Users of social media platform X encountered&nbsp;a situation a couple of days ago, where images and links shared prior to December 2014- when it was known as Twitter- disappeared.

Tom Coates, identified as an X user, was the first&nbsp;to notice this issue and subsequently shared his findings regarding posts from that specific timeframe. His discoveries revealed&nbsp;that images and links were&nbsp;absent from these older posts. Whether it's a malfunctioning hyperlink or an image that had&nbsp;become invisible, the content was&nbsp;no longer accessible.

One prominent illustration of this problem was the well-known Oscar selfie originally shared by Ellen DeGeneres, featuring celebrities like Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Meryl Streep. This particular image, once the most retweeted tweet with 2.8 million reposts and 2 million likes, was not visible on the platform for a significant period.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/are-elon-musks-followers-on-x-fake-new-data-reveals-interesting-details-627987">Are Elon Musk’s followers on X fake? New data reveals this...</a>

<h2>X says it 'fixed the bug'</h2>

On Tuesday (Aug 22), the @Support account at X said in a post that they had fixed the bug.

"During the weekend, we encountered a glitch that prevented the display of images dated before 2014. It's important to note that no images or data were lost during this incident. We have addressed the glitch, and it will be fully resolved in the coming days," the post said.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;announcement lacked specific information regarding the nature of the bug, its initiation date, or the reasons for the unspecified timeline for resolution.

The Verge website had discovered that alterations made by Twitter in 2016 employed metadata from tweets posted starting in December 2014 onward to augment additional data from linked webpages and facilitate attachments without affecting a tweet's character count.

Consequently, it was exclusively earlier posts that were affected by this bug.

Also watch |&nbsp;Elon Musk wants to remove the block feature on X

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The root of the issue to certain alterations Twitter made in 2016, specifically related to the implementation of expanded URL enrichment in 2012. This feature was designed to automatically expand shortened URLs included in the body of a tweet and include the resulting full URL as metadata within the tweet's payload.

Subsequent improvements in URL enrichment were introduced, which went a step further by displaying a website's HTML title and description directly in the tweet payload.

In essence, the problem observed on Twitter can be attributed to the platform's efforts to enhance user interactions and the way shared web content is presented. The intention behind expanding shortened URLs and providing additional context through HTML titles and descriptions was to offer users more information and a richer multimedia experience when viewing tweets, reported the Verge.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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Users of social media platform X encountered a situation a couple of days ago, where images and links shared prior to December 2014- when it was known as Twitter- disappeared.

Users of social media platform X encountered a situation a couple of days ago, where images and links shared prior to December 2014- when it was known as Twitter- disappeared. Tom Coates, identified as an X user, was the first to notice this issue and subsequently shared his findings regarding posts from that specific timeframe. His discoveries revealed that images and links were absent from these older posts. Whether it's a malfunctioning hyperlink or an image that had become invisible, the content was no longer accessible. One prominent illustration of this problem was the well-known Oscar selfie originally shared by Ellen DeGeneres, featuring celebrities like Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Meryl Streep. This particular image, once the most retweeted tweet with 2.8 million reposts and 2 million likes, was not visible on the platform for a significant period. Also read | Are Elon Musk’s followers on X fake? New data reveals this... X says it 'fixed the bug' On Tuesday (Aug 22), the @Support account at X said in a post that they had fixed the bug. "During the weekend, we encountered a glitch that prevented the display of images dated before 2014. It's important to note that no images or data were lost during this incident. We have addressed the glitch, and it will be fully resolved in the coming days," the post said. The announcement lacked specific information regarding the nature of the bug, its initiation date, or the reasons for the unspecified timeline for resolution. The Verge website had discovered that alterations made by Twitter in 2016 employed metadata from tweets posted starting in December 2014 onward to augment additional data from linked webpages and facilitate attachments without affecting a tweet's character count. Consequently, it was exclusively earlier posts that were affected by this bug. Also watch | Elon Musk wants to remove the block feature on X The root of the issue to certain alterations Twitter made in 2016, specifically related to the implementation of expanded URL enrichment in 2012. This feature was designed to automatically expand shortened URLs included in the body of a tweet and include the resulting full URL as metadata within the tweet's payload. Subsequent improvements in URL enrichment were introduced, which went a step further by displaying a website's HTML title and description directly in the tweet payload. In essence, the problem observed on Twitter can be attributed to the platform's efforts to enhance user interactions and the way shared web content is presented. The intention behind expanding shortened URLs and providing additional context through HTML titles and descriptions was to offer users more information and a richer multimedia experience when viewing tweets, reported the Verge. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Large chunk of X content from Twitter era prior to 2014 December had disappeared. And then...

The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed NATO and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and the matter would be addressed at an EU foreign ministers' meeting on Monday.&nbsp;

The central European country expelled 18 Russian embassy staff on Saturday over the issue and said investigations had linked Russian intelligence to the explosion, which killed two people. &nbsp;

Russia's Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper house's international affairs committee, on Saturday as saying Prague's assertions were absurd and Russia's response should be proportionate.&nbsp;

The expulsions and allegations come at a time of heightened Russian-Western tensions and have triggered the biggest dispute between the Czechs and Russia since the 1989 end of Communist rule, when Prague was under Moscow's domination for decades.&nbsp;

On Sunday, the EU’s executive commission confirmed remarks by acting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek on Twitter that the dispute would be addressed during a previously schedule EU foreign ministers' video conference on Monday.&nbsp;

Separately, Czech police said they were searching for two men in connection with serious criminal activity, who were carrying Russian passports in the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, and that the men were in the country in the days leading up to the 2014 explosion.&nbsp;

Those were the aliases used by two Russian military intelligence (GRU) officers, who British prosecutors charged with the attempted poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury in 2018. Moscow denied involvement in that incident. &nbsp;

The United States and Britain said they stood in full solidarity with the Czech Republic in the dispute with Russia.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed NATO and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and the matter would be addressed at an EU foreign ministers' meeting on Monday.

The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed NATO and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and the matter would be addressed at an EU foreign ministers' meeting on Monday. The central European country expelled 18 Russian embassy staff on Saturday over the issue and said investigations had linked Russian intelligence to the explosion, which killed two people. Russia's Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper house's international affairs committee, on Saturday as saying Prague's assertions were absurd and Russia's response should be proportionate. The expulsions and allegations come at a time of heightened Russian-Western tensions and have triggered the biggest dispute between the Czechs and Russia since the 1989 end of Communist rule, when Prague was under Moscow's domination for decades. On Sunday, the EU’s executive commission confirmed remarks by acting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek on Twitter that the dispute would be addressed during a previously schedule EU foreign ministers' video conference on Monday. Separately, Czech police said they were searching for two men in connection with serious criminal activity, who were carrying Russian passports in the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, and that the men were in the country in the days leading up to the 2014 explosion. Those were the aliases used by two Russian military intelligence (GRU) officers, who British prosecutors charged with the attempted poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury in 2018. Moscow denied involvement in that incident. The United States and Britain said they stood in full solidarity with the Czech Republic in the dispute with Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

EU to discuss alleged Russian link to 2014 blast in Czech Republic 

Prosecutors in Mexico have arrested 30 Marines in connection with the disappearances of an unspecified number of people in the northern state of Tamaulipas in 2014, the Navy said on Monday. &nbsp;

"Thirty naval service members were made available to the Attorney General's Office on April 9 in compliance with arrest warrants... for the alleged crime of forced disappearance of persons," the Navy Secretariat said in a statement.&nbsp;

The statement did not elaborate on the precise date of the disappearances or the number of victims, but it said the arrests were related to investigations into events that occurred in Nuevo Laredo in the state of Tamaulipas, on the border with the United States, in 2014.&nbsp;

The Navy said it decided to hand over the uniformed men 'in strict adherence with protocol' so that prosecutors can 'carry out the pertinent investigations’. &nbsp;

Tamaulipas, long marred by violence linked to drug trafficking, has one of the highest rates of missing persons in the country, especially on roads that lead to the border with the United States. &nbsp;

Most of the disappearances are blamed on drug cartels, but law enforcement officials, especially state and municipal police, have also been charged.&nbsp;

Monday's announcement marked the largest detention of military personnel in connection with enforced disappearances in recent years in Mexico. &nbsp;

The government had announced that arrest warrants were being prepared against the military for the disappearance in 2014 of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa school in the southern state of Guerrero, but it has not officially reported whether those warrants have already been carried out. &nbsp;

Between the end of 2006, when the government launched a military offensive against the drug gangs, and December of last year, Mexico had 80,517 reports of missing persons, according to official figures. &nbsp;

In the same period, some 300,000 people have been killed, with most of the deaths blamed on organised crime groups.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Prosecutors in Mexico have arrested 30 Marines in connection with the disappearances of an unspecified number of people in the northern state of Tamaulipas in 2014, the Navy said on Monday.

Prosecutors in Mexico have arrested 30 Marines in connection with the disappearances of an unspecified number of people in the northern state of Tamaulipas in 2014, the Navy said on Monday. "Thirty naval service members were made available to the Attorney General's Office on April 9 in compliance with arrest warrants... for the alleged crime of forced disappearance of persons," the Navy Secretariat said in a statement. The statement did not elaborate on the precise date of the disappearances or the number of victims, but it said the arrests were related to investigations into events that occurred in Nuevo Laredo in the state of Tamaulipas, on the border with the United States, in 2014. The Navy said it decided to hand over the uniformed men 'in strict adherence with protocol' so that prosecutors can 'carry out the pertinent investigations’. Tamaulipas, long marred by violence linked to drug trafficking, has one of the highest rates of missing persons in the country, especially on roads that lead to the border with the United States. Most of the disappearances are blamed on drug cartels, but law enforcement officials, especially state and municipal police, have also been charged. Monday's announcement marked the largest detention of military personnel in connection with enforced disappearances in recent years in Mexico. The government had announced that arrest warrants were being prepared against the military for the disappearance in 2014 of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa school in the southern state of Guerrero, but it has not officially reported whether those warrants have already been carried out. Between the end of 2006, when the government launched a military offensive against the drug gangs, and December of last year, Mexico had 80,517 reports of missing persons, according to official figures. In the same period, some 300,000 people have been killed, with most of the deaths blamed on organised crime groups. (With inputs from agencies)

Mexico detains 30 Marines in collection with disappearances of several people in 2014 

In a setback to former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Supreme Court dismissed his plea seeking review of its 2019 verdict asking him to face trial for allegedly failing to furnish details of two pending criminal cases against him in his 2014 poll affidavit.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/devendra-fadnavis-sanctions-rs-5380-crores-for-rain-affected-farmers-264476">Devendra Fadnavis sanctions Rs 5,380 crores for rain-affected farmers</a>

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said that there was no ground to review the verdict pronounced last year.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/democracy-is-being-murdered-in-west-bengal-devendra-fadnavis-on-clash-during-amit-shah-rally-218855">Democracy is being murdered in West Bengal: Devendra Fadnavis on clashes during Amit Shah rally</a>

"We find no ground to interfere in the review petitions. The same is dismissed," said the bench also comprising justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose.

The order was passed on February 18 but it was uploaded on the apex court website on Tuesday.

While seeking review of the 2019 verdict, Fadnavis had told the court that there was a "clear error" in the apex court's judgement as the law stipulates for disclosure of details about criminal cases only if charges are framed and on conviction.

In its October 1, 2019 judgment, the apex court had set aside a Bombay High Court order which gave a clean chit to Fadnavis and held that he did not deserve to be tried for the alleged offence under the Representation of Peoples Act (RPA).

The verdict had come on an appeal by one Satish Ukey, who had challenged the high court's order.

The apex court had last year revived a criminal complaint filed against Fadnavis for allegedly failing to furnish details of two pending criminal cases in his 2014 election affidavit and had asked the trial court to consider it afresh.

The top court had allowed the appeal by Ukey, who had filed a criminal complaint against Fadnavis before a magisterial court in Nagpur, seeking registration of a case against him under section 125-A of the RP Act.

Section 125-A of the RP Act deals with the penalty for "filing false affidavit" and says that if a candidate or his proposer fails to furnish or gives false or conceals any information in his nomination paper on issues like pending criminal cases then the person may be awarded six months' jail term or fine or both.

Ukey had initially moved a magisterial court, which had dismissed his complaint against Fadnavis on September 7, 2015.

Later, he moved the sessions court, which remanded the matter to the magisterial court for a "de novo" (afresh) consideration.

Aggrieved by the sessions court order, Fadnavis had moved the high court which, on May 3, 2018, set it aside.

Ukey alleged that Fadnavis had failed to disclose the pendency of two criminal cases against him in his election affidavit filed in 2014.

The two complaints of alleged cheating and forgery were filed against Fadnavis in 1996 and 1998 but charges were not framed.

In a setback to former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Supreme Court dismissed his plea seeking review of its 2019 verdict asking him to face trial for allegedly failing to furnish details of two pending criminal cases against him in his 2014 poll affidavit.

In a setback to former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Supreme Court dismissed his plea seeking review of its 2019 verdict asking him to face trial for allegedly failing to furnish details of two pending criminal cases against him in his 2014 poll affidavit. Also Read:Devendra Fadnavis sanctions Rs 5,380 crores for rain-affected farmers A three-judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said that there was no ground to review the verdict pronounced last year. Also Read:Democracy is being murdered in West Bengal: Devendra Fadnavis on clashes during Amit Shah rally "We find no ground to interfere in the review petitions. The same is dismissed," said the bench also comprising justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose. The order was passed on February 18 but it was uploaded on the apex court website on Tuesday. While seeking review of the 2019 verdict, Fadnavis had told the court that there was a "clear error" in the apex court's judgement as the law stipulates for disclosure of details about criminal cases only if charges are framed and on conviction. In its October 1, 2019 judgment, the apex court had set aside a Bombay High Court order which gave a clean chit to Fadnavis and held that he did not deserve to be tried for the alleged offence under the Representation of Peoples Act (RPA). The verdict had come on an appeal by one Satish Ukey, who had challenged the high court's order. The apex court had last year revived a criminal complaint filed against Fadnavis for allegedly failing to furnish details of two pending criminal cases in his 2014 election affidavit and had asked the trial court to consider it afresh. The top court had allowed the appeal by Ukey, who had filed a criminal complaint against Fadnavis before a magisterial court in Nagpur, seeking registration of a case against him under section 125-A of the RP Act. Section 125-A of the RP Act deals with the penalty for "filing false affidavit" and says that if a candidate or his proposer fails to furnish or gives false or conceals any information in his nomination paper on issues like pending criminal cases then the person may be awarded six months' jail term or fine or both. Ukey had initially moved a magisterial court, which had dismissed his complaint against Fadnavis on September 7, 2015. Later, he moved the sessions court, which remanded the matter to the magisterial court for a "de novo" (afresh) consideration. Aggrieved by the sessions court order, Fadnavis had moved the high court which, on May 3, 2018, set it aside. Ukey alleged that Fadnavis had failed to disclose the pendency of two criminal cases against him in his election affidavit filed in 2014. The two complaints of alleged cheating and forgery were filed against Fadnavis in 1996 and 1998 but charges were not framed.

SC dismisses plea of Devendra Fadnavis seeking review of 2019 verdict

The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on a batch of pleas seeking an independent probe into the alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud had on March 16 reserved the judgment on the pleas.

The Maharashtra government had argued in the apex court that all pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death were motivated and aimed at targeting "one individual" in the guise of upholding the rule of law.

It had come down heavily on alleged accusations, bullying and browbeating of judges in the top court by some activist lawyers in the Loya case and said that the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments.

Meanwhile, those seeking an independent probe into the matter had referred to the sequence of events to highlight that a fair investigation was needed to rule out any foul play in the death.

The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loya's son had on January 14 said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes.&nbsp

In the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, BJP president Amit Shah along with Rajasthan home minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande, additional director general of police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and N K Amin have already been discharged.

Several accused, including police personnel, are currently facing trial for their involvement in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati in Gujarat in November 2005. The case was later transferred to CBI and the trial shifted to Mumbai.

A batch of pleas, including those filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala and Maharashtra-based B S Lone, was filed in the top court seeking an independent probe into Loya's death in 2014.

Four senior-most apex court judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- at their January 12 press conference had questioned the manner in which sensitive cases were being allocated and Loya's case was one of them.

Loya, who had been hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, had died in mysterious circumstances in December 2014

The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on a batch of pleas seeking an independent probe into the alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud had on March 16 reserved the judgment on the pleas. The Maharashtra government had argued in the apex court that all pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death were motivated and aimed at targeting "one individual" in the guise of upholding the rule of law. It had come down heavily on alleged accusations, bullying and browbeating of judges in the top court by some activist lawyers in the Loya case and said that the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments. Meanwhile, those seeking an independent probe into the matter had referred to the sequence of events to highlight that a fair investigation was needed to rule out any foul play in the death. The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loya's son had on January 14 said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. In the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, BJP president Amit Shah along with Rajasthan home minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande, additional director general of police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and N K Amin have already been discharged. Several accused, including police personnel, are currently facing trial for their involvement in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati in Gujarat in November 2005. The case was later transferred to CBI and the trial shifted to Mumbai. A batch of pleas, including those filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala and Maharashtra-based B S Lone, was filed in the top court seeking an independent probe into Loya's death in 2014. Four senior-most apex court judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- at their January 12 press conference had questioned the manner in which sensitive cases were being allocated and Loya's case was one of them.

Judge Loya death case: SC likely to decide today on independent probe

Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi held talks in Baghdad with America&#39;s top military officer today, discussing plans to oust the Islamic State group from second city Mosul, his office said. 
 
Washington is leading an international coalition that is carrying out air strikes against IS as well as providing training, advice and other support to Iraqi forces.&nbsp;Abadi and general Joseph Dunford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, discussed boosting &quot;cooperation between the two countries in the fields of training and arming, ongoing international coalition support for Iraq... and plans to liberate Mosul,&quot; a statement said. 
 
Iraqi forces are conducting operations to set the stage for an assault on Mosul, which has been held by IS since June 2014, but the final push to retake it is likely still months away.&nbsp;Defence minister Khalid al-Obeidi has said that IS leaders and their families have sold their belongings and fled the city as Iraqi forces close in. 
 
Mosul is the last city held by IS in Iraq, but retaking it poses a major challenge, and the operation could unleash a humanitarian crisis unless plans are made for people who would likely flee the fighting. 
 
The Red Cross has said it believes that up to a million Iraqis could be displaced in the coming months by fighting against IS, including the operation to recapture Mosul.&nbsp;IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but has since lost significant ground to Iraqi forces. 
 
(AFP)

Iraqi forces along with international coalition group are conducting operations to liberate Mosul, which has been held by IS since June 2014

Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi held talks in Baghdad with America's top military officer today, discussing plans to oust the Islamic State group from second city Mosul, his office said. Washington is leading an international coalition that is carrying out air strikes against IS as well as providing training, advice and other support to Iraqi forces. Abadi and general Joseph Dunford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, discussed boosting "cooperation between the two countries in the fields of training and arming, ongoing international coalition support for Iraq... and plans to liberate Mosul," a statement said. Iraqi forces are conducting operations to set the stage for an assault on Mosul, which has been held by IS since June 2014, but the final push to retake it is likely still months away. Defence minister Khalid al-Obeidi has said that IS leaders and their families have sold their belongings and fled the city as Iraqi forces close in. Mosul is the last city held by IS in Iraq, but retaking it poses a major challenge, and the operation could unleash a humanitarian crisis unless plans are made for people who would likely flee the fighting. The Red Cross has said it believes that up to a million Iraqis could be displaced in the coming months by fighting against IS, including the operation to recapture Mosul. IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but has since lost significant ground to Iraqi forces. (AFP)

Iraq PM talks about defeating IS with top US officer

Lewis Hamilton extended his lead in the Formula One drivers championship to 19 points after winning the German Grand Prix with ease today, with Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg only fourth. 
 
Rosberg surrendered his lead from pole to the Briton, who stormed away to claim his sixth win in seven races and strengthen his grip in the title chase. 
 
Second was Daniel Ricciardo, with Max Verstappen, his Red Bull teammate, third. 
 
Reigning world champion Hamilton took full advantage of a poor start by Rosberg, who also received a five second pit-stop penalty for an over-aggressive passing move, to deliver a flawless drive. 
 
&ldquo;Get in there, Lewis,&rdquo; said his team engineer over the radio. &ldquo;Great work, mate, a beautiful start and fantastically managed.&rdquo; 
 
The Briton responded: &ldquo;As always, thanks to you all, brilliant pit stops and now have a well-deserved summer break.&rdquo; 
 
For Rosberg, who was seeking to repeat his 2014 triumph, it ended up as a day of disappointment on home soil. 
 
The home fans at Hockenheim had another German to cheer as four-time champion Sebastian Vettel finished fifth ahead of his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen and compatriot Nico Hulkenberg, who was seventh on home turf for Force India. 
 
Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, finished eighth ahead of Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India. 
 
&quot;What a race,&quot; Hamilton, who started second on the grid, told the crowd from the podium. &quot;Big thank you to the team, who did an amazing job. &quot;I didn&#39;t make any mistakes. Yesterday was not perfect, but you learn from those things.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

It ended up as a day of disappointment for Nico Rosberg, who was seeking to repeat his 2014 triumph on home soil

Lewis Hamilton extended his lead in the Formula One drivers championship to 19 points after winning the German Grand Prix with ease today, with Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg only fourth. Rosberg surrendered his lead from pole to the Briton, who stormed away to claim his sixth win in seven races and strengthen his grip in the title chase. Second was Daniel Ricciardo, with Max Verstappen, his Red Bull teammate, third. Reigning world champion Hamilton took full advantage of a poor start by Rosberg, who also received a five second pit-stop penalty for an over-aggressive passing move, to deliver a flawless drive. “Get in there, Lewis,” said his team engineer over the radio. “Great work, mate, a beautiful start and fantastically managed.” The Briton responded: “As always, thanks to you all, brilliant pit stops and now have a well-deserved summer break.” For Rosberg, who was seeking to repeat his 2014 triumph, it ended up as a day of disappointment on home soil. The home fans at Hockenheim had another German to cheer as four-time champion Sebastian Vettel finished fifth ahead of his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen and compatriot Nico Hulkenberg, who was seventh on home turf for Force India. Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, finished eighth ahead of Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India. "What a race," Hamilton, who started second on the grid, told the crowd from the podium. "Big thank you to the team, who did an amazing job. "I didn't make any mistakes. Yesterday was not perfect, but you learn from those things." (AFP)

Lewis Hamilton wins German Grand Prix

Hong Kong&#39;s 2014 pro-democracy &quot;Umbrella Revolution&quot; was re-imagined as a zombie apocalypse by gamemakers who transformed politicians and protesters into the walking dead using virtual reality (VR) technology at a comic and games expo on Friday. 
 
Teenagers and video game enthusiasts packed the Ani-Com show at the city&#39;s harbourfront convention centre and queued for &quot;Hong Kong Infected&quot;, where they shot down protesters and police officers who had been afflicted by an unknown contagion. 
 
In late 2014, tens of thousands took part in a mass pro-democracy rally, dubbed the &quot;Umbrella Revolution&quot; which paralysed the city for more than two months, with residents calling on Beijing to allow fully free elections of future leaders. 
 
The rally exploded on September 28 of that year when police fired tear gas to disperse crowds.But in the virtual reality parallel universe, they were turned into zombies. 
 
&quot;(In the game) there is a mysterious gas released at that time when protesters are being dispersed,&quot; Elphonso Lam, art director for production house YYY Industry which created the game, told AFP. 
 
&quot;You can imagine how scary it would be as the protesters, police and even lawmakers turn into zombies,&quot; Lam said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We wanted to make a record of what Hong Kongers have experienced, so we used this topic,&quot; he said, adding that very few local productions would be willing to touch upon such a sensitive issue.&nbsp;The game was designed for the virtual reality platform and players got their first look at the show. 
 
Players also have to gun down &quot;the boss&quot;, an enlarged, zombified version of a pro-Beijing lawmaker, in a three-dimensional re-creation of the area near the government headquarters where the protests were held. 
 
The game is expected to be released next year along with a feature-length film and a comic series on the same storyline. 
 
Player Flan Lau, 24, who along with other players wore an Oculus VR headset and held up a mock gun to play the demo, said the experience was better than traditional video games. 
 
&quot;If you are unable to experience a three-dimensional environment... there is a difference,&quot; the subway technician told AFP. 
 
Sony also displayed their newest VR kit, which will launch in October with their PS4 gaming console, to the exhibition. 
 
&quot;Everybody is talking about VR...I believe this trend will totally change the gaming industry,&quot; Sony Marketing Communication for Hong Kong assistant general manager Jacqueline Chiu said. 
 
Players donning VR headsets at Sony`s Playstation booth beat up baddies as Batman in &quot;Batman: Arkham VR&quot;, while others carried out robberies in &quot;The London Heist&quot;. 
 
The Ani-Com show is one of the biggest of its kind in Asia, where teenagers and video game lovers go to buy limited editions of toy figures and wear costumes mimicking their favourite comic book heroes. 
 
(AFP)

A virtual reality game, featuring in this year's Ani-Com, intends to show what Hong Kong went through during the 2014 protests

Hong Kong's 2014 pro-democracy "Umbrella Revolution" was re-imagined as a zombie apocalypse by gamemakers who transformed politicians and protesters into the walking dead using virtual reality (VR) technology at a comic and games expo on Friday. Teenagers and video game enthusiasts packed the Ani-Com show at the city's harbourfront convention centre and queued for "Hong Kong Infected", where they shot down protesters and police officers who had been afflicted by an unknown contagion. In late 2014, tens of thousands took part in a mass pro-democracy rally, dubbed the "Umbrella Revolution" which paralysed the city for more than two months, with residents calling on Beijing to allow fully free elections of future leaders. The rally exploded on September 28 of that year when police fired tear gas to disperse crowds.But in the virtual reality parallel universe, they were turned into zombies. "(In the game) there is a mysterious gas released at that time when protesters are being dispersed," Elphonso Lam, art director for production house YYY Industry which created the game, told AFP. "You can imagine how scary it would be as the protesters, police and even lawmakers turn into zombies," Lam said. "We wanted to make a record of what Hong Kongers have experienced, so we used this topic," he said, adding that very few local productions would be willing to touch upon such a sensitive issue. The game was designed for the virtual reality platform and players got their first look at the show. Players also have to gun down "the boss", an enlarged, zombified version of a pro-Beijing lawmaker, in a three-dimensional re-creation of the area near the government headquarters where the protests were held. The game is expected to be released next year along with a feature-length film and a comic series on the same storyline. Player Flan Lau, 24, who along with other players wore an Oculus VR headset and held up a mock gun to play the demo, said the experience was better than traditional video games. "If you are unable to experience a three-dimensional environment... there is a difference," the subway technician told AFP. Sony also displayed their newest VR kit, which will launch in October with their PS4 gaming console, to the exhibition. "Everybody is talking about VR...I believe this trend will totally change the gaming industry," Sony Marketing Communication for Hong Kong assistant general manager Jacqueline Chiu said. Players donning VR headsets at Sony`s Playstation booth beat up baddies as Batman in "Batman: Arkham VR", while others carried out robberies in "The London Heist". The Ani-Com show is one of the biggest of its kind in Asia, where teenagers and video game lovers go to buy limited editions of toy figures and wear costumes mimicking their favourite comic book heroes. (AFP)

Zombies take over Hong Kong's Umbrella Revolution at gaming show

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali has been hospitalised for a respiratory issue, family spokesman Bob Gunnell said yesterday.

Gunnell said in a statement that Ali was in fair condition but a brief hospital stay was expected.

Ali, 74, has been suffering from Parkinson&#39;s disease for more than three decades. His last public appearance was in April at the &#39;Celebrity Fight Night&#39; gala in Arizona, a charity that benefits the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.

At the height of his career, Ali was known for his dancing feet and quick fists and his ability, as he put it, to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

Ali, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, has suffered health problems in recent years and was admitted to hospital in December 2014 with what was believed to be a mild case of pneumonia.

Doctors later determined he had suffered a severe urinary tract infection, for which he received further treatment in January 2015.

Nicknamed &quot;The Greatest,&quot; Ali retired from boxing in 1981 with a 56-5 record. Ali&#39;s diagnosis of Parkinson&#39;s came about three years after he retired.

Ali, born in Louisville, Kentucky, as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr, changed his name in 1964 after his conversion to Islam. He is married to Yolanda Williams, who knew him when she was a child in his hometown.

In December 2014, Ali had to be hospitalised for a mild case of pneumonia. In recent years, the 74-year old has kept a very low profile

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali has been hospitalised for a respiratory issue, family spokesman Bob Gunnell said yesterday. Gunnell said in a statement that Ali was in fair condition but a brief hospital stay was expected. Ali, 74, has been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than three decades. His last public appearance was in April at the 'Celebrity Fight Night' gala in Arizona, a charity that benefits the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. At the height of his career, Ali was known for his dancing feet and quick fists and his ability, as he put it, to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Ali, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, has suffered health problems in recent years and was admitted to hospital in December 2014 with what was believed to be a mild case of pneumonia. Doctors later determined he had suffered a severe urinary tract infection, for which he received further treatment in January 2015. Nicknamed "The Greatest," Ali retired from boxing in 1981 with a 56-5 record. Ali's diagnosis of Parkinson's came about three years after he retired. Ali, born in Louisville, Kentucky, as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr, changed his name in 1964 after his conversion to Islam. He is married to Yolanda Williams, who knew him when she was a child in his hometown.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali hospitalised with respiratory ailment

Singer Christina Grimmie, the former contestant on television singing contest &quot;The Voice&quot;, died after being shot at a concert in Orlando, said police on social media. 
 
Grimmie was signing autographs with band members of Before You Exit, with whom she performed earlier, when a gunman approached and opened fire before her brother tackled him at the Plaza Live music venue, said the Orlando Police Department on Twitter. 
 
Grimmie died due to her injuries, said the authorities in a post early Saturday. 
 
The assailant shot and killed himself, police tweeted. 
 
Grimmie placed third during the 2014 season of the &quot;The Voice,&quot; a singing competition on NBC. 
 
&quot;We are heartbroken&quot;, The Voice tweeted.

Gunman opens fire as Grimmie was signing autographs after a performance, shocking fans

Singer Christina Grimmie, the former contestant on television singing contest "The Voice", died after being shot at a concert in Orlando, said police on social media. Grimmie was signing autographs with band members of Before You Exit, with whom she performed earlier, when a gunman approached and opened fire before her brother tackled him at the Plaza Live music venue, said the Orlando Police Department on Twitter. Grimmie died due to her injuries, said the authorities in a post early Saturday. The assailant shot and killed himself, police tweeted. Grimmie placed third during the 2014 season of the "The Voice," a singing competition on NBC. "We are heartbroken", The Voice tweeted.

The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie is dead after Orlando concert shooting

Singer Christina Grimmie, the former contestant on television singing contest &quot;The Voice&quot;, was in a critical condition on Friday&nbsp;after being shot at a concert in Orlando, said&nbsp;police on social media. 
 
Grimmie was signing autographs with band members of Before You Exit, with whom she performed earlier, when a gunman approached and opened fire before her brother tackled him at the Plaza Live music venue, said&nbsp;the Orlando Police Department on Twitter. 
 
The assailant shot and killed himself, police tweeted. 
 
The authorities said that it knew Grimmie&#39;s fans wanted as much information as possible, and it would provide updates as the investigation unfolds. 
 
Grimmie placed third during the 2014 season of the &quot;The Voice,&quot; a singing competition on NBC. 
 
&quot;We are heartbroken&quot;, The Voice tweeted.

Grimmie, who finished third as a contestant during the 2014 season of 'The Voice', was in critical condition

Singer Christina Grimmie, the former contestant on television singing contest "The Voice", was in a critical condition on Friday after being shot at a concert in Orlando, said police on social media. Grimmie was signing autographs with band members of Before You Exit, with whom she performed earlier, when a gunman approached and opened fire before her brother tackled him at the Plaza Live music venue, said the Orlando Police Department on Twitter. The assailant shot and killed himself, police tweeted. The authorities said that it knew Grimmie's fans wanted as much information as possible, and it would provide updates as the investigation unfolds. Grimmie placed third during the 2014 season of the "The Voice," a singing competition on NBC. "We are heartbroken", The Voice tweeted.

The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie shot in Orlando concert

The latest outbreak of Ebola in Guinea has ended, the World Health Organization said today, warning that a recurrence of the killer tropical disease still remained a threat.&nbsp; 
The last known Ebola patient in the west African country was discharged from hospital in April.&nbsp; 
WHO has declared the end to an outbreak, also known as the end to viral transmission, 42 days after the last known patient was tested negative for the second time.&nbsp; 
&quot;WHO commends the Government of Guinea and its people on ending this Ebola outbreak,&quot; said Abou Bekr Gaye, the UN agency`s representative in Guinea.&nbsp; 
He called for vigilance to &quot;stop any new cases that may occur.&quot; 
In the three countries hit hardest by the Ebola crisis -- Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone -- fresh cases emerged after an outbreak was declared over.&nbsp; 
The worst-ever Ebola epidemic began in Guinea in December 2013 and went on to kill more than 11,300 people, devastating economies and health systems in the worst affected countries, while testing the world`s capacity to respond to a global health emergency.&nbsp;

An outbreak of Ebola virus in Guinea, which was earlier confined to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, was the first ever outbreak in a west African country. Since March 2014, West Africa has had the largest outbreak in history, with countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea being the worst affected.

The latest outbreak of Ebola in Guinea has ended, the World Health Organization said today, warning that a recurrence of the killer tropical disease still remained a threat. The last known Ebola patient in the west African country was discharged from hospital in April. WHO has declared the end to an outbreak, also known as the end to viral transmission, 42 days after the last known patient was tested negative for the second time. "WHO commends the Government of Guinea and its people on ending this Ebola outbreak," said Abou Bekr Gaye, the UN agency`s representative in Guinea. He called for vigilance to "stop any new cases that may occur." In the three countries hit hardest by the Ebola crisis -- Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone -- fresh cases emerged after an outbreak was declared over. The worst-ever Ebola epidemic began in Guinea in December 2013 and went on to kill more than 11,300 people, devastating economies and health systems in the worst affected countries, while testing the world`s capacity to respond to a global health emergency.

Latest Ebola outbreak in Guinea is over: WHO

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