The&nbsp;Hubble Space Telescope by the&nbsp;National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has captured a cosmic cinnamon bun.

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Nom nom nom 😋 Our <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAHubble?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAHubble</a> Space Telescope captured a delicious glance of what resembles a cosmic cinnamon bun. Bluer stars sprinkled around the edges highlight the regions where new stars are most likely being formed: <a href="https://t.co/Uc4r0suWOm">https://t.co/Uc4r0suWOm</a> <a href="https://t.co/mmg02e6jkk">pic.twitter.com/mmg02e6jkk</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1330595660849172480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Unlike many spiral galaxies, UGC 12588 displays neither a&nbsp;bar of stars across its center&nbsp;nor the classic prominent&nbsp;spiral arm pattern. Instead, to a viewer, its circular, white and mostly unstructured center makes this galaxy more reminiscent of a cinnamon bun than a megastructure of stars and gas in space.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-resolves-the-mystery-of-blue-ring-nebula-reveal-stellar-missing-link-344087" hreflang="en">NASA resolves the mystery of Blue Ring Nebula, reveal stellar missing link</a>

Lying in the constellation of&nbsp;Andromeda&nbsp;in the Northern Hemisphere, this galaxy is classified as a&nbsp;spiral galaxy. Unlike the classic image of a spiral galaxy, however, the huge arms of stars and gas in UGC 12588 are very faint, undistinguished, and tightly wound around its center.

The clearest view of the spiral arms comes from the bluer stars sprinkled around the edges of the galaxy that highlight the regions where new star formation is most likely taking place.

&nbsp;

The Hubble Space Telescope by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has captured a cosmic cinnamon bun. Nom nom nom 😋 Our @NASAHubble Space Telescope captured a delicious glance of what resembles a cosmic cinnamon bun.

The Hubble Space Telescope by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has captured a cosmic cinnamon bun. Nom nom nom 😋 Our @NASAHubble Space Telescope captured a delicious glance of what resembles a cosmic cinnamon bun. Bluer stars sprinkled around the edges highlight the regions where new stars are most likely being formed: https://t.co/Uc4r0suWOm pic.twitter.com/mmg02e6jkk — NASA (@NASA) November 22, 2020 × Unlike many spiral galaxies, UGC 12588 displays neither a bar of stars across its center nor the classic prominent spiral arm pattern. Instead, to a viewer, its circular, white and mostly unstructured center makes this galaxy more reminiscent of a cinnamon bun than a megastructure of stars and gas in space. Also read: NASA resolves the mystery of Blue Ring Nebula, reveal stellar missing link Lying in the constellation of Andromeda in the Northern Hemisphere, this galaxy is classified as a spiral galaxy. Unlike the classic image of a spiral galaxy, however, the huge arms of stars and gas in UGC 12588 are very faint, undistinguished, and tightly wound around its center. The clearest view of the spiral arms comes from the bluer stars sprinkled around the edges of the galaxy that highlight the regions where new star formation is most likely taking place.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures 'cosmic cinnamon bun'

YouTube, the video stage, is perhaps the most ideal approach to bring in cash and become popular. Numerous individuals from everywhere over the world attempt their karma yet at times while shooting recordings, they submit such missteps which even put their lives to chance.&nbsp;

Gauge Gillian, the 17-year-old&nbsp;YouTuber, took a chance with his and his companion's lives as well as devastated his dad's&nbsp;Pagani Huayra Roadster worth $3.4 million in the city of Texas, USA while shooting a video.

In spite of the fact that Gauge Gillian has brought down the video which was shot before the mishap, he posted a video in which he educated his devotees about the mishap and his wounds. He valued the carmakers and told them that he was making a video with his companion Zack. He acknowledged that mishap happened in light of his misstep as at times individuals like him fail to remember that these vehicles are amazing. He said that however, he sped up in the wake of going out, he was under the speed furthest reaches of 40 miles/hour. He lost control of the vehicle when he went to the left as he would not like to go on the extension which was on the right, it was then the vehicle upset and hit the tree.&nbsp;

The measure was grateful to God for being alive and he likewise gave a message to the individuals who were savaging him by saying that vehicles can be supplanted yet he can't be supplanted. He additionally educated that his companion Zack Walker got wounds at collar bone and tongue. Gillian uncovered that at the mishap spot, he saw individuals getting the pieces of the vehicle to bring in some cash by selling them.&nbsp;

Here is the video wherein Gauge Gillian advises about his mishap:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sXy3PZakSFE" width="560"></iframe>

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_FtGzTucT6s" width="560"></iframe>

Gauge Gillian has taken a break from web-based media starting now and we are very confident that others will take in an exercise from this occurrence and be cautious later on.

YouTube, the video stage, is perhaps the most ideal approach to bring in cash and become popular. Numerous individuals from everywhere over the world attempt their karma yet at times while shooting recordings, they submit such missteps which even put their lives to chance.

YouTube, the video stage, is perhaps the most ideal approach to bring in cash and become popular. Numerous individuals from everywhere over the world attempt their karma yet at times while shooting recordings, they submit such missteps which even put their lives to chance. Gauge Gillian, the 17-year-old YouTuber, took a chance with his and his companion's lives as well as devastated his dad's Pagani Huayra Roadster worth $3.4 million in the city of Texas, USA while shooting a video. In spite of the fact that Gauge Gillian has brought down the video which was shot before the mishap, he posted a video in which he educated his devotees about the mishap and his wounds. He valued the carmakers and told them that he was making a video with his companion Zack. He acknowledged that mishap happened in light of his misstep as at times individuals like him fail to remember that these vehicles are amazing. He said that however, he sped up in the wake of going out, he was under the speed furthest reaches of 40 miles/hour. He lost control of the vehicle when he went to the left as he would not like to go on the extension which was on the right, it was then the vehicle upset and hit the tree. The measure was grateful to God for being alive and he likewise gave a message to the individuals who were savaging him by saying that vehicles can be supplanted yet he can't be supplanted. He additionally educated that his companion Zack Walker got wounds at collar bone and tongue. Gillian uncovered that at the mishap spot, he saw individuals getting the pieces of the vehicle to bring in some cash by selling them. Here is the video wherein Gauge Gillian advises about his mishap: Gauge Gillian has taken a break from web-based media starting now and we are very confident that others will take in an exercise from this occurrence and be cautious later on.

Youtuber Gauge Gillian smashes Pagani Huayra Roadster worth $3.4 million while shooting video

China's President Xi Jinping has called for a ''global mechanism'' to use quick response (QR) codes for travelling internationally.

As per Jinping,&nbsp;"We need to further harmonise policies and standards and establish 'fast tracks' to facilitate the orderly flow of people.''

Jinping believes the QR&nbsp;codes will be utilised to help build up an explorer's health status.&nbsp;

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In picture: A Chinese man scanning a QR code to get his ticket outside an airport in China

However, Human Rights advocates caution that the codes could be utilised for "more extensive political checking and prohibition".&nbsp;

Xi offered the remarks at the G20 highest point, a web-based gathering of heads of state from the world's 20 biggest economies, which was facilitated by Saudi Arabia throughout the end of the week.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-crown-prince-proposes-two-g-20-summits-in-a-year-344734">Saudi Arabia Crown Prince proposes two G-20 summits in a year</a>

He said the codes could be utilized to perceive "health certificates based on nucleic acid test results", as indicated by a record distributed by the Chinese state news office Xinhua.&nbsp;

Xi didn't really expound on how the movement plan may function, or how intently it would be demonstrated on China's QR code applications, which have been utilized to help contain the infection on the territory.&nbsp;

"We trust more nations will join this component," he added.&nbsp;

QR codes are standardised identifications that can be perused by cell phones. Under the plan China has utilised since February, clients are given a traffic-signal style health status code, with a green code permitting somebody to travel uninhibitedly, and an orange or red code showing that they have to isolate for as long as about fourteen days.&nbsp;

The codes depend on a mix of enormous information and data presented by the clients themselves.&nbsp;

The innovation was created by monetary innovation goliath Ant Financial and is accessible through its principle application Alipay yet in addition on WeChat, which has a place with Alipay's rival Tencent.&nbsp;

Xi additionally required the re-opening of the worldwide economy, including reestablishing "worldwide and mechanical gracefully chains" and the "advancement of exchange of key clinical supplies".&nbsp;

Resuming travel paths stays a test for most nations, with spikes in the illness making it hard for specialists to lift travel limitations.&nbsp;

A movement bubble among Singapore and Hong Kong, for instance, was delayed right away before it was because of the start this end of the week because of an abrupt spike in cases in Hong Kong.&nbsp;

'Trojan Horse'&nbsp;

In a tweet, the leader head of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth communicated an alert over&nbsp;Xi's proposition.&nbsp;

"An underlying spotlight on wellbeing could without much of a stretch become a Trojan Horse for more extensive political observing and avoidance," he said.&nbsp;

The city of Hangzhou has said it intends to make a perpetual rendition of the QR code-based programming, which would be utilized to allot residents an individual score dependent on their clinical history, wellbeing registration, and way of life propensities.&nbsp;

QR codes have been utilised diversely in Singapore and Australia, for contract following, with occupants utilizing them to look into and out of spots, they visit, including shopping centers, eateries, and their work environments.

China's President Xi Jinping has called for a ''global mechanism'' to use quick response (QR) codes for travelling internationally. As per Jinping, "We need to further harmonise policies and standards and establish 'fast tracks' to facilitate the orderly flow of people.

China's President Xi Jinping has called for a ''global mechanism'' to use quick response (QR) codes for travelling internationally. As per Jinping, "We need to further harmonise policies and standards and establish 'fast tracks' to facilitate the orderly flow of people.'' Jinping believes the QR codes will be utilised to help build up an explorer's health status. In picture: A Chinese man scanning a QR code to get his ticket outside an airport in China However, Human Rights advocates caution that the codes could be utilised for "more extensive political checking and prohibition". Xi offered the remarks at the G20 highest point, a web-based gathering of heads of state from the world's 20 biggest economies, which was facilitated by Saudi Arabia throughout the end of the week. Also read: Saudi Arabia Crown Prince proposes two G-20 summits in a year He said the codes could be utilized to perceive "health certificates based on nucleic acid test results", as indicated by a record distributed by the Chinese state news office Xinhua. Xi didn't really expound on how the movement plan may function, or how intently it would be demonstrated on China's QR code applications, which have been utilized to help contain the infection on the territory. "We trust more nations will join this component," he added. QR codes are standardised identifications that can be perused by cell phones. Under the plan China has utilised since February, clients are given a traffic-signal style health status code, with a green code permitting somebody to travel uninhibitedly, and an orange or red code showing that they have to isolate for as long as about fourteen days. The codes depend on a mix of enormous information and data presented by the clients themselves. The innovation was created by monetary innovation goliath Ant Financial and is accessible through its principle application Alipay yet in addition on WeChat, which has a place with Alipay's rival Tencent. Xi additionally required the re-opening of the worldwide economy, including reestablishing "worldwide and mechanical gracefully chains" and the "advancement of exchange of key clinical supplies". Resuming travel paths stays a test for most nations, with spikes in the illness making it hard for specialists to lift travel limitations. A movement bubble among Singapore and Hong Kong, for instance, was delayed right away before it was because of the start this end of the week because of an abrupt spike in cases in Hong Kong. 'Trojan Horse' In a tweet, the leader head of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth communicated an alert over Xi's proposition. "An underlying spotlight on wellbeing could without much of a stretch become a Trojan Horse for more extensive political observing and avoidance," he said. The city of Hangzhou has said it intends to make a perpetual rendition of the QR code-based programming, which would be utilized to allot residents an individual score dependent on their clinical history, wellbeing registration, and way of life propensities. QR codes have been utilised diversely in Singapore and Australia, for contract following, with occupants utilizing them to look into and out of spots, they visit, including shopping centers, eateries, and their work environments.

Chinese President Xi Jinping pushes for QR code based global travel system

President Emmanuel Macron on&nbsp;Friday accused Turkey and Russia of seeking to promote anti-French sentiment in Africa by funding people who whip up resentment against France through the media.

"We must not be naive on this subject: many of those who speak, who make videos, who are present in the French-speaking media are funded by Russia or Turkey," he told Jeune Afrique magazine, accusing Moscow and Ankara of seeking "to play on post-colonial resentment" in Africa.

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Macron's latest statement comes amid&nbsp;increasing conflict with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who had asked him for getting&nbsp;''mental health check-ups'' due to his stance on the cartoons of Prophet Mohammad.
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France wants international supervision to implement a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict amid concerns in Paris that Russia and Turkey could strike a deal to cut out Western powers from future peace talks, the presidency said on Thursday.

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Macron ruled out negotiating with jihadist groups in the Sahel region of Africa, where France has a thousands-strong force deployed, in an interview published Friday.

"We don't talk with terrorists. We fight," Macron told the Jeune Afrique magazine, as debates intensify in France and Africa over the long-term strategy of the Barkhane force.

In a wide-ranging interview, he also accused Guinea's President Alpha Conde of organising a referendum on constitutional changes "solely to be able to keep power", adding that the situation in the country was "serious" following post-election unrest.

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday accused Turkey and Russia of seeking to promote anti-French sentiment in Africa by funding people who whip up resentment against France through the media.

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday accused Turkey and Russia of seeking to promote anti-French sentiment in Africa by funding people who whip up resentment against France through the media. "We must not be naive on this subject: many of those who speak, who make videos, who are present in the French-speaking media are funded by Russia or Turkey," he told Jeune Afrique magazine, accusing Moscow and Ankara of seeking "to play on post-colonial resentment" in Africa. × Macron's latest statement comes amid increasing conflict with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who had asked him for getting ''mental health check-ups'' due to his stance on the cartoons of Prophet Mohammad. France wants international supervision to implement a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict amid concerns in Paris that Russia and Turkey could strike a deal to cut out Western powers from future peace talks, the presidency said on Thursday. Macron ruled out negotiating with jihadist groups in the Sahel region of Africa, where France has a thousands-strong force deployed, in an interview published Friday. "We don't talk with terrorists. We fight," Macron told the Jeune Afrique magazine, as debates intensify in France and Africa over the long-term strategy of the Barkhane force. In a wide-ranging interview, he also accused Guinea's President Alpha Conde of organising a referendum on constitutional changes "solely to be able to keep power", adding that the situation in the country was "serious" following post-election unrest.

Turkey and Russia promoting anti-France sentiment, says Emmanuel Macron

Euro has defeated the dollar as the most widely used currency for global payments last month, according to a report from&nbsp;the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT).

This has happened for the first time since 2013. The European Union's single currency&nbsp;and the greenback were followed&nbsp;by the British pound and the Japanese yen. The Canadian dollar overwhelmed China's yuan for the fifth spot, SWIFT said.&nbsp;

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Trade upheaval, a pandemic-incited recession, and political disharmony reestablished strain to lessen the portion of global installments in dollars. The United States&nbsp;currency&nbsp;has debilitated over 11 per cent&nbsp;from its peak in March, in view of a Bloomberg list that estimates it against a bin of significant friends, and numerous spectators are foreseeing its valuation to drop further.&nbsp;

The dollar remains the top financing cash, with about portion of all cross-fringe credits and worldwide obligation protections named in the greenback, the Bank of International Settlements said in a July report. About 85&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of all unfamiliar trade exchanges happen against the dollar and it represents 61&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of authentic unfamiliar trade holds, the BIS stated, adding that about portion of global exchange is invoiced in the US&nbsp;money.&nbsp;

Quick deliveries the information in its month to month RMB Tracker on the renminbi's advancement toward turning into a global money.&nbsp;

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About 37.82&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of the Swift money moves were taken care of in euros a month ago, the biggest segment since February 2013. This was an expansion of in excess of 6 rate focuses from the finish of a year ago.&nbsp;

The US&nbsp;dollar's use fell about 4.6 rate focuses from December to 37.64&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of exchanges a month ago. The dollar crested at 45.3&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in April 2015. The British, Japanese and Canadian monetary standards together held 12.25&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of exchanges in October.&nbsp;

The yuan's offer tumbled to 1.66&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of exchanges, in its more terrible appearing since April. The Chinese cash was positioned 35th in October 2010, when Swift began following monetary forms along these lines. It advanced to the main six out of 2014, where is has general arrived at the midpoint of marginally not exactly a 2&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;share universally since.&nbsp;

Euro has defeated the dollar as the most widely used currency for global payments last month, according to a report from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT).

Euro has defeated the dollar as the most widely used currency for global payments last month, according to a report from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT). This has happened for the first time since 2013. The European Union's single currency and the greenback were followed by the British pound and the Japanese yen. The Canadian dollar overwhelmed China's yuan for the fifth spot, SWIFT said. Trade upheaval, a pandemic-incited recession, and political disharmony reestablished strain to lessen the portion of global installments in dollars. The United States currency has debilitated over 11 per cent from its peak in March, in view of a Bloomberg list that estimates it against a bin of significant friends, and numerous spectators are foreseeing its valuation to drop further. The dollar remains the top financing cash, with about portion of all cross-fringe credits and worldwide obligation protections named in the greenback, the Bank of International Settlements said in a July report. About 85 per cent of all unfamiliar trade exchanges happen against the dollar and it represents 61 per cent of authentic unfamiliar trade holds, the BIS stated, adding that about portion of global exchange is invoiced in the US money. Quick deliveries the information in its month to month RMB Tracker on the renminbi's advancement toward turning into a global money. × About 37.82 per cent of the Swift money moves were taken care of in euros a month ago, the biggest segment since February 2013. This was an expansion of in excess of 6 rate focuses from the finish of a year ago. The US dollar's use fell about 4.6 rate focuses from December to 37.64 per cent of exchanges a month ago. The dollar crested at 45.3 per cent in April 2015. The British, Japanese and Canadian monetary standards together held 12.25 per cent of exchanges in October. The yuan's offer tumbled to 1.66 per cent of exchanges, in its more terrible appearing since April. The Chinese cash was positioned 35th in October 2010, when Swift began following monetary forms along these lines. It advanced to the main six out of 2014, where is has general arrived at the midpoint of marginally not exactly a 2 per cent share universally since.

Euro beats dollar as payment currency for first time after 7 years

Armenian President&nbsp;Armen Sarkissian on Friday appointed Vagharshak Harutyunyan as the&nbsp;new defence minister for the country post criticism&nbsp;over a ceasefire that secured advances for Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh following six weeks of fighting.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan has previously served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;defence minister of Armenia&nbsp;from 1999 to 2000. He has replaced&nbsp;Davit Tonoyan&nbsp;who held the job&nbsp;since May 2018.

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Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994. That war left not only Nagorno-Karabakh itself but substantial surrounding territory in Armenian hands.

A huge number of demonstrators have requested Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan quit over the truce that finished the heaviest battling in a long time in Nagorno-Karabakh, an area that is inside Azerbaijan however chiefly populated by ethnic Armenians.&nbsp;

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/armenia-and-azerbaijan-a-decades-long-bloody-rivalry-330840">Armenia and Azerbaijan: A decades-long bloody rivalry</a>

Under the Russia-facilitated bargain, Nagorno-Karabakh's ethnic Armenian pioneers are giving over areas of an area which they had controlled for quite a long time yet had been kept on being globally perceived as a component of Azerbaijan.&nbsp;

During the ongoing battling, Azeri powers recovered huge pieces of an area that had been lost in a battle during the 1990s.&nbsp;

Azerbaijan's protection service said its powers had entered the Agdam locale, a region outside Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenian powers needed to surrender under the truce bargain.&nbsp;

Pashinyan, who has dismissed calls to leave, divulged a six-month activity plan on Wednesday which he said was intended to guarantee Armenia's solidness.&nbsp;

Before Tonoyan's excusal was declared, an underlying report by Armenian paper Aravot had said he had offered his acquiescence.

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on Friday appointed Vagharshak Harutyunyan as the new defence minister for the country post criticism over a ceasefire that secured advances for Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh following six weeks of fighting.

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on Friday appointed Vagharshak Harutyunyan as the new defence minister for the country post criticism over a ceasefire that secured advances for Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh following six weeks of fighting. Vagharshak Harutyunyan has previously served as the defence minister of Armenia from 1999 to 2000. He has replaced Davit Tonoyan who held the job since May 2018. Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994. That war left not only Nagorno-Karabakh itself but substantial surrounding territory in Armenian hands. A huge number of demonstrators have requested Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan quit over the truce that finished the heaviest battling in a long time in Nagorno-Karabakh, an area that is inside Azerbaijan however chiefly populated by ethnic Armenians. Also see: Armenia and Azerbaijan: A decades-long bloody rivalry Under the Russia-facilitated bargain, Nagorno-Karabakh's ethnic Armenian pioneers are giving over areas of an area which they had controlled for quite a long time yet had been kept on being globally perceived as a component of Azerbaijan. During the ongoing battling, Azeri powers recovered huge pieces of an area that had been lost in a battle during the 1990s. Azerbaijan's protection service said its powers had entered the Agdam locale, a region outside Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenian powers needed to surrender under the truce bargain. Pashinyan, who has dismissed calls to leave, divulged a six-month activity plan on Wednesday which he said was intended to guarantee Armenia's solidness. Before Tonoyan's excusal was declared, an underlying report by Armenian paper Aravot had said he had offered his acquiescence.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan appointed as Armenia's new defence minister

Members of Quad are&nbsp;stepping up the heat to counter China's belligerence and growing influence in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Australian leader Scott Morrison on Tuesday agreed in principle on a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that will more closely align the US&nbsp;allies through a legal framework allowing each other's troops to visit for training and to conduct joint military operations.

Suga said the agreement ensures "Further reinforcement of bilateral corporation in the areas of security, defense cooperation, economy, and others are enshrined in this statement and indeed I wish to strengthen Japan-Australia collaboration even further."

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said ''We expect to increase our regional cooperation in many forms and the Malabar exercise have been conducted together with the United States and together with India and we would expect to further expand our cooperation in those areas. That's the whole point of streamlining the arrangements with a status of forces agreement of this nature."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-pm-rebuffs-chinese-grievance-list-344020">Australian PM rebuffs Chinese grievance list</a>

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said "China is strongly dissatisfied and opposed to the unwarranted accusations against China in the statement issued following the leaders' meeting that grossly interfered in China's internal affairs.''

''The countries concerned should have a clear understanding of the situation and stop the wrongdoings that undermine China's sovereignty and interests and interfere in China's internal affairs," he added.

The agreement between Canberra and Tokyo, Japan's first with another country since a similar agreement with Washington in 1960, comes as the two countries work more closely with the United States and India as part of an informal grouping known as the "Quad" as they grow more concerned about Chinese activity in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

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Suga hosted foreign ministers from the&nbsp;Quad&nbsp;in Tokyo last month before heading to Vietnam and Indonesia to deepen ties with key Southeast Asian nations.

In a call with Suga on Thursday, President-elect Joe Biden said his incoming administration was committed to maintaining that close partnership.

To counter China, Suga last month visited Vietnam and Indonesia to bolster ties with key Southeast Asian allies. That followed a meeting in Tokyo of foreign ministers from the "Quad" an informal group of Japan, Australia, the United States, and India.

China, which insists its intentions in the Asia-Pacific region are peaceful, described the&nbsp;Quad, as a "mini-NATO" aimed at containing it.

The Japan-Australia agreement also came under similar criticism in China on Tuesday, with the state-backed newspaper the Global Times saying the United States "is using its two anchors in the Asia-Pacific region to push forward the construction of an Asian version of NATO."

&nbsp;

Members of Quad are stepping up the heat to counter China's belligerence and growing influence in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Australian leader Scott Morrison on Tuesday agreed in principle on a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that will more closely align the US allies through a legal framework allowing each other's troops to visit for training and to conduct joint military operations.

Members of Quad are stepping up the heat to counter China's belligerence and growing influence in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Australian leader Scott Morrison on Tuesday agreed in principle on a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that will more closely align the US allies through a legal framework allowing each other's troops to visit for training and to conduct joint military operations. Suga said the agreement ensures "Further reinforcement of bilateral corporation in the areas of security, defense cooperation, economy, and others are enshrined in this statement and indeed I wish to strengthen Japan-Australia collaboration even further." Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said ''We expect to increase our regional cooperation in many forms and the Malabar exercise have been conducted together with the United States and together with India and we would expect to further expand our cooperation in those areas. That's the whole point of streamlining the arrangements with a status of forces agreement of this nature." Also read: Australian PM rebuffs Chinese grievance list Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said "China is strongly dissatisfied and opposed to the unwarranted accusations against China in the statement issued following the leaders' meeting that grossly interfered in China's internal affairs.'' ''The countries concerned should have a clear understanding of the situation and stop the wrongdoings that undermine China's sovereignty and interests and interfere in China's internal affairs," he added. The agreement between Canberra and Tokyo, Japan's first with another country since a similar agreement with Washington in 1960, comes as the two countries work more closely with the United States and India as part of an informal grouping known as the "Quad" as they grow more concerned about Chinese activity in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. × Suga hosted foreign ministers from the Quad in Tokyo last month before heading to Vietnam and Indonesia to deepen ties with key Southeast Asian nations. In a call with Suga on Thursday, President-elect Joe Biden said his incoming administration was committed to maintaining that close partnership. To counter China, Suga last month visited Vietnam and Indonesia to bolster ties with key Southeast Asian allies. That followed a meeting in Tokyo of foreign ministers from the "Quad" an informal group of Japan, Australia, the United States, and India. China, which insists its intentions in the Asia-Pacific region are peaceful, described the Quad, as a "mini-NATO" aimed at containing it. The Japan-Australia agreement also came under similar criticism in China on Tuesday, with the state-backed newspaper the Global Times saying the United States "is using its two anchors in the Asia-Pacific region to push forward the construction of an Asian version of NATO."

Quad: Japan, Australia align to counter China's growing regional influence

India, Australia, Japan, and the United States began the second phase of the Malabar naval exercise in the northern Arabian Sea, with all four countries keeping a wary eye on China's growing military power.

The mega exercise is taking place at a time India and China are locked in an over six-month-long bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh.

The four nations make up the so-called&nbsp;Quad&nbsp;group (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), established in 2007 to counter growing Chinese influence. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/second-phase-of-malabar-exercise-begins-in-northern-arabian-sea-343766" hreflang="en">Second phase of Malabar exercise begins in northern Arabian Sea</a>

Indian Navy's fleet tanker ship INS Deepak carried out wargame drills during the second phase of the ongoing exercise joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday.

Earlier,&nbsp;Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya carried out wargame drills along with US-made supercarrier USS Nimitz and Japanese and Australian warships during the second phase of joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/malabar-military-exercise-2020-india-us-japan-australian-navies-to-set-sail-339090" hreflang="en">Malabar military exercise 2020: India, US, Japan &amp; Australian navies to set sail</a>

India, the United States, Japan, and Australia began their largest joint naval exercises in over a decade earlier this month, seen as part of efforts to balance China's vast military and economic power in the region.

The annual "Malabar" wargames that India holds with the United States and Japan have been expanded to include Australia this year to cover all members of the&nbsp;Quad, an informal group of the four largest democracies in the Indo-Pacific.

The first phase of the Malabar exercise took place in the Bay of Bengal from November 3 to 6 and featured a number of complex drills including anti-submarine and anti-air warfare operations.

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The Australian Navy has deployed its HMAS Ballarat, an Anzac-class frigate while the Japanese Navy has sent its leading destroyer JS Murasame for the exercise.

This exercise is involving coordinated operations of increasing complexity among the navies of the four countries which are part of the Quad or Quadrilateral Coalition, officials said.

"The two carriers, along with other ships, submarines, and aircraft of the participating navies, would be engaged in high-intensity naval operations over four days," the Indian Navy said on Monday.

A carrier battle group or carrier strike group is a mega naval fleet comprising an aircraft carrier, accompanied by a large number of destroyers, frigates and other ships.

The Navy said the exercise will include cross-deck flying operations and advanced air defence exercises by MIG 29K fighters of Vikramaditya and F-18 fighters and E2C Hawkeye from Nimitz.

Apart from Vikramaditya and its fighter and helicopter air-wings, the Indian Navy is also deploying destroyers Kolkata and Chennai, stealth frigate Talwar and fleet support ship Deepak in the exercise.

The Indian contingent is being led by Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.

Last month, India announced that Australia will be part of the Malabar exercise which effectively made it a drill by all four member nations of the Quad which is primarily focusing on containing China's military expansionism in the Indo-Pacific region.

China has been suspicious about the purpose of the Malabar exercise as it feels that the annual war game is an effort to contain its influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Global Times ran a piece that said the exercise "is an obvious step toward the establishment of a mini-version of NATO in Asia."

The invitation by India to the Australian Navy for the exercise came two weeks after foreign ministers of the 'Quad' member nations held extensive talks in Tokyo with a focus on enhancing their cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

The Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral drill between the Indian Navy and the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. Japan became a permanent member of the exercise in 2015.

India, Australia, Japan, and the United States began the second phase of the Malabar naval exercise in the northern Arabian Sea, with all four countries keeping a wary eye on China's growing military power.

India, Australia, Japan, and the United States began the second phase of the Malabar naval exercise in the northern Arabian Sea, with all four countries keeping a wary eye on China's growing military power. The mega exercise is taking place at a time India and China are locked in an over six-month-long bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh. The four nations make up the so-called Quad group (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), established in 2007 to counter growing Chinese influence. Also read: Second phase of Malabar exercise begins in northern Arabian Sea Indian Navy's fleet tanker ship INS Deepak carried out wargame drills during the second phase of the ongoing exercise joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday. Earlier, Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya carried out wargame drills along with US-made supercarrier USS Nimitz and Japanese and Australian warships during the second phase of joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday. Also see| Malabar military exercise 2020: India, US, Japan & Australian navies to set sail India, the United States, Japan, and Australia began their largest joint naval exercises in over a decade earlier this month, seen as part of efforts to balance China's vast military and economic power in the region. The annual "Malabar" wargames that India holds with the United States and Japan have been expanded to include Australia this year to cover all members of the Quad, an informal group of the four largest democracies in the Indo-Pacific. The first phase of the Malabar exercise took place in the Bay of Bengal from November 3 to 6 and featured a number of complex drills including anti-submarine and anti-air warfare operations. × The Australian Navy has deployed its HMAS Ballarat, an Anzac-class frigate while the Japanese Navy has sent its leading destroyer JS Murasame for the exercise. This exercise is involving coordinated operations of increasing complexity among the navies of the four countries which are part of the Quad or Quadrilateral Coalition, officials said. "The two carriers, along with other ships, submarines, and aircraft of the participating navies, would be engaged in high-intensity naval operations over four days," the Indian Navy said on Monday. A carrier battle group or carrier strike group is a mega naval fleet comprising an aircraft carrier, accompanied by a large number of destroyers, frigates and other ships. The Navy said the exercise will include cross-deck flying operations and advanced air defence exercises by MIG 29K fighters of Vikramaditya and F-18 fighters and E2C Hawkeye from Nimitz. Apart from Vikramaditya and its fighter and helicopter air-wings, the Indian Navy is also deploying destroyers Kolkata and Chennai, stealth frigate Talwar and fleet support ship Deepak in the exercise. The Indian contingent is being led by Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. Last month, India announced that Australia will be part of the Malabar exercise which effectively made it a drill by all four member nations of the Quad which is primarily focusing on containing China's military expansionism in the Indo-Pacific region. China has been suspicious about the purpose of the Malabar exercise as it feels that the annual war game is an effort to contain its influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Global Times ran a piece that said the exercise "is an obvious step toward the establishment of a mini-version of NATO in Asia." The invitation by India to the Australian Navy for the exercise came two weeks after foreign ministers of the 'Quad' member nations held extensive talks in Tokyo with a focus on enhancing their cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral drill between the Indian Navy and the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. Japan became a permanent member of the exercise in 2015.

Malabar exercise: Quad evolving from an informal partnership to a strategic alliance

New research on the connection between climate change and winter drownings has found that reported drowning deaths are increasing exponentially in areas with warmer winters.

The study, published Wednesday in the journal PLoS One, looked at drownings in 10 countries in the Northern Hemisphere. The largest number of drownings occurred when air temperatures were just below the freezing point, between minus 5 degrees Celsius and 0 Celsius (between 23 degrees Fahrenheit and 32 Fahrenheit).

Some of the sharpest increases were in areas where Indigenous customs and livelihood require extended time on ice. Across the countries studied, children under the age of 9 and teenagers and adults between 15 and 39 were the most vulnerable to winter drowning accidents.

Sapna Sharma, an associate professor of biology at York University in Toronto and a lead author of the study, said people did not always realize how global warming is increasing the risks that come with winter traditions like skating, ice fishing and snowmobiling.

“I think there’s a disconnect between climate change and the local, everyday impacts,” Sharma said. “If you think about climate change in winter, you’re thinking about polar bears and ice sheets, but not about these activities that are just ingrained in our culture.”

Those ingrained habits can lead to a false sense of security, Sharma said.

“It might be minus 20 Celsius today and tomorrow and the weekend, but last week it was 15 Celsius,” she said. “Well, we might have forgotten as individuals that it was warm and sunny last week on a Tuesday, but the ice didn’t forget.”

The lack of sustained cold, which leads to more freeze-thaw events, is crucial. Each time ice thaws and refreezes, it gets a little weaker — and it can stay that way for the remainder of the cold season.

“Milder temperatures mean that the ice is not as thick, or not as solid as it would otherwise be,” said Robert McLeman, a professor of geography and environmental studies at Wilfrid Laurier University who was not involved in the study. “And so people are going out onto it and not realizing that the ice is rotten.”

The authors compared death records and temperature data in Canada, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Finland, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Japan, and the northern United States. They analyzed about 4,000 total records over a span of 26 years, though the time period varied depending on the available data in each country.

The researchers found that more cold-weather drownings occur in spring when daily low temperatures increase too much to support stable ice structures. At the same time, those warmer temperatures make it more enjoyable to spend time outdoors, meaning more people are spending time on ice.

Northern Canada and Alaska have higher rates of drowning, even in very cold temperatures. Sharma said that is probably because people there simply spend more time on the ice. Indigenous communities close to the Arctic rely on waterways for food and transportation, which means more time on the ice in winter and an increased risk of drowning.

The coronavirus pandemic could also put more people at risk.

“If this winter is anything like this summer was,” Sharma said, “a lot of people spent time in cottage country in Ontario because we just can’t go anywhere.”

She said that ice with sitting water, slush, or holes in the surface was generally unsafe.

“Snow cover is when it gets tricky,” Sharma said. “People think there’s so much snow on the ice, the ice must be thick,” but snow can also act as insulation, melting the ice more quickly.

“We need to, as individuals adapt our decision-making,” she added, and focus on how changing winters affect rivers, lakes and streams. “It may not be as safe now as it was 30 years or 40 years ago.”

New research on the connection between climate change and winter drownings has found that reported drowning deaths are increasing exponentially in areas with warmer winters.

New research on the connection between climate change and winter drownings has found that reported drowning deaths are increasing exponentially in areas with warmer winters. The study, published Wednesday in the journal PLoS One, looked at drownings in 10 countries in the Northern Hemisphere. The largest number of drownings occurred when air temperatures were just below the freezing point, between minus 5 degrees Celsius and 0 Celsius (between 23 degrees Fahrenheit and 32 Fahrenheit). Some of the sharpest increases were in areas where Indigenous customs and livelihood require extended time on ice. Across the countries studied, children under the age of 9 and teenagers and adults between 15 and 39 were the most vulnerable to winter drowning accidents. Sapna Sharma, an associate professor of biology at York University in Toronto and a lead author of the study, said people did not always realize how global warming is increasing the risks that come with winter traditions like skating, ice fishing and snowmobiling. “I think there’s a disconnect between climate change and the local, everyday impacts,” Sharma said. “If you think about climate change in winter, you’re thinking about polar bears and ice sheets, but not about these activities that are just ingrained in our culture.” Those ingrained habits can lead to a false sense of security, Sharma said. “It might be minus 20 Celsius today and tomorrow and the weekend, but last week it was 15 Celsius,” she said. “Well, we might have forgotten as individuals that it was warm and sunny last week on a Tuesday, but the ice didn’t forget.” The lack of sustained cold, which leads to more freeze-thaw events, is crucial. Each time ice thaws and refreezes, it gets a little weaker — and it can stay that way for the remainder of the cold season. “Milder temperatures mean that the ice is not as thick, or not as solid as it would otherwise be,” said Robert McLeman, a professor of geography and environmental studies at Wilfrid Laurier University who was not involved in the study. “And so people are going out onto it and not realizing that the ice is rotten.” The authors compared death records and temperature data in Canada, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Finland, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Japan, and the northern United States. They analyzed about 4,000 total records over a span of 26 years, though the time period varied depending on the available data in each country. The researchers found that more cold-weather drownings occur in spring when daily low temperatures increase too much to support stable ice structures. At the same time, those warmer temperatures make it more enjoyable to spend time outdoors, meaning more people are spending time on ice. Northern Canada and Alaska have higher rates of drowning, even in very cold temperatures. Sharma said that is probably because people there simply spend more time on the ice. Indigenous communities close to the Arctic rely on waterways for food and transportation, which means more time on the ice in winter and an increased risk of drowning. The coronavirus pandemic could also put more people at risk. “If this winter is anything like this summer was,” Sharma said, “a lot of people spent time in cottage country in Ontario because we just can’t go anywhere.” She said that ice with sitting water, slush, or holes in the surface was generally unsafe. “Snow cover is when it gets tricky,” Sharma said. “People think there’s so much snow on the ice, the ice must be thick,” but snow can also act as insulation, melting the ice more quickly. “We need to, as individuals adapt our decision-making,” she added, and focus on how changing winters affect rivers, lakes and streams. “It may not be as safe now as it was 30 years or 40 years ago.”

Climate change is making winter ice more dangerous

In a bold move to refurbish their sullied image in Washington, the Palestinians are laying the groundwork for an overhaul to one of their most cherished but controversial practices, officials say: compensating those who serve time in Israeli prisons, including for violent attacks.

That policy, which critics call “pay to slay,” has long been denounced by Israel and its supporters as giving an incentive to terrorism because it assures would-be attackers that their dependents will be well cared for. And because payments are based largely on the length of the prison sentence, critics say the most heinous crimes are the most rewarded.

In a bipartisan rebuke to the system, Congress repeatedly passed legislation to reduce aid to the Palestinians by the amount of those payments. The payments were cited by the Trump administration when it cut off funding and took other punitive measures against the Palestinians starting in 2018.

Now, however, Palestinian officials eager to make a fresh start with the incoming Biden administration — and to have those punitive measures rolled back — are heeding the advice of sympathetic Democrats who have repeatedly warned that without an end to the payments, it would be impossible for the new administration to do any heavy lifting on their behalf.

The proposal being hammered out in Ramallah would give the families of Palestinian prisoners stipends based on their financial need instead of how long they are behind bars, said Qadri Abu Bakr, the chairman of the Palestinian Authority’s Prisoners Affairs Commission.

“Economic need must serve as the basis,” Abu Bakr said in a phone interview. “A single man should not be earning the same as someone with a family.”

The plan, which has not been publicly announced, is only the latest in a flurry of moves the Palestinians are making to try to reboot their international relations. On Tuesday, they acquiesced to widespread diplomatic pressure and resumed cooperation with Israel on security and civil matters after a six-month boycott. And on Wednesday, they said they had returned their emissaries to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, after recalling them in protest of those countries’ normalization agreements with Israel.

The details of the proposed changes to the prisoner payment system have not been finalized, Abu Bakr said, and will require the approval of the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas.

It is not yet clear whether de-linking the payments from the crime will satisfy the system’s strongest critics if any payments to prisoners continue.

But the proposal is almost certain to stir intense pushback from many Palestinians, who have long revered prisoners as heroes and freedom fighters.

The status of prisoners may be the most emotionally charged issue on the Palestinian street: One of the biggest protest movements in the West Bank in recent years was in support of prisoners who mounted a hunger strike in 2017. In May, when some Palestinian banks complied with an Israeli military order barring them from distributing the payments to the prisoners’ families, gunmen opened fire on several of the banks’ branches.

The Palestinians have made payments to prisoners of Israel for decades, defending them as critical compensation for an unfair military justice system and necessary to provide income for families who have lost their primary breadwinners.

Under the current system, the Palestinian Authority pays larger stipends to prisoners who have spent longer times in prison, with little regard for their families’ economic welfare. For example, someone who has spent 35 years in prison could earn thousands of dollars a month; someone in prison for four years might receive hundreds.

Ashraf al-Ajrami, a former minister of prisoner affairs, said he fully expected that the public “would respond angrily” to the proposed changes. But he acknowledged that the Palestinian Authority was eager to change the system because of the diplomatic toll it had taken.

Asked about the plan, relatives of inmates expressed disbelief and disgust.

“This is 100% unacceptable and shameful,” said Qassam Barghouti, the son of Marwan Barghouti, who was convicted by Israel of five counts of murder and is serving multiple life sentences.

“The prisoners are not a social welfare issue,” he added. “People are paid more for spending longer periods of time in prison to recognize their sacrifices: The more time you spend behind bars, the greater your value to your society is.”

Officials said they also plan to require released prisoners to take public-sector jobs. Many former prisoners are paid what amount to monthly pensions for sitting idle, Abu Bakr said.

“We shouldn’t be delivering salaries to people for doing nothing,” he said, noting that his commission had already distributed questionnaires to former prisoners about their job preferences. “They should work for them.”

Officials said they also planned to overhaul payments to families of assailants and others killed by Israelis — another extremely sensitive issue among Palestinians, who refer to them as martyrs. While officials said the Palestinians intended to start strictly tying these payments to financial need, the details of how they would do so remained unclear.

The details will matter. Israelis who have harped on the payments for years said they would need to be convinced that the changes were more than cosmetic.

“They finally understand that they have to do something,” said Yossi Kuperwasser, a retired general in military intelligence who is one of most outspoken critics of the payments. “That’s a good thing. But we need to be watchful. I’m still suspicious.”

And some critics consider any payments to the families of prisoners too much.

“A terrorist needs to know that when he takes part in terrorism, his family won’t receive any money from the Palestinian Authority because he has entered prison in Israel,” said Avi Dichter, a Likud lawmaker.

Since early last year, Israel has pressured the Palestinians to stop the payments by withholding part of the more than $100 million it collects in taxes each month on their behalf.

Talks aimed at getting the Palestinians to end the system took on urgency about two months ago, several people involved said. Nickolay Mladenov, the U.N. envoy to the Middle East, along with diplomats from Norway and Germany, were described as instrumental in pressing the Palestinians.

As a Biden victory began to look more likely, Washington think tanks organized numerous Zoom calls with Palestinian officials in which Democratic officials explained why it was vital to end the payment system if the Palestinians had any hope of getting Biden to undo the Trump administration’s moves — like reopening a Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington that Trump had shuttered.

Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, have promised to restore at least some aid and to reopen the diplomatic mission.

But as a practical matter, participants in the calls told the Palestinians, the Biden administration — with little bandwidth for the Middle East and needing to husband every bit of its political capital — would be unable to do much for them unless “pay to slay” was abolished. An act of Congress requires that system to be reformed before much of the aid can be restored.

A State Department official said that the United States “strongly condemns the Palestinian Authority’s practice of paying terrorists or their families and would welcome its immediate cessation.”

Nimrod Novik, a former aide to Prime Minister Shimon Peres and longtime advocate for a two-state solution, said that Palestinian leaders were readily persuaded. But it remained for them to come up with a formula that would satisfy scrutiny from both sides of the conflict and then to figure out how to “put a bulletproof vest around it” to withstand what was expected to be an angry response from the Palestinian public.

Like others apprehensive about popular dissatisfaction, Novik questioned the wisdom of publicly discussing the proposal now.

“The way to sell it is if it comes in a package,” Novik said, such as in exchange for a concrete move by the incoming Biden administration. “Now, it’s in isolation, as a down payment for goodwill. Once it’s in the public domain, the price will be paid.”

In a bold move to refurbish their sullied image in Washington, the Palestinians are laying the groundwork for an overhaul to one of their most cherished but controversial practices, officials say: compensating those who serve time in Israeli prisons, including for violent attacks.

In a bold move to refurbish their sullied image in Washington, the Palestinians are laying the groundwork for an overhaul to one of their most cherished but controversial practices, officials say: compensating those who serve time in Israeli prisons, including for violent attacks. That policy, which critics call “pay to slay,” has long been denounced by Israel and its supporters as giving an incentive to terrorism because it assures would-be attackers that their dependents will be well cared for. And because payments are based largely on the length of the prison sentence, critics say the most heinous crimes are the most rewarded. In a bipartisan rebuke to the system, Congress repeatedly passed legislation to reduce aid to the Palestinians by the amount of those payments. The payments were cited by the Trump administration when it cut off funding and took other punitive measures against the Palestinians starting in 2018. Now, however, Palestinian officials eager to make a fresh start with the incoming Biden administration — and to have those punitive measures rolled back — are heeding the advice of sympathetic Democrats who have repeatedly warned that without an end to the payments, it would be impossible for the new administration to do any heavy lifting on their behalf. The proposal being hammered out in Ramallah would give the families of Palestinian prisoners stipends based on their financial need instead of how long they are behind bars, said Qadri Abu Bakr, the chairman of the Palestinian Authority’s Prisoners Affairs Commission. “Economic need must serve as the basis,” Abu Bakr said in a phone interview. “A single man should not be earning the same as someone with a family.” The plan, which has not been publicly announced, is only the latest in a flurry of moves the Palestinians are making to try to reboot their international relations. On Tuesday, they acquiesced to widespread diplomatic pressure and resumed cooperation with Israel on security and civil matters after a six-month boycott. And on Wednesday, they said they had returned their emissaries to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, after recalling them in protest of those countries’ normalization agreements with Israel. The details of the proposed changes to the prisoner payment system have not been finalized, Abu Bakr said, and will require the approval of the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas. It is not yet clear whether de-linking the payments from the crime will satisfy the system’s strongest critics if any payments to prisoners continue. But the proposal is almost certain to stir intense pushback from many Palestinians, who have long revered prisoners as heroes and freedom fighters. The status of prisoners may be the most emotionally charged issue on the Palestinian street: One of the biggest protest movements in the West Bank in recent years was in support of prisoners who mounted a hunger strike in 2017. In May, when some Palestinian banks complied with an Israeli military order barring them from distributing the payments to the prisoners’ families, gunmen opened fire on several of the banks’ branches. The Palestinians have made payments to prisoners of Israel for decades, defending them as critical compensation for an unfair military justice system and necessary to provide income for families who have lost their primary breadwinners. Under the current system, the Palestinian Authority pays larger stipends to prisoners who have spent longer times in prison, with little regard for their families’ economic welfare. For example, someone who has spent 35 years in prison could earn thousands of dollars a month; someone in prison for four years might receive hundreds. Ashraf al-Ajrami, a former minister of prisoner affairs, said he fully expected that the public “would respond angrily” to the proposed changes. But he acknowledged that the Palestinian Authority was eager to change the system because of the diplomatic toll it had taken. Asked about the plan, relatives of inmates expressed disbelief and disgust. “This is 100% unacceptable and shameful,” said Qassam Barghouti, the son of Marwan Barghouti, who was convicted by Israel of five counts of murder and is serving multiple life sentences. “The prisoners are not a social welfare issue,” he added. “People are paid more for spending longer periods of time in prison to recognize their sacrifices: The more time you spend behind bars, the greater your value to your society is.” Officials said they also plan to require released prisoners to take public-sector jobs. Many former prisoners are paid what amount to monthly pensions for sitting idle, Abu Bakr said. “We shouldn’t be delivering salaries to people for doing nothing,” he said, noting that his commission had already distributed questionnaires to former prisoners about their job preferences. “They should work for them.” Officials said they also planned to overhaul payments to families of assailants and others killed by Israelis — another extremely sensitive issue among Palestinians, who refer to them as martyrs. While officials said the Palestinians intended to start strictly tying these payments to financial need, the details of how they would do so remained unclear. The details will matter. Israelis who have harped on the payments for years said they would need to be convinced that the changes were more than cosmetic. “They finally understand that they have to do something,” said Yossi Kuperwasser, a retired general in military intelligence who is one of most outspoken critics of the payments. “That’s a good thing. But we need to be watchful. I’m still suspicious.” And some critics consider any payments to the families of prisoners too much. “A terrorist needs to know that when he takes part in terrorism, his family won’t receive any money from the Palestinian Authority because he has entered prison in Israel,” said Avi Dichter, a Likud lawmaker. Since early last year, Israel has pressured the Palestinians to stop the payments by withholding part of the more than $100 million it collects in taxes each month on their behalf. Talks aimed at getting the Palestinians to end the system took on urgency about two months ago, several people involved said. Nickolay Mladenov, the U.N. envoy to the Middle East, along with diplomats from Norway and Germany, were described as instrumental in pressing the Palestinians. As a Biden victory began to look more likely, Washington think tanks organized numerous Zoom calls with Palestinian officials in which Democratic officials explained why it was vital to end the payment system if the Palestinians had any hope of getting Biden to undo the Trump administration’s moves — like reopening a Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington that Trump had shuttered. Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, have promised to restore at least some aid and to reopen the diplomatic mission. But as a practical matter, participants in the calls told the Palestinians, the Biden administration — with little bandwidth for the Middle East and needing to husband every bit of its political capital — would be unable to do much for them unless “pay to slay” was abolished. An act of Congress requires that system to be reformed before much of the aid can be restored. A State Department official said that the United States “strongly condemns the Palestinian Authority’s practice of paying terrorists or their families and would welcome its immediate cessation.” Nimrod Novik, a former aide to Prime Minister Shimon Peres and longtime advocate for a two-state solution, said that Palestinian leaders were readily persuaded. But it remained for them to come up with a formula that would satisfy scrutiny from both sides of the conflict and then to figure out how to “put a bulletproof vest around it” to withstand what was expected to be an angry response from the Palestinian public. Like others apprehensive about popular dissatisfaction, Novik questioned the wisdom of publicly discussing the proposal now. “The way to sell it is if it comes in a package,” Novik said, such as in exchange for a concrete move by the incoming Biden administration. “Now, it’s in isolation, as a down payment for goodwill. Once it’s in the public domain, the price will be paid.”

Seeking restart with Biden, Palestinians eye end to prisoner payments

Terming Pakistan a "producer, sponsor and exporter of terrorism", scores of people on Thursday took to the streets of Kabul to protest against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan`s maiden visit to Afghanistan.

The demonstrators were seen carrying banners and pamphlets denouncing Pakistan`s "hypocritic policy". They raised slogans against Pakistan and Khan.

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One of the banners read: "Pakistan producer sponsor and exporter of terrorism". Similar protests were also reported in southeastern Paktia and Khost provinces against Khan`s visit.

Imran Khan arrived in Kabul on Thursday on his first official visit to meet with President Ashraf Ghani and other Afghan leaders to discuss the Afghan peace process and bilateral ties.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-imran-khan-vows-to-help-stem-afghan-bloodshed-344142" hreflang="en">Pakistan's Imran Khan vows to help stem Afghan bloodshed</a>

His visit comes at a time when the country is witnessing an escalation of violence despite ongoing talks between the Afghan government and Taliban in Doha.

Pakistan has been long blamed for abetting terrorists and creating instability in the war-torn nation. Though Islamabad has claimed that it supports peace in Afghanistan, experts believe Pakistan has backed the Taliban which has killed thousands of innocent civilians.

Experts have accused Pakistan of giving asylum to terrorists hiding from Afghan forces and sending fighters to support the Taliban.

According to a report by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), around 6,500 Pakistan terrorists are operating in Afghanistan most of them belonging to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The 26th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIS, al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities stated that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a "large terrorist group present in Afghanistan", has claimed responsibility for various high-profile attacks in Pakistan and has facilitated others by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Lahskhar-e-Islam, the report said.

Recently, a European think tank--European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS)-- in a report had said that Pakistan is involved in stoking the present escalation of Taliban violence in Afghanistan.

"If Pakistan possessed enough leverage over the Taliban to get it to the negotiating table with the US, it certainly should have the clout to get the Taliban to eschew violence at a time when such violence is threatening to tear apart the US-Taliban agreement that was consequently reached," the think tank reported.

The think tank also cited papers written by the US-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which interestingly, touched upon Pakistan`s role in stoking instability in Afghanistan stated, "The Taliban`s Quetta Shura, or senior military leadership council, continues to reside in Pakistan, as do the Taliban's regional shuras that support the Afghan war... If Pakistan is unhelpful--or even counterproductive--in preventing stalled negotiations, the United States could consider suspending or terminating Pakistan`s non-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (non-NATO) ally status, which offers military and financial advantages that generally are not available to non-NATO countries."&nbsp;

Terming Pakistan a "producer, sponsor and exporter of terrorism", scores of people on Thursday took to the streets of Kabul to protest against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan`s maiden visit to Afghanistan.

Terming Pakistan a "producer, sponsor and exporter of terrorism", scores of people on Thursday took to the streets of Kabul to protest against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan`s maiden visit to Afghanistan. The demonstrators were seen carrying banners and pamphlets denouncing Pakistan`s "hypocritic policy". They raised slogans against Pakistan and Khan. One of the banners read: "Pakistan producer sponsor and exporter of terrorism". Similar protests were also reported in southeastern Paktia and Khost provinces against Khan`s visit. Imran Khan arrived in Kabul on Thursday on his first official visit to meet with President Ashraf Ghani and other Afghan leaders to discuss the Afghan peace process and bilateral ties. Also read: Pakistan's Imran Khan vows to help stem Afghan bloodshed His visit comes at a time when the country is witnessing an escalation of violence despite ongoing talks between the Afghan government and Taliban in Doha. Pakistan has been long blamed for abetting terrorists and creating instability in the war-torn nation. Though Islamabad has claimed that it supports peace in Afghanistan, experts believe Pakistan has backed the Taliban which has killed thousands of innocent civilians. Experts have accused Pakistan of giving asylum to terrorists hiding from Afghan forces and sending fighters to support the Taliban. According to a report by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), around 6,500 Pakistan terrorists are operating in Afghanistan most of them belonging to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The 26th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIS, al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities stated that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a "large terrorist group present in Afghanistan", has claimed responsibility for various high-profile attacks in Pakistan and has facilitated others by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Lahskhar-e-Islam, the report said. Recently, a European think tank--European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS)-- in a report had said that Pakistan is involved in stoking the present escalation of Taliban violence in Afghanistan. "If Pakistan possessed enough leverage over the Taliban to get it to the negotiating table with the US, it certainly should have the clout to get the Taliban to eschew violence at a time when such violence is threatening to tear apart the US-Taliban agreement that was consequently reached," the think tank reported. The think tank also cited papers written by the US-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which interestingly, touched upon Pakistan`s role in stoking instability in Afghanistan stated, "The Taliban`s Quetta Shura, or senior military leadership council, continues to reside in Pakistan, as do the Taliban's regional shuras that support the Afghan war... If Pakistan is unhelpful--or even counterproductive--in preventing stalled negotiations, the United States could consider suspending or terminating Pakistan`s non-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (non-NATO) ally status, which offers military and financial advantages that generally are not available to non-NATO countries."

Protest in Afghanistan against Imran Khan visit, call Pak sponsor of terrorism

Global technology companies have told the Pakistan government that its "draconian" data regulations would make it extremely difficult for them to continue their operations, two days after the IT ministry notified rules to define how social media will be governed in the country, according to a media report on Friday.

Under the new rules announced by the Ministry of Information and Technology on Wednesday, social media companies and internet service providers shall provide the designated investigation agency with any information or data is decrypted, readable and comprehensible format, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-russia-sign-revised-gas-deal-rename-project-report-344135" hreflang="en">Pak, Russia sign revised gas deal, rename project: Report</a>

Subject to justifiable technical limitations, the information to be provided may include subscriber information, traffic data, content data and any other information or data.

In a statement, the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), which exclusively represents leading global internet companies on matters of public policy, expressed its alarm over the scope of a new law targeting internet companies, as well as the government's ''opaque process''&nbsp;by which their rules were developed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-imran-khan-vows-to-help-stem-afghan-bloodshed-344142" hreflang="en">Pakistan's Imran Khan vows to help stem Afghan bloodshed</a>

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Imran Khan promised to initiate a ''broad-based''&nbsp;consultation on content regulation after a strong backlash from stakeholders over the release of formally known as the Citizen Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020.

''The consultation that was announced in February never occurred,''&nbsp;AIC managing director Jeff Paine regretted in the statement. 
The tech companies warned that the rules would make it extremely difficult for the AIC members to make their services available to Pakistani users and businesses.

''The draconian data localisation requirements will damage the ability of people to access a free and open internet and shut Pakistan's digital economy off from the rest of the world,''&nbsp;the AIC said.

Since February when the rules were first released, the AIC has repeatedly urged the government to adopt a comprehensive consultation strategy.

Earlier in October, the AIC had expressed its reservations over the consultation process in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Khan.

''The lack of transparency on the consultation, an abbreviated consultation process, and strict local office requirements for online platforms are very concerning,''&nbsp;Paine had stated.

''The consultation process therefore appears to have lost credibility,''&nbsp;it said.

AIC has said if Pakistan wanted to be an attractive destination for technology investment and realise its goal of digital transformation, then it should work with industry on practical, clear rules that protect the benefits of the internet and keep people safe from harm. 
Pakistani social media users and rights groups have already rejected the latest notification of the rules by the government.

Global technology companies have told the Pakistan government that its "draconian" data regulations would make it extremely difficult for them to continue their operations, two days after the IT ministry notified rules to define how social media will be governed in the country, according to a media report on Friday.

Global technology companies have told the Pakistan government that its "draconian" data regulations would make it extremely difficult for them to continue their operations, two days after the IT ministry notified rules to define how social media will be governed in the country, according to a media report on Friday. Under the new rules announced by the Ministry of Information and Technology on Wednesday, social media companies and internet service providers shall provide the designated investigation agency with any information or data is decrypted, readable and comprehensible format, the Dawn newspaper reported. Also read: Pak, Russia sign revised gas deal, rename project: Report Subject to justifiable technical limitations, the information to be provided may include subscriber information, traffic data, content data and any other information or data. In a statement, the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), which exclusively represents leading global internet companies on matters of public policy, expressed its alarm over the scope of a new law targeting internet companies, as well as the government's ''opaque process'' by which their rules were developed. Also read: Pakistan's Imran Khan vows to help stem Afghan bloodshed Earlier this year, Prime Minister Imran Khan promised to initiate a ''broad-based'' consultation on content regulation after a strong backlash from stakeholders over the release of formally known as the Citizen Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020. ''The consultation that was announced in February never occurred,'' AIC managing director Jeff Paine regretted in the statement. The tech companies warned that the rules would make it extremely difficult for the AIC members to make their services available to Pakistani users and businesses. ''The draconian data localisation requirements will damage the ability of people to access a free and open internet and shut Pakistan's digital economy off from the rest of the world,'' the AIC said. Since February when the rules were first released, the AIC has repeatedly urged the government to adopt a comprehensive consultation strategy. Earlier in October, the AIC had expressed its reservations over the consultation process in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Khan. ''The lack of transparency on the consultation, an abbreviated consultation process, and strict local office requirements for online platforms are very concerning,'' Paine had stated. ''The consultation process therefore appears to have lost credibility,'' it said. AIC has said if Pakistan wanted to be an attractive destination for technology investment and realise its goal of digital transformation, then it should work with industry on practical, clear rules that protect the benefits of the internet and keep people safe from harm. Pakistani social media users and rights groups have already rejected the latest notification of the rules by the government.

'Draconian' data regulations will make operations difficult in Pakistan: Tech firms to government

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Vyomica Berry

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