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Leading wildlife protection experts have urged India to suspend all imports of the world’s most endangered species, endorsing long-running concerns by conservationists about mass acquisitions by mega-zoo Vantara.The facility in western Gujarat state, officially known as the Green Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, is run by the son of Asia’s richest man.It has scooped up tens of thousands of animals in recent years, and was subject to an Indian Supreme Court review that cleared it of any wrongdoing.But experts from the world’s top wildlife watchdog — the secretariat overseeing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) — have warned Vantara may have imported highly endangered species in violation of international rules.In a report published ahead of CITES talks this month, they found a “large number of imports… appear to be inconsistent” with rules protecting so-called Appendix I species, the world’s most threatened animals.They recommended serious reforms to ensure Vantara does “not inadvertently become a driver of illegal harvest of wild animals”.Vantara and India’s environment ministry did not respond to AFP requests for comment.Experts have repeatedly sounded the alarm on Vantara’s massive animal intake. The facility claims to have 150,000 animals, though CITES officials said closer to 47,000 were reported during a September visit.”This report raises more questions than it answers,” said Mark Jones, head of policy at wildlife group Born Free.”Why the discrepancies in numbers? Why import so many animals from so many species across the world… Who is supplying these animals, and how can we be sure they’re not being traded for profit?”- ‘Really, really shocking’ -CITES examined a laundry list of allegations involving endangered animals including the world’s most endangered great ape — the Tapanuli orangutan.AFP earlier this year reported that Vantara had acquired a Tapanuli orangutan from the United Arab Emirates that originated in Indonesia.CITES prohibits trade in the world’s most endangered species, but there are exceptions, including for “captive-bred” animals.The Tapanuli orangutan, like many of Vantara’s rarest acquisitions, was given this designation.But multiple experts told AFP there are no captive breeding programmes for the species in Indonesia — home to all the estimated 800 Tapanuli orangutans left in the world.Similar cases involving cheetahs from Syria, a gorilla from Haiti, and bonobos from Iraq are among those questioned by CITES.The report “is evidence of Vantara’s problematic acquisitions,” said Panut Hadisiswoyo, founder and chairman of the Orangutan Information Centre in Indonesia.He has been lobbying, so far unsuccessfully, for the return of several orangutans in Vantara, including a smuggled animal intercepted in India and handed to the facility.The CITES report says Vantara has acquired more than 2,000 Appendix I animals and nearly 9,000 from less endangered species.”It’s really, really shocking, the number is huge,” Panut said. “Vantara is exploiting legal loopholes and undermining Appendix I.”- ‘Exemplary action’ -The CITES report acknowledges Vantara’s world-class facilities, but urges India to review its import procedures, bolster capacity and more closely scrutinise permits.Independent wildlife trade expert Daniel Stiles said the report was “a true examination” of Vantara.”We’ll see if anything changes for the better.”CITES has asked India to report back on its progress, and it could face measures, including trade suspension, if it does not fully address the concerns.The findings are “deeply concerning and damaging to India’s conservation credibility”, warned K. Yoganand, a longtime conservation expert in India and Southeast Asia.”Restoring India’s global standing, damaged by the irregularities surrounding these imports, will require exemplary action.”

Afghanistan’s Taliban government said Saturday its ceasefire with Pakistan would remain even though their latest talks failed, blaming Islamabad’s “irresponsible and uncooperative” approach.The two sides met on Thursday in Turkey to finalise a truce agreed on October 19 in Qatar, following deadly clashes between the South Asian neighbours.Both have remained tight-lipped on the content of the discussions, which are known only to have addressed long-standing security issues.”During the discussions, the Pakistani side attempted to shift all responsibility for its security to the Afghan government, while showing no willingness to take responsibility for either Afghanistan’s security or its own,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on social media.”The irresponsible and uncooperative attitude of the Pakistani delegation has not yielded any results,” he said.At a news conference later on, Mujahid stressed that the ceasefire “will hold”.”There is no issue with the ceasefire previously agreed upon with Pakistan, it will hold,” he said.Neither Islamabad nor mediators immediately commented on the announcement that the talks had failed.Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had previously hinted that negotiations in Turkey were falling through, saying that the onus lay on Afghanistan to fulfil pledges to clamp down on terrorism, “which so far they have failed”.”Pakistan shall continue to exercise all options necessary to safeguard the security of its people and its sovereignty,” he wrote.- Demands -Relations between the one-time allies, who share a 2,600-kilometre (1,600-mile) frontier, have soured in recent years over Islamabad’s accusations that Afghanistan harbours militant groups which stage attacks in Pakistan.The Taliban government has consistently denied the allegations.Islamabad wants guarantees from Afghanistan’s Taliban government that it will stop supporting armed organisations, in particular the Pakistani Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan).Afghanistan meanwhile wants its territorial sovereignty to be respected and accuses Islamabad of supporting armed groups against it.Each side has threatened a resumption of hostilities that saw more than 70 people killed and hundreds wounded last month.The talks were threatened on Friday after each side blamed the other for border fighting in Spin Boldak on the Afghan side.A district hospital official told AFP that five people were killed in the fighting, including four women and one man.Afghanistan did not retaliate “out of respect for the negotiating team and to prevent the loss of civilian lives”, the Taliban spokesman said. Islamabad also accuses Afghanistan of acting with the support of India, its historical enemy, during a period of closer ties between the two countries. 

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has opened an inquiry after former women’s captain Jahanara Alam accused former and serving officials of sexual harassment.The 32-year-old pacer, in an interview on a YouTube channel, accused officials including then selector and manager Manjurul Islam of sexual harassment during the 2022 Women’s World Cup in South Africa.Manjurul, who is currently in China, rejected the allegations as “baseless”.Describing an incident during the 2022 World Cup, Jahanara alleged that Manjurul “made inappropriate physical contact”, claiming he “often hugged or pressed female players to his chest” under the pretext of encouragement.”You can ask other girls in the team”, Manjurul said. “This is all false.”Manjurul, 46, a former left-arm seamer, played 12 Tests and 34 ODIs for Bangladesh between 1999 and 2004, before serving in various coaching and managerial roles. Jahanara took 48 wickets in ODIs, and 60 in T20s, across 135 white-ball matches for her country.She also named other BCB officials, and said that she had previously written to the board, but that no action had been taken.The BCB said a committee would submit its findings within 15 working days.It reaffirmed its commitment to a “safe, respectful, and professional environment”, it said in a statement late Thursday.”We have to investigate this, since it’s a serious matter,” BCB vice-president Shakhawat Hossain said.

Five people were killed and six were wounded in brief cross-border fire between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Thursday, a hospital official on the Afghan side told AFP, in an incident both countries blamed on each other.The violence was likely to complicate ceasefire negotiations underway in Turkey, which intended to finalise a truce aimed at ending deadly clashes between the South Asian neighbours.Security issues are at the heart of their dispute, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harbouring militant groups, particularly the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), that launch attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban government denies these allegations.According to the anonymous official at the Spin Boldak district hospital in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, “five people died in today’s incident — four women and one man — and six were wounded.”There was no immediate report of victims from the Pakistani side.The two countries quickly blamed each other for initiating the fire.”While the third round of negotiations with the Pakistani side has begun in Istanbul, unfortunately, this afternoon Pakistani forces once again opened fire on Spin Boldak,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.”The Islamic Emirate’s forces, out of respect for the negotiation team and to prevent civilian casualties, have so far shown no reaction,” the official added on X.Pakistan denied the accusation and put the blame on Afghanistan.”We strongly reject claims circulated by the Afghan side,” Pakistan’s Information Ministry said on X. “Firing was initiated from the Afghan side, to which our security forces responded immediately in a measured and responsible manner.”- Talks at an impasse -Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban authorities, said “we don’t know the reason” for the Pakistani fire, telling AFP that talks in Turkey were ongoing.”Pakistan used light and heavy weapons and targeted civilian areas,” said an Afghan military source who spoke on condition of anonymity. Ali Mohammed Haqmal, head of Kandahar’s information department said the firing was brief. Residents told AFP it lasted 10-15 minutes.Pakistan confirmed that calm had been restored.”The situation was brought under control due to responsible action by Pakistani forces and the ceasefire remains intact,” the information ministry said. “Pakistan remains committed to ongoing dialogue and expects reciprocity from Afghan authorities.”Negotiations in Istanbul reached an impasse last week when it came to finalising ceasefire details, with each side accusing the other of not being willing to cooperate.Both sides also warned of a resumption of hostilities in case of failure. Host Turkey said at the conclusion of last week’s talks that the parties had agreed to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism to maintain peace and penalise violators. Fifty civilians were killed and 447 others wounded on the Afghan side of the border during a week of clashes in October, according to the United Nations. At least five people died in explosions in Kabul.The Pakistani army reported 23 of its soldiers were killed and 29 others wounded, without mentioning civilian casualties.The Taliban government wants Afghanistan’s territorial sovereignty respected.Islamabad also accuses the Afghan government of acting with the support of India, its historical enemy, amid closer ties between these two countries.

India took a 2-1 lead in their T20 series against Australia with a 48-run demolition of the home side on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Thursday.After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, India reached 167-8 thanks to a well-made 46 from Shubman Gill and useful contributions from Abhishek Sharma (28) and Shivam Dube (22).India’s bowlers then took centre stage, bundling Australia out for 119, with off-spinner Washington Sundar taking 3-3 in just eight balls to finish off the match.”I thought 167 was par on that wicket,” Australian captain Mitchell Marsh said.”But batting was pretty hard — we had a few partnerships but we just couldn’t get the big one that would give us momentum going into the back end of the innings.”India would have gone into the innings break hoping for a bigger score than 167 but the total proved too much for the Australians, who started brightly but fell away alarmingly after reaching 67-1 in the ninth over.The visitors will now head to Brisbane on Sunday hoping to clinch the five-match series after the opening game in Canberra was washed out.”I think the bowlers did really well,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said.”There was a little bit of dew but they adapted really quickly.”I think the combination (of our bowlers) suits us really well and bowling a side out is what we want from them,” he said.India had looked like reaching an imposing score when openers Abhishek and Gill took to the Australian attack in the early overs.The pair put on 56 off just 6.4 overs with little trouble before Abhishek, who had smashed a huge six off leg-spinner Adam Zampa two balls earlier, tried a second time only to be caught by Tim David on the long-on boundary.Dube joined Gill and continued to score freely against Zampa, but he found the pace bowling harder to handle and was bowled by Nathan Ellis to leave India 88-2.Ellis claimed his second when he bowled Gill with India 121-3.Any chance of a really big score disappeared four runs later when Yadav was caught on the boundary for 20 and the rest of the batting fell away.Australian openers Marsh (30) and Matthew Short (25) made a bright start but India’s bowlers kept chipping away, snaring wickets at key moments to take control.

Nepali rescuers on Thursday searched for the bodies of multiple climbers killed in an avalanche this week, while Italy said five citizens reported missing in a separate incident were safe. Seven people were killed on Monday when an avalanche hit multiple expedition teams at the base camp of 5,630-metre (18,471-foot) Yalung Ri peak near Nepal’s border with China. “Mountain guides, skilled in search, have been deployed,” Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks told AFP. Crews are digging through snow, and scanning the white landscape with electronic detectors.Sherpa said that they were searching for five bodies — two Italians, two Nepalis and one German. The bodies of an Italian and a French citizen had already been recovered.Survivors recounted to AFP how slabs of ice smashed into the group as they clung on the mountain, burying some under the snow.In a separate incident last week, two Italian climbers died while attempting to scale the 6,887-metre Panbari mountain.Italy’s foreign ministry had also reported several missing citizens trekking in Nepal, but said Thursday they had “managed to communicate with the group of five hikers… with whom there had been no contact for several days”.It said the five were safe and well.Home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest, Nepal welcomes hundreds of climbers and trekkers every year.Last month, Cyclone Montha triggered heavy rain and snowfall across Nepal, leaving trekkers and tourists stranded on popular Himalayan routes.According to the Himalayan Database, an expedition archive, at least 1,093 people have died on peaks since 1950, with avalanches killing almost a third of them. 

A French-British investigation into alleged bribery at France-based defence giant Thales is examining a contract with Indonesia, an AFP investigation has showed.In November last year, Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said it had launched a joint investigation with its French counterparts into “suspected bribery and corruption” at the multinational, which denies any wrongdoing.A 41-year-old management controller, who worked at the company between August 2018 and June 2023, was the whistleblower who alerted the authorities and caused the probe to be opened, according to two sources following the case who requested not to be named because not allowed to speak to the press.The former member of staff, who wishes to remain anonymous and who AFP reached through his lawyer, said he started asking colleagues questions after he noticed suspicious orders on the margins of big air defence deals with Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.He said that in late 2018 he noticed a curious payment order for a service worth £400,000 ($520,000 at today’s rate) on the sidelines of a deal between Thales UK and Indonesia.He said he grew suspicious when someone asked him for a retroactive approval of the order with incoherent documents produced after it was made, and reported this to his superiors.”The only thing I was told was to keep quiet,” he said.He alleged that months later, he noticed another £100,000 transferred to Saudi Arabia, where a contract had also been signed.He said he alerted colleagues in writing and orally, then via an internal complaint platform in 2022.He believes this is why he was fired.- Multiple probes -Thales told AFP the former employee only filed an internal complaint “several hours after being summoned to a meeting towards a possible dismissal for professional incompetence”.A team of in-house auditors led an internal probe and concluded that there were no grounds to his allegations, it said, adding however that it was cooperating with the British and French authorities.Neither the SFO nor the French financial prosecutor’s office wished to comment on an ongoing investigation.One source following the case said the Indonesian contract was being investigated in the joint probe.But no source confirmed or denied that any Saudi contract was also being examined.A judicial source, also wishing to remain anonymous, said the French investigators were looking at an “arms market” in Asia, without saying which country was involved.The French judiciary is looking into at least five other cases of alleged graft involving the defence firm.An investigating magistrate is investigating the sale of submarines to Malaysia in 2002 and could order a trial against parties including the firm.Four other preliminary probes, launched between 2016 and 2023, are looking at alleged corruption in places including Brazil, India and the United Nations. No charges have been pressed against Thales in those investigations.Thales told AFP the probes were ongoing and that it “strictly follows national and international regulation”.

The owner of India Premier League cricket champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru is considering selling the team, which could be worth “as much as $2 billion”.United Spirits Ltd, the Indian arm of global drinks giant Diageo, told the Mumbai Stock Exchange that it had begun a “strategic review of the investment” in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).Praveen Someshwar, United Spirits CEO, said it “has been a valuable and strategic asset” but that it was “non-core to our alcobev business” in a letter dated Wednesday.”This step reinforces USL’s and Diageo’s commitment to continue reviewing its India enterprise portfolio,” he added, while keeping RCB’s “best interest in mind”.The review, expected to conclude in March next year, is of Royal Challengers Sports Pvt, the owner of both the men’s and women’s teams.RCB lifted the Indian Premier League title in June for the first time in the money-spinning annual men’s T20 cricket tournament which was founded in 2008.Bloomberg News reported soon after that the owners were “weighing possibilities including a sale of part or all of the club and may seek a valuation of as much as $2 billion”. A day after the final triumph in Ahmedabad, disaster struck RCB’s homecoming trophy parade when 11 fans were crushed to death and more than 50 others injured in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.Hundreds of thousands had gathered on the streets of the city to welcome home their hero Virat Kohli and his victorious teammates.Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it “absolutely heartrending” and Kohli said he was “at a loss for words” after the tragedy.

The streets were scrubbed clean and banners fluttered, welcoming Sikh pilgrims on Wednesday to the Pakistani city where the founder of their faith was born 556 years ago, now brimming with devotion and hope.Many have come from neighbouring India in the first major pilgrimage to cross into Pakistan since deadly clashes in May closed the land border between the nuclear-armed neighbours.”We were worried about what the environment would be like on the Pakistan side and how people would treat us,” 46-year-old Inderjit Kaur told AFP.”But it has been lovely. We were given a warm welcome.”Officials say around 40,000 worshippers gathered at the shrine to Sikhism founder Guru Nanak in Nankana Sahib to mark the anniversary of his birth in the city in 1469.Inside the shrine complex, marigold flowers adorned the walls and the air filled with religious hymns.Men and women prayed passionately, some performing ritual dips in a pond.”There is no fear here,” said Harjinder Pal Singh, 66, a retired banker from India.”The way we celebrate Guru Nanak’s birthday in Delhi, it is being celebrated with the same passion here.”Tensions, however, remain raw between Islamabad and New Delhi.The fighting in May — the worst bout of violence between the two countries since 1999 — killed more than 70 people in missile, drone and artillery exchanges.Yet inside the shrine, Sikhs from both sides embraced warmly, exchanged small gifts and snapped selfies together.At the main gate, young Muslims and Hindus danced alongside Sikh pilgrims to the beat of the dhol drum.”There is only a border that separates us, but there are no differences in our hearts,” Harjinder said.- ‘Beyond words’ -Outside the shrine, a 90-year-old Muslim man waited with his grandsons, scanning the crowds anxiously.Muhammad Bashir was looking for someone he had never met: Sharda Singh, a Sikh whose family fled Pakistan during partition in 1947.Both their fathers were close friends, and the two men had stayed in touch across the decades but never met again.When Singh finally emerged from the crowd, the two men locked eyes, rushed toward each other and embraced, both breaking down in tears.”I thought I would die without meeting you,” Bashir said, his voice shaking.”But at last you are here. Now I can die in peace.”Singh said he had dreamt of this moment for years.”It feels as if we have reunited after ages,” he told AFP.”The love we received here is beyond words. People care for each other deeply, but it is the governments that have differences.”- Petals and prayers -The devotees, many barefoot, waved saffron flags as they processed through the shrine, singing hymns and reciting poetry.Women volunteers chopped vegetables in giant communal kitchens as men stirred massive cauldrons of rice, chickpeas, lentils and sweets.The food is then served to everyone, regardless of their faith.As the procession spilled into the city streets, Muslims came out onto rooftops, showering the pilgrims below with rose petals.Above, an aircraft circled, releasing more petals that drifted down.”We are in love with the sacred soil of Pakistan,” said Giani Kuldeep Singh, an Indian pilgrim. “This is the land of our Guru. Our message is one of peace and brotherhood.”Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, the religious affairs minister in Muslim-majority Pakistan, told the crowd that “religion is individual, but humanity is shared.”The festival continues through November, including events in the border town of Kartarpur where Guru Nanak is buried.A corridor opened there in 2019 remains closed from the Indian side since May.

India’s poorest state Bihar goes to the polls on Thursday, and for many of its 130 million people, one issue overshadows all others: money.That’s what Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hopes to capitalise on, wooing voters with economic incentives in a bid to win full control.A win here, strategists say, could “energise” the BJP’s prospects in other key states heading into next year’s elections.Hindu-majority Bihar, the country’s third most populous state — roughly equal to Mexico — is a bellwether battleground.It remains the only state in the Hindi-speaking north where Modi’s Hindu nationalist party has never ruled alone.For housewife Rajkumari Devi, feeding her three children depends on the daily wage her husband earns as a labourer in the Muzaffarpur district.He takes home about 400 to 500 rupees (around $5) on the days he does find work.”There is no stability,” said the 28-year-old, outside her modest one-room home overlooking agricultural land. “There have been times when he has not had work for days — so we stretch the little money we have,” she added. “There is unemployment everywhere.”Bihar ranks worst in India on poverty indicators, according to the government’s NITI Aayog policy think tank, with a GDP per capita of 52,379 rupees, just ahead of a country like the Central African Republic.- Cash promises -But it has made progress over the past decade.The share of citizens living in “multidimensional poverty” — deprived in health, education and living standards — fell from just over a half in 2016, to about a third in 2021, according to the latest data released last year. In September, Modi announced investment projects worth $8 billion, including rail and road upgrades, new agricultural schemes and an airport terminal.He also unveiled an $844 million initiative to support women entrepreneurs, offering 7.5 million women cash transfers of 10,000 rupees each. The BJP, allied with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), faces a stiff challenge from the opposition.At a rally in the state capital Patna on Sunday, Modi urged voters to “bless the NDA”.A BJP victory in Bihar could, analysts say, boost its momentum in opposition-held states, such as neighbouring West Bengal, as well as Tamil Nadu in the south.”This is the election which will decide whether the BJP can form a government on its own,” said Pushpendra, a political analyst who uses only one name.A BJP win could “energise” the party elsewhere, he said.The election will be held in two phases, on November 6 and 11. Results are due on November 14.- ‘Jobless people’ – The BJP’s main rival is an opposition alliance led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress party.”Time to build new Bihar,” RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said last week, promising one government job per family, after touching down in a helicopter in Darbhanga district, where narrow lanes wind between mud and thatch-roof homes.Former BJP poll strategist Prashant Kishor has launched a party, Jan Suraaj, or “People’s Good Governance”.Supporters draped him in marigold garlands as he paraded through the crowd.”You only run or walk after a fall,” said supporter Mudassir, a 25-year-old student who goes by one name. “It’s alright if he doesn’t win big this time.”Pushpendra said that the result will hinge on which party voters believe will help their future, noting that to be “Bihari” has become a byword for “jobless people”.Vikash Kumar, 30, left Bihar a decade ago seeking work in other states, but still struggles to earn a steady income.”If companies could be established here, people here wouldn’t die of hunger,” the labourer said.”They will earn money, sit at home, live comfortably, and eat their meals.”