Nightclubs in&nbsp;COVID-19's original epicentre Wuhan have reopened&nbsp;as partying remains a distant dream for rest of the world.

Nightlife in Wuhan is back in full swing almost seven months after the city lifted its stringent lockdown and the city’s young partygoers are embracing the catharsis.

In scenes unimaginable in many cities around the world reeling under a resurgence of the pandemic, young Wuhan residents during a recent night out crowd-surfed ate street food and packed the city’s nightclubs as they looked to make up for the lost time.

The revival of the city’s hard-hit nightlife economy offers a glimpse into a post-pandemic lifestyle that many hope will become a reality in 2021, after the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-wuhan-water-park-party-now-beijing-says-face-masks-not-mandatory-in-public-spaces-322235">After Wuhan water park party, now Beijing says face masks not mandatory in public spaces</a>

In a crowded Wuhan beer hall, Zhang Qiong wipes birthday cake from her face after a food fight with her friends.

“After experiencing the first wave of epidemic in Wuhan and then the liberation, I feel like I’m living a second life,” says Zhang, 29, who works in a textiles shop in the central Chinese city that was the original epicentre of COVID-19.

Outside, maskless partygoers spill onto the streets, smoking and playing street games with toy machine guns and balloons.

Wuhan hasn’t reported a new locally transmitted case of the disease since May 10, after undergoing one of the strictest lockdowns worldwide.

The city of 11 million was shut off from the rest of China in a surprise overnight lockdown beginning January 23, with roadblocks erected and planes, trains and buses barred from entering the city. Almost 3,900 of China’s 4,634 recorded COVID-19 deaths occurred in the industrial city.

Students, musicians, artists and young workers, the backbone of the city’s nightlife scene,&nbsp;told stories of being stuck in their homes for months, many using the opportunity to prepare for a time when the city would recover.

“Some of my new music will definitely be about the pandemic time,” said Wang Xinghao, frontman of Wuhan pop-rock band Mad Rat, which drew a crowd of over 100 people to a local venue on a recent Wednesday night.

Wang flailed and jumped on stage, pulling crowd-surfing fans on stage, and at one point, tossed his faux leopard skin coat into the screaming audience.

He said one of the new songs was inspired by the three months he spent living in close quarters with his mother.

Many said the end of the lockdown has inspired larger turnouts.

“During the epidemic time, Wuhan was really a dead city,” said rock music enthusiast Yi Yi after the show. “Now people are all coming out to eat and have fun. I don’t think there were as many people before the epidemic.”

Despite the thriving night scene, Wuhan business and restaurant owners say it could still be some time before the surge in turnover makes up for massive losses during the lockdown.

But for patrons now flooding Wuhan’s nocturnal hotspots, the message is more straightforward.

“I just really want to cherish this time, because in life you never know when it will end,” said Zhang in the Wuhan beer hall. “Make every happy day count.”

Nightclubs in COVID-19's original epicentre Wuhan have reopened as partying remains a distant dream for rest of the world. Nightlife in Wuhan is back in full swing almost seven months after the city lifted its stringent lockdown and the city’s young partygoers are embracing the catharsis.

Nightclubs in COVID-19's original epicentre Wuhan have reopened as partying remains a distant dream for rest of the world. Nightlife in Wuhan is back in full swing almost seven months after the city lifted its stringent lockdown and the city’s young partygoers are embracing the catharsis. In scenes unimaginable in many cities around the world reeling under a resurgence of the pandemic, young Wuhan residents during a recent night out crowd-surfed ate street food and packed the city’s nightclubs as they looked to make up for the lost time. The revival of the city’s hard-hit nightlife economy offers a glimpse into a post-pandemic lifestyle that many hope will become a reality in 2021, after the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Also read: After Wuhan water park party, now Beijing says face masks not mandatory in public spaces In a crowded Wuhan beer hall, Zhang Qiong wipes birthday cake from her face after a food fight with her friends. “After experiencing the first wave of epidemic in Wuhan and then the liberation, I feel like I’m living a second life,” says Zhang, 29, who works in a textiles shop in the central Chinese city that was the original epicentre of COVID-19. Outside, maskless partygoers spill onto the streets, smoking and playing street games with toy machine guns and balloons. Wuhan hasn’t reported a new locally transmitted case of the disease since May 10, after undergoing one of the strictest lockdowns worldwide. The city of 11 million was shut off from the rest of China in a surprise overnight lockdown beginning January 23, with roadblocks erected and planes, trains and buses barred from entering the city. Almost 3,900 of China’s 4,634 recorded COVID-19 deaths occurred in the industrial city. Students, musicians, artists and young workers, the backbone of the city’s nightlife scene, told stories of being stuck in their homes for months, many using the opportunity to prepare for a time when the city would recover. “Some of my new music will definitely be about the pandemic time,” said Wang Xinghao, frontman of Wuhan pop-rock band Mad Rat, which drew a crowd of over 100 people to a local venue on a recent Wednesday night. Wang flailed and jumped on stage, pulling crowd-surfing fans on stage, and at one point, tossed his faux leopard skin coat into the screaming audience. He said one of the new songs was inspired by the three months he spent living in close quarters with his mother. Many said the end of the lockdown has inspired larger turnouts. “During the epidemic time, Wuhan was really a dead city,” said rock music enthusiast Yi Yi after the show. “Now people are all coming out to eat and have fun. I don’t think there were as many people before the epidemic.” Despite the thriving night scene, Wuhan business and restaurant owners say it could still be some time before the surge in turnover makes up for massive losses during the lockdown. But for patrons now flooding Wuhan’s nocturnal hotspots, the message is more straightforward. “I just really want to cherish this time, because in life you never know when it will end,” said Zhang in the Wuhan beer hall. “Make every happy day count.”

Nightclubs reopen in COVID-19's original epicentre Wuhan

Japan’s worst bird flu outbreak on record spread to new farms this week and has been found in around a quarter of the country’s 47 prefectures, with officials ordering more cullings.

About 32,000 birds will be slaughtered and buried in Sukumo city in Kochi prefecture in southwestern Japan after avian influenza was discovered at an egg farm, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.

More infected birds were found on two farms in Kagawa prefecture, where the poultry epidemic emerged last month, with nearly 30,000 birds being slaughtered there, the ministry said.

The bird flu outbreak has hit 12 prefectures across Japan and a record 3 million birds have been culled to date.

While the ministry said it is not possible for people to catch avian influenza from eating the eggs or meat of infected chickens, health officials around the world are concerned about the virus strain making a “species jump” to humans and causing a pandemic like the novel coronavirus.

The outbreak in Japan and neighbouring South Korea is one of two separate highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemics hitting poultry around the world, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and Japanese officials.

Both the strain circulating in Asia and one spreading rapidly in Europe originated in wild birds, they said.

Japan has an egg-laying flock of about 185 million hens and a broiler population of 138 million, according to the ministry of agriculture.

Farms in Japan were earlier ordered to disinfect facilities and check hygiene regimes, as well as to ensure that nets to keep out wild birds are installed properly.

Japan’s worst bird flu outbreak on record spread to new farms this week and has been found in around a quarter of the country’s 47 prefectures, with officials ordering more cullings.

Japan’s worst bird flu outbreak on record spread to new farms this week and has been found in around a quarter of the country’s 47 prefectures, with officials ordering more cullings. About 32,000 birds will be slaughtered and buried in Sukumo city in Kochi prefecture in southwestern Japan after avian influenza was discovered at an egg farm, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday. More infected birds were found on two farms in Kagawa prefecture, where the poultry epidemic emerged last month, with nearly 30,000 birds being slaughtered there, the ministry said. The bird flu outbreak has hit 12 prefectures across Japan and a record 3 million birds have been culled to date. While the ministry said it is not possible for people to catch avian influenza from eating the eggs or meat of infected chickens, health officials around the world are concerned about the virus strain making a “species jump” to humans and causing a pandemic like the novel coronavirus. The outbreak in Japan and neighbouring South Korea is one of two separate highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemics hitting poultry around the world, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and Japanese officials. Both the strain circulating in Asia and one spreading rapidly in Europe originated in wild birds, they said. Japan has an egg-laying flock of about 185 million hens and a broiler population of 138 million, according to the ministry of agriculture. Farms in Japan were earlier ordered to disinfect facilities and check hygiene regimes, as well as to ensure that nets to keep out wild birds are installed properly.

Bird flu spreads to one-fourth of Japan's prefectures

If you've eaten sushi, you might assume you've tried wasabi. But chances are it was an artificial version that Japanese growers say is a world away from their 'green gold'.

Unlike the spicy neon concoction familiar to many fans of Japanese cuisine, which is in fact made from horseradish, real wasabi is pale-green and offers a complex, mildly piquant flavour.

In Japan, wasabi is difficult to grow because of its&nbsp;knobbly root which is extremely difficult to grow,&nbsp;and consequently expensive to buy, with most of it snapped up by wholesalers.&nbsp;

According to 62-year-old Yoshihiro Shioya,&nbsp;a Japanese farmer,&nbsp;"The most important requirement is crystal-clear water, in abundance."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wasabi-served-at-most-sushi-restaurants-is-actually-horseradish-350280" hreflang="en">Wasabi served at most sushi restaurants is actually horseradish</a>

"It's absolutely necessary that the water temperature stays between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius, year-round," added Shioya, whose family has cultivated wasabi in the region for seven generations.

Patience is key -- each wasabi crop can take a whole year or even 18 months to mature in the large man-made terraces, which serve a particular design purpose.

"The water flows down from the top of the mountain, which has terraces built into it covered with layers of pebbles and sand that filter and purify it," explained Yasuaki Kohari, of Izu's agricultural cooperative.

Once ready, the long roots, topped with a plume of round green leaves, are harvested by hand. The leaves are stripped off and the root, known as a rhizome, is carried away in baskets.

About half of the 550 tonnes of fresh wasabi grown in Japan last year came from Shizuoka, southwest of the capital Tokyo.

Wasabi grows naturally there and has been used in local cuisine for centuries.

Legend has it that it was especially loved and popularised by 17th-century shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, a military ruler who was one of the unifiers of Japan.

These days it is mostly purchased by high-end restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka.

'Spicy, but with sweet notes'

Wasabi is prepared by grating the root, usually on a small square device with fine metal teeth or topped with coarse sharkskin -- a process done almost immediately before consumption, as its piquancy fades after about 20 minutes.

Its spiciness is produced by a chemical called allyl isothiocyanate, which also gives mustard, radish, and horseradish their pungency, and which scientists say has antibacterial properties.

It is usually served as a complement to raw fish, or alongside buckwheat soba noodles.

Toshiya Matsushita, a sushi chef at a restaurant in central Tokyo with a month-long waiting list, would never dream of using imitation wasabi.

"It feels powdery in your mouth and doesn't have much flavour," he said.

"Fresh wasabi not only masks the smell of the raw fish but also heightens its flavour. It is spicy, but with sweet notes."

But it doesn't come cheap. He spends more than $700 a month on wasabi and uses one whole root a day, which he grates freshly for each order at his restaurant, Sushi Matsushita.

"The taste, the texture, and the spiciness are different according to the way it is grated," he said.

Not just a condiment

Despite its enthusiasts, wasabi remains largely the preserve of restaurants like Matsushita's -- but these have suffered along with the rest of the hospitality industry during the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

So wasabi growers have been prompted to think of ways to expand their market.

Wholesalers have been selling their stock to supermarket chains, hoping to acquaint new customers with the taste of the unique product. But the high price continues to be a barrier, the farmer Shioya says.

Others, like Yamamoto Foods, around an hour's drive from Shioya's farm, offer wasabi-based products that go beyond the root's status as a condiment.

"You can also eat the stalks, the flowers, the leaves. We use all the parts, so people can really get to know this delicious product," said store manager Mayumi Yasumori.

The firm offers wasabi-infused olive oil, salt and mayonnaise, as well as shavings of wasabi to sprinkle on rice -- and even wasabi-flavoured ice cream.

"Wasabi shouldn't just play a cameo in the kitchen," said &nbsp;Yasumori. "It can also take the leading role."

If you've eaten sushi, you might assume you've tried wasabi. But chances are it was an artificial version that Japanese growers say is a world away from their 'green gold'.

If you've eaten sushi, you might assume you've tried wasabi. But chances are it was an artificial version that Japanese growers say is a world away from their 'green gold'. Unlike the spicy neon concoction familiar to many fans of Japanese cuisine, which is in fact made from horseradish, real wasabi is pale-green and offers a complex, mildly piquant flavour. In Japan, wasabi is difficult to grow because of its knobbly root which is extremely difficult to grow, and consequently expensive to buy, with most of it snapped up by wholesalers. According to 62-year-old Yoshihiro Shioya, a Japanese farmer, "The most important requirement is crystal-clear water, in abundance." Also read: Wasabi served at most sushi restaurants is actually horseradish "It's absolutely necessary that the water temperature stays between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius, year-round," added Shioya, whose family has cultivated wasabi in the region for seven generations. Patience is key -- each wasabi crop can take a whole year or even 18 months to mature in the large man-made terraces, which serve a particular design purpose. "The water flows down from the top of the mountain, which has terraces built into it covered with layers of pebbles and sand that filter and purify it," explained Yasuaki Kohari, of Izu's agricultural cooperative. Once ready, the long roots, topped with a plume of round green leaves, are harvested by hand. The leaves are stripped off and the root, known as a rhizome, is carried away in baskets. About half of the 550 tonnes of fresh wasabi grown in Japan last year came from Shizuoka, southwest of the capital Tokyo. Wasabi grows naturally there and has been used in local cuisine for centuries. Legend has it that it was especially loved and popularised by 17th-century shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, a military ruler who was one of the unifiers of Japan. These days it is mostly purchased by high-end restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka. 'Spicy, but with sweet notes' Wasabi is prepared by grating the root, usually on a small square device with fine metal teeth or topped with coarse sharkskin -- a process done almost immediately before consumption, as its piquancy fades after about 20 minutes. Its spiciness is produced by a chemical called allyl isothiocyanate, which also gives mustard, radish, and horseradish their pungency, and which scientists say has antibacterial properties. It is usually served as a complement to raw fish, or alongside buckwheat soba noodles. Toshiya Matsushita, a sushi chef at a restaurant in central Tokyo with a month-long waiting list, would never dream of using imitation wasabi. "It feels powdery in your mouth and doesn't have much flavour," he said. "Fresh wasabi not only masks the smell of the raw fish but also heightens its flavour. It is spicy, but with sweet notes." But it doesn't come cheap. He spends more than $700 a month on wasabi and uses one whole root a day, which he grates freshly for each order at his restaurant, Sushi Matsushita. "The taste, the texture, and the spiciness are different according to the way it is grated," he said. Not just a condiment Despite its enthusiasts, wasabi remains largely the preserve of restaurants like Matsushita's -- but these have suffered along with the rest of the hospitality industry during the coronavirus pandemic. So wasabi growers have been prompted to think of ways to expand their market. Wholesalers have been selling their stock to supermarket chains, hoping to acquaint new customers with the taste of the unique product. But the high price continues to be a barrier, the farmer Shioya says. Others, like Yamamoto Foods, around an hour's drive from Shioya's farm, offer wasabi-based products that go beyond the root's status as a condiment. "You can also eat the stalks, the flowers, the leaves. We use all the parts, so people can really get to know this delicious product," said store manager Mayumi Yasumori. The firm offers wasabi-infused olive oil, salt and mayonnaise, as well as shavings of wasabi to sprinkle on rice -- and even wasabi-flavoured ice cream. "Wasabi shouldn't just play a cameo in the kitchen," said Yasumori. "It can also take the leading role."

Why real wasabi is considered ‘green gold’ in Japan’s sushi restaurants

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he had "NOTHING to do" with any potential prosecution of President-Elect Joe Biden's son, Hunter.

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I have NOTHING to do with the potential prosecution of Hunter Biden, or the Biden family. It is just more Fake News. Actually, I find it very sad to watch!
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Trump's tweet came just one day after Jeffrey Rosen, the incoming Acting Attorney General, declined to say in an interview with Reuters whether or not he would appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden and his foreign business dealings.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hunter-bidens-business-links-with-china-330056/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Trump, who leaves office on Jan. 20, has privately been mulling whether to pressure the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel for Hunter Biden, according to a person familiar with the matter.

According to a US Senate Committee report,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-applauds-selfs-approach-towards-covid-calls-bidens-approach-anti-science-329852">Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president&nbsp;to Democratic President Barack Obama.

The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/us-election-2020-facebook-removes-fake-pages-created-in-china-targeting-trump-biden-329641">&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;</a>and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals."

On December 9, Hunter Biden disclosed his tax affairs were under investigation by the US&nbsp;Attorney for the District of Delaware.

However,&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied Trump's allegations saying&nbsp;that Joe Biden's son, Hunter did ''made very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his&nbsp;past business.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he had "NOTHING to do" with any potential prosecution of President-Elect Joe Biden's son, Hunter. I have NOTHING to do with the potential prosecution of Hunter Biden, or the Biden family.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he had "NOTHING to do" with any potential prosecution of President-Elect Joe Biden's son, Hunter. I have NOTHING to do with the potential prosecution of Hunter Biden, or the Biden family. It is just more Fake News. Actually, I find it very sad to watch! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2020 × Trump's tweet came just one day after Jeffrey Rosen, the incoming Acting Attorney General, declined to say in an interview with Reuters whether or not he would appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden and his foreign business dealings. Trump, who leaves office on Jan. 20, has privately been mulling whether to pressure the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel for Hunter Biden, according to a person familiar with the matter. According to a US Senate Committee report, Joe Biden's son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president to Democratic President Barack Obama. The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter Biden and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals." On December 9, Hunter Biden disclosed his tax affairs were under investigation by the US Attorney for the District of Delaware. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied Trump's allegations saying that Joe Biden's son, Hunter did ''made very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his past business.

Have nothing to do with potential prosecution of Hunter Biden: Donald Trump

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French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for coronavirus 'Europe's moment': COVID-19 vaccination to begin on December 27 across EU Alaska healthcare work

French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for coronavirus 'Europe's moment': COVID-19 vaccination to begin on December 27 across EU Alaska healthcare worker suffers an allergic reaction to Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer to assess the report Trump doesn't need to find a new job, he is not going to leave the scene: Putin Australian state violated human rights in lockdown to control Covid-19 spread: Report 'Conspiracy crackdown': Twitter to scrub posts claiming COVID-19 vaccines ‘cause harm’ Eight Hong Kong activists charged for security law protest Putin says will get vaccine when possible; won't comment on Covid-19 source Elon Musk triggers Twitter spat after branding gender pronouns an ‘esthetic nightmare’ Hungary amends constitution to redefine family, limits gay adoption

Top 10 world news today: Macron contracts COVID-19, Europe vaccination and more

A 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur is among the seven winners of the prestigious "Young Champions of the Earth" 2020 prize given by the UN environment agency to global change-makers using innovative ideas and ambitious action to help solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

Vidyut Mohan, an engineer, is the co-founder of "Takachar", a social enterprise enabling farmers to prevent open burning of their waste farm residues and earn extra income by converting them into value-added chemicals like activated carbon on-site, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a statement on Tuesday.

I've always been passionate about energy access and creating income opportunities for poor communities, Mohan was quoted as saying in the statement. (That) is at the heart of finding answers to the difficult question of balancing economic growth and climate change mitigation in developing countries, he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message that in the middle of a global pandemic, with societies struggling, economies stretched to their limits, and escalating biodiversity and climate crisis, we need to act boldly and urgently to repair our relationship with nature and take the path of sustainable development.&nbsp;

He said that the Young Champions of the Earth inspire and mobilise.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said globally, young people are leading the way in calling for meaningful and immediate solutions to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

We must listen. As we enter this decisive decade where we work to cut emissions and protect and restore ecosystems, UNEP Young Champions demonstrate that all of us can contribute, starting where we are with what we have. Every single act for nature counts, and we need the entire spectrum of humanity to share this global responsibility and this profound opportunity, Andersen said.

Takachar buys rice husks, straw, and coconut shells from farmers and turns them into charcoal, saving the debris from the fires, which are also a driver of climate change. Since Takachar was launched in 2018, Mohan and its co-founder Kevin Kung have worked with about 4,500 farmers and processed 3,000 tonnes of crops, UNEP said.&nbsp;

Mark Radka, chief of the energy and climate branch at UNEP's Economy Division, said the open burning of agricultural residues is a big source of air pollution in many parts of the world and Takachar's innovative technology can help farmers turn what is currently thought of as waste into a valuable resource while helping clean up our environment. 
 
Slowly and gradually all funding streams available and support services are turning towards sustainability. Companies are going to lose if they don't become sustainable in the long run, Mohan, a 2019 Echoing Green Fellow and a 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee, said.

By deploying small-scale, low-cost portable biomass upgrading equipment, Takachar enables rural farmers to earn 40 per cent more by converting their crop residues into fuels, fertilisers and value-added chemicals like activated carbon (AC) on-site.

By choosing activated carbon (AC) as the starting market, Takachar brings this value chain to the doorstep of farmers and hence reduces air pollution associated with crop residue burning, while ensuring a stable, renewable, pollution free and financially lucrative raw material supply for the AC industry vs. Traditional fossil based sources.

By 2030, Takachar will impact 300 million farmers affected by this problem, create USD 4 billion/year equivalent in additional rural income and jobs, and mitigate one gigaton/year of CO2 equivalent, UNEP added.

This year's Young Champions were selected by a global jury of experts following a competitive public nomination. Each will receive $10,000 in seed funding and tailored training to help scale up their ideas. The Young Champions of the Earth prize is awarded every year to seven entrepreneurs under the age of 30 with bold ideas for sustainable environmental change.

The other awardees are 29-year-old Nzambi Matee from Kenya, a materials engineer and head of Gjenge Makers, which produces sustainable low-cost construction materials made of recycled plastic waste and sand; 29-year old Xiaoyuan Ren from China who leads MyH2O, a data platform that tests and records the quality of groundwater across a thousand villages in rural China into an app so residents know where to find clean water.

Lefteris Arapakis, 26, from Greece founded the start-up Enaleia, through which the team trains, empowers and incentivises the local fishing community to collect plastic from the sea, allowing both fish stocks and the ecosystem to recover; 30-year old Max Hidalgo Quinto from Peru founded Yawa, building portable wind turbines that harvest up to 300 litres of water per day from atmospheric humidity and mist.

Niria Alicia Garcia, 28, from the US coordinates - alongside a community of indigenous activists - the annual Run 4 Salmon event using virtual reality to bring to life the historical journey of the Sacramento chinook salmon along California's largest watershed, raising awareness of this invaluable ecosystem, the species and people it supports; 24-year old Fatemah Alzelzela from Kuwait started Eco Star, a non-profit recycling initiative that exchanges trees and plants for waste from homes, schools and businesses in Kuwait.&nbsp;

A 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur is among the seven winners of the prestigious "Young Champions of the Earth" 2020 prize given by the UN environment agency to global change-makers using innovative ideas and ambitious action to help solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

A 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur is among the seven winners of the prestigious "Young Champions of the Earth" 2020 prize given by the UN environment agency to global change-makers using innovative ideas and ambitious action to help solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Vidyut Mohan, an engineer, is the co-founder of "Takachar", a social enterprise enabling farmers to prevent open burning of their waste farm residues and earn extra income by converting them into value-added chemicals like activated carbon on-site, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a statement on Tuesday. I've always been passionate about energy access and creating income opportunities for poor communities, Mohan was quoted as saying in the statement. (That) is at the heart of finding answers to the difficult question of balancing economic growth and climate change mitigation in developing countries, he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message that in the middle of a global pandemic, with societies struggling, economies stretched to their limits, and escalating biodiversity and climate crisis, we need to act boldly and urgently to repair our relationship with nature and take the path of sustainable development. He said that the Young Champions of the Earth inspire and mobilise. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said globally, young people are leading the way in calling for meaningful and immediate solutions to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. We must listen. As we enter this decisive decade where we work to cut emissions and protect and restore ecosystems, UNEP Young Champions demonstrate that all of us can contribute, starting where we are with what we have. Every single act for nature counts, and we need the entire spectrum of humanity to share this global responsibility and this profound opportunity, Andersen said. Takachar buys rice husks, straw, and coconut shells from farmers and turns them into charcoal, saving the debris from the fires, which are also a driver of climate change. Since Takachar was launched in 2018, Mohan and its co-founder Kevin Kung have worked with about 4,500 farmers and processed 3,000 tonnes of crops, UNEP said. Mark Radka, chief of the energy and climate branch at UNEP's Economy Division, said the open burning of agricultural residues is a big source of air pollution in many parts of the world and Takachar's innovative technology can help farmers turn what is currently thought of as waste into a valuable resource while helping clean up our environment. Slowly and gradually all funding streams available and support services are turning towards sustainability. Companies are going to lose if they don't become sustainable in the long run, Mohan, a 2019 Echoing Green Fellow and a 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee, said. By deploying small-scale, low-cost portable biomass upgrading equipment, Takachar enables rural farmers to earn 40 per cent more by converting their crop residues into fuels, fertilisers and value-added chemicals like activated carbon (AC) on-site. By choosing activated carbon (AC) as the starting market, Takachar brings this value chain to the doorstep of farmers and hence reduces air pollution associated with crop residue burning, while ensuring a stable, renewable, pollution free and financially lucrative raw material supply for the AC industry vs. Traditional fossil based sources. By 2030, Takachar will impact 300 million farmers affected by this problem, create USD 4 billion/year equivalent in additional rural income and jobs, and mitigate one gigaton/year of CO2 equivalent, UNEP added. This year's Young Champions were selected by a global jury of experts following a competitive public nomination. Each will receive $10,000 in seed funding and tailored training to help scale up their ideas. The Young Champions of the Earth prize is awarded every year to seven entrepreneurs under the age of 30 with bold ideas for sustainable environmental change. The other awardees are 29-year-old Nzambi Matee from Kenya, a materials engineer and head of Gjenge Makers, which produces sustainable low-cost construction materials made of recycled plastic waste and sand; 29-year old Xiaoyuan Ren from China who leads MyH2O, a data platform that tests and records the quality of groundwater across a thousand villages in rural China into an app so residents know where to find clean water. Lefteris Arapakis, 26, from Greece founded the start-up Enaleia, through which the team trains, empowers and incentivises the local fishing community to collect plastic from the sea, allowing both fish stocks and the ecosystem to recover; 30-year old Max Hidalgo Quinto from Peru founded Yawa, building portable wind turbines that harvest up to 300 litres of water per day from atmospheric humidity and mist. Niria Alicia Garcia, 28, from the US coordinates - alongside a community of indigenous activists - the annual Run 4 Salmon event using virtual reality to bring to life the historical journey of the Sacramento chinook salmon along California's largest watershed, raising awareness of this invaluable ecosystem, the species and people it supports; 24-year old Fatemah Alzelzela from Kuwait started Eco Star, a non-profit recycling initiative that exchanges trees and plants for waste from homes, schools and businesses in Kuwait.

Indian entrepreneur named among 'Young Champions of the Earth' winners by UN environment agency

Pakistan&nbsp;has returned $1 billion to Saudi Arabia as the second installment of a $3 billion soft loan, as Islamabad reaches out to Beijing for a commercial loan to help it offset pressure to repay another $1 billion to Riyadh next month, officials said on Wednesday.

Analysts say it is unusual for Riyadh to press for the return of money. But relations have been strained lately between&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;and Saudi Arabia, historically close friends.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pm-imran-khan-in-spotlight-as-pakistan-passes-new-rape-law-350282" hreflang="en">PM Imran Khan in spotlight as Pakistan passes new rape law</a>

With the $1 billion flowing out,&nbsp;Pakistan, which has $13.3 billion in central bank foreign reserves, could face a balance of payments issue after clearing the next Saudi installment.

"China has come to our rescue," a foreign ministry official told Reuters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-opposition-demands-imran-khan-to-quit-by-jan-31-or-face-intensified-movements-349825" hreflang="en">Pak opposition demands Imran Khan to quit by Jan 31 or face intensified movements</a>

A finance ministry official said&nbsp;Pakistan's central bank was already in talks with Chinese commercial banks, including the debt swap option.

"We've sent $1 billion to Saudi Arabia," he said. Another $1 billion will be repaid to Riyadh next month, he said. Islamabad had returned $1 billion in July.

A finance ministry spokesman declined to comment, saying these are "bilateral confidential issues". The central bank also refused to comment, and the foreign office didn't respond.

The People's Bank of China did not respond to a Reuters request for comment, and Riyadh didn't issue any details after a meeting between&nbsp;Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and the Saudi ambassador in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Although a $1.2 billion surplus in its current account balance and a record $11.77 billion in remittances in the past five months have helped support the&nbsp;Pakistani economy, having to return the Saudi money is still a setback.

Saudi Arabia gave&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;a $3 billion loan and a $3.2 billion oil credit facility in late 2018. After Islamabad sought Riyadh's support over alleged human rights violations by India in the disputed territory of Kashmir, Saudi Arabia has pushed&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;to repay the loan.

Washington has expressed concerns about&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;and other developing countries getting stuck in a Chinese debt trap. It has criticised Beijing's China-Pakistan&nbsp;Economic Corridor plans, involving more than $60 billion in pledged support for infrastructure projects in&nbsp;Pakistan.

Pakistan has returned $1 billion to Saudi Arabia as the second installment of a $3 billion soft loan, as Islamabad reaches out to Beijing for a commercial loan to help it offset pressure to repay another $1 billion to Riyadh next month, officials said on Wednesday.

Pakistan has returned $1 billion to Saudi Arabia as the second installment of a $3 billion soft loan, as Islamabad reaches out to Beijing for a commercial loan to help it offset pressure to repay another $1 billion to Riyadh next month, officials said on Wednesday. Analysts say it is unusual for Riyadh to press for the return of money. But relations have been strained lately between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, historically close friends. Also read: PM Imran Khan in spotlight as Pakistan passes new rape law With the $1 billion flowing out, Pakistan, which has $13.3 billion in central bank foreign reserves, could face a balance of payments issue after clearing the next Saudi installment. "China has come to our rescue," a foreign ministry official told Reuters. Also read: Pak opposition demands Imran Khan to quit by Jan 31 or face intensified movements A finance ministry official said Pakistan's central bank was already in talks with Chinese commercial banks, including the debt swap option. "We've sent $1 billion to Saudi Arabia," he said. Another $1 billion will be repaid to Riyadh next month, he said. Islamabad had returned $1 billion in July. A finance ministry spokesman declined to comment, saying these are "bilateral confidential issues". The central bank also refused to comment, and the foreign office didn't respond. The People's Bank of China did not respond to a Reuters request for comment, and Riyadh didn't issue any details after a meeting between Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and the Saudi ambassador in Islamabad on Tuesday. Although a $1.2 billion surplus in its current account balance and a record $11.77 billion in remittances in the past five months have helped support the Pakistani economy, having to return the Saudi money is still a setback. Saudi Arabia gave Pakistan a $3 billion loan and a $3.2 billion oil credit facility in late 2018. After Islamabad sought Riyadh's support over alleged human rights violations by India in the disputed territory of Kashmir, Saudi Arabia has pushed Pakistan to repay the loan. Washington has expressed concerns about Pakistan and other developing countries getting stuck in a Chinese debt trap. It has criticised Beijing's China-Pakistan Economic Corridor plans, involving more than $60 billion in pledged support for infrastructure projects in Pakistan.

Pakistan returns $1 billion of Saudi Arabia's soft loan, officials say

Social media giant Twitter on Thursday signaled that it will&nbsp;scrub posts claiming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccines</a> cause harm&nbsp;or are used to control populations, in a bid to keep a check on potentially harmful misleading content about these vaccines and help people stay informed.

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As the global distribution of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> vaccines begins, we’re providing guidance on how we’ll address potentially harmful misleading content about these vaccines and help people stay informed. <a href="https://t.co/1rRi5QWILz">https://t.co/1rRi5QWILz</a>
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterSafety/status/1339299356286066689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Twitter's policy update, announced in a blog post the same week that the first Americans received COVID-19 vaccinations as part of a mass immunisation campaign, also said users could be required to remove tweets with false claims about the adverse effects of receiving COVID-19 vaccines.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alaska-healthcare-worker-suffers-an-allergic-reaction-to-covid-19-vaccine-pfizer-to-assess-the-report-350354" hreflang="en">Alaska healthcare worker suffers an allergic reaction to Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer to assess the report</a>

Conspiracy theories and misinformation about the coronavirus and its potential vaccines have proliferated on social media platforms during the pandemic.

Starting next week, Twitter&nbsp;will prioritize the removal of the most harmful misleading information, and during the coming weeks, begin to label Tweets that contain potentially misleading information about the coronavirus vaccines.

The social media platform already targets posts containing false information on how the virus spreads and the efficacy of public health measures such as mask-wearing.

The policy will include action against claims that the vaccine is used to intentionally cause harm or control people.

Vaccination campaigns have started in several countries, including Britain, the United States, and Canada, and are about to start in the European Union after the green light from the regulator for the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech.

Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc-owned YouTube have both in recent weeks announced bans on false claims about the vaccine that goes against information from public health experts.

Twitter&nbsp;previously required users to remove tweets with false or misleading information about the nature of the coronavirus, the efficacy or safety of preventative measures or treatments, official regulations, or the risk of infection or death. The company says it hides such tweets and blocks users from tweeting again until they remove them.

Social media giant Twitter on Thursday signaled that it will scrub posts claiming COVID-19 vaccines cause harm or are used to control populations, in a bid to keep a check on potentially harmful misleading content about these vaccines and help people stay informed.

Social media giant Twitter on Thursday signaled that it will scrub posts claiming COVID-19 vaccines cause harm or are used to control populations, in a bid to keep a check on potentially harmful misleading content about these vaccines and help people stay informed. As the global distribution of #COVID19 vaccines begins, we’re providing guidance on how we’ll address potentially harmful misleading content about these vaccines and help people stay informed. https://t.co/1rRi5QWILz — Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) December 16, 2020 × Twitter's policy update, announced in a blog post the same week that the first Americans received COVID-19 vaccinations as part of a mass immunisation campaign, also said users could be required to remove tweets with false claims about the adverse effects of receiving COVID-19 vaccines. Also read: Alaska healthcare worker suffers an allergic reaction to Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer to assess the report Conspiracy theories and misinformation about the coronavirus and its potential vaccines have proliferated on social media platforms during the pandemic. Starting next week, Twitter will prioritize the removal of the most harmful misleading information, and during the coming weeks, begin to label Tweets that contain potentially misleading information about the coronavirus vaccines. The social media platform already targets posts containing false information on how the virus spreads and the efficacy of public health measures such as mask-wearing. The policy will include action against claims that the vaccine is used to intentionally cause harm or control people. Vaccination campaigns have started in several countries, including Britain, the United States, and Canada, and are about to start in the European Union after the green light from the regulator for the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech. Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc-owned YouTube have both in recent weeks announced bans on false claims about the vaccine that goes against information from public health experts. Twitter previously required users to remove tweets with false or misleading information about the nature of the coronavirus, the efficacy or safety of preventative measures or treatments, official regulations, or the risk of infection or death. The company says it hides such tweets and blocks users from tweeting again until they remove them.

'Conspiracy crackdown': Twitter to scrub posts claiming COVID-19 vaccines ‘cause harm’

With Macron as the latest addition, here's full list of world leaders who contracted Covid-19

Silicon Valley billionaire Elon&nbsp;Musk has invoked the fury of the Transgender community after wading into a culture war by branding&nbsp;gender pronouns as an ''esthetic nightmare''.

"I totally uphold trans, however, every one of these pronouns are a tasteful bad dream," Musk tweeted in light of an article named 'Genuine Friends Interrupt You When You Are Making A Mistake', which censured his affinity for restless images.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://t.co/qbNT1dUsED">pic.twitter.com/qbNT1dUsED</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1338365886542049282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Showing individual pronouns on Twitter profiles is frequently observed as a type of temperance motioning by those in online traditionalist networks, and as a way to show fortitude with trans and non-twofold individuals among liberal circles.&nbsp;

Individuals from the LGBTQ people group said something with an assortment of takes, both steady and reproachful of Musk.&nbsp;

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Trans guy here and you owe me money for making me read this tweet with my own two eyes. Also, how 'bout donating some of your literal millions to trans orgs/policies/people? Since so many of us have been homeless, abused, or suicidal. :)
— your local catboy! (@whiten0iz) <a href="https://twitter.com/whiten0iz/status/1339356616227864580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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As a member of LGBTQ I actually agree. I dont think that we need extra pronouns for people to make them different. If you don't have a gender, then you simply cant be human because thats what defines you. That being said, I wish the best for anyone that wants to be themselves. ❤
— Jack 🛰️ (@Xellitron) <a href="https://twitter.com/Xellitron/status/1339330046096519168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In the midst of the show, others began looking at Musk's own record and started ridiculing his decision to name his youngster X Ӕ A-12, after "a wifi secret key."

The tycoon's own stylish qualifications were likewise raised doubt about, with the Tesla Cybertruck held up as confirmation that he shouldn't be viewed as an expert in the field.&nbsp;

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guy who named his kid X Æ A-12 cannot fathom using 3 different pronouns <a href="https://t.co/jhyaYq6Q9O">https://t.co/jhyaYq6Q9O</a>
— manny (@mannyfidel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mannyfidel/status/1339335820122222592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The nerve to use 'aesthetic nightmare' when this shit exists lmao <a href="https://t.co/1UxbyOZQTz">pic.twitter.com/1UxbyOZQTz</a>
— PokyGem (@PokyGem023) <a href="https://twitter.com/PokyGem023/status/1339324402761134081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Others actually called for quiet, and for individuals on all sides to put down their computerized pitchforks.&nbsp;

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IMO, the only people offended by Elon's meme were: 
 
1. Professional victims 
2. Professional virtue signalers 
3. Well-meaning people who mis-judge the intentions of other well-meaning people 
 
Let's move on.
— stevenmarkryan (@stevenmarkryan) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevenmarkryan/status/1339255162985213956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Musk beforehand tweeted"pronouns suck," to the vexation of many – including his better half and mother of his youngster X Ӕ A-12, Canadian songstress Grimes.&nbsp;

He clearly gained from the aftermath of his last pronoun fight, as he quickly had a reaction for the reaction to his most recent image, flaunting his organization's correspondence accreditations by posting Tesla's 100/100 score on the Human Rights Campaign's LGBTQ corporate balance file.&nbsp;

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Oh and umm … <a href="https://t.co/jtg944ERCy">https://t.co/jtg944ERCy</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1339255372956176384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Normally, this excessively was condemned, by in all honesty the previous Human Rights Council press secretary, extremist, and essayist Charlotte Clymer, who reproved Musk and advised him that focuses can be deducted for practices like hostile tweets from organization CEOs.

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Not sure what made you wake up today and think "you know what, I'll shit on people's pronouns", but that's kinda the opposite of LGBTQ inclusivity. Thank goodness you apparently have HR personnel in place who know what they're doing. You should ask them to brief you.
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) <a href="https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/1339333240121946117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Silicon Valley billionaire Elon Musk has invoked the fury of the Transgender community after wading into a culture war by branding gender pronouns as an ''esthetic nightmare''.

Silicon Valley billionaire Elon Musk has invoked the fury of the Transgender community after wading into a culture war by branding gender pronouns as an ''esthetic nightmare''. "I totally uphold trans, however, every one of these pronouns are a tasteful bad dream," Musk tweeted in light of an article named 'Genuine Friends Interrupt You When You Are Making A Mistake', which censured his affinity for restless images. pic.twitter.com/qbNT1dUsED — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 14, 2020 × Showing individual pronouns on Twitter profiles is frequently observed as a type of temperance motioning by those in online traditionalist networks, and as a way to show fortitude with trans and non-twofold individuals among liberal circles. Individuals from the LGBTQ people group said something with an assortment of takes, both steady and reproachful of Musk. Trans guy here and you owe me money for making me read this tweet with my own two eyes. Also, how 'bout donating some of your literal millions to trans orgs/policies/people? Since so many of us have been homeless, abused, or suicidal. :) — your local catboy! (@whiten0iz) December 16, 2020 × As a member of LGBTQ I actually agree. I dont think that we need extra pronouns for people to make them different. If you don't have a gender, then you simply cant be human because thats what defines you. That being said, I wish the best for anyone that wants to be themselves. ❤ — Jack 🛰️ (@Xellitron) December 16, 2020 × In the midst of the show, others began looking at Musk's own record and started ridiculing his decision to name his youngster X Ӕ A-12, after "a wifi secret key." The tycoon's own stylish qualifications were likewise raised doubt about, with the Tesla Cybertruck held up as confirmation that he shouldn't be viewed as an expert in the field. guy who named his kid X Æ A-12 cannot fathom using 3 different pronouns https://t.co/jhyaYq6Q9O — manny (@mannyfidel) December 16, 2020 × The nerve to use 'aesthetic nightmare' when this shit exists lmao pic.twitter.com/1UxbyOZQTz — PokyGem (@PokyGem023) December 16, 2020 × Others actually called for quiet, and for individuals on all sides to put down their computerized pitchforks. IMO, the only people offended by Elon's meme were: 1. Professional victims 2. Professional virtue signalers 3. Well-meaning people who mis-judge the intentions of other well-meaning people Let's move on. — stevenmarkryan (@stevenmarkryan) December 16, 2020 × Musk beforehand tweeted"pronouns suck," to the vexation of many – including his better half and mother of his youngster X Ӕ A-12, Canadian songstress Grimes. He clearly gained from the aftermath of his last pronoun fight, as he quickly had a reaction for the reaction to his most recent image, flaunting his organization's correspondence accreditations by posting Tesla's 100/100 score on the Human Rights Campaign's LGBTQ corporate balance file. Oh and umm … https://t.co/jtg944ERCy — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 16, 2020 × Normally, this excessively was condemned, by in all honesty the previous Human Rights Council press secretary, extremist, and essayist Charlotte Clymer, who reproved Musk and advised him that focuses can be deducted for practices like hostile tweets from organization CEOs. Not sure what made you wake up today and think "you know what, I'll shit on people's pronouns", but that's kinda the opposite of LGBTQ inclusivity. Thank goodness you apparently have HR personnel in place who know what they're doing. You should ask them to brief you. — Charlotte Clymer 🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) December 16, 2020 ×

Elon Musk triggers Twitter spat after branding gender pronouns an ‘esthetic nightmare’

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday tested&nbsp;positive for novel&nbsp;coronavirus,&nbsp;his office said in a statement.

"The President of the Republic has been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 today,"&nbsp;the French Presidency said on Thursday.

&nbsp;"This diagnosis was made following a PCR test performed at the onset of the first symptoms."

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In accordance with national regulations,&nbsp;Macron will now self isolate for seven days. He will continue to work and carry out his activities remotely.

French Prime Minister&nbsp;Jean Castex will also&nbsp;self-isolate after coming in contact with Macron.&nbsp;

The French president is one of several heads of state and government around the world who have contracted Covid-19, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump.

France&nbsp;on Wednesday reported 17,615 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, sharply up from the 11,532 on Tuesday and 14,595 a week ago.

The increase was the highest since November&nbsp;21 and comes just a day after authorities replaced a nationwide lockdown with a curfew, after easing lockdown measures in early December.

France&nbsp;could start receiving the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech in the last week of December if European Union authorities approve it next week.&nbsp;

France, which like many European countries has been battling a resurgence of the pandemic in recent weeks, has already pre-ordered 200 million doses of COVID vaccines.

Castex said he expected&nbsp;France&nbsp;would receive 1,160,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine by December&nbsp;30, followed by an additional 677,000 doses around January&nbsp;5-6 and a further 1.6 million in February.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday tested positive for novel coronavirus, his office said in a statement. "The President of the Republic has been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 today," the French Presidency said on Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday tested positive for novel coronavirus, his office said in a statement. "The President of the Republic has been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 today," the French Presidency said on Thursday. "This diagnosis was made following a PCR test performed at the onset of the first symptoms." In accordance with national regulations, Macron will now self isolate for seven days. He will continue to work and carry out his activities remotely. French Prime Minister Jean Castex will also self-isolate after coming in contact with Macron. The French president is one of several heads of state and government around the world who have contracted Covid-19, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump. France on Wednesday reported 17,615 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, sharply up from the 11,532 on Tuesday and 14,595 a week ago. The increase was the highest since November 21 and comes just a day after authorities replaced a nationwide lockdown with a curfew, after easing lockdown measures in early December. France could start receiving the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech in the last week of December if European Union authorities approve it next week. France, which like many European countries has been battling a resurgence of the pandemic in recent weeks, has already pre-ordered 200 million doses of COVID vaccines. Castex said he expected France would receive 1,160,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine by December 30, followed by an additional 677,000 doses around January 5-6 and a further 1.6 million in February.

French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for coronavirus

Skywatchers are in for a treat as&nbsp;Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon are going to&nbsp;form a triangle in the sky on December 21 in a phenomenon&nbsp;known as the&nbsp;'great conjunction'.

This week Jupiter and Saturn are low in the southwest during the nippy December sunset. At the point when this month started, they were isolated by 2.1 degrees.&nbsp;

Yet, in the days that followed, they have been gradually moving toward one another; drawing nearer by about 0.1 degrees every day on their way toward the hotly anticipated "extraordinary combination" next Monday night (Dec. 21). They are crawling nearer to one another will be additionally charged by the entry on Wednesday and Thursday nights (Dec. 16-17) of a frontal area waxing bow moon.&nbsp;

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Dancing across the night sky, Jupiter and Saturn will make their showstopping move on Dec. 21 when they align to form what's known as the "Great Conjunction." Here's how you can watch: <a href="https://t.co/VoNAbNAMXY">https://t.co/VoNAbNAMXY</a> 
 
📸 : <a href="https://twitter.com/nasahqphoto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAHQphoto</a> <a href="https://t.co/LLqLfujIlD">pic.twitter.com/LLqLfujIlD</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1339010857443930112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The two planets are moving toward the east regarding the stars, with the slowest, Saturn, at first in the number one spot, and Jupiter, the quicker planet, in the back. In this way, December started with a thickset askew line of Saturn and Jupiter (from upper left to bring down right) along the ecliptic — that fanciful line on the sky that denotes the yearly way of the sun, just as where the moon and planets likewise meander.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/five-asteroids-to-make-close-call-to-earth-this-week-350377" hreflang="en">Five asteroids to make close call to Earth this week</a>

As time passes the movement of fervor has been animating as the hole among Saturn and Jupiter has been quickly contracting.&nbsp;

What's more, presently we have shown up at the "final lap" of their hotly anticipated meeting.&nbsp;

What has become referred to prominently as the "Christmas Star" is a particularly lively planetary combination effectively obvious at night sky throughout the following fourteen days as the splendid planets Jupiter and Saturn meet up, coming full circle the evening of December&nbsp;21.&nbsp;

In 1610, Italian space expert Galileo Galilei guided his telescope toward the night sky, finding the four moons of Jupiter – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. In that very year, Galileo additionally found an unusual oval encompassing Saturn, which later perceptions resolved to be its rings. These revelations changed how individuals comprehended the most distant spans of our close planetary system.&nbsp;

After thirteen years, in 1623, the nearby planetary group's two goliath planets, Jupiter and Saturn, traversed the sky. Jupiter got up to speed to and passed Saturn, on a galactic occasion known as an "Incredible Conjunction."&nbsp;

"You can envision the nearby planetary group to be a course, with every one of the planets as a sprinter in their own path and the Earth toward the focal point of the arena," said Henry Throop, space expert in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "From our vantage point, we'll have the option to be to see Jupiter within the path, moving toward Saturn throughout the month lastly overwhelming it on December 21."&nbsp;

The planets routinely seem to pass each other in the close planetary system, with the places of Jupiter and Saturn being adjusted in the sky about once at regular intervals.&nbsp;

What makes the current year's exhibition so uncommon, at that point? It's been almost a long time since the planets passed this near one another in the sky, and almost a long time since the arrangement of Saturn and Jupiter happened around evening time, as it will for 2020, permitting almost everybody around the globe to observe this "incredible combination."&nbsp;

The nearest arrangement will show up only a tenth of a degree separated and keep going for a couple of days. On December 21, they will show up so close that a pinkie finger at a manageable distance will effortlessly cover the two planets in the sky. The planets will be anything but difficult to see with the independent eye by looking toward the southwest soon after dusk.&nbsp;

From our vantage point on Earth the colossal gas monsters will show up near one another, however, they will stay a huge number of miles separated in space. And keeping in mind that the combination is going on around the same time as the colder time of year solstice, the circumstance is just an incident, in light of the circles of the planets and the tilt of the Earth.&nbsp;

Skywatchers are in for a treat as Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon are going to form a triangle in the sky on December 21 in a phenomenon known as the 'great conjunction'.

Skywatchers are in for a treat as Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon are going to form a triangle in the sky on December 21 in a phenomenon known as the 'great conjunction'. This week Jupiter and Saturn are low in the southwest during the nippy December sunset. At the point when this month started, they were isolated by 2.1 degrees. Yet, in the days that followed, they have been gradually moving toward one another; drawing nearer by about 0.1 degrees every day on their way toward the hotly anticipated "extraordinary combination" next Monday night (Dec. 21). They are crawling nearer to one another will be additionally charged by the entry on Wednesday and Thursday nights (Dec. 16-17) of a frontal area waxing bow moon. Dancing across the night sky, Jupiter and Saturn will make their showstopping move on Dec. 21 when they align to form what's known as the "Great Conjunction." Here's how you can watch: https://t.co/VoNAbNAMXY 📸 : @NASAHQphoto pic.twitter.com/LLqLfujIlD — NASA (@NASA) December 16, 2020 × The two planets are moving toward the east regarding the stars, with the slowest, Saturn, at first in the number one spot, and Jupiter, the quicker planet, in the back. In this way, December started with a thickset askew line of Saturn and Jupiter (from upper left to bring down right) along the ecliptic — that fanciful line on the sky that denotes the yearly way of the sun, just as where the moon and planets likewise meander. Also read: Five asteroids to make close call to Earth this week As time passes the movement of fervor has been animating as the hole among Saturn and Jupiter has been quickly contracting. What's more, presently we have shown up at the "final lap" of their hotly anticipated meeting. What has become referred to prominently as the "Christmas Star" is a particularly lively planetary combination effectively obvious at night sky throughout the following fourteen days as the splendid planets Jupiter and Saturn meet up, coming full circle the evening of December 21. In 1610, Italian space expert Galileo Galilei guided his telescope toward the night sky, finding the four moons of Jupiter – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. In that very year, Galileo additionally found an unusual oval encompassing Saturn, which later perceptions resolved to be its rings. These revelations changed how individuals comprehended the most distant spans of our close planetary system. After thirteen years, in 1623, the nearby planetary group's two goliath planets, Jupiter and Saturn, traversed the sky. Jupiter got up to speed to and passed Saturn, on a galactic occasion known as an "Incredible Conjunction." "You can envision the nearby planetary group to be a course, with every one of the planets as a sprinter in their own path and the Earth toward the focal point of the arena," said Henry Throop, space expert in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "From our vantage point, we'll have the option to be to see Jupiter within the path, moving toward Saturn throughout the month lastly overwhelming it on December 21." The planets routinely seem to pass each other in the close planetary system, with the places of Jupiter and Saturn being adjusted in the sky about once at regular intervals. What makes the current year's exhibition so uncommon, at that point? It's been almost a long time since the planets passed this near one another in the sky, and almost a long time since the arrangement of Saturn and Jupiter happened around evening time, as it will for 2020, permitting almost everybody around the globe to observe this "incredible combination." The nearest arrangement will show up only a tenth of a degree separated and keep going for a couple of days. On December 21, they will show up so close that a pinkie finger at a manageable distance will effortlessly cover the two planets in the sky. The planets will be anything but difficult to see with the independent eye by looking toward the southwest soon after dusk. From our vantage point on Earth the colossal gas monsters will show up near one another, however, they will stay a huge number of miles separated in space. And keeping in mind that the combination is going on around the same time as the colder time of year solstice, the circumstance is just an incident, in light of the circles of the planets and the tilt of the Earth.

'Great conjunction': Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon to form triangle in the sky

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Vyomica Berry

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