Germany is in talks with Russia to purchase the latter's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, the German state of Saxony confirmed on Thursday.&nbsp;

"Germany is negotiating 3 x 10 million doses for June, July, August. The prerequisite for this is the swift EMA approval of the vaccine," Saxony state premier Michael Kretschmer wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

Kretschmer also discussed the supply with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his tweet was posted after his meeting with Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko. &nbsp;

Watch |

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Kremlin in a statement confirmed Kretschmer speaking with Putin in a phone call in which the former talked about collective efforts to fight Covid-19.&nbsp;

"Putin confirmed the readiness of the Russian side to cooperate with German partners to this end, in particular to organise deliveries and joint production of vaccines," the statement said.&nbsp;

The move comes amid the strained relations between the EU and Russia over a number of issues including Kremlin opposition Alexei Navalny's health and the crisis at the Ukrainian border.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-eyeing-russias-sputnik-vaccine-production-to-overcome-supply-shortage-from-india-379009">Bangladesh eyeing Russia's Sputnik vaccine production to overcome supply shortage from India</a>

Berlin gathered controversy earlier in April when it said talks had begun with Kremlin for buying doses of the Sputnik vaccine without waiting for a coordinated response from the EU, news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Germany is in talks with Russia to purchase the latter's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, the German state of Saxony confirmed on Thursday. "Germany is negotiating 3 x 10 million doses for June, July, August.

Germany is in talks with Russia to purchase the latter's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, the German state of Saxony confirmed on Thursday. "Germany is negotiating 3 x 10 million doses for June, July, August. The prerequisite for this is the swift EMA approval of the vaccine," Saxony state premier Michael Kretschmer wrote on Twitter. Kretschmer also discussed the supply with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his tweet was posted after his meeting with Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko. Watch | Kremlin in a statement confirmed Kretschmer speaking with Putin in a phone call in which the former talked about collective efforts to fight Covid-19. "Putin confirmed the readiness of the Russian side to cooperate with German partners to this end, in particular to organise deliveries and joint production of vaccines," the statement said. The move comes amid the strained relations between the EU and Russia over a number of issues including Kremlin opposition Alexei Navalny's health and the crisis at the Ukrainian border. Also read | Bangladesh eyeing Russia's Sputnik vaccine production to overcome supply shortage from India Berlin gathered controversy earlier in April when it said talks had begun with Kremlin for buying doses of the Sputnik vaccine without waiting for a coordinated response from the EU, news agency AFP reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany in talks with Russia to buy 30 million Sputnik V jabs

Chairing a high-level meeting to review oxygen supply across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked top officials to work rapidly on increasing its production, boosting the speed of distribution and using innovative ways to provide oxygen support to health facilities.

PM also said that states must act against any hoarding of oxygen and directed officials to ensure that the oxygen supply to various states happens in a smooth, unhindered manner and called for fixing responsibility with the local administration in cases of obstruction.

In the meeting that also discussed ways and means to boost oxygen availability amid demands from many states for an increase in its supply, Modi was told that the supply of life-saving gas to states has been steadily increasing.

Against the present demand from 20 states of 6,785 MT/day of liquid medical oxygen, the Centre has from April 21 allocated 6,822 MT/day to these states, a statement said.

It was noted that in the last few days, the availability of liquid medical oxygen has been increased by about 3,300 MT/day with contributions from private and public steel plants, industries, oxygen manufacturers as well as through prohibition of supply of oxygen for non-essential industries.

Modi said states should come down heavily on hoarding and stressed the need to ensure faster transportation of oxygen.

The statement said railways is being used for rapid and non-stop long-distance transport of tankers. The first rake has reached from Mumbai to Vizag to transport 105 MT of liquid medical oxygen. Similarly, empty oxygen tankers are also being air-lifted to oxygen suppliers to reduce one-way journey time in oxygen supply.

The prime minister was informed that an elaborate exercise is being done in coordination with states to find their oxygen demand and ensure adequate supply accordingly, the statement said.

Top officials representing various ministries informed Modi that they are working together with the states to operationalize the sanctioned PSA oxygen plants as soon as possible.

"PM directed the officials to ensure that oxygen supply to various states happens in a smooth, unhindered manner. He spoke about the need to fix responsibility with the local administration in cases of obstruction. He also asked ministries to explore various innovative ways to increase production &amp; supply of oxygen," it said.

Various measures are being undertaken to rapidly increase the availability of cryogenic tankers through conversion of nitrogen and argon tankers, import and airlifting of tankers as well as manufacturing them, it added.

Representatives from the medical community also spoke about the need for judicious use of oxygen and how an audit in some states has decreased oxygen demand without affecting the condition of patients.

The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to PM, Home Secretary, Health Secretary and officials from the Ministry of Commerce &amp; Industry, Ministry of Road Transport, Pharmaceuticals and NITI Aayog.

Chairing a high-level meeting to review oxygen supply across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked top officials to work rapidly on increasing its production, boosting the speed of distribution and using innovative ways to provide oxygen support to health facilities.

Chairing a high-level meeting to review oxygen supply across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked top officials to work rapidly on increasing its production, boosting the speed of distribution and using innovative ways to provide oxygen support to health facilities. PM also said that states must act against any hoarding of oxygen and directed officials to ensure that the oxygen supply to various states happens in a smooth, unhindered manner and called for fixing responsibility with the local administration in cases of obstruction. In the meeting that also discussed ways and means to boost oxygen availability amid demands from many states for an increase in its supply, Modi was told that the supply of life-saving gas to states has been steadily increasing. Against the present demand from 20 states of 6,785 MT/day of liquid medical oxygen, the Centre has from April 21 allocated 6,822 MT/day to these states, a statement said. It was noted that in the last few days, the availability of liquid medical oxygen has been increased by about 3,300 MT/day with contributions from private and public steel plants, industries, oxygen manufacturers as well as through prohibition of supply of oxygen for non-essential industries. Modi said states should come down heavily on hoarding and stressed the need to ensure faster transportation of oxygen. The statement said railways is being used for rapid and non-stop long-distance transport of tankers. The first rake has reached from Mumbai to Vizag to transport 105 MT of liquid medical oxygen. Similarly, empty oxygen tankers are also being air-lifted to oxygen suppliers to reduce one-way journey time in oxygen supply. The prime minister was informed that an elaborate exercise is being done in coordination with states to find their oxygen demand and ensure adequate supply accordingly, the statement said. Top officials representing various ministries informed Modi that they are working together with the states to operationalize the sanctioned PSA oxygen plants as soon as possible. "PM directed the officials to ensure that oxygen supply to various states happens in a smooth, unhindered manner. He spoke about the need to fix responsibility with the local administration in cases of obstruction. He also asked ministries to explore various innovative ways to increase production & supply of oxygen," it said. Various measures are being undertaken to rapidly increase the availability of cryogenic tankers through conversion of nitrogen and argon tankers, import and airlifting of tankers as well as manufacturing them, it added. Representatives from the medical community also spoke about the need for judicious use of oxygen and how an audit in some states has decreased oxygen demand without affecting the condition of patients. The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to PM, Home Secretary, Health Secretary and officials from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Road Transport, Pharmaceuticals and NITI Aayog.

COVID-19: Indian PM chairs high-level meet on oxygen supply, availability

Germany: Police clash with protesters as thousands demonstrate against new amendment

A report by an environmental group Greenpeace on Wednesday said that China's tech organisations are not adopting clean energy "fast enough" to show their commitment towards carbon neutrality.&nbsp;

The report by Greenpeace said that China's data centre sector is a main and rising source of CO2 emissions and the energy consumption from this industry is on course to rise 66 per cent between 2019 and 2023.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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In 2018, Chinese data centres were 73 per cent powered by coal, the report said, adding that by 2023, the electricity consumption from the sector is set to compete with Australia.&nbsp;

However, in Greenpeace's latest rankings, Chinese gaming giant Tencent took the top spot in the country's tech sector amongst the cloud providers to tackle carbon emissions and procuring from renewable sources.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-clinches-deal-on-climate-law-tougher-2030-emissions-goal-378968">EU clinches deal on climate law, tougher 2030 emissions goal</a>

Thirteen of China's 22 biggest tech companies have now agreed to actively procure renewable energy, a significant rise from just eight companies in 2019.&nbsp;

However, the report said that only two out of these companies, namely Baidu and Chindata have renewable energy usage rates of more than three per cent.&nbsp;

Greenpeace urged internet and data centre organisations to target 100 per cent renewable energy use and aim carbon neutrality by the end of 2030.&nbsp;

A report by an environmental group Greenpeace on Wednesday said that China's tech organisations are not adopting clean energy "fast enough" to show their commitment towards carbon neutrality.

A report by an environmental group Greenpeace on Wednesday said that China's tech organisations are not adopting clean energy "fast enough" to show their commitment towards carbon neutrality. The report by Greenpeace said that China's data centre sector is a main and rising source of CO2 emissions and the energy consumption from this industry is on course to rise 66 per cent between 2019 and 2023. Watch | In 2018, Chinese data centres were 73 per cent powered by coal, the report said, adding that by 2023, the electricity consumption from the sector is set to compete with Australia. However, in Greenpeace's latest rankings, Chinese gaming giant Tencent took the top spot in the country's tech sector amongst the cloud providers to tackle carbon emissions and procuring from renewable sources. Also read | EU clinches deal on climate law, tougher 2030 emissions goal Thirteen of China's 22 biggest tech companies have now agreed to actively procure renewable energy, a significant rise from just eight companies in 2019. However, the report said that only two out of these companies, namely Baidu and Chindata have renewable energy usage rates of more than three per cent. Greenpeace urged internet and data centre organisations to target 100 per cent renewable energy use and aim carbon neutrality by the end of 2030.

Chinese tech firms not adopting clean energy 'fast enough' to show commitment: Greenpeace

Italy on Tuesday declared the Johnson &amp; Johnson coronavirus vaccine to be "safe" and said it would prioritise its use for people over 60.

The announcement came hours after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said blood clots should be listed as a "very rare" side effect of the vaccine.

Watch |&nbsp;

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In the light of that ruling, the US-made jab should be considered "definitely safe," Italian health authorities said in a statement. &nbsp;

It "should be preferentially administered to people over 60 years old" and those particularly at risk from the virus, they added.

The same guidelines were previously issued in Italy for the Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca jab, which has also been linked to very rare instances of blood clotting.

Separately, Italy's coronavirus crisis commissioner said a first consignment of 184,000 J&amp;J doses would be distributed across the country starting Wednesday.&nbsp;

The J&amp;J vaccine is seen as easier to administer and transport than some of its rivals, because it requires just one dose and can be stored at warmer temperatures.

But its introduction in Europe was suspended last week after US health regulators said the shot should be paused over blood clot fears.&nbsp;

Italy and other EU countries are keen to make use of it to accelerate their sluggish vaccination campaigns and bring closer a return to some level of normality in people's lives.

Italy on Tuesday declared the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine to be "safe" and said it would prioritise its use for people over 60. The announcement came hours after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said blood clots should be listed as a "very rare" side effect of the vaccine.

Italy on Tuesday declared the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine to be "safe" and said it would prioritise its use for people over 60. The announcement came hours after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said blood clots should be listed as a "very rare" side effect of the vaccine. Watch | In the light of that ruling, the US-made jab should be considered "definitely safe," Italian health authorities said in a statement. It "should be preferentially administered to people over 60 years old" and those particularly at risk from the virus, they added. The same guidelines were previously issued in Italy for the Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca jab, which has also been linked to very rare instances of blood clotting. Separately, Italy's coronavirus crisis commissioner said a first consignment of 184,000 J&J doses would be distributed across the country starting Wednesday. The J&J vaccine is seen as easier to administer and transport than some of its rivals, because it requires just one dose and can be stored at warmer temperatures. But its introduction in Europe was suspended last week after US health regulators said the shot should be paused over blood clot fears. Italy and other EU countries are keen to make use of it to accelerate their sluggish vaccination campaigns and bring closer a return to some level of normality in people's lives.

Italy approves J&J vaccine, recommends it for over 60s

Pakistan police on Wednesday launched a probe into the shooting of a former senior journalist, who has been an open critic of the country's military and its interference in politics.&nbsp;

Unidentified gunmen shot Absar Alam as he was taking a walk in a park near his home in Islamabad on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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Alam, who headed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), the nation's electronic media watchdog, was rushed to the hospital after getting shot and is out of danger, police said in a statement. &nbsp;

In a video message uploaded on Twitter, Alam said that he was shot in the ribs, but he has lost his "spirit".&nbsp;

"I have not lost my spirit, and I will not lose my spirit," he said in the video as he was being taken to hospital after the attack.&nbsp;

The Islamabad Police have constituted a special team to probe the matter and in a tweet said that the team has been ordered to "use all scientific and forensic methods" to find the accused.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/tlps-violent-protests-bring-more-turmoil-to-pakistan-378883">TLP’s violent protests bring more turmoil to Pakistan</a>&nbsp;

Pakistani Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/imran-khan">Imran Khan's </a>relations with the media have taken a toll since he took office in 2018.

The country's several opposition parties also blame the military and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for installing Khan as the prime minister of the country.&nbsp;

"We vehemently deny this. The military has nothing to do with this," the military's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing told news agency Reuters.

Maryam Nawaz, Vice President of PML-N, condemned the attack, adding that silencing the voice of dissent is cancer that has "plagued" Pakistan for several years.

"Absar Alam sahab is the latest victim of this cruel and barbaric crime. May Allah SWT heal his wounds and the wounds of this country," she was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.&nbsp;

Pakistan police on Wednesday launched a probe into the shooting of a former senior journalist, who has been an open critic of the country's military and its interference in politics.

Pakistan police on Wednesday launched a probe into the shooting of a former senior journalist, who has been an open critic of the country's military and its interference in politics. Unidentified gunmen shot Absar Alam as he was taking a walk in a park near his home in Islamabad on Tuesday. Watch | Alam, who headed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), the nation's electronic media watchdog, was rushed to the hospital after getting shot and is out of danger, police said in a statement. In a video message uploaded on Twitter, Alam said that he was shot in the ribs, but he has lost his "spirit". "I have not lost my spirit, and I will not lose my spirit," he said in the video as he was being taken to hospital after the attack. The Islamabad Police have constituted a special team to probe the matter and in a tweet said that the team has been ordered to "use all scientific and forensic methods" to find the accused. Also read | TLP’s violent protests bring more turmoil to Pakistan Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's relations with the media have taken a toll since he took office in 2018. The country's several opposition parties also blame the military and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for installing Khan as the prime minister of the country. "We vehemently deny this. The military has nothing to do with this," the military's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing told news agency Reuters. Maryam Nawaz, Vice President of PML-N, condemned the attack, adding that silencing the voice of dissent is cancer that has "plagued" Pakistan for several years. "Absar Alam sahab is the latest victim of this cruel and barbaric crime. May Allah SWT heal his wounds and the wounds of this country," she was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Pakistan: Probe opened after senior journalist critical of military attacked

The Indian government on Wednesday said 0.03 per cent of people tested positive for coronavirus after taking the second dose of Covishield, while 0.04 per cent contracted the virus after receiving the second jab of Covaxin.&nbsp;

Covishield and Covaxin were the first <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccines </a>that New Delhi approved to begin its nationwide vaccination drive.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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While Covishield is AstraZeneca-Oxford University' vaccine prepared by Serum Institute of India, Covaxin has been prepared by India's ICMR and Bharat Biotech.&nbsp;

ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava in a press conference said 0.04 per cent of 17,37,178 individuals, contracted the deadly virus after receiving the second dose of Covaxin.

He added that 0.03 per cent of 1,57,32,754 people who received the second dose of Covishield tested positive.&nbsp;

Over 21,000 people contracted coronavirus after taking the first jab of either Covishield or Covaxin, while 5,500 got infected after taking the second dose.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/serum-institute-fixes-covishield-vaccine-prices-rs-400-for-govt-hospitals-rs-600-for-private-378966">Serum Institute fixes Covishield vaccine prices: Rs 400 for govt hospitals, Rs 600 for private</a>

The official said that so far 100 million people have taken the first jab of Covishield, and 17,145 or 2 per 10,000 people contracted the virus.&nbsp;

As many as 9.3 million people took the first jab of Covaxin and out of that 4,208 (0.04 per cent) contracted Covid-19, the ICMR director-general said.&nbsp;

"This is a very small number and not at all worrisome. Secondly, the highly transmissible second wave also contribute minuscule to the percentage so this could have been even zero per cent," Bhargava said.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The Indian government on Wednesday said 0.03 per cent of people tested positive for coronavirus after taking the second dose of Covishield, while 0.04 per cent contracted the virus after receiving the second jab of Covaxin.

The Indian government on Wednesday said 0.03 per cent of people tested positive for coronavirus after taking the second dose of Covishield, while 0.04 per cent contracted the virus after receiving the second jab of Covaxin. Covishield and Covaxin were the first coronavirus vaccines that New Delhi approved to begin its nationwide vaccination drive. Watch | While Covishield is AstraZeneca-Oxford University' vaccine prepared by Serum Institute of India, Covaxin has been prepared by India's ICMR and Bharat Biotech. ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava in a press conference said 0.04 per cent of 17,37,178 individuals, contracted the deadly virus after receiving the second dose of Covaxin. He added that 0.03 per cent of 1,57,32,754 people who received the second dose of Covishield tested positive. Over 21,000 people contracted coronavirus after taking the first jab of either Covishield or Covaxin, while 5,500 got infected after taking the second dose. Also read | Serum Institute fixes Covishield vaccine prices: Rs 400 for govt hospitals, Rs 600 for private The official said that so far 100 million people have taken the first jab of Covishield, and 17,145 or 2 per 10,000 people contracted the virus. As many as 9.3 million people took the first jab of Covaxin and out of that 4,208 (0.04 per cent) contracted Covid-19, the ICMR director-general said. "This is a very small number and not at all worrisome. Secondly, the highly transmissible second wave also contribute minuscule to the percentage so this could have been even zero per cent," Bhargava said.

0.03% contracted Covid-19 after receiving second jab of Covishield; 0.04% post Covaxin

Bharat BioTech on Wednesday claimed that its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine </a>Covaxin has an efficacy of 78 per cent against mild, moderate and severe cases of Covid-19, according to the Phase 3 interim analysis results.&nbsp;

It highlighted that the second interim data of the Phase 3 study showed that the hospitalisation rate due to novel coronavirus reduced by 100 per cent after taking the Covaxin shot.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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The recent spike in Covid-19 infections led to 127 symptomatic cases being recorded after taking the vaccine's shot, leading to an efficacy of 78 per cent against mid, moderate and severe cases, the pharma company said in a statement.&nbsp;

It added that the vaccine has an efficacy of 70 per cent in asymptomatic infection.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covaxin-is-effective-against-multiple-variants-of-coronavirus-indian-medical-body-378960">Covaxin is effective against multiple variants of coronavirus: Indian medical body</a>

"Efficacy against SARS-Cov-2 has been established. Covaxin has demonstrated an excellent safety record in human clinical trials and in usage under emergency use. Covaxin is now a global innovator vaccine derived from R&amp;D in India," Bharat BioTech Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.&nbsp;

Ella also said that the protocols for manufacturing, testing and release of inactivated vaccines meet the requirements of WHO, Indian, and other regulatory authorities.&nbsp;

"These protocols have delivered consistent results over a 15-year period with more than 300 million doses supplied globally, with excellent safety and performance record," the MD said.&nbsp;

The pharma company said final analysis results will be available in June and the final report will then be sent to a peer-reviewed publication.&nbsp;

Covaxin has been jointly prepared by Bharat BioTech and ICMR.&nbsp;

Balram Bhargava, Director General of ICMR and Secretary of Department of Health Research said that Covaxin "works well against" most variants of coronavirus. &nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Bharat BioTech on Wednesday claimed that its coronavirus vaccine Covaxin has an efficacy of 78 per cent against mild, moderate and severe cases of Covid-19, according to the Phase 3 interim analysis results.

Bharat BioTech on Wednesday claimed that its coronavirus vaccine Covaxin has an efficacy of 78 per cent against mild, moderate and severe cases of Covid-19, according to the Phase 3 interim analysis results. It highlighted that the second interim data of the Phase 3 study showed that the hospitalisation rate due to novel coronavirus reduced by 100 per cent after taking the Covaxin shot. Watch | The recent spike in Covid-19 infections led to 127 symptomatic cases being recorded after taking the vaccine's shot, leading to an efficacy of 78 per cent against mid, moderate and severe cases, the pharma company said in a statement. It added that the vaccine has an efficacy of 70 per cent in asymptomatic infection. Also read | Covaxin is effective against multiple variants of coronavirus: Indian medical body "Efficacy against SARS-Cov-2 has been established. Covaxin has demonstrated an excellent safety record in human clinical trials and in usage under emergency use. Covaxin is now a global innovator vaccine derived from R&D in India," Bharat BioTech Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Ella also said that the protocols for manufacturing, testing and release of inactivated vaccines meet the requirements of WHO, Indian, and other regulatory authorities. "These protocols have delivered consistent results over a 15-year period with more than 300 million doses supplied globally, with excellent safety and performance record," the MD said. The pharma company said final analysis results will be available in June and the final report will then be sent to a peer-reviewed publication. Covaxin has been jointly prepared by Bharat BioTech and ICMR. Balram Bhargava, Director General of ICMR and Secretary of Department of Health Research said that Covaxin "works well against" most variants of coronavirus.

Covaxin has an efficacy of 78% against severe Covid-19 cases: Bharat BioTech

Have you ever heard about a tree whose bark when cut, nickel, a highly poisonous metal to most plants is found?&nbsp;

Pycnandra acuminata, grown on New Caledonia island in the South Pacific, is one such tall tree.&nbsp;

According to a report by The Guardian, when the bark of Pycnandra acuminata is cut, a bright blue-green latex that comprises up to 25 per cent nickel is found.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/world/miami-is-set-to-reduce-number-of-palm-trees-as-climate-concerns-rise-367159">Miami is set to reduce number of palm trees as climate concerns rise</a>

The report further said that 700 plant species have a very high content of metal, generally nickel but not in all cases.&nbsp;

The macadamia tree's leaves and sap have manganese, however, not in the nut.&nbsp;

When such plants are dried and burned to ash they generate extremely rich, high-grade metal ore, with very less pollution and using far less energy than required in conventional mining, the report further said.&nbsp;

This could bring new sources of wanted metals, though it is less likely that it could completely replace traditional mining.&nbsp;

However, these can help in cleaning up soils contaminated with toxic metals.&nbsp;

It still remains a mystery how these trees can consume such high amounts of poisonous metals without losing their lives.&nbsp;

Have you ever heard about a tree whose bark when cut, nickel, a highly poisonous metal to most plants is found? Pycnandra acuminata, grown on New Caledonia island in the South Pacific, is one such tall tree.

Have you ever heard about a tree whose bark when cut, nickel, a highly poisonous metal to most plants is found? Pycnandra acuminata, grown on New Caledonia island in the South Pacific, is one such tall tree. According to a report by The Guardian, when the bark of Pycnandra acuminata is cut, a bright blue-green latex that comprises up to 25 per cent nickel is found. Also read | Miami is set to reduce number of palm trees as climate concerns rise The report further said that 700 plant species have a very high content of metal, generally nickel but not in all cases. The macadamia tree's leaves and sap have manganese, however, not in the nut. When such plants are dried and burned to ash they generate extremely rich, high-grade metal ore, with very less pollution and using far less energy than required in conventional mining, the report further said. This could bring new sources of wanted metals, though it is less likely that it could completely replace traditional mining. However, these can help in cleaning up soils contaminated with toxic metals. It still remains a mystery how these trees can consume such high amounts of poisonous metals without losing their lives.

Believe it or not! These trees consume poisonous metals

In what is being described as Hong Kong City's biggest phone scam, a 90-year-old woman has been conned out of $32 million. &nbsp;

The fraudsters, posing as Chinese officials last summer contacted the woman who lived in a mansion on The Peak, one of the most upmarket areas in the city, police said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/world/chinese-man-kidnaps-and-kills-to-provide-dead-body-in-burial-scam-377582">Chinese man kidnaps and kills to provide dead body in burial scam</a>

The woman was told that her identity had been used in a serious criminal case in mainland China by the scammers who called themselves public security officials.&nbsp;

South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the woman was told she is required to transfer the money into bank accounts held by the probe team.&nbsp;

Many days later, police said, a person came to her house with a mobile phone and SIM card for the woman to communicate with the fraudsters who persuaded her to make 11 bank account transfers.

In five months, the woman gave away HK$250 million ($32 million), which is being described as the biggest recorded phone scam of the city.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/world/2000-tumour-man-sentenced-for-scamming-spain-donors-362243">'2,000-tumour man' sentenced for scamming Spain donors</a>

Several elderly billionaires reside in Hong Kong, which makes them vulnerable to fraudsters.&nbsp;

In the first quarter of 2021, there has been an 18 per cent rise in phone scams with a combined loss of HK$350 million (US$45m).&nbsp;

In what is being described as Hong Kong City's biggest phone scam, a 90-year-old woman has been conned out of $32 million. The fraudsters, posing as Chinese officials last summer contacted the woman who lived in a mansion on The Peak, one of the most upmarket areas in the city, police said on Tuesday.

In what is being described as Hong Kong City's biggest phone scam, a 90-year-old woman has been conned out of $32 million. The fraudsters, posing as Chinese officials last summer contacted the woman who lived in a mansion on The Peak, one of the most upmarket areas in the city, police said on Tuesday. Also read | Chinese man kidnaps and kills to provide dead body in burial scam The woman was told that her identity had been used in a serious criminal case in mainland China by the scammers who called themselves public security officials. South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the woman was told she is required to transfer the money into bank accounts held by the probe team. Many days later, police said, a person came to her house with a mobile phone and SIM card for the woman to communicate with the fraudsters who persuaded her to make 11 bank account transfers. In five months, the woman gave away HK$250 million ($32 million), which is being described as the biggest recorded phone scam of the city. Also read | '2,000-tumour man' sentenced for scamming Spain donors Several elderly billionaires reside in Hong Kong, which makes them vulnerable to fraudsters. In the first quarter of 2021, there has been an 18 per cent rise in phone scams with a combined loss of HK$350 million (US$45m).

Hong Kong: 90-year-old woman conned out of $32 million in city's biggest phone scam

As broader recognition has emerged of the cost of essential period products, governments around the world have taken strides to address the issue of “period poverty.” Scotland last year passed legislation ensuring that the products are available for free to all who need them, and students in New Zealand will soon be able to get free menstrual products in schools.

Now, retailers are getting involved.

In Ireland, the supermarket chain Lidl will offer free period products in its stores across the country — the first major retailer to make period products available for free nationwide.

The initiative comes as the Irish government is discussing a bill that would enshrine free period products for all into law, similar to a measure in neighboring Scotland.

“The guiding principle of this initiative is the inherent respect for the dignity of all those concerned,” Aoife Clarke, a spokesperson for Lidl Ireland, said in a statement, adding that the company wanted to support girls and women as a “family retailer.”

Activists welcomed the move as a sign that big businesses can strengthen campaigns to end “period poverty” — in which circumstances, financial or otherwise, leave those who menstruate without access to sanitary products.

The step by a major retailer to provide free sanitary products is a “game-changer,” said Claire Hunt, founder of Homeless Period Ireland, a volunteer organization that partnered with Lidl Ireland on the initiative.

She said the move sent a “positive message” that has even greater significance given the financial strain caused by the pandemic.

“If you’re experiencing food poverty or fuel poverty, you’re inevitably going to experience period poverty, too,” Hunt said.

Under the initiative, announced Monday, customers can claim a free box of sanitary pads or tampons each month beginning in May by downloading a coupon in the retailer’s app.

Lidl, a German-owned discount retailer, said it would also donate free period products to the Simon Communities of Ireland, a network of homelessness charities, and to Ladies Gaelic Football Association clubs across the country.

Neighboring Britain has also taken strides to address the issue of period poverty, particularly in Scotland, which in November became the first country to enact legislation making period products available free of charge to those who need them. In January, Britain’s government abolished a tax that classified sanitary products as nonessential, a charge that had been denounced as sexist. Schools across England and Wales offer period products, and Northern Ireland adopted a similar program last year.

In Ireland, about half of girls ages 12-19 reported occasionally struggling to afford sanitary products, according to a 2018 survey by the children’s charity Plan International.

And although campaigners called the involvement of a big retailer promising, they said more still needed to be done to address the underlying issues of poverty and to provide young people with better education on menstruation.

“If anything, it just opens conversations, and that’s the important thing,” Hunt said. “This is a dignity issue.”

Campaigners elsewhere agree.

Gabby Edlin, CEO of Bloody Good Period, a charity in Britain that provides and campaigns for free period products, said it was a symbol of change that businesses were getting involved.

“Nobody should be going into debt or struggling for money for something that is an essential part of human life,” she said.

As broader recognition has emerged of the cost of essential period products, governments around the world have taken strides to address the issue of “period poverty.

As broader recognition has emerged of the cost of essential period products, governments around the world have taken strides to address the issue of “period poverty.” Scotland last year passed legislation ensuring that the products are available for free to all who need them, and students in New Zealand will soon be able to get free menstrual products in schools. Now, retailers are getting involved. In Ireland, the supermarket chain Lidl will offer free period products in its stores across the country — the first major retailer to make period products available for free nationwide. The initiative comes as the Irish government is discussing a bill that would enshrine free period products for all into law, similar to a measure in neighboring Scotland. “The guiding principle of this initiative is the inherent respect for the dignity of all those concerned,” Aoife Clarke, a spokesperson for Lidl Ireland, said in a statement, adding that the company wanted to support girls and women as a “family retailer.” Activists welcomed the move as a sign that big businesses can strengthen campaigns to end “period poverty” — in which circumstances, financial or otherwise, leave those who menstruate without access to sanitary products. The step by a major retailer to provide free sanitary products is a “game-changer,” said Claire Hunt, founder of Homeless Period Ireland, a volunteer organization that partnered with Lidl Ireland on the initiative. She said the move sent a “positive message” that has even greater significance given the financial strain caused by the pandemic. “If you’re experiencing food poverty or fuel poverty, you’re inevitably going to experience period poverty, too,” Hunt said. Under the initiative, announced Monday, customers can claim a free box of sanitary pads or tampons each month beginning in May by downloading a coupon in the retailer’s app. Lidl, a German-owned discount retailer, said it would also donate free period products to the Simon Communities of Ireland, a network of homelessness charities, and to Ladies Gaelic Football Association clubs across the country. Neighboring Britain has also taken strides to address the issue of period poverty, particularly in Scotland, which in November became the first country to enact legislation making period products available free of charge to those who need them. In January, Britain’s government abolished a tax that classified sanitary products as nonessential, a charge that had been denounced as sexist. Schools across England and Wales offer period products, and Northern Ireland adopted a similar program last year. In Ireland, about half of girls ages 12-19 reported occasionally struggling to afford sanitary products, according to a 2018 survey by the children’s charity Plan International. And although campaigners called the involvement of a big retailer promising, they said more still needed to be done to address the underlying issues of poverty and to provide young people with better education on menstruation. “If anything, it just opens conversations, and that’s the important thing,” Hunt said. “This is a dignity issue.” Campaigners elsewhere agree. Gabby Edlin, CEO of Bloody Good Period, a charity in Britain that provides and campaigns for free period products, said it was a symbol of change that businesses were getting involved. “Nobody should be going into debt or struggling for money for something that is an essential part of human life,” she said.

In Ireland, a grocery chain addresses 'period poverty' with free products

To most eyes, the scruffy, sun-faded ship that left Venice for Sicily last week might have looked like a junkyard-ready wreck.

Instead, as the ship embarked upon what might have been its final voyage, via barge and tugboat, and arrived in Sicily on Tuesday, others were hoping it would become a monument to the devastating toll exacted by the trafficking of people across the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe by unscrupulous operators.

The ship, the relic of the deadliest wreck in the Mediterranean in living memory, is a symbol of contemporary migration in Europe that has become part of its cultural heritage, said Maria Chiara Di Trapani, an independent curator working on future projects for the vessel.

On April 18, 2015, the unnamed ship, originally built as a fishing vessel for a crew of around 15, capsized off the coast of Libya, becoming the watery grave for the more than 1,000 people — many from Mali, Mauritius and the Horn of Africa — crammed onboard. Only 28 passengers survived.

The ship’s fate “has to be a reminder that this situation cannot happen in a civilized country,” said Cristina Cattaneo, a forensic pathologist and anthropologist who has been working to identify the hundreds of victims who were trapped in the hull when it sank.

The ship became a tangible symbol of Europe’s failings on migration and of the continent’s inability to conceive of, let alone implement, coordinated policies to handle the mass arrival of migrants, which has intensified in recent decades. Since that disaster, the Missing Migrants Project, run by the International Organization for Migration, has recorded a minimum of 12,521 deaths or disappearances during migration across the Central Mediterranean route.

The ship sank after colliding with a Portuguese freighter that had come to its assistance. An analysis of the shipwreck has been treated by migration activists as a case study on the perils of inexpert assistance at sea. The ship was later used as evidence in a case against the Tunisian captain who piloted the ship and in 2018 was convicted of human trafficking.

“The story of the boat is very complex, involving many people,” said Enzo Parisi, spokesman for the Comitato 18 Aprile, a citizens group in Augusta, Sicily, that wants the boat to become a monument, “a testimony to tragedies at sea.”

In June 2016, the Italian government decided to raise the wreck 1,200 feet from the bottom of the sea to identify the victims. The ship was taken to a naval base in Augusta, and the victims were extracted.

Genetic data was sampled, and corpses and remains were photographed, as were passports, vaccination records and scraps of paper with hand-scribbled telephone numbers. Everything was sent to a forensic laboratory at the University of Milan for the laborious task of cataloging and possible identification.

The ship’s destiny, at that point, was to head to the scrapyard, like hundreds of ships that have been seized by Italian authorities.

But the wreck’s symbolic power had become apparent. In 2019, supported by the Comitato 18 Aprile, Augusta’s municipal council was granted custody of the ship. The region lobbied to have it declared a monument of cultural interest and the committee came up with proposals for a memorial that would have the ship as the centerpiece.

“As a seaport, Augusta has always been welcoming,” said Mayor Giuseppe Di Mare.

The Sicilian city is a first landing spot for many migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, before they are processed and shuttled off to other Italian cities. Because of the coronavirus, the sea rescues now include an interim stop on quarantine ships, and currently there are two such ships in Augusta’s harbor.

In 2019, the ship took an unexpected detour, when — with the approval of city hall and the committee — Swiss Icelandic artist Christoph Büchel took the wreck to the Venice Biennale, mooring it at the Arsenale, the former shipyard of the once-formidable Venetian Republic.

Now christened “Barca Nostra” (Italian for “Our Ship”), the vessel was presented at the art exhibit as a “monument to contemporary migration” and restrictions on personal freedoms.

Last Wednesday, the ship was loaded onto a barge. It arrived in Augusta on Tuesday.

With its return to Sicily, the wreck can become a “starting point to reflect on Italy’s responsibility for these deaths at sea,” said Giorgia Mirto, a doctoral student at Columbia University who has mapped where migrants who die at sea are buried in Italian cemeteries. In a 2019 documentary about the disaster and the attempts to identify the victims, Mirto counted headstones in a cemetery that read: “Unknown Immigrant Deceased in the Strait of Sicily on 18.4.2015.”

The project to identify victims continues. Cattaneo, who is responsible for the university laboratory in Milan, said that funding shortages had hampered the work and that, so far, only six victims had been identified using their methodology, which involves comparing the DNA extracted from the victims to that of family members, as well as anthropological and dental traits.

She is hopeful that progress will be made this year, as the university is now working with other academic institutions, as well as Italian law enforcement authorities, but she cautioned that the condition in which researchers had found the bodies after a year underwater made everything “extremely complex.”

The International Committee of the Red Cross and other national affiliates have also been involved in identifying the victims of the tragedy. They have adopted a different, complementary approach, attempting to draft a list of the passengers onboard by cross-referencing the accounts of survivors, witnesses, relatives and friends, as well as from the objects recovered from the ship. Currently, they are calling some of the nearly 1,500 phone numbers — which have been tracked to 56 countries — that were found in the wreckage in hopes of gleaning new clues.

“For us, the passenger manifest is the most important thing, because by naming victims you are acknowledging them as persons,” said Jose Pablo Baraybar Do Carmo, transregional forensic coordinator for the Red Cross, who has been “working like crazy” on the wreck since 2017. “It’s important to remove these people from invisibility” and let their families know that “there is someone who is trying to find out what happened” to someone who is missing, he said.

So far, his team has managed to identify 474 people who were on the boat.

The coronavirus has drastically reduced Mediterranean crossings over the past 14 months, as well as deaths. Even so, as of Tuesday, 449 migrants are known to have died in the first months of 2021.

The ship will now undergo urgent maintenance, after two years exposed to a north Italian climate.

Augusta has envisioned placing the ship in what the authorities describe as a “Garden of Memory,” which “will have to be in the open, because that boat gives a sense of the sea, the air, the skies. To enclose it in a building would clash with its’ story,” said Di Mare. “Certainly, the ship has attained an international dimension and we want this garden to become a place of reflection for the world, so that all people can ponder.”

To most eyes, the scruffy, sun-faded ship that left Venice for Sicily last week might have looked like a junkyard-ready wreck. Instead, as the ship embarked upon what might have been its final voyage, via barge and tugboat, and arrived in Sicily on Tuesday, others were hoping it would become a monument to the devastating toll exacted by the trafficking of people across the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe by unscrupulous operators.

To most eyes, the scruffy, sun-faded ship that left Venice for Sicily last week might have looked like a junkyard-ready wreck. Instead, as the ship embarked upon what might have been its final voyage, via barge and tugboat, and arrived in Sicily on Tuesday, others were hoping it would become a monument to the devastating toll exacted by the trafficking of people across the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe by unscrupulous operators. The ship, the relic of the deadliest wreck in the Mediterranean in living memory, is a symbol of contemporary migration in Europe that has become part of its cultural heritage, said Maria Chiara Di Trapani, an independent curator working on future projects for the vessel. On April 18, 2015, the unnamed ship, originally built as a fishing vessel for a crew of around 15, capsized off the coast of Libya, becoming the watery grave for the more than 1,000 people — many from Mali, Mauritius and the Horn of Africa — crammed onboard. Only 28 passengers survived. The ship’s fate “has to be a reminder that this situation cannot happen in a civilized country,” said Cristina Cattaneo, a forensic pathologist and anthropologist who has been working to identify the hundreds of victims who were trapped in the hull when it sank. The ship became a tangible symbol of Europe’s failings on migration and of the continent’s inability to conceive of, let alone implement, coordinated policies to handle the mass arrival of migrants, which has intensified in recent decades. Since that disaster, the Missing Migrants Project, run by the International Organization for Migration, has recorded a minimum of 12,521 deaths or disappearances during migration across the Central Mediterranean route. The ship sank after colliding with a Portuguese freighter that had come to its assistance. An analysis of the shipwreck has been treated by migration activists as a case study on the perils of inexpert assistance at sea. The ship was later used as evidence in a case against the Tunisian captain who piloted the ship and in 2018 was convicted of human trafficking. “The story of the boat is very complex, involving many people,” said Enzo Parisi, spokesman for the Comitato 18 Aprile, a citizens group in Augusta, Sicily, that wants the boat to become a monument, “a testimony to tragedies at sea.” In June 2016, the Italian government decided to raise the wreck 1,200 feet from the bottom of the sea to identify the victims. The ship was taken to a naval base in Augusta, and the victims were extracted. Genetic data was sampled, and corpses and remains were photographed, as were passports, vaccination records and scraps of paper with hand-scribbled telephone numbers. Everything was sent to a forensic laboratory at the University of Milan for the laborious task of cataloging and possible identification. The ship’s destiny, at that point, was to head to the scrapyard, like hundreds of ships that have been seized by Italian authorities. But the wreck’s symbolic power had become apparent. In 2019, supported by the Comitato 18 Aprile, Augusta’s municipal council was granted custody of the ship. The region lobbied to have it declared a monument of cultural interest and the committee came up with proposals for a memorial that would have the ship as the centerpiece. “As a seaport, Augusta has always been welcoming,” said Mayor Giuseppe Di Mare. The Sicilian city is a first landing spot for many migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, before they are processed and shuttled off to other Italian cities. Because of the coronavirus, the sea rescues now include an interim stop on quarantine ships, and currently there are two such ships in Augusta’s harbor. In 2019, the ship took an unexpected detour, when — with the approval of city hall and the committee — Swiss Icelandic artist Christoph Büchel took the wreck to the Venice Biennale, mooring it at the Arsenale, the former shipyard of the once-formidable Venetian Republic. Now christened “Barca Nostra” (Italian for “Our Ship”), the vessel was presented at the art exhibit as a “monument to contemporary migration” and restrictions on personal freedoms. Last Wednesday, the ship was loaded onto a barge. It arrived in Augusta on Tuesday. With its return to Sicily, the wreck can become a “starting point to reflect on Italy’s responsibility for these deaths at sea,” said Giorgia Mirto, a doctoral student at Columbia University who has mapped where migrants who die at sea are buried in Italian cemeteries. In a 2019 documentary about the disaster and the attempts to identify the victims, Mirto counted headstones in a cemetery that read: “Unknown Immigrant Deceased in the Strait of Sicily on 18.4.2015.” The project to identify victims continues. Cattaneo, who is responsible for the university laboratory in Milan, said that funding shortages had hampered the work and that, so far, only six victims had been identified using their methodology, which involves comparing the DNA extracted from the victims to that of family members, as well as anthropological and dental traits. She is hopeful that progress will be made this year, as the university is now working with other academic institutions, as well as Italian law enforcement authorities, but she cautioned that the condition in which researchers had found the bodies after a year underwater made everything “extremely complex.” The International Committee of the Red Cross and other national affiliates have also been involved in identifying the victims of the tragedy. They have adopted a different, complementary approach, attempting to draft a list of the passengers onboard by cross-referencing the accounts of survivors, witnesses, relatives and friends, as well as from the objects recovered from the ship. Currently, they are calling some of the nearly 1,500 phone numbers — which have been tracked to 56 countries — that were found in the wreckage in hopes of gleaning new clues. “For us, the passenger manifest is the most important thing, because by naming victims you are acknowledging them as persons,” said Jose Pablo Baraybar Do Carmo, transregional forensic coordinator for the Red Cross, who has been “working like crazy” on the wreck since 2017. “It’s important to remove these people from invisibility” and let their families know that “there is someone who is trying to find out what happened” to someone who is missing, he said. So far, his team has managed to identify 474 people who were on the boat. The coronavirus has drastically reduced Mediterranean crossings over the past 14 months, as well as deaths. Even so, as of Tuesday, 449 migrants are known to have died in the first months of 2021. The ship will now undergo urgent maintenance, after two years exposed to a north Italian climate. Augusta has envisioned placing the ship in what the authorities describe as a “Garden of Memory,” which “will have to be in the open, because that boat gives a sense of the sea, the air, the skies. To enclose it in a building would clash with its’ story,” said Di Mare. “Certainly, the ship has attained an international dimension and we want this garden to become a place of reflection for the world, so that all people can ponder.”

After a tragedy at sea, a wrecked ship becomes a powerful symbol in Italy

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Zee News Rajasthan

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