Author: admin@primenews

India’s home ministry has ordered an investigation into a security breach inside parliament after two intruders shouted slogans and set off coloured smoke in the chamber. At least four people have been arrested and reports say two others are detained. Their motive is still unclear. Opposition leaders have criticised the security lapse, which occurred on the 22nd anniversary of a deadly attack on the parliament. They have also demanded action against Pratap Simha, an MP from the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who allegedly signed the passes used by the intruders to enter the public gallery in parliament. Neither Mr Simha…

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green has revealed that he has chronic kidney disease. The 24-year-old was diagnosed with the condition at birth, with doctors telling his parents there was a chance he may not live beyond the age of 12. Green has since gone on to play in all three formats for Australia and was in the squad for their recent World Cup win. “I’m still trying to learn as much as I can about it,” Green told Channel 7. “Basically, my kidneys don’t work as well as other people’s and don’t filter the blood very well. “So I have got…

China has overtaken the United States as the biggest branded coffee shop market in the world by outlets, according to a report by World Coffee Portal. The number of branded coffee shops in the world’s second largest economy grew by 58% over the past 12 months to reach 49,691 outlets, the research firm said this week. Starbucks opened 785 outlets in the country during the period and is its second largest branded coffee operator by outlets, World Coffee Portal added. Luckin Coffee, the Chinese startup that became mired in a fraud scandal and was kicked off Wall Street three years ago, is the country’s biggest…

China’s regional governments have issued a record amount of special bonds to support troubled smaller banks, as they try to fend off potential systemic risks that could be triggered by a prolonged real estate crisis. So far this year, at least 15 provinces have issued 205 billion yuan ($29 billion) worth of special bonds for small and medium-sized banks (SMB), according to CNN calculation based on data from the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and Chinabond.com, a state-run website providing bond market data. The amount is the highest on record since 2020, when the Chinese cabinet began allowing local governments…

The words “relaxed” and “pantomime” may not be things you associate with each other, but they have been combined to make theatres more accessible. A relaxed or quiet performance is where the lights stay on, it is not as noisy, and the cast explain they are not really that scary. It means people with additional needs who may be put off attending usually, can enjoy performances. The cast of Jac and the Beanstalk in Cardiff are set for a relaxed showing. One of its stars is former Birds of a Feather actress Lesley Joseph, and she thinks every production should…

The judge overseeing the federal case accusing Donald Trump of interfering in the 2020 election has ordered that it be temporarily put on hold. Judge Tanya Chutkan says the pause will allow higher courts to consider an appeal by the former president claiming he is immune from the charges. She added that the limited gag order against Mr Trump remains in effect. The 4 March trial date in the case remains in place for now but may need to be moved. Mr Trump, 77, is scheduled that month to stand trial on federal charges relating to an alleged plot to…

Tesla is recalling more than two million cars after the US regulator found its driver assistance system, Autopilot, was partly defective. It follows a two-year investigation into crashes which occurred when the tech was in use. The recall applies to almost every Tesla sold in the US since the Autopilot feature was launched in 2015. Tesla, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, said it would send a software update “over the air” to fix the issue. The update happens automatically and does not require a visit to a dealership or garage, but is still referred to by the US regulator as a recall.…

Two US men have been charged with illegally killing about 3,600 birds, including bald and golden eagles. Simon Paul and Travis John Branson allegedly shot the birds over several years and sold parts and feathers on the black market. They were charged with conspiracy, violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and illegal trafficking. The two men were ordered to appear in court in January. An indictment publicly released on Wednesday alleges that they killed birds on the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana and elsewhere. The indictment said Mr Branson sent messages bragging about “committing felonies” and going…

The deputy director who oversaw a botched investigation into thefts at the British Museum is leaving the institution, the BBC can reveal. Dr Jonathan Williams had agreed to step back from his duties until the conclusion of an external review. Its recommendations were published on Tuesday with no mention of Dr Williams. Dr Ittai Gradel, the gem specialist who first alerted the deputy director about the thefts but says he was brushed off, said: “He should have gone long ago”. He added: “This whole charade of stepping back from duties was pointless from the outset. It was immediately obvious to…

Just getting to the end of the day and surviving the night must feel like a miracle in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians “plead for safety”, wrote Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, the main UN relief agency in Gaza, in an “endless, deepening tragedy… hell on earth”. It must be just as hellish for the hostages taken by Hamas and for the families of their victims. War is a cruel furnace that puts humans through terrible agonies. But its heat can produce changes that seemed impossible. It happened in western Europe after World War Two. Old enemies who had killed each…