after India gained independence, Gandhi was shot three times at point-blank range during a prayer meeting at Birla House compound in New Delhi. He was 78. He was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. Gandhi died at the spot. Since then, India observes that day as ‘Martyr’s Day’ to mourn the loss of its greatest freedom fighter. How is ‘Martyr’s Day’ celebrated? Every year on this day, the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and the three Service Chiefs —Army, Air Force, and Navy—pay tribute at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Raj Ghat in Delhi. As per the government’s directions, two minutes of silence is observed in states and UTs on January 30 in the memory of martyred freedom fighters. People across India observe seven Martyr's Day in a year. The day is celebrated to honour the martyrs of the nation. The seven days are: January 30, March 23, May 19, October 21, November 17, November 19, and November 24. What does Gandhi represent? Gandhi is the symbol of non-violence. Many world leaders regard him as their inspiration. Martin Luther King Jr, the African-American civil rights movement leader, Nelson Mandela, the great leader of the South African people, Dalai Lama and Albert Einstein, among many, revere Gandhi. Gandhi's philosophy is based on three principles: non-violence, the fight for truth (satyagraha) and individual and political freedom (swaraj). In his fight for peace, he sought advice from the teachings of Buddha and the Prophet Mohammed. Gandhi believed that pure faith could unite people of different religions. “I can see that in the midst of death, life persists. In the midst of untruth, truth persists. In the midst of darkness, light persists. Hence, I gather that God is life, truth, light. He is love. He is the supreme good.” (With inputs from agencies)

Why India observes ‘Martyr’s Day’ and how is it connected to Mahatma Gandhi?

A couple of days ago, reports emerged that Chinese scientists from Wuhan have warned against a new lethal type of coronavirus NeoCov. Media reports citing Russian news agency Sputnik claimed that NeoCov requires only one mutation to infiltrate human cells.

A couple of days ago, reports emerged that Chinese scientists from Wuhan have warned against a new lethal type of coronavirus NeoCov. Media reports citing Russian news agency Sputnik claimed that NeoCov requires only one mutation to infiltrate human cells. The reports have has caused panic and stress among common people as it is said the infection and mortality rate is extremely high as 'one in every three infected person dies'. However, on Saturday (January 29) Indian doctors and experts weighed in on the rising fears of NeoCov and advised people not to panic. ALSO READ | Explainer: What is new coronavirus NeoCov that kills 1 in 3 patients? Find out the truth Dr Rahul Pandit, a member of National and Maharashtra's Covid-19 Taskforce said as quoted by Indian news agency IANS: "Currently, there is no direct evidence that NeoCov affects the human body, and we should not panic or get stressed." "There are many viruses in the world that are yet to be discovered and whose characteristics are not known," said Pandit, who is also Director-Critical Care, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai. "We are going through a challenging time and should focus on managing the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. I advise people not to panic, keep their guard up and follow Covid-19 appropriate protocols," he added. As per a report, the NeoCov was discovered in South Africa and it is claimed to be related to the respiratory syndrome MERS-COV. Some reports have termed NeoCov as a new variant, some have called it new coronavirus, hence, further investigation and official statement from World Health Organisation (WHO) is awaited. ALSO READ | US company T-Mobile to sack unvaccinated corporate staff on April 2, say reports NeoCov is linked to the MERS-CoV virus and its outbreaks were previously discovered in the Middle Eastern countries in 2012 and 2015. Scientists from the Wuhan University in China have said that NeoCoV was discovered in a bat population and appears to be similar to the SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 in humans. An unpeered study published on the bioRxiv website mentioned that NeoCoV and its close relative PDF-2180-CoV can infect humans. A part of the published report read: "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and several bat coronaviruses employ Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) as their functional receptors. However, the receptor for NeoCoV, the closest MERS-CoV relative yet discovered in bats, remains enigmatic." Dr Dhiren Gupta from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi stated that the variant's transmission to humans is still a "scientific speculation" and "hypothesis". "This NeoCov is very different from SARS-CoV virus (sarbecovirus) and belongs to merbecovirus which is a different genus. "It cannot infect human ACE2 (scientists are speculating if it can combine with SARS and start affecting humans). This is a hypothesis raised by scientists (which is not unusual in science)," Gupta added. "It's just a hypothesis turning into sensationalist doomsday predictions," Dr Gupta said. Responding to the reports, Dr Shashank Joshi, Maharashtra task force member, told India-based newspaper The Times Of India: "NeoCov can use ACE2 receptors of bats, but it cannot use human ACE2 receptors unless a new mutation occurs. Everything else that is being said about this virus is hype." ×

COVID-19: Indian experts weigh in on 'NeoCoV' fears after Wuhan scientists issue warning

As the world continues to battle the ongoing pandemic, Chinese scientists from Wuhan have issued a warning against a new variant of coronavirus named NeoCoV, which is said to be more lethal with a higher infection rate.&nbsp;

As per a report by the Russian news agency Sputnik - published by several media outlets, the NeoCov variant was discovered in South Africa and it is claimed to be related to the respiratory syndrome MERS-COV.&nbsp;

However, NeoCov is not entirely new because it is linked to the MERS-CoV virus and its outbreaks were previously discovered in the Middle Eastern countries in 2012 and 2015.&nbsp;

Chinese researchers weighed in on the mortality rate stating that 'one in every three infected person dies', highlighting the higher death rate.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/can-weed-cure-covid-cannabis-compound-stops-coronavirus-in-test-tube-447858">Can weed cure Covid? Cannabis compound stops coronavirus in test tube</a>

Analysing the study, the tendency of NeoCoV appears to be similar to the SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 in humans. Scientists have said that NeoCoV was discovered in a bat population.&nbsp;

However, an unpeered study published on the <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.24.477490v1">bioRxiv</a> website, mentioned that NeoCoV and its close relative PDF-2180-CoV can infect humans.

A part of the published report read: "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and several bat coronaviruses employ Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) as their functional receptors. However, the receptor for NeoCoV, the closest MERS-CoV relative yet discovered in bats, remains enigmatic."

"In this study, we unexpectedly found that NeoCoV and its close relative, PDF-2180-CoV, can efficiently use some types of bat Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and, less favorably, human ACE2 for entry," it added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-what-is-the-new-stealth-omicron-447976">Explainer: What is the new 'stealth Omicron'?</a>

After a briefing on NeoCoV, experts from the Russian State Virology and Biotechnology Research Center issued a statement on Thursday (January 27).&nbsp;

As quoted by media reports, it stated: "The Vector research centre is aware of the data obtained by Chinese researchers on the NeoCoV coronavirus. At the moment, the issue is not the emergence of a new coronavirus capable of actively spreading among humans."

The experts have warned against the potential risks, mentioning that further study and investigation are needed to understand the immune escape.&nbsp;

Of late, coronavirus cases have seen a spike globally after the emergence of the 'variant of concern' Omicron.&nbsp;

And more information and inputs are needed to establish a concrete report on NeoCoV.&nbsp;

Although there is no official statement from World Health Organization (WHO), but the global health body was quoted by Russian news agency TASS as saying that the claim requires further study.&nbsp;

The organisation told TASS: "Whether the virus detected in the study will pose a risk for humans will require further study."

It also added that it "works closely" with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Environment Program (UNEP) to "monitor and respond to the threat of emerging zoonotic viruses."

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Wuhan scientists flag deadlier coronavirus

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As the world continues to battle the ongoing pandemic, Chinese scientists from Wuhan have issued a warning against a new variant of coronavirus named NeoCoV, which is said to be more lethal with a higher infection rate.

As the world continues to battle the ongoing pandemic, Chinese scientists from Wuhan have issued a warning against a new variant of coronavirus named NeoCoV, which is said to be more lethal with a higher infection rate. As per a report by the Russian news agency Sputnik - published by several media outlets, the NeoCov variant was discovered in South Africa and it is claimed to be related to the respiratory syndrome MERS-COV. However, NeoCov is not entirely new because it is linked to the MERS-CoV virus and its outbreaks were previously discovered in the Middle Eastern countries in 2012 and 2015. Chinese researchers weighed in on the mortality rate stating that 'one in every three infected person dies', highlighting the higher death rate. ALSO READ | Can weed cure Covid? Cannabis compound stops coronavirus in test tube Analysing the study, the tendency of NeoCoV appears to be similar to the SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 in humans. Scientists have said that NeoCoV was discovered in a bat population. However, an unpeered study published on the bioRxiv website, mentioned that NeoCoV and its close relative PDF-2180-CoV can infect humans. A part of the published report read: "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and several bat coronaviruses employ Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) as their functional receptors. However, the receptor for NeoCoV, the closest MERS-CoV relative yet discovered in bats, remains enigmatic." "In this study, we unexpectedly found that NeoCoV and its close relative, PDF-2180-CoV, can efficiently use some types of bat Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and, less favorably, human ACE2 for entry," it added. ALSO READ | Explainer: What is the new 'stealth Omicron'? After a briefing on NeoCoV, experts from the Russian State Virology and Biotechnology Research Center issued a statement on Thursday (January 27). As quoted by media reports, it stated: "The Vector research centre is aware of the data obtained by Chinese researchers on the NeoCoV coronavirus. At the moment, the issue is not the emergence of a new coronavirus capable of actively spreading among humans." The experts have warned against the potential risks, mentioning that further study and investigation are needed to understand the immune escape. Of late, coronavirus cases have seen a spike globally after the emergence of the 'variant of concern' Omicron. And more information and inputs are needed to establish a concrete report on NeoCoV. Although there is no official statement from World Health Organization (WHO), but the global health body was quoted by Russian news agency TASS as saying that the claim requires further study. The organisation told TASS: "Whether the virus detected in the study will pose a risk for humans will require further study." It also added that it "works closely" with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Environment Program (UNEP) to "monitor and respond to the threat of emerging zoonotic viruses." WATCH | Gravitas: Wuhan scientists flag deadlier coronavirus ×

Warning from Wuhan: Chinese scientists say new Covid variant 'NeoCov' has high mortality rate - Report

Alisia Adamson Profit, a Black woman who has practiced law for more than a dozen years in central Florida, walked into a courtroom one morning in June for a pretrial hearing, just as she had done countless times.

But this time was different. A court deputy asked Profit — and none of the other lawyers in the courtroom, all of whom were white — for her identification.

It wasn’t the first time she felt singled out as part of a tiny universe of Black women judges and lawyers.

“It’s the idea that somehow I don’t belong here,” said Profit, a former public defender who founded a criminal defense firm based in Orlando, Florida.

As President Joe Biden prepares to nominate the first Black woman to the nation’s highest court, members of the small, elite group of Black women lawyers and judges are reflecting about their place in their profession and watching with complicated emotions.

By some estimates, they represent perhaps just 2% of the nation’s 1.3 million lawyers.

Many say they have experienced discrimination or been second-guessed. At times, they have felt dismissed by others in the legal world.

Knowing how isolating that can be, older Black women, many of whom were the first in their families to go to law school, described an instinctive urge to mentor younger Black women. And despite the challenges, they described still loving the law and doing what they considered their dream jobs.

Now, for the first time in their lives, someone who looks like them — and probably experienced similar career challenges — could ascend to the Supreme Court and rule on issues foundational to American lives, from voting and abortion rights to health care and affirmative action.

“Finally. We now have the possibility of a Supreme Court that would look more like America,” said Kara Beverly, 39, an employment lawyer who now works as an equity compliance investigator at Johns Hopkins University.

Biden’s vow to put a Black woman on the Supreme Court has launched conversations across the country about what that would mean. Many see the president’s promise as a significant step toward overdue representation, closely following the victorious ascent of another Black woman lawyer, Kamala Harris, to the vice presidency.

But along with that excitement is frustration that it has taken more than two centuries for this moment to arrive. And Black women in the legal community are bracing for the possibility that the yet-to-be-named nominee will be judged unfairly as an affirmative action appointment.

“People are going to say she only got this because she was a Black woman, and that could not be further from the truth. She would not even be considered if she wasn’t qualified, prepared and ready,” said Profit, 38. “There will be a segment that will discredit her ability to serve.”

On Friday, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a radio interview that the nominee would be a “beneficiary” of affirmative action. In a statement Saturday, a White House spokesperson, Andrew Bates, rebuked the senator, noting that President Ronald Reagan had announced that he would appoint a woman before he named the court’s first, Sandra Day O’Connor.

“President Biden’s promise that he would nominate and confirm the first Black woman to the Supreme Court is in line with the best traditions of both parties and our nation,” the statement said.

The expected appointment will become a historic moment in the court’s lumbering progress toward diversity. Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish justice, was appointed in 1916. Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice, ascended to the court in 1967. Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman, joined 14 years later in 1981. And Sonia Sotomayor took the bench in 2009, becoming the first Hispanic jurist. With each nomination, the court got closer to representing America.

In the hours after the announcement that Justice Stephen Breyer would be retiring, Angela Groves, a civil rights attorney in Washington, D.C., and her mother, Emanuella Groves, an appellate judge in Ohio, feverishly exchanged text messages about the Supreme Court opening.

Although the two hadn’t had time to speak at length — they were planning to have a long discussion this weekend — they sent each other links to articles about potential nominees.

“When Barack Hussein Obama was elected, that seemed impossible,” said Emanuella Groves, 63. “I think it will be someone probably in their late 40s who hopefully will have a track record of revealing a problem, educating others, have the courage to say no and be able to do it artfully, so we can begin to shift the needle to improve the administration of justice.”

The younger Groves, 32, credited her parents, both of whom were lawyers, with teaching her about social justice and planting the seed that she could follow in their career footsteps. She attended law school at New York University, where she was one of about 60 Black students.

That experience was in stark contrast to that of her mother, who was elected to the 8th District Court of Appeals in Ohio in 2020 after serving as a trial judge in the Cleveland Municipal Court for 18 years. When she was studying at Case Western Reserve School of Law in Cleveland in the late 1970s, she was one of fewer than a dozen Black students, and among only a handful of Black women. She hadn’t grown up around any lawyers and never imagined she would become a judge.

“I didn’t think it was within my reach,” she said, adding that her husband, whom she met in law school, had championed her throughout her career. During law school, she was neighbors with Sara Harper, a former prosecutor and appellate judge who was the first African American woman to graduate from Case Western’s law school. But if only she had known more Black women practicing law, Groves said of her university days.

The younger Groves said that it was important to her that the new justice, as a Democratic appointee, would be liberal.

“It is important that we have representation, but that alone is not going to be enough to bring about a more just society,” she said. “It’s important not only that there is a Black woman, but that there’s someone who has a track record of doing work that uplifts and supports Black communities and underserved communities.”

Biden made the promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court at a debate in early 2020 as his candidacy was sputtering. At the time, he was days away from the Democratic primary in South Carolina where he needed a big win among African American voters.

“I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a Black woman on the Supreme Court to make sure we in fact get everyone represented,” Biden said that night.

The pledge helped bolster both the support of Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., and Black voters, which make up a large portion of the party electorate. Biden ultimately won the South Carolina primary, marking the turning point in his campaign. In turn, during his presidential victory speech, Biden explicitly thanked Black voters for revitalizing his campaign, declaring, “you’ve always had my back, and I’ll have yours.”

And although the inclusion of a Black woman to the court would not shift the conservative majority, said Elise Boddie, a law professor at Rutgers University who last year was appointed to Biden’s Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court, it would mark the first time that a large segment of Americans would feel represented by those in power. That visibility alone could go a long way in influencing career choices.

Christopher Kang, chief counsel and co-founder of Demand Justice, a progressive advocacy group pushing for judges of different backgrounds and professional experiences, said he regularly interviewed potential judicial nominees when he worked for the White House during the Obama administration. His first question was always why they had applied at that moment in their careers.

Women, people of color and LGBTQ lawyers typically said they had been encouraged because they had not grown up seeing anyone who looked like them in those roles.

Latosha Lewis Payne, 47, presiding judge of the 55th Civil District Court in Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, said that unlike many of her peers, she had a diverse group of mentors that included Black women and men when she began her career.

“There needs to be a support system for us because we’re all going to experience things that some of our other colleagues may not ever have experienced,” Payne said. “And because there are more African American women in this space now, there are more opportunities for support and connection.”

Black women account for an overwhelming majority of all Black law students and are entering the field in greater numbers than ever before, according to the Center on the Legal Profession at Harvard Law School, which surveyed Black alumni and tracked the careers of Black women lawyers.

Today, younger law students are finding much of their support online. When Stephanie Goggans, 36, decided to pivot from her 13-year career in the military to the legal profession, she turned to “Black Girls Do Law,” an Instagram account with 30,000 followers, where she found many who looked like her and harbored the same ambitions.

In addition to sharing celebratory photos of graduations and acceptances to law schools and new jobs, the account offers practice tests, study tips and resources to connect with other Black women lawyers and students.

Goggans, who met a Black lawyer for the first time in her life when she was in the U.S. Army, is now in her second year at Cleveland State University’s law school and interning for Emanuella Groves.

“This is hard no matter who you are, but my peers — half of their parents are lawyers so they’ve always known they can do this,” she said of her white counterparts. “When it comes to mentorship: Black women. I have not had an experience where a Black woman made me feel that I couldn’t do this. It’s always been support.”

Alisia Adamson Profit, a Black woman who has practiced law for more than a dozen years in central Florida, walked into a courtroom one morning in June for a pretrial hearing, just as she had done countless times.

Alisia Adamson Profit, a Black woman who has practiced law for more than a dozen years in central Florida, walked into a courtroom one morning in June for a pretrial hearing, just as she had done countless times. But this time was different. A court deputy asked Profit — and none of the other lawyers in the courtroom, all of whom were white — for her identification. It wasn’t the first time she felt singled out as part of a tiny universe of Black women judges and lawyers. “It’s the idea that somehow I don’t belong here,” said Profit, a former public defender who founded a criminal defense firm based in Orlando, Florida. As President Joe Biden prepares to nominate the first Black woman to the nation’s highest court, members of the small, elite group of Black women lawyers and judges are reflecting about their place in their profession and watching with complicated emotions. By some estimates, they represent perhaps just 2% of the nation’s 1.3 million lawyers. Many say they have experienced discrimination or been second-guessed. At times, they have felt dismissed by others in the legal world. Knowing how isolating that can be, older Black women, many of whom were the first in their families to go to law school, described an instinctive urge to mentor younger Black women. And despite the challenges, they described still loving the law and doing what they considered their dream jobs. Now, for the first time in their lives, someone who looks like them — and probably experienced similar career challenges — could ascend to the Supreme Court and rule on issues foundational to American lives, from voting and abortion rights to health care and affirmative action. “Finally. We now have the possibility of a Supreme Court that would look more like America,” said Kara Beverly, 39, an employment lawyer who now works as an equity compliance investigator at Johns Hopkins University. Biden’s vow to put a Black woman on the Supreme Court has launched conversations across the country about what that would mean. Many see the president’s promise as a significant step toward overdue representation, closely following the victorious ascent of another Black woman lawyer, Kamala Harris, to the vice presidency. But along with that excitement is frustration that it has taken more than two centuries for this moment to arrive. And Black women in the legal community are bracing for the possibility that the yet-to-be-named nominee will be judged unfairly as an affirmative action appointment. “People are going to say she only got this because she was a Black woman, and that could not be further from the truth. She would not even be considered if she wasn’t qualified, prepared and ready,” said Profit, 38. “There will be a segment that will discredit her ability to serve.” On Friday, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a radio interview that the nominee would be a “beneficiary” of affirmative action. In a statement Saturday, a White House spokesperson, Andrew Bates, rebuked the senator, noting that President Ronald Reagan had announced that he would appoint a woman before he named the court’s first, Sandra Day O’Connor. “President Biden’s promise that he would nominate and confirm the first Black woman to the Supreme Court is in line with the best traditions of both parties and our nation,” the statement said. The expected appointment will become a historic moment in the court’s lumbering progress toward diversity. Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish justice, was appointed in 1916. Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice, ascended to the court in 1967. Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman, joined 14 years later in 1981. And Sonia Sotomayor took the bench in 2009, becoming the first Hispanic jurist. With each nomination, the court got closer to representing America. In the hours after the announcement that Justice Stephen Breyer would be retiring, Angela Groves, a civil rights attorney in Washington, D.C., and her mother, Emanuella Groves, an appellate judge in Ohio, feverishly exchanged text messages about the Supreme Court opening. Although the two hadn’t had time to speak at length — they were planning to have a long discussion this weekend — they sent each other links to articles about potential nominees. “When Barack Hussein Obama was elected, that seemed impossible,” said Emanuella Groves, 63. “I think it will be someone probably in their late 40s who hopefully will have a track record of revealing a problem, educating others, have the courage to say no and be able to do it artfully, so we can begin to shift the needle to improve the administration of justice.” The younger Groves, 32, credited her parents, both of whom were lawyers, with teaching her about social justice and planting the seed that she could follow in their career footsteps. She attended law school at New York University, where she was one of about 60 Black students. That experience was in stark contrast to that of her mother, who was elected to the 8th District Court of Appeals in Ohio in 2020 after serving as a trial judge in the Cleveland Municipal Court for 18 years. When she was studying at Case Western Reserve School of Law in Cleveland in the late 1970s, she was one of fewer than a dozen Black students, and among only a handful of Black women. She hadn’t grown up around any lawyers and never imagined she would become a judge. “I didn’t think it was within my reach,” she said, adding that her husband, whom she met in law school, had championed her throughout her career. During law school, she was neighbors with Sara Harper, a former prosecutor and appellate judge who was the first African American woman to graduate from Case Western’s law school. But if only she had known more Black women practicing law, Groves said of her university days. The younger Groves said that it was important to her that the new justice, as a Democratic appointee, would be liberal. “It is important that we have representation, but that alone is not going to be enough to bring about a more just society,” she said. “It’s important not only that there is a Black woman, but that there’s someone who has a track record of doing work that uplifts and supports Black communities and underserved communities.” Biden made the promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court at a debate in early 2020 as his candidacy was sputtering. At the time, he was days away from the Democratic primary in South Carolina where he needed a big win among African American voters. “I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a Black woman on the Supreme Court to make sure we in fact get everyone represented,” Biden said that night. The pledge helped bolster both the support of Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., and Black voters, which make up a large portion of the party electorate. Biden ultimately won the South Carolina primary, marking the turning point in his campaign. In turn, during his presidential victory speech, Biden explicitly thanked Black voters for revitalizing his campaign, declaring, “you’ve always had my back, and I’ll have yours.” And although the inclusion of a Black woman to the court would not shift the conservative majority, said Elise Boddie, a law professor at Rutgers University who last year was appointed to Biden’s Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court, it would mark the first time that a large segment of Americans would feel represented by those in power. That visibility alone could go a long way in influencing career choices. Christopher Kang, chief counsel and co-founder of Demand Justice, a progressive advocacy group pushing for judges of different backgrounds and professional experiences, said he regularly interviewed potential judicial nominees when he worked for the White House during the Obama administration. His first question was always why they had applied at that moment in their careers. Women, people of color and LGBTQ lawyers typically said they had been encouraged because they had not grown up seeing anyone who looked like them in those roles. Latosha Lewis Payne, 47, presiding judge of the 55th Civil District Court in Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, said that unlike many of her peers, she had a diverse group of mentors that included Black women and men when she began her career. “There needs to be a support system for us because we’re all going to experience things that some of our other colleagues may not ever have experienced,” Payne said. “And because there are more African American women in this space now, there are more opportunities for support and connection.” Black women account for an overwhelming majority of all Black law students and are entering the field in greater numbers than ever before, according to the Center on the Legal Profession at Harvard Law School, which surveyed Black alumni and tracked the careers of Black women lawyers. Today, younger law students are finding much of their support online. When Stephanie Goggans, 36, decided to pivot from her 13-year career in the military to the legal profession, she turned to “Black Girls Do Law,” an Instagram account with 30,000 followers, where she found many who looked like her and harbored the same ambitions. In addition to sharing celebratory photos of graduations and acceptances to law schools and new jobs, the account offers practice tests, study tips and resources to connect with other Black women lawyers and students. Goggans, who met a Black lawyer for the first time in her life when she was in the U.S. Army, is now in her second year at Cleveland State University’s law school and interning for Emanuella Groves. “This is hard no matter who you are, but my peers — half of their parents are lawyers so they’ve always known they can do this,” she said of her white counterparts. “When it comes to mentorship: Black women. I have not had an experience where a Black woman made me feel that I couldn’t do this. It’s always been support.”

Black women in law feel pride and frustration ahead of court nominee

Dozens of pet stores that sold hamsters in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;may resume business from Sunday,&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong's government said, after being shuttered last week and thousands culled over coronavirus fears.

Authorities enraged pet lovers with an order to cull more than 2,200 hamsters after tracing an outbreak to a worker in a shop where 11 hamsters tested positive.

Imported hamsters from Holland into the Chinese territory had been cited as the source. All hamster imports remain banned.

The city's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said in a statement late on Saturday that it collected 1,134 samples from animals other than hamsters including rabbits and chinchillas, which were all negative.

Five stores, including the "Little Boss" pet shop, which started the outbreak, remained shuttered as they had not yet "passed the virus test," the government said.

"All the other concerned pet shops on the other hand have been thoroughly disinfected and cleaned and the environmental swabs collected from these shops have all passed the COVID-19 virus test," it said.

The government said on Friday it would compensate pet shops trading in hamsters, offering a one-off payment of up to HK$30,000 (US$3,850).

People who had in recent weeks bought hamsters - popular apartment pets in the congested city - were ordered to surrender them for testing and what the government described as "humane dispatch".

Thousands of people offered to adopt unwanted hamsters amid a public outcry against the government and its pandemic advisers, which authorities called irrational.

A study published in The Lancet medical journal, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, said Hong&nbsp;Kong researchers have found evidence that pet hamsters can spread COVID-19 and linked the animals to human infections in the city.

However, the economic and psychological tolls from&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong's hardline approach to curbing the virus are rapidly rising, residents say, with measures becoming more draconian than those first enforced in 2020.

Dozens of pet stores that sold hamsters in Hong Kong may resume business from Sunday, Hong Kong's government said, after being shuttered last week and thousands culled over coronavirus fears.

Dozens of pet stores that sold hamsters in Hong Kong may resume business from Sunday, Hong Kong's government said, after being shuttered last week and thousands culled over coronavirus fears. Authorities enraged pet lovers with an order to cull more than 2,200 hamsters after tracing an outbreak to a worker in a shop where 11 hamsters tested positive. Imported hamsters from Holland into the Chinese territory had been cited as the source. All hamster imports remain banned. The city's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said in a statement late on Saturday that it collected 1,134 samples from animals other than hamsters including rabbits and chinchillas, which were all negative. Five stores, including the "Little Boss" pet shop, which started the outbreak, remained shuttered as they had not yet "passed the virus test," the government said. "All the other concerned pet shops on the other hand have been thoroughly disinfected and cleaned and the environmental swabs collected from these shops have all passed the COVID-19 virus test," it said. The government said on Friday it would compensate pet shops trading in hamsters, offering a one-off payment of up to HK$30,000 (US$3,850). People who had in recent weeks bought hamsters - popular apartment pets in the congested city - were ordered to surrender them for testing and what the government described as "humane dispatch". Thousands of people offered to adopt unwanted hamsters amid a public outcry against the government and its pandemic advisers, which authorities called irrational. A study published in The Lancet medical journal, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, said Hong Kong researchers have found evidence that pet hamsters can spread COVID-19 and linked the animals to human infections in the city. However, the economic and psychological tolls from Hong Kong's hardline approach to curbing the virus are rapidly rising, residents say, with measures becoming more draconian than those first enforced in 2020.

Hong Kong allows hamster pet stores to resume business after COVID-19 cull

Thailand beach declared disaster area after massive oil spill, aerial images show extent of damage

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is confident that humans will land on Mars by 2026. As he has been an advocate of hypothetical Mars colonisation, he might have persuaded people that human life outside Earth is possible.&nbsp;

The idea of setting up colonies on Mars has received interest from all corners as space scientists and experts are investigating all possibilities with several Mars missions.&nbsp;

In pursuit to pull off the extraordinary, the scientists and Musk's dream can get some help from the recent volcanic eruption near Tonga that unleashed explosive forces that undermined the power of the Hiroshima atomic bomb.&nbsp;

The undersea eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano was so powerful as it sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean and was heard some 2,300km away in New Zealand. Thousands of homes were destroyed.&nbsp;

Locals and survivors had described how the devastating Pacific blast "messed up" their brains. In the aftermath, parts of the nation were covered in ashes, communication with other countries was cut because the undersea lines were damaged. &nbsp;

ALOS READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-evidence-of-an-extreme-solar-tsunami-deep-within-earths-ice-448784">Scientists find evidence of an extreme solar 'tsunami' deep within Earth's ice</a>

The Pacific nation has been reeling as other countries like Australia, New Zealand and India have come forward to help as even drinking water was scarce. But slowly and surely, the disaster-hit nation is pushing forward to reconstruct and reestablish.

Now, scientists are probing the eruption activities to learn and prepare humankind for such occurrences in future with advancements in technology.&nbsp;

Besides, that volcano could offer valuable clues about the formation of other planets like Mars and Venus as it is offering researchers a rare chance to study how water and lava interact.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/water-flowed-on-mars-about-a-billion-years-longer-than-previous-estimates-nasa-448238">Water flowed on Mars about a billion years longer than previous estimates: NASA</a>

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center chief scientist James Garvin told Reuters that NASA experts had been studying the volcano for seven years before it erupted, and were now using forensic techniques to examine the remnants of the islands, Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai.&nbsp;

"We took that volume of mass ejected and the energetics to explosively fragment it, and calculated - using fairly classical techniques - how much energy that would take to break rock.... to break it up into little bits and throw it as ash and steam up," Garvin said.

"We did that calculation and we got numbers that range from something equivalent to the blast of a small asteroid that would hit the earth - about 10 metric, megatons of TNT or equivalent - to things even bigger," he said.&nbsp;

Garvin said that by studying the life cycle of the Tonga volcano, scientists have a "rare opportunity" to understand how formations may have been made on other planets like Mars and Venus.

WATCH |&nbsp;Second earthquake hits Tonga few days after massive volcanic eruption

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(With inputs from agencies)

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is confident that humans will land on Mars by 2026. As he has been an advocate of hypothetical Mars colonisation, he might have persuaded people that human life outside Earth is possible.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is confident that humans will land on Mars by 2026. As he has been an advocate of hypothetical Mars colonisation, he might have persuaded people that human life outside Earth is possible. The idea of setting up colonies on Mars has received interest from all corners as space scientists and experts are investigating all possibilities with several Mars missions. In pursuit to pull off the extraordinary, the scientists and Musk's dream can get some help from the recent volcanic eruption near Tonga that unleashed explosive forces that undermined the power of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. The undersea eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano was so powerful as it sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean and was heard some 2,300km away in New Zealand. Thousands of homes were destroyed. Locals and survivors had described how the devastating Pacific blast "messed up" their brains. In the aftermath, parts of the nation were covered in ashes, communication with other countries was cut because the undersea lines were damaged. ALOS READ | Scientists find evidence of an extreme solar 'tsunami' deep within Earth's ice The Pacific nation has been reeling as other countries like Australia, New Zealand and India have come forward to help as even drinking water was scarce. But slowly and surely, the disaster-hit nation is pushing forward to reconstruct and reestablish. Now, scientists are probing the eruption activities to learn and prepare humankind for such occurrences in future with advancements in technology. Besides, that volcano could offer valuable clues about the formation of other planets like Mars and Venus as it is offering researchers a rare chance to study how water and lava interact. ALSO READ | Water flowed on Mars about a billion years longer than previous estimates: NASA NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center chief scientist James Garvin told Reuters that NASA experts had been studying the volcano for seven years before it erupted, and were now using forensic techniques to examine the remnants of the islands, Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai. "We took that volume of mass ejected and the energetics to explosively fragment it, and calculated - using fairly classical techniques - how much energy that would take to break rock.... to break it up into little bits and throw it as ash and steam up," Garvin said. "We did that calculation and we got numbers that range from something equivalent to the blast of a small asteroid that would hit the earth - about 10 metric, megatons of TNT or equivalent - to things even bigger," he said. Garvin said that by studying the life cycle of the Tonga volcano, scientists have a "rare opportunity" to understand how formations may have been made on other planets like Mars and Venus. WATCH | Second earthquake hits Tonga few days after massive volcanic eruption × (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's dream of colonising Mars has a connection with Tonga volcanic eruption

A military court in the Democratic Republic of&nbsp;Congo&nbsp;Saturday sentenced 51 people to death, several in absentia, in a mass trial over the 2017 murder of two UN experts in a troubled central region.

Capital punishment is frequently pronounced in murder cases in DRC, but is routinely commuted to life imprisonment since the country declared a moratorium on executions in 2003.

Dozens of people have been on trial for more than four years over a killing that shook diplomats and the aid community, although key questions about the episode remain unanswered.

Michael Sharp, an American, and Zaida Catalan, a Swedish-Chilean, disappeared as they probed violence in the Kasai region after being hired to do so by the United Nations.

They were investigating mass graves linked to a bloody conflict that had flared between the government and a local group.

Their bodies were found in a village on March 28, 2017, 16 days after they went missing. Catalan had been beheaded.

Unrest in the Kasai region had broken out in 2016, triggered by the killing of a local traditional chief, the Kamuina Nsapu, by the security forces.

Around 3,400 people were killed, and tens of thousands of people fled their homes, before the conflict fizzled out in mid-2017.

Prosecutors at the military court in Kananga had demanded the death penalty against 51 of the 54 accused, 22 of whom are fugitives and are being tried in absentia.

The charge sheet ranged from "terrorism" and "murder" to "participation in an insurrectional movement" and "the act of a war crime through mutilation".

According to the official version of events, pro-Kamuina Nsapu&nbsp;militiamen executed the pair on March 12, 2017, the day they went missing.

But in June 2017, a report handed to the UN Security Council described the killings as a "premeditated setup" in which members of state security may have been involved.

During the trial, prosecutors suggested that the militiamen had carried out the murders to take revenge against the United Nations, which the sect accused of failing to prevent attacks against them by the army.

If so, those who purportedly ordered the act were not identified throughout the marathon proceedings.

Among the main accused was a colonel, Jean de Dieu Mambweni, who prosecutors say colluded with the militiamen, providing them with ammunition. He has denied the charges and his lawyers say the trial is a set-up.

Mambweni was among those originally facing the death penalty, but instead was only sentenced to 10 years in jail for "disobeying orders and failure to assist a person in danger". His defence team said he would appeal the verdict.

Two more detainees were acquitted, including a journalist.

Saturday's verdict is liable to appeal at the High Military Court in Kinshasa, DRC's capital.

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday sentenced 51 people to death, several in absentia, in a mass trial over the 2017 murder of two UN experts in a troubled central region.

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday sentenced 51 people to death, several in absentia, in a mass trial over the 2017 murder of two UN experts in a troubled central region. Capital punishment is frequently pronounced in murder cases in DRC, but is routinely commuted to life imprisonment since the country declared a moratorium on executions in 2003. Dozens of people have been on trial for more than four years over a killing that shook diplomats and the aid community, although key questions about the episode remain unanswered. Michael Sharp, an American, and Zaida Catalan, a Swedish-Chilean, disappeared as they probed violence in the Kasai region after being hired to do so by the United Nations. They were investigating mass graves linked to a bloody conflict that had flared between the government and a local group. Their bodies were found in a village on March 28, 2017, 16 days after they went missing. Catalan had been beheaded. Unrest in the Kasai region had broken out in 2016, triggered by the killing of a local traditional chief, the Kamuina Nsapu, by the security forces. Around 3,400 people were killed, and tens of thousands of people fled their homes, before the conflict fizzled out in mid-2017. Prosecutors at the military court in Kananga had demanded the death penalty against 51 of the 54 accused, 22 of whom are fugitives and are being tried in absentia. The charge sheet ranged from "terrorism" and "murder" to "participation in an insurrectional movement" and "the act of a war crime through mutilation". According to the official version of events, pro-Kamuina Nsapu militiamen executed the pair on March 12, 2017, the day they went missing. But in June 2017, a report handed to the UN Security Council described the killings as a "premeditated setup" in which members of state security may have been involved. During the trial, prosecutors suggested that the militiamen had carried out the murders to take revenge against the United Nations, which the sect accused of failing to prevent attacks against them by the army. If so, those who purportedly ordered the act were not identified throughout the marathon proceedings. Among the main accused was a colonel, Jean de Dieu Mambweni, who prosecutors say colluded with the militiamen, providing them with ammunition. He has denied the charges and his lawyers say the trial is a set-up. Mambweni was among those originally facing the death penalty, but instead was only sentenced to 10 years in jail for "disobeying orders and failure to assist a person in danger". His defence team said he would appeal the verdict. Two more detainees were acquitted, including a journalist. Saturday's verdict is liable to appeal at the High Military Court in Kinshasa, DRC's capital.

DR Congo court sentences 51 to death in murder of UN experts

Italian President Sergio&nbsp;Mattarella&nbsp;was re-elected for a second term on Saturday (January 29), with party chiefs asking him to carry on after a week of fruitless voting in parliament to choose a successor.

At the eighth round of balloting among more than 1,000 lawmakers and regional delegates in the Chamber of Deputies, loud applause broke out when&nbsp;Mattarella&nbsp;passed the 505 votes needed for election.

Overall,&nbsp;Mattarella&nbsp;obtained 759 votes.

Mattarella, 80, had ruled out remaining in office, but with the country's political stability at risk he changed his mind in the face of appeals from parliamentary leaders who met him at his palace earlier in the day.

Relieved party chiefs thanked&nbsp;Mattarella&nbsp;for agreeing to remain, but the failed attempts to replace him during seven rounds of balloting have left deep scars, with potentially dangerous repercussions for political stability.

Nonetheless, financial markets are likely to react positively to the status quo, which will see Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who had made clear he hoped to become president himself, continuing on as prime minister instead.

In Italy's political system, the president is a powerful figure who gets to appoint prime ministers and is often called on to resolve political crises. Governments in the euro zone's third-largest economy survive around a year on average.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella was re-elected for a second term on Saturday (January 29), with party chiefs asking him to carry on after a week of fruitless voting in parliament to choose a successor.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella was re-elected for a second term on Saturday (January 29), with party chiefs asking him to carry on after a week of fruitless voting in parliament to choose a successor. At the eighth round of balloting among more than 1,000 lawmakers and regional delegates in the Chamber of Deputies, loud applause broke out when Mattarella passed the 505 votes needed for election. Overall, Mattarella obtained 759 votes. Mattarella, 80, had ruled out remaining in office, but with the country's political stability at risk he changed his mind in the face of appeals from parliamentary leaders who met him at his palace earlier in the day. Relieved party chiefs thanked Mattarella for agreeing to remain, but the failed attempts to replace him during seven rounds of balloting have left deep scars, with potentially dangerous repercussions for political stability. Nonetheless, financial markets are likely to react positively to the status quo, which will see Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who had made clear he hoped to become president himself, continuing on as prime minister instead. In Italy's political system, the president is a powerful figure who gets to appoint prime ministers and is often called on to resolve political crises. Governments in the euro zone's third-largest economy survive around a year on average.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella re-elected for second term

As India remembers Mahatma Gandhi on his 74th death anniversary on January 30, the country's President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the Father of Nation.

India's President attended Sarva Dharma Prarthana at Rajghat in the nation's capital New Delhi. PM Modi said that it is our collective endeavour to further "popularise his noble ideals".&nbsp;

Taking to his official Twitter handle, PM Modi wrote: "Remembering Bapu on his Punya Tithi. It is our collective endeavour to further popularise his noble ideals."&nbsp;

"Today, on Martyrs’ Day, paying homage to all the greats who courageously safeguarded our nation. Their service and bravery will always be remembered," he added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-remembers-mahatma-gandhi-on-martyrs-day-here-are-some-lesser-known-facts-about-bapu-448890">India remembers Mahatma Gandhi on Martyrs' Day: Here are some lesser-known facts about 'Bapu'</a>

India observes 'Shaheed Diwas' or 'Martyrs' Day' on January 30 every year to mark the date&nbsp;when Gandhi ji was assassinated in 1948 by Nathuram Godse.&nbsp;

With his principles of Satya (truth) and Ahimsa (non-violence), Gandhi inspired&nbsp;millions across the world. He followed the path of non-violence and led the successful campaign for India's independence from the oppressive British rule.&nbsp;

India's Vice President Venkaiah Naidu paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and urged&nbsp;people to come together to free the country from poverty, hunger, social evils, illiteracy and discrimination.&nbsp;

"An apostle of peace and non-violence, Gandhi Ji played a colossal role in India's freedom struggle and in shaping the destiny of India," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted, quoting Naidu.&nbsp;

"His glorious life, noble ideas and selflessness continue to inspire humanity. Let us come together to free our country from poverty, hunger, social evils, illiteracy and discrimination," he said.&nbsp;

Describing Gandhi as a visionary leader, social emancipator, messiah for farmers, crusader of the downtrodden and the voice of rural India, the vice president said he was an epitome of kindness, compassion and selfless service.

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President Ram Nath Kovind paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on Martyrs’ Day and attended Sarva Dharma Prarthana at Rajghat, New Delhi. <a href="https://t.co/XUyq4EEjmG">pic.twitter.com/XUyq4EEjmG</a>
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1487679338124550144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-india-observes-martyrs-day-and-how-is-it-connected-to-mahatma-gandhi-448860">Why India observes ‘Martyr’s Day’ and how is it connected to Mahatma Gandhi</a>?

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Remembering Bapu on his Punya Tithi. It is our collective endeavour to further popularise his noble ideals. 
 
Today, on Martyrs’ Day, paying homage to all the greats who courageously safeguarded our nation. Their service and bravery will always be remembered.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1487631885161615362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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My respectful tributes to 'Father of the Nation' Mahatma Gandhi Ji on his death anniversary today. An apostle of peace and non-violence, Gandhi Ji played a colossal role in India's freedom struggle and in shaping the destiny of India. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gandhiji?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gandhiji</a> <a href="https://t.co/0dzzelL9LL">pic.twitter.com/0dzzelL9LL</a>
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) <a href="https://twitter.com/VPSecretariat/status/1487635969255755776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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As India remembers Mahatma Gandhi on his 74th death anniversary on January 30, the country's President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the Father of Nation.

As India remembers Mahatma Gandhi on his 74th death anniversary on January 30, the country's President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the Father of Nation. India's President attended Sarva Dharma Prarthana at Rajghat in the nation's capital New Delhi. PM Modi said that it is our collective endeavour to further "popularise his noble ideals". Taking to his official Twitter handle, PM Modi wrote: "Remembering Bapu on his Punya Tithi. It is our collective endeavour to further popularise his noble ideals." "Today, on Martyrs’ Day, paying homage to all the greats who courageously safeguarded our nation. Their service and bravery will always be remembered," he added. ALSO READ | India remembers Mahatma Gandhi on Martyrs' Day: Here are some lesser-known facts about 'Bapu' India observes 'Shaheed Diwas' or 'Martyrs' Day' on January 30 every year to mark the date when Gandhi ji was assassinated in 1948 by Nathuram Godse. With his principles of Satya (truth) and Ahimsa (non-violence), Gandhi inspired millions across the world. He followed the path of non-violence and led the successful campaign for India's independence from the oppressive British rule. India's Vice President Venkaiah Naidu paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and urged people to come together to free the country from poverty, hunger, social evils, illiteracy and discrimination. "An apostle of peace and non-violence, Gandhi Ji played a colossal role in India's freedom struggle and in shaping the destiny of India," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted, quoting Naidu. "His glorious life, noble ideas and selflessness continue to inspire humanity. Let us come together to free our country from poverty, hunger, social evils, illiteracy and discrimination," he said. Describing Gandhi as a visionary leader, social emancipator, messiah for farmers, crusader of the downtrodden and the voice of rural India, the vice president said he was an epitome of kindness, compassion and selfless service. President Ram Nath Kovind paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on Martyrs’ Day and attended Sarva Dharma Prarthana at Rajghat, New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/XUyq4EEjmG — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 30, 2022 × ALSO READ | Why India observes ‘Martyr’s Day’ and how is it connected to Mahatma Gandhi? Remembering Bapu on his Punya Tithi. It is our collective endeavour to further popularise his noble ideals. Today, on Martyrs’ Day, paying homage to all the greats who courageously safeguarded our nation. Their service and bravery will always be remembered. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 30, 2022 × My respectful tributes to 'Father of the Nation' Mahatma Gandhi Ji on his death anniversary today. An apostle of peace and non-violence, Gandhi Ji played a colossal role in India's freedom struggle and in shaping the destiny of India. #Gandhiji pic.twitter.com/0dzzelL9LL — Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) January 30, 2022 × ×

PM Narendra Modi says it's our collective endeavour to popularise Mahatma Gandhi's noble ideals

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