<p>United States Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has “no reason to doubt” the claim of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding moving the tactical nuclear weapons' first batch to Belarus, stated senior DIA officials on Friday (July 21).<br />
<br />
Last month, Putin had stated that St Petersburg International Economic Forum said that “the first [Russian] nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus,” further adding that they have been moved for “deterrence.”<br />
<br />
According to the Federation of American Scientists, Moscow has around 4,477 deployed and reserved nuclear warheads, which include 1,900 tactical nuclear weapons. It remains unclear how much nuclear arsenal Putin intends to move, reported CNN.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-vladimir-putin-warns-poland-will-act-to-agression-against-belarus-618183">Russian President Vladimir Putin warns Poland: ‘Will act to aggression against Belarus’</a></p>

<p>According to the report, a few DIA officials told some media persons that analysts have “no reason to doubt” the claims of Putin, and no reason to doubt “that they have had some success” in moving the weapons.</p>

<h2><strong>US to face challenges in tracking weapons</strong></h2>

<p>The officials accepted that the US intelligence community is likely to face difficulty in tracking the weapons, even through satellite imagery.<br />
<br />
Speaking to CNN earlier this month, US and Western officials said that it looks like Belarus has not yet completed the upgradation of necessary storage facilities for housing tactical nuclear weapons. They added that the recent satellite imagery shows no signs of the kind of preparations and security which would be required at a Russian nuclear facility.<br />
<br />
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, on being asked if he had seen signs of weapons being moved by Russia, told CNN that the UK had “seen signs of this progressing” and noted that Putin “doesn’t always lie”.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas Global Headlines: Russia vows to protect Belarus | South Africa: Will arrest Putin</strong></p>

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<p>In a briefing on July 11, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “I will say that we continue to actively monitor reports of the Russia-Belarus arrangement to ensure that Russia maintains control of its weapons in the event of any deployment to Belarus and upholds its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We will be paying close attention to any deviation by Russia.”<br />
<br />
Last month, Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko said in the face of aggression, “no hesitation” will be shown by him in using the Russian tactical nuclear weapons which have been stationed on Belarusian soil.<br />
<br />
However, senior DIA officials stated that they don't think Lukashenko will have any control over the arsenal. The officials added that the entire control of the arsenal would most likely be with Russia.&nbsp;</p>

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United States Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has “no reason to doubt” the claim of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding moving the tactical nuclear weapons' first batch to Belarus, stated senior DIA officials on Friday (July 21).

United States Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has “no reason to doubt” the claim of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding moving the tactical nuclear weapons' first batch to Belarus, stated senior DIA officials on Friday (July 21). Last month, Putin had stated that St Petersburg International Economic Forum said that “the first [Russian] nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus,” further adding that they have been moved for “deterrence.” According to the Federation of American Scientists, Moscow has around 4,477 deployed and reserved nuclear warheads, which include 1,900 tactical nuclear weapons. It remains unclear how much nuclear arsenal Putin intends to move, reported CNN. ALSO READ | Russian President Vladimir Putin warns Poland: ‘Will act to aggression against Belarus’ According to the report, a few DIA officials told some media persons that analysts have “no reason to doubt” the claims of Putin, and no reason to doubt “that they have had some success” in moving the weapons. US to face challenges in tracking weapons The officials accepted that the US intelligence community is likely to face difficulty in tracking the weapons, even through satellite imagery. Speaking to CNN earlier this month, US and Western officials said that it looks like Belarus has not yet completed the upgradation of necessary storage facilities for housing tactical nuclear weapons. They added that the recent satellite imagery shows no signs of the kind of preparations and security which would be required at a Russian nuclear facility. British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, on being asked if he had seen signs of weapons being moved by Russia, told CNN that the UK had “seen signs of this progressing” and noted that Putin “doesn’t always lie”. WATCH | Gravitas Global Headlines: Russia vows to protect Belarus | South Africa: Will arrest Putin In a briefing on July 11, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “I will say that we continue to actively monitor reports of the Russia-Belarus arrangement to ensure that Russia maintains control of its weapons in the event of any deployment to Belarus and upholds its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We will be paying close attention to any deviation by Russia.” Last month, Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko said in the face of aggression, “no hesitation” will be shown by him in using the Russian tactical nuclear weapons which have been stationed on Belarusian soil. However, senior DIA officials stated that they don't think Lukashenko will have any control over the arsenal. The officials added that the entire control of the arsenal would most likely be with Russia. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US says it has 'no reason to doubt' Putin's claims over nuclear belligerence

<p>A Pfizer pharmaceutical plant was ripped apart by a violent tornado on Wednesday (July 19) &nbsp;60 miles east of Raleigh, North Carolina. The manufacturing plant suffered huge damage after it was hit by the tornado which touched down near Rocky Mount. According to a report published by The Associated Press, Pfizer confirmed that no one suffered serious injuries.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, Pfizer tweeted that the employees followed the protocol and evacuated the plant, because of which everyone was safe and accounted for.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-severe-warning-issued-as-tornado-closes-near-chicagos-airport-disrupting-many-flights-614944">Tornado forms near Chicago’s O'Hare airport, disrupting many flights</a></p>

<p>"We are assessing the situation to determine the impact on production. Our thoughts are with our colleagues, our patients, and the community as we rebuild from this weather incident," Pfizer stated in a second tweet.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨 BREAKING NEWS: A Pfizer Warehouse Full of Covid Vaccines Was Just DESTROYED BY A TORNADO in North Carolina ⚠️ <a href="https://t.co/BiyLw65OaV">pic.twitter.com/BiyLw65OaV</a></p>
— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWallace888/status/1681790037690667009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>As mentioned on the Pfizer website, the company's Rocky Mount plant is one of "the largest sterile injectable facilities in the world" and the factory produces around 25 per cent of Pfizer’s sterile injectables which are used in the hospitals of the US.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We can confirm that the Pfizer Rocky Mount facility was damaged by the tornado. Pfizer colleagues at the site followed our established safety protocol and were able to evacuate. They are safe and accounted for.</p>
— Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) <a href="https://twitter.com/pfizer/status/1681794269999255553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>"At this facility, a wide range of products are produced, including anaesthesia, analgesia, therapeutics, anti-infectives and neuromuscular blockers. These products are available in small volume presentations, such as ampules, vials and syringes, and large volume presentations, such as IV bags and semi-rigid bottles," it stated.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Tornado identified as an EF3 </strong></h2>

<p>Annually, more than 400 million units are manufactured at Pfizer's North Carolina plant.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;At least 3 dead after storms hit US Midwest and South</strong></p>

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<p>In the videos of the plant shared on social media, debris was seen scattered and parts of the roof appeared ripped off in the storm. The National Weather Service, in a tweet on Thursday (July 20) stated that the tornado was identified as an EF3 and had peak winds of 150 mph.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🌪️The tornado survey results are in!<br />
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The Dortches-Battleboro NC Tornado was on the ground for 16.5 miles and produced peak winds of 150 mph.<br />
<br />
This is the first EF-3 tornado ever observed in central North Carolina in the month of July! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NCwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NCwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/mr49ZTgIjE">pic.twitter.com/mr49ZTgIjE</a></p>
— NWS Raleigh (@NWSRaleigh) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSRaleigh/status/1681885529355452417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The tornado travelled for 16 miles on the ground and injured 16 people, proving life-threatening for two of them. As per the National Weather Service's tweet, no fatalities were reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was the first EF3 tornado which was recorded in central North Carolina in July.</p>

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A Pfizer pharmaceutical plant was ripped apart by a violent tornado on Wednesday (July 19) 60 miles east of Raleigh, North Carolina. The manufacturing plant suffered huge damage after it was hit by the tornado which touched down near Rocky Mount.

A Pfizer pharmaceutical plant was ripped apart by a violent tornado on Wednesday (July 19) 60 miles east of Raleigh, North Carolina. The manufacturing plant suffered huge damage after it was hit by the tornado which touched down near Rocky Mount. According to a report published by The Associated Press, Pfizer confirmed that no one suffered serious injuries. On Wednesday, Pfizer tweeted that the employees followed the protocol and evacuated the plant, because of which everyone was safe and accounted for. ALSO READ | Tornado forms near Chicago’s O'Hare airport, disrupting many flights "We are assessing the situation to determine the impact on production. Our thoughts are with our colleagues, our patients, and the community as we rebuild from this weather incident," Pfizer stated in a second tweet. 🚨 BREAKING NEWS: A Pfizer Warehouse Full of Covid Vaccines Was Just DESTROYED BY A TORNADO in North Carolina ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/BiyLw65OaV — Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) July 19, 2023 × As mentioned on the Pfizer website, the company's Rocky Mount plant is one of "the largest sterile injectable facilities in the world" and the factory produces around 25 per cent of Pfizer’s sterile injectables which are used in the hospitals of the US. We can confirm that the Pfizer Rocky Mount facility was damaged by the tornado. Pfizer colleagues at the site followed our established safety protocol and were able to evacuate. They are safe and accounted for. — Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) July 19, 2023 × "At this facility, a wide range of products are produced, including anaesthesia, analgesia, therapeutics, anti-infectives and neuromuscular blockers. These products are available in small volume presentations, such as ampules, vials and syringes, and large volume presentations, such as IV bags and semi-rigid bottles," it stated. Tornado identified as an EF3 Annually, more than 400 million units are manufactured at Pfizer's North Carolina plant. WATCH | At least 3 dead after storms hit US Midwest and South In the videos of the plant shared on social media, debris was seen scattered and parts of the roof appeared ripped off in the storm. The National Weather Service, in a tweet on Thursday (July 20) stated that the tornado was identified as an EF3 and had peak winds of 150 mph. 🌪️The tornado survey results are in! The Dortches-Battleboro NC Tornado was on the ground for 16.5 miles and produced peak winds of 150 mph. This is the first EF-3 tornado ever observed in central North Carolina in the month of July! #NCwx pic.twitter.com/mr49ZTgIjE — NWS Raleigh (@NWSRaleigh) July 20, 2023 × The tornado travelled for 16 miles on the ground and injured 16 people, proving life-threatening for two of them. As per the National Weather Service's tweet, no fatalities were reported. This was the first EF3 tornado which was recorded in central North Carolina in July. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch | Violent tornado in US rips through Pfizer manufacturing plant

<p>The email account of United States Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns was recently breached by China-based hackers as part of a targeted intelligence-gathering campaign carried out recently, three US government officials told CNN.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Daniel Kritenbrink's email account was also accessed by the hackers as part of the campaign. Kritenbrink had accompanied Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his trip to China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hacking report, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, further adds to the reports of United States' officials falling to alleged Chinese hackers which was revealed for the first time last week.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>US officials' accounts hacked earlier&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo's email account was earlier infiltrated by hackers, as reported previously by CNN.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/semiconductor-wars-china-warns-of-retaliation-if-us-imposes-further-restrictions-617844">Semiconductor wars: China warns of retaliation if US imposes further restrictions</a></p>

<p>China has been consistently labelled by US officials as the most advanced of US adversaries in cyberspace, which has been an issue of bilateral tension between the two countries in recent years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When the hacking of Raimondo's email account was disclosed last week, the administration had accepted the breach. US officials have stated that those were among the three most senior targets, however, thousands of email accounts of government officials were at the risk of getting hacked.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While commenting on the report of the account breach, a state department spokesperson stated, “For security reasons, we will not be sharing additional information on the nature and scope of this cybersecurity incident at this time.”</p>

<p>“The department continuously monitors and responds to the activity of concern on our networks. Our investigation is ongoing, and we cannot provide further details at this time," he added. It was unclear how much sensitive information belonging to the US government had been compromised.</p>

<h2><strong>Officials analyse seriousness of the hacking attack</strong></h2>

<p>According to the Wall Street Journal, the email of Secretary of State Antony Blinken was not breached, and neither were those which belonged to his inner circle of advisers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Kritenbrink had accompanied Blinken on his China trip last month, and Burns also took part in meetings held with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and other senior Chinese officials. There is a possibility that the hackers may have got details of US preparations for those internal discussions and meetings that took place.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;US Climate Envoy John Kerry holds talks in China</strong></p>

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<p>State Department and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) senior cyber officials raced to understand how serious the breach was.</p>

<p>“We don’t know exactly what’s going on, but we know there’s a problem,” said a US official while speaking to CNN about how the alarm was sounded by the State Department to other agencies.</p>

<p>Senior CISA official Eric Goldstein, speaking to CNN, said that he fielded calls regarding the hack when he was on a weekend getaway out of Washington with his children.</p>

<p>“The critical work that [the State Department does] conduct on behalf of the American people” made it important to assess how serious the hack was, said Goldstein.</p>

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The email account of United States Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns was recently breached by China-based hackers as part of a targeted intelligence-gathering campaign carried out recently, three US government officials told CNN.

The email account of United States Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns was recently breached by China-based hackers as part of a targeted intelligence-gathering campaign carried out recently, three US government officials told CNN. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Daniel Kritenbrink's email account was also accessed by the hackers as part of the campaign. Kritenbrink had accompanied Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his trip to China. The hacking report, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, further adds to the reports of United States' officials falling to alleged Chinese hackers which was revealed for the first time last week. US officials' accounts hacked earlier US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo's email account was earlier infiltrated by hackers, as reported previously by CNN. ALSO READ | Semiconductor wars: China warns of retaliation if US imposes further restrictions China has been consistently labelled by US officials as the most advanced of US adversaries in cyberspace, which has been an issue of bilateral tension between the two countries in recent years. When the hacking of Raimondo's email account was disclosed last week, the administration had accepted the breach. US officials have stated that those were among the three most senior targets, however, thousands of email accounts of government officials were at the risk of getting hacked. While commenting on the report of the account breach, a state department spokesperson stated, “For security reasons, we will not be sharing additional information on the nature and scope of this cybersecurity incident at this time.” “The department continuously monitors and responds to the activity of concern on our networks. Our investigation is ongoing, and we cannot provide further details at this time," he added. It was unclear how much sensitive information belonging to the US government had been compromised. Officials analyse seriousness of the hacking attack According to the Wall Street Journal, the email of Secretary of State Antony Blinken was not breached, and neither were those which belonged to his inner circle of advisers. However, Kritenbrink had accompanied Blinken on his China trip last month, and Burns also took part in meetings held with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and other senior Chinese officials. There is a possibility that the hackers may have got details of US preparations for those internal discussions and meetings that took place. WATCH | US Climate Envoy John Kerry holds talks in China State Department and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) senior cyber officials raced to understand how serious the breach was. “We don’t know exactly what’s going on, but we know there’s a problem,” said a US official while speaking to CNN about how the alarm was sounded by the State Department to other agencies. Senior CISA official Eric Goldstein, speaking to CNN, said that he fielded calls regarding the hack when he was on a weekend getaway out of Washington with his children. “The critical work that [the State Department does] conduct on behalf of the American people” made it important to assess how serious the hack was, said Goldstein. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

China hacks into email of US envoy in Beijing Nicholas Burns

<p>&nbsp;A spacecraft was smashed into the asteroid Dimorphos by NASA last year. The debris, which resulted after the smashing of spacecraft, was now captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in stunning detail. The cloud of space rocks captured revealed a glittering field of boulders.</p>

<p>In the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), a 600-kilogram spacecraft smashed Dimorphos, which circles around a bigger asteroid called Didymos. The asteroid was smashed to understand if the orbit of the space rock can be altered as a practice run to divert future dangerous asteroids. The mission to smash the asteroid was a success which decreased the length of Dimorphos’s orbit by around 33 minutes after the impact in September 2022.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/part-of-indian-rocket-mysterious-cylinder-washes-up-on-australian-beach-616535">Part of Indian rocket? Mysterious cylinder washes up on Australian beach</a></p>

<p>In December 2022, &nbsp;a few months later, Hubble Space Telescope was used by David Jewitt at the University of California, Los Angeles and his colleagues to know more about the debris expelled by the collision. The team discovered 37 large boulders, which will range from 1 to almost 7 metres across, and appeared like small sparkles of light in the picture shared.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Hera spacecraft to study cloud of boulders</strong></h2>

<p>It is most likely that these rocks were tied loosely to the surface of Dimorphous, and not the shards released from the body of the asteroid itself. These clouds are moving relatively slowly compared to Dimorphous, at a speed of 0.8 kilometres per hour, and the total mass of the rock is around 0.1 per cent of their parent asteroid.</p>

<p>“This tells us for the first time what happens when you hit an asteroid and see material coming out up to the largest sizes,” said Jewitt, in a statement. “The boulders are some of the faintest things ever imaged inside our solar system," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is a spectacular observation – much better than I expected. We see a cloud of boulders carrying mass and energy away from the impact target. The numbers, sizes, and shapes of the boulders are consistent with them having been knocked off the surface of Dimorphos by the impact," Jewitt stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India's gateway to outer space at Satish Dhawan Space Centre</strong></p>

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<p>European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft, which will depart from Earth in October 2024 and reach Didymos and Dimorphos at the end of 2026, will further study the cloud of boulders. By putting into use the Hubble observations which have been taken now and Hera observations made in future, astronomers might be successful in pinning down the exact trajectories of the boulders.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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A spacecraft was smashed into the asteroid Dimorphos by NASA last year. The debris, which resulted after the smashing of spacecraft, was now captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in stunning detail.

A spacecraft was smashed into the asteroid Dimorphos by NASA last year. The debris, which resulted after the smashing of spacecraft, was now captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in stunning detail. The cloud of space rocks captured revealed a glittering field of boulders. In the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), a 600-kilogram spacecraft smashed Dimorphos, which circles around a bigger asteroid called Didymos. The asteroid was smashed to understand if the orbit of the space rock can be altered as a practice run to divert future dangerous asteroids. The mission to smash the asteroid was a success which decreased the length of Dimorphos’s orbit by around 33 minutes after the impact in September 2022. ALSO READ | Part of Indian rocket? Mysterious cylinder washes up on Australian beach In December 2022, a few months later, Hubble Space Telescope was used by David Jewitt at the University of California, Los Angeles and his colleagues to know more about the debris expelled by the collision. The team discovered 37 large boulders, which will range from 1 to almost 7 metres across, and appeared like small sparkles of light in the picture shared. Hera spacecraft to study cloud of boulders It is most likely that these rocks were tied loosely to the surface of Dimorphous, and not the shards released from the body of the asteroid itself. These clouds are moving relatively slowly compared to Dimorphous, at a speed of 0.8 kilometres per hour, and the total mass of the rock is around 0.1 per cent of their parent asteroid. “This tells us for the first time what happens when you hit an asteroid and see material coming out up to the largest sizes,” said Jewitt, in a statement. “The boulders are some of the faintest things ever imaged inside our solar system," he added. "This is a spectacular observation – much better than I expected. We see a cloud of boulders carrying mass and energy away from the impact target. The numbers, sizes, and shapes of the boulders are consistent with them having been knocked off the surface of Dimorphos by the impact," Jewitt stated. WATCH | India's gateway to outer space at Satish Dhawan Space Centre European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft, which will depart from Earth in October 2024 and reach Didymos and Dimorphos at the end of 2026, will further study the cloud of boulders. By putting into use the Hubble observations which have been taken now and Hera observations made in future, astronomers might be successful in pinning down the exact trajectories of the boulders. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NASA's Hubble telescope spots stunning 'cloud of space rocks' made from asteroid-smashing DART mission

<p>For the second time, China has started drilling a 10,000-metre hole in&nbsp;the ground aiming to discover ultra-deep reserves of natural gas. On Thursday (July 20), China National Petroleum Corp started drilling the Shendi Chuanke 1 Well in Sichuan province which will have a designed depth of 10,520 metres (6.5 miles), reported Xinhua News Agency.</p>

<p>The project will have a similar-sized well compared to that which CNPC started drilling in Xinjiang in May and was called the deepest-ever hole ever drilled by China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The exploration of Chuanke-1 Well, which falls under the Deep Earth drilling project, is part of a wider infrastructure to “provide an important foundation and support for China’s future scientific research and oil and gas resource development”, reported state news outlet China Electric Power News.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-hacks-into-email-of-us-envoy-in-beijing-nicholas-burns-617979">China hacks into email of US envoy in Beijing Nicholas Burns</a></p>

<p>Although the well was earlier described as experimental in nature, the project has now been designed to provide data on the internal structure of Earth and test drilling technologies as the Sichuan is aiming to discover the ultra-deep reserves of natural gas, as per Xinhua.</p>

<p>The southeastern province of Sichuan is famous for spectacular mountain views, spicy food and pandas, and is also home to some of the largest shale gas reserves in China.</p>

<h2><strong>Enhancing China's fuel security</strong></h2>

<p>The state-owned oil giants of the nation have achieved only little success in tapping their potential mainly because of complicated underground geology and difficult terrain.</p>

<p>The government of China has placed pressure on energy companies in the last few years to enhance the country's fuel security by increasing domestic production amid a series of geopolitical strife, global price volatility and power shortages.</p>

<p>The team, meanwhile, is aiming to collect geological information from a depth of 10,000 metres to upgrade theories regarding oil and gas accumulation, and make an international and first-class technical team in the country, said deputy manager of the project Ding Wei, as per the report in China Electric Power News.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Why is China building a 'super dam' along India's border?</strong></p>

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<p>“The 10,000-metre-deep exploration project is a ‘major national project’ comparable to the lunar exploration project,” the report quoted Ding as saying.</p>

<p>The engineers are needed to overcome “world-class challenges” amid the drilling process due to the complex underground conditions.</p>

<p>Beyond 10,000 metres, the metal drilling tools can become “as soft as noodles” due to the temperature of 224 degrees Celsius (435 Fahrenheit), and the 138 MegaPascal ultra-high pressure environment was like “diving into the deep sea of 13,800 metres, far exceeding the seawater pressure of the Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean in the world”, said chief engineer Yang Yu, while speaking to China Electric Power News.</p>

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For the second time, China has started drilling a 10,000-metre hole in the ground aiming to discover ultra-deep reserves of natural gas. On Thursday (July 20), China National Petroleum Corp started drilling the Shendi Chuanke 1 Well in Sichuan province which will have a designed depth of 10,520 metres (6.

For the second time, China has started drilling a 10,000-metre hole in the ground aiming to discover ultra-deep reserves of natural gas. On Thursday (July 20), China National Petroleum Corp started drilling the Shendi Chuanke 1 Well in Sichuan province which will have a designed depth of 10,520 metres (6.5 miles), reported Xinhua News Agency. The project will have a similar-sized well compared to that which CNPC started drilling in Xinjiang in May and was called the deepest-ever hole ever drilled by China. The exploration of Chuanke-1 Well, which falls under the Deep Earth drilling project, is part of a wider infrastructure to “provide an important foundation and support for China’s future scientific research and oil and gas resource development”, reported state news outlet China Electric Power News. ALSO READ | China hacks into email of US envoy in Beijing Nicholas Burns Although the well was earlier described as experimental in nature, the project has now been designed to provide data on the internal structure of Earth and test drilling technologies as the Sichuan is aiming to discover the ultra-deep reserves of natural gas, as per Xinhua. The southeastern province of Sichuan is famous for spectacular mountain views, spicy food and pandas, and is also home to some of the largest shale gas reserves in China. Enhancing China's fuel security The state-owned oil giants of the nation have achieved only little success in tapping their potential mainly because of complicated underground geology and difficult terrain. The government of China has placed pressure on energy companies in the last few years to enhance the country's fuel security by increasing domestic production amid a series of geopolitical strife, global price volatility and power shortages. The team, meanwhile, is aiming to collect geological information from a depth of 10,000 metres to upgrade theories regarding oil and gas accumulation, and make an international and first-class technical team in the country, said deputy manager of the project Ding Wei, as per the report in China Electric Power News. WATCH | Gravitas: Why is China building a 'super dam' along India's border? “The 10,000-metre-deep exploration project is a ‘major national project’ comparable to the lunar exploration project,” the report quoted Ding as saying. The engineers are needed to overcome “world-class challenges” amid the drilling process due to the complex underground conditions. Beyond 10,000 metres, the metal drilling tools can become “as soft as noodles” due to the temperature of 224 degrees Celsius (435 Fahrenheit), and the 138 MegaPascal ultra-high pressure environment was like “diving into the deep sea of 13,800 metres, far exceeding the seawater pressure of the Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean in the world”, said chief engineer Yang Yu, while speaking to China Electric Power News. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

China begins drilling another 10,000-metre hole. Here's what it is searching for

<p>A new type of stellar object has been discovered by astronomers which may change their understanding of extreme celestial bodies in the universe.</p>

<p>Earlier, a spinning celestial space object was spotted by Curtin University doctoral student Tyrone O’Doherty in March 2018. Giant bursts of energy were released by that unfamiliar object and it beamed out radiation at a frequency of three times per hour.</p>

<p>The phenomenon was thought to be a remnant of a collapsed star by the researchers. After a study was released that described the observation in January 2022, O’Doherty and a team of astronomers at the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, or ICRAR, in Australia started hunting for another such example.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-hubble-telescope-spots-stunning-cloud-of-space-rocks-made-from-asteroid-smashing-dart-mission-618047">NASA's Hubble telescope spots stunning 'cloud of space rocks' made from asteroid-smashing DART mission</a></p>

<p>“We were stumped,” stated Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker, senior lecturer at the Curtin University node of ICRAR. “So we started searching for similar objects to find out if it was an isolated event or just the tip of the iceberg," she added, in a statement</p>

<p>The sky was observed, between July and September 2022, by the team using the Murchison Widefield Array, which is a radio telescope on Wajarri Yamaji Country in Western Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While observing the sky, the scientists spotted an object in the Scutum constellation, 15,000 light-years from Earth. The object, which was named GPM J1839−10, releases radio waves every 22 minutes and the bursts of energy last till five minutes.</p>

<h2><strong>Rare type of magnetar?</strong></h2>

<p>Astronomers said that the object can be a rare type of star or magnetar which has extremely strong magnetic fields and is capable of releasing energetic and powerful bursts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A study which gave details about the discovery was published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.</p>

<p>“This remarkable object challenges our understanding of neutron stars and magnetars, which are some of the most exotic and extreme objects in the Universe,” stated Hurley-Walker, the lead author of the new report.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India's gateway to outer space at Satish Dhawan Space Centre</strong></p>

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<p>“It showed up in observations by the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in India and the Very Large Array in the USA had observations dating as far back as 1988. That was quite an incredible moment for me. I was five years old when our telescopes first recorded pulses from this object, but no one noticed it, and it stayed hidden in the data for 33 years. They missed it because they hadn’t expected to find anything like it," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Few magnetars are known to exist below what scientists call a “death line" which means that they have a weak magnetic field which fails to release energetic emissions of radio waves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The object we’ve discovered is spinning way too slowly to produce radio waves — it’s below the death line,” Hurley-Walker stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Assuming it’s a magnetar, it shouldn’t be possible for this object to produce radio waves. But we’re seeing them. And we’re not just talking about a little blip of radio emission. Every 22 minutes, it emits a five-minute pulse of radio wavelength energy, and it’s been doing that for at least 33 years. Whatever mechanism is behind this is extraordinary," he added.&nbsp;</p>

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A new type of stellar object has been discovered by astronomers which may change their understanding of extreme celestial bodies in the universe. Earlier, a spinning celestial space object was spotted by Curtin University doctoral student Tyrone O’Doherty in March 2018.

A new type of stellar object has been discovered by astronomers which may change their understanding of extreme celestial bodies in the universe. Earlier, a spinning celestial space object was spotted by Curtin University doctoral student Tyrone O’Doherty in March 2018. Giant bursts of energy were released by that unfamiliar object and it beamed out radiation at a frequency of three times per hour. The phenomenon was thought to be a remnant of a collapsed star by the researchers. After a study was released that described the observation in January 2022, O’Doherty and a team of astronomers at the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, or ICRAR, in Australia started hunting for another such example. ALSO READ | NASA's Hubble telescope spots stunning 'cloud of space rocks' made from asteroid-smashing DART mission “We were stumped,” stated Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker, senior lecturer at the Curtin University node of ICRAR. “So we started searching for similar objects to find out if it was an isolated event or just the tip of the iceberg," she added, in a statement The sky was observed, between July and September 2022, by the team using the Murchison Widefield Array, which is a radio telescope on Wajarri Yamaji Country in Western Australia. While observing the sky, the scientists spotted an object in the Scutum constellation, 15,000 light-years from Earth. The object, which was named GPM J1839−10, releases radio waves every 22 minutes and the bursts of energy last till five minutes. Rare type of magnetar? Astronomers said that the object can be a rare type of star or magnetar which has extremely strong magnetic fields and is capable of releasing energetic and powerful bursts. A study which gave details about the discovery was published in the journal Nature on Wednesday. “This remarkable object challenges our understanding of neutron stars and magnetars, which are some of the most exotic and extreme objects in the Universe,” stated Hurley-Walker, the lead author of the new report. WATCH | India's gateway to outer space at Satish Dhawan Space Centre “It showed up in observations by the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in India and the Very Large Array in the USA had observations dating as far back as 1988. That was quite an incredible moment for me. I was five years old when our telescopes first recorded pulses from this object, but no one noticed it, and it stayed hidden in the data for 33 years. They missed it because they hadn’t expected to find anything like it," he added. Few magnetars are known to exist below what scientists call a “death line" which means that they have a weak magnetic field which fails to release energetic emissions of radio waves. “The object we’ve discovered is spinning way too slowly to produce radio waves — it’s below the death line,” Hurley-Walker stated. “Assuming it’s a magnetar, it shouldn’t be possible for this object to produce radio waves. But we’re seeing them. And we’re not just talking about a little blip of radio emission. Every 22 minutes, it emits a five-minute pulse of radio wavelength energy, and it’s been doing that for at least 33 years. Whatever mechanism is behind this is extraordinary," he added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mysterious stellar object emitting a five-minute pulse every 22 minutes leaves scientists puzzled

<p>United States President Joe Biden reportedly has been using "lower stairs" to board Air Force One and avoid falling on the staircase, according to a report published in Politico which emphasised the "intentional shift" in the efforts being made to make the travel of the president easier.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As reported by the Politico, two advisers of Biden have "privately acknowledged an intentional shift to steer the 80-year-old president to the lower stairs more often to make his travel easier and limit the possibility for missteps". The media outlet further emphasised that President Biden was sporting sneakers and not shoes recently.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-greene-marjorie-criticised-for-showing-explicit-photos-of-hunter-biden-at-congressional-hearing-617882">Republican Greene Marjorie criticised for showing explicit photos of Hunter Biden at congressional hearing</a></p>

<p>"The sneakers are another concession to comfort necessitated by age," reported Politico. "One person close to the president said Biden used to always resist wearing anything other than dress shoes, believing that any other footwear look was unpresidential. But he has eased up on that stance in recent months," the report added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked by Bloomberg’s Justin Sink about the changes reported by the media and if the president was facing "mobility problems", Jean-Pierre responded, "I don’t have any decision process to walk through. I’m sure there’s a protocol that’s used for the — for Air Force One. I just don’t have one."</p>

<h2><strong>Concerns over Biden's fitness</strong></h2>

<p>Multiple times, President Biden has tripped while walking up the stairs of Air Force One. The media outlet said that the president's aides have been doing everything they can to "limit situations where any signs of physical frailty might be on heightened display."</p>

<p>According to Politico, shorter stairs are generally used by presidents during bad weather.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Whistleblowers in Hunter Biden case testify before Congress</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/whistleblowers-in-hunter-biden-case-testify-before-congress-617718/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Concerns have been expressed by democrats, voters and President Biden's aides over the age of the president and his ability to continue a second term, as he campaigns for 2024 re-election. His age has been touted by President Biden as an advantage. While speaking to MSNBC in an interview in May, he said that he knows "more than the vast majority of people."</p>

<p>"Because I have acquired a hell of a lot of wisdom. I know more than the vast majority of people. I’m more experienced than anybody who has ever run for the office and I think I've proven myself to be honourable as well as also effective," Biden said.&nbsp;</p>

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United States President Joe Biden reportedly has been using "lower stairs" to board Air Force One and avoid falling on the staircase, according to a report published in Politico which emphasised the "intentional shift" in the efforts being made to make the travel of the president easier.

United States President Joe Biden reportedly has been using "lower stairs" to board Air Force One and avoid falling on the staircase, according to a report published in Politico which emphasised the "intentional shift" in the efforts being made to make the travel of the president easier. As reported by the Politico, two advisers of Biden have "privately acknowledged an intentional shift to steer the 80-year-old president to the lower stairs more often to make his travel easier and limit the possibility for missteps". The media outlet further emphasised that President Biden was sporting sneakers and not shoes recently. ALSO READ | Republican Greene Marjorie criticised for showing explicit photos of Hunter Biden at congressional hearing "The sneakers are another concession to comfort necessitated by age," reported Politico. "One person close to the president said Biden used to always resist wearing anything other than dress shoes, believing that any other footwear look was unpresidential. But he has eased up on that stance in recent months," the report added. When White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked by Bloomberg’s Justin Sink about the changes reported by the media and if the president was facing "mobility problems", Jean-Pierre responded, "I don’t have any decision process to walk through. I’m sure there’s a protocol that’s used for the — for Air Force One. I just don’t have one." Concerns over Biden's fitness Multiple times, President Biden has tripped while walking up the stairs of Air Force One. The media outlet said that the president's aides have been doing everything they can to "limit situations where any signs of physical frailty might be on heightened display." According to Politico, shorter stairs are generally used by presidents during bad weather. WATCH | Whistleblowers in Hunter Biden case testify before Congress Concerns have been expressed by democrats, voters and President Biden's aides over the age of the president and his ability to continue a second term, as he campaigns for 2024 re-election. His age has been touted by President Biden as an advantage. While speaking to MSNBC in an interview in May, he said that he knows "more than the vast majority of people." "Because I have acquired a hell of a lot of wisdom. I know more than the vast majority of people. I’m more experienced than anybody who has ever run for the office and I think I've proven myself to be honourable as well as also effective," Biden said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Biden orders 'lower stairs' on Air Force One, opts for loafers to avoid tripping

7 Historical Personalities Who Were Poisoned To Death  

The philosopher was found guilty of corrupting the youth and not acknowledging their gods and given a death sentence which he carried out himself by drinking poison, believed to be hemlock.


Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León was shot an arrow dipped in the milky white sap extracted from a manchineel tree, which is highly poisonous, while he was on an expedition to search a rumoured fountain of youth.


As per legend, the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt Cleopatra committed suicide by enticing an asp (Egyptian cobra) to bite her. Cleopatra was known to have knowledge about poisons and their effects and was believed to have tested many on condemned prisoners.  

Famed general Napoleon Bonaparte believed that he was being poisoned by his British captors. After his death, the autopsy revealed that he had stomach cancer. Researchers even today speculate if his death was indeed hastened by toxic metals.


Arctic explorer Charles Francis Hall complained about gastrointestinal issues and other health problems, and the members of the expedition were accused of poisoning him. Later, autopsy found elevated levels of arsenic in his body which proved that his suspicions were right.  

Guangxu was throned as the emperor of the Qing dynasty at the age of four and in 1898 was placed under house arrest after a coup. He died at the age of 37 with suspicion of poisoning. In 2008, almost a century after Guangxu’s death, it was revealed the suspicions were true and that extremely high levels of arsenic were present in his body.  

Former Bosnian Croat military commander Slobodan Praljak was sentenced to 20 years of prison for war crimes. When his sentence was upheld by the judge, Praljak denied being a war criminal and quickly gulped down something from a vial. His action of taking poison was livestreamed on the website of the court, and he died in the hospital.

7 Historical Personalities Who Were Poisoned To Death

<p>The United States on Wednesday announced additional security assistance of about $1.3 billion for Ukraine in its war with Russia, the package including air defence capabilities, drones and munitions.</p>

<p>"This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional priority capabilities to Ukraine," the Pentagon said in a statement.</p>

<p>The United States is using funds in its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program, which allows President Joe Biden's administration to buy weapons from industry rather than pull from US&nbsp;weapons stocks.</p>

<p>The package includes four National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and munitions; 152 millimetre artillery rounds; mine clearing equipment; and drones, according to the Pentagon.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-strike-on-ukraines-mykolaiv-injures-nine-including-children-617642">Russian strike on Ukraine's Mykolaiv injures nine, including children</a></p>

<p>The US&nbsp;Department of Defence announced the aid a day after a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, allies assisting Ukraine as its forces press a counteroffensive against Russian troops occupying Ukrainian territory.</p>

<p>Delivery of the weapons and systems depends on their availability and production timeline.</p>

<p>The Pentagon has provided more than $10.8 billion in security assistance for Ukraine under the USAI in fiscal 2023, in seven separate tranches. The planned package would be the eighth. In the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2022, Washington put $6.3 billion worth of USAI funds to work buying for Ukraine's defence.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Ukraine's Real Hero: The General who masterminded the counter-offensive against Russia</strong></p>

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<p>Overall, the US&nbsp;has sent over $40 billion in the form of security and military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.</p>

<p>The package includes two different types of loitering munitions, the Phoenix Ghost drone made by AVEVEX, a private company in California, and the Switchblade, made by AeroVironment.</p>

<p>Earlier this month, the United States announced that it will send Ukraine cluster munitions - prohibited by more than 100 countries - to Ukraine. Human rights groups and some US&nbsp;allies, including Germany and Canada, oppose that decision.</p>

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The United States on Wednesday announced additional security assistance of about $1.3 billion for Ukraine in its war with Russia, the package including air defence capabilities, drones and munitions.

The United States on Wednesday announced additional security assistance of about $1.3 billion for Ukraine in its war with Russia, the package including air defence capabilities, drones and munitions. "This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional priority capabilities to Ukraine," the Pentagon said in a statement. The United States is using funds in its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program, which allows President Joe Biden's administration to buy weapons from industry rather than pull from US weapons stocks. The package includes four National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and munitions; 152 millimetre artillery rounds; mine clearing equipment; and drones, according to the Pentagon. ALSO READ | Russian strike on Ukraine's Mykolaiv injures nine, including children The US Department of Defence announced the aid a day after a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, allies assisting Ukraine as its forces press a counteroffensive against Russian troops occupying Ukrainian territory. Delivery of the weapons and systems depends on their availability and production timeline. The Pentagon has provided more than $10.8 billion in security assistance for Ukraine under the USAI in fiscal 2023, in seven separate tranches. The planned package would be the eighth. In the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2022, Washington put $6.3 billion worth of USAI funds to work buying for Ukraine's defence. WATCH | Gravitas: Ukraine's Real Hero: The General who masterminded the counter-offensive against Russia Overall, the US has sent over $40 billion in the form of security and military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. The package includes two different types of loitering munitions, the Phoenix Ghost drone made by AVEVEX, a private company in California, and the Switchblade, made by AeroVironment. Earlier this month, the United States announced that it will send Ukraine cluster munitions - prohibited by more than 100 countries - to Ukraine. Human rights groups and some US allies, including Germany and Canada, oppose that decision. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US provides Ukraine with additional military aid worth $1.3 bn

<p>Temperatures soared to almost 47 degrees Celcius in southern Italy on Wednesday (July 19) as factory workers threatened to go on strike over the extreme heat. Heat records were broken in coastal waters around Spain even as wildfires continued to rage in Greece.</p>

<p>In Italy's Sicily, where a record temperature of 48.8C was registered in August 2021, the mercury soared to 47C in the area between Sciacca, in Agrigento province, and Mazara del Vallo, in the province of Trapani, as per the data from ilMeteo.it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Temperatures in Sardinia soared to 46C while in Rome, where people faced energy blackouts on Tuesday because of the pressure on the grid due to the air conditioners, it peaked at 38C.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/millions-battle-record-heatwaves-as-temperatures-dangerously-soar-in-us-europe-616127">Millions battle record heatwaves as temperatures dangerously soar in US, Europe</a></p>

<p>“This is apocalyptic,” stated Claudia Bivona, who works as a teacher in Trapani, while speaking to The Guardian. “Something we had never experienced before. And it will get worse and worse. I’m thinking of the elderly and also of animals. What is happening is not normal," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nuccia Orlando, who has been working at a hospital as a nurse in the Sicilian province of Caltanissetta, stated, “We are melting. This heat is absurd. My car’s thermometer registered 52C inside the vehicle today. Of course, I had left it in the sun. But still, we are talking about 52C.”</p>

<h2><strong>Information line to be activated for deaths occurring due to heat</strong></h2>

<p>Italy’s Health Minister Orazio Schillaci stated that they will activate information line concerns about deaths that are occurring from heat-related illnesses. A man, who was in his 60s, lost his life in a heat-related illness after he fainted in his bakery near the northern city of Padua, and last week, a 44-year-old road worker died in Milan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“You can protect yourself against the heat in a major way by drinking lots of water, opting for a diet based on vegetables and fresh fruit and avoiding excessive consumption of fatty foods and alcohol,” said Schillaci. “Special attention should be paid to the most fragile, elderly and children," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Stellantis, the carmaker, stated that the situation in the Pomigliano d’Arco plant near Naples was monitored by them after workers were freed early on Tuesday because of too much heat. Workers employed by battery maker Magneti Marelli said that they will hold an eight-hour strike at a plant in Sulmona, in the central Abruzzo region. The unions issued a statement saying that the “asphyxiating heat is putting the lives of workers at risk”.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Floods and heatwaves grip the globe</strong></p>

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<p>The CGIL union stated that temperatures were nearing 40C in factories in the southern region of Basilicata. “The arrival of the heat is a serious problem for workers because it puts their health and safety at risk. After the Stellantis case we are getting many signals from several factories across the region. For this reason we ask workers to turn to their unions if health and safety guarantees are not being met," it said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Concern has been expressed by the unions for agricultural workers, many of whom are seasonal workers who work outside the EU, as well as construction workers.&nbsp;</p>

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Temperatures soared to almost 47 degrees Celcius in southern Italy on Wednesday (July 19) as factory workers threatened to go on strike over the extreme heat. Heat records were broken in coastal waters around Spain even as wildfires continued to rage in Greece.

Temperatures soared to almost 47 degrees Celcius in southern Italy on Wednesday (July 19) as factory workers threatened to go on strike over the extreme heat. Heat records were broken in coastal waters around Spain even as wildfires continued to rage in Greece. In Italy's Sicily, where a record temperature of 48.8C was registered in August 2021, the mercury soared to 47C in the area between Sciacca, in Agrigento province, and Mazara del Vallo, in the province of Trapani, as per the data from ilMeteo.it. Temperatures in Sardinia soared to 46C while in Rome, where people faced energy blackouts on Tuesday because of the pressure on the grid due to the air conditioners, it peaked at 38C. ALSO READ | Millions battle record heatwaves as temperatures dangerously soar in US, Europe “This is apocalyptic,” stated Claudia Bivona, who works as a teacher in Trapani, while speaking to The Guardian. “Something we had never experienced before. And it will get worse and worse. I’m thinking of the elderly and also of animals. What is happening is not normal," she added. Nuccia Orlando, who has been working at a hospital as a nurse in the Sicilian province of Caltanissetta, stated, “We are melting. This heat is absurd. My car’s thermometer registered 52C inside the vehicle today. Of course, I had left it in the sun. But still, we are talking about 52C.” Information line to be activated for deaths occurring due to heat Italy’s Health Minister Orazio Schillaci stated that they will activate information line concerns about deaths that are occurring from heat-related illnesses. A man, who was in his 60s, lost his life in a heat-related illness after he fainted in his bakery near the northern city of Padua, and last week, a 44-year-old road worker died in Milan. “You can protect yourself against the heat in a major way by drinking lots of water, opting for a diet based on vegetables and fresh fruit and avoiding excessive consumption of fatty foods and alcohol,” said Schillaci. “Special attention should be paid to the most fragile, elderly and children," he added. Stellantis, the carmaker, stated that the situation in the Pomigliano d’Arco plant near Naples was monitored by them after workers were freed early on Tuesday because of too much heat. Workers employed by battery maker Magneti Marelli said that they will hold an eight-hour strike at a plant in Sulmona, in the central Abruzzo region. The unions issued a statement saying that the “asphyxiating heat is putting the lives of workers at risk”. WATCH | Gravitas: Floods and heatwaves grip the globe The CGIL union stated that temperatures were nearing 40C in factories in the southern region of Basilicata. “The arrival of the heat is a serious problem for workers because it puts their health and safety at risk. After the Stellantis case we are getting many signals from several factories across the region. For this reason we ask workers to turn to their unions if health and safety guarantees are not being met," it said. Concern has been expressed by the unions for agricultural workers, many of whom are seasonal workers who work outside the EU, as well as construction workers. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Extreme heat roils Europe: Workers warn of strike in Italy and stoppages in Greece

<p>A two-faced star has been discovered by astronomers and its bizarre appearance has left them baffled. On one side, the white dwarf appears to have been composed mostly of hydrogen and helium appears to have filled the other side.<br />
<br />
For the first time, a lone star has been discovered by astronomers that appears to have developed two contrasting faces spontaneously. “The surface of the white dwarf completely changes from one side to the other,” stated Dr Ilaria Caiazzo, who is an astrophysicist at Caltech who led the research. “When I show the observations to people, they are blown away," he added.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-spots-three-candidates-suspected-to-be-fabled-dark-stars-615987">James Webb spots three candidates suspected to be fabled 'dark stars'</a></p>

<p>The dwarf star is more than 1,000 light-years away in the Cygnus constellation. It has been nicknamed Janus, inspired by the two-faced Roman god of transition. The star's formal scientific name is ZTF J203349.8+322901.1.<br />
<br />
Initially, it was discovered using the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), which is an instrument that scans the night skies from Caltech’s Palomar Observatory near San Diego.</p>

<h2><strong>Dwarf star spinning on its axis every 15 minutes</strong></h2>

<p>Caiazzo was looking for white dwarfs and they spotted one candidate because of its rapidly changing brightness. The observatory's further observations revealed that Janus has been rotating on its axis every 15 minutes.<br />
<br />
Spectrometry measurements, which provide a star's chemical fingerprints, showed that hydrogen is entirely filled on one side of the object and the other side is filled entirely with helium.<br />
<br />
If seen from close, the two sides of the star will appear bluish in colour and have a similar brightness, however, the helium side is likely to have a grainy, patchwork appearance similar to that of our sun, while the star's hydrogen side appears smooth.<br />
<br />
It is difficult to explain the two-faced nature of the star as swirling gas makes up its exterior. “It’s hard for anything to be separated,” stated Caiazzo. The scientists feel that Janus can be undergoing a rare transition which has been predicted to occur because of white dwarf evolution.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India &amp; US will undertake joint mission to international space station in 2024</strong></p>

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<p>“Not all but some white dwarfs transition from being hydrogen- to helium-dominated on their surface. We might have possibly caught one such white dwarf in the act,” Caiazzo said. In that case, the scientists feel that the transition must be occurring in a lopsided way because of an asymmetric magnetic field.<br />
<br />
“If the magnetic field is stronger on one side, it could be limiting convection (bubbling in the helium layer). “On the other side, convection could be winning out and so the hydrogen layer has been lost,” Caiazzo said.<br />
<br />
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A two-faced star has been discovered by astronomers and its bizarre appearance has left them baffled. On one side, the white dwarf appears to have been composed mostly of hydrogen and helium appears to have filled the other side.

A two-faced star has been discovered by astronomers and its bizarre appearance has left them baffled. On one side, the white dwarf appears to have been composed mostly of hydrogen and helium appears to have filled the other side. For the first time, a lone star has been discovered by astronomers that appears to have developed two contrasting faces spontaneously. “The surface of the white dwarf completely changes from one side to the other,” stated Dr Ilaria Caiazzo, who is an astrophysicist at Caltech who led the research. “When I show the observations to people, they are blown away," he added. ALSO READ | James Webb spots three candidates suspected to be fabled 'dark stars' The dwarf star is more than 1,000 light-years away in the Cygnus constellation. It has been nicknamed Janus, inspired by the two-faced Roman god of transition. The star's formal scientific name is ZTF J203349.8+322901.1. Initially, it was discovered using the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), which is an instrument that scans the night skies from Caltech’s Palomar Observatory near San Diego. Dwarf star spinning on its axis every 15 minutes Caiazzo was looking for white dwarfs and they spotted one candidate because of its rapidly changing brightness. The observatory's further observations revealed that Janus has been rotating on its axis every 15 minutes. Spectrometry measurements, which provide a star's chemical fingerprints, showed that hydrogen is entirely filled on one side of the object and the other side is filled entirely with helium. If seen from close, the two sides of the star will appear bluish in colour and have a similar brightness, however, the helium side is likely to have a grainy, patchwork appearance similar to that of our sun, while the star's hydrogen side appears smooth. It is difficult to explain the two-faced nature of the star as swirling gas makes up its exterior. “It’s hard for anything to be separated,” stated Caiazzo. The scientists feel that Janus can be undergoing a rare transition which has been predicted to occur because of white dwarf evolution. WATCH | India & US will undertake joint mission to international space station in 2024 “Not all but some white dwarfs transition from being hydrogen- to helium-dominated on their surface. We might have possibly caught one such white dwarf in the act,” Caiazzo said. In that case, the scientists feel that the transition must be occurring in a lopsided way because of an asymmetric magnetic field. “If the magnetic field is stronger on one side, it could be limiting convection (bubbling in the helium layer). “On the other side, convection could be winning out and so the hydrogen layer has been lost,” Caiazzo said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Astronomers discover two-faced white dwarf star with helium and hydrogen on two sides

<p>Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will submit his resignation after concerns over the integrity of his research were raised. Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will be stepping down.</p>

<p>In a letter to staff and students on Wednesday (July 19), Tessier-Lavigne stated that he is stepping down because he thinks there will be a continued debate around his ability to head the university.</p>

<p>“I’ve never submitted a scientific paper without firmly believing that the data were correct and accurately presented,” the president said.</p>

<p>However, he accepted that he should have been more diligent in seeking corrections related to his work.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/research-discovers-repair-process-that-fixes-damaged-hearing-cells-616646">Research discovers repair process that fixes damaged hearing cells</a></p>

<p>The announcement was made after the board of trustees of the historic university, which is often called the “Ivy of the West” and is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, started reviewing allegations of ethical misconduct and fraud around papers which were authored or co-authored by Tessier-Lavigne last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the review, 12 papers that Tessier-Lavigne had worked on were assessed, which included five in which he was the principal author.</p>

<p>The allegations of misconduct in the work were first aired on PubPeer, which is a website where scientific community's members discuss their research paper, stated the final report of the panel.</p>

<h2><strong>Serious allegations against president cleared&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The most serious allegation against the president, which was the fraud investigation carried out on a 2009 paper on a model of neurodegeneration published in the scientific journal Nature, was cleared by the panel. Neurodegeneration models can have great potential for research and therapy of Alzheimer’s disease.</p>

<p>The panel ruled that they did not discover any fraud in the research papers. However, they concluded that the paper had multiple problems, which included a lack of rigour in its development. They added that the research that went into the paper and its presentation had “various errors and shortcomings”. No evidence of &nbsp;Tessier-Lavigne being aware of the lack of rigour was found by the panel.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: China builds a new research port in the South China Sea</strong></p>

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<p>“People tend to think of scientists as these individuals that they’ve heard of like Einstein and Marie Curie,” stated H Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals. “The truth is that researchers run laboratories filled with people, and everything that happens in that laboratory is a product of many individuals there," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even though Tessier-Lavigne was cleared of research misconduct by the report, Thorp said that the boss is ultimately held responsible for what takes place in the lab and shouldn't get distracted by doing other jobs. The panel discovered that “the unusual frequency of manipulation of research data and/or substandard scientific practices” suggested a requirement for improved “oversight and management”.&nbsp;</p>

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Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will submit his resignation after concerns over the integrity of his research were raised. Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will be stepping down.

Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will submit his resignation after concerns over the integrity of his research were raised. Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will be stepping down. In a letter to staff and students on Wednesday (July 19), Tessier-Lavigne stated that he is stepping down because he thinks there will be a continued debate around his ability to head the university. “I’ve never submitted a scientific paper without firmly believing that the data were correct and accurately presented,” the president said. However, he accepted that he should have been more diligent in seeking corrections related to his work. ALSO READ | Research discovers repair process that fixes damaged hearing cells The announcement was made after the board of trustees of the historic university, which is often called the “Ivy of the West” and is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, started reviewing allegations of ethical misconduct and fraud around papers which were authored or co-authored by Tessier-Lavigne last year. In the review, 12 papers that Tessier-Lavigne had worked on were assessed, which included five in which he was the principal author. The allegations of misconduct in the work were first aired on PubPeer, which is a website where scientific community's members discuss their research paper, stated the final report of the panel. Serious allegations against president cleared The most serious allegation against the president, which was the fraud investigation carried out on a 2009 paper on a model of neurodegeneration published in the scientific journal Nature, was cleared by the panel. Neurodegeneration models can have great potential for research and therapy of Alzheimer’s disease. The panel ruled that they did not discover any fraud in the research papers. However, they concluded that the paper had multiple problems, which included a lack of rigour in its development. They added that the research that went into the paper and its presentation had “various errors and shortcomings”. No evidence of Tessier-Lavigne being aware of the lack of rigour was found by the panel. WATCH | Gravitas: China builds a new research port in the South China Sea “People tend to think of scientists as these individuals that they’ve heard of like Einstein and Marie Curie,” stated H Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals. “The truth is that researchers run laboratories filled with people, and everything that happens in that laboratory is a product of many individuals there," he added. Even though Tessier-Lavigne was cleared of research misconduct by the report, Thorp said that the boss is ultimately held responsible for what takes place in the lab and shouldn't get distracted by doing other jobs. The panel discovered that “the unusual frequency of manipulation of research data and/or substandard scientific practices” suggested a requirement for improved “oversight and management”. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Stanford University president to resign after questions raised over integrity of his research

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