Britain said on Friday it would add Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan, and the Philippines to its travel "red list", banning entry to people arriving from those countries unless they are British or Irish nationals.

Those who come to Britain from countries on the red list will be refused entry while returning Britons must submit to 10 days of mandatory quarantine in hotels.

From 4 a.m. on April 9, Pakistan, Kenya, the Philippines, and Bangladesh will be put on the list, the government said, joining about three dozen other nations mainly in Africa, the Middle East, and South America.

There have been calls for the inclusion of some European countries where COVID-19 cases have surged, but the government has said it currently has no plans to do so.

A group of British lawmakers on Friday warned ministers against introducing "divisive and discriminatory" vaccine passports after Prime Minister Boris Johnson backed the scheme.

The group of more than 70 MPs -- including former leaders of both the main parties -- warned that vaccine passports could be used to "deny individuals access to general services, businesses or jobs".

They spoke out after the prime minister on Thursday said the documents would be "useful" adding that "there's definitely going to be a world in which international travel will use vaccine passports".

Earlier this week, Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour party,&nbsp;&nbsp;said if virus deaths and hospital admissions fall very low, "the British instinct... will be against vaccine passports".

The concept has won support internationally, particularly from countries dependent on tourism such as Greece.

The EU has proposed a digital European vaccine pass.

The UK has already given more than 31 million people, or more than 45 percent of the population, a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, the second highest proportion in the world, behind Israel.

It aims to offer the whole population a first vaccine dose by the end of July.

Greece and Cyprus already have vaccination passports specifically for travel to and from Israel, which has fully vaccinated over 55 percent of its population.

From next week, Denmark is set to allow people to go to hairdressers and beauty salons if they use&nbsp;a smartphone app showing a negative test, vaccination or recent recovery from the virus.

Britain said on Friday it would add Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan, and the Philippines to its travel "red list", banning entry to people arriving from those countries unless they are British or Irish nationals.

Britain said on Friday it would add Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan, and the Philippines to its travel "red list", banning entry to people arriving from those countries unless they are British or Irish nationals. Those who come to Britain from countries on the red list will be refused entry while returning Britons must submit to 10 days of mandatory quarantine in hotels. From 4 a.m. on April 9, Pakistan, Kenya, the Philippines, and Bangladesh will be put on the list, the government said, joining about three dozen other nations mainly in Africa, the Middle East, and South America. There have been calls for the inclusion of some European countries where COVID-19 cases have surged, but the government has said it currently has no plans to do so. A group of British lawmakers on Friday warned ministers against introducing "divisive and discriminatory" vaccine passports after Prime Minister Boris Johnson backed the scheme. The group of more than 70 MPs -- including former leaders of both the main parties -- warned that vaccine passports could be used to "deny individuals access to general services, businesses or jobs". They spoke out after the prime minister on Thursday said the documents would be "useful" adding that "there's definitely going to be a world in which international travel will use vaccine passports". Earlier this week, Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour party, said if virus deaths and hospital admissions fall very low, "the British instinct... will be against vaccine passports". The concept has won support internationally, particularly from countries dependent on tourism such as Greece. The EU has proposed a digital European vaccine pass. The UK has already given more than 31 million people, or more than 45 percent of the population, a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, the second highest proportion in the world, behind Israel. It aims to offer the whole population a first vaccine dose by the end of July. Greece and Cyprus already have vaccination passports specifically for travel to and from Israel, which has fully vaccinated over 55 percent of its population. From next week, Denmark is set to allow people to go to hairdressers and beauty salons if they use a smartphone app showing a negative test, vaccination or recent recovery from the virus.

Britain adds Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan, Philippines to 'red list'

In new research, scientists have found for the first time that disruptions to a particular protein called Akt can lead to the brain changes characteristic of bipolar disorder.The study was conducted by the scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The results offer a foundation for research into treating the often-overlooked cognitive impairments of bipolar disorder, such as memory loss and add to a growing understanding of how the biochemistry of the brain affects health and disease. The Cahill lab and their colleagues at Michigan State University published their findings in Neuron.

Bipolar disorder affects millions of Americans, causing dramatic swings in mood and, in some people, additional effects such as memory problems.

While bipolar disorder is linked to many genes, each one making small contributions to the disease, scientists don`t know just how those genes ultimately give rise to the disorder`s effects.

Akt is a kinase, a type of protein that adds tags of the molecule phosphate to other proteins. These phosphate tags can act as on or off switches, changing how other proteins work, ultimately influencing vital functions.

In neurons, those functions can include how cells signal to one another, which can affect thinking and mood. When the Akt pathway is revved up, a lot of other proteins get phosphate tags. When it`s quieter, those phosphate tags are absent.

The researchers discovered that men with bipolar disorder have reduced activity of this pathway, known at Akt-mTOR, in a brain region crucial for attention and memory. And when the researchers disrupted the pathway in mice, the rodents developed memory problems and crucial brain connections withered away, simulating changes in humans with bipolar disorder.

"This loss of Akt pathway function in people with bipolar disorder is probably contributing to cognitive impairment," said Michael Cahill, a professor of neuroscience in the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, who led the research.

"The idea is that maybe we can target pathways like this one pharmacologically to help alleviate core symptoms of bipolar disorder."

To assess the activity of the Akt pathway, the Cahill lab acquired brain tissue samples from deceased donors who had schizophrenia, bipolar disorder without psychosis, and bipolar disorder with psychosis, as well as healthy donors. The tissue samples came from the prefrontal cortex, known to control high-level functions, which is affected by bipolar disorder and the related disorder schizophrenia.

By measuring the number and variety of phosphate tags on proteins controlled by Akt in the tissue samples, the researchers could get a sense of the overall activity of the Akt-mTOR pathway.

Although they were originally expecting to see the biggest changes in patients with schizophrenia -- which has the strongest genetic links to the Akt gene among the three related disorders -- the researchers found that activity of the Akt-mTOR pathway was diminished in just one group of patients: men with bipolar disorder without psychosis.

"It was very different than we thought, which is kind of a good example of how in science you don`t really know what you`re going to get," aid Cahill.

After seeing this correlation between bipolar disorder and a quieter Akt pathway, Cahill`s group then asked what effect this diminished Akt pathway would have in the brain. To answer that question, they used viruses to deliver broken Akt proteins to the prefrontal cortexes of mice. The broken Akt proteins would override working ones, gumming up the Akt pathway.

In behavioral tests, the mice with gummed up Akt pathways demonstrated memory problems, no longer exploring changes to familiar environments.

Spending a lot of time investigating objects or other features that have changed their location is "their way of telling us that they recognize something is different," said Cahill. "That was impaired when we disrupted the Akt pathway."But mice with less active Akt pathways still showed typical social behaviors, suggesting that the pathway was not responsible for other high-level brain functions.

When the scientists looked in the brains of mice with diminished Akt pathways, they found that the connections that neurons use to interact with other neurons, known as dendritic spines, had withered.

Dendritic spines are like intersections between the roads that information in the brain travels on. "With the number of intersections being reduced, it`s harder to get where you want to go," Cahill said.

That disrupting the Akt pathway in mice seemed to replicate aspects of bipolar disorder that also occur in humans -- memory problems, weaker neuron connections -- provides the first clear link from this gene to the effects of bipolar disorder.

Yet, many questions remain. Women with bipolar disorder did not show the same changes in Akt-mTOR activity as men did. Nor did people with bipolar disorder with psychosis or those with schizophrenia, despite similar genetic links between the Akt pathway and these disorders.

Untangling these differences and fleshing out the path from genes to disease will require much more research. For instance, many other genes contribute to bipolar disorder, and those genes may play a larger role in these groups.

Going forward, Cahill`s lab plans to follow individual circuits in the brain to discover just how the Akt pathway influences memory. That additional research should help unravel some of the enduring riddles surrounding bipolar disorder and how subtle genetic changes can lead to big differences in how people experience the world.

In new research, scientists have found for the first time that disruptions to a particular protein called Akt can lead to the brain changes characteristic of bipolar disorder.

In new research, scientists have found for the first time that disruptions to a particular protein called Akt can lead to the brain changes characteristic of bipolar disorder.The study was conducted by the scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The results offer a foundation for research into treating the often-overlooked cognitive impairments of bipolar disorder, such as memory loss and add to a growing understanding of how the biochemistry of the brain affects health and disease. The Cahill lab and their colleagues at Michigan State University published their findings in Neuron. Bipolar disorder affects millions of Americans, causing dramatic swings in mood and, in some people, additional effects such as memory problems. While bipolar disorder is linked to many genes, each one making small contributions to the disease, scientists don`t know just how those genes ultimately give rise to the disorder`s effects. Akt is a kinase, a type of protein that adds tags of the molecule phosphate to other proteins. These phosphate tags can act as on or off switches, changing how other proteins work, ultimately influencing vital functions. In neurons, those functions can include how cells signal to one another, which can affect thinking and mood. When the Akt pathway is revved up, a lot of other proteins get phosphate tags. When it`s quieter, those phosphate tags are absent. The researchers discovered that men with bipolar disorder have reduced activity of this pathway, known at Akt-mTOR, in a brain region crucial for attention and memory. And when the researchers disrupted the pathway in mice, the rodents developed memory problems and crucial brain connections withered away, simulating changes in humans with bipolar disorder. "This loss of Akt pathway function in people with bipolar disorder is probably contributing to cognitive impairment," said Michael Cahill, a professor of neuroscience in the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, who led the research. "The idea is that maybe we can target pathways like this one pharmacologically to help alleviate core symptoms of bipolar disorder." To assess the activity of the Akt pathway, the Cahill lab acquired brain tissue samples from deceased donors who had schizophrenia, bipolar disorder without psychosis, and bipolar disorder with psychosis, as well as healthy donors. The tissue samples came from the prefrontal cortex, known to control high-level functions, which is affected by bipolar disorder and the related disorder schizophrenia. By measuring the number and variety of phosphate tags on proteins controlled by Akt in the tissue samples, the researchers could get a sense of the overall activity of the Akt-mTOR pathway. Although they were originally expecting to see the biggest changes in patients with schizophrenia -- which has the strongest genetic links to the Akt gene among the three related disorders -- the researchers found that activity of the Akt-mTOR pathway was diminished in just one group of patients: men with bipolar disorder without psychosis. "It was very different than we thought, which is kind of a good example of how in science you don`t really know what you`re going to get," aid Cahill. After seeing this correlation between bipolar disorder and a quieter Akt pathway, Cahill`s group then asked what effect this diminished Akt pathway would have in the brain. To answer that question, they used viruses to deliver broken Akt proteins to the prefrontal cortexes of mice. The broken Akt proteins would override working ones, gumming up the Akt pathway. In behavioral tests, the mice with gummed up Akt pathways demonstrated memory problems, no longer exploring changes to familiar environments. Spending a lot of time investigating objects or other features that have changed their location is "their way of telling us that they recognize something is different," said Cahill. "That was impaired when we disrupted the Akt pathway."But mice with less active Akt pathways still showed typical social behaviors, suggesting that the pathway was not responsible for other high-level brain functions. When the scientists looked in the brains of mice with diminished Akt pathways, they found that the connections that neurons use to interact with other neurons, known as dendritic spines, had withered. Dendritic spines are like intersections between the roads that information in the brain travels on. "With the number of intersections being reduced, it`s harder to get where you want to go," Cahill said. That disrupting the Akt pathway in mice seemed to replicate aspects of bipolar disorder that also occur in humans -- memory problems, weaker neuron connections -- provides the first clear link from this gene to the effects of bipolar disorder. Yet, many questions remain. Women with bipolar disorder did not show the same changes in Akt-mTOR activity as men did. Nor did people with bipolar disorder with psychosis or those with schizophrenia, despite similar genetic links between the Akt pathway and these disorders. Untangling these differences and fleshing out the path from genes to disease will require much more research. For instance, many other genes contribute to bipolar disorder, and those genes may play a larger role in these groups. Going forward, Cahill`s lab plans to follow individual circuits in the brain to discover just how the Akt pathway influences memory. That additional research should help unravel some of the enduring riddles surrounding bipolar disorder and how subtle genetic changes can lead to big differences in how people experience the world.

Scientists detect disruptions in Akt protein can cause bipolar disorder

Saudi&nbsp;Arabia announced Tuesday&nbsp;investments worth&nbsp;oil firm&nbsp;Aramco&nbsp;and petrochemical firm SABIC would lead investments of 5 trillion riyals ($1.3 trillion) by the local private sector by 2030 under a programme announced on Tuesday for economic diversification.

The announcement by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underscores an effort to jumpstart the domestic economy as the top crude exporter battles high youth unemployment and a coronavirus-triggered downturn.

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"The total investment injected... into the national economy is expected to reach 12 trillion riyals ($3.2 trillion) by 2030," Prince Mohammed said in a speech carried by state television.

The move aims to mobilise the Gulf Arab state's private sector to help wean the economy off its reliance on oil exports, which still account for more than half the state's income, and develop new sectors to help create jobs for millions of&nbsp;Saudis.

The total amount would rise to 27 trillion riyals with government spending and domestic consumption.

"The new Shareek (Partner) programme will help the private sector create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and will boost the contribution of the private sector to GDP by up to 65 per cent&nbsp;by the end of the decade," the prince said.

He later told journalists in a virtual briefing that&nbsp;Aramco&nbsp;and&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) would represent 60 per cent&nbsp;of the 5 trillion riyal investment.

Prince Mohammed said the government has asked the biggest participating firms to lower their dividends in order to raise capital spending.

"That will lead to growth of the company so stakeholders will own more money. In exchange the&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;government will help them with regulations, more subsidies and other incentives."

The prince said dividends for those owning shares in&nbsp;Aramco, which listed on the local bourse in 2019, would remain stable.

"We promised them that and we will keep that promise," he said. The&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;government still owns 98 per cent&nbsp;of the firm.

The programme is part of a mammoth 27 trillion-riyal ($7 trillion) investment plan over the next decade, which will include huge government spending to spur the domestic economy, the prince said.

It is designed to "promote the development and diversification of the national economy", the state-run SPA news agency said, adding that it will "strengthen cooperation between public and private sectors".

The crown prince said the government planned to offload its shares in companies in coming years and to IPO projects it is launching.

"We will recycle the money. We shouldn't keep our shares forever. Whatever mature investment we have we have to IPO. So for example if you own 70 per cent&nbsp;of a company, PIF should maintain majority at 30 per cent&nbsp;and sell 40 per cent," he told journalists.

The prince has said that&nbsp;Aramco&nbsp;would sell more shares as part of plans to bolster sovereign wealth fund PIF, the main vehicle for boosting&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;investments at home and abroad.

The prince said on Tuesday that PIF is working with other sovereign wealth funds in the region on a fund called "Invest In&nbsp;Saudi" that would be sized at 500 billion riyals to 1 trillion riyals.

PIF is backing domestic mega-projects such as the flagship tourism project at the Red Sea, planned $500 billion Neom economic zone and the entertainment hub at Qiddya.

Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday investments worth oil firm Aramco and petrochemical firm SABIC would lead investments of 5 trillion riyals ($1.3 trillion) by the local private sector by 2030 under a programme announced on Tuesday for economic diversification.

Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday investments worth oil firm Aramco and petrochemical firm SABIC would lead investments of 5 trillion riyals ($1.3 trillion) by the local private sector by 2030 under a programme announced on Tuesday for economic diversification. The announcement by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underscores an effort to jumpstart the domestic economy as the top crude exporter battles high youth unemployment and a coronavirus-triggered downturn. "The total investment injected... into the national economy is expected to reach 12 trillion riyals ($3.2 trillion) by 2030," Prince Mohammed said in a speech carried by state television. The move aims to mobilise the Gulf Arab state's private sector to help wean the economy off its reliance on oil exports, which still account for more than half the state's income, and develop new sectors to help create jobs for millions of Saudis. The total amount would rise to 27 trillion riyals with government spending and domestic consumption. "The new Shareek (Partner) programme will help the private sector create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and will boost the contribution of the private sector to GDP by up to 65 per cent by the end of the decade," the prince said. He later told journalists in a virtual briefing that Aramco and Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) would represent 60 per cent of the 5 trillion riyal investment. Prince Mohammed said the government has asked the biggest participating firms to lower their dividends in order to raise capital spending. "That will lead to growth of the company so stakeholders will own more money. In exchange the Saudi government will help them with regulations, more subsidies and other incentives." The prince said dividends for those owning shares in Aramco, which listed on the local bourse in 2019, would remain stable. "We promised them that and we will keep that promise," he said. The Saudi government still owns 98 per cent of the firm. The programme is part of a mammoth 27 trillion-riyal ($7 trillion) investment plan over the next decade, which will include huge government spending to spur the domestic economy, the prince said. It is designed to "promote the development and diversification of the national economy", the state-run SPA news agency said, adding that it will "strengthen cooperation between public and private sectors". The crown prince said the government planned to offload its shares in companies in coming years and to IPO projects it is launching. "We will recycle the money. We shouldn't keep our shares forever. Whatever mature investment we have we have to IPO. So for example if you own 70 per cent of a company, PIF should maintain majority at 30 per cent and sell 40 per cent," he told journalists. The prince has said that Aramco would sell more shares as part of plans to bolster sovereign wealth fund PIF, the main vehicle for boosting Saudi investments at home and abroad. The prince said on Tuesday that PIF is working with other sovereign wealth funds in the region on a fund called "Invest In Saudi" that would be sized at 500 billion riyals to 1 trillion riyals. PIF is backing domestic mega-projects such as the flagship tourism project at the Red Sea, planned $500 billion Neom economic zone and the entertainment hub at Qiddya.

Saudi Arabia announces $1.3 trillion investment for economic diversification

India reported 72,330 new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;cases and 459 related deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the union health ministry on Thursday.

With these additional cases, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country reached 1,22,21,665.

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India&nbsp;has so far exported 64 million vaccine doses to 83 countries and administered the same number of doses at home. Its inoculation drive expanded from Thursday to include everyone above the age of 45, which is expected to raise vaccine demand substantially.

India&nbsp;kicked off its inoculation programme in January focused on health workers and then the elderly, saying it wanted to cover the most vulnerable first.

The country has approved two vaccines&nbsp;Covishield by the Serum Institute of India and&nbsp;Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

Over 65.12 million people have been vaccinated in India, including&nbsp;9.33 million people who have received both doses while&nbsp;55.7 million have received a single shot. It aims to inoculate 250 million people by July.

However,&nbsp;half of India's population is below 26.8 years of age.&nbsp;But these people do not qualify for inoculation.&nbsp;

Young people are being infected with the novel virus and they are losing their lives because of it.

India vaccine strategy is discriminating against the youth of the country even though many of them are suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

A survey conducted by an online platform called local circles found that 75 per cent&nbsp;of Indian citizens are in favour of the government&nbsp;opening the vaccination for all above the age of 18.

Currently,&nbsp;only 25.35 per cent&nbsp;of India's population is eligible for vaccination.&nbsp;The age group 45 or above makes up for just 345 million of the total 1.36 billion population.

With school children still at risk and a population&nbsp;that travels, goes to work and socialises the most, this is not the best strategy to achieve herd immunity.

Although India is&nbsp;expanding the vaccination programme, it needs to welcome all adults with co-morbidities&nbsp;and those above 18&nbsp;working in public-facing jobs.

The United Kingdom is inoculating those above 16 who are in high-risk groups.&nbsp;In the United Arab Emirates, everyone above the age of 16 is eligible for vaccination.

India must realise that its young workforce&nbsp;is its backbone and that it needs to rethink its vaccine strategy.

India reported 72,330 new COVID-19 cases and 459 related deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the union health ministry on Thursday. With these additional cases, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country reached 1,22,21,665.

India reported 72,330 new COVID-19 cases and 459 related deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the union health ministry on Thursday. With these additional cases, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country reached 1,22,21,665. India has so far exported 64 million vaccine doses to 83 countries and administered the same number of doses at home. Its inoculation drive expanded from Thursday to include everyone above the age of 45, which is expected to raise vaccine demand substantially. India kicked off its inoculation programme in January focused on health workers and then the elderly, saying it wanted to cover the most vulnerable first. The country has approved two vaccines Covishield by the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Over 65.12 million people have been vaccinated in India, including 9.33 million people who have received both doses while 55.7 million have received a single shot. It aims to inoculate 250 million people by July. However, half of India's population is below 26.8 years of age. But these people do not qualify for inoculation. Young people are being infected with the novel virus and they are losing their lives because of it. India vaccine strategy is discriminating against the youth of the country even though many of them are suffering from life-threatening illnesses. A survey conducted by an online platform called local circles found that 75 per cent of Indian citizens are in favour of the government opening the vaccination for all above the age of 18. Currently, only 25.35 per cent of India's population is eligible for vaccination. The age group 45 or above makes up for just 345 million of the total 1.36 billion population. With school children still at risk and a population that travels, goes to work and socialises the most, this is not the best strategy to achieve herd immunity. Although India is expanding the vaccination programme, it needs to welcome all adults with co-morbidities and those above 18 working in public-facing jobs. The United Kingdom is inoculating those above 16 who are in high-risk groups. In the United Arab Emirates, everyone above the age of 16 is eligible for vaccination. India must realise that its young workforce is its backbone and that it needs to rethink its vaccine strategy.

Why is it time for India to reassess its vaccine strategy

Myanmar's deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been charged with breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, her lawyer said on Thursday, the most serious charge against the veteran opponent of military rule.

Myanmar&nbsp;has been rocked by protests since the army overthrew Suu Kyi's elected government on February&nbsp;1 citing unsubstantiated claims of fraud in a November election that her party swept.

In a new measure to stifle communication about the turmoil, the junta ordered internet service providers to shut down wireless broadband services until further notice, several telecoms sources said.

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Suu Kyi and other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) have been detained since the coup and the junta had earlier accused her of several minor offences including illegally importing six handheld radios and breaching coronavirus protocols.

Her chief lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, told Reuters by telephone that Suu Kyi, three of her deposed cabinet ministers and a detained Australian economic adviser, Sean Turnell, were charged a week ago in a Yangon court under the official secrets law, adding he learned of the new charge two days ago.

A conviction under the law can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

A spokesman for the junta did not answer telephone calls seeking comment.

Suu Kyi, who is 75 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her efforts to bring democracy to&nbsp;Myanmar, appeared via video link for a hearing in connection with the earlier charges on Thursday. Another of her lawyers, Min Min Soe, said she appeared to be in good health.

"Amay Su and President U Win Myint are in good health," the lawyer said, referring to Suu Kyi by an affectionate term for mother. The president, a Suu Kyi ally, was also deposed and detained in the coup. He too faces various charges.

Their lawyers have said the charges against both of them were trumped up.

At least 538 civilians have been killed in protests against the coup, 141 of them on Saturday, the bloodiest day of the unrest, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group.

Protesters were back out in several places on Thursday and two more people were killed, according to media reports, as activists burned copies of a military-framed constitution and called for unity among all those opposed to army rule.

One person was killed and five wounded when the security forces fired in the central town of Monywa, the Monywa Gazette reported.

Security forces also opened fire in the second largest city of Mandalay killing one person, media reported. Shots rang out and black smoke drifted over&nbsp;Myanmar's ancient royal capital.

Police and a spokesman for the military did not answer calls seeking comment.

The suspension of wireless internet connections is likely to cripple communications about the protests in a country where very people few have access to fixed line connections.

'NEW DAY'

The coup has also triggered new clashes in&nbsp;Myanmar's old wars.

At least 20 soldiers were killed and four military trucks destroyed in clashes with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of&nbsp;Myanmar's most powerful rebel groups, DVB news reported.

Reuters could not immediately verify the reports and a junta spokesman did not answers calls seeking comment on the clash.

Myanmar&nbsp;military aircraft have started bombing positions of another group, the Karen National Union (KNU), for the first time in more than 20 years and thousands of villagers have fled from their homes, many into Thailand.

The army takeover has led to calls for a united opposition among city-based democracy campaigners and ethnic minority forces battling in frontier regions.

Ousted members of parliament, mostly from Suu Kyi's party, have vowed to set up a federal democracy in a bid to address a long-standing demand from minority groups for autonomy.

They also announced the scrapping of the 2008 constitution drawn up by the military that enshrines its control over politics. The military has long rejected federalism, seeing itself as the central power holding the fractious country together.

Social media posts showed copies of the constitution, real and symbolic, being burned at rallies and in homes.

"The new day begin here!" Dr Sasa, the international envoy for the ousted parliamentarians said on Twitter, referring to what for now is not a change that proponents can make.

Britain's Next on Thursday joined a growing list of European clothing retailers suspending new production orders with factories in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;in the wake of the coup.

Myanmar's deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been charged with breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, her lawyer said on Thursday, the most serious charge against the veteran opponent of military rule.

Myanmar's deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been charged with breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, her lawyer said on Thursday, the most serious charge against the veteran opponent of military rule. Myanmar has been rocked by protests since the army overthrew Suu Kyi's elected government on February 1 citing unsubstantiated claims of fraud in a November election that her party swept. In a new measure to stifle communication about the turmoil, the junta ordered internet service providers to shut down wireless broadband services until further notice, several telecoms sources said. Suu Kyi and other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) have been detained since the coup and the junta had earlier accused her of several minor offences including illegally importing six handheld radios and breaching coronavirus protocols. Her chief lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, told Reuters by telephone that Suu Kyi, three of her deposed cabinet ministers and a detained Australian economic adviser, Sean Turnell, were charged a week ago in a Yangon court under the official secrets law, adding he learned of the new charge two days ago. A conviction under the law can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years. A spokesman for the junta did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. Suu Kyi, who is 75 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar, appeared via video link for a hearing in connection with the earlier charges on Thursday. Another of her lawyers, Min Min Soe, said she appeared to be in good health. "Amay Su and President U Win Myint are in good health," the lawyer said, referring to Suu Kyi by an affectionate term for mother. The president, a Suu Kyi ally, was also deposed and detained in the coup. He too faces various charges. Their lawyers have said the charges against both of them were trumped up. At least 538 civilians have been killed in protests against the coup, 141 of them on Saturday, the bloodiest day of the unrest, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group. Protesters were back out in several places on Thursday and two more people were killed, according to media reports, as activists burned copies of a military-framed constitution and called for unity among all those opposed to army rule. One person was killed and five wounded when the security forces fired in the central town of Monywa, the Monywa Gazette reported. Security forces also opened fire in the second largest city of Mandalay killing one person, media reported. Shots rang out and black smoke drifted over Myanmar's ancient royal capital. Police and a spokesman for the military did not answer calls seeking comment. The suspension of wireless internet connections is likely to cripple communications about the protests in a country where very people few have access to fixed line connections. 'NEW DAY' The coup has also triggered new clashes in Myanmar's old wars. At least 20 soldiers were killed and four military trucks destroyed in clashes with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of Myanmar's most powerful rebel groups, DVB news reported. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports and a junta spokesman did not answers calls seeking comment on the clash. Myanmar military aircraft have started bombing positions of another group, the Karen National Union (KNU), for the first time in more than 20 years and thousands of villagers have fled from their homes, many into Thailand. The army takeover has led to calls for a united opposition among city-based democracy campaigners and ethnic minority forces battling in frontier regions. Ousted members of parliament, mostly from Suu Kyi's party, have vowed to set up a federal democracy in a bid to address a long-standing demand from minority groups for autonomy. They also announced the scrapping of the 2008 constitution drawn up by the military that enshrines its control over politics. The military has long rejected federalism, seeing itself as the central power holding the fractious country together. Social media posts showed copies of the constitution, real and symbolic, being burned at rallies and in homes. "The new day begin here!" Dr Sasa, the international envoy for the ousted parliamentarians said on Twitter, referring to what for now is not a change that proponents can make. Britain's Next on Thursday joined a growing list of European clothing retailers suspending new production orders with factories in Myanmar in the wake of the coup.

Suu Kyi faces new charge under Myanmar's secrets act; wireless internet suspended

From Thailand to India, countries have told people not to make&nbsp;April&nbsp;Fools' Day pranks related to coronavirus, with some threatening jail time as they seek to prevent the spread of rumours which could put lives at risk.

Tech giant Google, which is famous for its annual spoofs, has cancelled the tradition because of the pandemic which has killed&nbsp;at least 2,816,908 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/no-volkswagen-is-not-changing-its-name-to-voltswagen-of-america-374400">No, Volkswagen is not changing its name to 'Voltswagen of America'</a>

The exact origin of&nbsp;April&nbsp;Fools' Day is not clear. Some speculate that it began from&nbsp;Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, while&nbsp;historians believe it began in&nbsp;France in 1564.

However, few scholars&nbsp;disagree with both and say that it dates back to&nbsp;the 1600s.

In France, the day is called the 'Poisson d'avril', which literally means ''April fish.''&nbsp;The customary prank involves pinning a paper fish on people's back.

In Brazil, the day is called 'Dia da Mentira', meaning ''lie day.''

In Scotland, April fools' day continues into April 2 when&nbsp;it becomes the 'tailie day,' on which&nbsp;people&nbsp;stick a paper tail to their friends' back that reads ''kick me.''

Every year, brands come up with an innovative way to prank people...

German automaker Volkswagen AG's US&nbsp;unit issued a false news release on Tuesday&nbsp;claiming it would rename its US&nbsp;operations as "Voltswagen of America" in a marketing stunt designed to call attention to its electric vehicle efforts, the company said on Tuesday.

A company launched a beer-flavour pizza only to later clarify in a tweet that it was an April Fools' joke.

''Scary how many of you actually wanted to try these yesterday'', the tweet read.

An Indian app-based cab service- announced the world's fully electric flying car. People went berserk before they were told that it was a prank.

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Excited to unveil the world’s first and only fully autonomous electric flying car. The Ola AirPro. Ab har family bharegi udaan. Test flights now at <a href="https://t.co/UbwKCwikg1">https://t.co/UbwKCwikg1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlaAirPro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlaAirPro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheFutureIsHere?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheFutureIsHere</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Olacabs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olacabs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OlaElectric?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OlaElectric</a> <a href="https://t.co/dy31ZS8FQ8">pic.twitter.com/dy31ZS8FQ8</a>
— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) <a href="https://twitter.com/bhash/status/1377512970196971524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Our new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlarmAtHome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlarmAtHome</a> service for those who take their sleeping a little more seriously! 😴 
Wherever you are, we promise we’ll wake you up to a great day! 
Toh apne time ka karo sahi use, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UrbanCompany?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UrbanCompany</a> karo choose! 
Don't forget to use the promo code "AbTohUthJa" for 50% off! 😎 <a href="https://t.co/n2RSNdFMLO">pic.twitter.com/n2RSNdFMLO</a>
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An e-commerce company said&nbsp;it had begun accepting bitcoin as payment, while another&nbsp;brand launched an app-controlled nanotech hair colour as part of April Fool's Day.

It is funny how people fall for it every year. Although this year-- was a special case. Most of the people&nbsp;are barely managing to keep a tab on the date and the day-- courtesy of school closures, work from home, and the coronavirus.

From Thailand to India, countries have told people not to make April Fools' Day pranks related to coronavirus, with some threatening jail time as they seek to prevent the spread of rumours which could put lives at risk.

From Thailand to India, countries have told people not to make April Fools' Day pranks related to coronavirus, with some threatening jail time as they seek to prevent the spread of rumours which could put lives at risk. Tech giant Google, which is famous for its annual spoofs, has cancelled the tradition because of the pandemic which has killed at least 2,816,908 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019. Also read| No, Volkswagen is not changing its name to 'Voltswagen of America' The exact origin of April Fools' Day is not clear. Some speculate that it began from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, while historians believe it began in France in 1564. However, few scholars disagree with both and say that it dates back to the 1600s. In France, the day is called the 'Poisson d'avril', which literally means ''April fish.'' The customary prank involves pinning a paper fish on people's back. In Brazil, the day is called 'Dia da Mentira', meaning ''lie day.'' In Scotland, April fools' day continues into April 2 when it becomes the 'tailie day,' on which people stick a paper tail to their friends' back that reads ''kick me.'' Every year, brands come up with an innovative way to prank people... German automaker Volkswagen AG's US unit issued a false news release on Tuesday claiming it would rename its US operations as "Voltswagen of America" in a marketing stunt designed to call attention to its electric vehicle efforts, the company said on Tuesday. A company launched a beer-flavour pizza only to later clarify in a tweet that it was an April Fools' joke. ''Scary how many of you actually wanted to try these yesterday'', the tweet read. An Indian app-based cab service- announced the world's fully electric flying car. People went berserk before they were told that it was a prank. Excited to unveil the world’s first and only fully autonomous electric flying car. The Ola AirPro. Ab har family bharegi udaan. Test flights now at https://t.co/UbwKCwikg1 #OlaAirPro #TheFutureIsHere @Olacabs @OlaElectric pic.twitter.com/dy31ZS8FQ8 — Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) April 1, 2021 × Our new #AlarmAtHome service for those who take their sleeping a little more seriously! 😴 Wherever you are, we promise we’ll wake you up to a great day! Toh apne time ka karo sahi use, #UrbanCompany karo choose! Don't forget to use the promo code "AbTohUthJa" for 50% off! 😎 pic.twitter.com/n2RSNdFMLO — Urban Company (@urbancompany_UC) April 1, 2021 × An e-commerce company said it had begun accepting bitcoin as payment, while another brand launched an app-controlled nanotech hair colour as part of April Fool's Day. It is funny how people fall for it every year. Although this year-- was a special case. Most of the people are barely managing to keep a tab on the date and the day-- courtesy of school closures, work from home, and the coronavirus.

April Fool's Day: History, significance and why is it celebrated

The finance ministry on Thursday issued a formal order for withdrawal of the cut in interest rates on small savings schemes and restored the old rates.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will rollback the steep interest rate cut on small savings schemes.

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It has been decided that the rate of interest on various small savings schemes for the first quarter of 2021-22 starting from April 1 and ending on June 30, 2021 shall remain unchanged from those notified for the fourth quarter January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021 of 2020-21, as per an office memorandum.

"This has the approval of competent authority," it said.

"Interest rates of small savings schemes of GoI shall continue to be at the rates which existed in the last quarter of 2020-2021, ie. Rates that prevailed as of March 2021. Orders issued by oversight shall be withdrawn," Sitharaman had said in an early morning tweet.

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Interest rates of small savings schemes of GoI shall continue to be at the rates which existed in the last quarter of 2020-2021, ie, rates that prevailed as of March 2021. 
Orders issued by oversight shall be withdrawn. <a href="https://twitter.com/FinMinIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FinMinIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PIB_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PIB_India</a>
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) <a href="https://twitter.com/nsitharaman/status/1377446641356087297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On Wednesday, the ministry had reduced interest rate on Public Provident Fund (PPF) by 0.7 per cent to 6.4 per cent while National Savings Certificate (NSC) slashed by 0.9 per cent to 5.9 per cent for the first quarter of the current fiscal.

As old rates have been restored, PPF and NSC will continue to earn an annual interest rate of 7.1 per cent and 6.8 per cent, respectively.

Rate cuts on other small savings schemes have also been withdrawn.&nbsp;

The finance ministry on Thursday issued a formal order for withdrawal of the cut in interest rates on small savings schemes and restored the old rates. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will rollback the steep interest rate cut on small savings schemes.

The finance ministry on Thursday issued a formal order for withdrawal of the cut in interest rates on small savings schemes and restored the old rates. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will rollback the steep interest rate cut on small savings schemes. It has been decided that the rate of interest on various small savings schemes for the first quarter of 2021-22 starting from April 1 and ending on June 30, 2021 shall remain unchanged from those notified for the fourth quarter January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021 of 2020-21, as per an office memorandum. "This has the approval of competent authority," it said. "Interest rates of small savings schemes of GoI shall continue to be at the rates which existed in the last quarter of 2020-2021, ie. Rates that prevailed as of March 2021. Orders issued by oversight shall be withdrawn," Sitharaman had said in an early morning tweet. Interest rates of small savings schemes of GoI shall continue to be at the rates which existed in the last quarter of 2020-2021, ie, rates that prevailed as of March 2021. Orders issued by oversight shall be withdrawn. @FinMinIndia @PIB_India — Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) April 1, 2021 × On Wednesday, the ministry had reduced interest rate on Public Provident Fund (PPF) by 0.7 per cent to 6.4 per cent while National Savings Certificate (NSC) slashed by 0.9 per cent to 5.9 per cent for the first quarter of the current fiscal. As old rates have been restored, PPF and NSC will continue to earn an annual interest rate of 7.1 per cent and 6.8 per cent, respectively. Rate cuts on other small savings schemes have also been withdrawn.

Government cites oversight, withdraws order to cut interest rates on small savings schemes

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday&nbsp;accused the United States of seeking to spread what he called "a cultural revolution" around the world.

In an interview with political scientists broadcast on national television, Moscow's top diplomat said&nbsp;"they have colossal possibilities for it.''

"Hollywood is now also changing its rules so that everything reflects the diversity of modern society," he said, calling that "a form of censorship."

"I've seen Black people play in Shakespeare's comedies. Only I don't know when there will be a white Othello," Lavrov said.

"You see this is absurd. Political correctness taken to the point of absurdity will not end well."

Lavrov warned that anti-white racism might be building in the United States and said that political correctness "taken to the extreme" would have lamentable consequences.

Calling Russia a supporter of&nbsp;the worldwide trend, Lavrov said that "everyone wants to get rid of racism".

"We were pioneers of the movement promoting equal rights of people of any skin colour," he said.

But Lavrov stressed it was important "not to switch to the other extreme which we saw during the 'BLM' (Black Lives Matter) events and the aggression against white people, white US citizens."

Founded in the United States in 2013, Black Lives Matter is a movement that became a rallying cry after the killing by US police of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, last May.

The movement has led to a major debate about race, rights of people of colour and the toppling of statues of figures linked to slavery or colonisation in countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday accused the United States of seeking to spread what he called "a cultural revolution" around the world. In an interview with political scientists broadcast on national television, Moscow's top diplomat said "they have colossal possibilities for it.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday accused the United States of seeking to spread what he called "a cultural revolution" around the world. In an interview with political scientists broadcast on national television, Moscow's top diplomat said "they have colossal possibilities for it.'' "Hollywood is now also changing its rules so that everything reflects the diversity of modern society," he said, calling that "a form of censorship." "I've seen Black people play in Shakespeare's comedies. Only I don't know when there will be a white Othello," Lavrov said. "You see this is absurd. Political correctness taken to the point of absurdity will not end well." Lavrov warned that anti-white racism might be building in the United States and said that political correctness "taken to the extreme" would have lamentable consequences. Calling Russia a supporter of the worldwide trend, Lavrov said that "everyone wants to get rid of racism". "We were pioneers of the movement promoting equal rights of people of any skin colour," he said. But Lavrov stressed it was important "not to switch to the other extreme which we saw during the 'BLM' (Black Lives Matter) events and the aggression against white people, white US citizens." Founded in the United States in 2013, Black Lives Matter is a movement that became a rallying cry after the killing by US police of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, last May. The movement has led to a major debate about race, rights of people of colour and the toppling of statues of figures linked to slavery or colonisation in countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Russia accuses US of seeking to spread 'cultural revolution' worldwide

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More than 8,100 people have reached safety outside the northern Mozambican town of Palma a week after it was besieged by jihadists, the UN said Wednesday, as thousands others remained stranded.

Armed militants raided the coastal town on March 24, ransacking buildings and beheading residents as thousands fled into surrounding forest.

Dozens have been killed and many more are still missing in a coordinated attack seen as the biggest escalation of an Islamist insurgency that has battered Cabo Delgado province since 2017.

"Many more people remain displaced inside of Palma, including thousands who have reportedly gathered near the Afungi complex, where the security situation remains volatile," the UN agency for humanitarian assistance OCHA said.&nbsp;

Up to 10,000 are estimated to be around the Afungi peninsula gas site, according to sources involved.&nbsp;

The fighting had already displaced nearly 700,000 people in the gas-rich province, more than 43,000 of which were staying in Palma before the attack.

Hundreds more were still seeking to leave Palma, while thousands were making their way out by foot, boat and road, the UN said.

Palma is around 10 kilometres (six miles) away from a multi-billion-dollar liquified natural gas (LNG) project led by French firm Total and involving other international companies.

But President Filipe Nyusi on Wednesday downplayed the latest attack as "not the biggest", despite its unprecedented proximity to Africa's single biggest investment project.

"Let us not lose focus, let us not be disturbed," Nyusi told reporters at an event in the capital Maputo.

The army said it had sent more troops to Palma in a bid to recapture the town, with local TV showing soldiers deploying.

"We are still disembarking troops. We have not declared the end of our intervention," mission commander Chongo Vidigal said.

Regional bloc the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held emergency talks in Harare to discuss the violence. &nbsp;

Total had already suspended operations and evacuated some staff in late December after jihadists launched a series of raids near its compound.

It had just announced plans to progressively resume work hours before the militants attacked Palma.

'In shock'&nbsp;

Most displaced residents arrived at the LNG site on the Afungi peninsula hungry, dehydrated and "in shock" after hiding in the bush for days, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

Some bore life-threatening injuries, MSF emergency coordinator Sylvie Kaczmarczyk said.

"We have cared for one baby with a bullet wound," she said.

Pregnant women were arriving in "terrible condition", she added, while others clutched newly-born babies delivered in the bush.

The most vulnerable escapees, including unaccompanied and injured children, have been flown into the city by the UN. Nearly half of the 8,166 registered displaced are children, the UN said.

Hundreds of others used their own means, streaming into surrounding districts on fishing boats, buses and on foot.&nbsp;

Outside the port of Pemba, residents with family in Palma anxiously scoured incoming survivors for familiar faces.

They milled around the port's barbed-wire walls and sat against nearby buildings.

"We don't know if our relatives are on the boats that are coming or not, but we are here, we are not losing hope," Muza Momadi told AFP as she waited for her mother and brother.

"The number of people displaced... will continue to increase over the coming days," said the UN Refugee agency's Margarida Loureiro in Pemba, adding some are reportedly trying to cross the border into Tanzania.

&nbsp;Waiting for relatives

So far the "flow of arrivals is constant but not massive," said an unnamed aid agency official coordinating humanitarian assistance in Nandage and Mueda, respectively over 50 and 150 kilometres (30-90 miles) from Palma.

Helicopters carrying humanitarian personnel landed at Pemba airport, alongside a small plane flying troops back from Palma, said an AFP photographer at the scene.

One soldier leaned on a stick as he limped barefoot across the tarmac, trouser leg rolled up above the knee.

The government has not yet disclosed military casualties.

Cabo Delgado's jihadists have wreaked havoc across the province in a bid to establish a caliphate.

The insurgents are affiliated to the Islamic State group, which claimed the attack on Palma this week.

Their bloody campaign has claimed at least 2,600 lives, half of them civilians -- a figure expected to rise significantly following the latest assault.

More than 8,100 people have reached safety outside the northern Mozambican town of Palma a week after it was besieged by jihadists, the UN said Wednesday, as thousands others remained stranded.

More than 8,100 people have reached safety outside the northern Mozambican town of Palma a week after it was besieged by jihadists, the UN said Wednesday, as thousands others remained stranded. Armed militants raided the coastal town on March 24, ransacking buildings and beheading residents as thousands fled into surrounding forest. Dozens have been killed and many more are still missing in a coordinated attack seen as the biggest escalation of an Islamist insurgency that has battered Cabo Delgado province since 2017. "Many more people remain displaced inside of Palma, including thousands who have reportedly gathered near the Afungi complex, where the security situation remains volatile," the UN agency for humanitarian assistance OCHA said. Up to 10,000 are estimated to be around the Afungi peninsula gas site, according to sources involved. The fighting had already displaced nearly 700,000 people in the gas-rich province, more than 43,000 of which were staying in Palma before the attack. Hundreds more were still seeking to leave Palma, while thousands were making their way out by foot, boat and road, the UN said. Palma is around 10 kilometres (six miles) away from a multi-billion-dollar liquified natural gas (LNG) project led by French firm Total and involving other international companies. But President Filipe Nyusi on Wednesday downplayed the latest attack as "not the biggest", despite its unprecedented proximity to Africa's single biggest investment project. "Let us not lose focus, let us not be disturbed," Nyusi told reporters at an event in the capital Maputo. The army said it had sent more troops to Palma in a bid to recapture the town, with local TV showing soldiers deploying. "We are still disembarking troops. We have not declared the end of our intervention," mission commander Chongo Vidigal said. Regional bloc the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held emergency talks in Harare to discuss the violence. Total had already suspended operations and evacuated some staff in late December after jihadists launched a series of raids near its compound. It had just announced plans to progressively resume work hours before the militants attacked Palma. 'In shock' Most displaced residents arrived at the LNG site on the Afungi peninsula hungry, dehydrated and "in shock" after hiding in the bush for days, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Some bore life-threatening injuries, MSF emergency coordinator Sylvie Kaczmarczyk said. "We have cared for one baby with a bullet wound," she said. Pregnant women were arriving in "terrible condition", she added, while others clutched newly-born babies delivered in the bush. The most vulnerable escapees, including unaccompanied and injured children, have been flown into the city by the UN. Nearly half of the 8,166 registered displaced are children, the UN said. Hundreds of others used their own means, streaming into surrounding districts on fishing boats, buses and on foot. Outside the port of Pemba, residents with family in Palma anxiously scoured incoming survivors for familiar faces. They milled around the port's barbed-wire walls and sat against nearby buildings. "We don't know if our relatives are on the boats that are coming or not, but we are here, we are not losing hope," Muza Momadi told AFP as she waited for her mother and brother. "The number of people displaced... will continue to increase over the coming days," said the UN Refugee agency's Margarida Loureiro in Pemba, adding some are reportedly trying to cross the border into Tanzania. Waiting for relatives So far the "flow of arrivals is constant but not massive," said an unnamed aid agency official coordinating humanitarian assistance in Nandage and Mueda, respectively over 50 and 150 kilometres (30-90 miles) from Palma. Helicopters carrying humanitarian personnel landed at Pemba airport, alongside a small plane flying troops back from Palma, said an AFP photographer at the scene. One soldier leaned on a stick as he limped barefoot across the tarmac, trouser leg rolled up above the knee. The government has not yet disclosed military casualties. Cabo Delgado's jihadists have wreaked havoc across the province in a bid to establish a caliphate. The insurgents are affiliated to the Islamic State group, which claimed the attack on Palma this week. Their bloody campaign has claimed at least 2,600 lives, half of them civilians -- a figure expected to rise significantly following the latest assault.

Over 8,000 Mozambique attack survivors find refuge: UN

Astronomers have discovered a previously&nbsp;unknown ancient crater lake on Mars, in a recent study.

In a study published in Planetary Science Journal, a team led by researchers from Brown University in the US describe an as-yet to be unnamed crater with some puzzling characteristics. 
 
The crater's floor has unmistakable geologic evidence of ancient stream beds and ponds, yet there's no evidence of inlet channels where water could have entered the crater from outside, and no evidence of groundwater activity where it could have bubbled up from below.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-glaciers-give-insights-on-the-planets-many-ice-ages-358330">Mars' glaciers give insights on the planet's many ice ages</a>

The researchers conclude that the system was likely fed by runoff from a long-lost Martian glacier. 
 
Water flowed into the crater atop the glacier, which meant it did not leave behind a valley as it would have had it flowed directly on the ground. 
 
The water eventually emptied into the low-lying crater floor, where it left its geological mark on the bare Martian soil. 
 
The type of lake described in this study differs starkly from other Martian crater lakes, like those at Gale and Jezero craters where NASA rovers are currently exploring. 
 
"This is a previously unrecognized type of hydrological system on Mars," said Ben Boatwright, PhD student at Brown University. 
 
"In lake systems characterised so far, we see evidence of drainage coming from outside the crater, breaching the crater wall and in some cases flowing out the other side. But that`s not what is happening here. Everything is happening inside the crater, and that`s very different than what`s been characterised before." 
 
Importantly, Boatwright said, the crater provides key clues about the early climate of Mars. There`s little doubt that the Martian climate was once warmer and wetter than the frozen desert the planet is today. 
 
What`s less clear, however, is whether Mars had an Earthlike climate with continually flowing water for millennia, or whether it was mostly cold and icy with fleeting periods of warmth and melting. 
 
Climate simulations for early Mars suggest temperatures rarely peaking above freezing, but geological evidence for cold and icy conditions has been sparse, Boatwright said. This new evidence of ancient glaciation could change that. 
 
"The cold and icy scenario has been largely theoretical -- something that arises from climate models," Boatwright said. 
 
"But the evidence for glaciation we see here helps to bridge the gap between theory and observation. I think that's really the big takeaway here." 
 
Boatwright was able to map out the details of the crater`s lake system using high-resolution images taken by NASA`s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Astronomers have discovered a previously unknown ancient crater lake on Mars, in a recent study. In a study published in Planetary Science Journal, a team led by researchers from Brown University in the US describe an as-yet to be unnamed crater with some puzzling characteristics.

Astronomers have discovered a previously unknown ancient crater lake on Mars, in a recent study. In a study published in Planetary Science Journal, a team led by researchers from Brown University in the US describe an as-yet to be unnamed crater with some puzzling characteristics. The crater's floor has unmistakable geologic evidence of ancient stream beds and ponds, yet there's no evidence of inlet channels where water could have entered the crater from outside, and no evidence of groundwater activity where it could have bubbled up from below. Also read| Mars' glaciers give insights on the planet's many ice ages The researchers conclude that the system was likely fed by runoff from a long-lost Martian glacier. Water flowed into the crater atop the glacier, which meant it did not leave behind a valley as it would have had it flowed directly on the ground. The water eventually emptied into the low-lying crater floor, where it left its geological mark on the bare Martian soil. The type of lake described in this study differs starkly from other Martian crater lakes, like those at Gale and Jezero craters where NASA rovers are currently exploring. "This is a previously unrecognized type of hydrological system on Mars," said Ben Boatwright, PhD student at Brown University. "In lake systems characterised so far, we see evidence of drainage coming from outside the crater, breaching the crater wall and in some cases flowing out the other side. But that`s not what is happening here. Everything is happening inside the crater, and that`s very different than what`s been characterised before." Importantly, Boatwright said, the crater provides key clues about the early climate of Mars. There`s little doubt that the Martian climate was once warmer and wetter than the frozen desert the planet is today. What`s less clear, however, is whether Mars had an Earthlike climate with continually flowing water for millennia, or whether it was mostly cold and icy with fleeting periods of warmth and melting. Climate simulations for early Mars suggest temperatures rarely peaking above freezing, but geological evidence for cold and icy conditions has been sparse, Boatwright said. This new evidence of ancient glaciation could change that. "The cold and icy scenario has been largely theoretical -- something that arises from climate models," Boatwright said. "But the evidence for glaciation we see here helps to bridge the gap between theory and observation. I think that's really the big takeaway here." Boatwright was able to map out the details of the crater`s lake system using high-resolution images taken by NASA`s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Astronomers discover previously unknown ancient crater lake on Mars

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