Name: Watch: Pakistan minister's video message ahead of India trip for SCO meet
Uploaded: 2023-05-04T13:37:15.000+05:30
Duration: T00M26S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: Foreign ministers of SCO member-states are meeting in Goa on May 4 and 5, 2023.

"India now seeks to extradite him for trial on charges based on the identical conduct at issue in the Chicago case," the plea has said.

US Govt urges Supreme Court to dismiss Mumbai terror accused Rana's petition for writ of certiorari

"India now seeks to extradite him for trial on charges based on the identical conduct at issue in the Chicago case," the plea has said.

The United States government has urged the Supreme Court to dismiss "the petition for a writ of certiorari" filed by Mumbai-attack convict Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, against his extradition to India.
India is seeking the extradition of Rana as he is wanted in the Mumbai terror attack case. Having lost the legal battle in lower courts and several federal courts, including the US Court of Appeals for the North Circuit in San Francisco, Rana on November 13 filed a "petition for a writ of certiorari" before the US Supreme Court. In a long battle, this is Rana's last legal chance to not be extradited to India.
"The petition for a writ of certiorari should be denied," US Solicitor General Elizabeth B Prelogar said in its filing before the Supreme Court on December 16. Rana is not entitled to relief from extradition to India in this case, she argued in a 20-page submission.
In his "petition for a writ of certiorari to review the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit", Rana has argued that he was tried and acquitted in the federal court in the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago) on charges relating to the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai.
"India now seeks to extradite him for trial on charges based on the identical conduct at issue in the Chicago case," the plea has said.
Prelogar disagreed.
"The government does not concede that all of the conduct on which India seeks extradition was covered by the government's prosecution in this case. For example, India's forgery charges are based in part on conduct that was not charged in the United States: petitioner's use of false information in an application to formally open a branch office of the Immigration Law Centre submitted to the Reserve Bank of India," the US solicitor general said.
"It is not clear that the jury's verdict in this case -- which involves conspiracy charges and was somewhat difficult to parse -- means that he has been 'convicted or acquitted' on all of the specific conduct that India has charged," Prelogar said.&nbsp;
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Israel of committing "acts of genocide" in the Gaza Strip by damaging water infrastructure and cutting off supplies to civilians, which Israel dismissed as "appalling lies"

HRW accuses Israel of genocide over Gaza water crisis

The HRW report detailed what the group said was the intentional damaging of water and sanitation infrastructure, including solar panels powering treatment plants.

Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Israel of committing "acts of genocide" in the Gaza Strip by damaging water infrastructure and cutting off supplies to civilians, which Israel dismissed as "appalling lies".
In a new report, which focused specifically on water, the New York-based rights group detailed what it said were deliberate efforts by Israeli authorities "of a systematic nature" to deprive Gazans of water, which had "likely caused thousands of deaths... and will likely continue to cause deaths".
The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Since then, Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 45,097 people in Gaza, a majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.
"Since October 2023, Israeli authorities have deliberately obstructed Palestinians' access to the adequate amount of water required for survival in the Gaza Strip," the report said.
Israel said the report was full of "lies".
"Human Rights Watch is once more spreading its blood libels in order to promote its anti-Israel propoganda," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"This report is full of lies that are appalling even when compared to HRW's already low standards."
"Since the beginning of the war, Israel has facilitated the continuous flow of water and humanitarian aid into Gaza, despite operating under constant attacks of Hamas terror organisation," it added.
The HRW report detailed what the group said was the intentional damaging of water and sanitation infrastructure, including solar panels powering treatment plants, a reservoir and a spare parts warehouse, as well as the blocking of fuel for generators.
Israel also cut electricity supplies, attacked repair workers and blocked the importation of repair materials, it said.
The report concluded that in doing so, "Israeli authorities intentionally inflicted on the Palestinian population in Gaza 'conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.'"
This, it said, amounted to the war crime of "extermination" and to "acts of genocide".
&nbsp;
- Israel says supplies ensured -
Israel's foreign ministry said it has "ensured water infrastructure, including the continues operation of four water pipelines and water pumping and desalination facilities, which remain operational".
HRW stopped short of saying Israel was committing outright "genocide".
Under international law, proving genocide requires evidence of specific intent, which experts say is very difficult.
Speaking at a briefing on the report, Lama Faqih, director of HRW's Middle East and North Africa division, said that in the absence of "a clear articulated plan" to commit genocide, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) might find that the evidence meets the "very strict threshold" of reasonable inference of genocidal intent.
HRW pointed to a statement by then-defence minister Yoav Gallant in October 2023, when he declared a "complete siege" and said: "No electricity, no food, no water, no gas -- it's all closed."
Israel is facing a case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice last December, arguing that the war in Gaza breached the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, an accusation Israel has strongly denied.
On December 5, Amnesty International accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, drawing a furious reaction from the government.
&nbsp;
- 'Malnourished and dehydrated' -
The HRW report, drawn up over nearly a year, is based on interviews with dozens of Gazans, staff at water and sanitation facilities, medics and aid workers, as well as satellite imagery, photographs, videos and data analysis.
It said Israeli authorities did not reply to requests for information.
The lack of water left Gazans vulnerable to water-borne diseases and complications, such as infected wounds and the inability to heal due to dehydration, HRW said.
Deaths from such cases "are likely vastly underreported", the report said.
Doctors and nurses told HRW "that many of their patients have died from preventable diseases and infections, and healable wounds, due to dehydration and the unavailability of water".
One emergency room nurse cited in the report said they were forced to decide "not to resuscitate children who were severely malnourished and dehydrated".
The rights group called on the international community to "take all measures within their power to prevent genocide by Israeli authorities in Gaza".
That included "discontinuing any military assistance and arms sales or transfers, imposing targeted sanctions, and reviewing bilateral deals and diplomatic relations".

Pakistan's government said on Thursday US sanctions imposed on state-owned and private companies over its long-range ballistic missile programme were "biased" and had "dangerous implications" for regional stability.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan says fresh US sanctions 'biased'

Pakistan accuses the United States of waiving the licensing requirements for advanced military technology in other countries.

Pakistan's government said on Thursday US sanctions imposed on state-owned and private companies over its long-range ballistic missile programme were "biased" and had "dangerous implications" for regional stability.
The United States announced on Wednesday that four Pakistan companies would be hit by the measures "in light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan's long-range missile development".
The South Asian nation became one of the few countries to openly possess nuclear weapons in 1998, more than two decades after India, its neighbour and arch-rival with which it has fought several wars, announced its atomic capabilities.
It has refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty, a global agreement to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday the US sanctions were "unfortunate and biased" and have "dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond".
It accused the United States of waiving the licensing requirements for advanced military technology in other countries.
"Such double standards and discriminatory practices not only undermine the credibility of non-proliferation regimes but also endanger regional and international peace and security," it said.
The United States said the executive order "targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery".
It accused the state-owned National Development Complex (NDC), which it says is responsible for the development of ballistic missiles, of working to acquire special equipment to test and launch the projectiles.
American citizens will be barred from working with the NDC and three companies associated with it, which will all have their US assets frozen.

New Zealand tipped into recession in the third quarter, official data showed Thursday, with the economy suffering an unexpectedly sharp slump that sent the country's currency tumbling and sparked political finger-pointing.

New Zealand enters recession with sharp GDP decline

The economy has for months teetered on the verge of recession, with consumer sentiment weighed by high prices, elevated borrowing costs and a housing crisis.

New Zealand tipped into recession in the third quarter, official data showed Thursday, with the economy suffering an unexpectedly sharp slump that sent the country's currency tumbling and sparked political finger-pointing.
The conservative coalition government defended its "respect for taxpayers' money" as the opposition accused it of feeding a "recessionary fire".
The economy has for months teetered on the verge of recession, with consumer sentiment weighed by high prices, elevated borrowing costs and a housing crisis.
But the latest figures showed gross domestic product fell a bigger-than-expected 1.0 percent July-September from the previous three months. Analysts had forecast a contraction of 0.2 percent.
That marked the second quarterly contraction in a row, after shrinking a revised 1.1 percent in April-June.
"Yes, the one percent decline in activity is huge. And it's much weaker than anyone had anticipated," said a report by Kiwibank economics.
Excluding an economic decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, the New Zealand economy had posted the weakest six-month period since 1991, it said.
"And weakness is spreading across most industries," the report said.
However, the recent drop was partly balanced out by a statistical revision of growth upwards earlier in the year, Kiwibank said.
And the latest quarter may be the last in the cycle of decline, it said, with a one percent cut in interest rates over the quarter likely to provide relief going forward.
The New Zealand dollar was trading in the late afternoon at US$0.5626 -- down about 1.8 percent from the previous day -- as the scale of the slump took traders by surprise.
"The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers money and drive economic growth," the government said in a statement.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the economy had now contracted for eight quarters on a per-capita basis.
"The decline reflects the impact of high inflation on the economy. That led the Reserve Bank to engineer a recession which has stifled growth," she said.
But she predicted the economy would pick up in the next quarter, and grow more strongly in 2025.
The opposition Labour Party said the recession was of the finance minister's making.
"Nicola Willis' cuts and austerity has fed the recessionary fire," said Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. "There's no creative accounting that Nicola can do to make these GDP figures better."

Russia Wednesday expanded an operation to clean up thousands of tonnes of oil that spilt into the sea and contaminated 50 kilometres of beaches after tanker ships were wrecked in a storm.

Russian oil spill contaminates 50km of Black Sea beaches

The two tankers were carrying around 9,000 tonnes of oil and satellite monitoring suggests around 3,000 were spilt, TASS state news agency reported.

Russia Wednesday expanded an operation to clean up thousands of tonnes of oil that spilt into the sea and contaminated 50 kilometres of beaches after tanker ships were wrecked in a storm.
An ageing Russian oil tanker broke up and sank and another ran aground Sunday in a strait linking the Azov and Black Seas, between Moscow-annexed Crimea and southern Russia's Krasnodar region, known for its beach resorts.
Russia's emergencies ministry said Wednesday it was working on cleaning up 49 kilometres (30 miles) of beaches from the resort of Anapa north to the port of Temryuk, and patrolling a total of 70km of beaches.
The two tankers were carrying around 9,000 tonnes of oil and satellite monitoring suggests around 3,000 were spilt, TASS state news agency reported.
Satellite images showed that oil is still leaking out of the sunk tanker, TASS reported Wednesday, citing Crimean marine researcher Sergei Stanichny, with strong winds pushing the oil towards southern Russia's beaches.
The beach resort of Anapa, with a population of around 90,000 people, on Tuesday declared an state of emergency.
The number of volunteers and emergency workers "has increased to 2,700", the emergency situations ministry said Wednesday.
They were shovelling up black oil from beaches and removing it in plastic sacks and digger trucks.
It said they had collected about 80 tonnes of oil and cleaned up more than eight kilometres (five miles) of beach.
Among those taking part were around 400 Cossacks, a people living in the steppes of Russia and Ukraine, Anapa's mayor's office said.
Volunteers in the city were working to remove oil from birds at a rescue point, TASS reported.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova appealed for volunteers on her Telegram channel, saying "Anapa is battling the oil spill and trying to save beaches. Those famous beaches with golden sand that hundreds of thousands tourists flock to each year".

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore are experiencing further delays in their return from the International Space Station (ISS). 

NASA delays Sunita Williams' return to earth

Originally expected to return in February 2025, their return has now been postponed to late March or early April 2025.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore are experiencing further delays in their return from the International Space Station (ISS). Originally scheduled for a brief mission, their stay has now been extended to nearly 10 months, with their return pushed back to Spring 2025.
&nbsp;
Initial Mission Plans and Setbacks
Williams and Wilmore launched aboard Boeing's Starliner on June 5, 2024, as part of its first crewed flight under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The mission, initially intended to last just one week, aimed to evaluate the Starliner's performance in launch, docking, and landing phases. However, technical issues with the spacecraft forced an early return of the capsule to Earth&mdash;without the astronauts onboard&mdash;leading to significant delays in their planned journey back. 
Challenges with Return Timelines
Originally expected to return in February 2025, their return has now been postponed to late March or early April 2025. The delay arises from additional time required by SpaceX to prepare a new Crew Dragon capsule to accommodate the astronauts. NASA explored alternate options, including using a different SpaceX capsule, but ultimately decided to extend their stay until the new capsule is ready for launch.
&nbsp;
SpaceX Steps in to Provide a Solution
After deeming Boeing&rsquo;s Starliner unsuitable for the astronauts' return due to persistent malfunctions and safety concerns, NASA partnered with SpaceX to adjust its Crew-9 mission. SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule will now bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth, underscoring its pivotal role in NASA's current operations.
&nbsp;
Significance of Starliner&rsquo;s Mission Despite the setbacks, the Starliner mission marked a critical milestone as Boeing's first crewed flight. This mission was essential for NASA to evaluate the spacecraft's readiness for future crewed missions to the ISS. While the technical issues delayed its certification process, the mission provided valuable insights into its performance.
As NASA and its commercial partners address these challenges, Williams and Wilmore continue their extended tenure aboard the ISS, contributing to ongoing research and maintenance activities. Their eventual return aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon is anticipated as a step toward resolving these operational hurdles.

The recovery of the Starlink-like device has also prompted agencies to investigate how the equipment found its way to the strife-torn state, officials had said.

'Satellite beams turned off over India': Musk rejects claim of Starlink misuse in Manipur

The recovery of the Starlink-like device has also prompted agencies to investigate how the equipment found its way to the strife-torn state, officials had said.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said Starlink satellite beams were turned off over India, reacting to claims that its device was being used in restive Manipur.
The security forces recently seized some internet devices along with arms and ammunition during a raid in Keirao Khunou in Imphal East district.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Acting on specific intelligence, troops of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianArmy</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssamRifles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AssamRifles</a> formations under <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpearCorps?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpearCorps</a> carried out joint search operations in the hill and valley regions in the districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East and Kagpokpi in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Manipur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Manipur</a>, in close coordination with&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/kxy7ec5YAE">pic.twitter.com/kxy7ec5YAE</a>
&mdash; SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) <a href="https://twitter.com/Spearcorps/status/1868653384221225085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
The Spear Corps of the Indian Army had shared photos of the items seized on X, and social media users were quick to note that one of the devices had a "Starlink logo" on it.
Pointing to it, an X user posted, "@Starlink is being used by terrorists. Hope, Elon @elonmusk looks into it and helps control misuse of this technology."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1869033627335672237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
Musk replied, "This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India."
&nbsp;
Among the items seized from Keirao Khunou were "one internet Satellite Antenna, one internet Satellite Router and 20 meters (approx.) of FTP cables", according to the state police.
The recovery of the Starlink-like device has also prompted agencies to investigate how the equipment found its way to the strife-torn state, officials had said.
Musk's Starlink, which provides satellite internet services, does not have a licence to operate in India.
More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur since May last year.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes Monday across the territory killed at least 12 people, the majority displaced Palestinians taking shelter in a house in the north.

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill at least 12 Palestinians

More than 14 months into the Israel-Hamas war, the violence continued even as the United States expressed "cautious optimism" about the prospects of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes Monday across the territory killed at least 12 people, the majority displaced Palestinians taking shelter in a house in the north.
More than 14 months into the Israel-Hamas war, the violence continued even as the United States expressed "cautious optimism" about the prospects of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 10 Palestinians were killed when an Israeli strike at dawn hit a house in northern Gaza's Beit Lahia, where several displaced families had sought refuge.
Bassal said a child was killed and several others wounded in a separate strike that hit a house in nearby Jabalia, where Israeli forces have focused their operations in recent months.
Overnight, a tent in an Israeli-designated safe zone in the southern Gaza Strip was hit, killing one Palestinian, according to the civil defence spokesman.
Parties to long-stalled ceasefire talks said a deal could be secured soon to halt the fighting and release hostages held in Gaza.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Tuesday that "cautious optimism is a fair way to characterise it, though very much tempered by realism".
Hamas said the current talks were "serious and positive", while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the two sides as closer to a deal than ever before.
The war was sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 45,059 people, a majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.

He said the ouster of the “world’s worst autocratic government” amid a mass upsurge added extra significance to the celebration this year.

Muhammad Yunus celebrates end of Sheikh Hasina’s ‘autocratic government’

He said the ouster of the &ldquo;world&rsquo;s worst autocratic government&rdquo; amid a mass upsurge added extra significance to the celebration this year.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus led Bangladesh Monday in marking the 54th Victory Day, his speech making no mention of founding leader Mujibur Rahman while calling deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s administration the &ldquo;world&rsquo;s worst autocratic government&rdquo;.
&ldquo;Bijoy Dibosh&rdquo; commemorates the Pakistan military&rsquo;s surrender to Indian forces and the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. &lsquo;Bangabandhu&rsquo; Mujibur Rahman is seen as the independence movement&rsquo;s iconic figure. His daughter Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, after massive student-led protests against her government. Nobel laureate Yunus then took over as head of an interim government.
In his televised address to the nation, Yunus indicated that elections might be held by early 2026.
&ldquo;Broadly speaking, the election can be scheduled between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026,&rdquo; he said.
The country could not build on its achievements because of its faults and, of late, a &ldquo;monstrous autocratic government&rdquo; had grabbed power, he said in an apparent reference to Hasina&rsquo;s Awami League government. He said the ouster of the &ldquo;world&rsquo;s worst autocratic government&rdquo; amid a mass upsurge added extra significance to the celebration this year.
Yunus and Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin separately paid tributes to Liberation War martyrs at the National Memorial on the outskirts of the capital.
&ldquo;I recall the millions of martyrs including numerous children and juveniles, youths&rsquo; and the elderly people&rsquo;s sacrifices that made possible the achievement of our independence,&rdquo; he said.
His speech, however, made no mention of the political leadership in 1971 and of Mujibur Rahman &ndash;- a sharp departure from previous Victory Day addresses.
Critics accuse his interim government of trying to erase Mujibur Rahman&rsquo;s legacy. The authorities have earlier announced a decision to phase out the currency notes currently in circulation. The new ones will not carry Rahman&rsquo;s image.
On Monday, Army bugles played the Last Post, commemorating those killed during the 1971 War.
East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta accompanied Yunus at the celebrations.
Deviating from tradition, Bangladesh did not stage a Victory Day Parade in the capital.
&ldquo;The army is currently engaged in activities across the country, and organising the parade requires preparation, which wasn&rsquo;t feasible this year,&rdquo; Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farook-e-Azam told the Daily Star newspaper.
But he said the celebration would be inclusive for all with &lsquo;Victory Fairs&rsquo; across the country featuring art and craft exhibits and agricultural product displays, and showcasing domestic goods.
He said schools were hosting their events as part of the festivities and cultural programmes would include the participation of children, women and men, making the celebration inclusive for all.
&ldquo;The shift in the celebration format aims to bring more active public involvement and create a festive atmosphere in every part of the country,&rdquo; Azam said.
The liberation movement began when the West Pakistan leadership refused to hand over power to the Awami League in line with the 1970 election results. India backed Bengali guerrillas and dealt with a mass migration of people from Bangladesh.
Eight Indian military veterans of the Liberation War travelled to Dhaka this year to mark Victory Day. &nbsp;Similarly, eight Bangladesh veterans were in Kolkata to join the Vijay Diwas celebrations.
In his speech, Yunus indicated that elections would be held in 2025 or early 2026 after updating the voters&rsquo; list.
&ldquo;From now on, the responsibility has been entrusted to them to start the process of forming the future government. They have started their preparations. They have a lot of work to do,&rdquo; he told a local news agency, referring to the Election Reforms Commission.
&ldquo;We have to make sure that the names of all those who have become eligible to vote in the last 15 years are included in the voters&rsquo; list. This is a big task,&rdquo; he said.
He said after the student uprising there is no room for making any mistakes. Many young people who were deprived of this right in the past will vote for the first time, he added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

During off-the-cuff remarks, the pope relayed his experience attending a festival in northern Argentina before his pontificate where he witnessed the importance of popular piety for the faithful “that seeks a healthy complicity.”

Pope Francis’ makes 1st papal visit to France’s Corsica awash in expressions of popular piety

During off-the-cuff remarks, the pope relayed his experience attending a festival in northern Argentina before his pontificate where he witnessed the importance of popular piety for the faithful &ldquo;that seeks a healthy complicity.&rdquo;

Pope Francis on the first papal visit ever to the French island of Corsica on Sunday called for a dynamic form of laicism, promoting the kind of popular piety that distinguishes the Mediterranean island from secular France as a bridge between religious and civic society.
Speaking at the close of a Mediterranean conference on popular piety, Papa Francescu, as he is called in Corsican, described a concept of secularity &ldquo;that is not static and fixed, but evolving and dynamic,&rdquo; that can adapt to &ldquo;unforeseen situations&rdquo; and promote cooperation &ldquo;between civil and ecclesiastical authorities.&rdquo;
The pontiff said that expressions of popular piety, including processions, and the communal prayer of the Holy Rosary, &ldquo;can nurture constructive citizenship&rsquo; on the part of Christians. At the same time, he warned against such manifestations being seen only in terms of folklore, or even superstition.
During off-the-cuff remarks, the pope relayed his experience attending a festival in northern Argentina before his pontificate where he witnessed the importance of popular piety for the faithful &ldquo;that seeks a healthy complicity.&rdquo;
The visit to Corsica&rsquo;s capital Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon, is one of the briefest of his papacy beyond Italy&rsquo;s borders, just about nine hours on the ground, including a 40-minute visit with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Francis was joined on the dais by the bishop of Ajaccio, Cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo, who organized the conference that brought together some 400 participants from Spain, Sicily, Sardinia and southern France. The two-day meeting examined expressions of faith that often occur outside formal liturgies, such as processions and pilgrimages.
Often specific to the places where they are practised, popular piety in Corsica includes the cult of the Virgin Mary, known locally as the &ldquo;Maddunuccia,&rdquo; which protected the island from the plague in 1656 when it was still under Genoa.
Corsica stands out from the rest of secularized France as a particularly devout region, with 92 confraternities, or lay associations dedicated to works of charity or piety, with over 4,000 members.
&ldquo;It means that there is a beautiful, mature, adult and responsible collaboration between civil authorities, mayors, deputies, senators, officials and religious authorities,&rsquo; Ajaccio Cardinal Fran&ccedil;ois-Xavier Bustillo told The Associated Press ahead of the visit. &ldquo;There is no hostility between the two. And that is a very positive aspect because in Corsica there is no ideological hostility.&rdquo;
The visit was awash in signs of popular piety. The pope was greeted by children in traditional garb and was continually serenaded by bands, choruses and singing troupes that are central to Corsican culture from the airport, to the motorcade route, convention centre and cathedral. Thousands stood along the roadside to greet the pontiff and more waved from windows.
Ren&egrave; Colombani travelled with 2,000 others by ship from northern Corsica to Ajaccio, on the western coast, to see the pope. &ldquo;It is an event that we will not see again in several years. It may be the only time that the pope will come to Corsica. And since we wanted to be a part of it, we have come a long way. Colombani said.
The island, which Genoa ceded to France in 1768, is located closer to the Italian mainland than France.
From the conference, the pope travelled to the 17th-century cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta to meet with clergy, stopping along the way at the statue of the Maddunuccia.
Francis will later celebrate Mass at the Place d&rsquo;Austerlitz park, where it is said Napoleon played as a child. Around 7,000 faithful are expected. He will meet privately with Macron at the airport before departing for the 50-minute flight back to Rome.
They are expected to talk about the world&rsquo;s crisis, including wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and environment and climate-related issues, Macron&rsquo;s office said.
The pontiff pointedly did not make the trip to Paris earlier this month for the pomp surrounding the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral following the devastating 2019 fire. The visit to Corsica seems far more suited to Francis&rsquo; priorities than a grand cathedral reopening, emphasizing the &ldquo;church of the peripheries.&rdquo;
It is Francis&rsquo; third trip to France, each time avoiding Paris and the protocols that a state visit entails. He visited the port of Marseille in 2023, on an overnight visit to participate in an annual summit of Mediterranean bishops, and went to Strasbourg in 2014 to address the European Parliament and Council of Europe.
Corsica is home to more than 340,000 people and has been part of France since 1768. But the island has also seen pro-independence violence and has an influential nationalist movement, and last year Macron proposed granting it limited autonomy.

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Foreign ministers of SCO member-states are meeting in Goa on May 4 and 5, 2023.

Watch: Pakistan minister's video message ahead of India trip for SCO meet

Foreign ministers of SCO member-states are meeting in Goa on May 4 and 5, 2023.

Pakistan's foreign minister released a video message ahead of his trip to India for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting.
Foreign ministers of SCO member-states are meeting in Goa on May 4 and 5, 2023.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, "My visit sends a message showing the importance that Pakistan gives to SCO, and how seriously we take our membership."

A group of 70 Hindu pilgrims from India arrive in Lahore to visit the Katas Raj temples, perform religious rituals, and promote peace. The visit includes Bhanu Saptami ceremonies and a new residential complex for pilgrims.

70 Hindu Pilgrims Arrive in Lahore for Katas Raj Temple Rituals

The seven-day pilgrimage will conclude on December 25 and the delegation will return to their home land same day.

Around 70 Hindu pilgrims arrived in Lahore from India on Thursday to perform religious rituals at the Katas Raj temples in Pakistan's Punjab province.
Katas Raj Temples, also known as Qila Katas, is a complex of several Hindu temples connected to one another by walkways. The temple complex surrounds a pond named Katas, regarded as sacred by Hindus.
The Hindu delegation led by Vijay Kumar Sharma arrived here via the Wagah border crossing. It was warmly received by Additional Secretary (Shrines) Saifullah Khokhar and Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee President Krishna Sharma.
"Some 71 Hindus arrived here on Thursday to attend festivities at Katas Raj temples. The pilgrims will travel from Lahore to Katas Raj temples in Chakwal, some 300kms from Lahore, via special buses amid high security on Friday," Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) spokesperson Ghulam Mohayuddin told PTI.
On December 21, the pilgrims will perform religious rituals, including Bhanu Saptami, at the temple, joined by several Pakistani Hindus. Evening ceremonies will include the traditional lighting of lamps (Deep Mala).
The seven-day pilgrimage will conclude on December 25 and the delegation will return to their home land same day.
Talking to reporters at Wagah, Sharma expressed gratitude for the warm reception and highlighted that their visit promotes peace and love. He appreciated the arrangements made by the ETPB.
Additional Secretary (Shrines) Saifullah Khokhar said that under the directives of ETPB Chairman Syed Ataur Rehman, comprehensive arrangements, including security, accommodation and transport, have been made for the Hindu pilgrims.
Krishna Sharma, President of the Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee, emphasized that Hindu places of worship in Pakistan are safe, and the ETPB continues to oversee their renovation and maintenance.
The ETPB early this month inaugurated a residential complex built for Hindu pilgrims at the Katas Raj temples.
According to the ETPB, a 36-room residential building next to the Katas Raj temples has been constructed at a cost of PKR190 million.
"It has been ensured that Hindu pilgrims coming from all over the world, including India, can stay here with all facilities," Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain said at the inaugural ceremony.
He said in addition to improved facilities, 6,000 plants of different species have been planted for the health of the temple's environment and conservation of the heritage has been ensured with modern infrastructure and environmental awareness.
He further said the ETPB has installed a 40-KW solar system and spacious parking facilities at the Katas Raj temples so that Hindu pilgrims and tourists from Pakistan and around the world can enjoy complete facilities.

A mysterious illness known as 'Dinga Dinga' has affected around 300 people in Uganda's Bundibugyo district. The condition causes uncontrollable shaking, fever, and weakness. Health officials are investigating its cause and treatment.

Dinga Dinga virus outbreak in Uganda

Health authorities have advised people to maintain good hygiene, avoid close contact with those who are infected, and report any new cases promptly to local health teams.

A new and unexplained illness, known locally as 'Dinga Dinga'&mdash;which means 'shaking like dancing'&mdash;has affected around 300 individuals, primarily women and girls, in Uganda&rsquo;s Bundibugyo district.
The condition is marked by high fever, uncontrollable shaking, and significant difficulty in movement. Those who have contracted the illness report trembling throughout their bodies, severe weakness, and in some cases, even paralysis. Walking becomes nearly impossible for many, as the shaking makes mobility extremely difficult.
Ugandan health officials have launched an investigation into the cause of this unusual illness. While no deaths have been reported, experts stress the importance of early medical attention. Treatment so far consists of antibiotics provided by community health teams, with most patients recovering within a week. Dr. Kiyita Christopher, the district health officer, cautioned against the use of herbal remedies, noting that there is no scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness for this disease. He also urged residents to seek care at district health centers for proper treatment.
Health authorities have advised people to maintain good hygiene, avoid close contact with those who are infected, and report any new cases promptly to local health teams to prevent further spread. No cases have been reported outside Bundibugyo at this time. Samples from those affected have been sent to Uganda's Ministry of Health for further testing, but an official diagnosis has not yet been determined.
The situation has sparked comparisons to the infamous 'Dancing Plague' of 1518 in Strasbourg, France, where people were compelled to dance uncontrollably, sometimes leading to death by exhaustion.
In a similar vein, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently dealing with its own mysterious outbreak in the Panzi health zone. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been 394 cases and 30 fatalities so far. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, cough, and a runny nose. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the illness is linked to common respiratory infections like influenza, COVID-19, malaria, or measles. Authorities have also considered the possibility that it could be a new, unidentified illness, sometimes referred to as "Disease X."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he was ready for talks "anytime" with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has touted his ability to strike a Ukraine peace deal.

Putin ready to meet Trump 'anytime' to talk Ukraine deal

Asked about Trump's overtures regarding a possible peace deal, Putin said he would welcome a meeting with the incoming Republican.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he was ready for talks "anytime" with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has touted his ability to strike a Ukraine peace deal within hours of coming to office.
Trump, who will return to the White House in January, has stoked fears in Kyiv that he could force Ukraine to accept peace on terms favourable to Moscow.
Holding his annual end-of-year press conference, the Kremlin leader said his troops held the upper hand across the battlefield, but was forced to admit he does not know when Russia will take back the western Kursk region where Ukrainian troops launched an incursion in August.
The traditional annual question and answer sessions, often lasting hours, are largely a televised show while also being a rare setting in which he is put on the spot and answers some uncomfortable questions.
Asked about Trump's overtures regarding a possible peace deal, Putin said he would welcome a meeting with the incoming Republican.
"I don't know when I'm going to see him. He isn't saying anything about it. I haven't talked to him in more than four years. I am ready for it, of course. Any time," Putin said.
"If we ever have a meeting with President-elect Trump, I am sure we'll have a lot to talk about," he said, adding that Russia was ready for "negotiations and compromises".
The Kremlin recently welcomed Trump's sharp criticism of President Joe Biden's decision to allow Kyiv to use US-supplied missiles to strike Russian territory -- a major escalation in the nearly three-year conflict.
&nbsp;
- Kursk offensive -
Russia's troops have been advancing in eastern Ukraine for months, with Putin repeatedly touting their prowess on the battlefield.
"We are moving towards resolving the primary aims that we set at the start of the special military operation," Putin said, using Russia's term for the conflict.
"Our guys are fighting heroically. The capabilities of the armed forces are growing."
Moscow's army in November advanced at its fastest pace in east Ukraine since the first month of its 2022 attack.
But asked by a woman from the Kursk region when residents will be able to return to their homes there, after thousands were evacuated from frontline areas amid the Ukrainian assault, Putin said he could not name a date.
"We will absolutely kick them out. Absolutely. It can't be any other way. But the question of a specific date, I'm sorry, I cannot say right now," he admitted.
Putin, 72, was also pressed on economic headwinds facing Russia -- the fallout from a huge ramp up in military spending and deep labour shortages caused by the conflict.
He insisted that the situation is "stable, despite external threats", citing low unemployment and industrial growth.
Asked about soaring inflation, Putin said that "inflation is a worrying signal," and that price rises for foods such as butter and meat are "unpleasant".
He acknowledged that Western sanctions were also a factor -- "while they do not have key significance" -- and criticised the central bank saying it should have taken measures beyond raising rates to lower inflation.
&nbsp;
- Oreshnik 'duel' -
Putin appeared to repeat his threat to strike Kyiv with Russia's new hypersonic ballistic missile, dubbed Oreshnik.
Asked by a military journalist if the weapon had any flaws, Putin suggested a "hi-tech duel" between the West and Russia to test his claims that it is impervious to air defences.
"Let them set some target to be hit, let's say in Kyiv. They will concentrate there all their air defences. And we will launch an Oreshnik strike there and see what happens," Putin proposed.
Putin also called the killing of a senior Russian army general in a brazen assassination in Moscow two days earlier "terrorism", in his first comments on the attack.
Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian military's chemical weapons unit, was killed by a bomb planted in a scooter outside a residential block in Moscow, the boldest assassination claimed by Kyiv since the start of the conflict.
&nbsp;
- Syria -
In his first public comments since the fall of ex-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Putin rejected claims his toppling was a "defeat" for Russia.
"You want to present what is happening in Syria as a defeat for Russia," Putin said in response to a question from a journalist. "I assure you it is not... we have achieved our goals."
Putin said he has not yet met Assad, who fled to Moscow as rebels closed in on Damascus, but plans to soon.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a delegation of 13 Indian companies at 10 Downing Street in London on what the British government described as a “curated visit” to enhance the bilateral partnership and boost investment flows.

UK PM Keir Starmer hosts Indian business chiefs to boost investments

The companies represented are said to have collectively invested over GBP 10 billion into the UK and employ tens of thousands of people across the country.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a delegation of 13 Indian companies at 10 Downing Street in London on what the British government described as a &ldquo;curated visit&rdquo; to enhance the bilateral partnership and boost investment flows.
The visit on Wednesday follows Starmer&rsquo;s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit last month, when the leaders committed to take forward an &ldquo;ambitious&rdquo; UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with collaboration opportunities on economic growth, security and defence, technology, climate, health, and education.
According to a readout from the British High Commission in New Delhi, the Indian investors and CEOs also met senior Cabinet ministers to discuss job creation and growth opportunities under a proposed India-UK trade deal after Starmer had confirmed the relaunch of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations early in the new year.
&ldquo;India is a vital partner for the UK and we have huge ambition to unlock more opportunities together, building on our already strong relationship,&rdquo; said Starmer, with reference to the business meeting.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m delighted to welcome some of India&rsquo;s most senior business leaders to Downing Street and to outline the UK&rsquo;s ambitious focus on economic growth and innovation,&rdquo; he said.
The delegation, supported by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), discussed deepening ties with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Meanwhile, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and minister for trade policy Douglas Alexander discussed bilateral trade, worth GBP 42 billion a year and supporting over 600,000 jobs across both economies as per UK government statistics.
&ldquo;As one of the most globally connected economies in the G20, the UK provides unmatched opportunities for Indian businesses to thrive. India already accounts for the second highest number of FDI projects into the UK, and this government is committed to deepening our trade and investment links with India even further,&rdquo; said Reynolds.
&ldquo;Boosting investment is a mission at the heart of this government. It was great to hear first-hand from Indian business leaders on why so many of them have given us a vote of confidence and chosen to invest here,&rdquo; he said.
The companies represented are said to have collectively invested over GBP 10 billion into the UK and employ tens of thousands of people across the country. The delegation was led by Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises which completed a major investment in the BT Group this year.
&ldquo;This business delegation comes at a pivotal moment, as India stands as the fastest-growing large economy and is on track to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 2027. Over time, India-UK relations have developed into a robust, multifaceted partnership built on historical ties, economic synergy, and increasing geopolitical alignment,&rdquo; said Mittal.
&ldquo;The India-UK Free Trade Agreement negotiations present significant opportunities for mutual growth and cooperation. We are optimistic that this delegation will pave the way for numerous successful business collaborations. We shall seek guidance from Prime Minister Starmer on the sectors that may exhibit better collaboration opportunities,&rdquo; he said.
Other companies represented at the meeting included Bharat Semi Systems, Biocon Group, Blue Star Limited, Essar Group, Hero Enterprise, Jet Synthesis, Piramal Group, Reliance Industries, Tata Steel, TVS Motor Company, TVS Supply Chain Solutions and UPL Limited. The delegation concluded their tour with a reception hosted by the High Commission of India in London.

Russia on Thursday claimed to have taken control of two new villages in eastern Ukraine, near the industrial town of Kurakhove.

Russia claims capture of two new villages in east Ukraine

Moscow has been advancing in east Ukraine for months, pressing its advantage against overstretched and outgunned Ukrainian soldiers, and has claimed new villages almost daily this month.

Russia on Thursday claimed to have taken control of two new villages in eastern Ukraine, near the industrial town of Kurakhove which it is on the brink of capturing, Russian news agencies reported.
The defence ministry said in a daily briefing that troops had "liberated" the village of Zelenivka and Novyi Komar, southwest of Kurakhove, a strategic industrial town on the banks of a reservoir that Moscow is trying to encircle.
Noviy Komar is close to the larger village of Velyka Novosilka, where Ukraine has a large command and logistics post, a Moscow-installed official, Vladimir Rogov, told RIA Novosti news agency.
Moscow has been advancing in east Ukraine for months, pressing its advantage against overstretched and outgunned Ukrainian soldiers, and has claimed new villages almost daily this month.
The nearly three-year conflict has escalated sharply in recent months, with Kyiv deploying US and British-supplied long-range missiles in attacks on Russian soil and Moscow firing an experimental hypersonic weapon at Ukraine in response.

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