4 Indians held in Malaysia for possessing turtles without permit
Four Indians have been detained by Malaysian authorities for investigation after the seizure of more than 1,000 exotic turtles worth Rs 99 lakh during a sting operation.
By PTI, Kuala Lumpur
PUBLISHED ON JUL 26, 2016 05:16 PM IST
Four Indians have been detained by Malaysian authorities here for investigation after the seizure of more than 1,000 exotic turtles worth Rs 99 lakh during a sting operation.
Natural resources and environment minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Indian nationals were detained to assist in investigations.
The seizure by the Wildlife Crime Unit was worth an estimated RM 600,000 (Rs 99 lakh).
Wan Junaidi said two suspects were detained when a house in the suburb of Petaling Jaya was raided on Monday. “A total of 1,011 star tortoises and 23 Indian roofed turtles were seized,” he said.
Two more suspects were picked from a budget hotel here on Tuesday. Wan Junaidi said enforcement officers found 36 black pond turtles in four bags.
Checks showed all four suspects did not possess a licence from the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to keep the reptiles.
The suspects will be investigated under Section 68 of Malaysia’s Wildlife Protection Act of 2010 for keeping wildlife without a special permit. The offence carries a jail term of up to three years, a maximum fine of RM 100,000, or both.
United States welcomes Indo-Pak ceasefire pact
By Yashwant Raj, Washington
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 02:46 AM IST
The United States welcomed the India-Pakistan joint statement – released on Thursday — committing to a ceasefire along the LoC with Ned Price, spokesperson of the state department, saying: “We encourage continued efforts to improve communication between the two sides and to reduce tensions and violence along the Line of Control.”
US implicates Saudi crown prince in journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 12:11 AM IST
The central conclusion of the report was widely expected given that intelligence officials were said to have reached it soon after the brutal Oct. 2, 2018, murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s authoritarian consolidation of power.
Myanmar's UN envoy dramatically opposes coup in his country
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 11:48 PM IST
Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun urged all countries to issue public statements strongly condemning the military coup and refuse to recognize the military regime and ask its leaders to respect the free and fair elections in November won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party.
EU medicines regulator approves Regeneron Covid-19 therapy
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AFP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 11:38 PM IST
Regeneron's synthetic antibody treatment was used to treat former US President Donald Trump after he contracted coronavirus last year.
FDA advisory panel to review J&J Covid-19 vaccine with thumbs up expected
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 11:09 PM IST
After it receives the recommendation, the FDA is likely to authorize the vaccine for emergency use within a day or so, making it the third available in the United States, and the only one that requires just one shot.
Bank of America gives paid time off for US staff to get Covid-19 vaccines
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 10:50 PM IST
Staff at Bank of America will have the option to use two half days, for up to four hours each, for vaccination appointments this year.
Biden administration to promote vaccination with businesses
Bloomberg
UPDATED ON FEB 26, 2021 10:46 PM IST
The White House will partner with the US Chamber of Commerce; leaders of the Black, Latino and Asian business community; the Business Roundtable and the National Association of Manufacturers on the efforts, White House adviser Andy Slavitt announced in a briefing.
Biden team looking to stop Saudi arms deals that help it attack others
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters, Washington
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 10:45 PM IST
The Biden administration is recalibrating its relationship with Saudi Arabia, a country with which it has severe human rights concerns.
Third US vaccine could raise question: Which Covid-19 shots are best?
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | AP
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 10:12 PM IST
- If cleared for emergency use, the J&J vaccine would offer a one-dose option that could help speed vaccinations.
US justice department pledges to probe, as attacks on Asian Americans increase
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters, Washington
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 09:56 PM IST
While verbal harassment has made up more than 70 per cent of the incidents, more than 8 per cent involved physical assaults.
Nepal cabinet recommends President to call meeting of reinstated Lower House
ANI, Kathmandu, Nepal
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 09:40 PM IST
The meeting comes after the Nepal Supreme Court had reinstated the House of Representatives (HoR) and directed the government to summon a session of the country's Lower House of Parliament within 13 days.
Caribbean countries ask wealthy nations to share vaccine supply
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 09:38 PM IST
In a statement issued late Thursday, CARICOM said it was “dissatisfied and deeply concerned about the inequitable access to vaccines” it was facing.
US conducts first military operation under Biden, hits Iran-backed groups in Syria
By Yashwant Raj I Edited by Vinod Janardhanan
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 09:36 PM IST
The US had not released any casualty figures or estimates. But a war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, has said 22 members of the militant groups were killed and the toll could climb because some of the others had suffered severe injuries.
Half a million US chicks euthanised after storm hits Texas
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 08:50 PM IST
- While it’s unclear how many chicken producers experienced losses, even small percentage changes in supply can move the market, and prices have already been gaining.
Bharat Biotech confirms deal with Brazil for 20 million doses of Covaxin
ANI, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 08:45 PM IST
"The company is delighted to partner with Brazil in its battle against Covid-19 and aid its immunization program against the virus," Bharat Biotech said in a statement.
