Israel’s top general said on Tuesday that its military was refreshing its operational plans against Iran and that any US&nbsp;return to a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran would be “wrong.”

The comments by Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi came as Israel and Iran both seek to put pressure on President Joe Biden ahead of his expected announcement on his approach for dealing with the Iranian nuclear programme. In Iran, leaders said they would not wait indefinitely for Biden to act.

Such comments by Israel’s military chief of staff on US&nbsp;policymaking are rare and likely would have been pre-approved by the Israeli government.

“A return to the 2015 nuclear agreement, or even if it is a similar accord with several improvements, is bad and wrong from an operational and strategic point of view,” Lieutenant-General Aviv Kohavi said in an address to Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies.

Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, abandoned the nuclear agreement in 2018, a move that was welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who criticised the sanctions relief it offered and warned of the likelihood of Iranian nuclear arms development after its expiration.

Biden has said he will seek to revive the deal, with some changes.

The 2015 deal put curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the easing of crippling economic sanctions. Israel strongly opposed the deal, saying it did not include sufficient safeguards to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Antony Blinken confirmed on Tuesday as Biden’s secretary of state, said last week the United States was “a long way” from deciding whether to rejoin the deal and it would need to see what Iran actually did to resume complying with the pact.

Since Washington pulled out of the deal, Iran has gradually breached its key limits, building up its stockpile of low enriched uranium, enriching uranium to higher levels of purity, and installing centrifuges in ways barred by the accord.

Kohavi said those actions by Iran, which denies it is seeking atomic arms, showed it could ultimately decide to push forward rapidly towards building a nuclear weapon.

“In light of this fundamental analysis, I have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare a number of operational plans, in addition to those already in place,” Kohavi said.

“It will be up to the political leadership, of course, to decide on implementation, but these plans need to be on the table.”

Netanyahu had threatened possible Israeli strikes against Iran in the run-up to the accord. But a senior Israeli officer, who spoke to reporters in 2015 on condition of anonymity, underscored differences in Israel over the issue by saying a deal had potential security benefits.

Tensions around Iran have steadily increased. During Trump's final days as president, Tehran seized a South Korean oil tanker and begun enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels, while the US&nbsp;Has sent B-52 bombers, the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and a nuclear submarine into the region.

Iran has also increased its military drills, including firing cruise missiles as part of a naval drill in the Gulf of Oman this month.

Iran has missile capability of up to 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles), far enough to reach Israel and US&nbsp;Military bases in the region.

Israel’s top general said on Tuesday that its military was refreshing its operational plans against Iran and that any US return to a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran would be “wrong.

Israel’s top general said on Tuesday that its military was refreshing its operational plans against Iran and that any US return to a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran would be “wrong.” The comments by Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi came as Israel and Iran both seek to put pressure on President Joe Biden ahead of his expected announcement on his approach for dealing with the Iranian nuclear programme. In Iran, leaders said they would not wait indefinitely for Biden to act. Such comments by Israel’s military chief of staff on US policymaking are rare and likely would have been pre-approved by the Israeli government. “A return to the 2015 nuclear agreement, or even if it is a similar accord with several improvements, is bad and wrong from an operational and strategic point of view,” Lieutenant-General Aviv Kohavi said in an address to Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies. Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, abandoned the nuclear agreement in 2018, a move that was welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who criticised the sanctions relief it offered and warned of the likelihood of Iranian nuclear arms development after its expiration. Biden has said he will seek to revive the deal, with some changes. The 2015 deal put curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the easing of crippling economic sanctions. Israel strongly opposed the deal, saying it did not include sufficient safeguards to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Antony Blinken confirmed on Tuesday as Biden’s secretary of state, said last week the United States was “a long way” from deciding whether to rejoin the deal and it would need to see what Iran actually did to resume complying with the pact. Since Washington pulled out of the deal, Iran has gradually breached its key limits, building up its stockpile of low enriched uranium, enriching uranium to higher levels of purity, and installing centrifuges in ways barred by the accord. Kohavi said those actions by Iran, which denies it is seeking atomic arms, showed it could ultimately decide to push forward rapidly towards building a nuclear weapon. “In light of this fundamental analysis, I have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare a number of operational plans, in addition to those already in place,” Kohavi said. “It will be up to the political leadership, of course, to decide on implementation, but these plans need to be on the table.” Netanyahu had threatened possible Israeli strikes against Iran in the run-up to the accord. But a senior Israeli officer, who spoke to reporters in 2015 on condition of anonymity, underscored differences in Israel over the issue by saying a deal had potential security benefits. Tensions around Iran have steadily increased. During Trump's final days as president, Tehran seized a South Korean oil tanker and begun enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels, while the US Has sent B-52 bombers, the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and a nuclear submarine into the region. Iran has also increased its military drills, including firing cruise missiles as part of a naval drill in the Gulf of Oman this month. Iran has missile capability of up to 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles), far enough to reach Israel and US Military bases in the region.

Israel's top general warns of new plans to strike Iran

The world's two richest men Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are sparring over&nbsp;space real estate, with SpaceX accusing Amazon of ''stifling competition''.

Starlink is SpaceX's ambitious project to launch and operate its own network of broadband satellites, which will provide low-cost Internet to remote locations on a global level.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/spacex-confirms-putting-60-new-starlink-internet-satellites-into-orbit-303249">SpaceX confirms putting 60 new Starlink Internet satellites into orbit</a>

Amazon.com Inc is set to invest more than $10 billion to build a network of 3,236 satellites that will provide high-speed broadband internet services to people around the world who lack such access.

The announcement follows the Federal Communications Commission's approval of the plan, called "Project Kuiper", for the constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that will compete with the Starlink network being built out by Elon Musk's SpaceX.&nbsp;

As a result of a proposed change in SpaceX's plan of launching&nbsp;broadband satellites, it might clash with Amazon.

Musk took to Twiter to express his frustration saying&nbsp;"It does not serve the public to hamstring Starlink today for an Amazon satellite system that is at best several years away from operation."

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It does not serve the public to hamstring Starlink today for an Amazon satellite system that is at best several years away from operation
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Amazon hit back saying&nbsp;"The facts are simple. We designed the Kuiper System to avoid interference with Starlink, and now SpaceX wants to change the design of its system.&nbsp;Those changes not only create a more dangerous environment for collisions in space, but they also increase radio interference for customers."

In a statement issued by Amazon, it said:&nbsp;"Despite what SpaceX posts on Twitter, it is SpaceX's proposed changes that would hamstring competition among satellite systems. It is clearly in SpaceX's interest to smother competition in the cradle if they can, but it is certainly not in the public's interest."

By comparison, SpaceX has launched over 500 satellites of the roughly 12,000 expected for its Starlink constellation in low Earth orbit and plans to offer broadband service in the United States and Canada by the year's end. The FCC approved SpaceX's request in 2018.

While extremely costly to deploy, satellite technology can provide high-speed internet for people who live in rural or hard-to-serve places where fiber optic cables and cell towers do not reach. The technology could also be a critical backstop when hurricanes or other natural disasters disrupts communication.

The FCC authorisation, adopted with a 5-0 vote, requires Amazon to launch half of its satellites no later than mid-2026 and build out the rest of the constellation by mid-2029.

Amazon said it would begin to offer broadband service once 578 satellites are launched. It had 110 open positions for its "Project Kuiper" posted on its website Thursday. The satellites will be designed and tested at a new research and development facility opening in Redmond, Washington.

The world's two richest men Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are sparring over space real estate, with SpaceX accusing Amazon of ''stifling competition''. Starlink is SpaceX's ambitious project to launch and operate its own network of broadband satellites, which will provide low-cost Internet to remote locations on a global level.

The world's two richest men Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are sparring over space real estate, with SpaceX accusing Amazon of ''stifling competition''. Starlink is SpaceX's ambitious project to launch and operate its own network of broadband satellites, which will provide low-cost Internet to remote locations on a global level. Also read: SpaceX confirms putting 60 new Starlink Internet satellites into orbit Amazon.com Inc is set to invest more than $10 billion to build a network of 3,236 satellites that will provide high-speed broadband internet services to people around the world who lack such access. The announcement follows the Federal Communications Commission's approval of the plan, called "Project Kuiper", for the constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that will compete with the Starlink network being built out by Elon Musk's SpaceX. As a result of a proposed change in SpaceX's plan of launching broadband satellites, it might clash with Amazon. Musk took to Twiter to express his frustration saying "It does not serve the public to hamstring Starlink today for an Amazon satellite system that is at best several years away from operation." It does not serve the public to hamstring Starlink today for an Amazon satellite system that is at best several years away from operation — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 26, 2021 × Amazon hit back saying "The facts are simple. We designed the Kuiper System to avoid interference with Starlink, and now SpaceX wants to change the design of its system. Those changes not only create a more dangerous environment for collisions in space, but they also increase radio interference for customers." In a statement issued by Amazon, it said: "Despite what SpaceX posts on Twitter, it is SpaceX's proposed changes that would hamstring competition among satellite systems. It is clearly in SpaceX's interest to smother competition in the cradle if they can, but it is certainly not in the public's interest." By comparison, SpaceX has launched over 500 satellites of the roughly 12,000 expected for its Starlink constellation in low Earth orbit and plans to offer broadband service in the United States and Canada by the year's end. The FCC approved SpaceX's request in 2018. While extremely costly to deploy, satellite technology can provide high-speed internet for people who live in rural or hard-to-serve places where fiber optic cables and cell towers do not reach. The technology could also be a critical backstop when hurricanes or other natural disasters disrupts communication. The FCC authorisation, adopted with a 5-0 vote, requires Amazon to launch half of its satellites no later than mid-2026 and build out the rest of the constellation by mid-2029. Amazon said it would begin to offer broadband service once 578 satellites are launched. It had 110 open positions for its "Project Kuiper" posted on its website Thursday. The satellites will be designed and tested at a new research and development facility opening in Redmond, Washington.

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are fighting against each other over space real estate

A crocheted doll of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders&nbsp;huddled in a chair, arms folded, wearing mittens and&nbsp;also sporting an average-guy winter coat, has fetched $40,000 in an online auction for a charity called Meals on Wheels.

Tobey King, the maker of the doll, had placed it for auction on eBay and pledged 100 per cent of the profits to charity.

"I was talking with another crafter friend who told me Bernie had just sold some hoodies and donated all the proceeds to Meals on Wheels Vermont, and I knew that that is what I wanted to do with the doll I made,"&nbsp;King said.

"With the attention&nbsp;it was getting I was hopeful Meals on Wheels would get a good donation."

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bernies-home-made-mittens-become-world-famous-after-meme-fest-359152/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Sanders' campaign store is selling sweatshirts featuring his photo at US presidential inauguration in a heavy winter jacket and patterned mittens&nbsp;with a picture of the veteran leftist spawning the first viral meme of the Biden era.

Sanders said on Sunday he was happy he could&nbsp;help in raising&nbsp;millions for charity. Adding that he&nbsp;was enjoying the meme as much as the rest of the world, the 79-year-old gave an uncharacteristic grin and said he was overjoyed that his handwoven mittens, blue facemask and trademark glower could be turned into gold for needy Americans.

"Not only are we having fun but what we are doing here in Vermont is we're going to be selling around the country sweatshirts and T-shirts, and all of the money that's going to be raised,&nbsp;which I expect will be a couple of million dollars, will be going to programs like 'Meals on Wheels,' that feed low-income senior citizens,"&nbsp;Sanders&nbsp;said.

"So, it turns out actually to be a good thing, and not only a fun thing," he said.

Jennifer Ellis, a fan of&nbsp;Sanders, sent him a pair of mittens after he lost to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary, as a consolation gift.

Featured since in everything from Japanese anime art to 1960s album cover copies,&nbsp;Sanders&nbsp;stood out among the designer garb at the ceremony for his mittens, a snowboarding jacket made by Vermont company Burton, and carrying a large manila envelope.

A crocheted doll of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders huddled in a chair, arms folded, wearing mittens and also sporting an average-guy winter coat, has fetched $40,000 in an online auction for a charity called Meals on Wheels.

A crocheted doll of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders huddled in a chair, arms folded, wearing mittens and also sporting an average-guy winter coat, has fetched $40,000 in an online auction for a charity called Meals on Wheels. Tobey King, the maker of the doll, had placed it for auction on eBay and pledged 100 per cent of the profits to charity. "I was talking with another crafter friend who told me Bernie had just sold some hoodies and donated all the proceeds to Meals on Wheels Vermont, and I knew that that is what I wanted to do with the doll I made," King said. "With the attention it was getting I was hopeful Meals on Wheels would get a good donation." Sanders' campaign store is selling sweatshirts featuring his photo at US presidential inauguration in a heavy winter jacket and patterned mittens with a picture of the veteran leftist spawning the first viral meme of the Biden era. Sanders said on Sunday he was happy he could help in raising millions for charity. Adding that he was enjoying the meme as much as the rest of the world, the 79-year-old gave an uncharacteristic grin and said he was overjoyed that his handwoven mittens, blue facemask and trademark glower could be turned into gold for needy Americans. "Not only are we having fun but what we are doing here in Vermont is we're going to be selling around the country sweatshirts and T-shirts, and all of the money that's going to be raised, which I expect will be a couple of million dollars, will be going to programs like 'Meals on Wheels,' that feed low-income senior citizens," Sanders said. "So, it turns out actually to be a good thing, and not only a fun thing," he said. Jennifer Ellis, a fan of Sanders, sent him a pair of mittens after he lost to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary, as a consolation gift. Featured since in everything from Japanese anime art to 1960s album cover copies, Sanders stood out among the designer garb at the ceremony for his mittens, a snowboarding jacket made by Vermont company Burton, and carrying a large manila envelope.

Crochet doll of Bernie Sanders fetches $40,000 in online auction for charity

Cities across the Netherlands were calmer on Tuesday after three nights of rioting against a coronavirus curfew as authorities vowed to crack down on the unrest, blaming "scum" for the looting and arson and deploying a huge police presence on the streets.

By late night, the increased police presence appeared to have paid off, with no major rioting or clashes between youths and police reported.

''We are seeing a different picture to yesterday,''&nbsp;police chief Willem Woelders told Dutch current affairs show Nieuwsuur.

''I think what has also helped is that you see an atmosphere among the population that this (rioting) is unacceptable,''&nbsp;Woelders told another talk show, Op1.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-in-netherlands-clash-with-police-for-third-consecutive-day-over-coronavirus-curfew-359503" hreflang="en">Protesters in Netherlands clash with police again over COVID-19 curfew</a>

A large crowd of young men gathered briefly and set off fireworks in Amsterdam late Tuesday, and 33 were arrested in the port city of Rotterdam for vandalism or breaking the curfew, police said, but no serious incidents were reported.

At least 400 people have now been arrested after the Netherlands imposed its first nationwide curfew since World War II.

Several cities had granted police extra powers amid reports that fresh protests were being organised on social media against the 9:00pm to 4:30am curfew.

"You don't capitulate to people who smash shop windows," Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra told ANP national news agency Tuesday.

"Scum does this," he added.

Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus also said the government would keep the curfew in place. It is expected to last until at least February 9, in what the government says is a vital step to bring down Covid-19 cases.

Police unions called it the worst rioting in four decades, when evictions from illegally occupied buildings sparked clashes with squatters in the 1980s.

Dutch police chief Henk van Essen condemned the violence, saying "it has nothing to do any longer with the right to demonstrate".

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter that "Criminal violence has to stop."

'Shameless thieves'&nbsp;

The government announced the curfew last week and it was supported by a majority of MPs.

Exemptions are allowed, for example for people having to work, attend funerals or walk their dogs, on condition that they present a certificate.

The protests began on a small scale on Saturday night, with a single riot in the northern village of Urk in the conservative protestant "Bible Belt".

But on Sunday they spread, with police using water cannon, tear gas and horses against rioters in the southern city of Eindhoven and in Amsterdam.

As the clean-up operation started, mayors of several cities reacted with anger. Rotterdam's Ahmed Aboutaleb called rioters "shameless thieves", the NOS national broadcaster reported.

"Does it feel good to wake up this morning with a suitcase full of stolen goods next to you?" he asked rioters in an online message.

The country was already under its toughest measures since the start of the pandemic, with bars and restaurants having closed in October, and schools and non-essential shops shut since December.

More than 13,600 people have died in the Netherlands since the start of the pandemic.

&nbsp;'Genie out of bottle'

Dutch media have said that the protesters are a mixture of hardcore anti-lockdown activists along with other, largely young people frustrated with the increasingly tough measures in a country that until recently had some of Europe's laxest Covid rules.

In some cities, hardcore football club supporters formed groups to defend stadiums and hospitals from looters. Experts warned however that such actions could inflame an already tense situation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Right now, the genie is out of the bottle," Carsten de Dreu, a social psychology professor at Leiden University told AFP.

He said the government may have foreseen that tougher measures like closing clubs, shops and introducing a curfew could lead to riots.

"We knew that in advance and we saw it coming," he said.

"Perhaps one should have been thinking months ago that we should not only have a lockdown, but also about making a point about giving back some of the social functions that have now been taken away."

Neighbouring Belgium, which is also under curfew, meanwhile feared a spillover of the unrest after calls on social media for protests on Saturday.

"We take this very seriously because we are close to the Dutch border," Paul Van Miert, the mayor of the Belgian town of Turnhout, told broadcaster VRT

&nbsp;

Cities across the Netherlands were calmer on Tuesday after three nights of rioting against a coronavirus curfew as authorities vowed to crack down on the unrest, blaming "scum" for the looting and arson and deploying a huge police presence on the streets.

Cities across the Netherlands were calmer on Tuesday after three nights of rioting against a coronavirus curfew as authorities vowed to crack down on the unrest, blaming "scum" for the looting and arson and deploying a huge police presence on the streets. By late night, the increased police presence appeared to have paid off, with no major rioting or clashes between youths and police reported. ''We are seeing a different picture to yesterday,'' police chief Willem Woelders told Dutch current affairs show Nieuwsuur. ''I think what has also helped is that you see an atmosphere among the population that this (rioting) is unacceptable,'' Woelders told another talk show, Op1. Also read: Protesters in Netherlands clash with police again over COVID-19 curfew A large crowd of young men gathered briefly and set off fireworks in Amsterdam late Tuesday, and 33 were arrested in the port city of Rotterdam for vandalism or breaking the curfew, police said, but no serious incidents were reported. At least 400 people have now been arrested after the Netherlands imposed its first nationwide curfew since World War II. Several cities had granted police extra powers amid reports that fresh protests were being organised on social media against the 9:00pm to 4:30am curfew. "You don't capitulate to people who smash shop windows," Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra told ANP national news agency Tuesday. "Scum does this," he added. Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus also said the government would keep the curfew in place. It is expected to last until at least February 9, in what the government says is a vital step to bring down Covid-19 cases. Police unions called it the worst rioting in four decades, when evictions from illegally occupied buildings sparked clashes with squatters in the 1980s. Dutch police chief Henk van Essen condemned the violence, saying "it has nothing to do any longer with the right to demonstrate". Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter that "Criminal violence has to stop." 'Shameless thieves' The government announced the curfew last week and it was supported by a majority of MPs. Exemptions are allowed, for example for people having to work, attend funerals or walk their dogs, on condition that they present a certificate. The protests began on a small scale on Saturday night, with a single riot in the northern village of Urk in the conservative protestant "Bible Belt". But on Sunday they spread, with police using water cannon, tear gas and horses against rioters in the southern city of Eindhoven and in Amsterdam. As the clean-up operation started, mayors of several cities reacted with anger. Rotterdam's Ahmed Aboutaleb called rioters "shameless thieves", the NOS national broadcaster reported. "Does it feel good to wake up this morning with a suitcase full of stolen goods next to you?" he asked rioters in an online message. The country was already under its toughest measures since the start of the pandemic, with bars and restaurants having closed in October, and schools and non-essential shops shut since December. More than 13,600 people have died in the Netherlands since the start of the pandemic. 'Genie out of bottle' Dutch media have said that the protesters are a mixture of hardcore anti-lockdown activists along with other, largely young people frustrated with the increasingly tough measures in a country that until recently had some of Europe's laxest Covid rules. In some cities, hardcore football club supporters formed groups to defend stadiums and hospitals from looters. Experts warned however that such actions could inflame an already tense situation. "Right now, the genie is out of the bottle," Carsten de Dreu, a social psychology professor at Leiden University told AFP. He said the government may have foreseen that tougher measures like closing clubs, shops and introducing a curfew could lead to riots. "We knew that in advance and we saw it coming," he said. "Perhaps one should have been thinking months ago that we should not only have a lockdown, but also about making a point about giving back some of the social functions that have now been taken away." Neighbouring Belgium, which is also under curfew, meanwhile feared a spillover of the unrest after calls on social media for protests on Saturday. "We take this very seriously because we are close to the Dutch border," Paul Van Miert, the mayor of the Belgian town of Turnhout, told broadcaster VRT

Dutch government says will not bow to curfew riot, deploys force to curb looting

President Joe Biden had his first call with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, raising concerns about the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny while pressing the Russian president on his nation's involvement in a massive cyberespionage campaign and bounties on American troops in Afghanistan.

The call was initiated by the White House to discuss progress on extending the New START deal, which limits the two powers to a maximum of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads each and expires February 5. An agreement now appears to be close.

Biden has looked to establish a sharp break from the warm rhetoric often displayed toward Putin by his predecessor, Donald Trump. But the new president also looked to preserve room for diplomacy, telling the Russian leader that the two nations should finalise a five-year extension of an arms control treaty before it expires early next month, according to two senior administration officials.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden also raised a raft of worries about the Russian authorities' treatment of opposition members, including the "poisoning of Alexei Navalny."

The opposition leader and anti-corruption crusader nearly died last year from a poisoning he says he has proved was carried out by the security services, something Putin denies. Navalny is currently imprisoned in Moscow and over the weekend, police made mass arrests of people demonstrating in his support across the country.

Showing Moscow and Washington are still able to cooperate separately on nuclear issues, the White House said Biden and Putin had agreed to "work urgently" to wrap up negotiations on a fresh five-year period for the New START treaty ahead of its expiry.

The Kremlin said that in their call Putin and Biden "expressed satisfaction" over talks and the Russian leader later submitted a bill to parliament on the five-year extension.

The moves raised hopes for more stability between the world's two most heavily armed nations, drawing a line under the uncertainty that entered under Donald Trump, whom Biden replaced just last week.

The Trump administration had offered a one-year extension ahead of the February deadline but discussions broke down over US insistence on tougher verification that Russia had frozen its nuclear arsenal.

Moscow reached out last week to request the call, according to the officials. Biden agreed but wanted first to prepare with his staff and speak with European allies, including the leaders of the Britain, France and Germany.

And on Tuesday before his call with Putin, Biden spoke to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, pledging the United States' commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression.

Biden told Putin that his administration was assessing the SolarWinds breach and the press allegations that Russia offered the Taliban bounties to kill American troops in Afghanistan. Biden said the United States is willing to defend itself and will take action, which could include further sanctions, to ensure that Moscow does not act with impunity, according to the administration officials.

The call came as Putin considers the aftermath of pro-Navalny protests that took place in more than 100 Russian cities over the weekend. Biden's team has already reacted strongly to the crackdown on the protests, in which more than 3,700 people were arrested across Russia, including more than 1,400 in Moscow. More protests are planned for the coming weekend.

Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner and Putin's fiercest critic, was arrested January 17 as he returned to Russia from Germany, where he had spent nearly five months recovering from nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Biden has previously condemned the use of chemical weapons.

Human rights

However, Biden also diverged strongly with Trump on his approach to Russia's human rights record and Ukraine.

Trump went to great lengths while in power to avoid raising complaints about human rights abuses in Russia or criticizing Moscow's support for separatists in Ukraine and occupation of Crimea. Biden confronted Putin on both issues.

He brought up "our strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression," Psaki said.

She also enumerated a long sequence of other "matters of concern" causing friction in Washington.

These included the unprecedented mass hacking of US computers that has been widely blamed on Russia, interference in the 2020 presidential election and reports that Moscow offered bounties for the killing of US soldiers in Afghanistan.

In addition to raising Navalny's case, Biden flagged the "treatment of peaceful protesters by Russian security forces."

Psaki said Biden's "intention was also to make clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of our national interests in response to malign actions by Russia."

The Kremlin made no mention of these complaints in its readout of the call, saying instead that Putin urged "normalization of relations."

This would "meet the interests of both countries," the Kremlin said in a statement, describing the two countries as having "special responsibility for maintaining security and stability in the world."

President Joe Biden had his first call with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, raising concerns about the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny while pressing the Russian president on his nation's involvement in a massive cyberespionage campaign and bounties on American troops in Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden had his first call with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, raising concerns about the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny while pressing the Russian president on his nation's involvement in a massive cyberespionage campaign and bounties on American troops in Afghanistan. The call was initiated by the White House to discuss progress on extending the New START deal, which limits the two powers to a maximum of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads each and expires February 5. An agreement now appears to be close. Biden has looked to establish a sharp break from the warm rhetoric often displayed toward Putin by his predecessor, Donald Trump. But the new president also looked to preserve room for diplomacy, telling the Russian leader that the two nations should finalise a five-year extension of an arms control treaty before it expires early next month, according to two senior administration officials. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden also raised a raft of worries about the Russian authorities' treatment of opposition members, including the "poisoning of Alexei Navalny." The opposition leader and anti-corruption crusader nearly died last year from a poisoning he says he has proved was carried out by the security services, something Putin denies. Navalny is currently imprisoned in Moscow and over the weekend, police made mass arrests of people demonstrating in his support across the country. Showing Moscow and Washington are still able to cooperate separately on nuclear issues, the White House said Biden and Putin had agreed to "work urgently" to wrap up negotiations on a fresh five-year period for the New START treaty ahead of its expiry. The Kremlin said that in their call Putin and Biden "expressed satisfaction" over talks and the Russian leader later submitted a bill to parliament on the five-year extension. The moves raised hopes for more stability between the world's two most heavily armed nations, drawing a line under the uncertainty that entered under Donald Trump, whom Biden replaced just last week. The Trump administration had offered a one-year extension ahead of the February deadline but discussions broke down over US insistence on tougher verification that Russia had frozen its nuclear arsenal. Moscow reached out last week to request the call, according to the officials. Biden agreed but wanted first to prepare with his staff and speak with European allies, including the leaders of the Britain, France and Germany. And on Tuesday before his call with Putin, Biden spoke to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, pledging the United States' commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Biden told Putin that his administration was assessing the SolarWinds breach and the press allegations that Russia offered the Taliban bounties to kill American troops in Afghanistan. Biden said the United States is willing to defend itself and will take action, which could include further sanctions, to ensure that Moscow does not act with impunity, according to the administration officials. The call came as Putin considers the aftermath of pro-Navalny protests that took place in more than 100 Russian cities over the weekend. Biden's team has already reacted strongly to the crackdown on the protests, in which more than 3,700 people were arrested across Russia, including more than 1,400 in Moscow. More protests are planned for the coming weekend. Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner and Putin's fiercest critic, was arrested January 17 as he returned to Russia from Germany, where he had spent nearly five months recovering from nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Biden has previously condemned the use of chemical weapons. Human rights However, Biden also diverged strongly with Trump on his approach to Russia's human rights record and Ukraine. Trump went to great lengths while in power to avoid raising complaints about human rights abuses in Russia or criticizing Moscow's support for separatists in Ukraine and occupation of Crimea. Biden confronted Putin on both issues. He brought up "our strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression," Psaki said. She also enumerated a long sequence of other "matters of concern" causing friction in Washington. These included the unprecedented mass hacking of US computers that has been widely blamed on Russia, interference in the 2020 presidential election and reports that Moscow offered bounties for the killing of US soldiers in Afghanistan. In addition to raising Navalny's case, Biden flagged the "treatment of peaceful protesters by Russian security forces." Psaki said Biden's "intention was also to make clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of our national interests in response to malign actions by Russia." The Kremlin made no mention of these complaints in its readout of the call, saying instead that Putin urged "normalization of relations." This would "meet the interests of both countries," the Kremlin said in a statement, describing the two countries as having "special responsibility for maintaining security and stability in the world."

Biden raises concerns over Navalny arrest and 'aggression' against Ukraine to Russia

The Biden administration will restore diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority, more than two years after President Donald Trump effectively ended them. The action signals a return to a more traditional and evenhanded approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after a Trump administration policy that was heavily slanted toward Israel.

The shift, which will include a resumption of American aid to the Palestinians, was announced Tuesday in a speech by Richard Mills, the acting U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Mills also reaffirmed support for a “mutually agreed, two-state solution” between Israel and the Palestinians, “in which Israel lives in peace and security, alongside a viable Palestinian state.” And he called on the parties to refrain from unilateral actions, such as the annexation of territory and settlement activity by Israel, or incitements to violence by the Palestinians, that could make such an outcome more difficult.

Analysts and regional leaders say the prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement are dimmer than they have been in decades. The parties have all but ceased communications, Palestinian leaders summarily rejected a peace plan offered by the Trump White House last year, and the issue is not among President Joe Biden’s top foreign policy priorities.

But the announcement is part of a broader return to previous U.S. foreign policy practices under Biden, and an end to the open hostility between Washington and the Palestinians fomented by the Trump administration. Guided by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Trump took an openly punitive approach toward the Palestinians with the goal of forcing them to make concessions to Israel, to little avail.

The policy shift was quickly cheered by Palestinian leaders and supporters of a negotiated solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

“This is exactly the type of swift action the administration needs to take to restore American credibility as a diplomatic mediator between Israelis and Palestinians,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, a liberal advocacy group that supports an Israeli settlement with the Palestinians. “Undoing the terrible damage done by the Trump administration starts with reestablishing a working relationship with the Palestinian leadership and people.”

Mills said the Biden administration would “take steps to reopen diplomatic missions that were closed by the last U.S. administration,” without offering specifics. In addition to closing the Palestinian Mission in Washington in September 2018, the Trump administration also closed the U.S. Consulate in East Jerusalem.

Biden has no straightforward way of reopening a Palestinian Mission in Washington. A law passed by Congress in 1987 blocked the Palestinians’ right to open an office in America. Successive presidents were able to bypass the legislation with a waiver, but subsequent laws passed in 2015 and 2018 limit the president’s ability to circumvent the earlier restriction.

The announcement was nevertheless greeted warmly by Palestinian officials, who see the tone of the Biden administration as a welcome respite from the cold shoulder offered by Trump.

“For the first time, President Biden’s administration has officially expressed its position toward the peace process and the two-state solution,” Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee and minister of social development at the Palestinian Authority, said in response to the announcement. “We believe that this position constitutes an important positive step on the road to restoring U.S.-Palestinian bilateral relations and opens the door wide to restore the peace process within the framework of multilateral international sponsorship.”

Mills also said that Biden intended “to restore U.S. assistance programs that support economic development and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people.”

In 2018 the Trump administration cut off $200 million in economic assistance to the Palestinians and halted roughly $350 million in annual funding for a U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees.

“We do not view these steps as a favor to the Palestinian leadership,” he added. “U.S. assistance benefits millions of ordinary Palestinians and helps to preserve a stable environment that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis.”

At the same time, Trump ended Washington’s opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, although he did not support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s talk of territorial annexation.

As an alternative, the Trump administration brokered diplomatic agreements between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors, in return for assurance from Netanyahu that he would not pursue annexation for now, although he has not abandoned the idea. The Israeli leader is facing a national election for the fourth time in two years after Israel’s coalition government failed to hold together.

In his remarks to the U.N. Security Council, Mills said that the Biden administration “welcomes the recent normalization agreements” between Israel and Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. But he added that “Arab-Israeli normalization is not a substitute for Israeli-Palestinian peace.”

He added that “the U.S. will maintain its steadfast support for Israel” and “will continue its long-standing policy of opposing one-sided resolutions and other actions in international bodies that unfairly single out Israel.” While the Democratic Party has grown more critical of Israeli policies in recent years, Biden’s positions are more centrist and he is less quick to criticize the country than other Democrats.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment.

This month, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, announced a schedule for what would be the first Palestinian elections in at least 15 years, in a move that was perceived in part as an attempt to curry favor with Biden.

Mills is the U.S. chargé d’affaires to the United Nations. Biden has nominated Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a career State Department official, to serve as his permanent ambassador to the body.

The Biden administration will restore diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority, more than two years after President Donald Trump effectively ended them.

The Biden administration will restore diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority, more than two years after President Donald Trump effectively ended them. The action signals a return to a more traditional and evenhanded approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after a Trump administration policy that was heavily slanted toward Israel. The shift, which will include a resumption of American aid to the Palestinians, was announced Tuesday in a speech by Richard Mills, the acting U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Mills also reaffirmed support for a “mutually agreed, two-state solution” between Israel and the Palestinians, “in which Israel lives in peace and security, alongside a viable Palestinian state.” And he called on the parties to refrain from unilateral actions, such as the annexation of territory and settlement activity by Israel, or incitements to violence by the Palestinians, that could make such an outcome more difficult. Analysts and regional leaders say the prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement are dimmer than they have been in decades. The parties have all but ceased communications, Palestinian leaders summarily rejected a peace plan offered by the Trump White House last year, and the issue is not among President Joe Biden’s top foreign policy priorities. But the announcement is part of a broader return to previous U.S. foreign policy practices under Biden, and an end to the open hostility between Washington and the Palestinians fomented by the Trump administration. Guided by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Trump took an openly punitive approach toward the Palestinians with the goal of forcing them to make concessions to Israel, to little avail. The policy shift was quickly cheered by Palestinian leaders and supporters of a negotiated solution between Israel and the Palestinians. “This is exactly the type of swift action the administration needs to take to restore American credibility as a diplomatic mediator between Israelis and Palestinians,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, a liberal advocacy group that supports an Israeli settlement with the Palestinians. “Undoing the terrible damage done by the Trump administration starts with reestablishing a working relationship with the Palestinian leadership and people.” Mills said the Biden administration would “take steps to reopen diplomatic missions that were closed by the last U.S. administration,” without offering specifics. In addition to closing the Palestinian Mission in Washington in September 2018, the Trump administration also closed the U.S. Consulate in East Jerusalem. Biden has no straightforward way of reopening a Palestinian Mission in Washington. A law passed by Congress in 1987 blocked the Palestinians’ right to open an office in America. Successive presidents were able to bypass the legislation with a waiver, but subsequent laws passed in 2015 and 2018 limit the president’s ability to circumvent the earlier restriction. The announcement was nevertheless greeted warmly by Palestinian officials, who see the tone of the Biden administration as a welcome respite from the cold shoulder offered by Trump. “For the first time, President Biden’s administration has officially expressed its position toward the peace process and the two-state solution,” Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee and minister of social development at the Palestinian Authority, said in response to the announcement. “We believe that this position constitutes an important positive step on the road to restoring U.S.-Palestinian bilateral relations and opens the door wide to restore the peace process within the framework of multilateral international sponsorship.” Mills also said that Biden intended “to restore U.S. assistance programs that support economic development and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people.” In 2018 the Trump administration cut off $200 million in economic assistance to the Palestinians and halted roughly $350 million in annual funding for a U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees. “We do not view these steps as a favor to the Palestinian leadership,” he added. “U.S. assistance benefits millions of ordinary Palestinians and helps to preserve a stable environment that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis.” At the same time, Trump ended Washington’s opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, although he did not support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s talk of territorial annexation. As an alternative, the Trump administration brokered diplomatic agreements between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors, in return for assurance from Netanyahu that he would not pursue annexation for now, although he has not abandoned the idea. The Israeli leader is facing a national election for the fourth time in two years after Israel’s coalition government failed to hold together. In his remarks to the U.N. Security Council, Mills said that the Biden administration “welcomes the recent normalization agreements” between Israel and Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. But he added that “Arab-Israeli normalization is not a substitute for Israeli-Palestinian peace.” He added that “the U.S. will maintain its steadfast support for Israel” and “will continue its long-standing policy of opposing one-sided resolutions and other actions in international bodies that unfairly single out Israel.” While the Democratic Party has grown more critical of Israeli policies in recent years, Biden’s positions are more centrist and he is less quick to criticize the country than other Democrats. The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment. This month, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, announced a schedule for what would be the first Palestinian elections in at least 15 years, in a move that was perceived in part as an attempt to curry favor with Biden. Mills is the U.S. chargé d’affaires to the United Nations. Biden has nominated Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a career State Department official, to serve as his permanent ambassador to the body.

Biden will restore US relations with Palestinians, reversing Trump cutoff

Having fired up hopes for populist measures with talk of delivering a "budget like never before", Finance Minister Nirmala&nbsp;Sitharaman&nbsp;will need to find credible sources for additional revenue for boosting the economy.

The government has raised just over 138 billion rupees out of the 2.1 trillion rupees ($28.72 billion) divestment target for the current year. It expects to end FY21 with not more than 300 billion rupees, according to government officials.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/union-budget-2021-government-mulls-covid-cess-to-boost-revenue-356420">Also Read:&nbsp;Union Budget 2021: Government mulls COVID cess to boost revenue</a>

"It will be hard for the finance minister to find resources. But she will get some help from the economic revival that will likely increase some tax revenue," said N.R. Bhanumurthy, economist and vice-chancellor at Bengaluru-based B.R Ambedkar School of Economics.

Last month,&nbsp;Sitharaman&nbsp;held the 11th pre-budget consultations with experts in the field of infrastructure, energy and climate change, in view of the forthcoming Union Budget 2021-22.

It&nbsp;could raise over 1 trillion rupees from privatisation of Air India, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd, Container Corp. of India and Shipping Corp. of India in the first six months of the fiscal year beginning in April.

Though, finding investors for the national carrier, Air India could be challenging in these restricted travel, COVID-19 times.

"There might be overtures to compensate for this year's revenue shortfall by an increase in taxation for high net worth individuals as well as sin taxes," said Radhika Rao, an economist at DBS, referencing taxes on items such as tobacco and alcohol.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/union-budget-2021-goes-paperless-hard-copies-not-to-be-printed-for-first-time-in-history-356417">Also Read:&nbsp;Union Budget 2021 goes paperless</a>

Long-term budget

Sitharaman&nbsp;in an interview said she plans to lift spending, otherwise, it would completely undermine a government relief programme brought in last year to sustain poor families and small businesses.

Addressing a Confederation of Indian Industry conference last month,&nbsp;Sitharaman&nbsp;also excited expectations for a big-bang budget filled with sops by saying India was set to see a "budget like never before".

The government would like to use the budget as the path to launch three to four years of high growth, said the third official, stressing that the increase in spending would not be taken to unsustainable levels.

"So, all the funds announced would not be for this year. For this year we could have growth in expenditure for sure, but the funds announced in the budget would be for years ahead."

The government's fiscal deficit for the year ending March is expected to be over 7 per cent, and more than double the budgeted estimate.

India needs annual economic growth of over 8 per cent&nbsp;to create enough jobs for the millions of young people joining the labour force each month.

According to the Central Statistics Office, India's economy is expected to contract 7.7 per cent in the current financial year ending in March.

"Hope hinges on the government to increase its spending to revive the private sector sentiment, overall demand and largely private investment," said Arun Singh, global chief economist at Dun and Bradstreet.

&nbsp;

Having fired up hopes for populist measures with talk of delivering a "budget like never before", Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will need to find credible sources for additional revenue for boosting the economy.

Having fired up hopes for populist measures with talk of delivering a "budget like never before", Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will need to find credible sources for additional revenue for boosting the economy. The government has raised just over 138 billion rupees out of the 2.1 trillion rupees ($28.72 billion) divestment target for the current year. It expects to end FY21 with not more than 300 billion rupees, according to government officials. Also Read: Union Budget 2021: Government mulls COVID cess to boost revenue "It will be hard for the finance minister to find resources. But she will get some help from the economic revival that will likely increase some tax revenue," said N.R. Bhanumurthy, economist and vice-chancellor at Bengaluru-based B.R Ambedkar School of Economics. Last month, Sitharaman held the 11th pre-budget consultations with experts in the field of infrastructure, energy and climate change, in view of the forthcoming Union Budget 2021-22. It could raise over 1 trillion rupees from privatisation of Air India, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd, Container Corp. of India and Shipping Corp. of India in the first six months of the fiscal year beginning in April. Though, finding investors for the national carrier, Air India could be challenging in these restricted travel, COVID-19 times. "There might be overtures to compensate for this year's revenue shortfall by an increase in taxation for high net worth individuals as well as sin taxes," said Radhika Rao, an economist at DBS, referencing taxes on items such as tobacco and alcohol. Also Read: Union Budget 2021 goes paperless Long-term budget Sitharaman in an interview said she plans to lift spending, otherwise, it would completely undermine a government relief programme brought in last year to sustain poor families and small businesses. Addressing a Confederation of Indian Industry conference last month, Sitharaman also excited expectations for a big-bang budget filled with sops by saying India was set to see a "budget like never before". The government would like to use the budget as the path to launch three to four years of high growth, said the third official, stressing that the increase in spending would not be taken to unsustainable levels. "So, all the funds announced would not be for this year. For this year we could have growth in expenditure for sure, but the funds announced in the budget would be for years ahead." The government's fiscal deficit for the year ending March is expected to be over 7 per cent, and more than double the budgeted estimate. India needs annual economic growth of over 8 per cent to create enough jobs for the millions of young people joining the labour force each month. According to the Central Statistics Office, India's economy is expected to contract 7.7 per cent in the current financial year ending in March. "Hope hinges on the government to increase its spending to revive the private sector sentiment, overall demand and largely private investment," said Arun Singh, global chief economist at Dun and Bradstreet.

Union Budget 2021: Government needs credible sources for additional revenue to boost economy

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur and senior officials of the finance ministry on Saturday participated in the symbolic 'Halwa Ceremony' that marks the beginning of compilation of budget documents.

Unlike the past, the voluminous budget documents will not be printed this year following the COVID-19 protocol and will instead be distributed electronically to the Members of Parliament (MPs). Previously, the ceremony marked the launch of printing exercise for the budget.

This will be the first time since the presentation of independent India's first budget on November 26, 1947, that the documents containing income and expenditure statement of the Union government along with the finance bill, detailing new taxes and other measures for the new financial year, will not be physically printed.

"In an unprecedented initiative, Union Budget 2021-22 will be delivered in paperless form for the first time. The Union Budget 2021-22 is to be presented on February 1, 2021," the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

On the occasion, the Finance Minister also launched the 'Union Budget Mobile App' for hassle-free access of Budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the general public using the simplest form of digital convenience.

The mobile App facilitates complete access to 14 Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill etc. As prescribed by the Constitution, it said.

Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj, Financial Services Secretary Debasish Panda, DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Expenditure Secretary T V Somanathan and Chief Economic Adviser K V Subramanian and other senior involved in the Budget preparation and compilation process, were also present in the customary pre-Budget event.

"Later, the finance minister reviewed the status of the compilation of the Union Budget 2021-22 and extended her best wishes to the officials concerned," it said.

The statement further said that the App has a user-friendly interface with embedded features of downloading, printing, search, zoom in and out, bidirectional scrolling, table of contents and external links, etc.

The App can also be downloaded from the Union Budget Web Portal (www.Indiabudget.Gov.In), it said, adding, the App has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the guidance of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA).

The Budget documents will be available on the Mobile App after the completion of the Budget Speech by the Finance Minister in Parliament on February 1.

As part of the ritual, ''halwa'' is prepared in a big ''kadhai'' (large frying pot) and served to the entire staff involved in the Budget making the exercise of the ministry.

Halwa was served while maintaining COVID protocol with all present in mask and those distributing sweets were wearing gloves.

The significance of the event is that after the sweet dish is served, a large number of officials and support staff, who are directly associated with the Budget making are required to stay in the ministry and remain cut off from their families till the presentation of the Budget in the Lok Sabha.

They are not even allowed to contact their near and dear ones through phone or any other form of communication, like e-mail.

This will be the first time since independence that physical copies of Budget documents will not be shared with MPs to avoid the risk of COVID-19 infection, the sources said, adding all MPs will get soft copies of the Budget and Economic Survey.

The familiar sight of trucks loaded with budget papers in Parliament on the budget day and scanning of these by the security guard will also be given a miss.

The Budget for FY22 will come against the backdrop of an economic contraction of 7.7 per cent, the first time in the history of independent India. So, all stakeholders have great expectations from the upcoming Budget, which could provide a healing touch to the pandemic-battered economy and push growth.

Even Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month promised a 'never before' like Union Budget to the people of India.&nbsp;

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur and senior officials of the finance ministry on Saturday participated in the symbolic 'Halwa Ceremony' that marks the beginning of compilation of budget documents.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur and senior officials of the finance ministry on Saturday participated in the symbolic 'Halwa Ceremony' that marks the beginning of compilation of budget documents. Unlike the past, the voluminous budget documents will not be printed this year following the COVID-19 protocol and will instead be distributed electronically to the Members of Parliament (MPs). Previously, the ceremony marked the launch of printing exercise for the budget. This will be the first time since the presentation of independent India's first budget on November 26, 1947, that the documents containing income and expenditure statement of the Union government along with the finance bill, detailing new taxes and other measures for the new financial year, will not be physically printed. "In an unprecedented initiative, Union Budget 2021-22 will be delivered in paperless form for the first time. The Union Budget 2021-22 is to be presented on February 1, 2021," the Finance Ministry said in a statement. On the occasion, the Finance Minister also launched the 'Union Budget Mobile App' for hassle-free access of Budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the general public using the simplest form of digital convenience. The mobile App facilitates complete access to 14 Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill etc. As prescribed by the Constitution, it said. Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj, Financial Services Secretary Debasish Panda, DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Expenditure Secretary T V Somanathan and Chief Economic Adviser K V Subramanian and other senior involved in the Budget preparation and compilation process, were also present in the customary pre-Budget event. "Later, the finance minister reviewed the status of the compilation of the Union Budget 2021-22 and extended her best wishes to the officials concerned," it said. The statement further said that the App has a user-friendly interface with embedded features of downloading, printing, search, zoom in and out, bidirectional scrolling, table of contents and external links, etc. The App can also be downloaded from the Union Budget Web Portal (www.Indiabudget.Gov.In), it said, adding, the App has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the guidance of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). The Budget documents will be available on the Mobile App after the completion of the Budget Speech by the Finance Minister in Parliament on February 1. As part of the ritual, ''halwa'' is prepared in a big ''kadhai'' (large frying pot) and served to the entire staff involved in the Budget making the exercise of the ministry. Halwa was served while maintaining COVID protocol with all present in mask and those distributing sweets were wearing gloves. The significance of the event is that after the sweet dish is served, a large number of officials and support staff, who are directly associated with the Budget making are required to stay in the ministry and remain cut off from their families till the presentation of the Budget in the Lok Sabha. They are not even allowed to contact their near and dear ones through phone or any other form of communication, like e-mail. This will be the first time since independence that physical copies of Budget documents will not be shared with MPs to avoid the risk of COVID-19 infection, the sources said, adding all MPs will get soft copies of the Budget and Economic Survey. The familiar sight of trucks loaded with budget papers in Parliament on the budget day and scanning of these by the security guard will also be given a miss. The Budget for FY22 will come against the backdrop of an economic contraction of 7.7 per cent, the first time in the history of independent India. So, all stakeholders have great expectations from the upcoming Budget, which could provide a healing touch to the pandemic-battered economy and push growth. Even Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month promised a 'never before' like Union Budget to the people of India.

Union Budget 2021: Customary 'Halwa Ceremony' kickstarts process of compilation of documents

Australia on Wednesday said that&nbsp;Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for big countries not to bully the weak has exposed a "disconnect" between China's behaviour and rhetoric.

Still smarting from punitive Chinese sanctions on a range of Australian products and a rumbling war of words between Beijing and Canberra, treasurer Josh Frydenberg took issue with the communist leader's altruistic-sounding Davos speech.

Xi told the forum, which this year is being held entirely online,&nbsp;that relations between countries should be governed by rules and institutions, not dictated by might.

"The strong should not bully the weak. Decisions should not be made by simply showing off strong muscles or waving a big fist," Xi said in remarks seemingly courting favour with smaller nations and offering a veiled criticism of the United States.

But Frydenberg told reporters Wednesday that Xi's comments did not tally with China's acts of economic coercion toward Australia.

"Well, we agree with that sentiment that big nations should not bully small ones but there seems to be a bit of a disconnect between the words and the actions," he said.

"The reality is, Australia has been on the receiving end of some pretty harsh actions when it comes to our trade."&nbsp;

Relations between&nbsp;Canberra&nbsp;and Beijing were in free-fall throughout last year, with&nbsp;China&nbsp;hitting out at a list of issues including Australia's call for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 and a ban on Huawei's participation in the nation's 5G network.

China hit more than a dozen Australian sectors with import levies, with the barley and wine industries particularly affected. Exporters stand to lose as much as US$2-4 billion worth of sales.

Australia on Wednesday said that Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for big countries not to bully the weak has exposed a "disconnect" between China's behaviour and rhetoric.

Australia on Wednesday said that Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for big countries not to bully the weak has exposed a "disconnect" between China's behaviour and rhetoric. Still smarting from punitive Chinese sanctions on a range of Australian products and a rumbling war of words between Beijing and Canberra, treasurer Josh Frydenberg took issue with the communist leader's altruistic-sounding Davos speech. Xi told the forum, which this year is being held entirely online, that relations between countries should be governed by rules and institutions, not dictated by might. "The strong should not bully the weak. Decisions should not be made by simply showing off strong muscles or waving a big fist," Xi said in remarks seemingly courting favour with smaller nations and offering a veiled criticism of the United States. But Frydenberg told reporters Wednesday that Xi's comments did not tally with China's acts of economic coercion toward Australia. "Well, we agree with that sentiment that big nations should not bully small ones but there seems to be a bit of a disconnect between the words and the actions," he said. "The reality is, Australia has been on the receiving end of some pretty harsh actions when it comes to our trade." Relations between Canberra and Beijing were in free-fall throughout last year, with China hitting out at a list of issues including Australia's call for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 and a ban on Huawei's participation in the nation's 5G network. China hit more than a dozen Australian sectors with import levies, with the barley and wine industries particularly affected. Exporters stand to lose as much as US$2-4 billion worth of sales.

Australia says Chinese President Xi Jinping's rhetoric does not match actions

The Taliban militant movement gave its backing on Tuesday for a coronavirus vaccination campaign in Afghanistan that has received a $112 million pledge from the World Health Organization’s COVAX programme.

The immunisation drive will have to take place amid relentless violence in the country despite the government and the Taliban insurgents opening peace talks in September.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters that the group would "support and facilitate" the vaccination drive conducted via health centres. Officials believe the insurgents would not target vaccine teams as they would not be going door-to-door.

Announcing the funding, an Afghan health official said the programme would cover the 20 per cent&nbsp;of the country's 38 million population.

The COVAX programme is a global scheme to vaccinate people in poor and middle-income countries against the coronavirus. It aims to deliver at least 2 billion vaccine doses by the end of 2021 to cover 20&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of the most vulnerable people in 91 poor and middle-income countries.

Afghanistan's Deputy Health Minister Waheed Majroh told journalists it was going to take six months to get the vaccines but authorities were in discussions to get them earlier.

Afghanistan has registered 54,854 infections and 2,390 deaths - but experts say cases are significantly underreported due to low testing and limited access to medical facilities in the war-torn country.

Aside from COVAX, the country has also received a pledge of 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India, Dr Ghulam Dastagir Nazari, head of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation at Afghanistan's health ministry, told Reuters.

"The AstraZeneca brand which is manufactured in India will arrive soon in Afghanistan," Nazari said, adding that the government was only concerned about the WHO approval of the vaccine and that the pre-qualification process has already started.

An Indian government source confirmed that 500,000 doses had been set aside for Afghanistan and another official said the first batch of vaccines would land in February, though Kabul had not yet adopted the protocols to administer them.

The World Bank and Asian Development Bank have also said they would finance vaccines for another 20&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of the population by the end of 2022, health ministry spokeswoman Masouma Jafari told Reuters.

The Taliban militant movement gave its backing on Tuesday for a coronavirus vaccination campaign in Afghanistan that has received a $112 million pledge from the World Health Organization’s COVAX programme.

The Taliban militant movement gave its backing on Tuesday for a coronavirus vaccination campaign in Afghanistan that has received a $112 million pledge from the World Health Organization’s COVAX programme. The immunisation drive will have to take place amid relentless violence in the country despite the government and the Taliban insurgents opening peace talks in September. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters that the group would "support and facilitate" the vaccination drive conducted via health centres. Officials believe the insurgents would not target vaccine teams as they would not be going door-to-door. Announcing the funding, an Afghan health official said the programme would cover the 20 per cent of the country's 38 million population. The COVAX programme is a global scheme to vaccinate people in poor and middle-income countries against the coronavirus. It aims to deliver at least 2 billion vaccine doses by the end of 2021 to cover 20 per cent of the most vulnerable people in 91 poor and middle-income countries. Afghanistan's Deputy Health Minister Waheed Majroh told journalists it was going to take six months to get the vaccines but authorities were in discussions to get them earlier. Afghanistan has registered 54,854 infections and 2,390 deaths - but experts say cases are significantly underreported due to low testing and limited access to medical facilities in the war-torn country. Aside from COVAX, the country has also received a pledge of 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India, Dr Ghulam Dastagir Nazari, head of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation at Afghanistan's health ministry, told Reuters. "The AstraZeneca brand which is manufactured in India will arrive soon in Afghanistan," Nazari said, adding that the government was only concerned about the WHO approval of the vaccine and that the pre-qualification process has already started. An Indian government source confirmed that 500,000 doses had been set aside for Afghanistan and another official said the first batch of vaccines would land in February, though Kabul had not yet adopted the protocols to administer them. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank have also said they would finance vaccines for another 20 per cent of the population by the end of 2022, health ministry spokeswoman Masouma Jafari told Reuters.

Taliban backs vaccine drive as Afghan government receives $112 million funding pledge

Holocaust Remembrance Day: A look at Israel's hidden memorial

The Chinese government, in its first official comment on its warplanes flying near Taiwan last weekend, said Wednesday that such actions are a "solemn warning'' to both foreign interference in Taiwan and any independence moves.&nbsp;

Armed and ready to go,&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;air force jets screamed into the sky on Tuesday in a drill to simulate a war scenario, showing its fleet's battle readiness after dozens of Chinese warplanes flew into the island's air defence zone over the weekend.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-fighter-jets-enter-taiwans-airspace-for-second-consecutive-day-359185">Chinese fighter jets enter Taiwan's airspace for second consecutive day</a>

Chinese air force planes including 12 fighter jets entered&nbsp;Taiwan's air defence identification zone for a second day on Sunday,&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;said, as tensions rise near the island just days into US&nbsp;President Joe Biden's new administration.

Taiwan, claimed by China as its territory, has been on edge since the large-scale incursion by Chinese fighters and nuclear-capable bombers into the southwestern part of its air defence identification zone on Saturday and Sunday, which coincided with a US&nbsp;carrier group entering the South China Sea.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said that China's military drills are to show the nation's resolution to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.&nbsp;

Zhu said that China would not renounce the use of force to guard against separatist moves and foreign interference.&nbsp;

"Our position has been consistent and will not change," she said.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supports-taiwan-over-reported-chinese-incursions-358984">US supports Taiwan over reported Chinese incursions</a>

Taiwan's Defence Ministry said China sent six J-10 fighters, four J-16s, two SU-30s, a Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft and two Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft&nbsp;into the country's air defence identification zone on Saturday, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry. Taiwan scrambled fighters to monitor the activity.&nbsp;

The US&nbsp;State Department later issued a statement urging China "to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan" following China's sizeable show of force.&nbsp;

Taiwan is a self-governing island about 160 kilometres (100 miles) off China's east coast. The Chinese government regards it as a renegade province that should be united with mainland China.&nbsp;

Taiwan's air force is well trained, but has far fewer combat aircraft than China and has strained under the pressure of almost constantly having to scramble in recent months, responding to stepped-up Chinese activity near the island.

The Chinese government, in its first official comment on its warplanes flying near Taiwan last weekend, said Wednesday that such actions are a "solemn warning'' to both foreign interference in Taiwan and any independence moves.

The Chinese government, in its first official comment on its warplanes flying near Taiwan last weekend, said Wednesday that such actions are a "solemn warning'' to both foreign interference in Taiwan and any independence moves. Armed and ready to go, Taiwan air force jets screamed into the sky on Tuesday in a drill to simulate a war scenario, showing its fleet's battle readiness after dozens of Chinese warplanes flew into the island's air defence zone over the weekend. Also read: Chinese fighter jets enter Taiwan's airspace for second consecutive day Chinese air force planes including 12 fighter jets entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone for a second day on Sunday, Taiwan said, as tensions rise near the island just days into US President Joe Biden's new administration. Taiwan, claimed by China as its territory, has been on edge since the large-scale incursion by Chinese fighters and nuclear-capable bombers into the southwestern part of its air defence identification zone on Saturday and Sunday, which coincided with a US carrier group entering the South China Sea. Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said that China's military drills are to show the nation's resolution to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Zhu said that China would not renounce the use of force to guard against separatist moves and foreign interference. "Our position has been consistent and will not change," she said. Also read: US supports Taiwan over reported Chinese incursions Taiwan's Defence Ministry said China sent six J-10 fighters, four J-16s, two SU-30s, a Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft and two Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft into the country's air defence identification zone on Saturday, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry. Taiwan scrambled fighters to monitor the activity. The US State Department later issued a statement urging China "to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan" following China's sizeable show of force. Taiwan is a self-governing island about 160 kilometres (100 miles) off China's east coast. The Chinese government regards it as a renegade province that should be united with mainland China. Taiwan's air force is well trained, but has far fewer combat aircraft than China and has strained under the pressure of almost constantly having to scramble in recent months, responding to stepped-up Chinese activity near the island.

China says military exercises a 'solemn warning' to Taiwan

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