Tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain at all time high with military build-up reported across the border.

With international pressure mounting on Russia to withdraw troops, a Ukrainian diplomat has recently suggested&nbsp;that the country may be compelled to acquire nuclear weapons to protect their interests. Currently, Ukraine is attempting to get membership of NATO amid tensions with Russia.

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Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk told a state radio station on Thursday that Ukrainian President Zelensky is considering all options as fears of a full-fledged conflict rise in the region.

Melnyk was quoted by German news agency DPA as saying that either they should be given the membership of NATO “to strengthen this Europe” or they’ll be left with one option - “to rearm” themselves.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/ukraines-zelenskiy-to-hold-talks-with-merkel-macron-about-russia-standoff-377859" hreflang="en">Ukraine's Zelenskiy to hold talks with Merkel, Macron about Russia standoff</a>

In the recent weeks, fighting has intensified in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russian-backed separatists seized a sizeable territory in April 2014 and fighting has been going on since then. In the recent weeks, Russia has increased its troops and artillery near the border.

In 2014, Russia had annexed the region of Crimea from Ukraine, where it has stationed troops again.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/ease-ukraines-provocative-actions-russia-urges-macron-and-merkel-377977" hreflang="en">Ease Ukraine's 'provocative actions', Russia urges Macron and Merkel</a>

Ukraine's foreign minister said earlier this week that Russia was "openly threatening Ukraine with war" and vowed a coordinated military response with its allies to aggression orchestrated by Moscow.

The fresh bout of clashes in eastern Ukraine effectively ended a ceasefire agreed last July that ushered in a period of relative calm to the conflict.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain at all time high with military build-up reported across the border. With international pressure mounting on Russia to withdraw troops, a Ukrainian diplomat has recently suggested that the country may be compelled to acquire nuclear weapons to protect their interests.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain at all time high with military build-up reported across the border. With international pressure mounting on Russia to withdraw troops, a Ukrainian diplomat has recently suggested that the country may be compelled to acquire nuclear weapons to protect their interests. Currently, Ukraine is attempting to get membership of NATO amid tensions with Russia. Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk told a state radio station on Thursday that Ukrainian President Zelensky is considering all options as fears of a full-fledged conflict rise in the region. Melnyk was quoted by German news agency DPA as saying that either they should be given the membership of NATO “to strengthen this Europe” or they’ll be left with one option - “to rearm” themselves. Also read: Ukraine's Zelenskiy to hold talks with Merkel, Macron about Russia standoff In the recent weeks, fighting has intensified in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russian-backed separatists seized a sizeable territory in April 2014 and fighting has been going on since then. In the recent weeks, Russia has increased its troops and artillery near the border. In 2014, Russia had annexed the region of Crimea from Ukraine, where it has stationed troops again. Also read: Ease Ukraine's 'provocative actions', Russia urges Macron and Merkel Ukraine's foreign minister said earlier this week that Russia was "openly threatening Ukraine with war" and vowed a coordinated military response with its allies to aggression orchestrated by Moscow. The fresh bout of clashes in eastern Ukraine effectively ended a ceasefire agreed last July that ushered in a period of relative calm to the conflict. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine may acquire nuclear weapons amid conflict with Russia, diplomat suggests

At the United Nations General Assembly 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping claimed that China was not only a defender of the global order, but was also committed to peace, cooperation, dialogue, democracy, freedom, and justice.

“China is the largest developing country in the world, a country that is committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development. We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence. We have no intention to fight either a cold war or a hot war with any country”, Jinping said during his speech.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/unga-2020-xi-jinping-warns-against-clash-of-civilisations-329492" hreflang="en">UNGA 2020: Xi Jinping warns against 'clash of civilisations'</a>

He, however, forgot about COVID-19, which originated in China and has now killed almost 10 lakh (close to a million) people across the world.

COVID-19 has ravaged the world, hammered the global economy, put countries under lockdown.

If this is not war, what is?

President Xi also said, “We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence”. China has territorial disputes with 18 countries, and shares its border with 14 countries.

China&nbsp;has a territorial dispute with Japan, for it claims the Senkaku islands and the Ryukyu island. China also claims large parts of Vietnam, including Paracel islands and Spratly islands.

China claims the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, and the territory of Ladakh. Both the countries have also been involved in skirmishes along the Line of Actual Control - the border.

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China has built 11 buildings on Nepalese land.

China also claims North Korea’s Baekdu mountains and Jiandao. Beijing also has land disputes with the Philippines. China also claims 160,000 sq km of Russian land.

China is also fighting Singapore in the South China Sea.

In the East China Sea, it is fighting South Korea. China claims parts of Bhutan, all of Taiwan, large areas of Laos, and parts of Brunei, along with Tajikistan, and Cambodia.

It is also fighting Indonesia and Malaysia in the South China Sea. China also claims all of Mongolia. This is the the real face of expansionist, peace-loving China.

President Xi talks about his country's love for dialogue, but refused to engage with India to solve the border dispute. “We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We do not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in a zero-sum game”, Jinping had said.

India has been calling for dialogue on the LAC issue for 44 yeas now, to solve the issue at the undefined border which is 3,488 kilometres long.

In the last 5 decades, it has seen over 10 major conflicts, all because China refuses dialogue.&nbsp;

Do the Chinese people want this?

A video has been doing the rounds on social media, showing PLA troops in tears. It surfaced on September 20, and since then has gone viral.

Why are these Chinese soldiers crying? Reports say these men are new PLA recruits, and they are sobbing away to glory because they have been deployed to China's border with India.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sobbing-chinese-soldiers-on-way-to-india-border-cause-china-taiwan-media-war-329669">‘Sobbing’ China soldiers on way to India border cause China-Taiwan media war</a>

Chinese mouthpiece, Global Times has come up with a new spin. It says the troops became emotional while listening to a Chinese military song.

A piece by the South China Morning Post talks about how 70 per cent of PLA soldiers are single children, who may not be up to the task of defending China's borders.

At the United Nations General Assembly 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping claimed that China was not only a defender of the global order, but was also committed to peace, cooperation, dialogue, democracy, freedom, and justice.

At the United Nations General Assembly 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping claimed that China was not only a defender of the global order, but was also committed to peace, cooperation, dialogue, democracy, freedom, and justice. “China is the largest developing country in the world, a country that is committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development. We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence. We have no intention to fight either a cold war or a hot war with any country”, Jinping said during his speech. Also read: UNGA 2020: Xi Jinping warns against 'clash of civilisations' He, however, forgot about COVID-19, which originated in China and has now killed almost 10 lakh (close to a million) people across the world. COVID-19 has ravaged the world, hammered the global economy, put countries under lockdown. If this is not war, what is? President Xi also said, “We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence”. China has territorial disputes with 18 countries, and shares its border with 14 countries. China has a territorial dispute with Japan, for it claims the Senkaku islands and the Ryukyu island. China also claims large parts of Vietnam, including Paracel islands and Spratly islands. China claims the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, and the territory of Ladakh. Both the countries have also been involved in skirmishes along the Line of Actual Control - the border. × China has built 11 buildings on Nepalese land. China also claims North Korea’s Baekdu mountains and Jiandao. Beijing also has land disputes with the Philippines. China also claims 160,000 sq km of Russian land. China is also fighting Singapore in the South China Sea. In the East China Sea, it is fighting South Korea. China claims parts of Bhutan, all of Taiwan, large areas of Laos, and parts of Brunei, along with Tajikistan, and Cambodia. It is also fighting Indonesia and Malaysia in the South China Sea. China also claims all of Mongolia. This is the the real face of expansionist, peace-loving China. President Xi talks about his country's love for dialogue, but refused to engage with India to solve the border dispute. “We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We do not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in a zero-sum game”, Jinping had said. India has been calling for dialogue on the LAC issue for 44 yeas now, to solve the issue at the undefined border which is 3,488 kilometres long. In the last 5 decades, it has seen over 10 major conflicts, all because China refuses dialogue. Do the Chinese people want this? A video has been doing the rounds on social media, showing PLA troops in tears. It surfaced on September 20, and since then has gone viral. Why are these Chinese soldiers crying? Reports say these men are new PLA recruits, and they are sobbing away to glory because they have been deployed to China's border with India. Also read: ‘Sobbing’ China soldiers on way to India border cause China-Taiwan media war Chinese mouthpiece, Global Times has come up with a new spin. It says the troops became emotional while listening to a Chinese military song. A piece by the South China Morning Post talks about how 70 per cent of PLA soldiers are single children, who may not be up to the task of defending China's borders.

At UNGA, Jinping claimed China is not 'expansionist'. These facts tell otherwise!

Earth's "vital signs" that point to the health of the planet are currently deteriorating at an alarming rate, a group of scientists announced on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Based on this, the researchers ascertained that severe effects of climate change would be felt soon.&nbsp;

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On Wednesday, researchers that constitute a group of over 14,000 professionals signed an international declaration calling recent events a "climate emergency" and added that governments across the globe had failed to acknowledge the crisis adequately.

The scientists also made a similar assessment in 2019, when they noted an "unprecedented surge" in climate-related disasters. An array of conditions were noted including record-breaking heatwaves, floods in South America and Southeast Asia, wildfires in Australia and the United states along with cyclones in Africa and South Asia.

The "vital signs" were measures from a key metric system which took into account greenhouse gas emissions, thickness of glaciers, sea-ice extent, and deforestation. The scientists found that 18 of these parameters hit record highs or lows.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-to-search-for-signs-of-extraterrestrial-technology-401116" hreflang="en">Scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology</a>

For instance, a dip in pollution was noted during the pandemic, with which it was also linked. But as countries resumed industrial activity, the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere and methane hit an all-time high in 2021.

In Greenland and Antarctica, all-time low levels of ice mass were noted by scientists. They also found that glaciers are currently melting 31 per cent faster than they did 15 years ago.

Ocean heat and global sea levels have set new records since 2019. In 2020, the annual loss rate of the Amazon rainforest situated in Brazil hit a 12-year high.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-will-russias-nauka-do-at-the-international-space-station-401014" hreflang="en">What will Russia's 'Nauka' do at the International Space Station?</a>

The study was undertaken by the University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute. Researchers said there exists "mounting evidence" of humanity having crossed a number of climate tipping points which primarily include the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica.&nbsp;

Along with these events, the scientists also noted how climate change may now be irreversible on a scale of centuries, regardless of whether&nbsp;humans are able to cut down harmful emissions.

Earth's "vital signs" that point to the health of the planet are currently deteriorating at an alarming rate, a group of scientists announced on Wednesday. Based on this, the researchers ascertained that severe effects of climate change would be felt soon.

Earth's "vital signs" that point to the health of the planet are currently deteriorating at an alarming rate, a group of scientists announced on Wednesday. Based on this, the researchers ascertained that severe effects of climate change would be felt soon. On Wednesday, researchers that constitute a group of over 14,000 professionals signed an international declaration calling recent events a "climate emergency" and added that governments across the globe had failed to acknowledge the crisis adequately. The scientists also made a similar assessment in 2019, when they noted an "unprecedented surge" in climate-related disasters. An array of conditions were noted including record-breaking heatwaves, floods in South America and Southeast Asia, wildfires in Australia and the United states along with cyclones in Africa and South Asia. The "vital signs" were measures from a key metric system which took into account greenhouse gas emissions, thickness of glaciers, sea-ice extent, and deforestation. The scientists found that 18 of these parameters hit record highs or lows. Also read: Scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology For instance, a dip in pollution was noted during the pandemic, with which it was also linked. But as countries resumed industrial activity, the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere and methane hit an all-time high in 2021. In Greenland and Antarctica, all-time low levels of ice mass were noted by scientists. They also found that glaciers are currently melting 31 per cent faster than they did 15 years ago. Ocean heat and global sea levels have set new records since 2019. In 2020, the annual loss rate of the Amazon rainforest situated in Brazil hit a 12-year high. Also read: What will Russia's 'Nauka' do at the International Space Station? The study was undertaken by the University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute. Researchers said there exists "mounting evidence" of humanity having crossed a number of climate tipping points which primarily include the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica. Along with these events, the scientists also noted how climate change may now be irreversible on a scale of centuries, regardless of whether humans are able to cut down harmful emissions.

Earth's 'vital signs' are worsening due to climate change, scientists warn

The Hubble Space Telescope recently discovered water vapour around Jupiter's moon Ganymede &nbsp;- the largest moon in our solar system.

The water vapour is formed around the icy surface of the moon through the process of sublimation in which the vapour turns into gaseous form from solid. To detect this water vapour, astronomers used a combination of fresh observations and archival content from the Hubble Telescope, in a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy.

Ganymede is the ninth-largest object in our solar system and contains more water than all of of the oceans on Earth. According to previous research, Jupiter's moon is 2.4 times smaller than Earth. Jupiter moon's is a cold body, with temperatures that can drop as low as -184 degree Celsius (300 degrees Fahrenheit). The surface of the moon is made up of frozen water ice shell.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-vital-signs-are-worsening-due-to-climate-change-scientists-warn-401135" hreflang="en">Earth's 'vital signs' are worsening due to climate change, scientists warn</a>

At least 161 kilometres (100 miles) below the moon's crust lies a salty ocean. Earlier, researchers were convinced that the ocean couldn't have evaporated from the ice shell to create vapour.

The moon is named after an ancient Greek divine hero and is also the only moon to possess a magnetic field, which produces auroras on the moon's north and south poles. The first ultraviolet images of Ganymede were captured by the Hubble in 1998 which revealed these auroras. The same telescope was used in 1996 with no clear indications about the peculiar features of the moon.

Ganymede doesn't have a persistent temperature across the day and it changes significantly over the duration of the day - during noon, the moon's equator becomes warm enough for&nbsp;the ice to sublimate or to essentially release water molecules in small amounts.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-to-search-for-signs-of-extraterrestrial-technology-401116" hreflang="en">Scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology</a>

This helped scientists understand the differences in two sets of images taken by the Hubble Telescope. NASA's Juno mission recently released the first close-up images taken in the last two decades.

The Hubble Space Telescope recently discovered water vapour around Jupiter's moon Ganymede - the largest moon in our solar system. The water vapour is formed around the icy surface of the moon through the process of sublimation in which the vapour turns into gaseous form from solid.

The Hubble Space Telescope recently discovered water vapour around Jupiter's moon Ganymede - the largest moon in our solar system. The water vapour is formed around the icy surface of the moon through the process of sublimation in which the vapour turns into gaseous form from solid. To detect this water vapour, astronomers used a combination of fresh observations and archival content from the Hubble Telescope, in a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy. Ganymede is the ninth-largest object in our solar system and contains more water than all of of the oceans on Earth. According to previous research, Jupiter's moon is 2.4 times smaller than Earth. Jupiter moon's is a cold body, with temperatures that can drop as low as -184 degree Celsius (300 degrees Fahrenheit). The surface of the moon is made up of frozen water ice shell. Also read: Earth's 'vital signs' are worsening due to climate change, scientists warn At least 161 kilometres (100 miles) below the moon's crust lies a salty ocean. Earlier, researchers were convinced that the ocean couldn't have evaporated from the ice shell to create vapour. The moon is named after an ancient Greek divine hero and is also the only moon to possess a magnetic field, which produces auroras on the moon's north and south poles. The first ultraviolet images of Ganymede were captured by the Hubble in 1998 which revealed these auroras. The same telescope was used in 1996 with no clear indications about the peculiar features of the moon. Ganymede doesn't have a persistent temperature across the day and it changes significantly over the duration of the day - during noon, the moon's equator becomes warm enough for the ice to sublimate or to essentially release water molecules in small amounts. Also read: Scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology This helped scientists understand the differences in two sets of images taken by the Hubble Telescope. NASA's Juno mission recently released the first close-up images taken in the last two decades.

Hubble discovers water vapour around Jupiter's Ganymede, largest moon in our solar system

New York and other US states filed a notice on Wednesday saying they will fight the dismissal of an antitrust lawsuit that they launched against Facebook Inc in an appeals court.

In June, a US&nbsp;judge dismissed federal and state antitrust complaints against the social media company that had sought to force it to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.

Judge James Boasberg of the US&nbsp;District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed the states' lawsuit but said the Federal Trade Commission could refile its complaint.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said the states would press on.

"We filed this notice of appeal because we disagree with the court's decision and must hold Facebook accountable for stifling competition, reducing innovation and cutting privacy protections," she said.

In dismissing the states' lawsuit, Boasberg said they had waited too long to challenge the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

"We believe the District Court's decision dismissing the states' complaint is correct and look forward to defending the District Court's decision before the Court of Appeals, a Facebook spokesperson said.

New York and other US states filed a notice on Wednesday saying they will fight the dismissal of an antitrust lawsuit that they launched against Facebook Inc in an appeals court.

New York and other US states filed a notice on Wednesday saying they will fight the dismissal of an antitrust lawsuit that they launched against Facebook Inc in an appeals court. In June, a US judge dismissed federal and state antitrust complaints against the social media company that had sought to force it to sell Instagram and WhatsApp. Judge James Boasberg of the US District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed the states' lawsuit but said the Federal Trade Commission could refile its complaint. New York Attorney General Letitia James said the states would press on. "We filed this notice of appeal because we disagree with the court's decision and must hold Facebook accountable for stifling competition, reducing innovation and cutting privacy protections," she said. In dismissing the states' lawsuit, Boasberg said they had waited too long to challenge the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, in 2012 and 2014 respectively. "We believe the District Court's decision dismissing the states' complaint is correct and look forward to defending the District Court's decision before the Court of Appeals, a Facebook spokesperson said.

New York, other states to fight dismissal of antitrust lawsuit against Facebook

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro appointed center-right Senator Ciro Nogueira as his chief of staff on Wednesday to shore up waning political support in Congress, and recreated the labour ministry to deal with record unemployment.

Nogueira, a leader of the Progressives Party (PP) to which lower house speaker Arthur Lira also belongs, will be Bolsonaro's closest aide and minister, replacing a retired general.

His appointment is aimed at improving the far-right president's relations with Congress, where there have been dozens of requests for his impeachment as his popularity drops during the world's second-deadliest COVID-19 outbreak.

A Senate investigation has uncovered potential irregularities in the government's purchase of COVID-19 vaccines needed to fight a pandemic whose gravity Bolsonaro has minimized despite the deaths of more than 550,000 Brazilians.

Only the United States has recorded more deaths from the pandemic.

Bolsonaro also appointed Onyx Lorenzoni to head a new Ministry of Labour and Social Security tasked with tackling record unemployment exacerbated by the pandemic. Brazil's jobless rate was at a historic high of 14.7% in April.

The labour ministry, dating back to 1930, was dissolved by Bolsonaro on his fist day in office on Jan. 1, 2019, as he sought to reduce the size of the state's involvement in the economy under free-market Economy Minster Paulo Guedes.

Lorenzoni will be responsible for labour policies aimed at generating employment and supporting workers, according to a decree issued by Bolsonaro recreating the ministry.

The appointment of Nogueira is expected to make his PP party the main component of any coalition that Bolsonaro will try to build to seek re-election next year.

Recent opinion polls show Bolsonaro's popularity plummeting over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and say he would be defeated handily by leftist former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva if the election were held now.

To make matters worse, the Senate probe has implicated the government's chief whip in the lower house of Congress, Ricardo Barros, also of the PP party, in a scandal surrounding a purchase contract for 20 million doses of the Covaxin vaccine made by India's Bharat Biotech. Barros and Bolsonaro deny wrongdoing.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro appointed center-right Senator Ciro Nogueira as his chief of staff on Wednesday to shore up waning political support in Congress, and recreated the labour ministry to deal with record unemployment.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro appointed center-right Senator Ciro Nogueira as his chief of staff on Wednesday to shore up waning political support in Congress, and recreated the labour ministry to deal with record unemployment. Nogueira, a leader of the Progressives Party (PP) to which lower house speaker Arthur Lira also belongs, will be Bolsonaro's closest aide and minister, replacing a retired general. His appointment is aimed at improving the far-right president's relations with Congress, where there have been dozens of requests for his impeachment as his popularity drops during the world's second-deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. A Senate investigation has uncovered potential irregularities in the government's purchase of COVID-19 vaccines needed to fight a pandemic whose gravity Bolsonaro has minimized despite the deaths of more than 550,000 Brazilians. Only the United States has recorded more deaths from the pandemic. Bolsonaro also appointed Onyx Lorenzoni to head a new Ministry of Labour and Social Security tasked with tackling record unemployment exacerbated by the pandemic. Brazil's jobless rate was at a historic high of 14.7% in April. The labour ministry, dating back to 1930, was dissolved by Bolsonaro on his fist day in office on Jan. 1, 2019, as he sought to reduce the size of the state's involvement in the economy under free-market Economy Minster Paulo Guedes. Lorenzoni will be responsible for labour policies aimed at generating employment and supporting workers, according to a decree issued by Bolsonaro recreating the ministry. The appointment of Nogueira is expected to make his PP party the main component of any coalition that Bolsonaro will try to build to seek re-election next year. Recent opinion polls show Bolsonaro's popularity plummeting over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and say he would be defeated handily by leftist former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva if the election were held now. To make matters worse, the Senate probe has implicated the government's chief whip in the lower house of Congress, Ricardo Barros, also of the PP party, in a scandal surrounding a purchase contract for 20 million doses of the Covaxin vaccine made by India's Bharat Biotech. Barros and Bolsonaro deny wrongdoing.

Brazil's Bolsonaro shuffles cabinet, recreates labour ministry

The Italian coastguard arrested 18 people on Wednesday for illegal fishing of a rare mollusc, breaking up what police said was a criminal organisation that had been destroying a stretch of protected coastline south of Naples.

The arrests followed a three-year investigation into the group which had allegedly been harvesting date mussels, a protected species, using hammers to get them out of the rocks near the seaside beauty spot of Sorrento.

Fishing for date mussels has been illegal in Italy since 1998, because they are an endangered species and the invasive methods used to get them out of the rocks they bore into are destructive for the marine ecosystem.

The valuable shellfish, considered a delicacy, are longer than common mussels and have a browner shell. They sell at up to 200 euros ($235) per kilo on the black market.

The people arrested are accused of numerous crimes including illegal fishing, destroying the marine habitat and selling unsafe foods, said a statement from the prosecutors' office of Torre Annunziata which led the investigation.

The "criminal organisation," which had allegedly operated since 2016, was also responsible for collecting and selling clams from a "highly polluted" area near the mouth of a river carrying hydrocarbons and heavy metals, the statement said.

Less than three months ago on the nearby island of Capri, a glamorous tourist destination, police broke up two other organisations for date mussel fishing.

A police video showed the holes in the three "Faraglioni" rock formations, a symbol of Capri, caused by the drills and hammers the fishermen had used to extract the molluscs.

The Italian coastguard arrested 18 people on Wednesday for illegal fishing of a rare mollusc, breaking up what police said was a criminal organisation that had been destroying a stretch of protected coastline south of Naples.

The Italian coastguard arrested 18 people on Wednesday for illegal fishing of a rare mollusc, breaking up what police said was a criminal organisation that had been destroying a stretch of protected coastline south of Naples. The arrests followed a three-year investigation into the group which had allegedly been harvesting date mussels, a protected species, using hammers to get them out of the rocks near the seaside beauty spot of Sorrento. Fishing for date mussels has been illegal in Italy since 1998, because they are an endangered species and the invasive methods used to get them out of the rocks they bore into are destructive for the marine ecosystem. The valuable shellfish, considered a delicacy, are longer than common mussels and have a browner shell. They sell at up to 200 euros ($235) per kilo on the black market. The people arrested are accused of numerous crimes including illegal fishing, destroying the marine habitat and selling unsafe foods, said a statement from the prosecutors' office of Torre Annunziata which led the investigation. The "criminal organisation," which had allegedly operated since 2016, was also responsible for collecting and selling clams from a "highly polluted" area near the mouth of a river carrying hydrocarbons and heavy metals, the statement said. Less than three months ago on the nearby island of Capri, a glamorous tourist destination, police broke up two other organisations for date mussel fishing. A police video showed the holes in the three "Faraglioni" rock formations, a symbol of Capri, caused by the drills and hammers the fishermen had used to extract the molluscs.

Italy arrests 18 for illegal fishing of protected shellfish

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that US&nbsp;President Joe Biden's assessment of Russia as only having nuclear weapons and oil was wide of the mark and betrayed a lack of knowledge about the country.

Biden made the remark on Tuesday during a speech in which he warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China.

Biden boasted that the US&nbsp;intelligence services were superior to their Russian counterparts and said Putin had "a real problem."

"... He’s sitting on top of an economy that has nuclear weapons and oil wells and nothing else. Nothing else. Their economy is, what?, the eighth smallest in the world now, largest in the world? He knows he’s in real trouble, which makes him even more dangerous, in my view," said Biden.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it looked as though Biden, who gave the speech while visiting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), had tailored his message for his country's intelligence community and wanted to make an impression.

Peskov said the United States was an opponent of Russia even though efforts to normalise ties were underway. Senior US&nbsp;and Russian officials began talks on Wednesday on strategic nuclear stability.

Peskov also rejected Biden's allegations that Russia was already interfering in the United States' 2022 mid-term elections.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that US President Joe Biden's assessment of Russia as only having nuclear weapons and oil was wide of the mark and betrayed a lack of knowledge about the country.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that US President Joe Biden's assessment of Russia as only having nuclear weapons and oil was wide of the mark and betrayed a lack of knowledge about the country. Biden made the remark on Tuesday during a speech in which he warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China. Biden boasted that the US intelligence services were superior to their Russian counterparts and said Putin had "a real problem." "... He’s sitting on top of an economy that has nuclear weapons and oil wells and nothing else. Nothing else. Their economy is, what?, the eighth smallest in the world now, largest in the world? He knows he’s in real trouble, which makes him even more dangerous, in my view," said Biden. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it looked as though Biden, who gave the speech while visiting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), had tailored his message for his country's intelligence community and wanted to make an impression. Peskov said the United States was an opponent of Russia even though efforts to normalise ties were underway. Senior US and Russian officials began talks on Wednesday on strategic nuclear stability. Peskov also rejected Biden's allegations that Russia was already interfering in the United States' 2022 mid-term elections.

Kremlin says Biden is wrong to say that Russia only has nuclear weapons and oil

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Paris owed "a debt" to French Polynesia over nuclear tests conducted in the South Pacific territory between 1966 and 1996, but stopped short of apologising.

"I accept responsibility and I want truth and transparency together with you," Macron said in a speech to Polynesian officials during his first official trip to the territory, adding that there should be better compensation for victims of the tests.

"The nation owes a debt to French Polynesia. This debt is from having conducted these tests, in particular those between 1966 and 1974. Nobody can claim that they were clean."

The legacy of French testing in the territory remains a source of deep resentment and is seen as evidence of racist colonial attitudes that disregarded the lives of locals.

The tests were conducted&nbsp;from 1966 to 1996 as France developed nuclear weapons.&nbsp;

Officials denied any cover-up of radiation exposure earlier this month after French investigative website Disclose reported in March that the impact from the fallout was far more extensive than authorities had acknowledged, citing declassified French military documents.

Macron echoed the sentiments in his remarks on Tuesday.

"I want to tell you clearly that the military who carried them out did not lie to you. They took the same risks... There were no lies, there were risks that weren't calculated, including by the military."

"I think it's true that we would not have done the same tests in La Creuse or in Brittany," he said, referring to regions inside mainland France.

"We did them here because it was further away, lost in middle of the Pacific," he said.

But Macron said he nonetheless "fully" stood behind France's post-war ambition to acquire nuclear arms, including for the defence of French Polynesia.

France conducted its first successful atomic bomb test in 1960, making it the world's fourth nuclear power after the US, the Soviet Union and Britain. &nbsp;

Calls for apology 
Ahead of Macron's four-day visit, residents in the sprawling archipelago of more than 100 islands located midway between Mexico and Australia had been hoping that Macron would apologise and announce compensation for radiation victims.

Only 63 Polynesian civilians have been compensated for radiation exposure since the tests ended in 1996, Disclose said, estimating that more than 100,000 people may have been contaminated in total, with leukaemia, lymphoma and other cancers rife.

"We're expecting an apology from the president," Auguste Uebe-Carlson, head of the 193 Association of victims of nuclear tests, said ahead of Macron's visit.

"Just as he has recognised as a crime the colonisation that took place in Algeria, we also expect him to declare that it was criminal and that it is a form of colonisation linked to nuclear power here in the Pacific."

Meeting Macron on Tuesday on the island of Moorea, Lena Lenormand, the vice president of the association, renewed the call.

"There are urgent demands, people who are suffering. We're asking you to own what the state did to these Polynesian people, for an apology and real support," she told Macron.

"We can't help but think that you are at the end of your term, so words are one thing, but afterwards, what will be done concretely?" she told Macron.

In response, Macron said he was "committed to changing things" regarding compensation.

"I've heard you, and I've heard what you are asking of me, and you will see my response."&nbsp;

In his speech, Macron said that since his election in 2017, there has been progress in compensation claims, but he admitted that it was not enough and said the deadline for filing claims would be extended.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Paris owed "a debt" to French Polynesia over nuclear tests conducted in the South Pacific territory between 1966 and 1996, but stopped short of apologising.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Paris owed "a debt" to French Polynesia over nuclear tests conducted in the South Pacific territory between 1966 and 1996, but stopped short of apologising. "I accept responsibility and I want truth and transparency together with you," Macron said in a speech to Polynesian officials during his first official trip to the territory, adding that there should be better compensation for victims of the tests. "The nation owes a debt to French Polynesia. This debt is from having conducted these tests, in particular those between 1966 and 1974. Nobody can claim that they were clean." The legacy of French testing in the territory remains a source of deep resentment and is seen as evidence of racist colonial attitudes that disregarded the lives of locals. The tests were conducted from 1966 to 1996 as France developed nuclear weapons. Officials denied any cover-up of radiation exposure earlier this month after French investigative website Disclose reported in March that the impact from the fallout was far more extensive than authorities had acknowledged, citing declassified French military documents. Macron echoed the sentiments in his remarks on Tuesday. "I want to tell you clearly that the military who carried them out did not lie to you. They took the same risks... There were no lies, there were risks that weren't calculated, including by the military." "I think it's true that we would not have done the same tests in La Creuse or in Brittany," he said, referring to regions inside mainland France. "We did them here because it was further away, lost in middle of the Pacific," he said. But Macron said he nonetheless "fully" stood behind France's post-war ambition to acquire nuclear arms, including for the defence of French Polynesia. France conducted its first successful atomic bomb test in 1960, making it the world's fourth nuclear power after the US, the Soviet Union and Britain. Calls for apology Ahead of Macron's four-day visit, residents in the sprawling archipelago of more than 100 islands located midway between Mexico and Australia had been hoping that Macron would apologise and announce compensation for radiation victims. Only 63 Polynesian civilians have been compensated for radiation exposure since the tests ended in 1996, Disclose said, estimating that more than 100,000 people may have been contaminated in total, with leukaemia, lymphoma and other cancers rife. "We're expecting an apology from the president," Auguste Uebe-Carlson, head of the 193 Association of victims of nuclear tests, said ahead of Macron's visit. "Just as he has recognised as a crime the colonisation that took place in Algeria, we also expect him to declare that it was criminal and that it is a form of colonisation linked to nuclear power here in the Pacific." Meeting Macron on Tuesday on the island of Moorea, Lena Lenormand, the vice president of the association, renewed the call. "There are urgent demands, people who are suffering. We're asking you to own what the state did to these Polynesian people, for an apology and real support," she told Macron. "We can't help but think that you are at the end of your term, so words are one thing, but afterwards, what will be done concretely?" she told Macron. In response, Macron said he was "committed to changing things" regarding compensation. "I've heard you, and I've heard what you are asking of me, and you will see my response." In his speech, Macron said that since his election in 2017, there has been progress in compensation claims, but he admitted that it was not enough and said the deadline for filing claims would be extended.

France owes French Polynesia 'a debt' over nuclear tests: Macron

Israel on Wednesday said that it is issuing 16,000 work permits for Palestinians from West Bank to work in its construction and hotel industries. Now, the total number of work permits for Palestinians in Israel will stand at 100,000.

"Israel intends to increase by 15,000 workers the quota of Palestinian residents of Judea and Samaria (the southern and northern West Bank) working in the field of construction," AFP quoted COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for civil affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories as saying.

COGAT added that an additional 1,000 permits will be issued to Palestinians working in Israeli hotels. 106,000 Palestinians will now be allowed to work in Israel, with an additional 30,000 Palestinians authorised to work in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a security official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/israel-calls-ben-jerrys-decision-to-stop-selling-ice-cream-in-palestine-anti-semitic-399195" hreflang="en">Israel calls Ben &amp; Jerry's decision to stop selling ice cream in Palestine 'anti-Semitic'</a>

The announcement followed discussions between Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. The Israeli government is expected to approve it next week, the security source said, adding: "We want to apply it as fast as possible. It's in the interest of both sides."

Jobs in Israel offer higher wages than those in Palestinian-administered areas of the West Bank but Palestinians complain they do not get paid as much as their Israeli counterparts or enjoy similar labour protections. &nbsp;

The head of COGAT, Major General Rassan Alian, said the additional work permits "will strengthen the Israeli and Palestinian economies, and will largely contribute to the security stability in the area of Judea and Samaria".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/israeli-forces-killed-palestinian-in-west-bank-say-palestinian-authorities-401049" hreflang="en">Israeli forces killed Palestinian in West Bank, say Palestinian authorities</a>

No Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip are currently permitted to work in Israel, the security official said.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Israel to suspend the 7,000 permits previously granted to workers from the impoverished territory of some two million people which has been under Israeli blockade since 2007.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel on Wednesday said that it is issuing 16,000 work permits for Palestinians from West Bank to work in its construction and hotel industries. Now, the total number of work permits for Palestinians in Israel will stand at 100,000.

Israel on Wednesday said that it is issuing 16,000 work permits for Palestinians from West Bank to work in its construction and hotel industries. Now, the total number of work permits for Palestinians in Israel will stand at 100,000. "Israel intends to increase by 15,000 workers the quota of Palestinian residents of Judea and Samaria (the southern and northern West Bank) working in the field of construction," AFP quoted COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for civil affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories as saying. COGAT added that an additional 1,000 permits will be issued to Palestinians working in Israeli hotels. 106,000 Palestinians will now be allowed to work in Israel, with an additional 30,000 Palestinians authorised to work in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a security official told AFP on the condition of anonymity. Also read: Israel calls Ben & Jerry's decision to stop selling ice cream in Palestine 'anti-Semitic' The announcement followed discussions between Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. The Israeli government is expected to approve it next week, the security source said, adding: "We want to apply it as fast as possible. It's in the interest of both sides." Jobs in Israel offer higher wages than those in Palestinian-administered areas of the West Bank but Palestinians complain they do not get paid as much as their Israeli counterparts or enjoy similar labour protections. The head of COGAT, Major General Rassan Alian, said the additional work permits "will strengthen the Israeli and Palestinian economies, and will largely contribute to the security stability in the area of Judea and Samaria". Also read: Israeli forces killed Palestinian in West Bank, say Palestinian authorities No Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip are currently permitted to work in Israel, the security official said. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Israel to suspend the 7,000 permits previously granted to workers from the impoverished territory of some two million people which has been under Israeli blockade since 2007. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel to issue 16,000 new work permits for Palestinians

Sun Dawu, an outspoken rural businessman who has been a thorn in the side of China’s ruling Communist Party, has been formally arrested on a number of charges, months after being taken into detention.

Sun, who has been held in the northern province of Hebei since November, faces charges of illegal fundraising and obstructing public service, among other offenses. He was formally arrested Wednesday, according to an arrest notice provided Saturday by one of his lawyers.

The arrest of Sun — a vocal critic of the Communist Party’s top leader, Xi Jinping, and his crackdown on civil society — comes amid broader efforts by Xi to muzzle business leaders and bring China’s private sector to heel.

Beijing has punished a number of high-profile tycoons recently. Ren Zhiqiang, a retired real estate mogul who had called Xi a clown, was given an 18-year prison sentence last year. After Jack Ma, China’s most famous business leader, criticized Chinese regulators in October, his e-commerce empire Alibaba and financial technology giant Ant Group became targets, and Ma has since kept an uncharacteristically low profile.

Authorities have said little about Sun’s alleged offenses. He and 24 other people were detained in November amid a land dispute between his company and a state-owned farm. At the time, police said only that Sun, 66, and others were being held on suspicion of “provocation, disrupting production and operation and other illegal crimes.”

Authorities in Gaobeidian, the city in Hebei where Sun is being held in a detention center, did not respond to a request for comment.

Sun, a veteran of the People’s Liberation Army, worked at China’s state-owned Agricultural Bank of China before starting his own business, called Dawu Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Group, which now employs thousands of people.

Sun also provided venues for conferences held by liberal and reform-minded groups. He maintained friendships with dissidents long after they became politically toxic. When human rights lawyers were arrested, he offered to pay for their defense.

Nobel Peace laureate and human rights advocate Liu Xiaobo, who died in detention in 2017, once said that Sun posed a “tremendous challenge for the current system” because he had both courage and the resources to push for change.

“The government,” Liu wrote, “will definitely go after him with murky laws.”

Sun Dawu, an outspoken rural businessman who has been a thorn in the side of China’s ruling Communist Party, has been formally arrested on a number of charges, months after being taken into detention.

Sun Dawu, an outspoken rural businessman who has been a thorn in the side of China’s ruling Communist Party, has been formally arrested on a number of charges, months after being taken into detention. Sun, who has been held in the northern province of Hebei since November, faces charges of illegal fundraising and obstructing public service, among other offenses. He was formally arrested Wednesday, according to an arrest notice provided Saturday by one of his lawyers. The arrest of Sun — a vocal critic of the Communist Party’s top leader, Xi Jinping, and his crackdown on civil society — comes amid broader efforts by Xi to muzzle business leaders and bring China’s private sector to heel. Beijing has punished a number of high-profile tycoons recently. Ren Zhiqiang, a retired real estate mogul who had called Xi a clown, was given an 18-year prison sentence last year. After Jack Ma, China’s most famous business leader, criticized Chinese regulators in October, his e-commerce empire Alibaba and financial technology giant Ant Group became targets, and Ma has since kept an uncharacteristically low profile. Authorities have said little about Sun’s alleged offenses. He and 24 other people were detained in November amid a land dispute between his company and a state-owned farm. At the time, police said only that Sun, 66, and others were being held on suspicion of “provocation, disrupting production and operation and other illegal crimes.” Authorities in Gaobeidian, the city in Hebei where Sun is being held in a detention center, did not respond to a request for comment. Sun, a veteran of the People’s Liberation Army, worked at China’s state-owned Agricultural Bank of China before starting his own business, called Dawu Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Group, which now employs thousands of people. Sun also provided venues for conferences held by liberal and reform-minded groups. He maintained friendships with dissidents long after they became politically toxic. When human rights lawyers were arrested, he offered to pay for their defense. Nobel Peace laureate and human rights advocate Liu Xiaobo, who died in detention in 2017, once said that Sun posed a “tremendous challenge for the current system” because he had both courage and the resources to push for change. “The government,” Liu wrote, “will definitely go after him with murky laws.”

China reveals charges against outspoken businessman Sun Dawu

A counterterrorism organisation formed by big tech companies in the US including Facebook and Microsoft is compiling extremist content exchanged among firms in a database, with hopes to quell hate speech.

The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) told Reuters that it aims to limit content from white supremacists and far-right militias.

What does&nbsp;GIFCT intend to do?

Until now, the GIFCT was focused on visuals, largely videos and images from terrorism groups on a United Nations list. It had consisted of content from Islamist extremist organisations like Islamic State, al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Over the coming months, the GIFCT will insert attacker manifestos and other content flagged by UN's "Tech Against Terrorism" initiative. Attacker manifestos are generally shared by terror sympathisers after violence, especially perpetrated by white supremacists. 
 
In addition, the group will make use of lists from intelligence-sharing group "Five Eyes". More content from other groups including Proud Boys, The Three Percenters and will be added to the database.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/what-is-facebooks-1-billion-gamble-to-regain-lost-users-400121" hreflang="en">What is Facebook's $1 billion gamble to regain lost users?</a>

The grouping of firms uses "hashes" which represent a number embodying content which has been removed from their services. Based on this, services compare among themselves whether the same content is being carried on their platforms, which may then be reviewed or removed.

What will this achieve?

The ongoing project will help contain extremist content on major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube. Even then, violent images and hate speech may be pushed out in different arenas of the internet.

In an interview with Reuters, GIFCT's Executive Director Nicholas Rasmussen claimed that he wants to fight an array of threats. "Anyone looking at the terrorism or extremism landscape has to appreciate that there are other parts...that are demanding attention right now," Rasmussen told Reuters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/this-is-how-social-media-giants-are-feeding-dangerous-content-to-children-399247" hreflang="en">This is how social media giants are feeding dangerous content to children</a>

Tech companies have faced flak for being ineffective in the face of hate content on their platforms and the role played by these platforms in causing potential real-life damage. But at the same time, the companies are confronted with censorship concerns.

(With inputs from agencies)

A counterterrorism organisation formed by big tech companies in the US including Facebook and Microsoft is compiling extremist content exchanged among firms in a database, with hopes to quell hate speech.

A counterterrorism organisation formed by big tech companies in the US including Facebook and Microsoft is compiling extremist content exchanged among firms in a database, with hopes to quell hate speech. The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) told Reuters that it aims to limit content from white supremacists and far-right militias. What does GIFCT intend to do? Until now, the GIFCT was focused on visuals, largely videos and images from terrorism groups on a United Nations list. It had consisted of content from Islamist extremist organisations like Islamic State, al Qaeda and the Taliban. Over the coming months, the GIFCT will insert attacker manifestos and other content flagged by UN's "Tech Against Terrorism" initiative. Attacker manifestos are generally shared by terror sympathisers after violence, especially perpetrated by white supremacists. In addition, the group will make use of lists from intelligence-sharing group "Five Eyes". More content from other groups including Proud Boys, The Three Percenters and will be added to the database. Also read: What is Facebook's $1 billion gamble to regain lost users? The grouping of firms uses "hashes" which represent a number embodying content which has been removed from their services. Based on this, services compare among themselves whether the same content is being carried on their platforms, which may then be reviewed or removed. What will this achieve? The ongoing project will help contain extremist content on major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube. Even then, violent images and hate speech may be pushed out in different arenas of the internet. In an interview with Reuters, GIFCT's Executive Director Nicholas Rasmussen claimed that he wants to fight an array of threats. "Anyone looking at the terrorism or extremism landscape has to appreciate that there are other parts...that are demanding attention right now," Rasmussen told Reuters. Also read: This is how social media giants are feeding dangerous content to children Tech companies have faced flak for being ineffective in the face of hate content on their platforms and the role played by these platforms in causing potential real-life damage. But at the same time, the companies are confronted with censorship concerns. (With inputs from agencies)

Anti-terror organisation set up by tech firms to compile database of right-wing militias

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