The reform process of the Sri Lankan Constitution would be underway very soon after the government abolished the 19th Amendment that curtailed the powers of the president and strengthened the role of Parliament.

Minister of Information Keheliya Rambukwella said the new government will first abolish the 19th Amendment "which created a lot of confusion and instability within the government.''

''The people have given us a mandate to bring in a new Constitution which will address all issues,''&nbsp;Rambukwella insisted.

He said the Constitution reform process would be underway very soon, he told reporters on Friday.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa outlined his commitment to abolish the 19th Amendment during his ceremonial address to Parliament last week.

The 19A Amendment adopted in 2015 by the then reformist government was subject to much criticism by the Rajapaksa clan as it prevented dual citizens from contesting elections. At the time, two of the Rajapaksa family members including the current president were dual citizens of the US and Sri Lanka.

President's younger brother and SLPP founder and its National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa is a dual citizen of US and Sri Lanka. There are 5 of them already in government.

During the August 5 election, the Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) sought two thirds parliamentary mandate or 150 seats in the 225-member assembly to effect constitutional changes, the foremost of them was the move to abolish the 19A.

The SLPP and allies won 150 seats and have a two-third majority to effect the constitutional change they desire.

While Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected as the Sri Lankan President in November last year, his eldest brother Mahida Rajapaksa won the general election and assumed charge as Prime Minister on August 9.

The Opposition has accused the government of trying to abolish 19A to make room for another member of the Rajapaksa family to enter Parliament.

The 19A was the main election plank of the previous government.

The 19A depoliticised the government administration by ensuring the independence of key pillars such as the judiciary, public service and elections.

The reformists in 2015 argued that the 19A was needed to correct the power imbalance created by the 18A which the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010 had introduced.

The 18A lifted the two term bar for a president to run for office.

The 19A brought in the reversal bringing back the two terms bar and reducing the presidential term from 6 to 5 years. It pruned the powers of the presidency and empowered Parliament.&nbsp;

The reform process of the Sri Lankan Constitution would be underway very soon after the government abolished the 19th Amendment that curtailed the powers of the president and strengthened the role of Parliament.

The reform process of the Sri Lankan Constitution would be underway very soon after the government abolished the 19th Amendment that curtailed the powers of the president and strengthened the role of Parliament. Minister of Information Keheliya Rambukwella said the new government will first abolish the 19th Amendment "which created a lot of confusion and instability within the government.'' ''The people have given us a mandate to bring in a new Constitution which will address all issues,'' Rambukwella insisted. He said the Constitution reform process would be underway very soon, he told reporters on Friday. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa outlined his commitment to abolish the 19th Amendment during his ceremonial address to Parliament last week. The 19A Amendment adopted in 2015 by the then reformist government was subject to much criticism by the Rajapaksa clan as it prevented dual citizens from contesting elections. At the time, two of the Rajapaksa family members including the current president were dual citizens of the US and Sri Lanka. President's younger brother and SLPP founder and its National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa is a dual citizen of US and Sri Lanka. There are 5 of them already in government. During the August 5 election, the Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) sought two thirds parliamentary mandate or 150 seats in the 225-member assembly to effect constitutional changes, the foremost of them was the move to abolish the 19A. The SLPP and allies won 150 seats and have a two-third majority to effect the constitutional change they desire. While Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected as the Sri Lankan President in November last year, his eldest brother Mahida Rajapaksa won the general election and assumed charge as Prime Minister on August 9. The Opposition has accused the government of trying to abolish 19A to make room for another member of the Rajapaksa family to enter Parliament. The 19A was the main election plank of the previous government. The 19A depoliticised the government administration by ensuring the independence of key pillars such as the judiciary, public service and elections. The reformists in 2015 argued that the 19A was needed to correct the power imbalance created by the 18A which the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010 had introduced. The 18A lifted the two term bar for a president to run for office. The 19A brought in the reversal bringing back the two terms bar and reducing the presidential term from 6 to 5 years. It pruned the powers of the presidency and empowered Parliament.

Reform process of Sri Lankan Constitution would be underway very soon: Minister

Possible successors stack up as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns

Chinese consumers could boycott Apple if the United States bans WeChat, China's foreign ministry spokesman warned Friday, as the clock ticks down on a US order to block the popular social app.

US President Donald Trump this month announced a ban from mid-September on WeChat and another Chinese-owned app, TikTok, accusing them of threatening national security, further stoking tensions between Beijing and Washington.

But foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted Friday that "If WeChat is banned, then there will be no reason why Chinese shall keep iPhone and apple products".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/walmart-says-teaming-with-microsoft-in-bid-for-tiktok-323532" hreflang="en">Walmart says teaming with Microsoft in bid for TikTok</a>

Zhao had already on Thursday said&nbsp;"many Chinese people are saying they may stop using iPhones if WeChat is banned in the US", and &nbsp;accused the US of "systematic economic bullying of non-US companies" by targeting the Chinese app.

The comments mark a rare direct reference by Beijing to boycotting an American product and come as the superpowers spar on multiple fronts including military activity in the South China Sea, Hong Kong and blame for the coronavirus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-jeff-bezos-becomes-first-billionaire-in-modern-history-to-cross-the-200-billion-net-worth-report-323384" hreflang="en">Amazon's Jeff Bezos becomes first billionaire in modern history to cross the $200 billion net worth: Report</a>

Chinese social media users on Friday responded with mixed feelings to Zhao's warning on Twitter, which is blocked in China but accessible through virtual private network software.

"I use Apple, but I also love my country," one user on the Twitter-like Weibo platform. "It's not a conflict."

"No matter how good Apple is, it's just a phone. It can be replaced, but WeChat is different," another user argued. "Modern Chinese people will lose their soul if they leave WeChat, especially business people."

Wechat, known in mainland China as Weixin, has more than 1.2 billion active users.

Trump's executive order against WeChat forces the platform to end all operations in the United States and bans Americans doing business with it.

Apple accounted for eight percent of China's smartphone market in the second quarter of 2020, according to Counterpoint Research, far behind domestic leader Huawei.

Chinese consumers could boycott Apple if the United States bans WeChat, China's foreign ministry spokesman warned Friday, as the clock ticks down on a US order to block the popular social app.

Chinese consumers could boycott Apple if the United States bans WeChat, China's foreign ministry spokesman warned Friday, as the clock ticks down on a US order to block the popular social app. US President Donald Trump this month announced a ban from mid-September on WeChat and another Chinese-owned app, TikTok, accusing them of threatening national security, further stoking tensions between Beijing and Washington. But foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted Friday that "If WeChat is banned, then there will be no reason why Chinese shall keep iPhone and apple products". Also read: Walmart says teaming with Microsoft in bid for TikTok Zhao had already on Thursday said "many Chinese people are saying they may stop using iPhones if WeChat is banned in the US", and accused the US of "systematic economic bullying of non-US companies" by targeting the Chinese app. The comments mark a rare direct reference by Beijing to boycotting an American product and come as the superpowers spar on multiple fronts including military activity in the South China Sea, Hong Kong and blame for the coronavirus. Also read: Amazon's Jeff Bezos becomes first billionaire in modern history to cross the $200 billion net worth: Report Chinese social media users on Friday responded with mixed feelings to Zhao's warning on Twitter, which is blocked in China but accessible through virtual private network software. "I use Apple, but I also love my country," one user on the Twitter-like Weibo platform. "It's not a conflict." "No matter how good Apple is, it's just a phone. It can be replaced, but WeChat is different," another user argued. "Modern Chinese people will lose their soul if they leave WeChat, especially business people." Wechat, known in mainland China as Weixin, has more than 1.2 billion active users. Trump's executive order against WeChat forces the platform to end all operations in the United States and bans Americans doing business with it. Apple accounted for eight percent of China's smartphone market in the second quarter of 2020, according to Counterpoint Research, far behind domestic leader Huawei.

If WeChat is banned, no reason why Chinese shall keep iPhone and apple products: Foreign ministry

North&nbsp;Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Typhoon Bavi had caused only minimal damage to the country after making landfall early on Thursday, state news media KCNA reported on Friday.

Kim, who visited South Hwanghae province southwest of Pyongyang, had issued an alert to prevent crop damage and casualties from the typhoon, which made landfall near the capital, dumping heavy rains and uprooting trees.

North&nbsp;Korea, which has also been stepping up efforts to combat the novel coronavirus, had referred to Typhoon Bavi as the No. 8 storm.

"He said that the scale of damage from Typhoon number&nbsp;8 is smaller than expected, adding that he had worried a lot and he feels it is fortunate to have that amount of damage," said KCNA, referring to Kim's remarks.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-reappears-days-after-health-speculations-323107">North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reappears days after health speculations</a>

Kim's visit came after the KCTV state television showed scenes of damage from the storm. Heavy rains earlier this month that caused flooding and damaged crops have raised concerns about food supplies in the isolated country.

Kim praised party officials for taking measures to reduce casualties and minimize damage from the storm. The state news agency did not give further details on the scale of the damage.

South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;reported no casualties from the storm, while some public facilities were damaged and some experienced power outage.

Natural disasters tend to have a greater impact in the North than in the South due to its creaking infrastructure.

The North is also vulnerable to flooding as many mountains and hills have long been deforested, allowing water to flow downhill unchecked.

International aid workers in the country are currently unable to travel outside Pyongyang due to restrictions authorities have imposed to guard against the coronavirus outbreak.

The North has yet to confirm a single case of the disease.

Three of the four officials accompanying Kim wore facemasks, while he did not, the Rodong Sinmun pictures showed.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Typhoon Bavi had caused only minimal damage to the country after making landfall early on Thursday, state news media KCNA reported on Friday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Typhoon Bavi had caused only minimal damage to the country after making landfall early on Thursday, state news media KCNA reported on Friday. Kim, who visited South Hwanghae province southwest of Pyongyang, had issued an alert to prevent crop damage and casualties from the typhoon, which made landfall near the capital, dumping heavy rains and uprooting trees. North Korea, which has also been stepping up efforts to combat the novel coronavirus, had referred to Typhoon Bavi as the No. 8 storm. "He said that the scale of damage from Typhoon number 8 is smaller than expected, adding that he had worried a lot and he feels it is fortunate to have that amount of damage," said KCNA, referring to Kim's remarks. Also read: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reappears days after health speculations Kim's visit came after the KCTV state television showed scenes of damage from the storm. Heavy rains earlier this month that caused flooding and damaged crops have raised concerns about food supplies in the isolated country. Kim praised party officials for taking measures to reduce casualties and minimize damage from the storm. The state news agency did not give further details on the scale of the damage. South Korea reported no casualties from the storm, while some public facilities were damaged and some experienced power outage. Natural disasters tend to have a greater impact in the North than in the South due to its creaking infrastructure. The North is also vulnerable to flooding as many mountains and hills have long been deforested, allowing water to flow downhill unchecked. International aid workers in the country are currently unable to travel outside Pyongyang due to restrictions authorities have imposed to guard against the coronavirus outbreak. The North has yet to confirm a single case of the disease. Three of the four officials accompanying Kim wore facemasks, while he did not, the Rodong Sinmun pictures showed.

North Korea leader Kim Jon-un says Typhoon Bavi caused 'little damage'

The Royal Canadian Navy announced Thursday will adopt gender neutral ranks, changing references to "seaman" in designations to "sailor" in order to be more diverse and inclusive, and to recruit more women.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said&nbsp;“By adopting gender neutral designation for junior members of the Royal Canadian Navy, we demonstrate to all Canadians that the Canadian Armed Forces will welcome anybody who wants to serve their country and uphold the values of inclusion and diversity.”

“We will continue to work to build a diverse force that is representative of the Canadians they protect.”

Earlier this summer, the Navy had announced that it would be discontinuing the use of the word in the ranks of its junior members.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Shipmates! Proud to share that the English designation of our junior ranks will soon be known as Sailor 3rd Class, Sailor 2nd Class, Sailor 1st Class &amp; Master Sailor. 
&gt;75% showed us that change is long overdue &amp; welcomed. Thanks to 18K+ responses 
👉<a href="https://t.co/rYcTvQ8QBr">https://t.co/rYcTvQ8QBr</a> <a href="https://t.co/uxLZGL9knm">pic.twitter.com/uxLZGL9knm</a>
— VAdm/Vam Art McDonald (@Comd_RCN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Comd_RCN/status/1299040968080076802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 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>

Effective early September, junior ranks will be known as sailor third class, sailor second class, sailor first class and master sailor, replacing ordinary seaman, able seaman, leading seaman and master seaman, respectively.

The move comes after months of public consultations that brought out both support and hateful, misogynistic comments.

That dialogue with over 18,000 respondents, said Vice-Admiral Art McDonald in a statement, highlighted the "sobering reality that we all need to do more,&nbsp;individually and collectively,&nbsp;to be diverse, inclusive, and welcoming."

The new English designations align with existing ranks in French.&nbsp;According to Statistics Canada,&nbsp;about 20 per cent&nbsp;of the Navy’s members are female, which puts the force ahead of the Army and roughly on par with the Air Force.

The Royal Canadian Navy announced Thursday will adopt gender neutral ranks, changing references to "seaman" in designations to "sailor" in order to be more diverse and inclusive, and to recruit more women.

The Royal Canadian Navy announced Thursday will adopt gender neutral ranks, changing references to "seaman" in designations to "sailor" in order to be more diverse and inclusive, and to recruit more women. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said “By adopting gender neutral designation for junior members of the Royal Canadian Navy, we demonstrate to all Canadians that the Canadian Armed Forces will welcome anybody who wants to serve their country and uphold the values of inclusion and diversity.” “We will continue to work to build a diverse force that is representative of the Canadians they protect.” Earlier this summer, the Navy had announced that it would be discontinuing the use of the word in the ranks of its junior members. Shipmates! Proud to share that the English designation of our junior ranks will soon be known as Sailor 3rd Class, Sailor 2nd Class, Sailor 1st Class & Master Sailor. >75% showed us that change is long overdue & welcomed. Thanks to 18K+ responses 👉https://t.co/rYcTvQ8QBr pic.twitter.com/uxLZGL9knm — VAdm/Vam Art McDonald (@Comd_RCN) August 27, 2020 × Effective early September, junior ranks will be known as sailor third class, sailor second class, sailor first class and master sailor, replacing ordinary seaman, able seaman, leading seaman and master seaman, respectively. The move comes after months of public consultations that brought out both support and hateful, misogynistic comments. That dialogue with over 18,000 respondents, said Vice-Admiral Art McDonald in a statement, highlighted the "sobering reality that we all need to do more, individually and collectively, to be diverse, inclusive, and welcoming." The new English designations align with existing ranks in French. According to Statistics Canada, about 20 per cent of the Navy’s members are female, which puts the force ahead of the Army and roughly on par with the Air Force.

Royal Canadian Navy drops ‘seaman’ title for gender-neutral term ‘sailor’

Thieves have stolen&nbsp;the painting "Two Laughing Boys" by Dutch golden age artist&nbsp;Frans&nbsp;Hals&nbsp;from a small museum near the Dutch city of Utrecht on Thursday, police said, the third time the canvas has been stolen.

The artwork, valued at $18 million&nbsp;by one expert, and dating from 1626, was taken from the Hofje van Aerden Museum before dawn on Thursday with thieves breaking into the building from the back door.

The painting, featuring two laughing boys with a mug of beer, was previously stolen from the same museum in 2011 and 1988, being recovered after six months and three years respectively.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/vincent-van-gogh-painting-stolen-from-singer-laren-museum-in-netherlands-289519">Vincent van Gogh painting stolen from Singer Laren museum in Netherlands</a>

It is the second theft of a painting from a Dutch museum closed to the public because of the COVID-19 pandemic, after a Van Gogh painting "Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring" was stolen from the Singer Laren Museum in March.

"Around 3:30 a.m. the alarm went off, and agents went straight to the museum," police said in a statement, calling for witnesses. "After the museum's manager could grant access to the area and building, it emerged that the back door had been forced open and one painting had been stolen."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nazi-looted-french-painting-on-display-in-search-for-rightful-owner-321830">Nazi-looted French painting on display in search for rightful owner</a>

Frans&nbsp;Hals&nbsp;was a contemporary of fellow masters Rembrandt and Vermeer during the Dutch Golden Age, a flowering of trade, colonialism and art in the Netherlands roughly spanning the 17th century.

He is best known for works including "The Laughing Cavalier", which hangs in the Wallace Collection in London, and "The Gypsy Girl", now housed in the Louvre in Paris.

Dutch art detective Arthur Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" after tracking down a series of stolen works,&nbsp;tweeted that "the hunt is on" for the "very important and precious painting by&nbsp;Frans&nbsp;Hals."

Thieves have stolen the painting "Two Laughing Boys" by Dutch golden age artist Frans Hals from a small museum near the Dutch city of Utrecht on Thursday, police said, the third time the canvas has been stolen.

Thieves have stolen the painting "Two Laughing Boys" by Dutch golden age artist Frans Hals from a small museum near the Dutch city of Utrecht on Thursday, police said, the third time the canvas has been stolen. The artwork, valued at $18 million by one expert, and dating from 1626, was taken from the Hofje van Aerden Museum before dawn on Thursday with thieves breaking into the building from the back door. The painting, featuring two laughing boys with a mug of beer, was previously stolen from the same museum in 2011 and 1988, being recovered after six months and three years respectively. Also read: Vincent van Gogh painting stolen from Singer Laren museum in Netherlands It is the second theft of a painting from a Dutch museum closed to the public because of the COVID-19 pandemic, after a Van Gogh painting "Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring" was stolen from the Singer Laren Museum in March. "Around 3:30 a.m. the alarm went off, and agents went straight to the museum," police said in a statement, calling for witnesses. "After the museum's manager could grant access to the area and building, it emerged that the back door had been forced open and one painting had been stolen." Also read: Nazi-looted French painting on display in search for rightful owner Frans Hals was a contemporary of fellow masters Rembrandt and Vermeer during the Dutch Golden Age, a flowering of trade, colonialism and art in the Netherlands roughly spanning the 17th century. He is best known for works including "The Laughing Cavalier", which hangs in the Wallace Collection in London, and "The Gypsy Girl", now housed in the Louvre in Paris. Dutch art detective Arthur Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" after tracking down a series of stolen works, tweeted that "the hunt is on" for the "very important and precious painting by Frans Hals."

Frans Hals painting 'Two Laughing Boys' stolen for third time

Australia's Prime Minister&nbsp;Scott&nbsp;Morrison&nbsp;said on Friday he was open to discussions over whether Australian mass killer Brenton Tarrant, jailed for life without parole this week for the New Zealand mosque shootings, should serve his sentence in his home country.

He&nbsp;said he had received no request to transfer Tarrant but he was prepared to talk about the prospect with his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-should-thank-god-on-that-day-i-didnt-catch-you-christchurch-hero-confronts-killer-in-court-323343" hreflang="en">'You should thank God on that day I didn't catch you': Christchurch hero confronts killer in court</a>

''We'll have an open discussion and look at the issues around this,"&nbsp;Morrison&nbsp;said, adding that the views of the affected families would need to be considered first.

"I know all Australians and all New Zealanders would want to see this character locked up forever and never see the light of day again.&nbsp;And I agree with that. Whether he's held in New Zealand or Australia."

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/survivors-family-members-of-victims-of-christchurch-shooting-share-their-pain-323512/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

White supremacist Brenton Tarrant was sentenced to life without parole on Thursday for the attacks on two mosques last year that killed 51 Muslim worshippers.

Tarrant, a former gym instructor from the rural New South Wales town of Grafton, moved to New Zealand in 2017 and immediately started planning an attack on the country's Muslim community.

While Australia and New Zealand have close visa arrangements, they do not have a prisoner transfer deal, creating a hurdle to any near-term change in Tarrant's imprisonment.

Special security measures for Tarrant are expected to cost taxpayers&nbsp;$2.4 million&nbsp;over two years, according to New Zealand government estimates.

Government documents&nbsp;say he is "likely to have needs and present risk at a level of severity beyond any" managed in New Zealand before.&nbsp;

The issue of Tarrant's nationality was raised several times during this week's sentencing hearings in Christchurch.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday he was open to discussions over whether Australian mass killer Brenton Tarrant, jailed for life without parole this week for the New Zealand mosque shootings, should serve his sentence in his home country.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday he was open to discussions over whether Australian mass killer Brenton Tarrant, jailed for life without parole this week for the New Zealand mosque shootings, should serve his sentence in his home country. He said he had received no request to transfer Tarrant but he was prepared to talk about the prospect with his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern. Also read: 'You should thank God on that day I didn't catch you': Christchurch hero confronts killer in court ''We'll have an open discussion and look at the issues around this," Morrison said, adding that the views of the affected families would need to be considered first. "I know all Australians and all New Zealanders would want to see this character locked up forever and never see the light of day again. And I agree with that. Whether he's held in New Zealand or Australia." White supremacist Brenton Tarrant was sentenced to life without parole on Thursday for the attacks on two mosques last year that killed 51 Muslim worshippers. Tarrant, a former gym instructor from the rural New South Wales town of Grafton, moved to New Zealand in 2017 and immediately started planning an attack on the country's Muslim community. While Australia and New Zealand have close visa arrangements, they do not have a prisoner transfer deal, creating a hurdle to any near-term change in Tarrant's imprisonment. Special security measures for Tarrant are expected to cost taxpayers $2.4 million over two years, according to New Zealand government estimates. Government documents say he is "likely to have needs and present risk at a level of severity beyond any" managed in New Zealand before. The issue of Tarrant's nationality was raised several times during this week's sentencing hearings in Christchurch.

Australian PM Scott Morrison 'open' to repatriating New Zealand mosque gunman

August 28 in history: Invention of carbonated soft drinks, opening of the longest floating bridge and more

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed military support for embattled Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday, although it would not be deployed unless unrest there spun out of control.

The remarks were the strongest signal yet that Russia is prepared to use force if needed in Belarus, where mass demonstrations have taken place since an August&nbsp;9 election that the opposition says was rigged to prolong Lukashenko's 26-year rule.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/we-come-in-peace-belarusian-women-dressed-in-white-protest-against-corrupt-leadership-321060">We come in peace: Belarusian women dressed in white protest against corrupt leadership</a>

"We have of course certain obligations towards Belarus, and the question Lukashenko raised was whether we would provide the necessary help,"&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;told state television.

"I told him Russia would fulfil all its obligations. Alexander Grigorivich (Lukashenko) asked me to create a reserve police force and I have done that. But we agreed this would not be used unless the situation got out of control."

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/showdown-between-lukashenko-coalition-of-protesters-anti-govt-protests-in-belarus-322979/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The 65-year-old Belarusian strongman's relationship with Putin had soured ahead of the ballot because Minsk refused closer integration with Russia and even claimed Moscow had sent mercenaries across the border to organise riots.

The Belarusian opposition Coordination Council said Moscow's move to set up such force violated international law.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Russia should stay out of the crisis saying it was a "sovereign and independent state."

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki meanwhile said any Russian intervention would be a breach of international law and the "human rights of Belarusian people, who should be free to decide their own fate".

But Putin also called on the authorities in Minsk and the opposition to "find a way out" of the crisis peacefully.&nbsp;

He conceded there were problems in Belarus, saying, "otherwise people wouldn't take to the streets".

The Russian leader's calls for calm came after the European Union and ambassadors of member states in Minsk condemned a crackdown on government critics seeking new elections and Lukashenko's&nbsp;resignation.

EU nations have also vowed to sanction individuals they say were involved in vote-rigging and the violent crackdown on protesters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed military support for embattled Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday, although it would not be deployed unless unrest there spun out of control.

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed military support for embattled Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday, although it would not be deployed unless unrest there spun out of control. The remarks were the strongest signal yet that Russia is prepared to use force if needed in Belarus, where mass demonstrations have taken place since an August 9 election that the opposition says was rigged to prolong Lukashenko's 26-year rule. Also see: We come in peace: Belarusian women dressed in white protest against corrupt leadership "We have of course certain obligations towards Belarus, and the question Lukashenko raised was whether we would provide the necessary help," Putin told state television. "I told him Russia would fulfil all its obligations. Alexander Grigorivich (Lukashenko) asked me to create a reserve police force and I have done that. But we agreed this would not be used unless the situation got out of control." The 65-year-old Belarusian strongman's relationship with Putin had soured ahead of the ballot because Minsk refused closer integration with Russia and even claimed Moscow had sent mercenaries across the border to organise riots. The Belarusian opposition Coordination Council said Moscow's move to set up such force violated international law. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Russia should stay out of the crisis saying it was a "sovereign and independent state." Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki meanwhile said any Russian intervention would be a breach of international law and the "human rights of Belarusian people, who should be free to decide their own fate". But Putin also called on the authorities in Minsk and the opposition to "find a way out" of the crisis peacefully. He conceded there were problems in Belarus, saying, "otherwise people wouldn't take to the streets". The Russian leader's calls for calm came after the European Union and ambassadors of member states in Minsk condemned a crackdown on government critics seeking new elections and Lukashenko's resignation. EU nations have also vowed to sanction individuals they say were involved in vote-rigging and the violent crackdown on protesters.

Russian President Putin vows military support for Belarus' Lukashenko

Torrential rain lashed the&nbsp;Pakistani financial capital of Karachi on Thursday, causing widespread flooding, as downpours in August shattered 89-year-old records for the city, meteorological officials said.

The monsoon showers first lashed the biggest city&nbsp;of Pakistan on Tuesday and has killed&nbsp;at least 27&nbsp;people according to sources.

Videos posted on social media and footage on television channels painted a grim picture of a major collapse of the civic structure in Karachi, with rain water even entering homes in some areas while most main roads remained flooded and closed for traffic.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-floods-devastate-several-cities-in-pakistan-323542/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Thursday marked the third day of heavy rain this week while residents have been forced to abandon their homes.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that heavy rainfall had caused a "disastrous situation" in Karachi. He instructed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority to provide food, water and other essential items, he said.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/heavy-monsoon-rains-trigger-flash-floods-in-afghanistan-and-pakistan-323241">Heavy monsoon rains trigger flash floods in Afghanistan and Pakistan</a>

Provincial authorities were moving displaced families into school buildings, as the military carried out rescue and relief operations.

"It has never rained so much in the month of August, according to our data," the country's chief meteorological officer, Sardar Sarfaraz, said, adding that the data went back to 1931, 16 years before&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;gained independence from Britain.

Some 484 mm (19 inches) of rain had fallen this month, 130 mm on Thursday alone, he said.

Abdul Razak Dawood, adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan on commerce, feared the rain would hit exports.

"Our exports consignments are being delayed and hence our exports for the month of August may be affected," Dawood said on Twitter.

Torrential rain lashed the Pakistani financial capital of Karachi on Thursday, causing widespread flooding, as downpours in August shattered 89-year-old records for the city, meteorological officials said.

Torrential rain lashed the Pakistani financial capital of Karachi on Thursday, causing widespread flooding, as downpours in August shattered 89-year-old records for the city, meteorological officials said. The monsoon showers first lashed the biggest city of Pakistan on Tuesday and has killed at least 27 people according to sources. Videos posted on social media and footage on television channels painted a grim picture of a major collapse of the civic structure in Karachi, with rain water even entering homes in some areas while most main roads remained flooded and closed for traffic. Thursday marked the third day of heavy rain this week while residents have been forced to abandon their homes. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that heavy rainfall had caused a "disastrous situation" in Karachi. He instructed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority to provide food, water and other essential items, he said. Also see: Heavy monsoon rains trigger flash floods in Afghanistan and Pakistan Provincial authorities were moving displaced families into school buildings, as the military carried out rescue and relief operations. "It has never rained so much in the month of August, according to our data," the country's chief meteorological officer, Sardar Sarfaraz, said, adding that the data went back to 1931, 16 years before Pakistan gained independence from Britain. Some 484 mm (19 inches) of rain had fallen this month, 130 mm on Thursday alone, he said. Abdul Razak Dawood, adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan on commerce, feared the rain would hit exports. "Our exports consignments are being delayed and hence our exports for the month of August may be affected," Dawood said on Twitter.

Torrential rains claim 27 lives in Pakistan's financial capital Karachi

At least 13 people were killed on Friday when their vehicle set off a landmine in Afghanistan`s southern Kandahar province, local officials said, blaming Taliban fighters for the attack.

The blast happened in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province when people were travelling to an open-air market, where hundreds of villagers gather for weekend sales.

Bahir Ahmad Ahmadi, a spokesman for Kandahar provincial governor said the villagers were blown to pieces, and could not be identified.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the landmine blast. Taliban fighters say they use roadside bombs and landmines to attack security forces, but civilians are frequently hurt or killed.

Years of conflict have left Afghanistan strewn with landmines, which are often picked up by curious children.

In 2018, at least 1,415 Afghan civilians were killed or injured by landmines and unexploded munitions.

Children made up one third of overall casualties that year, and 80 per cent&nbsp;of those casualties were caused by unexploded munitions, according to the United Nations Mine Action Service.

At least 13 people were killed on Friday when their vehicle set off a landmine in Afghanistan`s southern Kandahar province, local officials said, blaming Taliban fighters for the attack.

At least 13 people were killed on Friday when their vehicle set off a landmine in Afghanistan`s southern Kandahar province, local officials said, blaming Taliban fighters for the attack. The blast happened in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province when people were travelling to an open-air market, where hundreds of villagers gather for weekend sales. Bahir Ahmad Ahmadi, a spokesman for Kandahar provincial governor said the villagers were blown to pieces, and could not be identified. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the landmine blast. Taliban fighters say they use roadside bombs and landmines to attack security forces, but civilians are frequently hurt or killed. Years of conflict have left Afghanistan strewn with landmines, which are often picked up by curious children. In 2018, at least 1,415 Afghan civilians were killed or injured by landmines and unexploded munitions. Children made up one third of overall casualties that year, and 80 per cent of those casualties were caused by unexploded munitions, according to the United Nations Mine Action Service.

Landmine blast kills 13 in southern Afghanistan

World’s most famous stolen paintings that have never been found!

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.