The United Nations celebrated its&nbsp;75th-anniversary this year with the&nbsp;mantra that "multilateralism is not an option but a necessity''.

However, there has been growing criticism of the body, which has not been reformed in decades.

UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir on Tuesday criticised the Security Council, saying it was failing to respond to the world's biggest challenges due to "competing interests."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-un-general-assembly-president-volkan-bozkir-assails-security-council-343756" hreflang="en">Now, UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir assails Security Council</a>

India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador T S Tirumurti, speaking in the UN General Assembly, said ''Today's Security Council is an impaired organ. It has been unable to act with credibility essentially due to its unrepresentative nature. But then, what is happening inside the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN)&nbsp;process, which we seem to be wedded to?''

Earlier,&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday called&nbsp;for an overhaul of international cooperation mechanisms adding that the&nbsp;United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is out of ''useful solutions''.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-security-council-out-of-useful-solutions-says-emmanuel-macron-343498" hreflang="en">United Nations Security Council out of 'useful solutions', says Emmanuel Macron</a>

For years, India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil have been trying to get a permanent seat to the UN security council but the UN charter is such that it gives permanent members the veto power to any resolution, including the expansion of membership.

The members of the&nbsp;United Nations Security Council include the United States, China, Britain, France, and Russia.

While the first four have backed India's permanent membership, China has time and again stalled it.&nbsp;China has also stonewalled the IGN&nbsp;or the inter-governmental negotiations by laying out impossible conditions.

China is&nbsp;using the IGN as a smoke-screen to prevent&nbsp;identification by paying lip-service to Security Council reform.

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During the debate on reform, the 193 UN members discussed the right to veto, the privilege of the five permanent members of the Security Council (United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom), enlarging the forum and its regional balance.

The Security Council, which can decide on international sanctions and the use of force, has 15 members. In addition to the five permanent nations, it has 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

The United Nations celebrated its 75th-anniversary this year with the mantra that "multilateralism is not an option but a necessity''. However, there has been growing criticism of the body, which has not been reformed in decades.

The United Nations celebrated its 75th-anniversary this year with the mantra that "multilateralism is not an option but a necessity''. However, there has been growing criticism of the body, which has not been reformed in decades. UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir on Tuesday criticised the Security Council, saying it was failing to respond to the world's biggest challenges due to "competing interests." Also read: Now, UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir assails Security Council India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador T S Tirumurti, speaking in the UN General Assembly, said ''Today's Security Council is an impaired organ. It has been unable to act with credibility essentially due to its unrepresentative nature. But then, what is happening inside the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) process, which we seem to be wedded to?'' Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for an overhaul of international cooperation mechanisms adding that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is out of ''useful solutions''. Also read: United Nations Security Council out of 'useful solutions', says Emmanuel Macron For years, India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil have been trying to get a permanent seat to the UN security council but the UN charter is such that it gives permanent members the veto power to any resolution, including the expansion of membership. The members of the United Nations Security Council include the United States, China, Britain, France, and Russia. While the first four have backed India's permanent membership, China has time and again stalled it. China has also stonewalled the IGN or the inter-governmental negotiations by laying out impossible conditions. China is using the IGN as a smoke-screen to prevent identification by paying lip-service to Security Council reform. × During the debate on reform, the 193 UN members discussed the right to veto, the privilege of the five permanent members of the Security Council (United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom), enlarging the forum and its regional balance. The Security Council, which can decide on international sanctions and the use of force, has 15 members. In addition to the five permanent nations, it has 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council

The Taliban on Wednesday welcomed the Pentagon's announcement it would soon pull about 2,000 US troops from Afghanistan as a "good step" that will help end the country's long-running conflict.

The Pentagon announced Tuesday that the US will slash troop levels in Afghanistan and Iraq to their lowest levels in nearly 20 years of war after President Donald Trump pledged to end conflicts abroad.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hasty-pullout-of-us-allied-troops-from-afghanistan-could-exact-very-high-price-nato-chief-stoltenberg-343712" hreflang="en">Hasty pullout of US &amp; allied troops from Afghanistan could exact 'very high' price: NATO chief Stoltenberg</a>

"It is a good step and in the interest of the people of both countries," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP, referring to the US and Afghanistan.

"The sooner the foreign forces leave, the more the war will be prevented."&nbsp;

Critics have expressed concerns that a precipitous departure could embolden the Taliban and erode gains made since 2001, when US-led forces ousted the hardline Islamists in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

The latest Pentagon move would see 2,000 US troops quit Afghanistan by January 15, less than a week before President-elect Joe Biden is expected to be sworn into office.

The withdrawal follows outgoing President Donald Trump's plan to end US military involvement in Afghanistan.

Under a deal signed February 29, the Trump administration agreed to pull all foreign forces from the country by May 2021.&nbsp;

In return, the Taliban promised not to attack US forces and said they would stop transnational jihadist groups like Al-Qaeda and Islamic State from operating in the country.

Germany, which has hundreds of troops in northern Afghanistan, on Wednesday said it was worried the speedy US withdrawal could affect the bid to find peace in Afghanistan.

"We are particularly concerned over what the US announcement could mean for the continuation of peace talks in Afghanistan," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

"We should not create additional hurdles -- something that a hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan would most certainly lead to".

The US-Taliban deal, signed in Doha, paved the way for peace talks to start between the Taliban and Afghan government on September 12.&nbsp;

In the months since, negotiators have made almost no tangible progress and talks now appeared stalled.

Afghan officials downplayed the US troop cut, which would leave about 2,500 American service members in Afghanistan after January 15.

"The Afghan security and defence forces are already conducting 96 percent of the operations independently and are prepared to continue to defend the country against our enemies," Afghan National Security Council spokesman Rahmatullah Andar said.

Since the US-Taliban deal, the Pentagon has shut several military bases across Afghanistan and rotated thousands of soldiers out of the country.

The Taliban on Wednesday welcomed the Pentagon's announcement it would soon pull about 2,000 US troops from Afghanistan as a "good step" that will help end the country's long-running conflict.

The Taliban on Wednesday welcomed the Pentagon's announcement it would soon pull about 2,000 US troops from Afghanistan as a "good step" that will help end the country's long-running conflict. The Pentagon announced Tuesday that the US will slash troop levels in Afghanistan and Iraq to their lowest levels in nearly 20 years of war after President Donald Trump pledged to end conflicts abroad. Also read| Hasty pullout of US & allied troops from Afghanistan could exact 'very high' price: NATO chief Stoltenberg "It is a good step and in the interest of the people of both countries," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP, referring to the US and Afghanistan. "The sooner the foreign forces leave, the more the war will be prevented." Critics have expressed concerns that a precipitous departure could embolden the Taliban and erode gains made since 2001, when US-led forces ousted the hardline Islamists in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The latest Pentagon move would see 2,000 US troops quit Afghanistan by January 15, less than a week before President-elect Joe Biden is expected to be sworn into office. The withdrawal follows outgoing President Donald Trump's plan to end US military involvement in Afghanistan. Under a deal signed February 29, the Trump administration agreed to pull all foreign forces from the country by May 2021. In return, the Taliban promised not to attack US forces and said they would stop transnational jihadist groups like Al-Qaeda and Islamic State from operating in the country. Germany, which has hundreds of troops in northern Afghanistan, on Wednesday said it was worried the speedy US withdrawal could affect the bid to find peace in Afghanistan. "We are particularly concerned over what the US announcement could mean for the continuation of peace talks in Afghanistan," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. "We should not create additional hurdles -- something that a hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan would most certainly lead to". The US-Taliban deal, signed in Doha, paved the way for peace talks to start between the Taliban and Afghan government on September 12. In the months since, negotiators have made almost no tangible progress and talks now appeared stalled. Afghan officials downplayed the US troop cut, which would leave about 2,500 American service members in Afghanistan after January 15. "The Afghan security and defence forces are already conducting 96 percent of the operations independently and are prepared to continue to defend the country against our enemies," Afghan National Security Council spokesman Rahmatullah Andar said. Since the US-Taliban deal, the Pentagon has shut several military bases across Afghanistan and rotated thousands of soldiers out of the country.

Taliban welcome US troop drawdown from Afghanistan as 'good step'

Saudi Arabia and Iraq on Wednesday reopened their Arar desert crossing, a long-awaited sign of closer trade ties after 30 years of sealed land borders between the two countries.

Arar has been closed since 1990 after the two countries cut ties following Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.

Top officials including Iraq's interior minister and the head of its border commission travelled from Baghdad to formally open Arar, where a line of cargo trucks stood waiting.

The Saudi ambassador to Iraq was also in attendance and a delegation from Riyadh was to open the Saudi side of the border.&nbsp;

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Arar will be open to both goods and people for the first time since Riyadh cut off its diplomatic relationship with Baghdad in 1990, following Iraqi ex-dictator Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.

Riyadh has been wooing Baghdad as part of an effort to stem the growing regional influence of Iran, while Iraq is seeking economic benefits from closer ties with its southern neighbour.

The Saudi-Iraqi rapprochement extends back to 2015 when Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad following a 25-year break.

In July Saudi Arabia and Iraq signed investment agreements on energy and sports.

Ties have remained rocky ever since, but current Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi has a close personal relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Kadhemi was to travel to Saudi Arabia as his first foreign trip as prime minister in May, but the visit was cancelled at the last minute when Saudi King Salman was hospitalised.

He has yet to make the trip, although Iraqi ministers have visited Riyadh to meet with their counterparts and a top-level Saudi delegation travelled to Baghdad last week.

Baghdad sees Arar as a potential alternative to its crossings with eastern neighbour Iran, through which Iraq brings in a large share of its imports.&nbsp;

'Let them invest'

But pro-Iran factions in Iraq, which call themselves the "Islamic Resistance," have stood firmly against closer ties with Saudi Arabia.

Ahead of Arar's opening, one such group identifying itself as Ashab al-Kahf published a statement announcing its "rejection of the Saudi project in Iraq".

"The intelligence cadres of the Islamic Resistance are following all the details of the Saudi enemy's activities on the Iraqi border," it warned.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday evening, Kadhemi fired back against those describing the rapprochement as Saudi "colonialism".

"This is a lie. It's shameful," he said.

"Let them invest. Welcome to Iraq," Kadhemi added, saying Saudi investment could bring in a flood of new jobs to Iraq where more than one-third of youth are unemployed.

The closer ties have been a long time coming.

They did not improve much after Saddam's toppling in the 2003 US-led invasion, as Riyadh looked at the new Shiite-dominated political class with suspicion due to their ties to Iran.

A thaw began in 2017 when then Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir travelled to Baghdad -- the first such visit in decades -- followed by a Riyadh trip by Iraqi premier Haider al-Abadi.

The first commercial flights resumed between the two countries and officials began discussing Arar, with high-profile US diplomat Brett McGurk even visiting the crossing in 2017 to support its reopening.&nbsp;

But those plans were repeatedly delayed, with Arar only opened on rare occasions to allow Iraqi religious pilgrims through on their way to Mecca for the hajj.

More in the works?&nbsp; 
Iraq is the second-largest producer in the OPEC oil cartel, outranked only by Saudi Arabia.

Its oil, gas and electricity infrastructure is severely outdated and inefficient but low oil prices this year have stymied efforts to revamp it.

Baghdad is also notoriously slow to activate external investment, with international firms and foreign countries complaining that rampant corruption hamstrings more investment.

Kadhemi's government has sought to fast-track foreign investment including Saudi support for energy and agriculture.

On his trip to Washington this summer, he agreed to a half-dozen projects that would use Saudi funding to finance US energy firms.

Last year, Iraq signed a deal to plug into the Gulf Cooperation Council's power grid and add up to 500 MW of electricity to its dilapidated electricity sector.

Those deals too have been criticised by pro-Iran factions in Iraq.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq on Wednesday reopened their Arar desert crossing, a long-awaited sign of closer trade ties after 30 years of sealed land borders between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq on Wednesday reopened their Arar desert crossing, a long-awaited sign of closer trade ties after 30 years of sealed land borders between the two countries. Arar has been closed since 1990 after the two countries cut ties following Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. Top officials including Iraq's interior minister and the head of its border commission travelled from Baghdad to formally open Arar, where a line of cargo trucks stood waiting. The Saudi ambassador to Iraq was also in attendance and a delegation from Riyadh was to open the Saudi side of the border. Arar will be open to both goods and people for the first time since Riyadh cut off its diplomatic relationship with Baghdad in 1990, following Iraqi ex-dictator Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. Riyadh has been wooing Baghdad as part of an effort to stem the growing regional influence of Iran, while Iraq is seeking economic benefits from closer ties with its southern neighbour. The Saudi-Iraqi rapprochement extends back to 2015 when Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad following a 25-year break. In July Saudi Arabia and Iraq signed investment agreements on energy and sports. Ties have remained rocky ever since, but current Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi has a close personal relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Kadhemi was to travel to Saudi Arabia as his first foreign trip as prime minister in May, but the visit was cancelled at the last minute when Saudi King Salman was hospitalised. He has yet to make the trip, although Iraqi ministers have visited Riyadh to meet with their counterparts and a top-level Saudi delegation travelled to Baghdad last week. Baghdad sees Arar as a potential alternative to its crossings with eastern neighbour Iran, through which Iraq brings in a large share of its imports. 'Let them invest' But pro-Iran factions in Iraq, which call themselves the "Islamic Resistance," have stood firmly against closer ties with Saudi Arabia. Ahead of Arar's opening, one such group identifying itself as Ashab al-Kahf published a statement announcing its "rejection of the Saudi project in Iraq". "The intelligence cadres of the Islamic Resistance are following all the details of the Saudi enemy's activities on the Iraqi border," it warned. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday evening, Kadhemi fired back against those describing the rapprochement as Saudi "colonialism". "This is a lie. It's shameful," he said. "Let them invest. Welcome to Iraq," Kadhemi added, saying Saudi investment could bring in a flood of new jobs to Iraq where more than one-third of youth are unemployed. The closer ties have been a long time coming. They did not improve much after Saddam's toppling in the 2003 US-led invasion, as Riyadh looked at the new Shiite-dominated political class with suspicion due to their ties to Iran. A thaw began in 2017 when then Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir travelled to Baghdad -- the first such visit in decades -- followed by a Riyadh trip by Iraqi premier Haider al-Abadi. The first commercial flights resumed between the two countries and officials began discussing Arar, with high-profile US diplomat Brett McGurk even visiting the crossing in 2017 to support its reopening. But those plans were repeatedly delayed, with Arar only opened on rare occasions to allow Iraqi religious pilgrims through on their way to Mecca for the hajj. More in the works? Iraq is the second-largest producer in the OPEC oil cartel, outranked only by Saudi Arabia. Its oil, gas and electricity infrastructure is severely outdated and inefficient but low oil prices this year have stymied efforts to revamp it. Baghdad is also notoriously slow to activate external investment, with international firms and foreign countries complaining that rampant corruption hamstrings more investment. Kadhemi's government has sought to fast-track foreign investment including Saudi support for energy and agriculture. On his trip to Washington this summer, he agreed to a half-dozen projects that would use Saudi funding to finance US energy firms. Last year, Iraq signed a deal to plug into the Gulf Cooperation Council's power grid and add up to 500 MW of electricity to its dilapidated electricity sector. Those deals too have been criticised by pro-Iran factions in Iraq.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq reopen Arar border crossing after 30 years

The leader of Britain's main opposition Labour party on Wednesday refused to re-admit his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn to its parliamentary ranks as a row over anti-Semitism intensified.

"In those circumstances, I have taken the decision not to restore the whip to Jeremy Corbyn. I will keep this situation under review," leader Keir Starmer tweeted, after a disciplinary panel Tuesday decided to revoke Corbyn's suspension from the party.

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In those circumstances, I have taken the decision not to restore the whip to Jeremy Corbyn. I will keep this situation under review.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) <a href="https://twitter.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1329017098736185344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Earlier,&nbsp;Britain's former main opposition leader Jeremy&nbsp;Corbyn&nbsp;said he has been readmitted to the Labour Party after being suspended following his comments downplaying a report critical of its handling of anti-Semitism complaints.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said in October it had found evidence of failure adequately to train people investigating alleged anti-Semitism, political interference in the processing of complaints, and harassment of individuals.

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Corbyn, 71, reacted to the report by saying the scale of Labour's anti-Semitism problem had been overstated by the media and his political opponents, and that his attempts to deal with the issue had been blocked by "obstructive party bureaucracy".

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I am pleased to have been reinstated in the Labour Party and would like to thank party members, trade unionists and all who have offered solidarity. 
 
Our movement must now come together to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1328786477430566916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Current leader Keir Starmer has been trying to make a clean break from the hard-left&nbsp;Corbyn&nbsp;era as he seeks to turn around Labour's fortunes after four successive general election defeats since 2010.

"I know that this has been another painful day for the Jewish community and those Labour members who have fought so hard to tackle antisemitism," Starmer wrote on Twitter.

"I am absolutely resolute in my determination to make the Labour Party a safe place for Jewish people."

Corbyn&nbsp;welcomed the decision by Labour's National Executive Committee to reinstate him after three weeks and said the focus should now be on challenging Prime Minister Boris Johnson's administration.

"Our movement must now come together to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government," he said.

But the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jewish Leadership Council and Community Security Trust were critical of&nbsp;Corbyn's readmission in a joint statement.

"Labour’s mountain to climb to win back the trust of our community just got higher," they said.

The leader of Britain's main opposition Labour party on Wednesday refused to re-admit his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn to its parliamentary ranks as a row over anti-Semitism intensified.

The leader of Britain's main opposition Labour party on Wednesday refused to re-admit his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn to its parliamentary ranks as a row over anti-Semitism intensified. "In those circumstances, I have taken the decision not to restore the whip to Jeremy Corbyn. I will keep this situation under review," leader Keir Starmer tweeted, after a disciplinary panel Tuesday decided to revoke Corbyn's suspension from the party. In those circumstances, I have taken the decision not to restore the whip to Jeremy Corbyn. I will keep this situation under review. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 18, 2020 × Earlier, Britain's former main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said he has been readmitted to the Labour Party after being suspended following his comments downplaying a report critical of its handling of anti-Semitism complaints. The Equality and Human Rights Commission said in October it had found evidence of failure adequately to train people investigating alleged anti-Semitism, political interference in the processing of complaints, and harassment of individuals. Corbyn, 71, reacted to the report by saying the scale of Labour's anti-Semitism problem had been overstated by the media and his political opponents, and that his attempts to deal with the issue had been blocked by "obstructive party bureaucracy". I am pleased to have been reinstated in the Labour Party and would like to thank party members, trade unionists and all who have offered solidarity. Our movement must now come together to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government. — Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) November 17, 2020 × Current leader Keir Starmer has been trying to make a clean break from the hard-left Corbyn era as he seeks to turn around Labour's fortunes after four successive general election defeats since 2010. "I know that this has been another painful day for the Jewish community and those Labour members who have fought so hard to tackle antisemitism," Starmer wrote on Twitter. "I am absolutely resolute in my determination to make the Labour Party a safe place for Jewish people." Corbyn welcomed the decision by Labour's National Executive Committee to reinstate him after three weeks and said the focus should now be on challenging Prime Minister Boris Johnson's administration. "Our movement must now come together to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government," he said. But the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jewish Leadership Council and Community Security Trust were critical of Corbyn's readmission in a joint statement. "Labour’s mountain to climb to win back the trust of our community just got higher," they said.

UK: Labour Party denies Corbyn's reinstatement after suspension over anti-Semitism

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday gave an emergency green light to the first rapid coronavirus test that can run from start to finish at home, paving a potential path for more widespread testing outside of health care settings.

The test, developed by California-based company Lucira Health, requires a prescription from a health care provider. People under age 14 also can’t perform the test on themselves. But with a relatively simple nasal swab, the test can return results in about half an hour, and is projected by the company to cost $50 or less, according to the product’s website. Clinicians can also run the test on their patients, including children under 14, potentially delivering answers during a single visit to a care center or pharmacy, instead of routing a tough-to-collect sample through a lab.

A handful of other tests have been cleared by the FDA for at-home collection of samples, which are then shipped to a lab for processing. But Lucira’s test is the first to remove the need for an intermediary.

“Today’s authorization for a complete at-home test is a significant step toward FDA’s nationwide response to COVID-19,” Jeff Shuren, director of FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement. “Now, more Americans who may have COVID-19 will be able to take immediate action, based on their results, to protect themselves and those around them.”

People who test positive for the coronavirus are expected to isolate themselves from others for 10 days from the day their symptoms started, or the day they tested positive, per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Laboratory tests that look for the coronavirus’s genetic material using a technique called polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, are still considered the gold standard for detecting the virus. But the new at-home test relies on similar principles by using a method called a loop mediated amplification reaction, or LAMP. Like PCR, LAMP repeatedly copies genetic material until it reaches detectable levels, making it possible to identify the virus even when it is present at only very low levels in the respiratory tract. While faster and less cumbersome than PCR, LAMP is generally thought to be less accurate.

People taking the battery-powered test must swirl a swab in both of their nostrils, then dip and stir the swab into a vial of chemicals. That vial is then plugged into a test cartridge that processes the sample. Within half an hour, the test cartridge will light up as “positive” or “negative.” Federal guidelines note that people taking the test should report the results to their health care providers, who must then inform public health authorities to help track the virus’s spread.

An at-home test for the virus “was going to happen,” said Omai Garner, a clinical microbiologist and diagnostics expert at the University of California, Los Angeles Health System. “I am hopeful that it works well.”

Garner noted that the news should be taken with a note of caution, however. In recent months, several experts have called for more widespread at-home testing as a way to help curb the virus’s spread. But others have raised concerns about the practicality of a strategy that would likely rely on tests that sacrifice a degree of accuracy for convenience and a more affordable price tag.

According to the product’s instructions, Lucira’s LAMP test was able to accurately detect 94% of the infections found by a well-established PCR-based test. It also correctly identified 98% of the healthy, uninfected people. This study, which was conducted by the company, was small, including fewer than 100 samples in total.

Representatives at Lucira Health did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday gave an emergency green light to the first rapid coronavirus test that can run from start to finish at home, paving a potential path for more widespread testing outside of health care settings.

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday gave an emergency green light to the first rapid coronavirus test that can run from start to finish at home, paving a potential path for more widespread testing outside of health care settings. The test, developed by California-based company Lucira Health, requires a prescription from a health care provider. People under age 14 also can’t perform the test on themselves. But with a relatively simple nasal swab, the test can return results in about half an hour, and is projected by the company to cost $50 or less, according to the product’s website. Clinicians can also run the test on their patients, including children under 14, potentially delivering answers during a single visit to a care center or pharmacy, instead of routing a tough-to-collect sample through a lab. A handful of other tests have been cleared by the FDA for at-home collection of samples, which are then shipped to a lab for processing. But Lucira’s test is the first to remove the need for an intermediary. “Today’s authorization for a complete at-home test is a significant step toward FDA’s nationwide response to COVID-19,” Jeff Shuren, director of FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement. “Now, more Americans who may have COVID-19 will be able to take immediate action, based on their results, to protect themselves and those around them.” People who test positive for the coronavirus are expected to isolate themselves from others for 10 days from the day their symptoms started, or the day they tested positive, per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Laboratory tests that look for the coronavirus’s genetic material using a technique called polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, are still considered the gold standard for detecting the virus. But the new at-home test relies on similar principles by using a method called a loop mediated amplification reaction, or LAMP. Like PCR, LAMP repeatedly copies genetic material until it reaches detectable levels, making it possible to identify the virus even when it is present at only very low levels in the respiratory tract. While faster and less cumbersome than PCR, LAMP is generally thought to be less accurate. People taking the battery-powered test must swirl a swab in both of their nostrils, then dip and stir the swab into a vial of chemicals. That vial is then plugged into a test cartridge that processes the sample. Within half an hour, the test cartridge will light up as “positive” or “negative.” Federal guidelines note that people taking the test should report the results to their health care providers, who must then inform public health authorities to help track the virus’s spread. An at-home test for the virus “was going to happen,” said Omai Garner, a clinical microbiologist and diagnostics expert at the University of California, Los Angeles Health System. “I am hopeful that it works well.” Garner noted that the news should be taken with a note of caution, however. In recent months, several experts have called for more widespread at-home testing as a way to help curb the virus’s spread. But others have raised concerns about the practicality of a strategy that would likely rely on tests that sacrifice a degree of accuracy for convenience and a more affordable price tag. According to the product’s instructions, Lucira’s LAMP test was able to accurately detect 94% of the infections found by a well-established PCR-based test. It also correctly identified 98% of the healthy, uninfected people. This study, which was conducted by the company, was small, including fewer than 100 samples in total. Representatives at Lucira Health did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

FDA authorizes the first at-home coronavirus test

Taiwanese regulators declined to renew the licence of a major news channel Wednesday, saying interference by its staunchly pro-China owner had violated press freedom.

The unanimous decision by the National Communications Commission targeting CTi is the first time it has rejected a news channel's licence.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-puts-pressure-on-nations-to-not-recognise-taiwan-as-a-country-foreign-minister-joseph-wu-tells-wion-336966">China puts pressure on nations to not recognise Taiwan as a country: Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tells WION</a>

Regulators took aim at the station's major shareholder Tsai Eng-meng, the billionaire head of food company Want Want and a businessman with extensive investments in mainland China.

He has sparked criticism in the past for being overtly pro-Beijing and imposing his political preferences on the media outlets he owns.

The NCC accused Tsai of making direct and indirect interventions in news coverage by CTi.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-moves-forward-on-three-arms-sales-to-taiwan-china-says-will-make-necessary-response-334859">White House moves forward on three arms sales to Taiwan; China says will make necessary response</a>

"This is to tell all conglomerates that want to buy the media to respect journalistic professionalism and independence... to keep their proper distance," NCC chairman Chen Yaw-shyang told reporters after the ruling.

Unlike authoritarian China, where the state-run media is heavily censored, democratic&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;has a lively, free and often rambunctious press.

Many of the large media outlets are openly partisan, backing Beijing-friendly politicians or their opponents.

Taiwan&nbsp;is self-ruled but claimed by China, which has vowed to one day seize it.&nbsp;

Beijing openly advocates for politicians or parties that favour closer ties with the mainland and loathes current leader President Tsai Ing-wen because she views the island as sovereign and not part of "one China".&nbsp;

False reports

Tsai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said it respected the NCC judgement.

But the opposition Kuomintang party -- which favours closer ties with Beijing -- slammed the move.

"It is completely and utterly hypocritical for governments to invoke press freedom only when it fits their agenda," tweeted KMT chairman Johnny Chiang.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it supported the decision stating "press freedom does not mean the absence of regulation."

It called for NCC to make public all the evidence it examined and apply the same standards to all future license reviews regardless of their political orientation.

CTi slammed the decision, writing on its Facebook page: "Freedom of the press is dead," and adding it would appeal.

According to NCC, CTi received the highest number of public complaints in recent years and has been fined 23 times by regulators, often for poorly-sourced or incorrect reporting.

One example was a false report that local farmers had to dump massive quantities of pomelo fruit last year because they were unable to sell their produce to mainland China as relations soured.

Some analysts and DPP lawmakers had also accused CTi of spreading disinformation to fan anti-government sentiment in the run-up to the January presidential election.&nbsp;

Allegations had swirled over Chinese spying and influence operations ahead of the vote, prompting the DPP-dominated parliament to enact an "anti-infiltration bill" late last year.&nbsp;

Beijing has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure on&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;since Tsai came to power in 2016.&nbsp;

But the hardline campaign backfired with Tsai winning a second term in a landslide.&nbsp;

Taiwanese regulators declined to renew the licence of a major news channel Wednesday, saying interference by its staunchly pro-China owner had violated press freedom.

Taiwanese regulators declined to renew the licence of a major news channel Wednesday, saying interference by its staunchly pro-China owner had violated press freedom. The unanimous decision by the National Communications Commission targeting CTi is the first time it has rejected a news channel's licence. Also read| China puts pressure on nations to not recognise Taiwan as a country: Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tells WION Regulators took aim at the station's major shareholder Tsai Eng-meng, the billionaire head of food company Want Want and a businessman with extensive investments in mainland China. He has sparked criticism in the past for being overtly pro-Beijing and imposing his political preferences on the media outlets he owns. The NCC accused Tsai of making direct and indirect interventions in news coverage by CTi. Also read| White House moves forward on three arms sales to Taiwan; China says will make necessary response "This is to tell all conglomerates that want to buy the media to respect journalistic professionalism and independence... to keep their proper distance," NCC chairman Chen Yaw-shyang told reporters after the ruling. Unlike authoritarian China, where the state-run media is heavily censored, democratic Taiwan has a lively, free and often rambunctious press. Many of the large media outlets are openly partisan, backing Beijing-friendly politicians or their opponents. Taiwan is self-ruled but claimed by China, which has vowed to one day seize it. Beijing openly advocates for politicians or parties that favour closer ties with the mainland and loathes current leader President Tsai Ing-wen because she views the island as sovereign and not part of "one China". False reports Tsai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said it respected the NCC judgement. But the opposition Kuomintang party -- which favours closer ties with Beijing -- slammed the move. "It is completely and utterly hypocritical for governments to invoke press freedom only when it fits their agenda," tweeted KMT chairman Johnny Chiang. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it supported the decision stating "press freedom does not mean the absence of regulation." It called for NCC to make public all the evidence it examined and apply the same standards to all future license reviews regardless of their political orientation. CTi slammed the decision, writing on its Facebook page: "Freedom of the press is dead," and adding it would appeal. According to NCC, CTi received the highest number of public complaints in recent years and has been fined 23 times by regulators, often for poorly-sourced or incorrect reporting. One example was a false report that local farmers had to dump massive quantities of pomelo fruit last year because they were unable to sell their produce to mainland China as relations soured. Some analysts and DPP lawmakers had also accused CTi of spreading disinformation to fan anti-government sentiment in the run-up to the January presidential election. Allegations had swirled over Chinese spying and influence operations ahead of the vote, prompting the DPP-dominated parliament to enact an "anti-infiltration bill" late last year. Beijing has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan since Tsai came to power in 2016. But the hardline campaign backfired with Tsai winning a second term in a landslide.

Taiwan refuses to renew the licence of China-friendly news channel

Test and test-and-trace chief Dido Harding has been told to self-isolate by the National Health Service app on her own mobile phone app.

"Nothing like personal experience of your own products ....got this overnight," she wrote on Twitter on Wednesday above a graphic from her phone with the message 'You need to self-isolate'.

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Nothing like personal experience of your own products ....got this overnight. Feeling well. Many hours of Zoom ahead. <a href="https://t.co/Ims9W9gbQh">pic.twitter.com/Ims9W9gbQh</a>
— dido harding (@didoharding) <a href="https://twitter.com/didoharding/status/1328988118708523008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Feeling well. Many hours of Zoom ahead," she added.

It comes a week after her husband, Conservative MP John Penrose, was told to isolate by the app, and days after Boris Johnson began self-isolating.

Johnson was asked&nbsp;to stay at home on Sunday after having a meeting last week with Tory MP Lee Anderson, who then tested positive for coronavirus.

Harding&nbsp;was appointed to run England's coronavirus tracing programme in May with the task of overseeing a team to locate contacts of those who tested positive for the virus.

However, there was criticism of her appointment because of her limited experience of health care and also as her husband, John Penrose, is a lawmaker from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party.

Official figures showed last week that the proportion of contacts of positive cases reached by her system remained at record lows, with about 60% of contacts reached, well below the 80% target.

Her system has managed to reach Johnson, who was told to self-isolate on Sunday, and her husband, who received the same instruction from his phone app on November&nbsp;9.

Test and test-and-trace chief Dido Harding has been told to self-isolate by the National Health Service app on her own mobile phone app. "Nothing like personal experience of your own products .

Test and test-and-trace chief Dido Harding has been told to self-isolate by the National Health Service app on her own mobile phone app. "Nothing like personal experience of your own products ....got this overnight," she wrote on Twitter on Wednesday above a graphic from her phone with the message 'You need to self-isolate'. Nothing like personal experience of your own products ....got this overnight. Feeling well. Many hours of Zoom ahead. pic.twitter.com/Ims9W9gbQh — dido harding (@didoharding) November 18, 2020 × "Feeling well. Many hours of Zoom ahead," she added. It comes a week after her husband, Conservative MP John Penrose, was told to isolate by the app, and days after Boris Johnson began self-isolating. Johnson was asked to stay at home on Sunday after having a meeting last week with Tory MP Lee Anderson, who then tested positive for coronavirus. Harding was appointed to run England's coronavirus tracing programme in May with the task of overseeing a team to locate contacts of those who tested positive for the virus. However, there was criticism of her appointment because of her limited experience of health care and also as her husband, John Penrose, is a lawmaker from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party. Official figures showed last week that the proportion of contacts of positive cases reached by her system remained at record lows, with about 60% of contacts reached, well below the 80% target. Her system has managed to reach Johnson, who was told to self-isolate on Sunday, and her husband, who received the same instruction from his phone app on November 9.

Head of NHS test-and-trace Dido Harding told to self-isolate by her own app

Ethiopia said its troops were marching on the capital of the Tigray region on Tuesday after a deadline for rebel forces to surrender passed in a two-week conflict shaking the Horn of Africa and alarming the world.

“The final critical act of law enforcement will be done in the coming days,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.

Later on Tuesday, Abiy’s special task force on the Tigray conflict accused rebel forces of destroying bridges connecting the regional capital Mekelle with the rest of the country in attempts to hold back federal government forces.

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“Anxious about (our) advance, the junta has destroyed four bridges that lead to Mekelle,” it said, adding that the TPLF had also destroyed the section of a main road eastwards to Mekelle between the towns of Shire and Axum. Shire was under federal control, the task force reported earlier in the day.

“The TPLF junta will soon be held accountable for destroying this infrastructure and for crimes it has committed so far.”

There was no immediate TPLF comment on the accusations.

Abiy, Africa’s youngest leader and the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner, launched air strikes and a ground offensive on Nov. 4 after accusing ex-comrades and the local ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), of armed revolt.

Tigrayan leaders say Abiy, 44, who comes from Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group the Oromo, has persecuted and purged them from government and security posts since taking office in 2018.

Tigrayan forces have fired rockets into the neighbouring nation of Eritrea, accusing Eritrean forces of helping the Ethiopian government side, an allegation denied by Asmara.

But the rocket fire has escalated a conflict which has already killed hundreds - one diplomatic source said thousands - and sent about 30,000 refugees into Sudan.

“How could they kill their own brothers and sisters? This is not our custom,” Addis Ababa resident Fitawrari Million said of the Tigrayan leaders during a rally to honour federal soldiers.

The United Nations said a “full-scale humanitarian crisis” was unfolding. With communications largely down and media barred, Reuters could not independently verify assertions by either side nor the situation on the ground.

“People are coming out of Ethiopia really scared, afraid, with stories saying they have been fleeing heavy fighting and there’s no sign of the fighting stopping,” said Babar Baloch, spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

With hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans dependent on food aid even before the conflict, suffering is worsening as hundreds of humanitarian workers are pulling out for their own safety.

Mark Lowcock, U.N. Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the United Nations was pressing Abiy’s government to assure immediate and safe access to displaced people. “Humanitarian workers must be able to deliver assistance without fear of attack,” he said.

‘BRING JUNTA TO JUSTICE’

Abiy’s air force struck unspecified TPLF targets outside Mekelle on Monday.

Earlier on Tuesday, his task force said federal forces had “liberated” the Raya, Chercher, Gugufto and Mehoni localities on the eastern front, and Shire on the conflict’s western front.

Federal forces had also destroyed TPLF military bases in both areas and were now heading towards Mekelle, the statement said. “The force of the junta is now retreating, and the army is marching to bring the TPLF junta to justice.”

Tigray’s leaders have accused federal forces of knocking out a dam and a sugar factory as well as “mercilessly” attacking people in the region of more than 5 million.

The government denies targeting civilians.

In a sign the push towards Mekelle may not be going entirely to plan, TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael told Reuters battles were still ongoing around the southern town of Alamata that federal troops said they seized the previous day.

After Amnesty International reported a massacre of scores of labourers, where it cited witnesses blaming TPLF forces, the United Nations human rights chief said war crimes may have been committed.

REGIONAL CLAMOUR

Governments around Europe and Africa are clamouring for talks and even the Nobel committee voiced concern in rare comment on a past laureate’s actions.

But Abiy has said he will only negotiate when rule of law is restored in Tigray, whose leaders are former military comrades whom he also partnered in government until 2018.

On Monday, his foreign minister went to Uganda and Kenya, while a Nigerian former president flew to Addis Ababa. Diplomats described a growing push for negotiations, but Ethiopia said it was simply explaining an internal conflict to outsiders.

The fighting could jeopardise the recent opening up of Ethiopia’s economy, stir ethnic bloodshed elsewhere around the vast nation of 115 million people, and tarnish the reputation of Abiy. He won his Nobel for pursuing peace with Eritrea and had drawn praise for opening up a repressive political system, though arrests and media curbs have tainted that of late.

Ethiopia said its troops were marching on the capital of the Tigray region on Tuesday after a deadline for rebel forces to surrender passed in a two-week conflict shaking the Horn of Africa and alarming the world.

Ethiopia said its troops were marching on the capital of the Tigray region on Tuesday after a deadline for rebel forces to surrender passed in a two-week conflict shaking the Horn of Africa and alarming the world. “The final critical act of law enforcement will be done in the coming days,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said. Later on Tuesday, Abiy’s special task force on the Tigray conflict accused rebel forces of destroying bridges connecting the regional capital Mekelle with the rest of the country in attempts to hold back federal government forces. “Anxious about (our) advance, the junta has destroyed four bridges that lead to Mekelle,” it said, adding that the TPLF had also destroyed the section of a main road eastwards to Mekelle between the towns of Shire and Axum. Shire was under federal control, the task force reported earlier in the day. “The TPLF junta will soon be held accountable for destroying this infrastructure and for crimes it has committed so far.” There was no immediate TPLF comment on the accusations. Abiy, Africa’s youngest leader and the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner, launched air strikes and a ground offensive on Nov. 4 after accusing ex-comrades and the local ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), of armed revolt. Tigrayan leaders say Abiy, 44, who comes from Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group the Oromo, has persecuted and purged them from government and security posts since taking office in 2018. Tigrayan forces have fired rockets into the neighbouring nation of Eritrea, accusing Eritrean forces of helping the Ethiopian government side, an allegation denied by Asmara. But the rocket fire has escalated a conflict which has already killed hundreds - one diplomatic source said thousands - and sent about 30,000 refugees into Sudan. “How could they kill their own brothers and sisters? This is not our custom,” Addis Ababa resident Fitawrari Million said of the Tigrayan leaders during a rally to honour federal soldiers. The United Nations said a “full-scale humanitarian crisis” was unfolding. With communications largely down and media barred, Reuters could not independently verify assertions by either side nor the situation on the ground. “People are coming out of Ethiopia really scared, afraid, with stories saying they have been fleeing heavy fighting and there’s no sign of the fighting stopping,” said Babar Baloch, spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). With hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans dependent on food aid even before the conflict, suffering is worsening as hundreds of humanitarian workers are pulling out for their own safety. Mark Lowcock, U.N. Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the United Nations was pressing Abiy’s government to assure immediate and safe access to displaced people. “Humanitarian workers must be able to deliver assistance without fear of attack,” he said. ‘BRING JUNTA TO JUSTICE’ Abiy’s air force struck unspecified TPLF targets outside Mekelle on Monday. Earlier on Tuesday, his task force said federal forces had “liberated” the Raya, Chercher, Gugufto and Mehoni localities on the eastern front, and Shire on the conflict’s western front. Federal forces had also destroyed TPLF military bases in both areas and were now heading towards Mekelle, the statement said. “The force of the junta is now retreating, and the army is marching to bring the TPLF junta to justice.” Tigray’s leaders have accused federal forces of knocking out a dam and a sugar factory as well as “mercilessly” attacking people in the region of more than 5 million. The government denies targeting civilians. In a sign the push towards Mekelle may not be going entirely to plan, TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael told Reuters battles were still ongoing around the southern town of Alamata that federal troops said they seized the previous day. After Amnesty International reported a massacre of scores of labourers, where it cited witnesses blaming TPLF forces, the United Nations human rights chief said war crimes may have been committed. REGIONAL CLAMOUR Governments around Europe and Africa are clamouring for talks and even the Nobel committee voiced concern in rare comment on a past laureate’s actions. But Abiy has said he will only negotiate when rule of law is restored in Tigray, whose leaders are former military comrades whom he also partnered in government until 2018. On Monday, his foreign minister went to Uganda and Kenya, while a Nigerian former president flew to Addis Ababa. Diplomats described a growing push for negotiations, but Ethiopia said it was simply explaining an internal conflict to outsiders. The fighting could jeopardise the recent opening up of Ethiopia’s economy, stir ethnic bloodshed elsewhere around the vast nation of 115 million people, and tarnish the reputation of Abiy. He won his Nobel for pursuing peace with Eritrea and had drawn praise for opening up a repressive political system, though arrests and media curbs have tainted that of late.

Ethiopia says its troops marching on Tigrayan capital

Major&nbsp;food-producing countries are growing increasingly frustrated with&nbsp;China's&nbsp;scrutiny of imported products and are calling on it to stop aggressive testing for the&nbsp;coronavirus, which some say is tantamount to a&nbsp;trade&nbsp;restriction.

China says it has found the virus on the packaging of products from 20 countries including German pork and Brazilian beef but foreign officials say the lack of evidence produced by authorities means it is damaging&nbsp;trade&nbsp;and hurting the reputation of imported&nbsp;food&nbsp;without reason.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-citizen-journalist-who-uncovered-covid-19-truth-faces-possibility-of-jail-time-reports-343845" hreflang="en">Chinese citizen journalist who uncovered COVID-19 truth faces possibility of jail time: Reports</a>

Chinese health officials said Wednesday that two cold-chain storage workers in the port city of Tianjin were infected with&nbsp;Covid-19, as the country shifts focus to contaminated&nbsp;imports&nbsp;after a number of outbreaks linked to&nbsp;frozen&nbsp;food.

Mass-testing campaigns have been rolled out after reports of coronavirus traces on imported&nbsp;food&nbsp;and packaging, with state TV showing workers hosing down&nbsp;food&nbsp;transport trucks with disinfectant and inspecting packages of&nbsp;frozen&nbsp;salmon.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-two-front-runners-in-the-vaccine-race-343777/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In Wuhan, where&nbsp;Covid-19 first emerged late last year, authorities said Friday they had detected traces of the virus on&nbsp;frozen&nbsp;beef from Brazil.

Four more cities reported last week that samples from imported&nbsp;food,&nbsp;including&nbsp;frozen&nbsp;Argentinian pork and Indian cuttlefish, had tested&nbsp;positive.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijing-orders-ban-on-frozen-food-from-countries-with-major-coronavirus-outbreaks-330927">Beijing orders ban on frozen food from countries with major coronavirus outbreaks</a>

Customs inspectors across the country have so far tested more than 800,000 samples from refrigerated&nbsp;imports&nbsp;and suspended shipments from 99 overseas suppliers, senior customs official Bi Kexin told a press conference last week.

Authorities have stepped up screening since traces of the coronavirus were found on equipment used to process imported salmon after a June outbreak.&nbsp;

In Tianjin, officials said the two infected workers "had previously both had contact with contaminated cold-chain&nbsp;food&nbsp;products".

Customs data in September showed that Chinese meat&nbsp;imports&nbsp;had increased by more than 70 percent this year as the country's&nbsp;food&nbsp;supply was disrupted by swine fever and heavy flooding which destroyed swathes of farmland.

The World Health Organization says "there is currently no evidence that people can catch&nbsp;COVID-19 from&nbsp;food&nbsp;or&nbsp;food&nbsp;packaging".

In a World&nbsp;Trade&nbsp;Organization (WTO) meeting on November&nbsp;5-6, Canada called&nbsp;China's&nbsp;testing of imported&nbsp;foods and rejection of products that had positive nucleic acid&nbsp;tests&nbsp;"unjustified&nbsp;trade&nbsp;restrictions" and urged it to stop it, said a Geneva-based&nbsp;trade&nbsp;official briefed on the meeting who declined to be identified.

Supported by Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Britain, and the United States, Canada argued that China had not provided scientific justification for the measures, said the official.

Canada's Geneva-based mission to the WTO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China has only intensified its imported&nbsp;food&nbsp;screening since then.

This week, the Global Times, a tabloid&nbsp;backed by the ruling Communist Party, suggested that the presence of the novel&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;on imported&nbsp;food&nbsp;raised the possibility that the virus, widely believed to have originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, may have come from overseas.

China began testing chilled and frozen&nbsp;food&nbsp;imports for the virus in June, after a cluster of infections among workers at a wholesale&nbsp;food&nbsp;market in the capital.

The World Health Organization says neither&nbsp;food&nbsp;nor packaging is known transmission routes for the virus.

But China, which has all-but stamped out local transmission of the disease, says there is risk of the virus re-entering the country on&nbsp;food&nbsp;products.

'Is&nbsp;it&nbsp;true?'

The&nbsp;pushback&nbsp;came after months of growing frustration at the way customs and health authorities have been increasingly scrutinising imports, which&nbsp;trade&nbsp;partners&nbsp;complain does not adhere to global norms.

"Whenever a health authority performs a test, and finds something, they should share the results," said a Beijing-based diplomat who declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to media.

"We haven't received one single lab analysis," he said. "Everyone is asking 'Is it true? Did they really find anything?' Everyone is surprised that no proof is given."

On Monday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also questioned&nbsp;China's&nbsp;findings, after the city of Jinan said it had detected&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;on frozen New Zealand beef.

Ardern said she was confident no meat products were exported from her country with the&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;but no clarification had come from China.

In August, Brazilian officials travelled to the city of Shenzhen after it found traces of the&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;on chicken wings from their country.

Authorities could not provide information on whether they had found the active virus or not, the Brazilian agriculture ministry said.

The United States said on Tuesday it asked China "bilaterally" and at the WTO to ensure its measures "appropriately assess actual risks, particularly when they unjustifiably restrict&nbsp;trade."

"China's&nbsp;most recent COVID-19 restrictions on imported&nbsp;food&nbsp;products are not based on science and threaten to disrupt&nbsp;trade," the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

In its response at the WTO, China said its actions were "provisional based on scientific basis" and designed to "protect people's lives to the maximum extent", according to a Chinese&nbsp;trade&nbsp;official.

China has pointed to its isolation of live&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;from samples on imported frozen cod, a world-first, as proof, though with the evidence unpublished, that the&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;can be transmitted from&nbsp;food&nbsp;to people.

Speaking at a&nbsp;food&nbsp;safety conference this month, Gudrun Gallhoff, minister counsellor for health and&nbsp;food&nbsp;safety at the European Union delegation to China, said exporters needed more information on&nbsp;China's&nbsp;test methods and results.

"If you have&nbsp;trade&nbsp;partners&nbsp;you have to treat them fairly and give them a chance to be complicit," she said.

Major food-producing countries are growing increasingly frustrated with China's scrutiny of imported products and are calling on it to stop aggressive testing for the coronavirus, which some say is tantamount to a trade restriction.

Major food-producing countries are growing increasingly frustrated with China's scrutiny of imported products and are calling on it to stop aggressive testing for the coronavirus, which some say is tantamount to a trade restriction. China says it has found the virus on the packaging of products from 20 countries including German pork and Brazilian beef but foreign officials say the lack of evidence produced by authorities means it is damaging trade and hurting the reputation of imported food without reason. Also read: Chinese citizen journalist who uncovered COVID-19 truth faces possibility of jail time: Reports Chinese health officials said Wednesday that two cold-chain storage workers in the port city of Tianjin were infected with Covid-19, as the country shifts focus to contaminated imports after a number of outbreaks linked to frozen food. Mass-testing campaigns have been rolled out after reports of coronavirus traces on imported food and packaging, with state TV showing workers hosing down food transport trucks with disinfectant and inspecting packages of frozen salmon. In Wuhan, where Covid-19 first emerged late last year, authorities said Friday they had detected traces of the virus on frozen beef from Brazil. Four more cities reported last week that samples from imported food, including frozen Argentinian pork and Indian cuttlefish, had tested positive. Also read: Beijing orders ban on frozen food from countries with major coronavirus outbreaks Customs inspectors across the country have so far tested more than 800,000 samples from refrigerated imports and suspended shipments from 99 overseas suppliers, senior customs official Bi Kexin told a press conference last week. Authorities have stepped up screening since traces of the coronavirus were found on equipment used to process imported salmon after a June outbreak. In Tianjin, officials said the two infected workers "had previously both had contact with contaminated cold-chain food products". Customs data in September showed that Chinese meat imports had increased by more than 70 percent this year as the country's food supply was disrupted by swine fever and heavy flooding which destroyed swathes of farmland. The World Health Organization says "there is currently no evidence that people can catch COVID-19 from food or food packaging". In a World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting on November 5-6, Canada called China's testing of imported foods and rejection of products that had positive nucleic acid tests "unjustified trade restrictions" and urged it to stop it, said a Geneva-based trade official briefed on the meeting who declined to be identified. Supported by Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Britain, and the United States, Canada argued that China had not provided scientific justification for the measures, said the official. Canada's Geneva-based mission to the WTO did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China has only intensified its imported food screening since then. This week, the Global Times, a tabloid backed by the ruling Communist Party, suggested that the presence of the novel coronavirus on imported food raised the possibility that the virus, widely believed to have originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, may have come from overseas. China began testing chilled and frozen food imports for the virus in June, after a cluster of infections among workers at a wholesale food market in the capital. The World Health Organization says neither food nor packaging is known transmission routes for the virus. But China, which has all-but stamped out local transmission of the disease, says there is risk of the virus re-entering the country on food products. 'Is it true?' The pushback came after months of growing frustration at the way customs and health authorities have been increasingly scrutinising imports, which trade partners complain does not adhere to global norms. "Whenever a health authority performs a test, and finds something, they should share the results," said a Beijing-based diplomat who declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to media. "We haven't received one single lab analysis," he said. "Everyone is asking 'Is it true? Did they really find anything?' Everyone is surprised that no proof is given." On Monday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also questioned China's findings, after the city of Jinan said it had detected coronavirus on frozen New Zealand beef. Ardern said she was confident no meat products were exported from her country with the coronavirus but no clarification had come from China. In August, Brazilian officials travelled to the city of Shenzhen after it found traces of the coronavirus on chicken wings from their country. Authorities could not provide information on whether they had found the active virus or not, the Brazilian agriculture ministry said. The United States said on Tuesday it asked China "bilaterally" and at the WTO to ensure its measures "appropriately assess actual risks, particularly when they unjustifiably restrict trade." "China's most recent COVID-19 restrictions on imported food products are not based on science and threaten to disrupt trade," the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. In its response at the WTO, China said its actions were "provisional based on scientific basis" and designed to "protect people's lives to the maximum extent", according to a Chinese trade official. China has pointed to its isolation of live coronavirus from samples on imported frozen cod, a world-first, as proof, though with the evidence unpublished, that the coronavirus can be transmitted from food to people. Speaking at a food safety conference this month, Gudrun Gallhoff, minister counsellor for health and food safety at the European Union delegation to China, said exporters needed more information on China's test methods and results. "If you have trade partners you have to treat them fairly and give them a chance to be complicit," she said.

Major food-producing countries push back on China's scrutiny of imported products

The navies of India, the US, Australia, and Japan on Tuesday began the second phase of the Malabar naval exercise in the northern Arabian Sea involving two aircraft carriers and a number of frontline warships, submarines and maritime reconnaissance aircraft, officials said.

The major highlight of the four-day exercise is the participation of the Indian Navy's Vikramaditya carrier battle group and the Nimitz strike group of the US Navy. The USS Nimitz is the world's largest warship.

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.

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.

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 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.

The navies of India, the US, Australia, and Japan on Tuesday began the second phase of the Malabar naval exercise in the northern Arabian Sea involving two aircraft carriers and a number of frontline warships, submarines and maritime reconnaissance aircraft, officials said.

The navies of India, the US, Australia, and Japan on Tuesday began the second phase of the Malabar naval exercise in the northern Arabian Sea involving two aircraft carriers and a number of frontline warships, submarines and maritime reconnaissance aircraft, officials said. The major highlight of the four-day exercise is the participation of the Indian Navy's Vikramaditya carrier battle group and the Nimitz strike group of the US Navy. The USS Nimitz is the world's largest warship. 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. 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. 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 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.

Second phase of Malabar exercise begins in northern Arabian Sea

UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir on Tuesday criticised the Security Council, saying it was failing to respond to the world's biggest challenges due to "competing interests."

There has been growing criticism of the body, which has not been reformed in decades.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-united-nations-a-redundant-body-330503/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The council has, on many occasions, failed to carry out its responsibility to maintain international peace and security," Bozkir, a Turkish diplomat, said at a debate on reforming the body.

"Competing interests among its members and frequent use of the veto have limited the Security Council's effectiveness. Even in some of the most urgent humanitarian crises, the council could not provide a timely and adequate response."

Earlier,&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday called&nbsp;for an overhaul of international cooperation mechanisms adding that the&nbsp;United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is out of ''useful solutions''.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-security-council-out-of-useful-solutions-says-emmanuel-macron-343498" hreflang="en">United Nations Security Council out of 'useful solutions', says Emmanuel Macron</a>

Bozkir said reform of the Security Council was "an unavoidable imperative -- both challenging and essential."

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Security Council has held few meetings devoted to the virus.

It took more than three months to overcome the friction between the United States and China to pass a resolution on July 1 calling for more international cooperation and to support a call by the secretary-general for a ceasefire in war-torn countries to help fight the disease.

During the debate on reform, the 193 UN members discussed the right to veto, the privilege of the five permanent members of the Security Council (United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom), enlarging the forum and its regional balance.

Modest expansion of council?

Russia, which has used its veto 15 times since 2011 on the Syrian dossier alone, and the US do not wish to see that power reduced.

"The United States remains open, in principle, to a modest expansion of the Security Council," said American diplomat Ngoyi Ngoyi. But "this must be pursued in a way that will not diminish the Security Council's effectiveness or its efficiency, and will not alter or expand the veto."

Deputy Russian ambassador Anna Evstigneeva argued that "ideas leading to the erosion of the prerogatives of the permanent members of the Security Council, including the right to veto, are unacceptable."

Using the veto, or even the threat of using it, "have repeatedly prevented the United Nations from becoming associated with dubious companies," she added.

Later, Chinese ambassador Zhang Jun criticized an "over-representation of developed countries" and called for a larger presence of small and medium nations, particularly African ones.

The Security Council, which can decide on international sanctions and the use of force, has 15 members. In addition to the five permanent nations, it has 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Germany is a candidate for another permanent seat on the Council, along with Brazil, Japan, and India. Africa is seeking two spots but has yet to identify potential future beneficiaries.

UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir on Tuesday criticised the Security Council, saying it was failing to respond to the world's biggest challenges due to "competing interests.

UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir on Tuesday criticised the Security Council, saying it was failing to respond to the world's biggest challenges due to "competing interests." There has been growing criticism of the body, which has not been reformed in decades. "The council has, on many occasions, failed to carry out its responsibility to maintain international peace and security," Bozkir, a Turkish diplomat, said at a debate on reforming the body. "Competing interests among its members and frequent use of the veto have limited the Security Council's effectiveness. Even in some of the most urgent humanitarian crises, the council could not provide a timely and adequate response." Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for an overhaul of international cooperation mechanisms adding that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is out of ''useful solutions''. Also read: United Nations Security Council out of 'useful solutions', says Emmanuel Macron Bozkir said reform of the Security Council was "an unavoidable imperative -- both challenging and essential." Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Security Council has held few meetings devoted to the virus. It took more than three months to overcome the friction between the United States and China to pass a resolution on July 1 calling for more international cooperation and to support a call by the secretary-general for a ceasefire in war-torn countries to help fight the disease. During the debate on reform, the 193 UN members discussed the right to veto, the privilege of the five permanent members of the Security Council (United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom), enlarging the forum and its regional balance. Modest expansion of council? Russia, which has used its veto 15 times since 2011 on the Syrian dossier alone, and the US do not wish to see that power reduced. "The United States remains open, in principle, to a modest expansion of the Security Council," said American diplomat Ngoyi Ngoyi. But "this must be pursued in a way that will not diminish the Security Council's effectiveness or its efficiency, and will not alter or expand the veto." Deputy Russian ambassador Anna Evstigneeva argued that "ideas leading to the erosion of the prerogatives of the permanent members of the Security Council, including the right to veto, are unacceptable." Using the veto, or even the threat of using it, "have repeatedly prevented the United Nations from becoming associated with dubious companies," she added. Later, Chinese ambassador Zhang Jun criticized an "over-representation of developed countries" and called for a larger presence of small and medium nations, particularly African ones. The Security Council, which can decide on international sanctions and the use of force, has 15 members. In addition to the five permanent nations, it has 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. Germany is a candidate for another permanent seat on the Council, along with Brazil, Japan, and India. Africa is seeking two spots but has yet to identify potential future beneficiaries.

Now, UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir assails Security Council

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will present the 2021 budget in the Parliament on Tuesday with unprecedented COVID-19 health protocols in place, including the assembly seats being arranged outside the chamber, officials said.

The members will enter the chamber only when they actively take part in the debate.

The Parliament had agreed to ignore the quorum of a minimum of 20 members required during the budget debate which runs until mid-December, parliamentary officials said.

For the first time in the assembly's history, seats are arranged for the 225 members of the Parliament outside the chamber in the lobby.

Rajapaksa, who is also the Finance Minister, will present the budget amid unprecedented health measures as the island nation since early October is witnessing a massive spike in COVID-19 infections with the number of deaths from the pandemic increasing fourfold, health officials said.

Sri Lanka has recorded over 17,600 COVID-19 cases and 61 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University data.

Sri Lanka's economy, especially the tourism sector, has been hit hard since last year,&nbsp;initially by the Easter Sunday attacks, which killed over 250 people, and later by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The 2021 budget presentation comes amid weak state revenues from a 2019 tax cut, and the pandemic.

Sri Lanka has also suffered serious downgrading of its credit rating by international rating agencies.

Sri Lanka's credit was downgraded to 'B-' by Fitch and Standard and Poor's in 2020 as the rupee fell largely due to money printing in March and April this year.

Moody's in late September downgraded the credit to Caa1 (CCC+), which is just above the default level.

The 2021 budget seeks parliamentary approval to spend 2,687 billion rupees. The government also seeks to raise 2,900 billion rupees of debt.

The budget proposals will be debated from November 18 to 21 when the vote on the second reading will be taken. The committee-stage debate will begin on November 23 and will end on December 10 with the vote on the third reading.&nbsp;

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will present the 2021 budget in the Parliament on Tuesday with unprecedented COVID-19 health protocols in place, including the assembly seats being arranged outside the chamber, officials said.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will present the 2021 budget in the Parliament on Tuesday with unprecedented COVID-19 health protocols in place, including the assembly seats being arranged outside the chamber, officials said. The members will enter the chamber only when they actively take part in the debate. The Parliament had agreed to ignore the quorum of a minimum of 20 members required during the budget debate which runs until mid-December, parliamentary officials said. For the first time in the assembly's history, seats are arranged for the 225 members of the Parliament outside the chamber in the lobby. Rajapaksa, who is also the Finance Minister, will present the budget amid unprecedented health measures as the island nation since early October is witnessing a massive spike in COVID-19 infections with the number of deaths from the pandemic increasing fourfold, health officials said. Sri Lanka has recorded over 17,600 COVID-19 cases and 61 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University data. Sri Lanka's economy, especially the tourism sector, has been hit hard since last year, initially by the Easter Sunday attacks, which killed over 250 people, and later by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 budget presentation comes amid weak state revenues from a 2019 tax cut, and the pandemic. Sri Lanka has also suffered serious downgrading of its credit rating by international rating agencies. Sri Lanka's credit was downgraded to 'B-' by Fitch and Standard and Poor's in 2020 as the rupee fell largely due to money printing in March and April this year. Moody's in late September downgraded the credit to Caa1 (CCC+), which is just above the default level. The 2021 budget seeks parliamentary approval to spend 2,687 billion rupees. The government also seeks to raise 2,900 billion rupees of debt. The budget proposals will be debated from November 18 to 21 when the vote on the second reading will be taken. The committee-stage debate will begin on November 23 and will end on December 10 with the vote on the third reading.

Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to present 2021 budget amid strict COVID-19 protocols

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Vyomica Berry

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