An enormous expansion in biodegradable plastic creation in China is outperforming the nation's capacity to debase the materials, as indicated by another report distributed by the foundation Greenpeace.&nbsp;

China, the world's biggest maker of plastic waste, presented boycotts recently on a few kinds of non-degradable single-use plastics, inciting makers to increase the creation of biodegradable adaptations.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-reporting-usage-of-single-use-plastics-to-authorities-now-mandatory-346475">China: Reporting usage of single-use plastics to authorities now mandatory</a>

As indicated by Greenpeace, 36 organizations in China have arranged or constructed new biodegradable plastic assembling offices, adding a creation limit of more than 4.4 million tons for every year - a more than sevenfold expansion in under a year.&nbsp;

China's internet business industry is on target to create an expected 5 million tons of biodegradable plastic waste every year by 2025 when the nation's single-utilize plastic boycotts become an effective cross country, the cause said.&nbsp;

Biodegradable plastics can be separated by living life forms, yet most require explicit mechanical treatment at high temperatures to be debased inside a half year. Left in landfills under ordinary conditions, the materials can take any longer to start to separate will, in any case, deliver carbon into the air.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/video-crime-networks-profit-from-china-plastic-trash-import-ban-says-interpol-report-323847/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Without controlled fertilizing the soil offices, most biodegradable plastics end up in landfills, or more regrettable, in waterways and the sea," said Greenpeace's East Asia plastics specialist Dr. Molly Zhongnan Jia.&nbsp;

"Changing starting with one kind of plastic then onto the next can't settle the plastics contamination emergency that we're confronting," she said.&nbsp;

Chinese president Xi Jinping has in late talks focused on the significance of decreasing plastic waste, yet many significant Chinese urban communities have a next to zero framework set up to adapt to the development of biodegradable plastics creation.&nbsp;

Plastic issues&nbsp;

One of the primary difficulties with biodegradable plastics all around the world is that they can't be placed into normal family reusing or debased in-home fertilizing the soil receptacles - which means purchasers generally don't have any course to get biodegradable bundling to the sorts of mechanical offices fit for handling it.&nbsp;

"Except if there is a clear framework for what we call 'end-of-life' - regardless of whether that is reusing or cremation or landfill or biodegradation somehow or another - at that point that is as yet a solitary utilize plastic," said Dr. Rachael Rothman, the co-overseer of the Grantham Center for Sustainable Futures at the University of Sheffield.&nbsp;

"Because a plastic is biodegradable, that doesn't mean it isn't single-use," she said.&nbsp;

Another classification of plastics made completely or incompletely from natural assets - frequently alluded to as "bioplastics" - are not really biodegradable, adding to likely disarray for buyers.&nbsp;

Internationally, the mechanical foundation expected to handle biodegradable plastics - from assortment through to high-temperature treating the soil - doesn't exist at the scale expected to coordinate the volume of those plastics being delivered.&nbsp;

"This is a worldwide issue, totally," said Dr. Rothman. "The UK has been counseling on bio-degradable and compostable plastics and there's another norm on biodegradability. In any case, when you take a gander at the subtleties, it says the material requirements to get to 60 degrees Celsius, and what plastic is going to 60 degrees in the UK?"&nbsp;

Transportation off waste&nbsp;

An investigation distributed in October in the diary Sciences Advances, which inspected information from 2016, assessed that the US was the world's driving plastic waste maker that year, trailed by India and afterward China. Taken, all things considered, the EU countries would be in the runner up, notwithstanding having just about 40% of the number of inhabitants in India and China.&nbsp;

The US delivers enormous amounts of its plastic waste to different nations. In 2017 alone, China took in 7 million tons of plastic waste from Europe, Japan, and the US.&nbsp;

China has since prohibited the import of 24 unique evaluations of garbage, however different nations including Malaysia, Turkey, the Philippines, and Indonesia, which as of now need to handle enormous amounts of their own plastic waste, have gotten a portion of the leeway.&nbsp;

A portion of these nations has since sent a portion of the imported plastic waste back.&nbsp;

The Greenpeace report distributed on Thursday cautions that supplanting single-use plastics with high-volume creation of different biodegradable options isn't the answer for the plastics squander issue.&nbsp;

"This 'biodegradables surge' needs to stop. We need to investigate the impact and expected dangers of mainstreaming these materials, and ensure we put resources into arrangements that really diminish plastic waste," said Greenpeace's Dr. Jia.&nbsp;

"Reusable bundling frameworks and a decrease in generally plastic use are significantly more encouraging methodologies to keep plastic out of landfills and the climate," she said.

An enormous expansion in biodegradable plastic creation in China is outperforming the nation's capacity to debase the materials, as indicated by another report distributed by the foundation Greenpeace.

An enormous expansion in biodegradable plastic creation in China is outperforming the nation's capacity to debase the materials, as indicated by another report distributed by the foundation Greenpeace. China, the world's biggest maker of plastic waste, presented boycotts recently on a few kinds of non-degradable single-use plastics, inciting makers to increase the creation of biodegradable adaptations. Also read: China: Reporting usage of single-use plastics to authorities now mandatory As indicated by Greenpeace, 36 organizations in China have arranged or constructed new biodegradable plastic assembling offices, adding a creation limit of more than 4.4 million tons for every year - a more than sevenfold expansion in under a year. China's internet business industry is on target to create an expected 5 million tons of biodegradable plastic waste every year by 2025 when the nation's single-utilize plastic boycotts become an effective cross country, the cause said. Biodegradable plastics can be separated by living life forms, yet most require explicit mechanical treatment at high temperatures to be debased inside a half year. Left in landfills under ordinary conditions, the materials can take any longer to start to separate will, in any case, deliver carbon into the air. "Without controlled fertilizing the soil offices, most biodegradable plastics end up in landfills, or more regrettable, in waterways and the sea," said Greenpeace's East Asia plastics specialist Dr. Molly Zhongnan Jia. "Changing starting with one kind of plastic then onto the next can't settle the plastics contamination emergency that we're confronting," she said. Chinese president Xi Jinping has in late talks focused on the significance of decreasing plastic waste, yet many significant Chinese urban communities have a next to zero framework set up to adapt to the development of biodegradable plastics creation. Plastic issues One of the primary difficulties with biodegradable plastics all around the world is that they can't be placed into normal family reusing or debased in-home fertilizing the soil receptacles - which means purchasers generally don't have any course to get biodegradable bundling to the sorts of mechanical offices fit for handling it. "Except if there is a clear framework for what we call 'end-of-life' - regardless of whether that is reusing or cremation or landfill or biodegradation somehow or another - at that point that is as yet a solitary utilize plastic," said Dr. Rachael Rothman, the co-overseer of the Grantham Center for Sustainable Futures at the University of Sheffield. "Because a plastic is biodegradable, that doesn't mean it isn't single-use," she said. Another classification of plastics made completely or incompletely from natural assets - frequently alluded to as "bioplastics" - are not really biodegradable, adding to likely disarray for buyers. Internationally, the mechanical foundation expected to handle biodegradable plastics - from assortment through to high-temperature treating the soil - doesn't exist at the scale expected to coordinate the volume of those plastics being delivered. "This is a worldwide issue, totally," said Dr. Rothman. "The UK has been counseling on bio-degradable and compostable plastics and there's another norm on biodegradability. In any case, when you take a gander at the subtleties, it says the material requirements to get to 60 degrees Celsius, and what plastic is going to 60 degrees in the UK?" Transportation off waste An investigation distributed in October in the diary Sciences Advances, which inspected information from 2016, assessed that the US was the world's driving plastic waste maker that year, trailed by India and afterward China. Taken, all things considered, the EU countries would be in the runner up, notwithstanding having just about 40% of the number of inhabitants in India and China. The US delivers enormous amounts of its plastic waste to different nations. In 2017 alone, China took in 7 million tons of plastic waste from Europe, Japan, and the US. China has since prohibited the import of 24 unique evaluations of garbage, however different nations including Malaysia, Turkey, the Philippines, and Indonesia, which as of now need to handle enormous amounts of their own plastic waste, have gotten a portion of the leeway. A portion of these nations has since sent a portion of the imported plastic waste back. The Greenpeace report distributed on Thursday cautions that supplanting single-use plastics with high-volume creation of different biodegradable options isn't the answer for the plastics squander issue. "This 'biodegradables surge' needs to stop. We need to investigate the impact and expected dangers of mainstreaming these materials, and ensure we put resources into arrangements that really diminish plastic waste," said Greenpeace's Dr. Jia. "Reusable bundling frameworks and a decrease in generally plastic use are significantly more encouraging methodologies to keep plastic out of landfills and the climate," she said.

China's biodegradable plastics 'failing to tackle pollution crisis'

Paris city authorities have been fined for employing too many women in senior positions, a decision mocked as "absurd" by mayor Anne Hidalgo on Tuesday.

The fine of $110,000 (90,000 euros) was demanded by France's public service ministry on the grounds that Paris city hall had broken national rules on gender parity in its 2018 staffing.

"I am happy to announce that we have been fined," Hidalgo told a city council meeting, adding she had been filled with "joy" when she learned of the penalty.

Hidalgo said she was faulted because 11 women and only five men were named to management positions in city hall in 2018, meaning that 69 percent of the appointments went to women.

"The management of the city hall has, all of a sudden, become far too feminist," laughed the Socialist, who was re-elected for a new term at the helm of Paris last year.

According to the text of the ruling cited by Le Monde daily, city hall violated a rule dating to 2013, which stipulates said one sex should not account for more than 60 of nominations to management positions.

- 'Finance concrete actions' - 
Hidalgo said that she would take the cheque for the fine to the government in person, along with her deputy mayors and all the women working for her.

Taking a more serious tone, she added: "This fine is obviously absurd, unfair, irresponsible and dangerous", adding that women in France should be promoted with "vigour because the lag everywhere in France is still very great".&nbsp;

"Yes, to one day achieve parity, we must speed up the tempo and ensure that more women are appointed than men," she said.

Responding on Twitter, France's Public Service Minister Amelie de Montchalin from the ruling Republic on the Move party acknowledged that the fine had been levied for 2018.

Since then the "absurd" rule on parity in management had been repealed, she noted.

"I want the fine paid by Paris for 2018 to finance concrete actions to promote women in the public service. I invite you to the ministry to discuss them!" she said in a message to Hidalgo. &nbsp;

Paris city authorities have been fined for employing too many women in senior positions, a decision mocked as "absurd" by mayor Anne Hidalgo on Tuesday. The fine of $110,000 (90,000 euros) was demanded by France's public service ministry on the grounds that Paris city hall had broken national rules on gender parity in its 2018 staffing.

Paris city authorities have been fined for employing too many women in senior positions, a decision mocked as "absurd" by mayor Anne Hidalgo on Tuesday. The fine of $110,000 (90,000 euros) was demanded by France's public service ministry on the grounds that Paris city hall had broken national rules on gender parity in its 2018 staffing. "I am happy to announce that we have been fined," Hidalgo told a city council meeting, adding she had been filled with "joy" when she learned of the penalty. Hidalgo said she was faulted because 11 women and only five men were named to management positions in city hall in 2018, meaning that 69 percent of the appointments went to women. "The management of the city hall has, all of a sudden, become far too feminist," laughed the Socialist, who was re-elected for a new term at the helm of Paris last year. According to the text of the ruling cited by Le Monde daily, city hall violated a rule dating to 2013, which stipulates said one sex should not account for more than 60 of nominations to management positions. - 'Finance concrete actions' - Hidalgo said that she would take the cheque for the fine to the government in person, along with her deputy mayors and all the women working for her. Taking a more serious tone, she added: "This fine is obviously absurd, unfair, irresponsible and dangerous", adding that women in France should be promoted with "vigour because the lag everywhere in France is still very great". "Yes, to one day achieve parity, we must speed up the tempo and ensure that more women are appointed than men," she said. Responding on Twitter, France's Public Service Minister Amelie de Montchalin from the ruling Republic on the Move party acknowledged that the fine had been levied for 2018. Since then the "absurd" rule on parity in management had been repealed, she noted. "I want the fine paid by Paris for 2018 to finance concrete actions to promote women in the public service. I invite you to the ministry to discuss them!" she said in a message to Hidalgo.

Paris city hall fined $110,000 for naming too many women to senior positions

A French court on Wednesday jailed for 30 years the main accused present for the trial over the 2015 killings at the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices and a Jewish supermarket, stopping short of the life term demanded by the prosecution.

The trial has reopened one of modern France's darkest episodes, just as another wave of Islamist attacks on home soil this autumn, including the beheading of a schoolteacher, prompted the government to crack down on what it calls Islamist separatism.

Brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi stormed Charlie Hebdo's offices in Paris, spraying gunfire and killing 12, on January&nbsp;7, 2015, nearly a decade after the weekly published cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed.

A third attacker, Amedy Coulibaly, killed a police woman and then four Jewish hostages in a kosher supermarket in a Paris suburb. Like the Kouachis, Coulibaly was killed in a shootout with police.

Ali Riza Polat was convicted of complicity in terror crimes by the court, which also gave a 30-year jail sentence in absentia to Hayat Boumeddiene, the partner of one of the attackers. She fled to Syria in the wake of the killings.

All the attackers were killed in the wake of the killings. A total of 14 suspected accomplices went on trial, three of them in absentia.

A life jail sentence was given to another prime suspect, Mohamed Belhoucine, although he was tried in absentia and is presumed to be dead in Syria.

Other sentences ranged from four years, with all those present in court convicted for their role in providing support for the killings that shocked France.

Seventeen people were killed over three days of attacks in January 2015, beginning with the massacre of 12 people at the magazine, which had published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

That attack was followed by the murder of a French policewoman and the hostage-taking at the Hyper Cacher market in which four Jewish men were killed.

Prosecutors sought a life sentence for Polat, a 35-year-old French-Turkish friend of one of the attackers. He denied any knowledge of a terrorist plot.

On the eve of the trial's opening, Charlie Hebdo, which has long tested the limits of what society will accept in the name of free speech, re-printed the cartoons that had stirred outrage in the Muslim world when they were first published by a Danish paper in 2005.

A month later, history teacher Samuel Paty was decapitated by a teenage Islamist who said in a recorded message that he was avenging Paty's use of the cartoons in a class on civil liberties.

A French court on Wednesday jailed for 30 years the main accused present for the trial over the 2015 killings at the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices and a Jewish supermarket, stopping short of the life term demanded by the prosecution.

A French court on Wednesday jailed for 30 years the main accused present for the trial over the 2015 killings at the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices and a Jewish supermarket, stopping short of the life term demanded by the prosecution. The trial has reopened one of modern France's darkest episodes, just as another wave of Islamist attacks on home soil this autumn, including the beheading of a schoolteacher, prompted the government to crack down on what it calls Islamist separatism. Brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi stormed Charlie Hebdo's offices in Paris, spraying gunfire and killing 12, on January 7, 2015, nearly a decade after the weekly published cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed. A third attacker, Amedy Coulibaly, killed a police woman and then four Jewish hostages in a kosher supermarket in a Paris suburb. Like the Kouachis, Coulibaly was killed in a shootout with police. Ali Riza Polat was convicted of complicity in terror crimes by the court, which also gave a 30-year jail sentence in absentia to Hayat Boumeddiene, the partner of one of the attackers. She fled to Syria in the wake of the killings. All the attackers were killed in the wake of the killings. A total of 14 suspected accomplices went on trial, three of them in absentia. A life jail sentence was given to another prime suspect, Mohamed Belhoucine, although he was tried in absentia and is presumed to be dead in Syria. Other sentences ranged from four years, with all those present in court convicted for their role in providing support for the killings that shocked France. Seventeen people were killed over three days of attacks in January 2015, beginning with the massacre of 12 people at the magazine, which had published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. That attack was followed by the murder of a French policewoman and the hostage-taking at the Hyper Cacher market in which four Jewish men were killed. Prosecutors sought a life sentence for Polat, a 35-year-old French-Turkish friend of one of the attackers. He denied any knowledge of a terrorist plot. On the eve of the trial's opening, Charlie Hebdo, which has long tested the limits of what society will accept in the name of free speech, re-printed the cartoons that had stirred outrage in the Muslim world when they were first published by a Danish paper in 2005. A month later, history teacher Samuel Paty was decapitated by a teenage Islamist who said in a recorded message that he was avenging Paty's use of the cartoons in a class on civil liberties.

Charlie Hebdo: Key accused in 2015 Paris terror attacks trial jailed for 30 years

Wasabi served at most sushi restaurants is not what people think it is. In fact, about 99 per cent&nbsp;of all wasabi sold in the US is fake.

Even in Japan where most wasabi is developed, you won't have much better karma. Specialists gauge that about 95 per cent&nbsp;of wasabi sold in the nation is an impersonation.&nbsp;

By far most of the wasabi devoured in America is just a blend of horseradish, hot mustard, and green color, as indicated by another video from the American Chemical Society.&nbsp;

The explanation reduces to the organic market. True wasabi, known as Wasabia japonica, is the most costly harvest on the planet to develop. The touchy semiaquatic spice, local to the mountain floods of focal Japan, is famously hard to develop. When planted, it takes quite a while to collect; and still, at the end of the day, it doesn't grow except if conditions are great. Ground wasabi root loses its flavor within 15 minutes.&nbsp;

Genuine wasabi is hard to develop and remarkably costly, costing $160 a kilogram at discount costs.&nbsp;

Horseradish has a comparative synthetic cosmetics to wasabi, permitting it to emulate its hot punch. The far-less expensive horseradish-based "wasabi" likewise has the special reward of withstanding takeout sushi arranges such that valid, newly ground wasabi proved unable. Food extortion is a $50 billion yearly industry. By and large, food tricks aren't hazardous to purchasers' wellbeing.

The Japanese have grown wasabi for more than four centuries. The 75-year-old Shigeo Iida, the eighth-generation owner of his family’s wasabi farm in Japan, takes pride in his tradition, which is profiled in Edwin Lee’s short documentary Wasabia Japonica, co-produced by Japan Curator. “Real wasabi, like the ones we grow, has a unique, fragrant taste that first hits the nose,” Iida says in the film. “The sweetness comes next, followed finally by spiciness.” 
The film details Iida’s method of sustainable farming, known in Japan as tatamiishi. “It’s one of the most intricate organic farming systems,” Lee told me. Tatamiishi farms like Iida’s are built on sloped hillsides near rivers, harnessing the power of nature. Despite the plant’s finicky nature, Iida doesn’t use chemicals or fertilizers.

“In this day and age, where mass farming and manufacturing are dominant, it's refreshing to see a farming method that eschews modern technology,” Lee told me. “Tatamiishi farming results in some of the best wasabi in the world.”

Lee believes that many people would be surprised if they were afforded the chance to try real wasabi. “Like me,” he said, “it'll be difficult to go back to the fake stuff.”

&nbsp;

Wasabi served at most sushi restaurants is not what people think it is. In fact, about 99 per cent of all wasabi sold in the US is fake. Even in Japan where most wasabi is developed, you won't have much better karma.

Wasabi served at most sushi restaurants is not what people think it is. In fact, about 99 per cent of all wasabi sold in the US is fake. Even in Japan where most wasabi is developed, you won't have much better karma. Specialists gauge that about 95 per cent of wasabi sold in the nation is an impersonation. By far most of the wasabi devoured in America is just a blend of horseradish, hot mustard, and green color, as indicated by another video from the American Chemical Society. The explanation reduces to the organic market. True wasabi, known as Wasabia japonica, is the most costly harvest on the planet to develop. The touchy semiaquatic spice, local to the mountain floods of focal Japan, is famously hard to develop. When planted, it takes quite a while to collect; and still, at the end of the day, it doesn't grow except if conditions are great. Ground wasabi root loses its flavor within 15 minutes. Genuine wasabi is hard to develop and remarkably costly, costing $160 a kilogram at discount costs. Horseradish has a comparative synthetic cosmetics to wasabi, permitting it to emulate its hot punch. The far-less expensive horseradish-based "wasabi" likewise has the special reward of withstanding takeout sushi arranges such that valid, newly ground wasabi proved unable. Food extortion is a $50 billion yearly industry. By and large, food tricks aren't hazardous to purchasers' wellbeing. The Japanese have grown wasabi for more than four centuries. The 75-year-old Shigeo Iida, the eighth-generation owner of his family’s wasabi farm in Japan, takes pride in his tradition, which is profiled in Edwin Lee’s short documentary Wasabia Japonica, co-produced by Japan Curator. “Real wasabi, like the ones we grow, has a unique, fragrant taste that first hits the nose,” Iida says in the film. “The sweetness comes next, followed finally by spiciness.” The film details Iida’s method of sustainable farming, known in Japan as tatamiishi. “It’s one of the most intricate organic farming systems,” Lee told me. Tatamiishi farms like Iida’s are built on sloped hillsides near rivers, harnessing the power of nature. Despite the plant’s finicky nature, Iida doesn’t use chemicals or fertilizers. “In this day and age, where mass farming and manufacturing are dominant, it's refreshing to see a farming method that eschews modern technology,” Lee told me. “Tatamiishi farming results in some of the best wasabi in the world.” Lee believes that many people would be surprised if they were afforded the chance to try real wasabi. “Like me,” he said, “it'll be difficult to go back to the fake stuff.”

Wasabi served at most sushi restaurants is actually horseradish

Nepal's iconic Pashupatinath Temple, the 5th century holy Hindu shrine, opened for pilgrims on Wednesday after being closed for nine months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pashupatinath Temple is the largest temple complex in Nepal and stretches on both sides of the Bagmati River and sees thousands of worshippers from Nepal and India daily.

Entry of devotees inside the temple premises was prohibited since the Nepal government imposed a lockdown in March to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Special safety measures have been adopted to open the temple which is situated in the outskirts of Kathmandu, said Pradeep Dhakal, chief of the Pashupati Temple Area Trust.

Hundreds of devotees queued up at the southern entrance gate of the complex on Wednesday, seeking to enter the revered Shiva temple. 
The devotees need to compulsorily wear a face mask, sanitise their hands at the main entrance before passing through a separate room installed with automatic cameras that record their temperature.

There are marks on the ground en-route the main temple complex for enforcing the two-metre gap between the people. The devotees need to wash their hands with liquid soap before entering into the main temple complex.

The devotees are allowed to offer prayers inside the temple going through all the health safety protocols, Dhakal said.

Although the temple has been opened for visitors, the special puja, singing of hymns and ritual activities would not begin immediately, he said.

''We will gradually start conducting the special puja, singing of hymns and other rituals that have been suspended by adopting health safety procedures,''&nbsp;Dhakal said.

Atonement worship was offered at the main entrance of the temple on Tuesday, seeking forgiveness as the shrine had to be shut down for nine months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some religious groups had carried out symbolic protests at the Pashupati area under the leadership of the World Hindu Federation, saying the devotees have not been able to visit the temple for worship as it remained closed for months.

Nepal's coronavirus tally crossed the grim milestone of 250,000 on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.

Over 1,700 people have died of the contagion in the country.&nbsp;

Nepal's iconic Pashupatinath Temple, the 5th century holy Hindu shrine, opened for pilgrims on Wednesday after being closed for nine months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nepal's iconic Pashupatinath Temple, the 5th century holy Hindu shrine, opened for pilgrims on Wednesday after being closed for nine months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pashupatinath Temple is the largest temple complex in Nepal and stretches on both sides of the Bagmati River and sees thousands of worshippers from Nepal and India daily. Entry of devotees inside the temple premises was prohibited since the Nepal government imposed a lockdown in March to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Special safety measures have been adopted to open the temple which is situated in the outskirts of Kathmandu, said Pradeep Dhakal, chief of the Pashupati Temple Area Trust. Hundreds of devotees queued up at the southern entrance gate of the complex on Wednesday, seeking to enter the revered Shiva temple. The devotees need to compulsorily wear a face mask, sanitise their hands at the main entrance before passing through a separate room installed with automatic cameras that record their temperature. There are marks on the ground en-route the main temple complex for enforcing the two-metre gap between the people. The devotees need to wash their hands with liquid soap before entering into the main temple complex. The devotees are allowed to offer prayers inside the temple going through all the health safety protocols, Dhakal said. Although the temple has been opened for visitors, the special puja, singing of hymns and ritual activities would not begin immediately, he said. ''We will gradually start conducting the special puja, singing of hymns and other rituals that have been suspended by adopting health safety procedures,'' Dhakal said. Atonement worship was offered at the main entrance of the temple on Tuesday, seeking forgiveness as the shrine had to be shut down for nine months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some religious groups had carried out symbolic protests at the Pashupati area under the leadership of the World Hindu Federation, saying the devotees have not been able to visit the temple for worship as it remained closed for months. Nepal's coronavirus tally crossed the grim milestone of 250,000 on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. Over 1,700 people have died of the contagion in the country.

Nepal's iconic Pashupatinath Temple opens with safety protocols after 9 months

The US&nbsp;Treasury labeled Switzerland and Vietnam as currency manipulators on Wednesday and added three new names to a watch list of countries it suspects of taking measures to devalue their currencies against the dollar.

In what may be one of the last broadsides to international trading partners by the departing administration of President Donald Trump, the US Treasury said that in the year through June 2020 Switzerland and Vietnam had intervened heavily in currency markets to prevent effective balance of payments adjustments.

In response to the allegation by the US&nbsp;Treasury, the Swiss National Bank said it does not manipulate its currency and its monetary policy approach would be unchanged, adding that it "remains willing to intervene more strongly in the foreign exchange market".

Vietnam's trade ministry declined to comment on the report and referred questions to the foreign ministry.

The US&nbsp;agency's semi-annual currency manipulation report said that at least part of Vietnam's foreign exchange intervention was aimed at pushing down the dong for a trade advantage, while at least part of Switzerland's action was aimed at pushing down the Swiss franc to prevent effective balance of payments adjustments.

A senior US&nbsp;Treasury official said both Vietnam and Switzerland had exceeded Treasury's three measurement criteria by a "substantial margin".

The official said the findings of the Treasury report, which had been broadly anticipated by foreign exchange analysts, have not been discussed with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden.

US&nbsp;Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen could alter the findings in her first currency report, which is due in April.

"They are not implicated in this. This is a decision of the Trump administration," the official said.

The move to label Switzerland and Vietnam comes as the coronavirus pandemic skews trade flows and widens U.S. deficits with trading partners, an irritant to Trump who won office four years ago partly on a promise to close the U.. trade gap.

To be labeled a manipulator by the US&nbsp;Treasury, countries must at least have a $20 billion-plus bilateral trade surplus with the United States, foreign currency intervention exceeding 2 per cent&nbsp;of gross domestic product, and a global current account surplus exceeding 2&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of GDP.

The Treasury said Switzerland's foreign exchange intervention totaled 14&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of GDP.

Vietnam, which has seen a rush of foreign investment by companies seeking to avoid US&nbsp;tariffs on Chinese goods, saw the intervention of more than 5% of its GDP, it added.

The Treasury official said the United States wants to work cooperatively with both countries to bring them back below the manipulation thresholds and declined to speculate on whether the process could lead to U.S. tariffs on their goods.

Among remedies specified in US&nbsp;laws governing the currency report are limiting offending countries' access to US&nbsp;government procurement contracts and to development finance.

Vietnam could be hit with tariffs under a separate investigation by the US&nbsp;Trade Representative's office now underway into the causes of an undervalued dong. The Treasury findings could influence this probe and some in the business community fear that Trump may move quickly on it.

'MONITORING LIST'

The Treasury also said its "monitoring list" of countries that meet some of the criteria has hit 10, with the additions of Taiwan, Thailand and India. Others on the list include China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, Singapore and Malaysia.

The report also said that India and Singapore had also intervened in the foreign exchange market in a "sustained, asymmetric manner" but did not meet other requirements to warrant designation as manipulators.

The US Treasury labeled Switzerland and Vietnam as currency manipulators on Wednesday and added three new names to a watch list of countries it suspects of taking measures to devalue their currencies against the dollar.

The US Treasury labeled Switzerland and Vietnam as currency manipulators on Wednesday and added three new names to a watch list of countries it suspects of taking measures to devalue their currencies against the dollar. In what may be one of the last broadsides to international trading partners by the departing administration of President Donald Trump, the US Treasury said that in the year through June 2020 Switzerland and Vietnam had intervened heavily in currency markets to prevent effective balance of payments adjustments. In response to the allegation by the US Treasury, the Swiss National Bank said it does not manipulate its currency and its monetary policy approach would be unchanged, adding that it "remains willing to intervene more strongly in the foreign exchange market". Vietnam's trade ministry declined to comment on the report and referred questions to the foreign ministry. The US agency's semi-annual currency manipulation report said that at least part of Vietnam's foreign exchange intervention was aimed at pushing down the dong for a trade advantage, while at least part of Switzerland's action was aimed at pushing down the Swiss franc to prevent effective balance of payments adjustments. A senior US Treasury official said both Vietnam and Switzerland had exceeded Treasury's three measurement criteria by a "substantial margin". The official said the findings of the Treasury report, which had been broadly anticipated by foreign exchange analysts, have not been discussed with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden. US Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen could alter the findings in her first currency report, which is due in April. "They are not implicated in this. This is a decision of the Trump administration," the official said. The move to label Switzerland and Vietnam comes as the coronavirus pandemic skews trade flows and widens U.S. deficits with trading partners, an irritant to Trump who won office four years ago partly on a promise to close the U.. trade gap. To be labeled a manipulator by the US Treasury, countries must at least have a $20 billion-plus bilateral trade surplus with the United States, foreign currency intervention exceeding 2 per cent of gross domestic product, and a global current account surplus exceeding 2 per cent of GDP. The Treasury said Switzerland's foreign exchange intervention totaled 14 per cent of GDP. Vietnam, which has seen a rush of foreign investment by companies seeking to avoid US tariffs on Chinese goods, saw the intervention of more than 5% of its GDP, it added. The Treasury official said the United States wants to work cooperatively with both countries to bring them back below the manipulation thresholds and declined to speculate on whether the process could lead to U.S. tariffs on their goods. Among remedies specified in US laws governing the currency report are limiting offending countries' access to US government procurement contracts and to development finance. Vietnam could be hit with tariffs under a separate investigation by the US Trade Representative's office now underway into the causes of an undervalued dong. The Treasury findings could influence this probe and some in the business community fear that Trump may move quickly on it. 'MONITORING LIST' The Treasury also said its "monitoring list" of countries that meet some of the criteria has hit 10, with the additions of Taiwan, Thailand and India. Others on the list include China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, Singapore and Malaysia. The report also said that India and Singapore had also intervened in the foreign exchange market in a "sustained, asymmetric manner" but did not meet other requirements to warrant designation as manipulators.

US Treasury lists Switzerland and Vietnam as currency manipulators

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has captured the satellite image of the&nbsp;Himalayan mountains, Delhi's city lights from space.

The&nbsp;long-exposure image also shows orange airglow of atmospheric particles reacting to solar radiation.⁣

NASA took to social networking site Instagram to share the image of the snow-covered Himalayan Mountains&nbsp;taken by a crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

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<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CI0aTEvpYgd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CI0aTEvpYgd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by NASA (@nasa)</a>
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The Himalayan mountain range has some of the highest peaks on Earth, including Mount Everest, located at the border between Nepal and China.

Since being shared the post has garnered over a million likes and four thousand comments all gushing about the phenomenal shot.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has captured the satellite image of the Himalayan mountains, Delhi's city lights from space. The long-exposure image also shows orange airglow of atmospheric particles reacting to solar radiation.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has captured the satellite image of the Himalayan mountains, Delhi's city lights from space. The long-exposure image also shows orange airglow of atmospheric particles reacting to solar radiation.⁣ NASA took to social networking site Instagram to share the image of the snow-covered Himalayan Mountains taken by a crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS). View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) The Himalayan mountain range has some of the highest peaks on Earth, including Mount Everest, located at the border between Nepal and China. Since being shared the post has garnered over a million likes and four thousand comments all gushing about the phenomenal shot.

Watch: NASA captures Himalayan mountains, Delhi's city lights from space

Amid the India-China standoff&nbsp;along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh,&nbsp;the Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a proposal to secure telecom infrastructure by designating a "trusted source" for the purchase of equipment by service providers.

Under the provisions of this directive, the government will declare a list of trusted sources and trusted products for installation in the country's telecom network.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/india-china-standoff-how-indian-army-is-preparing-to-take-on-chinas-pla-in-ladakhs-snow-clad-mountains-350186" hreflang="en">India-China standoff- How Indian Army is preparing to take on China's PLA in Ladakh's snow clad mountains</a>

"The methodology to designate trusted products will be devised by the designated authority, the National Cyber Security Coordinator. Telecom service providers are required to connect new devices that are designated trusted products," Law and Telecoms Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad&nbsp;told a news conference on Wednesday.

While Prasad did not name any company or country from which sourcing of equipment would not be allowed, some Indian government officials have privately expressed concerns over mobile carriers' use of telecom gear from Huawei, which the United States has accused of spying for China.

He added that the&nbsp;step has been taken to strengthen national security and further Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives including through the involvement of all stakeholders within government and in the private sector.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-congress-passes-defence-policy-bill-that-calls-out-chinese-aggression-against-india-350233" hreflang="en">US Congress passes bill that calls out Chinese aggression against India</a>

China and India have been locked in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since May this year. Several rounds of talks between the two countries to resolve the standoff have not yielded any concrete outcome.

"The list of the trusted source and product will be decided based on approval of a committee headed by the deputy national security advisor. The committee will consist of members from relevant departments, ministries and will also have two members from the industry and independent experts. The committee will be called the National Security Committee on Telecom," Prasad said.

The government will also create a list of designated sources from whom no procurement can be done.

"The present directive does not envisage mandatory replacement of the existing equipment already inducted in the network of TSPs," the minister said.

Huawei has previously denied spying allegations and said it is open to a "no backdoor" agreement with India to allay security concerns.

India has so far not banned Huawei or ZTE, and its telecoms department did not immediately respond to a request asking if the policy was aimed at Chinese gearmakers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has told two state-run telecoms firms to use locally-made rather than Chinese telecom equipment to upgrade their mobile networks to 4G.

India&nbsp;will auction 2,251 megahertz (MHz) of airwaves worth over 3.92 trillion rupees ($53.2 billion) across seven bands ranging from 700 MHz to 2500 MHz.

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, who controls India's biggest carrier Jio, has already said his company is looking to launch 5G services in the country in the second half of 2021.

Last year, the government banned imports of Chinese handsets without the International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI, number, again citing security reasons such as the use of stolen handsets to make terror or hoax calls.

The IMEI number of a mobile phone is a 15-digit number unique to every mobile handset. It prevents stolen handsets from making calls and allows security agencies to track down a specific user.

Amid the India-China standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a proposal to secure telecom infrastructure by designating a "trusted source" for the purchase of equipment by service providers.

Amid the India-China standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a proposal to secure telecom infrastructure by designating a "trusted source" for the purchase of equipment by service providers. Under the provisions of this directive, the government will declare a list of trusted sources and trusted products for installation in the country's telecom network. Also see: India-China standoff- How Indian Army is preparing to take on China's PLA in Ladakh's snow clad mountains "The methodology to designate trusted products will be devised by the designated authority, the National Cyber Security Coordinator. Telecom service providers are required to connect new devices that are designated trusted products," Law and Telecoms Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told a news conference on Wednesday. While Prasad did not name any company or country from which sourcing of equipment would not be allowed, some Indian government officials have privately expressed concerns over mobile carriers' use of telecom gear from Huawei, which the United States has accused of spying for China. He added that the step has been taken to strengthen national security and further Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives including through the involvement of all stakeholders within government and in the private sector. Also read: US Congress passes bill that calls out Chinese aggression against India China and India have been locked in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since May this year. Several rounds of talks between the two countries to resolve the standoff have not yielded any concrete outcome. "The list of the trusted source and product will be decided based on approval of a committee headed by the deputy national security advisor. The committee will consist of members from relevant departments, ministries and will also have two members from the industry and independent experts. The committee will be called the National Security Committee on Telecom," Prasad said. The government will also create a list of designated sources from whom no procurement can be done. "The present directive does not envisage mandatory replacement of the existing equipment already inducted in the network of TSPs," the minister said. Huawei has previously denied spying allegations and said it is open to a "no backdoor" agreement with India to allay security concerns. India has so far not banned Huawei or ZTE, and its telecoms department did not immediately respond to a request asking if the policy was aimed at Chinese gearmakers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has told two state-run telecoms firms to use locally-made rather than Chinese telecom equipment to upgrade their mobile networks to 4G. India will auction 2,251 megahertz (MHz) of airwaves worth over 3.92 trillion rupees ($53.2 billion) across seven bands ranging from 700 MHz to 2500 MHz. Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, who controls India's biggest carrier Jio, has already said his company is looking to launch 5G services in the country in the second half of 2021. Last year, the government banned imports of Chinese handsets without the International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI, number, again citing security reasons such as the use of stolen handsets to make terror or hoax calls. The IMEI number of a mobile phone is a 15-digit number unique to every mobile handset. It prevents stolen handsets from making calls and allows security agencies to track down a specific user.

India-China standoff: Cabinet approves buying telecom equipment only from 'trusted' sources

A Taliban delegation arrived in Pakistan's capital on Wednesday (December 16) for a three-day visit, according to official statements, as both sides in the Afghan peace process continue consultations during a break in negotiations.

The Taliban delegation, led by the militant group's top political leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign office. They will also meet Prime Minister Imran Khan during the visit, according to a Pakistan foreign office statement.

''During the visit, the delegation will meet with the Foreign Minister and call on the Prime Minister,''&nbsp;the FO said.

The visit comes after a delegation led by US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, on Monday met Pakistan's Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed with him the ongoing Afghan peace process.

AP reported that Baradar and his delegation were summoned to Islamabad from Qatar, where they have been negotiating since September with Afghan government representatives, officials close to the talks said.

According to a report in The Express Tribune, the delegation will discuss issues of mutual interest, in particular, problems of refugees, relaxation and facilitation of Afghan's movement to Pakistan, as well as issues faced by Afghan traders.

The visit of the TPC delegation is part of Pakistan's policy to reach out to key Afghan parties in the peace process with a view to facilitating the Intra-Afghan Negotiations that commenced in Doha on September 12, 2020.

''Pakistan will continue to support an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement for durable peace, stability, and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region,''&nbsp;said the FO.

It is the second visit of the TPC delegation this year after it visited Pakistan in August.

Afghanistan has been witnessing an increase in deadly attacks for the past few months. Four people were killed in separate bombing and shooting attacks in the country on Tuesday.

The Taliban last visited Islamabad in August, just before the peace talks with the Afghan government began in Doha as the United States pushed for a political settlement while it withdraws troops from the war-torn country.

Three people were killed in Kabul in separate bomb and gun attacks on Sunday. The Afghan government and Taliban representatives earlier this month said they had reached a preliminary deal to press on with peace talks, their first written agreement in 19 years of war.

The agreement comes months after the landmark intra-Afghan peace talks began in Doha. It lays out the way forward for further discussions and will allow negotiators to move on to more substantive issues.

The meetings in Islamabad will take place at a time when US President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of more American soldiers from Afghanistan, leaving around 2,500 troops behind in the strife-torn country.

A Taliban delegation arrived in Pakistan's capital on Wednesday (December 16) for a three-day visit, according to official statements, as both sides in the Afghan peace process continue consultations during a break in negotiations.

A Taliban delegation arrived in Pakistan's capital on Wednesday (December 16) for a three-day visit, according to official statements, as both sides in the Afghan peace process continue consultations during a break in negotiations. The Taliban delegation, led by the militant group's top political leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign office. They will also meet Prime Minister Imran Khan during the visit, according to a Pakistan foreign office statement. ''During the visit, the delegation will meet with the Foreign Minister and call on the Prime Minister,'' the FO said. The visit comes after a delegation led by US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, on Monday met Pakistan's Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed with him the ongoing Afghan peace process. AP reported that Baradar and his delegation were summoned to Islamabad from Qatar, where they have been negotiating since September with Afghan government representatives, officials close to the talks said. According to a report in The Express Tribune, the delegation will discuss issues of mutual interest, in particular, problems of refugees, relaxation and facilitation of Afghan's movement to Pakistan, as well as issues faced by Afghan traders. The visit of the TPC delegation is part of Pakistan's policy to reach out to key Afghan parties in the peace process with a view to facilitating the Intra-Afghan Negotiations that commenced in Doha on September 12, 2020. ''Pakistan will continue to support an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement for durable peace, stability, and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region,'' said the FO. It is the second visit of the TPC delegation this year after it visited Pakistan in August. Afghanistan has been witnessing an increase in deadly attacks for the past few months. Four people were killed in separate bombing and shooting attacks in the country on Tuesday. The Taliban last visited Islamabad in August, just before the peace talks with the Afghan government began in Doha as the United States pushed for a political settlement while it withdraws troops from the war-torn country. Three people were killed in Kabul in separate bomb and gun attacks on Sunday. The Afghan government and Taliban representatives earlier this month said they had reached a preliminary deal to press on with peace talks, their first written agreement in 19 years of war. The agreement comes months after the landmark intra-Afghan peace talks began in Doha. It lays out the way forward for further discussions and will allow negotiators to move on to more substantive issues. The meetings in Islamabad will take place at a time when US President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of more American soldiers from Afghanistan, leaving around 2,500 troops behind in the strife-torn country.

Afghan-Taliban delegation arrives in Pakistan to push forward peace process

The US Congress has officially passed the USD 740 billion defence policy bill, which among other things include calling out Chinese aggression against India along the&nbsp;Line of Actual Control&nbsp;(LAC).

The US House of Representatives and the Senate on Tuesday passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included key components of Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi’s resolution language urging the Chinese government to end its military aggression against India along the LAC.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/india-china-standoff-how-indian-army-is-preparing-to-take-on-chinas-pla-in-ladakhs-snow-clad-mountains-350186" hreflang="en">India-China standoff- How Indian Army is preparing to take on China's PLA in Ladakh's snow clad mountains</a>

China and India have been locked in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since May this year. Several rounds of talks between the two countries to resolve the standoff have not yielded any concrete outcome.

The House and Senate versions of the bill were reconciled by a bipartisan Congressional conference committee earlier this month.

The inclusion of this provision, which Krishnamoorthi led as an amendment when the bill passed the House, reflects the US government’s strong support for its allies and partners like India in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

Krishnamoorthi’s measure, which passed each chamber with overwhelming bipartisan support, will become law if President Donald Trump signs it.

Trump has threatened to veto the bill as it lacks a repeal of legal protections for social media companies. However, the NDAA has been passed by Congress for the last 59 years.

“Violent aggression is seldom the answer, and this is especially true for the Line of Actual Control, which is the disputed border region that separates the People’s Republic of China from India,” Krishnamoorthi said.

“By including my resolution language in the NDAA and signing that legislation into law, the United States government will send a clear message that China’s military provocations of India will not be tolerated,” he said.

“The United States is committed to standing with our allies and partners like India in resolving the border standoff using diplomatic means,’ Krishnamoorthi said.

As approved by the conference report, the powerful NDAA says that it is the sense of the Congress on the aggression of China along the border with India and its growing territorial claims.

The Senate agreed to include the provisions of the bill that was passed by the House in its version of the bill.

The House bill contained provisions that would express the sense of Congress on cross-border violence between China and India and the growing territorial claims of Beijing.

Expressing “significant concern” over the continued military aggression by China along the border with India, the NDAA says that China “should work with” India toward de-escalating the situation along the Line of Actual Control through existing diplomatic mechanisms and refrain from attempting to settle disputes through coercion or force.

Attempts by China to advance baseless territorial claims, including those in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and with respect to Bhutan, are destabilising and inconsistent with international law, says the bill.

China is also engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims.

Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade.

&nbsp;

The US Congress has officially passed the USD 740 billion defence policy bill, which among other things include calling out Chinese aggression against India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The US Congress has officially passed the USD 740 billion defence policy bill, which among other things include calling out Chinese aggression against India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The US House of Representatives and the Senate on Tuesday passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included key components of Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi’s resolution language urging the Chinese government to end its military aggression against India along the LAC. Also see: India-China standoff- How Indian Army is preparing to take on China's PLA in Ladakh's snow clad mountains China and India have been locked in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since May this year. Several rounds of talks between the two countries to resolve the standoff have not yielded any concrete outcome. The House and Senate versions of the bill were reconciled by a bipartisan Congressional conference committee earlier this month. The inclusion of this provision, which Krishnamoorthi led as an amendment when the bill passed the House, reflects the US government’s strong support for its allies and partners like India in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Krishnamoorthi’s measure, which passed each chamber with overwhelming bipartisan support, will become law if President Donald Trump signs it. Trump has threatened to veto the bill as it lacks a repeal of legal protections for social media companies. However, the NDAA has been passed by Congress for the last 59 years. “Violent aggression is seldom the answer, and this is especially true for the Line of Actual Control, which is the disputed border region that separates the People’s Republic of China from India,” Krishnamoorthi said. “By including my resolution language in the NDAA and signing that legislation into law, the United States government will send a clear message that China’s military provocations of India will not be tolerated,” he said. “The United States is committed to standing with our allies and partners like India in resolving the border standoff using diplomatic means,’ Krishnamoorthi said. As approved by the conference report, the powerful NDAA says that it is the sense of the Congress on the aggression of China along the border with India and its growing territorial claims. The Senate agreed to include the provisions of the bill that was passed by the House in its version of the bill. The House bill contained provisions that would express the sense of Congress on cross-border violence between China and India and the growing territorial claims of Beijing. Expressing “significant concern” over the continued military aggression by China along the border with India, the NDAA says that China “should work with” India toward de-escalating the situation along the Line of Actual Control through existing diplomatic mechanisms and refrain from attempting to settle disputes through coercion or force. Attempts by China to advance baseless territorial claims, including those in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and with respect to Bhutan, are destabilising and inconsistent with international law, says the bill. China is also engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims. Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade.

US Congress passes defence policy bill that calls out Chinese aggression against India

Google's cloud-hosted email service suffered a "significant" disruption Tuesday, just a day after it went down during a massive outage of the internet giant's platform.

Alphabet Inc's&nbsp;Google&nbsp;said&nbsp;it had resolved a problem with Gmail due to which some of its users had faced issues with the mailing platform, just a day after a global outage affected YouTube, Gmail, and&nbsp;Google&nbsp;Drive.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/monday-blues-google-drive-gmail-youtube-face-downtime-twitter-reacts-349730" hreflang="en">Monday blues: Google Drive, Gmail, YouTube face downtime; Twitter reacts</a>

<a href="https://downdetector.com/status/gmail/">Downdetector.com</a>, a website that tracks outages, showed there were more than 13,000 incidents of people reporting issues with Gmail.

"Please rest assured that system reliability is a top priority at&nbsp;Google, and we are making continuous improvements to make our systems better,"&nbsp;Google&nbsp;said.

Google runs the most well known web index administration. Truth be told, the vast majority of its items, as Gmail, YouTube, Drive, Maps, and so forth, give an unequaled client experience given the significant level of reconciliation between them.&nbsp;

On Monday evening, Google suddenly stopped, after which there was just a question everywhere, what would happen if Google stopped working. Let's find out:

Consider the possibility that Google closures for a day.&nbsp;

Google shut down before. Not for a day, but rather for a couple of moments, and the web went insane. Indeed, it should be, considering Google's fan following and reliability of its clients.&nbsp;

In the event that, there is an interruption later on you can peruse our nitty gritty article on the most proficient method to check if Google administrations are down to get a thought of the ground circumstance.&nbsp;

We discovered stunning answers on Quora about this theme. In this way, we thought to make our own rundown of things that may occur if Google leaves administration for a day. Here are the things that may occur if Google closes down for a day.&nbsp;

No Google Search&nbsp;

A great many people utilize Google's inquiry to think about different things on the web. Dispensing with Google Search from their lives would be a demonstration of treachery.&nbsp;

Duck… … ..Set… … .Go&nbsp;

After Google goes off-administration, the flawless and clean-looking DuckDuckGo, which doesn't follow you, will lead the pursuit of business. Additionally, Microsoft's Bing web crawler, which invites you with stunning foundation pictures, is another incredible substitution. Bing was effectively ready to tell that one of its clients had malignancy.&nbsp;

Not any more gracious hunt demands on Google&nbsp;

Beforehand, we expounded on 86-year-old May Ashworth, who turned into a web sensation and was expressed gratitude toward by Google for making the most amenable inquiry demand. In any case, individuals like her have choices other than Google.&nbsp;

You won't feel Lucky while you search&nbsp;

Google I'm feeling fortunate catch acquaints you with the universe of astounding doodles. It additionally finds the best output for your inquiry in a solitary endeavor. Along these lines, if no Google, no I'm feeling fortunate catch.&nbsp;

Theft will descend by an extraordinary size&nbsp;

Being the most utilized web crawler on earth, its indexed lists likewise show huge loads of privateer joins for the clients. KickassTorrents and The Pirate Bay have become renowned on the grounds that their name comes at the top situation in the list items.&nbsp;

Organisations may lose hard money&nbsp;

Uncountable organizations utilise Google's work applications for their business activities. Google going down for a day would expand the odds of monetary misfortune to them.&nbsp;

Awful day for the bug abundance trackers&nbsp;

Individuals who submit mistake reports to Google and receive remunerated in kind will have a dry day. That math is basic, no Google, no bugs, no abundance. Obviously, there are huge loads of different items and administrations, yet the inquiry goliath is a major name to miss out on.&nbsp;

Google will likewise endure&nbsp;

Google creates a gigantic measure of income from its promoting business. Closing down for a day won't be useful for its bank balance. Additionally, a power outage day would prompt destruction in its stock costs.&nbsp;

Dread, shock, and analysis via web-based media&nbsp;

Stages like Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook will be overwhelmed with individuals discussing Google. No remarks about Google Plus.&nbsp;

Facebook may dispatch an internet searcher to take on Google&nbsp;

It's no big surprise Facebook may dispatch their own web index in the event that they see the Optimus Prime leaving the web. Their Graph-controlled web crawler as of now measures billions of Facebook-related pursuit demands.&nbsp;

Broad news inclusion&nbsp;

In the event that the unimaginable day actually comes, it should be announced as the Google Shutdown Day. All the media houses will distribute minute-by-minute inclusion about Google's closed down for the afternoon.&nbsp;

The letter G will be out of the Alphabet&nbsp;

Google made its own parent organization in 2015. The letter set's naming show includes organizations from beginning to end. So the letter G will be out of it for a day.&nbsp;

No Live Traffic Updates&nbsp;

Most cell phone clients depend on Google Maps to drive around the city. There are options however Google's contribution tops them all. Furthermore, on the off chance that somebody lands up in another city around the same time Google closes down, at that point may the Force be with him.

Google's cloud-hosted email service suffered a "significant" disruption Tuesday, just a day after it went down during a massive outage of the internet giant's platform.

Google's cloud-hosted email service suffered a "significant" disruption Tuesday, just a day after it went down during a massive outage of the internet giant's platform. Alphabet Inc's Google said it had resolved a problem with Gmail due to which some of its users had faced issues with the mailing platform, just a day after a global outage affected YouTube, Gmail, and Google Drive. Also read: Monday blues: Google Drive, Gmail, YouTube face downtime; Twitter reacts Downdetector.com, a website that tracks outages, showed there were more than 13,000 incidents of people reporting issues with Gmail. "Please rest assured that system reliability is a top priority at Google, and we are making continuous improvements to make our systems better," Google said. Google runs the most well known web index administration. Truth be told, the vast majority of its items, as Gmail, YouTube, Drive, Maps, and so forth, give an unequaled client experience given the significant level of reconciliation between them. On Monday evening, Google suddenly stopped, after which there was just a question everywhere, what would happen if Google stopped working. Let's find out: Consider the possibility that Google closures for a day. Google shut down before. Not for a day, but rather for a couple of moments, and the web went insane. Indeed, it should be, considering Google's fan following and reliability of its clients. In the event that, there is an interruption later on you can peruse our nitty gritty article on the most proficient method to check if Google administrations are down to get a thought of the ground circumstance. We discovered stunning answers on Quora about this theme. In this way, we thought to make our own rundown of things that may occur if Google leaves administration for a day. Here are the things that may occur if Google closes down for a day. No Google Search A great many people utilize Google's inquiry to think about different things on the web. Dispensing with Google Search from their lives would be a demonstration of treachery. Duck… … ..Set… … .Go After Google goes off-administration, the flawless and clean-looking DuckDuckGo, which doesn't follow you, will lead the pursuit of business. Additionally, Microsoft's Bing web crawler, which invites you with stunning foundation pictures, is another incredible substitution. Bing was effectively ready to tell that one of its clients had malignancy. Not any more gracious hunt demands on Google Beforehand, we expounded on 86-year-old May Ashworth, who turned into a web sensation and was expressed gratitude toward by Google for making the most amenable inquiry demand. In any case, individuals like her have choices other than Google. You won't feel Lucky while you search Google I'm feeling fortunate catch acquaints you with the universe of astounding doodles. It additionally finds the best output for your inquiry in a solitary endeavor. Along these lines, if no Google, no I'm feeling fortunate catch. Theft will descend by an extraordinary size Being the most utilized web crawler on earth, its indexed lists likewise show huge loads of privateer joins for the clients. KickassTorrents and The Pirate Bay have become renowned on the grounds that their name comes at the top situation in the list items. Organisations may lose hard money Uncountable organizations utilise Google's work applications for their business activities. Google going down for a day would expand the odds of monetary misfortune to them. Awful day for the bug abundance trackers Individuals who submit mistake reports to Google and receive remunerated in kind will have a dry day. That math is basic, no Google, no bugs, no abundance. Obviously, there are huge loads of different items and administrations, yet the inquiry goliath is a major name to miss out on. Google will likewise endure Google creates a gigantic measure of income from its promoting business. Closing down for a day won't be useful for its bank balance. Additionally, a power outage day would prompt destruction in its stock costs. Dread, shock, and analysis via web-based media Stages like Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook will be overwhelmed with individuals discussing Google. No remarks about Google Plus. Facebook may dispatch an internet searcher to take on Google It's no big surprise Facebook may dispatch their own web index in the event that they see the Optimus Prime leaving the web. Their Graph-controlled web crawler as of now measures billions of Facebook-related pursuit demands. Broad news inclusion In the event that the unimaginable day actually comes, it should be announced as the Google Shutdown Day. All the media houses will distribute minute-by-minute inclusion about Google's closed down for the afternoon. The letter G will be out of the Alphabet Google made its own parent organization in 2015. The letter set's naming show includes organizations from beginning to end. So the letter G will be out of it for a day. No Live Traffic Updates Most cell phone clients depend on Google Maps to drive around the city. There are options however Google's contribution tops them all. Furthermore, on the off chance that somebody lands up in another city around the same time Google closes down, at that point may the Force be with him.

Nightmare: What would happen if Google suddenly stopped working?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called US sanctions against Ankara over its purchase of Russian missile defences an "open attack" on its sovereignty.

"What kind of an alliance is this? This decision is an open attack on our sovereignty," Erdogan said during a televised speech in Ankara.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-us-imposes-sanctions-on-turkey-350027/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Erdogan&nbsp;hit back on after the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian ground-to-air defences and targeted the top Turkish defence development body, its president and three employees.

The move, focused on the defence sector, including Turkey's Defence Industries Directorate (SSB), has drawn a condemnation from NATO-ally Ankara and is likely to further strain&nbsp;Erdogan's relations with Western allies.

Erdogan&nbsp;said Turkey expects the United States to support it and not sanction it over its purchase of the missiles, and added he was upset that Washington went ahead with the sanctions process.

Neither sanctions from the United States nor the European Union would deter Turkey from defending its rights,&nbsp;Erdogan&nbsp;added in an address after a cabinet meeting.shortly before the announcement.

The sanctions target Turkey's top defence procurement and development body Presidency of Defence Industries, its chairman Ismail Demir and three other employees.

While limited to one company, they are still likely to weigh on the Turkish economy, analysts said, at a time when it is struggling with a coronavirus-induced slowdown and double-digit inflation.

Ankara acquired the Russian system in mid-2019 and says they pose no threat to its allies in the NATO military alliance. But Washington has long threatened sanctions and last year removed Turkey from an F-35 jet programme.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called US sanctions against Ankara over its purchase of Russian missile defences an "open attack" on its sovereignty.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called US sanctions against Ankara over its purchase of Russian missile defences an "open attack" on its sovereignty. "What kind of an alliance is this? This decision is an open attack on our sovereignty," Erdogan said during a televised speech in Ankara. Erdogan hit back on after the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian ground-to-air defences and targeted the top Turkish defence development body, its president and three employees. The move, focused on the defence sector, including Turkey's Defence Industries Directorate (SSB), has drawn a condemnation from NATO-ally Ankara and is likely to further strain Erdogan's relations with Western allies. Erdogan said Turkey expects the United States to support it and not sanction it over its purchase of the missiles, and added he was upset that Washington went ahead with the sanctions process. Neither sanctions from the United States nor the European Union would deter Turkey from defending its rights, Erdogan added in an address after a cabinet meeting.shortly before the announcement. The sanctions target Turkey's top defence procurement and development body Presidency of Defence Industries, its chairman Ismail Demir and three other employees. While limited to one company, they are still likely to weigh on the Turkish economy, analysts said, at a time when it is struggling with a coronavirus-induced slowdown and double-digit inflation. Ankara acquired the Russian system in mid-2019 and says they pose no threat to its allies in the NATO military alliance. But Washington has long threatened sanctions and last year removed Turkey from an F-35 jet programme.

US sanctions over Russian defence system 'open attack against sovereignty', says Erdogan

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Zee News Rajasthan

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