Tech giant&nbsp;Twitter has annouced&nbsp;changes in its&nbsp;hacking policy after trying to bury&nbsp;a controversial story about US presidential Democratic candidate Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden.

Twitter&nbsp;policy chief Vijaya Gadde tweeted that the company has made the decision after receiving&nbsp;feedback on its enforcement earlier.

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So, what’s changing? 
 
1. We will no longer remove hacked content unless it is directly shared by hackers or those acting in concert with them 
 
2. We will label Tweets to provide context instead of blocking links from being shared on Twitter
— Vijaya Gadde (@vijaya) <a href="https://twitter.com/vijaya/status/1316923557268652033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Twitter and&nbsp;Facebook had&nbsp;limited the online distribution of a New York Post article on Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-fumes-as-facebook-twitter-limit-reach-of-smoking-gun-article-on-biden-and-his-son-335344">Trump fumes as Facebook, Twitter limit reach of 'smoking gun' article on Biden and his son</a>

Facebook reduced how often the story shows up in users' news feeds and elsewhere on the platform, an action spokesman Andy Stone said the company takes temporarily pending fact checker review "if we have signals that a piece of content is false."

The New York Post story stated&nbsp;that Hunter Biden tried introducing a top executive of a Ukrainian firm to his father Joe Biden. Hunter Biden worked for this firm.

Spokesperson for Biden campaign defended Joe Biden and Hunter Biden by saying that there was "no wrongdoing" on part of Joe Biden. He added that New York Post never reached out to Biden campaign for their response on this.

US President Donald Trump had congratulated The New York post and condemned the social media titans for the step.

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Congratulations to the <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nypost</a> for having exposed the massive corruption surrounding Sleepy Joe Biden and our Country. He’s always been a corrupt politician. Disgraceful!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1316580278568022016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of “Smoking Gun” emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in the&nbsp;@NYPost. It is only the beginning for them. There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician. REPEAL SECTION 230!!!" tweeted Trump.

However, despite the changes in the 'hacking materials' policy,&nbsp;the New York Post story would still be blocked.

A company spokesman said the stories would still be blocked for "violating the rules on private personal information."

Twitter's Chief Executive&nbsp;Jack Dorsey said&nbsp;blocking New York Post article without context was wrong.

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Straight blocking of URLs was wrong, and we updated our policy and enforcement to fix. Our goal is to attempt to add context, and now we have capabilities to do that. <a href="https://t.co/ZLUw3YD887">https://t.co/ZLUw3YD887</a>
— jack (@jack) <a href="https://twitter.com/jack/status/1317081843443912706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Tech giant Twitter has annouced changes in its hacking policy after trying to bury a controversial story about US presidential Democratic candidate Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden.

Tech giant Twitter has annouced changes in its hacking policy after trying to bury a controversial story about US presidential Democratic candidate Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden. Twitter policy chief Vijaya Gadde tweeted that the company has made the decision after receiving feedback on its enforcement earlier. So, what’s changing? 1. We will no longer remove hacked content unless it is directly shared by hackers or those acting in concert with them 2. We will label Tweets to provide context instead of blocking links from being shared on Twitter — Vijaya Gadde (@vijaya) October 16, 2020 × Twitter and Facebook had limited the online distribution of a New York Post article on Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Also read: Trump fumes as Facebook, Twitter limit reach of 'smoking gun' article on Biden and his son Facebook reduced how often the story shows up in users' news feeds and elsewhere on the platform, an action spokesman Andy Stone said the company takes temporarily pending fact checker review "if we have signals that a piece of content is false." The New York Post story stated that Hunter Biden tried introducing a top executive of a Ukrainian firm to his father Joe Biden. Hunter Biden worked for this firm. Spokesperson for Biden campaign defended Joe Biden and Hunter Biden by saying that there was "no wrongdoing" on part of Joe Biden. He added that New York Post never reached out to Biden campaign for their response on this. US President Donald Trump had congratulated The New York post and condemned the social media titans for the step. Congratulations to the @nypost for having exposed the massive corruption surrounding Sleepy Joe Biden and our Country. He’s always been a corrupt politician. Disgraceful! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2020 × "So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of “Smoking Gun” emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in the @NYPost. It is only the beginning for them. There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician. REPEAL SECTION 230!!!" tweeted Trump. However, despite the changes in the 'hacking materials' policy, the New York Post story would still be blocked. A company spokesman said the stories would still be blocked for "violating the rules on private personal information." Twitter's Chief Executive Jack Dorsey said blocking New York Post article without context was wrong. Straight blocking of URLs was wrong, and we updated our policy and enforcement to fix. Our goal is to attempt to add context, and now we have capabilities to do that. https://t.co/ZLUw3YD887 — jack (@jack) October 16, 2020 ×

Twitter changes policy on hacking after Biden censorship expose fiasco

The main suspect in the trial of alleged accomplices in the 2015 Paris terror attacks caused an uproar in court Friday when he threatened a policewoman during her testimony.

France opened an anti-terror investigation after two journalists were stabbed in&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;on Friday near the former offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine that was attacked by Islamist militants in 2015.

"You will pay for this," shouted Ali Riza Polat, who is believed to have been the right-hand man of Amedy Coulibaly, who killed a police officer in January 2015 and the next day shot dead four people at a Jewish supermarket, before being killed by police.

The threat came as the witness, a policewoman working in an anti-terror unit, gave the court her account of Polat's conversion to radical Islamism.

She said that Polat "shared the religious convictions of his friend Amedy Coulibaly" and recounted a conversation between Polat's mother and a friend recorded in a wiretap.

The mother, the police agent said, told the friend that Polat had called her an "unbeliever" and "perverse".

From behind the glass screen of the defendants' box, Polat raised his fist several times, mimicking punches at the agent during her testimony, and was called to order by the court.

Chief prosecutor Jean-Michel Bourles, calling Polat's outburst "a scandal," said he would file criminal charges against him for "threats against a person testifying on behalf of the public authorities".

Polat's lawyer, Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, acknowledged that her client, who has gained a reputation as a hothead during the trial, "sometimes loses his cool" but said his reactions were those of "somebody who believes he is being accused unfairly".

Polat, she said, had specifically responded to the part of the testimony about his relationship with his mother.

"She can lie about me, but not about my family," Polat shouted, warning the officer that: "My brother-in-law is going to come."

When the trial resumed after a lunch break, Polat apologised to the court and claimed he had not actually threatened the policewoman.

But the chief judge, Regis de Jorna, told him "you know very well what you're doing and what you're saying" and warned him: "If you ever threaten this investigator or anybody else again, you will be banned from the trial."

Polat, 35, is facing the most serious charge of the 14 suspected accomplices on trial, complicity in terrorist crimes, and could face life in jail if convicted.

Born in Istanbul, Polat moved to France when he was three and said he fell into petty crime when he was 13 or 14, later starting to deal drugs. He grew up in the same rough Paris suburb of Grigny as Amedy Coulibaly.

Fourteen people went on trial in&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;on September 2, accused of having helped the killers of 12 people in the attack on satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, of a female police officer a day later, and of four men in a hostage taking at a Jewish supermarket.

The court heard that they had sought to avenge the Prophet Mohammad, nearly a decade after the weekly published cartoons mocking him.

The main suspect in the trial of alleged accomplices in the 2015 Paris terror attacks caused an uproar in court Friday when he threatened a policewoman during her testimony.

The main suspect in the trial of alleged accomplices in the 2015 Paris terror attacks caused an uproar in court Friday when he threatened a policewoman during her testimony. France opened an anti-terror investigation after two journalists were stabbed in Paris on Friday near the former offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine that was attacked by Islamist militants in 2015. "You will pay for this," shouted Ali Riza Polat, who is believed to have been the right-hand man of Amedy Coulibaly, who killed a police officer in January 2015 and the next day shot dead four people at a Jewish supermarket, before being killed by police. The threat came as the witness, a policewoman working in an anti-terror unit, gave the court her account of Polat's conversion to radical Islamism. She said that Polat "shared the religious convictions of his friend Amedy Coulibaly" and recounted a conversation between Polat's mother and a friend recorded in a wiretap. The mother, the police agent said, told the friend that Polat had called her an "unbeliever" and "perverse". From behind the glass screen of the defendants' box, Polat raised his fist several times, mimicking punches at the agent during her testimony, and was called to order by the court. Chief prosecutor Jean-Michel Bourles, calling Polat's outburst "a scandal," said he would file criminal charges against him for "threats against a person testifying on behalf of the public authorities". Polat's lawyer, Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, acknowledged that her client, who has gained a reputation as a hothead during the trial, "sometimes loses his cool" but said his reactions were those of "somebody who believes he is being accused unfairly". Polat, she said, had specifically responded to the part of the testimony about his relationship with his mother. "She can lie about me, but not about my family," Polat shouted, warning the officer that: "My brother-in-law is going to come." When the trial resumed after a lunch break, Polat apologised to the court and claimed he had not actually threatened the policewoman. But the chief judge, Regis de Jorna, told him "you know very well what you're doing and what you're saying" and warned him: "If you ever threaten this investigator or anybody else again, you will be banned from the trial." Polat, 35, is facing the most serious charge of the 14 suspected accomplices on trial, complicity in terrorist crimes, and could face life in jail if convicted. Born in Istanbul, Polat moved to France when he was three and said he fell into petty crime when he was 13 or 14, later starting to deal drugs. He grew up in the same rough Paris suburb of Grigny as Amedy Coulibaly. Fourteen people went on trial in Paris on September 2, accused of having helped the killers of 12 people in the attack on satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, of a female police officer a day later, and of four men in a hostage taking at a Jewish supermarket. The court heard that they had sought to avenge the Prophet Mohammad, nearly a decade after the weekly published cartoons mocking him.

Paris knife assault suspect threatens police witness

Passenger vehicle and motorbike sales surged in September as companies stocked up dealerships in anticipation of a surge in demand for personal transport during the festival period starting later this month.

Passenger vehicle wholesale sales in September surged 26&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;from a year ago while sales of motorbikes and scooters to dealers rose 12 per cent, after months of decline due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to data released on Friday by the Society of&nbsp;Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), a trade body.

However, retail sales of passenger vehicle for September grew just 10 per cent&nbsp;from a year ago while motorbike sales declined about 12&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;over the same period last year, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association of&nbsp;India&nbsp;said last week.

Companies typically stock up dealerships ahead of major festivals, such as Diwali in November, during which&nbsp;Indians often make large purchases.

"There is good festive demand right now. To judge whether it is real or sustainable we will have to wait to see the demand in January 2021," said Kenichi Ayukawa, president, SIAM and managing director of Maruti Suzuki,&nbsp;India's top-selling carmaker.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is pushing ahead with a full opening to try to boost the economy ahead of the usually high-spending festival season.

Demand for personal transport, which is seen as a safer option amid the pandemic as compared with taking public or shared transport, has propped up sales of small cars and motorbikes in recent weeks.

But even as sales for September surged, wholesales for the first six months of the current fiscal year are down 34% from a year ago, SIAM data showed.

Passenger vehicle and motorbike sales surged in September as companies stocked up dealerships in anticipation of a surge in demand for personal transport during the festival period starting later this month.

Passenger vehicle and motorbike sales surged in September as companies stocked up dealerships in anticipation of a surge in demand for personal transport during the festival period starting later this month. Passenger vehicle wholesale sales in September surged 26 per cent from a year ago while sales of motorbikes and scooters to dealers rose 12 per cent, after months of decline due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to data released on Friday by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), a trade body. However, retail sales of passenger vehicle for September grew just 10 per cent from a year ago while motorbike sales declined about 12 per cent over the same period last year, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association of India said last week. Companies typically stock up dealerships ahead of major festivals, such as Diwali in November, during which Indians often make large purchases. "There is good festive demand right now. To judge whether it is real or sustainable we will have to wait to see the demand in January 2021," said Kenichi Ayukawa, president, SIAM and managing director of Maruti Suzuki, India's top-selling carmaker. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is pushing ahead with a full opening to try to boost the economy ahead of the usually high-spending festival season. Demand for personal transport, which is seen as a safer option amid the pandemic as compared with taking public or shared transport, has propped up sales of small cars and motorbikes in recent weeks. But even as sales for September surged, wholesales for the first six months of the current fiscal year are down 34% from a year ago, SIAM data showed.

India's car, motorbike sales surge as dealerships stock up ahead of festive season

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that due to the unprecedented challenges faced by the world on account of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on food, nutrition, health, immunity and sustainability. 
 
Presiding&nbsp;over an event organised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to celebrate World Food Day, he said: The "FSSAI`s Eat Right India movement targets to promote safe and healthy food for everyone in an environmentally sustainable way. It is a part of its mandate to provide safe and wholesome food for all citizens. This will improve the food safety ecosystems and lift the hygiene and health of our citizens." 
 
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey also joined, via video conferencing, the event, whose theme this year`s event is "Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together". 
 
A key focus this year is elimination of trans fats from the food supply chain. A food toxin present in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs) (e.g. vanaspati, shortening, margarine, etc.), baked and fried foods, trans fat is a major contributor to the rise in non-communicable diseases in India. 
 
Harsh Vardhan said: "Trans fat is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Eliminating CVD risk factor is especially relevant during Covid-19 as people with CVD are predisposed to have serious conditions having an impact on mortality." 
 
He reminded everyone of the government`s effort to make India trans fat free by 2022, a year ahead of WHO`s target, in synergy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s vision of a New India on 75 years of the country`s independence. 
 
Reiterating the game-changing potential of 'Eat Right India'&nbsp;and `Fit India Movement`, the Minister said: "These two movements along with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission and other efforts of the Environment Ministry will improve the health of Indians and heal the environment." 
 
Expressing his amazement at the marvels of the internet where curious citizens can look up things on the whole gamut of information available, he asked officials of FSSAI to promote awareness and consumer education leveraging technology so that informed citizens can make responsible choices. 
 
Harsh Vardhan also launched the Eat Right Creativity Challenge for schools which is a poster and photography competition and aims to promote healthy dietary habits. 
 
He also launched the `Eat Smart City` (challenge) by FSSAI in partnership with Smart City Mission and The Food Foundation, UK which will create an environment of right food practices and habits in India`s smart cities and can set an example for other cities to follow. 
 
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, FSSAI CEO Arun Singhal, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and FSSAI were present at the event. 
 
State Food Safety Commissioners, Regional Directors and officers of FSSAI, professionals of scientific panel of oils and fats, officials of international public health organisations, the WHO, the World Bank, members of NePRoFaN - Network of Professionals of Food and Nutrition, prominent food business corporates, industry associations, implementation partners, development partners for Food Fortification were also invited to attend the event through video conference.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that due to the unprecedented challenges faced by the world on account of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on food, nutrition, health, immunity and sustainability.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that due to the unprecedented challenges faced by the world on account of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on food, nutrition, health, immunity and sustainability. Presiding over an event organised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to celebrate World Food Day, he said: The "FSSAI`s Eat Right India movement targets to promote safe and healthy food for everyone in an environmentally sustainable way. It is a part of its mandate to provide safe and wholesome food for all citizens. This will improve the food safety ecosystems and lift the hygiene and health of our citizens." Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey also joined, via video conferencing, the event, whose theme this year`s event is "Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together". A key focus this year is elimination of trans fats from the food supply chain. A food toxin present in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs) (e.g. vanaspati, shortening, margarine, etc.), baked and fried foods, trans fat is a major contributor to the rise in non-communicable diseases in India. Harsh Vardhan said: "Trans fat is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Eliminating CVD risk factor is especially relevant during Covid-19 as people with CVD are predisposed to have serious conditions having an impact on mortality." He reminded everyone of the government`s effort to make India trans fat free by 2022, a year ahead of WHO`s target, in synergy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s vision of a New India on 75 years of the country`s independence. Reiterating the game-changing potential of 'Eat Right India' and `Fit India Movement`, the Minister said: "These two movements along with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission and other efforts of the Environment Ministry will improve the health of Indians and heal the environment." Expressing his amazement at the marvels of the internet where curious citizens can look up things on the whole gamut of information available, he asked officials of FSSAI to promote awareness and consumer education leveraging technology so that informed citizens can make responsible choices. Harsh Vardhan also launched the Eat Right Creativity Challenge for schools which is a poster and photography competition and aims to promote healthy dietary habits. He also launched the `Eat Smart City` (challenge) by FSSAI in partnership with Smart City Mission and The Food Foundation, UK which will create an environment of right food practices and habits in India`s smart cities and can set an example for other cities to follow. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, FSSAI CEO Arun Singhal, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and FSSAI were present at the event. State Food Safety Commissioners, Regional Directors and officers of FSSAI, professionals of scientific panel of oils and fats, officials of international public health organisations, the WHO, the World Bank, members of NePRoFaN - Network of Professionals of Food and Nutrition, prominent food business corporates, industry associations, implementation partners, development partners for Food Fortification were also invited to attend the event through video conference.

India on road to be trans fat free by 2022: Harsh Vardhan

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed that Moscow and Washington extend for a year and without any conditions New START, the two nations' last major nuclear arms accord.

"I have a proposal -- which is to extend the current agreement without any pre-conditions at least for one year to have an opportunity to conduct substantial negotiations," Putin said at a meeting of his security council, according to a Kremlin statement.

Moscow outlined that the extension of the treaty would be in the interest of the entire world community and that the nation is interested in avoiding a new missile crisis in Europe and other regions.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/neither-serious-nor-sincere-china-rejects-joining-nuclear-arms-limitation-talks-with-us-312344">'Neither serious nor sincere': China rejects joining nuclear arms limitation talks with US</a>

The New START treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)&nbsp;accord was signed in 2010 by US&nbsp;President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance. It&nbsp;had replaced the Treaty of Moscow (SORT), which was to expire in 2012.

Russia previously offered its extension for five years without any conditions, while the US&nbsp;Administration pushed for a new arms control agreement that would also include China. Moscow has described that idea as unfeasible, pointing at Beijing's refusal to negotiate any deal that would reduce its much-smaller nuclear arsenal.

Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov voiced skepticism about reaching a deal on New START, noting that Russia can't accept the conditions put forward by the United States for its extension.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed that Moscow and Washington extend for a year and without any conditions New START, the two nations' last major nuclear arms accord.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed that Moscow and Washington extend for a year and without any conditions New START, the two nations' last major nuclear arms accord. "I have a proposal -- which is to extend the current agreement without any pre-conditions at least for one year to have an opportunity to conduct substantial negotiations," Putin said at a meeting of his security council, according to a Kremlin statement. Moscow outlined that the extension of the treaty would be in the interest of the entire world community and that the nation is interested in avoiding a new missile crisis in Europe and other regions. Also read| 'Neither serious nor sincere': China rejects joining nuclear arms limitation talks with US The New START treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) accord was signed in 2010 by US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance. It had replaced the Treaty of Moscow (SORT), which was to expire in 2012. Russia previously offered its extension for five years without any conditions, while the US Administration pushed for a new arms control agreement that would also include China. Moscow has described that idea as unfeasible, pointing at Beijing's refusal to negotiate any deal that would reduce its much-smaller nuclear arsenal. Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov voiced skepticism about reaching a deal on New START, noting that Russia can't accept the conditions put forward by the United States for its extension.

Russia proposes one-year extension of New START treaty with US

Terrorism remains publicly acknowledged by the Pakistan government as a policy that they justify, making it very hard to conduct normal relations with it, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday.

Speaking during an online event hosted by the Asia Society, Jaishankar said, 'In terms of your'&nbsp;question, how are we with Pakistan. Well, I am afraid we're still at the, if not the perennial issues, at least the long-lasting ones, which is terrorism from Pakistan continues."

"Terrorism from Pakistan remains publicly acknowledged by their government as a policy that they are justifying. So it makes it very hard to conduct normal relations with them,''&nbsp;Jaishankar said.

He added that it is not only terrorism, but Pakistan doesn't do normal trade with India and has not given New Delhi MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status.

''We don't have a normal visa relationship, they are very restrictive on that score. They have blocked connectivity between India and Afghanistan and from Afghanistan to India,''&nbsp;he said.

Jaishankar said that normal neighbours do visas and trade, ''they give you connectivity and most important they don't practice terrorism. And I think until we address that problem, this challenge of how do you have a normal relationship with this very unique neighbour is a very troubling issue for our foreign policy.''

Responding to a question on the developments in Kashmir since the bifurcation last year, Jaishankar said the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has now become two union territories.

''The external boundaries of India have not changed. The external boundaries of India remain what they are today as opposed to what they were five years ago or 20 years ago, 40 years ago,''&nbsp;he said.

''So as far as our neighbours are concerned, our point to them is that this is something which is internal to us. Every country after all reserves the right to change its administrative jurisdictions. A country like China has also changed the borders of its provinces and I'm sure a lot of other countries do that.

''Neighbours get impacted only if your external boundaries change. That has not happened in this case,''&nbsp;he said.

Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship.

The relationship further dipped after India's war planes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan on February 26 last year in response to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.

Withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir's special powers and bifurcating the state into two union territories in August last year also evoked a strong reaction from Pakistan, which has been unsuccessfully trying to rally international support against India on the Kashmir issue.&nbsp;

Terrorism remains publicly acknowledged by the Pakistan government as a policy that they justify, making it very hard to conduct normal relations with it, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday.

Terrorism remains publicly acknowledged by the Pakistan government as a policy that they justify, making it very hard to conduct normal relations with it, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday. Speaking during an online event hosted by the Asia Society, Jaishankar said, 'In terms of your' question, how are we with Pakistan. Well, I am afraid we're still at the, if not the perennial issues, at least the long-lasting ones, which is terrorism from Pakistan continues." "Terrorism from Pakistan remains publicly acknowledged by their government as a policy that they are justifying. So it makes it very hard to conduct normal relations with them,'' Jaishankar said. He added that it is not only terrorism, but Pakistan doesn't do normal trade with India and has not given New Delhi MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status. ''We don't have a normal visa relationship, they are very restrictive on that score. They have blocked connectivity between India and Afghanistan and from Afghanistan to India,'' he said. Jaishankar said that normal neighbours do visas and trade, ''they give you connectivity and most important they don't practice terrorism. And I think until we address that problem, this challenge of how do you have a normal relationship with this very unique neighbour is a very troubling issue for our foreign policy.'' Responding to a question on the developments in Kashmir since the bifurcation last year, Jaishankar said the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has now become two union territories. ''The external boundaries of India have not changed. The external boundaries of India remain what they are today as opposed to what they were five years ago or 20 years ago, 40 years ago,'' he said. ''So as far as our neighbours are concerned, our point to them is that this is something which is internal to us. Every country after all reserves the right to change its administrative jurisdictions. A country like China has also changed the borders of its provinces and I'm sure a lot of other countries do that. ''Neighbours get impacted only if your external boundaries change. That has not happened in this case,'' he said. Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship. The relationship further dipped after India's war planes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan on February 26 last year in response to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. Withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir's special powers and bifurcating the state into two union territories in August last year also evoked a strong reaction from Pakistan, which has been unsuccessfully trying to rally international support against India on the Kashmir issue.

Terrorism from Pak continues, making it very hard to conduct normal relations with them: Jaishankar

Britain on Friday said Brexit trade talks were effectively at an end unless the European Union shifted its position.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson&nbsp;declared Britain should "get ready" for an Australia-style agreement based on World Trade Organization rules from January "unless there is a fundamental change of approach" from Brussels.

Johnson's official spokesman told reporters,&nbsp;"As far as we're concerned, the trade talks are over. The EU have effectively ended them and only if the EU fundamentally shifts its position will it be worth talking."

European Union leaders had agreed&nbsp;a "fair" new partnership with Britain was "worth every effort" but that the bloc would not compromise at any cost and was ready for an abrupt split in trade worth a trillion euros every year.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-chief-warns-uk-must-respect-brexit-withdrawal-deal-325745">European Union chief warns UK must respect Brexit withdrawal deal</a>

Talks have narrowed gaps on issues from social welfare to transport but three contentious areas have so far prevented a deal: fair competition, dispute resolution and&nbsp;fisheries, which is particularly important to France as it&nbsp;has coastal communities that fish in British waters. But Macron said the main priority for EU leaders was to ensure there would be fair competition rules between Britain and the EU.

Johnson accused Brussels of failing to negotiate seriously and, although leaving the door open, indicated he would slam it shut if there was no movement from the EU.

"It's over to the EU now. It can either fundamentally change position or we will leave on Australian terms, under which we will prosper," he added.

"The EU continues to work for a deal, but not at any price," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said around an hour after Johnson's comments, which sent sterling lower.

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🇪🇺-🇬🇧 talks: the EU continues to work for a deal, but not at any price. 
 
As planned, our negotiation team will go to London next week to intensify these negotiations.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1317067827518574593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Johnson said earlier on Friday that unless the EU changed course there would be no deal giving British businesses continued free access to the EU's huge single market.

That came after the EU leaders' summit on Thursday put the onus on London to budge in the talks or stand ready for major trade disruptions from 2021.

Britain on Friday said Brexit trade talks were effectively at an end unless the European Union shifted its position. Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared Britain should "get ready" for an Australia-style agreement based on World Trade Organization rules from January "unless there is a fundamental change of approach" from Brussels.

Britain on Friday said Brexit trade talks were effectively at an end unless the European Union shifted its position. Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared Britain should "get ready" for an Australia-style agreement based on World Trade Organization rules from January "unless there is a fundamental change of approach" from Brussels. Johnson's official spokesman told reporters, "As far as we're concerned, the trade talks are over. The EU have effectively ended them and only if the EU fundamentally shifts its position will it be worth talking." European Union leaders had agreed a "fair" new partnership with Britain was "worth every effort" but that the bloc would not compromise at any cost and was ready for an abrupt split in trade worth a trillion euros every year. Also read: European Union chief warns UK must respect Brexit withdrawal deal Talks have narrowed gaps on issues from social welfare to transport but three contentious areas have so far prevented a deal: fair competition, dispute resolution and fisheries, which is particularly important to France as it has coastal communities that fish in British waters. But Macron said the main priority for EU leaders was to ensure there would be fair competition rules between Britain and the EU. Johnson accused Brussels of failing to negotiate seriously and, although leaving the door open, indicated he would slam it shut if there was no movement from the EU. "It's over to the EU now. It can either fundamentally change position or we will leave on Australian terms, under which we will prosper," he added. "The EU continues to work for a deal, but not at any price," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said around an hour after Johnson's comments, which sent sterling lower. 🇪🇺-🇬🇧 talks: the EU continues to work for a deal, but not at any price. As planned, our negotiation team will go to London next week to intensify these negotiations. — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 16, 2020 × Johnson said earlier on Friday that unless the EU changed course there would be no deal giving British businesses continued free access to the EU's huge single market. That came after the EU leaders' summit on Thursday put the onus on London to budge in the talks or stand ready for major trade disruptions from 2021.

UK says Brexit trade talks are 'over' unless EU shifts

Former French&nbsp;president Nicolas&nbsp;Sarkozy has been charged over&nbsp;financing his 2007 election campaign with money from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, according to&nbsp;prosecutors.

The move made Sarkozy, who ruled from 2007 to 2012 and is still an influential behind-the-scenes player on the political right, the target of an inquiry into alleged cash handovers and wire transfers between Tripoli and Paris in the months before he won power.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sarkozy-mounts-fightback-in-libya-probe-36848">Sarkozy mounts fightback in Libya probe</a>

It marked a dramatic acceleration in an inquiry that had largely faded in the news since it was opened five years ago, shortly after the 63-year-old left office.

Sarkozy, who has persistently denied claims that he accepted millions of euros from Gaddafi, some of it delivered in cash-stuffed suitcases, had&nbsp;vowed to clear his name, even if it takes years.

"We have the right to appeal. I will appeal these judicial restrictions," his lawyer Thierry Herzog told RTL radio, saying he believed the measures were aimed at humiliating the rightwinger.

After two days of questioning in police custody over allegations that first surfaced during a French-led intervention in Libya in 2011, Sarkozy was charged with corruption, illegal campaign financing and concealment of Libyan public money.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/frances-sarkozy-told-he-suspected-of-taking-gaddafi-election-money-36674">France's Sarkozy told he is suspected of taking Gaddafi election money</a>

Judges had barred Sarkozy from travelling to four countries including Libya and forbade him from talking to nine other people caught up in the five-year investigation, including two former ministers.&nbsp;

Among those he is banned from meeting are former interior minister Claude Gueant -- who is suspected of receiving some of the cash -- and former Brice Hortefeux, a close friend who held several senior posts in Sarkozy's administration.

Sarkozy had&nbsp;been released from police custody but put under judicial supervision.&nbsp;In French legal jargon, he was officially "placed under investigation" - a step judicial investigators can take if they have serious grounds for suspecting an offence. Being placed under investigation often but not always leads to trial.

It was the second major investigation for Sarkozy, who also faced charges of illicit campaign spending overruns during his failed re-election bid in 2012.

The latest case concerns accusations by a Franco-Lebanese businessman, Ziad Takieddine, who says he helped funnel 5 million euros ($6 million) from Gaddafi's intelligence chief to Sarkozy's campaign chief ahead of the 2007 election.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged over financing his 2007 election campaign with money from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, according to prosecutors.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged over financing his 2007 election campaign with money from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, according to prosecutors. The move made Sarkozy, who ruled from 2007 to 2012 and is still an influential behind-the-scenes player on the political right, the target of an inquiry into alleged cash handovers and wire transfers between Tripoli and Paris in the months before he won power. Also read: Sarkozy mounts fightback in Libya probe It marked a dramatic acceleration in an inquiry that had largely faded in the news since it was opened five years ago, shortly after the 63-year-old left office. Sarkozy, who has persistently denied claims that he accepted millions of euros from Gaddafi, some of it delivered in cash-stuffed suitcases, had vowed to clear his name, even if it takes years. "We have the right to appeal. I will appeal these judicial restrictions," his lawyer Thierry Herzog told RTL radio, saying he believed the measures were aimed at humiliating the rightwinger. After two days of questioning in police custody over allegations that first surfaced during a French-led intervention in Libya in 2011, Sarkozy was charged with corruption, illegal campaign financing and concealment of Libyan public money. Also read: France's Sarkozy told he is suspected of taking Gaddafi election money Judges had barred Sarkozy from travelling to four countries including Libya and forbade him from talking to nine other people caught up in the five-year investigation, including two former ministers. Among those he is banned from meeting are former interior minister Claude Gueant -- who is suspected of receiving some of the cash -- and former Brice Hortefeux, a close friend who held several senior posts in Sarkozy's administration. Sarkozy had been released from police custody but put under judicial supervision. In French legal jargon, he was officially "placed under investigation" - a step judicial investigators can take if they have serious grounds for suspecting an offence. Being placed under investigation often but not always leads to trial. It was the second major investigation for Sarkozy, who also faced charges of illicit campaign spending overruns during his failed re-election bid in 2012. The latest case concerns accusations by a Franco-Lebanese businessman, Ziad Takieddine, who says he helped funnel 5 million euros ($6 million) from Gaddafi's intelligence chief to Sarkozy's campaign chief ahead of the 2007 election.

Former France president Sarkozy charged over Libyan campaign financing

Saudi Arabia has asked&nbsp;Bangladesh to either issue passports to Rohingya or face ''consequences''.

For Riyadh, the Rohingya refugees on the Saudi soil are still ‘undesirables,’ a burden to be dumped on Bangladesh.

The move comes amid&nbsp;rising concerns that&nbsp;their welcome in&nbsp;Saudi Arabia&nbsp;may have come to end Around&nbsp;54,000 Rohingyas have already taken refuge in the country.

Bangladesh’s foreign minister AK&nbsp;Abdul Momen confirmed this&nbsp;in a press conference. Bangladesh has balked at the idea, but suggested it may be able to provide passports to those who previously held them. Since 2017, Bangladesh has given refuge to over a million Rohingya fleeing ethnic cleansing and persecution from neighbouring Myanmar.

Burmese authorities have consistently refused to give Rohingya passports, given they do not recognize them as citizens.

Bangladesh relies on nearly $15 billion annually in remittances from its migrant workers abroad, 60 percent of which comes from saudi arabia, putting it in a bind.

Local media also reported that foreign ministry officials said that riyadh threatened to put limits on migration workers from bangladesh if it fails to accept Saudi Arabia's request, which holds devastating implications for bangladesh’s economy.

But while the possibility of being granted passports is seemingly positive on the surface, it has not been welcomed as good news by Rohingya living in Saudi Arabia.

Ahmed khatun, a Rohingya who has lived in jeddah his entire life identifies with saudi arabia more than his homeland.

“We’ve been living in fear of being deported for years. So whenever we’re mentioned in media here our fear grows.”

Khatun details how some of his family relatives were locked up for years in detention centers without charges being pressed for being ‘illegal migrants’.

“After that happened, we knew anything could happen to us. It’s not fair though. My father was born here. I studied here. I grew up here. This is my home now,” he says in fluent Arabic.

Ahmed’s grandfather came to saudi arabia in the 1970’s, and was granted residency by king faisal in a royal bid to support the minority and protect it from the depredations it endured even then. But raised in Saudi Arabia or not, ultimately “it’s out of our hands,” he says.

Saudi Arabia has asked Bangladesh to either issue passports to Rohingya or face ''consequences''. For Riyadh, the Rohingya refugees on the Saudi soil are still ‘undesirables,’ a burden to be dumped on Bangladesh.

Saudi Arabia has asked Bangladesh to either issue passports to Rohingya or face ''consequences''. For Riyadh, the Rohingya refugees on the Saudi soil are still ‘undesirables,’ a burden to be dumped on Bangladesh. The move comes amid rising concerns that their welcome in Saudi Arabia may have come to end Around 54,000 Rohingyas have already taken refuge in the country. Bangladesh’s foreign minister AK Abdul Momen confirmed this in a press conference. Bangladesh has balked at the idea, but suggested it may be able to provide passports to those who previously held them. Since 2017, Bangladesh has given refuge to over a million Rohingya fleeing ethnic cleansing and persecution from neighbouring Myanmar. Burmese authorities have consistently refused to give Rohingya passports, given they do not recognize them as citizens. Bangladesh relies on nearly $15 billion annually in remittances from its migrant workers abroad, 60 percent of which comes from saudi arabia, putting it in a bind. Local media also reported that foreign ministry officials said that riyadh threatened to put limits on migration workers from bangladesh if it fails to accept Saudi Arabia's request, which holds devastating implications for bangladesh’s economy. But while the possibility of being granted passports is seemingly positive on the surface, it has not been welcomed as good news by Rohingya living in Saudi Arabia. Ahmed khatun, a Rohingya who has lived in jeddah his entire life identifies with saudi arabia more than his homeland. “We’ve been living in fear of being deported for years. So whenever we’re mentioned in media here our fear grows.” Khatun details how some of his family relatives were locked up for years in detention centers without charges being pressed for being ‘illegal migrants’. “After that happened, we knew anything could happen to us. It’s not fair though. My father was born here. I studied here. I grew up here. This is my home now,” he says in fluent Arabic. Ahmed’s grandfather came to saudi arabia in the 1970’s, and was granted residency by king faisal in a royal bid to support the minority and protect it from the depredations it endured even then. But raised in Saudi Arabia or not, ultimately “it’s out of our hands,” he says.

Issue passports to Rohingya or face 'consequences', says Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh

A fast and easy paper-based testing strip called 'FELUDA' which can act as a game changer for India is ready to hit the market.

The Drugs Controller General of India had approved&nbsp;FELUDA, an acroynym for FnCas9 Editor Linked Uniform Detection Assay,&nbsp;last month after it met the quality benchmark of the&nbsp;Indian Council for Medical Research.

It has been developed by a team of young scientists of the&nbsp;Council of Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR).

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-scales-up-testing-capacity-from-1-in-january-to-over-77-cr-in-october-health-ministry-332379">India scales up testing capacity from 1 in January to over 7.7 cr in October: Health ministry</a>

FELUDA&nbsp;delivers results in minutes as opposed to the existing RT-PCR kits, which takes anywhere between 4 to 5 hours.

According to CSIR's&nbsp;Director General&nbsp;Shekhar C Mande,&nbsp;"This test kit only takes 30 minutes to test for COVID when the RT PCR takes around 4 to 5 hours. Also, this testing kit is three to five times cheaper than the RT PCR based test kit".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-gets-its-own-covid-19-testing-kit-288276">India gets its own Covid-19 testing kit</a>

The paper-based diagnosis test is similar to the mechanism of a pregnancy test kit.

"The test is similar to the mechanism of a pregnancy test where we dip the paper (containing the sample) in a solution and the colour changes," the DG, CSIR said.

Speaking on the advantages of the testing kit, he said that the test's ability to give accurate results in a short span of time is its biggest advantage.

"Through these kits, we hope to test people residing in villages as well which could not be possible with the RT-PCR test as a large number of instruments are required for the test," he said and added that the sensitivity and specificity are "as good as the RT-PCR test".

Another advantage is that we can move anywhere even to villages and move them around and keep testing people. 
Mande said that in the next three-four weeks the testing kit should come into the market once it gets approval from the regulatory authority.

One of the senior scientists, Debojyoti Chakraborty, said: "This test we have developed is similar to two other tests which also use the CRISPR Cas system for detection. They have been developed at MIT and the University of California, Berkeley. However, the Cas9 and detection chemistries are different."

"We have extensively characterized a highly specific Cas9 that can recognise any DNA sequences. If we direct it to go and find out the sequence for COVID-19, then it can specifically identify that sequence and then form a complex with DNA," said Chakraborty.

Speaking on the procedure of the test, Chakraborty said: "On the strip, you get two lines: one line is a control line which is present in every strip that is being used and tells that the strip is working fine and then there is a test line which comes positive only if the COVID-19 sequence was present in the initial RNA."

He added further: "A negative sample will not have the test line appearing. So looking at the test line position you can visually see whether the patient test is positive or negative depending upon how the line forms on the strips."

Manoj Kumar, another scientist working on this project said: "The main idea was given by Dr Debojyoti Chakraborty and Souvik Maiti, the senior scientists who are heading our team said that we can use these particular strips--which is already developed two years back for Sickle cell anemia--and now we are repurposing it for COVID-19 testing."

He added: "I am really feeling great to be part of this team. Working on this project can be beneficial for society."

A fast and easy paper-based testing strip called 'FELUDA' which can act as a game changer for India is ready to hit the market. The Drugs Controller General of India had approved FELUDA, an acroynym for FnCas9 Editor Linked Uniform Detection Assay, last month after it met the quality benchmark of the Indian Council for Medical Research.

A fast and easy paper-based testing strip called 'FELUDA' which can act as a game changer for India is ready to hit the market. The Drugs Controller General of India had approved FELUDA, an acroynym for FnCas9 Editor Linked Uniform Detection Assay, last month after it met the quality benchmark of the Indian Council for Medical Research. It has been developed by a team of young scientists of the Council of Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR). Also read: India scales up testing capacity from 1 in January to over 7.7 cr in October: Health ministry FELUDA delivers results in minutes as opposed to the existing RT-PCR kits, which takes anywhere between 4 to 5 hours. According to CSIR's Director General Shekhar C Mande, "This test kit only takes 30 minutes to test for COVID when the RT PCR takes around 4 to 5 hours. Also, this testing kit is three to five times cheaper than the RT PCR based test kit". Also read: India gets its own Covid-19 testing kit The paper-based diagnosis test is similar to the mechanism of a pregnancy test kit. "The test is similar to the mechanism of a pregnancy test where we dip the paper (containing the sample) in a solution and the colour changes," the DG, CSIR said. Speaking on the advantages of the testing kit, he said that the test's ability to give accurate results in a short span of time is its biggest advantage. "Through these kits, we hope to test people residing in villages as well which could not be possible with the RT-PCR test as a large number of instruments are required for the test," he said and added that the sensitivity and specificity are "as good as the RT-PCR test". Another advantage is that we can move anywhere even to villages and move them around and keep testing people. Mande said that in the next three-four weeks the testing kit should come into the market once it gets approval from the regulatory authority. One of the senior scientists, Debojyoti Chakraborty, said: "This test we have developed is similar to two other tests which also use the CRISPR Cas system for detection. They have been developed at MIT and the University of California, Berkeley. However, the Cas9 and detection chemistries are different." "We have extensively characterized a highly specific Cas9 that can recognise any DNA sequences. If we direct it to go and find out the sequence for COVID-19, then it can specifically identify that sequence and then form a complex with DNA," said Chakraborty. Speaking on the procedure of the test, Chakraborty said: "On the strip, you get two lines: one line is a control line which is present in every strip that is being used and tells that the strip is working fine and then there is a test line which comes positive only if the COVID-19 sequence was present in the initial RNA." He added further: "A negative sample will not have the test line appearing. So looking at the test line position you can visually see whether the patient test is positive or negative depending upon how the line forms on the strips." Manoj Kumar, another scientist working on this project said: "The main idea was given by Dr Debojyoti Chakraborty and Souvik Maiti, the senior scientists who are heading our team said that we can use these particular strips--which is already developed two years back for Sickle cell anemia--and now we are repurposing it for COVID-19 testing." He added: "I am really feeling great to be part of this team. Working on this project can be beneficial for society."

India's new 'game-changing' strip test for coronavirus ready to hit market

As a thick quilt of smog wrapped itself around New Delhi on Thursday, signaling the start of the fall pollution season, doctors and scientists warned that the deteriorating air quality could make the city’s COVID-19 problems even worse.

One of the most common symptoms of severe coronavirus cases is breathing difficulty. And doctors say that if the ambient air suddenly becomes more toxic, as it does every year around this time in northern India, then more people who become infected by the virus might end up in the hospital or die.

“If two people are shooting at the lungs, then obviously the lungs will have more problems,” said Arvind Kumar, a chest surgeon and founder of the Lung Care Foundation in New Delhi, a group that raises awareness about respiratory problems.

India is now struggling with two major health challenges that are both assaulting the respiratory system and peaking at the same time.

Coronavirus cases are spreading far and wide, putting the country on track to have the largest reported virus caseload in the coming weeks. With 7.3 million reported infections, it is just behind the United States’ 7.9 million. And each day, India outpaces the United States in new infections by around 10,000 more cases per day, even as India’s death rate remains much lower.

In the background is India’s vexing air pollution, which shoots up in the fall and winter. The rapid economic growth of the past two decades — and along with it, increased urbanization and congestion — has left Indian cities horribly polluted.

Last year, India was once again home to 14 of the 20 cities with the most hazardous air globally, and health experts have detailed how such conditions can lead to brain damage, respiratory problems and early death.

In the fall, air temperatures and wind speeds drop, condensing pollutants over India’s cities, especially in the north. And farmers in the surrounding rural areas burn the stalks and refuse from their crop, sending up huge clouds of black smoke that drift for miles.

This year there have been five times the number of farm refuse fires in northern India as the same period last year, and experts say it is a bad sign of what’s to come.

The agricultural sector has been a rare bright spot an Indian economy that has been shattered by the pandemic, and pollution experts fear that more farming will mean more burning.

“My gut is it’s going to be a bumper, bumper harvest and a bumper, bumper combustion event, probably the biggest of our lifetime,” said Jai Dhar Gupta, an Ivy League-educated environmental activist and entrepreneur.

“And now that you’ve got the combined impact of a respiratory virus and respiratory contaminants, every public health specialist is holding their breath to see what happens,” Gupta said. “We’re just sitting ducks.”

Doctors say long-term exposure to severely polluted air can cause chronic lung inflammation, which can leave people who are exposed to the coronavirus more vulnerable. A recent study from Italy found a correlation between long-term exposure to dirty air and an increase in excess mortality — a measure of deaths above normal — from the coronavirus.

“Pollution-afflicted areas will have a higher incidence of COVID,” said Kumar, the chest surgeon. “And once this population gets COVID, they then have a higher chance of mortality.”

Up until now, people in New Delhi this year had been spoiled in terms of breathable air. When a coronavirus lockdown in the spring shut down many industries and kept cars off the road, Delhi’s skies turned a miraculous blue. It was the cleanest air in decades, and at night, residents felt as if they were being treated to a star show. Constellations that hadn’t been seen for years shone above the apartment blocks.

But that has become a dim memory. The sky is back to its usual hazy brown, and the city now smells of smoke.

The Delhi government is doing more this year to fight pollution, including setting up a war room to track pollution hot spots and turning to anti-smog guns that blast mist into the air to knock down the dust.

On Thursday, officials in Delhi, which is controlled by a progressive opposition political party, got locked into a blame game with national politicians who are part of the right-leaning administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Delhi officials blamed the Modi government for not doing enough to stop crop burning in the states that ring the capital. Modi administration officials argued that crop burning contributed only a minuscule amount to overall air pollution, and they blamed the Delhi government for not doing enough to control dust.

Many more people in India’s cities are donning masks these days because of the pandemic, but experts say this probably won’t help much.

Most people wear cloth masks or surgical-type masks that don’t seal well and won’t stop someone from inhaling small pollution particles (or the virus, either).

Pollution alerts whizzed around the city via WhatsApp messages Thursday.

“Delhi pollution level reported hazardous. 335,” read one message, referring to an Air Quality Index reading of 335, about six times as bad as that of New York City.

The message continued: “Be Careful. Seniors don’t go out. Wear mask.”

As a thick quilt of smog wrapped itself around New Delhi on Thursday, signaling the start of the fall pollution season, doctors and scientists warned that the deteriorating air quality could make the city’s COVID-19 problems even worse.

As a thick quilt of smog wrapped itself around New Delhi on Thursday, signaling the start of the fall pollution season, doctors and scientists warned that the deteriorating air quality could make the city’s COVID-19 problems even worse. One of the most common symptoms of severe coronavirus cases is breathing difficulty. And doctors say that if the ambient air suddenly becomes more toxic, as it does every year around this time in northern India, then more people who become infected by the virus might end up in the hospital or die. “If two people are shooting at the lungs, then obviously the lungs will have more problems,” said Arvind Kumar, a chest surgeon and founder of the Lung Care Foundation in New Delhi, a group that raises awareness about respiratory problems. India is now struggling with two major health challenges that are both assaulting the respiratory system and peaking at the same time. Coronavirus cases are spreading far and wide, putting the country on track to have the largest reported virus caseload in the coming weeks. With 7.3 million reported infections, it is just behind the United States’ 7.9 million. And each day, India outpaces the United States in new infections by around 10,000 more cases per day, even as India’s death rate remains much lower. In the background is India’s vexing air pollution, which shoots up in the fall and winter. The rapid economic growth of the past two decades — and along with it, increased urbanization and congestion — has left Indian cities horribly polluted. Last year, India was once again home to 14 of the 20 cities with the most hazardous air globally, and health experts have detailed how such conditions can lead to brain damage, respiratory problems and early death. In the fall, air temperatures and wind speeds drop, condensing pollutants over India’s cities, especially in the north. And farmers in the surrounding rural areas burn the stalks and refuse from their crop, sending up huge clouds of black smoke that drift for miles. This year there have been five times the number of farm refuse fires in northern India as the same period last year, and experts say it is a bad sign of what’s to come. The agricultural sector has been a rare bright spot an Indian economy that has been shattered by the pandemic, and pollution experts fear that more farming will mean more burning. “My gut is it’s going to be a bumper, bumper harvest and a bumper, bumper combustion event, probably the biggest of our lifetime,” said Jai Dhar Gupta, an Ivy League-educated environmental activist and entrepreneur. “And now that you’ve got the combined impact of a respiratory virus and respiratory contaminants, every public health specialist is holding their breath to see what happens,” Gupta said. “We’re just sitting ducks.” Doctors say long-term exposure to severely polluted air can cause chronic lung inflammation, which can leave people who are exposed to the coronavirus more vulnerable. A recent study from Italy found a correlation between long-term exposure to dirty air and an increase in excess mortality — a measure of deaths above normal — from the coronavirus. “Pollution-afflicted areas will have a higher incidence of COVID,” said Kumar, the chest surgeon. “And once this population gets COVID, they then have a higher chance of mortality.” Up until now, people in New Delhi this year had been spoiled in terms of breathable air. When a coronavirus lockdown in the spring shut down many industries and kept cars off the road, Delhi’s skies turned a miraculous blue. It was the cleanest air in decades, and at night, residents felt as if they were being treated to a star show. Constellations that hadn’t been seen for years shone above the apartment blocks. But that has become a dim memory. The sky is back to its usual hazy brown, and the city now smells of smoke. The Delhi government is doing more this year to fight pollution, including setting up a war room to track pollution hot spots and turning to anti-smog guns that blast mist into the air to knock down the dust. On Thursday, officials in Delhi, which is controlled by a progressive opposition political party, got locked into a blame game with national politicians who are part of the right-leaning administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Delhi officials blamed the Modi government for not doing enough to stop crop burning in the states that ring the capital. Modi administration officials argued that crop burning contributed only a minuscule amount to overall air pollution, and they blamed the Delhi government for not doing enough to control dust. Many more people in India’s cities are donning masks these days because of the pandemic, but experts say this probably won’t help much. Most people wear cloth masks or surgical-type masks that don’t seal well and won’t stop someone from inhaling small pollution particles (or the virus, either). Pollution alerts whizzed around the city via WhatsApp messages Thursday. “Delhi pollution level reported hazardous. 335,” read one message, referring to an Air Quality Index reading of 335, about six times as bad as that of New York City. The message continued: “Be Careful. Seniors don’t go out. Wear mask.”

What happens when COVID-19 meets toxic air? India is about to find out

Peace talks in Doha and war at home, that defines Afghanistan in a nutshell.

Afghanistan's defence minister flew to the southern province of Helmand&nbsp;a day after government forces launched a counter-offensive against Taliban terrorists&nbsp;who have battled their way towards the provincial capital in recent days.

The fighting in the province, where US&nbsp;and British troops for years fought to clear Taliban from a string of poppy-growing districts, comes as Afghan government negotiators and the Taliban try to push forward power-sharing talks in Qatar.

In another blow for the embattled government, two defence force helicopters setting off for a military mission in Helmand crashed into each other early on Wednesday killing nine people on board, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The crash happened as the helicopters were taking off in restive Helmand province, where clashes have erupted between Afghan forces and the Taliban, said provincial governor's spokesman Omar Zawak.&nbsp;

Acting Defence Minister Assadullah Khalid arrived in Helmand's capital, Lashkar Gah, to assess the situation and support the forces facing the major insurgent offensive that has overshadowed the peace talks and brought US&nbsp;airstrikes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-forces-attack-taliban-in-helmand-province-deputy-governor-captured-334648">Afghan forces attack Taliban in Helmand province, deputy governor captured</a>

Belligerence

The Taliban is trying to check how committed the Afghan government is towards the peace deal and how far it can push the government, without jeopardising the talks.

The Taliban have seized several checkpoints and closed in on Lashkar Gah but officials said the security forces had repelled overnight Taliban attacks in the districts of Nawa and Nad Ali, with casualties on both sides.

The Taliban assault in Helmand is testing the resolve of the government and casting doubt over the talks to end the 19 years of war since the Taliban were ousted.

The violence could also throw into question President Donald Trump's pledge last week to bring home the remaining US&nbsp;troops by Christmas.

Thousands of civilians have been caught up in the fighting, with more than 5,000 families displaced.

However, the Afghan Air Force has successfully carried out an attack on a group of Taliban terrorists&nbsp;in the southern Helmand Province, capturing the Taliban`s local deputy governor

Peace talks in Doha and war at home, that defines Afghanistan in a nutshell. Afghanistan's defence minister flew to the southern province of Helmand a day after government forces launched a counter-offensive against Taliban terrorists who have battled their way towards the provincial capital in recent days.

Peace talks in Doha and war at home, that defines Afghanistan in a nutshell. Afghanistan's defence minister flew to the southern province of Helmand a day after government forces launched a counter-offensive against Taliban terrorists who have battled their way towards the provincial capital in recent days. The fighting in the province, where US and British troops for years fought to clear Taliban from a string of poppy-growing districts, comes as Afghan government negotiators and the Taliban try to push forward power-sharing talks in Qatar. In another blow for the embattled government, two defence force helicopters setting off for a military mission in Helmand crashed into each other early on Wednesday killing nine people on board, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The crash happened as the helicopters were taking off in restive Helmand province, where clashes have erupted between Afghan forces and the Taliban, said provincial governor's spokesman Omar Zawak. Acting Defence Minister Assadullah Khalid arrived in Helmand's capital, Lashkar Gah, to assess the situation and support the forces facing the major insurgent offensive that has overshadowed the peace talks and brought US airstrikes. Also read: Afghan forces attack Taliban in Helmand province, deputy governor captured Belligerence The Taliban is trying to check how committed the Afghan government is towards the peace deal and how far it can push the government, without jeopardising the talks. The Taliban have seized several checkpoints and closed in on Lashkar Gah but officials said the security forces had repelled overnight Taliban attacks in the districts of Nawa and Nad Ali, with casualties on both sides. The Taliban assault in Helmand is testing the resolve of the government and casting doubt over the talks to end the 19 years of war since the Taliban were ousted. The violence could also throw into question President Donald Trump's pledge last week to bring home the remaining US troops by Christmas. Thousands of civilians have been caught up in the fighting, with more than 5,000 families displaced. However, the Afghan Air Force has successfully carried out an attack on a group of Taliban terrorists in the southern Helmand Province, capturing the Taliban`s local deputy governor

Afghanistan in a nutshell: Peace talks in Doha and war at home

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Zee News Rajasthan

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