Beijing&nbsp;will include more than a dozen&nbsp;fertility&nbsp;services&nbsp;in a government-backed medical&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;scheme for the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;capital, state media reported on Monday,&nbsp;supporting those seeking to have babies with China's birth rate at a record low.

A total of 16 medical&nbsp;services&nbsp;using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) will be covered by the city's state&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;effective from March 26, in a move to "take proactive&nbsp;fertility&nbsp;support&nbsp;measures", according to the&nbsp;Beijing&nbsp;Daily.

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The new reproductive&nbsp;coverage&nbsp;could help lower out-of-pocket costs and benefit couples in lower-income brackets seeking to have babies and those with little or no access to private medical&nbsp;insurance.

Official data showed China's birth rate dropped to a record low in 2021, extending a downward trend that led the national government last year to begin allowing couples to have up to three children.

China will work towards achieving an "appropriate" birth rate, Premier Li Keqiang said at the start of the annual parliamentary meeting in March last year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-human-rights-chief-can-visit-xinjiang-but-beijing-doesnt-welcome-any-probe-says-chinas-foreign-minister-454717">UN human rights chief can visit Xinjiang but Beijing doesn't welcome any probe, says China's foreign minister</a>

China faces what experts call a "demographic time-bomb" as its elderly population increases while its workforce gets smaller due to decreasing&nbsp;births, partly due to a one-child policy in place for about four decades before being scrapped in 2016.

China will raise the statutory retirement age "in a phased manner", Li said last year.

The eastern province of Jiangsu said last month that starting from March, employees eligible for state pensions will be able to apply for delayed retirement for no less than one year from the statutory retirement age.

Beijing will include more than a dozen fertility services in a government-backed medical insurance scheme for the Chinese capital, state media reported on Monday, supporting those seeking to have babies with China's birth rate at a record low.

Beijing will include more than a dozen fertility services in a government-backed medical insurance scheme for the Chinese capital, state media reported on Monday, supporting those seeking to have babies with China's birth rate at a record low. A total of 16 medical services using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) will be covered by the city's state insurance effective from March 26, in a move to "take proactive fertility support measures", according to the Beijing Daily. Also read | Now, Chinese students to be taught Xi Jinping's 'thoughts' The new reproductive coverage could help lower out-of-pocket costs and benefit couples in lower-income brackets seeking to have babies and those with little or no access to private medical insurance. Official data showed China's birth rate dropped to a record low in 2021, extending a downward trend that led the national government last year to begin allowing couples to have up to three children. China will work towards achieving an "appropriate" birth rate, Premier Li Keqiang said at the start of the annual parliamentary meeting in March last year. Also read | UN human rights chief can visit Xinjiang but Beijing doesn't welcome any probe, says China's foreign minister China faces what experts call a "demographic time-bomb" as its elderly population increases while its workforce gets smaller due to decreasing births, partly due to a one-child policy in place for about four decades before being scrapped in 2016. China will raise the statutory retirement age "in a phased manner", Li said last year. The eastern province of Jiangsu said last month that starting from March, employees eligible for state pensions will be able to apply for delayed retirement for no less than one year from the statutory retirement age.

To support births, Chinese capital Beijing adds fertility services to insurance coverage

Credit Suisse, which is a global investment bank and financial services firm based in Switzerland, on Sunday (February 20) said that it "strongly rejects" allegations of wrongdoing. Credit Suisse is apparently Switzerland's second-largest lender. &nbsp;

Multiple media outlets have published results of investigations into a leak of data on thousands of accounts held there in previous decades.&nbsp;

The documents termed "Suisse Secrets" have been published by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). It is an international investigation into one of the world's wealthiest and most important banks.&nbsp;

The documents have been compiled after more than 163 journalists from 48 media outlets in 39 countries across the world spent months analysing bank account information leaked from Credit Suisse.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-plans-to-cut-ties-with-targeted-russian-banks-if-ukraine-is-invaded-sources-454960">US plans to cut ties with targeted Russian banks if Ukraine is invaded: Sources</a>

OCCRP stated that the leak included more than 18,000 accounts that held in excess of $100 billion at their peak. It is the only known leak of a major Swiss bank's client data to journalists.&nbsp;

The reports mentioned that the leaked data was provided to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung by an anonymous source more than a year ago and the data includes information about more than 18,000 Credit Suisse accounts and 30,000 account holders.&nbsp;

The investigative report, as published by several media out claims to have found evidence that some of the accounts show trails of involvement in serious crimes such as money laundering or drug trafficking.&nbsp;

The report states that the Suisse Secrets project investigates these account holders, whose exploitation of Swiss banking secrecy is a "prime example of how the international financial industry enables theft and corruption".&nbsp;

"Given Credit Suisse's numerous pledges to reform its due diligence practices over the years, the project highlights the need for increased accountability in this sector," a part of the OCCRP report noted. v

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/these-are-the-3-indian-cities-with-the-most-millionaire-households-454437">These are the 3 Indian cities with the most millionaire households</a>

Meanwhile, the Swiss bank has rejected the allegations. In a statement, it said, "The matters presented are predominantly historical, in some cases dating back as far as the 1940s, and the accounts of these matters are based on partial, inaccurate, or selective information taken out of context."&nbsp;

Credit Suisse further said that it had reviewed accounts that were likely related to the investigative report. "Approximately 90% of the reviewed accounts are today closed or were in the process of closure prior to receipt of the press inquiries, of which over 60% were closed before 2015," it said.&nbsp;

Credit Suisse also said that it was "deeply aware of its responsibility to clients and the financial system as a whole to ensure that the highest standards of conduct are upheld".&nbsp;

It said, "These media allegations appear to be a concerted effort to discredit not only the bank but the Swiss financial market-place as a whole, which has undergone significant changes over the last several years."&nbsp;

Credit Suisse, which is a global investment bank and financial services firm based in Switzerland, on Sunday (February 20) said that it "strongly rejects" allegations of wrongdoing.

Credit Suisse, which is a global investment bank and financial services firm based in Switzerland, on Sunday (February 20) said that it "strongly rejects" allegations of wrongdoing. Credit Suisse is apparently Switzerland's second-largest lender. Multiple media outlets have published results of investigations into a leak of data on thousands of accounts held there in previous decades. The documents termed "Suisse Secrets" have been published by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). It is an international investigation into one of the world's wealthiest and most important banks. The documents have been compiled after more than 163 journalists from 48 media outlets in 39 countries across the world spent months analysing bank account information leaked from Credit Suisse. ALSO READ | US plans to cut ties with targeted Russian banks if Ukraine is invaded: Sources OCCRP stated that the leak included more than 18,000 accounts that held in excess of $100 billion at their peak. It is the only known leak of a major Swiss bank's client data to journalists. The reports mentioned that the leaked data was provided to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung by an anonymous source more than a year ago and the data includes information about more than 18,000 Credit Suisse accounts and 30,000 account holders. The investigative report, as published by several media out claims to have found evidence that some of the accounts show trails of involvement in serious crimes such as money laundering or drug trafficking. The report states that the Suisse Secrets project investigates these account holders, whose exploitation of Swiss banking secrecy is a "prime example of how the international financial industry enables theft and corruption". "Given Credit Suisse's numerous pledges to reform its due diligence practices over the years, the project highlights the need for increased accountability in this sector," a part of the OCCRP report noted. v ALSO READ | These are the 3 Indian cities with the most millionaire households Meanwhile, the Swiss bank has rejected the allegations. In a statement, it said, "The matters presented are predominantly historical, in some cases dating back as far as the 1940s, and the accounts of these matters are based on partial, inaccurate, or selective information taken out of context." Credit Suisse further said that it had reviewed accounts that were likely related to the investigative report. "Approximately 90% of the reviewed accounts are today closed or were in the process of closure prior to receipt of the press inquiries, of which over 60% were closed before 2015," it said. Credit Suisse also said that it was "deeply aware of its responsibility to clients and the financial system as a whole to ensure that the highest standards of conduct are upheld". It said, "These media allegations appear to be a concerted effort to discredit not only the bank but the Swiss financial market-place as a whole, which has undergone significant changes over the last several years."

'Suisse Secrets': Switzerland based bank denies wrongdoing after massive data leak shows trails of dirty money

President Joe Biden's administration has prepared an initial package of sanctions against Russia that includes barring&nbsp;U.S. financial institutions from processing transactions for major Russian&nbsp;banks, three people familiar with the matter said.

The measures, which would only be implemented if Russia invades&nbsp;Ukraine, aim to hurt the Russian economy by&nbsp;cutting the "correspondent" banking relationships between targeted Russian banks and US banks that enable international payments.

While&nbsp;US&nbsp;authorities&nbsp;have said banking restrictions would be part of a package of possible sanctions, the administration's plan to&nbsp;cut&nbsp;correspondent banking&nbsp;ties&nbsp;- which underpin global money flows - has not previously been reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-ready-to-meet-putin-until-the-moment-ukraine-invasion-begins-454912">Biden ready to meet Putin 'until the moment' Ukraine invasion begins</a>

The United States will also wield its most powerful sanctioning tool against certain Russian individuals and companies by placing them on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, effectively kicking them out of the&nbsp;U.S. banking system, banning their trade with Americans and freezing their&nbsp;U.S. assets, the same&nbsp;sources&nbsp;said.

The White House and Treasury Department declined to comment.

The&nbsp;sources&nbsp;said the package could change up to the last minute and it was unclear who the targets would be. However, they believe top Russian financial institutions including VTB Bank, Sberbank, VEB, and Gazprombank are possible targets.

Experts consulted by Reuters said that while the correspondent banking tool lacks the punch of an SDN designation, which freezes a bank's assets, they could still deal a meaningful blow to the target&nbsp;banks&nbsp;by making it difficult to transact in&nbsp;US&nbsp;dollars, the global reserve currency.

Much of global trade is transacted in dollars.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-us-secretary-of-state-mike-pompeo-to-visit-taiwan-next-week-454945">Former US&nbsp;Secretary of State&nbsp;Mike&nbsp;Pompeo to visit Taiwan next week</a>

It is unclear whether Russian&nbsp;banks&nbsp;would be added to the SDN list, but both types of sanctions could hit Russia hard.

"Since a significant number of global trade transactions are in&nbsp;U.S. dollars this is a sanction with bite, but without the more complicated and deadly sanction of being placed on the SDN list and having all assets in the&nbsp;U.S. or in the hands of&nbsp;U.S. persons frozen," said Washington lawyer Kay Georgi, who specializes in international trade.

Sources&nbsp;noted that the administration could exempt certain transactions from the restrictions if deemed necessary.

'UPFRONT COSTS'

The Biden administration has been threatening tough banking sanctions against Russia for weeks in a bid to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading&nbsp;Ukraine. Moscow has amassed upwards of 150,000 troops on&nbsp;Ukraine's borders, but Putin has denied&nbsp;plans&nbsp;to launch an attack.

Peter Harrell, who sits on the National Security Council, said last month that "heavy hitting financial sanctions" were part of a strategy to hurt Russia's economy but spare its citizens.

"The goal of the financial sanctions is really to have short term upfront costs on Russia, to trigger capital flight, to trigger inflation, to make the Russian central bank provide bailouts&nbsp;to its&nbsp;banks," he said in a speech late last month.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-russia-give-orders-to-attack-ukraine-us-media-cites-intel-inputs-that-were-apparently-known-to-biden-454927">Did Russia give orders to 'attack' Ukraine? US media cites intel inputs that were apparently known to Biden</a>

The tough warnings have put some&nbsp;U.S. financial firms on edge. Members of the financial services and payment industries have been in touch in recent days with the&nbsp;U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which administers sanctions,&nbsp;sources&nbsp;said.

Tensions grew over the weekend as Russia extended military drills in Belarus, heightening fears among Western powers of an imminent Russian invasion of&nbsp;Ukraine.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus | Explained: The Russia-Ukraine crisis

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-explained-the-russia-ukraine-crisis-454859/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Biden and Putin on Sunday agreed in principle to a summit, France said, offering hope conflict could be avoided.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United States and Britain would&nbsp;cut&nbsp;off Russian companies' access to&nbsp;U.S. dollars and British pounds if the Kremlin orders an invasion.

The Biden administration has been similarly aggressive in its rhetoric. In a briefing on Friday, Deputy National Security advisor Daleep Singh told reporters that the cost to Russia of an invasion would be "immense, both to its economy and its strategic position in the world."

President Joe Biden's administration has prepared an initial package of sanctions against Russia that includes barring U.S. financial institutions from processing transactions for major Russian banks, three people familiar with the matter said.

President Joe Biden's administration has prepared an initial package of sanctions against Russia that includes barring U.S. financial institutions from processing transactions for major Russian banks, three people familiar with the matter said. The measures, which would only be implemented if Russia invades Ukraine, aim to hurt the Russian economy by cutting the "correspondent" banking relationships between targeted Russian banks and US banks that enable international payments. While US authorities have said banking restrictions would be part of a package of possible sanctions, the administration's plan to cut correspondent banking ties - which underpin global money flows - has not previously been reported. Also read | Biden ready to meet Putin 'until the moment' Ukraine invasion begins The United States will also wield its most powerful sanctioning tool against certain Russian individuals and companies by placing them on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, effectively kicking them out of the U.S. banking system, banning their trade with Americans and freezing their U.S. assets, the same sources said. The White House and Treasury Department declined to comment. The sources said the package could change up to the last minute and it was unclear who the targets would be. However, they believe top Russian financial institutions including VTB Bank, Sberbank, VEB, and Gazprombank are possible targets. Experts consulted by Reuters said that while the correspondent banking tool lacks the punch of an SDN designation, which freezes a bank's assets, they could still deal a meaningful blow to the target banks by making it difficult to transact in US dollars, the global reserve currency. Much of global trade is transacted in dollars. Also read | Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to visit Taiwan next week It is unclear whether Russian banks would be added to the SDN list, but both types of sanctions could hit Russia hard. "Since a significant number of global trade transactions are in U.S. dollars this is a sanction with bite, but without the more complicated and deadly sanction of being placed on the SDN list and having all assets in the U.S. or in the hands of U.S. persons frozen," said Washington lawyer Kay Georgi, who specializes in international trade. Sources noted that the administration could exempt certain transactions from the restrictions if deemed necessary. 'UPFRONT COSTS' The Biden administration has been threatening tough banking sanctions against Russia for weeks in a bid to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine. Moscow has amassed upwards of 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, but Putin has denied plans to launch an attack. Peter Harrell, who sits on the National Security Council, said last month that "heavy hitting financial sanctions" were part of a strategy to hurt Russia's economy but spare its citizens. "The goal of the financial sanctions is really to have short term upfront costs on Russia, to trigger capital flight, to trigger inflation, to make the Russian central bank provide bailouts to its banks," he said in a speech late last month. Also read | Did Russia give orders to 'attack' Ukraine? US media cites intel inputs that were apparently known to Biden The tough warnings have put some U.S. financial firms on edge. Members of the financial services and payment industries have been in touch in recent days with the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which administers sanctions, sources said. Tensions grew over the weekend as Russia extended military drills in Belarus, heightening fears among Western powers of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine. Watch | Gravitas Plus | Explained: The Russia-Ukraine crisis Biden and Putin on Sunday agreed in principle to a summit, France said, offering hope conflict could be avoided. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United States and Britain would cut off Russian companies' access to U.S. dollars and British pounds if the Kremlin orders an invasion. The Biden administration has been similarly aggressive in its rhetoric. In a briefing on Friday, Deputy National Security advisor Daleep Singh told reporters that the cost to Russia of an invasion would be "immense, both to its economy and its strategic position in the world."

US plans to cut ties with targeted Russian banks if Ukraine is invaded: Sources

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who riled China while in office with his criticism of it and attacks on its ruling Communist Party, will visit Taiwan next week and meet President Tsai Ing-wen, the Taiwan government said on Monday.&nbsp;

Pompeo&nbsp;served under then-President Donald Trump from 2018 until the end of the administration in January last year.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;and his wife would&nbsp;visit&nbsp;the Chinese-claimed island from March 3-5, and also meet Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and give a speech at a think-tank.

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"Former Secretary of State&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;is a long-term and staunch friend of&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;and made outstanding contributions to promoting&nbsp;Taiwan-U.S. relations during his time in&nbsp;office," the ministry said in a statement.

His&nbsp;visit&nbsp;shows the bipartisan "rock solid" U.S. support for&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;and the close&nbsp;Taiwan-U.S. friendship, it added.

The Trump administration gave strong backing to&nbsp;Taiwan, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, including high profile arms sales and&nbsp;visits of top U.S. officials to Taipei.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-says-threat-to-taiwan-if-west-does-not-support-ukraine-454634">Boris Johnson says threat to Taiwan if West does not support Ukraine</a>

Pompeo&nbsp;particularly angered Beijing with his attacks on the Communist Party.

China&nbsp;has stepped up its military and diplomatic pressure against&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;over the past two years seeking to force the island to accept its sovereignty.

Taiwan's government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked, and that only the island's people have the right to decide their future.

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who riled China while in office with his criticism of it and attacks on its ruling Communist Party, will visit Taiwan next week and meet President Tsai Ing-wen, the Taiwan government said on Monday.

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who riled China while in office with his criticism of it and attacks on its ruling Communist Party, will visit Taiwan next week and meet President Tsai Ing-wen, the Taiwan government said on Monday. Pompeo served under then-President Donald Trump from 2018 until the end of the administration in January last year. Taiwan's foreign ministry said Pompeo and his wife would visit the Chinese-claimed island from March 3-5, and also meet Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and give a speech at a think-tank. Also read | Mike Pompeo takes on Biden in his CPAC speech "Former Secretary of State Pompeo is a long-term and staunch friend of Taiwan and made outstanding contributions to promoting Taiwan-U.S. relations during his time in office," the ministry said in a statement. His visit shows the bipartisan "rock solid" U.S. support for Taiwan and the close Taiwan-U.S. friendship, it added. The Trump administration gave strong backing to Taiwan, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, including high profile arms sales and visits of top U.S. officials to Taipei. Also read | Boris Johnson says threat to Taiwan if West does not support Ukraine Pompeo particularly angered Beijing with his attacks on the Communist Party. China has stepped up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan over the past two years seeking to force the island to accept its sovereignty. Taiwan's government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked, and that only the island's people have the right to decide their future.

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to visit Taiwan next week

UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet can visit Xinjiang, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday (February 19). However, a full-scale investigation is highly unlikely as Beijing has said it doesn't welcome any probe based on the presumption of guilt&nbsp;in the region.&nbsp;

Some of the Western countries have accused China of 'egregious' human rights violations in the Xinjiang region against the Uyghur&nbsp;Muslims, which China has repeatedly denied.&nbsp;

The US has accused China of mass detention, torture, forced labour and genocide in Xinjiang. The issue remained in headlines before and during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/winter-olympics-2022-chinese-official-makes-first-statement-on-taiwan-and-xinjiang-at-games-454163">Winter Olympics 2022: Chinese official makes first statement on Taiwan and Xinjiang at Games</a>

Some countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics. They didn't send government officials to the Games but athletes from the mentioned countries participated.&nbsp;

UN Human Rights Chief has long sought access to the western Chinese region to investigate accusations of abuse against ethnic Uyghurs.&nbsp;

But on being asked if Bachelet would have unrestricted access in Xinjiang, Wang said by video at the Munich Security Conference: "(China) rejects all kinds of biases, prejudices and uncalled-for accusations."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-naval-vessel-directs-laser-at-australian-military-plane-454687">Chinese naval vessel directs laser at Australian military plane</a>

China says the camps are re-education and training facilities and denies any abuse, saying it is fighting religious extremism. The so-called systematic forced labour or education camps are all lies and fabrication, said Wang.&nbsp;

"I hope you can believe the Chinese government, and trust what the Chinese government has said and the information that we have been releasing," he said.&nbsp;

WATCH:&nbsp;The US adds China's Tencent &amp; Alibaba sites in the notorious markets list

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(With inputs from agencies)

UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet can visit Xinjiang, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday (February 19). However, a full-scale investigation is highly unlikely as Beijing has said it doesn't welcome any probe based on the presumption of guilt in the region.

UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet can visit Xinjiang, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday (February 19). However, a full-scale investigation is highly unlikely as Beijing has said it doesn't welcome any probe based on the presumption of guilt in the region. Some of the Western countries have accused China of 'egregious' human rights violations in the Xinjiang region against the Uyghur Muslims, which China has repeatedly denied. The US has accused China of mass detention, torture, forced labour and genocide in Xinjiang. The issue remained in headlines before and during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. ALSO READ | Winter Olympics 2022: Chinese official makes first statement on Taiwan and Xinjiang at Games Some countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics. They didn't send government officials to the Games but athletes from the mentioned countries participated. UN Human Rights Chief has long sought access to the western Chinese region to investigate accusations of abuse against ethnic Uyghurs. But on being asked if Bachelet would have unrestricted access in Xinjiang, Wang said by video at the Munich Security Conference: "(China) rejects all kinds of biases, prejudices and uncalled-for accusations." ALSO READ | Chinese naval vessel directs laser at Australian military plane China says the camps are re-education and training facilities and denies any abuse, saying it is fighting religious extremism. The so-called systematic forced labour or education camps are all lies and fabrication, said Wang. "I hope you can believe the Chinese government, and trust what the Chinese government has said and the information that we have been releasing," he said. WATCH: The US adds China's Tencent & Alibaba sites in the notorious markets list × (With inputs from agencies)

UN human rights chief can visit Xinjiang but Beijing doesn't welcome any probe, says China's foreign minister

An indigenous language from South America's extreme south has all but vanished after the death of its last living speaker and guardian of its ancestral culture.

Cristina&nbsp;Calderon&nbsp;died on Wednesday, aged 93. She had mastered the Yamana language of the Yagan community and after the death of her sister in 2003 was the last person in the world who could speak it. She worked to save her knowledge by creating a dictionary of the language with translations to Spanish.

"With her an important part of the cultural memory of our people is gone," said Lidia Gonzalez,&nbsp;Calderon's daughter, on Twitter. Gonzalez is one of the representatives currently drafting a new constitution in Chile.

The dictionary, however, meant there was the hope of preserving the language in some form, she said.

"Although with her departure a wealth of especially valuable empirical knowledge is lost in linguistic terms, the possibility of rescuing and systematizing the language remain open," she said.

Although there are still a few dozen Yagans left, over the generations people from the community stopped learning the language, which was considered "isolated" since it was difficult to determine the origin of its words.

Calderon&nbsp;lived in a simple house and made a living selling knitted socks in the Chilean town of Villa Ukika, a town created by the Yagan people on the outskirts of Puerto Williams.

The ancestral ethnic group used to populate the archipelagos of South America's extreme south, now Chile and Argentina, an area that nudges towards the frozen Antarctic.

An indigenous language from South America's extreme south has all but vanished after the death of its last living speaker and guardian of its ancestral culture. Cristina Calderon died on Wednesday, aged 93.

An indigenous language from South America's extreme south has all but vanished after the death of its last living speaker and guardian of its ancestral culture. Cristina Calderon died on Wednesday, aged 93. She had mastered the Yamana language of the Yagan community and after the death of her sister in 2003 was the last person in the world who could speak it. She worked to save her knowledge by creating a dictionary of the language with translations to Spanish. "With her an important part of the cultural memory of our people is gone," said Lidia Gonzalez, Calderon's daughter, on Twitter. Gonzalez is one of the representatives currently drafting a new constitution in Chile. The dictionary, however, meant there was the hope of preserving the language in some form, she said. "Although with her departure a wealth of especially valuable empirical knowledge is lost in linguistic terms, the possibility of rescuing and systematizing the language remain open," she said. Although there are still a few dozen Yagans left, over the generations people from the community stopped learning the language, which was considered "isolated" since it was difficult to determine the origin of its words. Calderon lived in a simple house and made a living selling knitted socks in the Chilean town of Villa Ukika, a town created by the Yagan people on the outskirts of Puerto Williams. The ancestral ethnic group used to populate the archipelagos of South America's extreme south, now Chile and Argentina, an area that nudges towards the frozen Antarctic.

How a Chilean indigenous language vanishes as last native speaker dies

All along, Chinese officials insisted that the Olympics were not about politics, but rather sports. In the end, controversy and scandal haunted those, too.

For all of China’s efforts to carry on the Winter Games with a festive spirit, Beijing 2022 unfolded as a joyless spectacle: constricted by a global health disaster, fraught with geopolitical tensions, tainted once again by accusations of doping and overshadowed by the crisis in Ukraine.

Athletes marched into the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing on Sunday night to the sound of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, closing the most contentious Olympics in years, with a display of traditional Chinese knots, red lanterns and a final burst of fireworks that lighted up a cold, clear night.

Amid the pomp of the closing ceremony, China could celebrate pulling off The Games on schedule, despite everything. It is a success, however, as measured by the low bar of avoiding total disaster.

The most indelible memory of these Winter Olympics — beside images of Olympic workers and volunteers enrobed in hazmat gear — will very likely be that of a 15-year-old Russian skater falling on the ice after being allowed to compete despite a test showing traces of a banned heart medicine.

The skater, Kamila Valieva, broke into tears after her dismal performance, only to be berated by her coach, leaving organizers and observers alike to ponder how much they demand of athletes who are, after all, still children.

The International Olympic Committee, which spent years fending off doubts about choosing an authoritarian nation as host, spent much of the past two weeks dodging controversy in Beijing.

In addition to troubling issues raised by the Valieva episode, it faced questions about the conditions for athletes who isolated after testing positive for COVID; about the fate of Peng Shuai, the tennis player and former Olympian who accused a senior Chinese official of sexual assault; about the inevitable injection of politics into an event meant to rise above them.

“What can one say, except to heave a sigh,” said Orville Schell, the director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society in New York. “Such an august occasion, designed to promote openness, good sportsmanship and transnational solidarity, ended up being a heavily policed, brittle, Potemkin-like simulacrum of the Olympic ideal.”

The IOC has since revised the selection process for host cities, in part to avoid the chance of once again making a Faustian bargain like the one seven years ago, when Beijing edged out Almaty, the former capital of another authoritarian nation, Kazakhstan.

During Sunday’s ceremony, Mayor Chen Jining of Beijing passed the Olympic flag to the mayors of two Italian cities, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, which will host the Winter Olympics in 2026.

The next Summer Games will be in Paris in 2024, in Los Angeles in 2028 and in Brisbane, Australia, in 2032 — places where it is hoped that questions of human rights will not dominate the preparations.

China became the first nation to organize winter and summer editions in the same city, an accomplishment held up as a triumph of Communist Party might. The country’s leader, Xi Jinping, attended the closing, as he did the opening 16 days ago, greeted by a roar equaled only when the large Chinese team entered.

The 2008 Summer Olympics, which took place in many of the same venues in the Chinese capital, felt then like an appeal for respect after decades of poverty and political chaos.

To China’s critics, these Games felt instead like a demand.

Chinese officials accused the United States and other nations of politicizing the Olympics, denouncing President Joe Biden’s diplomatic boycott as “a farce.” And yet China also injected its own political elements.

Xi met the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, only hours before the opening ceremony, a show of support in the face of Western threats to punish Moscow if its forces invade Ukraine.

China also chose as an Olympic torch bearer a soldier wounded in a deadly border clash with India in 2020. The Olympic flame was lit by a cross-country skier from Xinjiang, the province experiencing a mass detention and re-education campaign that the United States has called genocidal.

One official with the Beijing Organizing Committee warned participants not to violate the Olympic Charter’s rule against making political statements. Another official violated it by restating China’s claims on Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy, and denouncing criticism of its policies in Xinjiang as lies.

Those comments prompted Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, to issue a public rebuke of the hosts, although it was mild. The committee’s overall deference prompted searing criticism from China’s critics, who said that The Games were allowed to “sportswash” grave violations of basic rights.

“The government is not only committing crimes against humanity,” Yaqiu Wang, a China researcher for the advocacy organization Human Rights Watch, said on Friday. “The government is flaunting its atrocities.”

Through it all, the sports did shine through.

Norway, a nation of just 5 million people, repeated its extraordinary success in the Winter Olympics, topping the medals table with 16 golds, a record, and 37 medals overall. Eileen Gu, an 18-year-old skier from San Francisco who competed for China, became the event’s breakout star.

Some athletes, focused on their sports above all, praised China’s preparations. Nick Baumgartner, the veteran American snowboarder who, with Lindsey Jacobellis, won a gold medal in snowboardcross, described the mountain venues northwest of Beijing as “amazing.”

“I will say, out of the four Olympics I’ve been to, the manicuring and just how precise and beautiful everything is, is above and beyond,” he said after his winning race in Zhangjiakou.

The events unfolded inside what organizers called a “closed loop” system that turned hotels and venues into islands in an Olympic archipelago, separated from ordinary Chinese by temporary fences and checkpoints. Everyone inside received a daily test for COVID.

As a tool of China’s “zero COVID” policy, it worked. Only a few athletes had to miss their competitions, and by the end, there were days when not a single test came back positive. Many athletes accepted the measures. Some saw the upside in them.

“To be honest, you get a mouth swab every day and you get your own bedroom,” Meryeta O’Dine, a Canadian snowboarder and bronze medal winner, said, referring to the decision not to assign roommates to minimize close contacts. “It’s actually been pretty sweet.”

After the final parade into the closing ceremony, the national teams lingered on the stadium’s illuminated floor, meant to resemble a sheet of ice, as if eager to make the moment last a bit longer.

Outside the closed loop, the mood around Beijing was subdued. No foreign spectators were allowed, and only specially invited and screened Chinese visitors could attend.

“It is a Winter Olympics that makes China’s leadership happy,” Wu Qiang, an independent political analyst in Beijing, said. “It has nothing to do with the common people.”

The half-empty arenas rarely pulsed with excitement, although fans perked up for the Chinese athletes. The Chinese team had its best haul of medals in a Winter Olympics, winning nine gold medals and 15 overall.

It was, perhaps, a result of Xi’s pledge to create a nation of more than 300 million winter sports enthusiasts in a country with little tradition of them.

Bach, the IOC president, praised that accomplishment on Sunday. “The positive legacy of these Olympic Games,” he said, “is ensured.”

Even so, The Games underscored the concerns facing the Olympic movement. For much of the world, these Games passed by with a shrug. Television viewership in the United States was down about 50% from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics; there were similar drops in Canada, Britain and other countries.

What The Games mean for China itself in the end remains to be seen. Within the other closed loop, that of the country’s media and propaganda ecosystem, China triumphed.

Outside China, The Games are likely to have little effect on the world’s perception. “Getting some positive coverage, or at least less-negative coverage, doesn’t necessarily translate into transformation of public perceptions about China,” said Maria Repnikova, an expert at Georgia State University on China’s “soft power.”

Nils van der Poel, a Swedish speedskater who won two gold medals, said that it was “terrible” to award the Olympics to China, and referenced Nazi Germany’s hosting The Games in 1936. “I think it is extremely irresponsible to give it to a country that violates human rights as blatantly as the Chinese regime is doing,” he told a newspaper.

In 2008, China’s holding the Olympics actually led to more negative views of the country, according to global opinion surveys, as international attention threw light on the nature of the political system.

Back then, many wondered whether being an Olympic host would induce positive change in the country. This time around, few people have entertained such hopes.&nbsp;

All along, Chinese officials insisted that the Olympics were not about politics, but rather sports. In the end, controversy and scandal haunted those, too. For all of China’s efforts to carry on the Winter Games with a festive spirit, Beijing 2022 unfolded as a joyless spectacle: constricted by a global health disaster, fraught with geopolitical tensions, tainted once again by accusations of doping and overshadowed by the crisis in Ukraine.

All along, Chinese officials insisted that the Olympics were not about politics, but rather sports. In the end, controversy and scandal haunted those, too. For all of China’s efforts to carry on the Winter Games with a festive spirit, Beijing 2022 unfolded as a joyless spectacle: constricted by a global health disaster, fraught with geopolitical tensions, tainted once again by accusations of doping and overshadowed by the crisis in Ukraine. Athletes marched into the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing on Sunday night to the sound of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, closing the most contentious Olympics in years, with a display of traditional Chinese knots, red lanterns and a final burst of fireworks that lighted up a cold, clear night. Amid the pomp of the closing ceremony, China could celebrate pulling off The Games on schedule, despite everything. It is a success, however, as measured by the low bar of avoiding total disaster. The most indelible memory of these Winter Olympics — beside images of Olympic workers and volunteers enrobed in hazmat gear — will very likely be that of a 15-year-old Russian skater falling on the ice after being allowed to compete despite a test showing traces of a banned heart medicine. The skater, Kamila Valieva, broke into tears after her dismal performance, only to be berated by her coach, leaving organizers and observers alike to ponder how much they demand of athletes who are, after all, still children. The International Olympic Committee, which spent years fending off doubts about choosing an authoritarian nation as host, spent much of the past two weeks dodging controversy in Beijing. In addition to troubling issues raised by the Valieva episode, it faced questions about the conditions for athletes who isolated after testing positive for COVID; about the fate of Peng Shuai, the tennis player and former Olympian who accused a senior Chinese official of sexual assault; about the inevitable injection of politics into an event meant to rise above them. “What can one say, except to heave a sigh,” said Orville Schell, the director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society in New York. “Such an august occasion, designed to promote openness, good sportsmanship and transnational solidarity, ended up being a heavily policed, brittle, Potemkin-like simulacrum of the Olympic ideal.” The IOC has since revised the selection process for host cities, in part to avoid the chance of once again making a Faustian bargain like the one seven years ago, when Beijing edged out Almaty, the former capital of another authoritarian nation, Kazakhstan. During Sunday’s ceremony, Mayor Chen Jining of Beijing passed the Olympic flag to the mayors of two Italian cities, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, which will host the Winter Olympics in 2026. The next Summer Games will be in Paris in 2024, in Los Angeles in 2028 and in Brisbane, Australia, in 2032 — places where it is hoped that questions of human rights will not dominate the preparations. China became the first nation to organize winter and summer editions in the same city, an accomplishment held up as a triumph of Communist Party might. The country’s leader, Xi Jinping, attended the closing, as he did the opening 16 days ago, greeted by a roar equaled only when the large Chinese team entered. The 2008 Summer Olympics, which took place in many of the same venues in the Chinese capital, felt then like an appeal for respect after decades of poverty and political chaos. To China’s critics, these Games felt instead like a demand. Chinese officials accused the United States and other nations of politicizing the Olympics, denouncing President Joe Biden’s diplomatic boycott as “a farce.” And yet China also injected its own political elements. Xi met the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, only hours before the opening ceremony, a show of support in the face of Western threats to punish Moscow if its forces invade Ukraine. China also chose as an Olympic torch bearer a soldier wounded in a deadly border clash with India in 2020. The Olympic flame was lit by a cross-country skier from Xinjiang, the province experiencing a mass detention and re-education campaign that the United States has called genocidal. One official with the Beijing Organizing Committee warned participants not to violate the Olympic Charter’s rule against making political statements. Another official violated it by restating China’s claims on Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy, and denouncing criticism of its policies in Xinjiang as lies. Those comments prompted Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, to issue a public rebuke of the hosts, although it was mild. The committee’s overall deference prompted searing criticism from China’s critics, who said that The Games were allowed to “sportswash” grave violations of basic rights. “The government is not only committing crimes against humanity,” Yaqiu Wang, a China researcher for the advocacy organization Human Rights Watch, said on Friday. “The government is flaunting its atrocities.” Through it all, the sports did shine through. Norway, a nation of just 5 million people, repeated its extraordinary success in the Winter Olympics, topping the medals table with 16 golds, a record, and 37 medals overall. Eileen Gu, an 18-year-old skier from San Francisco who competed for China, became the event’s breakout star. Some athletes, focused on their sports above all, praised China’s preparations. Nick Baumgartner, the veteran American snowboarder who, with Lindsey Jacobellis, won a gold medal in snowboardcross, described the mountain venues northwest of Beijing as “amazing.” “I will say, out of the four Olympics I’ve been to, the manicuring and just how precise and beautiful everything is, is above and beyond,” he said after his winning race in Zhangjiakou. The events unfolded inside what organizers called a “closed loop” system that turned hotels and venues into islands in an Olympic archipelago, separated from ordinary Chinese by temporary fences and checkpoints. Everyone inside received a daily test for COVID. As a tool of China’s “zero COVID” policy, it worked. Only a few athletes had to miss their competitions, and by the end, there were days when not a single test came back positive. Many athletes accepted the measures. Some saw the upside in them. “To be honest, you get a mouth swab every day and you get your own bedroom,” Meryeta O’Dine, a Canadian snowboarder and bronze medal winner, said, referring to the decision not to assign roommates to minimize close contacts. “It’s actually been pretty sweet.” After the final parade into the closing ceremony, the national teams lingered on the stadium’s illuminated floor, meant to resemble a sheet of ice, as if eager to make the moment last a bit longer. Outside the closed loop, the mood around Beijing was subdued. No foreign spectators were allowed, and only specially invited and screened Chinese visitors could attend. “It is a Winter Olympics that makes China’s leadership happy,” Wu Qiang, an independent political analyst in Beijing, said. “It has nothing to do with the common people.” The half-empty arenas rarely pulsed with excitement, although fans perked up for the Chinese athletes. The Chinese team had its best haul of medals in a Winter Olympics, winning nine gold medals and 15 overall. It was, perhaps, a result of Xi’s pledge to create a nation of more than 300 million winter sports enthusiasts in a country with little tradition of them. Bach, the IOC president, praised that accomplishment on Sunday. “The positive legacy of these Olympic Games,” he said, “is ensured.” Even so, The Games underscored the concerns facing the Olympic movement. For much of the world, these Games passed by with a shrug. Television viewership in the United States was down about 50% from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics; there were similar drops in Canada, Britain and other countries. What The Games mean for China itself in the end remains to be seen. Within the other closed loop, that of the country’s media and propaganda ecosystem, China triumphed. Outside China, The Games are likely to have little effect on the world’s perception. “Getting some positive coverage, or at least less-negative coverage, doesn’t necessarily translate into transformation of public perceptions about China,” said Maria Repnikova, an expert at Georgia State University on China’s “soft power.” Nils van der Poel, a Swedish speedskater who won two gold medals, said that it was “terrible” to award the Olympics to China, and referenced Nazi Germany’s hosting The Games in 1936. “I think it is extremely irresponsible to give it to a country that violates human rights as blatantly as the Chinese regime is doing,” he told a newspaper. In 2008, China’s holding the Olympics actually led to more negative views of the country, according to global opinion surveys, as international attention threw light on the nature of the political system. Back then, many wondered whether being an Olympic host would induce positive change in the country. This time around, few people have entertained such hopes.

With Olympics closing ceremony, China celebrates a joyless triumph

India's Minister of External Affairs of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is set to attend the EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific on February 22, which is an initiative of the French Presidency of the European Council.&nbsp;

The visit is crucial from the perspective of India as it will happen amid Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.&nbsp;

During his visit, Jaishankar will hold a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.&nbsp;

He will also hold meetings with counterparts from the EU and other Indo-Pacific countries on the sidelines of the Forum.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ukraine-crisis-family-members-of-indian-diplomats-asked-to-return-to-india-454878">Ukraine crisis: Family members of Indian diplomats asked to return to India</a>

India in France tweeted: "EAM Jaishankar begins his 3-day visit to France, a key strategic partner; he will attend the EU Ministerial forum for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, hold bilateral meetings with @JY_LeDrian and @florence_parly, interact with think tanks and chair India Heads of Missions in EU Conference."&nbsp;

Jaishankar will also give an address at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).&nbsp;

This crucial visit comes after Jaishankar participated in Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2022 in Germany.&nbsp;

He held a series of meeting with ministers from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/state-of-border-will-define-relations-with-china-says-indias-foreign-minister-jaishankar-454677">'State of border will define relations with China', says India's foreign minister Jaishankar</a>

Taking to his Twitter, Jaishankar wrote, "Wonderful to see the community turnout on a cold Sunday Munich morning. Their feelings for India were so heart warming."&nbsp;

He added, "Shared with them the confident national mood. And underlined the strong momentum of India-Germany relations."&nbsp;

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Wonderful to see the community turnout on a cold Sunday Munich morning. Their feelings for India were so heart warming. 
 
Shared with them the confident national mood. And underlined the strong momentum of India-Germany relations. <a href="https://t.co/v9xrPKbopz">pic.twitter.com/v9xrPKbopz</a>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1495315014030606338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Concluded the day meeting with FM <a href="https://twitter.com/simoncoveney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@simoncoveney</a> of Ireland. 
We have worked closely together at UNSC. 
Ireland can play a greater role in our EU engagement <a href="https://t.co/jiE14tIFXA">pic.twitter.com/jiE14tIFXA</a>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1495170270218559489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

India's Minister of External Affairs of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is set to attend the EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific on February 22, which is an initiative of the French Presidency of the European Council.

India's Minister of External Affairs of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is set to attend the EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific on February 22, which is an initiative of the French Presidency of the European Council. The visit is crucial from the perspective of India as it will happen amid Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. During his visit, Jaishankar will hold a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian. He will also hold meetings with counterparts from the EU and other Indo-Pacific countries on the sidelines of the Forum. ALSO READ | Ukraine crisis: Family members of Indian diplomats asked to return to India India in France tweeted: "EAM Jaishankar begins his 3-day visit to France, a key strategic partner; he will attend the EU Ministerial forum for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, hold bilateral meetings with @JY_LeDrian and @florence_parly, interact with think tanks and chair India Heads of Missions in EU Conference." Jaishankar will also give an address at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). This crucial visit comes after Jaishankar participated in Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2022 in Germany. He held a series of meeting with ministers from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. ALSO READ | 'State of border will define relations with China', says India's foreign minister Jaishankar Taking to his Twitter, Jaishankar wrote, "Wonderful to see the community turnout on a cold Sunday Munich morning. Their feelings for India were so heart warming." He added, "Shared with them the confident national mood. And underlined the strong momentum of India-Germany relations." Wonderful to see the community turnout on a cold Sunday Munich morning. Their feelings for India were so heart warming. Shared with them the confident national mood. And underlined the strong momentum of India-Germany relations. pic.twitter.com/v9xrPKbopz — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 20, 2022 × Concluded the day meeting with FM @simoncoveney of Ireland. We have worked closely together at UNSC. Ireland can play a greater role in our EU engagement pic.twitter.com/jiE14tIFXA — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 19, 2022 ×

S. Jaishankar begins 3-day visit to France to attend EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in Indo-Pacific

Amid escalating tensions and the war-like situation in eastern Europe,&nbsp;French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov would meet on Monday, news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron dialled Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Sunday (February 20) about the situation in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Macron and Putin agreed to work for a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, Macron's office said, adding the leaders also agreed on "the need to favour a diplomatic solution to the ongoing crisis and to do everything to achieve one".&nbsp;

The office of the French President also stated that Putin and Macron would work "intensely" to allow the Trilateral Contact Group, which includes Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE, to meet "in the next few hours".&nbsp;

The aim of the meeting is said to be getting all interested parties to commit to a ceasefire at the contact line" in eastern Ukraine, where the government troops and pro-Russian separatists are facing each other.&nbsp;

<meta name="uuid" content="uuidMShm6xpBJH9L" /><meta charset="utf-8" />

Both the leaders also agreed that talks between Russia, Ukraine,&nbsp;France&nbsp;and Germany should resume implementing the so-called Minsk protocol which in 2014 had already called for a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.&nbsp;

Both also agreed to work towards "a high-level meeting with the aim of defining a new peace and security order in Europe", Macron's office said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-crisis-belarus-says-russian-forces-to-remain-for-more-drills-454821">Ukraine crisis: Belarus says Russian forces to remain for more drills</a>

On the other hand, stated that both the leaders had an&nbsp;in-depth discussion of&nbsp;the&nbsp;developments around Ukraine as&nbsp;well as&nbsp;developments regarding "long-term legal security guarantees for&nbsp;the&nbsp;Russian Federation".&nbsp;

A Kremlin statement noted that serious concerns were expressed due to&nbsp;the&nbsp;quickly deteriorating situation along the&nbsp;contact line in&nbsp;Donbass. Putin noted that "provocations from Ukrainian militants were the&nbsp;reason for&nbsp;the&nbsp;escalation".&nbsp;

Ahead of the conversation, the French President's office said that the call represented "the final possible and necessary efforts to avoid a major conflict in Ukraine."&nbsp;

This was&nbsp;the fifth telephonic&nbsp;conversation between Putin with his French counterpart since the beginning of this year. Earlier this month on February 7, both the leaders met in person when Macron visited Russia.&nbsp;

The latest call lasted 105 minutes and is termed as the last-ditch effort to avert a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. Macron has been vouching for diplomatic ways of solving the highly sensitive border crisis.&nbsp;

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/satellite-pictures-show-russian-helicopters-still-parked-in-crimea-454505">Satellite pictures show Russian helicopters still parked in Crimea</a>

Although, Macron has previously reiterated his determination to preserve Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.&nbsp;

The call came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Macron that he would not respond to what he called Russia's "provocations", according to the Elysee. He said he remained open to "dialogue" with Moscow.&nbsp;

But in a speech to the Munich Security Conference, he also called on Western governments to stop what he said was "a policy of appeasement" towards Putin.&nbsp;

After the conversation with Putin on Sunday, Macron went on to talk with Zelensky on the telephone, the French presidency said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Belarus on Sunday (February 20) said that joint exercises involving&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;and Belarus forces were being extended due to tension over Ukraine, despite promises from Moscow that the drills would end this weekend.&nbsp;

The Belarusian defence minister Victor Khrenin said in a statement, "The presidents of Belarus and Russia decided to continue inspections of the readiness of Union State forces."&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Russia maintains 'no plans to invade' as tensions mount over Ukraine crisis

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Amid escalating tensions and the war-like situation in eastern Europe, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov would meet on Monday, news agency AFP reported.

Amid escalating tensions and the war-like situation in eastern Europe, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov would meet on Monday, news agency AFP reported. French President Emmanuel Macron dialled Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Sunday (February 20) about the situation in Ukraine. Macron and Putin agreed to work for a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, Macron's office said, adding the leaders also agreed on "the need to favour a diplomatic solution to the ongoing crisis and to do everything to achieve one". The office of the French President also stated that Putin and Macron would work "intensely" to allow the Trilateral Contact Group, which includes Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE, to meet "in the next few hours". The aim of the meeting is said to be getting all interested parties to commit to a ceasefire at the contact line" in eastern Ukraine, where the government troops and pro-Russian separatists are facing each other. Both the leaders also agreed that talks between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany should resume implementing the so-called Minsk protocol which in 2014 had already called for a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine. Both also agreed to work towards "a high-level meeting with the aim of defining a new peace and security order in Europe", Macron's office said. ALSO READ | Ukraine crisis: Belarus says Russian forces to remain for more drills On the other hand, stated that both the leaders had an in-depth discussion of the developments around Ukraine as well as developments regarding "long-term legal security guarantees for the Russian Federation". A Kremlin statement noted that serious concerns were expressed due to the quickly deteriorating situation along the contact line in Donbass. Putin noted that "provocations from Ukrainian militants were the reason for the escalation". Ahead of the conversation, the French President's office said that the call represented "the final possible and necessary efforts to avoid a major conflict in Ukraine." This was the fifth telephonic conversation between Putin with his French counterpart since the beginning of this year. Earlier this month on February 7, both the leaders met in person when Macron visited Russia. The latest call lasted 105 minutes and is termed as the last-ditch effort to avert a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. Macron has been vouching for diplomatic ways of solving the highly sensitive border crisis. IN PICS | Satellite pictures show Russian helicopters still parked in Crimea Although, Macron has previously reiterated his determination to preserve Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The call came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Macron that he would not respond to what he called Russia's "provocations", according to the Elysee. He said he remained open to "dialogue" with Moscow. But in a speech to the Munich Security Conference, he also called on Western governments to stop what he said was "a policy of appeasement" towards Putin. After the conversation with Putin on Sunday, Macron went on to talk with Zelensky on the telephone, the French presidency said. Meanwhile, Belarus on Sunday (February 20) said that joint exercises involving Russia and Belarus forces were being extended due to tension over Ukraine, despite promises from Moscow that the drills would end this weekend. The Belarusian defence minister Victor Khrenin said in a statement, "The presidents of Belarus and Russia decided to continue inspections of the readiness of Union State forces." WATCH | Russia maintains 'no plans to invade' as tensions mount over Ukraine crisis ×

Russia-Ukraine crisis: French and Russian foreign ministers to speak on Monday

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has been tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and receiving medical attention, Buckingham Palace said on Sunday (20 February).

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has been tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and receiving medical attention, Buckingham Palace said on Sunday (20 February). The Palace further informed that the 95-year-old Queen is experiencing mild symptoms but expects to continue light duties this week. "The queen has today tested positive for COVID. Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week," the Palace said. Not just Covid, the health of the Queen remained in the headlines after the world's oldest and longest-reigning monarch spent a night in the hospital last October for an unspecified ailment. ALSO READ | Queen Elizabeth II tests positive for COVID-19: Buckingham Palace A few days ago, Elizabeth said that she could not move much as she carried out her first in-person engagement since Charles tested positive. If we talk about Covid, before Queen, several other members of Britain's Royal Family have had Covid throughout the pandemic. Here's a list: Prince Charles Recently, 73-year-old Prince Charles pulled out of an event after contracting coronavirus for a second time. A Palace source said he had met Queen Elizabeth II just days before. Charles, who is Prince of Wales and the heir to the throne was forced to self-isolate after testing positive. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Just days after Prince Charles' contracted Covid, his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall also contracted the Covid virus on February 14. She has made any public appearances since. The 74-year-old caught the virus for the first time. On the other hand, her husband Prince Charles contracted Covid for the second time. A Clarence House spokesman said: "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self-isolating. We continue to follow government guidelines." ALSO READ | Chinese New Year parade returns to San Francisco after COVID-19 hiatus Prince William Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge had tested positive for coronavirus in 2020 April, British media reported citing Palace sources. Prince William had contracted the virus at the time when his father, the Prince of Wales had also tested positive. However, the news of William testing positive for the virus was not made public but sources claimed that he had been 'hit pretty hard' by the virus and there were times when he had struggled to breathe. Sir Timothy Laurence Sir Timothy Laurence, who is the husband of Princess Anne, had tested positive for Covid in December 2021. As per reports, the 66-year-old had isolated with his wife at their country estate in Gloucestershire's Gatcombe Park. Charles Spencer Charles Spencer, who is Princess Diana's brother revealed that he had Covid back in September 2020. WATCH | Is Queen Elizabeth II the longest-ruling monarch? ×

Queen Elizabeth II tests Covid positive: List of British Royals who previously tested positive for coronavirus

The United Kingdom's Chester Zoo has announced the birth of an aardvark for the first time&nbsp;in its 90 year history. The zoo informed that the new aardvark calf is a baby girl.&nbsp;

The zoo said that the baby snuggled up with mum Oni (8) and dad Koos (6) after it had been born overnight on January 4.&nbsp;

The calf has been named Dobby, which is a character from the famous 'Harry Potter' series of fantasy novels and movies.&nbsp;

The zoo on its website wrote that baby aardvark was born with large droopy ears, hairless wrinkled skin and giant claws.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-93-million-year-old-crocodile-fossil-discovered-with-a-baby-dinosaur-in-its-stomach-454378">A 93-million-year-old crocodile fossil discovered with a baby dinosaur in its stomach</a>

The calf is being hand-reared every evening by the experts and the zookeepers are providing dedicated care.&nbsp;

They are feeding the baby every few hours through the night for around five weeks, to help it gain strength.&nbsp;

Chester Zoo stated that staff have nicknamed the youngster Dobby due to its resemblance to the much-loved Harry Potter character.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/humpback-whales-swim-more-than-3000-miles-to-find-a-lover-says-study-454027">Humpback whales swim more than 3000 miles to find a lover, says study</a>

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…IT’S A GIRL 😍♥️ 
 
We’re over the moon to reveal that our new aardvark calf Dobby is a baby girl 🥰🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chesterzoo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chesterzoo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wildlife?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wildlife</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/conservation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#conservation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aardvark?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aardvark</a> <a href="https://t.co/DxIFfmbcPi">pic.twitter.com/DxIFfmbcPi</a>
— Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/chesterzoo/status/1494657334668316675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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As per the zoo, aardvarks are found in sub-Saharan Africa where they are threatened by habitat loss as a result of agricultural development.&nbsp;

The situation also brings them into conflict with local farmers and there are reports that they are hunted for their meat.&nbsp;

"This is the very first aardvark to be born at the zoo and so it's a momentous landmark for us and a real cause for celebration. We're overjoyed," said Dave White, Team Manager – Twilight.&nbsp;

"As soon as we spotted the new baby next to mum we noticed its uncanny resemblance to the Harry Potter character, Dobby, and so that’s the calf’s nickname for the time being!" White added.&nbsp;

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With only&nbsp;66&nbsp;aardvarks found in zoos across Europe&nbsp;and a mere&nbsp;109&nbsp;in zoos worldwide.&nbsp;
</section>

As per the website, the word aardvark translates to "earth pig" in the language of Afrikaans. The nocturnal animals use their long noses and keen sense of smell to sniff out ants and termites, which they lap up with a long tongue measuring up to 25cm, covered in sticky saliva.&nbsp;

The United Kingdom's Chester Zoo has announced the birth of an aardvark for the first time in its 90 year history. The zoo informed that the new aardvark calf is a baby girl.

The United Kingdom's Chester Zoo has announced the birth of an aardvark for the first time in its 90 year history. The zoo informed that the new aardvark calf is a baby girl. The zoo said that the baby snuggled up with mum Oni (8) and dad Koos (6) after it had been born overnight on January 4. The calf has been named Dobby, which is a character from the famous 'Harry Potter' series of fantasy novels and movies. The zoo on its website wrote that baby aardvark was born with large droopy ears, hairless wrinkled skin and giant claws. ALSO READ | A 93-million-year-old crocodile fossil discovered with a baby dinosaur in its stomach The calf is being hand-reared every evening by the experts and the zookeepers are providing dedicated care. They are feeding the baby every few hours through the night for around five weeks, to help it gain strength. Chester Zoo stated that staff have nicknamed the youngster Dobby due to its resemblance to the much-loved Harry Potter character. ALSO READ | Humpback whales swim more than 3000 miles to find a lover, says study …IT’S A GIRL 😍♥️ We’re over the moon to reveal that our new aardvark calf Dobby is a baby girl 🥰🙌#chesterzoo #wildlife #conservation #aardvark pic.twitter.com/DxIFfmbcPi — Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) February 18, 2022 × As per the zoo, aardvarks are found in sub-Saharan Africa where they are threatened by habitat loss as a result of agricultural development. The situation also brings them into conflict with local farmers and there are reports that they are hunted for their meat. "This is the very first aardvark to be born at the zoo and so it's a momentous landmark for us and a real cause for celebration. We're overjoyed," said Dave White, Team Manager – Twilight. "As soon as we spotted the new baby next to mum we noticed its uncanny resemblance to the Harry Potter character, Dobby, and so that’s the calf’s nickname for the time being!" White added. With only 66 aardvarks found in zoos across Europe and a mere 109 in zoos worldwide. As per the website, the word aardvark translates to "earth pig" in the language of Afrikaans. The nocturnal animals use their long noses and keen sense of smell to sniff out ants and termites, which they lap up with a long tongue measuring up to 25cm, covered in sticky saliva.

It's a girl! UK zoo announces birth of aardvark; gives it name inspired by 'Harry Potter'

The streets of San Francisco, California on Saturday (February 19) witnessed people enjoying and celebrating the city's annual Lunar New Year parade after a hiatus last year. The celebrations were cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

People were banging drums, performing on stilts, lighting firecrackers as those who participated marched from downtown through the streets toward the Chinatown neighbourhood.&nbsp;

A 20-year-old student from Stanford University named Kevin Yang travelled from Palo Alto to see the parade. "It's really great to see Asian-American representation out here in San Francisco and seeing so many faces here, definitely means that people actually care about it, and that's something we really, really like about the city," Yang said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-took-classified-material-from-white-house-says-us-national-archives-454801">Donald Trump took classified material from White House, says US National Archives</a>

The Lunar New Year celebrations started worldwide on February 1 and the festivities are still underway. The Lunar New Year, which is also known as the Chinese New Year is celebrated as the Spring Festival in China and by the Asian diaspora.&nbsp;

The celebrations have marked the end of the Year of the Ox. As per the Chinese zodiac, Ox is termed as "the good helper". It is a symbol of diligence, strength, honesty, persistence and wealth. Now, the Year of the Tiger has started.&nbsp;

The ushered in the Year of the Tiger with a celebratory lion dance and the snap, crackle and pop of firecrackers. In Chinese traditions firecrackers are believed to scare off evil spirits from the year to come and bring good fortune.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/passenger-found-alive-on-greece-italy-ferry-after-blaze-11-still-missing-454784">Passenger found alive on Greece-Italy ferry after blaze, 11 still missing</a>

The holiday also brought hope for some in the Asian and Asian-American communities, which have suffered from rising rates of hate crimes during the past two years.&nbsp;

Statistics showed that 60 hate crimes were committed against Asians in San Francisco during 2021, up from only nine the year before, city police announced last month.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The streets of San Francisco, California on Saturday (February 19) witnessed people enjoying and celebrating the city's annual Lunar New Year parade after a hiatus last year.

The streets of San Francisco, California on Saturday (February 19) witnessed people enjoying and celebrating the city's annual Lunar New Year parade after a hiatus last year. The celebrations were cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. People were banging drums, performing on stilts, lighting firecrackers as those who participated marched from downtown through the streets toward the Chinatown neighbourhood. A 20-year-old student from Stanford University named Kevin Yang travelled from Palo Alto to see the parade. "It's really great to see Asian-American representation out here in San Francisco and seeing so many faces here, definitely means that people actually care about it, and that's something we really, really like about the city," Yang said. ALSO READ | Donald Trump took classified material from White House, says US National Archives The Lunar New Year celebrations started worldwide on February 1 and the festivities are still underway. The Lunar New Year, which is also known as the Chinese New Year is celebrated as the Spring Festival in China and by the Asian diaspora. The celebrations have marked the end of the Year of the Ox. As per the Chinese zodiac, Ox is termed as "the good helper". It is a symbol of diligence, strength, honesty, persistence and wealth. Now, the Year of the Tiger has started. The ushered in the Year of the Tiger with a celebratory lion dance and the snap, crackle and pop of firecrackers. In Chinese traditions firecrackers are believed to scare off evil spirits from the year to come and bring good fortune. ALSO READ | Passenger found alive on Greece-Italy ferry after blaze, 11 still missing The holiday also brought hope for some in the Asian and Asian-American communities, which have suffered from rising rates of hate crimes during the past two years. Statistics showed that 60 hate crimes were committed against Asians in San Francisco during 2021, up from only nine the year before, city police announced last month. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese New Year parade returns to San Francisco after COVID-19 hiatus

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