January 04 in history: Burma gains independence, opening of Burj Khalifa and more

To increase the power of the Central Military Commission (CMC) over its State Council, China has&nbsp;amended its National Defence Law from January 1 to mobilise military and civilian resources in defence of the 'national interest'&nbsp;at home and abroad.

According to the local media, 'disruption'&nbsp;and protection of 'development interests'&nbsp;have been added to the legislation as grounds for mobilisation and deployment of armed forces for the first time.

The amendments were approved&nbsp;by China's top legislature, Standing Committee&nbsp;of the National People's Congress to focus on&nbsp;''boosting military preparedness'' and ''combating capabilities''.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reasons-why-chinas-peoples-liberation-army-is-not-invincible-304633">Reasons why China's People's Liberation Army is not invincible</a>

Other reasons to amend the&nbsp;National Defence Law, include&nbsp;the need for building a nationwide coordination mechanism for the mobilisation of state-owned and private enterprises to take part in research into new defence technologies covering conventional weapons, as well as the domains of cybersecurity, space and electromagnetics.

Several analysts have opined that the amendments are aimed to strengthen the military leadership under Chinese President Xi Jinping, and providing it with the means to respond to the accelerating confrontations between China and the US.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/eye-on-china-india-led-quad-displays-military-prowess-in-malabar-naval-exercise-344391">Eye on China: India-led Quad displays military prowess in Malabar naval exercise</a>

Deng Yuwen, a former deputy editor of the Communist Party publication Study Times, said the amendments aimed to legalise and formally apply the "special" nature of China`s political and defence system when dealing with situations that could harm the regime at home and abroad.

The changes show that regime had gained the confidence to legitimise its long-standing principle that the party `commands the gun` and strengthen its `absolute leadership` over-armed and reserved forces, said Chen Daoyin, an independent political commentator.

Zeng Zhiping, a military law expert at Soochow University, said that the State Council has become a mere implementing agency to provide support to the military, adding that this change was a big contrast with developed countries like Germany, Israel and France, where armed forces come under civilian leadership.

Taipei-based military expert Chi Le-yi said the amendments highlighting the use of armed forces to suppress national disruption would be used to target independence-leaning forces in Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory, reported South China Morning Post.

For decades, the Chinese government has claimed authority over Taiwan. Though Taiwan is not recognised by the UN, its government maintains a relationship with the US and does not accept the Chinese authority.

"The law revision is also a symbolic battle call by the party to warn all Chinese people to be combat-ready for a nationwide defence mobilisation, which the party has never done since [it came to power] in 1949," said Chi.&nbsp;

To increase the power of the Central Military Commission (CMC) over its State Council, China has amended its National Defence Law from January 1 to mobilise military and civilian resources in defence of the 'national interest' at home and abroad.

To increase the power of the Central Military Commission (CMC) over its State Council, China has amended its National Defence Law from January 1 to mobilise military and civilian resources in defence of the 'national interest' at home and abroad. According to the local media, 'disruption' and protection of 'development interests' have been added to the legislation as grounds for mobilisation and deployment of armed forces for the first time. The amendments were approved by China's top legislature, Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to focus on ''boosting military preparedness'' and ''combating capabilities''. Also read: Reasons why China's People's Liberation Army is not invincible Other reasons to amend the National Defence Law, include the need for building a nationwide coordination mechanism for the mobilisation of state-owned and private enterprises to take part in research into new defence technologies covering conventional weapons, as well as the domains of cybersecurity, space and electromagnetics. Several analysts have opined that the amendments are aimed to strengthen the military leadership under Chinese President Xi Jinping, and providing it with the means to respond to the accelerating confrontations between China and the US. Also see: Eye on China: India-led Quad displays military prowess in Malabar naval exercise Deng Yuwen, a former deputy editor of the Communist Party publication Study Times, said the amendments aimed to legalise and formally apply the "special" nature of China`s political and defence system when dealing with situations that could harm the regime at home and abroad. The changes show that regime had gained the confidence to legitimise its long-standing principle that the party `commands the gun` and strengthen its `absolute leadership` over-armed and reserved forces, said Chen Daoyin, an independent political commentator. Zeng Zhiping, a military law expert at Soochow University, said that the State Council has become a mere implementing agency to provide support to the military, adding that this change was a big contrast with developed countries like Germany, Israel and France, where armed forces come under civilian leadership. Taipei-based military expert Chi Le-yi said the amendments highlighting the use of armed forces to suppress national disruption would be used to target independence-leaning forces in Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory, reported South China Morning Post. For decades, the Chinese government has claimed authority over Taiwan. Though Taiwan is not recognised by the UN, its government maintains a relationship with the US and does not accept the Chinese authority. "The law revision is also a symbolic battle call by the party to warn all Chinese people to be combat-ready for a nationwide defence mobilisation, which the party has never done since [it came to power] in 1949," said Chi.

China increases military's powers over State Council by altering defense law

Islamic&nbsp;State&nbsp;claimed responsibility for an attack on Sunday that killed 11 miners from Pakistan’s minority Shi’ite Hazaras in Baluchistan province.

The attack took place early on Sunday morning in the Mach area of Bolan district around 100 kms southeast of Baluchistan's capital Quetta, killing the miners who were in a shared residential room near the coal mine where they worked, officials said.

“The throats of all coal miners have been slit, after their hands were tied behind their backs and (they were) blind folded,” a security official told Reuters, requesting anonymity as he is not allowed to speak to media.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/gunmen-kill-11-miners-in-balochistan-354211" hreflang="en">Gunmen kill 11 miners in Balochistan</a>

A video clip making the rounds on WhatsApp groups, apparently shot by a first responder, showed three bodies lying outside the room and the rest inside in pools of blood.

“The condemnable killing of 11 innocent coal miners in Mach Baluchistan is yet another cowardly inhuman act of terrorism,” Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a tweet.

“Have asked Frontier Constabulary to use all resources to apprehend these killers and bring them to justice,” he said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-pdm-defers-decision-on-senate-elections-354015/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Islamic&nbsp;State&nbsp;later claimed responsibility for the attack, through its Amaq news agency via its Telegram communications channel.

The attack came after a relative lull in nearly a year of violence against the mainly Shi’ite Hazara minority in the province.

In April, a market suicide bombing killed 18 people, half of whom were Hazaras.

Following Sunday's attack, members of the Hazara minority in Quetta blocked the western bypass and set fire to tyres to protest against the killings.

Baluchistan is the focus of the $60-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned between western China and Pakistan’s southern deepwater port of Gwadar.

Hazaras have been frequently targeted by Taliban and&nbsp;Islamic&nbsp;State&nbsp;militants and other Sunni Muslim militant groups in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The attacks in Afghanistan have been claimed by an affiliate of&nbsp;Islamic&nbsp;State.

In 2013, three bombings killed more than 200 people in Hazara neighbourhoods in Quetta.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on Sunday that killed 11 miners from Pakistan’s minority Shi’ite Hazaras in Baluchistan province. The attack took place early on Sunday morning in the Mach area of Bolan district around 100 kms southeast of Baluchistan's capital Quetta, killing the miners who were in a shared residential room near the coal mine where they worked, officials said.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on Sunday that killed 11 miners from Pakistan’s minority Shi’ite Hazaras in Baluchistan province. The attack took place early on Sunday morning in the Mach area of Bolan district around 100 kms southeast of Baluchistan's capital Quetta, killing the miners who were in a shared residential room near the coal mine where they worked, officials said. “The throats of all coal miners have been slit, after their hands were tied behind their backs and (they were) blind folded,” a security official told Reuters, requesting anonymity as he is not allowed to speak to media. Also read: Gunmen kill 11 miners in Balochistan A video clip making the rounds on WhatsApp groups, apparently shot by a first responder, showed three bodies lying outside the room and the rest inside in pools of blood. “The condemnable killing of 11 innocent coal miners in Mach Baluchistan is yet another cowardly inhuman act of terrorism,” Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a tweet. “Have asked Frontier Constabulary to use all resources to apprehend these killers and bring them to justice,” he said. Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack, through its Amaq news agency via its Telegram communications channel. The attack came after a relative lull in nearly a year of violence against the mainly Shi’ite Hazara minority in the province. In April, a market suicide bombing killed 18 people, half of whom were Hazaras. Following Sunday's attack, members of the Hazara minority in Quetta blocked the western bypass and set fire to tyres to protest against the killings. Baluchistan is the focus of the $60-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link planned between western China and Pakistan’s southern deepwater port of Gwadar. Hazaras have been frequently targeted by Taliban and Islamic State militants and other Sunni Muslim militant groups in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The attacks in Afghanistan have been claimed by an affiliate of Islamic State. In 2013, three bombings killed more than 200 people in Hazara neighbourhoods in Quetta.

Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on Pakistan's Shi'ite Hazara minority that killed 11

Consider for a moment, in this time of anguish and loss and death, of mass unemployment and flattened national economies, the Twilight Zone alternate reality that is Taiwan.

For months and months, life on the island has been, in a word, normal — spookily so. Weddings have been held worry-free. People have packed pro ballgames, attended cello concerts and thronged night markets. Taiwan’s population is larger than Florida’s, but its COVID-19 death toll can be counted on two hands.

It is the kind of off-the-charts success against the virus that has created a sinking feeling in the stomachs of many residents: How much longer can the island’s good fortune last?

For Chen Shih-chung, Taiwan’s health minister and head of its epidemic command center, success is all the more reason not to waver on the bedrock of the government’s coronavirus strategy. The island has been sealed off to most visitors since March. People who are allowed to enter still have to quarantine under tight watch for two weeks, including Taiwanese citizens.

The high walls have kept the island from being deluged with infections, but they risk isolating Taiwan economically and politically if the rest of the world relaxes its defenses as vaccinations get underway.

The government is not likely to budge on those policies until there are vaccines that are a proven, lasting weapon against the virus, Chen said in an interview. Taiwan will not be like one of those places, he suggested, that eased lockdowns under public pressure only to have to tighten them again later.

“I believe there will be another wave,” he said. “Because everybody thinks, ‘I’ve gotten the vaccine,' or, 'I’m getting the vaccine next week. I’ve waited so long, I can be free now, right?’”

Once there is more evidence about whether the current vaccines offer enduring immunity, “only then can we really start to relax a bit,” he said.

As vaccinations begin around the globe, the question of how and when to ease COVID border controls will also confront other places, such as Australia and New Zealand, that have used their geographic insularity as a primary defense against the pandemic.

Taiwan has already held fast to its entry restrictions and quarantines for much longer than many governments could without facing public backlash. The island’s economy has slowed along with the world’s during the pandemic, but it continues to grow at a decent clip.

Japan and South Korea, two other Asian democracies praised for their virus responses, are now grappling with large flare-ups of new infections.

But as successful and tireless as Taiwan’s health officials have been, the island has also benefited from sheer good luck, said C. Jason Wang, an associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.

With the case count surging globally and a more contagious variant of the virus circulating in many places, greater numbers of infected people are bound to arrive at Taiwan’s borders, Wang said, which means it is only a matter of time before more positive cases slip past the government’s defenses.

Taiwan on Dec. 30 confirmed its first case involving the new variant, in a person who had entered from Britain, tested positive and been hospitalized. In response, the government further tightened its entry bans and quarantine rules.

“It’s remarkable that Taiwan has held the line for so long,” Wang said. But even if the island vaccinates its population by the middle of 2021, “then you’ve still got six months to go,” he said. “It’s really difficult to keep this up for another six months.”

For Chen, 67, 2020 was a year of tough calls, even as he has pulled off a virus response that would be the envy of any public health official on the planet.

In a recent opinion poll, Chen, a dentist by training, received a higher approval rating than any other top official, including his boss, President Tsai Ing-wen. He is being talked about as a potential candidate for mayor of Taipei, the island’s capital. His cool, unflappable mien at the government’s epidemic news briefings has won him an odd kind of celebrity. It is not every middle-aged health minister who is photographed clad in Gucci for the local edition of GQ.

Yet in Chen’s telling, his decisions since the outbreak started have upset certain people at almost every turn. Like when he barred medical workers from leaving the island in February. Or when he announced in March that the island was forbidding entry by nearly all nonresidents.

Many of the Taiwanese government’s ideas about dealing with the virus came from “feeling around in the dark,” Chen said.

For instance, when a cluster of infections appeared on the Diamond Princess cruise liner in February, officials in Japan, where the boat had docked, allowed many passengers who tested negative to walk free. Some of them later tested positive. Taiwan took note.

“By then it became very clear to us,” Chen said. “After you test, you have to quarantine both the positives and the negatives.”

Taiwan’s emphasis on strict quarantines has helped contain infections without overwhelming its hospital system or incurring huge costs for testing. But some experts are now urging the government to test more widely, particularly at the border, to catch more cases that do not show symptoms.

“We came up with many of our policies when there were a few million infections around the world,” said Chan Chang-chuan, a professor at the College of Public Health at National Taiwan University. “But now there are tens of millions, and we’re heading toward a hundred million. It’s a whole different stage.”

Chan said he believed Taiwan should begin testing everyone at the border, not just quarantining them. It has already started doing this for people arriving from Britain, where the more transmissible variant of the coronavirus has been found to be circulating.

Taiwan’s position has been that carriers of the virus who are asymptomatic after 14 days of isolation are not likely to be very infectious. Chen said he had no doubt that there had been some asymptomatic cases that never made it onto the government’s radar.

“But if those infections are not causing problems, then should I spend a lot of energy trying to find those people?” he said. “Or should I focus my efforts on infections that are already causing problems?”

It is unclear how much of a gamble this approach has involved. A study in The Lancet in October found that out of 14,765 people whose blood was sampled at a Taipei hospital, a lower share tested positive for coronavirus antibodies than in other countries. Yet the share could still imply a much higher number of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic infections than is reflected in Taiwan’s official case numbers, the study’s authors wrote.

“Basically, it’s a trade-off between how much money you want to spend and how much risk you want to take,” said Wang, the Stanford professor. As the global case count swells and more infections are likely to leak into Taiwan, “then it’s a matter of how much leakage you want in your house.”

Dale Fisher, a professor in infectious diseases at the National University of Singapore, contrasted Taiwan’s tight border policies with Singapore’s more “nimble” approach. The city-state lifted restrictions on travelers from Taiwan, but Taiwan did not reciprocate.

“We think that even if a traveler brought it in, we think there’s a good chance it wouldn’t spread anyway,” Fisher said. “If you’ve got no faith in your system, then that would make you keep the borders harder.”

The real test for Taiwan, he said, is if the vaccines do not end up offering long-lasting immunity and the world needs to live with COVID longer. How well would Taiwan’s people bear being sealed off from the wider world for another year? Another five years?

“This is why we’d say close your borders if you just want to buy time to get yourself organized,” Fisher said. “But don’t think of it as a strategy.”

Consider for a moment, in this time of anguish and loss and death, of mass unemployment and flattened national economies, the Twilight Zone alternate reality that is Taiwan.

Consider for a moment, in this time of anguish and loss and death, of mass unemployment and flattened national economies, the Twilight Zone alternate reality that is Taiwan. For months and months, life on the island has been, in a word, normal — spookily so. Weddings have been held worry-free. People have packed pro ballgames, attended cello concerts and thronged night markets. Taiwan’s population is larger than Florida’s, but its COVID-19 death toll can be counted on two hands. It is the kind of off-the-charts success against the virus that has created a sinking feeling in the stomachs of many residents: How much longer can the island’s good fortune last? For Chen Shih-chung, Taiwan’s health minister and head of its epidemic command center, success is all the more reason not to waver on the bedrock of the government’s coronavirus strategy. The island has been sealed off to most visitors since March. People who are allowed to enter still have to quarantine under tight watch for two weeks, including Taiwanese citizens. The high walls have kept the island from being deluged with infections, but they risk isolating Taiwan economically and politically if the rest of the world relaxes its defenses as vaccinations get underway. The government is not likely to budge on those policies until there are vaccines that are a proven, lasting weapon against the virus, Chen said in an interview. Taiwan will not be like one of those places, he suggested, that eased lockdowns under public pressure only to have to tighten them again later. “I believe there will be another wave,” he said. “Because everybody thinks, ‘I’ve gotten the vaccine,' or, 'I’m getting the vaccine next week. I’ve waited so long, I can be free now, right?’” Once there is more evidence about whether the current vaccines offer enduring immunity, “only then can we really start to relax a bit,” he said. As vaccinations begin around the globe, the question of how and when to ease COVID border controls will also confront other places, such as Australia and New Zealand, that have used their geographic insularity as a primary defense against the pandemic. Taiwan has already held fast to its entry restrictions and quarantines for much longer than many governments could without facing public backlash. The island’s economy has slowed along with the world’s during the pandemic, but it continues to grow at a decent clip. Japan and South Korea, two other Asian democracies praised for their virus responses, are now grappling with large flare-ups of new infections. But as successful and tireless as Taiwan’s health officials have been, the island has also benefited from sheer good luck, said C. Jason Wang, an associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. With the case count surging globally and a more contagious variant of the virus circulating in many places, greater numbers of infected people are bound to arrive at Taiwan’s borders, Wang said, which means it is only a matter of time before more positive cases slip past the government’s defenses. Taiwan on Dec. 30 confirmed its first case involving the new variant, in a person who had entered from Britain, tested positive and been hospitalized. In response, the government further tightened its entry bans and quarantine rules. “It’s remarkable that Taiwan has held the line for so long,” Wang said. But even if the island vaccinates its population by the middle of 2021, “then you’ve still got six months to go,” he said. “It’s really difficult to keep this up for another six months.” For Chen, 67, 2020 was a year of tough calls, even as he has pulled off a virus response that would be the envy of any public health official on the planet. In a recent opinion poll, Chen, a dentist by training, received a higher approval rating than any other top official, including his boss, President Tsai Ing-wen. He is being talked about as a potential candidate for mayor of Taipei, the island’s capital. His cool, unflappable mien at the government’s epidemic news briefings has won him an odd kind of celebrity. It is not every middle-aged health minister who is photographed clad in Gucci for the local edition of GQ. Yet in Chen’s telling, his decisions since the outbreak started have upset certain people at almost every turn. Like when he barred medical workers from leaving the island in February. Or when he announced in March that the island was forbidding entry by nearly all nonresidents. Many of the Taiwanese government’s ideas about dealing with the virus came from “feeling around in the dark,” Chen said. For instance, when a cluster of infections appeared on the Diamond Princess cruise liner in February, officials in Japan, where the boat had docked, allowed many passengers who tested negative to walk free. Some of them later tested positive. Taiwan took note. “By then it became very clear to us,” Chen said. “After you test, you have to quarantine both the positives and the negatives.” Taiwan’s emphasis on strict quarantines has helped contain infections without overwhelming its hospital system or incurring huge costs for testing. But some experts are now urging the government to test more widely, particularly at the border, to catch more cases that do not show symptoms. “We came up with many of our policies when there were a few million infections around the world,” said Chan Chang-chuan, a professor at the College of Public Health at National Taiwan University. “But now there are tens of millions, and we’re heading toward a hundred million. It’s a whole different stage.” Chan said he believed Taiwan should begin testing everyone at the border, not just quarantining them. It has already started doing this for people arriving from Britain, where the more transmissible variant of the coronavirus has been found to be circulating. Taiwan’s position has been that carriers of the virus who are asymptomatic after 14 days of isolation are not likely to be very infectious. Chen said he had no doubt that there had been some asymptomatic cases that never made it onto the government’s radar. “But if those infections are not causing problems, then should I spend a lot of energy trying to find those people?” he said. “Or should I focus my efforts on infections that are already causing problems?” It is unclear how much of a gamble this approach has involved. A study in The Lancet in October found that out of 14,765 people whose blood was sampled at a Taipei hospital, a lower share tested positive for coronavirus antibodies than in other countries. Yet the share could still imply a much higher number of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic infections than is reflected in Taiwan’s official case numbers, the study’s authors wrote. “Basically, it’s a trade-off between how much money you want to spend and how much risk you want to take,” said Wang, the Stanford professor. As the global case count swells and more infections are likely to leak into Taiwan, “then it’s a matter of how much leakage you want in your house.” Dale Fisher, a professor in infectious diseases at the National University of Singapore, contrasted Taiwan’s tight border policies with Singapore’s more “nimble” approach. The city-state lifted restrictions on travelers from Taiwan, but Taiwan did not reciprocate. “We think that even if a traveler brought it in, we think there’s a good chance it wouldn’t spread anyway,” Fisher said. “If you’ve got no faith in your system, then that would make you keep the borders harder.” The real test for Taiwan, he said, is if the vaccines do not end up offering long-lasting immunity and the world needs to live with COVID longer. How well would Taiwan’s people bear being sealed off from the wider world for another year? Another five years? “This is why we’d say close your borders if you just want to buy time to get yourself organized,” Fisher said. “But don’t think of it as a strategy.”

How Taiwan plans to stay (mostly) COVID-free

Ken Lee is among the snake catchers in Hong Kong who is called when one of these reptiles is spotted slithering into a home or coming alarmingly close to a residential area.

Hong Kong is home to a variety of snakes from the venomous king cobra to larger species such as the Burmese python.

While commercial snake catchers of yesteryear, whose catch is often served up as soup in the city's snake shops. However, what makes Lee unique is that he does not sell&nbsp;the snakes he captures. He is part of a new breed of snake catchers who strive to release the reptiles back into nature.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/1600-snakes-caught-in-2020-in-hong-kong-354345/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

''There are occasions where people have caught the snakes before I arrived on the scene, but unfortunately, some of them were killed or fatally injured,'' said 31-year-old Lee, who is one of Hong Kongs youngest registered snake catchers.&nbsp;

''Some people caught the snakes bravely, but actually, it caused harm to wildlife,'' he added.

Like many other snake catchers in the city, Lee is self-taught. He first started handling snakes at the age of 17, when he worked as an apprentice in a Hong Kong snake shop. His experience spurred him to learn more about biodiversity and biology, and he eventually went on to study that at a university in Taiwan.

When Lee catches snakes, he uses a range of equipment: puncture-proof gloves, sticks, hooks, a torch and bags. At times, he even uses his bare hands.

In early December, he made headlines when he successfully captured a 3-meter-long (10-foot-long) Burmese python in a village located in a rural part of Hong Kong. The same month, Lee was also called to a high-rise residential building in a rural area to capture a bamboo pit viper, a common, venomous green snake whose bite can cause a nasty swell.

The snakes he catches are sent to the Kadoorie Farm and Botanical Garden, a local nonprofit organization that shelters rescued wild animals. After a health check, most of the creatures are then released back into the local parks.

''I hope all these wild animals could be returned to nature,'' Lee said.

Currently, he works as a research assistant at four universities in the city and volunteers at the Hong Kong Society of Herpetology Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the study of reptiles and amphibians.

Even though Hong Kong has ample green areas that serve as different habitats for snakes, Liz Rose-Jeffreys, Kadoorie Farm's conservation officer, thinks the city's urban development may threaten the survival of snake species.

''I think this is one of mutual respect, really. They are our wild neighbours, they've been here a lot longer than us, and I think we have a duty to respect nature,'' she said.

''They form an important part of our ecosystem, so if we have to remove snakes, then it would upset the balance that has been established for many years.''

Ken Lee is among the snake catchers in Hong Kong who is called when one of these reptiles is spotted slithering into a home or coming alarmingly close to a residential area.

Ken Lee is among the snake catchers in Hong Kong who is called when one of these reptiles is spotted slithering into a home or coming alarmingly close to a residential area. Hong Kong is home to a variety of snakes from the venomous king cobra to larger species such as the Burmese python. While commercial snake catchers of yesteryear, whose catch is often served up as soup in the city's snake shops. However, what makes Lee unique is that he does not sell the snakes he captures. He is part of a new breed of snake catchers who strive to release the reptiles back into nature. ''There are occasions where people have caught the snakes before I arrived on the scene, but unfortunately, some of them were killed or fatally injured,'' said 31-year-old Lee, who is one of Hong Kongs youngest registered snake catchers. ''Some people caught the snakes bravely, but actually, it caused harm to wildlife,'' he added. Like many other snake catchers in the city, Lee is self-taught. He first started handling snakes at the age of 17, when he worked as an apprentice in a Hong Kong snake shop. His experience spurred him to learn more about biodiversity and biology, and he eventually went on to study that at a university in Taiwan. When Lee catches snakes, he uses a range of equipment: puncture-proof gloves, sticks, hooks, a torch and bags. At times, he even uses his bare hands. In early December, he made headlines when he successfully captured a 3-meter-long (10-foot-long) Burmese python in a village located in a rural part of Hong Kong. The same month, Lee was also called to a high-rise residential building in a rural area to capture a bamboo pit viper, a common, venomous green snake whose bite can cause a nasty swell. The snakes he catches are sent to the Kadoorie Farm and Botanical Garden, a local nonprofit organization that shelters rescued wild animals. After a health check, most of the creatures are then released back into the local parks. ''I hope all these wild animals could be returned to nature,'' Lee said. Currently, he works as a research assistant at four universities in the city and volunteers at the Hong Kong Society of Herpetology Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the study of reptiles and amphibians. Even though Hong Kong has ample green areas that serve as different habitats for snakes, Liz Rose-Jeffreys, Kadoorie Farm's conservation officer, thinks the city's urban development may threaten the survival of snake species. ''I think this is one of mutual respect, really. They are our wild neighbours, they've been here a lot longer than us, and I think we have a duty to respect nature,'' she said. ''They form an important part of our ecosystem, so if we have to remove snakes, then it would upset the balance that has been established for many years.''

'Breaking stereotypes': Meet Ken Lee, Hong Kong's animal friendly snake catcher

VG Somani, the Drug Controller General of India said on Monday that Covishield and&nbsp;Covaxin are ''safe and provide a robust immune response.''

India's drugs regulator has given final emergency-use approval for two coronavirus vaccines, Serum Institute of India's Covishield, developed by Oxford University and pharma major AstraZeneca, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-approves-sii-and-bharat-biotechs-covid-19-vaccines-for-restricted-emergency-use-354141" hreflang="en">India approves SII and Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccines for restricted emergency use</a>

During an interview, Somani said&nbsp;"We'll never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 110 per cent safe."&nbsp;

The country&nbsp;is now expected to start a massive immunisation programme within weeks.

Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) chief VG Somani said both firms submitted data on their trial runs and both have been granted permission for "restricted use".

"Safety immunogenicity data submitted by SII found efficacy was 70.42 per cent. Restricted use in emergency conditions allowed. The clinical trials will continue. Covaxin has been developed in collaboration with ICMR and NIV," he said in a press briefing on Sunday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the approval a decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight and congratulated&nbsp;scientists and&nbsp;innovators.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! 
 
DCGI granting approval to vaccines of <a href="https://twitter.com/SerumInstIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SerumInstIndia</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/BharatBiotech?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BharatBiotech</a> accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. 
 
Congratulations India. 
 
Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1345607618191007747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2021</a></blockquote>
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He said, "The DCGI granting approval to vaccines of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech accelerates the road to COVID-free nation."

VG Somani, the Drug Controller General of India said on Monday that Covishield and Covaxin are ''safe and provide a robust immune response.'' India's drugs regulator has given final emergency-use approval for two coronavirus vaccines, Serum Institute of India's Covishield, developed by Oxford University and pharma major AstraZeneca, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

VG Somani, the Drug Controller General of India said on Monday that Covishield and Covaxin are ''safe and provide a robust immune response.'' India's drugs regulator has given final emergency-use approval for two coronavirus vaccines, Serum Institute of India's Covishield, developed by Oxford University and pharma major AstraZeneca, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Also read: India approves SII and Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccines for restricted emergency use During an interview, Somani said "We'll never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 110 per cent safe." The country is now expected to start a massive immunisation programme within weeks. Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) chief VG Somani said both firms submitted data on their trial runs and both have been granted permission for "restricted use". "Safety immunogenicity data submitted by SII found efficacy was 70.42 per cent. Restricted use in emergency conditions allowed. The clinical trials will continue. Covaxin has been developed in collaboration with ICMR and NIV," he said in a press briefing on Sunday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the approval a decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight and congratulated scientists and innovators. A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2021 × He said, "The DCGI granting approval to vaccines of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech accelerates the road to COVID-free nation."

Covishield, Covaxin are safe and provide robust immune response, says Drug Controller General of India VG Somani

Thousands of New Year revellers packed into the centre of&nbsp;Wuhan, the Chinese city where Covid-19 was first detected, cheering and releasing balloons to welcome in 2021.

Police erected fences to try to prevent congestion around the city's Customs House clock tower, but the measure was ineffective due to the large turnout of mainly young people.

Earlier, in his New Year address, President&nbsp;Xi Jinping declared that China has defeated the virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far left more than 1.8 million dead and infected more than 82.9 million people, is believed to have originated in&nbsp;Wuhan&nbsp;in late 2019.

Hundreds of people watched a spectacular display with brightly coloured fireworks shooting into the sky, continuing the New Year celebrations from the night before.

But all the firecrackers and neon lights of the world cannot obliterate Wuhan's painful memories. Away from the propaganda police, the people of Wuhan remained scarred by the horror.

Those who lost their loved ones are demanding answers. One of them is Zhang Hai, a&nbsp;local&nbsp;who lost his father to the virus.

Zhang believes his father's life could have been saved. But the&nbsp;authorities did not tell&nbsp;him&nbsp;in time that the virus was contagious.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-attempts-to-rewrite-the-story-of-wuhan-with-a-party-353936">WATCH|</a>

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Speaking to an international news outlet --- Zhang said he won't rest until Wuhan officials are held accountable. He, along with many locals, tried to sue the government in Wuhan. But the attempt hasn't met much success.

The government is rewriting the Wuhan story and the narrative of the victims has no place in it. An exhibition in Wuhan celebrates the contribution of frontline workers...

At the entrance, there's a timeline on display. It describes Chinese President Xi Jinping's actions and decisions during the pandemic.

But it does not say that he was missing in action for weeks in January. It doesn't even mention the Huanan seafood market, where the first cluster of cases was found.

It has not a word on the public outcry that followed or reports that local-level officials hid crucial details in the early days.

The seafood market itself remains partitioned and sealed by eight-foot-high metal barricades.

A team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) is scheduled to arrive in China in early January for a long-awaited mission to look into the origins of the coronavirus.

Their first visit since the probe was announced more than six&nbsp;months back and has already a lost cause.

The team of international experts will not conduct an investigation of their own instead, they will augment the studies carried out by China.

It is safe to assume that China has wiped the truth about Wuhan. It only wants the world to see fireworks and pool parties.

Thousands of New Year revellers packed into the centre of Wuhan, the Chinese city where Covid-19 was first detected, cheering and releasing balloons to welcome in 2021.

Thousands of New Year revellers packed into the centre of Wuhan, the Chinese city where Covid-19 was first detected, cheering and releasing balloons to welcome in 2021. Police erected fences to try to prevent congestion around the city's Customs House clock tower, but the measure was ineffective due to the large turnout of mainly young people. Earlier, in his New Year address, President Xi Jinping declared that China has defeated the virus. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far left more than 1.8 million dead and infected more than 82.9 million people, is believed to have originated in Wuhan in late 2019. Hundreds of people watched a spectacular display with brightly coloured fireworks shooting into the sky, continuing the New Year celebrations from the night before. But all the firecrackers and neon lights of the world cannot obliterate Wuhan's painful memories. Away from the propaganda police, the people of Wuhan remained scarred by the horror. Those who lost their loved ones are demanding answers. One of them is Zhang Hai, a local who lost his father to the virus. Zhang believes his father's life could have been saved. But the authorities did not tell him in time that the virus was contagious. WATCH| × Speaking to an international news outlet --- Zhang said he won't rest until Wuhan officials are held accountable. He, along with many locals, tried to sue the government in Wuhan. But the attempt hasn't met much success. The government is rewriting the Wuhan story and the narrative of the victims has no place in it. An exhibition in Wuhan celebrates the contribution of frontline workers... At the entrance, there's a timeline on display. It describes Chinese President Xi Jinping's actions and decisions during the pandemic. But it does not say that he was missing in action for weeks in January. It doesn't even mention the Huanan seafood market, where the first cluster of cases was found. It has not a word on the public outcry that followed or reports that local-level officials hid crucial details in the early days. The seafood market itself remains partitioned and sealed by eight-foot-high metal barricades. A team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) is scheduled to arrive in China in early January for a long-awaited mission to look into the origins of the coronavirus. Their first visit since the probe was announced more than six months back and has already a lost cause. The team of international experts will not conduct an investigation of their own instead, they will augment the studies carried out by China. It is safe to assume that China has wiped the truth about Wuhan. It only wants the world to see fireworks and pool parties.

Wuhan one year on: Crowds throng to celebrate New Year

With the beginning of a new year, people look for opportunities, new beginnings, and a fresh chance at life.&nbsp;

To do so, a change in the previous approach and leaving behind old baggage is required.&nbsp;However, China continues to adhere to its old means of provocations.&nbsp;

In 2020, Chinese President- Xi Jinping,&nbsp;told the United Nations General Assembly ''the past cannot be changed, but the future can be shaped.''

But an Indonesian fisherman recently found what is believed to be a Chinese submarine drone in waters on a strategic maritime route from the South China Sea to Australia.

According to Indonesian media, the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) was found on December 20 near Selayar Island in South Sulawesi. It was later handed over to the police and then transferred to the Indonesian military.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-a-new-year-a-more-dangerous-china-353938">WATCH|</a>

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Observers have said the drone appears to be a Chinese Sea Wing (or Haiyi) UUV. The underwater glider is publically described as collecting data including seawater temperature, salinity, turbidity, and oxygen levels.

Experts say- China was trying to map future submarine routes to Australia

In 2019, China conducted ocean surveys to the north of Papua New Guinea and in 2020, it was near Australia's Christmas Island.

It is a new year and China is back to its old ways. It is now trying to map a new submarine route to Australia's northernmost city, Darwin.

Reports say- the drone was on a route from the South China Sea, a region&nbsp;that has seen enough and more Chinese aggression.

Forget mending old ways, In 2021, China seems to be taking its aggression one step further.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-completes-track-laying-work-for-a-railway-line-in-tibet-close-to-arunachal-pradesh-353727">China completes track-laying work for a railway line in Tibet close to Arunachal Pradesh</a>

Beijing on Thursday completed the track-laying work for a railway line linking the cities of Lhasa and Nyingchi in Tibet, close to the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh.

According to Chinese President Xi Jinping, it would play a key role in safeguarding stability in the border areas. The Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be the second railway into Tibet after the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

In the past, China called Arunachal, South Tibet.&nbsp;

Some people in China's Yunnan province spent the night guarding bat caves,&nbsp;which may hold the key to understanding the origins of the Wuhan virus.

China does not want the world to get access to these caves. So, it has hired people to block experts and journalists from entering them.

This year, China will also continue to block all possible probes on the Wuhan virus.

China offered to pay non-state actors in Afghanistan to attack American soldiers, a recent report by Axios has stated.

The report further says the interest in Afghanistan stems in part from Beijing's desire to prevent Chinese Muslim separatist groups from using the country as a base.

If this report is confirmed,&nbsp;it would mean-- that going forward we would see a shift in Chinese strategy. One that will go well beyond biological warfare. More on the lines of what we see in Pakistan, sponsoring terror attacks.

So, this is what it comes down to. It is a new year, but the same old China.

Beijing will not just behave in the same old fashion but maybe worse, a&nbsp;bigger threat to the world...

It is important to know all this on the very first evening of a brand new year so that people&nbsp;know what's in store&nbsp;in 2021 and also so that they&nbsp;don't behave like China.

2021 is a new beginning, make the most of it. Leave old habits behind and change with the time because those who don't end up only with a new calendar, not new fortunes. 
&nbsp;

With the beginning of a new year, people look for opportunities, new beginnings, and a fresh chance at life. To do so, a change in the previous approach and leaving behind old baggage is required.

With the beginning of a new year, people look for opportunities, new beginnings, and a fresh chance at life. To do so, a change in the previous approach and leaving behind old baggage is required. However, China continues to adhere to its old means of provocations. In 2020, Chinese President- Xi Jinping, told the United Nations General Assembly ''the past cannot be changed, but the future can be shaped.'' But an Indonesian fisherman recently found what is believed to be a Chinese submarine drone in waters on a strategic maritime route from the South China Sea to Australia. According to Indonesian media, the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) was found on December 20 near Selayar Island in South Sulawesi. It was later handed over to the police and then transferred to the Indonesian military. WATCH| × Observers have said the drone appears to be a Chinese Sea Wing (or Haiyi) UUV. The underwater glider is publically described as collecting data including seawater temperature, salinity, turbidity, and oxygen levels. Experts say- China was trying to map future submarine routes to Australia In 2019, China conducted ocean surveys to the north of Papua New Guinea and in 2020, it was near Australia's Christmas Island. It is a new year and China is back to its old ways. It is now trying to map a new submarine route to Australia's northernmost city, Darwin. Reports say- the drone was on a route from the South China Sea, a region that has seen enough and more Chinese aggression. Forget mending old ways, In 2021, China seems to be taking its aggression one step further. Also read: China completes track-laying work for a railway line in Tibet close to Arunachal Pradesh Beijing on Thursday completed the track-laying work for a railway line linking the cities of Lhasa and Nyingchi in Tibet, close to the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh. According to Chinese President Xi Jinping, it would play a key role in safeguarding stability in the border areas. The Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be the second railway into Tibet after the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. In the past, China called Arunachal, South Tibet. Some people in China's Yunnan province spent the night guarding bat caves, which may hold the key to understanding the origins of the Wuhan virus. China does not want the world to get access to these caves. So, it has hired people to block experts and journalists from entering them. This year, China will also continue to block all possible probes on the Wuhan virus. China offered to pay non-state actors in Afghanistan to attack American soldiers, a recent report by Axios has stated. The report further says the interest in Afghanistan stems in part from Beijing's desire to prevent Chinese Muslim separatist groups from using the country as a base. If this report is confirmed, it would mean-- that going forward we would see a shift in Chinese strategy. One that will go well beyond biological warfare. More on the lines of what we see in Pakistan, sponsoring terror attacks. So, this is what it comes down to. It is a new year, but the same old China. Beijing will not just behave in the same old fashion but maybe worse, a bigger threat to the world... It is important to know all this on the very first evening of a brand new year so that people know what's in store in 2021 and also so that they don't behave like China. 2021 is a new beginning, make the most of it. Leave old habits behind and change with the time because those who don't end up only with a new calendar, not new fortunes.

China's fresh provocations and its propaganda for 2021

With 2020 slinking into history and the beginning of 2021, people all across the globe are wary of what can be expected after an unprecedented year.

Good riddance, 2020. Hello, 2021.

Today is the first day of the new year and it's time to look ahead. To answer all the questions in people's minds,&nbsp;WION has made a forecast for 2021

Let's start&nbsp;with the most fundamental questions.

The first that pops up in everybody's minds is that will the pandemic end?

While the short answer is no. The long answer is the virus is here to say for now.

For a pandemic to end, the world needs to develop herd immunity against a disease.

Going by most projections, 60 to 80 percent of the global population needs to be immune to the Wuhan virus which means, billions will have to be vaccinated.

As of today, a little more than 10.3 million people have got a shot in 29 countries. And&nbsp;herd immunity will take a lot of time to achieve.

The second most important question that everybody wants to know the answer to desperately is will we have vaccines?

The answer is yes, we already do. However, there will not be a shot for everyone.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-whats-in-store-for-india-and-the-world-in-the-new-year-353935">WATCH|</a>

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Rich countries have most of the available shots. They have booked 51 percent of the global supplies. But poor countries don't have the shots they need.

Two numbers that&nbsp;must be considered are. 15 billion doses are&nbsp;needed to inoculate the planet...

COVAX, the global initiative to ensure vaccines for all-- is not even close. So far&nbsp;they only have agreements to secure around two billion doses.

According to one report, low-income countries might have to wait until 2023 or 2024 for vaccination.

What about the global economy? Will it&nbsp;see a rebound?

Yes. But, the recovery will be partial. The International Monetary Fund predicts global growth will bounce back to 5.2 percent in 2021.

So, there is an improvement. But the IMF says the return to pre-pandemic level growth will be "long, uneven and uncertain"

The global economic activity hasn't fully resumed. Travel restrictions are still in place. By November last year,&nbsp;more than 150 countries and regions had eased some rules. But, several restrictions remain.

A serious outbreak means a return to the lockdown. Just before Christmas. Several countries in Europe restricted movement again...

With the UK facing a travel ban from more than 10 countries,&nbsp;a full economic revival is next to impossible.

Let's zoom in and talk about India.

What role will India play in these circumstances? How will India engage with the world? What can we expect from&nbsp;New Delhi?

Here is our 2021 forecast for India: It&nbsp;will play a critical role in the supply of coronavirus vaccines to several&nbsp;countries worldwide//change

In 2020,&nbsp;India cemented its position as the "pharmacy of the world" by supplying medicines for Wuhan virus treatments to more than 150 countries.

Considering the shortage in supply, India could leverage the same distribution networks and pitch into&nbsp;supply vaccines.

These numbers confirm India's global leadership in vaccine supply. India contributes 60 percent of the global vaccine consumption...

Almost 70 percent of the WHO's vaccine procurements are from India. The world will have to turn to India to fill the gaps...

China challenge

After the provocations of 2020, how does India plan to tackle the threat from China?

To tackle China, India has to work on three levels:&nbsp;Defence, economy, and diplomacy...

On the military front --- India has managed to force a status quo on the border by capturing key heights...

On the economic and diplomatic front --- India needs to build alliances, reach out to allies, find common ground with like-minded partners.

In 2021,&nbsp;a new force called the D-10 will rise to tackle China. It&nbsp;is an emerging alliance of democracies that India is likely to join...

D-10, includes the G-7 countries and&nbsp;India, Australia, and South Korea.

Later this month,&nbsp;British PM&nbsp;Boris johnson will visit India for Republic Day. He is bullish on the D-10.

The UK&nbsp;is hosting the G-7 summit this year and Johnson wants to turn this into a D-10 event.

The British prime minister is expected to invite the Indian prime minister...

A new alliance to combat China is rising. India is expected to play a role at the D-10 forum and take&nbsp;a tougher line against China.

A lot will depend on how the border standoff shapes up. &nbsp;

2021 is expected to be an eventful year&nbsp;as the world begins to rebuild after the damage caused by the Wuhan virus.

The one thing that is assured is that people&nbsp;can count on WION to cover every event&nbsp;that matters to India and the world.

With 2020 slinking into history and the beginning of 2021, people all across the globe are wary of what can be expected after an unprecedented year. Good riddance, 2020.

With 2020 slinking into history and the beginning of 2021, people all across the globe are wary of what can be expected after an unprecedented year. Good riddance, 2020. Hello, 2021. Today is the first day of the new year and it's time to look ahead. To answer all the questions in people's minds, WION has made a forecast for 2021 Let's start with the most fundamental questions. The first that pops up in everybody's minds is that will the pandemic end? While the short answer is no. The long answer is the virus is here to say for now. For a pandemic to end, the world needs to develop herd immunity against a disease. Going by most projections, 60 to 80 percent of the global population needs to be immune to the Wuhan virus which means, billions will have to be vaccinated. As of today, a little more than 10.3 million people have got a shot in 29 countries. And herd immunity will take a lot of time to achieve. The second most important question that everybody wants to know the answer to desperately is will we have vaccines? The answer is yes, we already do. However, there will not be a shot for everyone. WATCH| × Rich countries have most of the available shots. They have booked 51 percent of the global supplies. But poor countries don't have the shots they need. Two numbers that must be considered are. 15 billion doses are needed to inoculate the planet... COVAX, the global initiative to ensure vaccines for all-- is not even close. So far they only have agreements to secure around two billion doses. According to one report, low-income countries might have to wait until 2023 or 2024 for vaccination. What about the global economy? Will it see a rebound? Yes. But, the recovery will be partial. The International Monetary Fund predicts global growth will bounce back to 5.2 percent in 2021. So, there is an improvement. But the IMF says the return to pre-pandemic level growth will be "long, uneven and uncertain" The global economic activity hasn't fully resumed. Travel restrictions are still in place. By November last year, more than 150 countries and regions had eased some rules. But, several restrictions remain. A serious outbreak means a return to the lockdown. Just before Christmas. Several countries in Europe restricted movement again... With the UK facing a travel ban from more than 10 countries, a full economic revival is next to impossible. Let's zoom in and talk about India. What role will India play in these circumstances? How will India engage with the world? What can we expect from New Delhi? Here is our 2021 forecast for India: It will play a critical role in the supply of coronavirus vaccines to several countries worldwide//change In 2020, India cemented its position as the "pharmacy of the world" by supplying medicines for Wuhan virus treatments to more than 150 countries. Considering the shortage in supply, India could leverage the same distribution networks and pitch into supply vaccines. These numbers confirm India's global leadership in vaccine supply. India contributes 60 percent of the global vaccine consumption... Almost 70 percent of the WHO's vaccine procurements are from India. The world will have to turn to India to fill the gaps... China challenge After the provocations of 2020, how does India plan to tackle the threat from China? To tackle China, India has to work on three levels: Defence, economy, and diplomacy... On the military front --- India has managed to force a status quo on the border by capturing key heights... On the economic and diplomatic front --- India needs to build alliances, reach out to allies, find common ground with like-minded partners. In 2021, a new force called the D-10 will rise to tackle China. It is an emerging alliance of democracies that India is likely to join... D-10, includes the G-7 countries and India, Australia, and South Korea. Later this month, British PM Boris johnson will visit India for Republic Day. He is bullish on the D-10. The UK is hosting the G-7 summit this year and Johnson wants to turn this into a D-10 event. The British prime minister is expected to invite the Indian prime minister... A new alliance to combat China is rising. India is expected to play a role at the D-10 forum and take a tougher line against China. A lot will depend on how the border standoff shapes up. 2021 is expected to be an eventful year as the world begins to rebuild after the damage caused by the Wuhan virus. The one thing that is assured is that people can count on WION to cover every event that matters to India and the world.

Forecast for 2021: What to expect from different countries across the globe

The scientists working at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) need to focus on the next generation needs of the armed forces in cybersecurity, space and artificial intelligence, its Chairman G Satheesh Reddy said on Friday.

In his speech at an event to mark the 60th foundation day of the DRDO, Reddy said academic institutes, research and development (R&amp;D) organisations and the industry need to work together on advanced and futuristic technologies to make India self-reliant in the defence sector.

A press statement issued by the defence ministry said, "In his speech, he (Reddy) called upon DRDO scientists to focus on next-generation needs, including cybersecurity, space and artificial intelligence."

According to the statement, Reddy mentioned that "a number of SMEs and MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises)" are being nurtured by the DRDO as these are supplying small components to subsystems for its projects.

He added that at least 30 startups should be supported every year to develop innovative products for the Indian armed forces.

Reddy declared "export" as the theme of DRDO for 2021 and mentioned that many products based on the DRDO's technologies have already been exported by the defence public sector units (DPSUs) and private companies.

He also highlighted the role of the DRDO during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that its 40 laboratories developed over 100 products on a war footing to combat the virus.

The scientists working at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) need to focus on the next generation needs of the armed forces in cybersecurity, space and artificial intelligence, its Chairman G Satheesh Reddy said on Friday.

The scientists working at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) need to focus on the next generation needs of the armed forces in cybersecurity, space and artificial intelligence, its Chairman G Satheesh Reddy said on Friday. In his speech at an event to mark the 60th foundation day of the DRDO, Reddy said academic institutes, research and development (R&D) organisations and the industry need to work together on advanced and futuristic technologies to make India self-reliant in the defence sector. A press statement issued by the defence ministry said, "In his speech, he (Reddy) called upon DRDO scientists to focus on next-generation needs, including cybersecurity, space and artificial intelligence." According to the statement, Reddy mentioned that "a number of SMEs and MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises)" are being nurtured by the DRDO as these are supplying small components to subsystems for its projects. He added that at least 30 startups should be supported every year to develop innovative products for the Indian armed forces. Reddy declared "export" as the theme of DRDO for 2021 and mentioned that many products based on the DRDO's technologies have already been exported by the defence public sector units (DPSUs) and private companies. He also highlighted the role of the DRDO during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that its 40 laboratories developed over 100 products on a war footing to combat the virus.

DRDO chairman asks scientists to focus on cyber security, space and artificial intelligence

Pope Francis ushered in the New Year on Friday with a traditional Angelus blessing from the papal library, pushing through nerve pain that forced him to skip New Year's ceremonies in St. Peter's Basilica.

The pope was unable to attend services on Thursday and again on Friday morning because of sciatica,&nbsp;a relatively common problem that causes pain along the sciatic nerve down the lower back and legs.

It was believed to be the first time since he became pope in 2013 that Francis, who turned 84 last month, has been prevented by health reasons from leading a major papal event.

However, he showed no sign of discomfort as he delivered a noon address and prayer, standing at a lectern in the library of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

The papal blessing was moved inside from the usual perch at a window overlooking St. Peter's Square to discourage crowds as Italy is living under tighter COVID-19 restrictions this holiday season.

"Life today is governed by war, by enmity, by many things that are destructive. We want peace. It is a gift," Francis said, adding that the response to the global coronavirus crisis showed the importance of burden-sharing.

"The painful events that marked humanity's journey last year, especially the pandemic, taught us how much it is necessary to take an interest in the problems of others and to share their concerns," he said.

Pope highlighted, in particular, his worries about Yemen, where children are living ''without education, without medicine, hungry''&nbsp;and for the release of the Rev. Moses Chikwe, a bishop in the Owerri archdiocese of Nigeria, who was kidnapped last Sunday by gunmen.

Yemen has been blighted by six years of violence that has pitted a Saudi-led coalition against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.&nbsp;

"I express my sorrow and concern for the further escalation of violence in Yemen, which is causing numerous innocent victims," Francis said. "Let us think of the children of Yemen, without education, without medicine, famished."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Pope Francis ushered in the New Year on Friday with a traditional Angelus blessing from the papal library, pushing through nerve pain that forced him to skip New Year's ceremonies in St.

Pope Francis ushered in the New Year on Friday with a traditional Angelus blessing from the papal library, pushing through nerve pain that forced him to skip New Year's ceremonies in St. Peter's Basilica. The pope was unable to attend services on Thursday and again on Friday morning because of sciatica, a relatively common problem that causes pain along the sciatic nerve down the lower back and legs. It was believed to be the first time since he became pope in 2013 that Francis, who turned 84 last month, has been prevented by health reasons from leading a major papal event. However, he showed no sign of discomfort as he delivered a noon address and prayer, standing at a lectern in the library of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. The papal blessing was moved inside from the usual perch at a window overlooking St. Peter's Square to discourage crowds as Italy is living under tighter COVID-19 restrictions this holiday season. "Life today is governed by war, by enmity, by many things that are destructive. We want peace. It is a gift," Francis said, adding that the response to the global coronavirus crisis showed the importance of burden-sharing. "The painful events that marked humanity's journey last year, especially the pandemic, taught us how much it is necessary to take an interest in the problems of others and to share their concerns," he said. Pope highlighted, in particular, his worries about Yemen, where children are living ''without education, without medicine, hungry'' and for the release of the Rev. Moses Chikwe, a bishop in the Owerri archdiocese of Nigeria, who was kidnapped last Sunday by gunmen. Yemen has been blighted by six years of violence that has pitted a Saudi-led coalition against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. "I express my sorrow and concern for the further escalation of violence in Yemen, which is causing numerous innocent victims," Francis said. "Let us think of the children of Yemen, without education, without medicine, famished."

Pope reappears after pain flare-up, gives New Year's blessing

Pakistan's famous truck art will move from its highways to the skies, as a flying academy is painting a two-seater Cessna aircraft with the colourful technique.

With elaborate and flamboyant motifs,&nbsp;Pakistani truck art has inspired gallery exhibitions abroad and prompted stores in Western cities to sell miniatures.

“We want to show the world that&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;is not all about Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and terrorism issues; it a very diverse country and a land of opportunities,” Imran Aslam Khan, chief operating officer of Sky Wings, a flight training organisation, told Reuters.

He also plans to paint other aircraft, with the aim of promoting tourism in&nbsp;Pakistan.

Such art has become one of&nbsp;Pakistan's best-known cultural exports in recent years. UNESCO, for example, has been using truck art, blended with indigenous themes, to promote girls' education in a northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

"The world is familiar with our truck art representation; now, with this aircraft, our colours will fly in the air. We are really excited," Haider Ali, the artist painting the aircraft, told Reuters at the academy's hangar.

Trained by his father, Ali, 40, has been decorating trucks since his childhood and is now one of the most prominent such painters in&nbsp;Pakistan.

Ali hopes to paint an Airbus or Boeing aircraft in the future, saying an opportunity to work on such gargantuan planes would truly be a learning experience.

Pakistan's famous truck art will move from its highways to the skies, as a flying academy is painting a two-seater Cessna aircraft with the colourful technique. With elaborate and flamboyant motifs, Pakistani truck art has inspired gallery exhibitions abroad and prompted stores in Western cities to sell miniatures.

Pakistan's famous truck art will move from its highways to the skies, as a flying academy is painting a two-seater Cessna aircraft with the colourful technique. With elaborate and flamboyant motifs, Pakistani truck art has inspired gallery exhibitions abroad and prompted stores in Western cities to sell miniatures. “We want to show the world that Pakistan is not all about Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and terrorism issues; it a very diverse country and a land of opportunities,” Imran Aslam Khan, chief operating officer of Sky Wings, a flight training organisation, told Reuters. He also plans to paint other aircraft, with the aim of promoting tourism in Pakistan. Such art has become one of Pakistan's best-known cultural exports in recent years. UNESCO, for example, has been using truck art, blended with indigenous themes, to promote girls' education in a northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. "The world is familiar with our truck art representation; now, with this aircraft, our colours will fly in the air. We are really excited," Haider Ali, the artist painting the aircraft, told Reuters at the academy's hangar. Trained by his father, Ali, 40, has been decorating trucks since his childhood and is now one of the most prominent such painters in Pakistan. Ali hopes to paint an Airbus or Boeing aircraft in the future, saying an opportunity to work on such gargantuan planes would truly be a learning experience.

From the highways to the skies: Pakistan's famous truck art goes airborne

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Vyomica Berry

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