Terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda released a 35-minute video narrated by its leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, reported to have been killed on July 31, 2022 in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan's Kabul.&nbsp;

The latest recording is undated and the transcript did not point towards a time frame for when it could have been made.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/wion-reaches-kabul-safehouse-where-al-qaeda-chief-ayman-al-zawahiri-was-killed-in-drone-strike-503706">WION reaches Kabul ‘safehouse’ where al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was ‘killed’ in drone strike</a>

Ayman al-Zawahiri had been in hiding for years, and the operation to locate and kill him was the result of "careful, patient and persistent" work by the counterterrorism and intelligence community, a senior U.S. administration official was quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/report-al-qaeda-chief-ayman-al-zawahiri-dies-in-afghanistan-344342">Report: Al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri dies in Afghanistan</a>

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Al-Qaeda has not named a successor. But Saif al-Adel, a mysterious, low-key former Egyptian special forces officer who is a high-ranking member of Al Qaeda, is widely perceived as the top contender.

The United States is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Saif al-Adel's arrest.

Who was Ayman al-Zawahiri?

Egypt-born Ayman al-Zawahiri was the second emir of al-Qaeda, starting from June 2011, a month after its founder Osama bin Laden was killed by a US special operations unit in Pakistan's Abbotabad. A surgeon by qualification, during Soviet-Afghan war, Ayman al-Zawahiri along with Osama bin Laden co-founded Maktab-al-Khidmat (Afghan Services Bureau) in 1984 to recruit jihadists to fight against Soviets in Afghanistan. In 1988, the al-Zawahiri, as one of the most trusted lieutenants of Osama bin Laden, emerged as Al-Qaeda's founding member.&nbsp;

Ayman al-Zawahiri was one of the hundreds arrested for plotting former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat's assassination. The 1995 attack on Egyptian embassy in Islamabad was carried out by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad with al-Zawahiri at top.&nbsp;

He was placed under international sanctions in 1999 by the United Nations' Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee.

In the aftermath of attack on World Trade Centre in September 2001, al-Zawahiri appeared on the list of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's top 22 Most Wanted Terrorists, which was released to the public by U.S. President George W. Bush.&nbsp;

Ayman al-Zawahiri is survived by his third wife Umaima Hassan and seven children.

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Terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda released a 35-minute video narrated by its leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, reported to have been killed on July 31, 2022 in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan's Kabul.

Terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda released a 35-minute video narrated by its leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, reported to have been killed on July 31, 2022 in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan's Kabul. The latest recording is undated and the transcript did not point towards a time frame for when it could have been made. ALSO READ | WION reaches Kabul ‘safehouse’ where al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was ‘killed’ in drone strike Ayman al-Zawahiri had been in hiding for years, and the operation to locate and kill him was the result of "careful, patient and persistent" work by the counterterrorism and intelligence community, a senior U.S. administration official was quoted as saying by Reuters. WATCH | Report: Al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri dies in Afghanistan × Al-Qaeda has not named a successor. But Saif al-Adel, a mysterious, low-key former Egyptian special forces officer who is a high-ranking member of Al Qaeda, is widely perceived as the top contender. The United States is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Saif al-Adel's arrest. Who was Ayman al-Zawahiri? Egypt-born Ayman al-Zawahiri was the second emir of al-Qaeda, starting from June 2011, a month after its founder Osama bin Laden was killed by a US special operations unit in Pakistan's Abbotabad. A surgeon by qualification, during Soviet-Afghan war, Ayman al-Zawahiri along with Osama bin Laden co-founded Maktab-al-Khidmat (Afghan Services Bureau) in 1984 to recruit jihadists to fight against Soviets in Afghanistan. In 1988, the al-Zawahiri, as one of the most trusted lieutenants of Osama bin Laden, emerged as Al-Qaeda's founding member. Ayman al-Zawahiri was one of the hundreds arrested for plotting former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat's assassination. The 1995 attack on Egyptian embassy in Islamabad was carried out by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad with al-Zawahiri at top. He was placed under international sanctions in 1999 by the United Nations' Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee. In the aftermath of attack on World Trade Centre in September 2001, al-Zawahiri appeared on the list of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's top 22 Most Wanted Terrorists, which was released to the public by U.S. President George W. Bush. Ayman al-Zawahiri is survived by his third wife Umaima Hassan and seven children. 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.

Al-Qaeda says latest video narrated by Al-Zawahiri 'dead' for five months

The symbolic imagery of tourists holding the tilt of Italy's leaning tower of Pisa while posing for photographs may not remain as pose-worthy in the times to come. Because the leaning tower of Pisa is losing its tilt.&nbsp;The site holds a remarkable significance for the fact that at the end of the&nbsp;sixteenth century, Physicist-mathematician Galileo dropped two spheres of different masses from the top of the tower to demonstrate that mass doesn't affect the descent of objects, an idea mathematically furthered by Newton a century later.

But after witnessing nearly centuries-long developments in&nbsp;science, history and archaeology, the tower is losing its tilt due to stabilisation works. Slowly but steadily, it's moving upright.&nbsp;

An 11-year stabilisation project reduced the tower's lean by 15 inches by 2001, and in the 21 years since, the tower has straightened itself by another 1.6 inches (4cm), according to a study funded by the preservation organisation Opera Primaziale della Pisana (OPA).

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-engineers-are-straightening-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa-181097">How engineers are straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa</a>

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While the tilt has been reduced, it still sways at an average of about 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) a year, according to professor of geotechnics Nunziante Squeglia from the University of Pisa.

"Although what counts the most is the stability of the bell tower, which is better than expected," he told Italy's National Associated Press Agency (ANSA).

An OPA spokesperson also told ANSA: "Considering it is an 850-year-old patient with a tilt of around five metres and a subsidence of over three metres, the state of health of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is excellent."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/pisa-tower-of-usa-engineers-baffled-as-san-franciscos-tallest-luxury-residential-building-keeps-sinking-and-tilting-408810">Pisa tower of USA? Engineers baffled as San Francisco's tallest luxury residential building keeps sinking and tilting</a>

Theories suggest that the 57 metre (186-feet) tower began to sink after construction, which started in 1173.

The cause was due to a flawed design which meant it had a foundation that was only three-metres deep and was set in weak, unstable subsoil.

The build wasn't completed until 1319 due to various battles between Pisa and Genoa, Lucca and Florence, but these pauses did give the underlying soil time to settle.

Fast forward to 1990, the tower was still tilting 5.5 degree&nbsp;southwards, and was closed to the public in fear it would crumble.

By 2001, a conservation effort had straightened up the tower by 15 inches (38 cm), or 0.5°, and it has continued to straighten itself ever since.

Experts pronounced it would be safe for the next 300 years during a health check in 2005, according to ANSA. Italian media also cited the experts saying that advances in technology will mean the tower will one day straighten up completely.

 
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The symbolic imagery of tourists holding the tilt of Italy's leaning tower of Pisa while posing for photographs may not remain as pose-worthy in the times to come.

The symbolic imagery of tourists holding the tilt of Italy's leaning tower of Pisa while posing for photographs may not remain as pose-worthy in the times to come. Because the leaning tower of Pisa is losing its tilt. The site holds a remarkable significance for the fact that at the end of the sixteenth century, Physicist-mathematician Galileo dropped two spheres of different masses from the top of the tower to demonstrate that mass doesn't affect the descent of objects, an idea mathematically furthered by Newton a century later. But after witnessing nearly centuries-long developments in science, history and archaeology, the tower is losing its tilt due to stabilisation works. Slowly but steadily, it's moving upright. An 11-year stabilisation project reduced the tower's lean by 15 inches by 2001, and in the 21 years since, the tower has straightened itself by another 1.6 inches (4cm), according to a study funded by the preservation organisation Opera Primaziale della Pisana (OPA). WATCH | How engineers are straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa × While the tilt has been reduced, it still sways at an average of about 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) a year, according to professor of geotechnics Nunziante Squeglia from the University of Pisa. "Although what counts the most is the stability of the bell tower, which is better than expected," he told Italy's National Associated Press Agency (ANSA). An OPA spokesperson also told ANSA: "Considering it is an 850-year-old patient with a tilt of around five metres and a subsidence of over three metres, the state of health of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is excellent." ALSO READ | Pisa tower of USA? Engineers baffled as San Francisco's tallest luxury residential building keeps sinking and tilting Theories suggest that the 57 metre (186-feet) tower began to sink after construction, which started in 1173. The cause was due to a flawed design which meant it had a foundation that was only three-metres deep and was set in weak, unstable subsoil. The build wasn't completed until 1319 due to various battles between Pisa and Genoa, Lucca and Florence, but these pauses did give the underlying soil time to settle. Fast forward to 1990, the tower was still tilting 5.5 degree southwards, and was closed to the public in fear it would crumble. By 2001, a conservation effort had straightened up the tower by 15 inches (38 cm), or 0.5°, and it has continued to straighten itself ever since. Experts pronounced it would be safe for the next 300 years during a health check in 2005, according to ANSA. Italian media also cited the experts saying that advances in technology will mean the tower will one day straighten up completely. 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.

The iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa loses its tilt by another 1.6 inches

Elon Musk ordered Twitter to remove an anti-suicide feature on the microblogging social media platform. The feature, that showed prompts related to suicide-prevention and anti-self harm hotlines in at least 30 countries worldwide, was no more available starting Thursday evening, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

What was Twitter's anti-suicide feature?

The feature, known as #ThereIsHelp, showed at the top of specific searches contacts for support organisations in many countries related to mental health, HIV, vaccines, child sexual exploitation, Covid19, gender-based violence, natural disasters and freedom of expression.

What does its elimination mean?

Its elimination could add to concerns about the well-being of vulnerable users on Twitter. Civil Rights advocates in the past few months have reported an increase in tweets with racial slurs and other hateful content, despite Musk's contrary claims.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/floodgates-open-for-hate-speech-against-black-transgender-persons-after-elon-musks-twitter-takeover-539604">Floodgates opened for hate speech against black, transgender people&nbsp;after Elon Musk's Twitter takeover</a>

The removal of the feature has created ripples of concerns among civil rights and mental health advocates in parts of the world. Washington-based Aids United, which was promoted in #ThereIsHelp, and iLaw, a Thai group featured over freedom of expression support, both told Reuters on Friday that the disappearance of the feature was a surprise to them.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-elon-musk-buys-twitter-529238">Explained: The future of Twitter under Elon Musk</a>

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Twitter had launched now-removed prompts about five years ago, according to company tweets. In one of its blog posts about the feature from its pre-Elon Musk days, Twitter had said it had responsibility to ensure users could "access and receive support on our service when they need it most".&nbsp;

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Elon Musk ordered Twitter to remove an anti-suicide feature on the microblogging social media platform. The feature, that showed prompts related to suicide-prevention and anti-self harm hotlines in at least 30 countries worldwide, was no more available starting Thursday evening, Reuters reported.

Elon Musk ordered Twitter to remove an anti-suicide feature on the microblogging social media platform. The feature, that showed prompts related to suicide-prevention and anti-self harm hotlines in at least 30 countries worldwide, was no more available starting Thursday evening, Reuters reported. What was Twitter's anti-suicide feature? The feature, known as #ThereIsHelp, showed at the top of specific searches contacts for support organisations in many countries related to mental health, HIV, vaccines, child sexual exploitation, Covid19, gender-based violence, natural disasters and freedom of expression. What does its elimination mean? Its elimination could add to concerns about the well-being of vulnerable users on Twitter. Civil Rights advocates in the past few months have reported an increase in tweets with racial slurs and other hateful content, despite Musk's contrary claims. ALSO READ | Floodgates opened for hate speech against black, transgender people after Elon Musk's Twitter takeover The removal of the feature has created ripples of concerns among civil rights and mental health advocates in parts of the world. Washington-based Aids United, which was promoted in #ThereIsHelp, and iLaw, a Thai group featured over freedom of expression support, both told Reuters on Friday that the disappearance of the feature was a surprise to them. WATCH | Explained: The future of Twitter under Elon Musk × Twitter had launched now-removed prompts about five years ago, according to company tweets. In one of its blog posts about the feature from its pre-Elon Musk days, Twitter had said it had responsibility to ensure users could "access and receive support on our service when they need it most". 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.

Elon Musk ordered Twitter to remove suicide-prevention prompts

Burkina Faso expelled UN coordinator Barbara Manzi on Friday without giving a reason, following reports citing unnamed Burkinian diplomatic sources that she interfered in the "political affairs of Burkina Faso''.&nbsp;

However, Manzi is reported to have herself requested and obtained the withdrawal of the non-essential personnel of the UN system from Burkina Faso.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/burkina-fasos-new-self-declared-leader-522722">Burkina Faso's new self-declared leader</a>

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"Ms. Barbara Manzi, resident coordinator of the United Nations system, is declared persona non grata on the territory of Burkina Faso. She is therefore requested to leave Burkina Faso today, December 23, 2022," an official statement said, without specifying any reason for the expulsion.

The development comes a few days after Burkina Faso expelled two French nationals on suspicions of being spies.&nbsp;

It also embeds into a sub-Saharan pattern of expulsion of international humanitarian personnel on accounts of meddling into what is perceived by the local authorities as meddling into internal affairs.&nbsp;

ALSO CHECK |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-of-africa-burkina-faso-a-failed-state-522652">World of Africa | Burkina Faso: A failed state?</a>

Earlier in July, Burkina Faso's neighbour Mali, also gripped by a security crisis, expelled the spokesperson for the United Nations Mission in the country for having published "unacceptable information".&nbsp;

Burkina Faso, one of the world's poorest countries, has been gripped in the conflict with groups forming allegiances with al-Qaeda and the ISIS contesting for contrasting sovereignties in Burkina Faso.&nbsp;

The conflict has created one of the continent's fastest-growing humanitarian crises. About two million people have been displaced and are forced away from their homes to the UN-run makeshift camps.&nbsp;

The violence, which is continuing for about seven years, has remained centred in the country's north and east, bordering Mali and Niger respectively. Manzi, who has experience in humanitarian activities in developing countries, was appointed to the post in Burkina Faso last year.

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Burkina Faso expelled UN coordinator Barbara Manzi on Friday without giving a reason, following reports citing unnamed Burkinian diplomatic sources that she interfered in the "political affairs of Burkina Faso''.

Burkina Faso expelled UN coordinator Barbara Manzi on Friday without giving a reason, following reports citing unnamed Burkinian diplomatic sources that she interfered in the "political affairs of Burkina Faso''. However, Manzi is reported to have herself requested and obtained the withdrawal of the non-essential personnel of the UN system from Burkina Faso. WATCH | Burkina Faso's new self-declared leader × "Ms. Barbara Manzi, resident coordinator of the United Nations system, is declared persona non grata on the territory of Burkina Faso. She is therefore requested to leave Burkina Faso today, December 23, 2022," an official statement said, without specifying any reason for the expulsion. The development comes a few days after Burkina Faso expelled two French nationals on suspicions of being spies. It also embeds into a sub-Saharan pattern of expulsion of international humanitarian personnel on accounts of meddling into what is perceived by the local authorities as meddling into internal affairs. ALSO CHECK | World of Africa | Burkina Faso: A failed state? Earlier in July, Burkina Faso's neighbour Mali, also gripped by a security crisis, expelled the spokesperson for the United Nations Mission in the country for having published "unacceptable information". Burkina Faso, one of the world's poorest countries, has been gripped in the conflict with groups forming allegiances with al-Qaeda and the ISIS contesting for contrasting sovereignties in Burkina Faso. The conflict has created one of the continent's fastest-growing humanitarian crises. About two million people have been displaced and are forced away from their homes to the UN-run makeshift camps. The violence, which is continuing for about seven years, has remained centred in the country's north and east, bordering Mali and Niger respectively. Manzi, who has experience in humanitarian activities in developing countries, was appointed to the post in Burkina Faso last year. 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.

Burkina Faso expels top UN official without specifying any reason

Morocco tried to bribe Members of European Parliament&nbsp;(MEPs) to obtain information about a European parliament investigation into its use of Pegasus spyware, authorities probing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/qatargate-italian-politician-panzeri-emerges-as-kingpin-as-raids-discover-cash-luxury-watches-543982">"Qatargate"</a> scandal involving corrupt practices by the European parliament members, said on Friday.

What is Morocco accused of?

According to a report in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Morocco's intelligence&nbsp; agency, Directorate of Territorial Surveillance,&nbsp;allegedly made payments after it was accused of using Pegasus spyware to spy on President Emmanuel Macron and French government ministers.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/qatar-condemns-eu-corruption-probe-as-qatari-diplomat-says-allegations-may-hamper-ties-544429">Qatar condemns EU corruption probe as Qatari diplomat says allegations may hamper ties</a>

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The claims further add to the "Qatargate" scandal in which four people, including now-suspended vice president of European Parliament Eva Kaili, have been arrested for allegedly taking bribes after authorities found hidden stashes of cash in multiple locations in Brussels.

The La Repubblica report cites documents disclosed by Belgian prosecutors which reportedly indicate that the Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino was one of the contacts of the Morrocan intelligence agency.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-meteoric-rise-and-tragic-fall-of-greek-mep-eva-kaili-542915">'Qatargate' scandal: The meteoric rise and tragic fall of Greek MEP Eva Kaili</a>

Another report by Belgian newspaper De Standaard suggests that Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former Member of European Parliament (MEP), allegedly received illicit money as well as benefits from Morocco's government via its ambassador to Poland and another close friend of Panzeri's.

Cozzolino’s parliament assistant, Francesco Giorgi, is among the four people under arrest on suspicion of taking bribes.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-parliaments-corruption-investigation-can-negatively-impact-relations-qatar-544227">EU parliament's corruption investigation can 'negatively' impact relations: Qatar</a>

During the arrests, police found €1.5 million in cash. Cozzolino, who has denied all wrongdoing and is not officially under investigation, said this week he was frustrated with continuing media reports of his involvement in the scandal and wanted to meet Belgian prosecutors to clear his name.

The Belgian prosecutors’ report said Morocco’s moles on the commission "were more than prudent and worked in a discrete way, avoiding appearing too pro-Moroccan at the parliament", The Times reported.&nbsp;

They also communicated with each other in code, the report stated.

Morocco has yet to deny allegations of involvement in the scandal. 
&nbsp;

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Morocco tried to bribe Members of European Parliament (MEPs) to obtain information about a European parliament investigation into its use of Pegasus spyware, authorities probing "Qatargate" scandal involving corrupt practices by the European parliament members, said on Friday.

Morocco tried to bribe Members of European Parliament (MEPs) to obtain information about a European parliament investigation into its use of Pegasus spyware, authorities probing "Qatargate" scandal involving corrupt practices by the European parliament members, said on Friday. What is Morocco accused of? According to a report in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Morocco's intelligence agency, Directorate of Territorial Surveillance, allegedly made payments after it was accused of using Pegasus spyware to spy on President Emmanuel Macron and French government ministers. WATCH | Qatar condemns EU corruption probe as Qatari diplomat says allegations may hamper ties × The claims further add to the "Qatargate" scandal in which four people, including now-suspended vice president of European Parliament Eva Kaili, have been arrested for allegedly taking bribes after authorities found hidden stashes of cash in multiple locations in Brussels. The La Repubblica report cites documents disclosed by Belgian prosecutors which reportedly indicate that the Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino was one of the contacts of the Morrocan intelligence agency. ALSO READ | 'Qatargate' scandal: The meteoric rise and tragic fall of Greek MEP Eva Kaili Another report by Belgian newspaper De Standaard suggests that Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former Member of European Parliament (MEP), allegedly received illicit money as well as benefits from Morocco's government via its ambassador to Poland and another close friend of Panzeri's. Cozzolino’s parliament assistant, Francesco Giorgi, is among the four people under arrest on suspicion of taking bribes. ALSO READ | EU parliament's corruption investigation can 'negatively' impact relations: Qatar During the arrests, police found €1.5 million in cash. Cozzolino, who has denied all wrongdoing and is not officially under investigation, said this week he was frustrated with continuing media reports of his involvement in the scandal and wanted to meet Belgian prosecutors to clear his name. The Belgian prosecutors’ report said Morocco’s moles on the commission "were more than prudent and worked in a discrete way, avoiding appearing too pro-Moroccan at the parliament", The Times reported. They also communicated with each other in code, the report stated. Morocco has yet to deny allegations of involvement in the scandal. 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.

Morocco ‘tried to bribe’ members of European Parliament for Pegasus probe details

The 28-miles distance from the tip of mainland Cornwall and isles of Scilly in the United Kingdom can be covered by a nearly 3-hour long ferry. But the emergency services are also run by air. This December, the emergency services in Scilly faced the challenging task of ensuring safe birth in the air. &nbsp;

While being rescued by a helicopter from the Isles of Scilly to the Cornish mainland, &nbsp;Jennie Trevithick's labour progressed to childbirth. Before she could reach the hospital, the baby was born. Trevithick later told British media that she could not have felt safer as she gave birth.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/health-and-wellness/uk-couple-battling-cancer-in-pregnancy-gives-birth-to-miracle-baby-545840">UK couple, battling cancer in pregnancy, gives birth to perfectly healthy ‘miracle’ baby</a>

Trevethick reportedly runs a brewery on Scilly. She went to a local hospital along with her partner where she began experiencing labour. The medical staff there suggested she be taken to a hospital in the mainland, about 50 miles away. The coast guard then took her inside the helicopter but before touchdown, Jennie Trevethick gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

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The mother and child were transferred to the Royal Cornwall hospital, where they are reportedly doing well.

“Everyone said it must have been so scary being in a helicopter but actually I felt super safe – I was in the best place possible. I couldn’t have wished for anything more,” Trevethick was quoted as saying by BBC.&nbsp;

It took five hours from the contractions starting to the baby being born just after 2am on 5 December.

“It was a surreal experience,” she said. “I was holding the baby as we were landing and looked up and went: ‘Where are we? What is happening?’.”

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The 28-miles distance from the tip of mainland Cornwall and isles of Scilly in the United Kingdom can be covered by a nearly 3-hour long ferry. But the emergency services are also run by air.

The 28-miles distance from the tip of mainland Cornwall and isles of Scilly in the United Kingdom can be covered by a nearly 3-hour long ferry. But the emergency services are also run by air. This December, the emergency services in Scilly faced the challenging task of ensuring safe birth in the air. While being rescued by a helicopter from the Isles of Scilly to the Cornish mainland, Jennie Trevithick's labour progressed to childbirth. Before she could reach the hospital, the baby was born. Trevithick later told British media that she could not have felt safer as she gave birth. ALSO READ | UK couple, battling cancer in pregnancy, gives birth to perfectly healthy ‘miracle’ baby Trevethick reportedly runs a brewery on Scilly. She went to a local hospital along with her partner where she began experiencing labour. The medical staff there suggested she be taken to a hospital in the mainland, about 50 miles away. The coast guard then took her inside the helicopter but before touchdown, Jennie Trevethick gave birth to a healthy baby boy. WATCH | The 'Kangaroo mother care' method: India introduces first ward to provide immediate KMC × The mother and child were transferred to the Royal Cornwall hospital, where they are reportedly doing well. “Everyone said it must have been so scary being in a helicopter but actually I felt super safe – I was in the best place possible. I couldn’t have wished for anything more,” Trevethick was quoted as saying by BBC. It took five hours from the contractions starting to the baby being born just after 2am on 5 December. “It was a surreal experience,” she said. “I was holding the baby as we were landing and looked up and went: ‘Where are we? What is happening?’.” 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.

'I felt super safe': British woman reacts after giving birth in helicopter

Former US president Donald Trump sparked Jan 6 Capitol riots, said a&nbsp;US House of Representatives select committee. Facing its biggest-ever Covid outbreak,&nbsp;China limited the definition of COVID-19 deaths and will henceforth only account the deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure. In what the US' national weather office called a 'one-in-a-generation-event', at least 2,200 flights got cancelled across the United States as a major winter storm swept through the country. Meanwhile, amid uncertainty regarding Elon Musk's position as Twitter's CEO, Sinead McSweeney, the company's global vice president for public policy quit on Thursday, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/capitol-hill-attack-probe-committee-releases-report-clearly-says-trump-sparked-riots-545725">Capitol Hill Attack: Probe committee releases report, clearly says Trump sparked riots</a>

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The US House of Representatives select committee probing Capitol Hill riots that took place on January 6, 2021 has released its report. The report has clearly &nbsp;held former US president Donald Trump responsible for unprecedented attack on US Capitol in Washington DC. The deadly attack had followed weeks of Trump's claims that he had won the US Presidential Election 2020 and that the election was rigged in favour of President Joe Biden.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/winter-storm-more-than-2000-flights-cancelled-as-us-braces-for-once-in-a-generation-event-545698">Winter storm: More than 2,000 flights cancelled as US braces for ‘once-in-a-generation event’</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/23/320353-flights.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

At least 2,200 flights got cancelled across the United States as a major winter storm swept through the country, with the National Weather Service (NWS) calling it a "once-in-a-generation type event." The chill is expected to stay for the Christmas weekend, making this the coldest Christmas in about 40 years, say forecasters.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-virus-cases-surge-china-limits-definition-of-covid-deaths-in-official-toll-545708">As virus cases surge, China limits definition of Covid deaths in official toll</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/23/320358-china.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

China has limited the definition of COVID-19 deaths and will henceforth only account the deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure, a Chinese health official has said as virus cases surge across the country.

Under the new definition, deaths occurring over pre-existing illnesses are not counted as COVID-19 deaths, said Wang Guiqiang, the head of infectious disease at Peking University’s No. 1 Hospital, reports AP news agency.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-claims-north-korea-sent-arms-to-russia-for-ukraine-war-pyongyang-denies-it-545704">US claims North Korea sent arms to Russia for Ukraine war, Pyongyang denies it</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/23/320356-korea.png?imwidth=1920" />

The United States has accused North Korea of sending ammunition to the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company, to help bolster Russia’s offensive against Ukraine.

A day after Japanese media’s report, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Thursday confirmed the development, citing the US intelligence agencies.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/arizona-to-dismantle-rusting-90-million-container-wall-on-mexico-order-545715">Arizona to dismantle rusting $90 million container wall on Mexico order</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/23/320370-copy-of-untitled.png?imwidth=1920" />

The US state of Arizona has agreed to dismantle the hideous-looking and rusting shipping container wall along the border with Mexico. The decision comes after the US government filed a lawsuit and argued that the makeshift wall was illegally built on federal land.&nbsp;

According to court documents, outgoing Republican Governor Dough Ducey, responsible for erecting the containers, stretching almost seven miles along the border and costing the taxpayers $90 million agreed with the decision on Wednesday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitters-global-policy-vp-quits-days-after-settling-with-the-company-report-545711">Twitter's global policy VP quits, days after settling with the company: Report</a>

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Amid uncertainty regarding Elon Musk's position as Twitter's CEO, Sinead McSweeney, the company's global vice president for public policy quit on Thursday, according to a report by Reuters.

After McSweeney's departure, Nick Pickles, senior director for global public policy strategy has stepped up to fill the role, added the publication.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/65-of-species-in-antarctica-at-risk-of-extinction-emperor-penguins-are-more-at-risk-report-545706">65% of species in Antarctica at risk of extinction, emperor penguins are more at risk: Report</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/23/320357-pengins.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

More than 65 per cent of plants and animals could go extinct by the end of this century if the current global emission trajectories remain the same, a new study has claimed.

Among the Antarctic species which is at the greater risk of extinction includes emperor penguins, followed by other seabirds and dry soil nematodes, the study published on Thursday in the journal PLOS Biology stated.

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Former US president Donald Trump sparked Jan 6 Capitol riots, said a US House of Representatives select committee. Facing its biggest-ever Covid outbreak, China limited the definition of COVID-19 deaths and will henceforth only account the deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure.

Former US president Donald Trump sparked Jan 6 Capitol riots, said a US House of Representatives select committee. Facing its biggest-ever Covid outbreak, China limited the definition of COVID-19 deaths and will henceforth only account the deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure. In what the US' national weather office called a 'one-in-a-generation-event', at least 2,200 flights got cancelled across the United States as a major winter storm swept through the country. Meanwhile, amid uncertainty regarding Elon Musk's position as Twitter's CEO, Sinead McSweeney, the company's global vice president for public policy quit on Thursday, Reuters reported. Click on the headlines to read more: Capitol Hill Attack: Probe committee releases report, clearly says Trump sparked riots The US House of Representatives select committee probing Capitol Hill riots that took place on January 6, 2021 has released its report. The report has clearly held former US president Donald Trump responsible for unprecedented attack on US Capitol in Washington DC. The deadly attack had followed weeks of Trump's claims that he had won the US Presidential Election 2020 and that the election was rigged in favour of President Joe Biden. Winter storm: More than 2,000 flights cancelled as US braces for ‘once-in-a-generation event’ At least 2,200 flights got cancelled across the United States as a major winter storm swept through the country, with the National Weather Service (NWS) calling it a "once-in-a-generation type event." The chill is expected to stay for the Christmas weekend, making this the coldest Christmas in about 40 years, say forecasters. As virus cases surge, China limits definition of Covid deaths in official toll China has limited the definition of COVID-19 deaths and will henceforth only account the deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure, a Chinese health official has said as virus cases surge across the country. Under the new definition, deaths occurring over pre-existing illnesses are not counted as COVID-19 deaths, said Wang Guiqiang, the head of infectious disease at Peking University’s No. 1 Hospital, reports AP news agency. US claims North Korea sent arms to Russia for Ukraine war, Pyongyang denies it The United States has accused North Korea of sending ammunition to the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company, to help bolster Russia’s offensive against Ukraine. A day after Japanese media’s report, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Thursday confirmed the development, citing the US intelligence agencies. Arizona to dismantle rusting $90 million container wall on Mexico order The US state of Arizona has agreed to dismantle the hideous-looking and rusting shipping container wall along the border with Mexico. The decision comes after the US government filed a lawsuit and argued that the makeshift wall was illegally built on federal land. According to court documents, outgoing Republican Governor Dough Ducey, responsible for erecting the containers, stretching almost seven miles along the border and costing the taxpayers $90 million agreed with the decision on Wednesday. Twitter's global policy VP quits, days after settling with the company: Report Amid uncertainty regarding Elon Musk's position as Twitter's CEO, Sinead McSweeney, the company's global vice president for public policy quit on Thursday, according to a report by Reuters. After McSweeney's departure, Nick Pickles, senior director for global public policy strategy has stepped up to fill the role, added the publication. 65% of species in Antarctica at risk of extinction, emperor penguins are more at risk: Report More than 65 per cent of plants and animals could go extinct by the end of this century if the current global emission trajectories remain the same, a new study has claimed. Among the Antarctic species which is at the greater risk of extinction includes emperor penguins, followed by other seabirds and dry soil nematodes, the study published on Thursday in the journal PLOS Biology stated. 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.

Morning brief: Trump hand in Jan 6 riots, China's tweaking of what Covid means and more

The serene Italian island of Sicily handed down jail sentences to 39 people after convicting them for diverting a Good Friday religious procession to the house of a mafia family. The 39 people had diverted the parade to force it to pay homage to an imprisoned mafia boss.

What happened?

In 2016, a group of people were carrying a statue of Jesus Christ through the village of San Michele Di Ganzaria during Easter. The accused individuals are reported to have stopped the procession and forced it to pass in front of the house of the mafia godfather Fancesco La Rocca.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-italian-mobster-belonging-to-the-ndrangheta-mafia-captured-in-argentina-530207">Top Italian mobster belonging to the 'Ndrangheta mafia captured in Argentina</a>

La Rocca was serving a life sentence at the time for mafia-related crimes. However, his wife came out of the house to greet the wellwishers and made an offering.

This suffering will bear fruit: Sicilian archbishop

The mayor and priest of San Michele Di Ganzaria refused to follow the procession away from its official route and denounced those responsible for diverting it.

A Sicilian archbishop said that the sentence would deter others from doing anything similar in future.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-italian-mobster-belonging-to-the-ndrangheta-mafia-captured-in-argentina-530207">Gravitas Plus: How Big Pharma pushes dangerous drugs and reaps profits</a>

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“You should never invoke God or his name, which is certainly not on the side of the Mafiosi, who are violent and ruthless men,” the archbishop of Catania, Luigi Renna, said in a statement.

The group was convicted of disturbing a religious event and incitement to commit crimes. The eight ringleaders received three-year terms, and the others were sentenced to between six months and two years, nine months in jail.

“This sentence is certainly going to make people suffer, but I hope that the suffering will bear fruit,” the archbishop said.

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The serene Italian island of Sicily handed down jail sentences to 39 people after convicting them for diverting a Good Friday religious procession to the house of a mafia family.

The serene Italian island of Sicily handed down jail sentences to 39 people after convicting them for diverting a Good Friday religious procession to the house of a mafia family. The 39 people had diverted the parade to force it to pay homage to an imprisoned mafia boss. What happened? In 2016, a group of people were carrying a statue of Jesus Christ through the village of San Michele Di Ganzaria during Easter. The accused individuals are reported to have stopped the procession and forced it to pass in front of the house of the mafia godfather Fancesco La Rocca. ALSO READ | Top Italian mobster belonging to the 'Ndrangheta mafia captured in Argentina La Rocca was serving a life sentence at the time for mafia-related crimes. However, his wife came out of the house to greet the wellwishers and made an offering. This suffering will bear fruit: Sicilian archbishop The mayor and priest of San Michele Di Ganzaria refused to follow the procession away from its official route and denounced those responsible for diverting it. A Sicilian archbishop said that the sentence would deter others from doing anything similar in future. WATCH | Gravitas Plus: How Big Pharma pushes dangerous drugs and reaps profits × “You should never invoke God or his name, which is certainly not on the side of the Mafiosi, who are violent and ruthless men,” the archbishop of Catania, Luigi Renna, said in a statement. The group was convicted of disturbing a religious event and incitement to commit crimes. The eight ringleaders received three-year terms, and the others were sentenced to between six months and two years, nine months in jail. “This sentence is certainly going to make people suffer, but I hope that the suffering will bear fruit,” the archbishop said. 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.

Sicillian mobsters who hijacked Easter procession to a mafia godfather's house jailed for 80 years

About 95 miles east of Kabul, at a university in Jalalabad, a senior University official with a reputation of always speaking up without a piece of paper came with "his notes" on December 21. Over 100 female students sat in the university auditorium awaiting the words that were to be uttered. The university official first recited a verse from The Quran, which says that the first word Allah revealed to Prophet Mohammed was 'Iqra', literally meaning 'read'.

The downcast announcement followed. That the girls are no more to be educated.

“We are in touch with high-ranking profiles in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. We will do our best to ensure your final exams are conducted. But until further orders, we have been told that you cannot attend university,” the official announced.

Among the attendants was Sana Siddiqui (21). In the eighth semester of her Law and Political Science undergraduate course.

Until December 21, Sana was just three exams short of earning herself a coveted university degree. 
 
Not anymore.

Despite having known from the news hours ago about the Taliban government's ban on women's university education, Sana and her batchmates from the eighth semester had a glimmer of hope.

"We thought that at least we will be allowed to appear in our remaining final exams," Sana told WION in a phone conversation from Jalalabad.

The announcement from the top university official shattered what was left of Sana and her batchmates' collective hopes.

"One of the girls lost consciousness. Everybody else began to cry. It was a wave of emotions in the auditorium knowing that this was the last chance we were seeing our university and classmates," Sana told WION.

"But we knew this was coming. When the school education was taken away from young Afghan girls, we knew we were next," Sana added, referring to the ban on secondary education for girls in Afghanistan that the Taliban imposed in September 2021, a month after taking over Kabul's power corridors.

Sana's story resonated with Nargis (34), a former teacher who taught History and Geography to female students in grades 7 and 8 in a Jalalabad school until September last year.&nbsp;<img alt="File image of Afghan girls studying a middle school | AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3fd22b8b-7182-4145-a161-88bc3fdbf0f2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Afghan%20girls.jpg" />

Nargis told WION it was the "worst day of my life" when three Taliban officials paid a visit to the school where she taught.

The hardliners ordered teachers to inform students inside classrooms to not attend school "until further orders".

"One of my Class 7 girls raised her hand and asked, 'Ma'am, is it closed for boys as well'?," Nargis told WION in Persian.

"She looked at me and I had no answer. She realised that it was closed just for the girls. She was inconsolably crying," added Nargis.<img alt="File image of Afghan women protesting in front of the Ministry of Education in Kabul" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0ebd5a26-8059-4725-8398-ca71e0ca682e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Afghan_girls.jpg" />

Despite WION offering Sana and Nargis anonymity, they insisted to be named, perhaps as a show of protest and defiance against the repressive regime.

"We can only request the international community and our higher education minister to allow our girls to be back in the schools and colleges. There was never a time as helpless as this," Nargis said.

Questions on Taliban's double standards on education

Zareena, 24, (name withheld to protect identity) graduated to become a lawyer in 2020 from a state university.

"When Taliban came to power, they removed virtually everything that was to do with law," Zareena told WION from a Kabul suburb, pointing out to Taliban's deliberate dismantling of the law and advocacy sector that existed in Afghanistan prior to August 2021.

Zareena said she enrolled herself in a diploma course at Kabul Center Institute months before the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan.

On December 21, when the ban on women's higher education was announced, Zareena was due to appear in an exam at Silo Road in Kabul.

"I cannot pursue my goals and ambitions because of the Taliban," Zareena said, adding that she once dreamt of studying outside Afghanistan. “I wanted to come back and serve my country with my knowledge of law,” she said.

In Afghanistan, the December-January period is usually known as the 'winter of exams' among students.

"For girls, winter is all that is left in this period," Zareena said. &nbsp;

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About 95 miles east of Kabul, at a university in Jalalabad, a senior University official with a reputation of always speaking up without a piece of paper came with "his notes" on December 21.

About 95 miles east of Kabul, at a university in Jalalabad, a senior University official with a reputation of always speaking up without a piece of paper came with "his notes" on December 21. Over 100 female students sat in the university auditorium awaiting the words that were to be uttered. The university official first recited a verse from The Quran, which says that the first word Allah revealed to Prophet Mohammed was 'Iqra', literally meaning 'read'. The downcast announcement followed. That the girls are no more to be educated. “We are in touch with high-ranking profiles in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. We will do our best to ensure your final exams are conducted. But until further orders, we have been told that you cannot attend university,” the official announced. Among the attendants was Sana Siddiqui (21). In the eighth semester of her Law and Political Science undergraduate course. Until December 21, Sana was just three exams short of earning herself a coveted university degree. Not anymore. Despite having known from the news hours ago about the Taliban government's ban on women's university education, Sana and her batchmates from the eighth semester had a glimmer of hope. "We thought that at least we will be allowed to appear in our remaining final exams," Sana told WION in a phone conversation from Jalalabad. The announcement from the top university official shattered what was left of Sana and her batchmates' collective hopes. "One of the girls lost consciousness. Everybody else began to cry. It was a wave of emotions in the auditorium knowing that this was the last chance we were seeing our university and classmates," Sana told WION. "But we knew this was coming. When the school education was taken away from young Afghan girls, we knew we were next," Sana added, referring to the ban on secondary education for girls in Afghanistan that the Taliban imposed in September 2021, a month after taking over Kabul's power corridors. Sana's story resonated with Nargis (34), a former teacher who taught History and Geography to female students in grades 7 and 8 in a Jalalabad school until September last year. Nargis told WION it was the "worst day of my life" when three Taliban officials paid a visit to the school where she taught. The hardliners ordered teachers to inform students inside classrooms to not attend school "until further orders". "One of my Class 7 girls raised her hand and asked, 'Ma'am, is it closed for boys as well'?," Nargis told WION in Persian. "She looked at me and I had no answer. She realised that it was closed just for the girls. She was inconsolably crying," added Nargis. Despite WION offering Sana and Nargis anonymity, they insisted to be named, perhaps as a show of protest and defiance against the repressive regime. "We can only request the international community and our higher education minister to allow our girls to be back in the schools and colleges. There was never a time as helpless as this," Nargis said. Questions on Taliban's double standards on education Zareena, 24, (name withheld to protect identity) graduated to become a lawyer in 2020 from a state university. "When Taliban came to power, they removed virtually everything that was to do with law," Zareena told WION from a Kabul suburb, pointing out to Taliban's deliberate dismantling of the law and advocacy sector that existed in Afghanistan prior to August 2021. Zareena said she enrolled herself in a diploma course at Kabul Center Institute months before the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan. On December 21, when the ban on women's higher education was announced, Zareena was due to appear in an exam at Silo Road in Kabul. "I cannot pursue my goals and ambitions because of the Taliban," Zareena said, adding that she once dreamt of studying outside Afghanistan. “I wanted to come back and serve my country with my knowledge of law,” she said. In Afghanistan, the December-January period is usually known as the 'winter of exams' among students. "For girls, winter is all that is left in this period," Zareena said. 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.

Afghan women speak to WION as Taliban dismantle their right to education, campus after campus

In yet another show of the misuse of China's ascendant tech prowess, Bytedance, the parent company of short-video social media app TikTok, hacked the TikTok accounts of two US-based journalists. ByteDance employees reportedly accessed the data of what is cited to be an unsuccessful effort to investigate leaks of company information earlier this year, according to an email from ByteDance general counsel Erich Andersen, Reuters reported.

The identity of the journalists has been revealed as Financial Times reporter Cristina Criddle and former Buzzfeed writer (now with Forbes) Emily Baker-White.&nbsp;

The disclosure is set to further the pressure on the Shenzen-based social media platform over security concerns about United States' user data, which have kept it in the news cycle over the past many months.

Employees fired, apology issued

About four ByteDance employees who were involved in the incident were fired, including two in China and two in the United States. Company officials quoted by Reuters said that they were taking additional steps to protect user data.

"This misconduct is not at all representative of what I know our company's principles to be," TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew said in a separate email to employees, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tiktok-in-the-us-tiktoks-attempts-to-reassure-government-security-concerns-surrounding-the-app-545724">TikTok in the US: TikTok's attempts to reassure government, security concerns surrounding the app</a>

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He said the company "will continue to enhance these access protocols, which have already been significantly improved and hardened since this initiative took place."

The US Congress is set to pass legislation this week to ban government employees from downloading or using TikTok on their government-owned devices.

Chew said that over the past 15 months the company had been working to build TikTok U.S. Data Security (USDS) to ensure that protected TikTok U.S. user data stays in the U.S.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-third-of-users-regularly-get-their-news-from-tiktok-claims-new-study-528120">One-third of users regularly get their news from TikTok, claims new study</a>

"The USDS department is limiting access of that data to the USDS department and has already done so across our production systems," he said. "We are completing the migration of protected US user data management to the USDS department and have been systematically cutting off access points."

The U.S. government Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a national security body, has for months sought to reach a national security agreement with ByteDance to protect the data of more than 100 million U.S. TikTok users, but it appears no deal will be reached before year's end.

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In yet another show of the misuse of China's ascendant tech prowess, Bytedance, the parent company of short-video social media app TikTok, hacked the TikTok accounts of two US-based journalists.

In yet another show of the misuse of China's ascendant tech prowess, Bytedance, the parent company of short-video social media app TikTok, hacked the TikTok accounts of two US-based journalists. ByteDance employees reportedly accessed the data of what is cited to be an unsuccessful effort to investigate leaks of company information earlier this year, according to an email from ByteDance general counsel Erich Andersen, Reuters reported. The identity of the journalists has been revealed as Financial Times reporter Cristina Criddle and former Buzzfeed writer (now with Forbes) Emily Baker-White. The disclosure is set to further the pressure on the Shenzen-based social media platform over security concerns about United States' user data, which have kept it in the news cycle over the past many months. Employees fired, apology issued About four ByteDance employees who were involved in the incident were fired, including two in China and two in the United States. Company officials quoted by Reuters said that they were taking additional steps to protect user data. "This misconduct is not at all representative of what I know our company's principles to be," TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew said in a separate email to employees, Reuters reported. WATCH | TikTok in the US: TikTok's attempts to reassure government, security concerns surrounding the app × He said the company "will continue to enhance these access protocols, which have already been significantly improved and hardened since this initiative took place." The US Congress is set to pass legislation this week to ban government employees from downloading or using TikTok on their government-owned devices. Chew said that over the past 15 months the company had been working to build TikTok U.S. Data Security (USDS) to ensure that protected TikTok U.S. user data stays in the U.S. ALSO READ | One-third of users regularly get their news from TikTok, claims new study "The USDS department is limiting access of that data to the USDS department and has already done so across our production systems," he said. "We are completing the migration of protected US user data management to the USDS department and have been systematically cutting off access points." The U.S. government Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a national security body, has for months sought to reach a national security agreement with ByteDance to protect the data of more than 100 million U.S. TikTok users, but it appears no deal will be reached before year's end. 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.

ByteDance finds former TikTok employees hacked data of two US journalists

England and Arsenal winger Beth Mead won the Sports Personality of the Year title after heralding England's win in the Women's Euros in which she was the tournament's Golden Boot this year. The 27-year-old is the first footballer to win the award.&nbsp;

Mead's SPOTY victory completed a hat-trick of awards for British footballers at the BBC award night. The squad were voted Team of the Year for their Euros triumph, with Sarina Wiegman collecting the Coach of the Year award.

Widely regarded as 'the Lioness of British football', Beth Mead scored six goals to beat Germany 2-1 to claim Euro 2022 title for England. She was also chosen as UEFA's Player of the Tournament. Mead now faces a challenge to be fit for next year's Women's football World Cup scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/womens-euro-2022-england-make-winning-start-in-front-of-record-crowd-495147">Women's Euro 2022: England make winning start in front of record crowd</a>

Mead won the BBC public poll beating England Test cricket captain Ben Stokes and Olympic curling champion Eve Muirhead.

The other nominees on the six-person shortlist were gymnast Jessica Gadirova, 1500-metre world champion Jake Wightman and seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.

An emotional Mead said: "I'm incredibly honoured to win this award."

"I wouldn't have done it without those girls over there and the team that have backed me. Yes, I've got this accolade, I did my job, I scored a few goals but I wouldn't have done it without them. And I certainly wouldn't have done it without my mum, my dad and all my family," she said.

"But most of all, this is for women's sport, and for women's sport heading in the right direction. So let's keep pushing girls and let's keep doing the right thing."

Her success makes her the 13th individual female winner of the award, with Jayne Torvill also claiming it as part of her ice dance partnership with Christopher Dean in 1984. She is also only the sixth footballer to win the award in its 68-year history.

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England and Arsenal winger Beth Mead won the Sports Personality of the Year title after heralding England's win in the Women's Euros in which she was the tournament's Golden Boot this year.

England and Arsenal winger Beth Mead won the Sports Personality of the Year title after heralding England's win in the Women's Euros in which she was the tournament's Golden Boot this year. The 27-year-old is the first footballer to win the award. Mead's SPOTY victory completed a hat-trick of awards for British footballers at the BBC award night. The squad were voted Team of the Year for their Euros triumph, with Sarina Wiegman collecting the Coach of the Year award. Widely regarded as 'the Lioness of British football', Beth Mead scored six goals to beat Germany 2-1 to claim Euro 2022 title for England. She was also chosen as UEFA's Player of the Tournament. Mead now faces a challenge to be fit for next year's Women's football World Cup scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand. ALSO READ | Women's Euro 2022: England make winning start in front of record crowd Mead won the BBC public poll beating England Test cricket captain Ben Stokes and Olympic curling champion Eve Muirhead. The other nominees on the six-person shortlist were gymnast Jessica Gadirova, 1500-metre world champion Jake Wightman and seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. An emotional Mead said: "I'm incredibly honoured to win this award." "I wouldn't have done it without those girls over there and the team that have backed me. Yes, I've got this accolade, I did my job, I scored a few goals but I wouldn't have done it without them. And I certainly wouldn't have done it without my mum, my dad and all my family," she said. "But most of all, this is for women's sport, and for women's sport heading in the right direction. So let's keep pushing girls and let's keep doing the right thing." Her success makes her the 13th individual female winner of the award, with Jayne Torvill also claiming it as part of her ice dance partnership with Christopher Dean in 1984. She is also only the sixth footballer to win the award in its 68-year history. 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.

Britain: Footballer Beth Mead beat Ben Stokes to win Sports Personality of the Year 

In what the new Twitter owner Elon Musk said was 'one of the many product improvements' for financial Twitter, users will now be able to see the latest pricing information while searching with a cashtag.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
One of many product improvements coming to financial Twitter! 
 
Nice work by Twitter team. <a href="https://t.co/CKLH8OtDDW">https://t.co/CKLH8OtDDW</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1605738005813084165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 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>

What is Cashtag and how is it different from Hashtag?

Just like a hashtag (#) query on Twitter's search bar gives a user an index of that hashtag's latest and most prominent uses on the platform, a cashtag query refers to the query on the search bar consisting of any prominent stock or cryptocurrency starting with '$' symbol. A cashtag query then leads to the latest pricing information of major stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies.

For example, a cashtag such as $PY when searched on Twitter will give stock pricing information for Standard &amp; Poor's Depositary Receipts, regarded as the world's oldest Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).&nbsp;The price charts also include a "View on Robinhood"&nbsp;clickable link, suggesting that the retail trading platform has teamed up with Twitter for this integration.<img alt="Courtesy: Twitter Business" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="30016e94-710f-444d-812c-c30abed2f11c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Fkhka6eUcAACEW_.jpg" />

Twitter said that when a user will tweet the symbol of a major stock, ETF, or cryptocurrency with a $ in front of it (like $BTC), users "will see a clickable link that takes them to search results".&nbsp;

As of December 22, the cashtag search results include the pricing graphs for major stock, ETF and cryptocurrency symbols. At the time of filing this report,&nbsp;BTC and ETH are the only two cryptocurrencies with price charts. Other top cryptocurrencies, including Musk’s beloved Dogecoin&nbsp;are expected to make the cut in the coming weeks.

"In the coming weeks, we'll refine the user experience and expand our coverage of symbols," Twitter added.

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In what the new Twitter owner Elon Musk said was 'one of the many product improvements' for financial Twitter, users will now be able to see the latest pricing information while searching with a cashtag.

In what the new Twitter owner Elon Musk said was 'one of the many product improvements' for financial Twitter, users will now be able to see the latest pricing information while searching with a cashtag. One of many product improvements coming to financial Twitter! Nice work by Twitter team. https://t.co/CKLH8OtDDW — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 22, 2022 × What is Cashtag and how is it different from Hashtag? Just like a hashtag (#) query on Twitter's search bar gives a user an index of that hashtag's latest and most prominent uses on the platform, a cashtag query refers to the query on the search bar consisting of any prominent stock or cryptocurrency starting with '$' symbol. A cashtag query then leads to the latest pricing information of major stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. For example, a cashtag such as $PY when searched on Twitter will give stock pricing information for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts, regarded as the world's oldest Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). The price charts also include a "View on Robinhood" clickable link, suggesting that the retail trading platform has teamed up with Twitter for this integration. Twitter said that when a user will tweet the symbol of a major stock, ETF, or cryptocurrency with a $ in front of it (like $BTC), users "will see a clickable link that takes them to search results". As of December 22, the cashtag search results include the pricing graphs for major stock, ETF and cryptocurrency symbols. At the time of filing this report, BTC and ETH are the only two cryptocurrencies with price charts. Other top cryptocurrencies, including Musk’s beloved Dogecoin are expected to make the cut in the coming weeks. "In the coming weeks, we'll refine the user experience and expand our coverage of symbols," Twitter added. 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.

Twitter search results begin showing latest pricing for stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies

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