Google has launched “Cloud AutoML”, a product that enables businesses with limited Machine Learning (ML) expertise to build high quality, custom Artificial Intelligence (AI) models to improve their product or service.

“Cloud AutoML” will let businesses and developers train custom vision models for their own use cases.

“At Google Cloud, our goal has been to lower the barrier of entry and make AI available to the largest possible community of developers, researchers, and businesses. Our Google Cloud AI team has been making good progress towards this goal,” Jia Li, Head of R&D, Cloud AI and ML, said in a statement late on Wednesday.

Businesses with limited ML expertise can leverage “Cloud AutoML” to start building their own high-quality custom models by leveraging advanced techniques like learning2learn and transfer learning from Google.

Google’s first “Cloud AutoML” release is “Cloud AutoML Vision”, a service that makes it faster and easier to create custom ML models for image recognition.

Its drag and drop interface lets users easily upload images, train and manage models, and then deploy those trained models directly on Google Cloud.

“AutoML Vision” provides a simple graphical user interface that lets businesses specify data, then turns that data into a high-quality model customised for specific needs.

“‘AutoML Vision’ is the result of our close collaboration with the Google Brain and other Google AI teams, and is the first of several Cloud AutoML products in development that aims to make it easier for more businesses to adopt ML,” Li said.

India Ratings and Research on Thursday projected the country’s economic growth to improve to 7.1 per cent next fiscal from 6.5 per cent this year, buoyed by robust consumption demand and low commodity prices.

In its outlook for 2018-19, the agency said there will be a gradual pick up in growth momentum owing to structural reforms like GST and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in place.

“While the implementation of GST is likely to benefit the economy over the medium to long term, the same cannot be said about the impact of demonetisation,” India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra), a subsidiary of Fitch Ratings, said.

Ind-Ra expects gross domestic product (GDP) to grow 7.1 per cent year-on-year in 2018-19, it said.

The projection is a tad lower than 7.4 per cent growth estimated by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) for next fiscal.

Ind-Ra said but for demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation, growth would not have decelerated to 7.1 per cent in 2016-17 and 6.5 per cent in 2017-18.

With the global crude prices firming up, Ind-Ra expects retail and wholesale inflation to come in at 4.6 per cent and 4.4 per cent, respectively in 2018-19, indicating an end to the current rate cut cycle.

She is just 15 but is already following in her father’s footsteps. Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s daughter Ida Ali, who wrote and directed the recently released short film “Lift”, says there’s a clear understanding between them that she has to make her own path.

Besides, she feels it won’t be a good idea for her and the “Jab We Met” filmmaker to work together “at least for now because it makes things sticky”.

“Firstly, we both have an understanding that I have to make it on my own. He believes that I have it in me to do so. And also, there is always the fear of our relationship getting between our work; it is better to stay clear of that,” Ida told IANS in an email interview.

She believes she “thinks of stories in a different way” from Imtiaz, who has a unique knack of romancing the emotion of love on-screen.

“I write them (stories) separately and I don’t think there is any influence in them from him. However, because we are in the same atmosphere a lot, we may have a similar outlook on life that reflects in our films,” said Ida.

Ida does not deny that she got in touch with people in the production line for the film due to her father’s connections.

“I did get in touch with people in production because of him, I am not going to lie. But the rest of it, I did myself, all with my crew. He was not involved. I would really like to stress on that because I know how people might think it is nepotism and all that. But all the risk of the film, the planning, the shooting, the editing; I did myself,” said Ida.

“Lift” is shot inside a lift where a love story originates, flourishes, withers, and sparks again.

Asked what kind of subjects attract her, Ida said: “I am interested in many types of films. I watch all genres and would love to make all genres too. What is important is that every film should have something unique and engaging.

“I like films which are not predictable, they keep the audience engaged. Now that I have made a love story type of film, I would like to try another genre. And maybe later, I might find a subject that attracts me the most.”

A number of actors and filmmakers have started exploring the short film’s space which can be accessed by Internet users freely. Ida believes the platform “provides more opportunity for people to share their ideas and for people to view more films with great content”.

“I am so glad that Indian cinema has started translating stories into the short film/online platforms. Many short films also help open out the society to some taboo topics while still being entertaining. I myself have been watching some great short films recently, so I feel like this space is really exciting,” said Ida.

“Clustered with schoolwork” at the moment, Ida hopes to make a short film during her summer break this year.

The West Bengal government plans to fund cultural activities of state-run universities as part of its efforts to keep Bengal’s heritage alive, Education minister Partha Chatterjee has said.

This will be a part of the government’s commitment to help the universities run cultural projects in a consistent manner, the minister said, after inaugurating the light and sound show on the Jorasanko campus of the Rabindra Bharati University (RBU) here yesterday.

The light and sound show marked the beginning of the four-day Rabindra Bharati Sankskritik Utsav on the Jorasanko and B T Road campuses of the university.

Lauding the RBU initiative, Chatterjee said, “We (the government) must keep separate expenditure heads to financially help the university VCs, who are working hard to keep our heritage alive by organising regular cultural activities.”

The Higher Education department will ask the students’ bodies to arrange for cultural programmes on the works of Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Atul Prasad Sen and popularise their creations among the present generation, he said.

“We have to tell this generation that Tagore, Vivekananda are our lifelong treasures and the students have to follow and propagate their ideals,” Chatterjee said.

The songs of Tagore, Nazrul and Sen will never pass into oblivion, the minister said.

Asked about the light and sound show at Jorasanko, Chatterjee said, “It is a unique show in Tagore’s birthplace, a great initiative by the RBU. The show covers the ups and downs in the poet’s life, especially between 1902 and 1907. It uses the latest technology and should be seen by everyone.”

The four-day fest on the two campuses of RBU will witness musical performances, recitals and talk shows by prominent personalities, including vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan, percussionist Tanmoy Bose, Rabindra Sangeet exponent Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta among others, VC Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury said.

India’s legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev on Thursday said Hardik Pandya does not deserve to be compared with him if he keeps making silly mistakes like he did in the second Test against South Africa.

Pandya is often considered as India’s best all-rounder since the days of the legendary Dev. Dev criticised Pandya’s batting performance in the second Test against South Africa in Centurion.

“If Pandya keeps making silly mistakes like these then he doesn’t deserve to be compared with me,” Dev told ‘ABP’ news. Dev was reacting to Pandya’s dismissal in the second innings.

Chasing a target of 287 in the fourth innings, India were reeling at 65 for five when Pandya came into bat. Pandya was on 6 when he went for his famous ramp shot and chased a wide ball off Lungi Ngidi, only managing an edge to wicketkeeper Quinton De Kock.

In the first inning too, Pandya ran himself out when he forgot to ground his bat. The casual approach was criticised, experts. “He definitely has a lot of talent, he has shown it in the first Test but I believe he needs to work on the mental aspect,” Kapil said.

Former India cricketer Sandeep Patil also mentioned that comparing the two was not ideal because Pandya is still in early stages of his cricketing career. “I have played a lot of cricket with Kapil, really there is no comparison. Kapil played 15 years for India with terrific performance and Pandya is only in his fifth Test match. There is a long way to go,” Patil said.

A five-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra on Thursday resumed hearing the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Aadhaar cards.

The hearing in the case began on Wednesday, five months after the apex court ruled that privacy was a fundamental right.

Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan along with the CJI are hearing a clutch of petitions, the earliest one filed back in 2012, claiming that the Aadhaar violates an individual’s fundamental right to privacy.

On Wednesday, senior lawyer Shyam Divan, who is appearing for the petitioners, argued that it was wrong to take people’s biometric data for Aadhaar Card. He added that the Aadhaar Card may cause the death of civil rights of citizens.

During the hearing on the same day, the Supreme Court was told that Aadhaar was “an electronic leash” to which every resident of India was tethered, and was violative of the Constitution as it reduces the recognition of an individual to a number.

Asserting that Aadhaar reduces the individual identity to a numerical, the bench was told the “government has rolled out a little understood programme that seeks to tether every resident of India to an electronic leash”.

“If the Aadhaar Act and programme is allowed to operate unimpeded it will hollow out the Constitution, particularly the great rights and liberties it assures to citizens,” said Divan.

Telling the constitution bench that “A People`s Constitution will transform into a State Constitution”, Divan said that the Aadhaar “electronic leash” is “connected to a central data base that is designed to track transactions across the life of the citizen”.

He referred to the judgment of the nine-judge constitution bench which had upheld the right to privacy and said that challenge to Aadhaar was not elitist.

(With IANS inputs)

After suffering a 4-5 defeat against hosts New Zealand on the opening day, Belgium came up with a clinical performance to beat India 2-0 in the second match at the Four Nations Invitational Tournament here at the Blake Park on Thursday.

Goals by Sébastien Dockier (8’) and Victor Wegnez (34’) ensured Belgium stayed on top of the game.

Both teams played out an exciting first quarter, though it was Belgium who constantly tested Indian defence, moving the ball swiftly, as they created plenty of opportunities in the striking circle. Their first big attempt came in the 4th minute when Belgian forward swiftly smashed a reverse hit to the post but India’s No.1 goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who is making a comeback from long injury haul, made an impressive save.

Four minutes later, a circle penetration by Belgium saw Sébastien Dockier demonstrate a classic reverse hit to put the ball into the post leaving little chance for Sreejesh to save. The 1-0 lead in the 8th minute put India on the backfoot. In the 12th minute, however, India found a golden opportunity to equalize when forward Ramandeep Singh won the team the first PC of the match but the chance went begging, as the ball could not be stoppped at the top of the D.

A compact Belgian defence slowed down India’s attack in the second quarter. But relentless Indian forwards worked in packs as they kept up their hunt to find a successful penetration. Seven minutes into the second quarter, India’s moment to score was created by colts Armaan, Vivek Prasad and Mandeep who worked in tandem in front of the post forcing Belgian defenders to make an error. The attempt resulted in the second PC of the match for India.

Unfortunately, though Harmanpreet Singh’s dragflick was defended by Belgium’s first runner. Minutes later, forward Ramandeep Singh made another foray into the Belgium circle, brimming hope of a conversion, but his nudge was high up, though Mandeep got a stick on it, the ball bounced off the cross bar. Belgium continued to lead 1-0 as the teams went into the half-time.

A strong circle penetration in the opening minute of the third quarter saw India win their third PC of the match but Varun Kumar’s drag flick was deflected by Belgian defender denying India an equalizer. Only minutes later, an error by Indian defenders was capitalized by Belgian Victor Wegnez who found the gap to put the ball into India’s post taking his team’s lead to a comfortable 2-0 in the 34th minute. India, however, continued to fightback with some gritty attempts. This time it was youngster Vivek Sagar Prasad, running into the top of the Belgian D, striking the ball across to the right flank but a diving Ramandeep couldn’t quite get a touch on the ball to deflect.

India later won their fourth PC of the match when Ramandeep’s swift run-in through the midfield towards the striking circle forced Belgian defenders to foul. A nice top of the circle variation though fetched no result as Belgians seemed well-prepared for it and denied India a goal with good defence.

The final quarter saw India push their limits in their attack, created a few good chances, but couldn’t find a breakthrough ending the match with a 0-2 loss.

On January 20, India will take on New Zealand in their third match at 16.45 hours IST.

The new liberal policy of Modi Government for auctioning of oil blocks would see its first auction of 55 oil blocks on Thursday under HELP (Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy) which allows companies to carve out blocks of their choice to some extent.

The first auction under HELP would see the auctioning of 55 exploration blocks, which has a total area of 59,282 square kilometre, in the first bid round, in which government had invited expression of interest (EOI)  in July last year from oil companies for exploration and production of oil and gas from prospective oil and gas fields.

Oil industry experts, however, feel that this was not the right time to seek auction of oil fields as the crude oil is hovering around USD 60 a barrel. “It would not attract as good response as it would have in 2011-12 when crude oil was hovering at USD 118 a barrel,” sources in the Ministry said.

HELP, introduced in 2016, has made provisions for contractors to produce both conventional fuels like oil and gas as well as unconventional fuels like shale oil/gas and gas hydrates under the same licence, unlike the earlier NELP (New Exploration Licensing Policy), which was introduced in 1997-98. After coming to power, Modi government had set an aspirational target to cut oil import dependence by 10 percentage points to 67% by 2022 from 2015 levels.

It guarantees marketing and pricing freedom and moves away from production sharing model of previous rounds to a revenue sharing model where companies offering maximum share of oil and gas to government are awarded the block.

The proceedings of Jammu and Kashmir assembly were married on Thursday after the opposition created an uproar over the murder of a minor girl in Kathua district.

As soon as the assembly started proceedings of the day, opposition National Conference (NC) and the Congress legislators stood up agitating against the murder of 8-year-old girl belonging to a nomad ‘Bakerwal’ (goatherd) family in Kathua district.

The girl had reportedly been abducted a week back and her body was found on Wednesday from Hira Nagar.

NC and Congress MLAs alleged that minorities were not safe in the Jammu region and that the police had made no effort to trace the girl after she was abducted.

Abdul Rehman Veeri, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said a special team had been constituted to investigate the murder.

Not satisfied with the Minister’s reply, the opposition walked out of the house, shouting slogans against the government.

He is a singing sensation, a celebrated name in the Punjabi film industry and has won over Bollywood fans with his roles in films like Udta Punjab and Phillauri. However, Diljit Dosanjh says he does not feel he has become a star yet.

With critics and audiences loving his performances, he still doesn’t feel he has achieved stardom.

“No, I have not become a star yet… I do not feel like that currently,” Diljit told IANS over the phone from Mumbai.

Diljit made his acting debut in 2011 with The Lion of Punjab and ventured into Bollywood in 2016 with Udta Punjab. He has also sung numbers like Proper Patola, This Singh is so stylish, Do you know and 5 taara, which have been chart-toppers.

“I have miles to go. Right now, it is not the time that I look back and see what I have done or where I started from or where I have reached. When I reach a stage, maybe after the age of 60, then I would look back and see where I started from and what I have done,” he said.

As he is gaining popularity in Bollywood, will Punjabi films take a backseat?

“No. Two of my Hindi films will release this year. But my love for Punjabi films is more. This year, my Punjabi film Rangroot will release. It is based on World War I. So, every year a Punjabi film by me will come,” said Diljit, who has earlier starred in films like Jatt & Juliet, Sardaarji, Ambarsariya and Super Singh in his native language.

Diljit, 34, said the common factor in the Hindi and Punjabi film industries remains that “you get a good opportunity to make money in both Bollywood and the Punjabi film industry.”

As of now, he is exploring the small screen too. He will be seen — once again — as a mentor in the second season of singing reality show Rising Star, to be aired on Colors channel.

“Firstly, the similarity between the two seasons will be that it is live like the last time. I think this is the only show that does a live telecast and there is not even a difference of a second… This time there will be new singers, songs and new stories. The set is also new. This time it will be more fun,” he said.

Diljit finds both TV and films are “strong mediums”.

“A good film will be etched in the minds of people. A film has its own spectacular journey and television has a quick response. I am doing this show because of the way I perform live on stage and get a quick response,” he added.

On the film front, he will next be seen playing former Indian hockey captain Sandeep Singh in the upcoming biopic Soorma, which also stars Taapsee Pannu.

“I had never played hockey and I am doing a film on hockey. I thought I’d only be able to do films that I can relate to, but since I am in this field, I would have to do new subjects that are not close to my real life. I have learned hockey under the guidance of Sandeep Singh.”

Diljit also has Arjun Patiala with Kriti Sanon.

“The film is a small-town comedy,” he said of the movie in which he essays a policeman yet again after Jatt & Juliet 2.

Key Indian equity indices traded at fresh highs during the mid-afternoon session on Thursday, with both the BSE Sensex and Nifty50 scaling record intra-day highs as well.

Market observers said investors’ sentiments were uplifted by positive global cues, along with inflow of foreign funds and upbeat quarterly corporate earnings.

The wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange traded firmly above the vaunted 10,800-mark. Around 1 p.m., the index surged by 87.75 points or 0.81 per cent to trade at a fresh level of 10,876.30 points.

The Nifty50 has so far scaled a record level of 10,887.50 points during intra-day trade.

On the BSE, the barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex), which opened at 35,366.45 points, traded at a new high of 35,482.15 points — up 400.33 points or 1.14 per cent — from its previous session’s close.

The Sensex has touched a fresh intra-day high of 35,507.36 points so far.

However, the BSE market breadth was bearish as 1,596 stocks declined as compared to 1,171 advances.

“Indian shares opened higher on Thursday — a fresh record opening for both benchmark indices — due to overseas funds inflow following favorable fiscal third quarter corporate earnings amid positive global cues,” Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, told IANS.

“The benchmark indices rallied after reports indicate that the government allowed 100% foreign direct investment in the banking sector,” he added.

Healthy buying was observed in banking, auto and FMCG stocks.

On Wednesday, the benchmark indices rose to new highs riding on optimism around quarterly corporate earnings, along with an upward rally in banking stocks and healthy inflow of foreign funds.

The Sensex closed above the 35,000-mark at a high of 35,081.82 points after touching an intra-day high of 35,118.61 points.

The Nifty50, which scaled a high of 10,803 points intra-day, rose 88.10 points or 0.82 per cent, to close at 10,788.55 points.

The official trailer of Telugu movie Chalo was released on the Youtube channel of Ira Creations on Thursday morning and has already garnered more than 100 thousand views in just a few hours of its release.

Chalo is a 2018 Telugu romantic comedy which has been written and directed by Telugu film director Venky Kudumula. Kudumula is reported to be making his debut as a director through this film.

Check out the trailer here:

Chalo is produced by Usha Mulpuri under the banner of Ira Creations. The movie stars Naga Shourya and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles. Chalo is said to revolve around a village called ‘Tiruppuram’ which I divided into half by the Tamil and Telugu people in which neither of the groups cross and enter the other’s perimeter.

The entire film’s music and background score has been composed by Mahati Swara Sagar while the cinematography has been handled by Sai Sriram. Chalo is said to be shot exclusively in Hyderabad and is set to release worldwide on February 2, 2018. Chalo pre-release function is scheduled to be on January 25, 2018.

Congratulating the DRDO for the successful test firing of Agni-V missile, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said the nuclear capable missile will boost India’s strategic defence.

In a tweet, Kovind said: “Successful test firing of Agni-V ICBM makes every Indian very proud. It will boost our strategic defence.”

“Congratulations to the team of DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) scientists. May you go further on this trajectory,” Kovind added.

The surface-to-surface intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which has a range of 5000 km and can reach the northern-most parts of China, was fired from a test range on Abdul Kalam island off Odisha coast at 9.53 am.

The Agni-V was last tested on December 26, 2016, which was then described as the fourth and final experimental test of the three-stage missile, developed and successfully tested by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

This missile has been tested four times so far – two of the tests have been conducted from a canister on a road mobile launcher. All the four missions have been successful.

The Agni-V missile, in its operational form is designed to be stored and launched from the canister, enhancing its storage, operational readiness, transportability, response time and shelf life.

About 17 metres long, 2-metre wide and has launch weight of around 50 tonnes, the missile can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne.

Once the Agni-V is inducted in the Indian military, India would join the super exclusive club of countries with ICBMs alongside the US, Russia, China, France and Britain.

The first test of Agni-V was conducted on April 19, 2012, while the second test was launched on September 15, 2013 and the third on January 31, 2015.

The US has conveyed to Pakistan that the military training component of the aid would continue despite suspension of the security assistance package, media reports said on Thursday.

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua informed the Senate’s foreign affairs committee on Wednesday that the US would continue funding the aid components that support their national interest, including the International Military Education and Training (IMET) part, Dawn reported.

The IMET programme, which focuses on military education, is meant to establish a rapport between the US military and the recipient country’s military for building alliances for the future.

Under this programme, Pakistan Army officers have been trained in the US at a cost of $52 million over the past 15 years and an allocation of another $4 million has been made for the current year.

While the IMET would continue, the US has frozen the aid provided under the programmes that are more important to Pakistan, particularly the Foreign Military Financing (FMF). The recipients of FMF can use the funds under this programme for procurement of defence hardware produced by the US.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, while briefing the lawmakers on the current state of Pak-US relations, said the relationship was not going “very smooth” and problems were persisting.

He said the US was trying to shift the blame to Pakistan for its failures in Afghanistan. “We have to stand up to those who accuse us of harbouring terrorists,” he remarked.

The Congress on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj of misleading the nation over Chinese troops occupying Doklam plateau, saying Indian security and strategic interests have been compromised.

“The satellite imagery and media reports suggest that China has established military establishments in Doklam near Indian borders which indicates that India’s security and strategic interests have been compromised,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress told the media here.

Surjewala said: “It seems that the government was snoozing while the Chinese troops occupied the Doklam plateau as suggested by satellite images. And it seems China is planning Doklam 2.0 like retreat near the Indian borders.”

Accusing Modi of mastering the art of rhetoric, the Congress spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has mastered the art of electoral rhetoric as he has failed miserably to ensure the protection of our borders.”

Showing the satellite images, Surjewala said China had constructed a two-storey watchtower, seven helipads and several military establishments in Doklam.

“What is the government doing as China has occupied the entire Doklam plateau? Is the government, Prime Minister, Defence Minister, aware of these constructions?”

Slamming Sushma Swaraj, Surjewala said the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement then, saying the troops of both the countries were doing expeditious disengagement.

“Even Sushma Swarajji said (this) in Parliament. And when we asked about the details, she said the troops of both countries were returning to their posts. At that point, there was no reason to question her statement,” he said.

He said after the tensions at Doklam were resolved, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had said that while it had withdrawn the troops, it shall keep on patrolling the area.

The Congress leader demanded to know how the issue of tri-junction at Doklam would be decided in future when China had occupied the entire plateau.

Surjewala said: “In October, Modiji announced at a public rally that Doklam issue as a victory. However, the satellite imagery released in media reports suggest that Chinese troops have constructed military establishments.

Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a face-off at Doklam for over three months last year.

Miss World Manushi Chhillar has already won the hearts with her beauty and elegance. It is impossible for Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar to miss out on such a talent. Speculations are that KJo might be planning to launch Manushi in his next Dharma Production.

Many star kids are already being launched this year and people can’t wait for it. If Manushi is launched with them, that too by Karan Johar, it would be really interesting. As per media reports, Karan Johar was all praises when he met the current Miss World at the Miss India pageant and then in Filmfare.

Manushi might be the second female lead in Karan Johar’s Student of the year 2. It can be a two actress film and rumors suggest that Aahana Pandey is going to be one of them.

Manushi Chhillar has already made her debut in the famous Dabboo Ratnani’s 2018 calendar with Bollywood celebrities. The calendar features Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar, Sonakshi Sinha, Shraddha Kapoor and many more.

Miss World 2017, Manushi Chhillar makes her debut on Dabboo Ratnani Calendar 2018 #DabbooRatnani #ManushiChillar #peopleofbollywood

A post shared by BOLLYWOOD PEOPLE👥 (@peopleofbollywood) on Jan 17, 2018 at 5:06am PST

No doubt Manushi looks glamorous in the Instagram post shared by Dabboo Ratnani. She can definitely qualify for a Karan Johar heroine. Well, KJo is the one to confirm that.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has said establishing a Palestinian state through the two-state solution is the only way to achieve stability, peace, prosperity and development in the region.

Sisi’s remarks on Wednesday came during his meeting with his visiting Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Egyptian President stressed Egypt’s pursuit to reach a fair and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The two leaders held talks on the latest developments of the Palestinian cause within the framework of ongoing coordination and cooperation between the two countries to probe the Arab and international efforts aiming at confronting the recent US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

For his part, Abbas expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s endeavours to support the Palestinian people, asserting that Egypt spared no effort to help establish a Palestinian independent state.

The Palestinian president also lauded Egypt’s recent stance in the United Nations (UN) to overcome the US decision as well as its efforts to achieve reconciliation between rival Palestinian factions.

Last December, US President Donald Trump announced his country’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a move that drew widespread criticism and protests worldwide.

The Palestinians consider East Jerusalem, which was seized by the Israelis in the 1967 war, as the capital of their future independent state, while the Israelis insist that the entire city is their eternal capital.