Space agency the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has claimed that its Hubble Space Telescope has directly photographed evidence of a Jupiter-like protoplanet formation. As per NASA, the researchers have described it as an "intense and violent process" and the stunning discovery will shed light on the current understanding of planetary formation. As mentioned by the news agency Reuters, the planet is&nbsp;still in the womb.&nbsp;

Such claims about the formation of a planet are nothing new. But the latest discovery will support a long-debated theory for how planets like Jupiter form, called "disk instability."&nbsp;

NASA stated that the new world, which is under construction is embedded in a protoplanetary disk of dust and gas with distinct spiral structure swirling around surrounding a young star.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/one-must-shout-to-have-conversation-nasa-finds-sound-travels-slower-on-mars-than-earth-468444">‘One must shout to have conversation’: NASA finds sound travels slower on Mars than Earth</a>

The star is estimated to be around two million years old, which is the age of our solar system when planet formation was underway. Important to note that the solar system's age is currently 4.6 billion years.&nbsp;

Scientists found that a gas giant orbiting unusually far from its young host star. Gas giants are planets composed mostly of hydrogen and helium, with swirling gases surrounding a smaller solid core.&nbsp;

To the study planet, researchers used the Subaru Telescope located near the summit of an inactive Hawaiian volcano and the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope.&nbsp;

Astrophysicist Thayne Currie of the Subaru Telescope and the NASA-Ames Research Center, said, "We think it is still very early on in its 'birthing' process. Evidence suggests that this is the earliest stage of formation ever observed for a gas giant."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/meteor-shower-or-rocket-re-entry-blazing-streak-of-light-witnessed-in-night-sky-in-indian-state-467847">Meteor shower or rocket re-entry? Blazing streak of light witnessed in night sky in Indian state</a>

Currie, who is the lead author of the study published on Monday (April 4) in the journal Nature Astronomy, also said, "Nature is clever; it can produce planets in a range of different ways."&nbsp;

Scientists have claimed that the newly forming planet, called AB Aurigae b, is probably about nine times more massive than Jupiter.&nbsp;

AB Aurigae b orbits its host star at a whopping distance of 8.6 billion miles. that is over two times farther than Pluto is from our Sun.&nbsp;

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Image&nbsp;Credits: Science: NASA, ESA, Thayne Currie (Subaru Telescope, Eureka Scientific Inc.); Image Processing: Thayne Currie (Subaru Telescope, Eureka Scientific Inc.), Alyssa Pagan (STScI).&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Giant ice volcanoes spotted on Pluto

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As per the data available, about 5,000 planets beyond our solar system, or exoplanets, have been identified.&nbsp;

Planets in the process of formation - called protoplanets - have been observed around only one other star.&nbsp;

NASA stated that understanding the early days of the formation of Jupiter-like planets provides astronomers with more context into the history of our own solar system.&nbsp;

"This discovery paves the way for future studies of the chemical make-up of protoplanetary disks like AB Aurigae, including with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope," NASA noted.&nbsp;

Space agency the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has claimed that its Hubble Space Telescope has directly photographed evidence of a Jupiter-like protoplanet formation.

Space agency the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has claimed that its Hubble Space Telescope has directly photographed evidence of a Jupiter-like protoplanet formation. As per NASA, the researchers have described it as an "intense and violent process" and the stunning discovery will shed light on the current understanding of planetary formation. As mentioned by the news agency Reuters, the planet is still in the womb. Such claims about the formation of a planet are nothing new. But the latest discovery will support a long-debated theory for how planets like Jupiter form, called "disk instability." NASA stated that the new world, which is under construction is embedded in a protoplanetary disk of dust and gas with distinct spiral structure swirling around surrounding a young star. ALSO READ | ‘One must shout to have conversation’: NASA finds sound travels slower on Mars than Earth The star is estimated to be around two million years old, which is the age of our solar system when planet formation was underway. Important to note that the solar system's age is currently 4.6 billion years. Scientists found that a gas giant orbiting unusually far from its young host star. Gas giants are planets composed mostly of hydrogen and helium, with swirling gases surrounding a smaller solid core. To the study planet, researchers used the Subaru Telescope located near the summit of an inactive Hawaiian volcano and the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. Astrophysicist Thayne Currie of the Subaru Telescope and the NASA-Ames Research Center, said, "We think it is still very early on in its 'birthing' process. Evidence suggests that this is the earliest stage of formation ever observed for a gas giant." ALSO READ | Meteor shower or rocket re-entry? Blazing streak of light witnessed in night sky in Indian state Currie, who is the lead author of the study published on Monday (April 4) in the journal Nature Astronomy, also said, "Nature is clever; it can produce planets in a range of different ways." Scientists have claimed that the newly forming planet, called AB Aurigae b, is probably about nine times more massive than Jupiter. AB Aurigae b orbits its host star at a whopping distance of 8.6 billion miles. that is over two times farther than Pluto is from our Sun. Image Credits: Science: NASA, ESA, Thayne Currie (Subaru Telescope, Eureka Scientific Inc.); Image Processing: Thayne Currie (Subaru Telescope, Eureka Scientific Inc.), Alyssa Pagan (STScI). WATCH | Gravitas: Giant ice volcanoes spotted on Pluto × As per the data available, about 5,000 planets beyond our solar system, or exoplanets, have been identified. Planets in the process of formation - called protoplanets - have been observed around only one other star. NASA stated that understanding the early days of the formation of Jupiter-like planets provides astronomers with more context into the history of our own solar system. "This discovery paves the way for future studies of the chemical make-up of protoplanetary disks like AB Aurigae, including with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope," NASA noted.

Jupiter-like planet in space? Scientists observe stunning formation of planet that is 'in the womb'

An Indian space tech startup Pixxel grabbed attention after it successfully launched its first fully-fledged commercial satellite apparently called 'Shakuntala' or Pixxel TD-2. But what's next?&nbsp;

The satellite was launched with Elon Musk-run SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket on Friday (April 1) aboard SpaceX's Transporter-4 mission from Cape Canaveral in the United States.&nbsp;

Pixxel noted that TD-2 is hosting one of the highest resolution hyperspectral commercial cameras ever flown, which will bring the world one step closer to building a 24x7 health monitor for the planet.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
"TD-2 is capable of capturing orbital images in more than 150 bands of color from the visible and infrared spectrum with a resolution of 10-meters per pixel — far exceeding the specificity of 30-meter per pixel hyperspectral satellites launched by a few select organizations such NASA, ESA, and ISRO" - Pixxel
</blockquote>

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-find-14-black-holes-feasting-on-surrounding-space-matter-467787">Astronomers find 14 black holes feasting on surrounding space matter</a>

This particular launch has put the company within touching distance of its ambitious mission to assemble one of the "world's most advanced constellations of low-earth-orbit imaging satellites".&nbsp;

Awais Ahmed, who is the CEO of Pixxel, said as quoted by the company's website: "From being one of the very few finalists in the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition in 2017 to now launching our own satellites as part of SpaceX's fourth dedicated rideshare mission, life has come full-circle for us."&nbsp;

"The vision we had then, to accelerate humanity’s expansion into space by making in-space resources available on-demand and turning the earth into a more vibrant and sustainable place in the process, remains steadfast even today," the statement added.&nbsp;

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We have liftoff! Pixxel just launched its first satellite to space 🚀 <a href="https://t.co/bRB06TTMXL">https://t.co/bRB06TTMXL</a>
— Pixxel (@PixxelSpace) <a href="https://twitter.com/PixxelSpace/status/1509931044589371395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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We have first contact! Multiple successful ground passes made with the satellite since the launch. Antennas and solar panels deployed successfully. Health looking good! 🛰
— Pixxel (@PixxelSpace) <a href="https://twitter.com/PixxelSpace/status/1510196191702953990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indian-astronomers-find-galaxy-having-ghost-like-appearance-467773">Indian astronomers find galaxy having 'ghost-like' appearance</a>

Pixxel TD-2‍ details:&nbsp;

1) Pixxel TD-2‍ weighs less than 15 kilogrammes

2) As per the company, TD-2 is capable of capturing orbital images in more than 150 bands of colour from the visible and infrared spectrum with a resolution of 10-meters per pixel.&nbsp;

3) TD-2 will start collecting data and information related to the health of the planet Earth. It is set to uncover the invisible changes wreaking havoc on the planet, such as natural gas leakages, melting ice caps, pollution, deforestation and declining crop health.&nbsp;

What's next?

Awais Ahmed stated that Pixxel will achieve daily global coverage by early 2024 with even more satellites scheduled to launch in late 2023.

"The learnings from the data beamed down by our constellation will provide us with a global scale perspective of planetary-scale ecosystems and biospheres that will be used to create an AI-informed analysis platform, helping us create a digital twin of the earth," he noted.&nbsp;

An Indian space tech startup Pixxel grabbed attention after it successfully launched its first fully-fledged commercial satellite apparently called 'Shakuntala' or Pixxel TD-2.

An Indian space tech startup Pixxel grabbed attention after it successfully launched its first fully-fledged commercial satellite apparently called 'Shakuntala' or Pixxel TD-2. But what's next? The satellite was launched with Elon Musk-run SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket on Friday (April 1) aboard SpaceX's Transporter-4 mission from Cape Canaveral in the United States. Pixxel noted that TD-2 is hosting one of the highest resolution hyperspectral commercial cameras ever flown, which will bring the world one step closer to building a 24x7 health monitor for the planet. "TD-2 is capable of capturing orbital images in more than 150 bands of color from the visible and infrared spectrum with a resolution of 10-meters per pixel — far exceeding the specificity of 30-meter per pixel hyperspectral satellites launched by a few select organizations such NASA, ESA, and ISRO" - Pixxel ALSO READ | Astronomers find 14 black holes feasting on surrounding space matter This particular launch has put the company within touching distance of its ambitious mission to assemble one of the "world's most advanced constellations of low-earth-orbit imaging satellites". Awais Ahmed, who is the CEO of Pixxel, said as quoted by the company's website: "From being one of the very few finalists in the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition in 2017 to now launching our own satellites as part of SpaceX's fourth dedicated rideshare mission, life has come full-circle for us." "The vision we had then, to accelerate humanity’s expansion into space by making in-space resources available on-demand and turning the earth into a more vibrant and sustainable place in the process, remains steadfast even today," the statement added. We have liftoff! Pixxel just launched its first satellite to space 🚀 https://t.co/bRB06TTMXL — Pixxel (@PixxelSpace) April 1, 2022 × We have first contact! Multiple successful ground passes made with the satellite since the launch. Antennas and solar panels deployed successfully. Health looking good! 🛰 — Pixxel (@PixxelSpace) April 2, 2022 × ALSO READ | Indian astronomers find galaxy having 'ghost-like' appearance Pixxel TD-2‍ details: 1) Pixxel TD-2‍ weighs less than 15 kilogrammes 2) As per the company, TD-2 is capable of capturing orbital images in more than 150 bands of colour from the visible and infrared spectrum with a resolution of 10-meters per pixel. 3) TD-2 will start collecting data and information related to the health of the planet Earth. It is set to uncover the invisible changes wreaking havoc on the planet, such as natural gas leakages, melting ice caps, pollution, deforestation and declining crop health. What's next? Awais Ahmed stated that Pixxel will achieve daily global coverage by early 2024 with even more satellites scheduled to launch in late 2023. "The learnings from the data beamed down by our constellation will provide us with a global scale perspective of planetary-scale ecosystems and biospheres that will be used to create an AI-informed analysis platform, helping us create a digital twin of the earth," he noted.

Indian space tech startup launched satellite with Elon Musk's SpaceX. What's next?

Why do some humans love alcohol? It's really difficult to comment on a person's likes and dislikes, especially when it comes to eating and drinking. But still, research and studies can help understand why exactly a person likes to eat/drink something more or crave it.

Why do some humans love alcohol? It's really difficult to comment on a person's likes and dislikes, especially when it comes to eating and drinking. But still, research and studies can help understand why exactly a person likes to eat/drink something more or crave it. For example, alcohol. A new study on monkeys found that some of our 'ape ancestors' actively seek out fruit containing alcohol. The fruits become ripe enough for the sugars to have fermented, producing about two per cent alcohol. As published in Science Daily, monkeys have routinely consumed fruit containing alcohol, a phenomenon that might shed light on human's taste for booze. ALSO READ | Astronomers find 14 black holes feasting on surrounding space matter Biologists from the University of California - Berkeley analysed the ethanol content of fruit eaten by spider monkeys in Panama. They found that the fruit regularly contained alcohol, between 1 per cent and 2 per cent. The biologists also collected urine samples of the monkeys and most of the samples contained secondary metabolites of ethanol. The result shows that the animals were actually utilising the alcohol for energy. Primatologist Christina Campbell of California State University, Northridge (CSUN) led the study. Campbell's graduate student Victoria Weaver also helped as she collected fruit eaten and discarded by black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in Panama. ALSO READ | Indian astronomers find galaxy having 'ghost-like' appearance As per the study, the results provide further evidence that our primate ancestors preferentially sought out fermented, alcohol-containing fruit likely for its greater nutritional value. The study also mentioned that "humans may have inherited this proclivity for ethanol" from our ancestors. "For the first time, we have been able to show, without a shadow of a doubt, that wild primates, with no human interference, consume fruit-containing ethanol," said Campbell, a CUSN professor of anthropology who obtained her Ph.D. in anthropology from Berkeley in 2000. The new study also supports the idea, which was given by UC Berkeley biologist Robert Dudley, who mentioned the "drunken monkey" hypothesis. Dudley wrote a book in 2014 suggesting that our attraction to booze arose millions of years ago, when our ape and monkey ancestors discovered that the scent of alcohol led them to ripe, fermenting and nutritious fruit. WATCH | Doomscrolling - Endless scrolling leading to anxiety, impact on mental health ×

Why do some humans love booze? This study on monkeys might give answers

Facebook-owner Meta is no longer requiring employees to have COVID-19 boosters to enter its offices in the United States, a company spokesperson said on Friday.&nbsp;

The social media company previously said that all workers returning to the office would have to present proof of their booster jabs, while the company monitored the Omicron variant situation.&nbsp;

"We updated our requirements in early March to align with CDC guidance, and now COVID-19 boosters are no longer required for entry, though strongly recommended. The primary vaccination requirement (1- or 2-shot series) remains in place," said Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Facebook's parent company Meta gave user data to hackers

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Facebook advertisers can pursue class action over ad rates

A US&nbsp;judge ruled on Tuesday (March 29) that a lawsuit accusing Meta Platforms Inc's Facebook of deceiving advertisers about its "potential reach" tool can proceed as a class action.

The decision by U.S. District Judge James Donato in San Francisco allows potentially millions of individuals and businesses that paid for ads on Facebook and its photo-sharing app Instagram since Aug. 15, 2014 to sue as a group.

Facebook-owner Meta is no longer requiring employees to have COVID-19 boosters to enter its offices in the United States, a company spokesperson said on Friday. The social media company previously said that all workers returning to the office would have to present proof of their booster jabs, while the company monitored the Omicron variant situation.

Facebook-owner Meta is no longer requiring employees to have COVID-19 boosters to enter its offices in the United States, a company spokesperson said on Friday. The social media company previously said that all workers returning to the office would have to present proof of their booster jabs, while the company monitored the Omicron variant situation. "We updated our requirements in early March to align with CDC guidance, and now COVID-19 boosters are no longer required for entry, though strongly recommended. The primary vaccination requirement (1- or 2-shot series) remains in place," said Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton. WATCH | Facebook's parent company Meta gave user data to hackers × Facebook advertisers can pursue class action over ad rates A US judge ruled on Tuesday (March 29) that a lawsuit accusing Meta Platforms Inc's Facebook of deceiving advertisers about its "potential reach" tool can proceed as a class action. The decision by U.S. District Judge James Donato in San Francisco allows potentially millions of individuals and businesses that paid for ads on Facebook and its photo-sharing app Instagram since Aug. 15, 2014 to sue as a group.

Meta no longer requires COVID-19 booster shots for staff in US offices

A comprehensive report on India's health system published by the global health governing body World Health Organization (WHO) highlights how the policies and the entire system coming along.

A comprehensive report on India's health system published by the global health governing body World Health Organization (WHO) highlights how the policies and the entire system coming along. As per the report, India is broadly performing better than ever to treat those who are sick, however, the nation has faced new challenges as types of diseases have changed. India Health System Review shows that the average age of Indians has increased, however, the cost of treatment is also becoming expensive day by day. As per the WHO's report, overall India has taken necessary steps in the field of health care but a lot still needs to be done. The average age in India increased The report states that the average age in the country has increased. In 1970, the average Indian lived 47 years, but it increased to 70 years in 2020. However, the average age in Sri Lanka is 74 years and in China, the average age is 75 years. The average age of women has increased by 24 years while the average age of men has increased by 20 years. The average age of women is 71 years and that of men is 68 years. ALSO READ | Viruses that could save millions of lives The report stated, "The number of years an average Indian can expect to live at the time of their birth has increased sharply, from 47.7 years in 1970 to 69.6 years in 2020, a gain of more than two decades." "Life expectancy at birth among Indian women increased by 24 years between 1970 and 2016, more than that of men, who experienced an increase of 20 years over the same period. In addition, at 60 years of age, the average life expectancy for men is 15 years compared to 17 years for women," it added. The report also mentioned India’s infant mortality rate (IMR). In 1970, out of 1000, 132 infants died at the time of birth. The latest data shows improvement as in 2020, 32 out of 1,000 newborns were killed. Important to note that, the cases of death of women during delivery have also decreased. According to 1990 data, 556 out of 10,000 women died during delivery. By 2018, this figure has come down to 113 per 10,000. Cost of treatment The report shows that the nation requires more efforts to overhaul the health facilities. According to the report, 70 per cent of OPD services, 58 per cent of admitted patients and 90 per cent of the medicines and tests are still in private hands. The data shows that easy access to potential cures and treatment of the diseases are still out of the common man's reach. ALSO READ | UK's NHS adds nine new coronavirus symptoms to its list. Check them out! The ratio of doctors and nurses has improved compared to earlier data but the overall situation is still bad. 10,000 people now have 9.28 per cent of doctors in India and there are 24 nurses per 10,000 people. Also, there are about nine pharmacists per 10,000 people. The report also mentions that spending on public health in India is very low.

A remarkable rise in life expectancy in India but efforts needed to improve country's healthcare: Report

It may seem strange after a pandemic that has killed&nbsp;millions&nbsp;and turned the world upside down, but&nbsp;viruses&nbsp;could&nbsp;save&nbsp;just as many&nbsp;lives.

In a petri dish in a laboratory in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, a battle is going on between antibiotic resistant bacteria and "friendly"&nbsp;viruses.

This small nation in the Caucasus has pioneered research on a groundbreaking way to tackle the looming nightmare of bacteria becoming resistant to the antibiotics on which the world depends.

Long overlooked in the West, bacteriophages or bacteria-eating&nbsp;viruses&nbsp;are now being used on some of the most difficult medical cases, including a Belgian woman who developed a life-threatening infection after being injured in the 2016 Brussels airport bombing.

After two years of unsuccessful antibiotic treatment, bacteriophages sent from Tbilisi cured her infection in three months.

"We use those phages that kill harmful bacteria" to cure patients when antibiotics fail, Mzia Kutateladze of the Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages told AFP.&nbsp;

Even a banal infection can "kill a patient because the pathogen has developed resistance to antibiotics," Kutateladze said.

In such cases, phagotherapy "is one of the best alternatives", she added.

Phages have been known about for a century, but were largely forgotten and dismissed after antibiotics revolutionised medicine in the 1930s.

Stalin's henchman

It didn't help that the man who did most to develop them, Georgian scientist Giorgi Eliava, was executed in 1937 on the orders of another Georgian, Lavrentiy Beria, Stalin's most notorious henchman and the head of his secret police.

Eliava had worked in the Pasteur Institute in Paris with French-Canadian microbiologist Felix d'Herelle, one of the two men credited with discovering phages, and persuaded Stalin to invite him to Tbilisi in 1934.&nbsp;

But their collaboration was cut short when Beria had Eliava killed, although his motive still remains a mystery.&nbsp;

With the World Health Organization now declaring antimicrobial resistance a global health crisis, phages are making a comeback, especially as they can target bacteria while leaving human cells intact.

A recent study warned that superbugs&nbsp;could&nbsp;kill as many as 10 million people a year when antimicrobial resistance due to overuse of antibiotics reaches a tipping point. That&nbsp;could&nbsp;come within three decades.

'Training'&nbsp;viruses

While phages-based medicines cannot completely replace antibiotics, researchers say they have major pluses in being cheap, not having side-effects nor damaging organs or gut flora.

"We produce six standard phages that are of wide spectrum and can heal multiple infectious diseases," said Eliava Institute physician Lia Nadareishvili.

In some 10 to 15 percent of patients, however, standard phages don't work and "we have to find ones capable of killing the particular bacterial strain," she added.

Tailored phages to target rare infections can be selected from the institute's massive collection -- the world's richest -- or be found in sewage or polluted water or soil, Kutateladze said.

The institute can even "train" phages so that "they can kill more and more different harmful bacteria."

"It is a cheap and easily accessible therapy," she added.

Last-resort treatment

A 34-year-old American mechanical engineer suffering from a chronic bacterial disease for six years told AFP he "already felt improvement" after two weeks at the Tbilisi institute.

"I've tried every possible treatment in the United States," said Andrew, who would only give his first name.

He is one of the hundreds of patients from around the globe who arrive in Georgia every year for last-resort treatment, said Nadareishvili.

With the traditional antimicrobial armoury depleting rapidly, more clinical studies are needed so that phagotherapy can be more widely approved, Kutateladze argued.

In 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised a clinical study on the use of bacteriophages to cure secondary infections in Covid patients.

Beyond medicine, phages are already being used to stop food going off, and they "can be used in agriculture to protect crops and animals from harmful bacteria," Kutateladze said.&nbsp;

The institute has already conducted research on bacteria targeting cotton and rice.

Bacteriophages also have potential to counter biological weapons and combat bioterrorism, with Canadian researchers&nbsp;publishing a 2017 study on using them to counter an anthrax attack on crowded public places.

It may seem strange after a pandemic that has killed millions and turned the world upside down, but viruses could save just as many lives. In a petri dish in a laboratory in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, a battle is going on between antibiotic resistant bacteria and "friendly" viruses.

It may seem strange after a pandemic that has killed millions and turned the world upside down, but viruses could save just as many lives. In a petri dish in a laboratory in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, a battle is going on between antibiotic resistant bacteria and "friendly" viruses. This small nation in the Caucasus has pioneered research on a groundbreaking way to tackle the looming nightmare of bacteria becoming resistant to the antibiotics on which the world depends. Long overlooked in the West, bacteriophages or bacteria-eating viruses are now being used on some of the most difficult medical cases, including a Belgian woman who developed a life-threatening infection after being injured in the 2016 Brussels airport bombing. After two years of unsuccessful antibiotic treatment, bacteriophages sent from Tbilisi cured her infection in three months. "We use those phages that kill harmful bacteria" to cure patients when antibiotics fail, Mzia Kutateladze of the Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages told AFP. Even a banal infection can "kill a patient because the pathogen has developed resistance to antibiotics," Kutateladze said. In such cases, phagotherapy "is one of the best alternatives", she added. Phages have been known about for a century, but were largely forgotten and dismissed after antibiotics revolutionised medicine in the 1930s. Stalin's henchman It didn't help that the man who did most to develop them, Georgian scientist Giorgi Eliava, was executed in 1937 on the orders of another Georgian, Lavrentiy Beria, Stalin's most notorious henchman and the head of his secret police. Eliava had worked in the Pasteur Institute in Paris with French-Canadian microbiologist Felix d'Herelle, one of the two men credited with discovering phages, and persuaded Stalin to invite him to Tbilisi in 1934. But their collaboration was cut short when Beria had Eliava killed, although his motive still remains a mystery. With the World Health Organization now declaring antimicrobial resistance a global health crisis, phages are making a comeback, especially as they can target bacteria while leaving human cells intact. A recent study warned that superbugs could kill as many as 10 million people a year when antimicrobial resistance due to overuse of antibiotics reaches a tipping point. That could come within three decades. 'Training' viruses While phages-based medicines cannot completely replace antibiotics, researchers say they have major pluses in being cheap, not having side-effects nor damaging organs or gut flora. "We produce six standard phages that are of wide spectrum and can heal multiple infectious diseases," said Eliava Institute physician Lia Nadareishvili. In some 10 to 15 percent of patients, however, standard phages don't work and "we have to find ones capable of killing the particular bacterial strain," she added. Tailored phages to target rare infections can be selected from the institute's massive collection -- the world's richest -- or be found in sewage or polluted water or soil, Kutateladze said. The institute can even "train" phages so that "they can kill more and more different harmful bacteria." "It is a cheap and easily accessible therapy," she added. Last-resort treatment A 34-year-old American mechanical engineer suffering from a chronic bacterial disease for six years told AFP he "already felt improvement" after two weeks at the Tbilisi institute. "I've tried every possible treatment in the United States," said Andrew, who would only give his first name. He is one of the hundreds of patients from around the globe who arrive in Georgia every year for last-resort treatment, said Nadareishvili. With the traditional antimicrobial armoury depleting rapidly, more clinical studies are needed so that phagotherapy can be more widely approved, Kutateladze argued. In 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised a clinical study on the use of bacteriophages to cure secondary infections in Covid patients. Beyond medicine, phages are already being used to stop food going off, and they "can be used in agriculture to protect crops and animals from harmful bacteria," Kutateladze said. The institute has already conducted research on bacteria targeting cotton and rice. Bacteriophages also have potential to counter biological weapons and combat bioterrorism, with Canadian researchers publishing a 2017 study on using them to counter an anthrax attack on crowded public places.

Viruses that could save millions of lives

Humanity has less than three years to halt the rise of planet-warming carbon emissions and less than a decade to slash them almost in half, the UN said Monday in a landmark report on stopping global warming and ensuring a "liveable future".

That daunting task is still -- and only just -- possible, but current policies are leading the planet towards catastrophic temperature rises, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on&nbsp;Climate&nbsp;Change (IPCC) made clear.

The world's nations, they said, are taking our future right to the wire.&nbsp;

The 2,800-page report -- by far the most comprehensive assessment of how to halt global heating ever produced -- documents to "a litany of broken&nbsp;climate&nbsp;promises", said UN chief Antonio Guterres in a blistering judgement of governments and industry. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Some government and business leaders are saying one thing -- but doing another. Simply put, they are lying. And the results will be catastrophic," Guterres said in a video message released at the same time as the UN report.

In recent months, the IPCC has published the first two instalments in a trilogy of mammoth scientific assessments covering how greenhouse gas emissions are heating the planet and what that means for life on Earth.

This third report outlines what we can do about it.

"We are at a crossroads," said IPCC chief Hoesung Lee. "The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future. We have the tools and know-how required to limit warming."&nbsp;

There are solutions, the report says, but they touch on virtually all aspects of modern life and require significant investment and need "immediate action".

The very first item on the global to-do list is to stop greenhouse gas emissions from rising any further.&nbsp;

That must be done before 2025 to have a hope of keeping within even the less ambitious warming targets of the Paris deal of two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.&nbsp;

Scenarios of catastrophic 2.5C of warming also have emissions peaking within three years.

Beyond that, the report said carbon emissions need to drop 43 percent by 2030 and 84 percent by mid-century to meet the more ambitious Paris goal of 1.5C. &nbsp;

"It's now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5C," said Jim Skea, a professor at Imperial College London and co-chair of the working group behind the report.&nbsp;

"Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, it will be impossible."

And cutting emissions is no longer enough, the IPCC said. Technologies to suck CO2 out of the atmosphere -- not yet operating to scale -- will need to be ramped up enormously.

WATCH |&nbsp;Why bees in this Moroccan village are dying?

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Fossil fuels

The 1.5C target is presently "beyond reach", even with the most updated global&nbsp;climate&nbsp;pledges, the IPCC said.

To get there the world must radically reduce the fossil fuels behind the lion's share of emissions.&nbsp;

Nations should stop burning coal completely and slash oil and gas use by 60 and 70 percent respectively to keep within the Paris goals, the IPCC said.&nbsp;

It warned that current fossil fuel infrastructure, if used to the end of its expected lifetime without capturing carbon emissions, would make it impossible to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, the IPCC said.

While government policies, investments and regulations will propel emissions cuts, the IPCC made clear that individuals can also make a big difference.

Cutting back on long-haul flights, switching to plant-based diets,&nbsp;climate-proofing buildings and other ways of cutting the consumption that drives energy demand could reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 to 70 percent by 2050.&nbsp;

"Rapid and deep changes in demand make it easier for every sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," including construction, food consumption and transport, the report said.

With war in Ukraine spurring urgent efforts to transition away from Russian oil and gas in the West, observers said the report should sharpen nations' focus on&nbsp;climate&nbsp;commitments.&nbsp;

Humanity has less than three years to halt the rise of planet-warming carbon emissions and less than a decade to slash them almost in half, the UN said Monday in a landmark report on stopping global warming and ensuring a "liveable future".

Humanity has less than three years to halt the rise of planet-warming carbon emissions and less than a decade to slash them almost in half, the UN said Monday in a landmark report on stopping global warming and ensuring a "liveable future". That daunting task is still -- and only just -- possible, but current policies are leading the planet towards catastrophic temperature rises, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) made clear. The world's nations, they said, are taking our future right to the wire. The 2,800-page report -- by far the most comprehensive assessment of how to halt global heating ever produced -- documents to "a litany of broken climate promises", said UN chief Antonio Guterres in a blistering judgement of governments and industry. "Some government and business leaders are saying one thing -- but doing another. Simply put, they are lying. And the results will be catastrophic," Guterres said in a video message released at the same time as the UN report. In recent months, the IPCC has published the first two instalments in a trilogy of mammoth scientific assessments covering how greenhouse gas emissions are heating the planet and what that means for life on Earth. This third report outlines what we can do about it. "We are at a crossroads," said IPCC chief Hoesung Lee. "The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future. We have the tools and know-how required to limit warming." There are solutions, the report says, but they touch on virtually all aspects of modern life and require significant investment and need "immediate action". The very first item on the global to-do list is to stop greenhouse gas emissions from rising any further. That must be done before 2025 to have a hope of keeping within even the less ambitious warming targets of the Paris deal of two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Scenarios of catastrophic 2.5C of warming also have emissions peaking within three years. Beyond that, the report said carbon emissions need to drop 43 percent by 2030 and 84 percent by mid-century to meet the more ambitious Paris goal of 1.5C. "It's now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5C," said Jim Skea, a professor at Imperial College London and co-chair of the working group behind the report. "Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, it will be impossible." And cutting emissions is no longer enough, the IPCC said. Technologies to suck CO2 out of the atmosphere -- not yet operating to scale -- will need to be ramped up enormously. WATCH | Why bees in this Moroccan village are dying? × Fossil fuels The 1.5C target is presently "beyond reach", even with the most updated global climate pledges, the IPCC said. To get there the world must radically reduce the fossil fuels behind the lion's share of emissions. Nations should stop burning coal completely and slash oil and gas use by 60 and 70 percent respectively to keep within the Paris goals, the IPCC said. It warned that current fossil fuel infrastructure, if used to the end of its expected lifetime without capturing carbon emissions, would make it impossible to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, the IPCC said. While government policies, investments and regulations will propel emissions cuts, the IPCC made clear that individuals can also make a big difference. Cutting back on long-haul flights, switching to plant-based diets, climate-proofing buildings and other ways of cutting the consumption that drives energy demand could reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 to 70 percent by 2050. "Rapid and deep changes in demand make it easier for every sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," including construction, food consumption and transport, the report said. With war in Ukraine spurring urgent efforts to transition away from Russian oil and gas in the West, observers said the report should sharpen nations' focus on climate commitments.

United Nations warns that it's 'now or never' to avoid climate catastrophe

An April Fool's prank tweeted by staff at budget airline Thai&nbsp;Vietjet&nbsp;could lead to criminal charges after an activist lawyer filed a complaint with police alleging it had insulted Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Police will decide later whether to pursue a criminal case under strict "lese majeste" laws - which make defaming the monarchy punishable by up to 15 years in prison - against staff of the airline, an offshoot of Vietnam's&nbsp;Vietjet&nbsp;Aviation JSC.

Thai&nbsp;Vietjet's official account tweeted on April 1 that the airline was launching a new international route between the Thai province of Nan and Munich in Germany, which stirred online anger and threats of boycotts among ultra-royalists.

The offending tweet was later removed and the airline apologised the next day in a statement saying senior management had not known about the tweet that advertised a "flight route between a province in Thailand and a city in Europe, which led to many public reactions".

The tweet did not mention King Vajiralongkorn, 69, who has a home in Germany where he spends time with Royal Noble Consort Sineenat Wongvajiraphakdi, who was born in Nan province.

The king granted Sineenat the title of royal consort shortly after his 2019 coronation. He had earlier in the year married a member of his personal bodyguard unit, who became Queen Suthida.

Student-led protests in recent years have seen some activists openly criticising the king for time spent outside the country, among other things. At least 183 people have been charged with insulting the monarchy since the protests began in 2020.

Airline CEO Woranate Laprabang responded to the online royalist outrage by saying the staff responsible had been suspended pending an investigation.

"I would like to apologise to the Thai people once again for such incident," Woranate said.

But lawyer and activist Srisuwan Janya on Monday filed a police complaint of royal insult and computer crimes, saying in a Facebook post that the tweet "showed intent to offend" and an apology was not enough.

Srisuwan is well-known in Thailand as a prolific filer of complaints with police, once telling the Bangkok Post he had counted over 1,000 filings including for consumer fraud, corruption and environmental issues. Reuters could not determine how many of his complaints have led to prosecutions.

The police will consider the complaint by reviewing "all the facts" relating to what happened and "whether there was any criminal intent," Kissana Phathanacharoen, Thai deputy police spokesman, told Reuters.

Thailand's lese majeste laws have recently come under criticism by some activists and opposition politicians - a bold move in a country that traditionally upholds the king as semi-divine and above criticism.

An April Fool's prank tweeted by staff at budget airline Thai Vietjet could lead to criminal charges after an activist lawyer filed a complaint with police alleging it had insulted Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

An April Fool's prank tweeted by staff at budget airline Thai Vietjet could lead to criminal charges after an activist lawyer filed a complaint with police alleging it had insulted Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Police will decide later whether to pursue a criminal case under strict "lese majeste" laws - which make defaming the monarchy punishable by up to 15 years in prison - against staff of the airline, an offshoot of Vietnam's Vietjet Aviation JSC. Thai Vietjet's official account tweeted on April 1 that the airline was launching a new international route between the Thai province of Nan and Munich in Germany, which stirred online anger and threats of boycotts among ultra-royalists. The offending tweet was later removed and the airline apologised the next day in a statement saying senior management had not known about the tweet that advertised a "flight route between a province in Thailand and a city in Europe, which led to many public reactions". The tweet did not mention King Vajiralongkorn, 69, who has a home in Germany where he spends time with Royal Noble Consort Sineenat Wongvajiraphakdi, who was born in Nan province. The king granted Sineenat the title of royal consort shortly after his 2019 coronation. He had earlier in the year married a member of his personal bodyguard unit, who became Queen Suthida. Student-led protests in recent years have seen some activists openly criticising the king for time spent outside the country, among other things. At least 183 people have been charged with insulting the monarchy since the protests began in 2020. Airline CEO Woranate Laprabang responded to the online royalist outrage by saying the staff responsible had been suspended pending an investigation. "I would like to apologise to the Thai people once again for such incident," Woranate said. But lawyer and activist Srisuwan Janya on Monday filed a police complaint of royal insult and computer crimes, saying in a Facebook post that the tweet "showed intent to offend" and an apology was not enough. Srisuwan is well-known in Thailand as a prolific filer of complaints with police, once telling the Bangkok Post he had counted over 1,000 filings including for consumer fraud, corruption and environmental issues. Reuters could not determine how many of his complaints have led to prosecutions. The police will consider the complaint by reviewing "all the facts" relating to what happened and "whether there was any criminal intent," Kissana Phathanacharoen, Thai deputy police spokesman, told Reuters. Thailand's lese majeste laws have recently come under criticism by some activists and opposition politicians - a bold move in a country that traditionally upholds the king as semi-divine and above criticism.

How Thai airline's April Fool's tweet prompted Royal insult complaint to police

China is facing a surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and to curb the spread of infection the nation has adopted strict and unbending measures.&nbsp;

Amid other Covid rules, anyone found positive in Shanghai must be isolated from non-infected people, even if they are asymptomatic or have a mild infection.&nbsp;

Shanghai official Wu Qianyu on Monday (April 4) told a news conference that children could be accompanied by their parents if the parents were also infected, but separated if they were not. The officials added that policies were still being refined.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-nhs-adds-nine-new-coronavirus-symptoms-to-its-list-check-them-out-468335">UK's NHS adds nine new coronavirus symptoms to its list. Check them out!</a>

Important to note that China has sent the military and thousands of healthcare workers into Shanghai to help carry out Covid tests for all of its 26 million residents.&nbsp;

The move has been condemned by Western diplomats. They have raised concerns about separating children from their parents as part of Covid curbs.&nbsp;

Not just Western diplomats, people in China have also expressed anger. Parents and guardians have raised their voices against the policy on social media.&nbsp;

"Parents need to meet 'conditions' to accompany their children? That's absurd... it should be their most basic right," one unnamed commenter wrote on Weibo as quoted by AFP. Weibo is China's Twitter-like social media platform.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-sends-military-doctors-to-shanghai-to-test-26-million-residents-for-covid-468219">China sends military, doctors to Shanghai to test 26 million residents for Covid</a>

Meanwhile, health officials in Shanghai on Monday have defended separating babies and young children from their parents. Wu said the policy was integral to virus "prevention and control work".&nbsp;

China's state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday&nbsp;quoting the Ministry of Health that&nbsp;more than 38,000 health workers from 15 provinces have been sent to Shanghai to help fight the virus outbreak.&nbsp;

On April 4, the nationwide caseload topped 13,000 for a second day.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;China sends military, healthcare workers to Shanghai to conduct covid-19 test for 26 MN residents

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&nbsp;

China is facing a surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and to curb the spread of infection the nation has adopted strict and unbending measures. Amid other Covid rules, anyone found positive in Shanghai must be isolated from non-infected people, even if they are asymptomatic or have a mild infection.

China is facing a surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and to curb the spread of infection the nation has adopted strict and unbending measures. Amid other Covid rules, anyone found positive in Shanghai must be isolated from non-infected people, even if they are asymptomatic or have a mild infection. Shanghai official Wu Qianyu on Monday (April 4) told a news conference that children could be accompanied by their parents if the parents were also infected, but separated if they were not. The officials added that policies were still being refined. ALSO READ | UK's NHS adds nine new coronavirus symptoms to its list. Check them out! Important to note that China has sent the military and thousands of healthcare workers into Shanghai to help carry out Covid tests for all of its 26 million residents. The move has been condemned by Western diplomats. They have raised concerns about separating children from their parents as part of Covid curbs. Not just Western diplomats, people in China have also expressed anger. Parents and guardians have raised their voices against the policy on social media. "Parents need to meet 'conditions' to accompany their children? That's absurd... it should be their most basic right," one unnamed commenter wrote on Weibo as quoted by AFP. Weibo is China's Twitter-like social media platform. ALSO READ | China sends military, doctors to Shanghai to test 26 million residents for Covid Meanwhile, health officials in Shanghai on Monday have defended separating babies and young children from their parents. Wu said the policy was integral to virus "prevention and control work". China's state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday quoting the Ministry of Health that more than 38,000 health workers from 15 provinces have been sent to Shanghai to help fight the virus outbreak. On April 4, the nationwide caseload topped 13,000 for a second day. WATCH | China sends military, healthcare workers to Shanghai to conduct covid-19 test for 26 MN residents ×

China's Covid policy: Shanghai separates virus-positive kids from parents, defends decision

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. Lesia Vasylenk, who is a Ukrainian Member of Parliament, alleged that Russian soldiers have raped girls and also branded them. According to Vasylenk, "swastika-shaped burns" were found on their bodies. Taking to her official Twitter handle on Monday (April 4), the Ukrainian MP stated that Russian soldiers raped girls as young as 10 years old. She also mentioned that crimes such as loot and killings were also committed. Labelling Russia as a "nation of immoral criminals", Vasylenk alleged that the young girls were left with "vaginal and rectal tears". She also claimed that women's bodies with burns in the shape of a 'swastika', which is a hooked cross — to some extent similar to a sacred Hindu symbol, but entirely different. (WION had previously explained it. Click Here to watch the report) ALSO READ | Ukraine war: Russia 'categorically' rejects accusations of Bucha killings and atrocities, orders probe "Russian soldiers loot, rape and kill. 10 y.o. girls with vaginal and rectal tears. Women with swastika shaped burns. Russia. Russian Men did this. And Russian mothers raised them. A nation of immoral criminals," she tweeted. With hashtags #StopGenocide #StopPutinNOW, Vasylenk tweeted a gory image of a body on which the symbol can be seen. She wrote: "Tortured body of a raped and killed woman. I'm speechless. My@mind is paralyzed with anger and fear and hatred." Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. Russian soldiers loot, rape and kill. 10 y.o. girls with vaginal and rectal tears. Women with swastika shaped burns. Russia. Russian Men did this. And Russian mothers raised them. A nation of immoral criminals — Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) April 3, 2022 × 18300 Russian soldiers killed in #Ukraine. And I’m not sorry for any one of them. #WarDay #40 — Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) April 4, 2022 × Tortured body of a raped and killed woman. I’m speechless. My@mind is paralyzed with anger and fear and hatred. #StopGenocide #StopPutinNOW pic.twitter.com/Kl0ufDigJi — Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) April 3, 2022 × WATCH | Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis Poland hints at hosting nuclear warheads × Russia has been levelled with fresh allegations of war crimes after mass graves were allegedly found in Bucha, a town outside Kyiv after Russian troops recently withdrew from that area. Reports have stated that Russian troops tortured, killed civilians and raped women. In response, the Kremlin on Monday (April 4) "categorically" rejected accusations. 🇷🇺 came in 🇺🇦 with military bands and columns of the Rosguard. But they were followed by mobile crematories. Why do you need them if you don’t believe in resistance? Now we know - to hide war crimes. This is not a performer's mistake. This is a planned genocide. #BuchaMassacre pic.twitter.com/koRdQbtbX8 — Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) April 3, 2022 × In the latest European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the EU was ready to send a team of investigators to gather evidence of possible war crimes. "The EU is ready to reinforce this effort by sending investigation teams on the ground to support the Ukrainian Prosecution Services. Eurojust and Europol are ready to assist," she said.

'Swastika-shaped burns': Ukrainian MP claims Russian soldiers raped and branded girls, shows gory image

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan managed to avoid voting on the no-confidence motion on Sunday (April 3) presented by the opposition parties. It was expected that PM Khan will be removed from power but the country's assembly deputy speaker refused to accept the motion of no confidence in the government.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan managed to avoid voting on the no-confidence motion on Sunday (April 3) presented by the opposition parties. It was expected that PM Khan will be removed from power but the country's assembly deputy speaker refused to accept the motion of no confidence in the government. After that, the national assembly of the country was also dissolved and reports have stated fresh elections will take place in 90 days. ALSO READ | Pakistan's political crisis: Imran Khan nominates former CJP Gulzar Ahmed as caretaker PM Meanwhile, Imran Khan nominated former Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed for the position of caretaker prime minister on Monday (April 4). On Sunday, when the no-confidence motion was rejected, Khan addressed the nation and reiterated that there had been "foreign interference" leading to the instability that has been prevailing in Pakistan's democratic institutions. But who is this 'foreign interference'? Reports have claimed that Donald Lu was apparently involved in the conspiracy to oust Imran Khan from power. Lu is an Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Pakistan media outlet DAWN reported. A few days ago, journalists in the South Asian nation were informed that a Pakistani envoy was told by an official that they had issues with PM Khan's foreign policy. A cable was reportedly sent on March 7, a day before the Opposition submitted the no-confidence motion. It has been reported that the cable was sent by Pakistan's then-ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed on the basis of his meeting with Donald Lu. ALSO READ | 'Im the dim': How Pakistan PM Imran Khan turned out to be a terrible caricature of the champion cricketer Ambassador Majeed has now moved to Brussels to take up his new assignment and has been replaced by Ambassador Masood Khan. Imran Khan also said Lu had warned the Pakistan ambassador that there would be implications if the Pakistan PM survived the no-confidence vote. The US State Department on March 30 asserted that no US government agency or official had sent a letter to Pakistan on the current political situation in the country, the media report said. WATCH | Pakistan political crisis: Supreme Court to issue 'reasonable' order today ×

This US diplomat apparently caused political instability in Pakistan and 'threatened' PM Imran Khan

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. Ukrainian authorities claimed to have found mass graves in Bucha, a town outside Kyiv after Russian troops recently withdrew from that area. However, the retreat has led to global outrage and calls for war crimes investigation over the alleged evidence of mass graves, torture and rape. Meanwhile, the Kremlin on Monday (April 4) "categorically" rejected accusations that Russian forces were responsible for killing civilians. ALSO READ | Surprise debut! Ukraine President Zelensky makes virtual appearance at Grammys 2022 "We categorically reject all allegations," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists as quoted by news agencies, suggesting that images of corpses were "fakes". "This information must be seriously questioned. From what we have seen, our experts have identified signs of video falsification and other fakes," Peskov said. As per Peskov, the evidence presented by the Ukrainian authorities are not matching with the facts and the chronology of the events in Bucha. He also urged international leaders not to rush to judgment. "The situation is undoubtedly serious and we would ask that many international leaders not rush with their statements, not rush with their baseless accusations, request information from different sources, and at least listen to our explanations," he added. ALSO READ | 'Most outrageous atrocity of 21st century': Ukrainian official says mass graves found in Bucha Oleksiy Arestovych, who is an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Telegram said that the abuse of prisoners constitutes a war crime and should be punished. "We treat prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Convention despite your personal emotional motivations," he said to Ukrainian soldiers. Arestovych also said that Ukrainian troops had found the bodies of civilians, including women who had been raped. They also found bodies of small children. He added, "There are murdered men whose bodies bear signs of torture. Their hands were tied and they were killed by shots to the back of the head." On Monday (April 4), Russia's chief investigator ordered an official examination of what he called a Ukrainian "provocation". Alexander Bastrykin, who is the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, ordered that a probe be opened on the basis that Ukraine had spread "deliberately false information" about Russian armed forces in Bucha, the committee said in a statement. WATCH | West prepares more sanctions on Russia as Bucha killings in Ukraine shock the world × (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine war: Russia 'categorically' rejects accusations of Bucha killings and atrocities, orders probe

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