High level synthesis

Pakistan’s newly-appointed Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Sunday in the Chinese city of Guangzhou to firm up the all-weather ties between the two countries . This is Mr. Bilawal’s maiden visit to China after he took over as Foreign Minister following the fall of the Imran Khan-led government last month. Mr. Bilawal meets with the Chinese State Councillour and Foreign Minister Wang in Guangzhou, Pakistan’s state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency tweeted. Their meeting was held in Guangzhou as Beijing is currently under semi-lockdown to contain the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the COVID-19. Also Read India slams Pakistan for ‘unwarranted remarks’ after FM Bilawal rakes up Kashmir at UNSC “Landed in Guangzhou on my first bilateral visit. Today also marks the 71st anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and China. Looking forward to meeting Chinese … [Read more...] about Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto holds talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on maiden visit to China

The summit redefined the Korea-U.S. alliance, going beyond security to cover technology and global partnership. Although Seoul has tried to push bilateral ties to a new level, an economic and comprehensive alliance has been proclaimed for the first time. Korea, which mostly relied on U.S. for security, is on a more equal footing through technology backing. Biden devoted his first and last day in Korea to Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor. He would have been happy to return home with a $10-billion investment package from Hyundai, but a U.S. president seeking out Korean businesses is also something for the Korean people to be proud of. The security alliance has also been enhanced. The high-level Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group which was briefly operated during the Park Geun-hye administration was revived. The platform enabling the two allies to coordinate closely on the deployment of U.S. strategic assets could be a protection against the North Korean nuclear … [Read more...] about First steps to sucess

White House COVID-⁠19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that Americans should be wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces to combat the current coronavirus surge. Anchor Martha Raddatz said, “We have the daily case number more than 100,000, I know you think the number is actually higher because of home testing, so what is your advice in these high transmission areas?” Jha said, “First and foremost, my advice is, if you have not gotten vaccinated in the last five months, if you have not gotten boosted, now is a good time to do it. What we know is vaccines continue to provide a high level of protection against people getting seriously ill. That’s advice number one. Advice number two, I agree with Mayor Adams that when you’re in an indoor space, you should be wearing a mask. Crowded indoor places, high transmissions, people should be doing that. People have access to masks, vaccines, and therapeutics and testing.” He added, “We have a lot of … [Read more...] about Biden COVID Advisor Jha: ‘When You’re in an Indoor Space, You Should Be Wearing a Mask’

Each year, parents responding to the Phi Delta Kappan poll report high levels of satisfaction with their kids’ education. Asked to assign letter grades to their children’s schools, the vast majority of parents—generally around 70 percent—issue As and Bs. If those ratings were compiled the way a student’s grade point average is calculated, the public schools would collectively get a B. When asked to rate the nation’s schools, however, respondents are far less sanguine. Reflecting on public schools in general, a similar share of respondents—roughly 70 percent—confer a C or D. Again calculated as a GPA, America’s schools get a C or C-. So which is it? Are public schools generally meeting Americans’ expectations? Or are they teetering on the brink of failure? This may seem like an academic exercise. After all, school quality is what it is, regardless of perception. But, as it turns out, this gap in perceptions is a matter of tremendous importance. Consider the impact on policy. … [Read more...] about Are America’s Schools Really That Bad?

State regulators have confirmed a methane gas leak at a pair of idle oil wells near a residential neighborhood in Bakersfield, and local environmental groups are demanding immediate action to fix the problem and hold the operator responsible. Earlier this month, researcher Clark Williams-Derry from Washington state walked onto the Kern Bluff oil field in northeast Bakersfield and discovered an audible hiss coming from two oil wells. The wells sit approximately 400 feet from a home in a suburban housing development and were previously managed by Sunray Petroleum Inc. Williams-Derry said the oil wells look like spouts jutting from the ground and are covered by blue barrels, but are exposed to the open air. He said there are many more blue barrels in the oil field like the one he found. “I was not out looking for things that were leaking when I walked into the oil field,” said Williams-Derry, who works with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis and was visiting … [Read more...] about California oil regulator confirms methane leak at idle oil wells in Bakersfield

President Yoon Suk-yeol, center left, and U.S. President Joe Biden, center right, speak to troops during a visit to the Korean Air and Space Operations Center (KAOC) at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, Sunday afternoon. Biden later concluded his three-day visit to Seoul and departed for Tokyo. [JOINT PRESS CORPS] U.S. President Joe Biden wrapped up a three-day trip to Seoul with a visit to the Korean Air and Space Operations Center (KAOC) alongside President Yoon Suk-yeol Sunday afternoon in a show of security coordination amid North Korea's missile threats. This marks the first visit to the center by a U.S. president and comes after the two leaders in their first summit talks Saturday agreed to expand the "scope and scale" of combined military exercises and training. They also committed to the deployment of U.S. strategic military assets "in a timely and coordinated manner as necessary" to reinforce deterrence in the face of North Korea's "destabilizing activities," … [Read more...] about Yoon and Biden agree to increase security and economic cooperation

Former Union minister P Chidambaram stated on Sunday that the facts of the central government’s fuel price tax reduction are “contrary” to what he had previously said. On Saturday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an excise duty drop of Rs 8 per litre on petrol and Rs 6 per litre on diesel to bring down surging fuel prices caused by a rise in international crude oil prices due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. “The notification on reduction of duty on Petrol and Diesel is now available. FM used the words ‘Excise Duty’, but the reduction is in Additional Excise Duty which is not shared with the states. Hence, contrary to what I said yesterday, the entire burden of the reduction falls on the Centre. To that extent, I stand corrected,” Chidambaram said. The states are getting very little by way of share of duties on petrol and diesel, he said, noting that their revenue is from VAT on petrol and diesel. “I wonder if they can afford to give up that revenue unless the Centre … [Read more...] about ‘I Stand Corrected’: Chidambaram ‘Takes Back’ Critique; K’taka ‘to Consider’ Further Cut | Reactions

To the uninitiated, meditation simply looks like sitting with your eyes closed for a certain number of time - simple enough. However, it is a practice that takes time to master and the health benefit s speak for themselves. There is also plenty of science to back it up, with millions of practitioners worldwide preaching its advantages. It has been used for thousands of years across many different cultures but over the last 20 years it has skyrocketed in popularity in the west. It has been estimated that just below eight million people study mindfulness and meditation in the UK alone. Here are just some of the many benefits of meditation, according to the NHS and meta-analysis. Reduces stress One of the most common benefits of meditation is stress reduction ( Image: Getty Images) Of all the benefits of meditation, stress reduction is one of the most common traits. A review found that after eight weeks of practicing mediation, people reported back reduced … [Read more...] about Benefits of meditation and easy way to make it part of your day

This miracle elixir makes us look and feel better, boosts energy and helps skin glow. “It also helps transport nutrients and oxygen to cells, lubricates and cushions joints, regulates body temperature, removes waste products from the body and keeps the skin moisturised and healthy,” says dietitian Helen Bond. Its name? Water. “Water is essential for life, health and wellbeing,” she adds. “Your body has water in every cell, tissue and organ.” Our bodies are mostly water – adult men are 60% H₂O, while women are 50-55% water. Yet many of us aren’t drinking enough. Research shows that more than half of UK children and a third of adults don’t get the recommended amount. So how can we make sure we are properly hydrated? Men should be drinking two litres of water a day and women 1.6 litres ( Image: Getty Images) The problem: You can’t tell if you’re drinking enough The European Food Safety Authority recommends 1.6 litres of fluid a day for women (eight 200ml … [Read more...] about Water is a ‘miracle elixir’ with a third of adults and half of kids not drinking enough

It's National Smile Month, which promote the value of a healthy smile. Forcing yourself to be happy can feel like a bit of an oxymoron. However, there is some real science behind it, as simply forcing a smile can be the simple trick needed to life your spirits. Usually happiness leads to your smiling more, but it turns out the opposite is true. It has everything to do with how your brain responds to your smiling as it is linked to a chemical response. It is similar to how exercising can ironically help tackle tiredness , thanks to endorphins in the brain. Next time you’re feeling low, simply try holding a smile and before you know it you could be jumping for joy. Can smiling boost your happiness? Smiling releases hormones in the brain that boost happiness ( Image: Getty Images) The short answer is yes, smiling can actually trick your brain into feeling happier. Try it now, just hold a smile for a few seconds, it should be take effect almost immediately. … [Read more...] about This one simple trick can fool your brain into happiness and you can do it immediately