Putin writes to Trump: Equality, mutual respect only way forward for peace

In a New Year telegram to US President Donald Trump, Russia's President Vladimir Putin says a constructive dialogue between the two nations is essential for global stability.

The Kremlin said Saturday that Putin emphasized in his Seasons Greetings to Trump that Russia and the US could develop a "pragmatic cooperation aimed at long-term perspective" on the basis of "equality and mutual respect."

Putin noted that "the development a constructive Russian-US dialogue is particularly important for strengthening strategic stability in the world and finding the optimal answers to global threats and challenges."

Ties between Moscow and Washington sank to a post-Cold War low following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the allegations of its meddling in the US presidential election last year.
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China caps bank card withdrawals abroad at $15,370 annually

China's foreign exchange regulator will cap overseas withdrawals using domestic Chinese bank cards at 100,000 yuan ($15,370) per year in an effort to target money laundering, terrorist financing and tax evasion, it said on Saturday.

Individuals who exceed the annual quota will be suspended from overseas transactions for the remainder of the year and an additional year, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said in a notice posted on its website.

Under the new rules SAFE will submit a daily list of individuals banned from making overseas bank card withdrawals, and banks must suspend the users by no later than 5 p.m. the same day, the notice said.

Domestic card users will also be barred from withdrawing more than 10,000 yuan a day overseas, it said.

The new rules come into effect on Jan. 1, and reporting adjustments must be adopted by banks by April 1, 2018, it said.

China has strengthened regulatory oversight of overseas card transactions in the past year, targeting illegal cross-border transfers and money laundering.

In September SAFE brought in regulations requiring Chinese banks to report daily their bank card holders' overseas withdrawals as well as every transaction exceeding 1,000 yuan.

China's foreign exchange reserves rose for the 10th straight month in November due to tighter regulation and a stronger yuan, which continue to discourage capital outflows.
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US military to allow transgender recruits from Jan 1 as court blocks ban

The United States will start allowing transgender people to enlist in the military from January 1.

According to local media reports, the US Department of Justice withdrew its legal challenge to several federal court rulings that blocked the President Donald Trump from banning transgender people from enlisting in the US armed services.

Pentagon spokeswoman Heather Babb said in a statement that "As mandated by court order, the Department of Defense is prepared to begin accessing transgender applicants for military service Jan. 1. All applicants must meet all accession standards."

Trump made an announcement about the ban on Twitter in July and followed through with a memo in August.

Four lawsuits were filed against the ban, and so far, judges in three of them have said the ban cannot take effect while the cases work their way through the courts. The judge in the fourth has not yet ruled, the report said.

Outlining how the military will process transgender recruits, the Pentagon issued a memo on December 8, specifying what documents will be accepted to prove gender identity and which underwear they will be required to wear.

There are an estimated 250 transgender troops currently serving the United States Armed Forces, according to the media reports.
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Google's high-altitude balloon under Project Loon crashes in Kenya

A high-altitude balloon, that was launched by Google to provide high-speed internet in the remote parts of the earth under "Project Loon", has crashed in a Kenya farm, a media report said on Saturday.

The balloon, a part of a 10-balloon batch, was deployed for testing in Nakuru, Nanyuki, Nyeri and Marsabit in July 2017. It crashed at Nthambiro in Meru on Friday night, media reported.

Some residents complained of headaches after they gathered around the device to get its glimpse.

"The device from project loon indicates it fell after its expiry period of six months. No one is yet to claim the device," Igembe South OCPD Jane Nyakeruma was quoted as saying.

Earlier this year, Google announced that it was "years closer" to deliver internet to remote parts of the world using high-flying balloons.

Researchers at Google's Project Loon -- part of the company's X research lab -- said it was now able to use machine learning to predict weather systems, meaning the firm has a greater control over where its balloons go, making it possible to focus on a specific region, rather than circumnavigating the globe, BBC reported.

Under the project, the firm suspended a network of huge balloons that beam down connectivity.

The balloons float in the stratosphere around 11 miles high. By raising or lowering altitude, the balloons can be caught in different weather streams, changing direction.
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Egypt's Mohamed Morsi sentenced to 3 yrs in jail for 'insulting judiciary'

An Egyptian court sentenced ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to three years in prison along with 19 other defendants today for "insulting the judiciary," his lawyer said.

The other defendants include former members of parliament, activists and three journalists.

Morsi had already been sentenced to a total of 45 years in prison in two other trials after the military ousted him in 2013.

The defendants had all been charged with making statements deemed insulting to the judiciary.

Five other defendants, including jailed activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, were fined 30,000 pounds each.

Morsi was also ordered to pay two million pounds to the head of the judges' syndicate and another judge, while 22 other defendants were ordered to pay one million pounds to the head of the syndicate.

Morsi's lawyer Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsud told AFP that he would appeal the verdict.

Thousands of Islamists have been arrested and put on trial since the military ousted the divisive Morsi following mass protests demanding his resignation.

The crackdown extended to other opponents of then army chief now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who was elected a year after Morsi's overthrow.
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No Aadhar card: Hospital allegedly denies treatment; woman dies in Sonipat

Wife of a Kargil brave heart died at a private hospital in Haryana's Sonipat after allegedly being denied treatment due to lack of Aadhaar Card.

The son of the deceased woman alleged that he brought her ailing mother to the hospital for the treatment but the hospital refused to treat her as he did not have the original copy of the Aadhar card.

"I brought my mother in a serious condition to the hospital. They asked me to get the Aadhaar card, but I didn't have it then so I showed them a copy in my phone. I said that I will get Aadhaar in an hour or so, meanwhile begin with the treatment but the hospital refused to do so," he told ANI.

However, the hospital authority denied the allegation leveled by the victim's son saying that the Aadhaar card was mandatory only for documentation process and not for treatment.

"We never denied them treatment. Please note that he never got the patient to the hospital. We have never stopped any treatment due to Aadhaar card ever," said the doctor of the hospital.
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No exit from Rajiv Chowk Metro station after 9 pm on New Year's eve

As per an advisory by the city police, exit of passengers from Rajiv Chowk Metro Station will not be permitted from 9 pm onwards on the New Year's Eve, the Delhi Metro said today.

This is to enable the authorities to maintain law and order during New Year celebrations in central Delhi.

"As advised by Delhi Police authorities, exit of passengers from Rajiv Chowk Metro Station will not be permitted from 9:00 PM onwards on New Year's Eve, i.e., December 31," DMRC said.

"However, passengers will be allowed to enter the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station from 'F' and 'B' block side gates of the station after 9 pm for boarding trains," the DMRC said in a statement.

Interchange facility between Line-2 (HUDA City Centre - Samaypur Badli) and Line-3/4 (Dwarka Sec-21 NOIDA City Centre/Vaishali) will continue as usual at the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station till the end of revenue services.

Services at all other Metro corridors and stations will continue normally, it added.
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How WhatsApp launched 'Reply Privately' feature in beta update - mistakenly

WhatsApp mistakenly rolled out the 'Reply Privately' feature in a beta update that will allow users to privately send a message to a participant in a group without anyone else knowing about it.

According to Express.co.uk, the hotly-anticipated feature is under development and could be rolled out with other features as well.

The feature appeared and was subsequently dropped from the beta version of the app, watcher of the popular chat app @WABetaInfo said, confirming that the developers wrongly enabled the feature.

"In the new WhatsApp beta for Windows Phone 2.17.344 the private reply feature is disabled. Probably WhatsApp has wrongly enabled it in 2.17.342," WABetaInfo tweeted.

WABetaInfo said that the option will only be available in group chats and will be included in the small menu that pops-up when users press and hold on a message.

Earlier this month, WABetaInfo leaked the details of the features that WhatsApp was developing for web and desktop, including tap to unblock and a picture-in-picture (PIP) mode.
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AIADMK govt to be in power for not more than 2-3 months: Dhinakaran

Fresh from his victory in the R K Nagar bye-election, T T V Dhinakaran on Friday claimed that the fate of the AIADMK government will be sealed in the budget session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly in February-March in the coming year.

Dhinakaran, who fought as an Independent and secured a huge victory in the constituency that was held by the late Jayalalithaa, took oath as a member of the Assembly before Speaker P. Dhanapal.

Later talking to reporters, he said the High Court verdict in the case against disqualification of 19 MLAs supporting him would be out by January-end and a trial of strength would be held in February or March.

"During the trial of strength our sleeper cells will work," he said in an apparent reference to his claim that majority of the ruling AIADMK MLAs were with him and would back him. "The anti-people betrayers' government regime should be brought to an end," he said.

Lashing out at Chief Minister E. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, and some of the Ministers, he said he represented the "real AIADMK" and the party cadre were with him in the party headed by jailed leader V.K. Sasikala.

Dhinakaran said he had sought votes in the name of Jayalalithaa and the people have given him a huge mandate to continue her good work.

He said five-six "self-serving" people who had committed "betrayal" were now ruling the roost with support from "north", an apparent reference to BJP, having "subjugated" themselves to the Centre.
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Mumbai pub fire: Hema Malini blames high population, wants limit imposed

Reacting to the massive fire at a rooftop pub in Mumbai which claimed 14 lives, BJP MP Hema Malini on Friday said such accidents occur due to high population and suggested that a population limit should be fixed for each city.

The fire, which also injured 21 people, started after 12.30 am in the '1 Above' pub on the terrace, and spread to Mojo pub on the third floor one level below, said an official of the Mumbai civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

1 Above and Mojo are located in the Trade House Building in Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel area, a popular night spot as well as commercial hub housing several offices including national television channels.

The actor-turned-politician said the accident took place due to negligence of authorities and wondered how could they ignore safety standards before giving permission to run such pubs.

To a query by a TV channel about frequent accidents in Mumbai, she said, "It is because of too much population in Mumbai city.

"Some restrictions should be imposed on population. First of all, each city should have certain population, certain limit. After that they (people) should not be allowed. Let them go to another city, next city," Malini said.
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Facebook, Twitter to face sanctions if they don't help in fake news inquiry

Facebook and Twitter have been warned of sanctions if they fail to provide all the necessary information to a British Parliamentary committee investigating Russian interference in the EU referendum through spread of the so called "fake news" on the social networking platforms, a media report said.

The social media giants have time until January 18 to hand over information the committee has requested, The Telegraph reported on Thursday.

If they fail to comply, the committee will consider sanctions that could be imposed, such as encouraging the advertising industry to withdraw business on "ethical" grounds, said Damian Collins, Chair of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport ( DCMS) select committee, which is conducting the "fake news" inquiry.

There are allegations that during the EU referendum campaign, Facebook and Twitter platforms were used by the Russians to spread false information.

Therefore, the DCMS committee has asked the companies for details of the accounts and pages operated by Russians suspected of meddling.

"There has to be a way of scrutinising the procedures that companies like Facebook put in place to help them identify known sources of disinformation, particularly when it's politically motivated and coming from another country," Collins told The Guardian.

"But what there has to be then is some mechanism of saying: if you fail to do that, if you ignore requests to act, if you fail to police the site effectively and deal with highly problematic content, then there has to be some sort of sanction against you," Collins added.
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Demonetisation hits jobs of daily wagers, contract workers

The government’s demonetisation of high-value currency notes in November last year affected job creation among daily wagers and contract workers, even as regular jobs continued to grow, shows the latest official survey of enterprises, issued by the Labour Bureau.

During January-March 2017, job creation stood at 185,000 against 122,000 in October-December 2016 and 32,000 in July-September 2016, according to the Bureau’s fifth quarterly report on employment. The report covers eight sectors – manufacturing, construction, trade, transport, accommodation and restaurants, information technology (IT), education and health. These constituted 81 per cent of all employment provided by enterprises with a workforce of more than 10 each.

The survey showed regular jobs rose by 197,000 in January-March 2017, compared with job creation of 139,000 the previous quarter. However, the pace among contract workers slowed to 26,000 in January-March, against 124,000 in the previous quarter. Casual workers — getting wages on a daily basis — declined by 53,000 in the fourth quarter of 2016-17. The fall was a bit slower than a drop of 152,000 the previous quarter.

Experts said that there was a shift in the nature of jobs, instead of job loss, after the government decided to demonetise  currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 on November 8 last year.

“In the organised sector, there was an uptick in employment of fulltime workers who were paid by cheques or through bank accounts but the number of contract and casual workers, paid by cash, declined during this phase,” said Pronab Sen, country director, IGC’s India Central Programme and former chief statistician to the government.
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RBI cancels bids for Rs 11,000-cr bonds

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday refused to accept bids for Rs 11,000 crore worth of bonds in the final auction of this calendar year.

In all, four bonds for Rs 15,000 crore were on offer. Bids for two bonds--one maturing in 2022 (Rs 3,000 crore on offer) and another in 2031 (Rs 8,000 crore)—were rejected by the central bank. It sold the remaining two bonds worth Rs 2,000 crore each and maturing in 2033 and 2046.

The signal from the RBI has been that high yields would not be acceptable to the central bank or the government. Also,  and that the yield movement have been over the top in a short span.

The decision not to accept bids for two bonds addressed some of the market concerns related to liquidity after the government announcement  on Thursday that it was going for additional borrowing of Rs 50,000 crore. 

"The partial cancellation of the auction means that the government has a comfortable cash position and is unwilling to pay high coupons," said Piyush Wadhwa, head of trading at IDFC Bank. Following the auction results, bond yields fell 15 basis points to 7.25 per cent in the intraday, before climbing back to close at 7.33 per cent, from its previous close at 7.40 per cent.

This is a marginal relief for banks as they will now have to provide lower nominal losses on their bond portfolio. Nevertheless, considering the 10-year bond yield was at 6.648 per cent at the start of the quarter, the yield movement is still at 68 basis points in the quarter. The bank treasury, therefore, will have to take a hit on their books.

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News digest: Fiscal deficit, Indian billionaires, stock markets, and more

Govt breaches fiscal deficit target in 8 months

The government has breached its fiscal deficit target given in the Budget for 2017-18 in November itself. During the April-November period, the fiscal deficit was 112 per cent of its Rs 5.5 lakh crore target for current fiscal year. This is the highest deviation from the Budget Estimates (BE) for fiscal deficit in the first eight months of a financial year since 2008-09, the year of the global financial crisis. Read more

Year End Specials: Super rich get richer in 2017

2017 has been a bumper year for Indian billionaires, with Gautam Adani, Mukesh Ambani, and Sunil Mittal seeing a sharp increase in their wealth despite a slowing economy. The wealth, or net worth, of Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, grew nearly 120 per cent during this period, the steepest among the billionaires. Read more

In 2017, markets clock best returns in three years

The S&P BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 have delivered 27.9 per cent and 28.6 per cent returns, respectively, in 2017, making it the best year for equities since 2014.

This was on account of strong portfolio flows and hopes of an improvement in economic growth and corporate earnings. Analysts expect the momentum in the markets to continue with a revival in earnings and strong global cues while the effects of demonetisation and GST implementation fade. Read more

International Space Station team to experience New Year's eve 16 times

Six astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will experience New Year's eve 16 times as they orbit the Earth once every 90 minutes, NASA said.

That is 16 sunrise and sunsets 402 kilometres above Earth, the US space agency said in a blog post.

Three US astronauts, two Russian cosmonauts and a Japanese astronaut will go into the last weekend of 2017 with light duty and family conferences before taking New Year's Day off.

Ahead of the New Year, the astronauts are researching life science studies to help mission doctors keep astronauts healthier and stronger while living in outer space.

Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai took his turn on the exercise bike for a study researching physical exertion in space, it said.

Doctors measure the astronauts breathing and other parameters during exercise to ensure they have the strength to perform strenuous activities such as spacewalks and even emergency procedures.

Scientists are exploring how plants respond to microgravity and observe molecular and genetic changes.

The US space agency is planning longer human missions beyond low-Earth orbit and learning how to keep crews self- sustainable.
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Indian-origin 19-year-old shot dead in Chicago robbery

An Indian boy was shot dead in a robbery attempt at Dolton Gas Station in Chicago on Friday.

According to the local media reports, the deceased has been identified as 19-year-old Arshad Vora, a native of Gujarat's Nadiad city.

The other victim who was also shot at was reportedly taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in a critical condition.

Further details are awaited.
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As output falls to 9.75 mbpd, US WTI crude jumps back above $60 per barrel

US oil prices hit their highest since mid-2015 on the final trading day of the year as an unexpected fall in American output and a fall in commercial crude inventories stoked buying.

In international markets, Brent crude oil futures also rose, supported by ongoing supply cuts by top producers OPEC and Russia as well as strong demand from China.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $60.07 a barrel at 1150 GMT, up 23 cents or 0.4 per cent from their last close, after hitting a June 2015 high of $60.32.

Brent crude futures - the international benchmark - were also up, rising 23 cents to $66.39 a barrel. Brent broke through $67 earlier this week for the first time since May 2015.

Since the start of the year, Brent and WTI have risen by 17 and 12 per cent, respectively, although the price rises from mid-2017 are much stronger, at nearly 50 per cent.

Friday's WTI price rises were driven by a surprise drop in US oil production, which last week dipped to 9.754 million barrels per day (bpd), down from 9.789 million bpd the previous week, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released late on Thursday.

US output is still up by almost 16 per cent since mid-2016, but most analysts had expected production to break through 10 million bpd by the end of this year - a level only surpassed by top exporter Saudi Arabia and top producer Russia.
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Israel's air-defense system intercepts two rockets fired from Gaza strip

Israeli army on Friday intercepted two rockets fired from the Gaza strip, while the third rocket fell near the Gaza border.
The Anadolu Agency quoted an Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth as saying that air-raid sirens were sounded in the border communities of Sdot Negev and Shaar Hanegev.

"The Iron Dome air-defense system intercepted two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip," the newspaper reported.

"A third rocket landed on a structure in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council in southern Israel," it added.

No casualties or material damage was reported.

United States President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital has prompted international criticism and sparked protests across the world.

Jerusalem is considered a sacred place, which is home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites.

However, it is also a disputed territory, contested by both Israel and Palestine, which sees it as a capital of its future state.
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Wide Apple handset lineup makes up for low iPhone X demand

In years past, demand for Apple Inc's latest flagship phone was critical to the company's results over the holiday shopping quarter.

That dynamic might be changing, however, as Apple's widening lineup of devices and services more than makes up for any tepidness in demand this quarter for its lead product, the $999 iPhone X.

On Tuesday, Apple's stock fell 2.5 percent to $170.57 after Taiwan's Economic Daily and several analysts suggested iPhone X sales in the fiscal first quarter would be 30 million units, 20 million fewer than initially planned by the company.

The cut in the forecast was not confirmed, and the stock regained ground on Thursday, hitting $171.82 by midday. The mean revenue estimate for the holiday quarter among 30 analysts remains at $86.2 billion, near the high end of Apple's forecast of $84 billion to $87 billion.

Apple declined to comment.

Part of the support for Apple may reflect a change in its business strategy.

Releasing two new models and keeping older ones have made Apple less dependent on its flagship product. Apple shareholder Ross Gerber, chief executive of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management in Santa Monica, California, said the higher price and better margins on the iPhone X will reduce fears of a sales decline.

"We know that Apple's strategy was different this quarter by releasing two phones, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, and I think combined sales will be in line with what people expect," Gerber said.

Apple also has fattened its portfolio of accessories and other devices, from its AirPods wireless headphones to a new Apple Watch with cellular data features.
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One man's stand against junk food as diabetes climbs across India

Rahul Verma’s son was born gravely ill with digestive problems, but over years of visits to the boy’s endocrinologist, Mr Verma saw the doctor grow increasingly alarmed about a different problem, one threatening healthy children. Junk food, the doctor warned, was especially dangerous to Indians, who are far more prone to diabetes than people from other parts of the world.

One day in the doctor’s waiting room, Mr Verma noticed a girl who had gotten fat by compulsively eating potato chips. He decided he had to do something.

“On one side you have children like my son, who are born with problems,” said Mr Verma, “and on the other side you have children who are healthy and everything is fine and you are damaging them giving them unhealthy food.”

Mr Verma, who had no legal training, sat late into the nights with his wife, Tullika, drafting a petition in their tiny apartment, which was bedecked with fairy lights and pictures of the god Ganesh, who is believed to overcome all obstacles. He filed the public interest lawsuit in the Delhi High Court in 2010, seeking a ban on the sale of junk food and soft drinks in and around schools across India.

The case has propelled sweeping, court-ordered regulations of the food industry to the doorstep of the Indian government, where they have languished. They have outsize importance in India, population 1.3 billion, because its people are far more likely to develop diabetes — which can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputations — as they gain weight than people from other regions, according to health experts.
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Kill terror suspects on spot, Putin tells forces after St Petersburg blast

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that armed criminals could be "liquidated on the spot," calling the blast that tore through a Saint Petersburg supermarket and wounded 14 people an "act of terror."

Yesterday, a homemade bomb placed in a locker at the supermarket in northwestern Saint Petersburg, Russia's second city and Putin's hometown, went off sowing panic among customers and wounding 14 people including a pregnant woman.

"As you know, an act of terror took place in Saint Petersburg yesterday," Putin said on Thursday, speaking at a ceremony to award officers who took part in Russia's Syria campaign.

He said he had ordered the nation's security services to "act decisively" and "liquidate bandits on the spot" if armed militants put up resistance.

His spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters later that the Russian leader was referring to all those "who harbour plans to carry out acts of terror in our country."

Putin's 2015 decision to intervene in Syria militarily on the side of Bashar al-Assad has made Russia a priority target for the Islamic State group.
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News Digest: Deal between Ambanis, LS passes triple talaq Bill, and more

Ambani dials Ambani: Jio to buy RCom's mobile biz assets for Rs 24,000 cr

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio announced a deal on Thursday to acquire younger brother Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications’s (RCom’s) wireless infrastructure assets, including towers and spectrum, at an estimated price of Rs 20,000-24,000 crore. Read more

Lok Sabha passes triple talaq Bill; Congress and other parties go along

After the Lok Sabha passed the triple talaq bill on Thursday, the Narendra Modi government indicated it would be amenable to incorporating some of the amendments that the Opposition suggested when the bill comes up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Read more

Sebi nod for universal exchanges from October 2018

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Thursday said exchanges would be allowed to deal in both equities and commodities from October 2018, a move that would benefit the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the BSE, and the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), which currently trade in either of the two categories. Read more
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Draft Bill proposes exit exam to get licence for practising Ayurveda

Medical graduates willing to procure a licence to practise Indian medicine systems, including Ayurveda, may soon have to clear an exit exam, according to a proposed legislation on the lines of the health ministry's National Medical Commission Bill.

This is a part of a draft bill which seeks to create a new regulator, National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy, to replace the two statutory bodies governing higher education in homoeopathy and Indian systems of medicine.

The AYUSH ministry, in consultation with NITI Aayog, has formulated the inclusion of integrative medicine in the proposed bill which will enable AYUSH practitioners to practise modern medicines and vice versa after undergoing a "bridge course".

Proposed by the NITI Aayog-led panel, the draft bill known as National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy, which seeks to replace Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) and Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH), also calls for AYUSH National Teachers Eligibility Test to bring in quality teachers in the traditional systems of medicine.

The AYUSH National Teachers Eligibility will be conducted for appointment of all teachers in AYUSH institutions, a senior official in the ministry of AYUSH said.

A committee under the chairmanship of vice chairman, Niti Aayog, additional principal secretary to prime minister, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Niti Aayog and secretary, Ministry of Ayush as members examined the working of the existing regulatory bodies of Indian Systems of Medicine.

It recommended the creation of National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy.
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'Historic' Triple Talaq Bill will ensure Muslim women's dignity: Amit Shah

Terming the passage of the Triple Talaq Bill in the Lok Sabha as 'historic', Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Thursday said it was a step towards ensuring the dignity of Muslim women in the country.

The BJP chief even expressed gratitude to all the parliamentarian for supporting the Bill, which would bring a new era of hope and respect in the lives of Muslim women of the country.

Earlier in the day, the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha, while all the amendments moved by the Opposition were negated.

The passed Bill will now be introduced in the Rajya Sabha for passage before it is forwarded to the President for signing it into a law.

The Bill, if implemented into a law, will make Triple Talaq a criminal offence. It proposes a three-year jail term for a Muslim man who divorces his wife in any form of spoken, written or by electronic means such as email, SMS, and WhatsApp. 
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Fire breaks out at Kamala Mills in Mumbai; 12 dead, 14 injured

At least 14 people have died and 12 others were injured when a major fire broke out on Thursday night at a building in Kamala Mills Compound in Lower Parel, an official said.

The fire started after 12:30 am on the third floor of the building on Senapati Bapat Marg, a commercial hub of the city, a police official said.

More than six fire tenders, four water tankers, emergency ambulance and police rushed to the spot for rescue operation, he said.

The building, in Central Mumbai, houses some commercial establishments including hotels.

Three persons with serious burn injuries have been taken to the Breach Candy hospital, the official said.

"It's a Level-II fire and we have mobilised our resources. The fire fighting and rescue operation is going on," he said, adding that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Fire at Kamala Mills. Reportedly, #1Above burnt down. London Taxi, Zoom, Times Now affected. pic.twitter.com/I5OtYsE9ph
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Pakistani army says it is committed to safeguarding the corridor with China

The Pakistani Army is committed to provide security to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the military has taken special measures in this regard, a senior Army officer said Thursday.

Addressing a press briefing, Asif Ghafoor, Director General of Pakistani Army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations, said the Army has raised a whole division which is deployed on the security of CPEC, Xinhua reported.

Ghafoor also rejected the US allegations of Pakistan having safe havens of terrorists on its soil, saying there is neither any organised infrastructure nor any facilitator of militants in Pakistan and the country has made many sacrifices to support peace in the region.

Commenting on US demand from Pakistan to take action against terrorist elements in the territorial boundaries of the country, Ghafoor said that Pakistan has fought an imposed and imported war twice and now it cannot do any more for anyone.

He added that the aid, which the US provided to Pakistan, was used to fulfill US mission of fighting Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

The officer said that Pakistan has controlled terrorism to a great extent in the country in 2017, and is contributing in a big way to assist peace in Afghanistan.

"No other country than Pakistan is interested in peace in Afghanistan because we understand that peace in Afghanistan is essential for peace in Pakistan as well," he said.
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Apple and Amazon in talks to set up shop in Saudi Arabia: Sources

Apple and Amazon are in licensing discussions with Riyadh on investing in Saudi Arabia, two sources told Reuters, part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's push to give the conservative kingdom a high-tech look.

A third source confirmed that Apple was in talks with SAGIA, Saudi Arabia's foreign investment authority.

Both companies already sell products in Saudi Arabia via third parties but they and other global tech giants have yet to establish a direct presence.

Amazon's discussions are being led by cloud computing division Amazon Web Services (AWS), which would introduce stiff competition in a market currently dominated by smaller local providers like STC and Mobily.

Riyadh has been easing regulatory impediments for the past two years, including limits on foreign ownership which had long kept investors away, since falling crude prices highlighted the need to diversify its oil-dependent economy.

Luring Apple and Amazon would further Prince Mohammed's reform plans and raise the companies' profile in a young and relatively affluent market, which already boasts some of the highest internet and smartphone use in the world.
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US tax cut effect: China exempts firms from taxes for reinvested profits

China said on Thursday it will temporarily exempt foreign firms from paying provisional income tax on profits they re-invest into the economy, in a bid to stop foreign firms shifting their operations out of the country.

The move will help "promote growth of foreign investment, improve quality of foreign investment and encourage overseas investors to continuously expand their investment in China," the finance ministry said on its website.

Analysts say a planned tax cut by US President Donald Trump, which could lead to a repatriation of earnings by US firms, poses a challenge China's bid to lure foreign investment.

The temporary exemption on provisional income tax is retroactive from Jan. 1 this year, which means firms that have paid taxes this year will be refunded.

But foreign firms must meet several conditions to be eligible for the exemption, the statement said. These include making direct investment into sectors encouraged by Chinese government while investments must be transferred directly to invested companies.

China's standard corporate tax rate is 25 percent although it gives firms more leeway to make profit deductions when they make charitable donations.

Some Chinese and foreign-funded companies have complained about rising business costs, including high tax burdens.
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Israel plans Trump station in Western Wall to thank him for Jerusalem move

Israel's Transport Minister wants to dig a railway tunnel under Jerusalem's Old City and name a station next to the Western Wall after US President Donald Trump.

Yisrael Katz said he wanted to honour the US president for his decision to recognise the city as Israel's capital, BBC reported on Wednesday.

The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews are permitted to pray.

The proposed new railway tunnel and station would form part of an extension of a high-speed line from Tel Aviv that is set to open next year.

Previous Israeli excavation work around the compound behind the Western Wall, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and to Jews as Temple Mount, has triggered Palestinian protests.

The UN cultural agency Unesco, which has designated the Old City a World Heritage site, has also expressed concern about tunnelling and excavations.

Katz told the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth that the extension of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem line was the transport ministry's "most important national project".

He said he had approved a recommendation by an Israel Railways committee to build a 3 km underground tunnel from Binyanei HaUma station in West Jerusalem to the Western Wall, which is in occupied East Jerusalem.
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MTV Unplugged co-creator Jim Burns dies after being struck by taxi

The co-creator of MTV's "Unplugged" was struck by a taxi while crossing Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and later died.

Jim Burns was struck on Saturday. The taxi turned onto the avenue and accidentally struck the 65-year-old who had been walking with his seeing-eye dog near his Upper East Side home, police said. He had some type of vision problem, and the dog was a seeing companion, police said.

Burns suffered a serious head injury and died from his injuries yesterday. The taxi driver remained at the scene; police still were investigating but said it did not appear to be criminal.

An MTV spokeswoman said the network was deeply saddened to learn of the death. Burns co-created "MTV Unplugged" with Robert Small. The wildly popular show debuted in 1989 at the height of MTV's musical and cultural influence in America. It features artists such as Nirvana, Eric Clapton, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z and Bob Dylan in an intimate venue performing stripped- down versions of their songs.

"As co-creator of the beloved 'Unplugged' franchise, his groundbreaking work continues to resonate with audiences around the world. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones," says a statement from MTV.

According to Billboard, Clapton's Unplugged album sold 7.7 million copies after its 1992 debut, the most-ever for the series. Nirvana sold 5.1 million copies when it debuted in November 1994 at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was the band's first album after Kurt Cobain's suicide in April 1994.

The music series returned to the air this year, with performances from locations around the country that hold meaning for the artist performing. It premiered in September with Shawn Mendes.
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Blast at St Petersburg store in Russia injures 10, bomb detonate in locker

A blast ripped through a supermarket in Russia’s St Petersburg on Wednesday evening, injuring at least 10 shoppers, investigators said.

The explosion was caused by a homemade bomb packed with pieces of metal with a force equivalent to 200 grammes of TNT, they said. They have opened a criminal case on the grounds of attempted murder.

Nobody was killed in the explosion, and it was not immediately clear what the motive for it was.

Russian media reports said the bomb had been hidden in a locker where shoppers leave their belongings in a branch of the Perekrestok supermarket chain.

“All possible versions of what has happened are being worked on,” Alexander Klaus, the head of St Petersburg’s investigative committee, told Reuters.

“As of now, it has been established that 10 people were taken to the city’s hospitals with injuries. At the moment, the lives of those injured are not under threat.”
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Gallup Poll: Obama, Clinton retain 'most admired' Americans title

Former US president Barack Obama is the most admired man in the United States and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton the most admired woman, according to a poll published on Wednesday.

Obama came out on top of the annual Gallup survey for the 10th year in a row while Clinton, who lost last year's presidential election to Donald Trump, was named the most admired woman for the 16th straight year.

Seventeen per cent of the Americans who polled said Obama was the man they admired most, down from 22 per cent last year. Trump was second with 14 percent followed by Pope Francis with three per cent.

Nine per cent of those polled said Clinton was their most admired woman followed by former US First Lady Michelle Obama with seven per cent and talk show host Oprah Winfrey with four per cent.

Gallup said the poll of 1,049 adults was conducted between December 4-11 and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
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Triple talaq Bill to be tabled in Parliament today; AIMPLB cries foul

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017, which seeks to criminalise the practice of triple talaq, is expected to be tabled in the Parliament by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday.

The draft Bill says, "any pronouncement of talaq by a person upon his wife, by words, either spoken or written or in electronic form or in any other manner whatsoever, shall be void and illegal".

There is also a provision of imprisonment for a term that may extend to three years and fine for violators. The draft Bill also envisages entitling divorcee Muslim women for maintenance.

It also has a provision for the divorcee Muslim women to have the custody of their minor children. The offences under the purview of this Bill will be cognisable and non-bailable.

The Bill shall extend to the whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), which is against the tabling of the Bill, requested the central government to withdraw and withhold the triple talaq Bill.
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Cong softens stand on PM's remark against Manmohan, starts row over Hegde

The government and the opposition softened their stand on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks against Manmohan Singh on Wednesday, ending the nearly two-week impasse in Parliament, but a fresh row over Union minister Ananth Kumar Hegde's controversial comments on secularism is likely to keep it astir.

After an intense face-off, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that Modi never questioned his predecessor Manmohan Singh's integrity and commitment to the nation.

The Congress, which was hitherto insisting on an apology from Modi over his remark that Singh colluded with Pakistanis to influence the Gujarat Assembly elections, said it does not approve of any comments against the prime minister, apparently a reference to the "neech" remark made by its suspended leader Mani Shankar Aiyar.

The proceedings of both Houses of Parliament were repeatedly disrupted over the past two weeks over remarks by Modi during the Gujarat assembly election campaign. He had criticised Singh for attending a "secret" dinner with senior Pakistan officials at Aiyar's residence.

The Congress said Modi's remarks implied that Singh and other public figures who attended the dinner were conspiring with Pakistan, and demanded an apology from the prime minister.
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2017 in review: When strategy collided with data

Advancement in technology has brought about significant changes in the way how we see the world. Data analysis has lead from the front and changed the strategies for the industry. Data has almost become the new currency with economic and societal value. 2017 saw renewed disruption, as the number of firms exploiting the data network by tapping into new information reserves increased day by day.

When bits and bytes drowned tone

If you’re using your face as a password to unlock your devices, tech has already learnt to “see” you. Mapping what you feel based on your facial expressions is probably right around the corner. Is that a hungry face I see there or is it a sex-starved face, is only one of a million probabilities that some AI will decode and interpret and send you commercial messages, as a result, right? Click to read the full story.
Reorienting talent to biz development

The fact is, technology has leapfrogged many times more than the productivity of firms. As established names struggle to play catch-up with more nimble footed adversaries, there is a scramble for talent that can understand and cope, nay, lead the business transformation. We see companies reorienting their workforce to newer areas of business development: digitisation of the supply chain is in full swing in many as an example. Click to read the full story.

How data became the key tech driver

As the digital age unfolds before our eyes, data has become the new currency with economic and societal value. The interplay of transmitted data and its spiralling growth is steadily affecting the world economy. Global businesses are disrupting age-old models to build products and services that can predict and preempt value. Click to read the full story.
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14 civilians killed in Saudi-led air strikes on Yemen market

Saudi-led air strikes killed at least 14 civilians in a village market near Yemen's battleground third city Taez as a nearly three-year bombing campaign intensified, an official and medics said on Wednesday.

The Tuesday strikes also killed 11 rebel fighters and wounded 16 civilians, a local official loyal to the Saudi- backed government told AFP.

The official, who asked not to be identified, said the strikes were intended as air support for a local revolt against the Huthi rebels in the village of Al-Haima, northeast of Taez, but the warplanes hit the wrong target.

Taez is held by forces loyal to the Saudi-backed government but much of the surrounding countryside is in the hands of the rebels and it has been a key battleground in the country's devastating civil war.

To the west, on the Red Sea coast, Saudi-led air strikes killed 22 Huthis south of the key rebel-held port of Hodeida, military and medical sources said.

The strikes targeted reinforcements sent by the Huthis from the rebel-held capital Sanaa, the sources said.

Among the dead was Yasser al-Ahmar, a tribal chief, they added.

The Saudi-led coalition launched its intervention in support of the internationally recognised government in March 2015.

But despite its superior firepower, the rebels still control the capital and much of the north.

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Social media corroding civil discourse: Obama tells Prince Harry

Former US President Barack Obama told Britain's Prince Harry he was concerned social media was "corroding civil discourse", in what he said was his first interview since leaving the White House, aired on Wednesday.

"One of the dangers of the internet is that people can have entirely different realities," he told the prince, who was guest editing BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"They can be cocooned in information that reinforces their current biases. Things aren't as simple as they've been portrayed in whatever chat room you've been in," he added.

"The question has to do with how do we harness this technology in a way that allows a multiplicity of voices, allows a diversity of views, but doesn't lead to a Balkanisation of society and allows ways of finding common ground."

The interview was recorded in Toronto, Canada, in September on the sidelines of the Invictus Games, the athletic tournament created by Harry for wounded former soldiers.

Despite admitting concern over the future of the US, Obama, who did not mention his successor Donald Trump by name, said he felt a sense of "serenity" on leaving the White House.

"There was a sense that we had run a good race," he added.

On his new routine, Obama told the prince: "I wake up later, it's wonderful to be able to control your day."
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Wall St little changed; oil prices' fall from 2015 highs on energy shares

US stocks were little changed in morning trading on Wednesday, with gains in healthcare and technology stocks helping offset losses in energy shares.

Oil prices fell after hitting a nearly two-and-a-half year high in the previous session, pressuring the S&P energy index, which fell 0.1 per cent.

ConocoPhillips dropped 1.2 per cent and Chevron fell 0.3 per cent.

Technology shares, including those of Facebook and Nvidia, gained ground on Wednesday. The sector was dragged down on Tuesday by losses in Apple's shares following a report on tepid iPhone X demand.

Trading activity was muted in the holiday-shortened week between Christmas and New Year.

Commodity prices were in the spotlight after copper prices hit three-and-a-half-year highs after a rise in China's imports in November.

"People are using copper and oil prices as a precursor to signal that the US economy is strengthening," said Robert Pavlik, chief investment strategist at SlateStone Wealth in New York.

At 9:38 a.m. ET (1438 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 5.36 points, or 0.02 percent, at 24,751.57 and the S&P 500 was up 1.61 points, or 0.06 per cent, at 2,682.11.

The Nasdaq Composite was up 4.69 points, or 0.07 per cent, at 6,940.94.

Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer rose about half a per cent each, lifting the S&P healthcare sector by 0.22 per cent.

Tesla shares fell 0.75 per cent after brokerage KeyBanc lowered its estimates for Model 3 deliveries to roughly 5,000 units from 15,000 units for the fourth quarter.

Shares of wireless-charging technology developer Energous Corp soared about 85 per cent after it got certification for its wireless charging transmitter.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by 1,341 to 1,137. On the Nasdaq, 1,345 issues rose and 953 fell.
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Huawei's China smartphone sales chief detained for suspected bribe-taking

Huawei Technologies, the world's third-largest smartphone maker, said on Wednesday that Chinese police are conducting an investigation after the China sales head of its smartphone unit was detained on suspicion of accepting bribes.

Huawei, which in recent years has overtaken Apple Inc and others to take the top share of China's smartphone market but is now under pressure from fast-growing domestic rivals, declined to disclose details of the case.

"The authorities are investigating the matter, and we defer to their discretion as to what can be disclosed," the company said in e-mailed comments to Reuters when asked about the case.

"We take our business ethics extremely seriously, and have zero tolerance for corrupt behaviour." It gave no further comment.

In an internal memo to staff, however, Huawei said Teng Hongfei, the Greater China sales head for its consumer business division, had been detained for "the suspected crime of accepting bribes as a non-state functionary".

Reuters was unable to immediately reach Teng or a representative for comment.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he worked at Samsung Electronics and Nokia before joining Huawei in June 2014.

Since then, Huawei has moved past Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi and Lenovo Group to become China's largest smartphone seller.
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Jadhav's wife shoe confiscated for security reasons: Pak hits back at India

Pakistan on Tuesday rejected as "baseless" India's contentions that Kulbhushan Jadhav's family was harassed and claimed that his wife's shoes were confiscated on security grounds as there was "something" in it.

The Foreign Office in a statement said that Pakistan does not wish to indulge in a "meaningless battle of words" and categorically rejects India's baseless "allegations and twists" about attitude of authorities during Jadhav's meeting with his wife and mother.

"The Indian baseless allegations and twists, that come 24 hrs later, about the visit of the wife and mother of Commander Jadhav, a convicted terrorist and spy, who has confessed to his crimes, are categorically rejected," the statement said.

"If Indian concerns were serious, the guests or the Indian DHC should have raised them during the visit, with the media, which was readily available, but at a safe distance, as requested by India," it said.

"We do not wish to indulge in a meaningless battle of words. Our openness and transparency belies these allegations," it said.

Responding to India's contentions that Jadhav's wife's shoes were not returned to her after the meeting, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal told DawnNews that the shoes were confiscated on "security grounds".
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Google plans to launch offline stores in India to boost Pixel sales: Report

Alphabet Inc's Google is looking to launch brick-and-mortar stores in India to boost sales of its Pixel smartphones, the Economic Times newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing three people with knowledge of the matter.

Google is exploring the idea of physical stores after finding an encouraging response to more than a dozen pop-up stores opened in malls across the country to showcase the second generation Pixel phones, the newspaper reported.

Google responded to a Reuters query saying that it does not comment on rumours or speculations.

India is the world's second-biggest wireless market with 1.2 billion mobile subscribers, which is currently dominated by South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, and Chinese players including Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo.
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China, Pak to look at including Afghanistan in $57 bn economic corridor

China and Pakistan will look at extending their $57 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday, part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road plan linking China with Asia, Europe and beyond.

China has tried to position itself as a helpful party to promote talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan, both uneasy neighbours ever since Pakistan’s independence in 1947.

Their ties have been poisoned in recent years by Afghan accusations that Pakistan is supporting Taliban insurgents fighting the U.S.-backed Kabul in order to limit the influence of its old rival, India, in Afghanistan.

Pakistan denies that and says it wants to see a peaceful, stable Afghanistan.

Speaking after the first trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Wang said China hoped the economic corridor could benefit the whole region and act as an impetus for development.

Afghanistan has urgent need to develop and improve people’s lives and hopes it can join inter-connectivity initiatives, Wang told reporters, as he announced that Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed to mend their strained relations.

“So China and Pakistan are willing to look at with Afghanistan, on the basis of win-win, mutually beneficial principles, using an appropriate means to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan,” he added.

How that could happen needs the three countries to reach a gradual consensus, tackling easier, smaller projects first, Wang said, without giving details.
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Jairam Thakur to be sworn in as Himachal CM today, Modi and Shah to attend

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jairam Thakur is all set to take oath as the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Amit Shah, former deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and several Union ministers and chief ministers are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Jai Ram Thakur at the historic Ridge Maidan in Shimla at 11 am.

Governor Aacharya Devvrat will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Thakur.

Along with Thakur, a few MLA will reportedly swear-in as Cabinet Ministers on Wednesday.

The five-time BJP MLA from Seraj constituency of the hilly state was elected to lead the state after the party's chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal failed to register a win from his constituency.

The BJP has ousted the Congress from power in Himachal Pradesh by winning 44 out of the 68 seats in the recently held Assembly polls.

Along with many senior leaders and workers of BJP state unit, thousands of people are expected to witness the swearing-in ceremony.

Massive security and other arrangements have been made ahead of the grand function. Besides seating arrangements, eight to ten LED screens have been installed outside the venue. SPG will look after the security arrangements.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Incharge for Party Affairs Mangal Pandey have reviewed the arrangements in Ridge Maidan
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Chinese activist Wu Gan sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment for subversion

China's prominent human rights activist Wu Gan, who is also known as Super Vulgar Butcher, was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment for subversion.

The court in Tianjin said he was "dissatisfied with the current system of governance, and that gradually produced thoughts of subverting state power."

He "spread fake information" and "insulted others online," the court alleged.

44-year-old Wu, who was arrested more than two years ago as part of a sweeping crackdown on human rights lawyers and activists is the latest campaigner to be jailed. The crackdown saw nearly 250 people questioned or detained by authorities, reported the Guardian.

Convicting Wu, the court in Tianjin said, "Wu Gan has long used information networks to spread a great deal of rhetoric and to attack state power and the system established by the constitution."

"[They] use 'defending rights' and 'performance arts' as a disguise. to defame state institutions and attack the national system set by the constitution," the court said, in a verdict posted online on Tuesday.

Before his trial, Wu predicted a harsh sentencing for refusing to cooperate with the authorities.

Predicting a harsh sentencing for himself, Wu, ahead of his trial in August, in a statement released through his lawyers, said, "I will be convicted not because I am really guilty, but because of my refusal to accept a government-appointed lawyer, plead guilty in a televised propaganda confession, and for exposing torture, mistreatment and violence and prosecutorial misconduct.
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Massive attack on Libyan crude pipeline reduces output by up to 100,000 bpd

Armed men blew up a pipeline pumping crude oil to Es Sider port on Tuesday, cutting Libya’s output by up to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd), military and oil sources said.

The state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC) said in statement output had been reduced by 70,000-100,000 bpd. The cause of the blast was unclear, it added.

The attackers arrived at the site near Marada in two cars and planted explosives on the pipeline, a military source said.

Pictures purportedly showing a huge cloud from the blast in central eastern Libya circulated on social media.
The damage was still being assessed, one oil source said. Oil prices rose on the report.

Islamic State fighters had a presence in the area until government forces expelled them from their main stronghold in Sirte a year ago.

The operator of the pipeline is Waha, a subsidiary of the NOC and a joint venture with Hess Corp, Marathon Oil Corp and ConocoPhillips.

Waha pumps a total 260,000 barrels a day, its chairman said last month.

The North African state’s oil production was last put by officials at around one million bpd but exact figures are hard to obtain in a country riven by factional conflict.
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Uproar in Peru over pardon granted to ex-president Alberto Fujimori

Thousands of people took to the streets across Peru to protest against the pardon granted to former President Alberto Fujimori, which exempts him from completing a 25-year prison sentence for human rights violations.

In Lima, some 6,000 people demonstrated peacefully on Monday. It ended with at least one arrest and the police dispersed the demonstration with tear gas, reports Efe news.

The protesters at first wanted to march towards the Government Palace, headquarters of the executive, or to the clinic in which Fujimori is hospitalised, but instead was ended in front of the Palace of Justice.

The demonstrators demanded that the pardon be quashed, given that it favours impunity for Fujimori.

He was sentenced in 2009 to 25 years in prison for his responsibility in the massacres of 25 people in Barrios Altos in 1991 and La Cantuta in 1992, perpetrated by the undercover military group Colina, and the kidnapping of a journalist and a businessman in 1992.

President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski signed the pardon for Fujimori, 79, on Sunday, only three days after he narrowly survived an impeachment vote by Congress, due to the 10 votes from Fujimori's party, led by Kenji Fujimori, son of the former president, who had called on several occasions for a pardon for his father.

The pardon was granted for humanitarian reasons, allegedly because Fujimori is suffering from a "progressive, degenerative and incurable disease" and is at risk of aggravation due to prison conditions, according to a statement from the Presidency of Peru.
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