Pope Francis demands immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Pope Francis has renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli captives in a peace-focused address marking Easter Sunday, the most important day on the Christian calendar.

Francis presided over mass in a packed St Peter’s Square and then delivered his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) blessing and message from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.

“I appeal once again that access to humanitarian aid be ensured to Gaza, and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on last October 7 and for an immediate ceasefire in the Strip,” he said.

“Let us not allow the current hostilities to continue to have grave repercussions on the civil population, by now at the limit of its endurance, and above all on the children,” he said in a speech that also touched on the plight of Haitians, the Rohingya and victims of human trafficking.

“How much suffering we see in the eyes of children, the children have forgotten to smile in those war zones. With their eyes, children ask us: Why? Why all this death? Why all this destruction? War is always an absurdity and a defeat”, he said.

Francis, 87, has been in poor health in recent weeks, forcing him on repeated occasions to limit his public speaking and cancel engagements as he did on Good Friday, skipping at short notice a procession at Rome’s Colosseum.

However, he took part normally in other Holy Week events leading up to Easter and appeared in relatively good spirits at Sunday’s mass. Easter celebrates the day in which the faithful believe Jesus rose from the dead.

After the service, the pontiff took to his open-topped popemobile to tour the square and the avenue connecting the Vatican to the River Tiber and greet the tens of thousands of people who had lined up to see him.

This year, Francis said his thoughts went particularly to people in Ukraine and Gaza and all those facing war, particularly the children who he said had “forgotten how to smile”. Francis has repeatedly deplored the death and destruction in the Gaza war.

UNICEF reported earlier this month that Israel has killed more than 13,000 children in Gaza since the war began on October 7, while others are suffering from severe malnutrition and do not “even have the energy to cry”.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza on Sunday said at least 32,782 Palestinians have been killed in the besieged enclave during nearly six months of war. The toll includes at least 77 deaths over the past 24 hours, the ministry statement said, adding that 75,298 people have been wounded.

Bulgaria and Romania partially join EU's visa-free Schengen zone

More than a decade after joining the European Union, Romania and Bulgaria joined at least partially the rest of the bloc's members in the visa-free Schengen zone on Sunday.

Travelers are now able to move between the two Eastern European countries and the rest of the EU without the need for passing through visa and passport control when traveling by sea or air.

Due to a veto by Austria, however, land routes are not included due to fears that it would enable non-EU migrants to more easily enter other EU states.

"This is a great success for both countries," President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday.

"And a historic moment for the Schengen area the largest area of free movement in the world. Together, we are building a stronger, more united Europe for all our citizens."

The Schengen area is comprised of the 25 other EU member states along with non-EU states Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Romania has said that it will carry out random checks to guard against false travel documents and and to combat human trafficking.

The two countries hope to become full members of the Schengen area by the end of the year. They are the only two EU member states not to enjoy the full Schengen benefits. Even Croatia, which joined the bloc after Romania and Bulgaria, was accepted fully into the Schengen area in January last year.

Musk's Grok-1.5 AI chatbot to be available next week

Neuralink owner Elon Musk, after achieving a remarkable feat by implanting a brain chip into human brain, has announced to launch an enhanced chatbot, under start-up Artificial Intelligence company xAI.

In a statement xAI announced that the new version called Grok-1.5 will be available for early testing to existing Grok users and Musk's social media platform X.

The startup said: "One of the most notable improvements in Grok-1.5 is its performance in coding and math-related tasks."

Tesla chief executive had launched xAI last year in March to create what he said would be a "maximum truth-seeking AI".

In December, Grok was launched for premium X users.

Grok-1.5 features
Better in solving math problems
Grok had set a benchmark of 62.9% on the GSM8K, while Grok 1.5, showed significant improvement by scoring 90% on the GSM8K benchmark. It also scored 74.1% on the HumanEval benchmark which showed improved code generation and problem-solving abilities.

Improvement in understanding longer text
Grok 1.5 can process longer pieces of texts compared to the earlier version.

Earlier this month, Musk sued OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over contract breach, he claimed that Altman abandoned he company’s founding mission to develop artificial intelligence “for the benefit of humanity broadly.”

 

Indian opposition protest in capital over Kejriwal’s arrest ahead of polls

Top leaders of India’s opposition coalition and thousands of supporters have rallied in the capital, decrying “autocracy” in protest against the arrest of a senior colleague ahead of the general election.

Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi and a key leader in an opposition alliance formed to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was arrested and jailed earlier in March in connection with a long-running corruption probe.

Kejriwal’s government is accused of receiving kickbacks while handing out liquor licences to private companies. A court on Thursday extended Kejriwal’s custody until April 1.

Kejriwal, 55, denies the charges. His Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) says the liquor policy case is fabricated and politically motivated.

India’s main financial investigation agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which arrested Kejriwal, has launched probes into at least four other state chief ministers or their family members. Almost all the investigations involve political opponents of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Several leaders of the two dozen political parties of the INDIA opposition alliance – the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance – addressed the rally.

“The country is headed towards autocracy,” Shiv Sena party leader Uddhav Thackeray, a former chief minister of Maharashtra state, told cheering crowds on Sunday. “This one-man government is taking the country to ruin.”

The flag-waving crowd at Sunday’s rally also held up posters showing Kejriwal behind bars, with large numbers of police watching.

Malaysia arrests three for supplying suspected Israeli spy with firearms

Malaysian authorities have arrested three people suspected of supplying firearms to a 36-year-old man carrying an Israeli passport, who was detained this week at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, police said.

The man, arrested on Saturday, with a bag containing six handguns and 200 bullets, had arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport from the United Arab Emirates on March 12 using what authorities believed to be a fake French passport, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain told a press conference late on Friday.

The suspect turned over an Israeli passport upon questioning by police, Razarudin said, adding that the man, who has not been publicly identified, had ordered the weapons after arriving in Malaysia and paid for them with cryptocurrency.

Police did not rule out the possibility that the man could be a member of Israeli intelligence, though the suspect told authorities he had entered Malaysia to hunt down another Israeli citizen due to a family dispute.

"We do not fully trust this narrative as we suspect there may be another agenda," Razarudin said, adding that the man had stayed at several hotels while in Malaysia.

Three Malaysians, including a married couple, were arrested on Friday and have been remanded for seven days on suspicion of supplying weapons and acting as a driver to the Israeli suspect, Razarudin told Reuters on Saturday.

A pistol was retrieved from a car belonging to the couple, he said.

Authorities have been put on high alert following the man's arrest, with security beefed up for Malaysia's king, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other high-level figures.

Malaysia, a majority-Muslim country, is a staunch supporter of the Palestinians and has criticised Israel's war in Gaza. Malaysia is home to around 600 Palestinian refugees, according to the UN refugee agency.

In 2018, a Palestinian scientist was shot dead in the Malaysian capital by two unidentified men in a killing that Hamas suggested was carried out by Israel's Mossad intelligence service. Israel denied the allegations.

U.S. updates export curbs on AI chips and tools to China

The Biden administration on March 29 revised rules aimed at making it harder for China to access US artificial intelligence (AI) chips and chipmaking tools, part of an effort to hobble Beijing's chipmaking industry over national security concerns.

The rules, released in October, seek to halt shipments to China of more advanced AI chips designed by Nvidia and others as Washington cracks down on Beijing over concerns its advancing tech sector could help boost China's military.

The new rules, which run 166 pages in length, go into effect on Thursday. They clarify, for example, that restrictions on chip shipments to China also apply to laptops containing those chips.

The Commerce Department, which oversees export controls, has said it plans to continue updating its restrictions on technology shipments to China as it seeks to bolster and fine-tune the measures.

US to impose new visa curbs on Hong Kong officials over rights crackdown

The United States announced Friday it will impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials over the crackdown on rights and freedoms in the territory.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has previously stated that China has been pursuing Hong Kong's promised autonomy, democratic institutions, and rights, including with the recent enactment of a new national security law known as Article 23, Reuters reported.

"In response, the Department of State is announcing that it is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for the intensifying crackdown on rights and freedoms," Blinken said.

The statement did not specify which officials would be targeted.

In November, Hong Kong criticised a US bill imposing sanctions on 49 officials, judges, and prosecutors involved in national security cases, accusing the lawmakers of grand-standing and intimidation.

Officials named in that Hong Kong Sanctions Act included Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, Police chief Raymond Siu and judges Andrew Cheung, Andrew Chan, Johnny Chan, Alex Lee, Esther Toh and Amanda Woodcock.

The United States has imposed visa restrictions and other sanctions in the past on Hong Kong officials blamed for undermining freedoms and announced an end to the special economic treatment the territory long enjoyed under US law.

It has also warned that foreign financial institutions that conduct business with them would be subject to sanctions.

Israeli atrocities in Gaza enter 176th day; 39 more Palestinians killed

Israel’s aggression in Gaza entered its 176th day on Saturday, as 17 Palestinians were killed as a result of the bombardment of homeless people in Shujaya police station in Gaza City.

Violent operations of the Israeli army are continuing in the West Bank, with a 13-year-old Palestinian child killed by firing in Jenin, and two other Palestinians injured in the attack.

As a result of the aerial bombardment by the Israeli army in Khan Yunis, 22 Palestinians were killed.

According to foreign media reports, destroyed houses were set on fire in the premises of Al-Shifa Hospital, while the United States approved the provision of war aid to Israel. The United States will provide billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel.

According to Israeli Defense Minister Yuvigilant, Israel will expand the scope of its military operations against Hezbollah and will defeat the group by reaching Beirut, Damascus, or any other location where it is active.

Demonstrators protesting in Jordan against Israeli terrorism continued for the sixth day, the demonstrators also tried to go to the Israeli embassy.

Apple’s new iPad Pro likely to launch in May, ramps up overseas production

Apple's overseas suppliers have increased production of the company's new iPad models and plans to launch them in early May, according to international media reports.

Apple's initial plan was to launch the new iPads by late March or early April, but it is still working to finish the software for the devices, the report added.

The new iPad Pro models will have Apple's latest M3 chip and will come with redesigned versions of the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, the report said.

This update would represent Apple's first overhaul to that lineup since 2018.

The iPad Air will get a new processor, and the 12.9-screen size, according to the report.

Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The iPhone maker had said on Tuesday it will hold its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from June 10 to June 14 amid reports it was in talks for an AI partnership and could unveil significant changes to the iOS.

The ‘Devil Comet’ will be visible during the solar eclipse in April

This April is going to be an exciting time for skywatchers. Not only is there a rare total solar eclipse to look forward to, but there’s also the chance to view the dramatically named “Devil Comet.”

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks visits the inner solar system just once every 71 years, making it a once-in-a-lifetime viewing event for most of us. It will make its closest approach to Earth in June, but it will be at its brightest and easiest to spot when it makes its closest approach to the sun on April 21. It should be visible any time from now through to early April, and your best change of viewing it is from a location with clear, dark skies.

That does coincide with the date of the solar eclipse, on April 8, but it’ll be difficult to pick out the comet during the eclipse itself. Instead, you’ll be best off doing a cosmic doubleheader by enjoying the eclipse during the day, then going comet hunting that night.

It’ll be tough, but not impossible to see the comet with the naked eye, so if you’re determined to spot it, you might want to get out a telescope or binoculars. “Don’t expect it to be dazzlingly bright — the kind of image you see in photographs. It’s not going to be like that,” said Dr Robert Massey, deputy executive director at the Royal Astronomical Society. “This is something that might just be visible to the naked eye — if you don’t have a moon in the sky, if there’s no light pollution, and if the weather is really clear, then you might stand a chance. But for most of us, we’re going to need to pick up a pair of binoculars.”

This type of comet is known as a Devil Comet because it has a pointy, horn-shaped appearance. Comets have their distinctive tails because they contain ice, which melts and is released as gas as they approach the sun. This particular comet is a type called a cryovolcanic comet, which experiences eruptions of dust and gas from the buildup of pressure. These eruptions give the comet its horned appearance, and because it contains a molecule called diatomic carbon, it also glows green.

If you would like to view the comet, the Royal Astronomy Society has a helpful guide:

Massey also has advice for would-be skywatchers: “Ideally, look at one of the apps you can get on your phone, showing you where things are in the sky, or a finder chart of some kind. That’ll really help you to track it down. And when you see it, it’s likely to look like a sort of small, grayish fuzz, quite typical for many comets.

“But you will have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve seen this once-in-a-lifetime object.”

US urges Afghanistan to prevent attacks from Afghan soil

The United States is urging Afghanistan to take stricter measures against terrorism within its borders.

US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, emphasized the importance of Afghanistan fulfilling its commitment to prevent the use of its territory for terrorist activities.

"We are determined that Afghanistan will ensure its territory is not used again for terrorism," Miller stated. He further stressed the need for the Taliban to uphold its counter-terrorism promises made to the international community.

"It is unequivocal that Afghanistan bears the responsibility to prevent the establishment of safe havens for terrorist organizations," emphasized Miller.

He stressed the importance of Afghanistan's stance against groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS, underlining the critical need to deny them sanctuary within Afghan borders.

The US State Department spokesperson opted not to respond to inquiries regarding Atchison College's principal during the press briefing.

Visa, Mastercard reach $30bn settlement over credit card fees

Visa and Mastercard have reached an estimated $30bn antitrust settlement to limit credit and debit card fees for merchants in the United States, with some savings likely to be passed on to consumers through lower prices.

If it receives court approval, it would resolve most claims in nationwide litigation that began in 2005. However, some opponents believe it may not go far enough.

Merchants have long accused Visa and Mastercard of charging inflated swipe fees or interchange fees when shoppers use credit or debit cards and barring them, through “anti-steering” rules, from directing customers toward cheaper means of payment.

According to reports, swipe fees typically include small fixed fees plus a percentage of total sale amounts and average about 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent per transaction.

Under the settlement, Visa and Mastercard would reduce swipe rates by at least four basis points (0.04 percentage points) for three years and ensure an average rate that is seven basis points below the current average for five years.

Both card networks also agreed to cap rates for five years and remove anti-steering provisions.

Merchants will have more discretion to offer discounts or impose surcharges on cards with higher interchange fees.

Many already warn customers that at checkout that they will pay more using cards instead of cash.

The fee rollbacks and caps alone are worth $29.79bn, according to court papers, and Visa estimated that small businesses comprise more than 90 percent of the settling merchants.

In agreeing on the settlement, Visa and Mastercard denied any wrongdoing.

In separate statements, Visa’s North American President Kim Lawrence said the accord addressed “true pain points” identified by small businesses, while Mastercard General Counsel Rob Baird said it offered “substantial certainty” to businesses.

US diverting attention from Moscow attack with focus on Daesh: Kremlin

Russia sees the US focus on Daesh being responsible for last week's terror attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue in the Moscow region as an attempt to shift attention from something else, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said.

Speaking in an interview, Peskov said it looks strange that Washington takes the liberty to speak about the only version of what happened.

"This, of course, shows that they want to shift attention from something else," he emphasised.

He urged everyone to have patience and wait for the official results of the investigation, noting that so far, no one has presented official versions.

"The special services are working to back up the existing versions," he said.

At least 140 people were killed and more than 360 injured on March 22 when gunmen opened fire at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast.

The Investigative Committee said it detained 11 people, including four perpetrators, in the border region of Bryansk, who were on their way to Ukraine.

Moscow's Basmanny District Court late Sunday charged the four perpetrators with terrorism and approved their pre-trial detentions until May 22.

U.S. reaffirms commitment to address Pakistan's energy crisis

The United States on Thursday once again reiterated its support for Pakistan's energy woes saying that Washington "prioritises" helping Islamabad in addressing its energy shortage.

"Helping Pakistan address its energy shortage crisis is a priority for the US," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said while responding to a question pertaining to the country's assistance to Pakistan in meeting the energy needs in light of Washington's opposition to the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline.

The spokesperson's remarks came as Washington has time again voiced its opposition to the bilateral gas pipeline agreement between Islamabad and Tehran and has threatened to impose sanctions for the completion of project which has been facing a delay of nearly 10 years as it was originally set to be completed in 2015.

However, due to the prevailing economic crises, driven by a weakening local currency and depleting foreign exchange reserves, which have resulted in soaring utility bills and worsening energy shortage, Islamabad is running out of options to meet its increasing energy needs.

Furthermore, the country also risks being awarded a $18 billion penalty for its failure to uphold its end of the agreement i.e., completion of the 781-kilometre pipeline from the Iranian border to Nawabshah followed by consumption of 750 million cubic feet of gas per day.

The project has been facing delays since 2014. In January, Iran issued a third notice to Pakistan, renewing its intention to move the arbitration court for its failure to lay down the pipeline in its territory.

On Monday, Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik said that Islamabad would vigorously contest its case to seek exemption from "US sanctions by presenting technical and political arguments".

Elaborating on the US support for Pakistan in meeting its energy needs, Miller said: "We have supported the addition of approximately 4,000 megawatts of clean energy capacity in Pakistan."

"Our projects have dramatically increased the nation’s electricity capacity, today powering the homes of millions of Pakistanis.

"Through the United States-Pakistan Green Alliance, a transformative initiative between our two countries are working together to address today’s most pressing environmental challenges, especially around water management, climate-smart agriculture, and renewable energy," the spokesperson added.

Sri Lanka PM says China to develop strategic infrastructure

Sri Lanka’s prime minister said on Wednesday that China has pledged to develop the island nation’s strategic deep sea port and the capital’s airport after talks with his counterpart in Beijing.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said China — the island’s biggest bilateral creditor — would “assist” Sri Lanka’s restructuring of external debt, a key condition to maintaining a $2.9 billion IMF bailout.

Beijing’s position on debt restructuring has not been made public, but Sri Lankan officials have said China was reluctant to take a haircut on its loans but could extend the tenure and adjust interest rates.

Sri Lanka in 2022 ran out of foreign exchange to finance essential imports and declared a sovereign default on its $46 billion foreign debt.

Months of protests forced then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office.

Gunawardena’s office said Premier Li Qiang had promised China would “assist Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process continuously and help Sri Lanka to develop its economy”.

Gunawardena said Beijing had offered “assistance to develop” Colombo International Airport and Hambantota port, the statement added, without giving further details. A Japanese-funded expansion of Colombo airport had been on hold since Sri Lanka’s sovereign debt default.

The southern sea port of Hambantota was handed to a Chinese state-owned company in 2017 on a 99-year lease for $1.12 billion, sparking security concerns in Beijing’s regional rival India.

India and the United States are both concerned that a Chinese foothold at Hambantota, on the island’s southern coast, could boost its naval advantage in the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka has insisted its ports will not be used for any military purposes, but New Delhi has objected to Chinese research vessels calling at Hambantota fearing that they could be used for espionage.

Human rights crisis in El Salvador ‘deepening’: Amnesty

As El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele embarks on his second term in office, an international rights group has warned that his war on gangs has created a spiralling human rights crisis.

As of February 2024, Bukele’s draconian two-year campaign, which has seen the authorities detain about 78,000 people, has caused 235 deaths in state custody, said Amnesty International on Wednesday. Citing a local rights group, it also reported 327 cases of enforced disappearances.

“Reducing gang violence by replacing it with state violence cannot be a success,” said Amnesty’s Americas director Ana Piquer in a statement. The Salvadoran government had adopted “disproportionate measures”, she said, denying, minimising and concealing human rights violations.

Bukele launched his war on gangs in March 2022, slashing homicides to the lowest rate in three decades after imposing a state of emergency that suspended the need for arrest warrants and the right to a fair trial, among other civil liberties. Prison overcrowding currently stands at 148 percent, according to Amnesty.

After Bukele consolidated power in a landslide win in February’s election, the rights group warned the situation looks set to worsen. “If this course is not corrected, the instrumentalization of the criminal process and the establishment of a policy of torture in the prison system could persist,” it said.

On Tuesday, Minister of Justice and Security Gustavo Villatoro pledged there would be no let-up in the government’s campaign against the gangs, and promised to “eradicate this endemic evil”.

“This war against these terrorists will continue,” he said on state television.

Piquer said that Bukele had created a “false illusion” that he had found “the magic formula to solve the very complex problems of violence and criminality in a seemingly simple way”. She described the international community’s response as “timid”.

“The international community must respond in a robust, articulate and forceful manner, condemning any model of public security that is based on human rights violations,” she said.

Apple to hold Worldwide Developers Conference from June 10

Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab will hold its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from June 10 to June 14, it said on Tuesday, amid reports that the iPhone-maker was in talks for AI partnership and could unveil significant changes to the iOS.

The event, opens new tab, which will be available online, will highlight updates to the software powering iPhones, iPads and other Apple devices, the company said. Some developers and students will be invited in-person at Apple Park on the opening day, it added.

The event is part of the tech major's ongoing commitment to helping developers elevate their apps and games. It will also provide developers with unique access to Apple experts, as well as insight into new tools, frameworks, and features.

Further, the company noted that the in-person special event on June 10 will provide developers the opportunity to watch the keynote at Apple Park, meet with Apple team members, and take part in special activities. Apple will provide details on how to apply for the limited space to attend on the Apple Developer site and app.

The event offers a venue for developers and students to discover the latest Apple software and technologies by tuning into the keynote.

The developers then can experience WWDC24 throughout the week on the Apple Developer app, website, and YouTube. There will be video sessions and opportunities to engage with Apple designers and engineers and connect with the worldwide developer community.

On March 28, Apple will notify this year's applicants for its Swift Student Challenge, which seeks to uplift the next generation of developers, creators, and entrepreneurs. Winners will be eligible to apply for the in-person experience at Apple Park. The company noted that Fifty Distinguished Winners, who are recognized for outstanding submissions, will be invited to Cupertino for a three-day experience.

Additional conference information will be shared in advance of WWDC24 through the Apple Developer app and on the Apple Developer website.

Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, said, "We're so excited to connect with developers from around the world for an extraordinary week of technology and community at WWDC24. WWDC is all about sharing new ideas and providing our amazing developers with innovative tools and resources to help them make something even more wonderful."

Apple's innovation so far include iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro, while its six software platforms are iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS that provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices.

The tech company's various services include the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+.

Curfew announced for under-18s in Australia’s Alice Springs after unrest

Alice Springs has announced an overnight curfew for all residents under the age of 18, after violent brawls in the remote central Australian town.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler said an emergency would apply to the city centre and 58 additional police officers would be deployed to deter crime and antisocial behaviour.

The curfew will be enforced from 6pm until 6am from Wednesday night for the next two weeks.

“The community have had enough and so have I,” Lawler told a news conference on Wednesday according to Australian media. “We want Alice Springs to be a safe place.”

The latest unrest was reported on Tuesday following the funeral of an 18-year-old who died two weeks ago while travelling in a vehicle that had allegedly been stolen.

Videos and photos shared on social media showed chaotic scenes with dozens of people gathering outside a pub called the Todd Tavern, throwing bricks and trying to break down the door as customers took cover inside.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said the crash had rekindled family feuds and that about 150 people were involved in the unrest. Five people were arrested and at least 50 weapons seized.

“The operation will be swift,” Murphy said. “We’ll identify who’s responsible and they’ll be delivered to the court where they can answer for their behaviours.”

Alice Springs, which lies nearly 1,500km (932 miles) south of Darwin, the NT capital, has a population of some 26,000 people. About a fifth of them are from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, some living in so-called camps on the edge of the town.

 

China calls hacking allegations by US, UK 'political manoeuvring'

China on Tuesday urged the U.S. and Britain to stop politicising the issue of cybersecurity, slandering and smearing China and imposing unilateral sanctions on the country.

"It is pure political manoeuvring for the United States and the United Kingdom to rehash the so-called cyberattacks carried out by China and to sanction Chinese individuals and entities," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing.

"China is strongly dissatisfied with this and firmly opposes it," he said.

U.S. and British officials on Monday filed charges, imposed sanctions, and accused Beijing of a sweeping cyberespionage campaign that allegedly hit millions of people.

Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic nicknamed the hacking group Advanced Persistent Threat Group 31 or "APT31", calling it an arm of China's Ministry of State Security.

"Previously, China had made technical clarifications and responses to the so-called APT31 information submitted by the British side. It clearly shows that the evidence provided by the British side is insufficient and the relevant conclusions lack professionalism," said Lin.

"Regrettably, however, the British side has not responded further since then," he added.

The Chinese Embassy in London called the charges "completely fabricated and malicious slanders."

Britain has also accused Chinese hackers of trying to break into email accounts of British lawmakers who were critical of China.

Lin said China has made solemn representations to all relevant parties, "and will take necessary measures to safeguard China's legitimate rights and interests."

Several other countries have also lobbed hacking and cyberattack allegations against China, all of which the country has denied.

Dutch garden Keukenhof opens for 75th time to expose millions of tulips

One of the biggest tulip gardens in the world, Keukenhof opened for the 75th time in the Netherlands.

Located in the northern city of Lisse, the garden welcomes more than a million Dutch and foreign visitors every year.

As tulips have a short life span, the Keukenhof garden is open from March 21 to May 12, with the flowers at their best in April.

Keukenhof 75 project leader Annemarie Gerards told media that the gardeners plant 7 million tulip bulbs by hand, from the first week of October till mid-December.

“We have roundabout 600, maybe 800 tulip varieties,” she said, adding that 80% of the visitors are foreigners.

Russian visitor Yulia Mikhaylova told reporters that she came to see Keukenhof during her trip to the Netherlands.

“The colors bring me happiness. The spring is here,” she said.

Charles Dudley, who came from London, said the vibrant colors of tulips feel like they have been “painted.”

The garden of 32 hectares hosts 40 gardeners, and visitors can also enjoy a walking path of 15 kilometers (9 miles).

World reacts to UNSC resolution demanding Gaza ceasefire

Many world leaders have welcomed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.

While the United States abstained from the vote on Monday, the remaining 14 council members voted for the resolution.

The resolution, which the US said it did not agree with in its entirety, calls for an “immediate ceasefire” for the duration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks. It calls for the ceasefire to lead to a “lasting” truce, for the release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and for respect for international law from each party when it comes to detainments.

Here are some reactions from key officials around the world:

Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The ministry said that adopting the resolution is a step in the right direction to end the five-month war, to allow the entry of aid, and to begin the return of those displaced.

The ministry also called on UNSC member states to fulfill their legal responsibilities to implement the resolution immediately. The ministry stressed the importance of achieving a permanent ceasefire that extends beyond Ramadan – along with securing the entry of aid, working to release prisoners, and preventing forced displacement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
The UN official said the resolution “must be implemented”, adding that failure to do so would be “unforgivable”.

China’s ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun
“After repeated vetos of the council’s actions, the United States finally decided to stop obstructing the council’s demands for an immediate ceasefire. Despite all this, the US still tried to find all kinds of excuses and made accusations against China,” said China’s ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun.

“For the lives that have already perished, the council resolution today comes too late, but for the millions of people in Gaza who remain mired in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, this resolution, if fully and effectively implemented, could still bring long-awaited hope,” he added.

Russia’s ambassador to the UN Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya
Nebenzya said Moscow hopes the resolution will be used in the “interests of peace” rather than advancing the “inhumane Israeli operation against Palestinians”.

He said Russia preferred a version of the text that demanded that a Ramadan ceasefire would lead to “a permanent sustainable ceasefire”.

“We are disappointed that it did not make it through. Nevertheless, we believe it is fundamentally important to vote in favour of peace. The council must continue to work on achieving a permanent ceasefire,” he said.

French ambassador to the UN Nicolas de Riviere
De Riviere said the adoption of the resolution shows that the UNSC can “still act when all of its members make the necessary effort to discharge their mandate”.

“The Security Council’s silence on Gaza was becoming deafening. It is high time now for the council to finally contribute to finding a solution,” he told the session.

He also said that work needs to be done to establish a permanent ceasefire and to revive the political process to bring about the two-state solution.

UK ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward
Woodward said London “regrets” that the resolution did not condemn the October 7 Hamas attack and stressed that the United Kingdom “condemns” the attacks “unequivocally”.

Woodward also said that the resolution sends a “clear” message on the need for international humanitarian law to be upheld.

“We call for this resolution to be implemented immediately. President, we need to focus on how we chart the way from an immediate humanitarian pause to a lasting, sustainable peace without a return to fighting,” she said.

“That means the formation of a new Palestinian government for the West Bank and Gaza accompanied by an international support package,” she said.

Algeria representative to the UN Amar Bendjama
Bendjama said the Security Council was “finally shouldering its responsibility as the primary organ responsible for maintaining international peace and security”.

“I would like to thank all the council members for their flexibility and the constructive way that allowed us today to adopt this long-awaited resolution, [a] resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in order to put an end to the massacres that unfortunately are still ongoing over the five months,” he said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
The European Commission’s president welcomed the passing of the resolution.

“Implementation of this resolution is vital for the protection of all civilians,” she said on X.

Human Rights Watch UN director Louis Charbonneau
Charbonneau said Israel “needs to immediately respond” to the resolution “by facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, ending its starvation of Gaza’s population, and halting unlawful attacks”.

“Palestinian armed groups should immediately release all civilians held hostage. The US and other countries should use their leverage to end atrocities by suspending arms transfers to Israel,” he said.

South Africa
Foreign minister Naledi Pandor welcomed the resolution on public radio but stressed that “the ball is in the court of the Security Council”.

Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez applauded the resolution, saying it was “in line with what Spain has been saying since the start of the conflict.

“The realisation of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security is the only realistic and viable solution for the region,” he wrote on X.

The Netherlands
Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte welcomed the resolution, adding: “What is now needed is to stop the violence, free the hostages, immediately send in vastly more humanitarian aid to Gaza and find a lasting solution.”

The country’s far-right leader, Geert Wilders, who swept to victory in recent polls, voiced support to “my Israeli friends in fighting Hamas”.

“The UN, USA and Europe don’t understand you are fighting an existential war. Against the dark forces of hate and destruction called Hamas,” he said on X.

Turkey
Turkey called the resolution and prospective return of humanitarian access to Gaza “a positive step”.

“We hope that Israel will comply with the requirements of this resolution without delay,” Turkish foreign affairs spokesman Oncu Keceli wrote on X.

Amnesty International
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard said the resolution is “long overdue”.

“This resolution must be accompanied by a shift in political pressure, including an immediate and comprehensive arms embargo,” Callamard added.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed the country’s endorsement of the resolution in the “strongest terms” and said it should be immediately enforced.

“We must immediately relieve the people of Gaza from the immense pain and suffering they have now endured for almost six months,” Anwar said in a statement.

“Particularly, the United States must prevail upon its ally to respect the will of the international community and accordingly observe the ceasefire and permit the immediate and massive entry of emergency aid.”

WhatsApp to introduce extended video status duration

As per an online report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will start permitting users to share videos worth a minute in status updates. As of now, Android beta testers can utilise this feature in the application’s iteration labelled 2.24.7.6.

From what it’s understood, this development is presently available for only a chosen set of beta testers, who can make use of the feature by sharing videos in their status updates which exceed the 30-second mark.

The report has highlighted the importance for users to be aware of the need to update WhatsApp, for watching extended videos shared via status updates.

“Over time, users have consistently requested the ability to share longer videos as their status updates. With the previous 30-second limit, users often found themselves constrained when trying to convey a comprehensive story or share longer snippets of their lives.

Now, with the one-minute duration, users have the freedom to share more extensive video content without the need for cumbersome edits or compromises on the message they want to convey,” the report quoted.

It’s believed that the functionality will be made available to even more people over the coming weeks.

US VP Harris warns Israel of ‘consequences’ of Rafah assault

Israel could face “consequences” if it launches a ground assault on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, the Vice President of the United States of America (USA) Kamala Harris has warned.

Kamala Harris said in an interview that aired on Sunday that it would be a “huge mistake” for the Israeli military to move on the city. The comments appear to underscore the continued strain in relations between Washington and Tel Aviv as the latter’s war in Gaza continues.

The United States and other Israeli allies continue to warn against an assault on Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinian civilians are sheltering.

“We have been clear in multiple conversations and in every way that any major military operation in Rafah would be a huge mistake,” Harris said in an interview.

“I have studied the maps – there’s nowhere for those folks to go. And we’re looking at about a million and a half people in Rafah who are there because they were told to go there,” Harris added.

“I am ruling out nothing,” Harris said when she was asked whether there would be consequences from the US if the Israeli operation in the overcrowded city goes ahead.

She did not give details of what such consequences might entail. “We’re going to take it one step at a time, but we’ve been very clear in terms of our perspective on whether or not that should happen,” she said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that a major ground assault on the town of Rafah would be “a mistake” and “unnecessary”.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Palestinian territory since Hamas attacked it on October 7, killing about 1,200 and taking over 200 people captive.

The Israeli military has also imposed a crippling blockade that has left much of the population on the verge of starvation.

More than 32,200 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive and over 74,500 injured. Approximately 1.5 million Palestinians have now been pushed into Rafah.

Israel besieges two more Gaza hospitals, demands evacuation

Israeli forces besieged two more Gaza hospitals on Sunday, pinning down medical teams under heavy gunfire, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, and Israel said it had captured 480 militants in continued clashes at Gaza's main Al Shifa hospital.

Israel says hospitals in the Palestinian enclave, where war has been raging for over five months, are used by Hamas militants as bases. It has released videos and pictures supporting the claim.Hamas and medical staff deny the accusations.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said one of its staff was killed when Israeli tanks suddenly pushed back into areas around Al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in the southern city of Khan Younis, amid heavy bombardment and gunfire.

Israeli forces began operating around Al-Amal, the military said, following "precise intelligence ... which indicated that terrorists are using civilian infrastructure for terror activities in the area of Al-Amal."

Israeli armoured forces sealed off Al-Amal Hospital and carried out extensive bulldozing operations in its vicinity, the Red Crescent said in a statement."All of our teams are in extreme danger at the moment and are completely immobilised," it said.

The Red Crescent said Israeli forces were now demanding the complete evacuation of staff, patients and displaced people from Al Amal's premises and were firing smoke bombs into the area to force out its occupants.

A displaced Palestinian was killed inside the hospital compound after being hit in the head by Israeli fire, the Red Crescent said in a later update.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said dozens of patients and medical staffers had been detained by Israeli forces at Al Shifa in Gaza City in the enclave's north that has been under Israeli control for a week.

The Hamas-run government media office said Israeli forces had killed five Palestinian doctors during their seven-day-old swoop on Al Shifa.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on that report. It said earlier that it had killed over 170 gunmen in the raid, which the Palestinian Health Ministry said had also caused the deaths of five patients.

Al Shifa is one of the few healthcare facilities even partially operational in north Gaza, and - like others - had also been housing some of the nearly 2 million civilians - over 80% of Gaza's population - displaced by the war.

"Right now, Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists are barricading themselves inside Shifa hospital wards," said Israeli military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

Hagari said Hamas gunmen were firing at soldiers from inside the emergency and maternity wards of the hospital, and also firing mortars at troops in the hospital, causing damage.
The Hamas-run government media office said they "categorically refute this."

"How can they claim this while their soldiers roam and frolic inside the complex with ease, conducting interrogations with displaced persons, patients, and the wounded," said media office director Ismail Al-Thawabta.

AIR STRIKE KILLS SEVEN IN RAFAH

An international news agency has been unable to access Gaza's contested hospital areas and verify accounts by either side.

Khan Younis residents said Israeli forces had also advanced and formed a cordon around Nasser Hospital in the city's west under cover of heavy air and ground fire.
In Rafah, Gaza's southernmost town on the Egyptian border that has become the last refuge for half of Gaza's uprooted population, an Israeli air strike on a house killed seven people, health officials said.

At least 32,226 Palestinians have been killed, among them 84 in the past 24 hours, and 74,518 injured in Israel's air and ground offensive into the densely populated coastal territory since Oct. 7, its health ministry said in a Sunday update.

Israel launched the offensive after Hamas-led Islamist militants attacked its south on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

U.S.-backed mediation by Qatar and Egypt has so far failed to secure a Hamas-Israel ceasefire, prisoner releases and unfettered aid to Gaza civilians facing famine, with each side sticking to core demands.

Hamas wants any truce deal to include an Israeli commitment to end the war and withdraw forces from Gaza. Israel has ruled this out, saying it will keep fighting until Hamas is eradicated as a political and military force.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the backlog of aid destined for Gaza as a moral outrage during a visit to the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on Saturday.

Speaking in Cairo on Sunday, Guterres said the only effective and efficient way to deliver heavy goods to meet Gaza's humanitarian needs was by road.

The United States and other countries have tried using air drops and ships to deliver aid, but U.N. aid officials say deliveries can only be scaled up by land, accusing Israel of impeding relief, which Israel denies.

Russia mourns Moscow concert hall attack victims as death toll rises to 137

Russia has lowered flags to half-mast for a day of mourning after scores of people were gunned down with automatic weapons at a rock concert outside Moscow in the deadliest attack inside Russia for two decades.

President Vladimir Putin declared a national day of mourning for Sunday after pledging to track down and punish all those behind the attack, in which at least 137 people were killed, including three children, and more than 150 injured.

“I express my deep, sincere condolences to all those who lost their loved ones,” Putin said in an address to the nation on Saturday, his first public comments on the attack. “The whole country and our entire people are grieving with you.”

The ISIL (ISIS) armed group claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, but Putin has not publicly mentioned the group in connection with the attackers, whom he said had been trying to escape to Ukraine. He asserted that some on “the Ukrainian side” had prepared to spirit them across the border.

Ukraine has repeatedly denied any role in the attack, which Putin also blamed on “international terrorism”.

People on Sunday laid flowers at Crocus City Hall, the 6,200-seat concert hall outside Moscow where four armed men burst in on Friday just before Soviet-era rock group Picnic was to perform its hit, Afraid of Nothing.

The men fired their automatic weapons in short bursts at terrified civilians who fell screaming in a hail of bullets.

It was the deadliest attack on Russian territory since the 2004 Beslan school siege, when attackers took more than 1,000 people, including hundreds of children, hostage.

Governor of the Moscow region Andrei Vorobyov said on Sunday that the rescue operation was completed and the search operation is still ongoing.

“Identification by relatives is ahead. In hospitals, doctors are fighting for the lives of 107 people,” he said.

WhatsApp to introduce Instagram-style photo editing options

Meta-owned WhatsApp is constantly updated to ensure that users get the best experience possible as millions of people rely on the platform for their daily communication.

AI-related updates — including stickers and chatbot — have been rolled out in beta versions of the app, but they aren’t available to everyone. In September, as per Android Police, AI-powered image editing tools were also added to the beta versions.

In the latest beta release for Android (v2.24.7.13), WhatsApp has rolled out Backdrop, Restyle, and Expand options within the photo editor window.

Android Police reported that the new features will appear when a user is posting a status update or sharing an image with someone.

A sparkle icon has been added on the top row — where other options of basic editing were already available. Once a user taps on the icon, it will display three options — Backdrop, Restyle, and Expand.

Via Backdrop, a user can enter a text for changing the background of the photo. Restyle allows a user to change the overall image and Expand will help in making the image bigger.

But since it isn’t officially available to every user, it is unclear what its final look will be like and when it will be released.

More than 130 kidnapped Nigerian schoolchildren released

More than 130 students abducted by gunmen from a school in Nigeria earlier this month have been released “unharmed” days before a ransom deadline, say officials.

Government spokesman Abdulaziz Abdulaziz told media on Sunday it “took a lot of backchannel engagement” to release the students abducted on March 7 in Kuriga, a dusty town in Kaduna state – the first mass kidnapping in Nigeria since 2021.

“[All] of them were released and all of them were fine,” he said, giving the official number of freed students at 137 – much lower than the figure of 286 students and one staff member in most media reports. He claimed the media reports were wrong but did not give further details.

Earlier on Sunday, Uba Sani, governor of the northwestern state of Kaduna, said in a statement the hostages were freed after “security operations” coordinated by the country’s national security adviser.

“We thank all Nigerians who prayed fervently for the safe return of the school children. This is indeed a day of joy,” the governor said.

“The Nigerian Army also deserves special commendation for showing that with courage, determination and commitment, criminal elements can be degraded and security restored in our communities,” Sani added in a statement.

Abductions of students from schools in Nigeria by rampaging armed groups with no ideological affiliation are common. On March 9, 15 students were kidnapped from a school in the village of Gidan Bakuso in Sokoto state while at least 87 people, including women, were taken captives in Kajuru area of Kaduna on March 18.

In recent years, the abductions have been concentrated in the country’s northwestern and central regions, where dozens of armed groups often target villagers and travellers for ransom, forcing families and communities to sell land, cattle and grain to secure their loved ones’ release – or in some cases, crowdfunding on social media sites.

The Kaduna gunmen last week demanded a total of 1 billion naira ($680,000) for the release of the children and staff and vowed to kill the victims if the payments were not made within 20 days. But Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said he would “not pay a dime” after the practice was outlawed in 2022 in a bid to clamp down on the attackers. Ransom payers face a 15-year sentence.

Abductions at Nigerian schools were first carried out by armed group Boko Haram, which seized 276 students from a girls’ school in Chibok in northeastern Borno state in 2014. Some of the girls have never been released, most of them forcefully married to the fighters.

In another mass kidnapping in July 2021, gunmen took more than 150 students in a raid. The students were reunited months later with their families after they paid ransoms.

A total of some 1,400 children have been abducted since 2014.

Russia’s Putin vows to punish those behind concert massacre

Russia said on Saturday it had arrested all four gunmen suspected of carrying out a shooting massacre in a concert hall near Moscow, and President Vladimir Putin pledged to track down and punish those behind the attack.

According to international media reports, militant group Daesh claimed responsibility for Friday's attack, the deadliest in Russia for 20 years. But there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link, despite a statement from Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak that Kyiv had nothing to do with it.

Militant Islamist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday's rampage but there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link, despite emphatic denials from Ukrainian officials that Kyiv had anything to do with it.

A statement issued by Kremlin, on Saturday, stated that President Vladimir Putin was apprised by FSB security service chief Alexander Bortnikov that the suspects, among the detained, included "four terrorists".

It further mentioned that the service was working to identify their accomplices.

Russia's Investigative Committee said the death toll had leapt to 115 from the attack on Crocus City Hall, located in the outskirts of the Russian capital, in which camouflage-clad gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons at concertgoers near the capital on Friday.

Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein said the attackers had fled in a Renault vehicle that was spotted by police in Bryansk region, about 340 km (210 miles) southwest of Moscow on Friday night and disobeyed instructions to stop.

He said two were arrested after a car chase and two others fled into a forest. From the Kremlin account, it appeared they too were later detained.

Khinshtein said a pistol, a magazine for an assault rifle, and passports from Tajikistan were found in the car. Tajikistan is a mainly Muslim Central Asian state that used to be part of the Soviet Union.

Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.

The shooting took place on Friday evening at Crocus City Hall, a concert venue just west of Moscow where a Soviet-era rock band was due to perform.

Verified video showed people taking their seats in the hall, then rushing for the exits as repeated gunfire echoed above screams. Other video showed men shooting at groups of people. Some victims lay motionless in pools of blood.

WhatsApp now lets you pin up to three messages in a chat

WhatsApp has made it easier for users to pin important messages in chats, with quick access to information.

According to Meta Chief Mark Zuckerberg, users can pin up to three messages from within a conversation, from the previous pinned message feature.

WhatsApp will not only let users pin messages, but even media or polls, that can stay at the top of the chat for 24 hours, 7 days, or even a whole month. If one message is pinned, it will show up as the chat banner, but if there are more than one, then the banner will display how many messages have been pinned, with the most recent appearing at the top.

To pin messages, users will simply have to press the message and select 'pin' from the drop-down options displayed, along with selecting the duration the message needs to be pinned for. Messages can be unpinned the same way.

Philippines accuses China of new water cannon attacks in South China Sea

Manila has accused China’s coastguard of firing water cannon at one of its supply boats, in the latest incident between the two countries in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippine military said the Saturday morning confrontation lasted for nearly an hour and took place as it sought to resupply a small garrison of sailors on board the sunken Sierra Madre off Second Thomas Shoal.

The shoal, known as Ayungin in the Philippines, has been the site of multiple similar stand-offs in recent months. It lies about 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) from China’s southern Hainan island.

The military released a video clip showing a white ship marked China Coast Guard crossing the bow of a grey vessel it identified as the Philippine supply boat Unaizah May 4, and unleashing its water cannon.

“The UM4 supply boat sustained heavy damages at around 08:52 (00:52 GMT) due to the continued blasting of water cannons from the CCG vessels,” the military said in a statement, without going into detail about the damage.

A Philippine Coast Guard escort vessel later reached the damaged boat “to provide assistance”, the military said.

Gan Yu, a spokesman for the China Coast Guard, said that the Philippine convoy “forcibly intruded into the area despite the Chinese side’s repeated warnings and route controls”, adding the Chinese carried out “control, obstruction and eviction in accordance with law”.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite an international court finding in 2016 that the nine-dash line on which it bases its claim was without merit. The Philippines claims areas of the sea around its coasts as do Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. The self-ruled island of Taiwan is also a claimant.

Manila has revived and expanded its military ties with the United States, a longtime ally, as the situation has become more tense.

The United States lays no claims to the strategic waters but has sent Navy ships on transit missions through the waterway in what it calls “freedom of navigation” operations, which have been criticised by China.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the Philippines last week and stressed the US commitment to Manila was “ironclad”.

Two days after that visit, the Chinese coastguard also tried to drive away Filipino scientists who landed on two cays near Scarborough Shoal, a contested South China Sea outcrop that Beijing seized from the Philippines after a months-long standoff in 2012.

Russia says 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid

Camouflage-clad gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons at concertgoers near Moscow on Friday, killing at least 60 people and injuring 145 in an attack claimed by Islamic State militants.

In the deadliest attack in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege, gunmen sprayed civilians with bullets just before Soviet-era rock group "Picnic" was to perform to a full house at the 6,200-seat the Crocus City Hall just west of the capital.

Verified video showed people taking their seats in the hall, then rushing for the exits as repeated gunfire echoed above screams. Other video showed men shooting at groups of people. Some victims lay motionless in pools of blood.
"Suddenly there were bangs behind us - shots. A burst of firing - I do not know what," one witness, who asked not to be identified by name, told Reuters.

"A stampede began. Everyone ran to the escalator," the witness said. "Everyone was screaming; everyone was running."
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Russian investigators said the death toll was more than 60. Health officials said about 145 people were wounded, of which about 60 were in critical condition.

In the 2004 Beslan school siege, Islamist militants took more than 1,000 people, including hundreds of children, hostage.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was being updated by security chiefs about the situation, including from Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Kremlin said.

Russian investigators published pictures of a Kalashnikov automatic weapon, vests with multiple spare magazines and bags of spent bullet casings.

ISLAMIC STATE
Islamic State, the militant group that once sought control over swathes of Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility for the attack, the group's Amaq agency said on Telegram.

A grainy picture was published by some Russian media of two of the alleged attackers in a white car.
The fate of the attackers was unclear as firefighters battled a massive blaze and emergency services evacuated hundreds of people while parts of the venue's roof collapsed.

Islamic State said its fighters attacked on the outskirts of Moscow, "killing and wounding hundreds and causing great destruction to the place before they withdrew to their bases safely." The statement gave no further detail.

The United States has intelligence confirming Islamic State's claim of responsibility for the shooting, a U.S. official said on Friday. The official said Washington had warned Moscow in recent weeks of the possibility of an attack.
"We did warn the Russians appropriately," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, without providing any additional details.

Russia has yet to say who it thinks is responsible.

The attack on Crocus City Hall, about 20 km (12 miles) from the Kremlin, comes just two weeks after the U.S. embassy in Russia warned that "extremists" had imminent plans for an attack in Moscow.

Hours before the embassy warning, the FSB said it had foiled an attack on a Moscow synagogue by Islamic State's affiliate in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-Khorasan or ISIS-K, and seeks a caliphate across Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran.

Putin changed the course of the Syrian civil war by intervening in 2015, supporting President Bashar al-Assad against the opposition and Islamic State.

"ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years, frequently criticizing Putin in its propaganda," said Colin Clarke of the Soufan Center.

The broader Islamic State group has claimed deadly attacks across the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Europe, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was a "bloody terrorist attack" that the entire world should condemn.

The United States, European and Arab powers and many former Soviet republics expressed shock and sent their condolences. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied any Ukrainian involvement.

The United Nations Security Council condemned what it called a "heinous and cowardly terrorist attack."

SECURITY TIGHTENED

Russia tightened security at airports, transport hubs and across the capital - a vast urban area of over 21 million people. All large-scale public events were cancelled across the country.

Putin, who was on Sunday re-elected for a new six-year term, sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022 and has repeatedly warned that various powers - including countries in the West - are seeking to sow chaos inside Russia.

Putin was informed in the first minutes of the attack and is regularly being updated, the Kremlin said.
"The president constantly receives information about what is happening and about the measures being taken through all relevant services. The head of state gave all the necessary instructions," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

At Crocus City Hall, flames leapt into the sky, and plumes of black smoke rose above the venue as hundreds of blue lights from emergency vehicles flashed in the night.
Helicopters sought to douse flames that engulfed the large building. The roof of the venue was collapsing, state news agency RIA said.

"A terrible tragedy occurred in the shopping centre Crocus City today," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. "I am sorry for the loved ones of the victims."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal challenges arrest ahead of India election

A top Indian opposition politician appeared in court on Friday to fight his arrest in a case supporters say is aimed at sidelining challengers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi before next month’s election.

Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of the capital Delhi and a key leader in an opposition alliance formed to compete against Modi in the polls, was detained on Thursday in connection with a long-running corruption probe.

He is among several leaders of the bloc under criminal investigation and one of his colleagues described his arrest as a “political conspiracy” orchestrated by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Kejriwal was escorted into a courtroom in the capital by officers from the Enforcement Directorate, India’s main financial crimes agency, to petition for bail while the case proceeds.

His legal team had originally sought to challenge the legality of his detention in the Supreme Court but Shadan Farasat, a lawyer for Kejriwal, told AFP they would instead contest his remand in a lower court.

Hundreds of supporters from Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took to the streets on Friday to condemn the leader’s arrest, with police breaking up one crowd of protesters who attempted to block a busy traffic intersection.

Several demonstrators were detained including Delhi education minister Atishi Marlena Singh and health minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.

Small rallies in support of Kejriwal were held in several other cities around India.

Kejriwal’s government was accused of corruption when it implemented a policy to liberalise the sale of liquor in 2021 and give up a lucrative government stake in the sector.

The policy was withdrawn the following year, but the resulting probe into the alleged corrupt allocation of licences has since seen the jailing of two top Kejriwal allies.

Kejriwal, 55, has been chief minister for nearly a decade and first came to office as a staunch anti-corruption crusader. He had resisted multiple summons from the Enforcement Directorate to be interrogated as part of the probe.

Singh, the education minister, said on Thursday that Kejriwal had not resigned from his office.

“We made it clear from the beginning that if needed, Arvind Kejriwal will run the government from jail,” she told reporters.

‘Decay of democracy’

Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin, a fellow member of the opposition bloc, said Kejriwal’s arrest “smacks of a desperate witch-hunt”.

“Not a single BJP leader faces scrutiny or arrest, laying bare their abuse of power and the decay of democracy,” he said.

Modi’s political opponents and international rights groups have long sounded the alarm on India’s shrinking democratic space.

US democracy think-tank Freedom House said this year that the BJP had “increasingly used government institutions to target political opponents”.

Rahul Gandhi, the most prominent member of the opposition Congress party and scion of a dynasty that dominated Indian politics for decades, was convicted of criminal libel last year after a complaint by a member of Modi’s party.

His two-year prison sentence saw him disqualified from parliament for a time until the verdict was suspended by a higher court, but raised further concerns over democratic norms in the world’s most populous country.

Kejriwal and Gandhi are both members of an opposition alliance composed of more than two dozen parties that is jointly contesting India’s national election running from April to June.

But even without the criminal investigations targeting its most prominent leaders, few expect the bloc to make inroads against Modi, who remains popular a decade after first taking office.

Many analysts see Modi’s reelection as a foregone conclusion, partly due to the resonance of his assertive Hindu-nationalist politics with the members of the country’s majority faith.

UN adopts first global artificial intelligence resolution

The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted the first global resolution on artificial intelligence that encourages countries to safeguard human rights, protect personal data, and monitor AI for risks.

The nonbinding resolution, proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by China and over 120 other nations, also advocates the strengthening of privacy policies.

"Today, all 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly have spoken in one voice, and together, chosen to govern artificial intelligence rather than let it govern us," US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

The resolution is the latest in a series of initiatives - few of which carry teeth - by governments around the world to shape AI's development, amid fears it could be used to disrupt democratic processes, turbocharge fraud or lead to dramatic job losses, among other harms.

"The improper or malicious design, development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence systems ... pose risks that could ... undercut the protection, promotion and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms," the measure says. In November, the US, Britain and more than a dozen other countries unveiled the first detailed international agreement on how to keep artificial intelligence safe from rogue actors, pushing for companies to create AI systems that are "secure by design.

Europe is ahead of the United States, with EU lawmakers adopting a provisional agreement this month to oversee the technology. The Biden administration has been pressing lawmakers for AI regulation, but a polarized US Congress has made little headway.

In the meantime, the White House sought to reduce AI risks to consumers, workers, and minorities while bolstering national security with a new executive order in October.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said it took nearly four months to negotiate the resolution, but that it gave the world "a baseline set of principles to guide next steps in AI’s development and use."

Asked on Wednesday whether negotiators faced resistance from Russia or China, senior administration officials said there were "lots of heated conversations," but the administration actively engaged with countries with which it has different views.

Like governments around the world, Chinese and Russian officials are eagerly exploring the use of AI tools for a variety of purposes. Last month, Microsoft said it had caught hackers from both countries using Microsoft-backed OpenAI software to hone their espionage skills.

In response to the Microsoft report, China has said it opposes what it called groundless accusations while Russia did not respond to a request for comment.

Germany introduces fresh reforms to relax conditions for international students

Germany has eased visa rules for talented and skilled young workers from around the world to earn money while studying.

The government has provided new rules this month that will make it easier for young people from countries outside the European Union to acquire student and apprenticeship visas to work easily for Germany.

Students will be able to stay for 9 months in Germany to prepare for university admission and to work up to 20 hours per week to bear their expenses.

The relaxation is aimed to give career opportunities for young people, stabilizing the German economy.

International students will be able to participate easily in economic activities besides educational prospects and will be permitted to work for 20 hours, as per the report. This will give financial independence to students to make lives easier.

There is a severe shortage of skilled youth worldwide in the post-pandemic situation and many countries are providing remote work opportunities.

The German government is looking to bolster and diversify its workforce that will not just benefit the workers but have a lasting effect on the country’s economy.

Explosive star event will create once-in-a-lifetime sight in the sky

Astronomers anticipate the appearance of a nova in the night sky, possibly occurring anytime until September.

NASA describes it as a rare event, offering a unique spectacle. The nova will emerge in the Corona Borealis constellation, situated between Boötes and Hercules in the Milky Way.

Unlike a supernova, which marks the demise of a massive star, a nova stems from the sudden eruption of a collapsed white dwarf star. T Coronae Borealis, dubbed the "Blaze Star," is a binary system within Corona Borealis. It comprises a dead white dwarf and an aging red giant star. Red giants form as stars deplete their hydrogen fuel, swelling in size as they approach the end of their lifecycle.

Approximately every 79 years, T Coronae Borealis undergoes an explosive event due to the close interaction between its constituent stars. The red giant sheds its outer layers onto the white dwarf, leading to a gradual heating of the latter's atmosphere. Eventually, this triggers a runaway thermonuclear reaction, resulting in the nova phenomenon, as explained by NASA.

Every 79 years or so, T Coronae Borealis experiences an explosive event.A star that hasn’t been seen with the naked eye since the 1940s will appear for a fleeting moment in our night sky this year

Sudan crisis one of the ‘worst humanitarian disasters in rcent memory’: UN

Sudan is suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history after nearly a year of war, the United Nations has warned.

Fighting between the army, headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, since last April has killed tens of thousands of people, as the threat of famine looms amid international inaction.

“By all measures – the sheer scale of humanitarian needs, the numbers of people displaced and facing hunger – Sudan is one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory,” Edem Wosornu, director of operations at the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said on Wednesday.

“A humanitarian travesty is playing out in Sudan under a veil of international inattention and inaction,” Wosornu told the UN Security Council on behalf of OCHA head Martin Griffiths.

“Simply put, we are failing the people of Sudan,” she added, describing the population’s “desperation.”

According to the UN, the conflict has led to more than eight million people being displaced.

In early March, the Security Council called for an immediate ceasefire during Ramadan and urged better access to humanitarian aid. However, the ceasefire was not realised due to disagreements between the warring sides.

More than 18 million Sudanese are facing acute food insecurity – 10 million more than at this time last year – while 730,000 Sudanese children are believed to be suffering from severe malnutrition.

Griffiths warned the Security Council last week that “almost five million people could slip into catastrophic food insecurity in some parts of the country in the coming months”.

The deputy executive director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Carl Skau, also said on Wednesday, “If we are going to prevent Sudan from becoming the world’s largest hunger crisis, coordinated efforts and joined-up diplomacy is urgent and critical.”

US newspaper's 1970 solar eclipse prediction for 2024 comes true

A photo of an Ohio newspaper from 1970 predicting the upcoming total solar eclipse is raking in likes on X. The newspaper headline says, “Millions See Eclipse, Next Showing in 2024.”

Even though the exact date of the newspaper is hard to tell, but it appears that the paper was first referring to the total solar eclipse that occurred on March 7, 1970. It was visible across North America and Central America. The upcoming total solar eclipse will occur on April 8. It will be visible over North America, Mexico and Canada. The total solar eclipse is estimated to last up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds in the path of total darkness.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes in between the Sun and Earth and completely blocks the face of the Sun. This darkens the sky and the day appears like dusk for some time. Total solar eclipses are rare compared to partial or annular solar eclipses. According to Space.com, the next total solar eclipse will be on August 12, 2026. It will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Commenting on the Ohio newspaper’s forecasting, an X user wrote, “Fascinating to see predictions of celestial events from the past. It reminds us of the awe-inspiring nature of the universe and our place within it. Science and history intertwined in a single newspaper page.”

Another person wrote, “A 2024 Solar Eclipse forecast made in 1970. Interesting. I can imagine some of those old people who read the newspaper then saying: 2024, that’s a long time to come! Would the world still be existing by then?”

Science and space enthusiasts are gearing up to witness the total solar eclipse and are planning eclipse-watching events. Meanwhile, government and space research organisations are alerting people to take appropriate precautions while watching the total eclipse.

People must wear specialised eclipse glasses while looking at the sun during the eclipse. According to NASA, except for a short time when the moon completely blocks the sun, it is not safe to “look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection”. NASA also warns of getting “instant and severe eye injury” if one views the sun “through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics”.

Often people confuse the eclipse glasses with regular sunglasses, however, the special eclipse glasses are “thousands of times darker and comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard”.