International

Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the ancient heritage site of Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer in Palestine on Friday received the UNESCO tag and was simultaneously put on the List of World Heritage in Danger after an "emergency nomination".

The announcement was made during the ongoing 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Delhi. India is hosting the key UNESCO event for the first time. Israel has been carrying out a massive military offensive in Gaza following the attack by Hamas on Israeli cities on October 7.

India in November had urged both the sides to eschew violence, de-escalate the situation and create conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations towards a two-state solution to the Palestine issue. Friday's inscription has raised hopes about protection of such heritage sites.

"In view of the threats to this heritage site posed by the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, the World Heritage Committee used the emergency inscription procedure provided for in the World Heritage Convention," the UNESCO in a statement later  "Situated on the coastal dunes in Nuseirat Municipality, the ruins of Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer represent one of the earliest monastic sites in the Middle East, dating back to the 4th century," according to the UNESCO website.

"Founded by Saint Hilarion, the monastery began with solitary hermits and evolved into a coenobitic community. It was the first monastic community in the Holy Land, laying the groundwork for the spread of monastic practices in the region. The monastery occupied a strategic position at the crossroads of major trade and communication routes between Asia and Africa," it said.

Pakistan on Friday rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at an event marking 25 years of Kargin Vijay Diwas at Drass in Ladakh as “rhetorical statements” and said it cannot deflect international attention from India’s efforts to suppress the Kashmiri people.

India hailed the valour of its soldiers in the Kargil conflict 25 years ago with Prime Minister Modi issuing a stern message to Pakistan, saying it has been trying to stay relevant by using terrorism and proxy wars but all such terror attempts will be crushed with full force. “Bravado and jingoism undermine regional peace, and are totally counter-productive for resolution of long-standing disputes between Pakistan and India, especially the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement.

India has been maintaining that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment that is free of terror and hostility for such an engagement. India has also told Pakistan that the "Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India."

The Foreign Office further stated that Pakistan stands resolute in its intent and ability to safeguard its sovereignty against any aggression. “While Pakistan is ready to counter India’s aggressive actions, it remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the region,” the statement concluded.

India and the United States on Friday reached their first agreement to prevent illegal trafficking of cultural property and return of antiquarian objects to their place of origin, the Ministry of Culture said.

The US-India Cultural Property Agreement was signed by Union Cultural Secretary Govind Mohan and US envoy Eric Garcetti in the presence of Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on the sidelines of the ongoing 46th session of the World Heritage Committee at Bharat Mandapam.

Interacting with the press later, Shekhawat said it is a general agreement that will allow "smooth repatriation" of historic artefact from the US to India. He added that there are "297 items" that are "lying in the US, ready to be repatriated." India has repatriated 358 antiquities since 1976, out of these 345 have been retrieved since 2014, the minister said.

"The agreement aims to prevent illegal trafficking of cultural property and retrieval of antiquarian objects to their place of origin," the Culture Ministry said in a statement.

The US Embassy in a statement said that with this agreement, India joins the ranks of 29 existing US bilateral cultural property agreement partners. 

Informal words used as slang, such as ‘boop’ and ‘the ick’, are among more than 3,200 new words and phrases added to the ‘Cambridge Dictionary’ in its latest update this week.

'Boop', which is defined as “a gentle hit or touch on a person's or animal's nose or head, showing that you like them or as a joke”, and 'the ick', which refers to “a sudden feeling that you dislike someone or something or are no longer attracted to someone because of something they do”, are among the slangs to make it to the online edition for 2024 so far. 'Chef’s kiss', or a movement in which you put your fingers and thumb together, kiss them, then pull your hand away from your lips as a way of showing that you think that something or someone is perfect or excellent, is another such informal phrase that has been recognised formally.

“Language is always changing, and this means that the ‘Cambridge Dictionary’ team stays busy researching new words and meanings that enter the English language,” the dictionary said in a statement on Thursday.

“Many new additions come from the fields of science and technology, including 'scicomm' – the activity of explaining scientific work and information to people who are not scientists, or articles, talks, etc. that do this, and deep-sky – existing in or relating to the part of space outside the solar system,” it said. A few other quirky additions include IYKYK, which is the written abbreviation for “if you know you know”. It is used mostly on social media and in text messages to imply a shared joke or shared knowledge with the reader that other people might not understand.

The noun “face journey” has been added to refer to “a series of expressions that appear on someone's face showing different emotions that they are experiencing as a reaction to something”.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama announced their support for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid on Friday. In a joint statement, the Obamas said, "We agree with President Biden,” adding, “Choosing Kamala was one of the best decisions he’s made. She has the resume to prove it."

“But Kamala has more than a resume. She has the vision, the character, and the strength that this critical moment demands. There is no doubt in our mind that Kamala Harris has exactly what it takes to win this election and deliver for the American people,” the statement said. “At a time when the stakes have never been higher, she gives us all reason to hope,” it added.

The statement came along with a video of the Obamas congratulating Harris on a phone call.

“Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” the former president told Harris on the call. Harris could be seen thanking the Obamas for their support and expressing gratitude for their old friendship.

“Oh my goodness. Michelle, Barack, this means so much to me. I’m looking forward to doing this with the two of you, Doug and I both. And getting out there, being on the road,” the vice president said.

“I can’t have this phone call without saying to my girl, Kamala, I am proud of you. This is going to be historic,” the former first lady replied to Harris.

France’s TGV high-speed train network was hit by a series of pre-dawn sabotage attacks, causing major travel disruptions and highlighting security concerns ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday.

The attacks occurred as France launched an extensive security operation involving tens of thousands of police and soldiers to protect the capital for the Games. The state-owned SNCF reported that signal boxes were damaged on key routes connecting Paris with cities like Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg, while an attack on the Paris-Marseille line was thwarted.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility. Initial suspicions have pointed to leftist militants or environmental activists, though no evidence has yet emerged. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal refuted these claims. "What we know, what we see, is that this operation was prepared, coordinated, that nerve centres were targeted, which shows a certain knowledge of the network to know where to strike," Attal said.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach expressed confidence in the French authorities, stating, “I don’t have concerns,” to the press at the Olympic Village.

The Chinese Communist Party’s proposal to increase the retirement age to address the ageing population has sparked widespread public discontent. Currently, the retirement age for male urban workers is 60, while for female workers it is 50 or 55, depending on their occupation.

The recently concluded third plenum of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has unveiled comprehensive reforms to advance the modernisation of the economy, plagued by a deepening demographic crisis, sluggish growth and mounting local government debt. The powerful body also discussed plans to raise the country’s retirement age in a “voluntary and flexible” manner. But the plan, which has been in the works for several years, has generated a backlash in Chinese social media with people expressing their dissatisfaction over the prospect of delayed access to their pensions while younger employees averring that the rise of the retirement age will leave them with fewer jobs if the older workers stay.

People also shared a forecast by the state-run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 2019 stating that China’s state pension fund would run dry by 2035 because of its dwindling workforce amid increased concerns.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday declared his candidacy for the September presidential election as an independent candidate by depositing money for the upcoming polls.

The election commission announced that presidential polls will be held on September 21, ending months-long speculation over the key contest that will likely determine the future of economic reforms in the cash-strapped country. President's Counsel Ronald Perera placed a cash deposit on Wickremesinghe's behalf, and the nominations for the election will take place on August 15.

Wickremesinghe's candidacy was in doubt due to his lack of a solid party, with his United National Party decimated by the 2020 split. By offering himself as an independent candidate, Wickremesinghe aims to cash in on the economic turnaround he has successfully engineered since the island declared bankruptcy in 2022.

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, one of the world’s most influential drug lords and leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, has been arrested by US federal agents in El Paso, Texas.

The 76-year-old, who co-founded the cartel with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, now imprisoned in the US, was taken into custody alongside Guzman's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, according to the US Justice Department. Zambada had been charged in February with conspiring to produce and distribute fentanyl, a potent drug linked to the US opioid crisis. While the specifics of their arrests are not fully detailed, it appears they entered the US under pretence.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Zambada was deceived into boarding a plane by Guzman Lopez and was led to believe he was inspecting clandestine airfields in Mexico, following an operation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. Lopez surrendered himself and implicated Zambada due to a grudge over his father’s capture.

Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have endorsed Kamala Harris' presidential bid in a one-minute video, captured during a private phone call.

"We called to say Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office," Obama told Harris "I am proud of you. This is going to be historic," the former first lady told Harris.

Harris expressed her gratitude for the endorsement and their long friendship. "Thank you both. It means so much. And we're gonna have some fun with this too," Harris said.

The campaign claims the video was an actual call, not a reenactment. 

Hours before the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris, French railway company SNCF reported that its high-speed TGV network had been targeted by "malicious acts" intended to disrupt services.

The SNCF has advised travellers to delay their journeys, as repairs are ongoing and disruptions are expected through the weekend. Trains are being rerouted to their original stations. The SNCF disclosed, "Last night, the SNCF was the victim of several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern high-speed lines. Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations." The disruption has also affected trains to Belgium and London.

To secure the Olympics, France has launched an extensive peacetime security operation, deploying over 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents. The security measures include snipers on rooftops and drones monitoring from the air.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday called on BIMSTEC nations to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism; combating drug trafficking, arms smuggling and organised crime.

Doval, leading the Indian delegation at the 4th annual meeting of the security chiefs of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), delivered India's national statement at the meeting here in Myanmarese capital. "NSA delivered India's national statement at #BIMSTEC meet. He spoke on strengthening cooperation in counter-terrorism; combating drug trafficking, arms smuggling and organised crime; BIMSTEC connectivity; holding 2nd Ports Conclave; and water security of Himalayan river systems," the Embassy of India in Myanmar said in a post on X.

The meeting has been convened to strategise and coordinate initiatives crucial for addressing common security challenges faced by member states.

The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed floating barriers and suction hoses to contain an oil spill from the MT Terra Nova, which capsized on Thursday amid heavy monsoon rains.

The 65-metre-long vessel, carrying nearly 1.5 million litres of industrial fuel, began leaking from its engine rather than its cargo tank.

Authorities are working urgently to prevent the spill, which extends for several kilometres, from reaching Manila. Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, the coast guard spokesperson, stated that they are "preparing for the worst," as the spill could become the most severe in the nation's history. Concerns also include potential impacts on local fisheries and marine life.

Amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, heritage site of Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer in Palestine on Friday received the UNESCO tag and was simultaneously put on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The announcement was made during the ongoing 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi.

Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer in Palestine has been inscribed on World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger, it was announced in the plenary meeting of the session.

Various state parties from Lebanon, Turkiye, and Kazakhstan welcomed the UNESCO inscription of the heritage site in Palestine.

Former US president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Thursday refused to debate with his Democratic rival and Vice President Kamala Harris until the Democrats formally decide on their nominee, whereas the latter said that she is ready for a debate.

“You have been asking me about the debate and I'll tell you I'm ready to debate Donald Trump. I have agreed to the previously agreed upon September 10 debate,” Harris told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on her return from Houston. “He (Trump) agreed to that previously. Now here he is backpedaling and I’m ready and I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage. And so I'm ready to go,” Harris said.

Trump was declared the Republican party nominee at its convention in Milwaukee this month, Harris is all set to be declared the party’s nominee at its convention in Chicago in August. “Given the continued political chaos surrounding Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrat Party, general election debate details cannot be finalized until Democrats formally decide on their nominee,” Trump Campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a late night statement.

“There is a strong sense by many in the Democrat Party - namely Barack Hussein Obama - that Kamala Harris is a Marxist fraud who cannot beat President Trump, and they are still holding out for someone “better.” Therefore, it would be inappropriate to schedule things with Harris because Democrats very well could still change their minds,” Cheung said. Trump and US President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race over the weekend and was succeeded by Harris, had previously agreed to two debates on June 27 and September 10. 

Biden’s disastrous debate in Atlanta on June 27 ultimately led him to quit the race three weeks later. The September 10 debate was previously agreed to be hosted by ABC News. The June 27 debate was hosted by CNN.

Fox News has now proposed a debate between Trump and Harris on September 17 in Pennsylvania.

Nepalese authorities on Thursday recovered the black box of the aircraft that crashed in Kathmandu a day before and handed it over to a probe team formed to inquire into the tragic accident that killed 18 persons, including a child.

A Pokhra-bound Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft of Saurya Airlines, carrying 19 people, crashed and caught fire shortly after taking off from the Tribhuvan International Airport here on Wednesday, killing 18 people aboard, and seriously injuring the pilot.

The probe team is headed by Ratish Chandra Lal, former director general of the Civil Aviation Authority, and includes four other experts. The team has to submit its probe report along with recommendations within 45 days.

The presidential election in Sri Lanka is to take place on September 21, the independent elections commission announced.

The announcement ended months-long speculation that the election would be postponed to extend the term of the incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The election announcement set to end the balance term of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was ousted mid 2022 in a popular public uprising. Rajapaksa was elected with a record near seven million votes in November 2019 when the last presidential election was held. Tens of thousands who got into the streets in 2022 demanded Rajapaksa to step down for his failure to tackle the island’s gravest economic crisis since 1948.

Rajapaksa was forced to flee the country on July 9, 2022 and incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe who was the crisis Prime Minister was elected through parliament to succeed Rajapaksa.

Wickremesinghe undertook the difficult task of reviving the bankrupt economy by tapping a bail-out facility from the IMF.

Israel has a right to defend itself, but how it does so matters, US Vice-President Kamala Harris said after her meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlighting the human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians.

“I've said it many times, but it bears repeating. Israel has a right to defend itself, and how it does so matters. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization. On October 7, Hamas triggered this war when it massacred 1,200 innocent people, including 44 Americans. Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and took 250 hostages. There are American citizens who remain captive in Gaza,” Harris told reporters immediately after meeting Netanyahu in the White House complex. During her meeting with Netanyahu, Harris said that she expressed her serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians.

“I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there. With over two million people facing high levels of food insecurity, and half a million people facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity. What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating,” she said. “The images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third, or fourth time. We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent,” Harris said.

Harris said there is a deal on the table for a ceasefire and a hostage deal. The first phase of the deal would bring about a full ceasefire, including a withdrawal of the Israeli military from population centres in Gaza. In the second phase, the Israeli military would withdraw from Gaza entirely and it would lead to a permanent end to the hostilities. “I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done. So to everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you,” Harris added.

The White House described as “disgusting” the increasing sexist and racist attacks on Vice-President Kamala Harris which have intensified after she became the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic party.

“I think it's desperate. I think it's disgusting and I think it's a dog whistle. We should not forget that she is the Vice-President of the United States. She should get that respect. She’s been doing this job with the president for almost four years,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference. “She's a former Senator and has been a critical partner in getting the economy restarted and making sure that — that we deal with the pandemic. And to hear that is, frankly, disgusting,” Jean-Pierre said when asked about the increase in racist and sexist attacks against Harris, who is of both India and African origin.

It increased to such a level that the House Speaker Mike Johnson had to ask his Republican lawmakers to avoid such an attack. “When you have the speaker of the House, obviously he's a Republican, and this is something that you all have reported, set up a meeting to tell Republican leaders to stop being racist, to stop being misogynist, to stop being sexist, I think that says a lot that they have to be told to not do that,’ Jean-Pierre added. 

According to ‘Politico’, “House Republican leaders told lawmakers to focus on criticising Vice-President Kamala Harris’ record without reference to her race and gender, following caustic remarks from some Republicans attacking her on the basis of identity.”