A Pakistani court on Wednesday declared Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender after the former premier failed to appear before it despite repeated summons served in connection with two corruption cases.

The two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the case about Sharif's appeals against convictions in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield cases.

The court said that notices would also be issued to the sureties of Sharif to show the cause for their failure to produce him as per the orders of the court.

The court was informed by officials of the Foreign Office and Interior Ministry that Sharif was duly informed about the summons of the court both in London, where he was living, and his residence in Lahore.

After failing to appear despite clear orders by the court, the bench decided to declare Sharif a proclaimed offender.

Sharif, 70, has been in London since November last year after the Lahore High Court granted him permission to go abroad for four weeks for treating a heart ailment and an immune system disorder.

In October, the court had ordered Sharif to appear before it by November 24 to avoid being declared a proclaimed offender after he allegedly refused to receive non-bailable arrest warrants at his residence in London.

His appeals in the two cases came up for hearing in the IHC which ordered that he should first appear before any proceedings in the appeals.

When he failed to appear, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Sharif on September 15. Later, the court ordered to publish advertisements in London-based newspapers for him to appear by November 24.

Earlier, Sharif was convicted in the two cases in 2018 but subsequently got bail before going to London. Sharif was sentenced in absentia to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by an anti-graft court in one of the three corruption cases against him in the Panama Papers scandal in July 2018.

Sharif resigned as Pakistan prime minister in 2017 after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had registered three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his family members, and former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Islamabad Accountability Court.

A Pakistani court on Wednesday declared Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender after the former premier failed to appear before it despite repeated summons served in connection with two corruption cases.

A Pakistani court on Wednesday declared Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender after the former premier failed to appear before it despite repeated summons served in connection with two corruption cases. The two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the case about Sharif's appeals against convictions in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield cases. The court said that notices would also be issued to the sureties of Sharif to show the cause for their failure to produce him as per the orders of the court. The court was informed by officials of the Foreign Office and Interior Ministry that Sharif was duly informed about the summons of the court both in London, where he was living, and his residence in Lahore. After failing to appear despite clear orders by the court, the bench decided to declare Sharif a proclaimed offender. Sharif, 70, has been in London since November last year after the Lahore High Court granted him permission to go abroad for four weeks for treating a heart ailment and an immune system disorder. In October, the court had ordered Sharif to appear before it by November 24 to avoid being declared a proclaimed offender after he allegedly refused to receive non-bailable arrest warrants at his residence in London. His appeals in the two cases came up for hearing in the IHC which ordered that he should first appear before any proceedings in the appeals. When he failed to appear, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Sharif on September 15. Later, the court ordered to publish advertisements in London-based newspapers for him to appear by November 24. Earlier, Sharif was convicted in the two cases in 2018 but subsequently got bail before going to London. Sharif was sentenced in absentia to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by an anti-graft court in one of the three corruption cases against him in the Panama Papers scandal in July 2018. Sharif resigned as Pakistan prime minister in 2017 after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had registered three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his family members, and former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Islamabad Accountability Court.

Pak court declares Nawaz Sharif proclaimed offender

Israel has released more than $1 billion in funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian minister said Wednesday, weeks after coordination was renewed between the two sides.

Hussein al-Sheikh, a close aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, confirmed the receipt of nearly 3.8 billion shekels (around $1.1 billion) from Israel.

&nbsp;

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The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israeli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israeli</a> government transfers all financial dues of the clearance to the account of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Palestinian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Palestinian</a> Authority, amounting to three billion and 768 million shekels. <a href="https://t.co/TK9vueVzRW">https://t.co/TK9vueVzRW</a>
— حسين الشيخ Hussein Al Sheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) <a href="https://twitter.com/HusseinSheikhpl/status/1334056982043643904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In May, the Palestinians stopped coordination with Israel, with PA leader Mahmud Abbas saying it was in response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank.

Israel later put its annexation plans on hold, in return for an agreement to normalise ties with the United Arab Emirates, announced in August.

In halting the cooperation with Israel, the PA also stopped accepting transfer of taxes,&nbsp;particularly customs duties,&nbsp;collected by Israel on its behalf.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seeking-restart-with-biden-palestinians-eye-end-to-prisoner-payments-344402">Seeking restart with Biden, Palestinians eye end to prisoner payments</a>

The Palestinians resumed contacts with Israel last month following President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the US&nbsp;Election. Biden is opposed to annexation and has promised a more evenhanded approach to the conflict.

The taxes are a key source of revenue for the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It was forced to cut the salaries it pays to tens of thousands of civil servants, worsening an economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Israel's Finance Ministry said the funds were transferred following the approval of the Israeli Security Cabinet last month.

Israel said it would deduct an amount equal to what the Palestinian Authority pays to the families of prisoners and those killed in the conflict, including militants implicated in attacks that killed Israelis.

Israel says the so-called Martyrs' Fund incentivizes violence, while the Palestinians say it provides aid to needy families.

President Donald Trump's Mideast plan, unveiled in January, would have allowed Israel to annex a third of the West Bank, including all its Jewish settlements. The Palestinians immediately rejected the plan, and Abbas announced in May that he was cutting all ties to the US&nbsp;And Israel, and would no longer abide by past agreements with them.

Israel shelved its annexation plans in August after the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pause was only temporary.

Trump took unprecedented steps to support Israel and isolate the Palestinians, including moving the US&nbsp;Embassy to contested Jerusalem, cutting off aid to the Palestinians, and ending decades of US&nbsp;Opposition to Israeli settlements, which the Palestinians and much of the international community view as a violation of international law.

Biden has vowed to restore aid to the Palestinians and press both sides to resume the long-moribund peace process, without providing much detail about his approach.&nbsp;

Israel has released more than $1 billion in funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian minister said Wednesday, weeks after coordination was renewed between the two sides.

Israel has released more than $1 billion in funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian minister said Wednesday, weeks after coordination was renewed between the two sides. Hussein al-Sheikh, a close aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, confirmed the receipt of nearly 3.8 billion shekels (around $1.1 billion) from Israel. The #Israeli government transfers all financial dues of the clearance to the account of the #Palestinian Authority, amounting to three billion and 768 million shekels. https://t.co/TK9vueVzRW — حسين الشيخ Hussein Al Sheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) December 2, 2020 × In May, the Palestinians stopped coordination with Israel, with PA leader Mahmud Abbas saying it was in response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Israel later put its annexation plans on hold, in return for an agreement to normalise ties with the United Arab Emirates, announced in August. In halting the cooperation with Israel, the PA also stopped accepting transfer of taxes, particularly customs duties, collected by Israel on its behalf. Also read: Seeking restart with Biden, Palestinians eye end to prisoner payments The Palestinians resumed contacts with Israel last month following President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the US Election. Biden is opposed to annexation and has promised a more evenhanded approach to the conflict. The taxes are a key source of revenue for the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It was forced to cut the salaries it pays to tens of thousands of civil servants, worsening an economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Israel's Finance Ministry said the funds were transferred following the approval of the Israeli Security Cabinet last month. Israel said it would deduct an amount equal to what the Palestinian Authority pays to the families of prisoners and those killed in the conflict, including militants implicated in attacks that killed Israelis. Israel says the so-called Martyrs' Fund incentivizes violence, while the Palestinians say it provides aid to needy families. President Donald Trump's Mideast plan, unveiled in January, would have allowed Israel to annex a third of the West Bank, including all its Jewish settlements. The Palestinians immediately rejected the plan, and Abbas announced in May that he was cutting all ties to the US And Israel, and would no longer abide by past agreements with them. Israel shelved its annexation plans in August after the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pause was only temporary. Trump took unprecedented steps to support Israel and isolate the Palestinians, including moving the US Embassy to contested Jerusalem, cutting off aid to the Palestinians, and ending decades of US Opposition to Israeli settlements, which the Palestinians and much of the international community view as a violation of international law. Biden has vowed to restore aid to the Palestinians and press both sides to resume the long-moribund peace process, without providing much detail about his approach.

Israel transfers $1 billion in withheld funds to Palestinians

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday rejected a bill approved by parliament that would have suspended U.N. inspections and boosted uranium enrichment, saying it was "harmful" to diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear deal and easing US&nbsp;sanctions.

The tug-of-war over the bill, which gained momentum after the killing of a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist last month, reflects the rivalry between Rouhani, a relative moderate, and hard-line lawmakers who dominate parliament and favor a more confrontational approach&nbsp;to the West.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-security-council-unlikely-to-act-on-iran-scientist-killing-diplomats-346796">UN Security Council unlikely to act on Iran scientist killing: Diplomats&nbsp;</a>

The bill would have suspended U.N. inspections of&nbsp;Iran's nuclear facilities and to "produce and store 120 kilogrammes per year of uranium enriched to 20 percent"&nbsp;if European nations failed to provide relief from crippling US&nbsp;sanctions on the country's oil and banking sectors. That level falls short of the threshold needed for nuclear weapons but is higher than that required for civilian purposes.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Rouhani said his administration, "does not agree with the bill and considers it harmful to the ongoing diplomatic work." He implied the lawmakers were positioning themselves ahead of elections planned for June.

He said there had been speculation in the media that he had not gone to parliament because of the bill.

"Not going to parliament is solely because of (coronavirus) safety guidelines," he said.

The Iranian parliament's backing on Tuesday of a plan to end nuclear inspections after the assassination of the country's top nuclear scientist has met immediate opposition from the government.

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Deputies supported a draft bill "for the lifting of sanctions and protection of the Iranian people's interests", saying they wanted to achieve the objectives of "martyred" scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Fakhrizadeh was assassinated on a major road outside Tehran on Friday in a bomb and gun attack that the Islamic republic has blamed on its arch foe Israel.

"The government has explicitly announced that it does not agree with (this) plan" which it considers "neither necessary nor useful", foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a news conference Tuesday.

Seemingly in response to Israel's characterisation of Fakhrizadeh as the father of a secret nuclear weapons programme, Khatibzadeh said that the scientist had been "one of the main assistants behind the scenes in discussions" that led to the 2015 accord.

State news agency IRNA on Tuesday released undated pictures of Fakhrizadeh&nbsp;being awarded a medal by&nbsp;Iran's President Hassan Rouhani for his "contribution" to the Vienna agreement. &nbsp;

The multilateral accord has been hanging by a thread since 2018, when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States and reimposed sanctions that have battered&nbsp;Iran's economy.

The Islamic republic has retaliated by gradually rolling back most of its commitments under the nuclear deal.

In its latest report last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;had enriched uranium over the 3.67 percent limit set out in the 2015 accord.

The UN's nuclear watchdog said that&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;had not exceeded the threshold of 4.5 percent and that the country was still complying with its strict inspections regime.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday,&nbsp;Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei emphasised that the only institution mandated to make decisions on the country's nuclear programme was the Supreme National Security Council.

He also noted that any decisions made by that body require approval by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.&nbsp;

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday rejected a bill approved by parliament that would have suspended U.N. inspections and boosted uranium enrichment, saying it was "harmful" to diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear deal and easing US sanctions.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday rejected a bill approved by parliament that would have suspended U.N. inspections and boosted uranium enrichment, saying it was "harmful" to diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear deal and easing US sanctions. The tug-of-war over the bill, which gained momentum after the killing of a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist last month, reflects the rivalry between Rouhani, a relative moderate, and hard-line lawmakers who dominate parliament and favor a more confrontational approach to the West. Also read| UN Security Council unlikely to act on Iran scientist killing: Diplomats The bill would have suspended U.N. inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities and to "produce and store 120 kilogrammes per year of uranium enriched to 20 percent" if European nations failed to provide relief from crippling US sanctions on the country's oil and banking sectors. That level falls short of the threshold needed for nuclear weapons but is higher than that required for civilian purposes. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Rouhani said his administration, "does not agree with the bill and considers it harmful to the ongoing diplomatic work." He implied the lawmakers were positioning themselves ahead of elections planned for June. He said there had been speculation in the media that he had not gone to parliament because of the bill. "Not going to parliament is solely because of (coronavirus) safety guidelines," he said. The Iranian parliament's backing on Tuesday of a plan to end nuclear inspections after the assassination of the country's top nuclear scientist has met immediate opposition from the government. Deputies supported a draft bill "for the lifting of sanctions and protection of the Iranian people's interests", saying they wanted to achieve the objectives of "martyred" scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Fakhrizadeh was assassinated on a major road outside Tehran on Friday in a bomb and gun attack that the Islamic republic has blamed on its arch foe Israel. "The government has explicitly announced that it does not agree with (this) plan" which it considers "neither necessary nor useful", foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a news conference Tuesday. Seemingly in response to Israel's characterisation of Fakhrizadeh as the father of a secret nuclear weapons programme, Khatibzadeh said that the scientist had been "one of the main assistants behind the scenes in discussions" that led to the 2015 accord. State news agency IRNA on Tuesday released undated pictures of Fakhrizadeh being awarded a medal by Iran's President Hassan Rouhani for his "contribution" to the Vienna agreement. The multilateral accord has been hanging by a thread since 2018, when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States and reimposed sanctions that have battered Iran's economy. The Islamic republic has retaliated by gradually rolling back most of its commitments under the nuclear deal. In its latest report last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran had enriched uranium over the 3.67 percent limit set out in the 2015 accord. The UN's nuclear watchdog said that Iran had not exceeded the threshold of 4.5 percent and that the country was still complying with its strict inspections regime. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei emphasised that the only institution mandated to make decisions on the country's nuclear programme was the Supreme National Security Council. He also noted that any decisions made by that body require approval by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says parliament nuclear bill 'harmful'

Australia's global allies voiced support for the country's beleaguered wine industry Wednesday, vowing to down a glass to lessen the impact of choking Chinese sanctions.

China on Friday announced it would impose anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine, the latest salvo in a barrage of trade sanctions that critics say are politically motivated.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-imposes-anti-dumping-measures-on-australian-wine-345683">China imposes anti-dumping measures on Australian wine</a>

In response, supporters including Taiwan and the United States pledged to buy Australian wine, now subject to tariffs of up to 212 percent in China.

"We stand in solidarity with&nbsp;#Australia&nbsp;by serving&nbsp;#FreedomWine,"&nbsp;Taiwan's ministry of foreign affairs said in a tweet.

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We stand in solidarity with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Australia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Australia</a>🇦🇺 by serving <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreedomWine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreedomWine</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/MOFA_Taiwan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MOFA_Taiwan</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrongerTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StrongerTogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/yrX1qPKxuB">pic.twitter.com/yrX1qPKxuB</a>
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MOFA_Taiwan/status/1333956598880821248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In Washington, the National Security Council said: "Australian wine will be featured at a White House holiday reception this week."

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Australian wine will be featured at a White House holiday reception this week. Pity vino lovers in China who, due to Beijing’s coercive tariffs on Aussie vintners, will miss out. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AussieAussieAussieOiOiOi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AussieAussieAussieOiOiOi</a>!
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In a short video released on Tuesday, a number of MPs from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC),&nbsp;a global bloc of lawmakers from 19 democratic nations,&nbsp;called on their citizens to ditch their national beverages this December in a bid to support the Australian wine industry.

&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SolidaritywithAustralia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SolidaritywithAustralia</a> 
🍷🇦🇺 <a href="https://t.co/u3ksj9v4YD">pic.twitter.com/u3ksj9v4YD</a>
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IPAC speaks to in excess of 200 MPs from 19 nations who portray themselves as a "cross-party gathering of officials running after change on how fair nations approach China".&nbsp;

In the video, Labor congressperson Kimberley Kitching said China's ongoing conduct added up to an endeavor to "menace" Australia into "deserting its qualities" while taking note of Beijing's rundown of 14 complaints and suspension of various Australian fares.&nbsp;

"This isn't only an assault on Australia. It's an assault on free nations all over the place," Senator Kitching said.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#China</a>’s attack on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Australia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Australia</a> for standing up for human rights &amp; transparency is an attack on free nations everywhere. I’m honored to stand with my international <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPAC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPAC</a> colleagues in supporting our friends down under <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SolidaritywithAustralia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SolidaritywithAustralia</a> <a href="https://t.co/RXVN8TFcw2">https://t.co/RXVN8TFcw2</a>
— Ted Yoho (@RepTedYoho) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepTedYoho/status/1333792729457848323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Free World’s Parliamentarians Back Buying Aussie Wine after China blocks imports. I’ll be supporting this 🍷<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SolidaritywithAustralia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SolidaritywithAustralia</a> <a href="https://t.co/UN2zimLm7k">https://t.co/UN2zimLm7k</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/GuidoFawkes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@guidofawkes</a>
— Sarah Champion (@SarahChampionMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahChampionMP/status/1333774565038755843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Already strained China-Australia relations have worsened since Canberra moved to crack down on Chinese operations in the country and called for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 after its emergence in central China last year.

Australian winemakers said the latest tariffs would likely mean the lucrative Chinese market would dry up.

Treasury Wine Estates,&nbsp;which produces the popular high-end Penfolds brand, said it would look to other "key luxury growth markets" and cut costs as sales accounting for 30 percent of earnings fall away.&nbsp;

Australia's global allies voiced support for the country's beleaguered wine industry Wednesday, vowing to down a glass to lessen the impact of choking Chinese sanctions.

Australia's global allies voiced support for the country's beleaguered wine industry Wednesday, vowing to down a glass to lessen the impact of choking Chinese sanctions. China on Friday announced it would impose anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine, the latest salvo in a barrage of trade sanctions that critics say are politically motivated. Also read: China imposes anti-dumping measures on Australian wine In response, supporters including Taiwan and the United States pledged to buy Australian wine, now subject to tariffs of up to 212 percent in China. "We stand in solidarity with #Australia by serving #FreedomWine," Taiwan's ministry of foreign affairs said in a tweet. We stand in solidarity with #Australia🇦🇺 by serving #FreedomWine at @MOFA_Taiwan. #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/yrX1qPKxuB — 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) December 2, 2020 × In Washington, the National Security Council said: "Australian wine will be featured at a White House holiday reception this week." Australian wine will be featured at a White House holiday reception this week. Pity vino lovers in China who, due to Beijing’s coercive tariffs on Aussie vintners, will miss out. #AussieAussieAussieOiOiOi! — NSC (@WHNSC) December 1, 2020 × In a short video released on Tuesday, a number of MPs from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a global bloc of lawmakers from 19 democratic nations, called on their citizens to ditch their national beverages this December in a bid to support the Australian wine industry. #SolidaritywithAustralia 🍷🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/u3ksj9v4YD — Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (@ipacglobal) December 1, 2020 × IPAC speaks to in excess of 200 MPs from 19 nations who portray themselves as a "cross-party gathering of officials running after change on how fair nations approach China". In the video, Labor congressperson Kimberley Kitching said China's ongoing conduct added up to an endeavor to "menace" Australia into "deserting its qualities" while taking note of Beijing's rundown of 14 complaints and suspension of various Australian fares. "This isn't only an assault on Australia. It's an assault on free nations all over the place," Senator Kitching said. #China’s attack on #Australia for standing up for human rights & transparency is an attack on free nations everywhere. I’m honored to stand with my international #IPAC colleagues in supporting our friends down under #SolidaritywithAustralia https://t.co/RXVN8TFcw2 — Ted Yoho (@RepTedYoho) December 1, 2020 × Free World’s Parliamentarians Back Buying Aussie Wine after China blocks imports. I’ll be supporting this 🍷#SolidaritywithAustralia https://t.co/UN2zimLm7k via @guidofawkes — Sarah Champion (@SarahChampionMP) December 1, 2020 × Already strained China-Australia relations have worsened since Canberra moved to crack down on Chinese operations in the country and called for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 after its emergence in central China last year. Australian winemakers said the latest tariffs would likely mean the lucrative Chinese market would dry up. Treasury Wine Estates, which produces the popular high-end Penfolds brand, said it would look to other "key luxury growth markets" and cut costs as sales accounting for 30 percent of earnings fall away.

Australia's global allies vow to drink wine to choke impact of Chinese sanctions

China has started importing Indian&nbsp;rice&nbsp;for the first time in at least three decades due to tightening supplies and an offer from India of sharply discounted prices, Indian industry officials told Reuters.

India is the world's biggest exporter of&nbsp;rice&nbsp;and China is the biggest importer. Beijing imports around 4 million tonnes of&nbsp;rice&nbsp;annually but has avoided purchases from India, citing quality issues.

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The breakthrough comes at a time when political tensions between the two countries are high because of a border dispute in the Himalayas.

"For the first time China has made&nbsp;rice&nbsp;purchases. They may increase buying next year after seeing the quality of Indian crop," said B.V. Krishna Rao, president of the&nbsp;Rice&nbsp;Exporters Association.

Indian traders have contracted to export 100,000 tonnes of broken&nbsp;rice&nbsp;for Dec-February shipments at around $300 per tonne, industry officials said.

China's traditional suppliers, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Pakistan, have limited surplus supplies for export and were quoting at least $30 per tonne more compared with Indian prices, according to Indian&nbsp;rice&nbsp;trade officials.

China has started importing Indian rice for the first time in at least three decades due to tightening supplies and an offer from India of sharply discounted prices, Indian industry officials told Reuters.

China has started importing Indian rice for the first time in at least three decades due to tightening supplies and an offer from India of sharply discounted prices, Indian industry officials told Reuters. India is the world's biggest exporter of rice and China is the biggest importer. Beijing imports around 4 million tonnes of rice annually but has avoided purchases from India, citing quality issues. The breakthrough comes at a time when political tensions between the two countries are high because of a border dispute in the Himalayas. "For the first time China has made rice purchases. They may increase buying next year after seeing the quality of Indian crop," said B.V. Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association. Indian traders have contracted to export 100,000 tonnes of broken rice for Dec-February shipments at around $300 per tonne, industry officials said. China's traditional suppliers, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Pakistan, have limited surplus supplies for export and were quoting at least $30 per tonne more compared with Indian prices, according to Indian rice trade officials.

China buys Indian rice for first time in decades as supplies tighten

Ukrainian chef Ievgen Klopotenko never expected to find himself at the centre of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.&nbsp;

But that's just what happened when the 33-year-old pushed to have borscht -- the traditional beetroot and cabbage dish -- recognised as part of Ukraine's historical heritage.

"I don't really like to call it a war for borscht, but in fact, that's what it is," Klopotenko, a graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu culinary school said.&nbsp;

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The chef said he was fed up with how restaurants around the world -- including those serving "so-called Ukrainian cuisine" -- were referring to borscht as Russian soup.

So last month he brought a pot of borscht to Ukraine's culture ministry to convince officials to submit an application to United Nations cultural body UNESCO to list borscht as an intangible part of the country's cultural heritage.

The list already includes French gastronomy, Neapolitan pizza, and Georgian wine.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-culinary-spat-with-russia-ukraine-seeks-un-status-for-borscht-337253">In culinary spat with Russia, Ukraine seeks UN status for 'borscht'</a>

The ministry agreed and said it was preparing the application to UNESCO before the March deadline, so it can be examined in December next year.

And suddenly Moscow bristled. On Twitter, Moscow's embassy in the US said it was the national food of many countries, each with its own recipe.

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Borscht is a national food of many countries, including <a href="https://twitter.com/Russia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Russia</a>, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova and Lithuania. Each country has its own ingredients, but there are no strict recipes. 
Choose your favorite one 👉<a href="https://t.co/7IUPX91AdA">https://t.co/7IUPX91AdA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RussianCuisine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RussianCuisine</a> <a href="https://t.co/4nfCJ1nUxk">pic.twitter.com/4nfCJ1nUxk</a>
— Russian Embassy in USA 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RusEmbUSA/status/1136012749505466375?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;'Borscht unites us'&nbsp;

The Russian government soon followed on its own Twitter account, calling borscht "one of Russia's most famous and beloved dishes and a symbol of traditional cuisine".

Ukrainians claim that borscht was first mentioned in 1548 in the diary of a European traveller who tasted the soup in a market near Kiev. They say it arrived in Russia much later with Ukrainian settlers.

Tensions between Kiev and Moscow have flared in the decades following the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.

After a pro-Western popular uprising in Kiev in 2014 followed by Russia's annexation of Crimea and support of separatists in the east, the confrontation has intensified.

For Klopotenko, the battle over borscht is really about Ukraine's identity.

The country has been closely tied to Russia for most of its history.&nbsp;

Much of what is now Ukraine was part of the tsarist Russian empire and later the country became part of the Soviet Union.&nbsp;

"When I started studying Ukrainian food and cuisine, I realised that Ukrainian cuisine does not exist in Ukraine. It's all Soviet," Klopotenko said.

The Soviet Union "swallowed" Ukraine, "chewed it and spat it out... We don't know who we are or what we are," he added.

But there is one thing for Klopotenko that is quintessentially Ukrainian: the beetroot and cabbage soup.&nbsp;

"I realised that borscht is what unites us," he said.&nbsp;

"We may be different, we eat different types of borscht cooked to different recipes, but it's borscht."

The application will not contain a recipe for borscht as "nobody knows the authentic one", Klopotenko said.

&nbsp;'More than just food'&nbsp;

Ukrainian historians say it was first mentioned in 1548 in the diary of a European traveller who tasted the soup in a market near Kyiv. They say it arrived in Russia much later with Ukrainian settlers.

Olena Shcherban, a Ukrainian ethnologist and historian, said it is "absurd" to associate borscht with Russia.

"I always say that it's a dish that I ate almost immediately after my mother's milk. This is the first dish. This is a dish that I eat every day, which I cook for my children and my family."

The 40-year-old says that Ukrainians do not know their history well and have a "lack of pride" in their gastronomy, unlike the French or Italians.

She has tried to promote the dish through a festival in the village of Opishnya in central Ukraine that she has organised for seven years.

And this month, she opened a museum dedicated to borscht.

"Borscht is art, borscht is language, borscht is culture, borscht is the history of my Ukraine," Shcherban said.

"We must explain to the world that it is precious to us! For us, it is precious in our hearts and souls."

Ukrainian chef Ievgen Klopotenko never expected to find himself at the centre of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. But that's just what happened when the 33-year-old pushed to have borscht -- the traditional beetroot and cabbage dish -- recognised as part of Ukraine's historical heritage.

Ukrainian chef Ievgen Klopotenko never expected to find himself at the centre of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. But that's just what happened when the 33-year-old pushed to have borscht -- the traditional beetroot and cabbage dish -- recognised as part of Ukraine's historical heritage. "I don't really like to call it a war for borscht, but in fact, that's what it is," Klopotenko, a graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu culinary school said. The chef said he was fed up with how restaurants around the world -- including those serving "so-called Ukrainian cuisine" -- were referring to borscht as Russian soup. So last month he brought a pot of borscht to Ukraine's culture ministry to convince officials to submit an application to United Nations cultural body UNESCO to list borscht as an intangible part of the country's cultural heritage. The list already includes French gastronomy, Neapolitan pizza, and Georgian wine. Also read: In culinary spat with Russia, Ukraine seeks UN status for 'borscht' The ministry agreed and said it was preparing the application to UNESCO before the March deadline, so it can be examined in December next year. And suddenly Moscow bristled. On Twitter, Moscow's embassy in the US said it was the national food of many countries, each with its own recipe. Borscht is a national food of many countries, including @Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova and Lithuania. Each country has its own ingredients, but there are no strict recipes. Choose your favorite one 👉https://t.co/7IUPX91AdA #RussianCuisine pic.twitter.com/4nfCJ1nUxk — Russian Embassy in USA 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbUSA) June 4, 2019 × 'Borscht unites us' The Russian government soon followed on its own Twitter account, calling borscht "one of Russia's most famous and beloved dishes and a symbol of traditional cuisine". Ukrainians claim that borscht was first mentioned in 1548 in the diary of a European traveller who tasted the soup in a market near Kiev. They say it arrived in Russia much later with Ukrainian settlers. Tensions between Kiev and Moscow have flared in the decades following the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. After a pro-Western popular uprising in Kiev in 2014 followed by Russia's annexation of Crimea and support of separatists in the east, the confrontation has intensified. For Klopotenko, the battle over borscht is really about Ukraine's identity. The country has been closely tied to Russia for most of its history. Much of what is now Ukraine was part of the tsarist Russian empire and later the country became part of the Soviet Union. "When I started studying Ukrainian food and cuisine, I realised that Ukrainian cuisine does not exist in Ukraine. It's all Soviet," Klopotenko said. The Soviet Union "swallowed" Ukraine, "chewed it and spat it out... We don't know who we are or what we are," he added. But there is one thing for Klopotenko that is quintessentially Ukrainian: the beetroot and cabbage soup. "I realised that borscht is what unites us," he said. "We may be different, we eat different types of borscht cooked to different recipes, but it's borscht." The application will not contain a recipe for borscht as "nobody knows the authentic one", Klopotenko said. 'More than just food' Ukrainian historians say it was first mentioned in 1548 in the diary of a European traveller who tasted the soup in a market near Kyiv. They say it arrived in Russia much later with Ukrainian settlers. Olena Shcherban, a Ukrainian ethnologist and historian, said it is "absurd" to associate borscht with Russia. "I always say that it's a dish that I ate almost immediately after my mother's milk. This is the first dish. This is a dish that I eat every day, which I cook for my children and my family." The 40-year-old says that Ukrainians do not know their history well and have a "lack of pride" in their gastronomy, unlike the French or Italians. She has tried to promote the dish through a festival in the village of Opishnya in central Ukraine that she has organised for seven years. And this month, she opened a museum dedicated to borscht. "Borscht is art, borscht is language, borscht is culture, borscht is the history of my Ukraine," Shcherban said. "We must explain to the world that it is precious to us! For us, it is precious in our hearts and souls."

Soup-erpower? How Borscht is causing culinary spat between Russia and Ukraine

Canadian Prime Minister Justin&nbsp;Trudeau's&nbsp;eight-day expedition to India in 2018 was&nbsp;an absolute political disaster.

The trip started off on a disappointing note, as the Trudeau delegation was received at the airport by a minister of state, not even a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.

International and local observers speculated that Trudeau was being snubbed, given the cold shoulder, over unscrupulous ties with separatists and extremists.

After going to great lengths to convince Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh that his government did not associate with radicals, one such radical was part of his own entourage in India.

Hours before meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his journey hit a dead end when the Canadian high commissioner invited a Sikh extremist named Jaspal Atwal (who has been convicted of attempted murder and was previously affiliated with a terrorist group) to a dinner to honour Trudeau in Delhi.

Atwal was found guilty of trying to kill an Indian minister in 1986; he was also blamed for an assault on Ujjal Dosanjh, the former premier of British Columbia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-slams-canadian-pm-justin-trudeaus-ill-informed-comments-on-farmer-protests-346668" hreflang="en">India slams Justin Trudeau's 'Ill-informed' comments on farmer protests</a>

By the time Atwal’s invitation was rescinded — Trudeau called it “unfortunate” — Atwal had already posed for photographs with Trudeau’s wife, Sophie, in Mumbai, as well as with other members of his entourage.

The Trudeau government’s explanation was further refuted when more photos surfaced of Atwal with Trudeau himself, one at a 2015 Liberal Party campaign event in Vancouver, and another that appears to have been taken before Trudeau became the leader of the Liberal Party.

Atwal is a longtime Liberal supporter and activist, he’s a former donor to the party and a former Liberal board member for the electoral district in Surrey, British Columbia.

Atwal is a longtime Liberal supporter and activist, he’s a former donor to the party and a former Liberal board member for the electoral district in Surrey, British Columbia. Atwal’s ties to the Liberals run deep, and there is no excuse for Trudeau’s continued relationship with a convicted criminal and former member of a terrorist organisation.

Trudeau’s time in India was criticised for its lack of official business, not to mention the excessive photo-ops and insensitive overuse of Indian clothing. To add insult to injury for Canadians, his taxpayer funded tour looked more like another lavish family vacation — including his own celebrity chef flown in from Vancouver than a diplomatic bilateral meeting.

However,&nbsp;these criticisms pale in comparison to serious catastrophe of not only associating with a convicted terrorist assassin, but bringing him to India alongside his official delegation.

India's ties with Canada remain frozen in time and&nbsp;Trudeau's latest statements on the farmer protests&nbsp;are unlikely to make things better.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's eight-day expedition to India in 2018 was an absolute political disaster. The trip started off on a disappointing note, as the Trudeau delegation was received at the airport by a minister of state, not even a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's eight-day expedition to India in 2018 was an absolute political disaster. The trip started off on a disappointing note, as the Trudeau delegation was received at the airport by a minister of state, not even a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet. International and local observers speculated that Trudeau was being snubbed, given the cold shoulder, over unscrupulous ties with separatists and extremists. After going to great lengths to convince Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh that his government did not associate with radicals, one such radical was part of his own entourage in India. Hours before meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his journey hit a dead end when the Canadian high commissioner invited a Sikh extremist named Jaspal Atwal (who has been convicted of attempted murder and was previously affiliated with a terrorist group) to a dinner to honour Trudeau in Delhi. Atwal was found guilty of trying to kill an Indian minister in 1986; he was also blamed for an assault on Ujjal Dosanjh, the former premier of British Columbia. Also read: India slams Justin Trudeau's 'Ill-informed' comments on farmer protests By the time Atwal’s invitation was rescinded — Trudeau called it “unfortunate” — Atwal had already posed for photographs with Trudeau’s wife, Sophie, in Mumbai, as well as with other members of his entourage. The Trudeau government’s explanation was further refuted when more photos surfaced of Atwal with Trudeau himself, one at a 2015 Liberal Party campaign event in Vancouver, and another that appears to have been taken before Trudeau became the leader of the Liberal Party. Atwal is a longtime Liberal supporter and activist, he’s a former donor to the party and a former Liberal board member for the electoral district in Surrey, British Columbia. Atwal is a longtime Liberal supporter and activist, he’s a former donor to the party and a former Liberal board member for the electoral district in Surrey, British Columbia. Atwal’s ties to the Liberals run deep, and there is no excuse for Trudeau’s continued relationship with a convicted criminal and former member of a terrorist organisation. Trudeau’s time in India was criticised for its lack of official business, not to mention the excessive photo-ops and insensitive overuse of Indian clothing. To add insult to injury for Canadians, his taxpayer funded tour looked more like another lavish family vacation — including his own celebrity chef flown in from Vancouver than a diplomatic bilateral meeting. However, these criticisms pale in comparison to serious catastrophe of not only associating with a convicted terrorist assassin, but bringing him to India alongside his official delegation. India's ties with Canada remain frozen in time and Trudeau's latest statements on the farmer protests are unlikely to make things better.

Why Justin Trudeau's trip to India in 2018 turned out to be a diplomatic fiasco

The coronavirus outbreak has brought China’s extraordinary,&nbsp;nearly half-century-long run of growth&nbsp;to an end&nbsp;a stark reminder of the enormous task ahead for world leaders trying to restart the global economy.

Since mid-August, the United States has repeatedly riled&nbsp;China&nbsp;by sending warships to the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and has blacklisted 24 Chinese entities over their involvement in building and militarising artificial islands there.

China's faulty policies have exposed the countries to vulnerabilities such as financial stress due to massive unpaid debts.

Chinese&nbsp;officials said that the world's second-largest&nbsp;economy&nbsp;shrank 6.8 percent in the first three months of the year compared with a year ago, ending a streak of untrammeled growth that survived the Tiananmen Square crackdown, the SARS epidemic, and even the global financial&nbsp;crisis.

The five largest Chinese banks posted at least 10 percent profit declines for the first half of the year. These poor results, the result of increased provisions for bad loans, were the biggest profit drops in at least a decade.

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The profit drops are a warning of long-term troubles, especially because, in all probability, the banks are understating the severity of bad loan problems. Moreover, the outlook for China’s banks is gloomy because the outlook for China’s economy is gloomy.

These five Chinese institutions—the Big Four of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, and Bank of China plus the Bank of Communications—are struggling.

The essential problem is that the Chinese economy—like the economies of almost all other countries—was flattened by efforts to control the coronavirus. Gross domestic product contracted 6.8% year-on-year in the first calendar quarter of this year, according to the official National Bureau of Statistics. In reality, it was down about twice that.

At least 43.8 billion yuan could not come in because 7 companies filed bankruptcy restructuring applications.&nbsp;This includes&nbsp;the Peking university founder group.

Technology is the worst-hit industry which has accounted for more than a third of the average default.

China's property market is the biggest "grey rhino" - a very obvious yet ignored threat - in terms of financial risks, given it is so deeply intertwined with the financial industry, the head of the country's&nbsp;banking regulator said.

Guo Shuqing, who is chairman of the&nbsp;China&nbsp;Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) and party chief of the country's central&nbsp;bank, made the comments in a collection of articles by policymakers on&nbsp;China's 14th Five-Year Plan, the official Shanghai Securities News reported on Monday.

Loans related to the property market currently account for 39% of total&nbsp;bank&nbsp;loans in&nbsp;China&nbsp;- to say nothing of a large amount of bonds, equities and trust investments with exposure to it, Guo said.

"It's safe to say that the property market is currently the greatest grey rhino in terms of financial risks," he was quoted as saying.

Guo also noted that modern technologies have brought and will continue to bring big changes to the financial industry, with digital currency, cybersecurity and information security emerging as key challenges for regulators.

In response, Guo said the CBIRC would use innovative ways to regulate large technology firms to prevent risks and monopolies, while promoting their development, according to the report.

The coronavirus outbreak has brought China’s extraordinary, nearly half-century-long run of growth to an end a stark reminder of the enormous task ahead for world leaders trying to restart the global economy.

The coronavirus outbreak has brought China’s extraordinary, nearly half-century-long run of growth to an end a stark reminder of the enormous task ahead for world leaders trying to restart the global economy. Since mid-August, the United States has repeatedly riled China by sending warships to the South China Sea and has blacklisted 24 Chinese entities over their involvement in building and militarising artificial islands there. China's faulty policies have exposed the countries to vulnerabilities such as financial stress due to massive unpaid debts. Chinese officials said that the world's second-largest economy shrank 6.8 percent in the first three months of the year compared with a year ago, ending a streak of untrammeled growth that survived the Tiananmen Square crackdown, the SARS epidemic, and even the global financial crisis. The five largest Chinese banks posted at least 10 percent profit declines for the first half of the year. These poor results, the result of increased provisions for bad loans, were the biggest profit drops in at least a decade. × The profit drops are a warning of long-term troubles, especially because, in all probability, the banks are understating the severity of bad loan problems. Moreover, the outlook for China’s banks is gloomy because the outlook for China’s economy is gloomy. These five Chinese institutions—the Big Four of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, and Bank of China plus the Bank of Communications—are struggling. The essential problem is that the Chinese economy—like the economies of almost all other countries—was flattened by efforts to control the coronavirus. Gross domestic product contracted 6.8% year-on-year in the first calendar quarter of this year, according to the official National Bureau of Statistics. In reality, it was down about twice that. At least 43.8 billion yuan could not come in because 7 companies filed bankruptcy restructuring applications. This includes the Peking university founder group. Technology is the worst-hit industry which has accounted for more than a third of the average default. China's property market is the biggest "grey rhino" - a very obvious yet ignored threat - in terms of financial risks, given it is so deeply intertwined with the financial industry, the head of the country's banking regulator said. Guo Shuqing, who is chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) and party chief of the country's central bank, made the comments in a collection of articles by policymakers on China's 14th Five-Year Plan, the official Shanghai Securities News reported on Monday. Loans related to the property market currently account for 39% of total bank loans in China - to say nothing of a large amount of bonds, equities and trust investments with exposure to it, Guo said. "It's safe to say that the property market is currently the greatest grey rhino in terms of financial risks," he was quoted as saying. Guo also noted that modern technologies have brought and will continue to bring big changes to the financial industry, with digital currency, cybersecurity and information security emerging as key challenges for regulators. In response, Guo said the CBIRC would use innovative ways to regulate large technology firms to prevent risks and monopolies, while promoting their development, according to the report.

Why China cannot afford to fund its campaign of provocation

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared&nbsp;Kushner&nbsp;and his team are headed to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week in a bid for further diplomatic deals in the region before leaving the White House, according to media reports Sunday.

Kushner's visit to the Middle Eastern countries&nbsp;would focus on resolving a dispute between Qatar and a Saudi-led alliance, the Wall Street Journal reported, but a number of issues could be on the agenda.

His trip comes days after the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran's chief&nbsp;nuclear scientist blamed Israel, heightening tensions in the region.&nbsp;Western and Israeli governments believe Fakhrizadeh was the architect of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons program.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-local-media-says-chief-nuclear-scientist-shot-with-remote-controlled-machine-gun-made-in-israel-346427" hreflang="en">Iran: Local media says nuclear chief shot with remote-controlled machine gun</a>

The clock is also ticking on Trump's time in office, with President-elect Joe Biden due to be sworn in on January 20.

Kushner&nbsp;has sought various deals in the region and has developed a relationship with Saudi Arabia's divisive de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

A senior administration official said on Sunday that&nbsp;Kushner&nbsp;is to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi city of Neom, and the emir of Qatar in that country in the coming days.&nbsp;

Kushner&nbsp;will be joined by Middle East envoys Avi Berkowitz and Brian Hook and Adam Boehler, chief executive of the US&nbsp;International Development Finance Corporation.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-secretly-plotting-potential-2024-presidential-run-345951">Donald Trump secretly plotting potential 2024 presidential run</a>

Kushner&nbsp;and his team helped negotiate normalization deals between Israel and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan since August. The official said they would like to advance more such agreements before President Donald Trump hands power to President-elect Joe Biden on January&nbsp;20.

US&nbsp;officials believe enticing Saudi Arabia into a deal with Israel would prompt other Arab nations to follow suit. But the Saudis do not appear to be on the brink of reaching such a landmark deal and officials in recent weeks have been focusing on other countries, with concern about Iran's regional influence a uniting factor.

Days before the killing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Saudi Arabia and met with bin Salman, an Israeli official said, in what was the first publicly confirmed visit by an Israeli leader. Israeli media said they were joined by US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

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The historic meeting underlined how opposition to Tehran is bringing about a strategic realignment of countries in the Middle East. Bin Salman and Netanyahu fear Biden will adopt policies on Iran similar to those adopted during Barack Obama's US&nbsp;presidency which strained Washington's ties with its traditional regional allies.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-wants-to-rejoin-iran-nuclear-deal-but-it-wont-be-easy-343936">Biden wants to rejoin Iran nuclear deal, but it won’t be easy</a>

Biden has said he will rejoin the international nuclear pact with Iran that Trump quit in 2018 - and work with allies to strengthen its terms - if Tehran first resumes strict compliance.

Kuwait is seen as critical in any effort to resolve a three-year rift between Qatar and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain have imposed an air, naval and land embargo on Qatar since June 2017 over their insistence Doha is too close to Iran and radical Islamist groups. Qatar denies the charges.

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and his team are headed to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week in a bid for further diplomatic deals in the region before leaving the White House, according to media reports Sunday.

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and his team are headed to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week in a bid for further diplomatic deals in the region before leaving the White House, according to media reports Sunday. Kushner's visit to the Middle Eastern countries would focus on resolving a dispute between Qatar and a Saudi-led alliance, the Wall Street Journal reported, but a number of issues could be on the agenda. His trip comes days after the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran's chief nuclear scientist blamed Israel, heightening tensions in the region. Western and Israeli governments believe Fakhrizadeh was the architect of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons program. Also read| Iran: Local media says nuclear chief shot with remote-controlled machine gun The clock is also ticking on Trump's time in office, with President-elect Joe Biden due to be sworn in on January 20. Kushner has sought various deals in the region and has developed a relationship with Saudi Arabia's divisive de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. A senior administration official said on Sunday that Kushner is to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi city of Neom, and the emir of Qatar in that country in the coming days. Kushner will be joined by Middle East envoys Avi Berkowitz and Brian Hook and Adam Boehler, chief executive of the US International Development Finance Corporation. Also read: Donald Trump secretly plotting potential 2024 presidential run Kushner and his team helped negotiate normalization deals between Israel and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan since August. The official said they would like to advance more such agreements before President Donald Trump hands power to President-elect Joe Biden on January 20. US officials believe enticing Saudi Arabia into a deal with Israel would prompt other Arab nations to follow suit. But the Saudis do not appear to be on the brink of reaching such a landmark deal and officials in recent weeks have been focusing on other countries, with concern about Iran's regional influence a uniting factor. Days before the killing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Saudi Arabia and met with bin Salman, an Israeli official said, in what was the first publicly confirmed visit by an Israeli leader. Israeli media said they were joined by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. × The historic meeting underlined how opposition to Tehran is bringing about a strategic realignment of countries in the Middle East. Bin Salman and Netanyahu fear Biden will adopt policies on Iran similar to those adopted during Barack Obama's US presidency which strained Washington's ties with its traditional regional allies. Also read| Biden wants to rejoin Iran nuclear deal, but it won’t be easy Biden has said he will rejoin the international nuclear pact with Iran that Trump quit in 2018 - and work with allies to strengthen its terms - if Tehran first resumes strict compliance. Kuwait is seen as critical in any effort to resolve a three-year rift between Qatar and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain have imposed an air, naval and land embargo on Qatar since June 2017 over their insistence Doha is too close to Iran and radical Islamist groups. Qatar denies the charges.

Donald Trump's senior aide Jared Kushner headed to Saudi Arabia, Qatar

The Myanmar military on Tuesday announced the extension of the suspension period of its operations against armed groups until the end of December. 
 
The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services issued a statement that the suspension of military activities which expired on Monday will be further extended to December 31, reports Xinhua news agency.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-army-chief-accuses-government-of-unacceptable-mistakes-ahead-of-election-340534">Myanmar army chief accuses government of 'unacceptable mistakes' ahead of election</a>

The statement said the extension aims to carry out effective prevention, control, and treatment measures against the coronavirus pandemic and to implement long-lasting peace successfully. 
 
During the period, the military's operations will be suspended in the command areas, excluding those where government-designated terrorist groups are residing. 
 
In addition, the military also formed Peace Talks Committee to carry out the peace process successfully.

The Myanmar military on Tuesday announced the extension of the suspension period of its operations against armed groups until the end of December. The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services issued a statement that the suspension of military activities which expired on Monday will be further extended to December 31, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Myanmar military on Tuesday announced the extension of the suspension period of its operations against armed groups until the end of December. The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services issued a statement that the suspension of military activities which expired on Monday will be further extended to December 31, reports Xinhua news agency. Also read: Myanmar army chief accuses government of 'unacceptable mistakes' ahead of election The statement said the extension aims to carry out effective prevention, control, and treatment measures against the coronavirus pandemic and to implement long-lasting peace successfully. During the period, the military's operations will be suspended in the command areas, excluding those where government-designated terrorist groups are residing. In addition, the military also formed Peace Talks Committee to carry out the peace process successfully.

Myanmar military extends non-operation period against armed groups

The United States&nbsp;on Tuesday accused&nbsp;China&nbsp;of "flagrant violation" of its obligation to enforce international sanctions on North Korea and said Washington would offer rewards of up to $5 million for information about sanctions evasions.

Speaking to Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, Deputy Assistant Secretary for North Korea State Alex Wong accused&nbsp;China&nbsp;of "seeking to undo" the U.N. sanctions regime aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

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The State Department launched a new website, DPRKrewards.com, that will offer payouts of up to $5 million for tips to boost sanctions on North Korea, including on businesses in China.

"I want to tell you more are forthcoming," Alex Wong, the US deputy special representative on North Korea, said of sanctions.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-gave-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-to-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-us-analyst-346652" hreflang="en">China gave Covid-19 vaccine candidate to North Korea's Kim Jong Un: US analyst</a>

In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Wong acknowledged that Pyongyang has not yet taken "any concrete steps toward denuclearization" and voiced alarm over its unveiling of a massive long-range missile at a parade in October.

His hard-nosed assessment stands in contrast to the rosy statements over the past four years by Trump, who has boasted that he prevented a catastrophic war and said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

But Wong mostly took aim at China, a frequent target of the Trump administration, as he accused Beijing of ignoring UN sanctions that it itself voted for over its ally's missile and nuclear programs.

"The premature sanctions relief that Beijing can't achieve through the diplomatic front door, it is instead trying to achieve through the backdoor -- by choosing not to rigorously implement its UN Security Council resolution obligations," Wong said.

"The examples of this chronic failure are numerous, growing, and worrying."

He said that US vessels provided information to Beijing 46 times since 2019 about North Korean fuel-smuggling in Chinese waters, and in the past year observed 555 cases of North Korean shipments of coal of other sanctioned exports to China.

"On none of these occasions did the Chinese authorities act to stop these illicit imports. Not once," Wong said.

Wong said that 20,000 North Korean workers still worked in China, going against UN-backed efforts to stop what is widely seen as slave labor that the regime exports for revenue.

China has been pushing to ease sanctions on North Korea, believing the regime should see incentives for denuclearisation, and is widely seen as fearing an economic implosion of its impoverished neighbour.

Trump resisted calls for sanctions relief in his February 2019 meeting with Kim in Hanoi, and Wong insisted Tuesday that such pressure provided "key impetus" for North Korea to take "serious denuclearization steps."

The United States on Tuesday accused China of "flagrant violation" of its obligation to enforce international sanctions on North Korea and said Washington would offer rewards of up to $5 million for information about sanctions evasions.

The United States on Tuesday accused China of "flagrant violation" of its obligation to enforce international sanctions on North Korea and said Washington would offer rewards of up to $5 million for information about sanctions evasions. Speaking to Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, Deputy Assistant Secretary for North Korea State Alex Wong accused China of "seeking to undo" the U.N. sanctions regime aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The State Department launched a new website, DPRKrewards.com, that will offer payouts of up to $5 million for tips to boost sanctions on North Korea, including on businesses in China. "I want to tell you more are forthcoming," Alex Wong, the US deputy special representative on North Korea, said of sanctions. Also read: China gave Covid-19 vaccine candidate to North Korea's Kim Jong Un: US analyst In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Wong acknowledged that Pyongyang has not yet taken "any concrete steps toward denuclearization" and voiced alarm over its unveiling of a massive long-range missile at a parade in October. His hard-nosed assessment stands in contrast to the rosy statements over the past four years by Trump, who has boasted that he prevented a catastrophic war and said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. But Wong mostly took aim at China, a frequent target of the Trump administration, as he accused Beijing of ignoring UN sanctions that it itself voted for over its ally's missile and nuclear programs. "The premature sanctions relief that Beijing can't achieve through the diplomatic front door, it is instead trying to achieve through the backdoor -- by choosing not to rigorously implement its UN Security Council resolution obligations," Wong said. "The examples of this chronic failure are numerous, growing, and worrying." He said that US vessels provided information to Beijing 46 times since 2019 about North Korean fuel-smuggling in Chinese waters, and in the past year observed 555 cases of North Korean shipments of coal of other sanctioned exports to China. "On none of these occasions did the Chinese authorities act to stop these illicit imports. Not once," Wong said. Wong said that 20,000 North Korean workers still worked in China, going against UN-backed efforts to stop what is widely seen as slave labor that the regime exports for revenue. China has been pushing to ease sanctions on North Korea, believing the regime should see incentives for denuclearisation, and is widely seen as fearing an economic implosion of its impoverished neighbour. Trump resisted calls for sanctions relief in his February 2019 meeting with Kim in Hanoi, and Wong insisted Tuesday that such pressure provided "key impetus" for North Korea to take "serious denuclearization steps."

US accuses China of 'flagrant violation' of North Korea sanctions

Bangladesh&nbsp;expects to receive its first batch of coronavirus vaccines by February which people will receive free of charge, the health secretary said on Tuesday.

The South Asian country of more than 160 million last month signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India to buy 30 million doses of the vaccine developed by British drugmaker AstraZeneca.

"We expect to get the vaccine as early as February and people will get it for free," health secretary Abdul Mannan told reporters.

Frontline workers like health service providers and police will be given priority.

In the global race to develop vaccines against COVID-19, AstraZeneca's candidate is viewed as offering one of the best hopes for many developing countries because of its cheaper price and ability to be transported at normal fridge temperatures.

Some experts, however, raised questions around its trial data.

Bangladesh&nbsp;will also get 68 million doses of vaccine from the GAVI vaccine alliance, Mannan said, referring to a global health partnership set up in 2000 to increase access to immunisation in poor countries.

Experts say&nbsp;Bangladesh, with patchy healthcare facilities, could face another surge in infections, having so far confirmed 467,225 cases and 6,675 deaths since the pandemic began.

Daily infections have shown a rising trend over the past few weeks, with 2,293 new cases and 31 deaths reported on Tuesday.

Bangladesh expects to receive its first batch of coronavirus vaccines by February which people will receive free of charge, the health secretary said on Tuesday.

Bangladesh expects to receive its first batch of coronavirus vaccines by February which people will receive free of charge, the health secretary said on Tuesday. The South Asian country of more than 160 million last month signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India to buy 30 million doses of the vaccine developed by British drugmaker AstraZeneca. "We expect to get the vaccine as early as February and people will get it for free," health secretary Abdul Mannan told reporters. Frontline workers like health service providers and police will be given priority. In the global race to develop vaccines against COVID-19, AstraZeneca's candidate is viewed as offering one of the best hopes for many developing countries because of its cheaper price and ability to be transported at normal fridge temperatures. Some experts, however, raised questions around its trial data. Bangladesh will also get 68 million doses of vaccine from the GAVI vaccine alliance, Mannan said, referring to a global health partnership set up in 2000 to increase access to immunisation in poor countries. Experts say Bangladesh, with patchy healthcare facilities, could face another surge in infections, having so far confirmed 467,225 cases and 6,675 deaths since the pandemic began. Daily infections have shown a rising trend over the past few weeks, with 2,293 new cases and 31 deaths reported on Tuesday.

Bangladesh expects to receive first COVID vaccines by February

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Vyomica Berry

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