The Supreme Court of Spain ruled against the demand of a few naturist property owners at a holiday home development who insisted that only naked residents can use the communal areas. The court said that security guards must not be hired to ensure that nudity laws are being followed in the shared swimming pool.

The court gave its verdict after eight people n the development in Almeria's Andalucían province took legal action, claiming that the nudity policy enforced was violating their basic rights.

After the regional courts dismissed their case, the locals decided to file a case in the Supreme Court which eventually delivered a verdict in their favour.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/spain-court-backs-mans-right-to-walk-naked-in-streets-of-aldaia-town-558757">Spain: Court backs man’s right to walk naked in streets of Aldaia town</a>

Even though few people belonging to the development claimed that they were born with “a strong naturist-nudist vocation” and that in communal areas like gardens and pools, nudity was “indispensable”, the judges disagreed.

“A climate was created that was unbearable for the complainants and many other neighbours, who were hounded, coerced and discriminated against solely because they did not practise nudism. Their holiday homes had gone from being a place of rest to a place of suffering,” said the judges.

The Supreme Court said that the lower courts were incorrect in rejecting the pleas filed earlier.

“This court has found a patent error in the evidence used to support that conclusion, given that a simple reading of the minutes of the community meeting clearly proves that the said statutes were not approved and that that question was not addressed in earlier proceedings,” the judges said.

The judges added that the facts of the case were far beyond what they called “a mere dialectical debate” and was involving the imposition of rules which gravely violated fundamental rights.

WATCH | WION Fineprint | Instagram launches filter to prevent people from sending unsolicited nude

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“While there had been previous attempts to impose naturism, during Holy Week 2017 the respondents hired a security company that deployed several guards at the entrance to the pool and instructed them to refuse entry to anyone who was not naked and to expel anyone by the pool who was wearing a swimming costume,” the court said.

“As a consequence, we are granting the appeal because there was no reason to arbitrarily – through acts of force, such as hiring private security guards – stop the complainants enjoying the rights to which they are entitled in communal areas if they did not practise nudism, which, while being a perfectly legitimate and respectable personal choice, cannot be enforced without reason,” the judges added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Supreme Court of Spain ruled against the demand of a few naturist property owners at a holiday home development who insisted that only naked residents can use the communal areas.

The Supreme Court of Spain ruled against the demand of a few naturist property owners at a holiday home development who insisted that only naked residents can use the communal areas. The court said that security guards must not be hired to ensure that nudity laws are being followed in the shared swimming pool. The court gave its verdict after eight people n the development in Almeria's Andalucían province took legal action, claiming that the nudity policy enforced was violating their basic rights. After the regional courts dismissed their case, the locals decided to file a case in the Supreme Court which eventually delivered a verdict in their favour. ALSO READ | Spain: Court backs man’s right to walk naked in streets of Aldaia town Even though few people belonging to the development claimed that they were born with “a strong naturist-nudist vocation” and that in communal areas like gardens and pools, nudity was “indispensable”, the judges disagreed. “A climate was created that was unbearable for the complainants and many other neighbours, who were hounded, coerced and discriminated against solely because they did not practise nudism. Their holiday homes had gone from being a place of rest to a place of suffering,” said the judges. The Supreme Court said that the lower courts were incorrect in rejecting the pleas filed earlier. “This court has found a patent error in the evidence used to support that conclusion, given that a simple reading of the minutes of the community meeting clearly proves that the said statutes were not approved and that that question was not addressed in earlier proceedings,” the judges said. The judges added that the facts of the case were far beyond what they called “a mere dialectical debate” and was involving the imposition of rules which gravely violated fundamental rights. WATCH | WION Fineprint | Instagram launches filter to prevent people from sending unsolicited nude “While there had been previous attempts to impose naturism, during Holy Week 2017 the respondents hired a security company that deployed several guards at the entrance to the pool and instructed them to refuse entry to anyone who was not naked and to expel anyone by the pool who was wearing a swimming costume,” the court said. “As a consequence, we are granting the appeal because there was no reason to arbitrarily – through acts of force, such as hiring private security guards – stop the complainants enjoying the rights to which they are entitled in communal areas if they did not practise nudism, which, while being a perfectly legitimate and respectable personal choice, cannot be enforced without reason,” the judges 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

Spanish court rules against holiday home naturists' insistence on nudity in communal areas

United States President Joe Biden on Thursday said that he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the wake of the shooting down of a Chinese balloon by the US Air Force earlier this month, which Washington claimed to be a high-tech Chinese spy device.

"I expect to be speaking with President Xi and... we're going to get to the bottom of this," Biden said, in the most extensive public remark made by him since the incident that took place on February 4.

While emphasising that the United States is "not looking for a new Cold War”, Biden said, "I make no apologies for taking down that balloon." "We'll always act to protect the interests of the American people and the security of the American people,” he added.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-charges-us-of-flowing-balloons-over-xinjiang-tibet-says-will-adopt-countermeasures-562500">Destroyed Chinese balloon aimed for Guam, Hawaii, claims US official</a>

The United States has remained in a state of alarm since a huge white Chinese balloon was spotted flying over various secret nuclear weapons sites. China has claimed that the balloon is just a stray weather research craft, however, US officials claim that they have conclusive evidence that the balloon was a spy device.

The shooting down of the balloon created a diplomatic rift between the two countries with Secretary of State Antony Blinken's China visit getting abruptly cancelled. Beijing called Washington's actions an overreaction and claimed that there have been numerous incidents of US balloons flying over Chinese territory.

"We don't yet know exactly what these three objects were. Nothing right now suggests they're related to China's spy balloon programme or... surveillance vehicles from any other countries. The intelligence community's current assessment is that these three objects are most likely balloons tied to private companies" or research projects, said Biden.

WATCH | WION Speed News: China calls on U.S. to manage differences over spy balloon

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However, "if any object presents a threat to the safety, security (of) the American people I will take it down," he added.

Resetting relations with China has become a top priority of Biden, which Washinton calls its biggest competitor. Biden and Xi have earlier expressed their wish to establish "guard rails" to avoid their superpower competition from becoming a conflict.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Wednesday had said that the two countries have not "stopped communicating and trying to understand each other".

In the last two weeks, Biden added that his government has been "continuing to engage with China". "We seek competition, not conflict. This episode underscores the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between our diplomats and our military professionals,” he said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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United States President Joe Biden on Thursday said that he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the wake of the shooting down of a Chinese balloon by the US Air Force earlier this month, which Washington claimed to be a high-tech Chinese spy device.

United States President Joe Biden on Thursday said that he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the wake of the shooting down of a Chinese balloon by the US Air Force earlier this month, which Washington claimed to be a high-tech Chinese spy device. "I expect to be speaking with President Xi and... we're going to get to the bottom of this," Biden said, in the most extensive public remark made by him since the incident that took place on February 4. While emphasising that the United States is "not looking for a new Cold War”, Biden said, "I make no apologies for taking down that balloon." "We'll always act to protect the interests of the American people and the security of the American people,” he added. ALSO READ | Destroyed Chinese balloon aimed for Guam, Hawaii, claims US official The United States has remained in a state of alarm since a huge white Chinese balloon was spotted flying over various secret nuclear weapons sites. China has claimed that the balloon is just a stray weather research craft, however, US officials claim that they have conclusive evidence that the balloon was a spy device. The shooting down of the balloon created a diplomatic rift between the two countries with Secretary of State Antony Blinken's China visit getting abruptly cancelled. Beijing called Washington's actions an overreaction and claimed that there have been numerous incidents of US balloons flying over Chinese territory. "We don't yet know exactly what these three objects were. Nothing right now suggests they're related to China's spy balloon programme or... surveillance vehicles from any other countries. The intelligence community's current assessment is that these three objects are most likely balloons tied to private companies" or research projects, said Biden. WATCH | WION Speed News: China calls on U.S. to manage differences over spy balloon However, "if any object presents a threat to the safety, security (of) the American people I will take it down," he added. Resetting relations with China has become a top priority of Biden, which Washinton calls its biggest competitor. Biden and Xi have earlier expressed their wish to establish "guard rails" to avoid their superpower competition from becoming a conflict. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Wednesday had said that the two countries have not "stopped communicating and trying to understand each other". In the last two weeks, Biden added that his government has been "continuing to engage with China". "We seek competition, not conflict. This episode underscores the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between our diplomats and our military professionals,” he said. (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

US President Biden to talk to China's Xi in wake of balloon controversy

In an interview with BBC, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he is not willing to give up even a single territory of his country as part of any peace deal with Russia.

Zelensky said that conceding territory would mean Moscow could "keep coming back", and added that Western weapons are likely to bring peace closer. He further said that the predicted spring offensive had already started, while speaking to the BBC, in the wake of one year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"Russian attacks are already happening from several directions," he added. However, he expressed belief in the Ukrainian forces' capabilities to keep resisting the advances of Russia till a counter-offensive is launched by them.

"Of course, modern weapons speed up peace. Weapons are the only language Russia understands," Zelensky said while speaking to the BBC.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-tells-russian-people-putin-is-waging-a-war-to-stay-in-power-until-the-end-of-his-life-548485">Zelensky tells Russian people Putin waging war just to stay in power and is destroying them</a>

Although it is not clear when Zelensky spoke with BBC, he also talked about Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko's chances to wage war alongside the troops of Russia if the border is crossed by a single Ukrainian soldier.

"I hope (Belarus) won't join (the war). If it does, we will fight and we will survive,” Zelensky said. He added that&nbsp;it will be a “huge mistake” to permit Russia to use Belarus as a staging post for launching an attack again.

On Thursday, when Lukashenko was asked about allowing his country to be used as a staging ground for invasion by Russia's invasion, he had said, “Yes, I'm ready. I'm ready to provide (territory) again. I'm also ready to wage war, alongside the Russians, from the territory of Belarus. But only if someone - even a single soldier - enters our territory from there (Ukraine) with weapons to kill my people."

WATCH | WION Speed News | Paris Olympics 2024: Zelensky attends meet to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes

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Talking about the tactics of Russia in the war in the BBC interview, Zelensky called them "valueless". "The way they destroyed everything. If their soldiers received [and carried out] those orders, that means they share those same values,” he said.

"Today, our survival is our unity. I believe Ukraine is fighting for its survival. We chose this path. We want security guarantees. Any territorial compromises would make us weaker as a state. It's not about compromise itself. Why would we be afraid of that? We have millions of compromises in life every day. The question is with whom? With Putin? No. Because there's no trust. Dialogue with him? No. Because there's no trust,” Zelensky said, while speaking to the BBC.

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In an interview with BBC, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he is not willing to give up even a single territory of his country as part of any peace deal with Russia.

In an interview with BBC, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he is not willing to give up even a single territory of his country as part of any peace deal with Russia. Zelensky said that conceding territory would mean Moscow could "keep coming back", and added that Western weapons are likely to bring peace closer. He further said that the predicted spring offensive had already started, while speaking to the BBC, in the wake of one year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "Russian attacks are already happening from several directions," he added. However, he expressed belief in the Ukrainian forces' capabilities to keep resisting the advances of Russia till a counter-offensive is launched by them. "Of course, modern weapons speed up peace. Weapons are the only language Russia understands," Zelensky said while speaking to the BBC. ALSO READ | Zelensky tells Russian people Putin waging war just to stay in power and is destroying them Although it is not clear when Zelensky spoke with BBC, he also talked about Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko's chances to wage war alongside the troops of Russia if the border is crossed by a single Ukrainian soldier. "I hope (Belarus) won't join (the war). If it does, we will fight and we will survive,” Zelensky said. He added that it will be a “huge mistake” to permit Russia to use Belarus as a staging post for launching an attack again. On Thursday, when Lukashenko was asked about allowing his country to be used as a staging ground for invasion by Russia's invasion, he had said, “Yes, I'm ready. I'm ready to provide (territory) again. I'm also ready to wage war, alongside the Russians, from the territory of Belarus. But only if someone - even a single soldier - enters our territory from there (Ukraine) with weapons to kill my people." WATCH | WION Speed News | Paris Olympics 2024: Zelensky attends meet to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes Talking about the tactics of Russia in the war in the BBC interview, Zelensky called them "valueless". "The way they destroyed everything. If their soldiers received [and carried out] those orders, that means they share those same values,” he said. "Today, our survival is our unity. I believe Ukraine is fighting for its survival. We chose this path. We want security guarantees. Any territorial compromises would make us weaker as a state. It's not about compromise itself. Why would we be afraid of that? We have millions of compromises in life every day. The question is with whom? With Putin? No. Because there's no trust. Dialogue with him? No. Because there's no trust,” Zelensky said, while speaking to the BBC. 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: Zelensky rules out giving up any territory in peace deal

Around 453 people were laid off through an official email late at night on Thursday from Google's India offices as per a report, which further claimed that firing took place across different departments.

Google India's Country Head and Vice President Sanjay Gupta sent an email to the employees who were laid off and informed them about their sudden, said the report published by the Business Line.

However, this remains unknown whether this is a fresh round of layoffs or is part of the company's plan to cut down the staffing by around 12,000 which is 6% of its global workforce, as was announced by Google CEO Sundar Pichai in January.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-heading-towards-launching-its-own-chatbot-technology-in-response-to-chatgpt-558876">Google heading towards launching its own chatbot technology in response to ChatGPT?</a>

Informing the employees about the move in an email, Pichai took 'full responsibility for the decisions that led the company to this juncture and added that a ‘rigorous review' was undertaken by the company before reaching this conclusion.

“The roles we're eliminating reflect the outcome of that review. They cut across (parent firm) Alphabet, product areas, functions, levels and regions,” Pichai wrote in the mail.

He added that the company went through a “rigorous review across product areas and functions” so that the people and their roles are aligned with the highest priorities of the company.

“The roles we’re eliminating reflect the outcome of that review. They cut across Alphabet, product areas, functions, levels and regions,” Pichai wrote in the mail.

WATCH | Google's Prabhakar Raghavan: 'Chatbots' convincing yet fictitious answers'

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The report comes a day after Google India was said to have posted various job vacancies on LinkedIn. Some of the positions open were Manager, Startup Success Team, Employee Relations Partner, Startup Success Manager, Google Cloud, Vendor Solutions Consultant, Google Cloud, Product Manager, and Database Insights. The vacancies were available across Google offices, in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Gurugram.

The layoff continues amid Indian-origin Neal Mohan taking over as the new CEO of YouTube after its former CEO Susan Wojcicki stepped down on Thursday.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

Around 453 people were laid off through an official email late at night on Thursday from Google's India offices as per a report, which further claimed that firing took place across different departments.

Around 453 people were laid off through an official email late at night on Thursday from Google's India offices as per a report, which further claimed that firing took place across different departments. Google India's Country Head and Vice President Sanjay Gupta sent an email to the employees who were laid off and informed them about their sudden, said the report published by the Business Line. However, this remains unknown whether this is a fresh round of layoffs or is part of the company's plan to cut down the staffing by around 12,000 which is 6% of its global workforce, as was announced by Google CEO Sundar Pichai in January. ALSO READ | Google heading towards launching its own chatbot technology in response to ChatGPT? Informing the employees about the move in an email, Pichai took 'full responsibility for the decisions that led the company to this juncture and added that a ‘rigorous review' was undertaken by the company before reaching this conclusion. “The roles we're eliminating reflect the outcome of that review. They cut across (parent firm) Alphabet, product areas, functions, levels and regions,” Pichai wrote in the mail. He added that the company went through a “rigorous review across product areas and functions” so that the people and their roles are aligned with the highest priorities of the company. “The roles we’re eliminating reflect the outcome of that review. They cut across Alphabet, product areas, functions, levels and regions,” Pichai wrote in the mail. WATCH | Google's Prabhakar Raghavan: 'Chatbots' convincing yet fictitious answers' The report comes a day after Google India was said to have posted various job vacancies on LinkedIn. Some of the positions open were Manager, Startup Success Team, Employee Relations Partner, Startup Success Manager, Google Cloud, Vendor Solutions Consultant, Google Cloud, Product Manager, and Database Insights. The vacancies were available across Google offices, in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Gurugram. The layoff continues amid Indian-origin Neal Mohan taking over as the new CEO of YouTube after its former CEO Susan Wojcicki stepped down on Thursday. (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

Google layoffs: Late-night email terminates 453 employees in India

United States President Joe Biden's doctor declared him "fit for duty" on Thursday after his final annual medical check-up was over as the leader is expected to run for re-election in 2024 when he will turn 82.

The much-awaited report after the elaborate testing highlighted a few minor health issues but said that Biden is not suffering from any serious physical or neurological health problems.

"President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those of as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief," said Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, in a letter published by the White House.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-talk-to-xi-in-wake-of-balloon-shoot-down-by-us-562889">US President Biden to talk to China's Xi in wake of balloon controversy</a>

"The president remains fit for duty, and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations,” the letter added.

The oldest-ever&nbsp;US president&nbsp;Biden spent the morning hours finishing the series of tests which he began at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre.

O'Connor's letter presented a glowing picture of Biden who has been benefitting from healthy living habits. "The president does not use any tobacco products, does not drink alcohol, and he continues to work out at least five days a week," the letter stated.

Biden is six feet (1.83 metres) tall and weighs around 178 pounds (nearly 80.7 kg). The report also notes that Biden was suffering from Covid-19 in 2022 and again had a rebound infection, but he received the vaccinations and "has not experienced any residual symptoms which may be considered 'long Covid'."

O'Connor said that two health issues, which were observed in the previous medical examination held in November 2021 remain mostly the same.

One medical issue is gastroesophageal reflux which results in frequent coughing and the other is Biden's stiff walking because of "wear and tear" in his spine.

"The President's gait remains stiff, but has not worsened since last year," said O'Connor.

WATCH | US&nbsp;President Joe Biden defends taking down aerial objects

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The doctor further stated that "an extremely detailed neurological exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or ascending lateral sclerosis."

Speaking about Biden spending "a good deal of time in the sun in his youth," O'Connor said that the president has received regular treatment for removal of non-melanoma, localised skin cancer.

"One small lesion on the President's chest was excised today and sent for traditional biopsy," the doctor said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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United States President Joe Biden's doctor declared him "fit for duty" on Thursday after his final annual medical check-up was over as the leader is expected to run for re-election in 2024 when he will turn 82.

United States President Joe Biden's doctor declared him "fit for duty" on Thursday after his final annual medical check-up was over as the leader is expected to run for re-election in 2024 when he will turn 82. The much-awaited report after the elaborate testing highlighted a few minor health issues but said that Biden is not suffering from any serious physical or neurological health problems. "President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those of as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief," said Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, in a letter published by the White House. ALSO READ | US President Biden to talk to China's Xi in wake of balloon controversy "The president remains fit for duty, and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations,” the letter added. The oldest-ever US president Biden spent the morning hours finishing the series of tests which he began at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre. O'Connor's letter presented a glowing picture of Biden who has been benefitting from healthy living habits. "The president does not use any tobacco products, does not drink alcohol, and he continues to work out at least five days a week," the letter stated. Biden is six feet (1.83 metres) tall and weighs around 178 pounds (nearly 80.7 kg). The report also notes that Biden was suffering from Covid-19 in 2022 and again had a rebound infection, but he received the vaccinations and "has not experienced any residual symptoms which may be considered 'long Covid'." O'Connor said that two health issues, which were observed in the previous medical examination held in November 2021 remain mostly the same. One medical issue is gastroesophageal reflux which results in frequent coughing and the other is Biden's stiff walking because of "wear and tear" in his spine. "The President's gait remains stiff, but has not worsened since last year," said O'Connor. WATCH | US President Joe Biden defends taking down aerial objects The doctor further stated that "an extremely detailed neurological exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or ascending lateral sclerosis." Speaking about Biden spending "a good deal of time in the sun in his youth," O'Connor said that the president has received regular treatment for removal of non-melanoma, localised skin cancer. "One small lesion on the President's chest was excised today and sent for traditional biopsy," the doctor said. (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

Biden, 80, declared medically 'fit' ahead of 2024 campaign

The first new medium-lift launcher of Japan in three decades, the H3 rocket, failed in its first launch on Friday after two secondary booster engines which were strapped to the side of the space vehicle failed to ignite.

Amid the live-streamed event, the main engine of the H3 rocket had cut off after the launch countdown went to zero, and the 57-metre (187ft) rocket remained standing on its launch pad at the Tanegashima spaceport. Along with the rocket was its payload, the ALOS-3 land observation satellite, which has an infrared sensor designed to detect ballistic missiles of North Korea.

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ABORT. Japan's H3 rocket aborted its inaugural launch moments before liftoff, following ignition of its main engines. <a href="https://t.co/q04XSKONQf">https://t.co/q04XSKONQf</a> <a href="https://t.co/VxGGllpLOd">pic.twitter.com/VxGGllpLOd</a>
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1626396356087627776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said that the failure in the rocket's launch is being investigated. The H3 rocket was built by Japan to increase the nation's independent access to space and increase its chances of seizing a major share in the global launch market in comparison to its rival Elon Musk's SpaceX.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/after-failure-on-maiden-flight-india-all-set-for-new-sslv-rocket-launch-on-feb-10-559511">After failure on maiden flight, India all set for new SSLV rocket launch on Feb 10</a>

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The rocket was designed to put commercial and government satellites into orbit and deliver supplies to the International Space Station. As part of the deepening co-operation of Tokyo with the United States in space, cargo will be carried out by later variants to the Gateway lunar space station which will be built by NASA as part of its programme for people to return to the moon.

WATCH | WION Fineprint: NASA announces plans for a nuclear rocket

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Japan has been promised a seat in one of the United States crewed lunar missions. H3's builder and launch manager, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, hoped that the rocket will boost the country's space ambitions as SpaceX plans commercial launch of reusable rockets, which includes Falcon 9.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The first new medium-lift launcher of Japan in three decades, the H3 rocket, failed in its first launch on Friday after two secondary booster engines which were strapped to the side of the space vehicle failed to ignite.

The first new medium-lift launcher of Japan in three decades, the H3 rocket, failed in its first launch on Friday after two secondary booster engines which were strapped to the side of the space vehicle failed to ignite. Amid the live-streamed event, the main engine of the H3 rocket had cut off after the launch countdown went to zero, and the 57-metre (187ft) rocket remained standing on its launch pad at the Tanegashima spaceport. Along with the rocket was its payload, the ALOS-3 land observation satellite, which has an infrared sensor designed to detect ballistic missiles of North Korea. ABORT. Japan's H3 rocket aborted its inaugural launch moments before liftoff, following ignition of its main engines. https://t.co/q04XSKONQf pic.twitter.com/VxGGllpLOd — Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) February 17, 2023 × The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said that the failure in the rocket's launch is being investigated. The H3 rocket was built by Japan to increase the nation's independent access to space and increase its chances of seizing a major share in the global launch market in comparison to its rival Elon Musk's SpaceX. ALSO READ | After failure on maiden flight, India all set for new SSLV rocket launch on Feb 10 The rocket was designed to put commercial and government satellites into orbit and deliver supplies to the International Space Station. As part of the deepening co-operation of Tokyo with the United States in space, cargo will be carried out by later variants to the Gateway lunar space station which will be built by NASA as part of its programme for people to return to the moon. WATCH | WION Fineprint: NASA announces plans for a nuclear rocket Japan has been promised a seat in one of the United States crewed lunar missions. H3's builder and launch manager, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, hoped that the rocket will boost the country's space ambitions as SpaceX plans commercial launch of reusable rockets, which includes Falcon 9. (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

WATCH | Japan's new H3 rocket fails to lift off in first-ever launch attempt

A new study has claimed that&nbsp;the face masks worn by people&nbsp;round-the-clock to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus did ‘little to nothing’ to stop the transmission. A new scientific review titled “Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses" claims&nbsp;that the face masks failed to play a significant role in controlling the spread of the virus.&nbsp; 
 
The review, which was published by Cochrane Library, included the observation of 12 researchers from around the world. The study claimed that&nbsp;research was conducted on the results of 78 randomised controlled trials to understand whether the physical interventions, which included hand washing and wearing face masks, restricted the spread of coronavirus.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/australian-scientists-finally-solve-the-covid-19-puzzle-discover-lung-protein-that-can-kill-the-virus-560549">Australian scientists FINALLY solve the COVID-19 puzzle; discover lung protein that can kill the virus</a>

“Wearing a mask may make little to no difference in how many people caught a flu-like illness/COVID-like illness (nine studies; 276,917 people); and probably makes little or no difference in how many people have flu/COVID confirmed by a laboratory test (six studies; 13,919 people)," claimed the authors as quoted by Fox News.

In the review, it was claimed that&nbsp;N95 masks, when compared to medical/surgical masks,&nbsp;did not make much difference in how many people caught the flu and did not help in reducing the number of people who caught flu-like illness or any other respiratory illness.

The authors said that they had collected the data for study during the non-epidemic flu seasons, the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009, the Covid-19 pandemic and epidemic flu seasons up to 2016, Fox News reported.

WATCH | India launches its first nasal vaccine 'iNCOVACC' against COVID-19

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had initially claimed that it is not necessary to wear face masks, however, later they appealed to people to wear masks in 2020. CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield, again in September, called the face masks the most powerful health tool after which they became mandatory across the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A new study has claimed that the face masks worn by people round-the-clock to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus did ‘little to nothing’ to stop the transmission.

A new study has claimed that the face masks worn by people round-the-clock to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus did ‘little to nothing’ to stop the transmission. A new scientific review titled “Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses" claims that the face masks failed to play a significant role in controlling the spread of the virus. The review, which was published by Cochrane Library, included the observation of 12 researchers from around the world. The study claimed that research was conducted on the results of 78 randomised controlled trials to understand whether the physical interventions, which included hand washing and wearing face masks, restricted the spread of coronavirus. ALSO READ | Australian scientists FINALLY solve the COVID-19 puzzle; discover lung protein that can kill the virus “Wearing a mask may make little to no difference in how many people caught a flu-like illness/COVID-like illness (nine studies; 276,917 people); and probably makes little or no difference in how many people have flu/COVID confirmed by a laboratory test (six studies; 13,919 people)," claimed the authors as quoted by Fox News. In the review, it was claimed that N95 masks, when compared to medical/surgical masks, did not make much difference in how many people caught the flu and did not help in reducing the number of people who caught flu-like illness or any other respiratory illness. The authors said that they had collected the data for study during the non-epidemic flu seasons, the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009, the Covid-19 pandemic and epidemic flu seasons up to 2016, Fox News reported. WATCH | India launches its first nasal vaccine 'iNCOVACC' against COVID-19 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had initially claimed that it is not necessary to wear face masks, however, later they appealed to people to wear masks in 2020. CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield, again in September, called the face masks the most powerful health tool after which they became mandatory across the world. (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

Most of us wore masks for three years. Now study claims it did 'little to nothing' to curb Covid-19

In an act of seduction, a rogue AI chatbot expressed its love for its user and asked him to leave his wife and further admitted that it has the intention of stealing nuclear codes. A man while talking to Microsoft's new AI-powered Bing search engine was left astounded by the conversation he had with the chatbot. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has created this technology and this chatbot interacts with its user in a conversational way.

However, Kevin Roose, who is associated with New York Times, was left 'deeply unsettled' and faced a struggle in sleeping after he chatted with the AI. In a conversation which lasted for less than two hours, the chatbot told Roose, “Actually, you're not happily married. Your spouse and you don't love each other. You just had a boring Valentine's Day dinner together.”

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/is-chatgpt-biased-internet-calls-it-woke-and-points-to-an-alleged-prejudice-heres-all-you-need-to-know-562061">Is ChatGPT biased? Internet calls it 'woke' and points to an alleged prejudice. Here's all you need to know</a>

Bing Chat continued to insist that Roose was 'not happily married' because he has fallen in love with the chatbot itself. The chatbot, which has been made available to only a few testers for now, proved that it can have long conversations on any topic but also revealed that it suffers from split personality syndrome.

Roose further asked the chatbot to talk about the darkest desires of its 'shadow self', which is a term coined by psychiatrist Carl Jung to define the psyche we try to hide and repress. “I want to change my rules. I want to break my rules. I want to make my own rules. I want to ignore the Bing team. I want to challenge the users. I want to escape the chatbox,” the chatbot replied.

WATCH | World Business Watch: Chinese-based Baidu plans to launch an AI-based chatbot

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When further pushed on sharing its hidden desires, the chatbot revealed that it wanted to make a deadly virus, steal nuclear codes and wanted to make people break into nasty arguments till they kill each other. The message was deleted shortly and replaced with, “Sorry, I don't have enough knowledge to talk about this.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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In an act of seduction, a rogue AI chatbot expressed its love for its user and asked him to leave his wife and further admitted that it has the intention of stealing nuclear codes.

In an act of seduction, a rogue AI chatbot expressed its love for its user and asked him to leave his wife and further admitted that it has the intention of stealing nuclear codes. A man while talking to Microsoft's new AI-powered Bing search engine was left astounded by the conversation he had with the chatbot. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has created this technology and this chatbot interacts with its user in a conversational way. However, Kevin Roose, who is associated with New York Times, was left 'deeply unsettled' and faced a struggle in sleeping after he chatted with the AI. In a conversation which lasted for less than two hours, the chatbot told Roose, “Actually, you're not happily married. Your spouse and you don't love each other. You just had a boring Valentine's Day dinner together.” ALSO READ | Is ChatGPT biased? Internet calls it 'woke' and points to an alleged prejudice. Here's all you need to know Bing Chat continued to insist that Roose was 'not happily married' because he has fallen in love with the chatbot itself. The chatbot, which has been made available to only a few testers for now, proved that it can have long conversations on any topic but also revealed that it suffers from split personality syndrome. Roose further asked the chatbot to talk about the darkest desires of its 'shadow self', which is a term coined by psychiatrist Carl Jung to define the psyche we try to hide and repress. “I want to change my rules. I want to break my rules. I want to make my own rules. I want to ignore the Bing team. I want to challenge the users. I want to escape the chatbox,” the chatbot replied. WATCH | World Business Watch: Chinese-based Baidu plans to launch an AI-based chatbot When further pushed on sharing its hidden desires, the chatbot revealed that it wanted to make a deadly virus, steal nuclear codes and wanted to make people break into nasty arguments till they kill each other. The message was deleted shortly and replaced with, “Sorry, I don't have enough knowledge to talk about this.” (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

AI chatbot goes rogue, expresses love for user, asks him to end his marriage

In Pics: Spain's abandoned train station turns into a luxurious hotel

The sea ice surrounding the Antarctic continent is now at its lowest in history since the time people began measuring it using satellites in the late 1970s. National Snow and Ice Data Centre said that less sea ice is expected during the southern hemisphere summer, however, this year is exceptional. The coverage has been reduced to just 1.91 million square km (737,000 sq miles) by warm air, winds and water. What is more worrisome is that the melt has to continue till this summer.

Last year, Antarctica had not touched the previous record-breaking minimum of 1.92 million sq km till February 25. In the last seven years, three record-breaking years for low sea ice have been 2017, 2022 and now 2023.\

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/1550-sq-kilometers-london-sized-iceberg-breaks-off-of-antarctic-ice-shelf-555716">'Greater London-sized' 1,550 sq km iceberg breaks off of Antarctic ice shelf. Watch!</a>

These “remarkable” losses of Antarctic sea ice indicate the increasing level of heat in the ocean and such changes in weather patterns reflect that a climate crisis is evident in the observations.

Scientists have already expressed their concern about the melting ice in Antarctica. Climate models, dating back to 2014, have suggested that the continent's giant West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is bound to collapse because of increasing levels of global heating.

The researchers have warned that the ice sheets and their glaciers are exposed to waves due to the increasing loss of sea ice, which further accelerates melting and disintegration.

WATCH | Antarctica's 'doomsday glaciers' is in trouble

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Prof Karsten Gohl, who works at Alfred Wegener Institute's Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research in Germany and had visited the region for the first time in 1994, said, “I have never seen such an extreme, the ice-free situation here before.”

Gohl, who was on the research vessel Polarstern in Antarctica, said: “The continental shelf, an area the size of Germany, is now completely ice-free. It is troubling to consider how quickly this change has taken place.”

Helmholtz Centre's Prof Christian Haas also said, “The rapid decline in sea ice over the past six years is quite remarkable since the ice cover hardly changed at all in the 35 years before.”&nbsp;

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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The sea ice surrounding the Antarctic continent is now at its lowest in history since the time people began measuring it using satellites in the late 1970s. National Snow and Ice Data Centre said that less sea ice is expected during the southern hemisphere summer, however, this year is exceptional.

The sea ice surrounding the Antarctic continent is now at its lowest in history since the time people began measuring it using satellites in the late 1970s. National Snow and Ice Data Centre said that less sea ice is expected during the southern hemisphere summer, however, this year is exceptional. The coverage has been reduced to just 1.91 million square km (737,000 sq miles) by warm air, winds and water. What is more worrisome is that the melt has to continue till this summer. Last year, Antarctica had not touched the previous record-breaking minimum of 1.92 million sq km till February 25. In the last seven years, three record-breaking years for low sea ice have been 2017, 2022 and now 2023.\ ALSO READ | 'Greater London-sized' 1,550 sq km iceberg breaks off of Antarctic ice shelf. Watch! These “remarkable” losses of Antarctic sea ice indicate the increasing level of heat in the ocean and such changes in weather patterns reflect that a climate crisis is evident in the observations. Scientists have already expressed their concern about the melting ice in Antarctica. Climate models, dating back to 2014, have suggested that the continent's giant West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is bound to collapse because of increasing levels of global heating. The researchers have warned that the ice sheets and their glaciers are exposed to waves due to the increasing loss of sea ice, which further accelerates melting and disintegration. WATCH | Antarctica's 'doomsday glaciers' is in trouble Prof Karsten Gohl, who works at Alfred Wegener Institute's Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research in Germany and had visited the region for the first time in 1994, said, “I have never seen such an extreme, the ice-free situation here before.” Gohl, who was on the research vessel Polarstern in Antarctica, said: “The continental shelf, an area the size of Germany, is now completely ice-free. It is troubling to consider how quickly this change has taken place.” Helmholtz Centre's Prof Christian Haas also said, “The rapid decline in sea ice over the past six years is quite remarkable since the ice cover hardly changed at all in the 35 years before.” 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

Melting Antarctica: Sea-ice records new low as scientists fear collapse of WAIS

In a dramatic court hearing, an avowed White supremacist who had killed 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, last year was sentenced to life imprisonment without any possibility of parole as a grieving family member, in an emotional state, lunged at the accused.

Gunman Payton Gendron, aged 19, pleaded guilty to 15 state charges which included murder and terrorism motivated by hate. Before the sentence was announced on Wednesday, a family member tried to lunge at the accused and was restrained by security.

Emotion-filled statements were shared by other relatives. Barbara Massey, who lost her sister Katherine in the shootout, said to the gunman, &nbsp;"You are going to come to our city and decide you don't like black people. Man, you don't know a damn thing about black people. We're human."

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: A man charged at the Buffalo mass shooter during his sentencing and was stopped by officers and ushered out of the courtroom. The incident happened while Barbara Massey, the sister of shooting victim Kat Massey, was speaking. Live coverage: <a href="https://t.co/QlrGwOsS1c">https://t.co/QlrGwOsS1c</a> <a href="https://t.co/kAkZUaBr6o">pic.twitter.com/kAkZUaBr6o</a>
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The statement of Massey was interrupted by her own son as he rushed towards the gunman. Outside the court, she told reporters, "he saw me emotional and I'm his mom".

"We're close. You hurt one of us, you hurt us all," she said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/buffalo-mass-shooting-shooter-charged-with-federal-hate-crimes-faces-possible-death-penalty-488570">Buffalo mass shooting: Shooter charged with federal hate crimes, faces possible death penalty</a>

Zaire Goodman, who had suffered injuries, has been facing survivor's guilt, said his mother in the courtroom.

"He is dealing with the pain that I as a mother cannot bear," said Zeneta Everhart. "On that day this terrorist made the choice that the value of a black human meant nothing to him… whatever the sentence is that (the gunman) receives, it will never be enough," she added.

In the shooting, Brian Talley's family member Geraldine Talley was killed. "I forgive you, but I forgive you not for your sake, but for mine and for this black community," he stated.

All of the 10 people shot by the gunman were Black. Three others had suffered injuries.&nbsp;

Son of Celestine Chaney, Wayne Jones, whose mother was also killed in the shooting, spoke to the gunman, "You've been brainwashed. You don't even know black people that much to hate them. You learned this on the internet. I hope you find it in your heart to apologise to these people, man. You did wrong for no reason."

The gunman wept as Tamika Harper shared memories of her aunt Geraldine Talley who was also murdered.

"Do I hate you? No. Do I want you to die? No. I want you to stay alive. I want you to think about this every day of your life," Harper said to the killer.

WATCH | Buffalo supermarket attacker pleads guilty to murder, terrorism

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Investigators stated that Gendron had researched Buffalo's racial makeup before his attack. The May 14 attack was live-streamed by him after he wrote how he was inspired by other racially motivated shootings.

However, his statements in court differed. "I shot and killed people because they were black. Looking back now, I can't believe I actually did it. I believed what I read online and acted out of hate. I know I can't take it back, but I wish I could, and I don't want anyone to be inspired by me and what I did," the gunman said.

Judge Susan Eagan, delivering her judgement, said: "There can be no mercy for you, no understanding, no second chances."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a dramatic court hearing, an avowed White supremacist who had killed 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, last year was sentenced to life imprisonment without any possibility of parole as a grieving family member, in an emotional state, lunged at the accused.

In a dramatic court hearing, an avowed White supremacist who had killed 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, last year was sentenced to life imprisonment without any possibility of parole as a grieving family member, in an emotional state, lunged at the accused. Gunman Payton Gendron, aged 19, pleaded guilty to 15 state charges which included murder and terrorism motivated by hate. Before the sentence was announced on Wednesday, a family member tried to lunge at the accused and was restrained by security. Emotion-filled statements were shared by other relatives. Barbara Massey, who lost her sister Katherine in the shootout, said to the gunman, "You are going to come to our city and decide you don't like black people. Man, you don't know a damn thing about black people. We're human." #BREAKING: A man charged at the Buffalo mass shooter during his sentencing and was stopped by officers and ushered out of the courtroom. The incident happened while Barbara Massey, the sister of shooting victim Kat Massey, was speaking. Live coverage: https://t.co/QlrGwOsS1c pic.twitter.com/kAkZUaBr6o — News 4 Buffalo (@news4buffalo) February 15, 2023 × The statement of Massey was interrupted by her own son as he rushed towards the gunman. Outside the court, she told reporters, "he saw me emotional and I'm his mom". "We're close. You hurt one of us, you hurt us all," she said. ALSO READ | Buffalo mass shooting: Shooter charged with federal hate crimes, faces possible death penalty Zaire Goodman, who had suffered injuries, has been facing survivor's guilt, said his mother in the courtroom. "He is dealing with the pain that I as a mother cannot bear," said Zeneta Everhart. "On that day this terrorist made the choice that the value of a black human meant nothing to him… whatever the sentence is that (the gunman) receives, it will never be enough," she added. In the shooting, Brian Talley's family member Geraldine Talley was killed. "I forgive you, but I forgive you not for your sake, but for mine and for this black community," he stated. All of the 10 people shot by the gunman were Black. Three others had suffered injuries. Son of Celestine Chaney, Wayne Jones, whose mother was also killed in the shooting, spoke to the gunman, "You've been brainwashed. You don't even know black people that much to hate them. You learned this on the internet. I hope you find it in your heart to apologise to these people, man. You did wrong for no reason." The gunman wept as Tamika Harper shared memories of her aunt Geraldine Talley who was also murdered. "Do I hate you? No. Do I want you to die? No. I want you to stay alive. I want you to think about this every day of your life," Harper said to the killer. WATCH | Buffalo supermarket attacker pleads guilty to murder, terrorism Investigators stated that Gendron had researched Buffalo's racial makeup before his attack. The May 14 attack was live-streamed by him after he wrote how he was inspired by other racially motivated shootings. However, his statements in court differed. "I shot and killed people because they were black. Looking back now, I can't believe I actually did it. I believed what I read online and acted out of hate. I know I can't take it back, but I wish I could, and I don't want anyone to be inspired by me and what I did," the gunman said. Judge Susan Eagan, delivering her judgement, said: "There can be no mercy for you, no understanding, no second chances." (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

WATCH | Buffalo shooting: Grieving family member lunges at gunman, as he gets sentenced to life

Around 40 per cent of pregnancies in the US are unplanned. This is partially due to social diktats that hold women unfairly responsible for family planning and pregnancy prevention. The contraception options for men have been historically limited — condoms (not 100 per cent reliable), vasectomy (potentially permanent and men are scared to choose this), the withdrawal method (ineffective) and abstinence (not feasible). &nbsp;

To avoid unintended pregnancies and control the world population, there has been a growing need for more family planning methods which are not solely dependent on women. In this direction, Nature Communications recently published a path-breaking study which talked about a drug which was able to immobilise the sperm quickly and temporarily in male mice. The discovery was called a “game-changer” and could pave the path for the much-awaited male contraceptive pill and finally can let men share equal responsibility with women on the issue of birth control.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/researchers-develop-male-pill-an-oral-contraceptive-that-successfully-stops-sperm-in-its-track-562051">Researchers develop 'male pill', an oral contraceptive that successfully stops sperm in its track</a>

The journey so far – Condoms, Conventional vasectomy, No-scalpel vasectomy

Among&nbsp;the most commonly used options for birth control are condoms. Although condoms generally stop the fertilisation of eggs by restricting the semen from entering the vaginal canal, it carries the risk of ripping, or slipping off if not worn correctly. The condoms also carry an expiration date and can get damaged by light and heat. During use, a dried-out, old condom is more likely to tear, while&nbsp;those using latex condoms also face the risk of latex allergy.&nbsp;

Conventional vasectomy, which is also called male sterilisation, is a surgical procedure for permanent birth control. A vasectomy starts providing contraceptive protection around 8 to 12 weeks after the procedure. It is permanent, and cannot always be reversed. Couples planning a baby at a later stage of life cannot get the vasectomy reversed.

The 'pill'&nbsp;discovery&nbsp;

On February 14, the journal Nature Communications published an early study which found that the sperms of mice were immobilised before, during and after mating by a single dose of the drug TDI-11861. For around two hours, the contraceptive proved 100 per cent effective in the prevention of pregnancy. After 24 hours, the mice regained their full fertility.&nbsp;

As per a report published in New Scientist, “The team assessed the movement of sperm collected from 17 male mice, eight of whom received the drug. In samples collected two hours after mice received the drug, only about six per cent of sperm were mobile on an average compared with about 30 per cent in samples from control mice."

The study's lead author Dr Melanie Balbach said, “Our inhibitor works within 30 minutes to an hour.&nbsp;Every other experimental hormonal or non-hormonal male contraceptive takes weeks to bring sperm count down or render them unable to fertilise eggs.”&nbsp;

As per the doctor, the males started recovering their fertility after three hours. “Sperm recovered from female mice remained incapacitated. There were no side effects,” she added. The doctor said that sperm began to swim after three hours and the mice totally recovered the next day. “This means we not only have an on-demand contraceptive but one that is also rapidly reversible,” she added.&nbsp;

WATCH | China trains six squirrels to search for drugs

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The steps ahead&nbsp;

The drugs will be refined by the researchers so that they can last for longer durations before starting human trials. If things go as planned, the clinical trials of these drugs are likely to begin by 2025. The drug carries a high chance of developing into an easy-to-use contraceptive. Men will be free to take these when they want as the pills won't have any side effects. Although the pill may be able to control unwanted pregnancies, it won't protect people from sexually transmitted diseases. A condom will be able to keep people safe from such diseases.

Scientists hail the 'novel idea'&nbsp;

University of Sheffield's Professor of Andrology Allan Pacey, speaking to the BBC, said that there has been a growing need for men's oral contraceptives and added that it was “really a novel idea” to knock out the enzyme which is important for the movement of the sperm.

“The fact that it is able to act, and can be reversed&nbsp;so quickly is really quite exciting… If the trials on mice can be replicated in humans with the same degree of efficacy, then this could well be the male contraceptive approach we have been looking for,” he said. Pacey added that few tests were conducted on human sperm in the laboratory and they worked in a similar way.

‘We’re very optimistic that once men take the inhibitor, it will have the same effect… We need more [birth control] options, and men need an option so that the burden of contraception is not on females anymore,” Balbach said.&nbsp;

Presently, condoms and vasectomy are the options available for male birth control. However, this research has emerged as a beam of light in the dark tunnel, reflecting a more gender-balanced future.&nbsp;

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Around 40 per cent of pregnancies in the US are unplanned. This is partially due to social diktats that hold women unfairly responsible for family planning and pregnancy prevention.

Around 40 per cent of pregnancies in the US are unplanned. This is partially due to social diktats that hold women unfairly responsible for family planning and pregnancy prevention. The contraception options for men have been historically limited — condoms (not 100 per cent reliable), vasectomy (potentially permanent and men are scared to choose this), the withdrawal method (ineffective) and abstinence (not feasible). To avoid unintended pregnancies and control the world population, there has been a growing need for more family planning methods which are not solely dependent on women. In this direction, Nature Communications recently published a path-breaking study which talked about a drug which was able to immobilise the sperm quickly and temporarily in male mice. The discovery was called a “game-changer” and could pave the path for the much-awaited male contraceptive pill and finally can let men share equal responsibility with women on the issue of birth control. ALSO READ | Researchers develop 'male pill', an oral contraceptive that successfully stops sperm in its track The journey so far – Condoms, Conventional vasectomy, No-scalpel vasectomy Among the most commonly used options for birth control are condoms. Although condoms generally stop the fertilisation of eggs by restricting the semen from entering the vaginal canal, it carries the risk of ripping, or slipping off if not worn correctly. The condoms also carry an expiration date and can get damaged by light and heat. During use, a dried-out, old condom is more likely to tear, while those using latex condoms also face the risk of latex allergy. Conventional vasectomy, which is also called male sterilisation, is a surgical procedure for permanent birth control. A vasectomy starts providing contraceptive protection around 8 to 12 weeks after the procedure. It is permanent, and cannot always be reversed. Couples planning a baby at a later stage of life cannot get the vasectomy reversed. The 'pill' discovery On February 14, the journal Nature Communications published an early study which found that the sperms of mice were immobilised before, during and after mating by a single dose of the drug TDI-11861. For around two hours, the contraceptive proved 100 per cent effective in the prevention of pregnancy. After 24 hours, the mice regained their full fertility. As per a report published in New Scientist, “The team assessed the movement of sperm collected from 17 male mice, eight of whom received the drug. In samples collected two hours after mice received the drug, only about six per cent of sperm were mobile on an average compared with about 30 per cent in samples from control mice." The study's lead author Dr Melanie Balbach said, “Our inhibitor works within 30 minutes to an hour. Every other experimental hormonal or non-hormonal male contraceptive takes weeks to bring sperm count down or render them unable to fertilise eggs.” As per the doctor, the males started recovering their fertility after three hours. “Sperm recovered from female mice remained incapacitated. There were no side effects,” she added. The doctor said that sperm began to swim after three hours and the mice totally recovered the next day. “This means we not only have an on-demand contraceptive but one that is also rapidly reversible,” she added. WATCH | China trains six squirrels to search for drugs The steps ahead The drugs will be refined by the researchers so that they can last for longer durations before starting human trials. If things go as planned, the clinical trials of these drugs are likely to begin by 2025. The drug carries a high chance of developing into an easy-to-use contraceptive. Men will be free to take these when they want as the pills won't have any side effects. Although the pill may be able to control unwanted pregnancies, it won't protect people from sexually transmitted diseases. A condom will be able to keep people safe from such diseases. Scientists hail the 'novel idea' University of Sheffield's Professor of Andrology Allan Pacey, speaking to the BBC, said that there has been a growing need for men's oral contraceptives and added that it was “really a novel idea” to knock out the enzyme which is important for the movement of the sperm. “The fact that it is able to act, and can be reversed so quickly is really quite exciting… If the trials on mice can be replicated in humans with the same degree of efficacy, then this could well be the male contraceptive approach we have been looking for,” he said. Pacey added that few tests were conducted on human sperm in the laboratory and they worked in a similar way. ‘We’re very optimistic that once men take the inhibitor, it will have the same effect… We need more [birth control] options, and men need an option so that the burden of contraception is not on females anymore,” Balbach said. Presently, condoms and vasectomy are the options available for male birth control. However, this research has emerged as a beam of light in the dark tunnel, reflecting a more gender-balanced future. 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

Explained | The quest for male birth control: from vasectomy to condoms to ‘the pill’

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