Name: Caribbean's mountain chicken frog on brink of extinction with only 21 left
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Description: Caribbean's Mountain Chicken Frog on brink of extinction with only 21 left

34-year-old Indian-origin soldier among Israelis killed in Gaza

Isreali defence forces have confirmed the death of 34-year-old Indian-origin soldier. 86 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the fighting began on October 7.

A 34-year-old Indian-origin Israeli soldier has been killed during fighting in Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip this week, according to the community members.
Master Sgt. (res.) Gil Daniels from Ashdod was killed on Tuesday in Gaza and his funeral was held at the military cemetery in his hometown on Wednesday, they said.
The Israel Defence Forces confirmed that Gil was among two more soldiers killed during fighting in the Gaza Strip.
"Israel has lost many soldiers in this vicious and cruel war, the best of its sons and daughters who stood up to fight for the honour of the entire nation of Israel. Today, we mourn the death of another IDF (Israel Defence Forces) soldier Master Sgt. (Res.) Gil Daniels (34), son of Yoel and Mazal," the Indian Jewish Heritage Centre said.
"Gil went to the reserves on October 10 soon after the war started. May his memory be blessed," it said.
Gil did his Masters at the School of Pharmacy at Hebrew University.
"He was a genius with a great personality. Just got engaged a month ago. Such a loss!" his friend Tirza Lavi said.
A Bene Israel community member, whose origin lies in the Maharashtra region of India, Gil studied at Makif Gimel High School as a member of the class of 2007.
"With immense pain, we the members of the 61st group of the class of 2007 mourn his death&hellip;his smile is remembered by all his friends," a classmate of Gil said.
Some 86 Israeli soldiers are said to have been killed in fighting since the IDF launched its ground operation in Gaza. At least four Indian-origin Israeli soldiers are known to have been killed since October 7.

India gets consular access to 8 death row prisoners in Qatar

Qatar: India gets consular access to 8 death row prisoners, 

Qatar: India gets consular access to 8 death row prisoners,

The Ministry of External Affairs said that Indian envoy to Qatar, Vipul, got consular access to all eight arrested former naval officials on Decemeber 3.&nbsp;

The eight Indians on a death row in Qatar have got consular access.&nbsp;
The Indian Ambassador to Qatar met the former Indian Navy officials who have been convicted on charges of being spies for Israel.&nbsp;
The access was granted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim on the side-lines of COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
At a routine press briefing, External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters, "... our Ambassador got consular access to meet all eight in prison on December 3."

The USD 300 million loan, spanning 15 years with a three-year grace period, employs ADB's Flexible Loan Product, incurring an interest rate pegged to market fluctuations

Pakistan economic crisis: Cash-strapped country secures a critical $655 million loan

The USD 300 million loan, spanning 15 years with a three-year grace period, employs ADB's Flexible Loan Product, incurring an interest rate pegged to market fluctuations

Cash-strapped Pakistan recently secured a significant financing package of USD 655 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a move swiftly taken after Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar declared the nation's public debt as "unsustainable."
The ADB's funding includes three distinct loans: USD 300 million for enhancing domestic resource mobilization, USD 275 million to rehabilitate schools damaged during the destructive August 2022 floods, and USD 80 million to bolster agricultural productivity for improved food security, as announced by the ADB.
Debt Dilemma: Contradictory Views on Pakistan's Sustainability
In tandem, the World Bank's Debt Management and Sustainability Mission held discussions with Finance Minister Akhtar to assess the country's debt management, a report by the Express Tribune stated.
Despite Akhtar's assertion of Pakistan's debt being "unsustainable," World Bank Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser contradicted this view, labeling the debt as "sustainable." Notably, the ADB is footing the salaries of half of Pakistan's Debt Management Office staff&mdash;a responsibility ideally borne by the country's finance ministry.
However, despite concerns about unsustainable debt, Pakistan pursued one of the expensive loans offered by multilateral lenders, often known for providing financing at concessional rates.
Loan Dynamics: Balancing Expensive ADB Funding with Shorter Terms
The USD 300 million loan, spanning 15 years with a three-year grace period, employs ADB's Flexible Loan Product, incurring an interest rate pegged to market fluctuations. At current market rates, Pakistan faces an interest cost exceeding 6%, nearly three times higher than the concessional lending rates by the World Bank and the ADB.
Furthermore, the loan's 15-year term is comparatively shorter than previous ADB financing, raising questions about Pakistan's increasing debt burden for ventures that could potentially be addressed through internal initiatives rather than relying on foreign aid.
Notably, the ADB's intervention aims to strengthen Pakistan's tax system and address challenges such as a complex tax structure, a high level of informality in the economy, and weak tax administration, factors contributing to the nation's relatively weak tax revenue performance compared to regional counterparts.

A woman shared a post of meal on social media. However, it turned out into a nightmare for her as she received a $60,000 bill which is approximately ₹50 lakh

Woman receives ₹50 lakh bill after accidentally sharing restaurant's QR code on social media 

A woman shared a post of meal on social media. However, it turned out into a nightmare for her as she received a $60,000 bill which is approximately ₹50 lakh

A meal at a hotpot restaurant turned into a nightmare for a Chinese woman as she received a $60,000 bill which is approximately ₹50 lakh. She got an astronomical bill for the food that she did not order.&nbsp;
The woman shared a picture of her meal on her social media, but what turned the tables was that the QR code on the table was included in that picture. This was not some regular QR code as through this, people can scan and order their food.&nbsp;
However, as the picture went online, several social media users scanned it and placed several orders on the woman's table. Even though the woman tried to explain to the restaurant what happened, the restaurant was unable to cancel the orders and she ended up getting the hefty bill.&nbsp;
After this, the woman deleted her post but people kept making new orders at their table. The woman assumed that someone downloaded her photo and continued making orders using the code.&nbsp;
In the screenshot of the order, it was mentioned that people ordered 1,850 portions of fresh duck blood, 2,580 portions of squid, and 9,990 portions of shrimp paste, each priced at a few dozen yuan.&nbsp;
The restaurant did not make Wang pay the bill as they moved her to a new table. Management also said that they could not track down the people who ordered the food nor they could stop people from doing so.&nbsp;
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/chinese-police-save-1-000-felines-from-slaughter-were-to-be-served-as-pork-and-mutton-report-1698330532427">Chinese police save 1,000 cats from slaughter; were to be served as pork and mutton: report</a>

The Japanese restaurant that got popular for its peculiar service has now discontinued its face-slapping service

Japanese eatery ends face slapping service for ₹170 after old videos circulate on internet

The Japanese restaurant that got popular for its peculiar service has now discontinued its face-slapping service

A Japanese restaurant named Shachihoko-ya in Nagoya garnered massive popularity in the recent past for its peculiar service. In their service, they used to offer face slaps before meals for 300 Japanese Yen which is approximately ₹170.&nbsp;
However, this peculiar service known as the 'Nagoya Lady's Slap' has now been discontinued. The restaurant shared a post in which they announced the discontinuation of their popular face-slapping service after old videos started doing rounds on the internet.&nbsp;
The restaurant even urged customers to not visit the eatery with the expectation of experiencing the slap service.&nbsp;
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/south-indian-restaurant-run-by-2-japanese-men-in-kyoto-leaves-indian-man-astonished-thread-goes-viral-1698644688445">South Indian restaurant run by 2 Japanese men in Kyoto leaves Indian man astonished, thread goes viral&nbsp;</a>

UN chief Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to seek a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Israel accused the UN chief of &ldquo;a new moral low&rdquo; and &ldquo;bias against Israel.

War on Gaza: UN chief uses rare power to seek ceasefire, Israel calls it 'bias'

UN chief Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to seek a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Israel accused the UN chief of “a new moral low” and “bias against Israel.

UN chief Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to seek a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Israel accused the UN chief of &ldquo;a new moral low&rdquo; and &ldquo;bias against Israel.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has used a rarely exercised power to warn the Security Council of an impending &ldquo;humanitarian catastrophe&rdquo; in Gaza and urged its members to demand an immediate humanitarian cease-fire.
His letter to the council's 15 members on Wednesday said Gaza's humanitarian system was at risk of collapse after two months of war that has created &ldquo;appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma,&rdquo; and he demanded civilians be spared greater harm.
Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, which says the secretary-general may inform the council of matters he believes threaten international peace and security. &ldquo;The international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and end this crisis," he said.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said he expects the secretary-general to address the Security Council on Gaza this week and to press for a humanitarian cease-fire.
A short draft resolution circulated to council members late Wednesday by the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the council, would act on Guterres' letter under Article 99. It demands &ldquo;an immediate humanitarian cease-fire&rdquo; and expresses &ldquo;grave concern over the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.&rdquo; Earlier Wednesday, the 22-nation Arab Group at the UN strongly backed a cease-fire.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, said it is essential that the UN's most powerful body demand a halt to the conflict.
But the United States, Israel's closest ally, has veto power in the Security Council and has not supported a cease-fire.
On Tuesday, US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters that the role of the Security Council in the Israeli-Gaza war &ldquo;is not to get in the way of this important diplomacy going on on the ground &hellip; because we have seen some results, although not as great results as we want to see.&rdquo; A Security Council resolution at this time, he said, &ldquo;would not be useful.&rdquo; Mansour said a ministerial delegation from Arab nations and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation will be in Washington on Thursday to meet U.S. officials and press for an immediate cease-fire.
Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said the secretary-general invoked Article 99 to pressure Israel, accusing the UN chief of &ldquo;a new moral low&rdquo; and &ldquo;bias against Israel.&rdquo; &ldquo;The secretary-general's call for a ceasefire is actually a call to keep Hamas' reign of terror in Gaza,&rdquo; Erdan said in a statement. &ldquo;Instead of the secretary-general explicitly pointing to Hamas' responsibility for the situation and calling on the terrorist leaders to turn themselves in and return the hostages, thus ending the war, the secretary-general chooses to continue playing into Hamas' hands.&rdquo; In his letter, Guterres denounced &ldquo;the abhorrent acts of terror&rdquo; and brutal killing of more than 1,200 people in Israel by Hamas militants on October 7 and the abduction of some 250 people in the attack that started the war. He urged the immediate release of more than 130 still held captive.
But Guterres noted the worsening state of Gaza under Israel's ongoing military action, which it says is aimed at obliterating Hamas. More than 16,200 people have been killed, and some 80 per cent of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been forcibly displaced into increasingly smaller areas.
&ldquo;Amid constant bombardment by the Israel Defense Forces, and without shelter or the essentials to survive, I expect public order to completely break down soon due to the desperate conditions, rendering even limited humanitarian assistance impossible,&rdquo; Guterres warned.
A total collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, he said, would have &ldquo;potentially irreversible implications for Palestinians as a whole and for peace and security in the region.&rdquo; Dujarric, the U.N. spokesman, told reporters earlier that invoking Article 99 was &ldquo;a very dramatic constitutional move by the secretary-general". The only previous mention of Article 99 was in a December 1971 report by then Secretary-General U Thant to the council expressing his conviction that the situation in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, and the Indian subcontinent threatened international peace and security, Dujarric said.
&ldquo;One doesn't invoke this article lightly,&rdquo; Dujarric said. &ldquo;I think given the situation on the ground and the risk of complete collapse, not only of our humanitarian operations but of civil order, it's something that he felt needed to be done now.&rdquo;

In a major setback to China, Italy has formally withdrawn from the Belt and Road Initiative or BRI. Italy was the first G7 country to sign on to the initiative in 2019. Meloni, who was in opposition at the time, was against the deal from the start.

Setback to China as Italy pulls out of Belt and Road Initiative

In a major setback to China, Italy has formally withdrawn from the Belt and Road Initiative or BRI. Italy was the first G7 country to sign on to the initiative in 2019. Meloni, who was in opposition at the time, was against the deal from the start.

Italy has formally withdrawn from China's global Belt and Road initiative that seeks to deepen relations with foreign countries through infrastructure investments, Italian media reported on Wednesday.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni had previously signalled Italy's intention to withdraw from the agreement, which was up for renewal. The Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that a letter with the formal notice had been delivered to Beijing in recent days. Meloni's office declined to comment on the report.
Italy became the first G7 country to sign on to the initiative in 2019, when the populist, anti-establishment Five Star Movement party-led government promoted it as a way of increasing trade with China while getting investments in major infrastructure projects.
Neither appeared. In the intervening years, Italy's trade deficit with China has ballooned from 20 billion euros to 48 billion euros ($21.5 billion to $51.8 billion.) And investments in Italian ports that were trumpeted in newspaper headlines were never achieved.
Meloni, in opposition at the time, was against the deal from the start. Her foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said this summer that Italy had not &ldquo;obtained great results&rdquo; from the pact.
Analysts said Italy had little incentive to continue in the pact, and that China can fall back on the face-saving narrative that Italy dropped out under US pressure.
The initiative involves Chinese companies building transportation, energy and other infrastructure overseas funded by Chinese development bank loans. It has built power plants, roads, railroads and ports around the world and deepened China's relations with Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Mideast. It is a major part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's push for China to play a larger role in global affairs. More than 150 countries have signed Belt and Road agreements with China.

Three people were fatally shot and a fourth person was critically wounded after a shooter opened fire on Las Vegas campus of University of Nevada. The attacker was killed.

Las Vegas shooting: 3 shot dead, one injured on university campus; shooter killed

Three people were fatally shot and a fourth person was critically wounded after a shooter opened fire on Las Vegas campus of University of Nevada. The attacker was killed.

Three people were fatally shot and a fourth person was critically wounded in an attack on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus, police said. The suspected shooter also was found dead.
The attack just before noon on Wednesday sent police swarming onto the campus, which is just a couple of miles from the world-famous Las Vegas Strip while students barricaded themselves in classrooms. Authorities gave the all-clear about 40 minutes after the first report of an active shooter.
Police haven't released the identity of the shooter or the motive for the attack. The shootings took place in a city still scarred by an October 2017 attack by a gunman at the Mandalay Bay casino that killed 60 people and wounded hundreds more.
Police said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that three people were killed and a fourth person was in critical condition at a hospital. Authorities didn't immediately provide additional information but planned to give further updates at a news conference scheduled for 5 pm PT.
Alerts went out across the campus after callers reported an active shooter to police at 11:45 am Wednesday, said Adam Garcia, a university police official. He said officers found and &ldquo;engaged&rdquo; a suspect, who is now dead. It was not immediately clear how the suspect died.
Students and professors on the campus of 30,000 barricaded themselves inside classrooms and dorm rooms.
Student John Harris heard what he later realized was a gunshot as he was getting out of his car in the parking garage of an on-campus apartment complex. In the elevator, Harris said he got an emergency text alert text from the university.
&ldquo;I wasn't sure what to believe,&rdquo; said Harris, 21, who ended up sheltering at a friend's dorm. &ldquo;But as I came down to the street, and I saw there were a bunch of cops in the parking lot at the student union, I knew what I heard was a gunshot and this wasn't a drill.&rdquo; Professor Kevaney Martin took cover under a desk in her classroom, where another faculty member and three students took shelter with her.
&ldquo;It was terrifying, I can't even begin to explain,&rdquo; Matin said. &ldquo;I was trying to hold it together for my students, and trying not to cry, but the emotions are something I never want to experience again.&rdquo; Martin said she was texting friends and loved ones, hoping to receive word a suspect had been detained. When another professor came to the room and told everyone to evacuate, they joined dozens of others rushing out of the building. Martin had her students piled into her car and drove them off campus.
&ldquo;Once we got away from UNLV, we parked and sat in silence,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Nobody said a word. We were in utter shock.&rdquo; The university said on X that the shooter was at the Beam Hall, Frank and Estella Building, home of UNLV's Lee Business School, and that police were responding to an additional report of shots fired at the nearby student union.
Las Vegas police posted on X that a suspect &ldquo;has been located and is deceased&rdquo; about 40 minutes after the initial alert was posted.
Students and the community were alerted to the emergency by a university post on X.
&ldquo;This is not a test,&rdquo; the university wrote. &ldquo;RUN-HIDE-FIGHT.&rdquo; Student Matthew Felsenfeld said he and about 12 classmates barricaded their door in a building near the student union.
&ldquo;It's the moment you call your parents and tell them you love them,&rdquo; said Felsenfeld, a 21-year-old journalism student.
He said he didn't hear gunfire or see anyone injured but said he saw out the windows as police staged to enter the neighboring building. a short while later, police came and ushered them out.
Pierre Lescure, a UNLV senior, was riding his bicycle from home to campus for a meeting when he said about 10 police cars drove pass him.
&ldquo;They drove too fast and there was no ambulance, just cops. It was clearly a shooting,&rdquo; Lescure said. &ldquo;It could not be something else.&rdquo; UNLV's 332-acre campus is less than two miles east of the Las Vegas Strip.
In response to the campus shootings, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop of all flights coming into Harry Reid International Airport. The university is roughly three kilometres north of the airport.
Tony Molinaro, an FAA spokesperson, referred a request to comment to Las Vegas law enforcement.
Classes were cancelled at the university, and UNLV's basketball game at the University of Dayton, Ohio, was cancelled Wednesday night because of the Las Vegas shootings.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/iran-sends-animals-to-space-man-mission-soon-says-defence-minister-1701872166513">Iran sends animals to space, man-mission soon, says defence minister</a>

Santa in scuba gear feeds fishes in Germany | Video

The seasonal divers crossed the artificial ocean in an underwater tunnel and came face to face with sea turtles, small sharks and rays.

Santa Claus brought Christmas gifts to the sea world at an aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen on Wednesday morning.
Santa Claus and his reindeer took a dive into the aquarium to feed rays, sharks and other sea creatures.
The seasonal divers crossed the artificial ocean in an underwater tunnel and came face to face with sea turtles, small sharks and rays.
Sea Life in Oberhausen is home to Germany's biggest shark nursery.

Iran's Defence Minister on December 6 announced the successful launch of a space capsule into orbit. As per official reports, the capsule was carrying animals.

Iran sends animals to space, man-mission soon, says defence minister

Iran's Defence Minister, Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani, on December 6 announced the successful launch of a space capsule into orbit. As per official reports, the capsule was carrying animals.

Stating that Tehran has successfully launched a capsule carrying animals into the space, the country's Defence minister said on Wednesday that Iran is inching close to launch a human mission to the space.&nbsp;
A 500 kg capsule is expected to be sent to space carrying Iranian astronauts and if successful the mission will make Iran 4th nation to have a manned space mission.
Quoting Telecommunication minister Isa Zarepourn, IRNA news agency said the capsule carrying animals was placed 130 kilometers into orbit.
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/putin-s-bid-to-shore-up-support-russian-president-visits-uae-saudi-next-1701866958221">Putin's bid to shore up support, Russian President visits UAE, Saudi next</a>
However, there was no official confirmation on which animals were sent in the capsule. Iran is hyperfocused on its space mission and has announced many successful launch of the satellites into space earlier.&nbsp;

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Cyclone Michaung

Caribbean's Mountain Chicken Frog on brink of extinction with only 21 left

The most recent survey saw 28 conservationists from 11 organisations spend a total of 960 hours over 26 nights searching for the frog. Invasive species, climate change and pollution continue to threaten the future of the culturally significant frog

Once found widespread across seven Caribbean islands, the mountain chicken frog, is on the verge of complete extinction from the Caribbean.
A series of ecological disasters has reduced its former healthy, stable population of hundreds of thousands of amphibians to a total of 21 frogs, according to a most recent survey.
The rapid and shocking decline of the mountain chicken frog officially named Giant Ditch frog has stunned biologists who believe it is one of the fastest eradications of a wild animal ever recorded.

Jailed Imran Khan's message on deportation of Afghans: treat them with dignity

Jailed Imran Khan's message on deportation of Afghans: treat them with dignity

Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has said the treatment being meted out to Afghan refugees in the country is contrary to the core values of Islam and its social values.
In a message from jail which his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party issued here on Friday said 71-year-old Khan has made it clear that the treatment being given to Afghan refugees was contrary to the teachings of Islam, the Holy Quran, the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and our social and moral traditions.
Pakistan has started deporting illegal Afghan nationals since early last month citing the rise of terrorism because of them. The government has listed some 1.7 million Afghan nationals as illegal.
Khan said that Afghan nationals should be treated with dignity and respect because both countries had a centuries-long relationship based on brotherhood and mutual respect.
"Talking of the maltreatment of Afghan refugees, Khan reminded that hijra had a special place in Islam as Hazrat Musa, Hazrat Ibrahim, and Prophet Muhammad as also other Prophets had experienced this in their lives. He stressed that it is obligatory upon us as a nation to take special care of the refugees seeking asylum in our country who had been deprived of their homes and lands as a result of wars and disasters and treat them with kindness and respect," the PTI statement said.
It said Khan emphasised that Afghanistan is our brotherly neighbouring Islamic country and people of both countries are bound together in relations of brotherhood spread over centuries.
Khan further said that nations can't change their neighbours and they need each other&rsquo;s support from time to time.
He underlined that trust-based relations with neighbours will guarantee the future security of Pakistan.
Khan pointed out that Pakistan served Afghan refugees for 40 years and the positive impact of decades-long warm hospitality was being nullified by pursuing poor strategy.
"Some 1.5 million refugees are not an unbearable burden on a nation of 250 million people. A sizable majority of refugees who came to Pakistan seeking asylum belonged to the poorest segments of the society," Khan said, warning that negative sentiments would instil in the entire Afghan nation due to the failure to handle the refugee issue with civility, courtesy, and wisdom.
He warned that the ill feelings and bitterness caused by the poor strategy would become a part of their psyche, which would remain a permanent huddle in building durable bilateral relations between the two countries.
Khan said the current approach of herding Afghan refugees like sheep should be abandoned instantly. He advised them to deliberate on the whole issue wisely and adopt a dignified way by safeguarding the self-respect of the refugees.
Khan has been in jail since this August in different cases.&nbsp;

Video: thousands of dead fish wash up on Japanese shore

According to Takashi Fujioka, a researcher at Hakodate Fisheries Research Institute the timing of the mass deaths coincides with the season of sardines migration southward from Hokkaido.&nbsp;

Thousands of dead fish washed up in northern Japan across a stretch of more than a kilometre-long beach, according to local media.
Tons of mostly sardines and some mackerel washed up Thursday morning on a shore of Hakodate in Japan's Hokkaido prefecture.
The cause behind the wash-up is still uncertain.
The timing of the incident, however, coincides with the season of sardines migration southward from Hokkaido, according to Takashi Fujioka, a researcher at Hakodate Fisheries Research Institute.
&ldquo;One possibility is that the school of fish was chased by a larger fish, became exhausted, and was washed up by the waves,&rdquo; says Fujioka.
&ldquo;Or they entered a mass of cold water.&rdquo;
The day after the wash-up, city officials were still seen inspecting the site and are trying to collect the fish.
Fujioka said he doesn't recommend eating them.
"We don&rsquo;t know for sure under what circumstances these fish were washed-up," he said.

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been indicted on nine tax charges in California. The new charges including three felonies and six misdemeanors come in addition to federal firearms charges against him.

Joe Biden's son indicted on nine tax charges, adding to gun charges

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been indicted on nine tax charges in California. The new charges including three felonies and six misdemeanors come in addition to federal firearms charges against him.

Hunter Biden has been indicted on nine tax charges in California as a special counsel investigation into the business dealings of the president's son intensifies against the backdrop of the looming 2024 election.
The new charges &mdash; three felonies and six misdemeanors &mdash; come in addition to federal firearms charges in Delaware alleging Hunter Biden broke a law against drug users having guns in 2018.
He had been previously expected to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges as part of a plea deal with prosecutors who said he failed to pay taxes on USD4 million in personal income in 2017 and 2018. Defence attorneys have signalled they plan to fight any new charges.
The agreement imploded in July after a judge raised questions about it. It had also been pilloried as a &ldquo;sweetheart deal&rdquo; by Republicans investigating nearly every aspect of Hunter Biden's business dealings as well as the Justice Department's handling of the case.
Congressional Republicans have also pursued an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, claiming he was engaged in an influence-peddling scheme with his son. The House is expected to vote next week on formally authorising the inquiry.
While questions have arisen about the ethics surrounding the Biden family's international business, no evidence has emerged so far to prove that Joe Biden, in his current or previous office, abused his role or accepted bribes.
The criminal investigation led by Delaware US Attorney David Weiss has been open since 2018, and was expected to wind down with the plea deal that Hunter Biden had planned to strike with prosecutors over the summer. He would have pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor tax evasion charges and would have entered a separate agreement on the gun charge. He would have served two years of probation rather than get jail time.
The agreement also contained immunity provisions, and defense attorneys have argued that they remain in force since that part of the agreement was signed by a prosecutor before the deal was scrapped.
Prosecutors disagree, pointing out the documents weren't signed by a judge and are invalid.
After the deal fell apart, prosecutors filed three federal gun charges alleging that Hunter Biden had lied about his drug use to buy a gun that he kept for 11 days in 2018. Federal law bans gun possession by &ldquo;habitual drug users,&rdquo; though the measure is seldom seen as a stand-alone charge and has been called into question by a federal appeals court.
Hunter Biden's longstanding struggle with substance abuse had worsened during that period after the death of his brother Beau Biden in 2015, prosecutors wrote in a draft plea agreement filed in court in Delaware.
He still made &ldquo;substantial income&rdquo; in 2017 and 2018, including USD2.6 million in business and consulting fees from a company he formed with the CEOs of a Chinese business conglomerate and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, but did not pay his taxes, prosecutors said in that filing.
He did eventually file his taxes in 2020 and the back taxes were paid by a &ldquo;third party&rdquo; the following year, prosecutors said.&nbsp;

Denmark's parliament has passed a law that makes it illegal to desecrate any religious text in the country. This comes after a recent string of public desecrations of the Quran by a handful of anti-Islam activists.

Denmark passes law banning burning Quran, other religious texts

Denmark's parliament has passed a law that makes it illegal to desecrate any religious text in the country. This comes after a recent string of public desecrations of the Quran by a handful of anti-Islam activists.

A new law was passed in Denmark's parliament on Thursday that makes it illegal to desecrate any holy text in the country, after a recent string of public desecrations of the Quran by a handful of anti-Islam activists sparked angry demonstrations in Muslim countries.
The Scandinavian nation has been viewed abroad as a place that facilitates insults and denigration of the cultures, religions and traditions of other countries. The purpose of the law was to counter &ldquo;the systematic mockery&rdquo; which, among other things, has contributed to intensifying the threat of terrorism in Denmark, the justice ministry has said.
The Folketing, or parliament, adopted the law in a 94-77 vote, with eight lawmakers absent. The new legislation will make it a crime &ldquo;to inappropriately treat, publicly or with the intention of dissemination in a wider circle, a writing with significant religious significance for a religious community or an object that appears as such&rdquo;.
Works of art where &ldquo;a minor part&rdquo; includes a desecration, but is part of a larger artistic production, isn't covered by the ban.
During the more than four-hour debate, left-leaning and far-right parties united against the centre-right government, repeatedly demanding that the three-party coalition that presented the draft on Aug 25, take part in the discussion. The government didn't say anything and were called &ldquo;cowards&rdquo; by the opposition.
&ldquo;Does Iran change its legislation because Denmark feels offended by something an Iranian could do? Does Pakistan? Does Saudi Arabia? The answer is no,&rdquo; Karina Lorentzen of the Socialist People's Party asked rhetorically.
Inger St&oslash;jberg of the anti-immigration Denmark Democrats said the new law was a capitulation to Islam and a bowing down to countries that &ldquo;do not share (our) set of values.&rdquo; &ldquo;A restriction of freedom of expression is wrong in a modern and enlightened society like the Danish one,&rdquo; St&oslash;jberg said.
This year alone, activists have staged more than 500 protests, including burnings of the Quran, in front of embassies of Muslim countries, places of worship and in immigrant neighbourhoods.
Denmark has repeatedly distanced itself from the desecrations, but has insisted that freedom of expression is one of the most important values in Danish society. The government has said there must &ldquo;be room for religious criticism&rdquo; and that there were no plans to reintroduce a blasphemy clause that was repealed in 2017.
In 2006, Denmark was at the centre of widespread anger in the Muslim world after a Danish newspaper posted 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, including one wearing a bomb as a turban. Muslims consider images of the prophet to be sacrilegious and encouraging idolatry. The images escalated into violent anti-Denmark protests by Muslims worldwide.
Those who violate the new law face fines or up to two years in prison. Before it takes effect, Denmark's figurehead monarch Queen Margrethe needs to formally sign it. That is expected to happen later this month.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/dhankar-expresses-pain-after-video-shows-him-bowing-greeting-pm-modi-1701964883666">Dhankar expresses 'pain' after video shows him bowing &amp; greeting PM Modi</a>

India reacts to gunning down of wanted Lashkar terrorist in Pakistan

On the intervening night of Decemeber 2nd and 3rd, LeT terrorist Hanzla Adnan was killed by unknown gunmen in Karachi outside his home. Adnan masterminded an attack on a Border Security Force convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur in 2015.&nbsp;

India has reacted to wanted terrorists being killed in neighbouring Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs reacted on Thursday to the killing of a top Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist in Karachi by unknown men.
The foreign ministry&rsquo;s spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said that those who are wanted by Indian authorities should come here and "face the legal system". He said: &ldquo;We would like them to come to India and face our legal system, but I cannot comment on developments that are taking place in Pakistan.&rdquo; On the intervening night of Decemeber 2 and 3, LeT terrorist Hanzla Adnan, who masterminded the attack on a Border Security Force convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur in 2015, was killed by unknown gunmen in Karachi outside his home.

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