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<p>Two people were shot at on Thursday (June 15) during a public rally to celebrate the Denver Nuggets' first NBA finals victory. In a separate incident during the same event, a police officer was run over by a firetruck, authorities said as per multiple media reports. More than one million people reportedly attended Thursday's parade and rally.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The second incident reportedly occurred an hour before the shooting.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-finals-denver-nuggets-beat-miami-heat-in-game-5-to-win-maiden-championship-title-603687">NBA Finals: Denver Nuggets beat Miami Heat in Game 5 to win maiden championship title</a></strong></p>

<p>The shooting occurred after the parade and festivities at Curtis Street and 17th Street, the Denver Police Department said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A gunman shot two males in a targeted incident, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas told reporters during a news conference.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Was shooting targeted at Denver's NBA win celebrations?</strong></h2>

<p>According to initial reports, investigators probing the incident believe that the shooting was not related to the event. No suspect, however, has been caught by the authorities so far.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Denver shooting incident: Gun violence continues to polarise the US</strong></p>

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<p>Early evidence cited by authorities suggested that the shooting was a targeted attack that was “completely unassociated to the parade” and the three people involved were acquainted, the chief added.</p>

<h2><strong>Denver NBA win celebrations: Fire Truck incident</strong></h2>

<p>The police officer who was wounded after being run over by a firetruck has been identified as Denver SWAT Sgt. Justin Dodger.</p>

<p>Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas told reporters the officer was trying to protect event-goers who made their way in front of the fire truck.</p>

<p>The officer "had to step kind of closer to the vehicle and the fire truck began to roll up the back of his left leg, trapping him underneath the vehicle."</p>

<p>The officer was rescued from underneath the truck and was taken to a hospital with a lower leg injury. He remains in serious, but stable condition, and is undergoing surgery, police said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"As of this time he is in stable condition. He does have a severe limb-threatening injury," Dr Stephen Wolf, director of emergency medicine at Denver Health was quoted as saying by CNN.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, he added, "We can’t say necessarily what the outcome will be,” but surgeons would do “everything possible to preserve the leg."</p>

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Two people were shot at on Thursday (June 15) during a public rally to celebrate the Denver Nuggets' first NBA finals victory. In a separate incident during the same event, a police officer was run over by a firetruck, authorities said as per multiple media reports.

Two people were shot at on Thursday (June 15) during a public rally to celebrate the Denver Nuggets' first NBA finals victory. In a separate incident during the same event, a police officer was run over by a firetruck, authorities said as per multiple media reports. More than one million people reportedly attended Thursday's parade and rally. The second incident reportedly occurred an hour before the shooting. Also read | NBA Finals: Denver Nuggets beat Miami Heat in Game 5 to win maiden championship title The shooting occurred after the parade and festivities at Curtis Street and 17th Street, the Denver Police Department said. A gunman shot two males in a targeted incident, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas told reporters during a news conference. Was shooting targeted at Denver's NBA win celebrations? According to initial reports, investigators probing the incident believe that the shooting was not related to the event. No suspect, however, has been caught by the authorities so far. Also watch | Denver shooting incident: Gun violence continues to polarise the US × Early evidence cited by authorities suggested that the shooting was a targeted attack that was “completely unassociated to the parade” and the three people involved were acquainted, the chief added. Denver NBA win celebrations: Fire Truck incident The police officer who was wounded after being run over by a firetruck has been identified as Denver SWAT Sgt. Justin Dodger. Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas told reporters the officer was trying to protect event-goers who made their way in front of the fire truck. The officer "had to step kind of closer to the vehicle and the fire truck began to roll up the back of his left leg, trapping him underneath the vehicle." The officer was rescued from underneath the truck and was taken to a hospital with a lower leg injury. He remains in serious, but stable condition, and is undergoing surgery, police said. "As of this time he is in stable condition. He does have a severe limb-threatening injury," Dr Stephen Wolf, director of emergency medicine at Denver Health was quoted as saying by CNN. Later, he added, "We can’t say necessarily what the outcome will be,” but surgeons would do “everything possible to preserve the leg." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Denver Nuggets victory parade: Police officer injured, two people shot in rally with over a million people

<p>Months after Elon Musk’s SpaceX sent off world's first privately funded crewed space mission to the International Space Station with four members aboard, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic announced plans to launch its first commercial passenger space mission Galactic 01.</p>

<p>The launch of Galactic 01 has been announced nearly two years after Richard Branson's personal space journey in July 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/richard-branson-realises-his-lifelong-dream-with-virgin-galactic-spaceflight-397593">Richard Branson realises his lifelong dream with Virgin Galactic spaceflight</a></strong></p>

<p>The development takes place weeks after Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo rocket launched the Unity 25 mission in what was deemed as a test launch before the final one. The test flight named Unity 25 successfully transported six company employees to the edge of space and back on May 25, 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This mission served as the final evaluation of the entire spaceflight system and astronaut experience before commencing commercial flights.</p>

<p>The final launch of Galactic 01 is poised to take place potentially as early as June 27.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic's successful space flight</strong></p>

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<p>This milestone flight will include researchers from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy and will signify the commencement of Virgin Galactic's commercial operations after facing numerous delays.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mission will finally fulfill the long-awaited dreams of the space tourists who had purchased expensive tickets to fly aboard the company's spacecraft.</p>

<h2><strong>Galactic 02 to take off right after Galactic 01</strong></h2>

<p>Following the completion of Galactic 01, Virgin Galactic intends to proceed with Galactic 02, its second commercial flight, slated for early August.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The crew for Galactic 02 has not been disclosed but the company hinted that this flight might finally accommodate the tourists who placed initial deposits on their seats several years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>800 people from 66 countries booked tickets to space</strong></h2>

<p>CEO Michael Colglazier expressed enthusiasm, stating that this commercial debut would grant access to approximately 800 individuals from 66 countries who have already reserved their seats.</p>

<p>Each ticket has reportedly cost&nbsp;the prospective space travelers $450,000 or&nbsp;₹36.54 million.</p>

<p>Virgin Galactic recently resumed spaceflight activities after a hiatus of nearly two years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Virgin Galactic had initially planned to begin commercial operations after Richard Branson's personal space journey in July 2021, the start date had been repeatedly postponed due to ongoing enhancements to their spacecraft.&nbsp;<br />
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Months after Elon Musk’s SpaceX sent off world's first privately funded crewed space mission to the International Space Station with four members aboard, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic announced plans to launch its first commercial passenger space mission Galactic 01.

Months after Elon Musk’s SpaceX sent off world's first privately funded crewed space mission to the International Space Station with four members aboard, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic announced plans to launch its first commercial passenger space mission Galactic 01. The launch of Galactic 01 has been announced nearly two years after Richard Branson's personal space journey in July 2021. Also read | Richard Branson realises his lifelong dream with Virgin Galactic spaceflight The development takes place weeks after Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo rocket launched the Unity 25 mission in what was deemed as a test launch before the final one. The test flight named Unity 25 successfully transported six company employees to the edge of space and back on May 25, 2023. This mission served as the final evaluation of the entire spaceflight system and astronaut experience before commencing commercial flights. The final launch of Galactic 01 is poised to take place potentially as early as June 27. Also watch | Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic's successful space flight × This milestone flight will include researchers from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy and will signify the commencement of Virgin Galactic's commercial operations after facing numerous delays. The mission will finally fulfill the long-awaited dreams of the space tourists who had purchased expensive tickets to fly aboard the company's spacecraft. Galactic 02 to take off right after Galactic 01 Following the completion of Galactic 01, Virgin Galactic intends to proceed with Galactic 02, its second commercial flight, slated for early August. The crew for Galactic 02 has not been disclosed but the company hinted that this flight might finally accommodate the tourists who placed initial deposits on their seats several years ago. 800 people from 66 countries booked tickets to space CEO Michael Colglazier expressed enthusiasm, stating that this commercial debut would grant access to approximately 800 individuals from 66 countries who have already reserved their seats. Each ticket has reportedly cost the prospective space travelers $450,000 or ₹36.54 million. Virgin Galactic recently resumed spaceflight activities after a hiatus of nearly two years. While Virgin Galactic had initially planned to begin commercial operations after Richard Branson's personal space journey in July 2021, the start date had been repeatedly postponed due to ongoing enhancements to their spacecraft. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Musk-Branson space race heats up as Virgin Galactic announces commercial space mission

<p>The jury of the House of Commons&nbsp;privileges committee is out on&nbsp;former UK prime minister and Tory leader Boris Johnson in relation to the infamous Partygate row which quickly snowballed into a scandal whose avalanche pushed the Conservative populist out of Downing Street.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The privileges committee report said that Johnson should be denied automatic access to parliament for intentionally misleading lawmakers over rule-breaking Covid lockdown parties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Johnson called the findings "rubbish" and accused the&nbsp;committee members of waging a vendetta against him.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/partygate-scandal-boris-johnson-intentionally-misled-uk-parliament-report-finds-604718">Partygate scandal: Boris Johnson intentionally misled UK parliament, report finds</a></strong></p>

<p>"I believed, correctly, that these events were reasonably necessary for work purposes. We were managing a pandemic," he said in a statement.</p>

<p>He said the report marked a "dreadful day" for members of parliament (MP) and for democracy. "This decision means that no MP is free from vendetta, or expulsion on trumped up charges by a tiny minority who want to see him or her gone from the Commons," he said.</p>

<p>He accused the committee of using mystical powers to see things that he had not seen at Downing Street, when, he said, he was duty-bound to thank staff who were departing or for their work on COVID-19. The committee did not accept his defence.</p>

<p>The privileges committee, however, rejected Johnson's defence that the gatherings were within the rules and that his advisers had supported his belief.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Boris Johnson lashes out at Partygate investigation as he quits as MP</strong></p>

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<p>Instead, it said, Johnson was "deliberately disingenuous when he tried to reinterpret his statements to the House to avoid their plain meaning and reframe the clear impression that he intended to give".</p>

<p>It said that was Johnson still a member of parliament, it would have recommended a suspension from the House of Commons for 90 days.</p>

<h2><strong>What is the privileges committee?</strong></h2>

<p>Committees are bodies in the parliament which examine issues such as laws or policies in more detail.</p>

<p>The House of Commons Privileges Committee investigates cases that "may prevent or hinder" the work of Parliament.</p>

<h2><strong>Boris Johnson Partygate Privileges Committee: The members</strong></h2>

<p>The privileges committee, whose report on the Partygate scandal was published on June 15, was constituted of four Conservative Party&nbsp;MPs (Sir Bernard Jenkin, Sir Charles Walker, Andy Carter and Alberto Costa), two members are the Labour Party (Harriet Harman and Yvonne Fovargue) and one representative of the Scottish Nationalist Party (Allan Dorans).</p>

<p>The rules state the chair has to be a member of the official opposition party. Harriet Harman of the Labour Party was unanimously elected to the post in June 2022.</p>

<h2><strong>The Partygate scandal: Privileges Committee's findings</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The committee accused Johnson of being "complicit in a campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation" towards them.</p>

<p>The more than 100-page report details six events held at Downing Street, the prime minister's offices and residence.</p>

<p>"We conclude that in deliberately misleading the House, Johnson committed a serious contempt," the committee said: "The contempt was all the more serious because it was committed by the prime minister, the most senior member of the government. There is no precedent for a prime minister having been found to have deliberately misled the House (of Commons, the lower house of parliament)."</p>

<p>It recommended that he should not be entitled to a former member’s pass, which enables most former prime ministers and former lawmakers to gain automatic access to parliament.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>Its conclusions have been described as a new low for Boris Johnson, who in 2019, led the governing Conservatives to a landslide election victory. The stand-off will do little to heal the deep divisions in the Conservative Party.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What next?</strong></h2>

<p>The UK Parliament will consider the committee's recommendation on Monday.&nbsp;Johnson, however,&nbsp;had already quit as a member of parliament last week before the report's publication after reportedly seeing an advance copy of the same.</p>

<p>Boris Johnson was widely criticised for describing the committee as "a kangaroo court" in his resignation statement.</p>

<p>Johnson's conduct was referred to the committee after a vote in the House of Commons in April 2022. It did not call for evidence until June 2022, once the police investigation into Partygate had finished.</p>

<h2><strong>Opposition's reaction</strong></h2>

<p>The Labour Party said the report was "damning".</p>

<p>"While Rishi Sunak is distracted with the ongoing Tory soap opera people are crying out for leadership on the issues that matter to them," said Thangam Debbonaire, a member of Labour's top team was quoted as saying by Reuters.</p>

<p>The Partygate scandal spelt the beginning of the end of Johnson's&nbsp;tenure as prime minister.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A rebellion in his governing Conservative Party last year followed, when ministers resigned en masse, forcing him in July to say he would step down.</p>

<p>He left office in September and was succeeded by Liz Truss at 10, Downing Street.</p>

<p>Truss, too, resigned shortly afterwards, paving the way for current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.</p>

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The jury of the House of Commons privileges committee is out on former UK prime minister and Tory leader Boris Johnson in relation to the infamous Partygate row which quickly snowballed into a scandal whose avalanche pushed the Conservative populist out of Downing Street.

The jury of the House of Commons privileges committee is out on former UK prime minister and Tory leader Boris Johnson in relation to the infamous Partygate row which quickly snowballed into a scandal whose avalanche pushed the Conservative populist out of Downing Street. The privileges committee report said that Johnson should be denied automatic access to parliament for intentionally misleading lawmakers over rule-breaking Covid lockdown parties. Johnson called the findings "rubbish" and accused the committee members of waging a vendetta against him. Also read | Partygate scandal: Boris Johnson intentionally misled UK parliament, report finds "I believed, correctly, that these events were reasonably necessary for work purposes. We were managing a pandemic," he said in a statement. He said the report marked a "dreadful day" for members of parliament (MP) and for democracy. "This decision means that no MP is free from vendetta, or expulsion on trumped up charges by a tiny minority who want to see him or her gone from the Commons," he said. He accused the committee of using mystical powers to see things that he had not seen at Downing Street, when, he said, he was duty-bound to thank staff who were departing or for their work on COVID-19. The committee did not accept his defence. The privileges committee, however, rejected Johnson's defence that the gatherings were within the rules and that his advisers had supported his belief. Also watch | Boris Johnson lashes out at Partygate investigation as he quits as MP × Instead, it said, Johnson was "deliberately disingenuous when he tried to reinterpret his statements to the House to avoid their plain meaning and reframe the clear impression that he intended to give". It said that was Johnson still a member of parliament, it would have recommended a suspension from the House of Commons for 90 days. What is the privileges committee? Committees are bodies in the parliament which examine issues such as laws or policies in more detail. The House of Commons Privileges Committee investigates cases that "may prevent or hinder" the work of Parliament. Boris Johnson Partygate Privileges Committee: The members The privileges committee, whose report on the Partygate scandal was published on June 15, was constituted of four Conservative Party MPs (Sir Bernard Jenkin, Sir Charles Walker, Andy Carter and Alberto Costa), two members are the Labour Party (Harriet Harman and Yvonne Fovargue) and one representative of the Scottish Nationalist Party (Allan Dorans). The rules state the chair has to be a member of the official opposition party. Harriet Harman of the Labour Party was unanimously elected to the post in June 2022. The Partygate scandal: Privileges Committee's findings The committee accused Johnson of being "complicit in a campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation" towards them. The more than 100-page report details six events held at Downing Street, the prime minister's offices and residence. "We conclude that in deliberately misleading the House, Johnson committed a serious contempt," the committee said: "The contempt was all the more serious because it was committed by the prime minister, the most senior member of the government. There is no precedent for a prime minister having been found to have deliberately misled the House (of Commons, the lower house of parliament)." It recommended that he should not be entitled to a former member’s pass, which enables most former prime ministers and former lawmakers to gain automatic access to parliament. What does it mean? Its conclusions have been described as a new low for Boris Johnson, who in 2019, led the governing Conservatives to a landslide election victory. The stand-off will do little to heal the deep divisions in the Conservative Party. What next? The UK Parliament will consider the committee's recommendation on Monday. Johnson, however, had already quit as a member of parliament last week before the report's publication after reportedly seeing an advance copy of the same. Boris Johnson was widely criticised for describing the committee as "a kangaroo court" in his resignation statement. Johnson's conduct was referred to the committee after a vote in the House of Commons in April 2022. It did not call for evidence until June 2022, once the police investigation into Partygate had finished. Opposition's reaction The Labour Party said the report was "damning". "While Rishi Sunak is distracted with the ongoing Tory soap opera people are crying out for leadership on the issues that matter to them," said Thangam Debbonaire, a member of Labour's top team was quoted as saying by Reuters. The Partygate scandal spelt the beginning of the end of Johnson's tenure as prime minister. A rebellion in his governing Conservative Party last year followed, when ministers resigned en masse, forcing him in July to say he would step down. He left office in September and was succeeded by Liz Truss at 10, Downing Street. Truss, too, resigned shortly afterwards, paving the way for current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | Boris Johnson's Partygate verdict by House of Commons privileges committee

<p>Philippines was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 on Thursday,&nbsp;the German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The epicenter is reported to be at Mindoro island about 160 km south of the capital Manila.</p>

<p>The earthquake was felt at 10:19 am (local time) or 2:19 am (Greenwich Mean Time).</p>

<p>There was a conflict in the initial seismic reading of the earthquake.</p>

<p>While the German Research Centre for Geosciences said that the earthquake was of 6.5 magnitude, the Philippine seismology agency said that it recorded the earthquake of magnitude 6.2 on the richter scale.</p>

<p>The tremors were also felt in the capital&nbsp;and in nearby provinces.</p>

<p>The quake was at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.21 miles), German Research Centre for Geosciences said.</p>

<p>The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that damage and aftershocks are expected, Manila-headquartered Rappler news portal reported.</p>

<p>People took to social media with their immediate reactions following the earthquake.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Very long and strong earthquake in Manila just now. Made me realize how unprepared and not-emergency-ready I am. I just froze and didn’t know what to do. Driving around Makati now and seeing loads of people who evacuated from their buildings. I’m glad they knew what to do," a user wrote on Twitter.</p>

<p>Another user shared visuals of students at an educational institute being evacuated right before their graduation ceremony.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>This is a breaking story. More information will be added soon.</em></p>

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Philippines was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 on Thursday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The epicenter is reported to be at Mindoro island about 160 km south of the capital Manila.

Philippines was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 on Thursday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The epicenter is reported to be at Mindoro island about 160 km south of the capital Manila. The earthquake was felt at 10:19 am (local time) or 2:19 am (Greenwich Mean Time). There was a conflict in the initial seismic reading of the earthquake. While the German Research Centre for Geosciences said that the earthquake was of 6.5 magnitude, the Philippine seismology agency said that it recorded the earthquake of magnitude 6.2 on the richter scale. The tremors were also felt in the capital and in nearby provinces. The quake was at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.21 miles), German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that damage and aftershocks are expected, Manila-headquartered Rappler news portal reported. People took to social media with their immediate reactions following the earthquake. "Very long and strong earthquake in Manila just now. Made me realize how unprepared and not-emergency-ready I am. I just froze and didn’t know what to do. Driving around Makati now and seeing loads of people who evacuated from their buildings. I’m glad they knew what to do," a user wrote on Twitter. Another user shared visuals of students at an educational institute being evacuated right before their graduation ceremony. This is a breaking story. More information will be added soon. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Philippines hit by major earthquake, tremors felt in Manila and nearby provinces

<p>Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled the parliament over the Partygate scandal, the House of Commons Privileges Committee found in its report published on June 15. The committee said that it would have&nbsp;recommended a 90-day suspension for the former prime minister but given the damning findings of the report, he "should not be granted a former members’ pass".</p>

<p>The 30,000-word document found that the former Tory leader&nbsp;committed multiple contempt of parliament, breached&nbsp;confidence, and impugned the committee and the democratic process of the house.</p>

<p>The report found Johnson&nbsp;"complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee".</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-2">The privileges committee is&nbsp;the main disciplinary body for lawmakers in the United Kingdom, akin to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in India.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-2"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-58-boris-johnson-braces-to-embrace-fatherhood-for-eighth-time-594510">At 58, UK ex-PM Boris Johnson to embrace fatherhood for eighth time</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The more than 100-page report details six events held at Downing Street, the prime minister's offices and residence.</p>

<p>"We conclude that in deliberately misleading the House Mr Johnson committed a serious contempt," the committee said.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Boris Johnson quits ahead of party-gate report</strong></p>

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<p>"The contempt was all the more serious because it was committed by the prime minister, the most senior member of the government. There is no precedent for a prime minister having been found to have deliberately misled the House (of Commons, lower house of parliament)."</p>

<h2><strong>Johnson responds</strong></h2>

<p>Boris Johnson responded to the privileges committee's findings, repeating that "the guidance was followed completely".&nbsp;</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-1">He called the findings "rubbish".</p>

<p>"It wasn’t just what I thought: it’s what we all thought – that we were following the rules and following the guidance completely – notwithstanding the difficulties of maintaining social distancing at all times," Johnson said in his defence.</p>

<h2><strong>What will happen to Boris Johnson now?</strong></h2>

<p>Johnson had already quit as a member of parliament last week before the report's publication.</p>

<p>He has accused the privileges committee, a parliamentary standards body that has investigated Johnson, of mounting a "witch-hunt" and behaving like a "kangaroo court", the claims he repeated in his aforementioned clarification immediately after the report's publication.</p>

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Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled the parliament over the Partygate scandal, the House of Commons Privileges Committee found in its report published on June 15.

Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled the parliament over the Partygate scandal, the House of Commons Privileges Committee found in its report published on June 15. The committee said that it would have recommended a 90-day suspension for the former prime minister but given the damning findings of the report, he "should not be granted a former members’ pass". The 30,000-word document found that the former Tory leader committed multiple contempt of parliament, breached confidence, and impugned the committee and the democratic process of the house. The report found Johnson "complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee". The privileges committee is the main disciplinary body for lawmakers in the United Kingdom, akin to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in India. Also read | At 58, UK ex-PM Boris Johnson to embrace fatherhood for eighth time The more than 100-page report details six events held at Downing Street, the prime minister's offices and residence. "We conclude that in deliberately misleading the House Mr Johnson committed a serious contempt," the committee said. Also watch | Boris Johnson quits ahead of party-gate report × "The contempt was all the more serious because it was committed by the prime minister, the most senior member of the government. There is no precedent for a prime minister having been found to have deliberately misled the House (of Commons, lower house of parliament)." Johnson responds Boris Johnson responded to the privileges committee's findings, repeating that "the guidance was followed completely". He called the findings "rubbish". "It wasn’t just what I thought: it’s what we all thought – that we were following the rules and following the guidance completely – notwithstanding the difficulties of maintaining social distancing at all times," Johnson said in his defence. What will happen to Boris Johnson now? Johnson had already quit as a member of parliament last week before the report's publication. He has accused the privileges committee, a parliamentary standards body that has investigated Johnson, of mounting a "witch-hunt" and behaving like a "kangaroo court", the claims he repeated in his aforementioned clarification immediately after the report's publication. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Partygate scandal: Boris Johnson intentionally misled UK parliament, report finds

<p>Motherhood can take a woman to unknown and unfathomable emotional zones. But it has been found that more than one in ten women struggle to bond with their newborn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The finding was based on responses from more than 1,000 mothers undertaken by the United Kingdom-based Parent-Infant Foundation as part of a survey across the UK.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The respondents reportedly said that there is societal pressure to enjoy pregnancy. There remains a general assumption that mother-baby&nbsp;bonding would happen automatically. When it doesn’t happen, the new mothers are left feeling guilty for being unable to bond with the newborn child.</p>

<h2><strong>Motherhood diluted?: Reasons and Factors</strong></h2>

<p>Factors that can affect bonding during pregnancy include the mother’s physical and mental health and past trauma, such as baby loss in previous years.</p>

<p>Tamora Langley, head of policy at the Parent-Infant Foundation, told The Guardian: "We understand staff are under huge time pressures, but checking on emotional wellbeing as well as physical wellbeing needs to become the norm."</p>

<p>Langley further said that with training, a wider range of professionals and practitioners should be able to have conversations about emotional attachment and bonding.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/first-uk-baby-with-dna-from-three-people-created-through-ivf-591109">First UK baby with DNA from three people born through IVF</a></strong></p>

<p>"Parents who are struggling may need specialist parent-infant relationship support, but they can only get that if they are confident to speak up in the first place. We must challenge the myth of the 'perfect parent' so that pregnant women feel able to ask for help when they need it."</p>

<p>The survey also found that 71 per cent of respondents would have liked more support during pregnancy to bond with their baby, while 64 per cent said nobody talked to them about bonding during their antenatal care.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Mother's Day Special: A day in the life of working mothers</strong></p>

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<p>Experts cited in the media suggest that there are more effective ways to increase mother-child bonding. This includes putting the baby skin-to-skin naked between the mother’s breasts for an hour or so after delivery.</p>

<p>A UK National Health Service spokesperson said in an official statement: "We encourage services to keep up to date with the latest Nice guidance so they can provide the best level of care to women and their babies. Our recently announced delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services sets out commitments to provide personalised care and support plans, which can include advice on baby bonding."</p>

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Motherhood can take a woman to unknown and unfathomable emotional zones. But it has been found that more than one in ten women struggle to bond with their newborn.

Motherhood can take a woman to unknown and unfathomable emotional zones. But it has been found that more than one in ten women struggle to bond with their newborn. The finding was based on responses from more than 1,000 mothers undertaken by the United Kingdom-based Parent-Infant Foundation as part of a survey across the UK. The respondents reportedly said that there is societal pressure to enjoy pregnancy. There remains a general assumption that mother-baby bonding would happen automatically. When it doesn’t happen, the new mothers are left feeling guilty for being unable to bond with the newborn child. Motherhood diluted?: Reasons and Factors Factors that can affect bonding during pregnancy include the mother’s physical and mental health and past trauma, such as baby loss in previous years. Tamora Langley, head of policy at the Parent-Infant Foundation, told The Guardian: "We understand staff are under huge time pressures, but checking on emotional wellbeing as well as physical wellbeing needs to become the norm." Langley further said that with training, a wider range of professionals and practitioners should be able to have conversations about emotional attachment and bonding. Also read | First UK baby with DNA from three people born through IVF "Parents who are struggling may need specialist parent-infant relationship support, but they can only get that if they are confident to speak up in the first place. We must challenge the myth of the 'perfect parent' so that pregnant women feel able to ask for help when they need it." The survey also found that 71 per cent of respondents would have liked more support during pregnancy to bond with their baby, while 64 per cent said nobody talked to them about bonding during their antenatal care. Also watch | Mother's Day Special: A day in the life of working mothers × Experts cited in the media suggest that there are more effective ways to increase mother-child bonding. This includes putting the baby skin-to-skin naked between the mother’s breasts for an hour or so after delivery. A UK National Health Service spokesperson said in an official statement: "We encourage services to keep up to date with the latest Nice guidance so they can provide the best level of care to women and their babies. Our recently announced delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services sets out commitments to provide personalised care and support plans, which can include advice on baby bonding." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Many mothers struggle to bond with their newborn babies: UK study

<p>TikTok's parent company ByteDance said it would invest billions of dollars in Southeast Asia over the next few years to expand its market. The development comes amid a global scrutiny of the company over data security.</p>

<h2><strong>Why Southeast Asia is important for ByteDance?</strong></h2>

<p>Southeast Asia is a region with a collective population of 630 million. About half of them are&nbsp;under the age of 30, the target age of Bytedance-owned TikTok.</p>

<p>Southeast Asia is also one of TikTok's biggest markets in terms of user numbers, generating more than 325 million visitors to the app every month.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Shenzen-headquartered platform continues to struggle to translate its large user base into a major e-commerce revenue source. It faces fierce competition from Sea's Shopee, Alibaba's Lazada and GoTo's Tokopedia.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch&nbsp;|&nbsp;55% people rely on TikTok and Snapchat for news, report finds</strong></p>

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<p>"We are going to invest billions of dollars in Indonesia and Southeast Asia over the next few years," TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said at a forum it organised in Jakarta to highlight the social and economic impact of the app in the region.</p>

<p>The platform, however, did not provide how will it spend the money. It said that it would invest in training, advertising and supporting small vendors looking to join its e-commerce platform TikTok Shop.</p>

<h2><strong>TikTok's quest to get e-commerce right in Southeast Asia</strong></h2>

<p>Chew said content on its platform was becoming more diversified as it adds more users and expands beyond advertising into e-commerce, allowing consumers to purchase goods through links on the app during live streaming.</p>

<p>TikTok has 8,000 employees in Southeast Asia, and two&nbsp;million small vendors selling their wares on its platform in Indonesia, the region's biggest economy, he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tiktok-mulls-over-separation-from-parent-company-bytedance-572290">TikTok mulls separation from parent company ByteDance if US officials don’t approve proposal</a></strong></p>

<p>According to data from consultancy Momentum Works, e-commerce transactions across Southeast Asia&nbsp;reached nearly $100 billion last year, with Indonesia accounting for $52 billion.</p>

<p>TikTok facilitated $4.4 billion of transactions across Southeast Asia last year, up from $600 million in 2021, but it still trailed far behind Shopee's $48 billion of regional merchandise sales in 2022, Momentum Works.</p>

<h2><strong>Data security concerns and app bans</strong></h2>

<p>The investment plan comes as the company continues to&nbsp;face major scrutiny from governments and regulators worldwide because of concerns that the Chinese Communist Party could use the app to harvest user data to advance its interests.</p>

<p>Countries including Britain and New Zealand have banned the app on government phones. India, in 2020, banned the application citing data security concerns.</p>

<p>TikTok has&nbsp;denied that it has ever shared data with the Chinese government and has said the company would not do so if asked, Reuters has reported in the past.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The app has not faced major bans on government devices in Southeast Asia. But it remains under scrutiny over its content.</p>

<p>Indonesia presented one of its first major global policy challenges in 2018 after authorities briefly banned TikTok for posts they said contained "pornography, inappropriate content and blasphemy".</p>

<p>In Vietnam, regulators said it would probe TikTok's operations in the country because "toxic" content on the platform poses a threat to its "youth, culture and tradition".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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TikTok's parent company ByteDance said it would invest billions of dollars in Southeast Asia over the next few years to expand its market. The development comes amid a global scrutiny of the company over data security.

TikTok's parent company ByteDance said it would invest billions of dollars in Southeast Asia over the next few years to expand its market. The development comes amid a global scrutiny of the company over data security. Why Southeast Asia is important for ByteDance? Southeast Asia is a region with a collective population of 630 million. About half of them are under the age of 30, the target age of Bytedance-owned TikTok. Southeast Asia is also one of TikTok's biggest markets in terms of user numbers, generating more than 325 million visitors to the app every month. Meanwhile, the Shenzen-headquartered platform continues to struggle to translate its large user base into a major e-commerce revenue source. It faces fierce competition from Sea's Shopee, Alibaba's Lazada and GoTo's Tokopedia. Also watch | 55% people rely on TikTok and Snapchat for news, report finds × "We are going to invest billions of dollars in Indonesia and Southeast Asia over the next few years," TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said at a forum it organised in Jakarta to highlight the social and economic impact of the app in the region. The platform, however, did not provide how will it spend the money. It said that it would invest in training, advertising and supporting small vendors looking to join its e-commerce platform TikTok Shop. TikTok's quest to get e-commerce right in Southeast Asia Chew said content on its platform was becoming more diversified as it adds more users and expands beyond advertising into e-commerce, allowing consumers to purchase goods through links on the app during live streaming. TikTok has 8,000 employees in Southeast Asia, and two million small vendors selling their wares on its platform in Indonesia, the region's biggest economy, he added. Also read | TikTok mulls separation from parent company ByteDance if US officials don’t approve proposal According to data from consultancy Momentum Works, e-commerce transactions across Southeast Asia reached nearly $100 billion last year, with Indonesia accounting for $52 billion. TikTok facilitated $4.4 billion of transactions across Southeast Asia last year, up from $600 million in 2021, but it still trailed far behind Shopee's $48 billion of regional merchandise sales in 2022, Momentum Works. Data security concerns and app bans The investment plan comes as the company continues to face major scrutiny from governments and regulators worldwide because of concerns that the Chinese Communist Party could use the app to harvest user data to advance its interests. Countries including Britain and New Zealand have banned the app on government phones. India, in 2020, banned the application citing data security concerns. TikTok has denied that it has ever shared data with the Chinese government and has said the company would not do so if asked, Reuters has reported in the past. The app has not faced major bans on government devices in Southeast Asia. But it remains under scrutiny over its content. Indonesia presented one of its first major global policy challenges in 2018 after authorities briefly banned TikTok for posts they said contained "pornography, inappropriate content and blasphemy". In Vietnam, regulators said it would probe TikTok's operations in the country because "toxic" content on the platform poses a threat to its "youth, culture and tradition". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tiktok shifts focus to Southeast Asia amid global scrutiny over data security concerns

<p>Twitter owner Elon Musk slammed San Francisco's authorities for failing to control crime in the city housing the global hotspots of technological advances.</p>

<p>Musk made the comment while reacting to filmmaker Eli Steele's Twitter post in which the 'What Killed Michael Brown?' director shared an image of smashed car windows.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You hear about how bad San Francisco is. I was filming a shot of my father, Shelby Steele, and in the 10&nbsp;minutes we were gone our SUV was broken into and nearly $15k of cameras stolen. Called 911 &amp; they hung up twice," Steelo wrote on Twitter.</p>

<p>Musk said that many Twitter employees feel unsafe while coming to work in downtown San Francisco and have faced similar experiences of their car windows being smashed.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/san-francisco-nine-people-shot-at-in-yet-another-targeted-shooting-incident-602856">San Francisco: Nine people shot at in yet another 'targeted' shooting incident</a></strong></p>

<p>"Many Twitter employees feel unsafe coming to work in downtown SF and have had their car windows smashed. They also got such a null response from the police that they rarely even bother reporting crimes anymore, because nothing happens," Musk wrote on the micro-blogging platform he owns.</p>

<h2><strong>Crime in San Francisco</strong></h2>

<p>Crime in San Francisco is a long-running public health and public safety issue. While it currently has lower-than-average rates of violent crime when compared with other major US cities, but property crimes, such as theft and burglary, are higher than the national average.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2020, the reported violent crime rate in San Francisco was 21 per cent below the average of 20 most populous cities other than San Francisco for which there was full data available. Meanwhile, the city’s property crime rate was 41 per cent above the national average.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;US: Elon Musk trolled outside Twitter headquarters in San Francisco</strong></p>

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<p>In 2020, it had 4,400 incidents of property crime per 100,000 residents, San Francisco Chronicle reported.</p>

<p>The rate, while being high, was lower than prior to the Covid pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2019, the city ranked number one for property crimes among the major American cities. That year, San Francisco reported 5,500 incidents of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft or arson per 100,000 people.</p>

<p>Data in 2020 showed that the city’s burglary rate was 67 per cent above the average of 20 other major cities. Motor vehicle thefts and theft (larceny) were also higher than average at 37 per cent.<br />
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Twitter owner Elon Musk slammed San Francisco's authorities for failing to control crime in the city housing the global hotspots of technological advances. Musk made the comment while reacting to filmmaker Eli Steele's Twitter post in which the 'What Killed Michael Brown?

Twitter owner Elon Musk slammed San Francisco's authorities for failing to control crime in the city housing the global hotspots of technological advances. Musk made the comment while reacting to filmmaker Eli Steele's Twitter post in which the 'What Killed Michael Brown?' director shared an image of smashed car windows. "You hear about how bad San Francisco is. I was filming a shot of my father, Shelby Steele, and in the 10 minutes we were gone our SUV was broken into and nearly $15k of cameras stolen. Called 911 & they hung up twice," Steelo wrote on Twitter. Musk said that many Twitter employees feel unsafe while coming to work in downtown San Francisco and have faced similar experiences of their car windows being smashed. Also read | San Francisco: Nine people shot at in yet another 'targeted' shooting incident "Many Twitter employees feel unsafe coming to work in downtown SF and have had their car windows smashed. They also got such a null response from the police that they rarely even bother reporting crimes anymore, because nothing happens," Musk wrote on the micro-blogging platform he owns. Crime in San Francisco Crime in San Francisco is a long-running public health and public safety issue. While it currently has lower-than-average rates of violent crime when compared with other major US cities, but property crimes, such as theft and burglary, are higher than the national average. In 2020, the reported violent crime rate in San Francisco was 21 per cent below the average of 20 most populous cities other than San Francisco for which there was full data available. Meanwhile, the city’s property crime rate was 41 per cent above the national average. Also watch | US: Elon Musk trolled outside Twitter headquarters in San Francisco × In 2020, it had 4,400 incidents of property crime per 100,000 residents, San Francisco Chronicle reported. The rate, while being high, was lower than prior to the Covid pandemic. In 2019, the city ranked number one for property crimes among the major American cities. That year, San Francisco reported 5,500 incidents of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft or arson per 100,000 people. Data in 2020 showed that the city’s burglary rate was 67 per cent above the average of 20 other major cities. Motor vehicle thefts and theft (larceny) were also higher than average at 37 per cent. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Musk says Twitter employees feel unsafe coming to San Francisco office because of this reason

<p>Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda, who was suffering from blood cancer, reportedly died in London on Thursday, June 15.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The cause of the death of Khanda, the chief of UK-based Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and the main handler of Khalistani figurehead Amritpal Singh, is disputed.</p>

<p>While reports said that the cause of his death was cancer, his supporters claimed that he died of poisoning. A medical report from Sandwell hospital, where he died, is awaited.</p>

<h2><strong>Who was Avtar Singh Khanda?</strong></h2>

<p>A bomb expert, Khanda was the mastermind behind the pulling down of the Indian flag during an anti-India demonstration outside the UK High Commission in London on March 19.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had identified Khanda and three other separatists as the principal accused in connection with the incident.</p>

<p>Khanda is the son of slain KLF terrorist Kulwant Singh. He went to the UK in 2007 on a study visa before he took asylum there in 2012.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-why-sikh-separatist-amritpal-singh-kept-in-dibrugarh-jail-in-assam-585618">Explained: Why Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh is being kept in Assam's Dibrugarh jail</a></strong></p>

<p>Soon after entering the UK, Khanda rode over the separatist bandwagon through some of key gurdwaras in the UK. These gurdwaras are managed by Khalistani supporters and, despite being the places of worship, are used to collect funds for terrorism in the name of human rights violations against the Sikh community in India.</p>

<p>Khanda was purportedly heading the KLF outfit under the code name 'Ranjodh Singh' after the killing of erstwhile KLF chief Harmeet Singh in Pakistan in January 2020.</p>

<p>Indian agencies have said that Khanda radicalised and trained susceptible youth in extremist and separatist ideology.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His name was in the list handed over to the British government in 2015 for conspiring against India. However, successive British governments allowed him to live in Britain on political asylum.</p>

<h2><strong>Khanda pulled the strings of separatism from UK</strong></h2>

<p>According to an India Today report, Khanda is believed to have played a key role in establishing Amritpal Singh as the chief of Waris Punjab De after the death of Deep Sidhu.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;India: Fugitive separatist Amritpal Singh arrested by Punjab Police</strong></p>

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<p>Amritpal Singh, who was on the run for 37 days, surrendered before the police at a gurdwara in Punjab's Moga on April 23.</p>

<p>He was shifted to Assam's Dibrugarh jail, where eight of his aides, including Papalpreet Singh, are being held under the National Security Act.</p>

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Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda, who was suffering from blood cancer, reportedly died in London on Thursday, June 15. The cause of the death of Khanda, the chief of UK-based Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and the main handler of Khalistani figurehead Amritpal Singh, is disputed.

Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda, who was suffering from blood cancer, reportedly died in London on Thursday, June 15. The cause of the death of Khanda, the chief of UK-based Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and the main handler of Khalistani figurehead Amritpal Singh, is disputed. While reports said that the cause of his death was cancer, his supporters claimed that he died of poisoning. A medical report from Sandwell hospital, where he died, is awaited. Who was Avtar Singh Khanda? A bomb expert, Khanda was the mastermind behind the pulling down of the Indian flag during an anti-India demonstration outside the UK High Commission in London on March 19. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had identified Khanda and three other separatists as the principal accused in connection with the incident. Khanda is the son of slain KLF terrorist Kulwant Singh. He went to the UK in 2007 on a study visa before he took asylum there in 2012. Also read | Explained: Why Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh is being kept in Assam's Dibrugarh jail Soon after entering the UK, Khanda rode over the separatist bandwagon through some of key gurdwaras in the UK. These gurdwaras are managed by Khalistani supporters and, despite being the places of worship, are used to collect funds for terrorism in the name of human rights violations against the Sikh community in India. Khanda was purportedly heading the KLF outfit under the code name 'Ranjodh Singh' after the killing of erstwhile KLF chief Harmeet Singh in Pakistan in January 2020. Indian agencies have said that Khanda radicalised and trained susceptible youth in extremist and separatist ideology. His name was in the list handed over to the British government in 2015 for conspiring against India. However, successive British governments allowed him to live in Britain on political asylum. Khanda pulled the strings of separatism from UK According to an India Today report, Khanda is believed to have played a key role in establishing Amritpal Singh as the chief of Waris Punjab De after the death of Deep Sidhu. Also watch | India: Fugitive separatist Amritpal Singh arrested by Punjab Police × Amritpal Singh, who was on the run for 37 days, surrendered before the police at a gurdwara in Punjab's Moga on April 23. He was shifted to Assam's Dibrugarh jail, where eight of his aides, including Papalpreet Singh, are being held under the National Security Act. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda, handler of Amritpal Singh, dies in London

<p>In a remarkable breakthrough that could revamp the existing understanding of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in the area of human reproduction, scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells. The development reportedly dodges the need for eggs and sperm for the creation of human embryos.</p>

<p>The work was reportedly described on Wednesday in a plenary address at the International Society for Stem Cell Research's annual meeting in Boston. However, the full details of the latest work, from the Cambridge-Caltech lab, are yet to be published in a journal paper.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/first-uk-baby-with-dna-from-three-people-created-through-ivf-591109">First UK baby with DNA from three people born through IVF</a></strong></p>

<p>"Our human model is the first three-lineage human embryo model that specifies amnion and germ cells, precursor cells of egg and sperm," Professor Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz, of the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It’s beautiful and created entirely from embryonic stem cells."</p>

<h2><strong>What is a 'synthetic' embryo like?</strong></h2>

<p>Created by stem cells, it does not have a beating heart or the beginning of a brain. However, they do have the cells which form the placenta, yolk sac and the embryo itself.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why is a 'synthetic' embryo needed?</strong></h2>

<p>A report in The Guardian cites scientists saying that these sythetically created embryos could provide crucial information on the biological causes of recurrent miscarriages.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a paper published in The Lancet in April 2021, globally, an estimated 23 million miscarriages occur annually.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Indian couple crowdfunds to save baby</strong></p>

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<p>At the same time, the basic need for the work is for scientists to understand the "black box" period of human development, which is referred to the duration between the 16 or 17 days after fertilisation and more than a week after the free-floating embryo anchors itself to the lining of the womb.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists are currently allowed to cultivate embryos in the lab up to a legal duration of 14 days. Beyond that, they pick up on the course of the development by looking at pregnancy scans and embryos donated for research.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The idea is that if you really model normal human embryonic development using stem cells, you can gain an awful lot of information about how we begin development, what can go wrong, without having to use early embryos for research," Robin Lovell-Badge, the head of stem cell biology and developmental genetics at the Francis Crick Institute in London, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

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In a remarkable breakthrough that could revamp the existing understanding of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in the area of human reproduction, scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells.

In a remarkable breakthrough that could revamp the existing understanding of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in the area of human reproduction, scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells. The development reportedly dodges the need for eggs and sperm for the creation of human embryos. The work was reportedly described on Wednesday in a plenary address at the International Society for Stem Cell Research's annual meeting in Boston. However, the full details of the latest work, from the Cambridge-Caltech lab, are yet to be published in a journal paper. Also read | First UK baby with DNA from three people born through IVF "Our human model is the first three-lineage human embryo model that specifies amnion and germ cells, precursor cells of egg and sperm," Professor Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz, of the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "It’s beautiful and created entirely from embryonic stem cells." What is a 'synthetic' embryo like? Created by stem cells, it does not have a beating heart or the beginning of a brain. However, they do have the cells which form the placenta, yolk sac and the embryo itself. Why is a 'synthetic' embryo needed? A report in The Guardian cites scientists saying that these sythetically created embryos could provide crucial information on the biological causes of recurrent miscarriages. According to a paper published in The Lancet in April 2021, globally, an estimated 23 million miscarriages occur annually. Also watch | Gravitas: Indian couple crowdfunds to save baby × At the same time, the basic need for the work is for scientists to understand the "black box" period of human development, which is referred to the duration between the 16 or 17 days after fertilisation and more than a week after the free-floating embryo anchors itself to the lining of the womb. Scientists are currently allowed to cultivate embryos in the lab up to a legal duration of 14 days. Beyond that, they pick up on the course of the development by looking at pregnancy scans and embryos donated for research. "The idea is that if you really model normal human embryonic development using stem cells, you can gain an awful lot of information about how we begin development, what can go wrong, without having to use early embryos for research," Robin Lovell-Badge, the head of stem cell biology and developmental genetics at the Francis Crick Institute in London, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Baby without sperm and egg? Scientists create 'synthetic' human embryos in major leap

<p>South Africa’s fight against cigarette trafficking took a significant turn on Monday after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government announced that it will start destroying 20 million illicit cigarettes allegedly smuggled into the country through its border with Zimbabwe.</p>

<p>The South African Revenue Service (SARS) said that the contraband of 20 million cigarettes, valued at more than $2.3 million, and smuggled into the country between February and May this year, will be destroyed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The destruction of the illicit and smuggled cigarettes (at Beitbridge border post) is likely to last a few days," it said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tobacco-companies-asked-to-foot-the-bill-for-cleaning-up-cigarette-butts-in-spain-549410">Tobacco companies asked to foot the bill for cleaning up cigarette butts in Spain</a></strong></p>

<p>The cigarettes were seized over several operations, it said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Illicit trade robs the government of much-needed revenue and destroys industries, exacerbating unemployment, poverty and inequality," the revenue authority said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In January, one of the country's largest tobacco producers, British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA), said that it had been forced to cut around a third of its workforce since 2020 as a result of the "ballooning illicit tobacco trade".&nbsp;</p>

<p>BATSA estimated that "illicit cigarette trade accounts for up to 70 per cent of South Africa's total cigarette market".&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>South Africa’s illicit cigarette trafficking boom</strong></h2>

<p>South Africa banned tobacco at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, following which the country reported a booming illicit market of cigarette trade, according to BATSA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>South Africa imposed one of the world's toughest lockdowns in March, including a ban on sales of alcohol and cigarettes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;World of Africa: Transforming lives through tobacco farming</strong></p>

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<p>Elite police unit known as the Hawks last month arrested a driver for smuggling more than 500 cartons of illicit cigarettes, found being transported in a gas tanker truck on its way to the centre of the&nbsp;town of Potchefstroom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In May, another burst in a town Bronkhorstspruit, near Pretoria, cigarettes valued at over a million dollars, were smuggled by masquerading&nbsp;them as tea leaves.&nbsp;The Beitbridge border crossing between South Africa and Zimbabwe&nbsp;is one of the busiest on the continent but is also one of the most porous.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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South Africa’s fight against cigarette trafficking took a significant turn on Monday after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government announced that it will start destroying 20 million illicit cigarettes allegedly smuggled into the country through its border with Zimbabwe.

South Africa’s fight against cigarette trafficking took a significant turn on Monday after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government announced that it will start destroying 20 million illicit cigarettes allegedly smuggled into the country through its border with Zimbabwe. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) said that the contraband of 20 million cigarettes, valued at more than $2.3 million, and smuggled into the country between February and May this year, will be destroyed. "The destruction of the illicit and smuggled cigarettes (at Beitbridge border post) is likely to last a few days," it said in a statement. Also read | Tobacco companies asked to foot the bill for cleaning up cigarette butts in Spain The cigarettes were seized over several operations, it said. "Illicit trade robs the government of much-needed revenue and destroys industries, exacerbating unemployment, poverty and inequality," the revenue authority said. In January, one of the country's largest tobacco producers, British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA), said that it had been forced to cut around a third of its workforce since 2020 as a result of the "ballooning illicit tobacco trade". BATSA estimated that "illicit cigarette trade accounts for up to 70 per cent of South Africa's total cigarette market". South Africa’s illicit cigarette trafficking boom South Africa banned tobacco at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, following which the country reported a booming illicit market of cigarette trade, according to BATSA. South Africa imposed one of the world's toughest lockdowns in March, including a ban on sales of alcohol and cigarettes. Also watch | World of Africa: Transforming lives through tobacco farming × Elite police unit known as the Hawks last month arrested a driver for smuggling more than 500 cartons of illicit cigarettes, found being transported in a gas tanker truck on its way to the centre of the town of Potchefstroom. In May, another burst in a town Bronkhorstspruit, near Pretoria, cigarettes valued at over a million dollars, were smuggled by masquerading them as tea leaves. The Beitbridge border crossing between South Africa and Zimbabwe is one of the busiest on the continent but is also one of the most porous. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Millions of cigarettes to become ash in South Africa's war against smuggling

<p>India's ambitious airport connectivity projects have included the construction of Jewar International Airport in one of Delhi's suburbs topping the list of infrastructure-oriented priorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. It has emerged that the airport, being developed in Delhi's National Capital Range (NCR) in Noida, will have a 'pod taxi' service to boost the last-mile connectivity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The service, reportedly called driverless Personal Rapid Transport (PRT), will facilitate connectivity between the Jewar airport and Film City in Noida.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/noida-international-airport-indian-pm-narendra-modi-lays-foundation-stone-of-largest-airport-in-asia-431871">Noida International Airport: Indian PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of 'largest airport in Asia'</a></strong></p>

<p>According to an India Today report, the stretch currently extends to about 14.1 kilometres&nbsp;between the two destinations. 'Pod taxi' will be built at a cost of ₹810 crore, the report said, adding that it will pass through sectors 28, 29, 21 and 32 of Gautam Budh Nagar district, colloquially called NOIDA after New Okhla Industrial Development Authority.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What are Pod Taxis?</strong></h2>

<p>Pod Taxis are electric vehicles. They are driverless modes of transport.</p>

<p>These are small automated cars which are designed to transport a handful of passengers from one place to another at a much faster speed.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Facial recognition technology to be used at Indian airports</strong></p>

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<p>These vehicles move on a track and are electrically powered. These tracks are of course made separately on roads to avoid the regular day-to-day traffic.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>It will be an important milestone in eco-friendly last-mile connectivity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The driverless mode of transport is also cost-effective, pro-environment and convenient.</p>

<p><br />
The northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where Gautam Budh Nagar is situated, will be India’s first to get this international transit system which already exists in Dubai, Singapore and Heathrow Airport in London, among other places.</p>

<p>The Noida International Airport near New Delhi is being built from scratch in phases and is expected to cater to 30-50 million passengers per year (MPPA) over the next 10-15 years, according to India’s civil aviation ministry.</p>

<p>Air travel in India, one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, has boomed in the last decade as it opened up to competition. Ticket prices were slashed and the number of people wealthy enough to travel swelled.</p>

<p>Air traffic in New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is expected to reach up to 91 &nbsp;million passengers per year in the next three years and touch its peak handling capacity of 109 million passengers per year by 2024.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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India's ambitious airport connectivity projects have included the construction of Jewar International Airport in one of Delhi's suburbs topping the list of infrastructure-oriented priorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

India's ambitious airport connectivity projects have included the construction of Jewar International Airport in one of Delhi's suburbs topping the list of infrastructure-oriented priorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. It has emerged that the airport, being developed in Delhi's National Capital Range (NCR) in Noida, will have a 'pod taxi' service to boost the last-mile connectivity. The service, reportedly called driverless Personal Rapid Transport (PRT), will facilitate connectivity between the Jewar airport and Film City in Noida. Also read | Noida International Airport: Indian PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of 'largest airport in Asia' According to an India Today report, the stretch currently extends to about 14.1 kilometres between the two destinations. 'Pod taxi' will be built at a cost of ₹810 crore, the report said, adding that it will pass through sectors 28, 29, 21 and 32 of Gautam Budh Nagar district, colloquially called NOIDA after New Okhla Industrial Development Authority. What are Pod Taxis? Pod Taxis are electric vehicles. They are driverless modes of transport. These are small automated cars which are designed to transport a handful of passengers from one place to another at a much faster speed. Also watch | Facial recognition technology to be used at Indian airports × These vehicles move on a track and are electrically powered. These tracks are of course made separately on roads to avoid the regular day-to-day traffic. What does it mean? It will be an important milestone in eco-friendly last-mile connectivity. The driverless mode of transport is also cost-effective, pro-environment and convenient. The northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where Gautam Budh Nagar is situated, will be India’s first to get this international transit system which already exists in Dubai, Singapore and Heathrow Airport in London, among other places. The Noida International Airport near New Delhi is being built from scratch in phases and is expected to cater to 30-50 million passengers per year (MPPA) over the next 10-15 years, according to India’s civil aviation ministry. Air travel in India, one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, has boomed in the last decade as it opened up to competition. Ticket prices were slashed and the number of people wealthy enough to travel swelled. Air traffic in New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is expected to reach up to 91 million passengers per year in the next three years and touch its peak handling capacity of 109 million passengers per year by 2024. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India's first pod taxi service will be available at upcoming Noida international airport

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