Russia on Tuesday failed to attend a meeting of members of the OSCE, the world's largest security body, to explain its military buildup near the Ukraine border.

Kyiv had requested the meeting with Russia and other members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to "discuss the reinforcement and movement of Russian forces along our border" under the so-called Vienna Document.

The agreement requires the Vienna-based body's 57 members to share information about their military forces and notify each other about major activities.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ready-to-work-together-with-the-west-says-putin-in-joint-press-conference-with-olaf-scholz-453543">'Ready to work together' with the West, says Putin in joint press conference with Olaf Scholz</a>

"The United States welcomes the decision by Ukraine to call for this meeting," Michael Carpenter, the US ambassador to the OSCE, told the closed-door session.

"Unfortunately and regrettably, though perhaps not surprisingly, the Russian Federation has absented itself today," he added, according to his statement.

A source with knowledge of the meeting confirmed to AFP that Russia had failed to attend.

The Russian representative to the OSCE did not immediately return a request for comment.

The French mission to the OSCE in a statement on behalf of the EU urged Russia "to immediately de-escalate, to engage constructively on the diplomatic track and to fulfil its commitments in good faith".

Less than a dozen such meetings under the Vienna Document have been held since it was adopted in 1990, the source said.

On Monday, a similar meeting took place -- this one requested by the Baltic states to seek explanations from Belarus over its massive military drills with Russia.

Western leaders said Tuesday they were seeing positive signs that Russia was looking to ease tensions over Ukraine, after Moscow announced it was pulling back some of the troops deployed on its neighbour's borders.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Tuesday failed to attend a meeting of members of the OSCE, the world's largest security body, to explain its military buildup near the Ukraine border. Kyiv had requested the meeting with Russia and other members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to "discuss the reinforcement and movement of Russian forces along our border" under the so-called Vienna Document.

Russia on Tuesday failed to attend a meeting of members of the OSCE, the world's largest security body, to explain its military buildup near the Ukraine border. Kyiv had requested the meeting with Russia and other members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to "discuss the reinforcement and movement of Russian forces along our border" under the so-called Vienna Document. The agreement requires the Vienna-based body's 57 members to share information about their military forces and notify each other about major activities. Also Read | 'Ready to work together' with the West, says Putin in joint press conference with Olaf Scholz "The United States welcomes the decision by Ukraine to call for this meeting," Michael Carpenter, the US ambassador to the OSCE, told the closed-door session. "Unfortunately and regrettably, though perhaps not surprisingly, the Russian Federation has absented itself today," he added, according to his statement. A source with knowledge of the meeting confirmed to AFP that Russia had failed to attend. The Russian representative to the OSCE did not immediately return a request for comment. The French mission to the OSCE in a statement on behalf of the EU urged Russia "to immediately de-escalate, to engage constructively on the diplomatic track and to fulfil its commitments in good faith". Less than a dozen such meetings under the Vienna Document have been held since it was adopted in 1990, the source said. On Monday, a similar meeting took place -- this one requested by the Baltic states to seek explanations from Belarus over its massive military drills with Russia. Western leaders said Tuesday they were seeing positive signs that Russia was looking to ease tensions over Ukraine, after Moscow announced it was pulling back some of the troops deployed on its neighbour's borders. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia skips OSCE meeting on Ukraine crisis

Scientists at Harvard University have created an artificial fish that flaps its tail using energy generated from cells of human heart. The fish is made of plastic, paper, gelatin and two strips of heart muscle cells. The experiment was carried out by Harvard scientists along with those from Emory University.

The findings from the study have been published in the journal Science. Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) has even tweeted about the study posting a video of the artificial fish swimming around.

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&nbsp;

The researchers hope to gain insights about advancing understanding about improvements in pacemakers.

“The benefit of this fish project is that we are still trying to master the craft of using live cells as an engineering substrate,” said Kit Parker as quoted by The Guardian. He is one of the lead authors of the study.

“The heart is extremely complex and it’s not enough to mimic the anatomy,” added Parker, a Seas professor. “One must recreate the biophysics in order to have the robust behavior required of building engineered hearts for children born with malformed hearts.”

Parker has expressed hopes that the teams becomes successful in keeping these cells and tissues alive for more than four and a half months.

Scientists at Harvard University have created an artificial fish that flaps its tail using energy generated from cells of human heart. The fish is made of plastic, paper, gelatin and two strips of heart muscle cells.

Scientists at Harvard University have created an artificial fish that flaps its tail using energy generated from cells of human heart. The fish is made of plastic, paper, gelatin and two strips of heart muscle cells. The experiment was carried out by Harvard scientists along with those from Emory University. The findings from the study have been published in the journal Science. Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) has even tweeted about the study posting a video of the artificial fish swimming around. This artificial fish is powered by human heart cells.https://t.co/aioJKFDZft pic.twitter.com/6c5nIbA1sn — Harvard SEAS (@hseas) February 11, 2022 × The researchers hope to gain insights about advancing understanding about improvements in pacemakers. “The benefit of this fish project is that we are still trying to master the craft of using live cells as an engineering substrate,” said Kit Parker as quoted by The Guardian. He is one of the lead authors of the study. “The heart is extremely complex and it’s not enough to mimic the anatomy,” added Parker, a Seas professor. “One must recreate the biophysics in order to have the robust behavior required of building engineered hearts for children born with malformed hearts.” Parker has expressed hopes that the teams becomes successful in keeping these cells and tissues alive for more than four and a half months.

Scientists use human heart cells to power an artificial fish

The Faroe Islands, a Danish autonomous territory, said on Tuesday that it had begun review to decide about the future of its traditional dolphin hunt. A decision is expected in coming weeks.

In the Faroese tradition known as "grindadrap", or "grind" for short, hunters surround dolphins or pilot whales with a wide semi-circle of fishing boats and drive them into a shallow bay where they are beached.

Fishermen on shore slaughter them with knives.

Every summer, images of the bloody hunt make headlines around the world and spark outrage among animal rights defenders who consider the practice barbaric.

A petition against this tradition that was signed by almost 1.3 people was submitted to to the Faroese government on Monday, the prime minister's office and whale conservation groups told AFP.

At a meeting on Tuesday in Torshavn, the government discussed the conclusions of a re-evaluation that Prime Minister Bardur a Steig Nielsen had ordered in September, after the unusually large slaughter of more than 1,400 Atlantic white-sided dolphins sparked an outcry.

"It was a first meeting. No decisions were taken," an official in the prime minister's office told AFP.

He added that a final decision was expected "in a few weeks", and "several options" were on the table.

the hunt still enjoys broad support in the Faroes, where supporters point out that the animals have fed the local population for centuries. 
Normally, around 600 pilot whales are hunted every year in this way.

But the dolphin hunt on September 12, 2021 in the Skala fjord was much bigger, triggering an international outcry and pushing the government to reconsider the practice.

Only the dolphin hunt is currently being reviewed, not the entire "grind" tradition.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The Faroe Islands, a Danish autonomous territory, said on Tuesday that it had begun review to decide about the future of its traditional dolphin hunt. A decision is expected in coming weeks.

The Faroe Islands, a Danish autonomous territory, said on Tuesday that it had begun review to decide about the future of its traditional dolphin hunt. A decision is expected in coming weeks. In the Faroese tradition known as "grindadrap", or "grind" for short, hunters surround dolphins or pilot whales with a wide semi-circle of fishing boats and drive them into a shallow bay where they are beached. Fishermen on shore slaughter them with knives. Every summer, images of the bloody hunt make headlines around the world and spark outrage among animal rights defenders who consider the practice barbaric. A petition against this tradition that was signed by almost 1.3 people was submitted to to the Faroese government on Monday, the prime minister's office and whale conservation groups told AFP. At a meeting on Tuesday in Torshavn, the government discussed the conclusions of a re-evaluation that Prime Minister Bardur a Steig Nielsen had ordered in September, after the unusually large slaughter of more than 1,400 Atlantic white-sided dolphins sparked an outcry. "It was a first meeting. No decisions were taken," an official in the prime minister's office told AFP. He added that a final decision was expected "in a few weeks", and "several options" were on the table. the hunt still enjoys broad support in the Faroes, where supporters point out that the animals have fed the local population for centuries. Normally, around 600 pilot whales are hunted every year in this way. But the dolphin hunt on September 12, 2021 in the Skala fjord was much bigger, triggering an international outcry and pushing the government to reconsider the practice. Only the dolphin hunt is currently being reviewed, not the entire "grind" tradition. (With inputs from agencies)

Faroe Islands start rethink of traditional but controversial dolphin hunt

As we launch more and more satellites, the issue of space debris is becoming graver. Defunct, even disintegrating satellites still revolving in orbits around Earth can cause grat damage to the ones that are functioning. This space debris, travelling at very high speeds can also be dangerous for astronauts aboard International Space Station (ISS). With thousands of planned satellite launches, space debris is going to be a major issue creating potential impediments in humankind's spacefaring aspirations.

In what can be called a unique approach to manage the problem of space debris, the European Space Agency (ESA) has set up a laser station in Spain. The Izana-1 laser ranging station set up in Tenerife, Spain will make use of the laser to move space debris away.

The station will be part of European Optical Nucleus Network, which will be the first optical communications network. Lasers from this network will not just shine light on the space debris but will be able to gently nudge them in a different orbit around the Earth. They may come in handy to avoid collision between piece of space junk and a multimillion dollar satellite.

The staion, its lasers and telescopes have undergone months of testing till now. The station will be upgraded in next two years, making it perform the functions that are expected of it.

The ESA is planning to set up several of such stations across the continent.

As we launch more and more satellites, the issue of space debris is becoming graver. Defunct, even disintegrating satellites still revolving in orbits around Earth can cause grat damage to the ones that are functioning.

As we launch more and more satellites, the issue of space debris is becoming graver. Defunct, even disintegrating satellites still revolving in orbits around Earth can cause grat damage to the ones that are functioning. This space debris, travelling at very high speeds can also be dangerous for astronauts aboard International Space Station (ISS). With thousands of planned satellite launches, space debris is going to be a major issue creating potential impediments in humankind's spacefaring aspirations. In what can be called a unique approach to manage the problem of space debris, the European Space Agency (ESA) has set up a laser station in Spain. The Izana-1 laser ranging station set up in Tenerife, Spain will make use of the laser to move space debris away. The station will be part of European Optical Nucleus Network, which will be the first optical communications network. Lasers from this network will not just shine light on the space debris but will be able to gently nudge them in a different orbit around the Earth. They may come in handy to avoid collision between piece of space junk and a multimillion dollar satellite. The staion, its lasers and telescopes have undergone months of testing till now. The station will be upgraded in next two years, making it perform the functions that are expected of it. The ESA is planning to set up several of such stations across the continent.

Soon, a laser fired from Earth may move space debris away

Prince Andrew, the disgraced British royal is fast becoming a lightning rod of nation's anger after reportedly settling Virginia Giuffre sexual assault lawsuit for a huge sum of 12 million pounds ($16.3 million, 14.3 million euros).

Virginia Giuffre had said that she had sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17 and a minor under US law, after meeting him through the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, who took his own life in prison while awaiting trial for sex crimes.

Giuffre's lawyer revealed on Tuesday that both parties had settled out of court. This has spared Andrew the humiliation of a trial. Details of the settlement were not revealed.

The prince has not been criminally charged and has denied the allegations.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that Andrew was to pay £10 million to Giuffre and £2 million to a charity for victims of sex trafficking.

His team told AFP they would not comment on the contents of the deal.

The huge settlement has raised questions about who is footing the bill. The Telegraph has reported that the settlement amount would come from&nbsp;one of the private estates belonging to his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

The scandal has threatened to overshadow the queen's Platinum Jubilee this year, marking her 70 years on the throne. Any jury trial could have coincided with nationwide jubilee celebrations due to take place in the summer.

'Finished'

But British media said the prince was now "finished", and called on him to withdraw entirely from public life, after he was already stripped of his honorary military ranks and the title of "His Royal Highness".

"A man truly determined to clear his name of such heinous allegations would have fought tooth and nail... and then, if he won, tried to rebuild his life," said an editorial in The Sun.

"That is all over. Andrew is finished -- undone by his insufferable arrogance, entitlement and staggering naivety.

"He must retreat entirely from public life and live out his retirement in ignominy," it added.

British commentators also ridiculed Andrew for claiming he had never met Giuffre, querying why he had agreed in that case to settle for such an apparently large amount, and pointing to a photograph of the pair together when she was 17.&nbsp;

His lawyers had questioned the authenticity of the photo, which also showed socialite and Epstein friend Ghislaine Maxwell.

Others called for transparency on where the settlement money is coming from, whether from the queen's private income or from official sources effectively backed by British taxpayers.

(With inputs from agencies)

Prince Andrew, the disgraced British royal is fast becoming a lightning rod of nation's anger after reportedly settling Virginia Giuffre sexual assault lawsuit for a huge sum of 12 million pounds ($16.

Prince Andrew, the disgraced British royal is fast becoming a lightning rod of nation's anger after reportedly settling Virginia Giuffre sexual assault lawsuit for a huge sum of 12 million pounds ($16.3 million, 14.3 million euros). Virginia Giuffre had said that she had sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17 and a minor under US law, after meeting him through the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, who took his own life in prison while awaiting trial for sex crimes. Giuffre's lawyer revealed on Tuesday that both parties had settled out of court. This has spared Andrew the humiliation of a trial. Details of the settlement were not revealed. The prince has not been criminally charged and has denied the allegations. The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that Andrew was to pay £10 million to Giuffre and £2 million to a charity for victims of sex trafficking. His team told AFP they would not comment on the contents of the deal. The huge settlement has raised questions about who is footing the bill. The Telegraph has reported that the settlement amount would come from one of the private estates belonging to his mother Queen Elizabeth II. The scandal has threatened to overshadow the queen's Platinum Jubilee this year, marking her 70 years on the throne. Any jury trial could have coincided with nationwide jubilee celebrations due to take place in the summer. 'Finished' But British media said the prince was now "finished", and called on him to withdraw entirely from public life, after he was already stripped of his honorary military ranks and the title of "His Royal Highness". "A man truly determined to clear his name of such heinous allegations would have fought tooth and nail... and then, if he won, tried to rebuild his life," said an editorial in The Sun. "That is all over. Andrew is finished -- undone by his insufferable arrogance, entitlement and staggering naivety. "He must retreat entirely from public life and live out his retirement in ignominy," it added. British commentators also ridiculed Andrew for claiming he had never met Giuffre, querying why he had agreed in that case to settle for such an apparently large amount, and pointing to a photograph of the pair together when she was 17. His lawyers had questioned the authenticity of the photo, which also showed socialite and Epstein friend Ghislaine Maxwell. Others called for transparency on where the settlement money is coming from, whether from the queen's private income or from official sources effectively backed by British taxpayers. (With inputs from agencies)

Queen Elizabeth to help son Prince Andrew pay 12 million pounds to settle sex assault case: Report

A court in Indonesia handed a life imprisonment sentence to a teacher found guilty of rape of 13 students. The case had drawn national attention to sexual abuse is some of Indonesia's religious boarding schools.

Herry Wirawan, 36, was found guilty of raping 13 female students -- all minors -- and impregnating at least eight of them by Bandung district court in West Java.

The revelations sparked national outrage, with a senior government official saying President Joko Widodo has paid special attention to the case.

A family of a female student reported Wirawan to the police last year for raping and impregnating their teenage daughter. The pattern of sexual abuse committed by Wirawan soon emerged.

During the trial, it was revealed he had raped the children -- many from poor families attending the school on scholarships -- over five years.

Prosecutors requested chemical castration and the death penalty for the accused, who asked the judge for leniency to allow him to raise his children.&nbsp; 
Wirawan arrived in court in handcuffs and kept his head down as judge Yohannes Purnomo Suryo Adi sentenced him to life in prison.

The court said restitution for the victims will be paid by the government.

The chairman of Indonesia's Child Protection Commission said Tuesday's verdict meant "justice for the victims has been served".

'There will be more'

But a family member of one of the victims told AFP he was "very disappointed" that Wirawan did not receive a harsher sentence and warned that leniency would embolden other abusers.

"This wound will never be healed as long as we live, maybe until we die. The pain we are feeling is indescribable. We don't feel heard," said Hidmat Dijaya, an uncle of one of the 13 victims.

"If the sentence is lenient like this, there will be more Islamic teachers who will abuse children," he added.

"We will let God as the highest judge punish him. We can only pray because those judges failed to represent our hurt and pain."

(With inputs from agencies)

A court in Indonesia handed a life imprisonment sentence to a teacher found guilty of rape of 13 students. The case had drawn national attention to sexual abuse is some of Indonesia's religious boarding schools.

A court in Indonesia handed a life imprisonment sentence to a teacher found guilty of rape of 13 students. The case had drawn national attention to sexual abuse is some of Indonesia's religious boarding schools. Herry Wirawan, 36, was found guilty of raping 13 female students -- all minors -- and impregnating at least eight of them by Bandung district court in West Java. The revelations sparked national outrage, with a senior government official saying President Joko Widodo has paid special attention to the case. A family of a female student reported Wirawan to the police last year for raping and impregnating their teenage daughter. The pattern of sexual abuse committed by Wirawan soon emerged. During the trial, it was revealed he had raped the children -- many from poor families attending the school on scholarships -- over five years. Prosecutors requested chemical castration and the death penalty for the accused, who asked the judge for leniency to allow him to raise his children. Wirawan arrived in court in handcuffs and kept his head down as judge Yohannes Purnomo Suryo Adi sentenced him to life in prison. The court said restitution for the victims will be paid by the government. The chairman of Indonesia's Child Protection Commission said Tuesday's verdict meant "justice for the victims has been served". 'There will be more' But a family member of one of the victims told AFP he was "very disappointed" that Wirawan did not receive a harsher sentence and warned that leniency would embolden other abusers. "This wound will never be healed as long as we live, maybe until we die. The pain we are feeling is indescribable. We don't feel heard," said Hidmat Dijaya, an uncle of one of the 13 victims. "If the sentence is lenient like this, there will be more Islamic teachers who will abuse children," he added. "We will let God as the highest judge punish him. We can only pray because those judges failed to represent our hurt and pain." (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesian teacher gets life in jail for raping 13 students

Researchers reported on Tuesday (February 15) that a US patient with Leukemia had become first woman and third person till now to be cured of HIV. She received a stem cell transplant from a donor who had natural resistance to virus that causes AIDS.

"Well, this, first of all, tells us or confirms that a cure is indeed possible, and scientists need to keep working to find a cure," Sharon Lewin, President-Elect of the International AIDS Society, told Reuters.

The woman is middle-aged and of mixed ethnicity. Her case was presented &nbsp;at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Denver. This is very first case involving umbilical cord blood. This is a newer approach that may make the treatment available to more people.

The woman received cord blood to treat her acute myeloid leukemia. It is a cancer that starts in blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. The woman has been free of the virus for 14 months without the need of anti-HIV treatment.&nbsp;

"This would be a treatment for the modest number of people who have a condition that requires a transplant, have HIV and are able to identify a match. And I think the pool of potential matches would be expanded by using umbilical cord as the source, which is what we demonstrated in our patient for the first time," Dr. Marshall Glesby said about the "New York patient," as the woman is referred to since she was treated at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.&nbsp;

The cured patient was diagnosed with HIV in 2013 and leukemia in 2017 and Dr. Glesby has been on her direct patient care along the process.

The two prior cases occurred in males - one white and one Latino - who had received adult stem cells, which are more frequently used in bone marrow transplants.

Lewin said bone marrow transplants are not a viable strategy to cure most people living with HIV.

"What this case tells us is that if you can make cells resistant to HIV, you can stop the virus coming back," Lewin said, expressing optimism for this treatment to become a pathway to a cure, however many years down the road.

(With inputs from agencies)

Researchers reported on Tuesday (February 15) that a US patient with Leukemia had become first woman and third person till now to be cured of HIV. She received a stem cell transplant from a donor who had natural resistance to virus that causes AIDS.

Researchers reported on Tuesday (February 15) that a US patient with Leukemia had become first woman and third person till now to be cured of HIV. She received a stem cell transplant from a donor who had natural resistance to virus that causes AIDS. "Well, this, first of all, tells us or confirms that a cure is indeed possible, and scientists need to keep working to find a cure," Sharon Lewin, President-Elect of the International AIDS Society, told Reuters. The woman is middle-aged and of mixed ethnicity. Her case was presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Denver. This is very first case involving umbilical cord blood. This is a newer approach that may make the treatment available to more people. The woman received cord blood to treat her acute myeloid leukemia. It is a cancer that starts in blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. The woman has been free of the virus for 14 months without the need of anti-HIV treatment. "This would be a treatment for the modest number of people who have a condition that requires a transplant, have HIV and are able to identify a match. And I think the pool of potential matches would be expanded by using umbilical cord as the source, which is what we demonstrated in our patient for the first time," Dr. Marshall Glesby said about the "New York patient," as the woman is referred to since she was treated at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. The cured patient was diagnosed with HIV in 2013 and leukemia in 2017 and Dr. Glesby has been on her direct patient care along the process. The two prior cases occurred in males - one white and one Latino - who had received adult stem cells, which are more frequently used in bone marrow transplants. Lewin said bone marrow transplants are not a viable strategy to cure most people living with HIV. "What this case tells us is that if you can make cells resistant to HIV, you can stop the virus coming back," Lewin said, expressing optimism for this treatment to become a pathway to a cure, however many years down the road. (With inputs from agencies)

Stem cell transplant cures HIV positive woman, third person to be cured of infection

Some words deemed 'insenstitive' have been removed from mega-popular game Wordle. The game has been bought by The New York Times last month.

The game, which consists of guessing one five-letter word a day in just six tries, was bought by the paper last month after it skyrocketed in popularity around the world.

Users began to complain earlier this week, when the game said two different words were the correct answer. One of Wordle's much-loved features is supposed to be that everyone tries to determine the same word.

After the Times bought the simple but captivating game from its creator Josh Wardle, internet sleuths noticed it had begun removing words from the list of possible solutions.

While the Times moved the game onto its website earlier in February, some users still have access to the older version, and the older list.

The website Boingboing.net reported that words such as "pussy," "whore," "slave" and "wench" had been removed, while more obscure terms "pupal" and "agora" had also been axed.

"We are updating the word list over time to remove obscure words to keep the puzzle accessible to more people, as well as insensitive or offensive words," said Times spokesman Jordan Cohen in a statement to AFP.

Wordle now has millions of users around the world, and versions have sprung up in many different languages. The Times said it bought the game for an "undisclosed price in the low seven figures," as it seeks to win new subscribers through non-news offerings.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Some words deemed 'insenstitive' have been removed from mega-popular game Wordle. The game has been bought by The New York Times last month. The game, which consists of guessing one five-letter word a day in just six tries, was bought by the paper last month after it skyrocketed in popularity around the world.

Some words deemed 'insenstitive' have been removed from mega-popular game Wordle. The game has been bought by The New York Times last month. The game, which consists of guessing one five-letter word a day in just six tries, was bought by the paper last month after it skyrocketed in popularity around the world. Users began to complain earlier this week, when the game said two different words were the correct answer. One of Wordle's much-loved features is supposed to be that everyone tries to determine the same word. After the Times bought the simple but captivating game from its creator Josh Wardle, internet sleuths noticed it had begun removing words from the list of possible solutions. While the Times moved the game onto its website earlier in February, some users still have access to the older version, and the older list. The website Boingboing.net reported that words such as "pussy," "whore," "slave" and "wench" had been removed, while more obscure terms "pupal" and "agora" had also been axed. "We are updating the word list over time to remove obscure words to keep the puzzle accessible to more people, as well as insensitive or offensive words," said Times spokesman Jordan Cohen in a statement to AFP. Wordle now has millions of users around the world, and versions have sprung up in many different languages. The Times said it bought the game for an "undisclosed price in the low seven figures," as it seeks to win new subscribers through non-news offerings. (With inputs from agencies)

Wordle, the mega popular word game, removes 'insensitive' words

Leaders of the European Union may hold an emergency summit on Ukraine crisis on the sidelines of a meeting with their African counterparts, reported AFP citing a senior EU official.&nbsp;

Russia continues to maintain a heavy military presence near its border with Ukraine and Western countries have warned of an imminent invasion.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the latest EU leader to embark on diplomatic efforts as he held talks Tuesday in Kyiv before heading to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The official said Brussels was waiting for the results of Scholz's visit to the Kremlin and an emergency summit was "possible" if needed when EU leaders gather in Brussels Thursday for the Africa meeting.&nbsp;

The EU -- alongside other Western allies -- has vowed to impose massive sanctions on Moscow if it stages a further incursion into Ukraine.&nbsp; 
Officials in Brussels have come up with a raft of options for the sanctions but the leaders of the 27 member states would need to sign off on them.&nbsp;

The EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the West could not say if Putin has yet taken a decision to invade -- but warned that an attack could take place at any moment.

Moscow -- which denies it is planning an incursion -- on Monday signalled a possible easing of the crisis by keeping the door open for dialogue with the West and saying it was ending some military drills.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Leaders of the European Union may hold an emergency summit on Ukraine crisis on the sidelines of a meeting with their African counterparts, reported AFP citing a senior EU official.

Leaders of the European Union may hold an emergency summit on Ukraine crisis on the sidelines of a meeting with their African counterparts, reported AFP citing a senior EU official. Russia continues to maintain a heavy military presence near its border with Ukraine and Western countries have warned of an imminent invasion. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the latest EU leader to embark on diplomatic efforts as he held talks Tuesday in Kyiv before heading to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The official said Brussels was waiting for the results of Scholz's visit to the Kremlin and an emergency summit was "possible" if needed when EU leaders gather in Brussels Thursday for the Africa meeting. The EU -- alongside other Western allies -- has vowed to impose massive sanctions on Moscow if it stages a further incursion into Ukraine. Officials in Brussels have come up with a raft of options for the sanctions but the leaders of the 27 member states would need to sign off on them. The EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the West could not say if Putin has yet taken a decision to invade -- but warned that an attack could take place at any moment. Moscow -- which denies it is planning an incursion -- on Monday signalled a possible easing of the crisis by keeping the door open for dialogue with the West and saying it was ending some military drills. (With inputs from agencies)

EU plans emergency summit over Ukraine crisis

The deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has equated cryptocurrencies with Ponzi schemes. In a speech, T Rabi Shankar, the Deputy Governor even opined that 'banning' cryptocurrencies was the most sensible option for India.&nbsp;

"We have also seen that cryptocurrencies are not amenable to definition as a currency, asset or commodity; they have no underlying cash flows, they have no intrinsic value; that they are akin to Ponzi schemes, and may be even be worse," T. Rabi Sankar said.

"All these factors lead to the conclusion that banning cryptocurrency is perhaps the most advisable choice open to India."

India's central bank chief last week delivered a stark warning against investing in cryptocurrencies, saying they lacked the underlying value of even a tulip - in a reference to a speculative bubble that gripped the Netherlands in the 17th century.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, earlier this month, presented Union Budget 2022. In this year's budget, the Indian government has announced its decision of taxing gains from cryptocurrency investments at a steep rate of 30 per cent. However, full legality of cryptocurrencies that are not issued by the government is still in question.

India is also going to launch digital rupee. Sitharaman said on Monday that discussions with regard to central bank-backed digital currency have been going on with the Reserve Bank and a decision will be taken after due deliberations.

She said the discussions with the RBI regarding the CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) were going on prior to the Budget announcement, and they are continuing.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das added that like several other issues, this particular issue is internally under discussion between the RBI and the government.

"Whatever points we have we discuss with the government," he added.

CBDC is a digital or virtual currency but it is not comparable to the private virtual currencies or cryptocurrency that have mushroomed over the last decade. Private virtual currencies do not represent any person's debt or liabilities as there is no issuer. They are not money and certainly not currency.

(With inputs from agencies)

The deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has equated cryptocurrencies with Ponzi schemes. In a speech, T Rabi Shankar, the Deputy Governor even opined that 'banning' cryptocurrencies was the most sensible option for India.

The deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has equated cryptocurrencies with Ponzi schemes. In a speech, T Rabi Shankar, the Deputy Governor even opined that 'banning' cryptocurrencies was the most sensible option for India. "We have also seen that cryptocurrencies are not amenable to definition as a currency, asset or commodity; they have no underlying cash flows, they have no intrinsic value; that they are akin to Ponzi schemes, and may be even be worse," T. Rabi Sankar said. "All these factors lead to the conclusion that banning cryptocurrency is perhaps the most advisable choice open to India." India's central bank chief last week delivered a stark warning against investing in cryptocurrencies, saying they lacked the underlying value of even a tulip - in a reference to a speculative bubble that gripped the Netherlands in the 17th century. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, earlier this month, presented Union Budget 2022. In this year's budget, the Indian government has announced its decision of taxing gains from cryptocurrency investments at a steep rate of 30 per cent. However, full legality of cryptocurrencies that are not issued by the government is still in question. India is also going to launch digital rupee. Sitharaman said on Monday that discussions with regard to central bank-backed digital currency have been going on with the Reserve Bank and a decision will be taken after due deliberations. She said the discussions with the RBI regarding the CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) were going on prior to the Budget announcement, and they are continuing. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das added that like several other issues, this particular issue is internally under discussion between the RBI and the government. "Whatever points we have we discuss with the government," he added. CBDC is a digital or virtual currency but it is not comparable to the private virtual currencies or cryptocurrency that have mushroomed over the last decade. Private virtual currencies do not represent any person's debt or liabilities as there is no issuer. They are not money and certainly not currency. (With inputs from agencies)

Reserve Bank of India deputy governor equates crypto with Ponzi schemes

Valentines Day is over and most of us have got a reason to continue to adore (or sadly not, depending on the response) our much loved and cherished person. But memories of Valentine's Day this year perhaps wouldn't be complete with a picture of this 'space rose'.

Giving rose to our Valentine has perhaps come to be a horrible cliche (or not if it is from the right person). But this 'space rose' is unique.

It is made up of 'interacting galaxies' as NASA puts it. So in other words, Hubble has captured image of two galaxies coming together on Valentine's Day. Talk about timing to tweet this image!&nbsp;

This 'space rose' is 350 lightyears away from us in Andromeda constellation. This galactic combine is called Arp 273. The physical contortions in the spiral galaxies have been formed due to mutual effects of gravity of these galaxies.

"Be our cosmic Valentine? The “space rose” in this Hubble image is made up of interacting galaxies, named Arp 273. This celestial flower blooms about 350 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda," tweeted NASA's Hubble telescope handle.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Be our cosmic Valentine? 🌹✨ 
 
The “space rose” in this Hubble image is made up of interacting galaxies, named Arp 273. This celestial flower blooms about 350 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. 
 
Find out more: <a href="https://t.co/FAldFLOZED">https://t.co/FAldFLOZED</a> <a href="https://t.co/Otzh2D1q2m">pic.twitter.com/Otzh2D1q2m</a>
— Hubble (@NASAHubble) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAHubble/status/1493276354535735297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Netizens have liked the image. The tweet has been liked by nearly 10 thousand Twitter users. The post has been retweeted by more than a thousand users.

Valentines Day is over and most of us have got a reason to continue to adore (or sadly not, depending on the response) our much loved and cherished person. But memories of Valentine's Day this year perhaps wouldn't be complete with a picture of this 'space rose'.

Valentines Day is over and most of us have got a reason to continue to adore (or sadly not, depending on the response) our much loved and cherished person. But memories of Valentine's Day this year perhaps wouldn't be complete with a picture of this 'space rose'. Giving rose to our Valentine has perhaps come to be a horrible cliche (or not if it is from the right person). But this 'space rose' is unique. It is made up of 'interacting galaxies' as NASA puts it. So in other words, Hubble has captured image of two galaxies coming together on Valentine's Day. Talk about timing to tweet this image! This 'space rose' is 350 lightyears away from us in Andromeda constellation. This galactic combine is called Arp 273. The physical contortions in the spiral galaxies have been formed due to mutual effects of gravity of these galaxies. "Be our cosmic Valentine? The “space rose” in this Hubble image is made up of interacting galaxies, named Arp 273. This celestial flower blooms about 350 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda," tweeted NASA's Hubble telescope handle. Be our cosmic Valentine? 🌹✨ The “space rose” in this Hubble image is made up of interacting galaxies, named Arp 273. This celestial flower blooms about 350 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. Find out more: https://t.co/FAldFLOZED pic.twitter.com/Otzh2D1q2m — Hubble (@NASAHubble) February 14, 2022 × Netizens have liked the image. The tweet has been liked by nearly 10 thousand Twitter users. The post has been retweeted by more than a thousand users.

NASA's Hubble telescope clicks 'space rose' on Valentine's Day

Agni Sapkota, Speaker of Nepal Parliament's House of Representatives, called an all-party meeting on Monday amid heightened political tension triggered by controversy about Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact.

The meeting came after registration of an impeachment motion against Supreme Court Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana by ruling parties.

The all-party meeting called by House Speaker Agni Sapkota ended without any conclusion. However, the speaker said a wide range of issues were discussed with the leaders.&nbsp;

While speaking to reporters post the meeting, the speaker said, “Views expressed by leaders were accurately noted. Political parties represented in parliament have a decisive role to play in the ratification of the MCC Compact through parliament. I have been saying that my role is limited to an umpire. Every leader expressed their opinions on the compact. To which I have been very open to.”

The speaker said leaders also shared their views on the house deadlock.&nbsp;

According to a leader present in the meeting, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba insisted on moving the MCC Compact forward.&nbsp;

“In the meeting, leaders of major political parties also discussed initiatives to be taken to lift the obstruction in parliament,” said Sapkota.&nbsp;

The speaker added that important bills related to citizenship and civil aviation should be passed. The bills approved from the National Assembly and sent back to the House of Representatives should be passed.

Echoing similar views, leader of CPN (Unified Socialist) Jeevan Ram Shrestha who participated in the meeting said that the speaker called the all-party meeting in the context of running the parliament. A total of 42 bills, including citizenship, are stuck in the House of Representatives due to continuous obstruction by the main opposition CPN-UML.

The main opposition party, CPN-UML, has been obstructing parliament demanding the resignation of parliament. The UML, however, had boycotted the all-party meeting called by Speaker Sapkota.&nbsp;

UML leaders have been accusing the speaker of playing a role in splitting their party.

As the main opposition CPN-UML continues to obstruct the parliament, main political parties remain divided on the MCC Nepal Compact. Efforts are underway to seek consensus on the parliament session called for Wednesday and the MCC Nepal Compact.

The MCC debate has yet again postponed the scheduled house meeting. The United States has given the government of Nepal a deadline of February 28 to endorse the compact from the Parliament.&nbsp;

Agni Sapkota, Speaker of Nepal Parliament's House of Representatives, called an all-party meeting on Monday amid heightened political tension triggered by controversy about Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact.

Agni Sapkota, Speaker of Nepal Parliament's House of Representatives, called an all-party meeting on Monday amid heightened political tension triggered by controversy about Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact. The meeting came after registration of an impeachment motion against Supreme Court Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana by ruling parties. The all-party meeting called by House Speaker Agni Sapkota ended without any conclusion. However, the speaker said a wide range of issues were discussed with the leaders. While speaking to reporters post the meeting, the speaker said, “Views expressed by leaders were accurately noted. Political parties represented in parliament have a decisive role to play in the ratification of the MCC Compact through parliament. I have been saying that my role is limited to an umpire. Every leader expressed their opinions on the compact. To which I have been very open to.” The speaker said leaders also shared their views on the house deadlock. According to a leader present in the meeting, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba insisted on moving the MCC Compact forward. “In the meeting, leaders of major political parties also discussed initiatives to be taken to lift the obstruction in parliament,” said Sapkota. The speaker added that important bills related to citizenship and civil aviation should be passed. The bills approved from the National Assembly and sent back to the House of Representatives should be passed. Echoing similar views, leader of CPN (Unified Socialist) Jeevan Ram Shrestha who participated in the meeting said that the speaker called the all-party meeting in the context of running the parliament. A total of 42 bills, including citizenship, are stuck in the House of Representatives due to continuous obstruction by the main opposition CPN-UML. The main opposition party, CPN-UML, has been obstructing parliament demanding the resignation of parliament. The UML, however, had boycotted the all-party meeting called by Speaker Sapkota. UML leaders have been accusing the speaker of playing a role in splitting their party. As the main opposition CPN-UML continues to obstruct the parliament, main political parties remain divided on the MCC Nepal Compact. Efforts are underway to seek consensus on the parliament session called for Wednesday and the MCC Nepal Compact. The MCC debate has yet again postponed the scheduled house meeting. The United States has given the government of Nepal a deadline of February 28 to endorse the compact from the Parliament.

No headway on MCC in Nepal after all-party meeting

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Manas Joshi

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