Despite being in the middle of rising Indian and Chinese competition for South Asian influence, Bangladesh&nbsp;has tactfully approached both the regional powers.

On one hand, Bangladesh enjoys robust strategic ties with India, witnessed in just- completed joint naval exercises with India where the two sides held surface warfare drills in the Bay of Bengal. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bangladesh-conduct-naval-exercise-in-bay-of-bengal-332443" hreflang="en">India, Bangladesh conduct naval exercise in Bay of Bengal</a>

On the other, China is bankrolling billions of dollars worth of needed infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, checkbook diplomacy that has helped to pull the two sides closer together than perhaps ever in their modern history.

Here is the strategy adopted by Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina:

When Sheikh Hasina was elected as the prime minister of the country for the fourth time, a major diplomatic challenge was staring at her.

Even when she was forced to pick a side, she chose both India and China.

Sheikh Hasina has managed to walk the diplomatic tightrope quite successfully by carefully striking a balanced partnership with both the countries.

Bangladesh is almost completely surrounded by India with a 4,096-kilometer shared border. Robust and cordial ties with India are thus critical for Bangladesh’s economic development and national security.

Most crucially, Bangladesh’s water supply is dependent on rivers that flow into the country from neighbouring India.

Being a developing country,&nbsp;Bangladesh deepened its ties with China to bankroll its key infrastructural projects.&nbsp;

Unlike Pakistan and Sri Lanka has retained some autonomy because it&nbsp;is not buried under Chinese debt.

Bangladesh has adopted a cautious infrastructure development strategy, which involves drawing on the financial support and technical expertise of a number of countries in order to avoid becoming over-dependent on any single nation.

According to the ministry of finance,&nbsp;the external debt of Bangladesh stood at a little more than 33 billion dollars in 2018.

While the total foreign debt is less than 14 percent of the GDP of Bangladesh.&nbsp;Chinese loans account for just six percent of the total debt.

Dhaka's recent decision to bury the Sonadia deep-sea port project&nbsp;shows it is being selective in granting projects to China.

When concerns grew over rising Chinese influence, Dhaka assured New Delhi that it remains committed to strong ties with India.

During the visit of India's foreign secretary to Dhaka in August, Bangladesh and India discussed a two year long road map to improve their relationship. Both sides also agreed to open a travel bubble.

&nbsp;

Despite being in the middle of rising Indian and Chinese competition for South Asian influence, Bangladesh has tactfully approached both the regional powers. On one hand, Bangladesh enjoys robust strategic ties with India, witnessed in just- completed joint naval exercises with India where the two sides held surface warfare drills in the Bay of Bengal.

Despite being in the middle of rising Indian and Chinese competition for South Asian influence, Bangladesh has tactfully approached both the regional powers. On one hand, Bangladesh enjoys robust strategic ties with India, witnessed in just- completed joint naval exercises with India where the two sides held surface warfare drills in the Bay of Bengal. Also read: India, Bangladesh conduct naval exercise in Bay of Bengal On the other, China is bankrolling billions of dollars worth of needed infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, checkbook diplomacy that has helped to pull the two sides closer together than perhaps ever in their modern history. Here is the strategy adopted by Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: When Sheikh Hasina was elected as the prime minister of the country for the fourth time, a major diplomatic challenge was staring at her. Even when she was forced to pick a side, she chose both India and China. Sheikh Hasina has managed to walk the diplomatic tightrope quite successfully by carefully striking a balanced partnership with both the countries. Bangladesh is almost completely surrounded by India with a 4,096-kilometer shared border. Robust and cordial ties with India are thus critical for Bangladesh’s economic development and national security. Most crucially, Bangladesh’s water supply is dependent on rivers that flow into the country from neighbouring India. Being a developing country, Bangladesh deepened its ties with China to bankroll its key infrastructural projects. Unlike Pakistan and Sri Lanka has retained some autonomy because it is not buried under Chinese debt. Bangladesh has adopted a cautious infrastructure development strategy, which involves drawing on the financial support and technical expertise of a number of countries in order to avoid becoming over-dependent on any single nation. According to the ministry of finance, the external debt of Bangladesh stood at a little more than 33 billion dollars in 2018. While the total foreign debt is less than 14 percent of the GDP of Bangladesh. Chinese loans account for just six percent of the total debt. Dhaka's recent decision to bury the Sonadia deep-sea port project shows it is being selective in granting projects to China. When concerns grew over rising Chinese influence, Dhaka assured New Delhi that it remains committed to strong ties with India. During the visit of India's foreign secretary to Dhaka in August, Bangladesh and India discussed a two year long road map to improve their relationship. Both sides also agreed to open a travel bubble.

How Bangladesh has tactfully approached both India and China

Moscow has plegded retaliation against&nbsp;European Union sanctions over the case of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

Earlier, European Union foreign ministers backed a Franco-German plan on Monday to impose sanctions on Russians suspected of poisoning Navalny with a nerve agent.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-agrees-in-principle-to-sanction-russia-over-navalny-poisoning-334758">European Union agrees in principle to sanction Russia over Navalny poisoning</a>

Ambassadors from the 27 EU countries approved sanctions after France and Germany proposed measures last week, saying Russia was responsible for the poisoning.

In line with usual EU practice, those targeted by the sanctions, travel bans and asset freezes, will not be named until the measures take legal effect on Thursday, but they are likely to be Russian officials.

Paris and Berlin said last week they wanted to target individuals "based on their official function" and an entity "involved in the Novichok programme".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/targeted-sanctions-unavoidable-germany-warns-russia-over-navalny-poisoning-333220" hreflang="en">'Targeted sanctions unavoidable': Germany warns Russia over Navalny poisoning</a>

European&nbsp;powers have repeatedly asked Moscow to investigate the poisoning, which took place on Russian soil, but in a joint statement last week the French and German foreign ministers said the Kremlin had come up with "no credible explanation".

The move to punish Russia came after the UN's chemical weapons watchdog OPCW confirmed Germany, France and Sweden's finding that Navalny was poisoned by a nerve agent of the Soviet-developed Novichok group.

A poison from the same group was used to attack former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in 2018 -- an incident that prompted the EU to sanction four members of the Kremlin's military intelligence.

The latest measures were signed off politically by EU foreign ministers on Monday, a move hailed by Germany's Heiko Maas.

"I believe it is of paramount importance in the light of such a serious crime -- a violation of international law and the chemical weapons convention -- that the&nbsp;European&nbsp;Union&nbsp;shows unity, and it has done so today," he said.

EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell pressed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the Navalny case during phone talks on Tuesday.

Borrell's office said he called for Moscow to "do its utmost to investigate this crime thoroughly in full transparency" and cooperate with the OPCW.

Moscow has plegded retaliation against European Union sanctions over the case of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

Moscow has plegded retaliation against European Union sanctions over the case of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. Earlier, European Union foreign ministers backed a Franco-German plan on Monday to impose sanctions on Russians suspected of poisoning Navalny with a nerve agent. Also read: European Union agrees in principle to sanction Russia over Navalny poisoning Ambassadors from the 27 EU countries approved sanctions after France and Germany proposed measures last week, saying Russia was responsible for the poisoning. In line with usual EU practice, those targeted by the sanctions, travel bans and asset freezes, will not be named until the measures take legal effect on Thursday, but they are likely to be Russian officials. Paris and Berlin said last week they wanted to target individuals "based on their official function" and an entity "involved in the Novichok programme". Also read: 'Targeted sanctions unavoidable': Germany warns Russia over Navalny poisoning European powers have repeatedly asked Moscow to investigate the poisoning, which took place on Russian soil, but in a joint statement last week the French and German foreign ministers said the Kremlin had come up with "no credible explanation". The move to punish Russia came after the UN's chemical weapons watchdog OPCW confirmed Germany, France and Sweden's finding that Navalny was poisoned by a nerve agent of the Soviet-developed Novichok group. A poison from the same group was used to attack former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in 2018 -- an incident that prompted the EU to sanction four members of the Kremlin's military intelligence. The latest measures were signed off politically by EU foreign ministers on Monday, a move hailed by Germany's Heiko Maas. "I believe it is of paramount importance in the light of such a serious crime -- a violation of international law and the chemical weapons convention -- that the European Union shows unity, and it has done so today," he said. EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell pressed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the Navalny case during phone talks on Tuesday. Borrell's office said he called for Moscow to "do its utmost to investigate this crime thoroughly in full transparency" and cooperate with the OPCW.

Russia pledges retaliation against EU sanctions over Navalny poisoning

The Chinese&nbsp;government is still allowing the use of&nbsp;pangolin scales for traditional medicine despite pledging to protect the world's most trafficked wild mammal.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pangolins-found-to-carry-coronavirus-strains-302249/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Pangolins are covered with a layer of scales, which are designed to protect them against predators. The scales are highly coveted by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, while pangolin meat has been seen as a delicacy&nbsp;for China's wealthy elite.&nbsp;The species is now on the brink of extinction.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Smoke-and-Mirrors-2020-FINAL.pdf">report</a>&nbsp;by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) titled ''China's complicity in global illegal pangolin trade'' reveals online sales platforms such as eBay and Taobao continue to advertise pangolin products, while major pharmaceutical companies, including the leading China Beijing Tong Ren Tang Group, offer similar items directly on their websites.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-china-be-able-to-save-the-pangolin-304943/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

As per the research,&nbsp;221 companies had been licensed to sell items containing pangolin scales, which appeared as an ingredient in 64 different products.

The watchdog group said this revealed major loopholes in China’s regulations that needed to be closed if the government is serious about protecting endangered wildlife.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-raises-protection-for-pangolins-by-removing-scales-from-medicine-list-304787">China raises protection for pangolins by removing scales from medicine list</a>

The novel coronavirus possibly emerged from a combination of genetic shuffling and evolutionary selection of genes among specific bat and pangolin viruses before it reached humans, according to research.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pangolin scales are believed to promote blood circulation, remove stasis, and diminish inflammation.&nbsp;

China had vowed to&nbsp;remove&nbsp;pangolins from its official 2020 listing of traditional Chinese medicine. The move came&nbsp;shortly after the Chinese forestry authority gave pangolins the highest level of protection in the country.

As many as&nbsp;200,000 pangolins are consumed each year&nbsp;in Asia for their scales and meat and more than 130 tonnes of scales, live and dead animals were seized in cross-border trafficking busts last year, a figure estimated to represent up to 400,000 animals, according to conservation group WildAid.

The Chinese government is still allowing the use of pangolin scales for traditional medicine despite pledging to protect the world's most trafficked wild mammal.

The Chinese government is still allowing the use of pangolin scales for traditional medicine despite pledging to protect the world's most trafficked wild mammal. Pangolins are covered with a layer of scales, which are designed to protect them against predators. The scales are highly coveted by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, while pangolin meat has been seen as a delicacy for China's wealthy elite. The species is now on the brink of extinction. A report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) titled ''China's complicity in global illegal pangolin trade'' reveals online sales platforms such as eBay and Taobao continue to advertise pangolin products, while major pharmaceutical companies, including the leading China Beijing Tong Ren Tang Group, offer similar items directly on their websites. As per the research, 221 companies had been licensed to sell items containing pangolin scales, which appeared as an ingredient in 64 different products. The watchdog group said this revealed major loopholes in China’s regulations that needed to be closed if the government is serious about protecting endangered wildlife. Also read: China raises protection for pangolins by removing scales from medicine list The novel coronavirus possibly emerged from a combination of genetic shuffling and evolutionary selection of genes among specific bat and pangolin viruses before it reached humans, according to research. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pangolin scales are believed to promote blood circulation, remove stasis, and diminish inflammation. China had vowed to remove pangolins from its official 2020 listing of traditional Chinese medicine. The move came shortly after the Chinese forestry authority gave pangolins the highest level of protection in the country. As many as 200,000 pangolins are consumed each year in Asia for their scales and meat and more than 130 tonnes of scales, live and dead animals were seized in cross-border trafficking busts last year, a figure estimated to represent up to 400,000 animals, according to conservation group WildAid.

Pangolins, found to carry coronavirus strains, still being used in China

Thousands of Thai protesters marched on the prime minister's office to demand his resignation Thursday after scuffling with royalists opposed to the youth-led movement's calls for reforms to the monarchy.

Thai anti-government protesters and royalist supporters of king Maha Vajiralongkorn staged rival shows of force on either side of a Bangkok street with three-finger "Hunger Games" salutes on Wednesday with political tension growing after three months of demonstrations.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plaque-design-defying-thai-monarchy-turned-into-instagram-filters-merchandise-331675">Plaque design defying Thai monarchy turned into Instagram filters, merchandise</a>

In “The Hunger Games,” a three-fingered salute is a symbol of political dissent and indicates&nbsp;resistance.

Several hundred protesters at the democracy monument repeated their call for the departure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, a former junta leader, and a new constitution. They gave their trademark three-finger salute.

Just a couple of dozen metres away, hundreds of royalists assembled with members of security forces, all of them clad in the royal yellow colour, hours before a royal motorcade was due to pass along the road.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/thai-students-protest-against-you-know-who-in-harry-potter-style-318035">Thai students protest against 'you-know-who' in Harry Potter style</a>

Despite one brief fistfight, the two sides largely kept apart, but the standoff revived fears of trouble in a country that suffered a decade of street violence between supporters and opponents of the establishment before a 2014 coup.

Royalist leader buddha Issara said the protesters could demand democracy, but must not call for reforms of the monarchy, as some have done.

"They must not touch on the institution," he told reporters. "We will not accept any booing or raising three or four fingers during the motorcade as well."

Protesters made a rare direct challenge to the king on Tuesday, chanting at his passing convoy after 21 activists were arrested during scuffles with police. Police said detainees would be charged with public order offences on Wednesday.

In “The Hunger Games,” a three-fingered salute indicated resistance. Now it does in Thailand, too. Anyone who has watched the hunger games—and that's millions upon millions of people—are familiar with the series' symbol of political dissent: three fingers held up, with the thumb and pinky folded.

Thousands of Thai protesters marched on the prime minister's office to demand his resignation Thursday after scuffling with royalists opposed to the youth-led movement's calls for reforms to the monarchy.

Thousands of Thai protesters marched on the prime minister's office to demand his resignation Thursday after scuffling with royalists opposed to the youth-led movement's calls for reforms to the monarchy. Thai anti-government protesters and royalist supporters of king Maha Vajiralongkorn staged rival shows of force on either side of a Bangkok street with three-finger "Hunger Games" salutes on Wednesday with political tension growing after three months of demonstrations. Also read: Plaque design defying Thai monarchy turned into Instagram filters, merchandise In “The Hunger Games,” a three-fingered salute is a symbol of political dissent and indicates resistance. Several hundred protesters at the democracy monument repeated their call for the departure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, a former junta leader, and a new constitution. They gave their trademark three-finger salute. Just a couple of dozen metres away, hundreds of royalists assembled with members of security forces, all of them clad in the royal yellow colour, hours before a royal motorcade was due to pass along the road. Also see: Thai students protest against 'you-know-who' in Harry Potter style Despite one brief fistfight, the two sides largely kept apart, but the standoff revived fears of trouble in a country that suffered a decade of street violence between supporters and opponents of the establishment before a 2014 coup. Royalist leader buddha Issara said the protesters could demand democracy, but must not call for reforms of the monarchy, as some have done. "They must not touch on the institution," he told reporters. "We will not accept any booing or raising three or four fingers during the motorcade as well." Protesters made a rare direct challenge to the king on Tuesday, chanting at his passing convoy after 21 activists were arrested during scuffles with police. Police said detainees would be charged with public order offences on Wednesday. In “The Hunger Games,” a three-fingered salute indicated resistance. Now it does in Thailand, too. Anyone who has watched the hunger games—and that's millions upon millions of people—are familiar with the series' symbol of political dissent: three fingers held up, with the thumb and pinky folded.

Thai protesters demand PM resignation with 'Hunger Games' salute

India on Wednesday contributed USD one million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to support Palestinian refugees who have been facing extreme challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a move hailed by the UN body as "timely help".

The Government of India handed over the contribution cheque to the UN agency through its representative in Palestine, Sunil Kumar. 
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has thanked India for its "timely help".

"India has been a solid and consistent supporter of Palestinian refugees for decades. This contribution is even more significant as it comes at a critical time," Sami Mshasha, Director of Communications at UNRWA, told PTI.

"India is facing a difficult situation at home due to the pandemic and it has still not forgotten the Palestinian refugees and stepped in to help stabilise basic services, including education, health care, relief and social services for Palestinian refugees. I would like to thank the Government of India for its continued funding to UNRWA and its backing of Palestine refugees across the Middle East,''&nbsp;Mshasha told PTI.

Reiterating India's continued support for UNRWA services, Kumar in a press release said, ''On behalf of the Government of India, I would like to express my appreciation for the remarkable efforts carried out by UNRWA. India shall continue supporting the Agency's activities in providing vital services and necessary humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees.''

During an Extraordinary Virtual Ministerial Pledging Conference for UNRWA held on June 23 2020, Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, had announced that India will contribute USD 10 million US to UNRWA over the next two years.

India increased its annual financial contribution to UNRWA from USD 1.25 million in 2016 to USD 5 million in 2018 and 2019. It had also contributed USD 2 million to the agency in May 2020 which brings the total contribution for this year to USD three million so far.

"UNRWA has been facing a huge budgetary deficit and with an overwhelming majority of the 5.6 million refugees living under poverty line, the ongoing pandemic has broken the backbone of the basic infrastructure in the area they live. India's contribution seen in that background is timely and much appreciated," Mshasha said.

India has also sent medicines and other supplies to the Palestinian National Authority to help in dealing with the COVID-19 situation. 
UNRWA is facing an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty.

It is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5.6 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five fields of operation.

Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.

UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection, and microfinance among Palestinian refugees.

Under an India-Palestine development partnership, India is currently funding eight on-going developmental projects worth 59 million US dollars, including building a 215 Bed Super Specialty Hospital in Bethlehem, Information Technology Park, National Printing Press, Turathi-Women Empowerment Project, Diplomatic Training Institute and three schools in various governorates in Palestinian Territories.

India on Wednesday contributed USD one million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to support Palestinian refugees who have been facing extreme challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a move hailed by the UN body as "timely help".

India on Wednesday contributed USD one million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to support Palestinian refugees who have been facing extreme challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a move hailed by the UN body as "timely help". The Government of India handed over the contribution cheque to the UN agency through its representative in Palestine, Sunil Kumar. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has thanked India for its "timely help". "India has been a solid and consistent supporter of Palestinian refugees for decades. This contribution is even more significant as it comes at a critical time," Sami Mshasha, Director of Communications at UNRWA, told PTI. "India is facing a difficult situation at home due to the pandemic and it has still not forgotten the Palestinian refugees and stepped in to help stabilise basic services, including education, health care, relief and social services for Palestinian refugees. I would like to thank the Government of India for its continued funding to UNRWA and its backing of Palestine refugees across the Middle East,'' Mshasha told PTI. Reiterating India's continued support for UNRWA services, Kumar in a press release said, ''On behalf of the Government of India, I would like to express my appreciation for the remarkable efforts carried out by UNRWA. India shall continue supporting the Agency's activities in providing vital services and necessary humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees.'' During an Extraordinary Virtual Ministerial Pledging Conference for UNRWA held on June 23 2020, Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, had announced that India will contribute USD 10 million US to UNRWA over the next two years. India increased its annual financial contribution to UNRWA from USD 1.25 million in 2016 to USD 5 million in 2018 and 2019. It had also contributed USD 2 million to the agency in May 2020 which brings the total contribution for this year to USD three million so far. "UNRWA has been facing a huge budgetary deficit and with an overwhelming majority of the 5.6 million refugees living under poverty line, the ongoing pandemic has broken the backbone of the basic infrastructure in the area they live. India's contribution seen in that background is timely and much appreciated," Mshasha said. India has also sent medicines and other supplies to the Palestinian National Authority to help in dealing with the COVID-19 situation. UNRWA is facing an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. It is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5.6 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five fields of operation. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection, and microfinance among Palestinian refugees. Under an India-Palestine development partnership, India is currently funding eight on-going developmental projects worth 59 million US dollars, including building a 215 Bed Super Specialty Hospital in Bethlehem, Information Technology Park, National Printing Press, Turathi-Women Empowerment Project, Diplomatic Training Institute and three schools in various governorates in Palestinian Territories.

India provides $1 million for Palestinian refugees

The&nbsp;Indian cabinet on Wednesday allowed Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC)to export oil from its Mangalore strategic petroleum reserve (SPR), a minister said, marking a policy shift that could enhance foreign participation as&nbsp;India&nbsp;seeks to expand its storage capacity.

Allowing ADNOC to export its oil mirrors a model adopted by countries such as Japan and South Korea which allow oil producers to re-export crude storage.&nbsp;India&nbsp;does not allow oil exports.

"The move will facilitate trade for ADNOC," Prakash Javadekar, minister of environment, told a news briefing.

ADNOC had been seeking permission from the&nbsp;Indian government for the export of its oil from the cavern as it was finding difficult to sell to&nbsp;Indian refiners, some of which have cut crude processing due to falling demand.

ADNOC can now export oil stored in the Mangalore SPR in foreign flagged ships. So far&nbsp;Indian flagged ships were used for coastal movement of the oil from the cavern.

Indian companies will have a first right of refusal in case of any re-exports by ADNOC, a government source said.

India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, imports about 80 per cent&nbsp;of its oil needs and has built strategic storage at three locations in southern&nbsp;India&nbsp;to store up to 5 million tonnes oil to protect against supply disruption.

India&nbsp;also plans to build strategic storage at Chandikhol in Odisha and Padur in Karnataka for around 6.5 million tonnes of crude.

The&nbsp;Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd has leased half of the 1.5 million tonnes capacity in Mangalore storage to ADNOC, while ISPRL has retained the remainder.

The previous lease allowed ADNOC to sell only 35% of its oil stored in Mangalore to&nbsp;Indian refiners and another 15% with permission from the government. The remainder was kept for&nbsp;India’s needs.

The Indian cabinet on Wednesday allowed Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC)to export oil from its Mangalore strategic petroleum reserve (SPR), a minister said, marking a policy shift that could enhance foreign participation as India seeks to expand its storage capacity.

The Indian cabinet on Wednesday allowed Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC)to export oil from its Mangalore strategic petroleum reserve (SPR), a minister said, marking a policy shift that could enhance foreign participation as India seeks to expand its storage capacity. Allowing ADNOC to export its oil mirrors a model adopted by countries such as Japan and South Korea which allow oil producers to re-export crude storage. India does not allow oil exports. "The move will facilitate trade for ADNOC," Prakash Javadekar, minister of environment, told a news briefing. ADNOC had been seeking permission from the Indian government for the export of its oil from the cavern as it was finding difficult to sell to Indian refiners, some of which have cut crude processing due to falling demand. ADNOC can now export oil stored in the Mangalore SPR in foreign flagged ships. So far Indian flagged ships were used for coastal movement of the oil from the cavern. Indian companies will have a first right of refusal in case of any re-exports by ADNOC, a government source said. India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, imports about 80 per cent of its oil needs and has built strategic storage at three locations in southern India to store up to 5 million tonnes oil to protect against supply disruption. India also plans to build strategic storage at Chandikhol in Odisha and Padur in Karnataka for around 6.5 million tonnes of crude. The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd has leased half of the 1.5 million tonnes capacity in Mangalore storage to ADNOC, while ISPRL has retained the remainder. The previous lease allowed ADNOC to sell only 35% of its oil stored in Mangalore to Indian refiners and another 15% with permission from the government. The remainder was kept for India’s needs.

India allows UAE's ADNOC to export oil from strategic reserve

Russia's Soyuz spacecraft takes quickest crew trip to International Space Station

Leaders of Golden Dawn, Greece's new-Nazi group, have been sentenced 13 years of prison on Wednesday as a trial seen as one of the most important in the country's modern political history neared its conclusion.

The jail term for Golden Dawn founder Nikos Michaloliakos capped a stunning downfall for the 62-year-old whose party was the country's third most popular in 2015, the year the trial began.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/neo-nazi-group-branded-as-criminal-organisation-by-greek-court-333125">Neo-Nazi group branded as criminal organisation by Greek court</a>

The mathematician and Holocaust denier, who founded the party in the 1980s and ran it with an iron fist ever since, also received an additional one year for illegal possession of a weapon.

The court also handed a life sentence on Wednesday to&nbsp;Golden&nbsp;Dawn&nbsp;member Yiorgos Roupakias for the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas in 2013. Roupakias also received an additional 10 years in jail for belonging to a criminal group.

It was the stabbing of Fyssas that prompted authorities to crack down on&nbsp;Golden&nbsp;Dawn&nbsp;amid huge protests across Greece.

The authorities launched an inquiry into whether the party was a criminal organisation in parallel with the criminal investigation into the rapper's murder and into violent attacks on immigrants and left-wing activists.

Greek police had found unlicensed weapons and Nazi flags in the homes of party members. The party accused the government of a politically-motivated conspiracy to rob it of votes.

Golden&nbsp;Dawn&nbsp;entered parliament for the first time in 2012 at the peak of the crisis on a fiercely anti-immigrant platform, tapping into Greeks' anger over painful austerity measures and what many saw as a corrupt and cosy political establishment.

Leaders of Golden Dawn, Greece's new-Nazi group, have been sentenced 13 years of prison on Wednesday as a trial seen as one of the most important in the country's modern political history neared its conclusion.

Leaders of Golden Dawn, Greece's new-Nazi group, have been sentenced 13 years of prison on Wednesday as a trial seen as one of the most important in the country's modern political history neared its conclusion. The jail term for Golden Dawn founder Nikos Michaloliakos capped a stunning downfall for the 62-year-old whose party was the country's third most popular in 2015, the year the trial began. Also read: Neo-Nazi group branded as criminal organisation by Greek court The mathematician and Holocaust denier, who founded the party in the 1980s and ran it with an iron fist ever since, also received an additional one year for illegal possession of a weapon. The court also handed a life sentence on Wednesday to Golden Dawn member Yiorgos Roupakias for the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas in 2013. Roupakias also received an additional 10 years in jail for belonging to a criminal group. It was the stabbing of Fyssas that prompted authorities to crack down on Golden Dawn amid huge protests across Greece. The authorities launched an inquiry into whether the party was a criminal organisation in parallel with the criminal investigation into the rapper's murder and into violent attacks on immigrants and left-wing activists. Greek police had found unlicensed weapons and Nazi flags in the homes of party members. The party accused the government of a politically-motivated conspiracy to rob it of votes. Golden Dawn entered parliament for the first time in 2012 at the peak of the crisis on a fiercely anti-immigrant platform, tapping into Greeks' anger over painful austerity measures and what many saw as a corrupt and cosy political establishment.

Greece: Neo-Nazi leaders of Golden Dawn imprisoned for 13 years

Huawei&nbsp;Technologies Co Ltd is in talks with Digital China Group Co Ltd and other suitors to sell parts of its Honor smartphone unit in a deal that could fetch up to 25 billion yuan ($3.7 billion), people with knowledge of the matter said.

Embattled&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;is resetting its priorities due to US&nbsp;sanctions and will focus on its higher-end&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;phones rather than the Honor brand which is aimed at young people and the budget conscious, they said.

The assets to be sold have yet to be finalised but could include Honor's brand, research &amp; development capabilities and related supply chain management business, two of the people said.

The deal may be an all-cash sale and could end up smaller, worth somewhere between 15 billion yuan and 25 billion yuan, one of the people said.

Digital China, the main distributor for Honor phones, has emerged as the frontrunner but other prospective buyers include Chinese electronics maker TCL and rival smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp, the people said, declining to be identified as the talks were confidential.

Huawei, the world's biggest telecoms equipment vendor and No.2 smartphone maker, declined to comment as did TCL. Digital China and Xiaomi did not respond to requests for comment.

The Honor brand was established by&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;in 2013 but the business mostly operates independently from its parent.

'A WIN-WIN SITUATION'

Kuo Ming-chi, an analyst at TF International Securities, has said that any sale by&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;of the Honor smartphone business would be a win-win situation for the Honor brand, its suppliers and China's electronics industry.

"If Honor is independent from&nbsp;Huawei, its purchase of components will no longer be subject to the US&nbsp;ban on&nbsp;Huawei. This will help Honor's smartphone business and the suppliers," he wrote in a research note last week.

The US&nbsp;government last year moved to prevent most US&nbsp;companies from conducting business with&nbsp;Huawei, saying the tech giant was ultimately answerable to the Chinese government.&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;has repeatedly denied being a national security risk.

In May, Washington announced new rules aimed at constricting&nbsp;Huawei's ability to procure crucial chips that it designs for 5G networking gear and smartphones.

The Honor brand, which sells its phones online through its own sites and via third-party retailers, competes with Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo in the market for lower-end phones in China. Its phones are also sold in Southeast Asia and Europe.

Honor brand smartphones accounted for 14.6 million, or 26 per cent of the 55.8 million smartphones&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;shipped in the second quarter of this year, according to estimates from research firm Canalys.

But margins for lower-end phones can be razor thin, and Honor booked less than 5 billion yuan in net profit on revenue of about 70-80 billion yuan last year, said one of the people.

If successful in its bid, Digital China, which also partners with&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;in cloud computing and other businesses, plans to finance the bulk of deal with bank loans and is set to secure the financing in the coming weeks, the people said.

Shares in Digital China initially rose by their maximum daily limit of 10% but later pared gains to stand 3 per cent&nbsp;higher on Wednesday afternoon, giving the Shenzhen-listed company a market value of around $2.9 billion.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is in talks with Digital China Group Co Ltd and other suitors to sell parts of its Honor smartphone unit in a deal that could fetch up to 25 billion yuan ($3.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is in talks with Digital China Group Co Ltd and other suitors to sell parts of its Honor smartphone unit in a deal that could fetch up to 25 billion yuan ($3.7 billion), people with knowledge of the matter said. Embattled Huawei is resetting its priorities due to US sanctions and will focus on its higher-end Huawei phones rather than the Honor brand which is aimed at young people and the budget conscious, they said. The assets to be sold have yet to be finalised but could include Honor's brand, research & development capabilities and related supply chain management business, two of the people said. The deal may be an all-cash sale and could end up smaller, worth somewhere between 15 billion yuan and 25 billion yuan, one of the people said. Digital China, the main distributor for Honor phones, has emerged as the frontrunner but other prospective buyers include Chinese electronics maker TCL and rival smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp, the people said, declining to be identified as the talks were confidential. Huawei, the world's biggest telecoms equipment vendor and No.2 smartphone maker, declined to comment as did TCL. Digital China and Xiaomi did not respond to requests for comment. The Honor brand was established by Huawei in 2013 but the business mostly operates independently from its parent. 'A WIN-WIN SITUATION' Kuo Ming-chi, an analyst at TF International Securities, has said that any sale by Huawei of the Honor smartphone business would be a win-win situation for the Honor brand, its suppliers and China's electronics industry. "If Honor is independent from Huawei, its purchase of components will no longer be subject to the US ban on Huawei. This will help Honor's smartphone business and the suppliers," he wrote in a research note last week. The US government last year moved to prevent most US companies from conducting business with Huawei, saying the tech giant was ultimately answerable to the Chinese government. Huawei has repeatedly denied being a national security risk. In May, Washington announced new rules aimed at constricting Huawei's ability to procure crucial chips that it designs for 5G networking gear and smartphones. The Honor brand, which sells its phones online through its own sites and via third-party retailers, competes with Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo in the market for lower-end phones in China. Its phones are also sold in Southeast Asia and Europe. Honor brand smartphones accounted for 14.6 million, or 26 per cent of the 55.8 million smartphones Huawei shipped in the second quarter of this year, according to estimates from research firm Canalys. But margins for lower-end phones can be razor thin, and Honor booked less than 5 billion yuan in net profit on revenue of about 70-80 billion yuan last year, said one of the people. If successful in its bid, Digital China, which also partners with Huawei in cloud computing and other businesses, plans to finance the bulk of deal with bank loans and is set to secure the financing in the coming weeks, the people said. Shares in Digital China initially rose by their maximum daily limit of 10% but later pared gains to stand 3 per cent higher on Wednesday afternoon, giving the Shenzhen-listed company a market value of around $2.9 billion.

Huawei in talks to sell parts of its Honor smartphone business: Sources

Record Indian beaches get coveted 'blue flag' certification

A French museum won backing from scholars on Tuesday for its decision to halt an exhibition about Mongol leader&nbsp;Genghis&nbsp;Khan because of a censorship attempt by the Chinese government.

The history museum in the western French city of Nantes announced Monday that it was delaying the opening of the exhibition about the legendary founder of the 13th-Century Mongol Empire by more than three years.

Preparations for the show, planned in collaboration with the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, China, ran into trouble after the Chinese Bureau of Cultural Heritage pushed for changes to the original project plan, "including notably elements of biased rewriting of Mongol culture in favour of a new national narrative", the Nantes museum said.

The Chinese authorities demanded that certain words, including "Genghis&nbsp;Khan," "Empire" and "Mongol" be removed from the exhibition, and later asked for control over exhibition texts, maps, brochures and communication, the museum said.

The dispute coincides with a tougher Chinese line against ethnic Mongols, who account for about 6.5 million of China's 1.4 billion inhabitants and mostly live in the northern province of Inner Mongolia.

The province has seen weeks of protests and school boycotts over a policy requiring schools to teach politics, history, and literature in Mandarin rather than the local language.

"The Chinese regime bans historical narratives that don't match its official narratives. And tries to do the same abroad," tweeted Valerie Niquet, an Asia specialist at France's Foundation for Strategic Research.

Antoine Bondaz, a research fellow at the foundation, also backed the museum's decision on Twitter, calling the reported Chinese demands "crazy".

"The Nantes museum and Hohhot museum had good working relations until Beijing changed its policies and tried to impose its narrative abroad," he added.

The "hardening this summer of the Chinese government's position towards the Mongol minority" prompted the halt of the exhibition, the museum said.

"We decided to stop this production in the name of the human, scientific and ethical values that we defend," museum director Bertrand Guillet said in a statement.

The show, which was to open next week, had already been pushed back to the first half of 2021 because of the coronavirus crisis.

But the museum said it was now "forced to delay this exhibition until October 2024".

This would give it time to build a new exhibition, featuring works from European and American collections.

A French museum won backing from scholars on Tuesday for its decision to halt an exhibition about Mongol leader Genghis Khan because of a censorship attempt by the Chinese government.

A French museum won backing from scholars on Tuesday for its decision to halt an exhibition about Mongol leader Genghis Khan because of a censorship attempt by the Chinese government. The history museum in the western French city of Nantes announced Monday that it was delaying the opening of the exhibition about the legendary founder of the 13th-Century Mongol Empire by more than three years. Preparations for the show, planned in collaboration with the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, China, ran into trouble after the Chinese Bureau of Cultural Heritage pushed for changes to the original project plan, "including notably elements of biased rewriting of Mongol culture in favour of a new national narrative", the Nantes museum said. The Chinese authorities demanded that certain words, including "Genghis Khan," "Empire" and "Mongol" be removed from the exhibition, and later asked for control over exhibition texts, maps, brochures and communication, the museum said. The dispute coincides with a tougher Chinese line against ethnic Mongols, who account for about 6.5 million of China's 1.4 billion inhabitants and mostly live in the northern province of Inner Mongolia. The province has seen weeks of protests and school boycotts over a policy requiring schools to teach politics, history, and literature in Mandarin rather than the local language. "The Chinese regime bans historical narratives that don't match its official narratives. And tries to do the same abroad," tweeted Valerie Niquet, an Asia specialist at France's Foundation for Strategic Research. Antoine Bondaz, a research fellow at the foundation, also backed the museum's decision on Twitter, calling the reported Chinese demands "crazy". "The Nantes museum and Hohhot museum had good working relations until Beijing changed its policies and tried to impose its narrative abroad," he added. The "hardening this summer of the Chinese government's position towards the Mongol minority" prompted the halt of the exhibition, the museum said. "We decided to stop this production in the name of the human, scientific and ethical values that we defend," museum director Bertrand Guillet said in a statement. The show, which was to open next week, had already been pushed back to the first half of 2021 because of the coronavirus crisis. But the museum said it was now "forced to delay this exhibition until October 2024". This would give it time to build a new exhibition, featuring works from European and American collections.

French museum postpones Genghis Khan exhibit after Chinese interference

The biggest&nbsp;World&nbsp;War&nbsp;Two bomb ever found in Poland exploded underwater on Tuesday (October 13) while being defused by Polish sappers.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Biggest World War Two bomb found in Poland explodes under water while being defused <a href="https://t.co/oucLfGyTDA">https://t.co/oucLfGyTDA</a> <a href="https://t.co/T2Zdbzqumk">pic.twitter.com/T2Zdbzqumk</a>
— Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1316186963238506496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Navy divers on Monday began a five-day operation to defuse the largest unexploded&nbsp;World&nbsp;War&nbsp;Two bomb ever found in Poland, forcing more than 750 people to evacuate their homes.

The bomb was found in the Piast Canal which connects the Baltic Sea with the Oder River, and was dropped by the RAF in 1945 in an attack on the German cruiser Lutzow.

The site is near the town of Swinoujscie in northwest Poland where a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal was opened in 2016.

Dubbed the "earthquake" bomb, the Tallboy bomb was used by Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) and weighs nearly 5,400 kg, including 2,400 kg of explosive, the Navy said on its Facebook account.

The spokesman of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla, Second-Lieutenant Grzegorz Lewandowski told the state-run news agency PAP that the object can be considered as neutralized, it will not pose any more threat and all mine divers were outside the danger zone.

Swinoujscie contains a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal but a spokesman for the town's mayor told PAP no-one was injured and no infrastructure had been damaged.

The Piast Canal connects the Baltic Sea with the Oder River on Poland's border with Germany. The bomb was dropped by the RAF in 1945 in an attack on the German cruiser Lutzow.

The biggest World War Two bomb ever found in Poland exploded underwater on Tuesday (October 13) while being defused by Polish sappers. Biggest World War Two bomb found in Poland explodes under water while being defused https://t.

The biggest World War Two bomb ever found in Poland exploded underwater on Tuesday (October 13) while being defused by Polish sappers. Biggest World War Two bomb found in Poland explodes under water while being defused https://t.co/oucLfGyTDA pic.twitter.com/T2Zdbzqumk — Reuters (@Reuters) October 14, 2020 × Navy divers on Monday began a five-day operation to defuse the largest unexploded World War Two bomb ever found in Poland, forcing more than 750 people to evacuate their homes. The bomb was found in the Piast Canal which connects the Baltic Sea with the Oder River, and was dropped by the RAF in 1945 in an attack on the German cruiser Lutzow. The site is near the town of Swinoujscie in northwest Poland where a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal was opened in 2016. Dubbed the "earthquake" bomb, the Tallboy bomb was used by Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) and weighs nearly 5,400 kg, including 2,400 kg of explosive, the Navy said on its Facebook account. The spokesman of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla, Second-Lieutenant Grzegorz Lewandowski told the state-run news agency PAP that the object can be considered as neutralized, it will not pose any more threat and all mine divers were outside the danger zone. Swinoujscie contains a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal but a spokesman for the town's mayor told PAP no-one was injured and no infrastructure had been damaged. The Piast Canal connects the Baltic Sea with the Oder River on Poland's border with Germany. The bomb was dropped by the RAF in 1945 in an attack on the German cruiser Lutzow.

World War II biggest bomb explodes underwater during attempt to defuse it

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Vyomica Berry

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.