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<p>Elon Musk-owned Twitter is seeking new avenues to raise money as well as bring more creators to the platform. The billionaire on Thursday informed that creators will be able to charge certain money from users to access their content, ranging from 'longform text to hours-long video'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Musk said subscriptions were now enabled on the platform but added the caveat that only Twitter Blue users could receive the benefits. However, to be eligible for the 'monestisation' feature, a person needs to have at least 500 followers, should have posted 25 tweets in the last month and should be at least 18 years old.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The feature allows creators to charge a certain fee which followers will have to pay to gain access to exclusive tweets, subscribers-only Spaces and special subscriber badges. In order to compete with Substack, Musk has plans to introduce newsletters and other Twitter features in the future.</p>

<p>Creators have been given the freedom to offer monthly subscriptions in the $2.99, $4.99, or $9.99 bracket. Musk, in a tweet thread, informed that for the next 12 months, the creators will be making most of the money as Twitter will not charge anything.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"For the next 12 months, Twitter will keep none of the money. You will receive whatever money we receive, so that’s 70% for subscriptions on iOS &amp; Android (they charge 30%) and ~92% on web (could be better, depending on payment processor)," tweeted Musk.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/elon-musk-merges-twitter-with-x-corp-581535"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Elon Musk merges Twitter with X Corp</strong></a></p>

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<p>Musk added that after the first year, as the iOS and Android fees drop, Twitter will add a small amount on top of that, dependent on the volume.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We will also help promote your work. Our goal is to maximize creator prosperity. At any point, you can leave our platform and take your work with you. Easy in, easy out," said Musk.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Apply to offer your followers subscriptions of any material, from longform text to hours long video!<br />
<br />
Just tap on “Monetization” in settings.</p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1646560815003373568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Musk wants to incentivise creators</strong></h2>

<p>Currently, Twitter offers next-to-nothing incentives to creators to come on the platform and engage with the audience. Musk has sought to correct the anomaly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a report by The Wall Street Journal released last month, Twitter reported a drop of 40 per cent in revenue and adjusted earnings in the month of December, year-on-year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Advertising is the main source of income for the microblogging platform. However, Twitter has seen advertisers flee amid worries about Musk's approach to content moderation rules.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/twitters-revenue-adjusted-earnings-tumbles-by-40-amid-ad-squeeze-report-568448"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Twitter's revenue, adjusted earnings tumble by 40% amid ad squeeze: Report</strong></a></p>

<p>Hence, Musk has been attempting to attract creators and has started charging monthly fees for the 'blue tick' that was earlier distributed for free to reputed individuals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Elon Musk-owned Twitter is seeking new avenues to raise money as well as bring more creators to the platform. The billionaire on Thursday informed that creators will be able to charge certain money from users to access their content, ranging from 'longform text to hours-long video'.

Elon Musk-owned Twitter is seeking new avenues to raise money as well as bring more creators to the platform. The billionaire on Thursday informed that creators will be able to charge certain money from users to access their content, ranging from 'longform text to hours-long video'. Musk said subscriptions were now enabled on the platform but added the caveat that only Twitter Blue users could receive the benefits. However, to be eligible for the 'monestisation' feature, a person needs to have at least 500 followers, should have posted 25 tweets in the last month and should be at least 18 years old. The feature allows creators to charge a certain fee which followers will have to pay to gain access to exclusive tweets, subscribers-only Spaces and special subscriber badges. In order to compete with Substack, Musk has plans to introduce newsletters and other Twitter features in the future. Creators have been given the freedom to offer monthly subscriptions in the $2.99, $4.99, or $9.99 bracket. Musk, in a tweet thread, informed that for the next 12 months, the creators will be making most of the money as Twitter will not charge anything. "For the next 12 months, Twitter will keep none of the money. You will receive whatever money we receive, so that’s 70% for subscriptions on iOS & Android (they charge 30%) and ~92% on web (could be better, depending on payment processor)," tweeted Musk. WATCH | Elon Musk merges Twitter with X Corp × Musk added that after the first year, as the iOS and Android fees drop, Twitter will add a small amount on top of that, dependent on the volume. "We will also help promote your work. Our goal is to maximize creator prosperity. At any point, you can leave our platform and take your work with you. Easy in, easy out," said Musk. Apply to offer your followers subscriptions of any material, from longform text to hours long video! Just tap on “Monetization” in settings. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 13, 2023 × Musk wants to incentivise creators Currently, Twitter offers next-to-nothing incentives to creators to come on the platform and engage with the audience. Musk has sought to correct the anomaly. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal released last month, Twitter reported a drop of 40 per cent in revenue and adjusted earnings in the month of December, year-on-year. Advertising is the main source of income for the microblogging platform. However, Twitter has seen advertisers flee amid worries about Musk's approach to content moderation rules. ALSO READ | Twitter's revenue, adjusted earnings tumble by 40% amid ad squeeze: Report Hence, Musk has been attempting to attract creators and has started charging monthly fees for the 'blue tick' that was earlier distributed for free to reputed individuals. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Musk unveils plan for creators to make money on Twitter, says platform will not keep any of it

<p>In what comes as a bizarre turn of events, a man dressed as a woman managed to cheat his way through a Chess Championship in the African country of Kenya. The man registered himself under the name Millicent Awuor, wore a 'niqab' and managed to take the mickey out of everyone at the tournament before getting caught.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The impostor managed to keep up his act and stormed through the first few rounds. According to the organisers, to keep his identity hidden, the player wore a niqab each day, which left his glasses and eyes visible only. Even during the registration process, he didn't utter a word and only scribbled on the paper during matches.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tournament executives of the Kenya Open were apprehensive of the said participant but refused to intervene thinking she was an orthodox Muslim woman.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the lid was blown open after Awuor defeated former national champion Gloria Jumba and Ugandan top player Ampaira Shakira. Chief arbiter Antony Kionga stated that as the tournament progressed, both players and his staff noticed that the person in question seemed suspicious. The player had an odd walking style and wore shoes commonly used by men.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Afterwards, Kionga decided to take action and called the 'niqab-clad' woman to a private room and demanded an identification document. No sooner did Kionga ask for the documents, the impostor broke down and admitted to his wrongdoing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The man, later identified as Stanley Omondi, said he was a university student, desperate for money and that's why he took to cheating.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The reason was due to financial needs but I deeply regret my action and [am] ready to accept all consequences," he wrote in a letter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Omondi had an international rating nearing 1500 and a blitz rating close to 1750. He has been booted out of the tournament while his points have&nbsp;been awarded to the opponents.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-chess-revolution-a-new-generation-takes-centrestage-507876"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India's Chess revolution: A new generation takes centrestage</strong></a></p>

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<p>The rising interest in chess over the last few years means&nbsp;that Kenya Open Chess Championship, which took place from April 6-10, attracted almost 450 players and had a&nbsp;total prize fund of $42,000.</p>

<h2><strong>Hans Nieman and vibrating anal bead conspiracy</strong></h2>

<p>However, this is not the first instance when a participant has attempted to cheat or allegations of cheating have emerged.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last year, the chess world was rocked by rumours that top player Hans Niemann was using vibrating anal beads&nbsp;to win his matches. The speculations had brewed after&nbsp;Niemann shocked everyone by defeating five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in the $500,000 Sinquefield Cup, an annual chess tournament held in Saint Louis.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-jumps-in-on-the-anal-beads-chess-championship-conspiracy-theory-515047"><strong>ALSO READ | Elon Musk jumps in on the 'anal beads' chess championship conspiracy theory</strong></a></p>

<p>Afterwards, Carlsen quit the tournament which added fuel to the fire. While Carlsen did not cite any reason for quitting the tournament, most fans believed that it was because of Niemann.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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In what comes as a bizarre turn of events, a man dressed as a woman managed to cheat his way through a Chess Championship in the African country of Kenya. The man registered himself under the name Millicent Awuor, wore a 'niqab' and managed to take the mickey out of everyone at the tournament before getting caught.

In what comes as a bizarre turn of events, a man dressed as a woman managed to cheat his way through a Chess Championship in the African country of Kenya. The man registered himself under the name Millicent Awuor, wore a 'niqab' and managed to take the mickey out of everyone at the tournament before getting caught. The impostor managed to keep up his act and stormed through the first few rounds. According to the organisers, to keep his identity hidden, the player wore a niqab each day, which left his glasses and eyes visible only. Even during the registration process, he didn't utter a word and only scribbled on the paper during matches. The tournament executives of the Kenya Open were apprehensive of the said participant but refused to intervene thinking she was an orthodox Muslim woman. However, the lid was blown open after Awuor defeated former national champion Gloria Jumba and Ugandan top player Ampaira Shakira. Chief arbiter Antony Kionga stated that as the tournament progressed, both players and his staff noticed that the person in question seemed suspicious. The player had an odd walking style and wore shoes commonly used by men. Afterwards, Kionga decided to take action and called the 'niqab-clad' woman to a private room and demanded an identification document. No sooner did Kionga ask for the documents, the impostor broke down and admitted to his wrongdoing. The man, later identified as Stanley Omondi, said he was a university student, desperate for money and that's why he took to cheating. "The reason was due to financial needs but I deeply regret my action and [am] ready to accept all consequences," he wrote in a letter. Omondi had an international rating nearing 1500 and a blitz rating close to 1750. He has been booted out of the tournament while his points have been awarded to the opponents. WATCH | India's Chess revolution: A new generation takes centrestage × The rising interest in chess over the last few years means that Kenya Open Chess Championship, which took place from April 6-10, attracted almost 450 players and had a total prize fund of $42,000. Hans Nieman and vibrating anal bead conspiracy However, this is not the first instance when a participant has attempted to cheat or allegations of cheating have emerged. Last year, the chess world was rocked by rumours that top player Hans Niemann was using vibrating anal beads to win his matches. The speculations had brewed after Niemann shocked everyone by defeating five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in the $500,000 Sinquefield Cup, an annual chess tournament held in Saint Louis. ALSO READ | Elon Musk jumps in on the 'anal beads' chess championship conspiracy theory Afterwards, Carlsen quit the tournament which added fuel to the fire. While Carlsen did not cite any reason for quitting the tournament, most fans believed that it was because of Niemann. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kenya: Man poses as woman wearing 'niqab' at chess championship, nearly cheats his way through

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<p>Nearly a week after a Texas federal judge halted approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, a federal appeals court has ruled that the pill will remain available in the country but with significant restrictions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans passed the order late on Wednesday (April 12) and put on hold US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's judgement passed last week wherein he said US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had wrongly approved mifepristone 23 years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the pill will remain available for sale, the three-judge panel refused to block portions of Kacsmaryk's order that reinstated restrictions on the pill's distribution.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Restrictions reinstated</strong></h2>

<p>In 2016, the FDA relaxed norms making it easier for individuals to gain access to the pill. These included not requiring a prescription by the doctor, approving the pill for use up to 10 weeks into pregnancy instead of seven weeks and allowing the pill to be mailed to the individual instead of going to the health care provider in person and picking it up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These restrictions have been reinstated now and the drug can only be used during the first seven weeks of the pregnancy and the patient will have to make three in-person doctor visits. The Department of Justice is highly likely to appeal the order in the Supreme Court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court in its judgement noted that too much time had passed since&nbsp;mifepristone was first approved in 2000.&nbsp;However, it urged the plaintiffs to challenge the steps taken by FDA in 2016 that lifted the said restrictions.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-judge-halts-approval-of-abortion-pill-mifepristone-580295" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Texas federal judge halts US approval of abortion pill mifepristone</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Texas judge decision</strong></h2>

<p>Last Friday (April 10), Kacsmaryk, a Trump-appointed federal judge ruled that the FDA exceeded its authority by ignoring the abortion pill's risks and relying on "plainly unsound reasoning" when approving it.</p>

<p>Four anti-abortion groups, headed by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and four anti-abortion doctors, sued the FDA in November last year, contending the agency used improper process when it approved mifepristone back in 2000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, after the decision was passed, it received instant backlash with the Biden administration releasing a statement that it was prepared to contest the ruling.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are going to continue to fight in the courts. We believe the law is on our side and we will prevail," said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/texas-judge-suspends-approval-of-widely-used-mifepristone-drug-580420"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Texas judge suspends approval of widely-used mifepristone drug</strong></a></p>

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<p>Earlier this week, almost 400 pharmaceutical executives signed a letter criticising the April 10 ruling. The decision ignores decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent, the letter said, adding Judge Kacsmaryk's act of judicial interference set a precedent for diminishing FDA's authority over drug approvals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Nearly a week after a Texas federal judge halted approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, a federal appeals court has ruled that the pill will remain available in the country but with significant restrictions.

Nearly a week after a Texas federal judge halted approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, a federal appeals court has ruled that the pill will remain available in the country but with significant restrictions. The Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans passed the order late on Wednesday (April 12) and put on hold US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's judgement passed last week wherein he said US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had wrongly approved mifepristone 23 years ago. While the pill will remain available for sale, the three-judge panel refused to block portions of Kacsmaryk's order that reinstated restrictions on the pill's distribution. Restrictions reinstated In 2016, the FDA relaxed norms making it easier for individuals to gain access to the pill. These included not requiring a prescription by the doctor, approving the pill for use up to 10 weeks into pregnancy instead of seven weeks and allowing the pill to be mailed to the individual instead of going to the health care provider in person and picking it up. These restrictions have been reinstated now and the drug can only be used during the first seven weeks of the pregnancy and the patient will have to make three in-person doctor visits. The Department of Justice is highly likely to appeal the order in the Supreme Court. The court in its judgement noted that too much time had passed since mifepristone was first approved in 2000. However, it urged the plaintiffs to challenge the steps taken by FDA in 2016 that lifted the said restrictions. ALSO READ | Texas federal judge halts US approval of abortion pill mifepristone Texas judge decision Last Friday (April 10), Kacsmaryk, a Trump-appointed federal judge ruled that the FDA exceeded its authority by ignoring the abortion pill's risks and relying on "plainly unsound reasoning" when approving it. Four anti-abortion groups, headed by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and four anti-abortion doctors, sued the FDA in November last year, contending the agency used improper process when it approved mifepristone back in 2000. However, after the decision was passed, it received instant backlash with the Biden administration releasing a statement that it was prepared to contest the ruling. “We are going to continue to fight in the courts. We believe the law is on our side and we will prevail," said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. WATCH | Texas judge suspends approval of widely-used mifepristone drug × Earlier this week, almost 400 pharmaceutical executives signed a letter criticising the April 10 ruling. The decision ignores decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent, the letter said, adding Judge Kacsmaryk's act of judicial interference set a precedent for diminishing FDA's authority over drug approvals. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Abortion pill mifepristone can remain available but with restrictions, rules US appeals court

<p>Social media can often be a cruel place and no world leader has received the worst end of it more than US President Joe Biden. On Tuesday, Biden arrived in Northern Ireland for a brief visit to mark the silver jubilee of the Good Friday peace accord. However, soon a video started doing the rounds of internet where it was insinuated that Biden had snubbed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the tarmac.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Numerous media outlets carried the clip but as it turns out, it was edited. In the poorly edited video, it was seen that the US President brushed aside Sunak to greet and salute an officer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Arriving in Belfast, the Biden did not recognise the Prime Minister of Great Britain and pushed the 'boy' away to salute the gray-haired military man," said&nbsp;one of the Twitter accounts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The video was later carried by netizens across different social media platforms with millions of cumulative views racking up in the process.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, an AFP report clears that the edited clip was picked from a YouTube video uploaded by Sky&nbsp;News's YouTube channel, with cuts that omit the full greeting.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-addresses-irish-parliament-says-he-feels-at-home-582260"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Joe Biden addresses Irish parliament, says he 'feels at home'</strong></a></p>

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<p>Another video published by Sky News on their Twitter account shows the two leaders and their complete exchange. Biden climbs down the stairs and rather politely and calmly shakes Sunak's hands, speaks to him for a few seconds as he would do in a normal situation and later proceeds to acknowledge others on the tarmac.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"US president Joe Biden and UK prime minister Rishi Sunak shake hands on the runway of Belfast International Airport," read the title of the video uploaded.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Watch the moment US President Joe Biden shakes hands with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the runway of Belfast International Airport<br />
<br />
Read more on this moment: <a href="https://t.co/c8VcepLHoY">https://t.co/c8VcepLHoY</a><br />
<br />
🇺🇸 🤝 🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/oB6yugmmD7">pic.twitter.com/oB6yugmmD7</a></p>
— Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1646033470139912192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>“Social media users are claiming a video of US President Joe Biden's arrival in Belfast on April 11, 2023 shows him failing to recognize and shoving aside British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. This is false; the claims are based on an edited clip, which cut out seconds of footage that shows the two leaders shaking hands and exchanging words," read a fact-check report by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates in an email to the publication confirmed that "the footage was dishonestly manipulated".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-fixes-bidens-black-and-tans-gaffe-made-at-windsor-pub-582161">ALSO READ |&nbsp;White House fixes President Joe Biden’s ‘Black and Tans’ gaffe made at Windsor pub</a></strong></p>

<p>The US president has been gaffe-prone ever since he gained access to the White House. However, being an&nbsp;octogenarian it is only understandable that he might not be at his peak physical and mental performance every single day in what is an extremely hectic job.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Social media can often be a cruel place and no world leader has received the worst end of it more than US President Joe Biden. On Tuesday, Biden arrived in Northern Ireland for a brief visit to mark the silver jubilee of the Good Friday peace accord.

Social media can often be a cruel place and no world leader has received the worst end of it more than US President Joe Biden. On Tuesday, Biden arrived in Northern Ireland for a brief visit to mark the silver jubilee of the Good Friday peace accord. However, soon a video started doing the rounds of internet where it was insinuated that Biden had snubbed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the tarmac. Numerous media outlets carried the clip but as it turns out, it was edited. In the poorly edited video, it was seen that the US President brushed aside Sunak to greet and salute an officer. "Arriving in Belfast, the Biden did not recognise the Prime Minister of Great Britain and pushed the 'boy' away to salute the gray-haired military man," said one of the Twitter accounts. The video was later carried by netizens across different social media platforms with millions of cumulative views racking up in the process. However, an AFP report clears that the edited clip was picked from a YouTube video uploaded by Sky News's YouTube channel, with cuts that omit the full greeting. WATCH | Joe Biden addresses Irish parliament, says he 'feels at home' × Another video published by Sky News on their Twitter account shows the two leaders and their complete exchange. Biden climbs down the stairs and rather politely and calmly shakes Sunak's hands, speaks to him for a few seconds as he would do in a normal situation and later proceeds to acknowledge others on the tarmac. "US president Joe Biden and UK prime minister Rishi Sunak shake hands on the runway of Belfast International Airport," read the title of the video uploaded. Watch the moment US President Joe Biden shakes hands with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the runway of Belfast International Airport Read more on this moment: https://t.co/c8VcepLHoY 🇺🇸 🤝 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/oB6yugmmD7 — Sky News (@SkyNews) April 12, 2023 × “Social media users are claiming a video of US President Joe Biden's arrival in Belfast on April 11, 2023 shows him failing to recognize and shoving aside British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. This is false; the claims are based on an edited clip, which cut out seconds of footage that shows the two leaders shaking hands and exchanging words," read a fact-check report by AFP. White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates in an email to the publication confirmed that "the footage was dishonestly manipulated". ALSO READ | White House fixes President Joe Biden’s ‘Black and Tans’ gaffe made at Windsor pub The US president has been gaffe-prone ever since he gained access to the White House. However, being an octogenarian it is only understandable that he might not be at his peak physical and mental performance every single day in what is an extremely hectic job. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

No, Joe Biden did not snub Rishi Sunak in viral clip, another video clears picture

<p>A major exchange of prisoners from Yemen's brutal civil war got underway on Friday with the first plane departing rebel-held Sanaa for government-controlled Aden, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.</p>

<p>"The first flight from Sanaa has left," ICRC media adviser Jessica Moussan told AFP, signalling the start of a three-day operation that will see nearly 900 prisoners released.</p>

<p>More than 300 prisoners will fly between the two cities on Friday. Later, detainees will also be released in Marib and Mokha, and in Riyadh and Abha in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.</p>

<p>The exchange is further evidence of a decrease in tensions after truce talks were held in Sanaa this week between the Huthi rebels and a delegation from Saudi Arabia, the government's main military ally.</p>

<p>The Iran-backed Huthis seized control of Sanaa in 2014, ousting the internationally recognised government and triggering a Saudi-led military intervention the following March.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-saudi-arabia-pull-out-of-the-yemen-war-is-china-behind-the-big-decision-577116"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Will Saudi Arabia pull out of the Yemen War? Is China behind the big decision?</strong></a></p>

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<p>Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed by direct and indirect causes in a war that has sparked one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, according to United Nations estimates.</p>

<p>Last month, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to re-establish official ties after a seven-year split, an announcement that has quickly redrawn the diplomatic map.</p>

<p>As part of the drawing down of tensions, nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia later on Friday to discuss the 12-year suspension from the Arab League of Iran ally Syria over its bloody civil war.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A major exchange of prisoners from Yemen's brutal civil war got underway on Friday with the first plane departing rebel-held Sanaa for government-controlled Aden, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

A major exchange of prisoners from Yemen's brutal civil war got underway on Friday with the first plane departing rebel-held Sanaa for government-controlled Aden, the International Committee of the Red Cross said. "The first flight from Sanaa has left," ICRC media adviser Jessica Moussan told AFP, signalling the start of a three-day operation that will see nearly 900 prisoners released. More than 300 prisoners will fly between the two cities on Friday. Later, detainees will also be released in Marib and Mokha, and in Riyadh and Abha in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. The exchange is further evidence of a decrease in tensions after truce talks were held in Sanaa this week between the Huthi rebels and a delegation from Saudi Arabia, the government's main military ally. The Iran-backed Huthis seized control of Sanaa in 2014, ousting the internationally recognised government and triggering a Saudi-led military intervention the following March. WATCH | Gravitas: Will Saudi Arabia pull out of the Yemen War? Is China behind the big decision? × Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed by direct and indirect causes in a war that has sparked one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, according to United Nations estimates. Last month, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to re-establish official ties after a seven-year split, an announcement that has quickly redrawn the diplomatic map. As part of the drawing down of tensions, nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia later on Friday to discuss the 12-year suspension from the Arab League of Iran ally Syria over its bloody civil war. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Times of truce? Major prisoner swap underway in Yemen: ICRC

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<p>A Conservative politician in the UK has come under the scanner after allegedly claiming that all white men should have Black slaves in a shocking audio recording.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The politician has been identified as Pembrokeshire County councillor Andrew Edwards who could also be heard saying that Black people were of 'lower class' than whites while refusing to deny the claims.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Nothing wrong with the skin colour at all. I think all white men should have a Black man as a slave or Black woman as a slave, you know," said Edwards in the audio recording that appeared online.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There's nothing wrong with skin colour, it's just that they're lower class than us white people," he added.</p>

<p>It is not yet known where did the 16-second recording clip emerge but it was political opponents who identified Edwards' voice in it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Tories have confirmed they are investigating the allegations and that Edwards had not yet been suspended from the party or his position.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-misogyny-and-racism-rampant-at-fire-brigade-537778"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;UK: Misogyny and racism rampant at fire brigade</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Matter referred to&nbsp;Ombudsman</strong></h2>

<p>When quizzed about the allegations, Edwards refused to confirm whether the recording was of him. Edwards, who represents the Haverfordwest Prendergast ward added that he had referred the matter to a watchdog and could not comment further.</p>

<p>"I am aware of such serious allegations being made against me. This is why I have self-referred to the Public Services Ombudsman for an independent evaluation," said Edwards.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is now in the hands of legal experts and the ombudsman. It would be unfair on the process for me to comment."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire council also released a statement saying, "We are aware of an allegation being made and have referred the matter to the ombudsman. It would be inappropriate to comment further."</p>

<p>Di Clements, the Conservative group leader in the council informed that Edwards had left the party group on the council on Tuesday. Notably, the Tories are the opposition group in the independent-led council.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wasteful-britons-after-tories-plan-to-spend-98mn-on-free-portraits-of-king-charles-578271" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | ‘Wasteful’, say Britons as Tories plan to spend $9.8 million on free portraits of King Charles III</strong></a></p>

<p>Black Equity Organisation (BEO)&nbsp;- a national level Black civil rights group expressed shock at Edwards'&nbsp;racist&nbsp;comments and demanded action from the authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is truly shocking to hear from anyone in this day and age, let alone an elected representative and county councillor," said&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr Wanda Wyporska, chief executive of the group.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We have to ask if this is the first time he has expressed such racist views? Action clearly needs to be taken."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A Conservative politician in the UK has come under the scanner after allegedly claiming that all white men should have Black slaves in a shocking audio recording.

A Conservative politician in the UK has come under the scanner after allegedly claiming that all white men should have Black slaves in a shocking audio recording. The politician has been identified as Pembrokeshire County councillor Andrew Edwards who could also be heard saying that Black people were of 'lower class' than whites while refusing to deny the claims. "Nothing wrong with the skin colour at all. I think all white men should have a Black man as a slave or Black woman as a slave, you know," said Edwards in the audio recording that appeared online. "There's nothing wrong with skin colour, it's just that they're lower class than us white people," he added. It is not yet known where did the 16-second recording clip emerge but it was political opponents who identified Edwards' voice in it. The Tories have confirmed they are investigating the allegations and that Edwards had not yet been suspended from the party or his position. WATCH | UK: Misogyny and racism rampant at fire brigade × Matter referred to Ombudsman When quizzed about the allegations, Edwards refused to confirm whether the recording was of him. Edwards, who represents the Haverfordwest Prendergast ward added that he had referred the matter to a watchdog and could not comment further. "I am aware of such serious allegations being made against me. This is why I have self-referred to the Public Services Ombudsman for an independent evaluation," said Edwards. "It is now in the hands of legal experts and the ombudsman. It would be unfair on the process for me to comment." Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire council also released a statement saying, "We are aware of an allegation being made and have referred the matter to the ombudsman. It would be inappropriate to comment further." Di Clements, the Conservative group leader in the council informed that Edwards had left the party group on the council on Tuesday. Notably, the Tories are the opposition group in the independent-led council. ALSO READ | ‘Wasteful’, say Britons as Tories plan to spend $9.8 million on free portraits of King Charles III Black Equity Organisation (BEO) - a national level Black civil rights group expressed shock at Edwards' racist comments and demanded action from the authorities. "This is truly shocking to hear from anyone in this day and age, let alone an elected representative and county councillor," said Dr Wanda Wyporska, chief executive of the group. "We have to ask if this is the first time he has expressed such racist views? Action clearly needs to be taken." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'White men should have a Black slave': Tory leader caught making racist comments in viral audio clip

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<p>In what may come as a huge breakthrough in sustainable energy development, a team of researchers at the Monash University in Melbourne have found a way to generate limitless electricity out of thin air. The scientists discovered a hydrogen-consuming enzyme from a common soil bacterium that uses the atmosphere as an energy source to generate electrical current.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Led by Monash’s Dr Rhys Grinter, PhD student Ashleigh Kropp, and Professor Chris Greening, from the Biomedicine Discovery Institute, the research findings were published in the new edition of the journal Nature.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Hydrogen gas scavenger</strong></h2>

<p>The enzyme discovered is called Huc (pronounced “Huck”) and is made by Mycobacterium smegmatis bacteria, allowing it to survive in harsh conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We’ve known for some time that bacteria can use the trace hydrogen in the air as a source of energy to help them grow and survive, including in Antarctic soils, volcanic craters, and deep in the ocean," said Professor Rhys Grinter.</p>

<p>Huc acts as a hydrogen gas scavenger, devouring the gas below atmospheric levels to produce its magic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Huc is extremely effective. Unlike all other known enzymes and chemical catalysts, it uses hydrogen at amounts below atmospheric levels – as little as 0.00005 per cent of the air we breathe," added Grinter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably,&nbsp;Mycobacterium smegmatis was discovered in 1985 by Sigmund&nbsp;Lustgarten, an Austrian doctor who was looking into skin diseases. The particular bacterium resides in the soil and is relatively unharmful - not causing any disease.&nbsp; It has been well-studied due to its use as a model&nbsp;for organism&nbsp;for tuberculosis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Grinter explained that to separate Huc from&nbsp;M. smegmatis, they had to develop a series of new methods, which included growing the bacteria from scratch and later breaking them open and using chemistry to isolate the single component.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/south-korean-scientists-create-an-artificial-sun-in-pursuit-of-unlimited-clean-energy-515686" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | South Korean scientists create an 'artificial sun' in pursuit of unlimited clean energy</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>What next for Huc?</strong></h2>

<p>The scientists added that Huc can be stored for long periods without losing its ability to generate electricity. During the experiments, it was flash-frozen in liquid N2 and stored at −80 degrees Celsius with purification yielding 10–20 micrograms of the Huc complex.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Getting down to the brass tacks, the scientists said the early applications of Huc include powering small air-powered devices which could act as an alternative to solar-powered devices.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The next step involved is to scale up the production so that Huc can be produced in sufficient quantities to be used at a meaningful scale.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Once we produce Huc in sufficient quantities, the sky is quite literally the limit for using it to produce clean energy," said Grinter.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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In what may come as a huge breakthrough in sustainable energy development, a team of researchers at the Monash University in Melbourne have found a way to generate limitless electricity out of thin air.

In what may come as a huge breakthrough in sustainable energy development, a team of researchers at the Monash University in Melbourne have found a way to generate limitless electricity out of thin air. The scientists discovered a hydrogen-consuming enzyme from a common soil bacterium that uses the atmosphere as an energy source to generate electrical current. Led by Monash’s Dr Rhys Grinter, PhD student Ashleigh Kropp, and Professor Chris Greening, from the Biomedicine Discovery Institute, the research findings were published in the new edition of the journal Nature. Hydrogen gas scavenger The enzyme discovered is called Huc (pronounced “Huck”) and is made by Mycobacterium smegmatis bacteria, allowing it to survive in harsh conditions. “We’ve known for some time that bacteria can use the trace hydrogen in the air as a source of energy to help them grow and survive, including in Antarctic soils, volcanic craters, and deep in the ocean," said Professor Rhys Grinter. Huc acts as a hydrogen gas scavenger, devouring the gas below atmospheric levels to produce its magic. “Huc is extremely effective. Unlike all other known enzymes and chemical catalysts, it uses hydrogen at amounts below atmospheric levels – as little as 0.00005 per cent of the air we breathe," added Grinter. Notably, Mycobacterium smegmatis was discovered in 1985 by Sigmund Lustgarten, an Austrian doctor who was looking into skin diseases. The particular bacterium resides in the soil and is relatively unharmful - not causing any disease. It has been well-studied due to its use as a model for organism for tuberculosis. Grinter explained that to separate Huc from M. smegmatis, they had to develop a series of new methods, which included growing the bacteria from scratch and later breaking them open and using chemistry to isolate the single component. ALSO READ | South Korean scientists create an 'artificial sun' in pursuit of unlimited clean energy What next for Huc? The scientists added that Huc can be stored for long periods without losing its ability to generate electricity. During the experiments, it was flash-frozen in liquid N2 and stored at −80 degrees Celsius with purification yielding 10–20 micrograms of the Huc complex. Getting down to the brass tacks, the scientists said the early applications of Huc include powering small air-powered devices which could act as an alternative to solar-powered devices. The next step involved is to scale up the production so that Huc can be produced in sufficient quantities to be used at a meaningful scale. “Once we produce Huc in sufficient quantities, the sky is quite literally the limit for using it to produce clean energy," said Grinter. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Limitless energy? Scientists discover enzyme to make electricity out of thin air

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuid5nuZ2FOQqDJE" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Four people were killed while several others were injured in a series of car bombings at a pagoda in eastern Myanmar on Thursday. The incident took place at the Yan Taing Aung pagoda in Lashio township, Shan state where revellers had gathered to celebrate the start of the Buddhist new year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Thingyan festival is usually a joyful occasion where people come together to celebrate and play public water fights. However, since Myanmar plunged into the nadir of unending violence following the military coup, the event has been politicised with pro-democracy&nbsp; activists calling for a boycott of junta-organised events.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At least three vehicles were destroyed in the attack with a rescue worker saying, "Four men were killed on spot."</p>

<p>Overall, 12 people were injured while two remained in serious condition, all had been quickly transported to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, the authorities are sanitising the area for further explosives.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Junta airstrike on village</strong></h2>

<p>The bombings come in the backdrop of the Myanmar junta carrying out airstrikes on a village that killed over 130 people, in what many have termed as the deadliest attack by the military after seizing power in a coup two years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The villagers told AFP that it was difficult to identify the dead. "We can not identify anymore who is who among the dead because they are all pieces."</p>

<h2><strong>Will crush&nbsp;dissent: Junta chief</strong></h2>

<p>The attack transpired a few days after junta chief Min Aung Hlaing said he would take&nbsp; "decisive action" against the country’s rebel National Unity Government (NUG) and its allied ethnic armed groups.</p>

<p>"The terror acts of NUG and its lackey so-called People's Defence Forces (PDFs) need to be tackled for good and all," said&nbsp;Hlaing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To crush the resistance led by the NUG and PDFs, he commanded his soldiers to "effectively use the firearms provided."</p>

<p>The junta chief said that the military would then hold "free and fair elections" upon the completion of the state of emergency.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-juntas-airstrikes-kill-at-least-100-leave-town-with-screaming-people-and-body-parts-everywhere-582066" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Myanmar junta's airstrikes kill at least 100, leave town with screaming people and body parts everywhere</strong></a></p>

<p>The Myanmar army has dealt with dissenting groups using an iron fist ever since coming to power. Those opposing the junta rule have been mercilessly killed.&nbsp;According to various estimates, the crackdown against anti-junta voices&nbsp;has left more than 3,200 people dead.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Four people were killed while several others were injured in a series of car bombings at a pagoda in eastern Myanmar on Thursday. The incident took place at the Yan Taing Aung pagoda in Lashio township, Shan state where revellers had gathered to celebrate the start of the Buddhist new year.

Four people were killed while several others were injured in a series of car bombings at a pagoda in eastern Myanmar on Thursday. The incident took place at the Yan Taing Aung pagoda in Lashio township, Shan state where revellers had gathered to celebrate the start of the Buddhist new year. The Thingyan festival is usually a joyful occasion where people come together to celebrate and play public water fights. However, since Myanmar plunged into the nadir of unending violence following the military coup, the event has been politicised with pro-democracy activists calling for a boycott of junta-organised events. At least three vehicles were destroyed in the attack with a rescue worker saying, "Four men were killed on spot." Overall, 12 people were injured while two remained in serious condition, all had been quickly transported to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, the authorities are sanitising the area for further explosives. Junta airstrike on village The bombings come in the backdrop of the Myanmar junta carrying out airstrikes on a village that killed over 130 people, in what many have termed as the deadliest attack by the military after seizing power in a coup two years ago. The villagers told AFP that it was difficult to identify the dead. "We can not identify anymore who is who among the dead because they are all pieces." Will crush dissent: Junta chief The attack transpired a few days after junta chief Min Aung Hlaing said he would take "decisive action" against the country’s rebel National Unity Government (NUG) and its allied ethnic armed groups. "The terror acts of NUG and its lackey so-called People's Defence Forces (PDFs) need to be tackled for good and all," said Hlaing. To crush the resistance led by the NUG and PDFs, he commanded his soldiers to "effectively use the firearms provided." The junta chief said that the military would then hold "free and fair elections" upon the completion of the state of emergency. ALSO READ | Myanmar junta's airstrikes kill at least 100, leave town with screaming people and body parts everywhere The Myanmar army has dealt with dissenting groups using an iron fist ever since coming to power. Those opposing the junta rule have been mercilessly killed. According to various estimates, the crackdown against anti-junta voices has left more than 3,200 people dead. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Four killed, several injured in car bomb blasts during New Year festival in Myanmar

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<p>The United States on Wednesday increased the ambit of sanctions imposed on Russian oligarchs and related entities for supporting Moscow’s invasion of ukraine. The US Treasury and State departments ticked off nearly 120 targets to squeeze Russia for its ongoing war with Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russian billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov was one of the main targets in the new list. It is believed that&nbsp;Usmanov is extremely close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president.</p>

<p>The Treasury Department accused him of having a "wide network of businesses in financial safe havens and family members through which to conduct financial transactions, enabling him to potentially circumvent sanctions".&nbsp;</p>

<p>USM Holdings, Miramonte Investments, Savoler Development and Windfall Properties amongst others were the companies targeted by the department.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Megafon, one of Russia's big four telecoms operators has also been named on the list. Up until now, the US had stopped short of sanctioning Russia's telecom infrastructure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"As the Kremlin seeks ways around the expansive multilateral sanctions and export controls imposed on Russia for its war against Ukraine, the United States and our allies and partners will continue to disrupt evasion schemes that support Putin on the battlefield," said US Treasury Under Secretary Brian Nelson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Firms in ally nations targetted&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Additionally, Cyprus-based "financial fixers" who helped Usmanov as well as fellow Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich were also made privy to the fresh sanctions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Firms in Hong Kong, Turkey and the UAE which have been allegedly selling drones and other electronic gadgets to the Russian defence sector were also slapped with sanctions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-announces-new-sanctions-targeting-russian-banks-defence-industry-semiconductor-access-565534" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | US announces new sanctions on Russian banks, defence sector, blocks semiconductor access</strong></a></p>

<p>Experts stated that sanctioning Turkish and UAE firms suggested that even partner nations were not immune from US action if they attempted to support Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US Treasury in a statement added that Budapest-based International Investment Bank (IIB) which has majority-Russian ownership was also brought under the sanctions list.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"IIB's presence in Budapest enables Russia to increase its intelligence presence in Europe, opens the door for the Kremlin’s malign influence activities in Central Europe and the Western Balkans, and could serve as a mechanism for corruption and illicit finance, including sanctions violations," it said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-releases-new-russia-sanctions-list-top-energy-telecom-firm-prime-target-in-list-582007" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | US releases new Russia sanctions list, top energy, telecom firm prime target in list</strong></a></p>

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<p>Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, the US has actively imposed sanctions on Russian companies as well as oligarchs. It has also urged countries across to impose sanctions and stop any financial dealing with Moscow.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The United States on Wednesday increased the ambit of sanctions imposed on Russian oligarchs and related entities for supporting Moscow’s invasion of ukraine. The US Treasury and State departments ticked off nearly 120 targets to squeeze Russia for its ongoing war with Ukraine.

The United States on Wednesday increased the ambit of sanctions imposed on Russian oligarchs and related entities for supporting Moscow’s invasion of ukraine. The US Treasury and State departments ticked off nearly 120 targets to squeeze Russia for its ongoing war with Ukraine. Russian billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov was one of the main targets in the new list. It is believed that Usmanov is extremely close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president. The Treasury Department accused him of having a "wide network of businesses in financial safe havens and family members through which to conduct financial transactions, enabling him to potentially circumvent sanctions". USM Holdings, Miramonte Investments, Savoler Development and Windfall Properties amongst others were the companies targeted by the department. Megafon, one of Russia's big four telecoms operators has also been named on the list. Up until now, the US had stopped short of sanctioning Russia's telecom infrastructure. "As the Kremlin seeks ways around the expansive multilateral sanctions and export controls imposed on Russia for its war against Ukraine, the United States and our allies and partners will continue to disrupt evasion schemes that support Putin on the battlefield," said US Treasury Under Secretary Brian Nelson. Firms in ally nations targetted Additionally, Cyprus-based "financial fixers" who helped Usmanov as well as fellow Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich were also made privy to the fresh sanctions. Firms in Hong Kong, Turkey and the UAE which have been allegedly selling drones and other electronic gadgets to the Russian defence sector were also slapped with sanctions. ALSO READ | US announces new sanctions on Russian banks, defence sector, blocks semiconductor access Experts stated that sanctioning Turkish and UAE firms suggested that even partner nations were not immune from US action if they attempted to support Russia. The US Treasury in a statement added that Budapest-based International Investment Bank (IIB) which has majority-Russian ownership was also brought under the sanctions list. "IIB's presence in Budapest enables Russia to increase its intelligence presence in Europe, opens the door for the Kremlin’s malign influence activities in Central Europe and the Western Balkans, and could serve as a mechanism for corruption and illicit finance, including sanctions violations," it said. WATCH | US releases new Russia sanctions list, top energy, telecom firm prime target in list × Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, the US has actively imposed sanctions on Russian companies as well as oligarchs. It has also urged countries across to impose sanctions and stop any financial dealing with Moscow. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US releases fresh sanctions list targeting firms, individuals supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine

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<p>China has conducted yet another nuclear fusion experiment in its pursuit of creating an 'artificial sun'. On Wednesday night, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion energy reactor created an artificial sun that sustained plasma for a whopping 403 seconds, breaking the 101-second record it had set in 2017.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to various estimates, 300 seconds is the minimum time frame required to demonstrate steady-state operations. Keeping the figure in mind, scientists believe it is a major breakthrough.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences told Chinese state media that the work by his team has laid a solid foundation to improve the technical and economic feasibility of fusion reactors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The main significance of this new breakthrough lies in its ‘high-confinement mode’, under which the temperature and density of the plasma increase significantly,” Song told Xinhua news agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The record is also a big step forward for our team in terms of fundamental physics research, fusion engineering, and project operation and maintenance."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-conducts-nuclear-fusion-experiment-for-artificial-sun-439314"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;China conducts nuclear fusion experiment for 'artificial sun</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>China developing next-gen 'artificial sun'</strong></h2>

<p>Chinese scientists have been operating EAST since 2006. The reactor has completed over 120,000 experiments so far. In 2018, breaking another record, the reactor managed to contain plasma for almost 18 minutes with the temperature reaching close to 70 million degrees Celsius. However, it was a different operation mode from the one used during Wednesday's test.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Having tasted success already, Beijing is looking to take another giant stride in the field. It has already completed the design of its next-generation artificial sun called Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) which will kick into operations by 2035.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-china-leading-the-ai-race-where-does-india-figure-in-this-battle-for-tech-dominance-this-world-573274"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Is China leading the AI race? Where does India figure in this battle for tech dominance?</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Nuclear fusion vs fission&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Nuclear fusion is considered the holy grail of energy and it is what powers our sun. It merges atomic nuclei to create massive amounts of energy, which is the opposite of the fission process used in atomic weapons and nuclear power plants, which splits them into fragments.</p>

<p>Moreover, unlike fission, fusion emits no greenhouse gases and carries less risk of accidents or the theft of atomic material.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By mimicking the natural reaction of the sun, scientists are hoping that the technology may help humanity harness vast amounts of energy and help battle the energy crisis</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/south-korean-scientists-create-an-artificial-sun-in-pursuit-of-unlimited-clean-energy-515686"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;South Korean scientists create an 'artificial sun' in pursuit of unlimited clean energy</strong></a></p>

<p>Last year, scientists working at the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) reactor also created an artificial sun that reached temperatures upward of 100 million degree Celsius for 30 seconds.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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China has conducted yet another nuclear fusion experiment in its pursuit of creating an 'artificial sun'. On Wednesday night, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion energy reactor created an artificial sun that sustained plasma for a whopping 403 seconds, breaking the 101-second record it had set in 2017.

China has conducted yet another nuclear fusion experiment in its pursuit of creating an 'artificial sun'. On Wednesday night, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion energy reactor created an artificial sun that sustained plasma for a whopping 403 seconds, breaking the 101-second record it had set in 2017. According to various estimates, 300 seconds is the minimum time frame required to demonstrate steady-state operations. Keeping the figure in mind, scientists believe it is a major breakthrough. Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences told Chinese state media that the work by his team has laid a solid foundation to improve the technical and economic feasibility of fusion reactors. “The main significance of this new breakthrough lies in its ‘high-confinement mode’, under which the temperature and density of the plasma increase significantly,” Song told Xinhua news agency. “The record is also a big step forward for our team in terms of fundamental physics research, fusion engineering, and project operation and maintenance." ALSO READ | China conducts nuclear fusion experiment for 'artificial sun China developing next-gen 'artificial sun' Chinese scientists have been operating EAST since 2006. The reactor has completed over 120,000 experiments so far. In 2018, breaking another record, the reactor managed to contain plasma for almost 18 minutes with the temperature reaching close to 70 million degrees Celsius. However, it was a different operation mode from the one used during Wednesday's test. Having tasted success already, Beijing is looking to take another giant stride in the field. It has already completed the design of its next-generation artificial sun called Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) which will kick into operations by 2035. WATCH | Is China leading the AI race? Where does India figure in this battle for tech dominance? × Nuclear fusion vs fission Nuclear fusion is considered the holy grail of energy and it is what powers our sun. It merges atomic nuclei to create massive amounts of energy, which is the opposite of the fission process used in atomic weapons and nuclear power plants, which splits them into fragments. Moreover, unlike fission, fusion emits no greenhouse gases and carries less risk of accidents or the theft of atomic material. By mimicking the natural reaction of the sun, scientists are hoping that the technology may help humanity harness vast amounts of energy and help battle the energy crisis ALSO READ | South Korean scientists create an 'artificial sun' in pursuit of unlimited clean energy Last year, scientists working at the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) reactor also created an artificial sun that reached temperatures upward of 100 million degree Celsius for 30 seconds. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China's 'artificial sun' breaches another frontier, sustains plasma for nearly 7 minutes

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<p>The United States Senate Committee on Armed Services will be conducting an open hearing on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) or Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) next week on April 19 (Wednesday), confirmed press secretary Cole Stevens.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hearing has&nbsp;been scheduled to address the growing concerns surrounding the allegedly growing UAP incidents. The lawmakers are also expected to bat for increased transparency and funding for investigation into the UAP sightings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr Sean Kirkpatrick, head of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) will also be speaking at the hearing which will be conducted by Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Lawmakers demand funding&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The announcement comes in the backdrop of Democrat Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the chair of AARO publicly slamming the Department of Defence for not providing funds for a second year in running.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The lack of full funding for AARO is a significant concern. We need to ensure that our government is taking the UAP issue seriously and dedicating the necessary resources to improve our understanding and response capabilities," Gillibrand was quoted as saying by Roswell Daily Record.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-shoots-down-a-fourth-unidentified-object-as-a-senior-official-doesnt-rule-out-aliens-561293"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;US shoots down another UFO as a senior official doesn't rule out 'aliens'</strong></a></p>

<p>She also targetted Under Secretary of Defence (Comptroller) Michael J. McCord by stating her department was disappointed at not receiving the funding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Understanding that we cannot get into specific budget figures in this forum, can you discuss why AARO was not fully funded?"</p>

<p>In recent years, Pentagon has pushed ahead with the decision of investigating military sightings of UFOs. This has led to the release of hundreds of classified reports which suggest that we may not be alone on planet Earth.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-shoots-down-3-ufos-in-3-days-561647"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: US shoots down 3 UFOs in 3 days</strong></a></p>

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<p>In May 2022, Ronald Moultrie and Scott Bray, two top officials of the Pentagon appeared before the US House of Representatives intelligence subcommittee and showed the declassified UFO videos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They said that reports of UFOs are 'frequent' and have been on the rise for more than a decade. They also added that US officials were unable to explain some of these sightings.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-navy-will-not-release-ufo-videos-citing-national-security-admits-it-has-several-more-515069" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | US Navy says it has several UFO videos, won't release them due to 'national security'</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>US Navy refuses to release UFO videos</strong></h2>

<p>However, the US Navy, responding to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request last year, announced that it will not be releasing any more unseen UFO videos in public domain as it will harm national security.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The release of this information will harm national security as it may provide adversaries valuable information regarding Department of Defense/Navy operations, vulnerabilities, and/or capabilities. No portions of the videos can be segregated for release,” said Gregory Cason, deputy director of the Navy's FOIA office.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The United States Senate Committee on Armed Services will be conducting an open hearing on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) or Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) next week on April 19 (Wednesday), confirmed press secretary Cole Stevens.

The United States Senate Committee on Armed Services will be conducting an open hearing on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) or Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) next week on April 19 (Wednesday), confirmed press secretary Cole Stevens. The hearing has been scheduled to address the growing concerns surrounding the allegedly growing UAP incidents. The lawmakers are also expected to bat for increased transparency and funding for investigation into the UAP sightings. Dr Sean Kirkpatrick, head of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) will also be speaking at the hearing which will be conducted by Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee. Lawmakers demand funding The announcement comes in the backdrop of Democrat Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the chair of AARO publicly slamming the Department of Defence for not providing funds for a second year in running. "The lack of full funding for AARO is a significant concern. We need to ensure that our government is taking the UAP issue seriously and dedicating the necessary resources to improve our understanding and response capabilities," Gillibrand was quoted as saying by Roswell Daily Record. ALSO READ | US shoots down another UFO as a senior official doesn't rule out 'aliens' She also targetted Under Secretary of Defence (Comptroller) Michael J. McCord by stating her department was disappointed at not receiving the funding. "Understanding that we cannot get into specific budget figures in this forum, can you discuss why AARO was not fully funded?" In recent years, Pentagon has pushed ahead with the decision of investigating military sightings of UFOs. This has led to the release of hundreds of classified reports which suggest that we may not be alone on planet Earth. WATCH | Gravitas: US shoots down 3 UFOs in 3 days × In May 2022, Ronald Moultrie and Scott Bray, two top officials of the Pentagon appeared before the US House of Representatives intelligence subcommittee and showed the declassified UFO videos. They said that reports of UFOs are 'frequent' and have been on the rise for more than a decade. They also added that US officials were unable to explain some of these sightings. ALSO READ | US Navy says it has several UFO videos, won't release them due to 'national security' US Navy refuses to release UFO videos However, the US Navy, responding to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request last year, announced that it will not be releasing any more unseen UFO videos in public domain as it will harm national security. “The release of this information will harm national security as it may provide adversaries valuable information regarding Department of Defense/Navy operations, vulnerabilities, and/or capabilities. No portions of the videos can be segregated for release,” said Gregory Cason, deputy director of the Navy's FOIA office. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US Senate Committee to hold open hearing next week on UFO sightings

<p>In what comes as a major milestone in wildlife conservation efforts, a zoo in Thailand has been able to successfully breed a red-headed vulture for the first time in over 30 years. The&nbsp;Zoological Park Organization (ZPO) of&nbsp;Thailand achieved the rare feat which has only been repeated once previously.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Zoo had been attempting to breed the endangered vulture species, also known as the Asian king vulture&nbsp;for over 18 years. The Zoo officials said they were hoping that the caged vultures may mate naturally without any help. However, upon receiving no eggs over the years, the authorities realised that it was time to take action.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“After years of attempts, the emergence of this red-headed vulture has allowed scientists to discover how to breed them in the future. They will know how they should set up the environment and the atmosphere for the vulture,"&nbsp;Attapon Srihayrun, director general of ZPO&nbsp; was quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Once we have the first newborn Red-headed&nbsp;Vulture, we will have the second, third, fourth and so on. Then, when we have an ample population, we will release them back to nature."</p>

<p>The emergence of the&nbsp;Red-headed&nbsp;Vulture which had gone extinct in 1992 and is listed&nbsp;critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature is a massive feat and could help revive their numbers yet again.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/poisoned-carcasses-killing-off-kenyas-vultures-336024"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Poisoned carcasses killing off Kenya's vultures</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Vultures and cause of their decline&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The bird weighs anywhere around 3.5 to 6.3 kg with the wingspan being 1.99 to 2.6 metres wide. The adult male red-headed vultures have white (or pale) eyes while adult females have dark eyes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Akin to most vultures, this breed also does not like to make a lot of vocalisations. Instead, it prefers to soar high up in the sky in silence and forage for food.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Throughout South Asia, vultures once roamed the skies in ample numbers, However, since the mid-90s and early 2000s, there has been a steep decline in their numbers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scientists had a tough time gauging what could be the cause for the decline. As it turns out, the use of a medicine&nbsp;called&nbsp;diclofenac that most people give to their livestock was causing the death of vultures, including the majestic&nbsp;Asian king vulture.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the&nbsp;domestic animals died and vultures fed on them,&nbsp;diclofenac got into their system. It acted&nbsp;as&nbsp;a poison and made&nbsp;them sick with most vultures dying due to renal failure. Since then, there has been an active campaign to avoid the use of&nbsp;diclofenac to treat livestock across the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-in-a-first-vulture-rewilded-after-five-years-of-captive-care-531503"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;India: In a first, vulture rewilded after five years of captive care</strong></a></p>

<p>Vultures are natural scavengers and have an active role to play in the ecology of any place. Their absence can have serious ramifications. Hence, the hatching of the baby vulture in Thailand is being seen as a major breakthrough.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


In what comes as a major milestone in wildlife conservation efforts, a zoo in Thailand has been able to successfully breed a red-headed vulture for the first time in over 30 years.

In what comes as a major milestone in wildlife conservation efforts, a zoo in Thailand has been able to successfully breed a red-headed vulture for the first time in over 30 years. The Zoological Park Organization (ZPO) of Thailand achieved the rare feat which has only been repeated once previously. The Zoo had been attempting to breed the endangered vulture species, also known as the Asian king vulture for over 18 years. The Zoo officials said they were hoping that the caged vultures may mate naturally without any help. However, upon receiving no eggs over the years, the authorities realised that it was time to take action. “After years of attempts, the emergence of this red-headed vulture has allowed scientists to discover how to breed them in the future. They will know how they should set up the environment and the atmosphere for the vulture," Attapon Srihayrun, director general of ZPO was quoted as saying by Reuters. “Once we have the first newborn Red-headed Vulture, we will have the second, third, fourth and so on. Then, when we have an ample population, we will release them back to nature." The emergence of the Red-headed Vulture which had gone extinct in 1992 and is listed critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature is a massive feat and could help revive their numbers yet again. WATCH | Poisoned carcasses killing off Kenya's vultures × Vultures and cause of their decline The bird weighs anywhere around 3.5 to 6.3 kg with the wingspan being 1.99 to 2.6 metres wide. The adult male red-headed vultures have white (or pale) eyes while adult females have dark eyes. Akin to most vultures, this breed also does not like to make a lot of vocalisations. Instead, it prefers to soar high up in the sky in silence and forage for food. Throughout South Asia, vultures once roamed the skies in ample numbers, However, since the mid-90s and early 2000s, there has been a steep decline in their numbers. The scientists had a tough time gauging what could be the cause for the decline. As it turns out, the use of a medicine called diclofenac that most people give to their livestock was causing the death of vultures, including the majestic Asian king vulture. After the domestic animals died and vultures fed on them, diclofenac got into their system. It acted as a poison and made them sick with most vultures dying due to renal failure. Since then, there has been an active campaign to avoid the use of diclofenac to treat livestock across the region. ALSO READ | India: In a first, vulture rewilded after five years of captive care Vultures are natural scavengers and have an active role to play in the ecology of any place. Their absence can have serious ramifications. Hence, the hatching of the baby vulture in Thailand is being seen as a major breakthrough. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Thailand breeds first red-headed vulture successfully in 30 years

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