Russian firefighters have been seeding clouds to bring down rain over wildfires raging in Siberia, the authorities said on Friday.

The Russian forestry agency said active work was underway to battle 158 forest fires covering 46,261 hectares as of Friday. Just a few days ago, that area was more than three times larger.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-bounties-top-us-general-vows-response-if-intel-confirmed-312273">Russian bounties: Top US general vows 'response' if intel confirmed</a>

Firefighters were using planes to fire chemicals into the clouds above fires in northern, remote parts of the Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk regions of Siberia, the agency said.

Sweltering heat and dry weather have helped wildfires spread across the region and into the boreal forest and tundra that blanket northern Russia.

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Environmental group Greenpeace, which monitors the spread of wildfires in Russia, confirmed that rain has helped reduce fires in northern Siberia but that others had appeared in the south near the big regional cities of Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk.

Greenpeace said that 4.62 million hectares of forest had burned across Russia since the start of the year.

States of emergency have been declared in the regions of Krasnoyarsk and Yakutia, and in parts of several other Russian regions.

Scientists say they expect record-breaking temperatures in Siberia - which reached as high as 38 Celsius (more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit) last month, according to reports - will continue to spawn wildfires and cause more greenhouse gases to be released into the air.

Copernicus, the EU's earth observation programme, said that temperatures in Arctic Siberia had soared to a record average for June, more than 5 degrees Celsius (9°F) above normal.

Russian firefighters have been seeding clouds to bring down rain over wildfires raging in Siberia, the authorities said on Friday. The Russian forestry agency said active work was underway to battle 158 forest fires covering 46,261 hectares as of Friday.

Russian firefighters have been seeding clouds to bring down rain over wildfires raging in Siberia, the authorities said on Friday. The Russian forestry agency said active work was underway to battle 158 forest fires covering 46,261 hectares as of Friday. Just a few days ago, that area was more than three times larger. Also read: Russian bounties: Top US general vows 'response' if intel confirmed Firefighters were using planes to fire chemicals into the clouds above fires in northern, remote parts of the Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk regions of Siberia, the agency said. Sweltering heat and dry weather have helped wildfires spread across the region and into the boreal forest and tundra that blanket northern Russia. Environmental group Greenpeace, which monitors the spread of wildfires in Russia, confirmed that rain has helped reduce fires in northern Siberia but that others had appeared in the south near the big regional cities of Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk. Greenpeace said that 4.62 million hectares of forest had burned across Russia since the start of the year. States of emergency have been declared in the regions of Krasnoyarsk and Yakutia, and in parts of several other Russian regions. Scientists say they expect record-breaking temperatures in Siberia - which reached as high as 38 Celsius (more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit) last month, according to reports - will continue to spawn wildfires and cause more greenhouse gases to be released into the air. Copernicus, the EU's earth observation programme, said that temperatures in Arctic Siberia had soared to a record average for June, more than 5 degrees Celsius (9°F) above normal.

Russia seeds clouds in Siberia to douse raging wildfires

Australia approved the anti-viral drug&nbsp;remdesivir&nbsp;for the treatment of COVID-19 on Friday following a similar decision from the European Commission.

It is the first drug approved by Australian authorities to treat the virus and&nbsp;promised to reduce hospitalisation time for coronavirus patients, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration(TGA) said in a statement.

"By reducing recovery times, patients will be able to leave hospital earlier, freeing beds for those in need," the TGA said.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-purchases-almost-entire-global-stock-of-potential-covid-19-cure-remdesivir-309844">US purchases almost entire global stock of potential COVID-19 cure Remdesivir</a>

The drug was given provisional approval for adults and adolescent patients and would be limited to those severely unwell from the virus, needing help to breathe and in hospital care, the authority noted.

"While this is a major milestone in Australia's struggle against the pandemic, it is important to emphasise that the product has not been shown to prevent coronavirus infection or relieve milder cases of infection."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gileads-remdesivir-prevents-lung-damage-in-covid-19-study-on-monkeys-304645">Gilead's remdesivir prevents lung damage in COVID-19 study on monkeys</a>

The decision comes after the EU's executive arm cleared the drug, which was originally intended as a treatment for Ebol,&nbsp;for use while Washington bought up almost all supplies.

Recently the US said it had purchased 92 percent of all remdesivir from its producer, Gilead Sciences, until the end of September, about 500,000 treatments out of nearly 550,000.

Several other Asian nations have also approved the drug for treatment against COVID-19.

Australia's call to approve the drug was made on "preliminary clinical data" and aided by reports from the EU's European Medicines Agency and Singapore's Health Sciences Authority.

Australia approved the anti-viral drug remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 on Friday following a similar decision from the European Commission. It is the first drug approved by Australian authorities to treat the virus and promised to reduce hospitalisation time for coronavirus patients, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration(TGA) said in a statement.

Australia approved the anti-viral drug remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 on Friday following a similar decision from the European Commission. It is the first drug approved by Australian authorities to treat the virus and promised to reduce hospitalisation time for coronavirus patients, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration(TGA) said in a statement. "By reducing recovery times, patients will be able to leave hospital earlier, freeing beds for those in need," the TGA said. Also read: US purchases almost entire global stock of potential COVID-19 cure Remdesivir The drug was given provisional approval for adults and adolescent patients and would be limited to those severely unwell from the virus, needing help to breathe and in hospital care, the authority noted. "While this is a major milestone in Australia's struggle against the pandemic, it is important to emphasise that the product has not been shown to prevent coronavirus infection or relieve milder cases of infection." Also read: Gilead's remdesivir prevents lung damage in COVID-19 study on monkeys The decision comes after the EU's executive arm cleared the drug, which was originally intended as a treatment for Ebol, for use while Washington bought up almost all supplies. Recently the US said it had purchased 92 percent of all remdesivir from its producer, Gilead Sciences, until the end of September, about 500,000 treatments out of nearly 550,000. Several other Asian nations have also approved the drug for treatment against COVID-19. Australia's call to approve the drug was made on "preliminary clinical data" and aided by reports from the EU's European Medicines Agency and Singapore's Health Sciences Authority.

Australia approves remdesivir as its first option for coronavirus treatment

Botswana said on Friday it had received test results from samples sent to Zimbabwe to determine the cause of death of hundreds of elephants but is waiting for more results from South Africa next week before sharing findings with the public.

Wildlife officials are trying to determine what is killing the elephants about two months after the first bodies were discovered. They have ruled out poaching and anthrax among possible causes.

Officials told reporters near the Okavango Delta on Thursday that they had now verified 281 elephant carcasses and that the deaths were concentrated in an area of 8,000 square km that is home to about 18,000 elephants.

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"We have to wait for another set of results and reconcile the two to see if they are saying the same thing before we come to a definitive conclusion," Oduetse Kaboto, a senior official in the environment and tourism ministry, said in a televised briefing.

"We are hoping the second set of results will come in next week and that's when we should be able to communicate to the public the cause of deaths."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-350-elephants-mysteriously-die-in-botswana-310261">More than 350 elephants mysteriously die in Botswana</a>

Although the number of deaths so far represents a fraction of the estimated 130,000 elephants in Botswana, there are fears more could die if authorities cannot establish the cause soon.

Chris Foggin, from Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, which conducted the tests on elephant samples from Botswana, said only that country's government could share the findings.

The Botswana wildlife department has said the government contacted neighbours Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Zambia but they had not seen similar elephant deaths.

Africa's overall elephant population is declining due to poaching, but Botswana, home to almost a third of the continent's elephants, has seen numbers grow from 80,000 in the late 1990s.

Botswana said on Friday it had received test results from samples sent to Zimbabwe to determine the cause of death of hundreds of elephants but is waiting for more results from South Africa next week before sharing findings with the public.

Botswana said on Friday it had received test results from samples sent to Zimbabwe to determine the cause of death of hundreds of elephants but is waiting for more results from South Africa next week before sharing findings with the public. Wildlife officials are trying to determine what is killing the elephants about two months after the first bodies were discovered. They have ruled out poaching and anthrax among possible causes. Officials told reporters near the Okavango Delta on Thursday that they had now verified 281 elephant carcasses and that the deaths were concentrated in an area of 8,000 square km that is home to about 18,000 elephants. "We have to wait for another set of results and reconcile the two to see if they are saying the same thing before we come to a definitive conclusion," Oduetse Kaboto, a senior official in the environment and tourism ministry, said in a televised briefing. "We are hoping the second set of results will come in next week and that's when we should be able to communicate to the public the cause of deaths." Also read: More than 350 elephants mysteriously die in Botswana Although the number of deaths so far represents a fraction of the estimated 130,000 elephants in Botswana, there are fears more could die if authorities cannot establish the cause soon. Chris Foggin, from Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, which conducted the tests on elephant samples from Botswana, said only that country's government could share the findings. The Botswana wildlife department has said the government contacted neighbours Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Zambia but they had not seen similar elephant deaths. Africa's overall elephant population is declining due to poaching, but Botswana, home to almost a third of the continent's elephants, has seen numbers grow from 80,000 in the late 1990s.

Botswana gets first test results on hundreds of elephant deaths

The UN's cultural agency UNESCO warned Turkey on Friday against converting the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia museum in Istanbul into a mosque, urging dialogue before any decision is taken.

The Hagia Sophia, which was first a cathedral then a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul, is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of an area designated as "Historic Areas of Istanbul."

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/istanbuls-iconic-hagia-sophias-fate-hangs-in-balance-309863">Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia's fate hangs in balance</a>

Turkey's top administrative court is likely to announce on Friday that the 1934 conversion of the&nbsp;Hagia&nbsp;Sophia&nbsp;to a museum was unlawful, two Turkish officials said, paving the way for its restoration as a mosque.

UNESCO said that the&nbsp;Hagia&nbsp;Sophia&nbsp;was on its list of World Heritage Sites as a museum, and as such had certain commitments and legal obligations.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogans-bid-to-turn-hagia-sophia-museum-into-a-mosque-sparks-political-row-311431">Erdogan's bid to turn Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque sparks political row</a>

"Thus, a state must make sure that no modification undermines the outstanding universal value of a site listed on its territory," UNESCO said.

"Any modification must be notified beforehand by the state to UNESCO and be reviewed if need be by the World Heritage Committee," it added.

UNESCO said it had expressed its concerns to Turkish authorities in several letters and conveyed the message to Turkey's ambassador to the institution on Thursday.

"We urge Turkish authorities to start a dialog before any decision is taken that could undermine the universal value of the site," UNESCO said.

Hagia Sophia was first constructed as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire but was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

Turning it into a museum was a key reform of the post-Ottoman authorities under the modern republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

But calls for it to serve again as a mosque have sparked anger among Christians and tensions between the historic foes and uneasy NATO allies Turkey and Greece.

The World Heritage site was at the centre of both the Christian Byzantine and Muslim Ottoman empires and is today one of Turkey's most visited monuments.

The prospect of a change in the museum's status back to a mosque has raised alarm among US, French, Russian and Greek officials, as well as Christian church leaders.

The UN's cultural agency UNESCO warned Turkey on Friday against converting the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia museum in Istanbul into a mosque, urging dialogue before any decision is taken.

The UN's cultural agency UNESCO warned Turkey on Friday against converting the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia museum in Istanbul into a mosque, urging dialogue before any decision is taken. The Hagia Sophia, which was first a cathedral then a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul, is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of an area designated as "Historic Areas of Istanbul." Also see: Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia's fate hangs in balance Turkey's top administrative court is likely to announce on Friday that the 1934 conversion of the Hagia Sophia to a museum was unlawful, two Turkish officials said, paving the way for its restoration as a mosque. UNESCO said that the Hagia Sophia was on its list of World Heritage Sites as a museum, and as such had certain commitments and legal obligations. Also read: Erdogan's bid to turn Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque sparks political row "Thus, a state must make sure that no modification undermines the outstanding universal value of a site listed on its territory," UNESCO said. "Any modification must be notified beforehand by the state to UNESCO and be reviewed if need be by the World Heritage Committee," it added. UNESCO said it had expressed its concerns to Turkish authorities in several letters and conveyed the message to Turkey's ambassador to the institution on Thursday. "We urge Turkish authorities to start a dialog before any decision is taken that could undermine the universal value of the site," UNESCO said. Hagia Sophia was first constructed as a cathedral in the Christian Byzantine Empire but was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Turning it into a museum was a key reform of the post-Ottoman authorities under the modern republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. But calls for it to serve again as a mosque have sparked anger among Christians and tensions between the historic foes and uneasy NATO allies Turkey and Greece. The World Heritage site was at the centre of both the Christian Byzantine and Muslim Ottoman empires and is today one of Turkey's most visited monuments. The prospect of a change in the museum's status back to a mosque has raised alarm among US, French, Russian and Greek officials, as well as Christian church leaders.

UNESCO warns Turkey against Hagia Sophia mosque conversion

The trio of United States, China and United Arab Emirates are taking&nbsp;positions for their respective Mars missions in their starting blocks.

The three countries hoping to take advantage of the period of time when the Earth and Mars are nearest: a mere 55 million kilometres&nbsp;apart.

The UAE's Hope Probe,&nbsp;China's Tianwen-1,&nbsp;and Mars 2020 of the United States have all taken their positions in the summer race to land a space probe on Mars.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/uae-plans-to-send-a-probe-to-mars-a-first-for-the-arab-world-312136" hreflang="en">UAE plans to send a probe to Mars - a first for the Arab world</a>

The neighbouring planets only come this close once every 26 months, a narrow "launch window" based on their relative positions in space.

Space agencies from all three nations plan to send rovers to the Red Planet to look for additional signs of past life and potentially pave the way to, someday, step foot on its surface.&nbsp;The journey will take about six months.

The&nbsp;UAE's Hope&nbsp;Probe,&nbsp;the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country, launches on July 15.&nbsp;China&nbsp;plans to send its inaugural Mars probe, a small remote-controlled rover, between July 20 and July 25.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/boom-supersonic-jet-overture-to-begin-test-flights-in-2021-312216" hreflang="en">Boom Supersonic jet Overture to begin test flights in 2021</a>

By far the most ambitious project, the US Mars 2020, has a planned launch date of July 30.

The probe called Perseverance is expected to spend one Mars year (or about 687 Earth days) on the planet's surface collecting rock and soil samples that scientists hope will shed light on past life forms that may have inhabited the faraway planet.

The aim of subsequent missions will be to bring those samples back to Earth.

A fourth planned launch, the EU-Russian ExoMars, was postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Several dozen probes, most of them American, have set off for the Red Planet since the 1960s. Many never made it that far, or failed to land.

The drive to explore Mars flagged until the confirmation less than 10 years ago that water once flowed on its surface.

"It's the only planet where we've been able to detect past signs of life, and the more we learn about it more hope there is," Michel Viso, an astrobiologist at CNES, France's space agency said.

"It feels like something exciting is happening, and people want to be a part of it."

India and the European Union are also setting their sights on a Mars landing.&nbsp;In 2024, Japan plans to send a probe to explore the Martian moon Phobos.

As with the moon missions, different countries have invested heavily -- in reputation and cash -- on Mars exploration, with each looking to find their specific niche, Viso noted.

The holy grail, he added, is getting boots on the ground: "This represents the 'ultimate frontier' of space exploration."

So far, only the US has done detailed feasibility studies, and in a best-case scenario achieving that goal will take at least 20 years.

A swathe of Mars lander missions over the past five decades have met with varying degrees of success since the Soviet Mars 2 and 3 probes launched in 1971.

NASA's Curiosity lander, which arrived in 2012 and is designed to determine whether the planet's environment was ever able to support microbial life forms, remains operational on the surface, as does the Insight lander, which arrived in 2018.

The&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;is thinking even longer term. The oil-rich Gulf nation plan to establish a "science city" on Earth that will reproduce Mars' atmospheric conditions, with the goal of establishing a human colony on the Red Planet around 2117.

Supporting human life on Mars presents a number of logistical challenges.

Today's Mars is basically an immense, icy desert. About 3.5 billion years ago, it lost the dense atmospheric pressure that protected it from cosmic radiation.

Scientists are still trying to determine whether the planet was ever inhabited by metabolic life forms.

"Four billion years ago, the conditions on the planet's surface were very close to those which we had on Earth when life first appeared," including liquid water and a dense atmosphere, said Jorge Vago, the spokesperson for the European Space Agency's ExoMars initiative.

Taking up the mantle of its robot forebears, Perseverance will explore an entirely uncharted environment, the Jezero crater, a 28-mile wide area that is believed to have been the site of an ancient river delta.

The trio of United States, China and United Arab Emirates are taking positions for their respective Mars missions in their starting blocks. The three countries hoping to take advantage of the period of time when the Earth and Mars are nearest: a mere 55 million kilometres apart.

The trio of United States, China and United Arab Emirates are taking positions for their respective Mars missions in their starting blocks. The three countries hoping to take advantage of the period of time when the Earth and Mars are nearest: a mere 55 million kilometres apart. The UAE's Hope Probe, China's Tianwen-1, and Mars 2020 of the United States have all taken their positions in the summer race to land a space probe on Mars. Also read: UAE plans to send a probe to Mars - a first for the Arab world The neighbouring planets only come this close once every 26 months, a narrow "launch window" based on their relative positions in space. Space agencies from all three nations plan to send rovers to the Red Planet to look for additional signs of past life and potentially pave the way to, someday, step foot on its surface. The journey will take about six months. The UAE's Hope Probe, the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country, launches on July 15. China plans to send its inaugural Mars probe, a small remote-controlled rover, between July 20 and July 25. Also read: Boom Supersonic jet Overture to begin test flights in 2021 By far the most ambitious project, the US Mars 2020, has a planned launch date of July 30. The probe called Perseverance is expected to spend one Mars year (or about 687 Earth days) on the planet's surface collecting rock and soil samples that scientists hope will shed light on past life forms that may have inhabited the faraway planet. The aim of subsequent missions will be to bring those samples back to Earth. A fourth planned launch, the EU-Russian ExoMars, was postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Several dozen probes, most of them American, have set off for the Red Planet since the 1960s. Many never made it that far, or failed to land. The drive to explore Mars flagged until the confirmation less than 10 years ago that water once flowed on its surface. "It's the only planet where we've been able to detect past signs of life, and the more we learn about it more hope there is," Michel Viso, an astrobiologist at CNES, France's space agency said. "It feels like something exciting is happening, and people want to be a part of it." India and the European Union are also setting their sights on a Mars landing. In 2024, Japan plans to send a probe to explore the Martian moon Phobos. As with the moon missions, different countries have invested heavily -- in reputation and cash -- on Mars exploration, with each looking to find their specific niche, Viso noted. The holy grail, he added, is getting boots on the ground: "This represents the 'ultimate frontier' of space exploration." So far, only the US has done detailed feasibility studies, and in a best-case scenario achieving that goal will take at least 20 years. A swathe of Mars lander missions over the past five decades have met with varying degrees of success since the Soviet Mars 2 and 3 probes launched in 1971. NASA's Curiosity lander, which arrived in 2012 and is designed to determine whether the planet's environment was ever able to support microbial life forms, remains operational on the surface, as does the Insight lander, which arrived in 2018. The UAE is thinking even longer term. The oil-rich Gulf nation plan to establish a "science city" on Earth that will reproduce Mars' atmospheric conditions, with the goal of establishing a human colony on the Red Planet around 2117. Supporting human life on Mars presents a number of logistical challenges. Today's Mars is basically an immense, icy desert. About 3.5 billion years ago, it lost the dense atmospheric pressure that protected it from cosmic radiation. Scientists are still trying to determine whether the planet was ever inhabited by metabolic life forms. "Four billion years ago, the conditions on the planet's surface were very close to those which we had on Earth when life first appeared," including liquid water and a dense atmosphere, said Jorge Vago, the spokesperson for the European Space Agency's ExoMars initiative. Taking up the mantle of its robot forebears, Perseverance will explore an entirely uncharted environment, the Jezero crater, a 28-mile wide area that is believed to have been the site of an ancient river delta.

US, China and UAE all set to take advantage of Mars' current position

Judges in France have opened an investigation into allegations that a renowned university's research facility let human corpses donated for science&nbsp;rot and even be eaten by rats.

A probe into "violations of the integrity of a corpse" was handed over to the magistrates by prosecutors who handled the initial phase of the investigation after a French&nbsp;magazine reported the scandal last November.

The Centre for Body Donations of Paris Descartes University&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;renowned for scientific research. It&nbsp;is the biggest European anatomy centre and receives&nbsp;hundreds of bodies donated for scientific research.&nbsp;

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The university is accused of serious ethical failures in its management of the centre, which has since been shut down.&nbsp;

Bodies&nbsp;were strewn around naked, dismembered, piled one on top of the other, with even a severed head lying on the floor, l'Express reported, describing the scene photographed in 2016 as resembling a mass grave.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/consensus-that-notre-dame-spire-should-be-rebuilt-in-its-original-form-311931">'Consensus' that Notre-Dame spire should be rebuilt in its original form</a>

Some body parts were decomposing, others lay there chewed by&nbsp;rats&nbsp;amid overflowing garbage bags containing pieces of flesh.

"This is very good news," Frederic Douchez, a lawyer for families who pressed charges, said of Thursday's announcement by the&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;prosecutor's office.

Investigating magistrates, he said, have much wider powers to get to the bottom of the affair.

Nearly 80 complaints have so far been lodged.

The revelations caused the French government to order the shuttering of the&nbsp;centre&nbsp;and an administrative inspection by a panel which said in June the university was guilty of "serious ethical breaches" in its management of the CDC.

The&nbsp;centre, opened in 1953, was the largest of its kind in Europe, and received, until its closure, hundreds of&nbsp;donated&nbsp;bodies&nbsp;every year.

Judges in France have opened an investigation into allegations that a renowned university's research facility let human corpses donated for science rot and even be eaten by rats.

Judges in France have opened an investigation into allegations that a renowned university's research facility let human corpses donated for science rot and even be eaten by rats. A probe into "violations of the integrity of a corpse" was handed over to the magistrates by prosecutors who handled the initial phase of the investigation after a French magazine reported the scandal last November. The Centre for Body Donations of Paris Descartes University is a renowned for scientific research. It is the biggest European anatomy centre and receives hundreds of bodies donated for scientific research. The university is accused of serious ethical failures in its management of the centre, which has since been shut down. Bodies were strewn around naked, dismembered, piled one on top of the other, with even a severed head lying on the floor, l'Express reported, describing the scene photographed in 2016 as resembling a mass grave. Also read: 'Consensus' that Notre-Dame spire should be rebuilt in its original form Some body parts were decomposing, others lay there chewed by rats amid overflowing garbage bags containing pieces of flesh. "This is very good news," Frederic Douchez, a lawyer for families who pressed charges, said of Thursday's announcement by the Paris prosecutor's office. Investigating magistrates, he said, have much wider powers to get to the bottom of the affair. Nearly 80 complaints have so far been lodged. The revelations caused the French government to order the shuttering of the centre and an administrative inspection by a panel which said in June the university was guilty of "serious ethical breaches" in its management of the CDC. The centre, opened in 1953, was the largest of its kind in Europe, and received, until its closure, hundreds of donated bodies every year.

Probe opened after bodies donated to science 'left to be eaten by rats at Paris centre'

Top United States General Mark Milley&nbsp;pledged Thursday to "take action" if the US military could corroborate intelligence suggesting Moscow paid militants linked to the Taliban to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan.

General&nbsp;Mark&nbsp;Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary&nbsp;Mark&nbsp;Esper spoke before a congressional committee as the Trump administration comes under pressure to explain media reports claiming the president was briefed on the intelligence but did nothing in response.

Also read|&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-not-briefed-because-russia-bounty-reports-uncorroborated-white-house-309949">Trump not briefed because Russia bounty reports uncorroborated: White House</a>

Milley&nbsp;said the information was "not corroborated." "We'll get to the bottom of it. We are going to find out if, in fact, it's true. And if it is true, we will take action," he continued, without specifying what kind of action might be taken.&nbsp;

Washington has known for years that Russia has been supporting the Afghan insurgents, including through arms shipments,&nbsp;Milley&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

But, in the case of the Russians, "we do not have concrete corroborating evidence, intelligence to show directing. That's a big difference," he said.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/baseless-russia-denies-accusation-of-giving-bounties-to-taliban-to-attack-us-forces-308996">'Baseless': Russia denies accusation of giving bounties to Taliban to attack US forces</a>

''All the defense intelligence agencies have been unable to corroborate that report," Esper agreed.

Even so, he added: "The commanders take all reports seriously, regardless of the degree of credibility or confidence."

The New York Times, followed by other US media, first reported on the intelligence last month.&nbsp;

The White House has said President Donald Trump was not briefed on the intelligence because it was unverified.

But the Times, citing multiple officials, reported the intelligence was included in the written presidential daily brief back in February.

The newspaper reported that US intelligence officers and special forces in Afghanistan began raising the alarm as early as January, and that the National Security Council held an interagency meeting in late March to discuss possible responses&nbsp;but the White House did not authorize any action.&nbsp;Russia and the Taliban have denied the claims.

The scandal comes with Trump trying to withdraw troops from conflict-torn Afghanistan, one of the Taliban's key demands and end America's longest war.

Top United States General Mark Milley pledged Thursday to "take action" if the US military could corroborate intelligence suggesting Moscow paid militants linked to the Taliban to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan.

Top United States General Mark Milley pledged Thursday to "take action" if the US military could corroborate intelligence suggesting Moscow paid militants linked to the Taliban to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan. General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper spoke before a congressional committee as the Trump administration comes under pressure to explain media reports claiming the president was briefed on the intelligence but did nothing in response. Also read| Trump not briefed because Russia bounty reports uncorroborated: White House Milley said the information was "not corroborated." "We'll get to the bottom of it. We are going to find out if, in fact, it's true. And if it is true, we will take action," he continued, without specifying what kind of action might be taken. Washington has known for years that Russia has been supporting the Afghan insurgents, including through arms shipments, Milley said. But, in the case of the Russians, "we do not have concrete corroborating evidence, intelligence to show directing. That's a big difference," he said. Also read| 'Baseless': Russia denies accusation of giving bounties to Taliban to attack US forces ''All the defense intelligence agencies have been unable to corroborate that report," Esper agreed. Even so, he added: "The commanders take all reports seriously, regardless of the degree of credibility or confidence." The New York Times, followed by other US media, first reported on the intelligence last month. The White House has said President Donald Trump was not briefed on the intelligence because it was unverified. But the Times, citing multiple officials, reported the intelligence was included in the written presidential daily brief back in February. The newspaper reported that US intelligence officers and special forces in Afghanistan began raising the alarm as early as January, and that the National Security Council held an interagency meeting in late March to discuss possible responses but the White House did not authorize any action. Russia and the Taliban have denied the claims. The scandal comes with Trump trying to withdraw troops from conflict-torn Afghanistan, one of the Taliban's key demands and end America's longest war.

Russian bounties: Top US general vows 'response' if intel confirmed

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, undergoing treatment for COVID-19, on Thursday rubbished as "false news" the reports of his death that appeared on social media.

Qureshi, 64, said he was fine and recovering from COVID-19 infection. Terming the reports of his death as "false news", the foreign minister said it had caused distress among his family and friends.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-fm-rebukes-journalist-who-questioned-him-on-social-distancing-296601">Pak FM rebukes journalist who questioned him on social distancing</a>

"I am fine by the Grace of Allah and recovering from COVID-19," Qureshi was quoted as saying by a Pakistani news channel.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui also condemned the attempts by "mischievous elements" to spread rumours on social media about the foreign minister's health.

"We strongly condemn attempts by mischievous elements to hack Wikipedia page of FM @SMQureshiPTI &amp; spread rumours on social media about his health &amp; well-being. By grace of Almighty Allah, FM is recovering fast. Everyone's prayers, from Pakistan &amp; abroad, are deeply appreciated," Farooqui tweeted.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/another-provincial-minister-dies-due-to-coronavirus-in-pakistan-306884">Another provincial minister dies due to coronavirus in Pakistan</a>

Qureshi was reportedly shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi on Saturday, a day after he tested positive for the coronavirus and went into self-isolation.

Qureshi on Friday announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, joining a long list of Pakistani lawmakers who have contracted the deadly virus.

"I have now tested positive for Covid-19. By the grace of Allah, I feel strong and energetic. I will continue to carry on my duties from home. Please keep me in your prayers,? he said in a tweet on July 3.

Earlier, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader and Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Syed Aminul Haq had tested positive for the coronavirus. A week earlier than that PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said she had tested positive.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Jai Prakash, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister of State for Narcotics Shehryar Afridi and PTI's chief whip in the National Assembly Aamir Dogar have also been diagnosed with COVID-19.

In June, Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Munir Khan Orakzai died, days after recovering from the coronavirus. 
Eight members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have also been infected with the coronavirus. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser was also infected but recovered.&nbsp;

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, undergoing treatment for COVID-19, on Thursday rubbished as "false news" the reports of his death that appeared on social media.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, undergoing treatment for COVID-19, on Thursday rubbished as "false news" the reports of his death that appeared on social media. Qureshi, 64, said he was fine and recovering from COVID-19 infection. Terming the reports of his death as "false news", the foreign minister said it had caused distress among his family and friends. Also read: Pak FM rebukes journalist who questioned him on social distancing "I am fine by the Grace of Allah and recovering from COVID-19," Qureshi was quoted as saying by a Pakistani news channel. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui also condemned the attempts by "mischievous elements" to spread rumours on social media about the foreign minister's health. "We strongly condemn attempts by mischievous elements to hack Wikipedia page of FM @SMQureshiPTI & spread rumours on social media about his health & well-being. By grace of Almighty Allah, FM is recovering fast. Everyone's prayers, from Pakistan & abroad, are deeply appreciated," Farooqui tweeted. Also read: Another provincial minister dies due to coronavirus in Pakistan Qureshi was reportedly shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi on Saturday, a day after he tested positive for the coronavirus and went into self-isolation. Qureshi on Friday announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, joining a long list of Pakistani lawmakers who have contracted the deadly virus. "I have now tested positive for Covid-19. By the grace of Allah, I feel strong and energetic. I will continue to carry on my duties from home. Please keep me in your prayers,? he said in a tweet on July 3. Earlier, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader and Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Syed Aminul Haq had tested positive for the coronavirus. A week earlier than that PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said she had tested positive. Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Jai Prakash, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister of State for Narcotics Shehryar Afridi and PTI's chief whip in the National Assembly Aamir Dogar have also been diagnosed with COVID-19. In June, Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Munir Khan Orakzai died, days after recovering from the coronavirus. Eight members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have also been infected with the coronavirus. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser was also infected but recovered.

COVID-hit Pak FM Qureshi dismisses reports of his death as 'false news'

Over 2.6 lakh samples are being tested for COVID-19 per day, said Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference on COVID-19 situation in the country, ICMR Senior scientist Nivedita Gupta said, "The number of tests has increased, on an average, we are testing more than 2.6 lakh of samples per day. We hope to see a further rise by the use of the antigen test"

"ICMR has been continuing its efforts to ramp up COVID-19 testing capacity and outreach. TrueNat and CBNAAT tests too have been deployed recently, in addition to RT-PCR. A Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) has been validated and it is being used in containment zones and hospitals," she added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-not-reached-stage-of-coronavirus-community-transmission-health-ministry-311990" hreflang="en">India not reached stage of coronavirus community transmission: Health ministry</a>

The ICMR scientist further said that to ramp up the testing capacity, private labs have now been allowed to apply for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation and in parallel submit their application to the council.

"Private labs can complete accreditation in one month. As of today, a total of 1,132 testing labs are now operational," she said.

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday said that despite a population of 1.3 billion people, India has been able to manage COVID-19 relatively well and the cases per million of the population in the country remains among the lowest in the world.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-will-play-leading-role-in-global-revival-already-seeing-green-shoots-of-economic-recovery-pm-modi-311904" hreflang="en">India seeing green shoots of economic recovery: PM Modi</a>

Addressing a press conference, Rajesh Bhushan, OSD, Ministry of Health, said, "We are the second-most populous country of the world. Despite a population of 1.3 billion people, India has been able to manage COVID-19 relatively well. If you look at cases per million population, it still remains amongst the lowest in the world.''

He said that we have 15 deaths per million population whereas we have countries where it is 40 times as much.

''Today we have 538 cases per million population. It's as per World Health Organization (WHO) situation report. Case per million population in some countries are at least 16-17 times more than what it is in India. We have 15 deaths per million population whereas we have countries where it is 40 times as much." Bhushan said.

"When we talk of case load of COVID-19 in India, it is 2,69,000 people. This tells us that at the end of the day we`ve managed a situation where our health care infrastructure is not unduly burdened and is not creaking due to the pressure," he added.

India reported the highest single-day spike of 24,879 new positive cases and 487 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 7,67,296, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Out of the total number of cases, 2,69,789 are active, 4,76,378 have been cured/discharged/migrated and 21,129 have died.

Over 2.6 lakh samples are being tested for COVID-19 per day, said Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday. Addressing a press conference on COVID-19 situation in the country, ICMR Senior scientist Nivedita Gupta said, "The number of tests has increased, on an average, we are testing more than 2.

Over 2.6 lakh samples are being tested for COVID-19 per day, said Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday. Addressing a press conference on COVID-19 situation in the country, ICMR Senior scientist Nivedita Gupta said, "The number of tests has increased, on an average, we are testing more than 2.6 lakh of samples per day. We hope to see a further rise by the use of the antigen test" "ICMR has been continuing its efforts to ramp up COVID-19 testing capacity and outreach. TrueNat and CBNAAT tests too have been deployed recently, in addition to RT-PCR. A Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) has been validated and it is being used in containment zones and hospitals," she added. Also read: India not reached stage of coronavirus community transmission: Health ministry The ICMR scientist further said that to ramp up the testing capacity, private labs have now been allowed to apply for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation and in parallel submit their application to the council. "Private labs can complete accreditation in one month. As of today, a total of 1,132 testing labs are now operational," she said. The Union Health Ministry on Thursday said that despite a population of 1.3 billion people, India has been able to manage COVID-19 relatively well and the cases per million of the population in the country remains among the lowest in the world. Also read: India seeing green shoots of economic recovery: PM Modi Addressing a press conference, Rajesh Bhushan, OSD, Ministry of Health, said, "We are the second-most populous country of the world. Despite a population of 1.3 billion people, India has been able to manage COVID-19 relatively well. If you look at cases per million population, it still remains amongst the lowest in the world.'' He said that we have 15 deaths per million population whereas we have countries where it is 40 times as much. ''Today we have 538 cases per million population. It's as per World Health Organization (WHO) situation report. Case per million population in some countries are at least 16-17 times more than what it is in India. We have 15 deaths per million population whereas we have countries where it is 40 times as much." Bhushan said. "When we talk of case load of COVID-19 in India, it is 2,69,000 people. This tells us that at the end of the day we`ve managed a situation where our health care infrastructure is not unduly burdened and is not creaking due to the pressure," he added. India reported the highest single-day spike of 24,879 new positive cases and 487 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 7,67,296, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Out of the total number of cases, 2,69,789 are active, 4,76,378 have been cured/discharged/migrated and 21,129 have died.

Over 2.6 lakh COVID-19 samples being tested per day: ICMR

The Yogi Adityanath government on Thrsday announced a three-day lockdown in Uttar Pradesh from 10 p.m. on Friday to 5.a.m. on Monday. 
 
All markets, food grain markets and other establishments will remain closed during this period and the supply of essentials will be ensured through doorstep delivery.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-not-reached-stage-of-coronavirus-community-transmission-health-ministry-311990" hreflang="en">India not reached stage of coronavirus community transmission: Health ministry</a> 
 
The movement of trains and air services will continue but road transport will be shut down. Buses, however, will be made available to air and train passengers. 
 
Petrol pumps and hospitals will function normally. 
 
The three-day lockdown is being enforced in view of the spurt in number of Corona cases in the state. 
 
An official statement said that goods carriers will be allowed to operate and construction activities will also continue.

The Yogi Adityanath government on Thrsday announced a three-day lockdown in Uttar Pradesh from 10 p.m. on Friday to 5.a.m. on Monday. All markets, food grain markets and other establishments will remain closed during this period and the supply of essentials will be ensured through doorstep delivery.

The Yogi Adityanath government on Thrsday announced a three-day lockdown in Uttar Pradesh from 10 p.m. on Friday to 5.a.m. on Monday. All markets, food grain markets and other establishments will remain closed during this period and the supply of essentials will be ensured through doorstep delivery. Also read: India not reached stage of coronavirus community transmission: Health ministry The movement of trains and air services will continue but road transport will be shut down. Buses, however, will be made available to air and train passengers. Petrol pumps and hospitals will function normally. The three-day lockdown is being enforced in view of the spurt in number of Corona cases in the state. An official statement said that goods carriers will be allowed to operate and construction activities will also continue.

Three-day lockdown in Uttar Pradesh from July 10

Pakistan is a country where male dominance and&nbsp;entitlement are&nbsp;unquestioned because it is&nbsp;unabashedly patriarchal.

Even in Pakistani families that pride themselves on being non-discriminatory in their treatment of their male and female children, the binaries of the do’s and the don’ts of the two genders are underscored in bold letters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/combating-sexual-violence-as-a-global-concern-301152">Combating sexual violence as a global concern</a>

On June 1, an eight-year-old called Zahra Shah died after&nbsp;she was, allegedly, beaten up mercilessly for freeing two parrots. She was beaten so ruthlessly that she died a few hours later.

Zahra had escaped her hometown to make ends meet and&nbsp;found work at a couple's home in Rawalpindi who promised to educate her&nbsp;in return for her work.

Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/equal-roles-for-women-in-indian-armed-forces-the-road-ahead-291798">Equal roles for women in Indian Armed Forces: The road ahead</a>

The case prompted anger and made national headlines in Pakistan due to which the couple who employed zahra were soon put behind bars.

In June, the hashtag ''Justice for Zohra Shah'' trended immensely in Pakistan because the country's media confused Zahra for Zohra.

On July 8, the news of another Zahra’s death shook Pakistan’s social media.&nbsp;Sadaf Zahra Naqvi, the mother of a one-year old baby girl and the wife of a prominent Pakistani journalist,&nbsp;Ali Salman Alvi,&nbsp;known to countless Twitter users of Pakistan, ''died''&nbsp;on June 29.&nbsp;

Zahra's sister in law accused her husband of murdering her and covering it up as suicide. A thread posted on Zahra's Twitter timeline unravels her horrifying story in subtle references.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Domestic abuse.. A thread!
— Sadaf Zahra (@SadafZNaqvi) <a href="https://twitter.com/SadafZNaqvi/status/1214275868031410177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 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>

The story of a ruined marriage, betrayal, blackmailing, threats,&nbsp;extortion and all the torture she silently dealt with for the sake of her daughter.

The personalness of this thread suggests that it was addressed to her husband who is currently facing an investigation.

There are many more Zahras living amongst us. Young girls who are being tortured by men and women alike. Married women who are killing themselves because of their partners. 
&nbsp;

Pakistan is a country where male dominance and entitlement are unquestioned because it is unabashedly patriarchal. Even in Pakistani families that pride themselves on being non-discriminatory in their treatment of their male and female children, the binaries of the do’s and the don’ts of the two genders are underscored in bold letters.

Pakistan is a country where male dominance and entitlement are unquestioned because it is unabashedly patriarchal. Even in Pakistani families that pride themselves on being non-discriminatory in their treatment of their male and female children, the binaries of the do’s and the don’ts of the two genders are underscored in bold letters. Also read: Combating sexual violence as a global concern On June 1, an eight-year-old called Zahra Shah died after she was, allegedly, beaten up mercilessly for freeing two parrots. She was beaten so ruthlessly that she died a few hours later. Zahra had escaped her hometown to make ends meet and found work at a couple's home in Rawalpindi who promised to educate her in return for her work. Also read| Equal roles for women in Indian Armed Forces: The road ahead The case prompted anger and made national headlines in Pakistan due to which the couple who employed zahra were soon put behind bars. In June, the hashtag ''Justice for Zohra Shah'' trended immensely in Pakistan because the country's media confused Zahra for Zohra. On July 8, the news of another Zahra’s death shook Pakistan’s social media. Sadaf Zahra Naqvi, the mother of a one-year old baby girl and the wife of a prominent Pakistani journalist, Ali Salman Alvi, known to countless Twitter users of Pakistan, ''died'' on June 29. Zahra's sister in law accused her husband of murdering her and covering it up as suicide. A thread posted on Zahra's Twitter timeline unravels her horrifying story in subtle references. Domestic abuse.. A thread! — Sadaf Zahra (@SadafZNaqvi) January 6, 2020 × The story of a ruined marriage, betrayal, blackmailing, threats, extortion and all the torture she silently dealt with for the sake of her daughter. The personalness of this thread suggests that it was addressed to her husband who is currently facing an investigation. There are many more Zahras living amongst us. Young girls who are being tortured by men and women alike. Married women who are killing themselves because of their partners.

Two innocent women fall prey to Pakistan's deep-rooted patriarchy

The Indian Army has banned 89 applications and asked all its officers and soldiers to uninstall them by July 15, reports said on Wednesday.

These include Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Tinder, OkCupid, UC Browser, Bumble, ShareIt, Xender, Helo, CamScanner, Club Factory and&nbsp;others.

The decision&nbsp;comes&nbsp;around 10 days after the Indian government&nbsp;prohibited 59 Chinese mobile applications, including the famous video-sharing app TikTok, offering a harsh expression on India's stand against Chinese aggression.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wionews.com/india-news/india-bans-59-chinese-apps-including-tiktok-shareit-uc-browser-citing-national-security-309464">Also read: India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Shareit, UC Browser citing national security</a>

However, India is not the first country to resort to this move. Several militaries across the world have been pulling up their guard against suspicious apps.

Countries like Turkey and Russia have banned the use of smartphones altogether at forward posts.

Soldiers with smartphones can be easy targets for the enemy especially at a border with war-mongering China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/facebook-instagram-pubg-tinder-among-89-apps-banned-by-indian-army-311824">Facebook, Instagram, PUBG, Tinder among 89 apps banned by Indian army</a>

Cell phones are fearfully insecure is a&nbsp;simple malware trap and&nbsp;they could reveal strategic locations and positions.

For soldiers a smartphone can be a morale booster but it can also undermine operational security.

China has already warned its troops against cab-hailing apps citing that&nbsp;they pose security risks.

GPS&nbsp;detectors can&nbsp;pass on the user's location and personal information. China claimed hackers were collecting location data around military installations...

In January,&nbsp;the US&nbsp;Defence forces bannned Tik-Tok after a Pentagon directive. Now the US&nbsp;Navy has gone on a Twitter rant advising its sailors to not to use Tik-Tok.

In 2017, Israeli army launched a smartphone for its soldiers. The encrypted phones allow soldiers to send text messages, images and e-mails securely.

But since 2017&nbsp;Hamas has tried thrice to honey-trap Israeli defence staff through dating apps. They attempted to dupe troops by posing as Israeli women.

Now, Israel has put up posters in barracks saying warning to stay on guard against the enemy is listening.&nbsp;

In 2016, Indonesia banned police and military personnel from playing pokemon go. The move came after a Frenchman entered a military base hunting for virtual pocket monsters.

Just a week before,&nbsp;the police had fought off a gunman and foiled a suicide bombing attempt outside a police station.

Some intelligence agencies are not only tracking troop movements they also follow individuals when they go home.

Few NATO&nbsp;personnel in the Baltics and their families were apparently traced by Russian entities.

Enemies will always exploit vulnerabilities, both technological and human. Smartphone apps expose both the weaknesses at once.

Social media posts can help find and track soldiers as well as pull the curtain on military activity.

The Indian Army has banned 89 applications and asked all its officers and soldiers to uninstall them by July 15, reports said on Wednesday. These include Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Tinder, OkCupid, UC Browser, Bumble, ShareIt, Xender, Helo, CamScanner, Club Factory and others.

The Indian Army has banned 89 applications and asked all its officers and soldiers to uninstall them by July 15, reports said on Wednesday. These include Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Tinder, OkCupid, UC Browser, Bumble, ShareIt, Xender, Helo, CamScanner, Club Factory and others. The decision comes around 10 days after the Indian government prohibited 59 Chinese mobile applications, including the famous video-sharing app TikTok, offering a harsh expression on India's stand against Chinese aggression. Also read: India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Shareit, UC Browser citing national security However, India is not the first country to resort to this move. Several militaries across the world have been pulling up their guard against suspicious apps. Countries like Turkey and Russia have banned the use of smartphones altogether at forward posts. Soldiers with smartphones can be easy targets for the enemy especially at a border with war-mongering China. Also read: Facebook, Instagram, PUBG, Tinder among 89 apps banned by Indian army Cell phones are fearfully insecure is a simple malware trap and they could reveal strategic locations and positions. For soldiers a smartphone can be a morale booster but it can also undermine operational security. China has already warned its troops against cab-hailing apps citing that they pose security risks. GPS detectors can pass on the user's location and personal information. China claimed hackers were collecting location data around military installations... In January, the US Defence forces bannned Tik-Tok after a Pentagon directive. Now the US Navy has gone on a Twitter rant advising its sailors to not to use Tik-Tok. In 2017, Israeli army launched a smartphone for its soldiers. The encrypted phones allow soldiers to send text messages, images and e-mails securely. But since 2017 Hamas has tried thrice to honey-trap Israeli defence staff through dating apps. They attempted to dupe troops by posing as Israeli women. Now, Israel has put up posters in barracks saying warning to stay on guard against the enemy is listening. In 2016, Indonesia banned police and military personnel from playing pokemon go. The move came after a Frenchman entered a military base hunting for virtual pocket monsters. Just a week before, the police had fought off a gunman and foiled a suicide bombing attempt outside a police station. Some intelligence agencies are not only tracking troop movements they also follow individuals when they go home. Few NATO personnel in the Baltics and their families were apparently traced by Russian entities. Enemies will always exploit vulnerabilities, both technological and human. Smartphone apps expose both the weaknesses at once. Social media posts can help find and track soldiers as well as pull the curtain on military activity.

Countries pulling up their guard against suspicious apps

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Vyomica Berry

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