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Studies suggest role of bats, snakes in outbreak of China virus
Dailyexcelsior: A new strain of coronavirus that emerged in China may have originated in bats or snakes, according to genetic analysis of the virus that has so far killed 17 people.
The theories are based on examination of the genome sequence of the virus released by authorities in the wake of the outbreak, with two studies pointing to the likely role of bats in the outbreak.
One study, published Tuesday in the journal Science China Life Sciences, which is sponsored by Beijing’s Chinese Academy of Sciences, looked at the relations between the new strain and other viruses.
It found the coronavirus that emerged from China’s Wuhan was closely related to a strain that exists in bats.
Switzerland mints world’s smallest gold coin
Dailyexcelsior: No joke: Switzerland has minted a gold coin so small you’d need to look very closely to see Albert Einstein sticking out his tongue at you.
State-owned Swissmint said Thursday that the 2.96-millimeter (0.12-inches) gold coin is the smallest in the world.
It weighs 0.063 grams (1/500th of an ounce) and has a nominal value of 1/4 Swiss francs (USD 0.26).
Swissmint said the coin, of which just 999 have been made, will be sold for 199 francs with a special magnifying glass so owners can see the famous physicist on its face. (AGENCIES)
Abrogation of Art 370 now fait accompli, should be accepted: Centre
No question can be raised on total integration of J&K’
Dailyexcelsior:The abrogation of the provisions of Article 370, which granted special status to erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, has now become a “fait accompli” leaving sole option to accept the change, the Centre told the Supreme Court today.
Vehemently opposing the contention that Jammu and Kashmir was not integrated with India, the Centre told the top court if that was the case, then there would not have been a need for Article 370.
It opposed reference of a batch of pleas, challenging the Constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision of August 5 last year to abrogate provisions of Article 370, to a larger seven-Judge Bench.
A five-Judge Constitution bench headed by Justice N V Ramana reserved its verdict on the question of referring the issue to a larger bench and said it would pass a detailed order in this regard.
NGO People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association and an intervener had sought referring the matter to a larger bench of seven-Judges.
They have sought reference on the ground that two judgements of Apex Court — Prem Nath Kaul versus Jammu and Kashmir in 1959 and Sampat Prakash versus Jammu and Kashmir in 1970 — which dealt with the issue of Article 370 are in direct conflict each other and therefore the current bench of five judges could not hear the issue.
Lucknow University to include CAA in its syllabus
Siasat: Lucknow University will include the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as a topic in its political science syllabus.
“Under political science subject, we will introduce CAA. This is the most important topic right now and so it should be studied. The topic will include what, why, and how the citizenship law was amended,” said Shashi Shukla, HOD, Political Science while talking to ANI on Friday.
The CAA grants Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
Islamabad almost ready to get off FATF grey list
The Express Tribune:As Pakistan and Asia-Pacific Joint Group of the Financial Action Task Force’s meeting ends in Beijing, Islamabad hopes to acquire the Unites States’ cooperation in next month’s plenary aimed at avoiding any further adverse action by the global body.
The face-to-face meeting between Pakistan and the FATF took place at a time when the US Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells was in Islamabad with a message of cooperation.
In her off the record discussions, she tried to dispel the impression that the US was changing the goalposts of the FATF.
Ambassador Wells assured that Pakistan’s case would be purely treated on technical grounds but said that the country still had to make efforts to ensure convictions in terror-financing cases.
UK softens travel advisory due to 'improved security situation' in Pakistan
The Express Tribune: The United Kingdom has softened its travel advice to its citizens to reflect the improved security situation in Pakistan.
“Today’s announcement is the result of a comprehensive review of UK travel advice for Pakistan, based on a wide-ranging assessment of the country’s security situation,” read a statement issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Friday.
The UK FCO provides travel advice based on objective information to help British nationals make better informed decisions about foreign travel.
This is the first major update in the travel advice since 2015.
In 2018, there were an estimated 484,000 visits by British nationals to Pakistan. There are 22 weekly direct flights to the UK.
The improved security situation allowed for the return of British Airways to Pakistan in June 2019 and the visit by Prince Williams and Kate Middleton – the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – in October 2019.
Pakistan's first woman architect honoured with global women in architecture award
Hellopakistan:Pakistan's first woman architect , "yasmeen Lari" has won women in architecture awards, which recognize women's contribution to architecture around the world. Yasmeen Lari has been awarded the Jane Dew Prize, in recognition of design excellence. She is known for her work that combines architecture with questions of social justice.
The women in architecture awards , the W awards are organized by the UK-based publications; The Architectural Review and Architects journal.
Israel's Netanyahu calls Iran 'most anti-Semitic regime
The Morung Express: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday called Iran "the most antisemitic regime on the planet" during an address during a Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.
"I am concerned that we have yet to see a unified and resolute stance against the most anti-Semitic regime on the planet. A regime that openly seeks to develop nuclear weapons and annihilate the one and only Jewish state," Netanyahu told assembled world leaders.
Canadian waterbomber plane crashes while fighting Australia bushfires, three dead
The Morung Express: A Canadian-owned C-130 Hercules air tanker crashed while fighting bushfires in Australia's alpine region on Thursday, killing all three of its crew, authorities said.
The victims were American residents, Australian authorities said, adding that they did not immediately know why the plane crashed while carrying a load of fire retardant.
"Tragically, there appear to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area," said Shane Fitzsimmons, the chief of rural fire services for the southeastern state of New South Wales.
"(The tanker) impacted heavily with the ground and initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground. There is no indication at this stage of what's caused the accident."
India heading for second Partition'': BJP leader warns Modi
The Morung Express: On the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chndra Bose, his grandson and BJP''s Bengal unit Vice President Chandra Kumar Bose dropped a bombshell. Without naming the Citizenship Amendment Act, Bose said that the nation is moving towards a "second Partition".
Speaking to IANS, Bose claimed: "Today the nation is falling apart. I am not going into details. But there is no unity among communities in India."
He was referring to the ongoing protests against the contentious legislation and the communal colours they are painted in. He went a step further to say only a figure like his grandfather can save India from disintegrating.
"So unless you put Netaji in front, the nation will disintegrate and there will be partition again. This is a very clear message I would like to give to the Prime Minister," Bose said.
This comes on a day when the BJP termed Shaheen Bagh, the nucleus of anti-CAA protest in Delhi where the protestors are sitting for the 39th consecutive day, as "Shame Bagh". BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel said: "Shaheen Bagh has become Shame Bagh."
