<p>Google, which laid off around 6 per cent of its total workforce in January, is reportedly adopting more cost-cutting measures, like not making payment for maternity and medical leaves which it approved to its former employees.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a report published by CNBC, all the former employees of Google who were sacked while they were on their medical or maternity leave have claimed that the tech giant is not paying them for their approved leaves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A group called "Laid off on Leave" has been joined by more than 100 former employees who are demanding the employer compensate them for the long-duration leaves which were approved by the company before the job cuts were announced in January.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-to-see-fewer-promotions-to-senior-roles-this-year-report-569994">Google to see fewer promotions to senior roles this year: Report</a></p>

<p>According to the report, the former employees have been told by the tech giant that the company will pay their salary only till their designated end date along with the standard severance.</p>

<p>Three letters have been sent by the group of former employees to executives, which includes CEO Sundar Pichai and Chief People Officer Fiona Cicconi, but no response has been received so far.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The group comprises people who were sanctioned or are currently on medical leave, baby bonding leave, personal leave, maternity leave and caregiver’s leave.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In January, Google announced mass layoffs which affected 12,000 employees or around 6 per cent of its total workforce due to the declining sales growth after extending its expansion period in the tech sector.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Gravitas: Google loses anti-trust battle in India</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-google-loses-anti-trust-battle-in-india-554600/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>After the announcement that the company is planning to fire 12,000 employees, around 1,400 employees of Alphabet Inc, which is the parent company of Google, signed a petition demanding employees' better treatment during the layoff process.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Employees wrote an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai in which they demanded prioritising voluntary redundancies over forced ones, giving laid-off workers priority on open vacancies, allowing workers to complete their approved leave periods, such as bereavement and parental leave and freezing new hires.</p>

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Google, which laid off around 6 per cent of its total workforce in January, is reportedly adopting more cost-cutting measures, like not making payment for maternity and medical leaves which it approved to its former employees.

Google, which laid off around 6 per cent of its total workforce in January, is reportedly adopting more cost-cutting measures, like not making payment for maternity and medical leaves which it approved to its former employees. As per a report published by CNBC, all the former employees of Google who were sacked while they were on their medical or maternity leave have claimed that the tech giant is not paying them for their approved leaves. A group called "Laid off on Leave" has been joined by more than 100 former employees who are demanding the employer compensate them for the long-duration leaves which were approved by the company before the job cuts were announced in January. ALSO READ | Google to see fewer promotions to senior roles this year: Report According to the report, the former employees have been told by the tech giant that the company will pay their salary only till their designated end date along with the standard severance. Three letters have been sent by the group of former employees to executives, which includes CEO Sundar Pichai and Chief People Officer Fiona Cicconi, but no response has been received so far. The group comprises people who were sanctioned or are currently on medical leave, baby bonding leave, personal leave, maternity leave and caregiver’s leave. In January, Google announced mass layoffs which affected 12,000 employees or around 6 per cent of its total workforce due to the declining sales growth after extending its expansion period in the tech sector. WATCH | Gravitas: Google loses anti-trust battle in India After the announcement that the company is planning to fire 12,000 employees, around 1,400 employees of Alphabet Inc, which is the parent company of Google, signed a petition demanding employees' better treatment during the layoff process. Employees wrote an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai in which they demanded prioritising voluntary redundancies over forced ones, giving laid-off workers priority on open vacancies, allowing workers to complete their approved leave periods, such as bereavement and parental leave and freezing new hires. 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

Google not paying for approved maternity leave, claims laid-off employees

<p>The top administrative court of France on Monday asked the government to impose a ban on fishing in different parts of the Atlantic to save dolphins after hundreds of them recently washed up dead on the coast.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The step taken by the State Council, which is the highest court in matters of government, comes days after a report from an oceanographic institute surfaced stating that around 910 dolphins had washed up on the Atlantic coast in France since the start of the winter.</p>

<p>In a single week, around 400 marine mammals were discovered stranded along the coast which the Pelagis oceanographic observatory called an "unprecedented" number in its report. The observatory is based in the western city of La Rochelle.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-experts-concerned-after-dead-dolphins-washed-up-on-atlantic-beaches-566612">France: Experts concerned after dead dolphins washed up on Atlantic beaches</a></p>

<p>A legal complaint was filed by various environmental NGOs, including Sea Shepherd, against the government over the deaths of dolphins and porpoises. The organisations claimed that the government was not taking adequate measures to protect the species which are facing the threat of disappearance from parts of the Bay of Biscay along the Atlantic coast.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Regarder la réalité en face : Hier nous avons exposé 6 🐬 aux Sables d'Olonne d'où viennent de nombreux bateaux que nous filmons avec des 🐬 capturés. Nous attendons avec impatience la décision du Conseil d'Etat sur la fermeture des zones de pêche <a href="https://twitter.com/HerveBerville?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HerveBerville</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> <a href="https://t.co/kWWQrygfc8">pic.twitter.com/kWWQrygfc8</a></p>
— Sea Shepherd France (@SeaShepherdFran) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeaShepherdFran/status/1634960746374385665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Many of the dolphins discovered had consistent injuries which they had suffered from boat engines, nets and other fishing equipment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many dolphins died in February and March when they generally move closer to the coast in search of food and have higher chances of encountering fishing operations.</p>

<p>So far, the government of France has held back from imposing a ban on fishing and instead opted for solutions which can mitigate the impact of industrial fishing on dolphins like onboard cameras or loud sound equipment which can drive the dolphins away.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Noise pollution in ocean hinders communication of dolphins</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-noise-pollution-in-ocean-hinders-communication-of-dolphins-555260/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>However, the State Council on Monday ruled that instruments of "acoustic deterrence" on fishing boats "do not guarantee a favourable state of conservation for small cetacean species" including porpoises and dolphins.</p>

<p>Both the species were facing the threat of extinction, "at least regionally", it said.</p>

<p>The court has given the time of six months to the government to establish the no-fishing zones and also asked it to increase the monitoring of dolphins' accidental capture which it said was still too approximate.</p>

<main>
<section>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The top administrative court of France on Monday asked the government to impose a ban on fishing in different parts of the Atlantic to save dolphins after hundreds of them recently washed up dead on the coast.

The top administrative court of France on Monday asked the government to impose a ban on fishing in different parts of the Atlantic to save dolphins after hundreds of them recently washed up dead on the coast. The step taken by the State Council, which is the highest court in matters of government, comes days after a report from an oceanographic institute surfaced stating that around 910 dolphins had washed up on the Atlantic coast in France since the start of the winter. In a single week, around 400 marine mammals were discovered stranded along the coast which the Pelagis oceanographic observatory called an "unprecedented" number in its report. The observatory is based in the western city of La Rochelle. ALSO READ | France: Experts concerned after dead dolphins washed up on Atlantic beaches A legal complaint was filed by various environmental NGOs, including Sea Shepherd, against the government over the deaths of dolphins and porpoises. The organisations claimed that the government was not taking adequate measures to protect the species which are facing the threat of disappearance from parts of the Bay of Biscay along the Atlantic coast. Regarder la réalité en face : Hier nous avons exposé 6 🐬 aux Sables d'Olonne d'où viennent de nombreux bateaux que nous filmons avec des 🐬 capturés. Nous attendons avec impatience la décision du Conseil d'Etat sur la fermeture des zones de pêche @HerveBerville @EmmanuelMacron pic.twitter.com/kWWQrygfc8 — Sea Shepherd France (@SeaShepherdFran) March 12, 2023 × Many of the dolphins discovered had consistent injuries which they had suffered from boat engines, nets and other fishing equipment. Many dolphins died in February and March when they generally move closer to the coast in search of food and have higher chances of encountering fishing operations. So far, the government of France has held back from imposing a ban on fishing and instead opted for solutions which can mitigate the impact of industrial fishing on dolphins like onboard cameras or loud sound equipment which can drive the dolphins away. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Noise pollution in ocean hinders communication of dolphins However, the State Council on Monday ruled that instruments of "acoustic deterrence" on fishing boats "do not guarantee a favourable state of conservation for small cetacean species" including porpoises and dolphins. Both the species were facing the threat of extinction, "at least regionally", it said. The court has given the time of six months to the government to establish the no-fishing zones and also asked it to increase the monitoring of dolphins' accidental capture which it said was still too approximate. (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

France: Court orders ban on fishing after numerous dolphins wash up on coast

<p>Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday reached Bucha, the region where Russian forces faced accusation of massacring Ukrainian civilians during their Kyiv-region suburb's weeks-long occupation last year.</p>

<p>Kishida expressed strong "indignation" during his visit to Bucha. "As I step foot in Bucha today, and witness all the brutality that took place here, I have a strong sentiment of indignation," he stated in translated remarks.</p>

<p>Later in the day,&nbsp;Kishida laid a wreath&nbsp;at the memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers in&nbsp;Kyiv city centre, accompanied by an honour guard.</p>

<p>Kishida arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday, the Japanese media reported after the foreign ministry announced his surprise visit to Ukraine.</p>

<p>Earlier today, public broadcaster NHK stated Kishida "could be seen getting off a train at a station in the centre of Kyiv", where he is likely to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="ja">キーウ中心部にある駅では、日本時間の21日夜、岸田総理大臣が列車から駅のホームに降りる姿が確認できました。<br />
<br />
岸田総理大臣はウクライナ政府の関係者とみられる人や現地に駐在する松田大使などの出迎えを受け、笑顔で会話する様子もみられました。<a href="https://t.co/0ImIFQ04nZ">https://t.co/0ImIFQ04nZ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nhk_video?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nhk_video</a> <a href="https://t.co/NPhZWOAvOm">pic.twitter.com/NPhZWOAvOm</a></p>
— NHKニュース (@nhk_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/nhk_news/status/1638126506386890752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Representing Japan, which is among the democracies present in the Group of Seven, Kishida will voice his solidarity with Ukraine following Russia's invasion more than a year ago, said the foreign ministry in a statement.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-may-cease-to-exist-warns-pm-fumio-kishida-aide-as-birthrate-plummets-to-record-levels-569234">Japan may cease to exist, warns PM Fumio Kishida aide as birthrate plummets to record levels</a></p>

<p>The Japanese PM will convey "his respect for the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people standing up to defend their homeland," it stated.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the foreign ministry of Ukraine on Tuesday welcomed Kishida's arrival in Kyiv, hailing his "historic" visit as a key show of solidarity.</p>

<p>"This historic visit is a sign of solidarity and strong cooperation between (Ukraine and Japan). We are grateful to Japan for its strong support and contribution to our future victory," said First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzheppar on Twitter.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="ja">Ми раді вітати в <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D0%A3%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%97%D0%BD%D1%96?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Україні</a> Прем'єр-міністра <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D0%AF%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%96%D1%97?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Японії</a> Кішіду Фуміо <a href="https://twitter.com/kishida230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kishida230</a>.<br />
Цей історичний візит є проявом солідарності та плідної співпраці між 🇺🇦 &amp; 🇯🇵.<br />
Ми вдячні Японії за потужну підтримку та внесок у нашу майбутню перемогу.<br />
ようこそ <a href="https://t.co/xaXFrySYcw">pic.twitter.com/xaXFrySYcw</a></p>
— Emine Dzheppar (@EmineDzheppar) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmineDzheppar/status/1638138172226904067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Japan is set to host the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May, and previously Kishida said that the summit must show its strong will to uphold rule of law and international order in response to the Russia-Ukraine war.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Kishida and Modi hail role of India-Japan ties in securing Indo-Pacific</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kishida-and-modi-hail-role-of-india-japan-ties-in-securing-indo-pacific-573961/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>NHK shared the footage of the Japanese PM holding talks with the officials as he stood next to a train. He reached Kyiv after boarding a train from Przemysl, a border town in Poland.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kishida is also scheduled to hold talks with his Polish counterpart before flying back to Japan on Thursday, said the ministry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before departing for Poland en route to Ukraine, Kishida made an official visit to India where he held talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
</section>
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Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday reached Bucha, the region where Russian forces faced accusation of massacring Ukrainian civilians during their Kyiv-region suburb's weeks-long occupation last year.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday reached Bucha, the region where Russian forces faced accusation of massacring Ukrainian civilians during their Kyiv-region suburb's weeks-long occupation last year. Kishida expressed strong "indignation" during his visit to Bucha. "As I step foot in Bucha today, and witness all the brutality that took place here, I have a strong sentiment of indignation," he stated in translated remarks. Later in the day, Kishida laid a wreath at the memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv city centre, accompanied by an honour guard. Kishida arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday, the Japanese media reported after the foreign ministry announced his surprise visit to Ukraine. Earlier today, public broadcaster NHK stated Kishida "could be seen getting off a train at a station in the centre of Kyiv", where he is likely to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. キーウ中心部にある駅では、日本時間の21日夜、岸田総理大臣が列車から駅のホームに降りる姿が確認できました。 岸田総理大臣はウクライナ政府の関係者とみられる人や現地に駐在する松田大使などの出迎えを受け、笑顔で会話する様子もみられました。https://t.co/0ImIFQ04nZ#nhk_video pic.twitter.com/NPhZWOAvOm — NHKニュース (@nhk_news) March 21, 2023 × Representing Japan, which is among the democracies present in the Group of Seven, Kishida will voice his solidarity with Ukraine following Russia's invasion more than a year ago, said the foreign ministry in a statement. ALSO READ | Japan may cease to exist, warns PM Fumio Kishida aide as birthrate plummets to record levels The Japanese PM will convey "his respect for the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people standing up to defend their homeland," it stated. Meanwhile, the foreign ministry of Ukraine on Tuesday welcomed Kishida's arrival in Kyiv, hailing his "historic" visit as a key show of solidarity. "This historic visit is a sign of solidarity and strong cooperation between (Ukraine and Japan). We are grateful to Japan for its strong support and contribution to our future victory," said First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzheppar on Twitter. Ми раді вітати в #Україні Прем'єр-міністра #Японії Кішіду Фуміо @kishida230. Цей історичний візит є проявом солідарності та плідної співпраці між 🇺🇦 & 🇯🇵. Ми вдячні Японії за потужну підтримку та внесок у нашу майбутню перемогу. ようこそ pic.twitter.com/xaXFrySYcw — Emine Dzheppar (@EmineDzheppar) March 21, 2023 × Japan is set to host the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May, and previously Kishida said that the summit must show its strong will to uphold rule of law and international order in response to the Russia-Ukraine war. WATCH | Kishida and Modi hail role of India-Japan ties in securing Indo-Pacific NHK shared the footage of the Japanese PM holding talks with the officials as he stood next to a train. He reached Kyiv after boarding a train from Przemysl, a border town in Poland. Kishida is also scheduled to hold talks with his Polish counterpart before flying back to Japan on Thursday, said the ministry. Before departing for Poland en route to Ukraine, Kishida made an official visit to India where he held talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. (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

Russia-Ukraine war | Japan PM Kishida visits Bucha in Ukraine

<p>The schools reopened in Afghanistan on Tuesday for the new academic year but classes were not held because students were unaware and thousands of girls were not allowed to enter. Afghanistan is the sole country where girls have been barred from attending secondary school and university.</p>

<p>No public announcement regarding the reopening of schools was made by the education ministry, parents and teachers said to CBS News, and since the date was marked as the beginning of the new year under the Persian tradition of Nowruz, many people assumed that the public holiday was still going on.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per reports, the official celebrations of the holiday were stopped by the Taliban but the families of students were not notified about starting of classes in schools.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-overtakes-afghanistan-as-country-with-most-terror-attacks-report-572748">Pakistan overtakes Afghanistan as country with most terror attacks: Report</a></p>

<p>"A letter issued by the minister of education was given to us by our principal to reopen the school today, but since no public announcement was made, no students came," stated Mohammad Osman Atayi, who works as a teacher at the Saidal Naseri Boys High School in Kabul.</p>

<p>"We did not send children to school in Kabul today because it's the new year holiday," said Ranna Afzali, a TV journalist who lost her job after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan. "In the past, the new year used to be a public holiday all over Afghanistan, but the Taliban terminated the holiday, so the schools were open but attendance was almost nil," Afzali added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Schools were also re-opened in other provinces including Ghazni, Badakhshan Kunduz and Herat but no classes were held there either, AFP reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, thousands of teenage girls remained barred from entering secondary school.</p>

<p>"The Taliban have snatched everything away from us," said Sadaf Haidari, a 15-year-old resident of Kabul. "I am depressed and broken," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The government imposed a ban on female students attending schools in March last year, hours after the schools were reopened for both girls and boys by the education ministry.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Gravitas: The Taliban attends India's IIM Kozhikode's online programme</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-taliban-attends-indias-iim-kozhikodes-online-programme-572405/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Earlier this month on International Women's Day, the UN mission to Afghanistan in a statement criticised the Taliban regime's "singular focus on imposing rules that leave most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes."</p>

<p>"It has been distressing to witness their methodical, deliberate, and systematic efforts to push Afghan women and girls out of the public sphere," said Roza Otunbayeva, special representative of the UN secretary-general and head of the UN mission to Afghanistan, in a statement.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The schools reopened in Afghanistan on Tuesday for the new academic year but classes were not held because students were unaware and thousands of girls were not allowed to enter.

The schools reopened in Afghanistan on Tuesday for the new academic year but classes were not held because students were unaware and thousands of girls were not allowed to enter. Afghanistan is the sole country where girls have been barred from attending secondary school and university. No public announcement regarding the reopening of schools was made by the education ministry, parents and teachers said to CBS News, and since the date was marked as the beginning of the new year under the Persian tradition of Nowruz, many people assumed that the public holiday was still going on. As per reports, the official celebrations of the holiday were stopped by the Taliban but the families of students were not notified about starting of classes in schools. ALSO READ | Pakistan overtakes Afghanistan as country with most terror attacks: Report "A letter issued by the minister of education was given to us by our principal to reopen the school today, but since no public announcement was made, no students came," stated Mohammad Osman Atayi, who works as a teacher at the Saidal Naseri Boys High School in Kabul. "We did not send children to school in Kabul today because it's the new year holiday," said Ranna Afzali, a TV journalist who lost her job after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan. "In the past, the new year used to be a public holiday all over Afghanistan, but the Taliban terminated the holiday, so the schools were open but attendance was almost nil," Afzali added. Schools were also re-opened in other provinces including Ghazni, Badakhshan Kunduz and Herat but no classes were held there either, AFP reported. Meanwhile, thousands of teenage girls remained barred from entering secondary school. "The Taliban have snatched everything away from us," said Sadaf Haidari, a 15-year-old resident of Kabul. "I am depressed and broken," she added. The government imposed a ban on female students attending schools in March last year, hours after the schools were reopened for both girls and boys by the education ministry. WATCH | Gravitas: The Taliban attends India's IIM Kozhikode's online programme Earlier this month on International Women's Day, the UN mission to Afghanistan in a statement criticised the Taliban regime's "singular focus on imposing rules that leave most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes." "It has been distressing to witness their methodical, deliberate, and systematic efforts to push Afghan women and girls out of the public sphere," said Roza Otunbayeva, special representative of the UN secretary-general and head of the UN mission to Afghanistan, in a statement. (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

Afghanistan: Schools start without classes as students remain unaware, girls barred

<p>A video of Pakistan Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain using abusive language while attending a convocation in a college in Lahore went viral, drawing huge criticism from netizens.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The video of his address at Government College University (GCU), Lahore was widely shared on social media platforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the video, the Pakistani minister was saying that he once met with Rana Iqrar, the vice chancellor of a Faisalabad agriculture university who told him, using an expletive word, how he was working in the Agriculture University even though he belongs to the ruling class of the Rana tribe.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imf-says-pakistan-making-substantial-progress-towards-loan-programme-report-574296">IMF says Pakistan making 'substantial progress' towards loan programme: Report</a></p>

<p>The remarks made by Hussain drew immense backlash on social media as people slammed him for using foul language at a college event.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One user, while sharing the video, wrote, "This is our Education Minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain. Just look at this man's language &amp; tell me why anyone should be surprised to see the dismal state of education in this country. He couldn't even fake it for a graduation ceremony. The lack of education shines through &amp; through."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is our Education Minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain. Just look at this man’s language &amp; tell me why anyone should be surprised to see the dismal state of education in this country. He couldn’t even fake it for a graduation ceremony. The lack of education shines through &amp; through <a href="https://t.co/1eQVCeGPtk">pic.twitter.com/1eQVCeGPtk</a></p>
— Muneeb Qadir (@muneebqadirmmq) <a href="https://twitter.com/muneebqadirmmq/status/1636992183176769538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Another user, slamming the minister, said, "The filth is engrossed so deep within that it all just oozes out as a matter of fact". A social media user, drawing a parallel to the state of education in Pakistan, tweeted, "Just look at this man's language &amp; tell me why anyone should be surprised to see the dismal state of education in this country".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You must resign. You were a disgrace," another user wrote.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Festive spirit eludes bankrupt Pakistan | WION Speed News</strong></p>

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<p>After the video went viral on social media platforms, the minister issued an apology through a tweet, calling his action a slip of the tongue. "Yesterday at GC University Lahore, I had a slip of tongue during my speech. I feel sorry about that and take my words back," he stated.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yesterday at GC University Lahore, i had a slip of tongue during my speech. I feel sorry about that and take my words back.</p>
— Rana Tanveer Hussain (@RTanveerPMLN) <a href="https://twitter.com/RTanveerPMLN/status/1637122014791061506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Even after the apology, internet users continued to criticise the minister for using abusive language in his speech. "It wasn't a slip of the tongue, it was proof of your normal behaviour," one user wrote.</p>

<p>Other social media users said the minister should behave professionally and set a good precedent for others.</p>

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A video of Pakistan Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain using abusive language while attending a convocation in a college in Lahore went viral, drawing huge criticism from netizens.

A video of Pakistan Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain using abusive language while attending a convocation in a college in Lahore went viral, drawing huge criticism from netizens. The video of his address at Government College University (GCU), Lahore was widely shared on social media platforms. In the video, the Pakistani minister was saying that he once met with Rana Iqrar, the vice chancellor of a Faisalabad agriculture university who told him, using an expletive word, how he was working in the Agriculture University even though he belongs to the ruling class of the Rana tribe. ALSO READ | IMF says Pakistan making 'substantial progress' towards loan programme: Report The remarks made by Hussain drew immense backlash on social media as people slammed him for using foul language at a college event. One user, while sharing the video, wrote, "This is our Education Minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain. Just look at this man's language & tell me why anyone should be surprised to see the dismal state of education in this country. He couldn't even fake it for a graduation ceremony. The lack of education shines through & through." This is our Education Minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain. Just look at this man’s language & tell me why anyone should be surprised to see the dismal state of education in this country. He couldn’t even fake it for a graduation ceremony. The lack of education shines through & through pic.twitter.com/1eQVCeGPtk — Muneeb Qadir (@muneebqadirmmq) March 18, 2023 × Another user, slamming the minister, said, "The filth is engrossed so deep within that it all just oozes out as a matter of fact". A social media user, drawing a parallel to the state of education in Pakistan, tweeted, "Just look at this man's language & tell me why anyone should be surprised to see the dismal state of education in this country". "You must resign. You were a disgrace," another user wrote. WATCH | Festive spirit eludes bankrupt Pakistan | WION Speed News After the video went viral on social media platforms, the minister issued an apology through a tweet, calling his action a slip of the tongue. "Yesterday at GC University Lahore, I had a slip of tongue during my speech. I feel sorry about that and take my words back," he stated. Yesterday at GC University Lahore, i had a slip of tongue during my speech. I feel sorry about that and take my words back. — Rana Tanveer Hussain (@RTanveerPMLN) March 18, 2023 × Even after the apology, internet users continued to criticise the minister for using abusive language in his speech. "It wasn't a slip of the tongue, it was proof of your normal behaviour," one user wrote. Other social media users said the minister should behave professionally and set a good precedent for others. 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 | Pak education minister's video using cuss words at convocation goes viral

<p>China appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday to avoid what it termed as "double standards" and respect the immunity of heads of state, after an arrest warrant was issued by the tribunal for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of committing war crimes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court should "uphold an objective and impartial stance" and "respect the immunity of heads of state from jurisdiction under international law", said foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin in a press briefing.</p>

<p>Wang also appealed to the court to "avoid politicisation and double standards", emphasising the fact the Ukraine conflict can be resolved only through "dialogue and negotiation".</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/with-ukraine-war-at-critical-junction-china-takes-bigger-role-573714">With Ukraine war at critical junction, China takes bigger role</a></p>

<p>China is not among the signatories of the Rome Statute which is a United Nations treaty that governs the court.</p>

<p>On Friday, the International Criminal Court announced that it is issuing an arrest warrant against Putin who is accused of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.</p>

<p>The orders were dismissed by Moscow as "void", and with Russia not a party to the ICC it is unclear if or how Putin could ever be extradited to face the charge.</p>

<p>The warrant was issued by ICC just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia, an official trip that the Chinese premier described as a "journey of friendship, co-operation and peace".</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Russia, China and Iran conduct naval exercise, raises concerns in West</strong></p>

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<p>Xi landed in Moscow on Monday where he will be holding a meeting with Putin and signing an accord before he departs for Beijing on Wednesday.</p>

<p>"The two sides will practice genuine multilateralism, promote democracy in international relations, build a multipolar world, improve global governance and contribute to world development and progress," Wang said at the press briefing on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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China appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday to avoid what it termed as "double standards" and respect the immunity of heads of state, after an arrest warrant was issued by the tribunal for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of committing war crimes.

China appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday to avoid what it termed as "double standards" and respect the immunity of heads of state, after an arrest warrant was issued by the tribunal for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of committing war crimes. The court should "uphold an objective and impartial stance" and "respect the immunity of heads of state from jurisdiction under international law", said foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin in a press briefing. Wang also appealed to the court to "avoid politicisation and double standards", emphasising the fact the Ukraine conflict can be resolved only through "dialogue and negotiation". ALSO READ | With Ukraine war at critical junction, China takes bigger role China is not among the signatories of the Rome Statute which is a United Nations treaty that governs the court. On Friday, the International Criminal Court announced that it is issuing an arrest warrant against Putin who is accused of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. The orders were dismissed by Moscow as "void", and with Russia not a party to the ICC it is unclear if or how Putin could ever be extradited to face the charge. The warrant was issued by ICC just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia, an official trip that the Chinese premier described as a "journey of friendship, co-operation and peace". WATCH | Russia, China and Iran conduct naval exercise, raises concerns in West Xi landed in Moscow on Monday where he will be holding a meeting with Putin and signing an accord before he departs for Beijing on Wednesday. "The two sides will practice genuine multilateralism, promote democracy in international relations, build a multipolar world, improve global governance and contribute to world development and progress," Wang said at the press briefing on Monday. (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

China calls ICC to avoid 'double standards' after Putin's arrest warrant

<p>A United Nations official expressed his dissatisfaction over the services provided by the Air India flight officials, calling it very poor, last week. The official, who had recently boarded a flight from New York to New Delhi, took to his Twitter handle to write about broken seats and cockroaches on the flight and lack of "entertainment/call buttons/reading lights".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"As a UN diplomat, I've flown worldwide, but Air India 102 JFK to Delhi was my worst flight experience: broken seats, no entertainment/call buttons/reading lights, and cockroaches. Poison spray. Disregard for customer care," wrote the diplomat on Twitter.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">As a UN diplomat, I've flown worldwide, but Air India 102 JFK to Delhi was my worst flight experience: broken seats, no entertainment/call buttons/reading lights, and cockroaches! Poison spray. Disregard for customer care! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/airtravelnightmare?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#airtravelnightmare</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TataGroup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TataGroup</a> <a href="https://t.co/5UcBCzSaoZ">pic.twitter.com/5UcBCzSaoZ</a></p>
— GPS (@Gurpreet13hee13) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gurpreet13hee13/status/1634980476334247937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The diplomat on Monday again demanded clarification on how Air India flights coming from New York have cockroaches near seats and seriously lack any onboard safety equipment.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/air-india-on-a-hiring-spree-with-one-role-paying-as-much-as-rs-2-crore-564281">Air India on a hiring spree with one role paying as much as Rs 2 crore</a></p>

<p>"Any thoughts and comments on how Air India flights from NY are infested with cockroaches and has non-operational standard Onboard safety equipment?" wrote the diplomat.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/RNTata2000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RNTata2000</a> Any thoughts and comments on how Air India flights from NY are infested with cockroaches and has non-operational standard Onboard safety equipment?<a href="https://twitter.com/USFAA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USFAA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/airindiain?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@airindiain</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/wvmPIrBjkA">https://t.co/wvmPIrBjkA</a></p>
— GPS (@Gurpreet13hee13) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gurpreet13hee13/status/1637670769441357824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>After the official's second tweet, Air India apologised for the bad experience and stated that they will review the case.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dear Sir, we sincerely regret the experience you have had with us. This is not something good to hear. Please help us with your booking details via DM for us to highlight the same to the relevant team for necessary review.</p>
— Air India (@airindiain) <a href="https://twitter.com/airindiain/status/1637672337318223873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>This is not the first time that the passengers of Air India flights have expressed their disappointment over their poor experience. In 2019, Air India was under fire after facing an accusation of a dead cockroach's presence in the breakfast which was offered on a flight from Bhopal to Mumbai.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The passenger had complained that he was ignored by the flight crew when he informed them about the dead cockroach's presence in the sambar which was offered in the breakfast.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Air India amends existing in-flight liquor policy after Pee-gate scandal</strong></p>

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<p>Recently, another passenger of Air India complained that he found an insect in his meal and shared a video of the incident on Twitter.</p>

<p>On the same day, famous Indian chef Sanjeev Kapoor complained about the deteriorated quality of the meal he was offered on an Air India flight from Nagpur to Mumbai.</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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A United Nations official expressed his dissatisfaction over the services provided by the Air India flight officials, calling it very poor, last week. The official, who had recently boarded a flight from New York to New Delhi, took to his Twitter handle to write about broken seats and cockroaches on the flight and lack of "entertainment/call buttons/reading lights".

A United Nations official expressed his dissatisfaction over the services provided by the Air India flight officials, calling it very poor, last week. The official, who had recently boarded a flight from New York to New Delhi, took to his Twitter handle to write about broken seats and cockroaches on the flight and lack of "entertainment/call buttons/reading lights". "As a UN diplomat, I've flown worldwide, but Air India 102 JFK to Delhi was my worst flight experience: broken seats, no entertainment/call buttons/reading lights, and cockroaches. Poison spray. Disregard for customer care," wrote the diplomat on Twitter. As a UN diplomat, I've flown worldwide, but Air India 102 JFK to Delhi was my worst flight experience: broken seats, no entertainment/call buttons/reading lights, and cockroaches! Poison spray. Disregard for customer care! #airtravelnightmare #AirIndia #TataGroup pic.twitter.com/5UcBCzSaoZ — GPS (@Gurpreet13hee13) March 12, 2023 × The diplomat on Monday again demanded clarification on how Air India flights coming from New York have cockroaches near seats and seriously lack any onboard safety equipment. ALSO READ | Air India on a hiring spree with one role paying as much as Rs 2 crore "Any thoughts and comments on how Air India flights from NY are infested with cockroaches and has non-operational standard Onboard safety equipment?" wrote the diplomat. @RNTata2000 Any thoughts and comments on how Air India flights from NY are infested with cockroaches and has non-operational standard Onboard safety equipment?@USFAA @airindiain ? https://t.co/wvmPIrBjkA — GPS (@Gurpreet13hee13) March 20, 2023 × After the official's second tweet, Air India apologised for the bad experience and stated that they will review the case. Dear Sir, we sincerely regret the experience you have had with us. This is not something good to hear. Please help us with your booking details via DM for us to highlight the same to the relevant team for necessary review. — Air India (@airindiain) March 20, 2023 × This is not the first time that the passengers of Air India flights have expressed their disappointment over their poor experience. In 2019, Air India was under fire after facing an accusation of a dead cockroach's presence in the breakfast which was offered on a flight from Bhopal to Mumbai. The passenger had complained that he was ignored by the flight crew when he informed them about the dead cockroach's presence in the sambar which was offered in the breakfast. WATCH | Air India amends existing in-flight liquor policy after Pee-gate scandal Recently, another passenger of Air India complained that he found an insect in his meal and shared a video of the incident on Twitter. On the same day, famous Indian chef Sanjeev Kapoor complained about the deteriorated quality of the meal he was offered on an Air India flight from Nagpur to Mumbai. 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

Broken seats, cockroaches! UN official expresses disappointment over Air India flight

<p>Scientists have recently claimed to have discovered a new parasitic fungus which infects and kills trapdoor spiders in the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil.</p>

<p>The rare fungus is purple and is part of the group that infects invertebrates and then takes over the host. In a close-up image, the fungus is seen wrapped around a trapdoor spider's body, poking out of the burrow from which the insects are grabbed by the arachnid.</p>

<p>The researchers said that no evidence has surfaced till now which proves that the behaviour of trapdoor spiders is controlled by the newly-discovered parasitic fungus before the former is killed, like their zombie-ant fungi relatives, which tricks the insects into leaving their nests to reach places where they are free to spread their spores.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whiskey-fungus-is-threatening-the-lives-and-finances-of-this-us-town-567459">'Whiskey fungus' is threatening the lives and finances of this US town</a></p>

<p>The scientists discovered the fungus during their field trip to forests north of Rio de Janeiro in November. They were visiting the forests to document the biodiversity of the area and find new species.</p>

<p>“It’s a really beautiful thing,” stated Dr Joao Araujo, a Brazilian mycologist with the New York Botanical Garden who found the parasitic fungus.</p>

<p>“They infect trapdoor spiders, and it’s one of the very few cordyceps that are purple, which is a cool feature. We don’t know much about this fungal group because it’s very understudied. This kind of fungus has been collected very few times in the world, mostly in Thailand. This will likely be the first time we sequence a species like this from Brazil,” he added.</p>

<p>The expedition, which was held in collaboration between the New York Botanical Garden, Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens, Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden and other organisations, included experts on fungi, birds, snakes, frogs and plants.</p>

<p>“The new species that attacks trapdoor spiders belongs to a mega-diverse group of fungi. We know about 1% of its diversity, so we know very little. Foundational scientific work is needed so we can, perhaps, investigate new medical compounds or use them to protect against pests in crops,” Araujo said.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Zombie Fungus: Fungal pandemic can turn humans into zombies?</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/zombie-fungus-fungal-pandemic-can-turn-humans-into-zombies-556908/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Lead researchers Dr Natalia Przelomska and Dr Oscar Alejandro Pérez Escobar, who carried out in-the-field sequencing, said that the new species hypothesis will be backed by their work and can be used for speeding up the identification of other species in ecosystems.</p>

<p>“Here at Kew, we have access to big DNA sequencing machines and all sorts of ways to produce data. That is often so much harder in biodiverse countries. So what was really special about the field trip was that we could go and use some of the newest DNA sequencing technologies with the people working there. It’s one small step in this really big problem of unequal access,” Przelomska said.&nbsp;</p>

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Scientists have recently claimed to have discovered a new parasitic fungus which infects and kills trapdoor spiders in the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil. The rare fungus is purple and is part of the group that infects invertebrates and then takes over the host.

Scientists have recently claimed to have discovered a new parasitic fungus which infects and kills trapdoor spiders in the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil. The rare fungus is purple and is part of the group that infects invertebrates and then takes over the host. In a close-up image, the fungus is seen wrapped around a trapdoor spider's body, poking out of the burrow from which the insects are grabbed by the arachnid. The researchers said that no evidence has surfaced till now which proves that the behaviour of trapdoor spiders is controlled by the newly-discovered parasitic fungus before the former is killed, like their zombie-ant fungi relatives, which tricks the insects into leaving their nests to reach places where they are free to spread their spores. ALSO READ | 'Whiskey fungus' is threatening the lives and finances of this US town The scientists discovered the fungus during their field trip to forests north of Rio de Janeiro in November. They were visiting the forests to document the biodiversity of the area and find new species. “It’s a really beautiful thing,” stated Dr Joao Araujo, a Brazilian mycologist with the New York Botanical Garden who found the parasitic fungus. “They infect trapdoor spiders, and it’s one of the very few cordyceps that are purple, which is a cool feature. We don’t know much about this fungal group because it’s very understudied. This kind of fungus has been collected very few times in the world, mostly in Thailand. This will likely be the first time we sequence a species like this from Brazil,” he added. The expedition, which was held in collaboration between the New York Botanical Garden, Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens, Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden and other organisations, included experts on fungi, birds, snakes, frogs and plants. “The new species that attacks trapdoor spiders belongs to a mega-diverse group of fungi. We know about 1% of its diversity, so we know very little. Foundational scientific work is needed so we can, perhaps, investigate new medical compounds or use them to protect against pests in crops,” Araujo said. WATCH | Zombie Fungus: Fungal pandemic can turn humans into zombies? Lead researchers Dr Natalia Przelomska and Dr Oscar Alejandro Pérez Escobar, who carried out in-the-field sequencing, said that the new species hypothesis will be backed by their work and can be used for speeding up the identification of other species in ecosystems. “Here at Kew, we have access to big DNA sequencing machines and all sorts of ways to produce data. That is often so much harder in biodiverse countries. So what was really special about the field trip was that we could go and use some of the newest DNA sequencing technologies with the people working there. It’s one small step in this really big problem of unequal access,” Przelomska 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

Scientists discover parasitic fungus which preys on spiders in Brazil

Chinese President Xi Jinping will be on a two-day visit to Moscow from March 20 to 22. On agenda is brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine. China has been touting itself as a mediator, but its deepening ties with Russia have cast doubts. Mohammed Saleh reports.

Gravitas: Xi's Moscow visit | What if the peace plan fails?

Britain is set to show-off the Koh-i-noor as part of its nation's crown jewels. The nation will also stage the history of the controversial diamond. For how long will the UK remain in its colonial hangover? Mohammed Saleh reports.

Gravitas: UK to show koh-i-noor as 'symbol of conquest'

French president Macron has passed the new pension reforms and increased the retirement age from 62 to 64. Opposition leaders have urged for a no-confidence motion against Macron. Will the French government empathise with its citizens? Mohammed Saleh reports.

Gravitas: France passes new pension reforms

On Wednesday, a drone strike in Pakistan's Waziristan region claimed the lives of 2 children. Pak citizens are calling it 'state terrorism' & seeking accountability from Islamabad. Mohammed Saleh reports.

Gravitas: Pakistan drone strike kills 2 children

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