Amid allegations of foul play, the body of the late Zulu regent queen was laid to rest.&nbsp;

Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, who became the successor of her late husband King Goodwill Zwelithini, reigned only a weeks.&nbsp;

The 65-year-old queen, who emerged as the ruler amongst six wives and 28 children, died last week.&nbsp;

Since her death, factions of the family are coming out with different versions.&nbsp;

There have been allegations of poisoning and claims that&nbsp;the king's signature was fraudulently added to his will.

Though the royal family does not have any formal government powers, it still controls millions of hectares of land via a trust.&nbsp;

Monarchs also get public funds and have a lot of political influence.

Details of the cause of the queen's death have not been revealed, but some South African media reports suggest that she was ill for some time.&nbsp;

Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the traditional prime minister to the royal family, has vowed that there would be "no leadership vacuum" and called for restraint among other members of the family.&nbsp;

"The ructions which have taken place, which has actually upset all of us, depressed me … they shame the royal family," Buthelezi said. &nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Amid allegations of foul play, the body of the late Zulu regent queen was laid to rest. Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, who became the successor of her late husband King Goodwill Zwelithini, reigned only a weeks.

Amid allegations of foul play, the body of the late Zulu regent queen was laid to rest. Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, who became the successor of her late husband King Goodwill Zwelithini, reigned only a weeks. The 65-year-old queen, who emerged as the ruler amongst six wives and 28 children, died last week. Since her death, factions of the family are coming out with different versions. There have been allegations of poisoning and claims that the king's signature was fraudulently added to his will. Though the royal family does not have any formal government powers, it still controls millions of hectares of land via a trust. Monarchs also get public funds and have a lot of political influence. Details of the cause of the queen's death have not been revealed, but some South African media reports suggest that she was ill for some time. Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the traditional prime minister to the royal family, has vowed that there would be "no leadership vacuum" and called for restraint among other members of the family. "The ructions which have taken place, which has actually upset all of us, depressed me … they shame the royal family," Buthelezi said.

Battle for throne intensifies as Zulu queen buried in South Africa

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives scored a stunning election victory in an&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;stronghold&nbsp;Friday, after Britain held its first major ballot box test since Brexit and the coronavirus crisis.&nbsp;

The "Super Thursday" regional and local elections could reshape the&nbsp;UK&nbsp;as pro-independence forces in Scotland, where voting for the devolved parliament was also held, bid to break away.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="Scotland independence debate dominates UK polls">Scotland independence debate dominates UK polls</a>

Results in Scotland are due on Saturday.

But early results from England on Friday showed that the Conservatives had won a landslide in the parliamentary seat of Hartlepool in the northeast, a bitter blow to the&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;Labour&nbsp;Party&nbsp;and its leader Keir Starmer.

Hartlepool, a rust-belt constituency deep in traditional Labour heartlands which has never voted Conservative since its creation in 1974, saw a 16 percent swing to the

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives scored a stunning election victory in an opposition stronghold Friday, after Britain held its first major ballot box test since Brexit and the coronavirus crisis.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives scored a stunning election victory in an opposition stronghold Friday, after Britain held its first major ballot box test since Brexit and the coronavirus crisis. The "Super Thursday" regional and local elections could reshape the UK as pro-independence forces in Scotland, where voting for the devolved parliament was also held, bid to break away. Also read: Scotland independence debate dominates UK polls Results in Scotland are due on Saturday. But early results from England on Friday showed that the Conservatives had won a landslide in the parliamentary seat of Hartlepool in the northeast, a bitter blow to the opposition Labour Party and its leader Keir Starmer. Hartlepool, a rust-belt constituency deep in traditional Labour heartlands which has never voted Conservative since its creation in 1974, saw a 16 percent swing to the

UK ruling party scores crushing win in opposition stronghold

For decades, each generation of computer&nbsp;chips got&nbsp;faster&nbsp;and more power-efficient because their most basic building blocks, called transistors, got smaller.

The pace of those improvements has slowed, but International Business Machines Corp on Thursday said that silicon has at least one more generational advance in store.

IBM&nbsp;introduced what it says is the world's first 2-nanomere chipmaking&nbsp;technology. The&nbsp;technology&nbsp;could be as much as 45%&nbsp;faster&nbsp;than the mainstream 7-nanometre chips in many of today's laptops and phones and up to 75% more power efficient, the company said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="Scientists fuse nature with tech as 'robo-plants' surge">Scientists fuse nature with tech as 'robo-plants' surge</a>

The&nbsp;technology&nbsp;likely will take several years to come to market. Once a major manufacturer of&nbsp;chips,&nbsp;IBM&nbsp;now outsources its high-volume&nbsp;chip&nbsp;production to Samsung Electronics Co Ltd but maintains a&nbsp;chip&nbsp;manufacturing research centre in Albany, New York that produces test runs of&nbsp;chips and has joint&nbsp;technology&nbsp;development deals with Samsung and Intel Corp to use&nbsp;IBM's&nbsp;chipmaking&nbsp;technology.

The 2-nanometre chips will be smaller and&nbsp;faster&nbsp;than today's leading edge 5-nanonmetre chips, which are just now showing up in premium smartphones like Apple Inc's iPhone 12 models, and the 3-nanometre chips expected to come after 5-nanometre.

The&nbsp;technology&nbsp;IBM&nbsp;showed on Thursday is the most basic building block of a&nbsp;chip: a transistor, which acts like an electrical on-off switch to form the 1s and 0s of binary digits at that foundation of all modern&nbsp;computing.

Making the switches very tiny makes them&nbsp;faster&nbsp;and more power efficient, but it also creates problems with electrons leaking when the switches are supposed to be off. Darío Gil, senior vice president and director of&nbsp;IBM&nbsp;Research, told Reuters in an interview that scientists were able to drape sheets of insulating material just a few&nbsp;nanometers thick to stop leaks.

"In the end, there's transistors, and everything else (in&nbsp;computing) relies on whether that transistor gets better or not. And it's not a guarantee that there will be a transistor advance generation to generation anymore. So it's a big deal every time we get a chance to say there will be another," Gil said.

For decades, each generation of computer chips got faster and more power-efficient because their most basic building blocks, called transistors, got smaller. The pace of those improvements has slowed, but International Business Machines Corp on Thursday said that silicon has at least one more generational advance in store.

For decades, each generation of computer chips got faster and more power-efficient because their most basic building blocks, called transistors, got smaller. The pace of those improvements has slowed, but International Business Machines Corp on Thursday said that silicon has at least one more generational advance in store. IBM introduced what it says is the world's first 2-nanomere chipmaking technology. The technology could be as much as 45% faster than the mainstream 7-nanometre chips in many of today's laptops and phones and up to 75% more power efficient, the company said. Also read: Scientists fuse nature with tech as 'robo-plants' surge The technology likely will take several years to come to market. Once a major manufacturer of chips, IBM now outsources its high-volume chip production to Samsung Electronics Co Ltd but maintains a chip manufacturing research centre in Albany, New York that produces test runs of chips and has joint technology development deals with Samsung and Intel Corp to use IBM's chipmaking technology. The 2-nanometre chips will be smaller and faster than today's leading edge 5-nanonmetre chips, which are just now showing up in premium smartphones like Apple Inc's iPhone 12 models, and the 3-nanometre chips expected to come after 5-nanometre. The technology IBM showed on Thursday is the most basic building block of a chip: a transistor, which acts like an electrical on-off switch to form the 1s and 0s of binary digits at that foundation of all modern computing. Making the switches very tiny makes them faster and more power efficient, but it also creates problems with electrons leaking when the switches are supposed to be off. Darío Gil, senior vice president and director of IBM Research, told Reuters in an interview that scientists were able to drape sheets of insulating material just a few nanometers thick to stop leaks. "In the end, there's transistors, and everything else (in computing) relies on whether that transistor gets better or not. And it's not a guarantee that there will be a transistor advance generation to generation anymore. So it's a big deal every time we get a chance to say there will be another," Gil said.

IBM unveils 2-nanometre chip technology for faster computing

A&nbsp;deal&nbsp;to salvage the&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;accord is&nbsp;possible&nbsp;in the coming weeks&nbsp;before&nbsp;the Islamic republic holds&nbsp;elections&nbsp;in June, a senior State Department official said Thursday, a day&nbsp;before&nbsp;talks were due to resume in Vienna.

The official also confirmed "there are active discussions, indirect discussions," underway with Tehran to secure the "immediate" release of US citizens being held in&nbsp;Iran, but did not say if that was a condition for a US return to the accord.

Also read-&nbsp;<a href="Nuclear deal possible in weeks if Iran takes political decision: US">Nuclear deal possible in weeks if Iran takes political decision: US</a>

Indirect negotiations began in early April in Vienna between Washington and Tehran, with the other signatories to the 2015&nbsp;deal&nbsp;-- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the European Union -- acting as intermediaries.

The goal is to find a way back to the accord known by its acronym JCPOA, which former US president Donald Trump walked away from and which his successor Joe Biden wants to&nbsp;revive.

For that to happen, the United States and&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;must agree on the lifting of the sanctions reinstated by Trump and on Tehran's commitment to follow the terms of the&nbsp;deal.

Once Trump walked away from the 2015 agreement, the Islamic republic started to abandon the constraints on its production of&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;material.

The three initial rounds of talks were described as "serious" and "productive" by the US official, who asked not to be named.

Russia has said it wants an agreement concluded in a fortnight,&nbsp;before&nbsp;the campaign for&nbsp;Iran's June 18 presidential&nbsp;election&nbsp;overshadows the talks. Washington has not ruled out this possibility.

"Is it&nbsp;possible&nbsp;to get a&nbsp;deal&nbsp;before&nbsp;the Iranian&nbsp;elections? Absolutely," said the State Department official.

"It's doable because this is not rocket science -- it's not inventing a new&nbsp;deal, it's reviving one that has been undermined," the official said.&nbsp;

The official admitted the main variable in the equation was how much&nbsp;Iran's leadership really wants to achieve an agreement.

"If&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;makes a political decision that it genuinely wants to return to the JCPOA as the JCPOA was negotiated, then it could be done relatively quickly and implementation could be relatively swift," he said.&nbsp;

"We don't know if&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;has made that decision," the official said.

That question may be answered in Friday's talks, the official said, noting: "We'll just have to see whether the next round actually moves things forward or whether we still are faced with unrealistic demands by&nbsp;Iran."

In parallel with the&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;talks, Iranian media reported last weekend that there was an agreement between Tehran and Washington for the release of prisoners held by each side.

Despite the detailed reports, both sides now deny such an accord.

"There's no&nbsp;deal," an US official said, accusing&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;of "unspeakable cruelty" for putting out stories that raised the hopes of families of those held.

Nevertheless, the official said, "we want it to be resolved sooner rather than later. . . &nbsp;We want to&nbsp;deal&nbsp;with the detainees immediately."

A deal to salvage the Iran nuclear accord is possible in the coming weeks before the Islamic republic holds elections in June, a senior State Department official said Thursday, a day before talks were due to resume in Vienna.

A deal to salvage the Iran nuclear accord is possible in the coming weeks before the Islamic republic holds elections in June, a senior State Department official said Thursday, a day before talks were due to resume in Vienna. The official also confirmed "there are active discussions, indirect discussions," underway with Tehran to secure the "immediate" release of US citizens being held in Iran, but did not say if that was a condition for a US return to the accord. Also read- Nuclear deal possible in weeks if Iran takes political decision: US Indirect negotiations began in early April in Vienna between Washington and Tehran, with the other signatories to the 2015 deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the European Union -- acting as intermediaries. The goal is to find a way back to the accord known by its acronym JCPOA, which former US president Donald Trump walked away from and which his successor Joe Biden wants to revive. For that to happen, the United States and Iran must agree on the lifting of the sanctions reinstated by Trump and on Tehran's commitment to follow the terms of the deal. Once Trump walked away from the 2015 agreement, the Islamic republic started to abandon the constraints on its production of nuclear material. The three initial rounds of talks were described as "serious" and "productive" by the US official, who asked not to be named. Russia has said it wants an agreement concluded in a fortnight, before the campaign for Iran's June 18 presidential election overshadows the talks. Washington has not ruled out this possibility. "Is it possible to get a deal before the Iranian elections? Absolutely," said the State Department official. "It's doable because this is not rocket science -- it's not inventing a new deal, it's reviving one that has been undermined," the official said. The official admitted the main variable in the equation was how much Iran's leadership really wants to achieve an agreement. "If Iran makes a political decision that it genuinely wants to return to the JCPOA as the JCPOA was negotiated, then it could be done relatively quickly and implementation could be relatively swift," he said. "We don't know if Iran has made that decision," the official said. That question may be answered in Friday's talks, the official said, noting: "We'll just have to see whether the next round actually moves things forward or whether we still are faced with unrealistic demands by Iran." In parallel with the nuclear talks, Iranian media reported last weekend that there was an agreement between Tehran and Washington for the release of prisoners held by each side. Despite the detailed reports, both sides now deny such an accord. "There's no deal," an US official said, accusing Iran of "unspeakable cruelty" for putting out stories that raised the hopes of families of those held. Nevertheless, the official said, "we want it to be resolved sooner rather than later. . . We want to deal with the detainees immediately."

US says 'possible' to revive Iran nuclear deal before vote

As India is battering a new wave of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">novel coronavirus</a>, the situation in neighbouring Nepal is also grim.&nbsp;

As many as 44 per cent of Nepal's Covid tests came back positive last weekend, as per government data quoted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), warning of a severe crisis.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://wionews.com/videos/nepal-halts-domestic-international-flights-amid-covid-19-surge-382654/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"What is happening in India right now is a horrifying preview of Nepal's future if we cannot contain this latest Covid surge that is claiming more lives by the minute," Dr. Netra Prasad Nepal's, Red Cross chairperson, said in a statement.

Nepal has fewer doctors per capita than India and is <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinating</a>&nbsp;at an even slower pace as compared to India.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-seeks-international-help-to-fight-covid-19-pandemic-382681">Nepal seeks international help to fight COVID-19 pandemic</a>

Mass gatherings, public events, festivals and political rallies have also played their role in causing a surge in the spread of coronavirus cases.&nbsp;

"The situations are worsening day by day and it may go out of control in future," Dr Samir Adhikari, a spokesperson for Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population, was quoted as saying by CNN.&nbsp;

Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has also received criticism for his comments on the treatment of the deadly virus as he said gargling with guava leaves helps cure the illness.

He last year said that Nepalese had a stronger immune system because they consume spices every day. 
&nbsp;

As India is battering a new wave of the novel coronavirus, the situation in neighbouring Nepal is also grim. As many as 44 per cent of Nepal's Covid tests came back positive last weekend, as per government data quoted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), warning of a severe crisis.

As India is battering a new wave of the novel coronavirus, the situation in neighbouring Nepal is also grim. As many as 44 per cent of Nepal's Covid tests came back positive last weekend, as per government data quoted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), warning of a severe crisis. Watch | "What is happening in India right now is a horrifying preview of Nepal's future if we cannot contain this latest Covid surge that is claiming more lives by the minute," Dr. Netra Prasad Nepal's, Red Cross chairperson, said in a statement. Nepal has fewer doctors per capita than India and is vaccinating at an even slower pace as compared to India. Also read | Nepal seeks international help to fight COVID-19 pandemic Mass gatherings, public events, festivals and political rallies have also played their role in causing a surge in the spread of coronavirus cases. "The situations are worsening day by day and it may go out of control in future," Dr Samir Adhikari, a spokesperson for Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population, was quoted as saying by CNN. Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has also received criticism for his comments on the treatment of the deadly virus as he said gargling with guava leaves helps cure the illness. He last year said that Nepalese had a stronger immune system because they consume spices every day.

As Covid cases in Nepal rise, Red Cross warns of looming threat of severe crisis

The&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic has caused nearly 6.9 million&nbsp;deaths across the world,&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;double&nbsp;the number&nbsp;officially recorded, a new analysis from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimated.

Deaths go unreported as most countries only record those that occur in hospitals or of patients with a confirmed infection, the report showed.

The&nbsp;IHME&nbsp;is an independent health research organization that provides comparable measurement of the world's health problems and has been cited in the past by the White House and its reports are watched closely by public health&nbsp;officials.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="India to see over 1 million deaths by the start of August: US study projects">India to see over 1 million deaths by the start of August: US study projects</a>

The reported&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;mortality is strongly related to the levels of testing in a country, the&nbsp;IHME&nbsp;said.

"If you don't test very much, you're most likely to miss&nbsp;COVID&nbsp;deaths," Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, said in a briefing call with journalists.

IHME&nbsp;estimated total&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;deaths by comparing anticipated&nbsp;deaths from all causes based on pre-pandemic trends with the actual number of all&nbsp;deaths caused during the pandemic.

In the United States, the analysis estimated&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;related&nbsp;deaths of&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;905,000.&nbsp;Official&nbsp;figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday estimated 575,491&nbsp;deaths due to the novel coronavirus.

The CDC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the report.

The report only includes&nbsp;deaths caused directly by the virus, not&nbsp;deaths caused by the pandemic's disruption to healthcare systems and communities.

"Many countries have devoted exceptional effort to measuring the pandemic's&nbsp;toll, but our analysis shows how difficult it is to accurately track a new and rapidly spreading infectious disease," Murray said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused nearly 6.9 million deaths across the world, more than double the number officially recorded, a new analysis from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimated.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused nearly 6.9 million deaths across the world, more than double the number officially recorded, a new analysis from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimated. Deaths go unreported as most countries only record those that occur in hospitals or of patients with a confirmed infection, the report showed. The IHME is an independent health research organization that provides comparable measurement of the world's health problems and has been cited in the past by the White House and its reports are watched closely by public health officials. Also read: India to see over 1 million deaths by the start of August: US study projects The reported COVID-19 mortality is strongly related to the levels of testing in a country, the IHME said. "If you don't test very much, you're most likely to miss COVID deaths," Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, said in a briefing call with journalists. IHME estimated total COVID-19 deaths by comparing anticipated deaths from all causes based on pre-pandemic trends with the actual number of all deaths caused during the pandemic. In the United States, the analysis estimated COVID-19 related deaths of more than 905,000. Official figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday estimated 575,491 deaths due to the novel coronavirus. The CDC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the report. The report only includes deaths caused directly by the virus, not deaths caused by the pandemic's disruption to healthcare systems and communities. "Many countries have devoted exceptional effort to measuring the pandemic's toll, but our analysis shows how difficult it is to accurately track a new and rapidly spreading infectious disease," Murray said.

Global COVID-19 death toll more than double official estimates - IHME

Hong Kong's pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been given an additional 10-month sentence on Thursday for participating in a protest last year to mark the Tiananmen Square crackdown.&nbsp;

Several protesters were killed in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989, an event that has been condemned globally and played down by China.&nbsp;

Watch |

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/honk-kong-activist-joshua-wong-gets-10-more-months-in-jail-over-tiananmen-vigil-383163/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Hong Kong has regularly marked the incident's anniversary to denounce China's use of violence against its own citizen, but last year for the first time, the event was banned with police mentioning coronavirus spread and security fears over pro-democracy protests.&nbsp;

However, tens of thousands defied the ban and peacefully gathered at the vigil's traditional site in Victoria Park.

The 15-month sentence was reduced to 10-month as Wong pleaded guilty.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-activist-joshua-wong-pleads-guilty-over-illegal-assembly-381552">Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty over 'illegal assembly'</a>

"Freedom of assembly is not unlimited," Judge Stanley Chan said.

Twenty four prominent activists faced prosecution for their participation at the vigil.&nbsp;

Earlier on Thursday, Wong and three other pro-democracy leaders were handed prison terms after they pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly charges last month.&nbsp;

Wong, one of the famous Hong Kong activists, is already serving a 13.5-month jail sentence which was given in December for his participation in anti-government protests in 2019. &nbsp;

Wong was given a 13-1/2 month sentence in December over an unlawful anti-government rally on June 21, 2019. &nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Hong Kong's pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been given an additional 10-month sentence on Thursday for participating in a protest last year to mark the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Hong Kong's pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been given an additional 10-month sentence on Thursday for participating in a protest last year to mark the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Several protesters were killed in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989, an event that has been condemned globally and played down by China. Watch | Hong Kong has regularly marked the incident's anniversary to denounce China's use of violence against its own citizen, but last year for the first time, the event was banned with police mentioning coronavirus spread and security fears over pro-democracy protests. However, tens of thousands defied the ban and peacefully gathered at the vigil's traditional site in Victoria Park. The 15-month sentence was reduced to 10-month as Wong pleaded guilty. Also read | Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty over 'illegal assembly' "Freedom of assembly is not unlimited," Judge Stanley Chan said. Twenty four prominent activists faced prosecution for their participation at the vigil. Earlier on Thursday, Wong and three other pro-democracy leaders were handed prison terms after they pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly charges last month. Wong, one of the famous Hong Kong activists, is already serving a 13.5-month jail sentence which was given in December for his participation in anti-government protests in 2019. Wong was given a 13-1/2 month sentence in December over an unlawful anti-government rally on June 21, 2019. (with inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong: Activist Joshua Wong given additional jail term for Tiananmen Square vigil

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will send its first crew to space on July 20 and is offering one of the seats to the winner of an online auction, the company said Wednesday.

The trip will last a total of ten minutes, four of which passengers will spend above the Karman line that marks the recognized boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space.

"We've been perfecting our ability to launch, land and repeat," a video accompanying the announcement said.&nbsp;

"Our next launch will be the first time astronauts will fly aboard New Shepard."

The reusable suborbital rocket system was named after Alan Shepard, who sixty years ago on Wednesday became the first American in space.

New Shepard has successfully carried out 15 uncrewed test runs launching from its facility in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas.

After lift-off, the capsule, which carries up to six crew members, separates from its booster, then spends four minutes at an altitude exceeding 60 miles (100 kilometers), during which time those on board experience weightlessness and can observe the curvature of Earth from space.

The booster lands autonomously on a pad two miles from the launch site, and the capsule floats back to the surface with three large parachutes that slow it down to about a mile an hour when it lands.

Blue Origin said the bidding will be unsealed on May 19 before a final-stage live online auction on July 12 when the winner is announced.&nbsp;

The proceeds will go to the company's foundation, Club for the Future, which aims to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEM.

Blue Origin has not yet published its prices but its clientele is expected to mainly be wealthy individuals.

Virgin Galactic, the company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, is also developing a spacecraft capable of sending clients on suborbital flights. Some 600 people have booked flights, costing $200,000 to $250,000.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is planning orbital flights that would cost millions of dollars and send people much further into space.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will send its first crew to space on July 20 and is offering one of the seats to the winner of an online auction, the company said Wednesday.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will send its first crew to space on July 20 and is offering one of the seats to the winner of an online auction, the company said Wednesday. The trip will last a total of ten minutes, four of which passengers will spend above the Karman line that marks the recognized boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space. "We've been perfecting our ability to launch, land and repeat," a video accompanying the announcement said. "Our next launch will be the first time astronauts will fly aboard New Shepard." The reusable suborbital rocket system was named after Alan Shepard, who sixty years ago on Wednesday became the first American in space. New Shepard has successfully carried out 15 uncrewed test runs launching from its facility in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas. After lift-off, the capsule, which carries up to six crew members, separates from its booster, then spends four minutes at an altitude exceeding 60 miles (100 kilometers), during which time those on board experience weightlessness and can observe the curvature of Earth from space. The booster lands autonomously on a pad two miles from the launch site, and the capsule floats back to the surface with three large parachutes that slow it down to about a mile an hour when it lands. Blue Origin said the bidding will be unsealed on May 19 before a final-stage live online auction on July 12 when the winner is announced. The proceeds will go to the company's foundation, Club for the Future, which aims to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEM. Blue Origin has not yet published its prices but its clientele is expected to mainly be wealthy individuals. Virgin Galactic, the company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, is also developing a spacecraft capable of sending clients on suborbital flights. Some 600 people have booked flights, costing $200,000 to $250,000. Elon Musk's SpaceX is planning orbital flights that would cost millions of dollars and send people much further into space.

Blue Origin will fly first crew to space in July

Exercise equipment maker Peloton Interactive is recalling its Tread+ and Tread treadmill machines after injuries and a death, according to a statement by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The recall comes more than a month after Peloton Chief Executive Officer John Foley asked owners of its treadmills to check safety warnings after a child died in an accident involving the company's exercise equipment.

"I want to be clear, Peloton made a mistake in our initial response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's request that we recall the Tread+," Foley said in a statement.

"We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologise".

The agency said Peloton has also stopped sale and distribution of the Tread+ and continues to work on additional hardware modifications.

Peloton reports earnings on Thursday (May 6).

 
&nbsp;

Exercise equipment maker Peloton Interactive is recalling its Tread+ and Tread treadmill machines after injuries and a death, according to a statement by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Exercise equipment maker Peloton Interactive is recalling its Tread+ and Tread treadmill machines after injuries and a death, according to a statement by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The recall comes more than a month after Peloton Chief Executive Officer John Foley asked owners of its treadmills to check safety warnings after a child died in an accident involving the company's exercise equipment. "I want to be clear, Peloton made a mistake in our initial response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's request that we recall the Tread+," Foley said in a statement. "We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologise". The agency said Peloton has also stopped sale and distribution of the Tread+ and continues to work on additional hardware modifications. Peloton reports earnings on Thursday (May 6).

Peloton recalling treadmills after child death

One of California's iconic giant sequoia trees was recently found to be still smoldering and smoking in an area of the state devastated by massive wildfires last summer, National Park authorities said Wednesday. &nbsp;

"Scientists and fire crews were surveying the effects from the 2020 Castle Fire in Sequoia National Park, when they observed a still smoldering and smoking giant sequoia tree that appears to be caused from last year's fire," the park service said in a statement.&nbsp;

Experts believe the tree's circumstances are a result of the wildfire that began August 19, 2020 when a spark from a lightning strike grew and spread throughout the region, burning an estimated 270 square miles (700 square kilometers) of forest as of December.&nbsp;

The tree in question is isolated and does not present a danger to its environment or park visitors, according to the park service, but the fact that such obvious fire effects are lingering even months later "demonstrates how dry the park is," Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks fire expert Leif Mathiesen said.

"With the low amount of snowfall and rain this year, there may be additional discoveries as spring transitions into summer," he said, warning of finding other trees in potentially similar conditions.&nbsp;

The western United States suffered a particularly brutal fire season in 2020 as they dealt with a chronic drought exacerbated by the effects of climate change, with 33 people dead and more than 6,500 square miles (17,000 square kilometers) burned in California alone. &nbsp;

Authorities fear a repeat this year and have already begun to prepare as the drought continues.&nbsp;

Giant sequoias are the biggest trees in the world and can live up to 3,400 years, according to the National Park Service.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

One of California's iconic giant sequoia trees was recently found to be still smoldering and smoking in an area of the state devastated by massive wildfires last summer, National Park authorities said Wednesday.

One of California's iconic giant sequoia trees was recently found to be still smoldering and smoking in an area of the state devastated by massive wildfires last summer, National Park authorities said Wednesday. "Scientists and fire crews were surveying the effects from the 2020 Castle Fire in Sequoia National Park, when they observed a still smoldering and smoking giant sequoia tree that appears to be caused from last year's fire," the park service said in a statement. Experts believe the tree's circumstances are a result of the wildfire that began August 19, 2020 when a spark from a lightning strike grew and spread throughout the region, burning an estimated 270 square miles (700 square kilometers) of forest as of December. The tree in question is isolated and does not present a danger to its environment or park visitors, according to the park service, but the fact that such obvious fire effects are lingering even months later "demonstrates how dry the park is," Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks fire expert Leif Mathiesen said. "With the low amount of snowfall and rain this year, there may be additional discoveries as spring transitions into summer," he said, warning of finding other trees in potentially similar conditions. The western United States suffered a particularly brutal fire season in 2020 as they dealt with a chronic drought exacerbated by the effects of climate change, with 33 people dead and more than 6,500 square miles (17,000 square kilometers) burned in California alone. Authorities fear a repeat this year and have already begun to prepare as the drought continues. Giant sequoias are the biggest trees in the world and can live up to 3,400 years, according to the National Park Service.

California sequoia still smoldering after 2020 fires

Amid a massive surge in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus </a>cases, the southern Indian state of Kerala on Thursday announced a complete lockdown from May 8.&nbsp;

The decision comes as Kerala on Wednesday recorded nearly 42,000 infections, the state's highest single-day cases so far.&nbsp;

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that the lockdown will be imposed in the state from May 8 at 6 am and will remain in place to May 16, as reported by news agency ANI.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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Vijayan had on Wednesday hinted at tightening restrictions as he expressed concerns over a "very serious situation".&nbsp;

"The state is going through a very serious situation and Covid is spreading rapidly. All figures are increasing and the test positivity rate is not reducing either. In these circumstances, we need to strengthen the restrictions," Vijayan was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. &nbsp;

The chief minister also said that as cases are rising, the oxygen stock is decreasing "very rapidly," urging the central government to address the issue.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/experts-make-dire-projections-amid-second-covid-wave-as-india-faces-medical-shortages-383084">Experts make dire projections amid second Covid wave as India faces medical shortages</a>

"In this scenario, we need the Centre's help in maintaining adequate stock of oxygen. I have requested the prime minister to provide 1,000 MT of imported liquefied medical oxygen to the state," Vijayan said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, India on Thursday witnessed another grim milestone with a daily record of 412,262 new infections.

With 3,980 fresh fatalities, India's death toll stands at 230,168.&nbsp;

Amid a massive surge in coronavirus cases, the southern Indian state of Kerala on Thursday announced a complete lockdown from May 8. The decision comes as Kerala on Wednesday recorded nearly 42,000 infections, the state's highest single-day cases so far.

Amid a massive surge in coronavirus cases, the southern Indian state of Kerala on Thursday announced a complete lockdown from May 8. The decision comes as Kerala on Wednesday recorded nearly 42,000 infections, the state's highest single-day cases so far. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that the lockdown will be imposed in the state from May 8 at 6 am and will remain in place to May 16, as reported by news agency ANI. Watch | Vijayan had on Wednesday hinted at tightening restrictions as he expressed concerns over a "very serious situation". "The state is going through a very serious situation and Covid is spreading rapidly. All figures are increasing and the test positivity rate is not reducing either. In these circumstances, we need to strengthen the restrictions," Vijayan was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. The chief minister also said that as cases are rising, the oxygen stock is decreasing "very rapidly," urging the central government to address the issue. Also read | Experts make dire projections amid second Covid wave as India faces medical shortages "In this scenario, we need the Centre's help in maintaining adequate stock of oxygen. I have requested the prime minister to provide 1,000 MT of imported liquefied medical oxygen to the state," Vijayan said. Meanwhile, India on Thursday witnessed another grim milestone with a daily record of 412,262 new infections. With 3,980 fresh fatalities, India's death toll stands at 230,168.

COVID-19 in India: Southern state of Kerala announces complete lockdown

A child no older than three laid to rest sideways in an earthen grave 78,000 years ago, legs carefully tucked up against its tiny chest, is the earliest known human burial in Africa, researchers reported Wednesday.

The sunken pit, in a cave complex along the coast of Kenya, was bereft of ornaments, offerings or ochre-coloured clay carvings found in the region's more recent Stone Age graves, they detailed in the journal Nature.&nbsp;

But "Mtoto" - Swahili for "child" -&nbsp;had been wrapped in a shroud with her or his head resting on what was probably a pillow, "indicating that the community may have undertaken some form of funerary rite", said lead author Maria Martinon-Torres, director of the National Research Centre on Human Evolution, in Burgos, Spain.

The extraordinary find highlights the emergence of both complex social behaviour among Homo sapiens, and cultural differences across populations of modern humans in Africa and beyond.

Fragments of the child's bones were dug up at the Panga ya Saidi caves in 2013, but it wasn't until five years later that the shallow, circular grave -- three metres below the cave floor -- was fully exposed, revealing a tight cluster and decomposed bones.

"At this point, we weren't sure what we had found," said Emmanuel Ndiema of the National Museum of Kenya. "The bones were just too delicate to study in the field." &nbsp;

Archaeologists stabilised and plastered them into a bundle and transported them, first to the museum and then to the research centre in Spain.

"We started uncovering parts of the skull and face," Martinon-Torres said.&nbsp;

"The articulation of the spine and the ribs was also astonishingly well preserved, even conserving the curvature of the thorax cage."

Subsequent microscopic analysis and luminescence dating confirmed that Mtoto's tiny body had been carefully covered with dirt from around the pit, and had rested undisturbed for nearly 80,000 years.

<h2>'Culturally embedded'&nbsp;</h2>

Homo sapiens originated in Africa, but little is known about mortuary practices on the continent compared to Europe and the Middle East, where even older human burial sites have been unearthed, including one in Israel thought to be 120,000 years old.

Intriguingly, infant and child burials make up nearly half of all known interments from that time until the end of the Middle Stone Age, about 30,000 years ago.

The same holds for our genetic cousins the Neanderthals, whose ritual burials in Eurasia go back at least a half-a-million years.

"Burials where the body is in a flexed position are very common, it's difficult to know exactly why," said Martinon-Torres.&nbsp;

"Some researchers have argued that it is for practical reasons, to put the bodies in a smaller space, but one can also see it as putting the child in a sleeping position," she continued.

"Being wrapped, while lying in this foetal position, could be somehow a way to transfer some human warmth in such a cold moment."

The limited number of known early human burial sites in Africa could reflect the relative paucity of archaeological research, experts say.&nbsp;

Or environmental conditions: the ones located so far are bunched in the dry north and temperate southern Africa, climates more favourable to preservation.

Stone Age burial sites often reveal the beginnings of culture, especially when they point to "a departure from purely practical motivations toward a more meaningful treatment of the dead", noted Louse Humphrey, a researcher at the Centre for Human Evolution at the Natural History Museum in London.&nbsp;

"Such actions include careful placement of the corpse in the grave to achieve a desired body position or orientation, the wrapping or binding of the body for reasons other than to aid transportation, or the deliberate incorporation of items of value in the grave," she wrote in a commentary, also in Nature.

Mtoto's final resting place fulfilled the first two of these criteria, and possibly the third.

The new finding, along with a child burial site in South Africa dating back nearly as far, "suggest that a tradition of symbolically significant burials, at least for the very young, might have been culturally embedded in parts of Africa in the later part of the Middle Stone Age," she wrote. 
&nbsp;

A child no older than three laid to rest sideways in an earthen grave 78,000 years ago, legs carefully tucked up against its tiny chest, is the earliest known human burial in Africa, researchers reported Wednesday.

A child no older than three laid to rest sideways in an earthen grave 78,000 years ago, legs carefully tucked up against its tiny chest, is the earliest known human burial in Africa, researchers reported Wednesday. The sunken pit, in a cave complex along the coast of Kenya, was bereft of ornaments, offerings or ochre-coloured clay carvings found in the region's more recent Stone Age graves, they detailed in the journal Nature. But "Mtoto" - Swahili for "child" - had been wrapped in a shroud with her or his head resting on what was probably a pillow, "indicating that the community may have undertaken some form of funerary rite", said lead author Maria Martinon-Torres, director of the National Research Centre on Human Evolution, in Burgos, Spain. The extraordinary find highlights the emergence of both complex social behaviour among Homo sapiens, and cultural differences across populations of modern humans in Africa and beyond. Fragments of the child's bones were dug up at the Panga ya Saidi caves in 2013, but it wasn't until five years later that the shallow, circular grave -- three metres below the cave floor -- was fully exposed, revealing a tight cluster and decomposed bones. "At this point, we weren't sure what we had found," said Emmanuel Ndiema of the National Museum of Kenya. "The bones were just too delicate to study in the field." Archaeologists stabilised and plastered them into a bundle and transported them, first to the museum and then to the research centre in Spain. "We started uncovering parts of the skull and face," Martinon-Torres said. "The articulation of the spine and the ribs was also astonishingly well preserved, even conserving the curvature of the thorax cage." Subsequent microscopic analysis and luminescence dating confirmed that Mtoto's tiny body had been carefully covered with dirt from around the pit, and had rested undisturbed for nearly 80,000 years. 'Culturally embedded' Homo sapiens originated in Africa, but little is known about mortuary practices on the continent compared to Europe and the Middle East, where even older human burial sites have been unearthed, including one in Israel thought to be 120,000 years old. Intriguingly, infant and child burials make up nearly half of all known interments from that time until the end of the Middle Stone Age, about 30,000 years ago. The same holds for our genetic cousins the Neanderthals, whose ritual burials in Eurasia go back at least a half-a-million years. "Burials where the body is in a flexed position are very common, it's difficult to know exactly why," said Martinon-Torres. "Some researchers have argued that it is for practical reasons, to put the bodies in a smaller space, but one can also see it as putting the child in a sleeping position," she continued. "Being wrapped, while lying in this foetal position, could be somehow a way to transfer some human warmth in such a cold moment." The limited number of known early human burial sites in Africa could reflect the relative paucity of archaeological research, experts say. Or environmental conditions: the ones located so far are bunched in the dry north and temperate southern Africa, climates more favourable to preservation. Stone Age burial sites often reveal the beginnings of culture, especially when they point to "a departure from purely practical motivations toward a more meaningful treatment of the dead", noted Louse Humphrey, a researcher at the Centre for Human Evolution at the Natural History Museum in London. "Such actions include careful placement of the corpse in the grave to achieve a desired body position or orientation, the wrapping or binding of the body for reasons other than to aid transportation, or the deliberate incorporation of items of value in the grave," she wrote in a commentary, also in Nature. Mtoto's final resting place fulfilled the first two of these criteria, and possibly the third. The new finding, along with a child burial site in South Africa dating back nearly as far, "suggest that a tradition of symbolically significant burials, at least for the very young, might have been culturally embedded in parts of Africa in the later part of the Middle Stone Age," she wrote.

Three-year old Mtoto, Africa's earliest known human burial from 78,000 years ago

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