An offspring's time spent with its mother is always precious and this is certainly true for giant Panda cubs as well. In a heartwarming video taken by the China conservation and Research Centre for Giant Panda, a Panda mom was seen playing with her cub.

Heartwarming footage offers glimpses of bonds between Panda mom & cubs

Several panda cubs in China wished people good luck in the year of the dragon as they made their debut. The Cubs were born in 2023 and made their debut on Tuesday in two giant panda reserves in southern China.

Panda cubs debut in giant Panda reserves

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms- According to the latest estimates released by the World Gold Council (WGC), India has emerged as the country having the ninth-largest gold reserves in the world. With its gold reserves measuring 2,191.53 tonnes, valued at $ 131,795 million, India is ranked ahead of wealthy Arab and Western nations such as Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

India's gold reserves now larger than Saudi Arabia & UK

The United States said it has set up a professionally run fund in Switzerland to manage $3.5 billion of Afghanistan's&nbsp;central bank's reserves that were frozen following the Taliban takeover of the country.

According to reports, the new Afghan Fund was created on Wednesday, and it would have an account at the Bank for International Settlements.

The primary aim of the creation of the fund is to strengthen Afghanistan’s macroeconomic stability, including covering Afghanistan's arrears in international financial institutions and paying for electricity imports, but it will not handle humanitarian aid or government salaries, the TRT World reported.

Around $7 billion of Afghanistan’s central bank foreign currency assets are held by the US and other foreign banks.

The decision to set up a fund comes months after intense negotiations to release the $3.5 billion Afghan funds that were set aside for Afghanistan by US President Joe Biden.

The remaining $3.5 billion has been withheld by the US Federal Reserve (FED) and it will be disbursed as compensation to the victims of the September 11 attacks, which led to the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the report states.

A court decision on this matter is awaited and is expected in October.

Meanwhile, the Taliban have lambasted the United States for moving its reserves to the Bank of International Settlements (BIS),

A Taliban official with the country’s central bank (DAB) told TRT World, “We don't agree with the transfer of money to the account indicated, but [we wish for it] to be transferred to Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB).”

The spokesperson added that they are open to a third-party monitoring system as demanded by the US government.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United States said it has set up a professionally run fund in Switzerland to manage $3.5 billion of Afghanistan's central bank's reserves that were frozen following the Taliban takeover of the country.

The United States said it has set up a professionally run fund in Switzerland to manage $3.5 billion of Afghanistan's central bank's reserves that were frozen following the Taliban takeover of the country. According to reports, the new Afghan Fund was created on Wednesday, and it would have an account at the Bank for International Settlements. The primary aim of the creation of the fund is to strengthen Afghanistan’s macroeconomic stability, including covering Afghanistan's arrears in international financial institutions and paying for electricity imports, but it will not handle humanitarian aid or government salaries, the TRT World reported. Around $7 billion of Afghanistan’s central bank foreign currency assets are held by the US and other foreign banks. The decision to set up a fund comes months after intense negotiations to release the $3.5 billion Afghan funds that were set aside for Afghanistan by US President Joe Biden. The remaining $3.5 billion has been withheld by the US Federal Reserve (FED) and it will be disbursed as compensation to the victims of the September 11 attacks, which led to the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the report states. A court decision on this matter is awaited and is expected in October. Meanwhile, the Taliban have lambasted the United States for moving its reserves to the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), A Taliban official with the country’s central bank (DAB) told TRT World, “We don't agree with the transfer of money to the account indicated, but [we wish for it] to be transferred to Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB).” The spokesperson added that they are open to a third-party monitoring system as demanded by the US government. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US moves $3.5 billion of Afghan bank's reserves to Swiss-based trust, Taliban furious

Climate change is real and the world needs to act now before it’s too late. A new study has found out that if the world needs to meet the ambitious climate targets, the majority of the planet’s fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The study in the journal ‘Nature’ said that 60 per cent of oil and natural gas and 90 per cent of coal must never see light of the day till 2050 to make attempts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Typhoon Chanthu brings heavy rainfall to Taiwan, over 100 flights cancelled

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At a press conference while announcing the results, Dan Welsby, a researcher at University College London and lead author of the study, said, “These results are broadly consistent with the findings of numerous recent reports, from the United Nations, the International Energy Agency and others, which have all provided evidence that dramatic cuts in fossil fuel production are required immediately in order to move towards limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees.” &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/experts-warn-first-ever-rain-in-greenland-ice-sheet-shows-risks-of-climate-change-412789" hreflang="en">Experts warn first-ever rain in Greenland ice sheet shows risks of climate change</a>

Under the Paris climate agreement, the nations are trying to keep global temperatures under two degrees Celsius of their preindustrial levels and within 1.5 degrees Celsius if at all possible.&nbsp;

Climate change is real and the world needs to act now before it’s too late. A new study has found out that if the world needs to meet the ambitious climate targets, the majority of the planet’s fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground.

Climate change is real and the world needs to act now before it’s too late. A new study has found out that if the world needs to meet the ambitious climate targets, the majority of the planet’s fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground. The study in the journal ‘Nature’ said that 60 per cent of oil and natural gas and 90 per cent of coal must never see light of the day till 2050 to make attempts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Watch: Typhoon Chanthu brings heavy rainfall to Taiwan, over 100 flights cancelled × At a press conference while announcing the results, Dan Welsby, a researcher at University College London and lead author of the study, said, “These results are broadly consistent with the findings of numerous recent reports, from the United Nations, the International Energy Agency and others, which have all provided evidence that dramatic cuts in fossil fuel production are required immediately in order to move towards limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees.” Also Read: Experts warn first-ever rain in Greenland ice sheet shows risks of climate change Under the Paris climate agreement, the nations are trying to keep global temperatures under two degrees Celsius of their preindustrial levels and within 1.5 degrees Celsius if at all possible.

Leave 60% global oil, gas reserves unused to curb warming to 1.5 degrees: Study

Russia on Monday appealed USA to release Afghan central bank reserves. The money and assets have been blocked after the Taliban took over power in Kabul earlier this month.

"If our Western colleagues are actually worried about the fate of the Afghan people, then we must not create additional problems for them by freezing gold and foreign exchange reserves," said the Kremlin's envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov.

He said that the United States must urgently unfreeze these events. He was speaking on the state-run Rossiya 24 network. He said that the assets must be unfrozen &nbsp;"to bolster the rate of the collapsing national currency".

Kabulov said that if this was not done, the new authorities will turn to "the trafficking of illegal opiates" and "sell on the black market the weapons" abandoned by the Afghan army and the United States.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/should-have-informed-us-taliban-condemn-arbitrary-us-drone-strike-claim-civilians-killed-409410">‘Should have informed us’: Taliban condemn ‘arbitrary’ US drone strike, claim civilians killed</a>

The Afghan central bank's gross reserves totalled $9.4 billion at the end of April, according to the IMF. The majority of these funds are held outside of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Washington has indicated that the Taliban will not have access to assets held in the United States, without specifying the total amount there.&nbsp;

Afghanistan has long been the world's largest producer of opium and heroin, with profits from the illicit trade helping fund the Taliban.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Monday appealed USA to release Afghan central bank reserves. The money and assets have been blocked after the Taliban took over power in Kabul earlier this month.

Russia on Monday appealed USA to release Afghan central bank reserves. The money and assets have been blocked after the Taliban took over power in Kabul earlier this month. "If our Western colleagues are actually worried about the fate of the Afghan people, then we must not create additional problems for them by freezing gold and foreign exchange reserves," said the Kremlin's envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov. He said that the United States must urgently unfreeze these events. He was speaking on the state-run Rossiya 24 network. He said that the assets must be unfrozen "to bolster the rate of the collapsing national currency". Kabulov said that if this was not done, the new authorities will turn to "the trafficking of illegal opiates" and "sell on the black market the weapons" abandoned by the Afghan army and the United States. Also Read | ‘Should have informed us’: Taliban condemn ‘arbitrary’ US drone strike, claim civilians killed The Afghan central bank's gross reserves totalled $9.4 billion at the end of April, according to the IMF. The majority of these funds are held outside of Afghanistan. Washington has indicated that the Taliban will not have access to assets held in the United States, without specifying the total amount there. Afghanistan has long been the world's largest producer of opium and heroin, with profits from the illicit trade helping fund the Taliban. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia appeals USA to release Afghan central bank reserves

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday a summit in Paris on Africa financing had agreed to work towards persuading rich nations by October to reallocate $100 billion in IMF special drawing rights monetary reserves to African states.&nbsp;

Impoverished African economies must not be left behind in the post-pandemic economic recovery and a substantial financial package is needed to provide much-needed economic stimulus, African and European leaders concluded at a summit in Paris.&nbsp;

In the immediate term, that meant accelerating the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and creating the fiscal breathing room for African nations, which will face a spending shortfall of some $285 billion over the next two years, the summit communique showed.&nbsp;

The communique set out a two-pronged response based on addressing financing needs to support a sustainable, green recovery and the underpinning of private-sector-driven growth, but it was light on concrete commitments.&nbsp;

"This is a new start, a new deal for Africa," Senegalese President Macky Sall told reporters.&nbsp;

International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva said it was time to stem the 'dangerous divergence between advanced economies and developing countries, especially (in) Africa’. &nbsp;

Georgieva said the African continent's economic output would increase by only 3.2% in 2021, compared with 6% in the rest of the world.&nbsp;

Central to the talks was the question of how to reallocate IMF reserves (SDRs) that were earmarked for developed countries towards developing economies. &nbsp;

World finance chiefs agreed in April to boost SDRs by $650 billion and extend a debt-servicing freeze to help developing countries deal with the pandemic, although only $34 billion was to be allocated to Africa.&nbsp;

Macron said France had decided to redirect its SDRs and that there had been an accord to try to get rich nations by October to reallocate $100 billion to Africa.&nbsp;

"Our work in the next few weeks will be to make the same rate of effort as France, starting with the United States of America, and I know all the work that we will have to do with Congress and the executive, but I am confident," he told reporters.&nbsp;

Georgieva pledged to come up with a new allocation proposal by August.&nbsp;

"On the $100 billion, is it enough? Let's be very clear, no it is not enough. We have a financial gap just to catch up with the impact of Covid for the continent of Africa of $285 billion, she said. "It is genuinely an all-hands-on-deck situation."&nbsp;

"We have to make the private sector attracted to go into a risky environment by de-risking investments."&nbsp;

The summit was part of Macron's efforts to recast France's engagement in Africa, where it was once a colonial power, at a time when the continent faces a near $300 billion deficit by the end of 2023 while trying to recover from the downturn.&nbsp;

The African Development Bank forecasts that up to 39 million people could fall into poverty this year, with many African countries at risk of debt distress because of the pandemic.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday a summit in Paris on Africa financing had agreed to work towards persuading rich nations by October to reallocate $100 billion in IMF special drawing rights monetary reserves to African states.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday a summit in Paris on Africa financing had agreed to work towards persuading rich nations by October to reallocate $100 billion in IMF special drawing rights monetary reserves to African states. Impoverished African economies must not be left behind in the post-pandemic economic recovery and a substantial financial package is needed to provide much-needed economic stimulus, African and European leaders concluded at a summit in Paris. In the immediate term, that meant accelerating the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and creating the fiscal breathing room for African nations, which will face a spending shortfall of some $285 billion over the next two years, the summit communique showed. The communique set out a two-pronged response based on addressing financing needs to support a sustainable, green recovery and the underpinning of private-sector-driven growth, but it was light on concrete commitments. "This is a new start, a new deal for Africa," Senegalese President Macky Sall told reporters. International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva said it was time to stem the 'dangerous divergence between advanced economies and developing countries, especially (in) Africa’. Georgieva said the African continent's economic output would increase by only 3.2% in 2021, compared with 6% in the rest of the world. Central to the talks was the question of how to reallocate IMF reserves (SDRs) that were earmarked for developed countries towards developing economies. World finance chiefs agreed in April to boost SDRs by $650 billion and extend a debt-servicing freeze to help developing countries deal with the pandemic, although only $34 billion was to be allocated to Africa. Macron said France had decided to redirect its SDRs and that there had been an accord to try to get rich nations by October to reallocate $100 billion to Africa. "Our work in the next few weeks will be to make the same rate of effort as France, starting with the United States of America, and I know all the work that we will have to do with Congress and the executive, but I am confident," he told reporters. Georgieva pledged to come up with a new allocation proposal by August. "On the $100 billion, is it enough? Let's be very clear, no it is not enough. We have a financial gap just to catch up with the impact of Covid for the continent of Africa of $285 billion, she said. "It is genuinely an all-hands-on-deck situation." "We have to make the private sector attracted to go into a risky environment by de-risking investments." The summit was part of Macron's efforts to recast France's engagement in Africa, where it was once a colonial power, at a time when the continent faces a near $300 billion deficit by the end of 2023 while trying to recover from the downturn. The African Development Bank forecasts that up to 39 million people could fall into poverty this year, with many African countries at risk of debt distress because of the pandemic. (With inputs from agencies)

France, African leaders push to redirect $100 billion in IMF SDR reserves by October 

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