The Biden administration is investigating Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei over concerns that US&nbsp;cell towers fitted with its gear could capture sensitive information from military bases and missile silos that the company could then transmit to China, two people familiar with the matter said.

Authorities are concerned Huawei could obtain sensitive data on military drills and the readiness status of bases and personnel via the equipment, one of the people said, requesting anonymity because the investigation is confidential and involves national security.

The previously unreported probe was opened by the Commerce Department shortly after Joe Biden took office early last year, the sources said, following the implementation of rules to flesh out a May 2019 executive order that gave the agency the investigative authority.

The agency subpoenaed Huawei in April 2021 to learn the company's policy on sharing data with foreign parties that its equipment could capture from cell phones, including messages and geolocational data, according to the 10-page document seen by Reuters.

The Commerce Department said it could not "confirm or deny ongoing investigations." It added that: "protecting US&nbsp;persons' safety and security against malign information collection is vital to protecting our economy and national security."

Huawei did not respond to a request for comment. The company has strongly denied US&nbsp;government allegations that it could spy on US&nbsp;customers and poses a national security threat.

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond to the specific allegations. In an emailed statement, it said: "The US&nbsp;government abuses the concept of national security and state power to go all out to suppress Huawei and other Chinese telecommunications companies without providing any solid proof that they constitute a security threat to the US&nbsp;and other countries."

Reuters could not determine what actions the agency might take against Huawei.

Eight current and former US&nbsp;government officials said the probe reflects lingering national security concerns about the company, which was already hit with a slew of US&nbsp;restrictions in recent years.

For a timeline on the US&nbsp;government’s trade restrictions on Huawei please click.

If the Commerce Department determines Huawei poses a national security threat, it could go beyond existing restrictions imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.S. telecoms regulator.

Using broad new powers created by the Trump administration, the agency could ban all US&nbsp;transactions with Huawei, demanding U.S. telecoms carriers that still rely on its gear quickly remove it, or face fines or other penalties, a number of lawyers, academics and former officials interviewed by Reuters said.

The FCC declined to comment.

US-CHINA TECH WAR

Huawei has long been dogged by US&nbsp;government allegations it could spy on US&nbsp;customers, though authorities in Washington have made little evidence public. The company denies the allegations.

"If Chinese companies like Huawei are given unfettered access to our telecommunications infrastructure, they could collect any of your information that traverses their devices or networks," FBI Director Christopher Wray warned in a speech in 2020. "Worse still: They'd have no choice but to hand it over to the Chinese government, if asked."

Reuters could not determine if Huawei's equipment is capable of collecting that sort of sensitive information and providing it to China.

"If you can stick a receiver on a (cellphone) tower, you can collect signals and that means you can get intelligence. No intelligence agency would pass an opportunity like that," said Jim Lewis, a technology and cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington DC-based think tank.

One move to address the perceived threat was a 2019 law and related rules forbidding US&nbsp;companies from using federal subsidies to buy telecoms equipment from Huawei. It also tasked the FCC with compelling US&nbsp;carriers that receive federal subsidies to purge their networks of Huawei equipment, in return for reimbursement.

But the so-called "rip and replace" deadline to remove and destroy Huawei equipment completely will not kick in until mid-2023 at the earliest, with additional opportunities for companies to seek extensions. And reimbursements will only reach 40% of the total requested for now.

TOWERS NEAR MISSILE SILOS

Cell towers equipped with Huawei gear that are close to sensitive military and intelligence sites have become a particular concern for US&nbsp;authorities, according to the two sources and an FCC commissioner.

Brendan Carr, one of the FCC's five commissioners, said that cellphone towers around Montana's Malmstrom Air Force Base - one of three that oversee missile fields in the United States - ran on Huawei technology.

In an interview this week, he told Reuters there was a risk that data from smartphones obtained by Huawei could reveal troop movements near the sites: "There’s a very real concern that some of that technology could be used as an early warning system if there happened to be, God forbid, an ICBM missile strike."

Reuters was unable to determine the exact location or scope of Huawei equipment operating near military facilities. Individuals interviewed by Reuters pointed to at least two other likely cases in Nebraska and Wyoming.

Crystal Rhoades, a commissioner at Nebraska's telecoms regulator, has flagged to media the risk posed by the proximity of cell towers owned by Viaero to intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos in the western part of the state.

ICBMs carry nuclear warheads to targets thousands of miles away and are stored in underground silos near military bases. The Nebraska cell towers are near a missile field overseen by FE&nbsp;Warren Air Force Base in neighboring Wyoming.

Viaero provides mobile telephone and wireless broadband services to about 110,000 customers in the region. It said in a 2018 filing to the FCC opposing the commission's efforts at curbing Huawei's expansion that approximately 80% of its equipment was manufactured by the Chinese firm.

That gear could potentially enable Huawei to glean sensitive information about the sites, Rhoades told Reuters in June.

"An enemy state could potentially see when things are online, when things are offline, the level of security, how many people are on duty in any given building where there are really dangerous and sophisticated weapons," Rhoades said.

Rhoades said in July that she had not been updated on rip and replace efforts by Viaero in more than two years, despite requesting updated information from the company in recent weeks.

At the time of last contact, the company said it would not begin removal efforts until the FCC money became available.

The FCC advised companies on Monday how much of their funding requests it can reimburse. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Viaero did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Huawei also declined to comment.

In Wyoming, then CEO of rural carrier Union Wireless, John Woody, said in a 2018 interview with Reuters that the company's coverage area included ICBM silos near the F.E. Warren Air Force Base and that its equipment included Huawei switches, routers and cell sites.

Last month, Eric Woody, John's son and acting CEO, said "virtually all the Huawei gear Union purchased remains in our network." He declined to say whether the towers close to the sensitive military sites contain Huawei equipment.

F.E. Warren Air Force Base referred comment on the Huawei equipment to the Pentagon. The United States Strategic Command, which is responsible for nuclear operations, said in a statement to Reuters: "We maintain constant awareness of activities near our installations and sites." It noted that "any concerns are on a whole of government level" but declined to provide further details on what those concerns are.

NEW POWERS AGAINST FOREIGN ADVERSARIES

Rick Sofield, a former DOJ official in the national security division who reviewed telecoms transactions, said the Commerce Department probe could give additional bite to the FCC’s crackdown but there was nothing new in targeting Huawei.

"The US&nbsp;government’s concerns regarding Huawei are widely known so any information or communications technology company that continues to use Huawei products is assuming the risk that the U.S. government will come knocking," said Sofield, who represents US&nbsp;and foreign companies facing US&nbsp;national security reviews. He said he has not worked for Huawei.

The Commerce Department is using authority granted in 2019 that allows it to ban or restrict transactions between US&nbsp;firms and internet, telecom and tech companies from "foreign adversary" nations including Russia and China, according to the executive order and related rules.

The two sources familiar with the Huawei investigation and a former government official said Huawei was one of the Biden administration's first cases using the new powers, referred to Commerce in early 2021 by the Justice Department.

The Justice Department referred requests for comment by Reuters to Commerce.

The subpoena is dated April 13, 2021, the same day that Commerce announced a document request was sent to an unnamed Chinese company under the new powers.

It gives Huawei 30 days to provide seven years' worth of "records identifying Huawei's business transactions and relationships with foreign entities located outside of the United States, including foreign government agencies or parties, that have access to, or that share in any capacity, U.S. user data collected by Huawei."

Noting that the "focus of this investigation is the provisioning of mobile network and telecommunications equipment...by Huawei in the United States," it also asks Huawei for a complete catalog of "all types of equipment sold" to "any communications provider in the United States," including names and locations of the parties to the sale.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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The Biden administration is investigating Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei over concerns that US cell towers fitted with its gear could capture sensitive information from military bases and missile silos that the company could then transmit to China, two people familiar with the matter said.

The Biden administration is investigating Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei over concerns that US cell towers fitted with its gear could capture sensitive information from military bases and missile silos that the company could then transmit to China, two people familiar with the matter said. Authorities are concerned Huawei could obtain sensitive data on military drills and the readiness status of bases and personnel via the equipment, one of the people said, requesting anonymity because the investigation is confidential and involves national security. The previously unreported probe was opened by the Commerce Department shortly after Joe Biden took office early last year, the sources said, following the implementation of rules to flesh out a May 2019 executive order that gave the agency the investigative authority. The agency subpoenaed Huawei in April 2021 to learn the company's policy on sharing data with foreign parties that its equipment could capture from cell phones, including messages and geolocational data, according to the 10-page document seen by Reuters. The Commerce Department said it could not "confirm or deny ongoing investigations." It added that: "protecting US persons' safety and security against malign information collection is vital to protecting our economy and national security." Huawei did not respond to a request for comment. The company has strongly denied US government allegations that it could spy on US customers and poses a national security threat. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond to the specific allegations. In an emailed statement, it said: "The US government abuses the concept of national security and state power to go all out to suppress Huawei and other Chinese telecommunications companies without providing any solid proof that they constitute a security threat to the US and other countries." Reuters could not determine what actions the agency might take against Huawei. Eight current and former US government officials said the probe reflects lingering national security concerns about the company, which was already hit with a slew of US restrictions in recent years. For a timeline on the US government’s trade restrictions on Huawei please click. If the Commerce Department determines Huawei poses a national security threat, it could go beyond existing restrictions imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.S. telecoms regulator. Using broad new powers created by the Trump administration, the agency could ban all US transactions with Huawei, demanding U.S. telecoms carriers that still rely on its gear quickly remove it, or face fines or other penalties, a number of lawyers, academics and former officials interviewed by Reuters said. The FCC declined to comment. US-CHINA TECH WAR Huawei has long been dogged by US government allegations it could spy on US customers, though authorities in Washington have made little evidence public. The company denies the allegations. "If Chinese companies like Huawei are given unfettered access to our telecommunications infrastructure, they could collect any of your information that traverses their devices or networks," FBI Director Christopher Wray warned in a speech in 2020. "Worse still: They'd have no choice but to hand it over to the Chinese government, if asked." Reuters could not determine if Huawei's equipment is capable of collecting that sort of sensitive information and providing it to China. "If you can stick a receiver on a (cellphone) tower, you can collect signals and that means you can get intelligence. No intelligence agency would pass an opportunity like that," said Jim Lewis, a technology and cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington DC-based think tank. One move to address the perceived threat was a 2019 law and related rules forbidding US companies from using federal subsidies to buy telecoms equipment from Huawei. It also tasked the FCC with compelling US carriers that receive federal subsidies to purge their networks of Huawei equipment, in return for reimbursement. But the so-called "rip and replace" deadline to remove and destroy Huawei equipment completely will not kick in until mid-2023 at the earliest, with additional opportunities for companies to seek extensions. And reimbursements will only reach 40% of the total requested for now. TOWERS NEAR MISSILE SILOS Cell towers equipped with Huawei gear that are close to sensitive military and intelligence sites have become a particular concern for US authorities, according to the two sources and an FCC commissioner. Brendan Carr, one of the FCC's five commissioners, said that cellphone towers around Montana's Malmstrom Air Force Base - one of three that oversee missile fields in the United States - ran on Huawei technology. In an interview this week, he told Reuters there was a risk that data from smartphones obtained by Huawei could reveal troop movements near the sites: "There’s a very real concern that some of that technology could be used as an early warning system if there happened to be, God forbid, an ICBM missile strike." Reuters was unable to determine the exact location or scope of Huawei equipment operating near military facilities. Individuals interviewed by Reuters pointed to at least two other likely cases in Nebraska and Wyoming. Crystal Rhoades, a commissioner at Nebraska's telecoms regulator, has flagged to media the risk posed by the proximity of cell towers owned by Viaero to intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos in the western part of the state. ICBMs carry nuclear warheads to targets thousands of miles away and are stored in underground silos near military bases. The Nebraska cell towers are near a missile field overseen by FE Warren Air Force Base in neighboring Wyoming. Viaero provides mobile telephone and wireless broadband services to about 110,000 customers in the region. It said in a 2018 filing to the FCC opposing the commission's efforts at curbing Huawei's expansion that approximately 80% of its equipment was manufactured by the Chinese firm. That gear could potentially enable Huawei to glean sensitive information about the sites, Rhoades told Reuters in June. "An enemy state could potentially see when things are online, when things are offline, the level of security, how many people are on duty in any given building where there are really dangerous and sophisticated weapons," Rhoades said. Rhoades said in July that she had not been updated on rip and replace efforts by Viaero in more than two years, despite requesting updated information from the company in recent weeks. At the time of last contact, the company said it would not begin removal efforts until the FCC money became available. The FCC advised companies on Monday how much of their funding requests it can reimburse. Viaero did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Huawei also declined to comment. In Wyoming, then CEO of rural carrier Union Wireless, John Woody, said in a 2018 interview with Reuters that the company's coverage area included ICBM silos near the F.E. Warren Air Force Base and that its equipment included Huawei switches, routers and cell sites. Last month, Eric Woody, John's son and acting CEO, said "virtually all the Huawei gear Union purchased remains in our network." He declined to say whether the towers close to the sensitive military sites contain Huawei equipment. F.E. Warren Air Force Base referred comment on the Huawei equipment to the Pentagon. The United States Strategic Command, which is responsible for nuclear operations, said in a statement to Reuters: "We maintain constant awareness of activities near our installations and sites." It noted that "any concerns are on a whole of government level" but declined to provide further details on what those concerns are. NEW POWERS AGAINST FOREIGN ADVERSARIES Rick Sofield, a former DOJ official in the national security division who reviewed telecoms transactions, said the Commerce Department probe could give additional bite to the FCC’s crackdown but there was nothing new in targeting Huawei. "The US government’s concerns regarding Huawei are widely known so any information or communications technology company that continues to use Huawei products is assuming the risk that the U.S. government will come knocking," said Sofield, who represents US and foreign companies facing US national security reviews. He said he has not worked for Huawei. The Commerce Department is using authority granted in 2019 that allows it to ban or restrict transactions between US firms and internet, telecom and tech companies from "foreign adversary" nations including Russia and China, according to the executive order and related rules. The two sources familiar with the Huawei investigation and a former government official said Huawei was one of the Biden administration's first cases using the new powers, referred to Commerce in early 2021 by the Justice Department. The Justice Department referred requests for comment by Reuters to Commerce. The subpoena is dated April 13, 2021, the same day that Commerce announced a document request was sent to an unnamed Chinese company under the new powers. It gives Huawei 30 days to provide seven years' worth of "records identifying Huawei's business transactions and relationships with foreign entities located outside of the United States, including foreign government agencies or parties, that have access to, or that share in any capacity, U.S. user data collected by Huawei." Noting that the "focus of this investigation is the provisioning of mobile network and telecommunications equipment...by Huawei in the United States," it also asks Huawei for a complete catalog of "all types of equipment sold" to "any communications provider in the United States," including names and locations of the parties to the sale. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US probes China's Huawei over equipment near missile silos

Taiwan on Monday (July 25) kicked off it largest military exercises. The exercise saw trench warfare and shoulder-launched Stinger missiles deployed against simulated Chinese attacks. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has heightened Taiwanese worries that China may invade it.

Taiwan, a democracy, is claimed by China as its own territory. China has not ruled out use of force to capture the island. China's military might far surpasses that of Taiwan.

The five-day 'Han Kuang' (Han Glory) war games have incorporated lessons from the European war this year, said Taiwan's defence ministry. There are simulations of 'all possible actions' China can take to invade Taiwan.

On Monday, reservists armed with machine guns ran into sandbagged trenches dug under a bridge before getting into firing position, in a drill aimed at blocking enemies from gaining access to the capital Taipei.&nbsp;

"The underground bunkers help cover the troops and ward off the enemy's strike forces," said Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at Taiwan's Institute for National Defence and Security Research. He was quoted by AFP.

"They are part of Ukraine's urban warfare."

He said that stinger missiles were also deployed in some high-rise buildings in the area. Stinger missiles are effective against helicopters and low-flying planes.

(With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan on Monday (July 25) kicked off it largest military exercises. The exercise saw trench warfare and shoulder-launched Stinger missiles deployed against simulated Chinese attacks.

Taiwan on Monday (July 25) kicked off it largest military exercises. The exercise saw trench warfare and shoulder-launched Stinger missiles deployed against simulated Chinese attacks. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has heightened Taiwanese worries that China may invade it. Taiwan, a democracy, is claimed by China as its own territory. China has not ruled out use of force to capture the island. China's military might far surpasses that of Taiwan. The five-day 'Han Kuang' (Han Glory) war games have incorporated lessons from the European war this year, said Taiwan's defence ministry. There are simulations of 'all possible actions' China can take to invade Taiwan. On Monday, reservists armed with machine guns ran into sandbagged trenches dug under a bridge before getting into firing position, in a drill aimed at blocking enemies from gaining access to the capital Taipei. "The underground bunkers help cover the troops and ward off the enemy's strike forces," said Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at Taiwan's Institute for National Defence and Security Research. He was quoted by AFP. "They are part of Ukraine's urban warfare." He said that stinger missiles were also deployed in some high-rise buildings in the area. Stinger missiles are effective against helicopters and low-flying planes. (With inputs from agencies)

With Ukraine conflict in mind, Taiwan stages Chinese invasion war games

Religious-right political groups that have spent decades dismantling abortion rights in much of the country have been gunning for sex education for just as long. Their dangerous and cynical efforts now appear under the guise of “parental rights” and “school transparency” on the floors of state legislatures and at school board meetings.

High quality, evidence-informed sex education is critically important, effective and supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans. Limiting access to that instruction threatens the health and safety of young people, particularly those in states where access to reproductive health care is scarce in post-Roe v. Wade America.

Sadly, sex education is on shaky ground in many parts of the United States. Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, which went into effect this month and denies students in younger grades the opportunity to learn about gender identity and sexual orientation, was just one of many recent state bills seeking to restrict access to comprehensive sex education. While groups pushing these laws argue that such instruction puts children at risk of sexual exploitation, our research has found that comprehensive, medically accurate sex ed in fact protects them.

Despite the lies and distortion meant to scare parents away, adults across the political spectrum have said they support sex education for their children. And for good reason: States or counties that support teaching about both contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted infections have lower rates of S.T.I.s and adolescent pregnancies; states that rely on abstinence-only approaches, now rebranded as “sexual risk avoidance,” have higher teenage pregnancy rates.

In a systematic review of 30 years of peer-reviewed research that explored sex education outcomes beyond pregnancy and S.T.I. prevention, we found that high-quality sex education decreases intimate-partner violence, as well as homophobic bullying and harassment. It promotes healthy relationships and helps prevent child sex abuse by increasing skills to identify and report such offenses.

Sex education improves skills like empathy, communication, managing feelings and ability to establish and maintain positive relationships, as well as increases a sense of self-control and safety. It also strengthens media literacy, which can help young people find reliable information about sexual and reproductive health and rights while being able to detect false or misleading information.

The challenge is that only 11 states mandate sex education that is medically accurate, while others expressly stipulate that, if sex education is taught, coverage of abortion is prohibited or can only be portrayed negatively. States that don’t require medical accuracy in sex ed often allow schools to use programs with false, misleading or distorted information. Some only discuss contraception in terms of failure rates and withhold lifesaving information about the use of condoms to prevent S.T.I.s and pregnancy.

Others assert long disproved claims, such as that having a legal abortion puts someone at greater risk for infertility and suicide. They also promote stigmatizing moral and religious beliefs — using terms like “virginity” and “chastity” in an effort to push abstinence — and teach that sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects.

The good news is that even in states that restrict sex education, concepts of fairness, dignity and respect — as well as consent and bodily integrity (that we each have the right to say what we do with our own bodies) — are regularly taught in early grades without controversy. They are just not recognized as sex education. Indeed, some of the most effective sex education outcomes we found from elementary through high school were achieved not just in traditional health or sex education classrooms, but in English, social studies, physical education, music and art classes.

Even in states hostile to abortion, it is possible to promote school-based instruction that meets the National Sex Education Standards, which are research-based guidelines that one of us, Dr. Goldfarb, initially helped develop for the core content and skills needed for effective K-12 sex education. Federal legislation has been proposed that would support high-quality sex education and impede federal funding for abstinence-only programming. (Further, anyone can review in-depth profiles of the sex education environments in their own states, including up-to-date information on legislative and advocacy efforts to secure comprehensive sex education.)

Because sex education is often under local control, even in states with more progressive policies, instruction can fall short, especially on highly politicized topics like abortion. It is imperative to dispel the misinformation young people are exposed to about the dangers of abortion. Contrary to what many students are taught, someone is far more likely to die from giving birth than from a legal abortion. And we need to normalize the procedure for young people, since around one in four women and many trans and nonbinary people have an abortion in their lifetimes.

For many young people, especially those whose sex education is lacking, the internet becomes a primary source of sexual health information. While social media platforms like TikTok are not a sufficient substitute for classroom-based learning, a growing number of sex educators and health care providers are turning to them. Websites such as Amaze.org, PlannedParenthood.org, Scarleteen.com and Sexetc.org are filled with accessible, accurate and developmentally and age-appropriate information for young people.

In the post-Roe era, we must fight state by state, district by district, to fend off attacks on sex education based on falsehoods and fear. Community members must speak up for medically accurate sex education at the local level, where curriculum decisions are often driven by who shows up at public meetings and who sits on the school board.

Many of those who have worked to deny access to critical reproductive health care for millions of Americans are also determined to keep our young people ignorant, disempowered and at even greater risk. These efforts are dangerous and must be stopped. Without sex education, post-Roe America will be even bleaker when it comes to sexual health.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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&nbsp;

Religious-right political groups that have spent decades dismantling abortion rights in much of the country have been gunning for sex education for just as long.

Religious-right political groups that have spent decades dismantling abortion rights in much of the country have been gunning for sex education for just as long. Their dangerous and cynical efforts now appear under the guise of “parental rights” and “school transparency” on the floors of state legislatures and at school board meetings. High quality, evidence-informed sex education is critically important, effective and supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans. Limiting access to that instruction threatens the health and safety of young people, particularly those in states where access to reproductive health care is scarce in post-Roe v. Wade America. Sadly, sex education is on shaky ground in many parts of the United States. Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, which went into effect this month and denies students in younger grades the opportunity to learn about gender identity and sexual orientation, was just one of many recent state bills seeking to restrict access to comprehensive sex education. While groups pushing these laws argue that such instruction puts children at risk of sexual exploitation, our research has found that comprehensive, medically accurate sex ed in fact protects them. Despite the lies and distortion meant to scare parents away, adults across the political spectrum have said they support sex education for their children. And for good reason: States or counties that support teaching about both contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted infections have lower rates of S.T.I.s and adolescent pregnancies; states that rely on abstinence-only approaches, now rebranded as “sexual risk avoidance,” have higher teenage pregnancy rates. In a systematic review of 30 years of peer-reviewed research that explored sex education outcomes beyond pregnancy and S.T.I. prevention, we found that high-quality sex education decreases intimate-partner violence, as well as homophobic bullying and harassment. It promotes healthy relationships and helps prevent child sex abuse by increasing skills to identify and report such offenses. Sex education improves skills like empathy, communication, managing feelings and ability to establish and maintain positive relationships, as well as increases a sense of self-control and safety. It also strengthens media literacy, which can help young people find reliable information about sexual and reproductive health and rights while being able to detect false or misleading information. The challenge is that only 11 states mandate sex education that is medically accurate, while others expressly stipulate that, if sex education is taught, coverage of abortion is prohibited or can only be portrayed negatively. States that don’t require medical accuracy in sex ed often allow schools to use programs with false, misleading or distorted information. Some only discuss contraception in terms of failure rates and withhold lifesaving information about the use of condoms to prevent S.T.I.s and pregnancy. Others assert long disproved claims, such as that having a legal abortion puts someone at greater risk for infertility and suicide. They also promote stigmatizing moral and religious beliefs — using terms like “virginity” and “chastity” in an effort to push abstinence — and teach that sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects. The good news is that even in states that restrict sex education, concepts of fairness, dignity and respect — as well as consent and bodily integrity (that we each have the right to say what we do with our own bodies) — are regularly taught in early grades without controversy. They are just not recognized as sex education. Indeed, some of the most effective sex education outcomes we found from elementary through high school were achieved not just in traditional health or sex education classrooms, but in English, social studies, physical education, music and art classes. Even in states hostile to abortion, it is possible to promote school-based instruction that meets the National Sex Education Standards, which are research-based guidelines that one of us, Dr. Goldfarb, initially helped develop for the core content and skills needed for effective K-12 sex education. Federal legislation has been proposed that would support high-quality sex education and impede federal funding for abstinence-only programming. (Further, anyone can review in-depth profiles of the sex education environments in their own states, including up-to-date information on legislative and advocacy efforts to secure comprehensive sex education.) Because sex education is often under local control, even in states with more progressive policies, instruction can fall short, especially on highly politicized topics like abortion. It is imperative to dispel the misinformation young people are exposed to about the dangers of abortion. Contrary to what many students are taught, someone is far more likely to die from giving birth than from a legal abortion. And we need to normalize the procedure for young people, since around one in four women and many trans and nonbinary people have an abortion in their lifetimes. For many young people, especially those whose sex education is lacking, the internet becomes a primary source of sexual health information. While social media platforms like TikTok are not a sufficient substitute for classroom-based learning, a growing number of sex educators and health care providers are turning to them. Websites such as Amaze.org, PlannedParenthood.org, Scarleteen.com and Sexetc.org are filled with accessible, accurate and developmentally and age-appropriate information for young people. In the post-Roe era, we must fight state by state, district by district, to fend off attacks on sex education based on falsehoods and fear. Community members must speak up for medically accurate sex education at the local level, where curriculum decisions are often driven by who shows up at public meetings and who sits on the school board. Many of those who have worked to deny access to critical reproductive health care for millions of Americans are also determined to keep our young people ignorant, disempowered and at even greater risk. These efforts are dangerous and must be stopped. Without sex education, post-Roe America will be even bleaker when it comes to sexual health. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

After Roe, Sex Ed is even more vital

On Feb. 2, when Meta Platforms reported Facebook's first-ever quarterly drop in daily users, its finance chief identified higher mobile data costs as a unique obstacle slowing growth in India, its biggest market.

On the same day, the US&nbsp;tech group posted the findings of its own research into Facebook's business in India on an internal employee forum. The study, conducted over the two years to the end of 2021, identified different problems.

Many women have shunned the male-dominated social network because they're worried about their safety and privacy, according to the Meta research, which hasn't been previously reported.

"Concerns about content safety and unwanted contact impede women's FB use," said the study, reviewed by Reuters, as it detailed the platform's main challenges.

"Meta cannot succeed in India while leaving women behind."

Other obstacles included nudity content, the perceived complexity of its app design, local language and literacy barriers and a lack of appeal among internet users seeking video content, according to the research, which was based on surveys of tens of thousands of people as well as internal user data.

Facebook's growth began plateauing last year, when it added a few million users in the space of six months in the country of about 1.4 billion people, significantly lagging sister apps WhatsApp and Instagram, according to the report, which noted: "FB has grown more slowly than the internet and other apps."

A Meta spokesperson, contacted about the study, said the company regularly invested in internal research to better understand the value its products provide and help identify ways to improve.

"But it's misleading to characterize 7-month-old research as an accurate or comprehensive representation of the state of our business in India," they added.

Nonetheless, the main Indian issues detailed in the research were not cited by Meta's chief financial officer, Dave Wehner, on a Feb. 2 call&nbsp;with analysts to discuss results for the final quarter of 2021.

Wehner said Facebook's user growth in Asia-Pacific and some other areas was hit by competition, plus comparison with prior quarters when COVID resurgences aided user engagement. He identified higher mobile data costs as a "unique" headwind for India.

Asked why the obstacles to growth identified by Wehner were different from those identified in the research, the spokesperson pointed to a Meta filing in April, during its first-quarter earnings, where it said Facebook users in India, Bangladesh and Vietnam represented the top three sources of growth in daily active users in March versus a year before.

Facebook's fortunes in India have broad implications for Meta, which has lost about half of its value this year amid a broader tech sell-off and faces scrutiny from investors and analysts who fear its growth in potentially high-growth developing markets is starting to wane.

"India contains more FB users than any other country," said the research, which pegged the number at almost 450 million as of November, after rapid growth over much of the past decade.

"Teams across the company should explicitly consider their strategic position and growth opportunities in India. Outcomes in India could drive global results."

FAMILY DOESN'T ALLOW FB

The internal study, a "high-level overview of the growth trends" in India, was detailed in a presentation meant to help Facebook's researchers and product teams. It said that a key problem Facebook had tried to fix for years in India, with limited success, was related to "gender imbalance".

Men accounted for 75% of Facebook's monthly active users in India last year. That compared with 62% of internet users more broadly in early 2020, the researchers found.

"While there is a gender imbalance in internet use across India, the imbalance among Facebook users is even more pronounced," said the study, adding that online safety concerns and societal pressures were among reasons deterring women from the platform.

The researchers found that 79% of female Facebook users had "expressed concern about content/photo misuse", while 20-30% of overall users were estimated to have seen nudity on the platform within the last seven days in the largely conservative country.

India ranked highest globally on the latter metric; around 10% of users surveyed in the United States and Brazil said they had seen nudity in the past week, for example, and under 20% in Indonesia, according to a survey conducted in August 2021.

"Negative content is more prevalent in India than other countries," said the internal report.

Family disapproval – "Family doesn't allow FB" - was a major reason cited by women for not using Facebook, the study found.

The Meta spokesperson said the online gender imbalance was an industry-wide problem and not specific to its platforms.

They said that since 2016, Meta had quadrupled the size of the global team working on safety and security to over 40,000, and that between January and April this year, more than 97% of adult nudity and sexual activity content was removed before someone reported it.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

Depicting struggles of women users, one research slide showed a picture of an Indian woman walking on a street wearing a saree with which she covered her head and face, a tradition common in many parts of India.

Next to this image was the account of a woman who said she had received 367 friend requests from strangers, with a string of comments on photos like "very beautiful", "where do you live", "you look good".

The comments stopped after she used the "locked profile" feature, according to the woman cited, referring to an option Facebook introduced in 2020 in India allowing users to restrict viewing of pictures and posts to non-friends.

By June 2021, the feature had been adopted by 34% of women users in India, said the internal report, but more work was needed, with "bold product changes", to address the problem of low uptake of Facebook among women.

Facebook has faced criticism globally from online safety campaigners for not doing enough to safeguard women from bullying or harassment. In 2019, the platform said it had a team of people focusing "just on making sure we are keeping women safe", using technology tools to remove content deemed unsafe.

The Meta spokesperson said it had launched a Women's Safety Hub and other privacy features such as a profanity filter to help female users in India stay safe online. Since 2021, more than 45% of Facebook Groups in India related to entrepreneurship have been created by women, Meta added.

WHATSAPP GRABS CROWN

Facebook's growth in India began to level off last year, according to the internal research. The platform's main appeal has been to connect with friends and family, but non-Facebook users were primarily now using the internet to see pictures and videos, the research noted.

Its annualised growth rate based on May-October 2021 showed it was adding just 6.6 million users per year, versus WhatsApp's 71 million and Instagram's 128 million, according to one internal slide that illustrated the slowdown graphically.

By November, Facebook's user base in India was 447 million strong, lagging its Meta sister apps. WhatsApp - which Facebook acquired in 2014 - had 563 million Indian users. Instagram, bought in 2012, had 309 million.

The slowdown stands in contrast to Facebook's strong expansion in past years. In 2014, the platform had fewer than 100 million users in India, a number that doubled by 2017, the research said.

The Meta spokesperson declined to comment on the user numbers, saying it didn't disclose country-specific data. They said the company was "definitely increasing the prominence of video" on Facebook.

Lower-educated users are another group that is underrepresented on Facebook, according to the research. The platform faced challenges in meeting demand for content in India's many local languages, while many people cited the app's complexity and lack of tutorials as deterrents.

Between 2017 and 2020, India's monthly online users as a share of the population doubled, boosted by cheaper data plans, but the share of internet users who reported they used Facebook declined during that period, the study found.

"India is now the country with more Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram accounts than any other country in the world," said an internal post accompanying the report. "But continued growth in India faces many challenges."

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On Feb. 2, when Meta Platforms reported Facebook's first-ever quarterly drop in daily users, its finance chief identified higher mobile data costs as a unique obstacle slowing growth in India, its biggest market.

On Feb. 2, when Meta Platforms reported Facebook's first-ever quarterly drop in daily users, its finance chief identified higher mobile data costs as a unique obstacle slowing growth in India, its biggest market. On the same day, the US tech group posted the findings of its own research into Facebook's business in India on an internal employee forum. The study, conducted over the two years to the end of 2021, identified different problems. Many women have shunned the male-dominated social network because they're worried about their safety and privacy, according to the Meta research, which hasn't been previously reported. "Concerns about content safety and unwanted contact impede women's FB use," said the study, reviewed by Reuters, as it detailed the platform's main challenges. "Meta cannot succeed in India while leaving women behind." Other obstacles included nudity content, the perceived complexity of its app design, local language and literacy barriers and a lack of appeal among internet users seeking video content, according to the research, which was based on surveys of tens of thousands of people as well as internal user data. Facebook's growth began plateauing last year, when it added a few million users in the space of six months in the country of about 1.4 billion people, significantly lagging sister apps WhatsApp and Instagram, according to the report, which noted: "FB has grown more slowly than the internet and other apps." A Meta spokesperson, contacted about the study, said the company regularly invested in internal research to better understand the value its products provide and help identify ways to improve. "But it's misleading to characterize 7-month-old research as an accurate or comprehensive representation of the state of our business in India," they added. Nonetheless, the main Indian issues detailed in the research were not cited by Meta's chief financial officer, Dave Wehner, on a Feb. 2 call with analysts to discuss results for the final quarter of 2021. Wehner said Facebook's user growth in Asia-Pacific and some other areas was hit by competition, plus comparison with prior quarters when COVID resurgences aided user engagement. He identified higher mobile data costs as a "unique" headwind for India. Asked why the obstacles to growth identified by Wehner were different from those identified in the research, the spokesperson pointed to a Meta filing in April, during its first-quarter earnings, where it said Facebook users in India, Bangladesh and Vietnam represented the top three sources of growth in daily active users in March versus a year before. Facebook's fortunes in India have broad implications for Meta, which has lost about half of its value this year amid a broader tech sell-off and faces scrutiny from investors and analysts who fear its growth in potentially high-growth developing markets is starting to wane. "India contains more FB users than any other country," said the research, which pegged the number at almost 450 million as of November, after rapid growth over much of the past decade. "Teams across the company should explicitly consider their strategic position and growth opportunities in India. Outcomes in India could drive global results." FAMILY DOESN'T ALLOW FB The internal study, a "high-level overview of the growth trends" in India, was detailed in a presentation meant to help Facebook's researchers and product teams. It said that a key problem Facebook had tried to fix for years in India, with limited success, was related to "gender imbalance". Men accounted for 75% of Facebook's monthly active users in India last year. That compared with 62% of internet users more broadly in early 2020, the researchers found. "While there is a gender imbalance in internet use across India, the imbalance among Facebook users is even more pronounced," said the study, adding that online safety concerns and societal pressures were among reasons deterring women from the platform. The researchers found that 79% of female Facebook users had "expressed concern about content/photo misuse", while 20-30% of overall users were estimated to have seen nudity on the platform within the last seven days in the largely conservative country. India ranked highest globally on the latter metric; around 10% of users surveyed in the United States and Brazil said they had seen nudity in the past week, for example, and under 20% in Indonesia, according to a survey conducted in August 2021. "Negative content is more prevalent in India than other countries," said the internal report. Family disapproval – "Family doesn't allow FB" - was a major reason cited by women for not using Facebook, the study found. The Meta spokesperson said the online gender imbalance was an industry-wide problem and not specific to its platforms. They said that since 2016, Meta had quadrupled the size of the global team working on safety and security to over 40,000, and that between January and April this year, more than 97% of adult nudity and sexual activity content was removed before someone reported it. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Depicting struggles of women users, one research slide showed a picture of an Indian woman walking on a street wearing a saree with which she covered her head and face, a tradition common in many parts of India. Next to this image was the account of a woman who said she had received 367 friend requests from strangers, with a string of comments on photos like "very beautiful", "where do you live", "you look good". The comments stopped after she used the "locked profile" feature, according to the woman cited, referring to an option Facebook introduced in 2020 in India allowing users to restrict viewing of pictures and posts to non-friends. By June 2021, the feature had been adopted by 34% of women users in India, said the internal report, but more work was needed, with "bold product changes", to address the problem of low uptake of Facebook among women. Facebook has faced criticism globally from online safety campaigners for not doing enough to safeguard women from bullying or harassment. In 2019, the platform said it had a team of people focusing "just on making sure we are keeping women safe", using technology tools to remove content deemed unsafe. The Meta spokesperson said it had launched a Women's Safety Hub and other privacy features such as a profanity filter to help female users in India stay safe online. Since 2021, more than 45% of Facebook Groups in India related to entrepreneurship have been created by women, Meta added. WHATSAPP GRABS CROWN Facebook's growth in India began to level off last year, according to the internal research. The platform's main appeal has been to connect with friends and family, but non-Facebook users were primarily now using the internet to see pictures and videos, the research noted. Its annualised growth rate based on May-October 2021 showed it was adding just 6.6 million users per year, versus WhatsApp's 71 million and Instagram's 128 million, according to one internal slide that illustrated the slowdown graphically. By November, Facebook's user base in India was 447 million strong, lagging its Meta sister apps. WhatsApp - which Facebook acquired in 2014 - had 563 million Indian users. Instagram, bought in 2012, had 309 million. The slowdown stands in contrast to Facebook's strong expansion in past years. In 2014, the platform had fewer than 100 million users in India, a number that doubled by 2017, the research said. The Meta spokesperson declined to comment on the user numbers, saying it didn't disclose country-specific data. They said the company was "definitely increasing the prominence of video" on Facebook. Lower-educated users are another group that is underrepresented on Facebook, according to the research. The platform faced challenges in meeting demand for content in India's many local languages, while many people cited the app's complexity and lack of tutorials as deterrents. Between 2017 and 2020, India's monthly online users as a share of the population doubled, boosted by cheaper data plans, but the share of internet users who reported they used Facebook declined during that period, the study found. "India is now the country with more Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram accounts than any other country in the world," said an internal post accompanying the report. "But continued growth in India faces many challenges." You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Facebook's growth woes in India: too much nudity, not enough women

Investigators in Russia have opened a criminal probe against a pregnant city councillor in Siberia. Helga Pirogova, the councillor is one of the last allies of jailed Kremlin-critic Alexei Navalny, who are still in the country. The investigative committee says proceedings have been launched over spread of false information about the Russian army.

Pirogova is independent member of the city council in Novosibirsk, third largest city in Russia.&nbsp;

The 33-year-old has spoken against Russia's military intervention in Ukraine. If she is convicted of charges against her, she faces up to three years in prison. According to her supporters, she is in her fourth month of pregnancy.

She was briefly detained on Thursday.

"They need an internal enemy that they can easily fight," she told AFP on Friday.

Asked how she felt, she said: "I'd like to avoid this but what can you do."&nbsp;

When Pirogova took to Twitter in July to comment on a report about funerals of troops killed in Ukraine, she was accused of posting 'false information' by the investigators.&nbsp;

She said she wanted to "revive" the troops to punish them for their role in Moscow's offensive and then "let them go back to their graves."&nbsp;

Later, she deleted her tweet calling it "too emotional"

She said she wanted to draw attention to the fact that Russians in some provinces were so poor that they exclaimed on elaborate funeral arrangements made rather rather than mourning the dead.

"You can invite half the village!" she said in a Facebook post this week.&nbsp;

In March, Pirogova caused an uproar when she turned up at a council meeting wearing a blue shirt and a crown of yellow flowers -- the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Investigators in Russia have opened a criminal probe against a pregnant city councillor in Siberia. Helga Pirogova, the councillor is one of the last allies of jailed Kremlin-critic Alexei Navalny, who are still in the country.

Investigators in Russia have opened a criminal probe against a pregnant city councillor in Siberia. Helga Pirogova, the councillor is one of the last allies of jailed Kremlin-critic Alexei Navalny, who are still in the country. The investigative committee says proceedings have been launched over spread of false information about the Russian army. Pirogova is independent member of the city council in Novosibirsk, third largest city in Russia. The 33-year-old has spoken against Russia's military intervention in Ukraine. If she is convicted of charges against her, she faces up to three years in prison. According to her supporters, she is in her fourth month of pregnancy. She was briefly detained on Thursday. "They need an internal enemy that they can easily fight," she told AFP on Friday. Asked how she felt, she said: "I'd like to avoid this but what can you do." When Pirogova took to Twitter in July to comment on a report about funerals of troops killed in Ukraine, she was accused of posting 'false information' by the investigators. She said she wanted to "revive" the troops to punish them for their role in Moscow's offensive and then "let them go back to their graves." Later, she deleted her tweet calling it "too emotional" She said she wanted to draw attention to the fact that Russians in some provinces were so poor that they exclaimed on elaborate funeral arrangements made rather rather than mourning the dead. "You can invite half the village!" she said in a Facebook post this week. In March, Pirogova caused an uproar when she turned up at a council meeting wearing a blue shirt and a crown of yellow flowers -- the colours of the Ukrainian flag. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Criminal proceedings launched against pregnant Russian councillor, a Navalny ally

Raging wildfires are severely impacting the wildlife in France. On Tuesday, 363 animals from the Arachon Zoo had to be evacuated. The zoo is located in western France. The animals have already suffered and some of them have been weakened due to the heat. They were shifted to a zoo in central France.

Monkeys were evacuated first as burning trees affected their natural habitat. As per media reports, the evacuation was tricky as special arrangements had to be made to safely transport the animals.

Wildfires raging in France have also destroyed campsites in the wooded area as well.&nbsp;

Mostly debris, walls and a swimming pool were left of the campsite La Foret du Pilat, a stone’s throw away from the Dune du Pilat, Europe’s tallest sand dune.

Firefighters on Wednesday checked the campsite to locate and mark any gas containers left behind by campers.

“The purpose is to secure them so that the companies that come for clean-up can do so safely,” firefighter captain Gilles Elschger said.

Firefighters in the southwest Gironde department have been battling since July 12 to tame the flames, which have so far ravaged nearly 50,904 acres (20,600 hectares) of land, the local prefecture said on Wednesday (July 20).

(With inputs from agencies)

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Raging wildfires are severely impacting the wildlife in France. On Tuesday, 363 animals from the Arachon Zoo had to be evacuated. The zoo is located in western France.

Raging wildfires are severely impacting the wildlife in France. On Tuesday, 363 animals from the Arachon Zoo had to be evacuated. The zoo is located in western France. The animals have already suffered and some of them have been weakened due to the heat. They were shifted to a zoo in central France. Monkeys were evacuated first as burning trees affected their natural habitat. As per media reports, the evacuation was tricky as special arrangements had to be made to safely transport the animals. Wildfires raging in France have also destroyed campsites in the wooded area as well. Mostly debris, walls and a swimming pool were left of the campsite La Foret du Pilat, a stone’s throw away from the Dune du Pilat, Europe’s tallest sand dune. Firefighters on Wednesday checked the campsite to locate and mark any gas containers left behind by campers. “The purpose is to secure them so that the companies that come for clean-up can do so safely,” firefighter captain Gilles Elschger said. Firefighters in the southwest Gironde department have been battling since July 12 to tame the flames, which have so far ravaged nearly 50,904 acres (20,600 hectares) of land, the local prefecture said on Wednesday (July 20). (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

France: Raging wildfires force evacuation of 363 animals from zoo

Next year onwards, all clothing items sold in France would require a label containing information about the precise climate impact the manufacture has had. It is expected that a similar rule would come into effect in the European Union by 2026.

This may mean clothing brands would have to juggle many data points: &nbsp;Where and how were its raw materials grown? What was used to colour it? How far did it travel? Was the factory powered with solar energy or coal?

The French Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe) is currently testing 11 proposals for how to collect and compare data — and what the resulting label might look like to consumers — using 500 real-life items of clothing.&nbsp;

“The message of the law is clear — it will become obligatory, so brands need to prepare, to make their products traceable, to organise the automatic collection of data,” Erwan Autret, one of the coordinators at Ademe, told AFP.

“Some say the models are too simple, some say they’re too complicated, but it’s a sign of the maturity of the debate that no one questions the need for these calculations anymore.”

As per United Nations, the fashion industry is responsible for 10 per cent of global carbon emissions. It is also responsible for a significant portion of water consumption and waste.

Campaigners say that labels can go a long way to address the environmental impact.

“It will force brands to be more transparent and informed... to collect data and create long-term relationships with their suppliers — all things they’re not used to doing,” said Victoire Satto, of The Good Goods, It is a media agency focused on sustainable fashion.

“Right now it seems infinitely complex,” she added. “But we’ve seen it applied in other industries such as medical supplies.”

A presentation by Paris-based textiles conference, Premiere Vision, put emphasis on new processes that included non-toxic leather tanning, dyes from fruits and waste and even biodegradable underwear.

But Ariane Bigot, Premiere Vision’s deputy head of fashion, said that the key to sustainability is using the right fabric for the right garment. 
&nbsp; 
That means synthetic and oil-based fabrics will still have a place, she said: “A strong synthetic with a very long lifespan might be right for some uses, such as an over-garment that needs little washing.”&nbsp;

Capturing all these trade-offs in one simple label on an item of clothing is therefore tricky.

“It’s very complicated,” said Bigot. “But we need to get the machine started.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Next year onwards, all clothing items sold in France would require a label containing information about the precise climate impact the manufacture has had. It is expected that a similar rule would come into effect in the European Union by 2026.

Next year onwards, all clothing items sold in France would require a label containing information about the precise climate impact the manufacture has had. It is expected that a similar rule would come into effect in the European Union by 2026. This may mean clothing brands would have to juggle many data points: Where and how were its raw materials grown? What was used to colour it? How far did it travel? Was the factory powered with solar energy or coal? The French Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe) is currently testing 11 proposals for how to collect and compare data — and what the resulting label might look like to consumers — using 500 real-life items of clothing. “The message of the law is clear — it will become obligatory, so brands need to prepare, to make their products traceable, to organise the automatic collection of data,” Erwan Autret, one of the coordinators at Ademe, told AFP. “Some say the models are too simple, some say they’re too complicated, but it’s a sign of the maturity of the debate that no one questions the need for these calculations anymore.” As per United Nations, the fashion industry is responsible for 10 per cent of global carbon emissions. It is also responsible for a significant portion of water consumption and waste. Campaigners say that labels can go a long way to address the environmental impact. “It will force brands to be more transparent and informed... to collect data and create long-term relationships with their suppliers — all things they’re not used to doing,” said Victoire Satto, of The Good Goods, It is a media agency focused on sustainable fashion. “Right now it seems infinitely complex,” she added. “But we’ve seen it applied in other industries such as medical supplies.” A presentation by Paris-based textiles conference, Premiere Vision, put emphasis on new processes that included non-toxic leather tanning, dyes from fruits and waste and even biodegradable underwear. But Ariane Bigot, Premiere Vision’s deputy head of fashion, said that the key to sustainability is using the right fabric for the right garment. That means synthetic and oil-based fabrics will still have a place, she said: “A strong synthetic with a very long lifespan might be right for some uses, such as an over-garment that needs little washing.” Capturing all these trade-offs in one simple label on an item of clothing is therefore tricky. “It’s very complicated,” said Bigot. “But we need to get the machine started.” (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

In France, clothes to carry labels with climate impact info

Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said in an interview that Iran and Saudi Arabia are ready to move reconciliation talks to a higher level. This statement from Iran has come more than a year after the two countries, regional foes, started dialogue. Six years ago, the two countries have severed relations with each other.

Since April 2021, five rounds of talks between the two countries have taken place in Iraq. Saudi Arabia and Iran support opposing sides in number of regional conflicts.

"Progress has been made in these negotiations," Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in an interview with Iran's state broadcaster on Thursday night.

He added that last week Iran had received a message from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein who said "the Saudi side is ready to move the talks to the political and public level."&nbsp;

The minister said that previous rounds of dialogue were largely held at the level of security officials.

"We announced our readiness for the talks to enter the political stage," he said.

Iranian protesters had attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after Saudi Arabia executed Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr in 2016. Iran is a Shia majority nation while Saudi Arabia is Sunni majority nation. Saudi Arabia had severed relations with Iran after attacks on its missions.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said in an interview that Iran and Saudi Arabia are ready to move reconciliation talks to a higher level. This statement from Iran has come more than a year after the two countries, regional foes, started dialogue.

Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said in an interview that Iran and Saudi Arabia are ready to move reconciliation talks to a higher level. This statement from Iran has come more than a year after the two countries, regional foes, started dialogue. Six years ago, the two countries have severed relations with each other. Since April 2021, five rounds of talks between the two countries have taken place in Iraq. Saudi Arabia and Iran support opposing sides in number of regional conflicts. "Progress has been made in these negotiations," Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in an interview with Iran's state broadcaster on Thursday night. He added that last week Iran had received a message from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein who said "the Saudi side is ready to move the talks to the political and public level." The minister said that previous rounds of dialogue were largely held at the level of security officials. "We announced our readiness for the talks to enter the political stage," he said. Iranian protesters had attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after Saudi Arabia executed Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr in 2016. Iran is a Shia majority nation while Saudi Arabia is Sunni majority nation. Saudi Arabia had severed relations with Iran after attacks on its missions. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Saudi Arabia ready to move reconciliation talks to higher level: Iran

Japanese government has urged citizens to observe 'highest level of vigilance' as Covid cases spiked in the country. The fresh spike is due to BA.5 subvariant of coronavirus. On Thursday (July 21), more than 186,000 cases were recorded in the country. In capital Tokyo, the daily tally surpassed 30,000 cases for the first time. Thirty of country's 47 prefectures have recorded record highs.

According to public broadcaster NHK, people in Okinaka prefecture in southern Japan have been asked to avoid non-essential outings. In hotels, groups of maximum of four people will be allowed for maximum period of two hours.

In Japan, the number of serious cases and deaths is still low but officials have said that the number is increasing.

Residents in Tokyo have expressed concern.

"I think it’s a shocking state of affairs that it’s over 30,000 people. Because I live with my grandmother, it makes me feel much more cautious," said 30-year-old office worker Ai Okamura.

Ai was quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Thursday warned that new infections had reached highest level ever and hospital occupancy rate is becoming higher.

Despite the surge, officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, have not called for new coronavirus curbs. Nearly all Japanese still wear masks indoors, and many use them outside as well, while most stores require them.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Japanese government has urged citizens to observe 'highest level of vigilance' as Covid cases spiked in the country. The fresh spike is due to BA.5 subvariant of coronavirus.

Japanese government has urged citizens to observe 'highest level of vigilance' as Covid cases spiked in the country. The fresh spike is due to BA.5 subvariant of coronavirus. On Thursday (July 21), more than 186,000 cases were recorded in the country. In capital Tokyo, the daily tally surpassed 30,000 cases for the first time. Thirty of country's 47 prefectures have recorded record highs. According to public broadcaster NHK, people in Okinaka prefecture in southern Japan have been asked to avoid non-essential outings. In hotels, groups of maximum of four people will be allowed for maximum period of two hours. In Japan, the number of serious cases and deaths is still low but officials have said that the number is increasing. Residents in Tokyo have expressed concern. "I think it’s a shocking state of affairs that it’s over 30,000 people. Because I live with my grandmother, it makes me feel much more cautious," said 30-year-old office worker Ai Okamura. Ai was quoted by Reuters. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Thursday warned that new infections had reached highest level ever and hospital occupancy rate is becoming higher. Despite the surge, officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, have not called for new coronavirus curbs. Nearly all Japanese still wear masks indoors, and many use them outside as well, while most stores require them. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Japan: Government calls for 'highest level of vigilance' as Covid cases rise

Snake bites are nasty, and though like other animals, snakes are vilified way more than their actual threat to humankind, snake venom running through veins literally dissolving our tissues and organs is not something anyone looks forward to while going camping.&nbsp;

In UK, it has been found that there is an increase in number of snakebites from foreign or 'exotic' snakes.

Why?

Because their is increase in the number of people keeping these species as pets.&nbsp;

A study has logged 321 exotic snake bites on 300 individuals between 2009 and 2020. These cases involved 568 different species. This comes to 30 snake bites a year. If you think the number is low then compare this with record from 2004 and 2010. An average of 22 snake bites per year.

The study has been published in the journal Clinical Toxicology. The data&nbsp;from the study has been taken from snake bite enquiries made to National Poisons Information Service (NPIS).

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-species-of-fungi-unknown-to-science-discovered-in-scotlands-cairngorm-mountains-497435">New species of fungi unknown to science discovered in Scotland's Cairngorm mountains</a>

"Most of these bites occur to fingers, hands and wrists following deliberate handling interaction by people who keep snakes as part of their occupation or hobby," says David Warrell, a professor of tropical medicine at the University of Oxford in the UK. He was quoted by EurekaAlert.

"While ownership of many poisonous species requires a special licence in the UK, it is recognized that some individuals may keep these snakes illegally – meaning the true numbers of exotic snake bite injuries may be underestimated."

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Snake bites are nasty, and though like other animals, snakes are vilified way more than their actual threat to humankind, snake venom running through veins literally dissolving our tissues and organs is not something anyone looks forward to while going camping.

Snake bites are nasty, and though like other animals, snakes are vilified way more than their actual threat to humankind, snake venom running through veins literally dissolving our tissues and organs is not something anyone looks forward to while going camping. In UK, it has been found that there is an increase in number of snakebites from foreign or 'exotic' snakes. Why? Because their is increase in the number of people keeping these species as pets. A study has logged 321 exotic snake bites on 300 individuals between 2009 and 2020. These cases involved 568 different species. This comes to 30 snake bites a year. If you think the number is low then compare this with record from 2004 and 2010. An average of 22 snake bites per year. The study has been published in the journal Clinical Toxicology. The data from the study has been taken from snake bite enquiries made to National Poisons Information Service (NPIS). Also Read | New species of fungi unknown to science discovered in Scotland's Cairngorm mountains "Most of these bites occur to fingers, hands and wrists following deliberate handling interaction by people who keep snakes as part of their occupation or hobby," says David Warrell, a professor of tropical medicine at the University of Oxford in the UK. He was quoted by EurekaAlert. "While ownership of many poisonous species requires a special licence in the UK, it is recognized that some individuals may keep these snakes illegally – meaning the true numbers of exotic snake bite injuries may be underestimated." You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Foreign snakes are biting more people in the UK

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), United Nations' highest court ruled on Friday (July 22) that Rohingya genocide case against military-ruled Myanmar can go ahead. ICJ in The Hague has rejected all objections from Myanmar to a case filed by west African nation of Gambia. The case was filed in 2019. The decision means that full hearings can take place at the court over Myanmar's violent crackdown on the Rohingya.

ICJ president Joan Donoghue said the tribunal "finds that it has jurisdiction... to entertain the application filed by the republic of the Gambia, and that the said application is admissible".

Five years ago, Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar to escape the crackdown. There were reports of murder, arson and rape.

Around 850,000 Rohingya are languishing in camps in neighbouring Bangladesh while another 600,000 Rohingya remain in Myanmar's southwestern Rakhine state.

At ICJ initially, Myanmar was represented by Nobel laureate and former leader Aung San Suu Kyi. However, her regime was toppled last year by Myanmar military.

Mainly-Muslim Gambia filed the case in November 2019 alleging that Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

Myanmar had argued that the court had no jurisdiction in this matter. It had demanded that the case be dismissed in preliminary stages. However, Myanmar assertion that Gambia was acting as "proxy" of Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) was rejected unanimously by the judges.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-soldiers-tortured-civilians-report-499675">Myanmar soldiers tortured civilians: Report</a>

Only states, and not organisations, are allowed to file cases at the ICJ, which has ruled on disputes between countries since just after World War II.

Judges also unanimously dismissed Myanmar's contention that Gambia was not direct party to the alleged genocide and hence could not file the case.

Finally, they threw out by 15-1 Myanmar's claim that there was no formal dispute at the time Gambia filed the case, and that the court therefore had no jurisdiction.

It could however take years for full hearings and a final judgment in the case.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ), United Nations' highest court ruled on Friday (July 22) that Rohingya genocide case against military-ruled Myanmar can go ahead.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), United Nations' highest court ruled on Friday (July 22) that Rohingya genocide case against military-ruled Myanmar can go ahead. ICJ in The Hague has rejected all objections from Myanmar to a case filed by west African nation of Gambia. The case was filed in 2019. The decision means that full hearings can take place at the court over Myanmar's violent crackdown on the Rohingya. ICJ president Joan Donoghue said the tribunal "finds that it has jurisdiction... to entertain the application filed by the republic of the Gambia, and that the said application is admissible". Five years ago, Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar to escape the crackdown. There were reports of murder, arson and rape. Around 850,000 Rohingya are languishing in camps in neighbouring Bangladesh while another 600,000 Rohingya remain in Myanmar's southwestern Rakhine state. At ICJ initially, Myanmar was represented by Nobel laureate and former leader Aung San Suu Kyi. However, her regime was toppled last year by Myanmar military. Mainly-Muslim Gambia filed the case in November 2019 alleging that Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. Myanmar had argued that the court had no jurisdiction in this matter. It had demanded that the case be dismissed in preliminary stages. However, Myanmar assertion that Gambia was acting as "proxy" of Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) was rejected unanimously by the judges. Also Read | Myanmar soldiers tortured civilians: Report Only states, and not organisations, are allowed to file cases at the ICJ, which has ruled on disputes between countries since just after World War II. Judges also unanimously dismissed Myanmar's contention that Gambia was not direct party to the alleged genocide and hence could not file the case. Finally, they threw out by 15-1 Myanmar's claim that there was no formal dispute at the time Gambia filed the case, and that the court therefore had no jurisdiction. It could however take years for full hearings and a final judgment in the case. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UN top court says Myanmar genocide case can proceed

Leader of Russia-backed breakaway region in eastern Ukraine said that serach engine Google had been blocked in the region citing what he termed 'disinformation'. Denis Pushilin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), posted a message on his Telegram channel and accused that Google was promoting "violence against all Russians". He also claimed that Google's "handlers from the U.S. government" were to blame for this.&nbsp;

"If Google stops pursuing its criminal policy and returns to the mainstream of law, morality and common sense, there will be no obstacles to its work," he said.

Pushilin did not present any evidence to support any claims that he made. There was no immediate reaction from Google.

Russia started its 'special military operation' and sent troops into Ukraine on February 24. Russia and its proxies in eastern Ukrainian regions have been accusing Western companies, mainly digital platforms, of spreading anti-Russian propaganda. Russia has already banned Facebook and Instagram. A Russian court had observed that Meta, the parent company of Facebook was guilty of 'extremist activity'.&nbsp;

After Moscow curbed access to Facebook, the self-declared DPR and separate Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) followed suit in blocking both platforms, thus aligning themselves with Russian policy on US-based digital platforms.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Leader of Russia-backed breakaway region in eastern Ukraine said that serach engine Google had been blocked in the region citing what he termed 'disinformation'.

Leader of Russia-backed breakaway region in eastern Ukraine said that serach engine Google had been blocked in the region citing what he termed 'disinformation'. Denis Pushilin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), posted a message on his Telegram channel and accused that Google was promoting "violence against all Russians". He also claimed that Google's "handlers from the U.S. government" were to blame for this. "If Google stops pursuing its criminal policy and returns to the mainstream of law, morality and common sense, there will be no obstacles to its work," he said. Pushilin did not present any evidence to support any claims that he made. There was no immediate reaction from Google. Russia started its 'special military operation' and sent troops into Ukraine on February 24. Russia and its proxies in eastern Ukrainian regions have been accusing Western companies, mainly digital platforms, of spreading anti-Russian propaganda. Russia has already banned Facebook and Instagram. A Russian court had observed that Meta, the parent company of Facebook was guilty of 'extremist activity'. After Moscow curbed access to Facebook, the self-declared DPR and separate Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) followed suit in blocking both platforms, thus aligning themselves with Russian policy on US-based digital platforms. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Russian proxies in east Ukraine block Google

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