WORLD
US, Russia to hold arms control talks next week
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will lead the US delegation's participation in the dialogue, joined by Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins, according to a State Department statement. US President Biden and Russian President Putin agreed at their first summit in Geneva in June to launch the dialogue to lay the groundwork for future arms control and risk reduction.
Support for Afghan Taliban increasing in Pakistan
Intelligence sources say when the bodies of local youth are brought back to Pakistan, there is a well laid-out ceremony conducted involving elders from the community and religious leaders. This procedure has been refined by local Afghan leaders based in Pakistan at the instance of the Pakistan Army with the aim of generating strong sentiments in favour of the so-called "martyrs" and ensure more recruitment.
US CDC hints at Covid booster doses for 'immunocompromised'
Members of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices, at a meeting on Thursday, spoke of the urgent need to give additional doses to people with fragile immune systems, as they are more vulnerable to severe Covid outcomes and may also spread the virus to others more frequently, the Washington Post reported.
Afghan forces evict Taliban from around Kunduz city
Units of Special Force attacked Taliban hideouts and positions in Charkhab, Kandak Anayat and Tepa Murch villages early Friday morning, forcing the insurgents to evacuate after suffering casualties and leaving 10 bodies behind, Xinhua news agency quoted the official as saying.
China considering sending boots into Pak to safeguard nationals after bus blast: Media
The Global Times tabloid affiliated with official People's Daily wrote in a scathing editorial that "[China] will not only provide the necessary support and assistance if Pakistan's strength is insufficient, China's missiles and special forces could also directly participate in operations to eliminate threats against Chinese in Pakistan with the consent of Pakistan. We will set an example as a deterrent."
US no longer 'only big kid', China is biggest geopolitical challenge to United States: CIA director William Burns
In an interview with NPR, Burns said that the US intelligence service may now have to forward-deploy its "China specialists" to compete effectively with Beijing. The interview covered a range of widespread talks and when he was asked about China as a threat to the US, he said that Beijing is the biggest geopolitical challenge to Washington in the 21st century.
Amid de-escalation talks with India, China recruits Tibet citizens in PLA, local militias
China has made it “mandatory” for every Tibetan family to send at least one young male member for recruitment in the PLA, according to a report by the Times of India. The move to ramp up Tibetan recruitment in PLA has come even as China continues to consolidate its military positions and upgrade its airbases facing India.
Africa's Covid 3rd wave at crossroads: WHO
As the rate of new cases fell by less than 2 per cent over the past week, driven by a sharp drop in South Africa, 21 countries are experiencing a resurgence, three more than last week, Xinhua news agency quoted Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's Regional Director for Africa, as saying at an online briefing on Thursday.
Blacks, Hispanics among hardest hit by Covid-19: Study
The study by the University of Michigan (UM) analysed numbers from the US Census Bureau, which provide a more detailed and in-depth look at how different factors such as ethnicity, occupation, living situation, income and insurance status can interact to affect death rates, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.
UK reports another 39,906 coronavirus cases
The country also recorded another 84 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now standing at 128,980. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, the Xinhua news agency reported. England has recently lifted most Covid-19 restrictions as part of the final step of the roadmap out of the lockdown.
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