BERLIN, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Germany's adolescent population aged between 14 and 17 stood around 3.2 million at the end of 2016, a drop of nearly 470,000 within 10 years, data by the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) show.

The proportion of the 14-17 year olds in the total population decreased from 4.4 percent in 2006 to 3.8 percent by the end of 2016, according to the Destatis.

Within 10 years, the share of young people without a secondary school graduation certificate had declined significantly from 8 percent in 2006 to 6 percent in 2016, the Destatis said.

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Belt and Road Initiative could "definitely" help with global refugee work, said United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi who completed an official visit to China on Saturday.

"Much of what China does through the Belt and Road Initiative converges with what we are doing in refugee-hosting countries, linking humanitarian and development aid to better address long-term problems and seek solutions to refugee crisis," said Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

MOSCOW, August 10. /TASS/. Russia has blocked Washington’s bid to expand sanctions against North Korea at a UN Security Council committee, because the US stance is entirely unconvincing, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Jabalpur, Aug 9 (PTI): The Madhya Pradesh High Court has upheld a lower court's order awarding death sentence to a man for raping and killing a four-year-old girl, observing that "humanity is more in danger in the hands of persons like the convict".

Describing the offence as an act of "extreme depravity" and taking note of the rise in crimes against minor girls, the court said in such cases, an extreme punishment would deter other criminals.

New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI): A group of activists held a meet at the Jantar Mantar today, demanding justice for the victims of hate crimes.

They demanded immediate implementation of the July 17 Supreme Court directives to prevent vigilantism and compensation for victims of hate crime.

The activists also sought prosecution of political and public figures who through action or speech support vigilantism.

10 Aug 2018; AFP: Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday unveiled details of plans to build a US Space Force that would become the sixth branch of America's massive military, saying the time has come to prepare for "the next battlefield."

President Donald Trump ordered the creation of Space Force in June, arguing the Pentagon needs it to tackle vulnerabilities in space and assert US dominance in orbit.

Bengaluru, Aug 9 (PTI): The SIT probing the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh today arrested a 37-year old hotelier from Belagavi on charges of harbouring two key accused in the case, police said.

Bharat Kurne, a resident of Sambhaji Gali in Belagavi, had 'harboured' the mastermind of the crime Amol Kaleand sharp shooter Parashuram Waghmare, an official of the Special Investigation Team said.

With this, the total number of suspects arrested in the case has risen to 12.

Islamabad, Aug 9 (PTI): The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and its allies have secured over 180 seats in the National Assembly, a senior party leader said today, days after Imran Khan was nominated by his party for the next prime minister of Pakistan.

The party has already claimed to have crossed the magical figure of 172 required to secure simple majority in the 342-seat National Assembly.

AL-WASIT /Syria/, August 10. /TASS/. The Russian military police will create eight outposts near the demilitarized zone at the Golan Heights on the Syrian-Israeli border, a deputy commander of the Russian forces in Syria in charge of of military police, Viktor Zaytsev, said.

According to the official, the first permanent observation post of the Russian military police has already been set up.

"Seven more will be created in the future. They will serve as a security guarantee for civilians of the Quneitra governorate," he said.

Islamabad, Aug 9 (PTI): Pakistan's Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan has said his government will build a more "balanced and trustworthy" relationship with the US, asserting that the trust deficit between the two countries has resulted in many ups and downs in the bilateral ties.

The relations between Pakistan and the US nosedived this January after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists.

KRONOTSKY NATURE RESERVE /Kamchatka/, August 10. /TASS/. The possible tightening up of economic sanctions against Russia may be treated as a declaration of economic war, which must be responded by all economic, political and other means possible, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said during his visit to the Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

During his visit to the Kronotsky State Nature Reserve, Medvedev was asked what sanctions could be imposed on Russia in the future and how they can affect the country’s economy.

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM, 10 Aug 2018; AA: Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party nominated President Omar Al-Bashir for a third term at an urgent meeting of the national Shura (consultation) council Thursday.

Following the meeting, the head of the council told reporters in Khartoum that the council had endorsed Bashir’s nomination after long consultations among the party’s leadership.

Bashir’s term should end in 2020, according to Sudan’s constitution.

The 74-year-old was first elected to office in 2010.