Nepal, which is holding on to the Chairmanship of the SAARC grouping since 2014, is "ready and eager to" handover the position to Pakistan, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Friday, hoping that New Delhi and Islamabad can sort out their differences through negotiations, keeping in mind the challenges facing the region.
The minister also assured India that Nepal will not allow its soil to be used against any of its neighbours and the Himalayan country will not participate in any great games.
"Nepal is ready and eager to handover" the SAARC Chairmanship to Pakistan, Gyawali told a group of visiting Indian journalists at a briefing on 'Sagarmatha Sambaad' at the Nepalese Foreign Ministry here.
He said that India and Pakistan can sort out their differences through negotiations, keeping in mind the challenges facing the region.
In the last three years, India has been distancing itself from the SAARC, citing security challenge facing the region from terror networks based in ...

Nepal ready and eager to handover SAARC Chairmanship to Pakistan: Gyawali

PTI Automatic

Rain delayed the toss in the series-deciding final test between South Africa and England at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday.
England leads 2-1 and has turned the series around with successive wins after losing the opening test. A draw at the Wanderers would secure a second straight series victory for England in South Africa after Alastair Cook's team triumphed 2-1 in 2015-16.
England could recall fast bowler Jofra Archer in Johannesburg. He missed the last two tests with a right elbow injury.
This test is due to be the last for South Africa seamer Vernon Philander, who is retiring from international cricket after the series. He's set to play his 64th and final match after nine years in test cricket.
South Africa will need to replace his new-ball partner in Johannesburg with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada banned for the final test for a provocative celebration after taking
England captain Joe Root's wicket in the third test in Port Elizabeth.
England won there by an innings and 53 ..

Rain delays toss in South Africa-England series decider

Veteran actor Bill Murray is confident that Jason Reitman's "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" will honour the legacy of the franchise and live up to the expectations of fans.
The 68-year-old actor is coming back as paranormal investigator Peter Venkman, a part he played in the first two "Ghostbusters" movies opposite Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.
Aykroyd and Hudson are returning for the new film, while Ramis passed away in 2014.
"Well, we are a man down. That's the deal. And that's the story that we're telling, that's the story they've written," Murray told Vanity Fair.
According to the outlet, Murray, Aykroyd and Hudson have meaningful roles in the movie, but "they won't be the central heroes this time".
Murray said he has read the script and it has a lot of "emotion".
"The script is good. It's got lots of emotion in it. It's got lots of family in it, with through lines that are really interesting. It's gonna work," Murray said.
Reitman has directed the film from a screenplay ..

It's gonna work: Bill Murray on 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife'

Novak Djokovic trumpeted the benefits of his plant-based diet Friday in helping him thrash Yoshihito Nishioka and move into the Australian Open fourth round.
The Serbian defending champion swept past the Japanese 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in just 85 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to reach a Grand Slam round of 16 for the 50th time -- second only to Roger Federer's 67.
"I love playing on the court. I like the conditions," said the world number two after firing down 17 aces, along with 40 winners.
"I'm starting to feel very, very comfortable and compact on the court. I'm going to try to keep that going."
The win set up a clash with 14th seed Diego Schwartzman for a place in the quarter-finals after the Argentinian beat Djokovic's countryman Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7).
"Diego is definitely one of the quickest on tour. Hopefully if I serve as good as I did today, I feel I have a decent chance," said the second seed, who has been in fine touch at Melbourne Park, and in the lead-up ATP ...

Plant-based diet works wonders for no-nonsense Djokovic

China's Wang Qiang said her late coach remains in her dreams after she beat seven-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams for the finest victory of her career on Friday.
Wang said Australia's Peter McNamara, who died of cancer in July, would be proud after her steely triumph over the 23-time Grand Slam winner.
"I always dream about him. I think he could see how I played today," said Wang, who beat Williams 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 to reach the fourth round.
"He will be proud of me. I really wish he could be here to watch me play. Yes, I miss him."
McNamara, who also coached Mark Philippoussis and Grigor Dimitrov, is credited with turning Wang, 28, into a force on the women's tour during their four years together.
Under the Australian, Wang's career began to take off in 2018, when she won two titles and beat Venus Williams en route to the Roland Garros third round.
Last year, Wang had her best Grand Slam season yet, culminating in her quarter-final appearance at the US Open -- where ..

Wang pays touching tribute to late coach after Serena shock

Actor Kumail Nanjiani, who is part of the star-studded cast of Marvel Studio's "The Eternals", says the big budget superhero saga gave him the feeling of working on a "independent movie".
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, "The Big Sick" star called the film an "epic" project that eclipses all of the other Marvel superhero films made till date.
"It's really, really an epic. And it's really such a science-fiction story. It's a superhero story, but in some ways, it's the most sci-fi of all the Marvel movies and it's the most epic of all the Marvel movies.
"And the story spans thousands of years. So it's really not like any of the other Marvel movies," Nanjiani said.
The story of "The Eternals" is set millions of years ago when the cosmic beings known as the Celestials genetically experimented on humans to create super-powered individuals known as the Eternals along with the villainous Deviants.
The film, being directed by Chloe Zhao, will also feature Richard Madden, Salma ...

"Eternals" is the most sci-fi of all Marvel films: Kumail Nanjiani

Colin Munro and skipper Kane Williamson smashed quickfire half-centuries as New Zealand made good use of the short boundaries at Eden Park to post 203 for five in the opening T20 against India here on Friday.
Munro scored 59 off 42 balls, including six fours and two sixes, while Williamson hit four fours and four sixes in his 26-ball 51-run innings as the Black Caps' made good use of the peculiar Eden Park shape to pile on the runs.
Ross Taylor too smacked 54 not out off 27 balls as Indian bowlers suffered from the onslaught. Only Jasprit Bumrah (1-31) put in a good shift with clever change of pace and control.
This was after India won the toss and opted to bowl. The visitors went with a six-bowler configuration including all-rounders Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja. Yuzvendra Chahal replaced Kuldeep Yadav, while Shardul Thakur was picked ahead of Navdeen Saini. Rishabh Pant was dropped.
New Zealand quickly got off the blocks with openers Munro and Martin Guptill (30 off 19 balls) ...

New Zealand smash 203/5 in first T20 against India

China on Friday added four more cities to a transport ban around the epicentre of a deadly virus, bringing the number affected by the shutdown to over 41 million as authorities scramble to control the disease.
Authorities in Xianning, Xiaogan, Enshi and Zhijiang cities -- all located in Hubei province where the virus first emerged -- said public transport services including train stations would be closed.
Some cities also announced the closure of entertainment venues including theatres and karaoke bars.

Over 41 million people now affected by China transport bans

It was just four years ago that a political committee supporting one of Donald Trump's Republican rivals unveiled an ad slamming his views on abortion, complete with footage from a 1999 interview in which he declared, I am pro-choice in every respect."
Now, as he heads into the 2020 election, Trump will become the first sitting president to address the March for Life, taking the stage Friday at the annual anti-abortion gathering that is one of the movement's highest profile and most symbolic events.
It's Trump's latest nod to the white evangelical voters who have proven to be among his most loyal backers. And it makes clear that, as he tries to stitch together a winning coalition for reelection, Trump is counting on the support of his base of conservative activists to help bring him across the finish line.
I think it's a brilliant move," said Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and one of Trump's most prominent evangelical supporters.
Reed said the president's ...

Trump, a late convert to cause, to join anti-abortion rally

Actor Keanu Reeves's fan-favourite cybercriminal and computer programmer Neo was once supposed to be played by Brad Pitt.
The 56-year-old actor, who is having a golden run this award season winning all the major best actor in a supporting role trophies for his performance in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", said he was approached for the first film in the franchise directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski.
According to Collider, Pitt made the revelation during a stage interview with Leonard Maltin at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
"I did pass on 'The Matrix'. I took the red pill.That's the only one I'm naming. I wasn't offered two or three. Only the first one. Just to clarify that," he said when Maltin quizzed him about films he had passed on.
The actor added that he never likes discussing the topic of his overlooked projects.
"I come from a place, maybe it's my upbringing, if I didn't get it, then it wasn't mine. I really believe (the role) was never mine. It's .

Brad Pitt reveals he was almost set to play Neo in 'The Matrix'

Colin Munro, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor smashed scintillating half-centuries to power New Zealand to a challenging 203 for five against India in the first T20 International at Eden Park here on Friday.
Opener Munro blasted six fours and two sixes in his 42-ball 59, while skipper Williamson treated the Indian bowlers with equal disdain, hitting them out of the park four times in his 26-ball 51.
Taylor then clobbered an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls. His innings was laced with three sixes and as many fours.
Opener Martin Guptill also chipped in with a 19-ball 30.
Earlier, India skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to field.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah (1/), Shardul Thakur (1/44), Yuzvendra Chahal (1/32), Shivam Dube (1/24) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/18) snapped one wicket each.
Brief Score:
New Zealand: 203 for 5 in 20 overs (Colin Munro 59, Kane Williamson 51, Ross Taylor 54; Jasprit Bumrah 1/31).

New Zealand post 203-5 against India in first T20I

China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken hundreds of people, state media reported Friday.
The facility in the central city of Wuhan is expected to be in use by February 3 to serve a rising number of patients infected by a coronavirus that has left at least 26 people dead and millions on lockdown in an effort to curb the spread.
Dozens of excavators and trucks were filmed working on the site by state broadcaster CCTV.
It will have a capacity of 1,000 beds spread over 25,000 square metres, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Construction began as reports surfaced of bed shortages in hospitals designated as dealing with the outbreak, which has now infected 830 people across China.
Xinhua said the new facility is aimed at "alleviating the shortage of medical treatment resources and improving the ability to care for patients".
In 2003 China erected a hospital on Beijing's rural ...

China rushes to build new hospital for virus within 10 days

A total of 14 people have been tested in the UK for the deadly coronavirus, which has claimed 25 lives in China and the British government has admitted an "increased likelihood" of its spread to the country.
Public Health England, the executive arm of the government's Department for Health, said on Thursday night that five people had tested negative for the virus and nine others await their results.
Downing Street said the tests were "purely precautionary".
The virus originated in the Wuhan province of China last month and four of the five tested in Scotland are believed to be Chinese.
"The chief medical officer has revised the risk to the UK population from very low to low, and has concluded that while there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them," UK health secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement to Parliament on Thursday.
"The public can be assured that the whole of the UK is always well prepared .

14 people tested for coronavirus in UK

Although India's Ujjwala programme encouraged adoption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking among the poor, households availing the scheme have not shifted away from using highly polluting fuels like firewood, a study reveals.
The researchers, including those from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada, found that additional incentives to encourage regular use of cooking gas are necessary for a complete transition to clean cooking fuel among poor rural households.
They noted that about 2.9 billion people across Asia, Africa, and Latin America burn solid fuels like firewood to meet their cooking energy needs.
This has significant negative implications for public health, the environment, and societal development, according to the researchers.
Through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), India has provided capital cost subsidies to poor women to adopt a clean-burning cooking fuel or LPG.
The researchers explained that within the first 40 months of the scheme, ...

India's Ujjwala scheme provided LPG access, but failed to promote its use: Study

Novak Djokovic barely got out of first gear in a sizzling performance to thrash Yoshihito Nishioka and move into the Australian Open fourth round Friday, closing in on a record eighth title.
The Serbian defending champion swept past the Japanese 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in just 85 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to reach a Grand Slam round of 16 for the 50th time -- second only to Roger Federer's 67.
"That's definitely one of the best service matches I have had lately," said the world number two after firing down 17 aces, along with 40 winners.
"I was inspired by my coach Goran (Ivanisevic) who came out here today. He brings a lot of insight."
He will next play 14th seed Diego Schwartzman for a place in the quarter-finals after the Argentinian beat Djokovic's countryman Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7).
"Diego is definitely one of the quickest on tour. Hopefully if I serve as good as I did today, I feel I have a decent chance," said the second seed.
Djokovic gave away just three games in his first ..

No-nonsense Djokovic cruises towards record eighth Melbourne title

Caroline Wozniacki and Serena Williams were both left in tears after the Dane's glittering tennis career ended in a third-round defeat at the Australian Open on Friday.
The former world number one, who announced in December that this would be her final tournament, lost 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to lower-ranked Ons Jabeur of Tunisia.
The unseeded 29-year-old Wozniacki brings the curtain down on a career that saw her win 30 WTA titles, with her sole Grand Slam triumph coming in 2018 at Melbourne Park.
She was in tears when the end came at the hands of 78th-ranked Jabeur and just under two hours later, her eyes were still red and puffy as she arrived at her post-match press conference.
"I was told there are tissues here. I see the tissues in case I need them, I think I'm cried out," said Wozniacki, who was given a round of applause by reporters.
She was also given a generous reception by Melbourne Arena crowd after hitting her last shot in tennis -- "I finished my career with a forehand error. Those 

Wozniacki, Williams both in tears as Dane calls time on career

Scientists have created small organs in the laboratory which can be used to mass produce natural snake venom.
In the study published in the journal Cell, the researchers described how they created organoids of the venom glands of the Cape coral snake, which is endemic to parts of southern Africa.
If the method could be commercialised, it would be much more efficient than the way venom is currently produced -- by raising snakes on farms and milking their glands, the researchers said.
"More than 100,000 people die from snake bites every year, mostly in developing countries. Yet the methods for manufacturing anti-venom haven't changed since the 19th century," said Hans Clevers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
"It's clear there is a huge unmet medical need for new treatments," Clevers said.
Every snake has dozens of different components in their venom. These are extremely potent molecules that are designed to stop prey from running away.
"They affect systems as varied as the ...

Tiny organs grown in lab can produce real snake venom

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to end a pact key to annual war games with American troops if the US does not restore the travel visa of an official who oversaw his drug war.
It is the latest in a long line of Duterte's threats to shrink or sever ties with historical ally Washington, which have periodically followed criticism of his deadly narcotics crackdown.
Duterte spoke after Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who is now a senator, said the US had cancelled his visa but did not tell him why.
Dela Rosa was the first enforcer of Duterte's internationally condemned campaign, in which police say they have killed just over 5,500 alleged dealers and users.
Human rights advocates say the true toll is four times higher, and could amount to crimes against humanity.
The US State Department and the embassy in Manila have not responded to requests for comment about Dela Rosa's visa.  Duterte went on the attack in a speech late Thursday.
"Now, they won't let 

Philippines' Duterte threatens to end US military pact

Brussels' two top officials, the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, signed off on Britain's EU divorce agreement Friday.
With Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel's formal endorsement, the text will now go to the European Parliament on January 29 for ratification.
Then, on Thursday next week, diplomats  from the EU member states will approve the deal in writing, ensuring Britain's orderly departure at midnight on January 31.
"Charles Michel and I have just signed the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, opening the way for its ratification by the European Parliament," Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen tweeted.
In a separate tweet, Michel said: "Things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain. We start a new chapter as partners and allies."
And he added, in French: "I'm keen to write this new page together." Official photographs of the official signing ceremony, conducted before dawn in the European Council's headquarters ..

EU chiefs sign Brexit deal ahead of parliamentary vote

Shanghai Disneyland will close until further notice this weekend due to a deadly virus outbreak that has infected hundreds of people in China, the amusement park said Friday.
The move was decided "in response to the prevention and control of the disease outbreak and in order to ensure the health and safety" of its guests and staff, Shanghai Disney Resort said on its website.

Shanghai Disneyland closes over China virus concerns

Singapore's interior minister was sued Friday by a Malaysian human rights group in a bid to prevent the city-state from enforcing its law against false information in Malaysia.
Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, wielding a new law to fight misinformation, had ordered Lawyers for Liberty to correct last week's post alleging the city-state used a brutal "coup de grace" to finish off botched executions.
Singapore has denied the allegations as "untrue, baseless and preposterous" but the Malaysian rights group stood by its claims and refused to issue a correction notice.
Under Singapore's law, failure to comply with a correction directive is an offence punishable with a fine and jail term.
N. Surendran, an advisor for Lawyers for Liberty, said the group were asking the Malaysian High Court to declare the Singapore directive "null and void" and unenforceable in Malaysia.
"This is an attempt by Singapore to encroach upon or to stifle or to crackdown on freedom of speech in our country," ...

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