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US Talking To Pak Leaders To Shut Down Safe Havens For Taliban: Pentagon

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Taliban's surge in Afghanistan has intensified as US troops wrap up their withdrawal (File)
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Washington:
The US is having conversations with the Pakistani leadership about the need to shutdown the safe havens for Taliban terrorists along the Afghan-Pakistan border that are providing a source of more insecurity and instability inside Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said, as Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke over phone with Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Austin, in a phone call with Gen Bajwa on Monday, discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, regional security issues and the bilateral defence ties, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said.
During the phone call, Austin expressed his interest in continuing to improve the US-Pakistan relationship and build upon their multiple shared interests in the region, Kirby said on Monday in a readout of the conversation.
"Secretary Austin and General Bajwa discussed the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, regional security and stability, and the bilateral defence relationship more broadly," Kirby said.
Austin discussed the mutual goals of security and stability in the region, he said.
Responding to a question, Kirby said the US continues to have conversations with the Pakistani leadership about the safe havens that exist along that border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"We are mindful that those safe havens are only providing a source of more insecurity and more instability inside Afghanistan. We are not bashful about having that discussion with Pakistani leaders," he said.
"We are also mindful that Pakistan and the Pakistani people also fall victim to terrorist activities that emanate from that region. So, we all have a shared sense of the importance of closing down those safe havens and not allowing them to be used by the Taliban or other terrorist networks to sow discord," Kirby said.
"And again, we're having that conversation with the Pakistanis all the time," he added.
Taliban's surge in Afghanistan has intensified as US and NATO troops wrap up their withdrawal from the war-torn country.
With Taliban attacks increasing, Afghan security forces and government troops have retaliated with airstrikes aided by the United States.
Afghanistan and the US have criticised Pakistan in the past for allowing Taliban fighters to cross into Pakistan where they are provided safe havens and also receive medical treatment.
While Kabul claims that Islamabad is sending thousands of terrorists to fight in the war-ravaged country and providing safe haven for the Taliban, Pakistan alleges that Afghanistan harbours the anti-Pakistani group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan -- the Pakistani Taliban -- and also the secessionist Balochistan Liberation Army.
Pakistan has said that it has used its influence over the Taliban to press the insurgents into talks with the US and the Afghan government to find a political solution to the crisis.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan last month said that the US "really messed it up" in Afghanistan as he questioned the American motive for the 2001 invasion of the country in the first place and then their subsequent attempts of seeking a political solution with the Taliban from a position of weakness.
(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/us-talking-to-pakistan-leaders-to-shut-down-safe-havens-for-taliban-pentagon-2507099">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-talking-to-pakistan-leaders-to-shut-down-safe-havens-for-taliban-pentagon-2507099</a>

news world US Talking To Pak Leaders To Shut Down Safe Havens For Taliban: Pentagon

Taliban's surge in Afghanistan has intensified as US troops wrap up their withdrawal (File) Washington: The US is having conversati...

Bangladesh Starts COVID-19 Vaccine Drive For Rohingya Refugees

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Bangladesh Starts COVID-19 Vaccine Drive For Rohingya Refugees" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-08/jeobe4ms_rohingya-refugees-afp-650_625x300_10_August_21.jpg" title="Bangladesh Starts COVID-19 Vaccine Drive For Rohingya Refugees" /></div>
Rohingya refugees wait to receive a dose of the Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine (File)
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Dhaka:
Bangladesh began vaccinating thousands of Rohingya Muslims on Tuesday in the world's largest refugee settlement amid a surge in COVID-19 infections in the country, officials said.
Aid workers have long warned of a potential humanitarian disaster if there is a significant outbreak in the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, the border district where over a million Rohingya who fled a brutal military crackdowns in neighbouring Myanmar have found sanctuary.
Around 48,000 Rohingya, aged 55 and above, will be inoculated between Tuesday and Thursday with the help of the UN agencies, Mahbubur Rahman, the chief health official in Cox's Bazar district, said.
"This is just the beginning. All adult Rohingya people will be vaccinated in phases," Rahman told Reuters by telephone from one of vaccine centres in the camps.
There has been a recent uptick in infections in the camps, with around 20,000 cases and 200 deaths recorded among refugees since the pandemic erupted last year.
In contrast, officials in Myanmar's Rakhine state have told media that there are currently no plans to vaccinate the Rohingya living there.
Bangladesh has been battling an alarming surge in infections and deaths in recent weeks, recording more than 1.36 million people infected and 22,897 deaths.
"We feel really good. We only hope everyone will get the vaccine," Sakhina Khatun, 55, said after she and her 65-year-old husband got vaccinated.
"We are only safe when we are all safe," Khatun told Reuters.
"People in these camps are living in the shadow of the global vaccine divide. Widespread vaccinations are critical to contain this deadly virus," Hrusikesh Harichandan, Head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Cox's Bazar, said.
"We need united efforts by national agencies and international organisations to help vaccinate all adults in the camps."
(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/bangladesh-starts-covid-19-vaccine-drive-for-rohingya-refugees-2507052">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bangladesh-starts-covid-19-vaccine-drive-for-rohingya-refugees-2507052</a>

news world Bangladesh Starts COVID-19 Vaccine Drive For Rohingya Refugees

Rohingya refugees wait to receive a dose of the Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine (File) Dhaka: Bangladesh began vaccinating thousands of Ro...

US Warns Citizens Against Travel To France Over Covid Concerns

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The State Department issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for France on Monday.
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Washington, United States:
The US State Department has advised Americans to avoid all travel to France over rising coronavirus cases in the country.
France is battling a fourth wave of the virus even though Covid-19 hospitalizations are still way off previous highs.
The State Department issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for France on Monday, based on a parallel warning from the US Centers for Disease Control, the country's top medical body.
"If you must travel to France, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel," the CDC said.
France has recorded more than 6 million cases and 111,000 deaths in total, and daily cases have crept back up to around 20,000 a day while deaths remain low compared to the height of the pandemic.
A total of 74 million vaccine doses have been administered in France, according to the World Health Organization, and over 55 percent of the eligible population have received both vaccine doses.
It has also enforced a Covid pass for routine aspects of life.
Anger at President Emmanuel Macron's controversial plan to squeeze infections and encourage vaccinations has seen large protests recently, though polls have shown that a clear majority of French back the Covid pass, even including the extension this week to cafes and restaurants.
(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/coronavirus-us-warns-citizens-against-travel-to-france-over-covid-concerns-2506990">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/coronavirus-us-warns-citizens-against-travel-to-france-over-covid-concerns-2506990</a>

news world US Warns Citizens Against Travel To France Over Covid Concerns

The State Department issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for France on Monday. Washington, United States: The US State...

With Delta Variant, China Cases Hit 7-Month High

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Dozens of cases came from a Covid-19 testing site in eastern Yangzhou city (File)
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Beijing, China:
China's coronavirus cases hit a seven-month high on Tuesday, after a cluster at a test site helped drive up numbers as the Delta variant challenges Beijing's grip on the pandemic.
State media has described the current outbreak -- which has sparked local lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions -- as the most severe since the virus emerged in the central city of Wuhan.
Authorities had brought domestic infections down to virtually zero, allowing economic activity to rebound albeit with tight border restrictions.
But now, cases are rising.
On Tuesday, Chinese health authorities reported 143 new coronavirus infections -- 108 of them locally transmitted.
Dozens of cases in recent days have been linked to a Covid-19 testing site in eastern Yangzhou city.
In a sign of the anxiety over even relatively minor outbreaks, several officials have been issued warnings for mishandling mass testing, which city authorities said allowed the virus to spread.
Yangzhou city authorities said "a small number of party members and cadres have yet to perform their duties properly".
The city of about 4.6 million people has so far conducted five rounds of widespread testing, collecting 1.6 million samples in an attempt to stamp out the spread.
The latest surge started after infections among airport cleaners in neighbouring Nanjing city sparked a chain of cases across the country.
Tuesday's numbers are the highest since January, when the country logged 144 new cases and 126 domestic infections, mostly in the northern regions.
Authorities are now working to shore up confidence that the latest resurgence is controllable.
"We have successfully contained the epidemic in Guangzhou, and the epidemic in Nanjing is gradually being put under control," the official Xinhua news agency cited infectious diseases specialist Zhang Wenhong as saying.
(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/china-virus-cases-rise-as-delta-variant-challenges-beijing-2506966">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/china-virus-cases-rise-as-delta-variant-challenges-beijing-2506966</a>

news world With Delta Variant, China Cases Hit 7-Month High

Dozens of cases came from a Covid-19 testing site in eastern Yangzhou city (File) Beijing, China: China's coronavirus cases hit a s...

World Lion Day 2021: Date, History, Significance, And India's Lion Population

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="World Lion Day 2021: Date, History, Significance, And India's Lion Population" src="https://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2015-06/lion-generic_650x400_41433189668.jpg" title="World Lion Day 2021: Date, History, Significance, And India's Lion Population" /></div>
World Lion Day 2021: Asiatic lions of India are a distant cousin of the much bigger African lions. (File)
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While the population of wild lions saw a catastrophic decline across the world, except for Africa, the mighty beasts have found a natural home in India. Their population has increased steadily in India, especially in Gir forest – the only wild population of lions outside Africa. As we observe World Lion Day on August 10, there couldn't be a better way to raise awareness about the conservation and sustainable solutions to save the global wild lion population, which has now reduced to only about 20,000. Lions are seen as the ultimate icons of pride, heritage, and power. But their existence has been troubled lately.
Lions, listed as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, have lost a vast majority of their habitat -- and resultantly their population -- primarily because of conflict with humans, poaching, and trophy hunting.
Seeing this rapid decrease in their population, a group of non-profits and tourism companies created World Lion Day to celebrate the animal and redirect the world's attention towards them. Organisations such as Panthera and National Geographic Society's Big Cats Initiative support World Lion Day.
History and significance
The Asiatic lions of India are a distant cousin of the much bigger African lions. Historically, they have roamed from Gir forest in Gujarat to the Indo-Gangetic plains in Bihar. But their population decreased over the years. If we dig deeper into our own history and heritage, we will find a number of paintings, scriptures, and several literary works dedicated to the majestic predator. Lions have been part of Indian's royal emblem and cultural identity.
During Colonial rule, however, the British officers hunted lions and other animals on a large scale. This negatively impacted their population, distribution and habitat range. Being the "king of the jungle", lions help maintain ecological balance and biodiversity. They keep a check on the population of browsers and grazers and also keep the animal kingdom healthy by targeting the weakest members.
Lion population In India
After seeing a decline for some time, the Asiatic lion population has increased steadily in Gujarat's Gir forest and the larger Saurashtra protected region. Their population has gone up from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020.
Several leaders and conservationists, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wished those who worked to achieve this turnaround.
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The lion is majestic and courageous. India is proud to be home to the Asiatic Lion. On World Lion Day, I convey my greetings to all those passionate about lion conservation. It would make you happy that the last few years have seen a steady increase in India's lion population. <a href="https://t.co/GaCEXnp7hG">pic.twitter.com/GaCEXnp7hG</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1424930989202046982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
"The lion is majestic and courageous. India is proud to be home to the Asiatic Lion. On World Lion Day, I convey my greetings to all those passionate about lion conservation. It would make you happy that the last few years have seen a steady increase in India's lion population," PM Modi tweeted on World Lion Day.
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/world-lion-day-2021-date-history-significance-and-population-of-lions-in-india-2506837">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/world-lion-day-2021-date-history-significance-and-population-of-lions-in-india-2506837</a>

news world World Lion Day 2021: Date, History, Significance, And India's Lion Population

World Lion Day 2021: Asiatic lions of India are a distant cousin of the much bigger African lions. (File) While the population of wild l...

State Department Denies Kerry Took Private Jet to Obama Party Despite Photos Showing Him Exiting It

Claims that White House Climate Envoy John Kerry arrived at Barack Obama’s birthday bash via a private jet have been denied by the State Department, despite a photo being published showing Kerry exiting the plane.
“Secretary Kerry lives on Martha’s Vineyard, he did not travel there for a party. He took a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, he did not fly (commercial or private.),” said a spokesperson in an email.
However, the Daily Mail published a photo of Kerry disembarking from a private jet alongside the caption, “Presidential envoy for climate John Kerry took a private jet to the island of Martha’s Vineyard.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true" readability="9.075">
Obama B-Day Party: “Former senator & U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry was spotted along with TV presenter & comedian Stephen Colbert. Both men have homes on the island… Kerry took a private jet to the island of Martha's Vineyard.”<a href="https://t.co/9d6aURbdbq">https://t.co/9d6aURbdbq</a> <a href="https://t.co/njzSz3eWKI">pic.twitter.com/njzSz3eWKI</a>
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryDunleavy/status/1424034263385661445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
The caption appears to have been removed from the original story, although Fox digital editor Peter J. Hasson tweeted, “Flight records confirm that this was the Kerry family private jet.”
The Washington Times <a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/7/climate-czar-john-kerry-took-private-jet-obama-bir/">reports</a> that Kerry’s private jet also landed in Martha’s Vineyard before Obama’s party.
“The website Flight Aware said that a private jet identified in previous media reports as the Kerry family plane landed Friday in Martha’s Vineyard, coinciding with Mr. Obama’s 60th birthday bash on his compound at Martha’s Vineyard,” states the report.
So either the State Department is lying, or the image of Kerry exiting the plane is from a different trip.
Kerry received a volley of criticism on Twitter after the photo was published.
“Joe Biden’s Climate Czar John Kerry took a private jet to Barack Obama‘s birthday party,” tweeted Rep. Lance Gooden, Texas Republican. “When will Greta Thunberg be calling him out?”
“What a fraud,” remarked Sen. Tom Cotton. “To John Kerry, global warming is an existential threat that means hundreds of thousands of Americans must lose their jobs. But it’s not quite serious enough to put away his private jets.”
Records show that the Kerry family’s private jet has been used for over a dozen trips this year alone.
“In total, the private jet tied to President Biden’s point person in the effort to lower greenhouse gas emissions took 16 flights since January — raising questions about how much his family contributed to the problem,” reports <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/climate-john-kerry-private-jet-flights">Fox News</a>.
However, a State Department spokesperson subsequently claimed Kerry himself wasn’t on any of those flights and that he only flies on commercial airliners or military transport.
Kerry’s penchant for traveling via private jet takes on an added layer of irony given that the media has been aggressively pushing a new “landmark” United Nations report out today that forecasts ecological disaster due to man-made carbon emissions.
The former presidential candidate was previously <a href="https://summit.news/2021/07/08/john-kerry-caught-violating-mask-rules-yet-again/">photographed</a> not wearing a face mask while walking through Boston Logan International Airport and was also caught on camera removing his mask immediately after boarding a separate flight.
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source <a href="https://summit.news/2021/08/09/state-department-denies-kerry-took-private-jet-to-obama-party-despite-photos-showing-him-exiting-it/">https://summit.news/2021/08/09/state-department-denies-kerry-took-private-jet-to-obama-party-despite-photos-showing-him-exiting-it/</a>

revolution summit State Department Denies Kerry Took Private Jet to Obama Party Despite Photos Showing Him Exiting It

Claims that White House Climate Envoy John Kerry arrived at Barack Obama’s birthday bash via a private jet have been denied by the State Dep...