<p>In a first, Spain announced its plans to launch an application which will help wives in tracking the number of household chores being performed by their husbands.<br />
<br />
The new application aims to address the gender imbalance in housework and will log the hours spent by a family member performing household chores.<br />
<br />
Spain's minister for gender equality and domestic violence Angela Rodriguez said that her department working on the development of the free application.<br />
<br />
The minister stated that the application would enable women and men to log the number of hours they are spending in the house doing the chores.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/southern-europe-turning-into-desert-france-italy-and-spain-to-face-brutal-summer-of-drought-593212">Southern Europe 'turning into desert', France, Italy and Spain to face brutal summer of drought</a></p>

<h2><br />
<strong>Govt plans to launch app in summer</strong></h2>

<p>The government is planning to release the application in the summer which will be launched as part of its 'co-responsibility plan'. “We women spend more time on domestic tasks than men,” said Rodriguez said, The Times reported.<br />
<br />
The minister was addressing a conference in Geneva which was discussing discrimination against women. A report was presented by the minister on women's rights in Spain at the convention.<br />
<br />
Rodriguez said that around half of the women who participated in a survey carried out by Spain's National Statistics Institute stated the majority of their household chores are performed by them.<br />
<br />
Comparatively, less than 15 per cent of men stated that they did the maximum house chores.<br />
<br />
The disparity in the division of housework has led to legal rows in Spain. In April 2017, a man was ordered to pay his ex-wife over €23,000 (almost $25,000) by a court in Cantabria for the household chores she did in their six years of marriage.<br />
<br />
Earlier this year, a businessman was ordered by a court in Velez-Malaga to pay his ex-wife €204,624.86 (around $220,318) for performing unpaid domestic labour in 25 years of their marriage based on the minimum wage.<br />
<br />
Now, the companies are bidding to lead the new project hoping that the application will soon be developed in the months ahead.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Spain swimming pools feel the heat as water supplies dwindle</strong></p>

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<p><br />
A budget of €211,750 (almost $227,990) has been set aside by the government for the development of the application, reported Spain's ABC newspaper.<br />
<br />
It is hoped that the application will bring into focus the 'invisible tasks' that women undertake in their houses as well as the 'mental load' they go through while running the home.<br />
<br />
Citing the example of cleaning the kitchen, the gender equality minister said that women often carry out this task and also think about buying extra washing-up liquid as well as making sure enough food is available in the house.</p>

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In a first, Spain announced its plans to launch an application which will help wives in tracking the number of household chores being performed by their husbands.

In a first, Spain announced its plans to launch an application which will help wives in tracking the number of household chores being performed by their husbands. The new application aims to address the gender imbalance in housework and will log the hours spent by a family member performing household chores. Spain's minister for gender equality and domestic violence Angela Rodriguez said that her department working on the development of the free application. The minister stated that the application would enable women and men to log the number of hours they are spending in the house doing the chores. ALSO READ | Southern Europe 'turning into desert', France, Italy and Spain to face brutal summer of drought Govt plans to launch app in summer The government is planning to release the application in the summer which will be launched as part of its 'co-responsibility plan'. “We women spend more time on domestic tasks than men,” said Rodriguez said, The Times reported. The minister was addressing a conference in Geneva which was discussing discrimination against women. A report was presented by the minister on women's rights in Spain at the convention. Rodriguez said that around half of the women who participated in a survey carried out by Spain's National Statistics Institute stated the majority of their household chores are performed by them. Comparatively, less than 15 per cent of men stated that they did the maximum house chores. The disparity in the division of housework has led to legal rows in Spain. In April 2017, a man was ordered to pay his ex-wife over €23,000 (almost $25,000) by a court in Cantabria for the household chores she did in their six years of marriage. Earlier this year, a businessman was ordered by a court in Velez-Malaga to pay his ex-wife €204,624.86 (around $220,318) for performing unpaid domestic labour in 25 years of their marriage based on the minimum wage. Now, the companies are bidding to lead the new project hoping that the application will soon be developed in the months ahead. WATCH | Spain swimming pools feel the heat as water supplies dwindle A budget of €211,750 (almost $227,990) has been set aside by the government for the development of the application, reported Spain's ABC newspaper. It is hoped that the application will bring into focus the 'invisible tasks' that women undertake in their houses as well as the 'mental load' they go through while running the home. Citing the example of cleaning the kitchen, the gender equality minister said that women often carry out this task and also think about buying extra washing-up liquid as well as making sure enough food is available in the house. 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

Spain to launch app for wives to track if husbands are doing household chores

<p>The police department in the Indian state of Assam has asked its officials to either lose weight in the next few months or leave the force. A top state police official stated that they will “professionally record” the body mass index (BMI) of all officers starting mid-August.</p>

<p>Officers falling under the "obese" category will then be given the opportunity to reduce weight till November or voluntarily retire.</p>

<p>Assam's director general of police GP Singh said that people suffering from medical conditions will then be exempted. In a tweet, Singh said that he will be the first officer in force to get his BMI recorded.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-most-divorces-arising-from-love-marriages-only-says-supreme-court-593337">India: Most divorces arising from love marriages only, says Supreme Court</a></p>

<p>“In line with directions of the Hon @CMOfficeAssam, @assampolice Hq has decided to go for professional recording of Body Mass Index (BMI) of all Assam Police personnel including IPS/APS officers and all DEF/Bn/Organisations. We plan to give three months time to all Assam Police personnel including IPS &amp; APS officers till August 15th and then start BMI assessment in the next fifteen days. All those who are in obese (BMI 30+) category would be offered another three months time to reduce weight (till November End) and after that VRS option except those who have genuine medical reasons like hypothyroidism etc,” GP Singh tweeted.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In line with directions of the Hon <a href="https://twitter.com/CMOfficeAssam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMOfficeAssam</a> , <a href="https://twitter.com/assampolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@assampolice</a> Hq has decided to go in for professional recording of Body Mass Index (BMI) of all Assam Police personnel including IPS/APS officers and all DEF/Bn/Organisations.<br />
We plan to give three months time to all Assam…</p>
— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) <a href="https://twitter.com/gpsinghips/status/1658339455441453057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2023</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>

<h2><strong>'Habitual drinkers, physically unfit officers should opt for early retirement'&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had a few weeks ago stated that around 300 police personnel deployed in the state would be asked to opt for early retirement because they were "habitual drinkers" and "physically unfit".</p>

<p>He stated that the process is part of an exercise to "cut the deadwood out of the police force". According to the studies, Indian police officers have to work long hours. Their working hours are irregular and they are not able to take proper rest or breaks.</p>

<p>In 2018, Karnataka state's reserve police officers had also faced similar demands. They were asked to either lose weight or else face suspension.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | India becomes home to nearly a fifth of humanity | WION Pulse</strong></p>

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<p>Speaking to the BBC, a top official had then stated that the decision was taken after several officers died because of "lifestyle-related diseases" like cardiac issues and diabetes in the last 18 months.</p>

<p>A person's BMI is calculated by dividing the weight of a person by the square of their height, and many doctors, insurers and health service providers use it around the world to decide whether a person is overweight, healthy or obese.</p>

<p>However, BMI is also highly controversial. Many experts have argued that using BMI to measure a person's health is flawed as it is unscientific, inaccurate, and designed for white, European men.&nbsp;</p>

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The police department in the Indian state of Assam has asked its officials to either lose weight in the next few months or leave the force. A top state police official stated that they will “professionally record” the body mass index (BMI) of all officers starting mid-August.

The police department in the Indian state of Assam has asked its officials to either lose weight in the next few months or leave the force. A top state police official stated that they will “professionally record” the body mass index (BMI) of all officers starting mid-August. Officers falling under the "obese" category will then be given the opportunity to reduce weight till November or voluntarily retire. Assam's director general of police GP Singh said that people suffering from medical conditions will then be exempted. In a tweet, Singh said that he will be the first officer in force to get his BMI recorded. ALSO READ | India: Most divorces arising from love marriages only, says Supreme Court “In line with directions of the Hon @CMOfficeAssam, @assampolice Hq has decided to go for professional recording of Body Mass Index (BMI) of all Assam Police personnel including IPS/APS officers and all DEF/Bn/Organisations. We plan to give three months time to all Assam Police personnel including IPS & APS officers till August 15th and then start BMI assessment in the next fifteen days. All those who are in obese (BMI 30+) category would be offered another three months time to reduce weight (till November End) and after that VRS option except those who have genuine medical reasons like hypothyroidism etc,” GP Singh tweeted. In line with directions of the Hon @CMOfficeAssam , @assampolice Hq has decided to go in for professional recording of Body Mass Index (BMI) of all Assam Police personnel including IPS/APS officers and all DEF/Bn/Organisations. We plan to give three months time to all Assam… — GP Singh (@gpsinghips) May 16, 2023 × 'Habitual drinkers, physically unfit officers should opt for early retirement' Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had a few weeks ago stated that around 300 police personnel deployed in the state would be asked to opt for early retirement because they were "habitual drinkers" and "physically unfit". He stated that the process is part of an exercise to "cut the deadwood out of the police force". According to the studies, Indian police officers have to work long hours. Their working hours are irregular and they are not able to take proper rest or breaks. In 2018, Karnataka state's reserve police officers had also faced similar demands. They were asked to either lose weight or else face suspension. WATCH | India becomes home to nearly a fifth of humanity | WION Pulse Speaking to the BBC, a top official had then stated that the decision was taken after several officers died because of "lifestyle-related diseases" like cardiac issues and diabetes in the last 18 months. A person's BMI is calculated by dividing the weight of a person by the square of their height, and many doctors, insurers and health service providers use it around the world to decide whether a person is overweight, healthy or obese. However, BMI is also highly controversial. Many experts have argued that using BMI to measure a person's health is flawed as it is unscientific, inaccurate, and designed for white, European men. 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

India: Assam's police force asks officers to lose weight or quit job

<p>Prince Harry's lawyers claimed that the decision to forbid the Duke of Sussex from paying for police protection while he is staying in the United Kingdom is unlawful, as he started a second legal case against the Home Office over his security arrangements.<br />
<br />
Prince Harry's lawyers, at a high court hearing in London, argued that he must be given the go-ahead to bring a case over the executive committee's decision for the protection of public figures and royalty (which has been termed in court papers as Ravec), which states that people should not be allowed to privately pay for their protective security.<br />
<br />
Lawyers for the Home Office stated that it was inappropriate for “wealthy people” to be able to “buy” specialist armed police officials for security.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-prince-harry-tells-court-he-suffered-huge-bouts-of-depression-due-to-press-intrusion-593340">Prince Harry tells court he suffered 'huge bouts of depression' due to press intrusion</a></p>

<p><br />
The duke's lawyers stated that Ravec's decision was inconsistent with the 1996 Police Act which permits the “chief officer of the police” to provide special police services “subject to payment”.<br />
<br />
Renewed case of Prince Harry is related to an earlier attempt to challenge the court's decision that he would no longer be provided the same degree of personal protective security when he will visit the United Kingdom after he stepped back as a working royal and shifted to the United States.<br />
<br />
Arguing on behalf of Harry, Shaheed Fatima KC said the case raised an “important issue of principle”.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Near catastrophic car chase: Prince Harry, Meghan's car chased</strong></p>

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<p>She added the argument relied on by Ravec, “that allowing payment for protective security is contrary to the public interest and will undermine public confidence in the Metropolitan Police Service”, did not match with the fact that parliament had allowed for payment of such services.<br />
<br />
She added Ravec had failed to provide any principled or rational basis for marking a distinction between the provision of providing protective security to those people within the Ravec cohort, who, according to the decision of the funding, “are not permitted to privately fund protective security, and other private individuals, who could privately fund protective security, by making a request to the chief officer of police”.<br />
<br />
“Ravec had exceeded its authority, its power, because it doesn’t have the power to make this decision in the first place,” she added.</p>

<h2><strong>Decision taken in public interest, lawyer argues</strong></h2>

<p><br />
Matthew Butt KC, who represents the Metropolitan police, speaking at the court said that because of such specialist policing the officers get exposed to “unique risks” and that Ravec took the decision in the public interest.<br />
<br />
“It cannot be right that officers are expected to expose themselves to that level of risk not in the public interest but because the policing body has been financially compensated. That can only be justified with public interest,” he added.<br />
<br />
In written submissions, the Met police stated it was “wrong for a policing body to place officers in harm’s way upon payment of a fee by a private individual”.</p>

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Prince Harry's lawyers claimed that the decision to forbid the Duke of Sussex from paying for police protection while he is staying in the United Kingdom is unlawful, as he started a second legal case against the Home Office over his security arrangements.

Prince Harry's lawyers claimed that the decision to forbid the Duke of Sussex from paying for police protection while he is staying in the United Kingdom is unlawful, as he started a second legal case against the Home Office over his security arrangements. Prince Harry's lawyers, at a high court hearing in London, argued that he must be given the go-ahead to bring a case over the executive committee's decision for the protection of public figures and royalty (which has been termed in court papers as Ravec), which states that people should not be allowed to privately pay for their protective security. Lawyers for the Home Office stated that it was inappropriate for “wealthy people” to be able to “buy” specialist armed police officials for security. ALSO READ | Prince Harry tells court he suffered 'huge bouts of depression' due to press intrusion The duke's lawyers stated that Ravec's decision was inconsistent with the 1996 Police Act which permits the “chief officer of the police” to provide special police services “subject to payment”. Renewed case of Prince Harry is related to an earlier attempt to challenge the court's decision that he would no longer be provided the same degree of personal protective security when he will visit the United Kingdom after he stepped back as a working royal and shifted to the United States. Arguing on behalf of Harry, Shaheed Fatima KC said the case raised an “important issue of principle”. WATCH | Near catastrophic car chase: Prince Harry, Meghan's car chased She added the argument relied on by Ravec, “that allowing payment for protective security is contrary to the public interest and will undermine public confidence in the Metropolitan Police Service”, did not match with the fact that parliament had allowed for payment of such services. She added Ravec had failed to provide any principled or rational basis for marking a distinction between the provision of providing protective security to those people within the Ravec cohort, who, according to the decision of the funding, “are not permitted to privately fund protective security, and other private individuals, who could privately fund protective security, by making a request to the chief officer of police”. “Ravec had exceeded its authority, its power, because it doesn’t have the power to make this decision in the first place,” she added. Decision taken in public interest, lawyer argues Matthew Butt KC, who represents the Metropolitan police, speaking at the court said that because of such specialist policing the officers get exposed to “unique risks” and that Ravec took the decision in the public interest. “It cannot be right that officers are expected to expose themselves to that level of risk not in the public interest but because the policing body has been financially compensated. That can only be justified with public interest,” he added. In written submissions, the Met police stated it was “wrong for a policing body to place officers in harm’s way upon payment of a fee by a private individual”. 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

Prince Harry's second legal case against Home Office over security begins

<p>United States President Joe Biden on Thursday arrived in Japan, where he greeted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida by saying, “When our countries stand together, we stand stronger”, which is a sign of how the national security and economic alliance between the two nations have grown.</p>

<p>The US president began his statement by noting that Kishida had stated during a January Washington visit that the countries are facing one of the “most complex” security environments in coming years. “I couldn’t agree with you more,” said Biden.</p>

<p>“We very much welcome that the co-operation has evolved in leaps and bounds,” Kishida said to Biden speaking about the relationship of Japan with the US in their meeting which was held ahead of the G7 summit that starts on Friday.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-debt-limit-crisis-spooks-other-g7-member-nations-592544">US debt limit crisis spooks other G7 member nations</a></p>

<p>Hiroshima, the home city of the Kishida family, is hosting the gathering of G7 countries. With this, Hiroshima, where the first nuclear bomb was dropped by the United States in 1945 during World War II, carries newfound resonance.</p>

<p>The US, Japan and their allies have been working on strategies to deal with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war as well as have been discussing the increased cadence of Iran’s nuclear programme and North Korea’s ballistic missile tests.</p>

<p>Biden is taking part in the series of discussions while parallelly managing the issue of the debt limit in the United States. The president decided to cut short his trip, which was earlier supposed to be eight-day long so that he can return to Washington at the earliest and avoid any catastrophic default in June which could ripple the global economy.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia-Ukraine war to be discussed in G7: White House</strong></h2>

<p>White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the invasion of Russia looms large, and it will be a significant issue of discussion during the G7 meetings.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Japan G7 summit: No nation wishes to strain ties with economic powerhouse China</strong></p>

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<p>“There will be discussions about the battlefield,” said Sullivan aboard Air Force One, while emphasising that the G7 leaders would work to remove any possible loopholes in sanctions so that its effect can be maximised. “There’ll be discussions about the state of play on sanctions and the steps that the G-7 will collectively commit to on enforcement in particular,” he said.</p>

<p>Sullivan stated that Biden and Kishida are aiming towards advancing&nbsp;their relationship which has progressed at a good speed in the last two years “in every dimension, whether it’s the military dimension of the alliance, the economic dimension, the recently concluded agreement on clean energy, the work we’re doing together on economic security.”</p>

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United States President Joe Biden on Thursday arrived in Japan, where he greeted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida by saying, “When our countries stand together, we stand stronger”, which is a sign of how the national security and economic alliance between the two nations have grown.

United States President Joe Biden on Thursday arrived in Japan, where he greeted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida by saying, “When our countries stand together, we stand stronger”, which is a sign of how the national security and economic alliance between the two nations have grown. The US president began his statement by noting that Kishida had stated during a January Washington visit that the countries are facing one of the “most complex” security environments in coming years. “I couldn’t agree with you more,” said Biden. “We very much welcome that the co-operation has evolved in leaps and bounds,” Kishida said to Biden speaking about the relationship of Japan with the US in their meeting which was held ahead of the G7 summit that starts on Friday. ALSO READ | US debt limit crisis spooks other G7 member nations Hiroshima, the home city of the Kishida family, is hosting the gathering of G7 countries. With this, Hiroshima, where the first nuclear bomb was dropped by the United States in 1945 during World War II, carries newfound resonance. The US, Japan and their allies have been working on strategies to deal with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war as well as have been discussing the increased cadence of Iran’s nuclear programme and North Korea’s ballistic missile tests. Biden is taking part in the series of discussions while parallelly managing the issue of the debt limit in the United States. The president decided to cut short his trip, which was earlier supposed to be eight-day long so that he can return to Washington at the earliest and avoid any catastrophic default in June which could ripple the global economy. Russia-Ukraine war to be discussed in G7: White House White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the invasion of Russia looms large, and it will be a significant issue of discussion during the G7 meetings. WATCH | Japan G7 summit: No nation wishes to strain ties with economic powerhouse China “There will be discussions about the battlefield,” said Sullivan aboard Air Force One, while emphasising that the G7 leaders would work to remove any possible loopholes in sanctions so that its effect can be maximised. “There’ll be discussions about the state of play on sanctions and the steps that the G-7 will collectively commit to on enforcement in particular,” he said. Sullivan stated that Biden and Kishida are aiming towards advancing their relationship which has progressed at a good speed in the last two years “in every dimension, whether it’s the military dimension of the alliance, the economic dimension, the recently concluded agreement on clean energy, the work we’re doing together on economic security.” 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.

US President Biden holds talks with Japan’s PM Kishida ahead of G7 summit in Hiroshima

<p>Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday stated that he had agreed to a proposal submitted by Russia to hold talks with the president of Azerbaijan&nbsp;Ilham Aliyev next week in Moscow.<br />
<br />
The negotiations will take place as tensions escalate between the Caucasus neighbours who have been engaged in two wars over disputed territory and who often witness deadly clashes along their border, as the situation generally remains volatile.<br />
<br />
Baku and Yerevan, which remains locked in a territorial conflict, are negotiating a peace agreement as the United States and European Union continue to mediate.<br />
<br />
The diplomatic engagement of the two in the Caucasus has irked Russia, which is a traditional regional power broker.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-two-soldiers-killed-in-clashes-on-armenia-azerbaijan-border-ahead-of-peace-talks-591841">At least two soldiers killed in clashes on Armenia-Azerbaijan border ahead of peace talks</a></p>

<p><br />
"We received a proposal from Russia to hold a trilateral meeting at the highest level under the mediation of the president of Russia on May 25. We have accepted that proposal," Pashinyan said at his cabinet meeting in Yerevan.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Armenia and Azerbaijan's foreign ministers to meet in Moscow</strong><br />
&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Friday will hold talks in Moscow, which will be hosted by their Russian counterparts.<br />
<br />
The meeting scheduled on Friday follows several rounds of talks which have been led by the United States and the European Union.<br />
<br />
A meeting which will include the foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan "will take place in Moscow on May 19," said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova while speaking to reporters.<br />
<br />
Two wars were fought by Baku and Yerevan in 2020 and in the 1990s for gaining control over the mostly Armenian-populated region of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh.<br />
<br />
The hostilities which continued for six weeks in autumn 2020 came to an end with a Russian-brokered ceasefire which saw Armenia cede swathes of area, which was being controlled by it for decades.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | How India, Russia, China &amp; other SCO countries work to promote regional development | Details</strong></p>

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<p><br />
There has been an increase in Yerevan's frustration over what it calls the failure of Moscow to protect Armenia from Azerbaijan's military threat.<br />
<br />
As Russia remains bogged down in Ukraine and is unwilling to strain ties with Turkey, which is a key ally of Azerbaijan, the United States and European Union have meddled in to steer the talks.<br />
<br />
On Sunday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Pashinyan met in Brussels for a fresh round of discussions which was hosted by European Council President Charles Michel.<br />
<br />
Another meeting has been scheduled between Pashinyan and Aliyev for June 1 in Moldova and it is likely to involve German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.</p>

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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday stated that he had agreed to a proposal submitted by Russia to hold talks with the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev next week in Moscow.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday stated that he had agreed to a proposal submitted by Russia to hold talks with the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev next week in Moscow. The negotiations will take place as tensions escalate between the Caucasus neighbours who have been engaged in two wars over disputed territory and who often witness deadly clashes along their border, as the situation generally remains volatile. Baku and Yerevan, which remains locked in a territorial conflict, are negotiating a peace agreement as the United States and European Union continue to mediate. The diplomatic engagement of the two in the Caucasus has irked Russia, which is a traditional regional power broker. ALSO READ | At least two soldiers killed in clashes on Armenia-Azerbaijan border ahead of peace talks "We received a proposal from Russia to hold a trilateral meeting at the highest level under the mediation of the president of Russia on May 25. We have accepted that proposal," Pashinyan said at his cabinet meeting in Yerevan. Armenia and Azerbaijan's foreign ministers to meet in Moscow The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Friday will hold talks in Moscow, which will be hosted by their Russian counterparts. The meeting scheduled on Friday follows several rounds of talks which have been led by the United States and the European Union. A meeting which will include the foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan "will take place in Moscow on May 19," said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova while speaking to reporters. Two wars were fought by Baku and Yerevan in 2020 and in the 1990s for gaining control over the mostly Armenian-populated region of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh. The hostilities which continued for six weeks in autumn 2020 came to an end with a Russian-brokered ceasefire which saw Armenia cede swathes of area, which was being controlled by it for decades. WATCH | How India, Russia, China & other SCO countries work to promote regional development | Details There has been an increase in Yerevan's frustration over what it calls the failure of Moscow to protect Armenia from Azerbaijan's military threat. As Russia remains bogged down in Ukraine and is unwilling to strain ties with Turkey, which is a key ally of Azerbaijan, the United States and European Union have meddled in to steer the talks. On Sunday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Pashinyan met in Brussels for a fresh round of discussions which was hosted by European Council President Charles Michel. Another meeting has been scheduled between Pashinyan and Aliyev for June 1 in Moldova and it is likely to involve German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. 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

Armenia PM Pashinyan to meet Azerbaijan's president in Moscow

<p>An Earth-sized exoplanet, which is orbiting a star in a galaxy next to the Milky Way, has provided scientists with the best evidence to date of the existence of active volcanoes beyond our solar system.<br />
<br />
The observations made by the scientists suggest the existence of a rocky and rugged world, the surface of which witnesses constant eruptions.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday, scientists said that the planet, the third planet which was found orbiting a particular dim star, is most likely covered with active volcanoes, which is similar to Jupiter's moon Io.<br />
<br />
Io is our solar system's most volcanically active body. In the solar system, Venus and Earth are volcanically active, as are a few moons of Jupiter. The volcanism of the planet was not observed directly but rather inferred because of its gravitational interaction with the largest of the two planets, which were also orbiting the dim star.</p>

<p>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-shares-video-of-earth-from-a-whole-different-angle-leaves-netizens-mesmerised-585235">Watch | NASA shares video of Earth from 'a whole different angle', leaves netizens mesmerised</a></p>

<p>The larger planet's gravitational tug may flex and squeeze the newly identified planet, because of which its interior may be heating up and causing volcanic activity on the surface, similar to Io, said the researchers. Planets that exist outside our solar system are called exoplanets.</p>

<h2><strong>Exoplanet may have deserts and icy glaciers on two sides: Scientists</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking about the alien planet, University of Kansas astronomy professor Ian Crossfield said, "There is not yet any direct observational evidence of exoplanet volcanism, but this planet is a particularly likely candidate.”<br />
<br />
Crossfield is one of the co-authors of the research which has been published in the journal Nature. The planet does not rotate because of which one side perpetually remains in daylight and the other in complete darkness.<br />
<br />
"On the dayside, it is too hot for liquid water, so it is likely very dry and hot - likely a desert. On the night side, there is possibly a large icy glacier," stated co-author of the research Bjorn Benneke, who is also the head of the astronomy group at the University of Montreal.<br />
<br />
"The most interesting region is near the terminator region where the day and nightside meet. Here, water from the nightside glacier can melt and possibly form liquid surface water. In addition, there is likely volcanism all around the planet, even under the ice on the nightside and possibly under the water near the terminator," Benneke stated.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Dead NASA satellite expected to crash back to Earth</strong></p>

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<p><br />
The planet has been found in the Milky Way about 86 light-years away from our solar system. It was spotted in the direction of the constellation Crater.<br />
<br />
"I imagine a rugged, young surface for the planet after many millions of years of constant volcanic activity. Since the gravitational effects don't care about day and night side, I also suspect the volcanic activity to be evenly spread over the planetary surface," stated the University of California, Riverside planetary astrophysicist and study co-author Stephen Kane.<br />
<br />
"Since the planet is so volcanically active, it is still contributing gases to the atmosphere from the interior. As such, the planet probably still has an atmosphere. The planet is unlikely to be habitable, however, since the total amount of energy makes for a quite hostile environment. Who knows? Life may find a way," he added.</p>

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An Earth-sized exoplanet, which is orbiting a star in a galaxy next to the Milky Way, has provided scientists with the best evidence to date of the existence of active volcanoes beyond our solar system.

An Earth-sized exoplanet, which is orbiting a star in a galaxy next to the Milky Way, has provided scientists with the best evidence to date of the existence of active volcanoes beyond our solar system. The observations made by the scientists suggest the existence of a rocky and rugged world, the surface of which witnesses constant eruptions. On Wednesday, scientists said that the planet, the third planet which was found orbiting a particular dim star, is most likely covered with active volcanoes, which is similar to Jupiter's moon Io. Io is our solar system's most volcanically active body. In the solar system, Venus and Earth are volcanically active, as are a few moons of Jupiter. The volcanism of the planet was not observed directly but rather inferred because of its gravitational interaction with the largest of the two planets, which were also orbiting the dim star. ALSO READ | Watch | NASA shares video of Earth from 'a whole different angle', leaves netizens mesmerised The larger planet's gravitational tug may flex and squeeze the newly identified planet, because of which its interior may be heating up and causing volcanic activity on the surface, similar to Io, said the researchers. Planets that exist outside our solar system are called exoplanets. Exoplanet may have deserts and icy glaciers on two sides: Scientists Speaking about the alien planet, University of Kansas astronomy professor Ian Crossfield said, "There is not yet any direct observational evidence of exoplanet volcanism, but this planet is a particularly likely candidate.” Crossfield is one of the co-authors of the research which has been published in the journal Nature. The planet does not rotate because of which one side perpetually remains in daylight and the other in complete darkness. "On the dayside, it is too hot for liquid water, so it is likely very dry and hot - likely a desert. On the night side, there is possibly a large icy glacier," stated co-author of the research Bjorn Benneke, who is also the head of the astronomy group at the University of Montreal. "The most interesting region is near the terminator region where the day and nightside meet. Here, water from the nightside glacier can melt and possibly form liquid surface water. In addition, there is likely volcanism all around the planet, even under the ice on the nightside and possibly under the water near the terminator," Benneke stated. WATCH | Dead NASA satellite expected to crash back to Earth The planet has been found in the Milky Way about 86 light-years away from our solar system. It was spotted in the direction of the constellation Crater. "I imagine a rugged, young surface for the planet after many millions of years of constant volcanic activity. Since the gravitational effects don't care about day and night side, I also suspect the volcanic activity to be evenly spread over the planetary surface," stated the University of California, Riverside planetary astrophysicist and study co-author Stephen Kane. "Since the planet is so volcanically active, it is still contributing gases to the atmosphere from the interior. As such, the planet probably still has an atmosphere. The planet is unlikely to be habitable, however, since the total amount of energy makes for a quite hostile environment. Who knows? Life may find a way," he 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.

NASA’s TESS, Spitzer discover Earth-like exoplanet covered with active volcanoes

<p>Two dead bodies were recovered&nbsp;on Thursday during the search operation conducted for 39 missing crew members at a Chinese fishing vessel which had capsized in the Indian Ocean, reported Beijing's state media.<br />
<br />
The ongoing search operation took place after the capsizing of the Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 "found and salvaged the remains of two victims", reported Xinhua news agency.<br />
<br />
In the early hours of Tuesday, the Chinese fishing vessel, which was carrying 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesians and five Filipinos, overturned.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/39-missing-after-chinese-fishing-boat-capsizes-in-indian-ocean-reports-593207">39 missing after Chinese fishing boat capsizes in Indian Ocean: Reports</a></p>

<p><br />
The officials did not provide details of the nationalities of the two dead bodies found on Thursday.<br />
<br />
The Chinese boat capsized within the vast search-and-rescue region of Australia, said Beijing's ambassador to Canberra on Thursday, while mentioning it was 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) to the west of Perth, Western Australia's state capital.<br />
<br />
It is the responsibility of the countries to carry out search and rescue operations in determined areas of the oceans across the world under an international maritime convention.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Australia sent&nbsp;three aeroplanes and four ships for search operations</strong></h2>

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Three aeroplanes and four ships were sent by Australia to assist the international search-and-rescue efforts, said Ambassador Xiao Qian earlier, appealing to Canberra to send more ships, aircraft and personnel to find the Chinese vessel.<br />
<br />
He further requested the government of Australia to co-ordinate with other nations closer to the capsized ship. Further help is now being sought by China in co-ordination with Australian defence officials, he stated.<br />
<br />
"To this moment, no individual has been found alive," Xiao stated. An Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spokesperson said that rescue efforts are being organised by Australia and liaising with China's government authorities in the search operation for survivors.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Chinese ships interrupt India-ASEAN drills in South China Sea</strong></p>

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<p><br />
Aircraft, which includes an Australian military plane, were currently scouring a 12,000 square kilometre (4,600 square miles) area, south of which the upturned hull was discovered as part of the "multinational" effort, the spokesperson stated.<br />
<br />
"A number of merchant ships and other vessels have been assisting with the search and will continue to do so today. AMSA would like to thank these vessels and their crews for their invaluable assistance," the spokesperson added.<br />
<br />
The distress beacon of the fishing vessel was first detected after seven metres high waves were driven by Cyclone Fabian and strong winds blew at a speed of 120 kilometres per hour (75 miles per hour) through the area.<br />
<br />
Rough weather conditions have been hampering rescue efforts, stated AMSA.<br />
<br />
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) in Canberra stated that it "remains hopeful for a successful outcome, however the time elapsed combined with the weather conditions experienced make survival more challenging.”</p>

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Two dead bodies were recovered on Thursday during the search operation conducted for 39 missing crew members at a Chinese fishing vessel which had capsized in the Indian Ocean, reported Beijing's state media.

Two dead bodies were recovered on Thursday during the search operation conducted for 39 missing crew members at a Chinese fishing vessel which had capsized in the Indian Ocean, reported Beijing's state media. The ongoing search operation took place after the capsizing of the Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 "found and salvaged the remains of two victims", reported Xinhua news agency. In the early hours of Tuesday, the Chinese fishing vessel, which was carrying 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesians and five Filipinos, overturned. ALSO READ | 39 missing after Chinese fishing boat capsizes in Indian Ocean: Reports The officials did not provide details of the nationalities of the two dead bodies found on Thursday. The Chinese boat capsized within the vast search-and-rescue region of Australia, said Beijing's ambassador to Canberra on Thursday, while mentioning it was 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) to the west of Perth, Western Australia's state capital. It is the responsibility of the countries to carry out search and rescue operations in determined areas of the oceans across the world under an international maritime convention. Australia sent three aeroplanes and four ships for search operations Three aeroplanes and four ships were sent by Australia to assist the international search-and-rescue efforts, said Ambassador Xiao Qian earlier, appealing to Canberra to send more ships, aircraft and personnel to find the Chinese vessel. He further requested the government of Australia to co-ordinate with other nations closer to the capsized ship. Further help is now being sought by China in co-ordination with Australian defence officials, he stated. "To this moment, no individual has been found alive," Xiao stated. An Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spokesperson said that rescue efforts are being organised by Australia and liaising with China's government authorities in the search operation for survivors. WATCH | Chinese ships interrupt India-ASEAN drills in South China Sea Aircraft, which includes an Australian military plane, were currently scouring a 12,000 square kilometre (4,600 square miles) area, south of which the upturned hull was discovered as part of the "multinational" effort, the spokesperson stated. "A number of merchant ships and other vessels have been assisting with the search and will continue to do so today. AMSA would like to thank these vessels and their crews for their invaluable assistance," the spokesperson added. The distress beacon of the fishing vessel was first detected after seven metres high waves were driven by Cyclone Fabian and strong winds blew at a speed of 120 kilometres per hour (75 miles per hour) through the area. Rough weather conditions have been hampering rescue efforts, stated AMSA. The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) in Canberra stated that it "remains hopeful for a successful outcome, however the time elapsed combined with the weather conditions experienced make survival more challenging.” 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

Two bodies recovered during search operation of Chinese fishing vessel

<p>Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that his house has been surrounded by the police and he is likely to be arrested soon.</p>

<p>The tweet came after Khan was accused by the government of Pakistan of sheltering supporters and aides who were involved in attacks on the army after his arrest last week.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Probably my last tweet before my next arrest .<br />
Police has surrounded my house.<a href="https://t.co/jsGck6uFRj">https://t.co/jsGck6uFRj</a></p>
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1658821511933837323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chief Khan was given a deadline of 24 hours to hand them over to the authorities or face a police operation.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/to-coup-or-not-coup-pakistan-armys-options-after-imran-khans-mini-intifada-592986">To coup or not coup: Pakistan Army’s options after Imran Khan’s 'mini-intifada'</a></p>

<p>In the tweet, Khan said that his arrest was imminent. "Probably my last tweet before my next arrest. Police have surrounded my house," he tweeted on Wednesday.</p>

<p>In his tweet, Khan uploaded a live video addressing the people of Pakistan.</p>

<p>“My dear people, I am scared today. I am scared of where we are today. Everybody is trying to get Imran Khan away from their way. They are ready to break everything to not let Imran Khan be here,” Khan said.</p>

<p>“I am afraid today that Pakistan is on the route to destruction. And I fear that if wisdom is not exercised today, we might reach a stage where we wouldn’t even be able to pick up the pieces,” he added.</p>

<p>“They are spreading hate in the nation. I am seeing a deadly nightmare seeing the destruction of our nation,” the former prime minister added.</p>

<p>According to Dawn, Punjab Police has reached outside the residence of the PTI chairman in Zaman Park to arrest him. The report added that police officials have cordoned off Khan's residence.</p>

<h2><strong>Imran Khan gets a deadline of 24 hours</strong></h2>

<p>The police officials surrounded Khan's residence after he was given a 24-hour deadline by the interim government in Punjab province to hand over all "30-40 terrorists that have taken refuge" at his residence.</p>

<p>Speaking at the press conference in Lahore, Caretaker Information Minister Aamir Mir said, "PTI should hand over these terrorists or the law will take its course," Geo News reported.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Imran Khan accuses 'agencies men' for arson and shooting during May 9 mayhem</strong></p>

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<p>Terming the May 9 protesters as 'terrorists', Mir said that the government knows that the culprits have been holed up in Khan's Zaman Park residence according to intelligence reports.</p>

<p>"The intelligence report that has come is very alarming," said Mir, adding that the agencies have confirmed the presence of the "terrorists" in Zaman Park through geo-fencing.</p>

<p>Last week, Khan was arrested by the anti-graft agency in a corruption case before he was granted bail by the court. His arrest had led to violent protests across the country, killing at least eight.</p>

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Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that his house has been surrounded by the police and he is likely to be arrested soon. The tweet came after Khan was accused by the government of Pakistan of sheltering supporters and aides who were involved in attacks on the army after his arrest last week.

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that his house has been surrounded by the police and he is likely to be arrested soon. The tweet came after Khan was accused by the government of Pakistan of sheltering supporters and aides who were involved in attacks on the army after his arrest last week. Probably my last tweet before my next arrest . Police has surrounded my house.https://t.co/jsGck6uFRj — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 17, 2023 × Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chief Khan was given a deadline of 24 hours to hand them over to the authorities or face a police operation. ALSO READ | To coup or not coup: Pakistan Army’s options after Imran Khan’s 'mini-intifada' In the tweet, Khan said that his arrest was imminent. "Probably my last tweet before my next arrest. Police have surrounded my house," he tweeted on Wednesday. In his tweet, Khan uploaded a live video addressing the people of Pakistan. “My dear people, I am scared today. I am scared of where we are today. Everybody is trying to get Imran Khan away from their way. They are ready to break everything to not let Imran Khan be here,” Khan said. “I am afraid today that Pakistan is on the route to destruction. And I fear that if wisdom is not exercised today, we might reach a stage where we wouldn’t even be able to pick up the pieces,” he added. “They are spreading hate in the nation. I am seeing a deadly nightmare seeing the destruction of our nation,” the former prime minister added. According to Dawn, Punjab Police has reached outside the residence of the PTI chairman in Zaman Park to arrest him. The report added that police officials have cordoned off Khan's residence. Imran Khan gets a deadline of 24 hours The police officials surrounded Khan's residence after he was given a 24-hour deadline by the interim government in Punjab province to hand over all "30-40 terrorists that have taken refuge" at his residence. Speaking at the press conference in Lahore, Caretaker Information Minister Aamir Mir said, "PTI should hand over these terrorists or the law will take its course," Geo News reported. WATCH | Imran Khan accuses 'agencies men' for arson and shooting during May 9 mayhem Terming the May 9 protesters as 'terrorists', Mir said that the government knows that the culprits have been holed up in Khan's Zaman Park residence according to intelligence reports. "The intelligence report that has come is very alarming," said Mir, adding that the agencies have confirmed the presence of the "terrorists" in Zaman Park through geo-fencing. Last week, Khan was arrested by the anti-graft agency in a corruption case before he was granted bail by the court. His arrest had led to violent protests across the country, killing at least eight. 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.

‘Probably my last tweet’: Pakistan’s Imran Khan says police have ‘surrounded’ his house

<p>According to scientists, the next deadly pandemic of the world can start in the depths of the Amazon rainforest from caves like the Planaltina cave, which is more than 1.5 kilometres deep and houses thousands of bats.<br />
<br />
More such caves exist throughout the rainforest increasing the chances of an outbreak of a pandemic like coronavirus. A countless number of bat species and their habitats remain undiscovered and unexplored.<br />
<br />
Brazil has been ranked in third place in hosting the highest number of bat species across the world. Some of the most devastating viruses in the world have emerged from bats.<br />
<br />
Scientists are studying the emergence of such viruses to prevent any future pandemics like COVID-19. However, because of limited funding, scientists fear that they will fail to unravel these pathogenic mysteries in the near time.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-covid-like-deadly-pandemic-might-resurface-in-10-years-says-study-582386">Another Covid-like deadly pandemic might grip the world in 10 years, says study</a></p>

<p><br />
Researchers claim that humans have been lucky in avoiding any major virus getting spread from the rainforest.<br />
<br />
“If you don't do this now, there may be other outbreaks in the future and end up in the situation we are in today of not knowing where this outbreak comes from, where SARS-CoV-2 comes from. And that's a big problem, because if we don't know how to identify the path that this virus took, the evolutionary question and how it got to man, we can't fight it," said Sebastien Charneau, a professor at the Biology Institute at the University of Brasilia, while speaking to Reuters.</p>

<h2><strong>Rampant deforestation cause of another pandemic?</strong><br />
&nbsp;</h2>

<p>As per the Brazilian ecologist David Lapola, the next pandemic can emerge from the Amazon rainforest because of “rampant deforestation” which has resulted because of human encroachment on animal habitats.<br />
<br />
According to World Health Organisation's expert in zoonotic diseases, Peter Ben Embarek, the novel coronavirus emerges from a group of viruses which originate or spread in bats, although it remains unclear which animal transmitted the infection to humans.<br />
<br />
Lapola, speaking to the news agency AFP, said that the same processes are taking place in the Amazon.<br />
<br />
“The Amazon is a huge reservoir of viruses,” Lapola said, who studies how human activity will shape the future of tropical forests' ecosystems. “We’d better not try our luck,” he added.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Is Brazil the next pandemic hot-spot? | Why do bats have so many viruses? | World DNA</strong></p>

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<p><br />
The risk of another pandemic keeps on increasing with the Amazon rainforest's rapid deforestation. Scientists explain that deforestation leads to stress in bats and studies suggest that stressed bats can carry more viruses and release more germs through their saliva, urine and feces.<br />
<br />
“It is very sad to know that we have great potential to discover and prevent new epidemics, new pandemics and this is not being taken into account, nobody is thinking about it. On the contrary, we are currently having a very large investment in dismantling the environment," said Ludmilla Aguiar, who works as a biologist at the University of Brasilia.</p>

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According to scientists, the next deadly pandemic of the world can start in the depths of the Amazon rainforest from caves like the Planaltina cave, which is more than 1.

According to scientists, the next deadly pandemic of the world can start in the depths of the Amazon rainforest from caves like the Planaltina cave, which is more than 1.5 kilometres deep and houses thousands of bats. More such caves exist throughout the rainforest increasing the chances of an outbreak of a pandemic like coronavirus. A countless number of bat species and their habitats remain undiscovered and unexplored. Brazil has been ranked in third place in hosting the highest number of bat species across the world. Some of the most devastating viruses in the world have emerged from bats. Scientists are studying the emergence of such viruses to prevent any future pandemics like COVID-19. However, because of limited funding, scientists fear that they will fail to unravel these pathogenic mysteries in the near time. ALSO READ | Another Covid-like deadly pandemic might grip the world in 10 years, says study Researchers claim that humans have been lucky in avoiding any major virus getting spread from the rainforest. “If you don't do this now, there may be other outbreaks in the future and end up in the situation we are in today of not knowing where this outbreak comes from, where SARS-CoV-2 comes from. And that's a big problem, because if we don't know how to identify the path that this virus took, the evolutionary question and how it got to man, we can't fight it," said Sebastien Charneau, a professor at the Biology Institute at the University of Brasilia, while speaking to Reuters. Rampant deforestation cause of another pandemic? As per the Brazilian ecologist David Lapola, the next pandemic can emerge from the Amazon rainforest because of “rampant deforestation” which has resulted because of human encroachment on animal habitats. According to World Health Organisation's expert in zoonotic diseases, Peter Ben Embarek, the novel coronavirus emerges from a group of viruses which originate or spread in bats, although it remains unclear which animal transmitted the infection to humans. Lapola, speaking to the news agency AFP, said that the same processes are taking place in the Amazon. “The Amazon is a huge reservoir of viruses,” Lapola said, who studies how human activity will shape the future of tropical forests' ecosystems. “We’d better not try our luck,” he added. WATCH | Is Brazil the next pandemic hot-spot? | Why do bats have so many viruses? | World DNA The risk of another pandemic keeps on increasing with the Amazon rainforest's rapid deforestation. Scientists explain that deforestation leads to stress in bats and studies suggest that stressed bats can carry more viruses and release more germs through their saliva, urine and feces. “It is very sad to know that we have great potential to discover and prevent new epidemics, new pandemics and this is not being taken into account, nobody is thinking about it. On the contrary, we are currently having a very large investment in dismantling the environment," said Ludmilla Aguiar, who works as a biologist at the University of Brasilia. 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

Amazon rainforest can gift world its next deadly pandemic, warn scientists

<p>After the cancellation of United States President Joe Biden's bilateral trip to Papua New Guinea and Sydney, where the Quad meeting was scheduled to be held, because of the debt ceiling crisis, the discussions are likely to take place in Hiroshima, media reports suggested.</p>

<p>According to reports, the leaders of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia are likely to discuss consolidation and expansion of the security grouping on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, which will be held from May 19 to May 21.</p>

<h2><strong>India's PM Modi to visit Sydney</strong></h2>

<p>Although the Indian government remains tight-lipped over the Quad meeting, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that the Quad leaders will now hold a discussion in Japan on May 24, after the Sydney summit has been cancelled.</p>

<p>Albanese added that the Indian Prime Minister is likely to visit Sydney for the bilateral programme next week indicating that the Indian leader will continue with his visit to Papua New Guinea on May 22 after he attends the G-7 summit in Japan.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-to-visit-australia-despite-quad-meet-cancellation-593298">PM Modi to visit Australia despite Quad meet cancellation: Aus PM</a></p>

<h2><strong>Quad leaders aim at navigation freedom in the South China Sea</strong></h2>

<p>Even though the debt ceiling crisis in the United States has forced President Biden to cancel his visit to Sydney and Papua New Guinea, Quad leaders will be discussing Indo-Pacific issues in Hiroshima as the quadrilateral grouping is aiming at ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.</p>

<p>Currently, five navigational buoys of the Philippines are placed within its exclusive economic zone.</p>

<p>Through its discussions Quad will try sending messages to ally Philippines, to try asserting sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, which remains disputed, in the South China Sea.</p>

<p>The step was taken by the Ferdinand Marcos Junior government, in pursuance of closer ties with the US, and decided to place five navigational buoys in five areas within a 322-kilometre radius from May 10-12, which includes the Whitsun Reef, a place where the Chinese Navy has displayed its power in 2021.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | BREAKING | Quad summit in Australia postponed after US President Joe Biden cancels trip</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-quad-summit-in-australia-postponed-after-us-president-joe-biden-cancels-trip-593166/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>No Quad discussion, in this context, will try sending negative signals in the Indo-Pacific region and particularly in Papua New Guinea, where the government of the United States has planned to start a security agreement to rival the maritime security agreement of China with next door Solomon Islands in the Far Pacific.</p>

<p>The dialogue will also not impact democratically-governed Taiwan which China views as its own territory.</p>

<p>The Chief of Defence Staff and principal military advisors of Quad nations will hold a meeting in California on May 16 and prepare a security response to Chinese belligerence in the Indo-Pacific.</p>

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After the cancellation of United States President Joe Biden's bilateral trip to Papua New Guinea and Sydney, where the Quad meeting was scheduled to be held, because of the debt ceiling crisis, the discussions are likely to take place in Hiroshima, media reports suggested.

After the cancellation of United States President Joe Biden's bilateral trip to Papua New Guinea and Sydney, where the Quad meeting was scheduled to be held, because of the debt ceiling crisis, the discussions are likely to take place in Hiroshima, media reports suggested. According to reports, the leaders of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia are likely to discuss consolidation and expansion of the security grouping on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, which will be held from May 19 to May 21. India's PM Modi to visit Sydney Although the Indian government remains tight-lipped over the Quad meeting, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that the Quad leaders will now hold a discussion in Japan on May 24, after the Sydney summit has been cancelled. Albanese added that the Indian Prime Minister is likely to visit Sydney for the bilateral programme next week indicating that the Indian leader will continue with his visit to Papua New Guinea on May 22 after he attends the G-7 summit in Japan. ALSO READ | PM Modi to visit Australia despite Quad meet cancellation: Aus PM Quad leaders aim at navigation freedom in the South China Sea Even though the debt ceiling crisis in the United States has forced President Biden to cancel his visit to Sydney and Papua New Guinea, Quad leaders will be discussing Indo-Pacific issues in Hiroshima as the quadrilateral grouping is aiming at ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Currently, five navigational buoys of the Philippines are placed within its exclusive economic zone. Through its discussions Quad will try sending messages to ally Philippines, to try asserting sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, which remains disputed, in the South China Sea. The step was taken by the Ferdinand Marcos Junior government, in pursuance of closer ties with the US, and decided to place five navigational buoys in five areas within a 322-kilometre radius from May 10-12, which includes the Whitsun Reef, a place where the Chinese Navy has displayed its power in 2021. WATCH | BREAKING | Quad summit in Australia postponed after US President Joe Biden cancels trip No Quad discussion, in this context, will try sending negative signals in the Indo-Pacific region and particularly in Papua New Guinea, where the government of the United States has planned to start a security agreement to rival the maritime security agreement of China with next door Solomon Islands in the Far Pacific. The dialogue will also not impact democratically-governed Taiwan which China views as its own territory. The Chief of Defence Staff and principal military advisors of Quad nations will hold a meeting in California on May 16 and prepare a security response to Chinese belligerence in the Indo-Pacific. 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

Quad meeting likely to take place in Hiroshima after cancellation of Sydney summit: Report

<p>The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while speaking to news agency ANI on Wednesday afternoon, said that a Delhi-Sydney Air India flight was caught in severe mid-air turbulence on Tuesday because of which seven passengers were injured.<br />
<br />
The national aviation regulator stated that the passengers, who had suffered injuries, were provided with medical treatment on arrival in Sydney and that no one was hospitalised.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-scorpio-bites-woman-on-board-air-india-flight-589789">India: Scorpion bites woman on board Air India flight</a></p>

<h2><strong>Passengers receive medical aid</strong></h2>

<p>The flight was identified by the DGCA as AI-302 flying a B787-800. The DGCA also stated that first aid was provided by the Air India cabin crew to the injured.<br />
<br />
“During the flight, seven passengers reported minor sprain. Cabin crew provided first aid with the assistance of a doctor and a nurse travelling as on the flight, using an onboard first aid kit,” the DGCA official said.<br />
<br />
"Air India airport manager at Sydney arranged medical assistance on arrival and only three passengers availed of the medical assistance," stated the DGCA soon after the incident.<br />
<br />
While speaking about the incident, an Air India spokesperson stated, “Air India’s flight AI302 of 16th May 2023, operating from Delhi to Sydney encountered turbulence mid-air leading to discomfort to the passengers on board. The flight landed safely in Sydney and three passengers availed of medical assistance on arrival, none of whom required hospitalisation. This onboard incident has been reported to the relevant authorities as a standard practice.”<br />
<br />
An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the DGCA.</p>

<p>In two years, this is the second time a flight has been caught in severe turbulence which has resulted in passengers getting injured.</p>

<p>On May 1, 2022, a Mumbai-Darbhanga SpiceJet flight which had 195 passengers onboard was hit by severe turbulence because of which many passengers were injured. One of the passengers, who was badly injured, failed to survive after receiving prolonged treatment.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Air India, Vistara merger kickstarts</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/air-india-vistara-merger-kickstarts-584262/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Scorpion stings Air India passenger</strong></h2>

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>A few days back, a “rare incident” was reported on an Air India flight where a woman passenger onboard was stung by a scorpion in April. A doctor had attended to the passenger and she was later discharged.<br />
<br />
Explaining the unfortunate incident, an Air India spokesperson had stated, “There was an extremely rare and unfortunate incident involving a scorpion stinging a passenger on board our flight AI 630 on April 23, 2023.”<br />
<br />
“Upon landing, the said passenger was attended by the doctor at the airport and subsequently was treated at the hospital and discharged. Our officials accompanied the passenger to the hospital and offered all support to the passenger till discharge,” the spokesperson added.</p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while speaking to news agency ANI on Wednesday afternoon, said that a Delhi-Sydney Air India flight was caught in severe mid-air turbulence on Tuesday because of which seven passengers were injured.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while speaking to news agency ANI on Wednesday afternoon, said that a Delhi-Sydney Air India flight was caught in severe mid-air turbulence on Tuesday because of which seven passengers were injured. The national aviation regulator stated that the passengers, who had suffered injuries, were provided with medical treatment on arrival in Sydney and that no one was hospitalised. ALSO READ | India: Scorpion bites woman on board Air India flight Passengers receive medical aid The flight was identified by the DGCA as AI-302 flying a B787-800. The DGCA also stated that first aid was provided by the Air India cabin crew to the injured. “During the flight, seven passengers reported minor sprain. Cabin crew provided first aid with the assistance of a doctor and a nurse travelling as on the flight, using an onboard first aid kit,” the DGCA official said. "Air India airport manager at Sydney arranged medical assistance on arrival and only three passengers availed of the medical assistance," stated the DGCA soon after the incident. While speaking about the incident, an Air India spokesperson stated, “Air India’s flight AI302 of 16th May 2023, operating from Delhi to Sydney encountered turbulence mid-air leading to discomfort to the passengers on board. The flight landed safely in Sydney and three passengers availed of medical assistance on arrival, none of whom required hospitalisation. This onboard incident has been reported to the relevant authorities as a standard practice.” An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the DGCA. In two years, this is the second time a flight has been caught in severe turbulence which has resulted in passengers getting injured. On May 1, 2022, a Mumbai-Darbhanga SpiceJet flight which had 195 passengers onboard was hit by severe turbulence because of which many passengers were injured. One of the passengers, who was badly injured, failed to survive after receiving prolonged treatment. WATCH | Air India, Vistara merger kickstarts Scorpion stings Air India passenger A few days back, a “rare incident” was reported on an Air India flight where a woman passenger onboard was stung by a scorpion in April. A doctor had attended to the passenger and she was later discharged. Explaining the unfortunate incident, an Air India spokesperson had stated, “There was an extremely rare and unfortunate incident involving a scorpion stinging a passenger on board our flight AI 630 on April 23, 2023.” “Upon landing, the said passenger was attended by the doctor at the airport and subsequently was treated at the hospital and discharged. Our officials accompanied the passenger to the hospital and offered all support to the passenger till discharge,” the spokesperson added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Air India Delhi-Sydney flight gets caught in severe turbulence; passengers injured

<p>Ukraine on Wednesday denied claims of Russia destroying a US-made Patriot missile defence system using its hypersonic missile during an air strike on Kyiv.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday, the defence ministry of Russia made the assertion after carrying out an overnight air raid on the Ukrainian capital. Later, two US officials said that one Patriot defence system appeared to have suffered damage but it was not destroyed in the attacks.<br />
<br />
"I want to say: do not worry about the fate of the Patriot," said Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat while speaking on Ukrainian television.<br />
<br />
He further denied the possibility of Russia's "Kinzhal" missile destroying a Patriot system.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moscow-denies-kyivs-air-defences-downed-six-kinzhal-hypersonic-missiles-593082">Moscow denies that Kyiv's air defences downed Kinzhal hypersonic missiles</a></p>

<p><br />
"Destroying the system with some kind of 'Kinzhal', it's impossible. Everything that they say there, it can remain in their propaganda archive," he stated.<br />
<br />
The Patriot system falls among the range of sophisticated air defence units which have been supplied to Ukraine by the West to help the warring nation repel Russian air strikes after it was invaded by Moscow last year.<br />
<br />
The Patriot defence system is considered among the most advanced US air defence systems which includes cruise missiles, aircraft and ballistic missiles, and typically includes launchers as well as radar and support vehicles.<br />
<br />
The Kinzhal missile has been touted by Russian President Vladimir Putin as proof that his country possesses world-beating military hardware.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday, Ukraine claimed that its army shot down six Kinzhal missiles which was denied by Russia. It remained unclear which Western weapon was used by the Ukrainian army. The Pentagon made no immediate comment.</p>

<h2><strong>Kyiv joins NATO cyber-defence centre</strong><br />
&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Ukraine joined the cyber defence centre of NATO, stated the Tallinn-based body on Wednesday, as Kyiv called the move "a step on the way" to getting membership in NATO.<br />
<br />
The Western defence alliance's Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) stated that Iceland, Ireland and Japan have also been welcomed into the fold.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Russia Ukraine War: Remains of CH-55 missile found in Polish forest near Ukraine border | WION</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-remains-of-ch-55-missile-found-in-polish-forest-near-ukraine-border-wion-591458/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p><br />
"We are particularly glad to see Ukraine here with us," said Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, in a CCDCOE statement.<br />
<br />
"This offers a unique opportunity to simultaneously contribute to Ukraine's defence in Russia's brutal war and learn from the cyber battlefield to improve the cyber security of all members,” he added.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Ukraine's ambassador to Estonia Mariana Betsa called the "landmark event" as "an important step on the way to Ukraine's accession to NATO".&nbsp;</p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Ukraine on Wednesday denied claims of Russia destroying a US-made Patriot missile defence system using its hypersonic missile during an air strike on Kyiv. On Tuesday, the defence ministry of Russia made the assertion after carrying out an overnight air raid on the Ukrainian capital.

Ukraine on Wednesday denied claims of Russia destroying a US-made Patriot missile defence system using its hypersonic missile during an air strike on Kyiv. On Tuesday, the defence ministry of Russia made the assertion after carrying out an overnight air raid on the Ukrainian capital. Later, two US officials said that one Patriot defence system appeared to have suffered damage but it was not destroyed in the attacks. "I want to say: do not worry about the fate of the Patriot," said Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat while speaking on Ukrainian television. He further denied the possibility of Russia's "Kinzhal" missile destroying a Patriot system. ALSO READ | Moscow denies that Kyiv's air defences downed Kinzhal hypersonic missiles "Destroying the system with some kind of 'Kinzhal', it's impossible. Everything that they say there, it can remain in their propaganda archive," he stated. The Patriot system falls among the range of sophisticated air defence units which have been supplied to Ukraine by the West to help the warring nation repel Russian air strikes after it was invaded by Moscow last year. The Patriot defence system is considered among the most advanced US air defence systems which includes cruise missiles, aircraft and ballistic missiles, and typically includes launchers as well as radar and support vehicles. The Kinzhal missile has been touted by Russian President Vladimir Putin as proof that his country possesses world-beating military hardware. On Tuesday, Ukraine claimed that its army shot down six Kinzhal missiles which was denied by Russia. It remained unclear which Western weapon was used by the Ukrainian army. The Pentagon made no immediate comment. Kyiv joins NATO cyber-defence centre Ukraine joined the cyber defence centre of NATO, stated the Tallinn-based body on Wednesday, as Kyiv called the move "a step on the way" to getting membership in NATO. The Western defence alliance's Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) stated that Iceland, Ireland and Japan have also been welcomed into the fold. WATCH | Russia Ukraine War: Remains of CH-55 missile found in Polish forest near Ukraine border | WION "We are particularly glad to see Ukraine here with us," said Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, in a CCDCOE statement. "This offers a unique opportunity to simultaneously contribute to Ukraine's defence in Russia's brutal war and learn from the cyber battlefield to improve the cyber security of all members,” he added. Meanwhile, Ukraine's ambassador to Estonia Mariana Betsa called the "landmark event" as "an important step on the way to Ukraine's accession to NATO". (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Ukraine refutes claims of Russia destroying Patriot defence system using hypersonic missile

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