Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the United States on Thursday of aiming to fabricate a "pretext for war" as tensions mount between the two countries.

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Instead of fighting Covid in US, <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> &amp; cohorts waste billions to fly B52s &amp; send armadas to OUR region 
 
Intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to FABRICATE pretext for war. 
 
Iran doesn't seek war but will OPENLY &amp; DIRECTLY defend its people, security &amp; vital interests.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1344619249214627842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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US President Donald Trump had recently tweeted that the US was hearing "chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq" and warned that "if one American is killed, I will hold&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;responsible. Think it over."

Since mid-November,&nbsp;the United States has sent B-52 bombers on&nbsp;missions in the Persian Gulf three times, including a 30-hour round trip from North Dakota to the Gulf on December 29.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-honours-martyr-soleimani-killed-a-year-ago-by-us-353483">Iran honours 'martyr' Soleimani, killed a year ago by US</a>

Pentagon officials say the military muscle-flexing is meant to warn Tehran off attacking American interests or personnel in the days surrounding the January 3 anniversary of the Trump administration's assassination of the powerful Iranian leader military commander&nbsp;Qasem Soleimani.

Soleimani's killing at age 62 sharply heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, whose decades-old animosity had deepened when Trump withdrew from&nbsp;Iran's nuclear deal and launched a "maximum pressure" campaign to isolate&nbsp;Iran.

Within days,&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;retaliated to the killing of a military leader long deemed untouchable by firing rockets at Iraqi bases housing US forces, which claimed no lives but caused injuries and preceded a tragedy.

&nbsp;

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the United States on Thursday of aiming to fabricate a "pretext for war" as tensions mount between the two countries.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the United States on Thursday of aiming to fabricate a "pretext for war" as tensions mount between the two countries. Instead of fighting Covid in US, @realDonaldTrump & cohorts waste billions to fly B52s & send armadas to OUR region Intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to FABRICATE pretext for war. Iran doesn't seek war but will OPENLY & DIRECTLY defend its people, security & vital interests. — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) December 31, 2020 × US President Donald Trump had recently tweeted that the US was hearing "chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq" and warned that "if one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over." Since mid-November, the United States has sent B-52 bombers on missions in the Persian Gulf three times, including a 30-hour round trip from North Dakota to the Gulf on December 29. Also read: Iran honours 'martyr' Soleimani, killed a year ago by US Pentagon officials say the military muscle-flexing is meant to warn Tehran off attacking American interests or personnel in the days surrounding the January 3 anniversary of the Trump administration's assassination of the powerful Iranian leader military commander Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani's killing at age 62 sharply heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, whose decades-old animosity had deepened when Trump withdrew from Iran's nuclear deal and launched a "maximum pressure" campaign to isolate Iran. Within days, Iran retaliated to the killing of a military leader long deemed untouchable by firing rockets at Iraqi bases housing US forces, which claimed no lives but caused injuries and preceded a tragedy.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accuses US of plotting to fabricate war pretext

Quadrantids meteor showers will&nbsp;illuminate the night sky over the New Year weekend with up to 200 shooting stars every hour.&nbsp;

As per the&nbsp;National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the&nbsp;Quadrantids meteor shower&nbsp;is described&nbsp;as one of the best annual meteor showers.

During its peak, 60 to as many as 200 Quadrantid meteors can be seen per hour under perfect conditions.

According to the International Meteor Organisation (IMO), the peak is expected to occur at around 14:30 GMT on Sunday, January 3.&nbsp;

The Quadrantids are known for their bright fireball meteors and are unique because they originate from an asteroid, instead of a comet. The fireballs are explosions of light and colour and last longer than the normal meteor streak.&nbsp;

The annual meteor shower runs every year&nbsp;between December 28 and January 12, but in 2021 the best views in the UK will be after dark on January 2 and 3. It&nbsp;is expected to peak Friday night into Saturday morning.&nbsp;

Meteors are pieces of rocky debris that enter the Earth's atmosphere at up to 40 miles per second, leaving streaks of light that we refer to as 'shooting stars'.&nbsp;

The Quadrantids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere (this shower can also be seen at latitudes north of 51 degrees south) during the night and predawn hours.&nbsp;

The American Meteor Society has suggested the viewers start the gaze an hour before the peak timings in case the show starts early. To get a good view, avoid daylights and find a darker location.&nbsp;

Their radiant—the point in the sky from which the Quadrantids appear to come from -- is an obsolete constellation called "Quadrans Muralis." French astronomer Jerome Lalande created this constellation in 1795.&nbsp;

Unlike most meteor showers which originate from comets, the Quadrantids originate from an asteroid: asteroid 2003 EH1. Asteroid 2003 EH1 takes 5.52 years to orbit the sun once. It is possible that 2003 EH is a "dead comet" or a new kind of object being discussed by astronomers called a "rock comet."

Quadrantids meteor showers will illuminate the night sky over the New Year weekend with up to 200 shooting stars every hour. As per the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Quadrantids meteor shower is described as one of the best annual meteor showers.

Quadrantids meteor showers will illuminate the night sky over the New Year weekend with up to 200 shooting stars every hour. As per the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Quadrantids meteor shower is described as one of the best annual meteor showers. During its peak, 60 to as many as 200 Quadrantid meteors can be seen per hour under perfect conditions. According to the International Meteor Organisation (IMO), the peak is expected to occur at around 14:30 GMT on Sunday, January 3. The Quadrantids are known for their bright fireball meteors and are unique because they originate from an asteroid, instead of a comet. The fireballs are explosions of light and colour and last longer than the normal meteor streak. The annual meteor shower runs every year between December 28 and January 12, but in 2021 the best views in the UK will be after dark on January 2 and 3. It is expected to peak Friday night into Saturday morning. Meteors are pieces of rocky debris that enter the Earth's atmosphere at up to 40 miles per second, leaving streaks of light that we refer to as 'shooting stars'. The Quadrantids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere (this shower can also be seen at latitudes north of 51 degrees south) during the night and predawn hours. The American Meteor Society has suggested the viewers start the gaze an hour before the peak timings in case the show starts early. To get a good view, avoid daylights and find a darker location. Their radiant—the point in the sky from which the Quadrantids appear to come from -- is an obsolete constellation called "Quadrans Muralis." French astronomer Jerome Lalande created this constellation in 1795. Unlike most meteor showers which originate from comets, the Quadrantids originate from an asteroid: asteroid 2003 EH1. Asteroid 2003 EH1 takes 5.52 years to orbit the sun once. It is possible that 2003 EH is a "dead comet" or a new kind of object being discussed by astronomers called a "rock comet."

Quadrantid meteor shower to light up sky over New Year's weekend

Ontario’s Finance Minister Rod Phillips&nbsp;is under pressure to resign after he admitted that had flouted Canada's coronavirus&nbsp;restrictions to go on vacation in the Caribbean.&nbsp;

Posts on Rod Phillips’s social media accounts suggested that he remained home over Christmas, but it emerged on Tuesday that the minister flew to the island of St Barts in mid-December and&nbsp;ignored a coronavirus lockdown on this trip despite his own government’s advice to avoid non-essential travel.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/minister-resigns-in-uk-over-dominic-cummings-lockdown-trip-301156">Minister resigns in UK over Dominic Cummings' lockdown trip</a>

As the scandal grabbed headlines in national media, Ontario Premier Doug Ford insisted he had not been aware of Phillips’ plans to make the trip.

He admitted, however, that at some point he became aware of the minister’s overseas travels, yet did not demand he return immediately to the province&nbsp;– at least not until the trip became known to the media.

“I did call him shortly after he arrived and I asked him and he said he was away,”&nbsp;Ford told reporters on Wednesday, saying elsewhere that he was&nbsp;“extremely disappointed”&nbsp;in the minister’s decision to travel&nbsp;“at a time when every Ontarian has been asked to make sacrifices.”

Ford had previously called Phillips’s trip “completely unacceptable”.

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As we all make sacrifices this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Christmas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Christmas</a>, remember that some of our fellow citizens won't even be home for Christmas dinner over Zoom. 
 
Thousands of front line heroes will be at work, looking out for us. 
 
Who is the special hero in your life you want to thank? 
 
👩🏽‍⚕️👨‍⚕️👮👨🏿‍🚒👷🏻🎖️
— Rod Phillips (@RodPhillips01) <a href="https://twitter.com/RodPhillips01/status/1342134976796622849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Phillips went to some lengths to conceal his location during his stay in St. Barts. During a video conference call on December 16, the finance minister used a virtual backdrop of Ontario’s legislative building while he spoke over the sound of waves, as the province’s Liberal Party later pointed out in a tweet.

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/RodPhillips01?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RodPhillips01</a> are those waves we hear behind your Queen’s Park Zoom background? This is disgraceful, and Ford knew about it for two weeks. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/onpoli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#onpoli</a> 
 
Date: Dec. 16, 2020 <a href="https://t.co/4CmDlUA09d">pic.twitter.com/4CmDlUA09d</a>
— Ontario Liberal Party | Parti Libéral de l'Ontario (@OntLiberal) <a href="https://twitter.com/OntLiberal/status/1344390832351305733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Staff from Phillips’s office said on Tuesday that the minister’s trip to St Barts, a popular destination for wealthy travellers, was planned. But with coronavirus cases spiralling in Canada’s most populous province, calls were growing for the finance minister to resign or be fired.

The admission followed weeks of speculation about whether the minister had remained in Canada, where national and provincial health officials have urged against&nbsp;“non-essential”&nbsp;travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The revelation of Phillips’s Caribbean vacation came as Ontario reported two days in a row of record coronavirus cases. On Wednesday, the province announced 2,923 new infections.

In a statement, Phillips said that he “deeply regrets” the trip and adding that if he had known Ontario would be in lockdown, he would not have left the country.

“It was a mistake and I apologise. I left on a personally paid-for trip to St Barts on 13 December following the end of the legislative session.”

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It's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChristmasEve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChristmasEve</a>. To my constituents in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ajax?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ajax</a> &amp; people across Ontario, all the best during this special time of year. Even as COVID-19 changes how we celebrate, we should reflect on what makes Christmas so special to us - including family &amp; the act of giving. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MerryChristmas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MerryChristmas</a>! <a href="https://t.co/AX7hKWA88n">pic.twitter.com/AX7hKWA88n</a>
— Rod Phillips (@RodPhillips01) <a href="https://twitter.com/RodPhillips01/status/1342131118993190914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Criticism of Phillips has focused on his social media accounts, which appeared to suggest he had remained in his constituency over the holidays.

&nbsp;

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Rod Phillips and his staff put an enormous amount of effort into his deception. <a href="https://t.co/nitO2ScJvn">https://t.co/nitO2ScJvn</a> <a href="https://t.co/XMW8QirXiK">https://t.co/XMW8QirXiK</a>
— Ezra Levant 🍁 (@ezralevant) <a href="https://twitter.com/ezralevant/status/1344305949851447299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Provincial New Democratic party leader, Andrea Horwath, called for Phillips to be ejected from the cabinet.

, deeming the situation&nbsp;“shameful”&nbsp;while blasting Ford for&nbsp;“knowing that this was the case and simply turning a blind eye.”&nbsp;She added:&nbsp;“There has to be some accountability for these kinds of things.”

Under Canadian law, Phillips will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon his return to Ontario. More than 40,000 people have returned to Canada from abroad during the pandemic and only 130 tickets have been issued for breaking quarantine.

<section>Phillips joins a long list of world leaders and lawmakers caught flouting Covid-19 restrictions, including rules they themselves helped to implement.</section>
</section>

Ontario’s Finance Minister Rod Phillips is under pressure to resign after he admitted that had flouted Canada's coronavirus restrictions to go on vacation in the Caribbean.

Ontario’s Finance Minister Rod Phillips is under pressure to resign after he admitted that had flouted Canada's coronavirus restrictions to go on vacation in the Caribbean. Posts on Rod Phillips’s social media accounts suggested that he remained home over Christmas, but it emerged on Tuesday that the minister flew to the island of St Barts in mid-December and ignored a coronavirus lockdown on this trip despite his own government’s advice to avoid non-essential travel. Also read: Minister resigns in UK over Dominic Cummings' lockdown trip As the scandal grabbed headlines in national media, Ontario Premier Doug Ford insisted he had not been aware of Phillips’ plans to make the trip. He admitted, however, that at some point he became aware of the minister’s overseas travels, yet did not demand he return immediately to the province – at least not until the trip became known to the media. “I did call him shortly after he arrived and I asked him and he said he was away,” Ford told reporters on Wednesday, saying elsewhere that he was “extremely disappointed” in the minister’s decision to travel “at a time when every Ontarian has been asked to make sacrifices.” Ford had previously called Phillips’s trip “completely unacceptable”. As we all make sacrifices this #Christmas, remember that some of our fellow citizens won't even be home for Christmas dinner over Zoom. Thousands of front line heroes will be at work, looking out for us. Who is the special hero in your life you want to thank? 👩🏽‍⚕️👨‍⚕️👮👨🏿‍🚒👷🏻🎖️ — Rod Phillips (@RodPhillips01) December 24, 2020 × Phillips went to some lengths to conceal his location during his stay in St. Barts. During a video conference call on December 16, the finance minister used a virtual backdrop of Ontario’s legislative building while he spoke over the sound of waves, as the province’s Liberal Party later pointed out in a tweet. .@RodPhillips01 are those waves we hear behind your Queen’s Park Zoom background? This is disgraceful, and Ford knew about it for two weeks. #onpoli Date: Dec. 16, 2020 pic.twitter.com/4CmDlUA09d — Ontario Liberal Party | Parti Libéral de l'Ontario (@OntLiberal) December 30, 2020 × Staff from Phillips’s office said on Tuesday that the minister’s trip to St Barts, a popular destination for wealthy travellers, was planned. But with coronavirus cases spiralling in Canada’s most populous province, calls were growing for the finance minister to resign or be fired. The admission followed weeks of speculation about whether the minister had remained in Canada, where national and provincial health officials have urged against “non-essential” travel amid the coronavirus pandemic. The revelation of Phillips’s Caribbean vacation came as Ontario reported two days in a row of record coronavirus cases. On Wednesday, the province announced 2,923 new infections. In a statement, Phillips said that he “deeply regrets” the trip and adding that if he had known Ontario would be in lockdown, he would not have left the country. “It was a mistake and I apologise. I left on a personally paid-for trip to St Barts on 13 December following the end of the legislative session.” It's #ChristmasEve. To my constituents in #Ajax & people across Ontario, all the best during this special time of year. Even as COVID-19 changes how we celebrate, we should reflect on what makes Christmas so special to us - including family & the act of giving. #MerryChristmas! pic.twitter.com/AX7hKWA88n — Rod Phillips (@RodPhillips01) December 24, 2020 × Criticism of Phillips has focused on his social media accounts, which appeared to suggest he had remained in his constituency over the holidays. Rod Phillips and his staff put an enormous amount of effort into his deception. https://t.co/nitO2ScJvn https://t.co/XMW8QirXiK — Ezra Levant 🍁 (@ezralevant) December 30, 2020 × Provincial New Democratic party leader, Andrea Horwath, called for Phillips to be ejected from the cabinet. , deeming the situation “shameful” while blasting Ford for “knowing that this was the case and simply turning a blind eye.” She added: “There has to be some accountability for these kinds of things.” Under Canadian law, Phillips will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon his return to Ontario. More than 40,000 people have returned to Canada from abroad during the pandemic and only 130 tickets have been issued for breaking quarantine. Phillips joins a long list of world leaders and lawmakers caught flouting Covid-19 restrictions, including rules they themselves helped to implement.

Outcry after Canadian minister flouts coronavirus restrictions to conceal Caribbean holiday

Over 50 per cent of the Chinese population believes that Russia is the country's most important ally, according to a poll published in state-run the&nbsp;Global Times newspaper.

The poll was&nbsp;found that&nbsp;nearly 2,000 respondents are writing off China's better relations with the United States.

There was a sharp reduction in the number of people saying that ties with the US had the biggest impact on China, dropping to only 47.5 per cent, compared to 82.1 per cent when the question was asked last year.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-message-to-us-xi-jinping-says-china-russia-ties-will-not-be-broken-353156">In message to US, Xi Jinping says China-Russia ties will not be broken</a>

It comes after&nbsp;Chinese President Xi Jinping&nbsp;said that his country's&nbsp;ties to Russia will&nbsp;weather all kinds of international crises.

In a clear message to US President-elect Joe Biden, Jinping had highlighted&nbsp;the ''strong individual value'' of the China-Russia relationship.

Beijing has become the most significant commercial partner for Moscow, and the country is the leading destination for the export of Russian commodities, and a source of more than $56 trillion in imports.&nbsp;

Experts believe&nbsp;shared political obstacles with the EU and the US appear to be playing a role in the two nations stepping towards closer and closer political ties.

Over 50 per cent of the Chinese population believes that Russia is the country's most important ally, according to a poll published in state-run the Global Times newspaper.

Over 50 per cent of the Chinese population believes that Russia is the country's most important ally, according to a poll published in state-run the Global Times newspaper. The poll was found that nearly 2,000 respondents are writing off China's better relations with the United States. There was a sharp reduction in the number of people saying that ties with the US had the biggest impact on China, dropping to only 47.5 per cent, compared to 82.1 per cent when the question was asked last year. Also read: In message to US, Xi Jinping says China-Russia ties will not be broken It comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping said that his country's ties to Russia will weather all kinds of international crises. In a clear message to US President-elect Joe Biden, Jinping had highlighted the ''strong individual value'' of the China-Russia relationship. Beijing has become the most significant commercial partner for Moscow, and the country is the leading destination for the export of Russian commodities, and a source of more than $56 trillion in imports. Experts believe shared political obstacles with the EU and the US appear to be playing a role in the two nations stepping towards closer and closer political ties.

Over half of Chinese population believes Russia is its most important ally

At least 20 people were killed and dozens wounded in an attack on Aden airport on Wednesday moments after a plane landed carrying a newly formed Saudi-backed cabinet for government-held parts of&nbsp;Yemen.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it was preparing a "mass casualty medical response plan".

As smoke billowed out of the airport terminal from an initial blast, with debris strewn across the area and people rushing to tend to the wounded, a second explosion took place.&nbsp;

Hours after the attack, a second explosion was heard around Aden's Maasheq presidential palace where the cabinet members including Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik, as well as the Saudi ambassador to&nbsp;Yemen, had been taken to safely, residents and local media said.

In the airport attack, loud blasts and gunfire were heard shortly after the plane arrived from Riyadh, witnesses said. A local security source said three mortar shells had landed on the airport's hall.

Aden health official Mohamed Robeid gave the death figure and said 50 people were wounded, adding the death toll could rise. Medecins Sans Frontieres aid group earlier said 17 people had been treated for wounds at its hospital in Aden.

Yemen's internationally recognised government and southern separatists formed a power-sharing cabinet on December 18, forging a joint front against the Huthi rebels who have seized the capital Sanaa and much of the north.

Both Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani and Prime Minister Moeen Abdulmalik Saeed said that all the members of the government were safe.

"We assure our great people that members of the government are fine, and we assure you that the cowardly terrorist attack by the Iran-supported Huthi militia will not deter us from carrying out our patriotic duty," Eryani said on Twitter.

The new cabinet unites the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi with southern separatists, intended to fulfil a Saudi aim of ending a feud among Riyadh's allies.

The two groups are the main&nbsp;Yemeni factions in a southern-based, Saudi-backed alliance fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement that controls the north, including the capital Sanaa.

TV footage from the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya channel showed dozens of people leaving the airplane when a first blast hit the airport's hall. Heavy gunfire from armoured vehicles followed with plumes of white and black smoke rising from the scene.

Other video showed damage to the terminal's concrete walls and smashed glass.

Government officials were among the casualties in the airport attack, sources said.

The southern port city of Aden has been mired in violence because of a rift between the separatists and Hadi's government, based there after being driven from the capital by the Houthis in 2014.

The separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), which seeks independence for south&nbsp;Yemen, declared self-rule in Aden in April, triggering clashes and complicating United Nations efforts to forge a permanent ceasefire in the overall conflict.

The Saudi-led coalition announced the new power-sharing cabinet this month after more than a year of intense Saudi mediation between the government and the separatists.

The Houthis denied any responsibility for the attack. The separatists said their leadership was the main target of the attackers and not the government.

At least 20 people were killed and dozens wounded in an attack on Aden airport on Wednesday moments after a plane landed carrying a newly formed Saudi-backed cabinet for government-held parts of Yemen.

At least 20 people were killed and dozens wounded in an attack on Aden airport on Wednesday moments after a plane landed carrying a newly formed Saudi-backed cabinet for government-held parts of Yemen. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it was preparing a "mass casualty medical response plan". As smoke billowed out of the airport terminal from an initial blast, with debris strewn across the area and people rushing to tend to the wounded, a second explosion took place. Hours after the attack, a second explosion was heard around Aden's Maasheq presidential palace where the cabinet members including Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik, as well as the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, had been taken to safely, residents and local media said. In the airport attack, loud blasts and gunfire were heard shortly after the plane arrived from Riyadh, witnesses said. A local security source said three mortar shells had landed on the airport's hall. Aden health official Mohamed Robeid gave the death figure and said 50 people were wounded, adding the death toll could rise. Medecins Sans Frontieres aid group earlier said 17 people had been treated for wounds at its hospital in Aden. Yemen's internationally recognised government and southern separatists formed a power-sharing cabinet on December 18, forging a joint front against the Huthi rebels who have seized the capital Sanaa and much of the north. Both Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani and Prime Minister Moeen Abdulmalik Saeed said that all the members of the government were safe. "We assure our great people that members of the government are fine, and we assure you that the cowardly terrorist attack by the Iran-supported Huthi militia will not deter us from carrying out our patriotic duty," Eryani said on Twitter. The new cabinet unites the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi with southern separatists, intended to fulfil a Saudi aim of ending a feud among Riyadh's allies. The two groups are the main Yemeni factions in a southern-based, Saudi-backed alliance fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement that controls the north, including the capital Sanaa. TV footage from the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya channel showed dozens of people leaving the airplane when a first blast hit the airport's hall. Heavy gunfire from armoured vehicles followed with plumes of white and black smoke rising from the scene. Other video showed damage to the terminal's concrete walls and smashed glass. Government officials were among the casualties in the airport attack, sources said. The southern port city of Aden has been mired in violence because of a rift between the separatists and Hadi's government, based there after being driven from the capital by the Houthis in 2014. The separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), which seeks independence for south Yemen, declared self-rule in Aden in April, triggering clashes and complicating United Nations efforts to forge a permanent ceasefire in the overall conflict. The Saudi-led coalition announced the new power-sharing cabinet this month after more than a year of intense Saudi mediation between the government and the separatists. The Houthis denied any responsibility for the attack. The separatists said their leadership was the main target of the attackers and not the government.

Twenty killed in attack on Aden airport moments after new Yemen cabinet lands

Afghan security personnel have abandoned nearly 200 checkpoints in restive Kandahar province in recent weeks, officials said Wednesday, in some cases leaving behind their weapons to be seized by the Taliban.

Kandahar provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat and a local lawmaker separately confirmed the situation to AFP, saying commanders would be disciplined for their actions.

The defence ministry in Kabul denied the reports, insisting government forces had been making progress in the region.

Government forces and the Taliban have clashed regularly in Kandahar province since October despite peace talks between the warring sides.&nbsp;

"Afghan security forces have retreated from 193 checkpoints and outposts in Zharai, Maiwand, Arghandab and Panjwai districts," Kandahar provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat told AFP.

"Most of the security chiefs and officers who neglected their duties have been dismissed and referred to the judiciary."

Kandahar lawmaker Hashim Alkhozai and a local police officer confirmed the details to AFP.&nbsp;

"The security forces exited the bases leaving behind their weapons and ammunition," Alkhozai said.

Most of those who left were soldiers, said Jan Mohammad, a policeman from Zharai district.

"They left without firing a bullet," he said.

"The Taliban now have all the weapons seized from the army and are using them against us."

Governor Hayat blamed "poor coordination" for the situation amid a shortage of police and troops.

Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban, who went on to rule Afghanistan with a harsh version of Islamic sharia law until being overthrown by a US-led invasion in 2001.

Since a US-Taliban deal in February, the insurgents have mostly refrained from carrying out major attacks on cities, but have launched near-daily assaults against Afghan forces in rural areas.

Peace talks between the two sides -- which started in September in the Qatari capital of Doha -- are currently on a break and are due to resume on January 5.

Afghan security personnel have abandoned nearly 200 checkpoints in restive Kandahar province in recent weeks, officials said Wednesday, in some cases leaving behind their weapons to be seized by the Taliban.

Afghan security personnel have abandoned nearly 200 checkpoints in restive Kandahar province in recent weeks, officials said Wednesday, in some cases leaving behind their weapons to be seized by the Taliban. Kandahar provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat and a local lawmaker separately confirmed the situation to AFP, saying commanders would be disciplined for their actions. The defence ministry in Kabul denied the reports, insisting government forces had been making progress in the region. Government forces and the Taliban have clashed regularly in Kandahar province since October despite peace talks between the warring sides. "Afghan security forces have retreated from 193 checkpoints and outposts in Zharai, Maiwand, Arghandab and Panjwai districts," Kandahar provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat told AFP. "Most of the security chiefs and officers who neglected their duties have been dismissed and referred to the judiciary." Kandahar lawmaker Hashim Alkhozai and a local police officer confirmed the details to AFP. "The security forces exited the bases leaving behind their weapons and ammunition," Alkhozai said. Most of those who left were soldiers, said Jan Mohammad, a policeman from Zharai district. "They left without firing a bullet," he said. "The Taliban now have all the weapons seized from the army and are using them against us." Governor Hayat blamed "poor coordination" for the situation amid a shortage of police and troops. Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban, who went on to rule Afghanistan with a harsh version of Islamic sharia law until being overthrown by a US-led invasion in 2001. Since a US-Taliban deal in February, the insurgents have mostly refrained from carrying out major attacks on cities, but have launched near-daily assaults against Afghan forces in rural areas. Peace talks between the two sides -- which started in September in the Qatari capital of Doha -- are currently on a break and are due to resume on January 5.

Afghan troops, police abandon nearly 200 checkpoints to Taliban

British members of parliament overwhelmingly backed a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union in the&nbsp;House of Commons on Wednesday.

The vote on the legislation to enact the trade agreement was passed by 521 to 73 votes in parliament's lower house. It now passes to the upper house for approval later on Wednesday, before becoming law around midnight.

Introducing the legislation to ratify it, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told lawmakers it heralded "a new relationship between Britain and the EU as sovereign equals, joined by friendship, commerce, history, interests, and values.

"With this bill we are going to be a friendly neighbour, the best friend and ally the EU could have," Johnson&nbsp;said.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;EU leaders signed their post-Brexit trade deal with Britain and dispatched it to London on an RAF jet Wednesday, setting their seal on a drawn-out divorce just hours before the UK brings its half-century European experiment to an end.

The last-ditch deal averted the prospect of a cliff-edge separation which would have seen quotas and tariffs slapped on all cross-Channel trade, exacerbating strains in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit Britain harder than most.

The agreement's impact will play out in the coming months, with UK businesses braced for customs red tape they have avoided for decades in cross-Channel trade.

Meanwhile from January 1, there will no longer be free movement of people from Britain to the EU or vice versa.&nbsp;

Under the compressed legislative calendar, the European Parliament will debate the Brexit deal after the New Year, but they are expected to eventually nod it through.&nbsp;

Pending that, EU member states gave their green light on Monday for the accord to take provisional effect before Thursday's deadline.

British members of parliament overwhelmingly backed a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The vote on the legislation to enact the trade agreement was passed by 521 to 73 votes in parliament's lower house.

British members of parliament overwhelmingly backed a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The vote on the legislation to enact the trade agreement was passed by 521 to 73 votes in parliament's lower house. It now passes to the upper house for approval later on Wednesday, before becoming law around midnight. Introducing the legislation to ratify it, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told lawmakers it heralded "a new relationship between Britain and the EU as sovereign equals, joined by friendship, commerce, history, interests, and values. "With this bill we are going to be a friendly neighbour, the best friend and ally the EU could have," Johnson said. Meanwhile, EU leaders signed their post-Brexit trade deal with Britain and dispatched it to London on an RAF jet Wednesday, setting their seal on a drawn-out divorce just hours before the UK brings its half-century European experiment to an end. The last-ditch deal averted the prospect of a cliff-edge separation which would have seen quotas and tariffs slapped on all cross-Channel trade, exacerbating strains in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit Britain harder than most. The agreement's impact will play out in the coming months, with UK businesses braced for customs red tape they have avoided for decades in cross-Channel trade. Meanwhile from January 1, there will no longer be free movement of people from Britain to the EU or vice versa. Under the compressed legislative calendar, the European Parliament will debate the Brexit deal after the New Year, but they are expected to eventually nod it through. Pending that, EU member states gave their green light on Monday for the accord to take provisional effect before Thursday's deadline.

British MPs overwhelmingly back post-Brexit trade deal with European Union

Turkey on Wednesday brushed aside fears that a new extradition treaty with China would result in Ankara deporting Muslim Uighurs en masse.

Earlier, China&nbsp;announced the ratification of an extradition treaty with Turkey&nbsp;that human rights groups warn could endanger Uighur families and activists fleeing persecution by Chinese authorities if it is adopted by Ankara.

The treaty, first signed in 2017, was formalised on the weekend at the national people’s congress, with state media saying it would be utilised for counter-psychological warfare purposes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-ratifies-extradition-treaty-pressure-on-turkey-to-protect-uighurs-353170" hreflang="en">China ratifies extradition treaty; pressure on Turkey to protect Uighurs</a>

Confronting solid resistance inside its parliament, Turkey's administration has not yet confirmed the arrangement, and critics have asked the public authority to desert it and keep the settlement from "turning into an instrument of oppression".&nbsp;

Turkey has linguistic and cultural ties with the Uighurs and Ankara has for quite some time been one of the primary safeguards of their motivation on the worldwide stage, however lately Turkey's public demonstration of help has faded.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-and-the-european-union-poised-to-sign-major-investment-deal-353241/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

About 20 Uighurs with Turkish citizenship picketed China's consulate in Istanbul after the Chinese parliament ratified the 2017 treaty on Saturday.

Ankara has not yet ratified the agreement, but its approval in Beijing has put Turkey's estimated 50,000-strong Uighur community on edge.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu did not say when Turkey's parliament might debate the agreement. However,&nbsp;its approval would not mean "Turkey will release Uighurs to China".

"Until now, there have been requests for returns from China related to Uighurs in Turkey. And you know Turkey hasn't taken steps like this," Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara.

It would be "wrong and unfair to say it's a deal for the extradition of Uighurs. We are more sensitive to such issues than others," he said.

Uighurs speak a Turkic language and have cultural ties with Turkey that make it a favoured destination for avoiding persecution in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang. But news reports have accused Turkey of covertly returning Uighurs to China via third countries.

Rights activists say Xinjiang is home to a vast network of extrajudicial internment camps that have imprisoned at least one million people.

China says these are vocational training centres to counter extremism.

Ethnic Uighurs rallied for the ninth day running Wednesday to express their fears about the extradition treaty.

"God willing, we hope our state will not approve such a thing," said Omer Farah, a Uighur with Turkish citizenship who said his children are detained in China.

"But if it does, we are really worried. Because for China, all 50,000 Uighurs who live here are criminals."

Turkey on Wednesday brushed aside fears that a new extradition treaty with China would result in Ankara deporting Muslim Uighurs en masse. Earlier, China announced the ratification of an extradition treaty with Turkey that human rights groups warn could endanger Uighur families and activists fleeing persecution by Chinese authorities if it is adopted by Ankara.

Turkey on Wednesday brushed aside fears that a new extradition treaty with China would result in Ankara deporting Muslim Uighurs en masse. Earlier, China announced the ratification of an extradition treaty with Turkey that human rights groups warn could endanger Uighur families and activists fleeing persecution by Chinese authorities if it is adopted by Ankara. The treaty, first signed in 2017, was formalised on the weekend at the national people’s congress, with state media saying it would be utilised for counter-psychological warfare purposes. Also read: China ratifies extradition treaty; pressure on Turkey to protect Uighurs Confronting solid resistance inside its parliament, Turkey's administration has not yet confirmed the arrangement, and critics have asked the public authority to desert it and keep the settlement from "turning into an instrument of oppression". Turkey has linguistic and cultural ties with the Uighurs and Ankara has for quite some time been one of the primary safeguards of their motivation on the worldwide stage, however lately Turkey's public demonstration of help has faded. About 20 Uighurs with Turkish citizenship picketed China's consulate in Istanbul after the Chinese parliament ratified the 2017 treaty on Saturday. Ankara has not yet ratified the agreement, but its approval in Beijing has put Turkey's estimated 50,000-strong Uighur community on edge. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu did not say when Turkey's parliament might debate the agreement. However, its approval would not mean "Turkey will release Uighurs to China". "Until now, there have been requests for returns from China related to Uighurs in Turkey. And you know Turkey hasn't taken steps like this," Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara. It would be "wrong and unfair to say it's a deal for the extradition of Uighurs. We are more sensitive to such issues than others," he said. Uighurs speak a Turkic language and have cultural ties with Turkey that make it a favoured destination for avoiding persecution in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang. But news reports have accused Turkey of covertly returning Uighurs to China via third countries. Rights activists say Xinjiang is home to a vast network of extrajudicial internment camps that have imprisoned at least one million people. China says these are vocational training centres to counter extremism. Ethnic Uighurs rallied for the ninth day running Wednesday to express their fears about the extradition treaty. "God willing, we hope our state will not approve such a thing," said Omer Farah, a Uighur with Turkish citizenship who said his children are detained in China. "But if it does, we are really worried. Because for China, all 50,000 Uighurs who live here are criminals."

Turkey brushes aside fears of Uighur deportations to China

Indonesia&nbsp;has banned the controversial and politically influential hardline group the Islamic Defender's Front, the chief security minister announced on Wednesday.

The security affairs minister, Mohammad Mahfud, told reporters that the Islamic Defenders Front, known by its Indonesian acronym FPI, had continued to carry out activities that violate order and security even though it was disbanded last year as a mass organization.

The ban follows the November return of the group's spiritual figurehead, Rizieq Shihab, from three years of self-exile in Saudi Arabia, which was celebrated with events attended by thousands.

Rizieq's return to the world's largest Muslim-majority country had fuelled concern within government that he could be angling to harness opposition forces.

The 55-year-old cleric was arrested this month and charged with violating health protocols and remains in custody, while a clash between police and his supporters – in which six of his bodyguards were shot dead – is being investigated by the national human rights body.

Mahfud said the FPI had officially been disbanded since June last year, but had continued unlawfully conducting activities.

Six senior government officials, including the attorney general, police chief and counter-terrorism agency head were involved in the decision to ban the group, he said.

The deputy justice minister, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, said the FPI was outlawed because nearly 30 of its leaders, members and former members had been convicted on terrorism charges, and because the group conflicted with the nation's state ideology, Pancasila, which emphasises unity and diversity.

Formed soon after the 1998 fall of former strongman Suharto, the FPI were notorious for raiding bars and brothels and intimidating religious minorities. It is also known for offering assistance during natural disasters.

Its political sway has risen in recent years, particularly after its role in protests in 2016 against Jakarta's former Christian governor who was jailed for insulting Islam.

The government saw the demonstrations as one of the biggest threats to President Joko Widodo's rule.

'Locus of Islamist opposition'

Dr Ian Wilson, senior lecturer in politics and security studies and a research fellow at the Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University, said the ban may prove to be counterproductive.

"Banning the FPI will do little to mitigate the factors that have driven its popularity as a social phenomenon, and is likely to 'radicalise' some members and sympathisers,” he said.

The ban raised questions about enforcement and the implications for democratic expression in the world's third-largest democracy, he said.

Wilson said the decision had to be viewed in the context of recent political developments, including the purging of FPI members and sympathisers from the&nbsp;Indonesia&nbsp;Ulema Council.

"The government is on the offensive against what they see as a potential locus of popular Islamist opposition, sharpened by the recent return of Rizieq,” he said.

"While having a sound legal foundation, the banning is clearly politically driven as well.”

Security analysts have suggested the ban could spark a backlash or force the FPI and its activities underground.

Senior FPI member Novel Bamukmin was defiant, telling Reuters the ban would do little to dampen spirits.

"They can disband FPI but they cannot disband our struggle to defend the country and religion. And if we want, this afternoon we can declare a new Islamic mass organization,” he said,

"If they disband it again, we'll create a new one.”

Indonesia has banned the controversial and politically influential hardline group the Islamic Defender's Front, the chief security minister announced on Wednesday.

Indonesia has banned the controversial and politically influential hardline group the Islamic Defender's Front, the chief security minister announced on Wednesday. The security affairs minister, Mohammad Mahfud, told reporters that the Islamic Defenders Front, known by its Indonesian acronym FPI, had continued to carry out activities that violate order and security even though it was disbanded last year as a mass organization. The ban follows the November return of the group's spiritual figurehead, Rizieq Shihab, from three years of self-exile in Saudi Arabia, which was celebrated with events attended by thousands. Rizieq's return to the world's largest Muslim-majority country had fuelled concern within government that he could be angling to harness opposition forces. The 55-year-old cleric was arrested this month and charged with violating health protocols and remains in custody, while a clash between police and his supporters – in which six of his bodyguards were shot dead – is being investigated by the national human rights body. Mahfud said the FPI had officially been disbanded since June last year, but had continued unlawfully conducting activities. Six senior government officials, including the attorney general, police chief and counter-terrorism agency head were involved in the decision to ban the group, he said. The deputy justice minister, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, said the FPI was outlawed because nearly 30 of its leaders, members and former members had been convicted on terrorism charges, and because the group conflicted with the nation's state ideology, Pancasila, which emphasises unity and diversity. Formed soon after the 1998 fall of former strongman Suharto, the FPI were notorious for raiding bars and brothels and intimidating religious minorities. It is also known for offering assistance during natural disasters. Its political sway has risen in recent years, particularly after its role in protests in 2016 against Jakarta's former Christian governor who was jailed for insulting Islam. The government saw the demonstrations as one of the biggest threats to President Joko Widodo's rule. 'Locus of Islamist opposition' Dr Ian Wilson, senior lecturer in politics and security studies and a research fellow at the Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University, said the ban may prove to be counterproductive. "Banning the FPI will do little to mitigate the factors that have driven its popularity as a social phenomenon, and is likely to 'radicalise' some members and sympathisers,” he said. The ban raised questions about enforcement and the implications for democratic expression in the world's third-largest democracy, he said. Wilson said the decision had to be viewed in the context of recent political developments, including the purging of FPI members and sympathisers from the Indonesia Ulema Council. "The government is on the offensive against what they see as a potential locus of popular Islamist opposition, sharpened by the recent return of Rizieq,” he said. "While having a sound legal foundation, the banning is clearly politically driven as well.” Security analysts have suggested the ban could spark a backlash or force the FPI and its activities underground. Senior FPI member Novel Bamukmin was defiant, telling Reuters the ban would do little to dampen spirits. "They can disband FPI but they cannot disband our struggle to defend the country and religion. And if we want, this afternoon we can declare a new Islamic mass organization,” he said, "If they disband it again, we'll create a new one.”

Indonesia bans hardline Islamic Defender's Front group

The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday said pranksters are hijacking weakly-secured smart devices to live-stream swatting incidents.

The&nbsp;domestic intelligence and security service of the United States issued a statement saying&nbsp;"Recently, offenders have been using victims' smart devices, including video and audio capable home surveillance devices, to carry out swatting attacks.''

FBI authorities state pranksters are assuming control over gadgets on which proprietors made records yet reused accreditations that previously leaked online during data breaches at other companies.

Pranksters then place calls to law enforcement and report a fake crime at the victims' residence.

"As law authorization reacts to the home, the wrongdoer watches the live stream film and draws in with the reacting police through the camera and speakers," the FBI said.&nbsp;

"At times, the wrongdoer additionally live streams the occurrence on shared online network stages."&nbsp;

These kinds of episodes, called smacking, have expanded across the US as of late and have even brought about individuals' demises through unplanned shootings.&nbsp;

The originally known instances of a smacking episode being live-streamed online go back to the mid-2010s. The distinction between the thing the FBI is announcing now and those underlying occurrences is that gadgets weren't being hacked.&nbsp;

Clowns would distinguish get-togethers that were being streamed on the web and would organize the occasion to be smacked, for example, weddings, church gatherings, and that's just the beginning.&nbsp;

A considerable lot of these smacking calls are being put through online administrations that give unknown calling abilities -, for example, Discord bots and dull web administrations.&nbsp;

To balance with this new rising hack&amp;swat cases, authority authorities said they are currently working with gadget sellers to prompt clients on how they could choose better passwords for their gadgets.&nbsp;

Moreover, the FBI said it's likewise attempting to alarm law requirement specialists on the call about this new swatting variation, so they may respond accordingly.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday said pranksters are hijacking weakly-secured smart devices to live-stream swatting incidents. The domestic intelligence and security service of the United States issued a statement saying "Recently, offenders have been using victims' smart devices, including video and audio capable home surveillance devices, to carry out swatting attacks.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday said pranksters are hijacking weakly-secured smart devices to live-stream swatting incidents. The domestic intelligence and security service of the United States issued a statement saying "Recently, offenders have been using victims' smart devices, including video and audio capable home surveillance devices, to carry out swatting attacks.'' FBI authorities state pranksters are assuming control over gadgets on which proprietors made records yet reused accreditations that previously leaked online during data breaches at other companies. Pranksters then place calls to law enforcement and report a fake crime at the victims' residence. "As law authorization reacts to the home, the wrongdoer watches the live stream film and draws in with the reacting police through the camera and speakers," the FBI said. "At times, the wrongdoer additionally live streams the occurrence on shared online network stages." These kinds of episodes, called smacking, have expanded across the US as of late and have even brought about individuals' demises through unplanned shootings. The originally known instances of a smacking episode being live-streamed online go back to the mid-2010s. The distinction between the thing the FBI is announcing now and those underlying occurrences is that gadgets weren't being hacked. Clowns would distinguish get-togethers that were being streamed on the web and would organize the occasion to be smacked, for example, weddings, church gatherings, and that's just the beginning. A considerable lot of these smacking calls are being put through online administrations that give unknown calling abilities -, for example, Discord bots and dull web administrations. To balance with this new rising hack&swat cases, authority authorities said they are currently working with gadget sellers to prompt clients on how they could choose better passwords for their gadgets. Moreover, the FBI said it's likewise attempting to alarm law requirement specialists on the call about this new swatting variation, so they may respond accordingly.

Pranksters are hijacking smart devices to live-stream swatting, says FBI

Pakistan&nbsp;Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Wednesday announced that&nbsp;PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's passport will be cancelled on February 16.

When questioned by reporters on the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, in connection with assets beyond means case,&nbsp;Rashid said it wasn't yet known but added: "[We] will cancel Nawaz Sharif's passport on February 16." He did not provide any details.

Nawaz Sharif has been living in London since November last&nbsp;year&nbsp;after he was permitted to leave the nation for clinical treatment.&nbsp;

Recently, the PML-N supremo has been declared proclaimed offender by the Islamabad High Court after he failed to appear before the court.

The very day, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Mirza Shahzad Akbar said that United Kingdom specialists had been approached to extradite the sentenced previous leader from their nation.&nbsp;

He said Pakistan had composed a letter to the UK to drop the visa of Nawaz which was given for clinical treatment in the wake of taking an endeavour.&nbsp;

PM Imran Khan in October said he would contact British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, if necessary, to talk about his removal and his guide Akbar composed a letter to British Home Secretary Priti Patel on October 5 asking her to oust the previous head whom he said is "liable for looting the state".&nbsp;

For Nawaz's situation, the public authority of Pakistan is planning to convince UK specialists to achieve a "constrained evacuation", at times called "regulatory expulsion" — a situation in which the Home Office upholds a person's expulsion from the UK on the off chance that they don't have leave to remain for example in the event that their application has been declined or if their leave to remain has terminated, Dawn announced.&nbsp;

While the Nawaz case is outstanding in that it includes a significant political character, it has gone to the UK Home Office when it is enduring an onslaught at home for being an asylum for outside nationals blamed for defilement.

Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Wednesday announced that PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's passport will be cancelled on February 16.

Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Wednesday announced that PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's passport will be cancelled on February 16. When questioned by reporters on the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, in connection with assets beyond means case, Rashid said it wasn't yet known but added: "[We] will cancel Nawaz Sharif's passport on February 16." He did not provide any details. Nawaz Sharif has been living in London since November last year after he was permitted to leave the nation for clinical treatment. Recently, the PML-N supremo has been declared proclaimed offender by the Islamabad High Court after he failed to appear before the court. The very day, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Mirza Shahzad Akbar said that United Kingdom specialists had been approached to extradite the sentenced previous leader from their nation. He said Pakistan had composed a letter to the UK to drop the visa of Nawaz which was given for clinical treatment in the wake of taking an endeavour. PM Imran Khan in October said he would contact British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, if necessary, to talk about his removal and his guide Akbar composed a letter to British Home Secretary Priti Patel on October 5 asking her to oust the previous head whom he said is "liable for looting the state". For Nawaz's situation, the public authority of Pakistan is planning to convince UK specialists to achieve a "constrained evacuation", at times called "regulatory expulsion" — a situation in which the Home Office upholds a person's expulsion from the UK on the off chance that they don't have leave to remain for example in the event that their application has been declined or if their leave to remain has terminated, Dawn announced. While the Nawaz case is outstanding in that it includes a significant political character, it has gone to the UK Home Office when it is enduring an onslaught at home for being an asylum for outside nationals blamed for defilement.

Nawaz Sharif's passport will be cancelled on February 16: Shaikh Rasheed

Scientists have revealed&nbsp;that while haemoglobin appeared independently in several species, it actually descends from a single gene transmitted to all by their last common ancestor.

The findings of the study by scientists from CNRS, Universite de Paris and Sorbonne Universite, in association with others at the University of Saint Petersburg and the University of Rio de Janeiro, were published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology.

Having red blood is not peculiar to humans or mammals. This colour comes from haemoglobin, a complex protein specialised in transporting the oxygen found in the circulatory system of vertebrates, but also in annelids (a worm family whose most famous members are earthworms), molluscs (especially pond snails) and crustaceans (such as daphnia or 'water fleas').

Earlier, it was considered&nbsp;haemoglobin since&nbsp;appeared in&nbsp;diverse species,&nbsp;it must have been 'invented'&nbsp;several times during evolution.

However,&nbsp;recent research has shown that all of these haemoglobins born 'independently'&nbsp;actually derive from a single ancestral gene.

Researchers from the Institut Jacques Monod (CNRS/Universite de Paris), the Laboratoire Matiere et Systemes Complexes (CNRS/Universite de Paris), the Station Biologique de Roscoff (CNRS/Sorbonne Universite), the Universities of Saint Petersburg (Russia) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), conducted this research on Platynereis dumerilii, a small marine worm with red blood.

It is considered to be an animal that evolved slowly, because its genetic characteristics are close to those of the marine ancestor of most animals, Urbilateria. Studying these worms by comparing them with other species with red blood has helped in tracing back to the origins of haemoglobins.

Urbilateria is the last common ancestor of bilaterians, that is,&nbsp;animals with bilateral (left-right) symmetry and complex organs, apart from species with a simpler organisation such as sponges and jellyfish.&nbsp;

The research focused on the broad family to which haemoglobins belong: globins, proteins present in almost all living beings that `store` gases like oxygen and nitric oxide. But globins usually act inside the cells because they do not circulate in the blood like haemoglobin.

This work shows that in all species with red blood, it is the same gene that makes a globin called 'cytoglobin'&nbsp;that independently evolved to become a haemoglobin-encoding gene. This new circulating molecule made oxygen transport more efficient in their ancestors, who became larger and more active.

Scientists now want to change scale and continue this work by studying when and how the different specialized cells of bilaterian vascular systems emerged.

Scientists have revealed that while haemoglobin appeared independently in several species, it actually descends from a single gene transmitted to all by their last common ancestor.

Scientists have revealed that while haemoglobin appeared independently in several species, it actually descends from a single gene transmitted to all by their last common ancestor. The findings of the study by scientists from CNRS, Universite de Paris and Sorbonne Universite, in association with others at the University of Saint Petersburg and the University of Rio de Janeiro, were published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. Having red blood is not peculiar to humans or mammals. This colour comes from haemoglobin, a complex protein specialised in transporting the oxygen found in the circulatory system of vertebrates, but also in annelids (a worm family whose most famous members are earthworms), molluscs (especially pond snails) and crustaceans (such as daphnia or 'water fleas'). Earlier, it was considered haemoglobin since appeared in diverse species, it must have been 'invented' several times during evolution. However, recent research has shown that all of these haemoglobins born 'independently' actually derive from a single ancestral gene. Researchers from the Institut Jacques Monod (CNRS/Universite de Paris), the Laboratoire Matiere et Systemes Complexes (CNRS/Universite de Paris), the Station Biologique de Roscoff (CNRS/Sorbonne Universite), the Universities of Saint Petersburg (Russia) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), conducted this research on Platynereis dumerilii, a small marine worm with red blood. It is considered to be an animal that evolved slowly, because its genetic characteristics are close to those of the marine ancestor of most animals, Urbilateria. Studying these worms by comparing them with other species with red blood has helped in tracing back to the origins of haemoglobins. Urbilateria is the last common ancestor of bilaterians, that is, animals with bilateral (left-right) symmetry and complex organs, apart from species with a simpler organisation such as sponges and jellyfish. The research focused on the broad family to which haemoglobins belong: globins, proteins present in almost all living beings that `store` gases like oxygen and nitric oxide. But globins usually act inside the cells because they do not circulate in the blood like haemoglobin. This work shows that in all species with red blood, it is the same gene that makes a globin called 'cytoglobin' that independently evolved to become a haemoglobin-encoding gene. This new circulating molecule made oxygen transport more efficient in their ancestors, who became larger and more active. Scientists now want to change scale and continue this work by studying when and how the different specialized cells of bilaterian vascular systems emerged.

A single gene 'invented' haemoglobin several times: Study

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