The&nbsp;European Medicines Agency said on Wednesday that&nbsp;'benefit-risk remains positive' for&nbsp;AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

“One plausible explanation for the combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is an immune response, leading to a condition similar to one seen sometimes in patients treated with heparin,” the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said.

"EMA's safety committee has concluded today that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects" of the shot, the Amsterdam-based EU drug regulator said in a statement.

The World Health Organization, which is closely studying the latest data on&nbsp;AstraZeneca's vaccine alongside other regulators, said on Tuesday&nbsp;it expects to there will be no reason to change its assessment that the benefits of the shot outweigh any risks.

In total 18 million doses of the vaccine developed by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company and Oxford University have been administered in the UK.

EU countries have also detected dozens of cases of people with clots in blood vessels draining from the brain after receiving the vaccine.

Oxford University said late on Tuesday that it had paused a British trial of the&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;vaccine on children pending a decision by the MHRA.

In recent weeks, as questions were raised by several European nations over possible links between the&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;vaccine and blood clots, the UK has defended its homegrown jab.

As a precautionary measure several countries have stopped administering the&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;vaccine within certain age groups and at different points nations including France, Germany, Norway and Denmark have suspended its deployment.

Vaccine hesitancy related to fears about the&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;jab could hamper Britain's mass vaccination programme.&nbsp;

More than 31.6 million first doses of either the&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;or Pfizer vaccines have been given out, representing three out of every five adults.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The European Medicines Agency said on Wednesday that 'benefit-risk remains positive' for AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. “One plausible explanation for the combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is an immune response, leading to a condition similar to one seen sometimes in patients treated with heparin,” the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said.

The European Medicines Agency said on Wednesday that 'benefit-risk remains positive' for AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. “One plausible explanation for the combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is an immune response, leading to a condition similar to one seen sometimes in patients treated with heparin,” the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said. "EMA's safety committee has concluded today that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects" of the shot, the Amsterdam-based EU drug regulator said in a statement. The World Health Organization, which is closely studying the latest data on AstraZeneca's vaccine alongside other regulators, said on Tuesday it expects to there will be no reason to change its assessment that the benefits of the shot outweigh any risks. In total 18 million doses of the vaccine developed by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company and Oxford University have been administered in the UK. EU countries have also detected dozens of cases of people with clots in blood vessels draining from the brain after receiving the vaccine. Oxford University said late on Tuesday that it had paused a British trial of the AstraZeneca vaccine on children pending a decision by the MHRA. In recent weeks, as questions were raised by several European nations over possible links between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots, the UK has defended its homegrown jab. As a precautionary measure several countries have stopped administering the AstraZeneca vaccine within certain age groups and at different points nations including France, Germany, Norway and Denmark have suspended its deployment. Vaccine hesitancy related to fears about the AstraZeneca jab could hamper Britain's mass vaccination programme. More than 31.6 million first doses of either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines have been given out, representing three out of every five adults.

EMA says 'benefit-risk remains positive' for AstraZeneca jab

Hungry polar bears are increasingly foraging on seabird eggs as climate change shrinks their Arctic hunting grounds, but research published Wednesday on the phenomenon highlights the struggle these apex predators have to adapt to their rapidly changing environment.&nbsp;

The climate change threat to polar bears is well known, driven by the extraordinary pace of change in the Arctic, which is warming twice as fast as the planet as a whole.

This is already leading to dwindling sea ice, cutting short the time they have to hunt seals, their preferred prey.

With a growing imperative to find alternative sustenance, polar bears have been pushed further afield in search of food, including scavenging in areas populated by humans.&nbsp;

Some bears are also coming ashore at the same time seabirds are nesting and are snacking on their eggs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

To measure how efficient these top-of-the-food-chain predators were at this foraging -- and therefore how useful the eggs are to provide energy in their diets -- researchers in Canada used drones to monitor them feeding from common eider duck nests on Mitivik Island, in Nunavut.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Inefficient hunting&nbsp;

The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open&nbsp;Science, tracked how the bears approached the nesting site over a period of 11 days, as the number of eggs were depleted.

"We found that later-arriving bears increasingly visited more empty nests and did not travel&nbsp;in an energy-minimizing way, but became less picky in the clutches&nbsp;they&nbsp;consumed," said lead author Patrick Jagielski, of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor. &nbsp;

Bears also did not consistently realise that the sudden appearance of a fleeing eider hen meant eggs were nearby.

"This study demonstrates that, while species are able to incorporate 'less preferred' resources into their diet when their primary prey becomes more difficult to obtain, they may not be able to do so efficiently," the authors said.&nbsp;

Jagielski said&nbsp;that the research could not speak more broadly to polar bears' ability to cope with climate change, but did raise questions about the energy value of eggs as an alternative food source.&nbsp; &nbsp;

'Extinction event'

There are approximately 25,000 Ursus maritimus left in the wild today in 19 population subgroups distributed across the Arctic in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia.

In July, a study published in Nature Climate Change estimated the species would be starved to extinction by 2100.&nbsp;

Researchers looked both at predictions for climate heating and data on the increasing portion of the year that the bears' must survive on their fat reserves.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, a paper published in the journal Global Change&nbsp;Biology&nbsp;found that polar bears maintained highly specialized diets of soft blubber and flesh for hundreds of years -- even during previous periods of Arctic warming.

Researchers at Vanderbilt University, who examined dental wear in skulls held in museums, said polar bears are so specialised in their diets that they may struggle to adapt to the warming Arctic.&nbsp;

But they said an increase in encounters with grizzly bears could provide one evolutionary option, noting incidents where the two species have produced offspring.&nbsp;

Jack Tseng of University of California, Berkeley said in a related commentary that the fate of the polar bear was ultimately "inextricably tied" to how the momentum towards a "tipping point" for Earth's flora and fauna is managed.

"Will polar bear populations have to rely on hybridization with grizzly bears as a means of adaptation to a changing environment," said Tseng, who was not involved in the study.

"Will they successfully shift their hunting strategy to reduce competition with their sister species or will they become one more casualty in the ongoing extinction event that is accelerating in this century?"

The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open&nbsp;Science, tracked how the bears approached the nesting site over a period of 11 days, as the number of eggs were depleted.

"We found that later-arriving bears increasingly visited more empty nests and did not travel&nbsp;in an energy-minimizing way, but became less picky in the clutches&nbsp;they&nbsp;consumed," said lead author Patrick Jagielski, of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor. &nbsp;

Bears also did not consistently realise that the sudden appearance of a fleeing eider hen meant eggs were nearby.

"This study demonstrates that, while species are able to incorporate 'less preferred' resources into their diet when their primary prey becomes more difficult to obtain, they may not be able to do so efficiently," the authors said.&nbsp;

Hungry polar bears are increasingly foraging on seabird eggs as climate change shrinks their Arctic hunting grounds, but research published Wednesday on the phenomenon highlights the struggle these apex predators have to adapt to their rapidly changing environment.

Hungry polar bears are increasingly foraging on seabird eggs as climate change shrinks their Arctic hunting grounds, but research published Wednesday on the phenomenon highlights the struggle these apex predators have to adapt to their rapidly changing environment. The climate change threat to polar bears is well known, driven by the extraordinary pace of change in the Arctic, which is warming twice as fast as the planet as a whole. This is already leading to dwindling sea ice, cutting short the time they have to hunt seals, their preferred prey. With a growing imperative to find alternative sustenance, polar bears have been pushed further afield in search of food, including scavenging in areas populated by humans. Some bears are also coming ashore at the same time seabirds are nesting and are snacking on their eggs. To measure how efficient these top-of-the-food-chain predators were at this foraging -- and therefore how useful the eggs are to provide energy in their diets -- researchers in Canada used drones to monitor them feeding from common eider duck nests on Mitivik Island, in Nunavut. Inefficient hunting The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, tracked how the bears approached the nesting site over a period of 11 days, as the number of eggs were depleted. "We found that later-arriving bears increasingly visited more empty nests and did not travel in an energy-minimizing way, but became less picky in the clutches they consumed," said lead author Patrick Jagielski, of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor. Bears also did not consistently realise that the sudden appearance of a fleeing eider hen meant eggs were nearby. "This study demonstrates that, while species are able to incorporate 'less preferred' resources into their diet when their primary prey becomes more difficult to obtain, they may not be able to do so efficiently," the authors said. Jagielski said that the research could not speak more broadly to polar bears' ability to cope with climate change, but did raise questions about the energy value of eggs as an alternative food source. 'Extinction event' There are approximately 25,000 Ursus maritimus left in the wild today in 19 population subgroups distributed across the Arctic in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. In July, a study published in Nature Climate Change estimated the species would be starved to extinction by 2100. Researchers looked both at predictions for climate heating and data on the increasing portion of the year that the bears' must survive on their fat reserves. Earlier this month, a paper published in the journal Global Change Biology found that polar bears maintained highly specialized diets of soft blubber and flesh for hundreds of years -- even during previous periods of Arctic warming. Researchers at Vanderbilt University, who examined dental wear in skulls held in museums, said polar bears are so specialised in their diets that they may struggle to adapt to the warming Arctic. But they said an increase in encounters with grizzly bears could provide one evolutionary option, noting incidents where the two species have produced offspring. Jack Tseng of University of California, Berkeley said in a related commentary that the fate of the polar bear was ultimately "inextricably tied" to how the momentum towards a "tipping point" for Earth's flora and fauna is managed. "Will polar bear populations have to rely on hybridization with grizzly bears as a means of adaptation to a changing environment," said Tseng, who was not involved in the study. "Will they successfully shift their hunting strategy to reduce competition with their sister species or will they become one more casualty in the ongoing extinction event that is accelerating in this century?" The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, tracked how the bears approached the nesting site over a period of 11 days, as the number of eggs were depleted. "We found that later-arriving bears increasingly visited more empty nests and did not travel in an energy-minimizing way, but became less picky in the clutches they consumed," said lead author Patrick Jagielski, of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor. Bears also did not consistently realise that the sudden appearance of a fleeing eider hen meant eggs were nearby. "This study demonstrates that, while species are able to incorporate 'less preferred' resources into their diet when their primary prey becomes more difficult to obtain, they may not be able to do so efficiently," the authors said.

Polar bears forced to forage eggs as warming shrinks hunting grounds

From Sputnik-1 to Sputnik V: Russian scientific achievements

US&nbsp;President Joe Biden's special envoy Ricardo Zuñiga said on Tuesday that the&nbsp;White House is looking to create legal ways for Central American migrants to reach the country.

Zuñiga, Biden's envoy to the so-called Northern Triangle countries in Central America, said on a visit to Guatemala that the White House was looking to offer protection to migrants amid a push by Biden to reshape the US&nbsp;border policy.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/border-agents-traffickers-and-migrants-mix-on-busy-rio-grande-in-us-374818">Border agents, traffickers and migrants mix on busy Rio Grande in US</a>

A jump in&nbsp;immigration&nbsp;from the three Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador has posed one of the biggest political challenges to the new Biden administration.

A day after meeting with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, Zuñiga met most of his government's senior cabinet ministers to discuss how to improve security as well as economic and societal conditions that drive Guatemalans to migrate.

"We are here to also talk about the need and the efforts of the White House to create legal means for migration so that people do not have to use irregular and dangerous routes," Zuñiga said in a press conference.

"We also want to make sure that there are ways and means of accessing protection for people who require that protection," he added.

Murders and kidnappings of Central American migrants along their treacherous journey to the United States, especially in Mexico, has led to the criticism that the Biden administration and US&nbsp;policies expose migrants to such great risks.

Zuñiga will also visit El Salvador later this week and discussed migration "in a comprehensive fashion" with Honduran Foreign Minister Lisandro Rosales last Friday, according to a ministry statement on Monday.

US&nbsp;authorities caught more than 171,000 migrants along the US-Mexico border in March, the highest monthly total in two decades and the latest sign of the mounting humanitarian challenge confronting Biden's administration.

The US&nbsp;risks losing its status as the world’s largest economy to China by the end of the decade if it doesn’t increase legal immigration, according to a study released Wednesday by a tech industry group that favors admitting more foreign workers.

The report projects that the American economy will be three-quarters the size of China’s by 2050 under current U.S. population trends and immigration levels.

&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden's special envoy Ricardo Zuñiga said on Tuesday that the White House is looking to create legal ways for Central American migrants to reach the country.

US President Joe Biden's special envoy Ricardo Zuñiga said on Tuesday that the White House is looking to create legal ways for Central American migrants to reach the country. Zuñiga, Biden's envoy to the so-called Northern Triangle countries in Central America, said on a visit to Guatemala that the White House was looking to offer protection to migrants amid a push by Biden to reshape the US border policy. Also see| Border agents, traffickers and migrants mix on busy Rio Grande in US A jump in immigration from the three Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador has posed one of the biggest political challenges to the new Biden administration. A day after meeting with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, Zuñiga met most of his government's senior cabinet ministers to discuss how to improve security as well as economic and societal conditions that drive Guatemalans to migrate. "We are here to also talk about the need and the efforts of the White House to create legal means for migration so that people do not have to use irregular and dangerous routes," Zuñiga said in a press conference. "We also want to make sure that there are ways and means of accessing protection for people who require that protection," he added. Murders and kidnappings of Central American migrants along their treacherous journey to the United States, especially in Mexico, has led to the criticism that the Biden administration and US policies expose migrants to such great risks. Zuñiga will also visit El Salvador later this week and discussed migration "in a comprehensive fashion" with Honduran Foreign Minister Lisandro Rosales last Friday, according to a ministry statement on Monday. US authorities caught more than 171,000 migrants along the US-Mexico border in March, the highest monthly total in two decades and the latest sign of the mounting humanitarian challenge confronting Biden's administration. The US risks losing its status as the world’s largest economy to China by the end of the decade if it doesn’t increase legal immigration, according to a study released Wednesday by a tech industry group that favors admitting more foreign workers. The report projects that the American economy will be three-quarters the size of China’s by 2050 under current U.S. population trends and immigration levels.

White House aiming to create legal ways for Central Americans to migrate

An Iranian freighter was hit by an "explosion" in the&nbsp;Red&nbsp;Sea, Tehran said on Wednesday after US media reported Israel had struck the ship in retaliation for past Iranian strikes on its vessels.

Iran was at pains to stress that the freighter was a civilian ship, although other sources said it had been used by Iranian commandos as a base for shipping protection and other duties in the area.

The explosion comes at a sensitive time as US President Joe Biden attempts to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran which was strongly opposed by Israel and abandoned by his predecessor Donald Trump in 2018.

The blast struck the "Iranian commercial vessel" MV Saviz off the coast of Djibouti on Tuesday morning, foreign ministry spokesman Said Khatibzadeh said, adding an inquiry had been opened into the cause.

"The accident caused no casualties and a technical investigation is underway to determine its circumstances and origin," the spokesman said.

"Our country will take all necessary steps through international bodies in this regard."

Khatibzadeh said the Saviz was a "civilian vessel" that had been deployed in coordination with the International Maritime Organization to protect shipping&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Red&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and the Gulf of Aden.

Many foreign governments have stationed protection vessels in the area since a rash of attacks by Somali pirates between 2000 and 2010.

"This ship has been serving as Iran's logistics station,&nbsp;for technical and logistical support,&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Red&nbsp;Sea," the spokesman added.

Overnight Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that the Saviz had been damaged by "magnetic mines".&nbsp;

It said the ship had been stationed in the&nbsp;Red&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;for several years "in support of Iranian commandos deployed to escort commercial vessels".

According to a specialist website, MarineTraffic, the Saviz is a general cargo ship owned by Iran's state shipping firm IRISL.

The New York Times cited a US official as saying Israel had informed Washington it had struck the ship in "retaliation for earlier Iranian strikes on Israeli vessels".

The paper said that according to the Israelis, "the Saviz had been damaged below the water line".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke out against a return to the 2015 nuclear deal with&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;on Tuesday (April 6) as talks with world powers about reviving a 2015 nuclear deal are set to begin.

''There must be no return to the dangerous nuclear deal with&nbsp;Iran, because a nuclearised&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;would be an existential threat to Israel, and a very big threat to the security of the entire world, '' Netanyahu said.

Since early March, Iran and Israel have accused each other of carrying out a number of attacks on each other's ships.

There was no immediate reaction from the Israeli authorities to the Times report.

But a former deputy &nbsp;director of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, told public radio that while he could not confirm the report, any such attack would be designed to send a message to Iran.

"I don't know whether this report is true or not, but if it is correct, then it seems someone wants to let them know that we too know how to cause damage to shipping anywhere in the world and that they should be prudent,"&nbsp;said Ram Ben Barak, who is now a lawmaker for the opposition Yesh Atid party.

An Iranian freighter was hit by an "explosion" in the Red Sea, Tehran said on Wednesday after US media reported Israel had struck the ship in retaliation for past Iranian strikes on its vessels.

An Iranian freighter was hit by an "explosion" in the Red Sea, Tehran said on Wednesday after US media reported Israel had struck the ship in retaliation for past Iranian strikes on its vessels. Iran was at pains to stress that the freighter was a civilian ship, although other sources said it had been used by Iranian commandos as a base for shipping protection and other duties in the area. The explosion comes at a sensitive time as US President Joe Biden attempts to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran which was strongly opposed by Israel and abandoned by his predecessor Donald Trump in 2018. The blast struck the "Iranian commercial vessel" MV Saviz off the coast of Djibouti on Tuesday morning, foreign ministry spokesman Said Khatibzadeh said, adding an inquiry had been opened into the cause. "The accident caused no casualties and a technical investigation is underway to determine its circumstances and origin," the spokesman said. "Our country will take all necessary steps through international bodies in this regard." Khatibzadeh said the Saviz was a "civilian vessel" that had been deployed in coordination with the International Maritime Organization to protect shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Many foreign governments have stationed protection vessels in the area since a rash of attacks by Somali pirates between 2000 and 2010. "This ship has been serving as Iran's logistics station, for technical and logistical support, in the Red Sea," the spokesman added. Overnight Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that the Saviz had been damaged by "magnetic mines". It said the ship had been stationed in the Red Sea for several years "in support of Iranian commandos deployed to escort commercial vessels". According to a specialist website, MarineTraffic, the Saviz is a general cargo ship owned by Iran's state shipping firm IRISL. The New York Times cited a US official as saying Israel had informed Washington it had struck the ship in "retaliation for earlier Iranian strikes on Israeli vessels". The paper said that according to the Israelis, "the Saviz had been damaged below the water line". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke out against a return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran on Tuesday (April 6) as talks with world powers about reviving a 2015 nuclear deal are set to begin. ''There must be no return to the dangerous nuclear deal with Iran, because a nuclearised Iran would be an existential threat to Israel, and a very big threat to the security of the entire world, '' Netanyahu said. Since early March, Iran and Israel have accused each other of carrying out a number of attacks on each other's ships. There was no immediate reaction from the Israeli authorities to the Times report. But a former deputy director of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, told public radio that while he could not confirm the report, any such attack would be designed to send a message to Iran. "I don't know whether this report is true or not, but if it is correct, then it seems someone wants to let them know that we too know how to cause damage to shipping anywhere in the world and that they should be prudent," said Ram Ben Barak, who is now a lawmaker for the opposition Yesh Atid party.

Iran freighter ship damaged by 'explosion' in Red Sea, suspicion falls on Israel

Sixty years ago on Tuesday, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space, securing victory for Moscow in its race with Washington and marking a new chapter in the history of space exploration.

Decades later, Gagarin's journey has become shrouded in myth after many details about the historic mission were for years kept secret by the Soviets.

Here are five things to know about Gagarin's legendary flight:

'Let's go!' 
A trained steelworker turned military pilot, Gagarin was selected from thousands of candidates to undergo the rigorous training required for a space flight.

Apart from showing excellent results in his tests, Gagarin, then aged 27, also reportedly stood out by removing his shoes before entering the Vostok spacecraft designated for the mission, a custom in Russia when entering a home.

On April 12, 1961, as Gagarin's flight took off from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan, he exclaimed his iconic catchphrase "Poekhali!", or "Let's go!" in Russian.

Risky business

The flight lasted just 108 minutes as the Vostok completed one loop around the Earth.

Once Gagarin safely returned home, the success of his mission outshone the fact that not everything went according to plan.

Among a dozen technical glitches, his spacecraft entered into orbit at a higher altitude than expected.

If its brakes system had malfunctioned, Gagarin would have had to wait for the spacecraft to begin descending on its own. And while the Vostok was stocked with enough food, water, and oxygen to last 10 days, the higher altitude meant the wait would have been much longer and Gagarin would have run out of supplies.

Luckily for the Russian cosmonaut, the brakes worked.

Spy suspicions&nbsp; 
But Gagarin came down miles away from his expected landing point, ejecting from his capsule over the Saratov region in southern Russia.

He landed in a field where the first people he saw were a young girl and her grandmother digging up potatoes.

Clad in a white helmet and orange spacesuit, he struggled at first to convince them amid Cold War tensions that he was not a foreign spy.

- Urination nation - 
Legend has it that before takeoff Gagarin asked the bus driver bringing him to the launchpad to pull over so he could relieve himself, before urinating on the back right tyre.&nbsp;

For years Russian cosmonauts repeated the ritual before launching into space, but the decades-old superstition may soon be forced into retirement: the new design of the Russian spacesuit presented in 2019 is not equipped with a fly and is too heavy to nimbly remove.

The man behind Gagarin&nbsp; 
While Gagarin became a household name in the Soviet Union, for years nobody knew about the mastermind of the country's space programme: Sergei Korolyov.

The Soviets even rejected a Nobel prize awarded to their "Chief Designer", determined to keep his identity a secret. Only after his death in 1966 was his name revealed.

Under Korolyov's leadership, the USSR sent not only the first person to space, but later the first woman, as well as conducting the first spacewalk.

Sixty years ago on Tuesday, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space, securing victory for Moscow in its race with Washington and marking a new chapter in the history of space exploration.

Sixty years ago on Tuesday, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space, securing victory for Moscow in its race with Washington and marking a new chapter in the history of space exploration. Decades later, Gagarin's journey has become shrouded in myth after many details about the historic mission were for years kept secret by the Soviets. Here are five things to know about Gagarin's legendary flight: 'Let's go!' A trained steelworker turned military pilot, Gagarin was selected from thousands of candidates to undergo the rigorous training required for a space flight. Apart from showing excellent results in his tests, Gagarin, then aged 27, also reportedly stood out by removing his shoes before entering the Vostok spacecraft designated for the mission, a custom in Russia when entering a home. On April 12, 1961, as Gagarin's flight took off from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan, he exclaimed his iconic catchphrase "Poekhali!", or "Let's go!" in Russian. Risky business The flight lasted just 108 minutes as the Vostok completed one loop around the Earth. Once Gagarin safely returned home, the success of his mission outshone the fact that not everything went according to plan. Among a dozen technical glitches, his spacecraft entered into orbit at a higher altitude than expected. If its brakes system had malfunctioned, Gagarin would have had to wait for the spacecraft to begin descending on its own. And while the Vostok was stocked with enough food, water, and oxygen to last 10 days, the higher altitude meant the wait would have been much longer and Gagarin would have run out of supplies. Luckily for the Russian cosmonaut, the brakes worked. Spy suspicions But Gagarin came down miles away from his expected landing point, ejecting from his capsule over the Saratov region in southern Russia. He landed in a field where the first people he saw were a young girl and her grandmother digging up potatoes. Clad in a white helmet and orange spacesuit, he struggled at first to convince them amid Cold War tensions that he was not a foreign spy. - Urination nation - Legend has it that before takeoff Gagarin asked the bus driver bringing him to the launchpad to pull over so he could relieve himself, before urinating on the back right tyre. For years Russian cosmonauts repeated the ritual before launching into space, but the decades-old superstition may soon be forced into retirement: the new design of the Russian spacesuit presented in 2019 is not equipped with a fly and is too heavy to nimbly remove. The man behind Gagarin While Gagarin became a household name in the Soviet Union, for years nobody knew about the mastermind of the country's space programme: Sergei Korolyov. The Soviets even rejected a Nobel prize awarded to their "Chief Designer", determined to keep his identity a secret. Only after his death in 1966 was his name revealed. Under Korolyov's leadership, the USSR sent not only the first person to space, but later the first woman, as well as conducting the first spacewalk.

Five things to know about Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, first human to travel into space

Pakistan rights campaigners have accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of "baffling ignorance" after the former playboy cricketer blamed how women dress for a rise in rape cases.

In a weekend interview on live television, Oxford-educated Khan said an increase in rapes indicated the "consequences in any society where vulgarity is on the rise".

"The incidents of rape of women... (have) actually very rapidly increased in society," he said.&nbsp;

He advised women to cover up to prevent temptation.

"This entire concept of purdah is to avoid temptation, not everyone has the willpower to avoid it," he said, using a term that can refer to modest dress or the segregation of the sexes.&nbsp;

Hundreds&nbsp;have signed a statement circulating online Wednesday calling Khan's comments "factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous".

"Fault rests solely with the rapist and the system that enables the rapist, including a culture fostered by statements such as those made by (Khan)," the statement said.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent rights watchdog, said Tuesday it was "appalled" by the comments.&nbsp;

"Not only does this betray a baffling ignorance of where, why and how rape occurs, but it also lays the blame on rape survivors, who, as the government must know, can range from young children to victims of honour crimes," it said.

Pakistan is a deeply conservative country where victims of sexual abuse are often viewed with suspicion and criminal complaints are rarely seriously investigated.&nbsp;

Much of the country lives under an "honour" code where women who bring "shame" on the family can be subjected to violence or murder.

It regularly ranks among the worst places in the world for gender equality.&nbsp;

Nationwide protests erupted last year when a police chief admonished a gang-rape victim for driving at night without a male companion.&nbsp;

The Franco-Pakistani mother was assaulted in front of her children on the side of a motorway after her car ran out of fuel.&nbsp;

Last year, Khan was also criticised &nbsp;after another television appearance where he failed to challenge a Muslim cleric's insistence that coronavirus had been unleashed because of the wrongdoings of women.&nbsp;

The latest controversy comes as the organisers behind International Women's Day marches battle what they have called a coordinated disinformation campaign against them, including doctored images and videos circulated online.

It has led to blasphemy accusations -- a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan where allegations have previously led mobs to attack people.

The organisers of the annual rally have called for the prime minister to intervene.

In his weekend TV appearance, Khan also blamed divorce rates in Britain on the "sex, drugs and rock and roll" culture that began in the 1970s, when the twice-divorced Khan was gaining a reputation in London as a playboy.

Pakistan rights campaigners have accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of "baffling ignorance" after the former playboy cricketer blamed how women dress for a rise in rape cases.

Pakistan rights campaigners have accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of "baffling ignorance" after the former playboy cricketer blamed how women dress for a rise in rape cases. In a weekend interview on live television, Oxford-educated Khan said an increase in rapes indicated the "consequences in any society where vulgarity is on the rise". "The incidents of rape of women... (have) actually very rapidly increased in society," he said. He advised women to cover up to prevent temptation. "This entire concept of purdah is to avoid temptation, not everyone has the willpower to avoid it," he said, using a term that can refer to modest dress or the segregation of the sexes. Hundreds have signed a statement circulating online Wednesday calling Khan's comments "factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous". "Fault rests solely with the rapist and the system that enables the rapist, including a culture fostered by statements such as those made by (Khan)," the statement said. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent rights watchdog, said Tuesday it was "appalled" by the comments. "Not only does this betray a baffling ignorance of where, why and how rape occurs, but it also lays the blame on rape survivors, who, as the government must know, can range from young children to victims of honour crimes," it said. Pakistan is a deeply conservative country where victims of sexual abuse are often viewed with suspicion and criminal complaints are rarely seriously investigated. Much of the country lives under an "honour" code where women who bring "shame" on the family can be subjected to violence or murder. It regularly ranks among the worst places in the world for gender equality. Nationwide protests erupted last year when a police chief admonished a gang-rape victim for driving at night without a male companion. The Franco-Pakistani mother was assaulted in front of her children on the side of a motorway after her car ran out of fuel. Last year, Khan was also criticised after another television appearance where he failed to challenge a Muslim cleric's insistence that coronavirus had been unleashed because of the wrongdoings of women. The latest controversy comes as the organisers behind International Women's Day marches battle what they have called a coordinated disinformation campaign against them, including doctored images and videos circulated online. It has led to blasphemy accusations -- a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan where allegations have previously led mobs to attack people. The organisers of the annual rally have called for the prime minister to intervene. In his weekend TV appearance, Khan also blamed divorce rates in Britain on the "sex, drugs and rock and roll" culture that began in the 1970s, when the twice-divorced Khan was gaining a reputation in London as a playboy.

Backlash after Pakistan PM Imran Khan links rape to how women dress

Cameras in&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;cars are not activated outside of North America, the US&nbsp;automaker said on its Chinese social media page on Wednesday, seeking to assuage security concerns in the world's biggest car market.

The Chinese military had&nbsp;banned Tesla Inc's cars from military complexes and housing compounds because of concerns about sensitive data being collected by cameras built into the vehicles.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-military-bans-tesla-cars-in-its-complexes-over-security-concerns-371727">Chinese military bans Tesla cars in its complexes over security concerns</a>

The move followed&nbsp;a security review by the Chinese government as per which officials believe that the sensors in Tesla's cars could record visual images of surrounding locations and obtain data on how and when the cars being used as well as personal information of the drivers and their contact lists synced to the phone.

"Even in the United States, car owners can freely choose whether to turn on its (the camera system's) use.&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;is equipped with a network security system with world-leading security levels to ensure user privacy protection," the electric carmaker wrote on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media site.

At a virtual forum in Beijing in March, held not long after reports of the ban surfaced,&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;founder Elon Musk emphasised the company's business motivations for protecting user privacy.

"There's a very strong incentive for us to be very confidential with any information," Musk said.

"If&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;used cars to spy in China or anywhere, we will get shut down."

Tesla, like several other automobile manufacturers, uses internal cameras to provide assistance in parking and self-parking functions.

China is a key battleground for electric vehicles. In 2020&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;sold 30 per cent&nbsp;of its global total in the country.

Chinese regulators have summoned representatives of US electric car giant&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;after reported technical problems with their vehicles, notably concerning their safety, officials in Beijing said Monday.&nbsp;

"Consumers have cited multiple problems, related to unusual accelerations, batteries catching fire, as well as with the remote update system," the State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement.&nbsp;

"They were asked to strictly conform to Chinese laws and regulations" in order to "guarantee public security" and the "rights and legitimate interests of consumers", the regulator said.

Cameras in Tesla cars are not activated outside of North America, the US automaker said on its Chinese social media page on Wednesday, seeking to assuage security concerns in the world's biggest car market.

Cameras in Tesla cars are not activated outside of North America, the US automaker said on its Chinese social media page on Wednesday, seeking to assuage security concerns in the world's biggest car market. The Chinese military had banned Tesla Inc's cars from military complexes and housing compounds because of concerns about sensitive data being collected by cameras built into the vehicles. Also read| Chinese military bans Tesla cars in its complexes over security concerns The move followed a security review by the Chinese government as per which officials believe that the sensors in Tesla's cars could record visual images of surrounding locations and obtain data on how and when the cars being used as well as personal information of the drivers and their contact lists synced to the phone. "Even in the United States, car owners can freely choose whether to turn on its (the camera system's) use. Tesla is equipped with a network security system with world-leading security levels to ensure user privacy protection," the electric carmaker wrote on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media site. At a virtual forum in Beijing in March, held not long after reports of the ban surfaced, Tesla founder Elon Musk emphasised the company's business motivations for protecting user privacy. "There's a very strong incentive for us to be very confidential with any information," Musk said. "If Tesla used cars to spy in China or anywhere, we will get shut down." Tesla, like several other automobile manufacturers, uses internal cameras to provide assistance in parking and self-parking functions. China is a key battleground for electric vehicles. In 2020 Tesla sold 30 per cent of its global total in the country. Chinese regulators have summoned representatives of US electric car giant Tesla after reported technical problems with their vehicles, notably concerning their safety, officials in Beijing said Monday. "Consumers have cited multiple problems, related to unusual accelerations, batteries catching fire, as well as with the remote update system," the State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement. "They were asked to strictly conform to Chinese laws and regulations" in order to "guarantee public security" and the "rights and legitimate interests of consumers", the regulator said.

China snooping row: Musk's Tesla says its car cameras are not activated outside North America

Taiwan&nbsp;Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Wednesday that his country&nbsp;worked with other democracies to help its diplomatic ally Paraguay get COVID-19 vaccines after China put pressure on the South American country to ditch Taipei in exchange for shots, and India stepped in to help.

Paraguay&nbsp;is one of only 15 countries that officially recognise Taipei over Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory.

Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen because she rejects its stance that the island is part of China.

It has poached seven of Taiwan's official allies since then,&nbsp;including Panama, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.

On Wednesday Taiwan's foreign minister said China was trying to woo&nbsp;Paraguay&nbsp;with the promise of badly needed vaccines.&nbsp;

"This is a period of time when we see Chinese 'vaccine diplomacy' has been flexing its muscles in many parts of world, especially in central and south America," Joseph Wu told reporters.&nbsp;

"The Chinese government was very active in saying... if the&nbsp;Paraguay&nbsp;government is willing to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan, they will be able to get quite a few million vaccine doses from China," he added.

"It generated a lot of pressure on the government of President Mario Abdo Benítez and this also generated a lot of pressure on us to find the necessary support," Wu said, adding that&nbsp;Paraguay's political opposition was "very willing to link up with China".

Paraguay&nbsp;has reported 224,000 coronavirus infections and 4,500 deaths in a population of seven million.&nbsp;

Fatalities have risen alarmingly in recent weeks during a fresh wave of infections that have hammered its healthcare system.

There have been violent protests over the government's response as well as an ultimately failed attempt to impeach Abdo Benítez.&nbsp;

Wu said Taiwan had reached out to countries including Japan, the United States and India on the issue.

"In the last few weeks, we have been speaking to like-minded countries, including Japan, the United States, India etcetera, and India fortunately has been able to provide some COVAXIN vaccines to Paraguay," he said, referring to a shot developed by India's Bharat Biotech and a state research institute.

India has already shipped 100,000 doses to Paraguay and there will be another 100,000, Wu added.

Paraguay&nbsp;has also received 36,000 doses from AstraZeneca, 4,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, and 20,000 of the Chinese Coronavac donated by Chile.&nbsp;

Abdo Benítez has said he hopes to secure enough vaccinations by the middle of the year. He blamed the lack of doses on delays in Covax, a mechanism supported by the World Health Organization to widen access to vaccines.

Washington is also looking at ways to help countries struggling to secure enough vaccine supply, Wu said.

China has been a crucial source of vaccines for many poorer nations especially with wealthier countries snapping up supplies of Western-made doses.

It has previously denied using vaccines as a diplomatic pressure device.

Taiwan -- population 23 million -- has been hailed as a global success story in containing the virus, with around 1,050 confirmed cases and 10 deaths.&nbsp;

But it has struggled to secure vaccines and has so far only received 117,000 doses of AstraZeneca purchased from the manufacturer and another 199,200 doses of the same vaccine via Covax.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Wednesday that his country worked with other democracies to help its diplomatic ally Paraguay get COVID-19 vaccines after China put pressure on the South American country to ditch Taipei in exchange for shots, and India stepped in to help.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Wednesday that his country worked with other democracies to help its diplomatic ally Paraguay get COVID-19 vaccines after China put pressure on the South American country to ditch Taipei in exchange for shots, and India stepped in to help. Paraguay is one of only 15 countries that officially recognise Taipei over Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory. Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen because she rejects its stance that the island is part of China. It has poached seven of Taiwan's official allies since then, including Panama, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. On Wednesday Taiwan's foreign minister said China was trying to woo Paraguay with the promise of badly needed vaccines. "This is a period of time when we see Chinese 'vaccine diplomacy' has been flexing its muscles in many parts of world, especially in central and south America," Joseph Wu told reporters. "The Chinese government was very active in saying... if the Paraguay government is willing to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan, they will be able to get quite a few million vaccine doses from China," he added. "It generated a lot of pressure on the government of President Mario Abdo Benítez and this also generated a lot of pressure on us to find the necessary support," Wu said, adding that Paraguay's political opposition was "very willing to link up with China". Paraguay has reported 224,000 coronavirus infections and 4,500 deaths in a population of seven million. Fatalities have risen alarmingly in recent weeks during a fresh wave of infections that have hammered its healthcare system. There have been violent protests over the government's response as well as an ultimately failed attempt to impeach Abdo Benítez. Wu said Taiwan had reached out to countries including Japan, the United States and India on the issue. "In the last few weeks, we have been speaking to like-minded countries, including Japan, the United States, India etcetera, and India fortunately has been able to provide some COVAXIN vaccines to Paraguay," he said, referring to a shot developed by India's Bharat Biotech and a state research institute. India has already shipped 100,000 doses to Paraguay and there will be another 100,000, Wu added. Paraguay has also received 36,000 doses from AstraZeneca, 4,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, and 20,000 of the Chinese Coronavac donated by Chile. Abdo Benítez has said he hopes to secure enough vaccinations by the middle of the year. He blamed the lack of doses on delays in Covax, a mechanism supported by the World Health Organization to widen access to vaccines. Washington is also looking at ways to help countries struggling to secure enough vaccine supply, Wu said. China has been a crucial source of vaccines for many poorer nations especially with wealthier countries snapping up supplies of Western-made doses. It has previously denied using vaccines as a diplomatic pressure device. Taiwan -- population 23 million -- has been hailed as a global success story in containing the virus, with around 1,050 confirmed cases and 10 deaths. But it has struggled to secure vaccines and has so far only received 117,000 doses of AstraZeneca purchased from the manufacturer and another 199,200 doses of the same vaccine via Covax.

Taiwan praises India for helping Paraguay get vaccines amid Chinese pressure

Americans may soon have to forgo&nbsp;ketchup&nbsp;on their fries and burgers, with manufacturers struggling to keep up with demand for single-use packets as restaurants heavily turn to take-out service during the pandemic.&nbsp;

Heinz, whose iconic tomato condiment remains the most widely sold, faced a "surge in demand for&nbsp;ketchup&nbsp;packets driven by the accelerated delivery and take-out trends,"&nbsp;according to Kraft Heinz president Steve Cornell.

The individual packets, which often accompany delivery orders, over the last year have effectively replaced the use of the classic glass or plastic bottles frequently seen on restaurant tables,&nbsp;even in dine-in environments, where customers are wary of touching communal items.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;ketchup&nbsp;giant has already made adjustments to their production processes in order to keep up with the new situation.&nbsp;

Even so, "demand was greater than supply," the company said.

In response to that demand, Kraft Heinz said it has added multiple new production lines in its factories which should allow the company to increase manufacturing by 25 percent, to total 12 billion&nbsp;ketchup&nbsp;sachets produced in a year.&nbsp;

They have also developed a "no-touch dispenser" for restaurant dine-in service.&nbsp;

Ketchup&nbsp;packet prices have risen 13 percent since January 2020, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing business services platform Plate IQ.&nbsp;

In the meantime, restaurants have had to find a way to avoid the cardinal sin of serving fries without their classic red companion.&nbsp;

"How can we serve French fries without Heinz&nbsp;ketchup?" owner of the Denver, Colorado restaurant Blake Street Tavern Chris Fuselier worried, according to the Journal.&nbsp;

He asked servers to apologize to customers after he had to make the switch to a generic brand.&nbsp;

Americans may soon have to forgo ketchup on their fries and burgers, with manufacturers struggling to keep up with demand for single-use packets as restaurants heavily turn to take-out service during the pandemic.

Americans may soon have to forgo ketchup on their fries and burgers, with manufacturers struggling to keep up with demand for single-use packets as restaurants heavily turn to take-out service during the pandemic. Heinz, whose iconic tomato condiment remains the most widely sold, faced a "surge in demand for ketchup packets driven by the accelerated delivery and take-out trends," according to Kraft Heinz president Steve Cornell. The individual packets, which often accompany delivery orders, over the last year have effectively replaced the use of the classic glass or plastic bottles frequently seen on restaurant tables, even in dine-in environments, where customers are wary of touching communal items. The ketchup giant has already made adjustments to their production processes in order to keep up with the new situation. Even so, "demand was greater than supply," the company said. In response to that demand, Kraft Heinz said it has added multiple new production lines in its factories which should allow the company to increase manufacturing by 25 percent, to total 12 billion ketchup sachets produced in a year. They have also developed a "no-touch dispenser" for restaurant dine-in service. Ketchup packet prices have risen 13 percent since January 2020, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing business services platform Plate IQ. In the meantime, restaurants have had to find a way to avoid the cardinal sin of serving fries without their classic red companion. "How can we serve French fries without Heinz ketchup?" owner of the Denver, Colorado restaurant Blake Street Tavern Chris Fuselier worried, according to the Journal. He asked servers to apologize to customers after he had to make the switch to a generic brand.

Where's ketchup? Red alert in US due to shortage

When Julia Banks arrived in Parliament five years ago after a successful career in law and business, she felt as if she’d stepped back into the ’80s. Alcohol flowed freely. She occasionally smelled it on the breath of male lawmakers when they voted.

Many men in Australian politics also thought nothing of belittling women, she said, or spreading sexual rumors. More than a few treated junior employees like playthings. Once, Banks said, a fellow lawmaker introduced a new intern while slowly rubbing his hand up and down the young woman’s back.

“I could see her visibly flinch,” Banks said. “She and I locked eyes, and I’m sure the nonverbal cue to me was ‘don’t say anything, please don’t say anything, I’ll lose my job.’”

“It is the most unsafe workplace in the country,” she added.

Australia’s #MeToo moment has arrived, late but strong, like a tsunami directed at the country’s political foundation. Six weeks after a former legislative staffer, Brittany Higgins, accused a senior colleague of raping her in the defense minister’s office, thousands of women are standing up to share their stories, march for justice and demand change.

The conservative coalition led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison is now facing a historic backlash, which has started to depress his polling numbers as he confronts one scandal after another.

While the misogyny problem is widespread, the focal point has become politics — a realm that more and more women describe as Australia’s most sexist backwater, where many men have long assumed they can act like kings. Women of every party say that for years, they have been demeaned while trying to do their jobs. They have been groped and insulted, ignored and interrupted — and whenever they have questioned such behavior, they have faced a barrage of attacks.

“There’s so much stored-up anger and hurt,” said Tanya Plibersek, a Labor Party leader who is the opposition’s minister for women. “Once people start telling their stories, it’s hard to stop.”

In many ways, Australia’s political class is playing catch-up. The country’s corporations and other institutions have shifted gradually toward gender equity, but male privilege continues to reverberate through the halls of power. The causes are both common (refusing to give up power) and parochial (failing to realize that Australian culture can be sexist).

“They just won’t see it,” said Louise Chappell, a political scientist at the University of New South Wales who has been studying gender and Australian politics since the ’90s. “And they won’t see it in structural terms.”

Many women said they faced chauvinism as soon as they entered politics.

Soon after the Labor Party asked Kate Ellis to be a federal candidate for the 2004 election, she said, she overheard her own campaign team discussing photos for her poster. “No, she looks like a bimbo in that one,” she recalled hearing someone say.

“You’d have moments like that on a daily basis,” she said.

Banks, who left Parliament in 2019 and is finishing a book about bias, said she encountered the low hum of disrespect at one of her first fundraisers, where she discovered she was not on the speakers’ list. It was all men.

There must be some mistake, she told the Liberal Party official in charge.

“‘Don’t you worry about that, darling,’” she recalled him responding, “‘we’ll give you the raffle at the end.’”

Parliament proved to be even worse. “Mansplaining, talking over women, inappropriate jokes, inappropriate touching — it was all that,” Banks said.

In interviews, many current and former lawmakers described Parliament House as a testosterone-fueled bunker. Its hallways are wide, the offices have thick walls, and every minister’s suite includes a full kitchen and a couch big enough for sleeping. Most refrigerators are stocked with beer and wine.

Most members of Parliament are men, as are most staffers. In the past 20 years, Australia has fallen from 15th to 50th in the world for parliamentary gender diversity. The parliamentary delegations of the conservative Liberal and National parties, which govern with a slim majority, are more than 80% male.

Contributing to the fraternity vibe, Canberra is a part-time capital. Votes are often called after 6 p.m., and families are left behind in local districts, since the legislature only sits for 20 weeks a year. When it’s busy, Parliament has often been compared to a gentleman’s club, though to some, it’s more Peter Pan at the pub.

Sarah Hanson-Young, a Greens party senator, said male rivals would often shout across the chamber the names of men she was falsely accused of sleeping with.

“It was like a game these blokes were playing with just the most intense level of scorn,” she told Ellis for her book “Sex, Lies and Question Time.”

Hanson-Young sued a Senate colleague, David Leyonhjelm, for defamation after he shouted “stop shagging men” at her on the floor of the chamber in 2018. She recently won a $120,000 judgment against him but endured death threats along the way.

The misbehavior, many said, trickles down from the top.

“It’s a permission ecosystem where men are behaving badly, and their young staff are seeing them get away with it,” said Emma Husar, a former member of Parliament from Sydney.

While the alcohol in Parliament is not the primary cause, she added, it is a contributing factor.

“There are a lot of blurred boundaries,” she said. “From about 5 o’clock on, there are copious amounts of booze poured.”

At a daytime function without alcohol in 2017, she said, she was groped by a member of the Liberal Party. When she went to her Labor Party bosses, she said, they told her not to say anything. Her political career ended after a BuzzFeed article claimed she had been bullying staff members and once uncrossed her legs to show she was not wearing underwear in front of a male colleague.

She and the man denied it ever happened. When Husar sued for defamation, BuzzFeed apologized and removed the article. But the story went viral, and Husar said she was forced by her party to step aside and not run again in 2019.

Ellis called the story about Husar “weaponized gossip.” She said she had a near miss when a reporter almost wrote about a lie making the rounds, that she and her chief of staff were sleeping with the same man.

Women said the message from their bosses was always clear: Secrets are for insiders, and don’t bother trying to find the truth.

“There has been this sort of ‘do know, don’t tell’ policy,” said Chappell at the University of New South Wales. “The bubble analogy works — everyone who’s in there was keeping the secrets.”

Initially, Higgins, the woman whose rape allegations have shaken the country, agreed to keep quiet.

On the night of March 22, 2019, she said, she was drinking with friends in Canberra and accepted a ride with a senior male colleague who, instead of taking her home, directed the taxi to Parliament House. There, she said, she woke up “mid-rape” and told the man to stop.

She said she quickly reported the attack, informing Linda Reynolds, the defense minister, and more than a dozen others. Higgins, then 24, pursued charges with the police, but said she dropped them because of pressure from Liberal Party leaders. She said she was made to feel like she had to choose: her job or justice.

All of this stayed private until last month, when — after seeing the prime minister standing on a podium with the Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, a sexual assault survivor — she decided to speak up.

“In my mind his government was complicit in silencing me,” she said. “It was a betrayal.”

Higgins has gone back to the police to open an investigation. Several other women have since come forward with accusations in the news media against the same man. (He was fired after the alleged attack on Higgins but has not been publicly identified.)

The women’s collective claims broke the stalemate. Women in Parliament and others who had recently left called for accountability. Tens of thousands of women marched all over Australia on March 4 to demand justice, inspired by Higgins and angered by accusations against Christian Porter, then the attorney general.

Just a day earlier, as news reports emerged of an unidentified Cabinet minister accused of sexual assault, Porter had named himself as the suspect. He publicly denied the allegation — made by a woman who said he raped her when they were teenagers — and refused to resign.

Morrison, a career politician, has only recently seemed to grasp the extent of the misogyny in Parliament. Nearly three weeks after the protests, he admitted that “many Australians, especially women, believe that I have not heard them, and that greatly distresses me.”

“We must get our house in order,” he said.

In the meantime, bad behavior from the recent past continues to surface. Last month, nightly news channels led their programs with pixelated videos and photos of male Liberal Party staff members in Parliament masturbating onto the desks of female ministers. One of them has been fired.

A Liberal lawmaker was accused of harassing two female constituents. He agreed not to run again and apologized, but Morrison has come under fire for not making him resign.

Many women are also angry at the prime minister for protecting Porter, whom he recently moved from his role as attorney general into a new Cabinet position.

And more women are resisting a return to business as usual.

Last week, Dr. Anne Webster, a new member of Parliament with the conservative National Party, said a male lawmaker had sexually harassed her. That kind of thing might once have been ignored, but she filed a formal complaint with party leadership, prompting the man to apologize.

“That’s what Australians expect of us now,” she said.

“Inch by inch, culture changes,” she added. “All of us are learning; all of us are adjusting to a new platform.”

When Julia Banks arrived in Parliament five years ago after a successful career in law and business, she felt as if she’d stepped back into the ’80s. Alcohol flowed freely.

When Julia Banks arrived in Parliament five years ago after a successful career in law and business, she felt as if she’d stepped back into the ’80s. Alcohol flowed freely. She occasionally smelled it on the breath of male lawmakers when they voted. Many men in Australian politics also thought nothing of belittling women, she said, or spreading sexual rumors. More than a few treated junior employees like playthings. Once, Banks said, a fellow lawmaker introduced a new intern while slowly rubbing his hand up and down the young woman’s back. “I could see her visibly flinch,” Banks said. “She and I locked eyes, and I’m sure the nonverbal cue to me was ‘don’t say anything, please don’t say anything, I’ll lose my job.’” “It is the most unsafe workplace in the country,” she added. Australia’s #MeToo moment has arrived, late but strong, like a tsunami directed at the country’s political foundation. Six weeks after a former legislative staffer, Brittany Higgins, accused a senior colleague of raping her in the defense minister’s office, thousands of women are standing up to share their stories, march for justice and demand change. The conservative coalition led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison is now facing a historic backlash, which has started to depress his polling numbers as he confronts one scandal after another. While the misogyny problem is widespread, the focal point has become politics — a realm that more and more women describe as Australia’s most sexist backwater, where many men have long assumed they can act like kings. Women of every party say that for years, they have been demeaned while trying to do their jobs. They have been groped and insulted, ignored and interrupted — and whenever they have questioned such behavior, they have faced a barrage of attacks. “There’s so much stored-up anger and hurt,” said Tanya Plibersek, a Labor Party leader who is the opposition’s minister for women. “Once people start telling their stories, it’s hard to stop.” In many ways, Australia’s political class is playing catch-up. The country’s corporations and other institutions have shifted gradually toward gender equity, but male privilege continues to reverberate through the halls of power. The causes are both common (refusing to give up power) and parochial (failing to realize that Australian culture can be sexist). “They just won’t see it,” said Louise Chappell, a political scientist at the University of New South Wales who has been studying gender and Australian politics since the ’90s. “And they won’t see it in structural terms.” Many women said they faced chauvinism as soon as they entered politics. Soon after the Labor Party asked Kate Ellis to be a federal candidate for the 2004 election, she said, she overheard her own campaign team discussing photos for her poster. “No, she looks like a bimbo in that one,” she recalled hearing someone say. “You’d have moments like that on a daily basis,” she said. Banks, who left Parliament in 2019 and is finishing a book about bias, said she encountered the low hum of disrespect at one of her first fundraisers, where she discovered she was not on the speakers’ list. It was all men. There must be some mistake, she told the Liberal Party official in charge. “‘Don’t you worry about that, darling,’” she recalled him responding, “‘we’ll give you the raffle at the end.’” Parliament proved to be even worse. “Mansplaining, talking over women, inappropriate jokes, inappropriate touching — it was all that,” Banks said. In interviews, many current and former lawmakers described Parliament House as a testosterone-fueled bunker. Its hallways are wide, the offices have thick walls, and every minister’s suite includes a full kitchen and a couch big enough for sleeping. Most refrigerators are stocked with beer and wine. Most members of Parliament are men, as are most staffers. In the past 20 years, Australia has fallen from 15th to 50th in the world for parliamentary gender diversity. The parliamentary delegations of the conservative Liberal and National parties, which govern with a slim majority, are more than 80% male. Contributing to the fraternity vibe, Canberra is a part-time capital. Votes are often called after 6 p.m., and families are left behind in local districts, since the legislature only sits for 20 weeks a year. When it’s busy, Parliament has often been compared to a gentleman’s club, though to some, it’s more Peter Pan at the pub. Sarah Hanson-Young, a Greens party senator, said male rivals would often shout across the chamber the names of men she was falsely accused of sleeping with. “It was like a game these blokes were playing with just the most intense level of scorn,” she told Ellis for her book “Sex, Lies and Question Time.” Hanson-Young sued a Senate colleague, David Leyonhjelm, for defamation after he shouted “stop shagging men” at her on the floor of the chamber in 2018. She recently won a $120,000 judgment against him but endured death threats along the way. The misbehavior, many said, trickles down from the top. “It’s a permission ecosystem where men are behaving badly, and their young staff are seeing them get away with it,” said Emma Husar, a former member of Parliament from Sydney. While the alcohol in Parliament is not the primary cause, she added, it is a contributing factor. “There are a lot of blurred boundaries,” she said. “From about 5 o’clock on, there are copious amounts of booze poured.” At a daytime function without alcohol in 2017, she said, she was groped by a member of the Liberal Party. When she went to her Labor Party bosses, she said, they told her not to say anything. Her political career ended after a BuzzFeed article claimed she had been bullying staff members and once uncrossed her legs to show she was not wearing underwear in front of a male colleague. She and the man denied it ever happened. When Husar sued for defamation, BuzzFeed apologized and removed the article. But the story went viral, and Husar said she was forced by her party to step aside and not run again in 2019. Ellis called the story about Husar “weaponized gossip.” She said she had a near miss when a reporter almost wrote about a lie making the rounds, that she and her chief of staff were sleeping with the same man. Women said the message from their bosses was always clear: Secrets are for insiders, and don’t bother trying to find the truth. “There has been this sort of ‘do know, don’t tell’ policy,” said Chappell at the University of New South Wales. “The bubble analogy works — everyone who’s in there was keeping the secrets.” Initially, Higgins, the woman whose rape allegations have shaken the country, agreed to keep quiet. On the night of March 22, 2019, she said, she was drinking with friends in Canberra and accepted a ride with a senior male colleague who, instead of taking her home, directed the taxi to Parliament House. There, she said, she woke up “mid-rape” and told the man to stop. She said she quickly reported the attack, informing Linda Reynolds, the defense minister, and more than a dozen others. Higgins, then 24, pursued charges with the police, but said she dropped them because of pressure from Liberal Party leaders. She said she was made to feel like she had to choose: her job or justice. All of this stayed private until last month, when — after seeing the prime minister standing on a podium with the Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, a sexual assault survivor — she decided to speak up. “In my mind his government was complicit in silencing me,” she said. “It was a betrayal.” Higgins has gone back to the police to open an investigation. Several other women have since come forward with accusations in the news media against the same man. (He was fired after the alleged attack on Higgins but has not been publicly identified.) The women’s collective claims broke the stalemate. Women in Parliament and others who had recently left called for accountability. Tens of thousands of women marched all over Australia on March 4 to demand justice, inspired by Higgins and angered by accusations against Christian Porter, then the attorney general. Just a day earlier, as news reports emerged of an unidentified Cabinet minister accused of sexual assault, Porter had named himself as the suspect. He publicly denied the allegation — made by a woman who said he raped her when they were teenagers — and refused to resign. Morrison, a career politician, has only recently seemed to grasp the extent of the misogyny in Parliament. Nearly three weeks after the protests, he admitted that “many Australians, especially women, believe that I have not heard them, and that greatly distresses me.” “We must get our house in order,” he said. In the meantime, bad behavior from the recent past continues to surface. Last month, nightly news channels led their programs with pixelated videos and photos of male Liberal Party staff members in Parliament masturbating onto the desks of female ministers. One of them has been fired. A Liberal lawmaker was accused of harassing two female constituents. He agreed not to run again and apologized, but Morrison has come under fire for not making him resign. Many women are also angry at the prime minister for protecting Porter, whom he recently moved from his role as attorney general into a new Cabinet position. And more women are resisting a return to business as usual. Last week, Dr. Anne Webster, a new member of Parliament with the conservative National Party, said a male lawmaker had sexually harassed her. That kind of thing might once have been ignored, but she filed a formal complaint with party leadership, prompting the man to apologize. “That’s what Australians expect of us now,” she said. “Inch by inch, culture changes,” she added. “All of us are learning; all of us are adjusting to a new platform.”

‘The most unsafe workplace’? Parliament, Australian women say

In Beijing, the vaccinated qualify for buy-one-get-one-free ice cream cones. In northern Gansu province, a county government published a 20-stanza poem extolling the virtues of the jab. In the southern town of Wancheng, officials warned parents that if they refused to get vaccinated, their children’s schooling and future employment and housing were all at risk.

China is deploying a medley of tactics, some tantalizing and some threatening, to achieve mass vaccination on a staggering scale: a goal of 560 million people, or 40% of its population, by the end of June.

China has already proved how effectively it can mobilize against the coronavirus. And other countries have achieved widespread vaccination, albeit in much smaller populations.

But China faces a number of challenges. The country’s near-total control over the coronavirus has left many residents feeling little urgency to get vaccinated. Some are wary of China’s history of vaccine-related scandals, a fear that the lack of transparency around Chinese coronavirus vaccines has done little to assuage. Then there is the sheer size of the population to be inoculated.

To get it done, the government has turned to a familiar tool kit: a sprawling, quickly mobilized bureaucracy and its sometimes heavy-handed approach. This top-down, all-out response helped tame the virus early on, and now the authorities hope to replicate that success with vaccinations.

Already, uptake has skyrocketed. Over the past week, China has administered an average of about 4.8 million doses a day, up from about 1 million a day for much of last month. Experts have said they hope to reach 10 million a day to meet the June goal.

“They say it’s voluntary, but if you don’t get the vaccine, they’ll just keep calling you,” said Annie Chen, a university student in Beijing who received two such entreaties from a school counselor in about a week.

Worried about possible side effects, Chen had not planned to sign up. But after the counselor warned that she could soon face restrictions on access to public places, she relented — in part because she felt bad for him.

“The counselor seemed to think his job was pretty hard, too. He sounded exhausted,” she said.

Public anxiety about the vaccines emerged early. One survey in February, co-authored by the head of China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, found that less than half of medical workers in the eastern province of Zhejiang were willing to be vaccinated, many citing fear of side effects. By mid-March, China had administered only about 65 million doses for a population of 1.4 billion.

Even with the recent surge in vaccinations, China still lags far behind dozens of other countries. Though China has approved five homegrown vaccines, it has administered 10 shots for every 100 residents. Britain has administered 56 for every 100; the United States, 50.

Prominent doctors have warned that China’s sluggish pace threatens to undermine the country’s successful containment measures.

“China is at a very critical moment,” Zhong Nanshan, a top respiratory disease expert, said in a recent interview with the Chinese news media. “When other countries have been very well vaccinated, and China still lacks immunity, then that will be very dangerous.”

The warnings have been accompanied by a sweeping propaganda campaign and copious consumerist bait.

On Monday, the Wangfujing shopping district in Beijing was teeming with bargains for the vaccinated. A Lego store offered a free kit to assemble a chick emerging from an egg. A street stall touted a 10% discount on tea. A state-run photo studio even advertised a discount on wedding photos.

The promotion seemed to be working at one vaccination center, where people lined up for two-for-one soft serve at a bright yellow McDonald’s ice cream truck parked outside.

Wang Xuan, an employee inside the truck, described how the advertisement caught the attention of one passerby.

“He went straight inside to get the vaccine and then came out to us to buy ice cream,” Wang said.

Other localities have opted for more stick than carrot (or ice cream).

In Chongqing, a company notice ordered workers between 18 and 59 without underlying health conditions to be vaccinated by the end of April, or be “held accountable,” though it did not elaborate. A government bulletin in the city of Haikou, in Hainan, said companies with less than 85% vaccination rates would be issued a warning and could be suspended for “rectification.”

The city of Ruili, in southwestern China, last week became the first to adopt mandatory vaccination for eligible residents, after a small outbreak there. An official said the city expected to vaccinate the entire population of more than 200,000 people in five days by running vaccination sites 24 hours a day.

Some social media users have complained that the pressure campaigns restrict their right of choice. But Tao Lina, a vaccination expert and former immunologist at the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said it was justifiable to impose somewhat punitive measures in the name of public health.

“At this time, overly emphasizing freedom of choice is not a good idea,” Tao said. “Look at America: They wanted to choose not to wear face masks. That seems like a kind of freedom, but then what happened?”

Governments and companies in other countries have also adopted what some see as coercive measures. The Italian prime minister recently issued a decree requiring vaccinations for health care workers. A waitress in New York City was fired for refusing vaccination. Many countries are considering issuing vaccine passports for entry into public facilities.

Still, even China’s state-owned media has acknowledged that some local officials have been overzealous in their enforcement.

Xinhua, the state news agency, published an opinion piece last week denouncing “one-size-fits-all, simple and crude methods” that it said could engender even more public opposition.

“These harmful developments are in reality the product of a small number of regions and companies that are anxious to complete their vaccination responsibilities,” it said. (The Wancheng government later apologized for its warning about children’s futures.)

It’s unclear how many of the promised restrictions are being enforced. Wu Kunzhou, a community worker in Haikou, the city where businesses were threatened with suspension, said he had marked a few businesses with red posters.

“Company that does not meet vaccination standards,” the posters said.

But there were no accompanying fines, and he said he could not force anyone to get vaccinated.

“The main thing is, there are orders from above,” Wu said.

Some residents have remained staunchly opposed to vaccination, despite the barrage of messaging.

Lu Xianyun, a 51-year-old construction industry employee in Guangzhou, cited a number of revelations in recent years of children in China being injected with faulty vaccines.

“I don’t trust them,” he said of the vaccine manufacturers.

Local officials have also issued conflicting guidance on the safety of vaccination for pregnant women. Some have reassured women trying to conceive that they should sign up, while others have urged those women to delay pregnancy.

Tao said officials had not done enough to instill public confidence in the vaccines. He said that he could think of only one prominent official, Dr. Zhang Wenhong — often compared to China’s Dr. Anthony Fauci — who had been publicly vaccinated. It doesn’t help that Chinese vaccine companies have been slow to share clinical trial data.

“If our country wants to improve public enthusiasm,” Tao said, “it would be best to share videos of leaders, cadres and Communist Party members getting vaccinated.”

In Beijing, the vaccinated qualify for buy-one-get-one-free ice cream cones. In northern Gansu province, a county government published a 20-stanza poem extolling the virtues of the jab.

In Beijing, the vaccinated qualify for buy-one-get-one-free ice cream cones. In northern Gansu province, a county government published a 20-stanza poem extolling the virtues of the jab. In the southern town of Wancheng, officials warned parents that if they refused to get vaccinated, their children’s schooling and future employment and housing were all at risk. China is deploying a medley of tactics, some tantalizing and some threatening, to achieve mass vaccination on a staggering scale: a goal of 560 million people, or 40% of its population, by the end of June. China has already proved how effectively it can mobilize against the coronavirus. And other countries have achieved widespread vaccination, albeit in much smaller populations. But China faces a number of challenges. The country’s near-total control over the coronavirus has left many residents feeling little urgency to get vaccinated. Some are wary of China’s history of vaccine-related scandals, a fear that the lack of transparency around Chinese coronavirus vaccines has done little to assuage. Then there is the sheer size of the population to be inoculated. To get it done, the government has turned to a familiar tool kit: a sprawling, quickly mobilized bureaucracy and its sometimes heavy-handed approach. This top-down, all-out response helped tame the virus early on, and now the authorities hope to replicate that success with vaccinations. Already, uptake has skyrocketed. Over the past week, China has administered an average of about 4.8 million doses a day, up from about 1 million a day for much of last month. Experts have said they hope to reach 10 million a day to meet the June goal. “They say it’s voluntary, but if you don’t get the vaccine, they’ll just keep calling you,” said Annie Chen, a university student in Beijing who received two such entreaties from a school counselor in about a week. Worried about possible side effects, Chen had not planned to sign up. But after the counselor warned that she could soon face restrictions on access to public places, she relented — in part because she felt bad for him. “The counselor seemed to think his job was pretty hard, too. He sounded exhausted,” she said. Public anxiety about the vaccines emerged early. One survey in February, co-authored by the head of China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, found that less than half of medical workers in the eastern province of Zhejiang were willing to be vaccinated, many citing fear of side effects. By mid-March, China had administered only about 65 million doses for a population of 1.4 billion. Even with the recent surge in vaccinations, China still lags far behind dozens of other countries. Though China has approved five homegrown vaccines, it has administered 10 shots for every 100 residents. Britain has administered 56 for every 100; the United States, 50. Prominent doctors have warned that China’s sluggish pace threatens to undermine the country’s successful containment measures. “China is at a very critical moment,” Zhong Nanshan, a top respiratory disease expert, said in a recent interview with the Chinese news media. “When other countries have been very well vaccinated, and China still lacks immunity, then that will be very dangerous.” The warnings have been accompanied by a sweeping propaganda campaign and copious consumerist bait. On Monday, the Wangfujing shopping district in Beijing was teeming with bargains for the vaccinated. A Lego store offered a free kit to assemble a chick emerging from an egg. A street stall touted a 10% discount on tea. A state-run photo studio even advertised a discount on wedding photos. The promotion seemed to be working at one vaccination center, where people lined up for two-for-one soft serve at a bright yellow McDonald’s ice cream truck parked outside. Wang Xuan, an employee inside the truck, described how the advertisement caught the attention of one passerby. “He went straight inside to get the vaccine and then came out to us to buy ice cream,” Wang said. Other localities have opted for more stick than carrot (or ice cream). In Chongqing, a company notice ordered workers between 18 and 59 without underlying health conditions to be vaccinated by the end of April, or be “held accountable,” though it did not elaborate. A government bulletin in the city of Haikou, in Hainan, said companies with less than 85% vaccination rates would be issued a warning and could be suspended for “rectification.” The city of Ruili, in southwestern China, last week became the first to adopt mandatory vaccination for eligible residents, after a small outbreak there. An official said the city expected to vaccinate the entire population of more than 200,000 people in five days by running vaccination sites 24 hours a day. Some social media users have complained that the pressure campaigns restrict their right of choice. But Tao Lina, a vaccination expert and former immunologist at the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said it was justifiable to impose somewhat punitive measures in the name of public health. “At this time, overly emphasizing freedom of choice is not a good idea,” Tao said. “Look at America: They wanted to choose not to wear face masks. That seems like a kind of freedom, but then what happened?” Governments and companies in other countries have also adopted what some see as coercive measures. The Italian prime minister recently issued a decree requiring vaccinations for health care workers. A waitress in New York City was fired for refusing vaccination. Many countries are considering issuing vaccine passports for entry into public facilities. Still, even China’s state-owned media has acknowledged that some local officials have been overzealous in their enforcement. Xinhua, the state news agency, published an opinion piece last week denouncing “one-size-fits-all, simple and crude methods” that it said could engender even more public opposition. “These harmful developments are in reality the product of a small number of regions and companies that are anxious to complete their vaccination responsibilities,” it said. (The Wancheng government later apologized for its warning about children’s futures.) It’s unclear how many of the promised restrictions are being enforced. Wu Kunzhou, a community worker in Haikou, the city where businesses were threatened with suspension, said he had marked a few businesses with red posters. “Company that does not meet vaccination standards,” the posters said. But there were no accompanying fines, and he said he could not force anyone to get vaccinated. “The main thing is, there are orders from above,” Wu said. Some residents have remained staunchly opposed to vaccination, despite the barrage of messaging. Lu Xianyun, a 51-year-old construction industry employee in Guangzhou, cited a number of revelations in recent years of children in China being injected with faulty vaccines. “I don’t trust them,” he said of the vaccine manufacturers. Local officials have also issued conflicting guidance on the safety of vaccination for pregnant women. Some have reassured women trying to conceive that they should sign up, while others have urged those women to delay pregnancy. Tao said officials had not done enough to instill public confidence in the vaccines. He said that he could think of only one prominent official, Dr. Zhang Wenhong — often compared to China’s Dr. Anthony Fauci — who had been publicly vaccinated. It doesn’t help that Chinese vaccine companies have been slow to share clinical trial data. “If our country wants to improve public enthusiasm,” Tao said, “it would be best to share videos of leaders, cadres and Communist Party members getting vaccinated.”

How will China vaccinate 560 million people? Start with free ice cream

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Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Vyomica Berry

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