Future American investments in Poland could be jeopardised if the country does not renew the licence of 24-hour news channel TVN24, US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said on Thursday, referring to potential new Polish laws against its ownership by American media company Discovery Inc. 
 
The station is in the process of renewing its licence, but the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party is planning changes to the law that could force Discovery to sell a majority stake. 
 
The National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) on Thursday voted on the TVN24 licence, which expires on September&nbsp;26, but the results were inconclusive. 
 
"This is a very significant American investment here in Poland. And there will be knock-on effects perhaps, if the license is not renewed, to future US&nbsp;investments...," Chollet told TVN24 in an interview. 
 
He added he had raised the issue during meetings with Polish officials. 
 
TVN, estimated to be worth over $1 billion, is the biggest American investment in Poland. 
 
In July, PiS lawmakers submitted to parliament amendments to the Broadcasting Act that would restrict companies from outside the European Economic Area from controlling Polish radio and television stations. 
 
The proposed changes have fuelled tension between Poland and the United States and prompted fresh criticism from Polish opposition groups that PiS is seeking to curb media freedom. 
 
PiS argues that foreign companies have too much influence in the media sector, distorting public debate. 
 
"Media freedom is absolutely critical," Chollet said.

Future American investments in Poland could be jeopardised if the country does not renew the licence of 24-hour news channel TVN24, US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said on Thursday, referring to potential new Polish laws against its ownership by American media company Discovery Inc.

Future American investments in Poland could be jeopardised if the country does not renew the licence of 24-hour news channel TVN24, US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said on Thursday, referring to potential new Polish laws against its ownership by American media company Discovery Inc. The station is in the process of renewing its licence, but the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party is planning changes to the law that could force Discovery to sell a majority stake. The National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) on Thursday voted on the TVN24 licence, which expires on September 26, but the results were inconclusive. "This is a very significant American investment here in Poland. And there will be knock-on effects perhaps, if the license is not renewed, to future US investments...," Chollet told TVN24 in an interview. He added he had raised the issue during meetings with Polish officials. TVN, estimated to be worth over $1 billion, is the biggest American investment in Poland. In July, PiS lawmakers submitted to parliament amendments to the Broadcasting Act that would restrict companies from outside the European Economic Area from controlling Polish radio and television stations. The proposed changes have fuelled tension between Poland and the United States and prompted fresh criticism from Polish opposition groups that PiS is seeking to curb media freedom. PiS argues that foreign companies have too much influence in the media sector, distorting public debate. "Media freedom is absolutely critical," Chollet said.

US warns Poland about licence renewal for Discovery-owned news channel

In a&nbsp;recent&nbsp;tweet, Tech mogul Elon Musk supported&nbsp;colonisation&nbsp;of Mars, saying population collapse is a big problem on Earth and as the&nbsp;population of Mars is zero, it needs people.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Elon Musk tweeted, “I’m trying to set a good example!&nbsp;Population collapse is a much bigger problem than people realize and that’s just for Earth.&nbsp;Mars has a great need for people, seeing as population is currently zero.&nbsp;Humans are the custodians of other life on Earth. Let us bring life to Mars!”&nbsp;

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I’m trying to set a good example! Population collapse is a much bigger problem than people realize and that’s just for Earth. 
 
Mars has a great need for people, seeing as population is currently zero. 
 
Humans are the custodians of other life on Earth. Let us bring life to Mars!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1415348519381217281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Musk has been advocating Mars’&nbsp;colonisation&nbsp;for a long time, even with a set deadline and plan of action.&nbsp;The Tesla CEO’s tweet&nbsp;was in response to a post shared by a Twitter handle titled ‘Tesla Owners of the East Bay’.&nbsp;

Bringing the problem of&nbsp;‘population collapse’&nbsp;on the fore,&nbsp;the fan club&nbsp;handle had&nbsp;tweeted how it is upon earth&nbsp;to solve it&nbsp;with&nbsp;reducing the birth rate&nbsp;in the world.&nbsp;

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Population collapse could be upon us, but we appreciate that you good sir are still making tangible efforts to stave it off. <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> 👶🏻💚🌎 <a href="https://t.co/qlwz1JBUhj">pic.twitter.com/qlwz1JBUhj</a>
— Tesla Owners of the East Bay (@TeslaOwnersEBay) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeslaOwnersEBay/status/1415169164650565632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On the microblogging site,&nbsp;the club wrote,&nbsp;“Population collapse could be upon us, but we appreciate that you good sir are still making tangible efforts to stave it off."&nbsp;Musk,&nbsp;who is&nbsp;father of seven&nbsp;children, said that he is trying to set a good example.&nbsp;

In a recent tweet, Tech mogul Elon Musk supported colonisation of Mars, saying population collapse is a big problem on Earth and as the population of Mars is zero, it needs people.

In a recent tweet, Tech mogul Elon Musk supported colonisation of Mars, saying population collapse is a big problem on Earth and as the population of Mars is zero, it needs people. Elon Musk tweeted, “I’m trying to set a good example! Population collapse is a much bigger problem than people realize and that’s just for Earth. Mars has a great need for people, seeing as population is currently zero. Humans are the custodians of other life on Earth. Let us bring life to Mars!” I’m trying to set a good example! Population collapse is a much bigger problem than people realize and that’s just for Earth. Mars has a great need for people, seeing as population is currently zero. Humans are the custodians of other life on Earth. Let us bring life to Mars! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 14, 2021 × Musk has been advocating Mars’ colonisation for a long time, even with a set deadline and plan of action. The Tesla CEO’s tweet was in response to a post shared by a Twitter handle titled ‘Tesla Owners of the East Bay’. Bringing the problem of ‘population collapse’ on the fore, the fan club handle had tweeted how it is upon earth to solve it with reducing the birth rate in the world. Population collapse could be upon us, but we appreciate that you good sir are still making tangible efforts to stave it off. @elonmusk 👶🏻💚🌎 pic.twitter.com/qlwz1JBUhj — Tesla Owners of the East Bay (@TeslaOwnersEBay) July 14, 2021 × On the microblogging site, the club wrote, “Population collapse could be upon us, but we appreciate that you good sir are still making tangible efforts to stave it off." Musk, who is father of seven children, said that he is trying to set a good example.

Warning of 'population collapse' on Earth, Elon Musk calls for colonisation of Mars  

July 20 in history: King Abdullah I of Jordan is assassinated at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and more

A suicide bomber killed at least 35 people and wounded dozens in a crowded market in the Sadr City neighbourhood of Baghdad on Monday, the eve of the Eid al-Adha festival, security and hospital sources said. 
 
More than 60 people were wounded, a police source said. 
 
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the group's Nasheer news agency said on Telegram. It said one of its militants blew up his explosive vest among the crowds. 
 
Hospital sources said the death toll could rise as some of the wounded were in critical condition. 
 
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held an urgent meeting with top security commanders to discuss the attack, the premier's office said in a brief statement. 
 
President Barham Salih posted a tweet saying: "With an awful crime they target civilians in Sadr city on the eve of Eid ... We will not rest before terrorism is cut off by its roots." 
 
In April, the Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack on a market in Sadr City, Baghdad's main Shi'ite Muslim neighbourhood, that killed four people and wounded 20. 
 
Islamic State also claimed responsibility for a bomb attack last January that killed more than 30 in the crowded Tayaran Square market in central Baghdad - Iraq's first big suicide bombing for three years. 
 
Large bomb attacks were once an almost daily occurrence in the Iraqi capital but have dwindled since an Islamic State invasion of northern and western Iraq was defeated in 2017.

A suicide bomber killed at least 35 people and wounded dozens in a crowded market in the Sadr City neighbourhood of Baghdad on Monday, the eve of the Eid al-Adha festival, security and hospital sources said.

A suicide bomber killed at least 35 people and wounded dozens in a crowded market in the Sadr City neighbourhood of Baghdad on Monday, the eve of the Eid al-Adha festival, security and hospital sources said. More than 60 people were wounded, a police source said. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the group's Nasheer news agency said on Telegram. It said one of its militants blew up his explosive vest among the crowds. Hospital sources said the death toll could rise as some of the wounded were in critical condition. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held an urgent meeting with top security commanders to discuss the attack, the premier's office said in a brief statement. President Barham Salih posted a tweet saying: "With an awful crime they target civilians in Sadr city on the eve of Eid ... We will not rest before terrorism is cut off by its roots." In April, the Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack on a market in Sadr City, Baghdad's main Shi'ite Muslim neighbourhood, that killed four people and wounded 20. Islamic State also claimed responsibility for a bomb attack last January that killed more than 30 in the crowded Tayaran Square market in central Baghdad - Iraq's first big suicide bombing for three years. Large bomb attacks were once an almost daily occurrence in the Iraqi capital but have dwindled since an Islamic State invasion of northern and western Iraq was defeated in 2017.

Suicide attack in Iraq's Sadr City kills at least 35, wounds dozens: Sources

The United States and Germany are expected to announce in coming days a deal resolving their long-standing dispute over Russia's $11 billion Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday. 
 
President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to settle their differences over the undersea pipeline when they met last week, but agreed Moscow must not be allowed to use energy as a weapon against its neighbours. 
 
A deal is now in sight after discussions among US&nbsp;and German officials about US&nbsp;concerns that the pipeline, which is 98% complete, will increase Europe's dependence on Russian gas, and could rob Ukraine of the transit fees it now collects on gas pumped through an existing pipeline. 
 
An agreement would avert the resumption of currently waived US&nbsp;sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG, the company behind the pipeline, and its chief executive. 
 
Details were not immediately available, but the sources said the deal would include commitments by both sides to ensure increased investment in Ukraine's energy sector to offset any negative fallout from the new pipeline, which will bring gas from the Arctic to Germany under the Baltic Sea. 
 
"It's looking good," said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are still ongoing. "We expect those conversations to reach resolution in coming days." 
 
A second source said the two sides were nearing an agreement that would assuage concerns raised by US&nbsp;lawmakers, as well as those of Ukraine. 
 
Derek Chollet, a senior adviser to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will meet with senior Ukrainian government officials in Kyiv on Tuesday and Wednesday to reinforce the strategic value of US-Ukrainian ties, the State Department said on Monday. 
 
One of the sources said the United States was eager to ensure that Ukraine supported the expected agreement with Germany. 
 
The Biden administration concluded in May that Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO engaged in sanctionable behavior. But Biden waived the sanctions to allow time to work out a deal and keep rebuilding ties with Germany that were badly frayed during former President Donald Trump`s administration. 
 
In addition to assurances by Germany about its willingness to "reverse flow" gas to Ukraine if Russia ever cuts off supplies to Eastern Europe, the sources said the agreement would include a pledge by both countries to invest in Ukraine's energy transformation, energy efficiency and energy security. 
 
It was not immediately clear whether both countries would announce significant government investments, or whether they would seek to leverage private investments in Ukraine.

The United States and Germany are expected to announce in coming days a deal resolving their long-standing dispute over Russia's $11 billion Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.

The United States and Germany are expected to announce in coming days a deal resolving their long-standing dispute over Russia's $11 billion Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to settle their differences over the undersea pipeline when they met last week, but agreed Moscow must not be allowed to use energy as a weapon against its neighbours. A deal is now in sight after discussions among US and German officials about US concerns that the pipeline, which is 98% complete, will increase Europe's dependence on Russian gas, and could rob Ukraine of the transit fees it now collects on gas pumped through an existing pipeline. An agreement would avert the resumption of currently waived US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG, the company behind the pipeline, and its chief executive. Details were not immediately available, but the sources said the deal would include commitments by both sides to ensure increased investment in Ukraine's energy sector to offset any negative fallout from the new pipeline, which will bring gas from the Arctic to Germany under the Baltic Sea. "It's looking good," said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are still ongoing. "We expect those conversations to reach resolution in coming days." A second source said the two sides were nearing an agreement that would assuage concerns raised by US lawmakers, as well as those of Ukraine. Derek Chollet, a senior adviser to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will meet with senior Ukrainian government officials in Kyiv on Tuesday and Wednesday to reinforce the strategic value of US-Ukrainian ties, the State Department said on Monday. One of the sources said the United States was eager to ensure that Ukraine supported the expected agreement with Germany. The Biden administration concluded in May that Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO engaged in sanctionable behavior. But Biden waived the sanctions to allow time to work out a deal and keep rebuilding ties with Germany that were badly frayed during former President Donald Trump`s administration. In addition to assurances by Germany about its willingness to "reverse flow" gas to Ukraine if Russia ever cuts off supplies to Eastern Europe, the sources said the agreement would include a pledge by both countries to invest in Ukraine's energy transformation, energy efficiency and energy security. It was not immediately clear whether both countries would announce significant government investments, or whether they would seek to leverage private investments in Ukraine.

US, Germany to announce deal on Nord Stream 2 pipeline in coming days: Sources

Peruvian right-wing presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori admitted she was headed for defeat on Monday, but pledged to mobilise her supporters and lashed out against socialist rival Pedro Castillo as having won in an 'illegitimate' manner. 
 
Castillo came out of the June 6 run-off vote ahead by a scant 44,000 vote margin. The official result has been delayed by appeals from Fujimori aimed at annulling some ballots over fraud accusations, despite little evidence. 
 
Fujimori said she was bound by law to recognise the official election result, expected to be announced in the days ahead. 
 
"I am going to recognise the results because it is what the law and the constitution that I have sworn to defend, mandates. The truth is going to come out anyway," she told reporters. 
 
Peru's electoral authority said earlier on Monday,&nbsp;it would announce a winner of the election this week after it tossed out the last appeals by Fujimori, a conservative, who is the daughter of jailed former President Alberto Fujimori. 
 
"They have stolen thousands of votes from us," Fujimori said at a news conference. Faced with the "imminent" naming of Castillo as president-elect, Fujimori called on her followers to protest peacefully. 
 
"We have the right to mobilise... but in a peaceful manner and within the framework of the law," she said. 
 
The National Jury of Elections said on Twitter, it had ruled inadmissible the final appeals presented last week by Fujimori. 
 
The Organization of American States, European Union and Britain have all said the election was clean. 
 
Castillo, if confirmed in time, would take office on July 28 for a five-year term as leader of the world's second largest copper-producing nation. 
 
A 51-year-old former school teacher and the son of peasant farmers, Castillo has pledged to redraft the constitution and hike taxes on mining firms, but has in recent weeks softened his rhetoric and hinted at a more moderate, market-friendly approach.

Peruvian right-wing presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori admitted she was headed for defeat on Monday, but pledged to mobilise her supporters and lashed out against socialist rival Pedro Castillo as having won in an 'illegitimate' manner.

Peruvian right-wing presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori admitted she was headed for defeat on Monday, but pledged to mobilise her supporters and lashed out against socialist rival Pedro Castillo as having won in an 'illegitimate' manner. Castillo came out of the June 6 run-off vote ahead by a scant 44,000 vote margin. The official result has been delayed by appeals from Fujimori aimed at annulling some ballots over fraud accusations, despite little evidence. Fujimori said she was bound by law to recognise the official election result, expected to be announced in the days ahead. "I am going to recognise the results because it is what the law and the constitution that I have sworn to defend, mandates. The truth is going to come out anyway," she told reporters. Peru's electoral authority said earlier on Monday, it would announce a winner of the election this week after it tossed out the last appeals by Fujimori, a conservative, who is the daughter of jailed former President Alberto Fujimori. "They have stolen thousands of votes from us," Fujimori said at a news conference. Faced with the "imminent" naming of Castillo as president-elect, Fujimori called on her followers to protest peacefully. "We have the right to mobilise... but in a peaceful manner and within the framework of the law," she said. The National Jury of Elections said on Twitter, it had ruled inadmissible the final appeals presented last week by Fujimori. The Organization of American States, European Union and Britain have all said the election was clean. Castillo, if confirmed in time, would take office on July 28 for a five-year term as leader of the world's second largest copper-producing nation. A 51-year-old former school teacher and the son of peasant farmers, Castillo has pledged to redraft the constitution and hike taxes on mining firms, but has in recent weeks softened his rhetoric and hinted at a more moderate, market-friendly approach.

Peru set to name Castillo as president as rival says she will recognise result

Asia is sliding into a dangerous arms race as smaller nations that once stayed on the sidelines build arsenals of advanced long-range missiles, following in the footsteps of powerhouses China and the United States, analysts say. 
 
China is mass producing its DF-26, a multipurpose weapon with a range of up to 4,000 kilometres, while the United States is developing new weapons aimed at countering Beijing in the Pacific. 
 
Other countries in the region are buying or developing their own new missiles, driven by security concerns over China and a desire to reduce their reliance on the United States. 
 
Before the decade is out, Asia will be bristling with conventional missiles that fly farther and faster, hit harder, and are more sophisticated than ever before - a stark and dangerous change from recent years, analysts, diplomats, and military officials say. 
 
"The missile landscape is changing in Asia, and it’s changing fast," said David Santoro, president of the Pacific Forum. 
 
Such weapons are increasingly affordable and accurate, and as some countries acquire them, their neighbours don't want to be left behind, analysts said. Missiles provide strategic benefits such as deterring enemies and boosting leverage with allies, and can be a lucrative export. 
 
The long-term implications are uncertain, and there is a slim chance that the new weapons could balance tensions and help maintain peace, Santoro said. 
 
"More likely is that missile proliferation will fuel suspicions, trigger arms races, increase tensions, and ultimately cause crises and even wars," he said.

Asia is sliding into a dangerous arms race as smaller nations that once stayed on the sidelines build arsenals of advanced long-range missiles, following in the footsteps of powerhouses China and the United States, analysts say.

Asia is sliding into a dangerous arms race as smaller nations that once stayed on the sidelines build arsenals of advanced long-range missiles, following in the footsteps of powerhouses China and the United States, analysts say. China is mass producing its DF-26, a multipurpose weapon with a range of up to 4,000 kilometres, while the United States is developing new weapons aimed at countering Beijing in the Pacific. Other countries in the region are buying or developing their own new missiles, driven by security concerns over China and a desire to reduce their reliance on the United States. Before the decade is out, Asia will be bristling with conventional missiles that fly farther and faster, hit harder, and are more sophisticated than ever before - a stark and dangerous change from recent years, analysts, diplomats, and military officials say. "The missile landscape is changing in Asia, and it’s changing fast," said David Santoro, president of the Pacific Forum. Such weapons are increasingly affordable and accurate, and as some countries acquire them, their neighbours don't want to be left behind, analysts said. Missiles provide strategic benefits such as deterring enemies and boosting leverage with allies, and can be a lucrative export. The long-term implications are uncertain, and there is a slim chance that the new weapons could balance tensions and help maintain peace, Santoro said. "More likely is that missile proliferation will fuel suspicions, trigger arms races, increase tensions, and ultimately cause crises and even wars," he said.

Caught between China and US, Asian countries stockpile powerful new missiles

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appealed on Monday for more help from the United States as she began a visit to Washington for meetings with top Biden administration officials this week. 
 
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has kept a tight grip on Belarus since 1994 and has cracked down on street protests that began over a presidential election last August that his opponents say was rigged so that he could retain power. 
 
Tsikhanouskaya, 38, was a candidate in the election instead of her husband, Sergei Tsikhanouskiy, a video blogger who has been jailed since May 2020 on charges such as violating public order, which he denies. Tsikhanouskaya fled to neighboring Lithuania after Lukashenko`s crackdown. 
 
She met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland and State Department Counselor Derek Chollet, the State Department said in a statement. 
 
It said they discussed the need for the Lukashenko government's "crackdown to end, along with the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus, and an inclusive political dialogue and new presidential elections under international observation." 
 
Tsikhanouskaya also had meetings planned this week with senior White House officials, a senior administration official said. 
 
She told CNN that more help was needed from the United States and the European Union. 
 
"The USA has a moral obligation to be with us. I ask the USA to help civil society survive," she said. "Stand with Belarus." 
 
The senior administration official said the United States "stands with" Tsikhanouskaya and the people of Belarus and "will continue to support their democratic aspirations."

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appealed on Monday for more help from the United States as she began a visit to Washington for meetings with top Biden administration officials this week.

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appealed on Monday for more help from the United States as she began a visit to Washington for meetings with top Biden administration officials this week. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has kept a tight grip on Belarus since 1994 and has cracked down on street protests that began over a presidential election last August that his opponents say was rigged so that he could retain power. Tsikhanouskaya, 38, was a candidate in the election instead of her husband, Sergei Tsikhanouskiy, a video blogger who has been jailed since May 2020 on charges such as violating public order, which he denies. Tsikhanouskaya fled to neighboring Lithuania after Lukashenko`s crackdown. She met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland and State Department Counselor Derek Chollet, the State Department said in a statement. It said they discussed the need for the Lukashenko government's "crackdown to end, along with the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus, and an inclusive political dialogue and new presidential elections under international observation." Tsikhanouskaya also had meetings planned this week with senior White House officials, a senior administration official said. She told CNN that more help was needed from the United States and the European Union. "The USA has a moral obligation to be with us. I ask the USA to help civil society survive," she said. "Stand with Belarus." The senior administration official said the United States "stands with" Tsikhanouskaya and the people of Belarus and "will continue to support their democratic aspirations."

On Washington visit, Belarus opposition leader asks US for more help

Around&nbsp;14 living&nbsp;descendants of the family of the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci have been identified after&nbsp;decades-long research into&nbsp;his&nbsp;purported remains.&nbsp;

Published in ‘Human Evolution’ journal this month,&nbsp;the findings have resulted from a new genealogical tree going through 21 generations and four branches.&nbsp;

In order to protect their identities, the study&nbsp;provided little information about the living descendants. “The&nbsp;individuals vary in age from 1 to 85,”&nbsp;Project researchers Agnese Sabato and Alessandro&nbsp;Vezzosi&nbsp;told CNN.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The study is a part of the Leonardo Da Vinci DNA Project. The project&nbsp;aims to confirm the remains thought to be his and to 'better understand his extraordinary talents and visual acuity through genetic associations’.&nbsp;

The researchers, who carried out the&nbsp;study, said the results are 'eagerly awaited from an historical viewpoint’. They said,&nbsp;it&nbsp;will help academics to&nbsp;'scientifically explore the roots of his genius, to find information on his physical prowess and on his possibly precocious aging, on his being left-handed and his health and possible hereditary sicknesses, and to explain certain peculiar sensory perceptions, like his extraordinary visual quality and synesthesia’.&nbsp;

Historical documents, which are present&nbsp;in public and private archives and direct accounts by Leonardo's family members descendants led to these findings.&nbsp;

Around 14 living descendants of the family of the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci have been identified after decades-long research into his purported remains.

Around 14 living descendants of the family of the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci have been identified after decades-long research into his purported remains. Published in ‘Human Evolution’ journal this month, the findings have resulted from a new genealogical tree going through 21 generations and four branches. In order to protect their identities, the study provided little information about the living descendants. “The individuals vary in age from 1 to 85,” Project researchers Agnese Sabato and Alessandro Vezzosi told CNN. The study is a part of the Leonardo Da Vinci DNA Project. The project aims to confirm the remains thought to be his and to 'better understand his extraordinary talents and visual acuity through genetic associations’. The researchers, who carried out the study, said the results are 'eagerly awaited from an historical viewpoint’. They said, it will help academics to 'scientifically explore the roots of his genius, to find information on his physical prowess and on his possibly precocious aging, on his being left-handed and his health and possible hereditary sicknesses, and to explain certain peculiar sensory perceptions, like his extraordinary visual quality and synesthesia’. Historical documents, which are present in public and private archives and direct accounts by Leonardo's family members descendants led to these findings.

Leonardo da Vinci's 14 living descendants identified after decades-long research

According to a&nbsp;Twitter spokesperson, the company&nbsp;temporarily suspended Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene account at the microblogging site&nbsp;on Monday evening&nbsp;after she shared misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines.&nbsp;The lawmaker&nbsp;has a track record of incendiary rhetoric.&nbsp;

The Republican from&nbsp;Georgia will not be able to tweet for around 12 hours due to Twitter's policy against people&nbsp;who repeatedly share misinformation,&nbsp;the&nbsp;spokesperson&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

Two tweets from Greene were&nbsp;labeled as 'misleading' by the&nbsp;social media platform in recent days.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Greene could also be suspended from the platform permanently if she&nbsp;again&nbsp;shares misinformation about COVID-19&nbsp;using the&nbsp;Twitter account.&nbsp;

This move comes after&nbsp;White House&nbsp;increased pressure over the big tech companies in the&nbsp;Silicon Valley&nbsp;to&nbsp;tackle&nbsp;vaccine misinformation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;White House had&nbsp;singled out 12 people, who were&nbsp;being dubbed as the 'disinformation dozen’&nbsp;as they seem to have been&nbsp;responsible for a great deal of misinformation&nbsp;being circulated&nbsp;about COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had said,&nbsp;"There's about 12 people,&nbsp;who are producing 65% of anti-vaccine misinformation on social media platforms."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;non-profit Centre&nbsp;for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) had also&nbsp;released the statistics&nbsp;in a report published in March, which said&nbsp;about a dozen people were super-spreaders of anti-vaccine misinformation.&nbsp;At the time, the CCDH had&nbsp;asked&nbsp;Facebook and Twitter to shut down all pages run by these people.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With&nbsp;inputs from agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to a Twitter spokesperson, the company temporarily suspended Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene account at the microblogging site on Monday evening after she shared misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines.

According to a Twitter spokesperson, the company temporarily suspended Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene account at the microblogging site on Monday evening after she shared misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines. The lawmaker has a track record of incendiary rhetoric. The Republican from Georgia will not be able to tweet for around 12 hours due to Twitter's policy against people who repeatedly share misinformation, the spokesperson said. Two tweets from Greene were labeled as 'misleading' by the social media platform in recent days. Greene could also be suspended from the platform permanently if she again shares misinformation about COVID-19 using the Twitter account. This move comes after White House increased pressure over the big tech companies in the Silicon Valley to tackle vaccine misinformation. The White House had singled out 12 people, who were being dubbed as the 'disinformation dozen’ as they seem to have been responsible for a great deal of misinformation being circulated about COVID-19. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had said, "There's about 12 people, who are producing 65% of anti-vaccine misinformation on social media platforms." The non-profit Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) had also released the statistics in a report published in March, which said about a dozen people were super-spreaders of anti-vaccine misinformation. At the time, the CCDH had asked Facebook and Twitter to shut down all pages run by these people. (With inputs from agencies)

US lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Twitter account temporarily suspended for vaccine misinformation  

According to a top&nbsp;official,&nbsp;Haiti’s interim prime minister Claude Joseph will&nbsp;resign from his post.&nbsp;The move comes in the wake of the July 7 assassination of president Jovenel Moise.&nbsp;

Negotiations are still ongoing, but Ariel Henry, who&nbsp;Moise had designated to replace&nbsp;Joseph a day before he was killed, will lead the country, said&nbsp;elections minister Mathias Pierre as per&nbsp;a report.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier,&nbsp;Martine Moise, the widow of Haiti's assassinated president Jovenel Moise, returned to the Caribbean nation for his funeral after she was treated in a Miami hospital for injuries sustained during the attack at their private residence.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jovenel Moise was shot dead when assassins armed with assault rifles stormed his home in the hills above Port-au-Prince, tipping the country into uncertainty and sparking a frenzied investigation to identify the authors of the plan.&nbsp;

The Prime Minister's office tweeted a video of Martine Moise arriving back at the Haitian capital's Toussaint Louverture international airport, wearing all black clothing, donning a bullet proof vest and with her right arm in a sling.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Martine Moise had tweeted earlier this week while in Miami that she was still coming to terms with the killing of her husband and had thanked a "team of guardian angels who helped me through this terrible time."&nbsp;

Earlier on Saturday, the important Core Group of international ambassadors and representatives had urged "the formation of a consensual and inclusive government".&nbsp;

"To this end, we strongly encourage the designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry to continue the mission entrusted to him to form such a government," the group said. Henry, who Moise designated Prime Minister shortly before being killed, has not been sworn into his position and the country is being led by Joseph.&nbsp;

The Core Group is made up of ambassadors from Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, the United States, France, the European Union and special representatives from the United Nations and the Organization of American States.&nbsp;

"As Haiti faces serious dangers, the members of the group express the wish that all political, economic and civil society actors in the country fully support the authorities in their efforts to restore security throughout the country," it said.&nbsp;

The group also called for the organization of "free, fair, transparent and credible legislative and presidential elections as quickly as possible".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to a top official, Haiti’s interim prime minister Claude Joseph will resign from his post. The move comes in the wake of the July 7 assassination of president Jovenel Moise.

According to a top official, Haiti’s interim prime minister Claude Joseph will resign from his post. The move comes in the wake of the July 7 assassination of president Jovenel Moise. Negotiations are still ongoing, but Ariel Henry, who Moise had designated to replace Joseph a day before he was killed, will lead the country, said elections minister Mathias Pierre as per a report. Earlier, Martine Moise, the widow of Haiti's assassinated president Jovenel Moise, returned to the Caribbean nation for his funeral after she was treated in a Miami hospital for injuries sustained during the attack at their private residence. Jovenel Moise was shot dead when assassins armed with assault rifles stormed his home in the hills above Port-au-Prince, tipping the country into uncertainty and sparking a frenzied investigation to identify the authors of the plan. The Prime Minister's office tweeted a video of Martine Moise arriving back at the Haitian capital's Toussaint Louverture international airport, wearing all black clothing, donning a bullet proof vest and with her right arm in a sling. Martine Moise had tweeted earlier this week while in Miami that she was still coming to terms with the killing of her husband and had thanked a "team of guardian angels who helped me through this terrible time." Earlier on Saturday, the important Core Group of international ambassadors and representatives had urged "the formation of a consensual and inclusive government". "To this end, we strongly encourage the designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry to continue the mission entrusted to him to form such a government," the group said. Henry, who Moise designated Prime Minister shortly before being killed, has not been sworn into his position and the country is being led by Joseph. The Core Group is made up of ambassadors from Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, the United States, France, the European Union and special representatives from the United Nations and the Organization of American States. "As Haiti faces serious dangers, the members of the group express the wish that all political, economic and civil society actors in the country fully support the authorities in their efforts to restore security throughout the country," it said. The group also called for the organization of "free, fair, transparent and credible legislative and presidential elections as quickly as possible". (With inputs from agencies)

Haiti’s acting PM to resign in wake of Moise’s assassination: Report 

For several months,&nbsp;Philippines and China have been&nbsp;locking horns in&nbsp;South China Sea.&nbsp;

In the recent development,&nbsp;the Philippines Coast Guard said it drove away a Chinese warship in the waterway.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The tension between the two countries has been rising&nbsp;in the disputed waters.&nbsp;

Citing a July 13 report, the Coast Guard&nbsp;in a statement on&nbsp;Monday&nbsp;said,&nbsp;it challenged a Chinese warship spotted near Marie Louise Bank. The vessel eventually&nbsp;left the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Giving details about the incident,&nbsp;the Coast Guard said, the&nbsp;vessel sent a radio message identifying itself as&nbsp;'Chinese Navy Warship 189'&nbsp;and asked the Philippine ship tailing it to keep distance.&nbsp;

At a regular press briefing on Monday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao&nbsp;Lijian&nbsp;said that he was unaware of the matter.&nbsp;

Earlier,&nbsp;the Philippines had protested China's continuing 'illegal presence and activities' near an island in the South China Sea held by the Southeast Asian nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Manila had lodged the diplomatic protest over the 'incessant deployment, prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels' in the vicinity of&nbsp;Thitu&nbsp;island.&nbsp;It demanded its giant&nbsp;neighbour&nbsp;withdraw the vessels.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Chinese embassy in Manila had not immediately&nbsp;respond&nbsp;to a request for comment outside business hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tensions between Manila and Beijing have escalated over the months-long presence of hundreds of Chinese boats in the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone. The Philippines says it believes the vessels were manned by militia, while Beijing has said they were fishing boats sheltering from bad weather.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

For several months, Philippines and China have been locking horns in South China Sea. In the recent development, the Philippines Coast Guard said it drove away a Chinese warship in the waterway.

For several months, Philippines and China have been locking horns in South China Sea. In the recent development, the Philippines Coast Guard said it drove away a Chinese warship in the waterway. The tension between the two countries has been rising in the disputed waters. Citing a July 13 report, the Coast Guard in a statement on Monday said, it challenged a Chinese warship spotted near Marie Louise Bank. The vessel eventually left the area. Giving details about the incident, the Coast Guard said, the vessel sent a radio message identifying itself as 'Chinese Navy Warship 189' and asked the Philippine ship tailing it to keep distance. At a regular press briefing on Monday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that he was unaware of the matter. Earlier, the Philippines had protested China's continuing 'illegal presence and activities' near an island in the South China Sea held by the Southeast Asian nation. Manila had lodged the diplomatic protest over the 'incessant deployment, prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels' in the vicinity of Thitu island. It demanded its giant neighbour withdraw the vessels. The Chinese embassy in Manila had not immediately respond to a request for comment outside business hours. Tensions between Manila and Beijing have escalated over the months-long presence of hundreds of Chinese boats in the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone. The Philippines says it believes the vessels were manned by militia, while Beijing has said they were fishing boats sheltering from bad weather. (With inputs from agencies)

Philippines-China tussle continues in South China Sea 

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Gandharv Walia

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