The Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei's niece was sentenced to imprisonment for three years after she was convicted for criticising the regime publicly and extending her support to the protests taking place across the country against the Islamic Republic, said her lawyer on Friday.

On November 23. Farideh Moradkhani, who belongs to that part of Khamenei’s family which has been critical of the regime for a long, was arrested by the police and has been in police custody since then.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sister-of-irans-supreme-leader-denounces-her-brothers-despotic-regime-541157">Sister of Iran's supreme leader denounces her brother's 'despotic' regime</a>

Moradkhani's lawyer Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, in a tweet, said that her trial took place in a clerical court, which is independent of the judiciary of the country and is only answerable to the supreme leader, although she is not a cleric.

The lawyer added that he was not allowed to attend the hearing where Moradkhani was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment initially.&nbsp;

However, his appeal was accepted by the court and her prison term was shortened by three years, the lawyer informed.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-president-raisi-says-will-continue-crackdown-on-protesters-541728">Iran: President Raisi says crackdown on protesters will continue; Sunni cleric questions execution</a>

Earlier, Moradkhani’s mother and the supreme leader's sister, Badri Hosseini Khamenei, had announced her opposition to Ali Khamenei's regime and expressed her solidarity with the movement against Mahsa Amini's killing in the police custody which has swept Iran.

In a letter released publicly by her son from France, Badri stated that all her ties with Ali Khamenei have been cut off and demanded that he should step down from his position.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei's niece was sentenced to imprisonment for three years after she was convicted for criticising the regime publicly and extending her support to the protests taking place across the country against the Islamic Republic, said her lawyer on Friday.

The Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei's niece was sentenced to imprisonment for three years after she was convicted for criticising the regime publicly and extending her support to the protests taking place across the country against the Islamic Republic, said her lawyer on Friday. On November 23. Farideh Moradkhani, who belongs to that part of Khamenei’s family which has been critical of the regime for a long, was arrested by the police and has been in police custody since then. ALSO READ| Sister of Iran's supreme leader denounces her brother's 'despotic' regime Moradkhani's lawyer Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, in a tweet, said that her trial took place in a clerical court, which is independent of the judiciary of the country and is only answerable to the supreme leader, although she is not a cleric. The lawyer added that he was not allowed to attend the hearing where Moradkhani was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment initially. However, his appeal was accepted by the court and her prison term was shortened by three years, the lawyer informed. ALSO READ| Iran: President Raisi says crackdown on protesters will continue; Sunni cleric questions execution Earlier, Moradkhani’s mother and the supreme leader's sister, Badri Hosseini Khamenei, had announced her opposition to Ali Khamenei's regime and expressed her solidarity with the movement against Mahsa Amini's killing in the police custody which has swept Iran. In a letter released publicly by her son from France, Badri stated that all her ties with Ali Khamenei have been cut off and demanded that he should step down from his position. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran leader Khamenei’s niece Farideh Moradkhani sentenced to three years’ imprisonment

The tweets, re-tweets and discussions on Twitter around the protests, that shook China last month and challenged the authority of Xi Jinping since the leader came to power, had a focal point on the micro-blogging site - a Chinese account with a cat avatar.&nbsp;

As people carried out protests calling for ending the zero-Covid restrictions and more freedom, live tweets were shared by the account “Teacher Li is Not Your Teacher” about these demonstrations in real-time, reflecting how fast the call for dissent reverberates across the nation.

The accounts, photos as well as videos were being censored swiftly online in China. However, those who knew how to break the Great Firewall were able to send photos and videos to “Teacher Li,” which eventually became one of the most important sources of information for Chinese people and the world.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/high-level-us-delegation-to-visit-china-next-week-541943">High-level US delegation to visit China next week</a>

The man running the account, Li, is a 30-year-old painter who wears spectacles and spends most of his time sitting on a chair in front of a monitor and a keyboard in his living room in Italy, CNN reported.

During those days, he would go through an endless number of private messages in his inbox about the updates regarding the protests. He would then post those videos on the behalf of the people while hiding the senders from Chinese authorities' scrutiny.

“This account may become a symbol that Chinese people are still pursuing freedom of speech. When you post something within China, it will quickly disappear. This account can document all these historical events and moments that cannot be saved inside the country,” Li said.&nbsp;

In two weeks, his number of followers quadrupled to more than 800,000. His feed was closely monitored by activists and journalists and some television channels also aired his posts across the world.&nbsp;

WATCH|

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Under China's surveillance

With the increase in the number of followers, Li's account also caught the attention of Chinese authorities. Days back when Li was tweeting, he received his parents' anxious phone call from eastern China as they informed him about another visit from the police officials.

“As soon as I started to update Twitter, they called my parents to tell me to stop posting. And then they went to our house at midnight to harass my parents,” Li stated.

This was the second visit by police in a day. A local police chief, accompanied by some officers, had visited Li's parents in the morning and had accused Li of “attacking the state and the (Communist) Party” and had shown to them a list of tweets shared by him as “criminal evidence”.

“They wanted to know if there were any foreign forces behind me, whether I received any money, or paid people money for their submissions,” Li stated. Li informed his parents that no money was involved and he is not working for anyone. He said that his father requested him to “pull back from the brink” and not post.&nbsp;

“I can’t turn back now. Please don’t worry about me. I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong,” Li told his father.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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The tweets, re-tweets and discussions on Twitter around the protests, that shook China last month and challenged the authority of Xi Jinping since the leader came to power, had a focal point on the micro-blogging site - a Chinese account with a cat avatar.

The tweets, re-tweets and discussions on Twitter around the protests, that shook China last month and challenged the authority of Xi Jinping since the leader came to power, had a focal point on the micro-blogging site - a Chinese account with a cat avatar. As people carried out protests calling for ending the zero-Covid restrictions and more freedom, live tweets were shared by the account “Teacher Li is Not Your Teacher” about these demonstrations in real-time, reflecting how fast the call for dissent reverberates across the nation. The accounts, photos as well as videos were being censored swiftly online in China. However, those who knew how to break the Great Firewall were able to send photos and videos to “Teacher Li,” which eventually became one of the most important sources of information for Chinese people and the world. ALSO READ| High-level US delegation to visit China next week The man running the account, Li, is a 30-year-old painter who wears spectacles and spends most of his time sitting on a chair in front of a monitor and a keyboard in his living room in Italy, CNN reported. During those days, he would go through an endless number of private messages in his inbox about the updates regarding the protests. He would then post those videos on the behalf of the people while hiding the senders from Chinese authorities' scrutiny. “This account may become a symbol that Chinese people are still pursuing freedom of speech. When you post something within China, it will quickly disappear. This account can document all these historical events and moments that cannot be saved inside the country,” Li said. In two weeks, his number of followers quadrupled to more than 800,000. His feed was closely monitored by activists and journalists and some television channels also aired his posts across the world. WATCH| Under China's surveillance With the increase in the number of followers, Li's account also caught the attention of Chinese authorities. Days back when Li was tweeting, he received his parents' anxious phone call from eastern China as they informed him about another visit from the police officials. “As soon as I started to update Twitter, they called my parents to tell me to stop posting. And then they went to our house at midnight to harass my parents,” Li stated. This was the second visit by police in a day. A local police chief, accompanied by some officers, had visited Li's parents in the morning and had accused Li of “attacking the state and the (Communist) Party” and had shown to them a list of tweets shared by him as “criminal evidence”. “They wanted to know if there were any foreign forces behind me, whether I received any money, or paid people money for their submissions,” Li stated. Li informed his parents that no money was involved and he is not working for anyone. He said that his father requested him to “pull back from the brink” and not post. “I can’t turn back now. Please don’t worry about me. I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong,” Li told his father. (With inputs from agencies)

Twitter account with cat avatar takes centre stage for info and updates on China protests

On Saturday, Thailand marked the arrival of its 10 millionth international visitor in 2022, as per the tourism authority as the travel sector recovered from the pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;Around 40 million tourists were welcomed by Thailand in 2019, however, the travel industry badly suffered due to the restrictions imposed during the pandemic.&nbsp;With relaxation in those restrictions worldwide, the travel numbers in Thailand have started a slow recovery and the government is aiming to generate tourism revenue of $16 billion this year. 
 
The passengers de-boarding a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight were welcomed by traditional drummers and dancers on Saturday at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, as they clocked the 10 million milestone.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/months-after-decriminalising-marijuana-thailand-in-dilemma-over-misuse-535188">Months after decriminalising marijuana, Thailand in dilemma over misuse</a>

While speaking at the airport, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said, "The sky is open. We would like to build confidence that Thailand is still one of the (top) tourist destinations of people around the world."

This week, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said that they expect a growth in the number of visitors next year too.

As per the government figures, Thailand is likely to welcome around 23 million tourists in 2023. However, according to a few analysts, the tourist numbers can see a full recovery in 2024.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-temple-left-without-monks-after-all-its-holy-men-failed-drug-tests-538499">Thailand temple left without monks after all its holy men failed drug tests</a>

The growth in the tourism business has also given relief to Thai hotel owners and restauranteurs. Thai Hotels Association's president Marisa Sukosol welcomed the achievement of the 10 million travellers' milestone "after two years and a half of pain".

"I think next year we will see continuous momentum of growth," she added, emphasising the arrival of tourists from Asia-Pacific and Russia.

(With inputs from agencies)

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On Saturday, Thailand marked the arrival of its 10 millionth international visitor in 2022, as per the tourism authority as the travel sector recovered from the pandemic.

On Saturday, Thailand marked the arrival of its 10 millionth international visitor in 2022, as per the tourism authority as the travel sector recovered from the pandemic. Around 40 million tourists were welcomed by Thailand in 2019, however, the travel industry badly suffered due to the restrictions imposed during the pandemic. With relaxation in those restrictions worldwide, the travel numbers in Thailand have started a slow recovery and the government is aiming to generate tourism revenue of $16 billion this year. The passengers de-boarding a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight were welcomed by traditional drummers and dancers on Saturday at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, as they clocked the 10 million milestone. ALSO READ| Months after decriminalising marijuana, Thailand in dilemma over misuse While speaking at the airport, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said, "The sky is open. We would like to build confidence that Thailand is still one of the (top) tourist destinations of people around the world." This week, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said that they expect a growth in the number of visitors next year too. As per the government figures, Thailand is likely to welcome around 23 million tourists in 2023. However, according to a few analysts, the tourist numbers can see a full recovery in 2024. ALSO READ| Thailand temple left without monks after all its holy men failed drug tests The growth in the tourism business has also given relief to Thai hotel owners and restauranteurs. Thai Hotels Association's president Marisa Sukosol welcomed the achievement of the 10 million travellers' milestone "after two years and a half of pain". "I think next year we will see continuous momentum of growth," she added, emphasising the arrival of tourists from Asia-Pacific and Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

Thailand records 10 million tourist arrivals in 2022 as travel sector recovers

Iran's top Sunni religious leader Molavi Abdolhamid criticised the executions of protesters in the country, calling it a violation of the Sharia law and further warning the government authorities that such extreme steps won't stop the anti-government protests. 
 
He specifically denounced the execution of the first protester, Mohsen Shekari, as he told the worshippers present in Zahedan that the movement "will not be extinguished by killing people”. 
 
“The man's execution was "incorrect" and against Sharia law,” the Sunni leader said. The young protester, Mohsen Shekari, was hanged on December 8 for wounding a security guard using a knife and blocking a street in Tehran.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-president-raisi-says-will-continue-crackdown-on-protesters-541728">Iran: President Raisi says will continue crackdown on protesters</a> 
 
Abdolhamid said that the protester should not have been hanged for injuring a government security agent and blocking a street. The cleric added that Sharia includes lesser punishments even in the case of Shekari who was convicted for “fighting against God”. 
 
The cleric also emphasised death sentences issued against five protesters who were charged with the government security agent's killing, saying, “Where is it written in Sharia that for killing one Basij member five people should receive the death sentence, and in such a short time?” 
 
Abdolhamid claimed that many innocent citizens have been killed by government agents since September, however, no one has been held accountable and no justice has been delivered. 
 
“Executions in Iran had no precedent in Islam in any period. (Similar executions) did not take place during Prophet (Mohammed) or during the four senior Caliphs who succeeded him, including Imam Ali,” he said.

WATCH|

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&nbsp;

Various acts of defiance or opposition against the regime are considered by the Islamic Republic as “Moharebeh”, an Islamic-Arabic term which means enmity with God, and the maximum punishment under this charge is death, which is readily applied by the regime. 
 
Last week, the cleric had warned the government against giving death sentences to protesters. 
 
Iran has been facing demonstrations for almost three months over the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody after she was arrested by the country's morality police for breaching the women's hijab dress code in Tehran.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Iran's top Sunni religious leader Molavi Abdolhamid criticised the executions of protesters in the country, calling it a violation of the Sharia law and further warning the government authorities that such extreme steps won't stop the anti-government protests.

Iran's top Sunni religious leader Molavi Abdolhamid criticised the executions of protesters in the country, calling it a violation of the Sharia law and further warning the government authorities that such extreme steps won't stop the anti-government protests. He specifically denounced the execution of the first protester, Mohsen Shekari, as he told the worshippers present in Zahedan that the movement "will not be extinguished by killing people”. “The man's execution was "incorrect" and against Sharia law,” the Sunni leader said. The young protester, Mohsen Shekari, was hanged on December 8 for wounding a security guard using a knife and blocking a street in Tehran. ALSO READ| Iran: President Raisi says will continue crackdown on protesters Abdolhamid said that the protester should not have been hanged for injuring a government security agent and blocking a street. The cleric added that Sharia includes lesser punishments even in the case of Shekari who was convicted for “fighting against God”. The cleric also emphasised death sentences issued against five protesters who were charged with the government security agent's killing, saying, “Where is it written in Sharia that for killing one Basij member five people should receive the death sentence, and in such a short time?” Abdolhamid claimed that many innocent citizens have been killed by government agents since September, however, no one has been held accountable and no justice has been delivered. “Executions in Iran had no precedent in Islam in any period. (Similar executions) did not take place during Prophet (Mohammed) or during the four senior Caliphs who succeeded him, including Imam Ali,” he said. WATCH| × Various acts of defiance or opposition against the regime are considered by the Islamic Republic as “Moharebeh”, an Islamic-Arabic term which means enmity with God, and the maximum punishment under this charge is death, which is readily applied by the regime. Last week, the cleric had warned the government against giving death sentences to protesters. Iran has been facing demonstrations for almost three months over the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody after she was arrested by the country's morality police for breaching the women's hijab dress code in Tehran. (With inputs from agencies)

Top Sunni cleric slams execution in Iran, calls its violation of Sharia law

The foreign ministry of China stated that an agreement was reached between their country and Germany to allow German nationals to use "German vaccines" in China, days after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had stated that German expatriates would be able to use BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine.

While speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry's spokeswoman Mao Ning said, “China and Germany have reached an agreement on providing German vaccines for German nationals in China, and relevant arrangements will be discussed and determined by the two sides through diplomatic channels.”

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-economic-chiefs-hail-chinas-decision-of-relaxing-covid-19-restrictions-541573">Global economic chiefs hail China’s decision of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions</a>

The countries were expected to reach such an agreement as German Chancellor Scholz, during his visit to Beijing on November 4, had announced an agreement which will let the German expatriates use the COVID-19 vaccine made by German company BioNTech SE in China.

The COVID-19 vaccine of BioNTech will be the first non-Chinese Covid vaccine which will be administered in China.

WATCH|

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However, the vaccine will only be administered to German nationals as the Chinese government has so far insisted on administering only those vaccines which are domestically produced.

Recently, Germany permitted the administration of the Chinese Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to Chinese nationals residing in the European country, a move that Mao said was welcomed by the Chinese government.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The foreign ministry of China stated that an agreement was reached between their country and Germany to allow German nationals to use "German vaccines" in China, days after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had stated that German expatriates would be able to use BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine.

The foreign ministry of China stated that an agreement was reached between their country and Germany to allow German nationals to use "German vaccines" in China, days after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had stated that German expatriates would be able to use BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine. While speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry's spokeswoman Mao Ning said, “China and Germany have reached an agreement on providing German vaccines for German nationals in China, and relevant arrangements will be discussed and determined by the two sides through diplomatic channels.” ALSO READ| Global economic chiefs hail China’s decision of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions The countries were expected to reach such an agreement as German Chancellor Scholz, during his visit to Beijing on November 4, had announced an agreement which will let the German expatriates use the COVID-19 vaccine made by German company BioNTech SE in China. The COVID-19 vaccine of BioNTech will be the first non-Chinese Covid vaccine which will be administered in China. WATCH| × However, the vaccine will only be administered to German nationals as the Chinese government has so far insisted on administering only those vaccines which are domestically produced. Recently, Germany permitted the administration of the Chinese Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to Chinese nationals residing in the European country, a move that Mao said was welcomed by the Chinese government. (With inputs from agencies)

Beijing agrees to provide "German vaccines" to German expatriates in China

German police confirmed on Saturday that the hostage situation in the eastern German city of Dresden was over. Media reports quoted officials as saying that the gunman was killed after sustaining life-threatening injuries.

German police confirmed on Saturday that the hostage situation in the eastern German city of Dresden was over. Media reports quoted officials as saying that the gunman was killed after sustaining life-threatening injuries. The news agency Reuters stated that the 40-year-old hostage-taker died of the fatal injuries he sustained during the police operation. As quoted by the news agency, Armin Schuster, the interior minister of the state of Saxony, said, "I am outraged by the act of what appears to be a psychologically confused individual acting alone." DW's report mentioned that the cops tried to contact the armed man via telephone during the operation. As quoted by The Sun, police spokesman Thomas Geithner said, "The suspect died in the operation in connection with a hostage-taking in downtown Dresden. The 40-year-old suffered fatal injuries during the attack and the liberation of the hostages." Wir stehen im Kontakt mit dem Täter. Auch unser SEK und die Verhandlungsgruppe ist vor Ort. #dd1012 — Polizei Sachsen (@PolizeiSachsen) December 10, 2022 × In a separate statement, the police said that the German man is believed to have killed his 62-year-old mother in an apartment building in the Prohlis district of Dresden. Earlier, they had evacuated a shopping mall and the surrounding areas to tackle the situation when an armed man had entered the Ammonhof office building. The police had also shut down the famous Striezelmarkt Christmas market. In a statement shared on Twitter, police said, "All-clear! The hostage situation in #Dresden is over!" The cops also added that two people who appeared to be unharmed were in its care. Geithner further added, "This morning there was a hostage situation in downtown Dresden. A 40-year-old man from Dresden took two people hostage, a woman and a child." "In the end, special forces rescued the hostages. The two hostages were taken into custody, they are unharmed and safe and are now being looked after," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany: Hostage situation in Dresden over, 'injured' suspect dead

Taiwan has been thinking about banning TikTok, as the government authorities believe that the social media site is being used by China to wipe out the confidence of the country's citizens in the government.&nbsp;

The Chinese-invested social media platform has been already banned from devices of the public sector by Taiwan over security concerns and the fear of a “cognitive warfare” campaign, the South China Morning Post reported.&nbsp;

However, the authorities have been hesitant to ban TikTok on personal devices and in the private sector, considering the implication it may have on freedom of speech and information.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-may-complaint-with-wto-over-chinese-import-bans-541841">Taiwan may file complaint with WTO against China for import ban on several items</a>

The National Security Bureau of Taiwan alleged that TikTok is being increasingly used by Beijing to influence the public on the island and break their confidence and faith in the government.

In May, Bureau director Chen Ming-tong stated that Taiwanese are being trained and paid by Beijing to influence the young audience present on social media platforms like TikTok, Xiaohongshu (Instagram's Chinese version) and YouTube, as part of China's “cognitive warfare” against Taiwan.

The Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice said that they are investigating the reports which claim that videos alleging corruption within Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's government and ridiculing the defences of the country have been circulated on TikTok.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-launches-raids-after-alleged-vote-buying-with-chinese-funds-537513">Taiwan conducts raids in crackdown on alleged vote-buying with Chinese funds</a>

Taking into account the warnings, the lawmakers were prompted to call for countermeasures to tackle the influence campaigns.

In a legislature meeting, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's legislator Ho Chih-wei said, “The app has been used by China in cognitive warfare to spread disinformation and create social division in Taiwan.”&nbsp;

China, which considers Taiwan its territory, has stated that it will use force to bring the island under its control. Ho stated that the government must devise “plans to regulate” TikTok's use in Taiwan.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Taiwan has been thinking about banning TikTok, as the government authorities believe that the social media site is being used by China to wipe out the confidence of the country's citizens in the government.

Taiwan has been thinking about banning TikTok, as the government authorities believe that the social media site is being used by China to wipe out the confidence of the country's citizens in the government. The Chinese-invested social media platform has been already banned from devices of the public sector by Taiwan over security concerns and the fear of a “cognitive warfare” campaign, the South China Morning Post reported. However, the authorities have been hesitant to ban TikTok on personal devices and in the private sector, considering the implication it may have on freedom of speech and information. ALSO READ| Taiwan may file complaint with WTO against China for import ban on several items The National Security Bureau of Taiwan alleged that TikTok is being increasingly used by Beijing to influence the public on the island and break their confidence and faith in the government. In May, Bureau director Chen Ming-tong stated that Taiwanese are being trained and paid by Beijing to influence the young audience present on social media platforms like TikTok, Xiaohongshu (Instagram's Chinese version) and YouTube, as part of China's “cognitive warfare” against Taiwan. The Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice said that they are investigating the reports which claim that videos alleging corruption within Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's government and ridiculing the defences of the country have been circulated on TikTok. ALSO READ| Taiwan conducts raids in crackdown on alleged vote-buying with Chinese funds Taking into account the warnings, the lawmakers were prompted to call for countermeasures to tackle the influence campaigns. In a legislature meeting, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's legislator Ho Chih-wei said, “The app has been used by China in cognitive warfare to spread disinformation and create social division in Taiwan.” China, which considers Taiwan its territory, has stated that it will use force to bring the island under its control. Ho stated that the government must devise “plans to regulate” TikTok's use in Taiwan. (With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan mulls banning TikTok, accuses it of eroding public's confidence in government

Ever wondered if Harry Potter's 'invisibility cloak' can actually become a reality, which may allow you to hide not only from the world but also from the security cameras?&nbsp;This may sound unbelievable but some graduate students in China, bridging the gap between science fiction and reality, invented a low-cost and plain-looking coat which is capable of hiding the human body from AI monitored-security cameras during the day as well as at night.

According to a report published by South China Morning Post, the graduate students have developed the InvisDefense coat which is visible to the human eyes but has peculiar patterns all over it which blinds the cameras during the day and releases heat signals at night.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/greenland-was-once-as-green-as-its-name-oldest-dna-discovery-reveals-541080">Greenland was once as green as its name, oldest DNA discovery reveals</a>

In a creative contest sponsored by Huawei Technologies Co, the product won the first prize.

Science behind the innovation

Professor Wang Zheng&nbsp;of Wuhan University's school of computer science&nbsp;oversaw the path-breaking project.

“Nowadays, many surveillance devices can detect human bodies. Cameras on the road have pedestrian detection functions and smart cars can identify pedestrians, roads and obstacles. Our InvisDefense allows the camera to capture you, but it cannot tell if you are human,” said Wang.

In the day, contour recognition and motion recognition is used by the cameras to detect human bodies. The InvisDefense's surface is covered with a specially designed camouflage pattern which interferes with the machine vision's recognition algorithm and blinds the camera effectively so that it fails to identify the human.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-unusual-intense-blast-of-energy-from-nearby-galaxy-541802">Scientists find ‘unusual, intense blast of energy’ from nearby galaxy</a>

At night, infrared thermal imaging is used by the cameras to track human bodies. The InvisDefense coat's inner surface has irregularly shaped temperature-controlling modules that create an unusual pattern of temperatures and successfully confused the camera.

“The most difficult part is the balance of the camouflage pattern. Traditionally, researchers used bright images to interfere with machine vision and it did work. But it stands out to human eyes, making the user even more conspicuous,” explained Wei Hui, a team member and a PhD student who has worked on the core algorithm.

“We used algorithms to design the least conspicuous patterns that can disable computer vision,” he added. In three months, hundreds of tests were carried out by the team before they finalised the best pattern.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Ever wondered if Harry Potter's 'invisibility cloak' can actually become a reality, which may allow you to hide not only from the world but also from the security cameras?

Ever wondered if Harry Potter's 'invisibility cloak' can actually become a reality, which may allow you to hide not only from the world but also from the security cameras? This may sound unbelievable but some graduate students in China, bridging the gap between science fiction and reality, invented a low-cost and plain-looking coat which is capable of hiding the human body from AI monitored-security cameras during the day as well as at night. According to a report published by South China Morning Post, the graduate students have developed the InvisDefense coat which is visible to the human eyes but has peculiar patterns all over it which blinds the cameras during the day and releases heat signals at night. ALSO READ| Greenland was once as green as its name, oldest DNA discovery reveals In a creative contest sponsored by Huawei Technologies Co, the product won the first prize. Science behind the innovation Professor Wang Zheng of Wuhan University's school of computer science oversaw the path-breaking project. “Nowadays, many surveillance devices can detect human bodies. Cameras on the road have pedestrian detection functions and smart cars can identify pedestrians, roads and obstacles. Our InvisDefense allows the camera to capture you, but it cannot tell if you are human,” said Wang. In the day, contour recognition and motion recognition is used by the cameras to detect human bodies. The InvisDefense's surface is covered with a specially designed camouflage pattern which interferes with the machine vision's recognition algorithm and blinds the camera effectively so that it fails to identify the human. ALSO READ| Scientists find ‘unusual, intense blast of energy’ from nearby galaxy At night, infrared thermal imaging is used by the cameras to track human bodies. The InvisDefense coat's inner surface has irregularly shaped temperature-controlling modules that create an unusual pattern of temperatures and successfully confused the camera. “The most difficult part is the balance of the camouflage pattern. Traditionally, researchers used bright images to interfere with machine vision and it did work. But it stands out to human eyes, making the user even more conspicuous,” explained Wei Hui, a team member and a PhD student who has worked on the core algorithm. “We used algorithms to design the least conspicuous patterns that can disable computer vision,” he added. In three months, hundreds of tests were carried out by the team before they finalised the best pattern. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese students invent ‘invisibility cloak’ that hides humans from security cameras

Three people, who were accused of targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a failed drone attack in 2018, were sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment, said their relatives on Friday.

The court convicted retired army major Juan Carlos Marrufo, retired colonel Juan Francisco Rodriguez and Maria Delgado Tabosky on charges of "terrorism, treason and criminal conspiracy,” as stated by one of the accused's family member.

The court started the criminal hearing on Thursday night, which continued till the early hours of Friday, the family member stated.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-frozen-funds-to-be-gradually-released-for-humanitarian-aid-537874">Venezuela's frozen funds to be gradually released for humanitarian aid</a>

One of the accused Delgado Tabosky, 48, holds citizenship of Spain and Venezuela and is Osman Delgado Tabosky's sister, who lives in the United States.

The Maduro government has accused Osman of financing the drone attack. On August 4, 2018, two drones filled with explosives blew up near the place where the president was speaking to an assembly of National Guard members.

One of the drone explosions took place in the air over guardsmen who were standing in formation, leading to a few of them getting injured. The second drone crashed into a building which was two blocks away.

President Maduro and his wife remained unhurt in the attack. Marrufo, aged 52, is the husband of Maria Delgado Tabosky and holds citizenship in both Italy and Venezuela.

WATCH|&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/venezuela-breaks-15-month-political-deadlock-broad-social-accord-signed-in-mexico-537837/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated that Delgado Tabosky and Marrufo's arrests in 2019 were "arbitrary”. The couple remained imprisoned at the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence for three years and eight months.

&nbsp;Their relatives have appealed for the transfer of the couple to prison and have made failed requests to Italy and Spain to intervene in their cases.

Meanwhile, 17 others accused of their involvement in the attack, including former opposition legislator Juan Requesens, were sentenced to imprisonment between five and 30 years in August.

(With inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Three people, who were accused of targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a failed drone attack in 2018, were sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment, said their relatives on Friday.

Three people, who were accused of targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a failed drone attack in 2018, were sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment, said their relatives on Friday. The court convicted retired army major Juan Carlos Marrufo, retired colonel Juan Francisco Rodriguez and Maria Delgado Tabosky on charges of "terrorism, treason and criminal conspiracy,” as stated by one of the accused's family member. The court started the criminal hearing on Thursday night, which continued till the early hours of Friday, the family member stated. ALSO READ| Venezuela's frozen funds to be gradually released for humanitarian aid One of the accused Delgado Tabosky, 48, holds citizenship of Spain and Venezuela and is Osman Delgado Tabosky's sister, who lives in the United States. The Maduro government has accused Osman of financing the drone attack. On August 4, 2018, two drones filled with explosives blew up near the place where the president was speaking to an assembly of National Guard members. One of the drone explosions took place in the air over guardsmen who were standing in formation, leading to a few of them getting injured. The second drone crashed into a building which was two blocks away. President Maduro and his wife remained unhurt in the attack. Marrufo, aged 52, is the husband of Maria Delgado Tabosky and holds citizenship in both Italy and Venezuela. WATCH| The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated that Delgado Tabosky and Marrufo's arrests in 2019 were "arbitrary”. The couple remained imprisoned at the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence for three years and eight months. Their relatives have appealed for the transfer of the couple to prison and have made failed requests to Italy and Spain to intervene in their cases. Meanwhile, 17 others accused of their involvement in the attack, including former opposition legislator Juan Requesens, were sentenced to imprisonment between five and 30 years in August. (With inputs from agencies)

Three imprisoned for 30 years after failed drone attack on Venezuelan president

The residents of Simon's Town, a city of Cape Town and home to the largest base of the South African Navy, became witnesses to an unusual docking of a US-sanctioned Russian vessel named Lady R in the navy shipyard.&nbsp;

The residents took photographs of six containers being loaded from trucks onto the vessel on Thursday at midnight. People said cranes were seen offloading pallets and cargo crates from the ship onto the trucks.&nbsp;

It is the first time that the US Treasury Department-sanctioned Russian cargo ship has docked since the Ukraine war. The mystery surrounding the docking of the vessel has become a point of discussion in the fishing community, as locals continued speculating reasons behind the docking of the vessel at a military port.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-plans-fresh-sanctions-on-russia-china-over-iranian-drones-rights-abuses-in-tibet-541443">US plans fresh sanctions on Russia, China over Iranian drones, rights abuses in Tibet</a>

Although the reason behind the vessel's docking remains a mystery, few speculated that it can be a “ship in distress”, others claimed that it was docked for dubious purposes.&nbsp;

Democratic Alliance's defence spokesperson said, “Clearly something is going on,” DA defence spokesperson Kobus Marais. &nbsp;He added that he has sent a message to Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise, stating that she “must explain to South Africans what a sanctioned Russian ship is doing at the Simon’s Town naval base and why there is so much secrecy surrounding it”, Daily Maverick reported.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A Russian cargo ship sanctioned by the US for carrying arms secretly loaded and unloaded unknown cargo in Simon’s Town naval dockyard in a high-security, clandestine operation on the night of Wednesday/Thursday this week. The DA is now demanding an ... <a href="https://t.co/05vNJyaZ7x">https://t.co/05vNJyaZ7x</a>
— Daily Maverick (@dailymaverick) <a href="https://twitter.com/dailymaverick/status/1600954130163441682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

However, South Africa's naval authorities and National Defence Force maintained silence over the docking of the mysterious ship.

When quizzed, the SA Navy stated that the Navy's chief would speak on the matter on Friday in Gordon's Bay after the military officers' passing-out parade. The navy stated that it wouldn't be able to provide a definite time for the parade's conclusion. The Russian ship is a roll-on/roll-off container carrier, which is 18 years old and has a carrying gross tonnage of 7260.&nbsp;

The vessel sails under the Russian Federation's flag and Astrakhan has been listed as her home port. According to the locals, the vessel docked on Tuesday and since then, it has been offloaded with a crane.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-conduct-more-strikes-on-ukrainian-energy-infrastructure-says-vladimir-putin-541341">Russia to conduct more strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, says Vladimir Putin</a>

The ship is on its way to Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania. The Russian Consulate, meanwhile, refused to have any information about the ship.&nbsp;

"The captain (according to Russian Consular Statute) or owner of the vessel informs Russian Consulate about calls and stays in ports in case of emergency situations when they need assistance. If everything is fine, captain is not legally obliged to report to Russian Consulate officials about the presence of the ship. At this moment, we do not have information about Lady R's calling to Simon's Town on Tuesday evening," said the consulate on Thursday, News24 reported.

After Ukraine was invaded by Russia in February, sanctions were imposed by the US on Russia. South Africa has avoided using criticism for Russia's actions and abstained from voting against the war in the UN.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The residents of Simon's Town, a city of Cape Town and home to the largest base of the South African Navy, became witnesses to an unusual docking of a US-sanctioned Russian vessel named Lady R in the navy shipyard.

The residents of Simon's Town, a city of Cape Town and home to the largest base of the South African Navy, became witnesses to an unusual docking of a US-sanctioned Russian vessel named Lady R in the navy shipyard. The residents took photographs of six containers being loaded from trucks onto the vessel on Thursday at midnight. People said cranes were seen offloading pallets and cargo crates from the ship onto the trucks. It is the first time that the US Treasury Department-sanctioned Russian cargo ship has docked since the Ukraine war. The mystery surrounding the docking of the vessel has become a point of discussion in the fishing community, as locals continued speculating reasons behind the docking of the vessel at a military port. ALSO READ| US plans fresh sanctions on Russia, China over Iranian drones, rights abuses in Tibet Although the reason behind the vessel's docking remains a mystery, few speculated that it can be a “ship in distress”, others claimed that it was docked for dubious purposes. Democratic Alliance's defence spokesperson said, “Clearly something is going on,” DA defence spokesperson Kobus Marais. He added that he has sent a message to Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise, stating that she “must explain to South Africans what a sanctioned Russian ship is doing at the Simon’s Town naval base and why there is so much secrecy surrounding it”, Daily Maverick reported. A Russian cargo ship sanctioned by the US for carrying arms secretly loaded and unloaded unknown cargo in Simon’s Town naval dockyard in a high-security, clandestine operation on the night of Wednesday/Thursday this week. The DA is now demanding an ... https://t.co/05vNJyaZ7x — Daily Maverick (@dailymaverick) December 8, 2022 However, South Africa's naval authorities and National Defence Force maintained silence over the docking of the mysterious ship. When quizzed, the SA Navy stated that the Navy's chief would speak on the matter on Friday in Gordon's Bay after the military officers' passing-out parade. The navy stated that it wouldn't be able to provide a definite time for the parade's conclusion. The Russian ship is a roll-on/roll-off container carrier, which is 18 years old and has a carrying gross tonnage of 7260. The vessel sails under the Russian Federation's flag and Astrakhan has been listed as her home port. According to the locals, the vessel docked on Tuesday and since then, it has been offloaded with a crane. ALSO READ| Russia to conduct more strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, says Vladimir Putin The ship is on its way to Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania. The Russian Consulate, meanwhile, refused to have any information about the ship. "The captain (according to Russian Consular Statute) or owner of the vessel informs Russian Consulate about calls and stays in ports in case of emergency situations when they need assistance. If everything is fine, captain is not legally obliged to report to Russian Consulate officials about the presence of the ship. At this moment, we do not have information about Lady R's calling to Simon's Town on Tuesday evening," said the consulate on Thursday, News24 reported. After Ukraine was invaded by Russia in February, sanctions were imposed by the US on Russia. South Africa has avoided using criticism for Russia's actions and abstained from voting against the war in the UN. (With inputs from agencies)

Sanctioned Russian vessel docks in Cape Town, SA Navy says will provide details

The demonstrating truckers in South Korea voted on Friday to end their strike as it entered its third week with weakening public support and the consistent refusal of the government to budge, claiming that the economy has suffered "astronomical" damage due to the protests.

Preparations were done by many businesses to endure the strike and suffer short-term pain when it began on November 24. However, after the pressure increased from the government side and "start work" orders were issued, more than 25,000 striking truckers returned to work this week. &nbsp;

The workers felt that their bid to make a government scheme over the minimum freight rates permanent was failing. The Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union on Friday said that votes of 62% of members were in favour of calling off the strike, however, the union won't give up its campaign for minimum wage protection.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-suffers-huge-delays-in-shipments-amid-truckers-strike-541277">South Korea suffers huge delays in shipments amid truckers' strike</a>

"The game is over. It is so sad that all we could do is stop our cars, but nothing has changed," said a container truck driver, Kang Myung-gil, who returned to work after a two-week walkout. The drivers said that they are facing not only loss of income but the loss of jobs due to the continuation of the strike.&nbsp;

"The union fell into a trap," Kang stated, referring to the narrative of the government that the strike was indeed devastating for the economy of the country. "Then, we, living day by day, just have to accept the reality and move on," he stated.&nbsp;

After the end of the strike, President Yoon Suk-yeol's press secretary Kim Eun-hye said that government would "unwaveringly abide by laws and principles" on labour issues. She reiterated that the economy has suffered "astronomical damage" because of the strike.&nbsp;

ALSO READ| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korean-president-plans-to-widen-back-to-work-order-amid-prolonged-truckers-strike-540060">South Korean truckers say 'We are not your enemy', as strike for minimum wage protections continues</a>

The truckers' eight-day walkout led to the delay of cargo shipments from cars to cement across the fourth largest economy of Asia before it came to an end with the two sides claiming to have won concessions.&nbsp;

However, this time around, the bid of the union to expand the issue of minimum protection&nbsp;to different kinds of cargo like auto carriers, oil tankers and package delivery trucks was rejected by the government, as the latter claimed that the drivers were well paid. The government has agreed to extend the current wage programme for only three years.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The demonstrating truckers in South Korea voted on Friday to end their strike as it entered its third week with weakening public support and the consistent refusal of the government to budge, claiming that the economy has suffered "astronomical" damage due to the protests.

The demonstrating truckers in South Korea voted on Friday to end their strike as it entered its third week with weakening public support and the consistent refusal of the government to budge, claiming that the economy has suffered "astronomical" damage due to the protests. Preparations were done by many businesses to endure the strike and suffer short-term pain when it began on November 24. However, after the pressure increased from the government side and "start work" orders were issued, more than 25,000 striking truckers returned to work this week. The workers felt that their bid to make a government scheme over the minimum freight rates permanent was failing. The Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union on Friday said that votes of 62% of members were in favour of calling off the strike, however, the union won't give up its campaign for minimum wage protection. ALSO READ| South Korea suffers huge delays in shipments amid truckers' strike "The game is over. It is so sad that all we could do is stop our cars, but nothing has changed," said a container truck driver, Kang Myung-gil, who returned to work after a two-week walkout. The drivers said that they are facing not only loss of income but the loss of jobs due to the continuation of the strike. "The union fell into a trap," Kang stated, referring to the narrative of the government that the strike was indeed devastating for the economy of the country. "Then, we, living day by day, just have to accept the reality and move on," he stated. After the end of the strike, President Yoon Suk-yeol's press secretary Kim Eun-hye said that government would "unwaveringly abide by laws and principles" on labour issues. She reiterated that the economy has suffered "astronomical damage" because of the strike. ALSO READ| South Korean truckers say 'We are not your enemy', as strike for minimum wage protections continues The truckers' eight-day walkout led to the delay of cargo shipments from cars to cement across the fourth largest economy of Asia before it came to an end with the two sides claiming to have won concessions. However, this time around, the bid of the union to expand the issue of minimum protection to different kinds of cargo like auto carriers, oil tankers and package delivery trucks was rejected by the government, as the latter claimed that the drivers were well paid. The government has agreed to extend the current wage programme for only three years. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea’s truckers vote to call off strike over minimum wage protection

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's new video went viral on Twitter in which the allegedly intoxicated president is seen talking about the Russia-Ukraine war. A Twitter user named Dmitri posted the video with the caption "Drunk putin explains why strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure will continue". &nbsp;

Putin, while speaking to state awards recipients, is seen as saying, “All the nonsense, the informational stand-off, the informational throw-ins, all the fakes, they must stand aside. They should not prevent us from fulfilling our duty to our people. &nbsp;And you do not need to be particularly well-versed in this informational confrontation to understand what is actually going on."

“There is a lot of noise now about our strikes against the energy infrastructure of our neighbour country. Yes, we are doing that but who started it? Who struck the Crimean Bridge? Who blew up the power lines of the Kursk Nuclear Power Station? Who is not providing water to Donetsk? Not providing water to a city with a population of one million is an act of genocide. No one said a word about it anywhere at all. Complete silence. &nbsp;Just as we make a move, do something in response, noise and crackle start for the whole universe. This will not prevent us from completing military objectives," he adds, while swaying from side to side. &nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Drunk putin explains why strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure will continue because "they started first by attacking the Crimean bridge" <a href="https://t.co/fQeRuNo4Pu">pic.twitter.com/fQeRuNo4Pu</a>
— Dmitri (@wartranslated) <a href="https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1600847388242894848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The video which garnered more than 2.5 million views on the micro-blogging site, started speculations over whether the president was drunk while speaking.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-storing-rocket-launchers-at-nuclear-power-plant-541598">Ukraine accuses Russia of storing rocket launchers at nuclear power plant</a>

Swedish economist Anders Åslund, who worked as an adviser to the governments of Russia and Ukraine in the 1990s, said that this is a very unusual behaviour of Putin, who is known for controlled abstinence. &nbsp;

“This is the first time that I have seen Putin seeming drunk in any context. He talks nonsense as usual, but he seems to realize that he is a loser. Very interesting &amp; promising. All Russians will see that he is drunk &amp; weak," Åslund tweeted.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is the first time that I have seen Putin seeming drunk in any context. He talks nonsense as usual, but he seems to realize that he is a loser. Very interesting &amp; promising. All Russians will see that he is drunk &amp; weak. <a href="https://t.co/h2Q1EevJqR">https://t.co/h2Q1EevJqR</a>
— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) <a href="https://twitter.com/anders_aslund/status/1600897228263989249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, Moscow-based journalist Anna Nemtsova tweeted that this is Putin's first alleged intoxication during his tenure as the president.&nbsp;

"We've seen many staged photo&amp;video shoots in 20 Years including half-naked Putin on a horse or diving for some Greek jugs, Putin flying w migratory birds or kissing a boy on the stomach but drunk speeches about Russian missiles striking neighbouring state must be Putin's own act," the journalist tweeted.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We’ve seen many staged photo&amp;video shoots in 20 Years including half-naked Putin on a horse or diving for some Greek jugs,Putin flying w migratory birds or kissing a boy on the stomach but drunk speeches about Russian missiles striking neighbouring state must be Putin’s own act <a href="https://t.co/tMIOxmSdd6">https://t.co/tMIOxmSdd6</a>
— Anna Nemtsova (@annanemtsova) <a href="https://twitter.com/annanemtsova/status/1600880037661753345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-conduct-more-strikes-on-ukrainian-energy-infrastructure-says-vladimir-putin-541341">Russia to conduct more strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, says Vladimir Putin</a>

CBC journalist Evan Dyer, meanwhile, tweeted it is "very strange to see Putin drunk in public." "Being sober in a hard-drinking country is central to his public image. It was the main contrast he drew between himself and Yeltsin....But no doubt, he's plastered here," Dyer tweeted.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Very strange to see Putin drunk in public. Being sober in a hard-drinking country is central to his public image. It was the main contrast he drew between himself and Yeltsin. A big part of his appeal, especially to long-suffering Russian woman. But no doubt, he’s plastered here. <a href="https://t.co/jGHhEFkSLK">https://t.co/jGHhEFkSLK</a>
— Evan Dyer (@EvanDyerCBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDyerCBC/status/1600882876655931392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

New Lines Magazine Global Editor Amie Ferris-Rotman, reacting over the viral video, tweeted, "Woah. Never seen Putin drunk before, or even heard of him getting drunk (he used to boast he was teetotal). Things must be going very wrong in Ukraine."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Woah. Never seen Putin drunk before, or even heard of him getting drunk (he used to boast he was teetotal). 
 
Things must be going very wrong in Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/yysOktAEGh">https://t.co/yysOktAEGh</a>
— Amie Ferris-Rotman (@Amie_FR) <a href="https://twitter.com/Amie_FR/status/1600873117571686401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Over the years, Putin is known to follow a strict diet and refrain from vices like alcohol and drugs. Russia's state media outlet Tass, in 2019, reported that the president does not approve smoking of cigarettes "because he advocates a healthy lifestyle." He has also criticised the drinking culture of Russia in the past, stating about receiving German beer bottles from Germany's former Chancellor Angela Merkel.&nbsp;

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Russian President Vladimir Putin's new video went viral on Twitter in which the allegedly intoxicated president is seen talking about the Russia-Ukraine war. A Twitter user named Dmitri posted the video with the caption "Drunk putin explains why strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure will continue". Putin, while speaking to state awards recipients, is seen as saying, “All the nonsense, the informational stand-off, the informational throw-ins, all the fakes, they must stand aside. They should not prevent us from fulfilling our duty to our people. And you do not need to be particularly well-versed in this informational confrontation to understand what is actually going on." “There is a lot of noise now about our strikes against the energy infrastructure of our neighbour country. Yes, we are doing that but who started it? Who struck the Crimean Bridge? Who blew up the power lines of the Kursk Nuclear Power Station? Who is not providing water to Donetsk? Not providing water to a city with a population of one million is an act of genocide. No one said a word about it anywhere at all. Complete silence. Just as we make a move, do something in response, noise and crackle start for the whole universe. This will not prevent us from completing military objectives," he adds, while swaying from side to side. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. Drunk putin explains why strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure will continue because "they started first by attacking the Crimean bridge" pic.twitter.com/fQeRuNo4Pu — Dmitri (@wartranslated) December 8, 2022 The video which garnered more than 2.5 million views on the micro-blogging site, started speculations over whether the president was drunk while speaking. ALSO READ| Ukraine accuses Russia of storing rocket launchers at nuclear power plant Swedish economist Anders Åslund, who worked as an adviser to the governments of Russia and Ukraine in the 1990s, said that this is a very unusual behaviour of Putin, who is known for controlled abstinence. “This is the first time that I have seen Putin seeming drunk in any context. He talks nonsense as usual, but he seems to realize that he is a loser. Very interesting & promising. All Russians will see that he is drunk & weak," Åslund tweeted. This is the first time that I have seen Putin seeming drunk in any context. He talks nonsense as usual, but he seems to realize that he is a loser. Very interesting & promising. All Russians will see that he is drunk & weak. https://t.co/h2Q1EevJqR — Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) December 8, 2022 Meanwhile, Moscow-based journalist Anna Nemtsova tweeted that this is Putin's first alleged intoxication during his tenure as the president. "We've seen many staged photo&video shoots in 20 Years including half-naked Putin on a horse or diving for some Greek jugs, Putin flying w migratory birds or kissing a boy on the stomach but drunk speeches about Russian missiles striking neighbouring state must be Putin's own act," the journalist tweeted. We’ve seen many staged photo&video shoots in 20 Years including half-naked Putin on a horse or diving for some Greek jugs,Putin flying w migratory birds or kissing a boy on the stomach but drunk speeches about Russian missiles striking neighbouring state must be Putin’s own act https://t.co/tMIOxmSdd6 — Anna Nemtsova (@annanemtsova) December 8, 2022 ALSO READ| Russia to conduct more strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, says Vladimir Putin CBC journalist Evan Dyer, meanwhile, tweeted it is "very strange to see Putin drunk in public." "Being sober in a hard-drinking country is central to his public image. It was the main contrast he drew between himself and Yeltsin....But no doubt, he's plastered here," Dyer tweeted. Very strange to see Putin drunk in public. Being sober in a hard-drinking country is central to his public image. It was the main contrast he drew between himself and Yeltsin. A big part of his appeal, especially to long-suffering Russian woman. But no doubt, he’s plastered here. https://t.co/jGHhEFkSLK — Evan Dyer (@EvanDyerCBC) December 8, 2022 New Lines Magazine Global Editor Amie Ferris-Rotman, reacting over the viral video, tweeted, "Woah. Never seen Putin drunk before, or even heard of him getting drunk (he used to boast he was teetotal). Things must be going very wrong in Ukraine." Woah. Never seen Putin drunk before, or even heard of him getting drunk (he used to boast he was teetotal). Things must be going very wrong in Ukraine. https://t.co/yysOktAEGh — Amie Ferris-Rotman (@Amie_FR) December 8, 2022 Over the years, Putin is known to follow a strict diet and refrain from vices like alcohol and drugs. Russia's state media outlet Tass, in 2019, reported that the president does not approve smoking of cigarettes "because he advocates a healthy lifestyle." He has also criticised the drinking culture of Russia in the past, stating about receiving German beer bottles from Germany's former Chancellor Angela Merkel. 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WATCH: Visibly drunk Putin's video claiming 'You started it - not us' goes viral

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