Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (Dec 17) inaugurated the world’s largest office building, Surat Diamond Bourse, in Gujarat.

The Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) building is located at Khajod village near Gujarat’s Surat city. It is the world’s largest and modern centre for international diamond and jewellery business and will cater as the global centre for trading both rough and polished diamonds as well as jewellery.

The bourse comprises the state-of-the-art ‘Customs Clearance House’ for import and export, a jewellery mall for retail jewellery business and a facility for international banking and safe vaults.

The whole complex is built on a plot of 35.54 acres, and costs around Rs 35 billion. The building spans 67 lakh square feet of floor space and has the capacity to house nearly 4,500 diamond trading offices.

<h2>‘Symbol of new India's strength, resolve’</h2>

Addressing the public after the inauguration, Modi said, "Today the people of Surat and the traders and businessmen here are getting two more gifts. Today itself the new terminal of Surat Airport has been inaugurated and the second big thing that has happened is that now Surat Airport has got the status of International Airport. I congratulate the people of Surat and the people of Gujarat for this wonderful terminal and international airport."

"The Surat Diamond Bourse exhibits the capabilities of Indian designers, Indian designers, Indian materials and Indian concepts. This building is the symbol of New India's new strength and new resolve," he added.

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<h2>India to be among top three world economies&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

Confident in returning to power for the third time, Modi said that India will be among the top three economies in the next 25 years.&nbsp;

"Surat Diamond Bourse is an example of Modi's guarantee...I have given this guarantee to the nation that India will be among the top three economies in the world in my third term. The government has fixed the target for the coming 25 years..."

The megastructure has nine ground towers plus 15 floors, with office spaces ranging from 300 sqft to 1 lakh sqft. The nine rectangular towers are connected by a central spine. The building has a platinum ranking from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-breaks-silence-says-do-not-underestimate-seriousness-of-indian-parliament-security-breach-670459">Don’t ‘underestimate’ seriousness of parliament security breach, says PM Modi</a>

The building, which is part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City, was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the largest office building in the world in August this year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/israel-hamas-conflict-trade-pact-energy-dominate-pm-modi-oman-sultan-talks-670369">Israel-Hamas conflict, trade pact, energy dominate PM Modi, Oman Sultan talks</a>

Several diamond traders, including those based in Mumbai earlier, have already taken possession of their offices, which were allotted by the management after auction, SDB’s media convener Dinesh Navadiya said in a statement recently. The SDB is part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City.

This is a developing story. More updates will be added soon

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (Dec 17) inaugurated the world’s largest office building, Surat Diamond Bourse, in Gujarat. The Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) building is located at Khajod village near Gujarat’s Surat city.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (Dec 17) inaugurated the world’s largest office building, Surat Diamond Bourse, in Gujarat. The Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) building is located at Khajod village near Gujarat’s Surat city. It is the world’s largest and modern centre for international diamond and jewellery business and will cater as the global centre for trading both rough and polished diamonds as well as jewellery. The bourse comprises the state-of-the-art ‘Customs Clearance House’ for import and export, a jewellery mall for retail jewellery business and a facility for international banking and safe vaults. The whole complex is built on a plot of 35.54 acres, and costs around Rs 35 billion. The building spans 67 lakh square feet of floor space and has the capacity to house nearly 4,500 diamond trading offices. ‘Symbol of new India's strength, resolve’ Addressing the public after the inauguration, Modi said, "Today the people of Surat and the traders and businessmen here are getting two more gifts. Today itself the new terminal of Surat Airport has been inaugurated and the second big thing that has happened is that now Surat Airport has got the status of International Airport. I congratulate the people of Surat and the people of Gujarat for this wonderful terminal and international airport." "The Surat Diamond Bourse exhibits the capabilities of Indian designers, Indian designers, Indian materials and Indian concepts. This building is the symbol of New India's new strength and new resolve," he added. India to be among top three world economies Confident in returning to power for the third time, Modi said that India will be among the top three economies in the next 25 years. "Surat Diamond Bourse is an example of Modi's guarantee...I have given this guarantee to the nation that India will be among the top three economies in the world in my third term. The government has fixed the target for the coming 25 years..." The megastructure has nine ground towers plus 15 floors, with office spaces ranging from 300 sqft to 1 lakh sqft. The nine rectangular towers are connected by a central spine. The building has a platinum ranking from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). Also read | Don’t ‘underestimate’ seriousness of parliament security breach, says PM Modi The building, which is part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City, was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the largest office building in the world in August this year. Also read | Israel-Hamas conflict, trade pact, energy dominate PM Modi, Oman Sultan talks Several diamond traders, including those based in Mumbai earlier, have already taken possession of their offices, which were allotted by the management after auction, SDB’s media convener Dinesh Navadiya said in a statement recently. The SDB is part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City. This is a developing story. More updates will be added soon

Indian PM Modi inaugurates Surat Diamond Bourse, world’s largest office building, in Gujarat

The Moon has fascinated humans for centuries, yet it is only in modern times that special explorations are being carried out to study the physiological aspects of the celestial body, thanks to the advancement of science.

From robots to human landings, in the last 50 years, astronomers have launched several lunar missions in a bid to study the evolution of the solar system and in particular, the existence of human beings.

Now, plans are afoot to build giant lighthouses on the Moon that will not only illuminate the local terrain during lunar light but will also serve as a single-point infrastructure for power storage, communications, navigation, and even surveillance.

<h2>The LUNARSABER</h2>

This endeavour is being carried out by Honeybee Robotics. They call it the Lunar Utility Navigation with Advanced Remote Sensing and Autonomous Beaming for Energy Redistribution, or LUNARSABER.

This tower of power is expected to be nearly 330 feet (100 meters) tall, with the capacity to scale over 650 feet (200 meters) in height above the lunar landscape to boost its service range.&nbsp;

<img alt="LUNARSABER" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c39aa2ac-d8cf-4ec4-b546-2e56aec5acb8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Lunar%2021.png" />

The tower would be a deployable structure topped by solar panels that integrate&nbsp;power storage and transfer&nbsp;and communications, into a single infrastructure, as part of the company’s plan to develop a lunar economy. &nbsp;

"LUNARSABER can be above the lunar horizon and always see the sun if we're in the south pole of the moon," Kris Zacny, vice president of Exploration Systems at Honeybee Robotics in Altadena, California, told Space.com.

<h2>Moon to be illuminated throughout the year&nbsp;</h2>

"Right on top of the structure, there are cameras, and communications systems. We have a flood light to illuminate areas for rovers."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hello-from-the-other-side-nasas-voyager-1-faces-glitch-in-interstellar-space-cant-call-back-home-669373">'Hello from the other side': NASA's Voyager 1 faces glitch in interstellar space, can't call back home</a>

"You put one or two of them at the south pole of the moon and you cover the entire area. It's your lighthouse," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-decodes-martian-lakes-ancient-history-after-spending-1000-martian-days-669370">Perseverance completes 1,000 days on Mars, decodes mystery of ancient crater lake</a>

Giving more details about the project, Vishnu Sanigepalli, Honeybee's principal investigator of LUNARSABER, said that it was speculated that the poles of the Moon would have peaks of eternal light where deploying a solar panel would help generate power throughout the year.

However, after NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) started to map out the Moon, it was discovered that there are no locations near the poles that receive sunlight consistently throughout the year, he said.

"There has been a lot of analysis done using the lunar topography where it was discovered that rims of craters near the South Pole have long lunar days due to their height, just not 100 per cent," Sanigepalli was quoted as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Moon has fascinated humans for centuries, yet it is only in modern times that special explorations are being carried out to study the physiological aspects of the celestial body, thanks to the advancement of science.

The Moon has fascinated humans for centuries, yet it is only in modern times that special explorations are being carried out to study the physiological aspects of the celestial body, thanks to the advancement of science. From robots to human landings, in the last 50 years, astronomers have launched several lunar missions in a bid to study the evolution of the solar system and in particular, the existence of human beings. Now, plans are afoot to build giant lighthouses on the Moon that will not only illuminate the local terrain during lunar light but will also serve as a single-point infrastructure for power storage, communications, navigation, and even surveillance. The LUNARSABER This endeavour is being carried out by Honeybee Robotics. They call it the Lunar Utility Navigation with Advanced Remote Sensing and Autonomous Beaming for Energy Redistribution, or LUNARSABER. This tower of power is expected to be nearly 330 feet (100 meters) tall, with the capacity to scale over 650 feet (200 meters) in height above the lunar landscape to boost its service range. The tower would be a deployable structure topped by solar panels that integrate power storage and transfer and communications, into a single infrastructure, as part of the company’s plan to develop a lunar economy. "LUNARSABER can be above the lunar horizon and always see the sun if we're in the south pole of the moon," Kris Zacny, vice president of Exploration Systems at Honeybee Robotics in Altadena, California, told Space.com. Moon to be illuminated throughout the year "Right on top of the structure, there are cameras, and communications systems. We have a flood light to illuminate areas for rovers." Also read | 'Hello from the other side': NASA's Voyager 1 faces glitch in interstellar space, can't call back home "You put one or two of them at the south pole of the moon and you cover the entire area. It's your lighthouse," he said. Also read | Perseverance completes 1,000 days on Mars, decodes mystery of ancient crater lake Giving more details about the project, Vishnu Sanigepalli, Honeybee's principal investigator of LUNARSABER, said that it was speculated that the poles of the Moon would have peaks of eternal light where deploying a solar panel would help generate power throughout the year. However, after NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) started to map out the Moon, it was discovered that there are no locations near the poles that receive sunlight consistently throughout the year, he said. "There has been a lot of analysis done using the lunar topography where it was discovered that rims of craters near the South Pole have long lunar days due to their height, just not 100 per cent," Sanigepalli was quoted as saying. (With inputs from agencies)

Plans afoot to build lighthouses on Moon for future lunar missions

Roman Inventions That Shaped Modern World

Roman numerals are still used in the number system. I, V, X, L, C, D, and M, represent 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 respectively.


Not exactly a newspaper, Romans had something similar. Acta Diurna or ‘daily acts' contained news of current affairs on wax slabs. It originated as early as 131 BC.


Romans were very knowledgeable when it came to civil engineering. Their sewage and sanitary plumbing systems was the highlight of their engineering excellence.


While Romans weren’t the ones who invented the arch, they did develop the architectural arch to allow them to build bridges and large buildings.



The Hypocaust system was an early underfloor heating that worked similarly to modern-day central or radiant floor heating.  


 

These Companies’ Worth Are More Than Some Nations’ GDP

The iPhone maker tops the list with a market cap of $2.7 trillion.


Best known for its suite of software offerings, Microsoft's market value is $2.3 trillion.


Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world and has also built a sizable cloud business in Amazon Web Service. Its market cap is at $1.3 trillion.


Alphabet, the parent company of Google, generates a majority of its revenue from online advertising. Its market cap is $1.7 trillion.



The semiconductor company became the latest company to cross the trillion-dollar mark in June 2023. Its market cap is valued at
$1.1 trillion.


The Delhi Police have so far arrested five people involved in the security breach of the Indian Parliament, while the sixth one still on the run. The lapse happened on Wednesday (Dec 13), when the nation was marking the 22nd anniversary of the parliament terror attack.

Two intruders jumped into the well of the house from the visitors’ gallery, hurled coloured smoke canisters and chanted slogans 'tanashahi nahin chalegi' (dictatorship will not prevail) while the session was ongoing.

The episode not only brought back the memories of the 2001 attack but also raised serious questions about the security arrangement at the new parliament complex.

While those inside the house were quickly overpowered by the security officials, two other people, a man and a woman, were also held for protesting outside the parliament by setting off canisters of coloured gas.

Even as a probe has been initiated to look into the matter, the focus has now been shifted to these six individuals who were connected with the incident, and their motive.

The arrested have been identified as Sagar Sharma, D Manoranjan, who used yellow canisters inside Lok Sabha, Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde, who burst red and yellow canisters outside the parliament.

Later, another person named Vicky Sharma was arrested for allegedly sheltering others at his Gurgaon home. While the police are on the look out for the sixth one, Lalit Jha.

So far, the police have found no common connection between them except that all were members of a social media page called the 'Bhagat Singh Fan Club', according to media reports.

Of them, Neelam Azad and Amol Shinde were unemployed for a long time and were desperately seeking jobs.

It has been reported that the accused told police that they wanted to highlight issues like unemployment, inflation and the violence in Manipur, and ensure that they are discussed in parliament.

<h2>Sagar Sharma</h2>

Sharma (27), one of the two intruders who jumped from the visitors' gallery, was born in the national capital Delhi and lived in Lucknow with his parents and a younger sister. He worked as an e-rickshaw driver there.

According to reports, he was a follower of Indian revolutionary leader Bhagat Singh and Che Guevara, a prominent communist figure in the Cuban revolution.

Before going to Delhi, Sharma had told his family members that he was heading to the capital to take part in a protest.

<h2>Manoranjan&nbsp;</h2>

Manoranjan, another person who jumped from visitors’ gallery, is from Mysuru, southern Karnataka state. A graduate in computer engineering, it is unknown whether the 34-year-old was employed.

<h2>Neelam Azad</h2>

The 37-year-old is a teacher and hails from Hisar, Haryana. She has an M.Phil degree and also cleared the National Eligibility Test, which is required to get a teaching job.

She had also participated in the year-long protests by farmers against the three agricultural laws that were repealed in 2021, and the protest held by wrestlers against the alleged sexual harassment by then Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh earlier this year.

<h2>Amol Shinde</h2>

Amol Shinde, son of farm labourers in Maharashtra's Latur, is an&nbsp;Amry exam aspirant. The 25-year-old wanted to join the Army after failing to clear the police recruitment exam. He had joined Neelam Azad in deploying the canisters and shouting slogans outside parliament.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/seven-personnel-suspended-for-parliament-security-breach-669527">India: Oppn raises parliament security breach issue as 7 personnel suspended</a>

<h2>Vicky Sharma</h2>

Vicky Sharma, along with his wife, was arrested from his Gurugram residence for allegedly providing shelter to these protesters.

<h2>Lalit Jha</h2>

Lalit Jha from Bihar is currently on the run. He had shot videos of Neelam and Amol protesting outside the parliament. Making use of the commotion, he fled with the mobile phones of all his accomplices.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-parliament-security-breach-who-is-bjp-mp-pratap-simha-who-issued-passes-to-the-intruders-669463">Who is Pratap Simha? BJP MP who issued passes to intruders who breached security at Indian Parliament</a>

According to reports, he forwarded one of the videos to the founder of an NGO owner and asked him to keep it "safe" as well as ensure that it gets media coverage.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

The Delhi Police have so far arrested five people involved in the security breach of the Indian Parliament, while the sixth one still on the run. The lapse happened on Wednesday (Dec 13), when the nation was marking the 22nd anniversary of the parliament terror attack.

The Delhi Police have so far arrested five people involved in the security breach of the Indian Parliament, while the sixth one still on the run. The lapse happened on Wednesday (Dec 13), when the nation was marking the 22nd anniversary of the parliament terror attack. Two intruders jumped into the well of the house from the visitors’ gallery, hurled coloured smoke canisters and chanted slogans 'tanashahi nahin chalegi' (dictatorship will not prevail) while the session was ongoing. The episode not only brought back the memories of the 2001 attack but also raised serious questions about the security arrangement at the new parliament complex. While those inside the house were quickly overpowered by the security officials, two other people, a man and a woman, were also held for protesting outside the parliament by setting off canisters of coloured gas. Even as a probe has been initiated to look into the matter, the focus has now been shifted to these six individuals who were connected with the incident, and their motive. The arrested have been identified as Sagar Sharma, D Manoranjan, who used yellow canisters inside Lok Sabha, Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde, who burst red and yellow canisters outside the parliament. Later, another person named Vicky Sharma was arrested for allegedly sheltering others at his Gurgaon home. While the police are on the look out for the sixth one, Lalit Jha. So far, the police have found no common connection between them except that all were members of a social media page called the 'Bhagat Singh Fan Club', according to media reports. Of them, Neelam Azad and Amol Shinde were unemployed for a long time and were desperately seeking jobs. It has been reported that the accused told police that they wanted to highlight issues like unemployment, inflation and the violence in Manipur, and ensure that they are discussed in parliament. Sagar Sharma Sharma (27), one of the two intruders who jumped from the visitors' gallery, was born in the national capital Delhi and lived in Lucknow with his parents and a younger sister. He worked as an e-rickshaw driver there. According to reports, he was a follower of Indian revolutionary leader Bhagat Singh and Che Guevara, a prominent communist figure in the Cuban revolution. Before going to Delhi, Sharma had told his family members that he was heading to the capital to take part in a protest. Manoranjan Manoranjan, another person who jumped from visitors’ gallery, is from Mysuru, southern Karnataka state. A graduate in computer engineering, it is unknown whether the 34-year-old was employed. Neelam Azad The 37-year-old is a teacher and hails from Hisar, Haryana. She has an M.Phil degree and also cleared the National Eligibility Test, which is required to get a teaching job. She had also participated in the year-long protests by farmers against the three agricultural laws that were repealed in 2021, and the protest held by wrestlers against the alleged sexual harassment by then Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh earlier this year. Amol Shinde Amol Shinde, son of farm labourers in Maharashtra's Latur, is an Amry exam aspirant. The 25-year-old wanted to join the Army after failing to clear the police recruitment exam. He had joined Neelam Azad in deploying the canisters and shouting slogans outside parliament. Also read | India: Oppn raises parliament security breach issue as 7 personnel suspended Vicky Sharma Vicky Sharma, along with his wife, was arrested from his Gurugram residence for allegedly providing shelter to these protesters. Lalit Jha Lalit Jha from Bihar is currently on the run. He had shot videos of Neelam and Amol protesting outside the parliament. Making use of the commotion, he fled with the mobile phones of all his accomplices. Also read | Who is Pratap Simha? BJP MP who issued passes to intruders who breached security at Indian Parliament According to reports, he forwarded one of the videos to the founder of an NGO owner and asked him to keep it "safe" as well as ensure that it gets media coverage. (With inputs from agencies)

Army aspirant, teacher, and unemployed: Accused who breached Indian Parliament

A woman&nbsp;who was alleged to be accidentally shot by a cop inside a police station in India's Uttar Pradesh state died during her treatment on Wednesday, December 13. The deceased, identified as Ishrat Jahan, was admitted at JN Hospital of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) after a sub-inspector named Manoj Kumar Sharma accidentally shot the 51-year-old woman in the head while cleaning a&nbsp;rifle on December 8.

The woman was at the police station to get her passport verification done.

<h2>Accused cop still on the run</h2>

The cop, however, immediately fled from the scene, and is yet to be caught. Police have issued a non-bailable warrant against him and placed a bounty of Rs. 20,000 ($239) on his head.

The woman's son&nbsp;has claimed in his complaint that the cop shot his mother deliberately in a fit of rage after Ishrat demanded the verification process to be done as quickly as possible.

A CCTV footage of the incident that was shared on social media showed Ishrat Nigar entering the police station with her son and waiting.

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Warning: Disturbing visuals 
 
In UP Aligarh, a woman who turned up at police station for passport verification caught a bullet to her head from close range fired from pistol of sub-inspector Manoj Sharma. Victim critical. 
 
CCTV footage of the incident.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aligarh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Aligarh</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UP</a> <a href="https://t.co/0dqFtIf04G">pic.twitter.com/0dqFtIf04G</a>
— Nabeel Shah (@oye_nabeel) <a href="https://twitter.com/oye_nabeel/status/1733111895639683295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Note: Some might find the video to be disturbing. Vierwer's discretion advised&nbsp;

After a while, a police officer approached the accused cop, who was standing behind a desk, and handed over the loaded revolver. The sub-inspector then started to clean the pistol and 'accidentally' fired a bullet at Nigar, causing her to fall to the ground.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-man-stabs-live-in-partner-to-death-for-refusing-to-have-sex-report-669440">Indian man stabs live-in partner to death for refusing to have sex: Report</a>

<h2>Top police officer assures justice&nbsp;</h2>

A case has been also registered against the station-in-charge, Sudip, who has been sent to jail.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-delhis-chilling-temperatures-making-air-quality-worse-as-aqi-remains-very-poor-669530">India: Delhi's chilling temperatures making air quality worse as AQI remains 'very poor'</a>

“The post mortem of deceased killed in unfortunate circumstances is being conducted by a panel of doctors. The legal procedure is on and Aligarh police expresss condolences to the family of the deceased. Law and order situation is under control,” Kalanidhi Naithani, the Senior Superintendent of Police at Aligarh, reported the&nbsp;Hindustan Times newspaper.

He assured the victim’s family of justice, and said that strict action will be taken against the accused police officers, and those found guilty will face severe penalties.

(With inputs from agencies)

A woman who was alleged to be accidentally shot by a cop inside a police station in India's Uttar Pradesh state died during her treatment on Wednesday, December 13.

A woman who was alleged to be accidentally shot by a cop inside a police station in India's Uttar Pradesh state died during her treatment on Wednesday, December 13. The deceased, identified as Ishrat Jahan, was admitted at JN Hospital of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) after a sub-inspector named Manoj Kumar Sharma accidentally shot the 51-year-old woman in the head while cleaning a rifle on December 8. The woman was at the police station to get her passport verification done. Accused cop still on the run The cop, however, immediately fled from the scene, and is yet to be caught. Police have issued a non-bailable warrant against him and placed a bounty of Rs. 20,000 ($239) on his head. The woman's son has claimed in his complaint that the cop shot his mother deliberately in a fit of rage after Ishrat demanded the verification process to be done as quickly as possible. A CCTV footage of the incident that was shared on social media showed Ishrat Nigar entering the police station with her son and waiting. Warning: Disturbing visuals In UP Aligarh, a woman who turned up at police station for passport verification caught a bullet to her head from close range fired from pistol of sub-inspector Manoj Sharma. Victim critical. CCTV footage of the incident.#Aligarh#UP pic.twitter.com/0dqFtIf04G — Nabeel Shah (@oye_nabeel) December 8, 2023 × Note: Some might find the video to be disturbing. Vierwer's discretion advised After a while, a police officer approached the accused cop, who was standing behind a desk, and handed over the loaded revolver. The sub-inspector then started to clean the pistol and 'accidentally' fired a bullet at Nigar, causing her to fall to the ground. Also read | Indian man stabs live-in partner to death for refusing to have sex: Report Top police officer assures justice A case has been also registered against the station-in-charge, Sudip, who has been sent to jail. Also read | India: Delhi's chilling temperatures making air quality worse as AQI remains 'very poor' “The post mortem of deceased killed in unfortunate circumstances is being conducted by a panel of doctors. The legal procedure is on and Aligarh police expresss condolences to the family of the deceased. Law and order situation is under control,” Kalanidhi Naithani, the Senior Superintendent of Police at Aligarh, reported the Hindustan Times newspaper. He assured the victim’s family of justice, and said that strict action will be taken against the accused police officers, and those found guilty will face severe penalties. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Woman shot by cop inside police station in Uttar Pradesh, succumbs to injuries

Seven personnel were suspended by the Lok Sabha secretariat on Thursday (Dec 14), a day after a massive security breach on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament, ANI news agency reported.

Among the personnel suspended include&nbsp;Rampal, Arvind, Vir Das, Ganesh, Anil, Pradeep, Vimitt and Narendra.

Meanwhile, opposition parties convened a private meeting to raise the issue of security breach in both houses of the parliament. At the same time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met with top ministers to discuss the matter.

<h2>Stormy scenes in both houses of parliament&nbsp;</h2>

The Rajya Sabha (upper house) witnessed a tense first hour of the session on Thursday morning as Trinamool Congress (TMC) Derek O'Brien sought a discussion on the incident and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's presence in the House. However, these demands were promptly rejected by&nbsp;Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar, triggering a loud protest from other opposition parties.&nbsp;

Dhankhar then named the Bengal politician and asked him to leave the House immediately.&nbsp;

"Derek O'Brien is named to leave the House immediately... Derek O'Brien says he will defy the Chair... Derek O'Brien says he will not respect the rules. This is a serious misconduct. This is a shameful incident," Mr Dhankhar said, ejecting the Trinamool leader for "disorderly conduct".

Dhankar then assured the MPs that&nbsp;a high-level investigation had been initiated into the security breach, and that a police case had been filed. Subsequently,&nbsp;Rajya Sabha was adjourned.

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Rajya Sabha adopts motion for suspension of TMC MP Derek O' Brien for the remainder part of the winter session for "ignoble misconduct" 
 
As per the Rajya Sabha Chairman, Derek O' Brien had entered the well of the House, shouted slogans and disrupted the proceedings of the House… <a href="https://t.co/bXmFL8W5Vv">pic.twitter.com/bXmFL8W5Vv</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1735188118251458980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Similar scenes were also witnessed in Lok Sabha as the&nbsp;opposition MPs demanded the resignation of Amit Shah over the incident.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also addressed the issue in the parliament, saying that the government is looking into the matter with utmost importance.

"The incident is quite unfortunate. All the MPs both from the ruling party and opposition must ensure that passes should not be given to those who can create an anarchic situation in the House," Singh said. He also criticised the opposition for their "behaviour" in the house.&nbsp;

<h2>Police arrest five a day after the incident&nbsp;</h2>

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-parliament-security-breach-who-is-bjp-mp-pratap-simha-who-issued-passes-to-the-intruders-669463">Who is Pratap Simha? BJP MP who issued passes to intruders that led to Indian Parliament security breach</a>

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla later adjourned the session till 2 pm (local time) amid sloganeering, before saying that the security of the House is the responsibility of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

On Wednesday, five people were arrested for hurling smoke canisters inside Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-indian-parliament-security-breach-brave-mps-try-to-tackle-intruder-669288">Watch | Indian Parliament security breach: Brave Lok Sabha MPs take on intruder</a>

The arrested include Sagar Sharma and D Manoranjan, who used yellow smoke canisters inside Lok Sabha, and Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde, who burst red and yellow canisters outside Parliament.

Later, another person named Vicky Sharma was arrested for allegedly sheltering others at his Gurgaon home.

Seven personnel were suspended by the Lok Sabha secretariat on Thursday (Dec 14), a day after a massive security breach on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament, ANI news agency reported.

Seven personnel were suspended by the Lok Sabha secretariat on Thursday (Dec 14), a day after a massive security breach on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament, ANI news agency reported. Among the personnel suspended include Rampal, Arvind, Vir Das, Ganesh, Anil, Pradeep, Vimitt and Narendra. Meanwhile, opposition parties convened a private meeting to raise the issue of security breach in both houses of the parliament. At the same time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met with top ministers to discuss the matter. Stormy scenes in both houses of parliament The Rajya Sabha (upper house) witnessed a tense first hour of the session on Thursday morning as Trinamool Congress (TMC) Derek O'Brien sought a discussion on the incident and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's presence in the House. However, these demands were promptly rejected by Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar, triggering a loud protest from other opposition parties. Dhankhar then named the Bengal politician and asked him to leave the House immediately. "Derek O'Brien is named to leave the House immediately... Derek O'Brien says he will defy the Chair... Derek O'Brien says he will not respect the rules. This is a serious misconduct. This is a shameful incident," Mr Dhankhar said, ejecting the Trinamool leader for "disorderly conduct". Dhankar then assured the MPs that a high-level investigation had been initiated into the security breach, and that a police case had been filed. Subsequently, Rajya Sabha was adjourned. Rajya Sabha adopts motion for suspension of TMC MP Derek O' Brien for the remainder part of the winter session for "ignoble misconduct" As per the Rajya Sabha Chairman, Derek O' Brien had entered the well of the House, shouted slogans and disrupted the proceedings of the House… pic.twitter.com/bXmFL8W5Vv — ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2023 × Similar scenes were also witnessed in Lok Sabha as the opposition MPs demanded the resignation of Amit Shah over the incident. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also addressed the issue in the parliament, saying that the government is looking into the matter with utmost importance. "The incident is quite unfortunate. All the MPs both from the ruling party and opposition must ensure that passes should not be given to those who can create an anarchic situation in the House," Singh said. He also criticised the opposition for their "behaviour" in the house. Police arrest five a day after the incident Also read | Who is Pratap Simha? BJP MP who issued passes to intruders that led to Indian Parliament security breach Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla later adjourned the session till 2 pm (local time) amid sloganeering, before saying that the security of the House is the responsibility of the Lok Sabha Secretariat. On Wednesday, five people were arrested for hurling smoke canisters inside Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament). Also read | Watch | Indian Parliament security breach: Brave Lok Sabha MPs take on intruder The arrested include Sagar Sharma and D Manoranjan, who used yellow smoke canisters inside Lok Sabha, and Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde, who burst red and yellow canisters outside Parliament. Later, another person named Vicky Sharma was arrested for allegedly sheltering others at his Gurgaon home.

India parliament intrusion: Opposition raises security breach issue as seven personnel suspended

A 56-year-old Australian woman who had served a 20-year prison sentence for the death of her four children had her convictions formally quashed by a court, her lawyers said.

On Thursday (Dec 14), the New South Wales (NSW) Supreme Court found that Kathleen Folbigg was wrongfully convicted declaring that the evidence originally used against her was “not reliable”.

She is expected to seek compensation from the NSW government after the court overturned her conviction.

Often described as one of “Australia's greatest miscarriages of justice”, Folbigg tried to legally challenge the charges through a string of appeals, but they were&nbsp;turned down every time.

The matter was taken up again earlier this year after a landmark inquiry by a retired judge found reasonable doubt over her guilt.

<h2>'How can I kill my own children?'</h2>

On Thursday, she burst into tears outside the court as she thanked the “updated science and genetics” saying that it had given her “answers” as to how her children died.

She also criticised the “system” for wrongly blaming her for murdering her children.

“My children are here with me today and they will be close to my heart for the rest of my life,” she told reporters.

&nbsp;“The system and society need to think before they blame a parent of hurting their children.”

“However, even in 1999, we had legal answers to prove my innocence, but they were ignored and dismissed,” she said.

The court had jailed&nbsp;Folbigg in 2003 on three counts of murder and one of manslaughter after the deaths of her four babies—Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura —each of whom died suddenly between 1989 and 1999, aged between 19 days and 18 months.

<h2>Media declared her 'Australia’s worst serial killer'</h2>

The first three deaths were initially attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a term used when babies less than a year old die for no apparent reason.

At 18 months, Laura was the longest-lived of Folbigg’s children, and police began investigating after a forensic pathologist determined the cause of her death as “undetermined".

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She was charged and convicted as newspaper headlines declared her to be “Australia’s worst serial killer.”

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The prosecutors at that time relied on circumstantial evidence, using Folbigg's diaries to paint her as an unstable mother, prone to rage. Notably, the diaries were not examined by psychologists or psychiatrists.

In 2003, she was sentenced to 40 years in jail which was later downgraded to 30 years on appeal.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

A 56-year-old Australian woman who had served a 20-year prison sentence for the death of her four children had her convictions formally quashed by a court, her lawyers said.

A 56-year-old Australian woman who had served a 20-year prison sentence for the death of her four children had her convictions formally quashed by a court, her lawyers said. On Thursday (Dec 14), the New South Wales (NSW) Supreme Court found that Kathleen Folbigg was wrongfully convicted declaring that the evidence originally used against her was “not reliable”. She is expected to seek compensation from the NSW government after the court overturned her conviction. Often described as one of “Australia's greatest miscarriages of justice”, Folbigg tried to legally challenge the charges through a string of appeals, but they were turned down every time. The matter was taken up again earlier this year after a landmark inquiry by a retired judge found reasonable doubt over her guilt. 'How can I kill my own children?' On Thursday, she burst into tears outside the court as she thanked the “updated science and genetics” saying that it had given her “answers” as to how her children died. She also criticised the “system” for wrongly blaming her for murdering her children. “My children are here with me today and they will be close to my heart for the rest of my life,” she told reporters. “The system and society need to think before they blame a parent of hurting their children.” “However, even in 1999, we had legal answers to prove my innocence, but they were ignored and dismissed,” she said. The court had jailed Folbigg in 2003 on three counts of murder and one of manslaughter after the deaths of her four babies—Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura —each of whom died suddenly between 1989 and 1999, aged between 19 days and 18 months. Media declared her 'Australia’s worst serial killer' The first three deaths were initially attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a term used when babies less than a year old die for no apparent reason. At 18 months, Laura was the longest-lived of Folbigg’s children, and police began investigating after a forensic pathologist determined the cause of her death as “undetermined". Also read | Japan PM overhauls cabinet in bid to weather financial scandal She was charged and convicted as newspaper headlines declared her to be “Australia’s worst serial killer.” Also read | Russia: Deputy editor of Putin's 'favourite' newspaper found dead under mysterious circumstances The prosecutors at that time relied on circumstantial evidence, using Folbigg's diaries to paint her as an unstable mother, prone to rage. Notably, the diaries were not examined by psychologists or psychiatrists. In 2003, she was sentenced to 40 years in jail which was later downgraded to 30 years on appeal. (With inputs from agencies)

Kathleen Folbigg: Freedom after two decades for Australian mother wrongfully jailed for death of four babies

One of the largest reservoirs of water, and perhaps the oldest, has been discovered, but not on Earth. According to scientists, it is floating in space.

Researchers say that it is the largest reservoir ever detected in the universe, as the mass of water is at least 140 trillion times more than all of the water in the Earth's oceans combined.

The discovery was made by two teams of astronomers led by scientists at Caltech.

<h2>Took 12 billion light years to reach Earth&nbsp;</h2>

However, it is less likely to be seen through a telescope as this body of water is surrounded by a massive feeding black hole known as a quasar, located more than 12 billion light years away.

Quasars are the blazing centres of active galaxies and are powered by a supermassive black hole feeding on humungous quantities of gas.

"The environment around this quasar is unique in that it's producing this huge mass of water,” Matt Bradford, a scientist at NASA' Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), said, according to UNILAD news outlet.

"It's another demonstration that water is pervasive throughout the universe, even at the very earliest times."

The astronomers discovered water after examining a particular quasar called APM 08279+5255, which is said to harbour a black hole 20 billion times more massive than our Sun and believed to produce as much energy as a thousand trillion Suns.

<h2>Possibility of water in the early universe&nbsp;</h2>

This particular quasar showed water vapour being distributed around the black hole in a gas region spanning hundreds of light-years.

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The discovery of water, per se, in the universe has not surprised scientists, as traces of water are also found elsewhere in the Milky Way. However, most of it is frozen in ice.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ancient-fossil-shows-teenager-tyrannosaur-feasted-on-two-baby-dinos-before-dying-study-668463">As a teenager, the tyrannosaur only ate baby dinosaurs, and a fossil is proof</a>

But what took the scientists aback was the presence of water in the early universe.

They hope to learn more about the distant universe and those in the study proposed a 25-meter telescope to be built in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

(With inputs from agencies)

One of the largest reservoirs of water, and perhaps the oldest, has been discovered, but not on Earth. According to scientists, it is floating in space. Researchers say that it is the largest reservoir ever detected in the universe, as the mass of water is at least 140 trillion times more than all of the water in the Earth's oceans combined.

One of the largest reservoirs of water, and perhaps the oldest, has been discovered, but not on Earth. According to scientists, it is floating in space. Researchers say that it is the largest reservoir ever detected in the universe, as the mass of water is at least 140 trillion times more than all of the water in the Earth's oceans combined. The discovery was made by two teams of astronomers led by scientists at Caltech. Took 12 billion light years to reach Earth However, it is less likely to be seen through a telescope as this body of water is surrounded by a massive feeding black hole known as a quasar, located more than 12 billion light years away. Quasars are the blazing centres of active galaxies and are powered by a supermassive black hole feeding on humungous quantities of gas. "The environment around this quasar is unique in that it's producing this huge mass of water,” Matt Bradford, a scientist at NASA' Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), said, according to UNILAD news outlet. "It's another demonstration that water is pervasive throughout the universe, even at the very earliest times." The astronomers discovered water after examining a particular quasar called APM 08279+5255, which is said to harbour a black hole 20 billion times more massive than our Sun and believed to produce as much energy as a thousand trillion Suns. Possibility of water in the early universe This particular quasar showed water vapour being distributed around the black hole in a gas region spanning hundreds of light-years. Also read | Majestic meteor showers triggered by comet debris to light up sky. Check when to watch The discovery of water, per se, in the universe has not surprised scientists, as traces of water are also found elsewhere in the Milky Way. However, most of it is frozen in ice. Also read | As a teenager, the tyrannosaur only ate baby dinosaurs, and a fossil is proof But what took the scientists aback was the presence of water in the early universe. They hope to learn more about the distant universe and those in the study proposed a 25-meter telescope to be built in the Atacama Desert in Chile. (With inputs from agencies)

'Water reservoir' larger than all of Earth's oceans found floating around black hole

Three former Japanese soldiers were declared guilty by a court on Tuesday (Dec 12) for sexually assaulting a female colleague, bringing an end to a years-long saga that dominated headlines in a conservative country where victims hardly speak out against abuse.

Shutaro Shibuya, Akito Sekine, and Yusuke Kimezawa were given two-year suspended jail terms for their “forced indecency” on Rina Gonoi during a military drill in 2021.

The matter came to&nbsp;light last year when 24-year-old Gonoi took to YouTube to share her ordeal after the higher military officials dismissed the case citing a lack of evidence following a probe.

The video gained massive traction on several social media networks, spurring national outcry to punish the soldiers.

However, it was an online petition signed by more than 100,000 people that forced the defence ministry to finally acknowledge the assault, issue an apology,&nbsp;and dismiss five of the men involved.

<h2>Assailants charged with 'forced indecency'&nbsp;</h2>

In March this year, prosecutors reversed an earlier decision and charged three of the assailants with “forced indecency”.

Gonoi, who was present in court for the verdict, said her decision to go public was “desperate rather than brave”.

She said she used to experience harassment daily after joining Japan’s military in 2020.

“When walking down the hallway, someone slaps you on your hip, or holds you from behind,” she told AFP news agency.

“I was kissed on the cheek, and my breasts were grabbed.”

However, it was during a drill in 2021 that the scale of harassment reached another level.

<h2>Victim seeks damages&nbsp;</h2>

She said that three fellow soldiers forced her to the ground, pulled apart her legs and each repeatedly pressed their crotches against her while others watched and laughed.

Gonoi has also filed a damage suit against the three defendants, two other perpetrators and the government, saying she felt their earlier apologies were insincere.

She is seeking 5.5 million yen ($37,800) from the perpetrators and 2 million yen ($13,740) from the government, saying it failed to prevent the assaults, properly investigate or respond appropriately.

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The case marks a turning point in Japan’s history of dealing with sexual misconduct complaints, where even the “MeToo” movement did not gain traction.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/senior-imf-official-warns-fragmentation-in-global-economy-could-trigger-new-cold-war-668686">Senior IMF official warns fragmentation in global economy could trigger 'new Cold War'</a>

Sexual abuse complaints are often disregarded in Japan, and victims also tend to face hate for speaking up.

Gonoi said she has been attacked on social media for coming forward, but that she did so because she wanted to prevent similar problems for other female service members.

(With inputs from agencies)

Three former Japanese soldiers were declared guilty by a court on Tuesday (Dec 12) for sexually assaulting a female colleague, bringing an end to a years-long saga that dominated headlines in a conservative country where victims hardly speak out against abuse.

Three former Japanese soldiers were declared guilty by a court on Tuesday (Dec 12) for sexually assaulting a female colleague, bringing an end to a years-long saga that dominated headlines in a conservative country where victims hardly speak out against abuse. Shutaro Shibuya, Akito Sekine, and Yusuke Kimezawa were given two-year suspended jail terms for their “forced indecency” on Rina Gonoi during a military drill in 2021. The matter came to light last year when 24-year-old Gonoi took to YouTube to share her ordeal after the higher military officials dismissed the case citing a lack of evidence following a probe. The video gained massive traction on several social media networks, spurring national outcry to punish the soldiers. However, it was an online petition signed by more than 100,000 people that forced the defence ministry to finally acknowledge the assault, issue an apology, and dismiss five of the men involved. Assailants charged with 'forced indecency' In March this year, prosecutors reversed an earlier decision and charged three of the assailants with “forced indecency”. Gonoi, who was present in court for the verdict, said her decision to go public was “desperate rather than brave”. She said she used to experience harassment daily after joining Japan’s military in 2020. “When walking down the hallway, someone slaps you on your hip, or holds you from behind,” she told AFP news agency. “I was kissed on the cheek, and my breasts were grabbed.” However, it was during a drill in 2021 that the scale of harassment reached another level. Victim seeks damages She said that three fellow soldiers forced her to the ground, pulled apart her legs and each repeatedly pressed their crotches against her while others watched and laughed. Gonoi has also filed a damage suit against the three defendants, two other perpetrators and the government, saying she felt their earlier apologies were insincere. She is seeking 5.5 million yen ($37,800) from the perpetrators and 2 million yen ($13,740) from the government, saying it failed to prevent the assaults, properly investigate or respond appropriately. Also read | Explained: What is the Japanese fundraising scandal that has engulfed Fumio Kishida govt? The case marks a turning point in Japan’s history of dealing with sexual misconduct complaints, where even the “MeToo” movement did not gain traction. Also read | Senior IMF official warns fragmentation in global economy could trigger 'new Cold War' Sexual abuse complaints are often disregarded in Japan, and victims also tend to face hate for speaking up. Gonoi said she has been attacked on social media for coming forward, but that she did so because she wanted to prevent similar problems for other female service members. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan court jails three ex-soldiers for sexual abuse of female colleague

Many Chinese media outlets have started to increasingly refer to Tibet as “Xizang” days after Beijing issued a white paper titled "CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements", which outlines developments in Tibet since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012.

The report was released in November by the State Council Information Office to highlight Tibet’s economic, livelihood and cultural development under Communist Party leadership.

<h2>Chinese media toes the party’s line</h2>

This was the first time that the name “Xizang” was used as the English translation for the Tibet autonomous region.

“Xizang” is the Chinese romanisation of the Mandarin script for “Tibet”.

Since the time the white paper was released on November 10, the English-language website of state news agency Xinhua used “Xizang” in 128 articles, while only five used “Tibet”, all of which were in reference to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the geographic term covering most of the Tibet autonomous region, reports South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Similarly, the English website of People’s Daily, the party’ mouthpiece, has increasingly been using “Xizang” since November 10.

The deliberate attempt at rebranding exercise reflects China’s attempts to establish and destabilise the Tibetan identity, which has long been associated with struggle, freedom, culture, and of course, the Dalai Lama.

By carefully changing names, experts argue, China seeks to foster what Xi has called a “sense of community for the Chinese nation”, intended to strengthen national identity in ethnic minority regions.

“The Chinese government’s change in Tibet’s English name does not reflect a stance on ethnicity but on sovereignty,” Barry Sautman, an emeritus professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, told SCMP.

“It is to vindicate the sovereign right to use a term derived from China’s official language for a part of China’s territory,” he was quoted as saying.

<h2>Tibetans react</h2>

The move to rename Tibet has drawn condemnation from the president of the Tibetan government-in-exile, accusing China of exterminating the Tibetan identity.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-cultural-genocide-how-regime-is-trying-to-relabel-tibet-as-xizang-521612">China’s cultural genocide: How regime is trying to relabel Tibet as ‘Xizang’</a>

In a statement, Tenpa Tsering, in a statement marking Human Rights Day, said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was "forging a strong sense of the Chinese national as one single community, promoting the Chinese language, the Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism and developing socialist values".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-witnessing-fluctuating-downtrend-of-respiratory-illnesses-among-children-668561">China witnessing 'fluctuating downtrend' of respiratory illnesses among children</a>

"Such infliction of suffering and oppression on the Tibetan people by the CCP authorities is unparalleled and unprecedented," he said.

Tsering also said there has been a sharp increase in the appointment of Chinese officials in the Tibetan areas.

(With inputs from agencies)

Many Chinese media outlets have started to increasingly refer to Tibet as “Xizang” days after Beijing issued a white paper titled "CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements", which outlines developments in Tibet since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012.

Many Chinese media outlets have started to increasingly refer to Tibet as “Xizang” days after Beijing issued a white paper titled "CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements", which outlines developments in Tibet since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012. The report was released in November by the State Council Information Office to highlight Tibet’s economic, livelihood and cultural development under Communist Party leadership. Chinese media toes the party’s line This was the first time that the name “Xizang” was used as the English translation for the Tibet autonomous region. “Xizang” is the Chinese romanisation of the Mandarin script for “Tibet”. Since the time the white paper was released on November 10, the English-language website of state news agency Xinhua used “Xizang” in 128 articles, while only five used “Tibet”, all of which were in reference to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the geographic term covering most of the Tibet autonomous region, reports South China Morning Post (SCMP). Similarly, the English website of People’s Daily, the party’ mouthpiece, has increasingly been using “Xizang” since November 10. The deliberate attempt at rebranding exercise reflects China’s attempts to establish and destabilise the Tibetan identity, which has long been associated with struggle, freedom, culture, and of course, the Dalai Lama. By carefully changing names, experts argue, China seeks to foster what Xi has called a “sense of community for the Chinese nation”, intended to strengthen national identity in ethnic minority regions. “The Chinese government’s change in Tibet’s English name does not reflect a stance on ethnicity but on sovereignty,” Barry Sautman, an emeritus professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, told SCMP. “It is to vindicate the sovereign right to use a term derived from China’s official language for a part of China’s territory,” he was quoted as saying. Tibetans react The move to rename Tibet has drawn condemnation from the president of the Tibetan government-in-exile, accusing China of exterminating the Tibetan identity. Also read | China’s cultural genocide: How regime is trying to relabel Tibet as ‘Xizang’ In a statement, Tenpa Tsering, in a statement marking Human Rights Day, said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was "forging a strong sense of the Chinese national as one single community, promoting the Chinese language, the Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism and developing socialist values". Also read | China witnessing 'fluctuating downtrend' of respiratory illnesses among children "Such infliction of suffering and oppression on the Tibetan people by the CCP authorities is unparalleled and unprecedented," he said. Tsering also said there has been a sharp increase in the appointment of Chinese officials in the Tibetan areas. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese media increases usage of ‘Xizang’ for ‘Tibet’, toeing Communist party line

China is witnessing a “fluctuating downtrend” in respiratory illness cases among children. The announcement was made by the National Health Commission during a press briefing in Beijing on Friday, a month after grappling with rising pneumonia cases.

The previously increased caseload at some large children's speciality hospitals and general hospitals has recently shown a degree of decline, Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission, said at a press conference, according to state-run Xinhua News.

He added that outpatient numbers for respiratory diseases at fever clinics and emergency departments have remained relatively stable.

<h2>Overall medical systems not impacted&nbsp;</h2>

“As some patients have been redirected to primary healthcare institutions, the overall regular medical services across the country have not been impacted,” he was quoted as saying.

The outbreak was primarily reported in Northern China with no explanation initially provided for the sudden spike in cases.

The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and Beijing Children’s Hospital informed the WHO that there had been an increase in outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to the spread of mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, and influenza.

It was later clarified that the source of illness was common pathogens, therefore, there should be no concern.

<h2>WHO had asked for report&nbsp;</h2>

Concerns were raised as the spike in cases came earlier than what has been experienced in the previous years, but isn’t unexpected given the lifting of Covid curbs, the WHO had said after a teleconference between health officials.

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The uptick in cases gained worldwide attention after the WHO asked China for more information, citing a report by the Programme for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED) on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children.

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Some social media users have also posted photos of children receiving intravenous drips in hospital, while media in cities such as Xian in the northwest have posted videos of crowded hospitals, fanning concerns potential strains on the healthcare system.

(With inputs from agencies)

China is witnessing a “fluctuating downtrend” in respiratory illness cases among children. The announcement was made by the National Health Commission during a press briefing in Beijing on Friday, a month after grappling with rising pneumonia cases.

China is witnessing a “fluctuating downtrend” in respiratory illness cases among children. The announcement was made by the National Health Commission during a press briefing in Beijing on Friday, a month after grappling with rising pneumonia cases. The previously increased caseload at some large children's speciality hospitals and general hospitals has recently shown a degree of decline, Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission, said at a press conference, according to state-run Xinhua News. He added that outpatient numbers for respiratory diseases at fever clinics and emergency departments have remained relatively stable. Overall medical systems not impacted “As some patients have been redirected to primary healthcare institutions, the overall regular medical services across the country have not been impacted,” he was quoted as saying. The outbreak was primarily reported in Northern China with no explanation initially provided for the sudden spike in cases. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and Beijing Children’s Hospital informed the WHO that there had been an increase in outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to the spread of mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, and influenza. It was later clarified that the source of illness was common pathogens, therefore, there should be no concern. WHO had asked for report Concerns were raised as the spike in cases came earlier than what has been experienced in the previous years, but isn’t unexpected given the lifting of Covid curbs, the WHO had said after a teleconference between health officials. Also read | Might be uncomfortable: Israel reacts to Palestinian men stripped to underwear after arrest The uptick in cases gained worldwide attention after the WHO asked China for more information, citing a report by the Programme for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED) on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children. Also read | Russian intelligence says cracked network of Ukrainian agents in Crimea Some social media users have also posted photos of children receiving intravenous drips in hospital, while media in cities such as Xian in the northwest have posted videos of crowded hospitals, fanning concerns potential strains on the healthcare system. (With inputs from agencies)

China witnessing 'fluctuating downtrend' of respiratory illnesses among children

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