Scotland on Monday will become the first country in the world to provide free and universal access to sanitary products such as tampons and pads following the passage of the landmark bill, the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act, in 2020.

In a first, this country to provide free, universal access to period products

Scotland on Monday will become the first country in the world to provide free and universal access to sanitary products such as tampons and pads following the passage of the landmark bill, the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act, in 2020. The law solidifies the Scottish government’s efforts to make period products accessible in public. 

Local authorities and educators will now be legally mandated to ensure that period products are available free of charge to anyone who needs them.&nbsp;

Scotland on Monday will become the first country in the world to provide free and universal access to sanitary products such as tampons and pads following the passage of the landmark bill, the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act, in 2020. The law solidifies the Scottish government&rsquo;s efforts to make period products accessible in public, read an official statement by the government.
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison was quoted as saying by AFP, "It is fundamental to equality and dignity to provide free access to period products. It will also remove the financial barriers to accessing them. We are proud to be the world's first country to take such an action."
Local authorities and educators will now be legally mandated to ensure that period products are available free of charge to anyone who needs them.
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In November 2020, the Scottish parliament unanimously voted for the Period Products Bill which binds schools, colleges, and universities to provide free sanitary products for students in their toilets. In its present form, the bill -- based on Period Products in Schools (Scotland) Regulations -- has gone further in placing a legal mandate on ministers to ensure access to such products by all.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the decision on social media and said, "Proud to vote for this groundbreaking legislation, making Scotland the first country in the world to provide free period products for all who need them. An important policy for women and girls."
With AFP inputs

The knife attack on author Salman Rushdie has fanned interest in his works -- above all, The Satanic Verses, which left him living for years under a looming death threat.
Different editions of the 1988 book -- seen as blasphemous by Iranian leaders who subsequently issued a religious decree calling for his death -- on Saturday occupied the top three spots on Amazon's "Movers & Shakers" list.
That list, which shows books whose sales have increased the most, had another Rushdie opus, Midnight's Children, teetering between fourth and fifth place.
Bookstores reported a flurry of interest in the Indian-born author, some from readers too young to remember the original fury he prompted across much of the Muslim world.
The knife attack on Rushdie, 75, which drew international condemnation, took place Friday as the author was about to speak at a literary event in the small town of Chautauqua, in western New York state.
Police and witnesses said 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairfield, New Jersey, was wrestled to the ground as he continued his attack, which left Rushdie in serious condition. Authorities have yet to describe Matar's background or say what might have motivated him.
At the sprawling Strand Bookstore, New York's biggest and probably most famous book emporium, the attack brought a spike in interest, and in sales of new and used Rushdie volumes.
"We definitely had people coming in looking for anything that he's written," said floor manager Katie Silvernail.
"Some of our younger employees had never heard of him. So it was interesting yesterday to have conversations... with our younger staff about who he was and what his impact was on the literary world."
She added: "Honestly, I feel like people just came here yesterday because they wanted to talk about how they felt about what happened."
On Twitter, some users urged people to buy Rushdie's books in a show of solidarity.
(an AFP report)

Attack on Rushdie sparks surge in interest in author's works

The knife attack on author Salman Rushdie has fanned interest in his works -- above all, "The Satanic Verses," which left him living for years under a looming death threat.

On Twitter, some users urged people to buy Rushdie's books in a show of solidarity.

The knife attack on author Salman Rushdie has fanned interest in his works -- above all, The Satanic Verses, which left him living for years under a looming death threat.
Different editions of the 1988 book -- seen as blasphemous by Iranian leaders who subsequently issued a religious decree calling for his death -- on Saturday occupied the top three spots on Amazon's "Movers &amp; Shakers" list.
That list, which shows books whose sales have increased the most, had another Rushdie opus, Midnight's Children, teetering between fourth and fifth place.
Bookstores reported a flurry of interest in the Indian-born author, some from readers too young to remember the original fury he prompted across much of the Muslim world.
The knife attack on Rushdie, 75, which drew international condemnation, took place Friday as the author was about to speak at a literary event in the small town of Chautauqua, in western New York state.
Police and witnesses said 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairfield, New Jersey, was wrestled to the ground as he continued his attack, which left Rushdie in serious condition. Authorities have yet to describe Matar's background or say what might have motivated him.
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At the sprawling Strand Bookstore, New York's biggest and probably most famous book emporium, the attack brought a spike in interest, and in sales of new and used Rushdie volumes.
"We definitely had people coming in looking for anything that he's written," said floor manager Katie Silvernail.
"Some of our younger employees had never heard of him. So it was interesting yesterday to have conversations... with our younger staff about who he was and what his impact was on the literary world."
She added: "Honestly, I feel like people just came here yesterday because they wanted to talk about how they felt about what happened."
On Twitter, some users urged people to buy Rushdie's books in a show of solidarity.
(an AFP report)
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A gunman opened fire at a bus near Jerusalem's Old City early Sunday, wounding eight Israelis in a suspected Palestinian attack that came a week after violence flared up between Israel and militants in Gaza, police and medics said.
Two of the victims were in serious condition, according to Israeli hospitals treating them.
The shooting occurred as the bus waited in a parking lot near the Western Wall, which is considered the holiest site where Jews can pray.
Israeli police said forces were dispatched to the scene to begin investigations.
Israeli security forces also pushed into the nearby Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan pursuing the suspected attacker.
The attack in Jerusalem followed a tense week between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Last weekend, Israeli aircraft unleashed an offensive in the Gaza Strip targeting the militant group Islamic Jihad and setting off three days of fierce cross-border fighting.
Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets during the flare-up to avenge the airstrikes, which killed two of its commanders and other militants.
Israel said the attack was meant to thwart threats from the group to respond to the arrest of one of its officials in the occupied West Bank.
Forty-nine Palestinians, including 17 children and 14 militants, were killed, and several hundred were injured in the fighting, which ended with an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire.
No Israeli was killed or seriously injured.
The Islamic militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, stayed on the sidelines.
A day after the cease-fire halted the worst round of Gaza fighting in more than a year, Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants and wounded dozens in a shootout that erupted during an arrest raid in the West Bank city of Nablus.

Eight Israelis wounded after gunman targets bus in Jerusalem

The attack in Jerusalem followed a tense week between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

A gunman opened fire at a bus near Jerusalem's Old City early Sunday, wounding eight Israelis in a suspected Palestinian attack that came a week after violence flared up between Israel and militants in Gaza, police and medics said.
Two of the victims were in serious condition, according to Israeli hospitals treating them.
The shooting occurred as the bus waited in a parking lot near the Western Wall, which is considered the holiest site where Jews can pray.
Israeli police said forces were dispatched to the scene to begin investigations.
Israeli security forces also pushed into the nearby Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan pursuing the suspected attacker.
The attack in Jerusalem followed a tense week between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Last weekend, Israeli aircraft unleashed an offensive in the Gaza Strip targeting the militant group Islamic Jihad and setting off three days of fierce cross-border fighting.
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Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets during the flare-up to avenge the airstrikes, which killed two of its commanders and other militants.
Israel said the attack was meant to thwart threats from the group to respond to the arrest of one of its officials in the occupied West Bank.
Forty-nine Palestinians, including 17 children and 14 militants, were killed, and several hundred were injured in the fighting, which ended with an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire.
No Israeli was killed or seriously injured.
The Islamic militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, stayed on the sidelines.
A day after the cease-fire halted the worst round of Gaza fighting in more than a year, Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants and wounded dozens in a shootout that erupted during an arrest raid in the West Bank city of Nablus.

Salman Rushdie has been taken off a ventilator and was able to talk on Saturday, his agent has confirmed.The Indian-born British novelist remains hospitalised with serious injuries, but fellow author Aatish Taseer tweeted on Saturday evening that he was “off the ventilator and talking. Rushdie’s agent, Andrew Wylie, confirmed that information without offering further details.
Earlier on Saturday, Hadi Matar, the man suspected in Friday’s attack at a literary festival in upstate New York, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault at a brief court appearance where he was denied bail.Meanwhile, the US president Joe Biden hailed the writer’s courage and voiced horror at the attack on him.

Salman Rushdie taken off ventilator, able to speak

The Indian-born British novelist remains hospitalised with serious injuries, but fellow author Aatish Taseer tweeted on Saturday evening that he was &ldquo;off the ventilator and talking.

Salman Rushdie has been taken off a ventilator and was able to talk on Saturday, his agent has confirmed. The Indian-born British novelist remains hospitalised with serious injuries, but fellow author Aatish Taseer tweeted on Saturday evening that he was &ldquo;off the ventilator and talking. Rushdie&rsquo;s agent, Andrew Wylie, confirmed that information without offering further details.
Earlier on Saturday, Hadi Matar, the man suspected in Friday&rsquo;s attack at a literary festival in upstate New York, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault at a brief court appearance where he was denied bail. Meanwhile, the US president Joe Biden hailed the writer&rsquo;s courage and voiced horror at the attack on him.
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The foreign ministry of the Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan on Saturday said it welcomed India's diplomatic presence and promised to ensure security to the Indian mission in Kabul. 
India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power last August following concerns over their security. In June this year, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" in its embassy in the Afghan capital.
In a statement, Taliban said India's diplomatic presence in Afghanistan would result in the completion of "unfinished projects" that India had initiated and the commencement of new ones.
The statement said Afghanistan "welcomes India's step to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Kabul."
"Besides ensuring security, we will pay close attention to the immunity of the diplomats and cooperate well in endeavours," it said.
"The Afghan government hopes that upgrading diplomatic representation and dispatching diplomats would strengthen Afghan-India relations leading to the completion of unfinished projects by India and the commencement of new vital projects," the Afghan foreign ministry said.
Last month, Taliban supreme leader Hebatullah Akhundzada said no one would be allowed to use Afghan soil to launch attacks on other countries.
India has not recognised the new regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul, besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.
In the last few months, India supplied several consignments of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country. 

India yet to restore full ties, Taliban assures security to mission in Kabul

The foreign ministry of the Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan on Saturday said it welcomed India's diplomatic presence and promised to ensure security to the Indian mission in Kabul. 

India has not recognised the new regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The foreign ministry of the Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan on Saturday said it welcomed India's diplomatic presence and promised to ensure security to the Indian mission in Kabul.&nbsp;
India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power last August following concerns over their security. In June this year, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" in its embassy in the Afghan capital.
In a statement, Taliban said India's diplomatic presence in Afghanistan would result in the completion of "unfinished projects" that India had initiated and the commencement of new ones.
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The statement said Afghanistan "welcomes India's step to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Kabul."
"Besides ensuring security, we will pay close attention to the immunity of the diplomats and cooperate well in endeavours," it said.
"The Afghan government hopes that upgrading diplomatic representation and dispatching diplomats would strengthen Afghan-India relations leading to the completion of unfinished projects by India and the commencement of new vital projects," the Afghan foreign ministry said.
Last month, Taliban supreme leader Hebatullah Akhundzada said no one would be allowed to use Afghan soil to launch attacks on other countries.
India has not recognised the new regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul, besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.
In the last few months, India supplied several consignments of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country.&nbsp;

The 24-year-old man suspected to stabbing author Salman Rushdie has pleaded not guilty to the charges of attempted murder and assault. 
Hadi Matar from New Jersey has been sent to a county jail in New York and he will be held there without bail. 
Matar was arrested after he allegedly rushed on the stage just as Salman Rushdie was about to deliver a lecture and stabbed him in the neck and abdomen. 
The author underwent surgery after the attack and is on a ventilator. 
Rushdie has suffered a damaged liver, severed nerves in an arm and an eye, according to a statement by his agent. 
The suspect was born in the United States to Lebanese parents and according to reports his social media activities show that he admired the Iranian military. 
Iran's Supreme Leader in 1989 had issued a fatwa against Rushdie for writing The Satanic Verses, a book considered blasphemous by many Muslims. 

Salman Rushdie attack: suspect charged with murder, pleads not guilty

The 24-year-old man suspected to stabbing author Salman Rushdie has pleaded not guilty to the charges of attempted murder and assault. 

Hadi Matar from New Jersey has been sent to a county jail in New York and he will be held there without bail.&nbsp;

The 24-year-old man suspected to stabbing author Salman Rushdie has pleaded not guilty to the charges of attempted murder and assault.&nbsp;
Hadi Matar from New Jersey has been sent to a county jail in New York and he will be held there without bail.&nbsp;
Matar was arrested after he allegedly rushed on the stage just as Salman Rushdie was about to deliver a lecture and stabbed him in the neck and abdomen.&nbsp;
The author underwent surgery after the attack and is on a ventilator.&nbsp;
Rushdie has suffered a damaged liver, severed nerves in an arm and an eye, according to a statement by his agent.&nbsp;
The suspect was born in the United States to Lebanese parents and according to reports his social media activities show that he admired the Iranian military.&nbsp;
Iran's Supreme Leader in 1989 had issued a fatwa against Rushdie for writing The Satanic Verses, a book considered blasphemous by many Muslims.&nbsp;
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Taliban fighters fired into the air Saturday to disperse a rare women's protest in the Afghan capital, days ahead of the first anniversary of the hardline Islamists' return to power.
About 40 women -- chanting "Bread, work and freedom" -- marched in front of the education ministry building in Kabul, before the fighters dispersed them by firing their guns into the air, an AFP correspondent reported.
Some women protesters who took refuge in nearby shops were chased and beaten by Taliban fighters with their rifle butts.
The protesters carried a banner which read "August 15 is a black day" -- in reference to the upcoming anniversary -- as they demanded rights to work and political participation.
"Justice, justice. We're fed up with ignorance," chanted the protesters before they dispersed.

Taliban fighters fire in air to disperse women's protest in Kabul

Taliban fighters fired into the air Saturday to disperse a rare women's protest in the Afghan capital, days ahead of the first anniversary of the hardline Islamists' return to power.

About 40 women -- chanting "Bread, work and freedom" -- marched in Kabul, before the fighters dispersed them

Taliban fighters fired into the air Saturday to disperse a rare women's protest in the Afghan capital, days ahead of the first anniversary of the hardline Islamists' return to power.
About 40 women -- chanting "Bread, work and freedom" -- marched in front of the education ministry building in Kabul, before the fighters dispersed them by firing their guns into the air, an AFP correspondent reported.
Some women protesters who took refuge in nearby shops were chased and beaten by Taliban fighters with their rifle butts.
The protesters carried a banner which read "August 15 is a black day" -- in reference to the upcoming anniversary -- as they demanded rights to work and political participation.
"Justice, justice. We're fed up with ignorance," chanted the protesters before they dispersed.
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K Natwar Singh, who was a Union minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government that banned Salman Rushdie's controversial book "The Satanic Verses", strongly defended the decision on Saturday asserting it was taken "purely" for law and order reasons. 

Ex-minister defends Rajiv Gandhi govt's ban on Salman Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verses'

Singh, who was the minister of state for external affairs when the book was banned in 1988, said he had told the then PM that the book could cause serious law and order problems as emotions were running high.

K Natwar Singh, who was a Union minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government that banned Salman Rushdie's controversial book "The Satanic Verses", strongly defended the decision on Saturday asserting it was taken "purely" for law and order reasons.
With focus back on Rushdie's book in the wake of the attack on him in New York, Singh, who was the minister of state for external affairs when the book was banned in 1988, said he was part of the decision and had told the then prime minister the book could cause serious law and order problems as feelings were running very high. Singh (91) rejected as "rubbish" the charge by critics the Rajiv Gandhi government's decision to ban the book was driven by appeasement towards Muslims.
"I don't think it (the decision to ban the book) was wrong because you see it had led to law and order problems, particularly in Kashmir. In other parts of India also there was disquiet," Singh told PTI.
"Rajiv Gandhi asked me what should be done. I said, 'all my life I have been totally opposed to banning books but when it comes to law and order even a book of a great writer like Rushdie should be banned'," the diplomat-turned-politician said. Rushdie's 'Midnight's Children' is one of the great novels of the 20th century but the decision to ban "The Satanic Verses" was taken purely for law and order reasons, Singh asserted.
A massive controversy had erupted after the release of the book 'The Satanic Verses' as several Muslims saw it as blasphemous.
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Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini had issued a fatwa against Rushdie and called for his death.
Strongly defending the Rajiv Gandhi government's decision, Singh said, "I completely think it was justified because it was going to cause serious law and order problems as feelings were running very high particularly among our Muslim population." "I said, 'the entire Muslim world is going to flare up, we have a large number of Muslims and apart from that, what the book contains at this time, is not acceptable'," he recounted. Rushdie, who faced death threats for years after writing "The Satanic Verses", was stabbed on stage on Friday while he was being introduced at the event of the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York.
The New York State Police identified the suspect as Hadi Matar from Fairview, New Jersey, while the motive behind the act is still unknown.
The suspect ran up onto the stage prior to the speaking event and attacked the 75-year-old. The author was rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent surgery. Singh said he was "very distressed" over the attack.
"Here is a man 75-years old, not harming anybody and contributing to literature and then some rascal comes and nearly kills him and that too when he was making a speech in New York," he said.
Singh said Rushdie had left England for the simple reason that there were more Muslims in the UK than there are in America.
"There is no doubt that he is one of the great writers of the 20th century. So I am very distressed. I did not know him personally but I admired his Midnight's Children, I read it several times, it is high class literature," he said, lauding Rushdie for his contribution to the world of literature.

The Chinese air force is sending fighter jets and bombers to Thailand for a joint exercise with the Thai military on Sunday.
The training will include air support, strikes on ground targets and small and large-scale troop deployment, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement posted on its website.
China's expanding military activities in the Asia-Pacific region have alarmed the United States and its allies and form part of a growing competition between the world's two largest economies.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Thailand in June as part of an effort to strengthen what he called America's “unparalleled network of alliances and partnerships” in the region.
The Falcon Strike exercise will be held at the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in northern Thailand near the border with Laos. Thai fighter jets and airborne early warning aircraft from both countries will also take part.
The training comes as the U.S. holds combat drills in Indonesia with Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Singapore in the largest iteration of the Super Garuda Shield exercises since they began in 2009.
It also follows China's sending warships, missiles and aircraft into the waters and air around Taiwan in a threatening response to a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the self-ruled island, which China claims as its territory.

China sending fighter jets to Thailand for joint exercises

The training will include air support, strikes on ground targets and small and large-scale troop deployment, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

The Chinese air force is sending fighter jets and bombers to Thailand for a joint exercise with the Thai military on Sunday.
The training will include air support, strikes on ground targets and small and large-scale troop deployment, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement posted on its website.
China's expanding military activities in the Asia-Pacific region have alarmed the United States and its allies and form part of a growing competition between the world's two largest economies.
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US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Thailand in June as part of an effort to strengthen what he called America's &ldquo;unparalleled network of alliances and partnerships&rdquo; in the region.
The Falcon Strike exercise will be held at the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in northern Thailand near the border with Laos. Thai fighter jets and airborne early warning aircraft from both countries will also take part.
The training comes as the U.S. holds combat drills in Indonesia with Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Singapore in the largest iteration of the Super Garuda Shield exercises since they began in 2009.
It also follows China's sending warships, missiles and aircraft into the waters and air around Taiwan in a threatening response to a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the self-ruled island, which China claims as its territory.

The 24-year-old man detained in connection with the stabbing of Mumbai-born controversial author Salman Rushdie was sympathetic to "Shia extremism" and the causes of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to a media report.
Rushdie, who faced Islamist death threats for years after writing "The Satanic Verses", was stabbed on stage on Friday while he was being introduced at the event of the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York.
The New York State Police identified the suspect as Hadi Matar from Fairview, New Jersey while the motive behind the act is still unknown.
The suspect ran up onto the stage prior to a speaking event at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua and attacked 75-year-old Rushdie.
According to the law enforcement authorities, the author was stabbed "at least once in the neck and at least once in the abdomen.” Rushdie was rushed to a nearby local hospital where he underwent surgery, while the attacker was taken into the New York State Police custody. The interviewer with Rushdie was also attacked during the incident and he suffered a minor head injury, the police said.
Authorities were still looking into Matar's nationality and his criminal records, if any.
A preliminary review of Matar’s social media accounts by law enforcement showed him to be sympathetic to Shia extremism and the causes of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a law enforcement person with direct knowledge of the investigation told NBC News.
Though there are no direct links between Matar and the IRGC, law enforcement officers reportedly found images of slain commander Qassem Solemani and an Iraqi extremist sympathetic to the Iranian regime in a cell phone messaging app belonging to Matar, according to NBC News.
Soleimani was a senior Iranian military officer who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. From 1998 until his assassination in 2020.
Rushdie’s book The Satanic Verses has been banned in Iran since 1988, as many Muslims consider it offensive to Islam.
The author spent about 10 years under police protection in the United Kingdom, living in hiding after Iran's late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s execution.
A bounty of over USD 3 million has been offered for anyone who kills Rushdie, who has been a prominent spokesman for free expression and liberal causes.
Since 2000, Rushdie has lived in the United States.
Rushdie was being introduced at about 10:45 am when the assault happened, CNN quoted a witness as saying The witness said he heard shouting from the audience.
He said a man in a black shirt appeared to be "punching" the author. The witness, who was 75 feet from the stage, did not hear the attacker say anything or see a weapon.
Some people in the audience ran to render aid while others went after the attacker, the witness said. State police said a doctor who was in the audience during the event rendered aid to Rushdie until emergency responders arrived.
New York Gov Kathy Hochul told reporters Friday a state trooper "stood up and saved (Rushdie's) life and protected him as well as the moderator who was attacked as well." One witness of the attack told CNN there were no security searches or metal detectors at the event.
The suspect in Friday's attack had a "pass to access the grounds," Dr Michael E Hill, president of the Chautauqua Institution, said in the news conference. Guests can purchase passes to attend programs, Hill said.
Hill defended the institution's measures, saying, "We assess for every event what we think the appropriate security level is, and this one was certainly one that we thought was important which is why we had a State Trooper and Sheriff presence there," he said.
Staniszewski said there was no indication of any threat to the event and the state trooper was there because the event was a mass gathering and because of a request by the institution.
Joyce Lussier, 83, who was in the second row of the amphitheater during the attack, said Rushdie had taken a seat on the right-hand side of the stage when suddenly, a man who appeared to be in all black "lurched across the stage and got right to Rushdie." "They caught him right away, he did not get off the stage at all," Lussier said of the suspect. "Shortly after, the crowd was asked to evacuate, " she added.
Another witness, a longtime Chautauqua resident who asked not to be identified, recalled a commotion on stage and a man making about seven to 10 stabbing motions in the direction of the author, who was in a half-standing position. She said she fled the open-air amphitheater "shaking like a leaf" in fear.

Salman Rushdie stabbing suspect sympathetic to Iran military: report 

According to a media report Hadi Matar was also sympathetic to causes of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The 24-year-old man detained in connection with the stabbing of Mumbai-born controversial author Salman Rushdie was sympathetic to "Shia extremism" and the causes of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to a media report.
Rushdie, who faced Islamist death threats for years after writing "The Satanic Verses", was stabbed on stage on Friday while he was being introduced at the event of the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York.
The New York State Police identified the suspect as Hadi Matar from Fairview, New Jersey while the motive behind the act is still unknown.
The suspect ran up onto the stage prior to a speaking event at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua and attacked 75-year-old Rushdie.
According to the law enforcement authorities, the author was stabbed "at least once in the neck and at least once in the abdomen.&rdquo; Rushdie was rushed to a nearby local hospital where he underwent surgery, while the attacker was taken into the New York State Police custody. The interviewer with Rushdie was also attacked during the incident and he suffered a minor head injury, the police said.
Authorities were still looking into Matar's nationality and his criminal records, if any.
A preliminary review of Matar&rsquo;s social media accounts by law enforcement showed him to be sympathetic to Shia extremism and the causes of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a law enforcement person with direct knowledge of the investigation told NBC News.
Though there are no direct links between Matar and the IRGC, law enforcement officers reportedly found images of slain commander Qassem Solemani and an Iraqi extremist sympathetic to the Iranian regime in a cell phone messaging app belonging to Matar, according to NBC News.
Also Watch| <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/salman-rushdie-stabbed-all-we-know-about-lone-suspect-hadi-matar-1660360681141">Salman Rushdie stabbed: all we know about lone suspect Hadi Matar</a>
Soleimani was a senior Iranian military officer who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. From 1998 until his assassination in 2020.
Rushdie&rsquo;s book The Satanic Verses has been banned in Iran since 1988, as many Muslims consider it offensive to Islam.
The author spent about 10 years under police protection in the United Kingdom, living in hiding after Iran's late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie&rsquo;s execution.
A bounty of over USD 3 million has been offered for anyone who kills Rushdie, who has been a prominent spokesman for free expression and liberal causes.
Since 2000, Rushdie has lived in the United States.
Rushdie was being introduced at about 10:45 am when the assault happened, CNN quoted a witness as saying The witness said he heard shouting from the audience.
He said a man in a black shirt appeared to be "punching" the author. The witness, who was 75 feet from the stage, did not hear the attacker say anything or see a weapon.
Some people in the audience ran to render aid while others went after the attacker, the witness said. State police said a doctor who was in the audience during the event rendered aid to Rushdie until emergency responders arrived.
New York Gov Kathy Hochul told reporters Friday a state trooper "stood up and saved (Rushdie's) life and protected him as well as the moderator who was attacked as well." One witness of the attack told CNN there were no security searches or metal detectors at the event.
The suspect in Friday's attack had a "pass to access the grounds," Dr Michael E Hill, president of the Chautauqua Institution, said in the news conference. Guests can purchase passes to attend programs, Hill said.
Hill defended the institution's measures, saying, "We assess for every event what we think the appropriate security level is, and this one was certainly one that we thought was important which is why we had a State Trooper and Sheriff presence there," he said.
Staniszewski said there was no indication of any threat to the event and the state trooper was there because the event was a mass gathering and because of a request by the institution.
Joyce Lussier, 83, who was in the second row of the amphitheater during the attack, said Rushdie had taken a seat on the right-hand side of the stage when suddenly, a man who appeared to be in all black "lurched across the stage and got right to Rushdie." "They caught him right away, he did not get off the stage at all," Lussier said of the suspect. "Shortly after, the crowd was asked to evacuate, " she added.
Another witness, a longtime Chautauqua resident who asked not to be identified, recalled a commotion on stage and a man making about seven to 10 stabbing motions in the direction of the author, who was in a half-standing position. She said she fled the open-air amphitheater "shaking like a leaf" in fear.
Also Watch| <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/author-salman-rushdie-undergoes-surgery-may-lose-an-eye-1660358359940">Author Salman Rushdie undergoes surgery, may lose an eye</a>

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Rakesh Jhunjhunwala passes away 

Salman Rushdie News

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Independence day 2022

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Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country early Wednesday, days after protesters stormed his home and office and the official residence of his prime minister amid a three-month economic crisis that triggered severe shortages of food and fuel.Rajapaksa who is due to offer his resignation on Wednesday, landed in the Maldivian capital of Malé, where he was received by a Maldivian government representation at the Velana airport.
Earlier on Monday night, Rajapaksa and his brother Basil were turned back at the Colombo airport as they attempted to leave the country amid mounting anger against the powerful family for mishandling the worst economic crisis.
Lawmakers agreed to elect a new president next week but struggled Tuesday to decide on the makeup of a new government to lift the bankrupt country out of economic and political collapse.

 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees Sri Lanka, lands in Maldives

Lawmakers agreed to elect a new president next week but struggled Tuesday to decide on the makeup of a new government to lift the bankrupt country out of economic and political collapse.

Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country early Wednesday, days after protesters stormed his home and office and the official residence of his prime minister amid a three-month economic crisis that triggered severe shortages of food and fuel. Rajapaksa who is due to offer his resignation on Wednesday, landed in the Maldivian capital of Mal&eacute;, where&nbsp;he was received by a Maldivian government representation at the Velana airport.
Earlier on Monday night, Rajapaksa and his brother Basil were turned back at the Colombo airport as they attempted to leave the country amid mounting anger against the powerful family for mishandling the worst economic crisis.
Lawmakers agreed to elect a new president next week but struggled Tuesday to decide on the makeup of a new government to lift the bankrupt country out of economic and political collapse.

The UK prime ministerial race frontrunner, Liz Truss, continues to hold on to a commanding 22-point lead over former Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the Conservative Party leadership contest, according to a new survey of Tory members.

Liz Truss in commanding lead over Rishi Sunak in UK PM race

The UK prime ministerial race frontrunner, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, continues to hold on to a commanding 22-point lead over former Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the Conservative Party leadership contest, according to a new survey of Tory members on Sunday. 

With under three weeks to go before the September 2 deadline for the votes, Sunak seems to have closed the gap only slightly in recent days.&nbsp;

The UK prime ministerial race frontrunner, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, continues to hold on to a commanding 22-point lead over former Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the Conservative Party leadership contest, according to a new survey of Tory members on Sunday.
In an Opinium poll for &lsquo;The Observer&rsquo; newspaper of 570 Conservative members with a vote in the election, Truss is on 61 percent and the British Indian former minister is on 39 percent. With under three weeks to go before the September 2 deadline for postal and online votes to be cast by the membership to elect a successor to outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Sunak seems to have closed the gap only slightly in recent days.
&ldquo;From the moment we knew the final two candidates, it has been clear that Truss has had all the momentum, and our latest poll sets out just how large her lead among the party members has become,&rdquo; Chris Curtis of Opinium told the newspaper.
&ldquo;With many members having already returned their ballot papers, it is now very unlikely Truss won&rsquo;t become Prime Minister in September. It&rsquo;s clear that Sunak&rsquo;s biggest problem is trust. While some members respect his economic arguments, this hasn&rsquo;t been enough to overcome the view among members that he isn&rsquo;t honest or trustworthy enough for the top job, particularly after he called for Johnson to go,&rdquo; he said.
Opinium&rsquo;s detailed questioning also uncovers a striking lack of enthusiasm for either candidate when members are asked whether they would prefer one of them to Johnson to run the party and country. When offered the choice of Johnson still being in No. 10 Downing Street, or Truss taking over, around 63 percent of Tory members polled said they would prefer Johnson to be still in charge against 22 percent who wanted Truss. On the other side, 68 percent said they would prefer to still have Johnson than see him replaced by Sunak, who was preferred by just 19 percent.
The poll also found that almost three in 10 of the Tory electorate (29 per cent) had already voted. Some 47 percent said they would definitely be voting for the candidate they had opted for. Just 19 percent said they had yet to make up their mind.
Opinium said that while these findings meant it may still be possible for Sunak to pull off a &ldquo;stunning comeback&rdquo; to enter 10 Downing Street, but to do so he would have to win over almost all the undecideds and convert a sizeable chunk of those not fully behind Truss.
The Foreign Secretary&rsquo;s support is particularly strong among older Conservative members, while Sunak&rsquo;s is far higher among younger ones. For Sunak the most cited reason was that he would be better at managing the economy (22 percent), while 10 percent said they regarded him as the most competent or intelligent.
A main reason mentioned by people who backed Truss was dislike of Sunak (14 percent). The same proportion (14 percent) said the Cabinet minister was more honest and trustworthy, while 10 percent chose the fact that she had remained loyal to Johnson and not called on him to resign. Around 2 percent of Tory members cited race or ethnicity as a reason for supporting Truss and not Sunak.
Meanwhile, the bookie's odds also continue to be firmly in favour of a Truss win at 88 percent as opposed to 12 percent for Sunak. Both hopefuls continue to pledge new commitments if elected, with Truss saying she would take on the role of "Minister for the Union" and Sunak promising to introducing legislation to make the UK "energy independent" by 2045 at the latest, as he vowed to ensure there is no repeat of the looming winter crisis.
After voting closes on the evening of September 2, the winner between the two finalists will be declared on September 5 and he or she will take charge as Tory leader and British Prime Minister immediately.&nbsp;
ALSO WATCH: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/uk-pm-race-rishi-sunak-says-he-would-rather-lose-than-win-on-a-false-promise-1660191221055">UK PM race: Rishi Sunak says he would rather lose than win on a false promise</a>

A delegation of American lawmakers is visiting Taiwan just 12 days after a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that angered China which responded by sending missiles, warships and warplanes into the seas and air around the island.

More US lawmakers visiting Taiwan 12 days after Pelosi trip

A delegation of American lawmakers is visiting Taiwan just 12 days after a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that angered China which responded by sending missiles, warships and warplanes into the seas and air around the island that Beijing considers part of its territory. 

The five-member delegation is led by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and is in Taiwan on Sunday and Monday as part of a visit to Asia.

A delegation of American lawmakers is visiting Taiwan just 12 days after a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that angered China.
China responded to Pelosi's visit by sending missiles, warships and warplanes into the seas and air around Taiwan.
The five-member delegation is led by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and is in Taiwan on Sunday and Monday as part of a visit to Asia, the American Institute in Taiwan said. They will meet senior leaders to discuss US-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade, investment and other issues.
A Taiwanese broadcaster showed video of a US government plane landing about 7 p.m. at Songshan Airport in Taipei, the Taiwanese capital.
China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and objects to it having any official contact with foreign governments.&nbsp;
ALSO WATCH: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/china-successfully-completes-military-drills-around-taiwan-1660184645780">China 'successfully completes' military drills around Taiwan</a>

In a mass die-off, thousands of dead fish are showing up along the Oder River that runs between Poland and Germany. 

Mystery shrouds death of thousands of fish in Oder River

Laboratory tests done on river samples in both countries have detected high levels of salinity but no mercury poisioning has been found so far.

In a mass die-off, thousands of dead fish are showing up along the Oder River that runs between Poland and Germany.&nbsp;
Laboratory tests done on river samples in both countries have detected high levels of salinity but no mercury poisioning has been found so far. Comprehensive toxicology studies are, however, still under way in Poland, reported Al Jazeera.&nbsp;
The German government has flagged an environmental catastrophe and advised people to avoid the river, reported BBC.
Meanwhile, authorities in both countries have been reportedly accused by environmental activists of failing to work together to resolve the issue.
On Friday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki sacked a pair of environmental officials over their handling of the incident, reported BBC.
He also attributed the phenomenon to the dumping of huge amounts of chemical waste into the river causing&nbsp; 'environmental damage so severe it would take years for the waterway to recover.'
The Oder River runs from the Czech Republic to the border between Poland and Germany before flowing into the Baltic Sea.
ALSO WATCH: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/you-are-next-twitter-user-threatens-harry-potter-author-jk-rowling-over-her-tweet-on-rushdie-attack-1660471691811">'You are next': Twitter user 'threatens' Harry Potter author JK Rowling over her tweet on Rushdie attack</a>

JK Rowling, the author of the famed Harry Potter series, received 'death threats' on Twitter following her tweet on the attack on Salman Rushdie in New York. 

'You are next': Twitter user 'threatens' Harry Potter author JK Rowling over her tweet on Rushdie attack 

According to the screenshots shared by Rowling, the Twitter handle which issued the 'death threat' had also praised Rushdie's attacker.

JK Rowling, the author of the famed Harry Potter series, received 'death threats' on Twitter following her tweet on the attack on Salman Rushdie in New York.
She took to the microblogging platform to share screenshots of the 'threatening' tweets from a user.
In response to a tweet wherein 57-year-old Rowling was expressing her distress over the news of Rushdie's attack calling it &ldquo;horrifying news&rdquo; a user commented, &ldquo;Don't worry you are next&rdquo;.
The writer shared the screenshots of the replies from the user, and tagged Twitter Support's account seeking support. She wrote, &ldquo;any chance of some support."
According to the screenshots, the Twitter handle which issued the 'death threat' had also praised Rushdie's attacker.
The tweet read, &ldquo;The name of this man is hadi matar. He is a revolutionary Shia fighter followed the fatwa of late ayatollah rohullah khomenei&rdquo;.
Also Watch| <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/salman-rushdie-stabbing-suspect-sympathetic-to-iran-military-report-1660372693294">Salman Rushdie stabbing suspect sympathetic to Iran military: report</a>
After receiving support online, Rowling thanked her supporters in the same thread and informed that the police were investigating the issue.
&ldquo;To all sending supportive messages: thank you. Police are involved (were already involved on other threats),&rdquo; she wrote.
Rowling later shared a screenshot of Twitter's feedback after she reported the user, which stated that there were &ldquo;no violations of the Twitter rules&rdquo; in the comment.
The British author has of late been mired in controversies over her stand on transgenders that has left the LGBTQ+ community upset.
Salman Rushdie, the author of the controversial book 'The Satanic Verses', suffered life threatening injuries after he was stabbed by Hadi Matar, who apparently sympathised with Shia extremism and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is holding an open forum inviting suggestions to rename the disease monkeypox, after some critics raised concerns the name could be stigmatising, derogatory, discriminatory or have racist connotations.  

Renaming Monkeypox: WHO creates open forum, invites public feedback over stigmatisation concerns 

Monkeypox was first named in 1958 when research monkeys in Denmark were observed to have a "pox-like" disease, although they are not thought to be the animal reservoir.&nbsp;

The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is holding an open forum to rename the disease Monkeypox, after some critics raised concerns the name could be derogatory or have racist connotations.
In a statement on Friday, the UN health agency said it has also renamed two families, or clades, of the virus, using Roman numerals instead of geographic areas, to avoid stigmatisation. The version of the disease formerly known as the Congo Basin will now be known as Clade one or I and the West Africa clade will be known as Clade two or II.
WHO said the decision was made following a meeting of scientists this week and in line with current best practices for naming diseases, which aims to "avoid causing offence to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups, and minimise any negative impact on trade, travel, tourism or animal welfare".
Numerous other diseases, including Japanese encephalitis, Marburg virus, Spanish influenza and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome have been named after the geographic areas where they first arose or were identified. WHO has not publicly suggested changing any of those names.
Monkeypox was first named in 1958 when research monkeys in Denmark were observed to have a "pox-like" disease, although they are not thought to be the animal reservoir.
WHO said it was also opening a way for the public to suggest new names for monkeypox, but did not say when any new name would be announced.
To date, there have been more than 31,000 cases of monkeypox identified globally since May, with the majority of those beyond Africa. Monkeypox has been endemic in parts of central and west Africa for decades and was not known to trigger large outbreaks beyond the continent until May.
WHO declared the global spread of monkeypox to be an international emergency in July and the US declared its own epidemic to be a national emergency earlier this month.
Outside of Africa, 98 percent of cases are in men who have sex with men. With only a limited global supply of vaccines, authorities are racing to stop monkeypox before it becomes entrenched as a new disease.
ALSO WATCH: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/monkeys-being-killed-in-brazil-amid-rising-monkeypox-fears-1660105235188">Monkeys being killed in Brazil amid rising monkeypox fears</a>

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