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China Says US Threatening Peace, Stabilty As Warship Transits Taiwan Strait

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="China Says US Threatening Peace, Stabilty As Warship Transits Taiwan Strait" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-05/9pel09a8_uss-curtis-wilbur-reuters_625x300_19_May_21.jpg" title="China Says US Threatening Peace, Stabilty As Warship Transits Taiwan Strait" /></div>
The US Navy sais the USS Curtis Wilbur conducted "routine Taiwan Strait transit" on Tuesday (File)
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BEIJING/TAIPEI:
China accused the United States on Wednesday of threatening the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait after a U.S. warship again sailed through the sensitive waterway that separates Taiwan from its giant neighbour.
The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-warship-again-sails-through-sensitive-taiwan-strait-2444566" target="_self">USS Curtis Wilbur</a> conducted a "routine Taiwan Strait transit" on Tuesday in accordance with international law.
"The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhere international law allows," it said.
A spokesman for China's Eastern Theatre Command expressed strong opposition and condemned the move, which comes amid heightened tensions between the two powers.
"The U.S. actions sends the wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces, deliberately disrupting the regional situation and endangering peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," he said.
Chinese forces tracked and monitored the ship throughout its voyage, he added.
China believes Taiwan's democratically elected government is bent on a formal declaration of independence for the island, a red line for Beijing.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen says they are already an independent state called the Republic of China, its formal name.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry said the U.S. ship had sailed in a southerly direction through the strait and the "situation was as normal".
The U.S. Navy has been conducting such operations every month or so.
The United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its most important international backer and a major seller of arms.
Military tension between Taiwan and Beijing have spiked over the past year, with Taipei complaining of China repeatedly sending its air force into Taiwan's air defence zone.
Some of those activities can involve multiple fighters and bombers.
China has said its activities around Taiwan are aimed at protecting China's sovereignty. Taiwan's government has denounced it as attempts at intimidation.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/china-says-us-threatening-peace-stabilty-as-warship-transits-taiwan-strait-2444604">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/china-says-us-threatening-peace-stabilty-as-warship-transits-taiwan-strait-2444604</a>

news world China Says US Threatening Peace, Stabilty As Warship Transits Taiwan Strait

The US Navy sais the USS Curtis Wilbur conducted "routine Taiwan Strait transit" on Tuesday (File) BEIJING/TAIPEI: China accu...

US Vaccines Effective Against Covid Variant Found In India: Top Officials

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="US Vaccines Effective Against Covid Variant Found In India: Top Officials" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-03/oq7enfdg_vaccine-generic-650_650x400_03_March_21.jpg" title="US Vaccines Effective Against Covid Variant Found In India: Top Officials" /></div>
The United States began the vaccine rollout last year. (Representational)
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Washington:
COVID-19 vaccines that are available in the United States are effective against the deadly variant that was first detected in India, top US health officials said on Tuesday.
The B.1.617 virus variant, first identified in India last year, has been classified as a ''variant of concern'' by the World Health Organisation.
"The modest neutralisation resistance to the 617 antibodies suggests that the current vaccines that we are all using that we've been speaking about would be at least partially and probably quite protective," Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the chief medical advisor to the President told reporters during a news conference in Washington.
Making a presentation of his data and latest research on this issue, Dr Fauci said that both the variants B.1.617 and B.1.618, that have been identified in India, have been neutralized with only a 2.5 fold diminution in titer. "That's well within the cushion effect of the capability to protect against infection and certainly against serious disease".
"So, in summary, this is just another example of the scientific data accruing, literally over the last few days, indicating another very strong reason why we should be getting vaccinated," Dr Fauci said.
Andy Slavitt, White House COVID-19 Senior Advisor said the vaccines that are available in the US are effective against the variant found in India. 
"And it is all the more reason why it's important for all of us, who have the opportunity to get vaccinated, to do so because we've seen the devastation that these variants can cause in other countries. And we should not feel that this can't happen here," Slavitt said in response to a question.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/coronavirus-us-vaccines-effective-against-variant-first-found-in-india-top-officials-2444581">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/coronavirus-us-vaccines-effective-against-variant-first-found-in-india-top-officials-2444581</a>

news world US Vaccines Effective Against Covid Variant Found In India: Top Officials

The United States began the vaccine rollout last year. (Representational) Washington: COVID-19 vaccines that are available in the Unite...

Earthquake With Magnitude 5.8 Strikes Nepal

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Earthquake With Magnitude 5.8 Strikes Nepal" src="https://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2016-12/earthquake-generic_650x400_71481076561.jpg" title="Earthquake With Magnitude 5.8 Strikes Nepal" /></div>
No loss of lives has been reported yet, further details are awaited. (Representational)
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Kathmandu [Nepal]:
An Earthquake of Magnitude 5.8 Richter scale struck Nepal on Wednesday morning (local time) as per the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center.
The quake took place around 5:42 AM Nepal (Local time), 113 KM North West of Kathmandu.
"Epicenter of the earthquake lies at Bhulbhule of Lamjung District this morning at around 5:42 (Local Time). It has been recorded with 5.8 magnitudes," Dr Lokbijay Adhikari, Seismologist, National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center told ANI.
No loss of lives has been reported yet, further details are awaited.
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/earthquake-in-nepal-quake-of-5-8-magnitude-hits-kathmandu-2444574">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/earthquake-in-nepal-quake-of-5-8-magnitude-hits-kathmandu-2444574</a>

news world Earthquake With Magnitude 5.8 Strikes Nepal

No loss of lives has been reported yet, further details are awaited. (Representational) Kathmandu [Nepal]: An Earthquake of Magnitude 5...

US Civil Rights Leader To Ask Biden To Give India 60 Million Covid Vaccine Doses

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="US Civil Rights Leader To Ask Biden To Give India 60 Million Covid Vaccine Doses" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-04/c7suahe_joe-biden-afp_625x300_29_April_21.jpg" title="US Civil Rights Leader To Ask Biden To Give India 60 Million Covid Vaccine Doses" /></div>
Eminent American civil rights leader will urge Joe Biden to give India 60 million vaccine doses (File)
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Washington:
Eminent American civil rights leader Rev. Jesse L. Jackson is urging President Joe Biden to release 60 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to India, which is experiencing one of the worst outbreaks of thee pandemic in the world.
Rev. Jackson will be joined by a number of prominent Indian leaders in the national capital on Wednesday, to make a public appeal to Biden for more humanitarian aid, according to a community statement.
"The pandemic poses a threat to humanity, not to any one country. Our response must be as encompassing as the threat," Rev Jackson said in a statement. He will urge Biden to give India 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, it said.
Dr Bharat Barai, chairman, US India Friendship Council, urged the President to facilitate the supply of the "much needed antiviral medications of Remdesivir and Tocilizumab to India immediately."
In a statement, Dr Vijay Prabhakar, national chairman, American Association of Multiethnic Physicians, USA, called on Biden to invoke the Federal International Emergency Production Act which would enable the manufacturers of the vaccine in the US to increase their production capacity.
"We need to protect India first only then can America and the rest of the world be protected," Dr Prabhakar said. Thanking Biden for his international vaccination pledge by providing 80 million COVID-19 vaccines, he also pleaded to give at least 60 million of those to India.
In its most recent update, the Union Health Ministry placed the total number of COVID-19 cases in India at 2,52,28,996 and the death countat 2,78,719. The ministry said there are 33,53,765 active cases, while 2,15,96,512 people have so far recovered from the infection.
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/us-civil-rights-leader-rev-jesse-l-jackson-to-ask-president-joe-biden-to-give-india-60-million-covid-19-vaccine-doses-2444570">https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/us-civil-rights-leader-rev-jesse-l-jackson-to-ask-president-joe-biden-to-give-india-60-million-covid-19-vaccine-doses-2444570</a>

news world US Civil Rights Leader To Ask Biden To Give India 60 Million Covid Vaccine Doses

Eminent American civil rights leader will urge Joe Biden to give India 60 million vaccine doses (File) Washington: Eminent American civ...

US Warship Again Sails Through Sensitive Taiwan Strait

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="US Warship Again Sails Through Sensitive Taiwan Strait" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-05/gcil3mb_uss-curtis-wilbur-taiwan-strait650_625x300_19_May_21.jpg" title="US Warship Again Sails Through Sensitive Taiwan Strait" /></div>
U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said the USS Curtis Wilbur conducted a "routine Taiwan Strait transit"
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Taipei:
A U.S. warship has again sailed through the sensitive waterway that separates Taiwan from its giant neighbour China, at a time of increased tensions between Taipei and Beijing.
The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur conducted a "routine Taiwan Strait transit" on Tuesday in accordance with international law.
"The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhere international law allows," it said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Another day committed to a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeAndOpenIndoPacific?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreeAndOpenIndoPacific</a> !<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USSCurtisWilbur?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USSCurtisWilbur</a> (DDG 54) completed a routine <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TaiwanStrait?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TaiwanStrait</a> transit May 18 (local time). The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USNavy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USNavy</a> will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhere international law allows. <a href="https://t.co/zcgpIRuyTU">pic.twitter.com/zcgpIRuyTU</a>
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) <a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy/status/1394730779985518594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
Taiwan's Defence Ministry said the ship had sailed in a southerly direction through the strait and the "situation was as normal".
The U.S. Navy has been conducting such operations every month or so, to the anger of China which always denounces them.
The United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its most important international backer and a major seller of arms.
Military tension between Chinese-claimed Taiwan and Beijing have spiked over the past year, with Taipei complaining of China repeatedly sending its air force into Taiwan's air defence zone.
Some of those activities can involve multiple fighters and bombers.
China has said its activities around Taiwan are aimed at protecting China's sovereignty. Taiwan's government has denounced it as attempts at intimidation.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-warship-again-sails-through-sensitive-taiwan-strait-2444566">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-warship-again-sails-through-sensitive-taiwan-strait-2444566</a>

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U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said the USS Curtis Wilbur conducted a "routine Taiwan Strait transit" Taipei: A U.S. warship has a...

Singapore Approves Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine For Teenagers Aged 12-15

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Singapore Approves Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine For Teenagers Aged 12-15" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-05/f6tet3ko_singapore-schools-afp_625x300_17_May_21.jpg" title="Singapore Approves Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine For Teenagers Aged 12-15" /></div>
The city-state tightened restrictions in recent weeks after several new clusters were found.
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Singapore:
Singapore authorised the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine to teenagers aged 12 to 15, officials said on Tuesday, in a first for Asia.
The city-state's Health Sciences Authority extended the use of the vaccine -- currently only approved for individuals aged 16 and above -- after reviewing clinical data submitted by the manufacturer.
Singaporean authorities "assessed that the Pfizer-BioNTech covid-19 vaccine demonstrated high safety and efficacy for this age group of 12 to 15 years old, which is consistent with what we have observed for the adult population," Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said at a press conference.
More details on plans to vaccinate those in this group will be provided soon, he added.
Earlier this month Canada became the first country to approve the vaccine for children aged 12 to 15, with the US following shortly after.
The city-state tightened restrictions in recent weeks after several new clusters were found, including one linked to a tuition centre.
Singapore announced Sunday it will close schools, warning that new coronavirus strains such as the one first detected in India were affecting more children.
In the latest round of restrictions, the city-state limited public gatherings to two and banned restaurant dine-ins.
About 1.4 million in the country of 5.7 million have received both vaccine doses, with efforts so far focusing on vulnerable groups, frontline workers, and those above 45.
Starting Wednesday, the time interval between doses will be extended from three to four weeks to six to eight weeks to allow more people to get their first jab, officials said.
Those aged between 40 to 44 will also be invited to get vaccinated.
Last year, the coronavirus surged through crowded dormitories housing low-paid foreign workers, infecting tens of thousands.
But by global standards, Singapore's overall outbreak has been mild -- officials have reported more than 61,600 cases so far and 31 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/coronavirus-singapore-approves-pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccine-for-teenagers-aged-12-15-2444409">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/coronavirus-singapore-approves-pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccine-for-teenagers-aged-12-15-2444409</a>

news world Singapore Approves Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine For Teenagers Aged 12-15

The city-state tightened restrictions in recent weeks after several new clusters were found. Singapore: Singapore authorised the use of...