Police officials fired tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border on Tuesday to stop them from marching to the capital city to hold protests after the five-hour meeting with the cabinet ministers a day before remained inconclusive. The protesters have been pressing for a law guaranteeing minimum support price&nbsp;for crops, loan waiver and other demands.

The protesting farmers tried to move towards the barricade in their efforts to&nbsp;cross over the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border and even forcibly removed the cement barricades with their tractors.

As the police continued to fire&nbsp;multiple rounds of tear gas, protesting farmers dispersed and entered inside farmlands on the&nbsp;border. The protesters were later detained by Haryana Police at Shambu border amid chaos.&nbsp;Stones were&nbsp;being pelted at security personnel by protesting farmers,&nbsp;said a&nbsp;Haryana Police spokesperson.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Haryana Police detain protestors at Shambu border as chaos breaks out during farmers' movement towards Delhi to press for their various demands <a href="https://t.co/EgtaOABJKx">pic.twitter.com/EgtaOABJKx</a>
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The ministers failed to reach any resolution on the&nbsp;main demands of the farmers, one of them being a&nbsp;law to guarantee a Minimum Support Price for all crops.&nbsp;India's Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, along with Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal held the meeting with the farmers.&nbsp;

After 11 pm local time on Feb 12 (Monday), both sides agreed to repeal the Electricity Act 2020 and also decided on the withdrawal of cases filed against farmers during the movement as well as compensation to farmers who were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

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The protesters are demanding a law guaranteeing MSP for crops. <a href="https://t.co/TRCI8gZ2M9">pic.twitter.com/TRCI8gZ2M9</a>
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However, they failed to reach a consensus on three key demands - farmer loan waiver, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations and enactment of a law for guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price for all crops.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-haryana-government-suspends-internet-services-in-several-districts-ahead-of-farmers-march-689064">India: Haryana government suspends internet services in several districts ahead of farmers' march</a>

After the meeting came to an end, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee's Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that the 'Delhi Chalo' march was on.&nbsp;

"Two years ago, the government had promised to meet half of our demands in writing... We wanted to resolve the issue peacefully. But the government is not sincere. They just want to waste time," said a farmers' representative&nbsp;while speaking to the reporters.

<h2>How Farmer&nbsp;Protest 2.0 differs from the 2020 stir?</h2>

In 2020, the farmers were protesting against the three laws which were finally repealed in 2021.

In 2023, 'Delhi Chalo' was announced with the demand of a legal guarantee to MSP for all crops, full debt waiver for farmers, the implementation of Swaminathan Commission's formula,&nbsp;withdrawal of cases filed against farmers during the 2020-21 protest, and pension for farmers and labourers.&nbsp;

Various unions have been spearheading the farmers'&nbsp;protest 2.0 as the landscape of the farmers' unions has changed in the last few years.

Delhi Chalo 2.0 has been announced by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha and Bharatiya Kisan Union, which led the 2020 protest of the farmers, went through turbulence and split into several factions.

Watch:&nbsp;India: More than 200 farmers' union announce March on Feb 13, police impose precautionary measures

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Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Charuni were the two main leaders who led the 2020 protest. However, they are missing from the&nbsp;protest this year so far.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee&nbsp;and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, leader of SKM (non-political) are at the forefront now.

In 2020, the farmers had entered the national capital. However, this time the administration has adopted strict pre-emptive measures to stop them from entering Delhi.&nbsp;

They have used nails on roads, cement barricades and barbed wire to block all routes to Delhi. The government has imposed Section 144 across the capital. The Haryana government has also sealed its borders along with Punjab.

The negotiation process before the start of the farmers' Delhi Chalo march was initiated by the government but remained unfruitful. The farmers' protest becomes crucial as general elections are just few months away. 
 
Meanwhile, commuters in&nbsp;Delhi-NCR bore the brunt of the farmers' protest as traffic slowed to a crawl amid heavy barricading at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders.

(With inputs from agencies)

Police officials fired tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border on Tuesday to stop them from marching to the capital city to hold protests after the five-hour meeting with the cabinet ministers a day before remained inconclusive.

Police officials fired tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border on Tuesday to stop them from marching to the capital city to hold protests after the five-hour meeting with the cabinet ministers a day before remained inconclusive. The protesters have been pressing for a law guaranteeing minimum support price for crops, loan waiver and other demands. The protesting farmers tried to move towards the barricade in their efforts to cross over the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border and even forcibly removed the cement barricades with their tractors. As the police continued to fire multiple rounds of tear gas, protesting farmers dispersed and entered inside farmlands on the border. The protesters were later detained by Haryana Police at Shambu border amid chaos. Stones were being pelted at security personnel by protesting farmers, said a Haryana Police spokesperson. #WATCH | Haryana Police detain protestors at Shambu border as chaos breaks out during farmers' movement towards Delhi to press for their various demands pic.twitter.com/EgtaOABJKx — ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 × The ministers failed to reach any resolution on the main demands of the farmers, one of them being a law to guarantee a Minimum Support Price for all crops. India's Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, along with Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal held the meeting with the farmers. After 11 pm local time on Feb 12 (Monday), both sides agreed to repeal the Electricity Act 2020 and also decided on the withdrawal of cases filed against farmers during the movement as well as compensation to farmers who were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri in the state of Uttar Pradesh. #WATCH | Police fire tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. pic.twitter.com/LNpKPqdTR4 — ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 × #WATCH | Police fire tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. The protesters are demanding a law guaranteeing MSP for crops. pic.twitter.com/TRCI8gZ2M9 — ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024 × However, they failed to reach a consensus on three key demands - farmer loan waiver, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations and enactment of a law for guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price for all crops. Also Read: India: Haryana government suspends internet services in several districts ahead of farmers' march After the meeting came to an end, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee's Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that the 'Delhi Chalo' march was on. "Two years ago, the government had promised to meet half of our demands in writing... We wanted to resolve the issue peacefully. But the government is not sincere. They just want to waste time," said a farmers' representative while speaking to the reporters. How Farmer Protest 2.0 differs from the 2020 stir? In 2020, the farmers were protesting against the three laws which were finally repealed in 2021. In 2023, 'Delhi Chalo' was announced with the demand of a legal guarantee to MSP for all crops, full debt waiver for farmers, the implementation of Swaminathan Commission's formula, withdrawal of cases filed against farmers during the 2020-21 protest, and pension for farmers and labourers. Various unions have been spearheading the farmers' protest 2.0 as the landscape of the farmers' unions has changed in the last few years. Delhi Chalo 2.0 has been announced by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Samyukt Kisan Morcha and Bharatiya Kisan Union, which led the 2020 protest of the farmers, went through turbulence and split into several factions. Watch: India: More than 200 farmers' union announce March on Feb 13, police impose precautionary measures Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Charuni were the two main leaders who led the 2020 protest. However, they are missing from the protest this year so far. Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, leader of SKM (non-political) are at the forefront now. In 2020, the farmers had entered the national capital. However, this time the administration has adopted strict pre-emptive measures to stop them from entering Delhi. They have used nails on roads, cement barricades and barbed wire to block all routes to Delhi. The government has imposed Section 144 across the capital. The Haryana government has also sealed its borders along with Punjab. The negotiation process before the start of the farmers' Delhi Chalo march was initiated by the government but remained unfruitful. The farmers' protest becomes crucial as general elections are just few months away. Meanwhile, commuters in Delhi-NCR bore the brunt of the farmers' protest as traffic slowed to a crawl amid heavy barricading at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders. (With inputs from agencies)

Farmers’ protest: Chaos at Delhi borders amid tear gas firing, stone pelting; cops detain many protesters

UN human rights chief&nbsp;Volker Turk on Monday (September 11) urged for an international investigation into the&nbsp;2020 Beirut port blast that killed 178 people. The Beirut port blast on August 4, 2020 "ripped the city to shreds" exacerbating the socio-economic crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As per reports, the blast is thought to have been set off by a fire at a warehouse. It detonated ammonium nitrate, hundreds of tonnes.

There were over 178 people who lost their lives in the catastrophe. The blast left over 6,500 injured while 300,000 people became homeless. There was massive infrastructure damage that plagued the country ever since.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-protests-ethiopias-gerd-filling-labels-move-illegal-634846">Egypt protests Ethiopia's Nile dam filling, labels move 'Illegal'</a>

Turk flagged that there was zero accountability for the blast and that the devastating incident needed to be looked into. "Three years after the Beirut explosion... there has been no accountability,"&nbsp;Turk told the United Nations Human Rights Council. "It may therefore be time to consider an international fact-finding mission to look into human rights violations related to this tragedy," he added.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-saudi-arabia-are-in-dialogue-to-secure-metals-in-africa-report-634827">US, Saudi Arabia are in dialogue to secure metals in Africa: Report</a>

Important health infrastructure damaging the medical supplies. The human rights condition of the people of Lebanon is "more vulnerable than ever before". Over 1 million people living below the poverty line and 1.5 million refugees.

<h2>Beirut blast</h2>

The&nbsp;ammonium nitrate shipment was originally Mozambique-bound. It was on a Russian-leased ship. It is worth noting that the chemicals had been at the port since 2013. After that, it was unloaded in the process of an unscheduled stop. Up until now, no one has claimed responsibility for the shipment that detonated leading to the disastrous incident. The dispute is over unpaid fees and defects, as per Reuters news agency.&nbsp;

Watch | Morocco Earthquake: Death toll rises to over 2,122 rescue operation underway

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According to an FBI investigation,&nbsp;one-fifth of the 2,754 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that was unloaded in 2013 was detonated. This has led to some reports saying that the majority of the cargo went missing. The blast was so massive that it resulted in a humongous cloud over Beirut city.

The tremors of the blast were also felt 250 km (155 miles) away in Cyprus. The cargo was not unknown, as several Lebanese officials, including then-president Michel Aoun and then-prime minister Hassan Diab was aware of it.

In a 2021 report,&nbsp;Human Rights Watch blamed the government saying that officials "foresaw the significant threat to life ... and tacitly accepted the risk of deaths occurring".

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UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Monday (September 11) urged for an international investigation into the 2020 Beirut port blast that killed 178 people. The Beirut port blast on August 4, 2020 "ripped the city to shreds" exacerbating the socio-economic crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Monday (September 11) urged for an international investigation into the 2020 Beirut port blast that killed 178 people. The Beirut port blast on August 4, 2020 "ripped the city to shreds" exacerbating the socio-economic crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As per reports, the blast is thought to have been set off by a fire at a warehouse. It detonated ammonium nitrate, hundreds of tonnes. There were over 178 people who lost their lives in the catastrophe. The blast left over 6,500 injured while 300,000 people became homeless. There was massive infrastructure damage that plagued the country ever since. Also Read | Egypt protests Ethiopia's Nile dam filling, labels move 'Illegal' Turk flagged that there was zero accountability for the blast and that the devastating incident needed to be looked into. "Three years after the Beirut explosion... there has been no accountability," Turk told the United Nations Human Rights Council. "It may therefore be time to consider an international fact-finding mission to look into human rights violations related to this tragedy," he added. Also Read | US, Saudi Arabia are in dialogue to secure metals in Africa: Report Important health infrastructure damaging the medical supplies. The human rights condition of the people of Lebanon is "more vulnerable than ever before". Over 1 million people living below the poverty line and 1.5 million refugees. Beirut blast The ammonium nitrate shipment was originally Mozambique-bound. It was on a Russian-leased ship. It is worth noting that the chemicals had been at the port since 2013. After that, it was unloaded in the process of an unscheduled stop. Up until now, no one has claimed responsibility for the shipment that detonated leading to the disastrous incident. The dispute is over unpaid fees and defects, as per Reuters news agency. Watch | Morocco Earthquake: Death toll rises to over 2,122 rescue operation underway × According to an FBI investigation, one-fifth of the 2,754 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that was unloaded in 2013 was detonated. This has led to some reports saying that the majority of the cargo went missing. The blast was so massive that it resulted in a humongous cloud over Beirut city. The tremors of the blast were also felt 250 km (155 miles) away in Cyprus. The cargo was not unknown, as several Lebanese officials, including then-president Michel Aoun and then-prime minister Hassan Diab was aware of it. In a 2021 report, Human Rights Watch blamed the government saying that officials "foresaw the significant threat to life ... and tacitly accepted the risk of deaths occurring". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

'No accountability': UN rights chief calls for international probe in 2020 Beirut blast

For the first time since 2020's second quarter, the economy of South Korea shrank in October-December as exports crashed while spending of consumers dipped due to inflation in interest rates, stated the central bank of the country on Thursday.&nbsp;

The Bank of Korea stated that in the last year's final quarter, the country's gross domestic product contracted by 0.4 per cent compared to the previous quarter.

The report of economic shrink comes after the borrowing costs were hiked for the tenth time by the Bank of Korea in a period of 18 months in early January, so as to tame inflation.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-korea-plan-coordinated-response-against-north-koreas-nuclear-threat-549144">US, South Korea plan 'coordinated response' against North Korea's nuclear threat</a>

The economic figures can force monetary policymakers to decrease their pace of hikes, as central banks across the world are trying to slow their tightening moves as the effects of steps adopted last years kicks in.&nbsp;

However, the Bank of Korea's major concern continues to be inflation which hit five per cent in December.

"Private consumption fell 0.4 per cent due to a decrease in consumption of goods and services, (including) home appliances, clothing, accommodation, food and entertainment," stated the central bank, in a statement.

"Exports decreased by 5.8 per cent mainly in semiconductors and chemicals," the bank added.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: South Korea retaliates after Kim's 'air invasion'

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In the quarter, imports declined by 4.6 per cent because of a decrease in imports of crude oil and basic metals, the bank stated.&nbsp;

The economy still increased by 1.4 per cent on-year in the quarter and marked an increase of 2.6 per cent in the complete year of 2022.&nbsp;

As per the estimates of the central bank, the economy of the country will grow by 1.7 per cent in 2023 and inflation will increase by 3.6 per cent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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For the first time since 2020's second quarter, the economy of South Korea shrank in October-December as exports crashed while spending of consumers dipped due to inflation in interest rates, stated the central bank of the country on Thursday.

For the first time since 2020's second quarter, the economy of South Korea shrank in October-December as exports crashed while spending of consumers dipped due to inflation in interest rates, stated the central bank of the country on Thursday. The Bank of Korea stated that in the last year's final quarter, the country's gross domestic product contracted by 0.4 per cent compared to the previous quarter. The report of economic shrink comes after the borrowing costs were hiked for the tenth time by the Bank of Korea in a period of 18 months in early January, so as to tame inflation. ALSO READ | US, South Korea plan 'coordinated response' against North Korea's nuclear threat The economic figures can force monetary policymakers to decrease their pace of hikes, as central banks across the world are trying to slow their tightening moves as the effects of steps adopted last years kicks in. However, the Bank of Korea's major concern continues to be inflation which hit five per cent in December. "Private consumption fell 0.4 per cent due to a decrease in consumption of goods and services, (including) home appliances, clothing, accommodation, food and entertainment," stated the central bank, in a statement. "Exports decreased by 5.8 per cent mainly in semiconductors and chemicals," the bank added. WATCH | Gravitas: South Korea retaliates after Kim's 'air invasion' In the quarter, imports declined by 4.6 per cent because of a decrease in imports of crude oil and basic metals, the bank stated. The economy still increased by 1.4 per cent on-year in the quarter and marked an increase of 2.6 per cent in the complete year of 2022. As per the estimates of the central bank, the economy of the country will grow by 1.7 per cent in 2023 and inflation will increase by 3.6 per cent. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

South Korea records first economic contraction since early 2020

In a rare event, a Russian submarine, which was being tracked by a UK naval warship on patrol in the North Atlantic over a year ago, had hit a sonar the vessel it was towing, said the UK Ministry of Defence. &nbsp;

In a statement on Thursday, a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said, "In late 2020, a Russian submarine being tracked by HMS Northumberland came into contact with her towed array sonar." &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-progress-with-russia-so-long-as-gun-to-ukraines-head-blinken-442529" hreflang="en">No progress with Russia so long as 'gun to Ukraine's head': Blinken</a>

The statement said, "The Royal Navy regularly tracks foreign ships and submarines in order to ensure the defence of the United Kingdom." &nbsp;

A towed array sonar is a sensor, which is spooled out by a ship on deployment. &nbsp;

The HMS Northumberland had carried out a "vital mission to protect UK waters and the nation's nuclear deterrent" in 2020, as per the British Royal Navy. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-uk-battles-omicron-wave-1-in-15-infected-with-covid-19-in-england-442603" hreflang="en">As UK battles Omicron wave, 1 in 15 infected with COVID-19 in England</a>

Meanwhile, Russian President Putin had earlier inaugurated the building of new nuclear submarines and other warships as part of a broad military modernisation effort amid tensions with the West. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The event, which is a mix of war drills and an arms display, was intended to highlight Russian military weapons and lure foreign buyers. King Abdullah II of Jordan, for example, was among those present. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a rare event, a Russian submarine, which was being tracked by a UK naval warship on patrol in the North Atlantic over a year ago, had hit a sonar the vessel it was towing, said the UK Ministry of Defence.

In a rare event, a Russian submarine, which was being tracked by a UK naval warship on patrol in the North Atlantic over a year ago, had hit a sonar the vessel it was towing, said the UK Ministry of Defence. In a statement on Thursday, a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said, "In late 2020, a Russian submarine being tracked by HMS Northumberland came into contact with her towed array sonar." Also Read | No progress with Russia so long as 'gun to Ukraine's head': Blinken The statement said, "The Royal Navy regularly tracks foreign ships and submarines in order to ensure the defence of the United Kingdom." A towed array sonar is a sensor, which is spooled out by a ship on deployment. The HMS Northumberland had carried out a "vital mission to protect UK waters and the nation's nuclear deterrent" in 2020, as per the British Royal Navy. Also Read: As UK battles Omicron wave, 1 in 15 infected with COVID-19 in England Meanwhile, Russian President Putin had earlier inaugurated the building of new nuclear submarines and other warships as part of a broad military modernisation effort amid tensions with the West. The event, which is a mix of war drills and an arms display, was intended to highlight Russian military weapons and lure foreign buyers. King Abdullah II of Jordan, for example, was among those present. (With inputs from agencies)

In rare event, Russian submarine collided with UK warship as it towed array sonar

Feeling like March 2020? Here's how Covid Omicron is affecting entertainment again

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson seems to be facing a tough time nowadays as the leader has been on the receiving end for quite some time. &nbsp;

After revelations were made by a whistleblower to suggest sorry state of affairs at the UK foreign office during Afghan evacuation, now it’s an alleged Christmas party held last year, which has been keeping the prime minister busy. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In the latest development, it has been revealed that the UK leader took part in a Christmas quiz, while sitting between two colleagues in No 10. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The quiz was held last year when indoor household mixing was banned by the government in London. &nbsp;

A picture of PM Johnson at the event has been published by ‘The Sunday Mirror’. It seems to have been held on December 15. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/declining-trust-in-boris-johnson-can-lead-to-increase-in-covid-cases-in-uk-436176">Declining trust in Boris Johnson can lead to increase in Covid cases in UK</a>

The PM "briefly took part virtually in a quiz" to thank employees for their hard work during the coronavirus pandemic, said Downing Street. &nbsp;

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Doc: You cant be with your mum because of Covid. 
 
Me: Please -I need to spend these last days with her 
 
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UK Gov: Let’s Party/Have wine &amp; cheese.<a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BorisJohnson</a> - Her name was Mary. She died last year. 
 
Resign. <a href="https://t.co/Mlv5kJcid3">pic.twitter.com/Mlv5kJcid3</a>
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Reacting to the revelation, Labour party's Angela Rayner said the PM was "unfit to lead this country". &nbsp;

The government has already started a probe into three allegations of gatherings held during Christmas last year. It includes two in Downing Street. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-shot-dead-by-police-after-a-confrontation-near-royal-palace-in-uk-436190" hreflang="en">Man shot dead by police after a confrontation near royal palace in UK</a>

At that time, the official guidance, said, "Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier." &nbsp;&nbsp;

A No10 spokesperson, while responding to the picture, said, "This was a virtual quiz. Downing Street staff were often required to be in the office to work on the pandemic response so those who were in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson seems to be facing a tough time nowadays as the leader has been on the receiving end for quite some time. After revelations were made by a whistleblower to suggest sorry state of affairs at the UK foreign office during Afghan evacuation, now it’s an alleged Christmas party held last year, which has been keeping the prime minister busy.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson seems to be facing a tough time nowadays as the leader has been on the receiving end for quite some time. After revelations were made by a whistleblower to suggest sorry state of affairs at the UK foreign office during Afghan evacuation, now it’s an alleged Christmas party held last year, which has been keeping the prime minister busy. In the latest development, it has been revealed that the UK leader took part in a Christmas quiz, while sitting between two colleagues in No 10. The quiz was held last year when indoor household mixing was banned by the government in London. A picture of PM Johnson at the event has been published by ‘The Sunday Mirror’. It seems to have been held on December 15. Also Read: Declining trust in Boris Johnson can lead to increase in Covid cases in UK The PM "briefly took part virtually in a quiz" to thank employees for their hard work during the coronavirus pandemic, said Downing Street. Doc: You cant be with your mum because of Covid. Me: Please -I need to spend these last days with her My mum: Darlin, it’s okay, we need to do this to keep everyone safe UK Gov: Let’s Party/Have wine & cheese.@BorisJohnson - Her name was Mary. She died last year. Resign. pic.twitter.com/Mlv5kJcid3 — Rev Karen Sethuraman (@KarenSethuraman) December 8, 2021 × Reacting to the revelation, Labour party's Angela Rayner said the PM was "unfit to lead this country". The government has already started a probe into three allegations of gatherings held during Christmas last year. It includes two in Downing Street. Also Read: Man shot dead by police after a confrontation near royal palace in UK At that time, the official guidance, said, "Although there are exemptions for work purposes, you must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier." A No10 spokesperson, while responding to the picture, said, "This was a virtual quiz. Downing Street staff were often required to be in the office to work on the pandemic response so those who were in the office for work may have attended virtually from their desks." (With inputs from agencies)

Caught red-handed? UK PM Boris Johnson partook in Christmas quiz at No 10 in 2020

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson seems to be under immense pressure lately. The PM’s name has cropped up in one or the other controversy in recent months. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Now, a video of a staff laughing and joking over a party, which was held during Covid lockdown last Christmas in 2020, has surfaced to haunt the prime minister. &nbsp;

On Wednesday, Johnson was criticised by several people including politicians and media, over flouting of norms by the government when it is forcing others to follow it. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/early-indications-omicron-variant-more-transmissible-than-delta-uk-pm-johnson-434892" hreflang="en">Early indications Omicron variant more transmissible than Delta: UK PM Johnson</a>

In the video, which has been aired by ITV, the then PM's press secretary Allegra Stratton can be seen at a Downing Street rehearsal for a daily briefing in 2020. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Stratton was laughing and joking over how to explain the gathering at Downing Street during Covid-induced lockdown last Christmas while festivities like these were banned in the country. &nbsp;

Although UK ministers have been denying repeatedly about any violation of rules by the gatherings in late 2020, the Mirror newspaper said the PM spoke at a leaving party and that his team had organised a gathering of around 40 to 50 people. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/letter-showing-uk-pms-role-in-animals-evacuation-from-kabul-surfaces-435031" hreflang="en">Letter showing UK PM’s role in animals’ evacuation from Kabul surfaces</a>

In video, an adviser of PM asks Stratton, "I've just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night — do you recognise those reports?" &nbsp;

Stratton says, "I went home." She then laughs and smiles, and said, "Hold on. Hold on. Um. Er. Arh." Stratton appears to be confused about what to say. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson seems to be under immense pressure lately. The PM’s name has cropped up in one or the other controversy in recent months. Now, a video of a staff laughing and joking over a party, which was held during Covid lockdown last Christmas in 2020, has surfaced to haunt the prime minister.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson seems to be under immense pressure lately. The PM’s name has cropped up in one or the other controversy in recent months. Now, a video of a staff laughing and joking over a party, which was held during Covid lockdown last Christmas in 2020, has surfaced to haunt the prime minister. On Wednesday, Johnson was criticised by several people including politicians and media, over flouting of norms by the government when it is forcing others to follow it. Also Read: Early indications Omicron variant more transmissible than Delta: UK PM Johnson In the video, which has been aired by ITV, the then PM's press secretary Allegra Stratton can be seen at a Downing Street rehearsal for a daily briefing in 2020. Stratton was laughing and joking over how to explain the gathering at Downing Street during Covid-induced lockdown last Christmas while festivities like these were banned in the country. Although UK ministers have been denying repeatedly about any violation of rules by the gatherings in late 2020, the Mirror newspaper said the PM spoke at a leaving party and that his team had organised a gathering of around 40 to 50 people. Also Read: Letter showing UK PM’s role in animals’ evacuation from Kabul surfaces In video, an adviser of PM asks Stratton, "I've just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night — do you recognise those reports?" Stratton says, "I went home." She then laughs and smiles, and said, "Hold on. Hold on. Um. Er. Arh." Stratton appears to be confused about what to say. (With inputs from agencies)

New video over Christmas party during lockdown in 2020 adds to UK PM Boris Johnson’s woes

If some leaked documents are to be believed, 23,000 mice were mercilessly killed by Rutgers University in 2020. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Although mice are used for experimentation, killing numerous after deeming them unnecessary is brutal. &nbsp;

The university lost $1.15 million worth "research animals required for student or postdoc training", revealed a recently publicised document of the financial department of the university. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/star-dolphin-winter-of-dolphin-tale-fame-died-of-twisted-intestines-says-aquarium-429269" hreflang="en">Star dolphin Winter, of 'Dolphin Tale' fame, died of twisted intestines, says aquarium</a>

In the recently leaked documents, it is revealed that around 23,000 mice, which were meant for testing, were euthanised in 2020. The mice were killed over concerns of losses due to the pandemic. &nbsp;

As per the notes, the school was forced to "eliminate" 4,600 cages of mice in March 2020, with each cage containing an average of five mice. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/7-feet-long-python-takes-100-mile-ride-on-sailboat-along-florida-coast-in-us-429154" hreflang="en">7-feet-long python takes 100-mile ride on sailboat along Florida coast in US</a>

In 2020, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals alleged that a whistleblower presented them with "disturbing evidence" of the university ordering the suspension of "non-essential" research. It also included the killing of any animals involved in the cancelled experiments. &nbsp;

Rutgers Office of Research denied such claims when asked by the ‘Daily Targum’ about the disposal of animals. A spokesperson of the university later confirmed that the animals were euthanised but did not say how many. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

If some leaked documents are to be believed, 23,000 mice were mercilessly killed by Rutgers University in 2020. Although mice are used for experimentation, killing numerous after deeming them unnecessary is brutal.

If some leaked documents are to be believed, 23,000 mice were mercilessly killed by Rutgers University in 2020. Although mice are used for experimentation, killing numerous after deeming them unnecessary is brutal. The university lost $1.15 million worth "research animals required for student or postdoc training", revealed a recently publicised document of the financial department of the university. Also Read: Star dolphin Winter, of 'Dolphin Tale' fame, died of twisted intestines, says aquarium In the recently leaked documents, it is revealed that around 23,000 mice, which were meant for testing, were euthanised in 2020. The mice were killed over concerns of losses due to the pandemic. As per the notes, the school was forced to "eliminate" 4,600 cages of mice in March 2020, with each cage containing an average of five mice. Also Read: 7-feet-long python takes 100-mile ride on sailboat along Florida coast in US In 2020, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals alleged that a whistleblower presented them with "disturbing evidence" of the university ordering the suspension of "non-essential" research. It also included the killing of any animals involved in the cancelled experiments. Rutgers Office of Research denied such claims when asked by the ‘Daily Targum’ about the disposal of animals. A spokesperson of the university later confirmed that the animals were euthanised but did not say how many. (With inputs from agencies)

23,000 mice euthanised in 2020 by Rutgers University, reveal leaked documents

According to a newly republished data by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), hate crimes against Asian-origin people rose by 76% in 2020.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In August, the FBI issued hate crime data but due to an error in reporting Ohio's statistics, the data was incomplete. The agency has now corrected the technical issue in Ohio's reporting system.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2020, 279 hate crime incidents against Asian-origin people were reported as compared to 158 reported incidents in 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-revokes-top-chinese-telecom-firms-licence-over-national-security-concerns-424403" hreflang="en">US revokes top Chinese telecom firm's licence over 'national security' concerns</a>

According to FBI data released on Monday, over 60% of hate crimes in the United States were carried out on the basis of an individual's race.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jay Greenberg, deputy assistant director, FBI's criminal division, told ABC News' Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas, "Every hate crime is an attack on the community."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The FBI official said most hate crimes are directed at African Americans, but acknowledged there was a spike in anti-Asian hate crimes due to Covid.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-man-sues-dating-website-after-not-finding-enough-single-ladies-in-his-age-range-424409" hreflang="en">US man sues dating website after not finding 'enough single ladies' in his age range</a> &nbsp;

In total, there were around 8,052 single-bias incidents, crimes motivated by one type of bias, involving 11,126 victims. Comparatively, there were around 7,103 single-bias incidents involving 8,552 victims in 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The agency said 20% hate crimes targeted a person's sexual orientation while 13% hate crimes that occurred in 2020 were due to religious bias.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

According to a newly republished data by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), hate crimes against Asian-origin people rose by 76% in 2020. In August, the FBI issued hate crime data but due to an error in reporting Ohio's statistics, the data was incomplete.

According to a newly republished data by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), hate crimes against Asian-origin people rose by 76% in 2020. In August, the FBI issued hate crime data but due to an error in reporting Ohio's statistics, the data was incomplete. The agency has now corrected the technical issue in Ohio's reporting system. In 2020, 279 hate crime incidents against Asian-origin people were reported as compared to 158 reported incidents in 2019. Also Read: US revokes top Chinese telecom firm's licence over 'national security' concerns According to FBI data released on Monday, over 60% of hate crimes in the United States were carried out on the basis of an individual's race. Jay Greenberg, deputy assistant director, FBI's criminal division, told ABC News' Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas, "Every hate crime is an attack on the community." The FBI official said most hate crimes are directed at African Americans, but acknowledged there was a spike in anti-Asian hate crimes due to Covid. Also Read: US man sues dating website after not finding 'enough single ladies' in his age range In total, there were around 8,052 single-bias incidents, crimes motivated by one type of bias, involving 11,126 victims. Comparatively, there were around 7,103 single-bias incidents involving 8,552 victims in 2019. The agency said 20% hate crimes targeted a person's sexual orientation while 13% hate crimes that occurred in 2020 were due to religious bias. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid pandemic in 2020, hate crimes against Asians rose 76% in US, says FBI

Seven Hong Kong democracy campaigners, including former lawmakers, were sentenced on Saturday to up to 12 months in jail for their role in a protest last year against a sweeping national security law imposed by China.

The seven had pleaded guilty to charges that included organising the unauthorised assembly on July 1, 2020, when thousands of protesters took to the streets. Police, who had banned the demonstration citinbg coronavirus restrictions, fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse them.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/hong-kong-stock-exchange-halts-trading-of-evergrande-shares-418036">Hong Kong Stock Exchange halts trading of Evergrande shares</a>

The activists included Figo Chan, a former convenor of the now-disbanded Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF); Tsang Kin-shing and Tang Sai-lai of the League of Social Democrats; former district councillor Andy Chui; and former legislators Wu Chi-wai, Eddie Chu and Leung Kwok-hung.

Chan was jailed for 12 months, while the others were given sentences from six to ten months.

"The nature of incitement was serious," said the judge, Douglas Yau, noting that it created the risk of violence.

Beijing imposed a national security law on June 30 last year as a response to widespread anti-government protests in 2019 that roiled the city. The law, drawn up by China, sets out to punish subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

The protest took place the next day - the first full day under the new law, though civil society groups had held deminstrations on July 1 for years to champion various issues, including democratic rights.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fear-of-arrest-in-hong-kong-over-taiwan-national-day-419380">&nbsp;Fear of arrest in Hong Kong over Taiwan national day</a>

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise its wide-ranging freedoms and high degree of autonomy would be preserved. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly denied curbing human rights and freedoms.

"We could only choose civil disobedience a peaceful, rational and non-violent way to express our demand against the national security law," Figo Chan said in mitigation.

"In order to uphold the belief of civil disobedience, I decided to plead guilty, admitting that I violated the "evil public order law"."

At least 370 people were arrested that day for illegal assembly and other offences, with ten involving violations of the security law, according to police.

Tong Ying-kit, the first person convicted under the national security law, was sentenced in July to nine years in prison for terrorist activities and inciting secession.

He was accused of driving his motorcycle that day into riot police while carrying a flag with the now-banned protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our times".

According to the Security Bureau, more than 150 people have been arrested under the national security law. Among them, 100 people have been formally charged.

Seven Hong Kong democracy campaigners, including former lawmakers, were sentenced on Saturday to up to 12 months in jail for their role in a protest last year against a sweeping national security law imposed by China.

Seven Hong Kong democracy campaigners, including former lawmakers, were sentenced on Saturday to up to 12 months in jail for their role in a protest last year against a sweeping national security law imposed by China. The seven had pleaded guilty to charges that included organising the unauthorised assembly on July 1, 2020, when thousands of protesters took to the streets. Police, who had banned the demonstration citinbg coronavirus restrictions, fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse them. Also Read | Hong Kong Stock Exchange halts trading of Evergrande shares The activists included Figo Chan, a former convenor of the now-disbanded Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF); Tsang Kin-shing and Tang Sai-lai of the League of Social Democrats; former district councillor Andy Chui; and former legislators Wu Chi-wai, Eddie Chu and Leung Kwok-hung. Chan was jailed for 12 months, while the others were given sentences from six to ten months. "The nature of incitement was serious," said the judge, Douglas Yau, noting that it created the risk of violence. Beijing imposed a national security law on June 30 last year as a response to widespread anti-government protests in 2019 that roiled the city. The law, drawn up by China, sets out to punish subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. The protest took place the next day - the first full day under the new law, though civil society groups had held deminstrations on July 1 for years to champion various issues, including democratic rights. Also Read | Fear of arrest in Hong Kong over Taiwan national day Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise its wide-ranging freedoms and high degree of autonomy would be preserved. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly denied curbing human rights and freedoms. "We could only choose civil disobedience a peaceful, rational and non-violent way to express our demand against the national security law," Figo Chan said in mitigation. "In order to uphold the belief of civil disobedience, I decided to plead guilty, admitting that I violated the "evil public order law"." At least 370 people were arrested that day for illegal assembly and other offences, with ten involving violations of the security law, according to police. Tong Ying-kit, the first person convicted under the national security law, was sentenced in July to nine years in prison for terrorist activities and inciting secession. He was accused of driving his motorcycle that day into riot police while carrying a flag with the now-banned protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our times". According to the Security Bureau, more than 150 people have been arrested under the national security law. Among them, 100 people have been formally charged.

Seven Hong Kong activists jailed over unauthorised protest in 2020

The United States in 2020 experienced the biggest rise in murder since the start of national record-keeping in 1960, according to data gathered by the FBI for its annual report on crime.

The Uniform Crime Report will stand as the official word on an unusually grim year, detailing a rise in murder of around 29%. The previous largest one-year change was a 12.7% increase in 1968. The national rate, murders per 100,000, still remains about one-third below the rate in the early 1990s.

The data is scheduled to be released Monday along with a news release, but it was published early on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.

The FBI said some numbers could change by Monday as it reviews possible discrepancies and receives updates. But the main conclusions of the data are highly unlikely to change.

Separately, an independent analysis of big cities finds at least one promising sign that the murder rate may be flattening this year: The increase in murders this summer does not appear to be as large as the record spike last summer.

Here are the main takeaways from the crime data for 2020 as well as the best evidence of where things stand so far in 2021.

The Rise in Murder Was National, Not Regional

Previously, the largest one-year increase in total number of murders was 1,938 in 1990. The FBI data shows almost 5,000 more murders last year than in 2019, for a total of around 21,500 (still below the particularly violent era of the early 1990s).

The reasons for the rise may never be fully sorted out, but analysts have pointed to many possible contributing factors, including various pandemic stresses; increased distrust between the police and the public after the murder of George Floyd, including a pullback by the police in response to criticism; and increased firearm carrying.

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About 77% of reported murders in 2020 were committed with a firearm, the highest share ever reported, up from 67% a decade ago.

The change in murder was&nbsp;a national phenomenon and not a regional one. Murder rose more than 35% in cities with populations over 250,000 that reported full data.

It also rose more than 40% in cities 100,000 to 250,000, and around 25% in cities under 25,000.

No geographic area was spared. The FBI reported in March that murder was up at least 20% in every region of the country, including around a 30% increase in the Midwest. Overall, murder was up at least 20% in counties carried by President Joe Biden as well as by Donald Trump in 2020.

One regional factor stayed consistent: Louisiana had the highest murder rate for the 32nd straight year.

Murders were already elevated in the first few months of 2020, then increased significantly in June and stayed high through the remainder of the year.

Overall Crime Fell

Even with the rise in murders and a roughly 5% increase in violent crime, the new data shows that overall major crimes fell about 4% to 5% in 2020.

Murder, although it carries the highest societal cost, makes up a tiny portion of major crimes as defined by the FBI.

Some of the reduction in overall crime was clearly related to the pandemic. Theft made up around 7 in 10 property crimes, and it is hard to commit shoplifting when stores are closed. But overall crime was dropping long before the pandemic; 2020 was the 18th straight year of declining overall crime.

Exit of Police Officers From Big-City Agencies

The evidence on police officer employment had been mixed. An earlier survey of 200 police departments found large increases in retirements between April 2020 and April 2021, while data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed virtually no change in the number of people employed at local police departments.

The new data showed little overall change. But large agencies were substantially more likely than small ones to report a decline in officers. Newark, New Jersey, and New York City reported some of the largest percentage declines, with New York dropping by more than 2,500 officers from 2019 to 2020, according to the FBI data.

This data is useful in describing the overall trend, but it does not provide insight into the question of why some agencies lost officers. Was it because of poor morale and increased difficulties in doing the job, or did retirements surge because increased overtime in 2020 made it a more attractive prospect?

Or maybe some agencies lost officers overall because the pandemic made hiring replacements particularly challenging. These questions remain unanswered by the UCR data.

Murder Is Still Up in 2021

The evidence from big cities suggests that murder is still up in 2021 relative to 2020, although the increase is not nearly as big. My collection of data from 87 cities with publicly available year-to-date data shows murder up by 9.9% relative to comparable points in 2020.

Some cities&nbsp;like Portland, Oregon, and Las Vegas&nbsp;are seeing big increases relative to last year; some big cities, like Chicago and New York, are seeing flat numbers after sizable increases in 2020&nbsp;and some places, like St. Louis (which had the nation’s highest murder rate in 2020), are seeing sizable declines.

The first half of this year largely followed the pattern begun in the second half of last year. The rate of increase in murder appears to be decelerating as more cities that had big increases starting last summer begin to report data for this summer.

Held Back by Lack of Data

The picture for 2021 is made murkier by less data. The FBI has published national UCR estimates every year since 1960, but it is switching to a new crime reporting system next year.

Last year, the FBI began publishing quarterly crime updates, but this year it did not produce national updates for the first or second quarter because not enough agencies submitted data. This probably reflects struggles among law enforcement agencies nationwide to switch to the new system, called NIBRS, which is expected to provide more insight into a wider array of crimes at both the local and national level. In 2020, fewer than 10,000 of more than 18,000 participating agencies submitted data via NIBRS.

As crime analysts have noted for years, the United States does not have a system of timely data collection to estimate crime trends quickly. The FBI does not publish the official annual statistics until nine months after the end of the previous year.

During this transition period between reporting systems and during this period of elevated shootings and murders, the data is getting worse, not better.

The United States in 2020 experienced the biggest rise in murder since the start of national record-keeping in 1960, according to data gathered by the FBI for its annual report on crime.

The United States in 2020 experienced the biggest rise in murder since the start of national record-keeping in 1960, according to data gathered by the FBI for its annual report on crime. The Uniform Crime Report will stand as the official word on an unusually grim year, detailing a rise in murder of around 29%. The previous largest one-year change was a 12.7% increase in 1968. The national rate, murders per 100,000, still remains about one-third below the rate in the early 1990s. The data is scheduled to be released Monday along with a news release, but it was published early on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website. The FBI said some numbers could change by Monday as it reviews possible discrepancies and receives updates. But the main conclusions of the data are highly unlikely to change. Separately, an independent analysis of big cities finds at least one promising sign that the murder rate may be flattening this year: The increase in murders this summer does not appear to be as large as the record spike last summer. Here are the main takeaways from the crime data for 2020 as well as the best evidence of where things stand so far in 2021. The Rise in Murder Was National, Not Regional Previously, the largest one-year increase in total number of murders was 1,938 in 1990. The FBI data shows almost 5,000 more murders last year than in 2019, for a total of around 21,500 (still below the particularly violent era of the early 1990s). The reasons for the rise may never be fully sorted out, but analysts have pointed to many possible contributing factors, including various pandemic stresses; increased distrust between the police and the public after the murder of George Floyd, including a pullback by the police in response to criticism; and increased firearm carrying. Also read | Guatemala volcano erupts but no evacuations yet About 77% of reported murders in 2020 were committed with a firearm, the highest share ever reported, up from 67% a decade ago. The change in murder was a national phenomenon and not a regional one. Murder rose more than 35% in cities with populations over 250,000 that reported full data. It also rose more than 40% in cities 100,000 to 250,000, and around 25% in cities under 25,000. No geographic area was spared. The FBI reported in March that murder was up at least 20% in every region of the country, including around a 30% increase in the Midwest. Overall, murder was up at least 20% in counties carried by President Joe Biden as well as by Donald Trump in 2020. One regional factor stayed consistent: Louisiana had the highest murder rate for the 32nd straight year. Murders were already elevated in the first few months of 2020, then increased significantly in June and stayed high through the remainder of the year. Overall Crime Fell Even with the rise in murders and a roughly 5% increase in violent crime, the new data shows that overall major crimes fell about 4% to 5% in 2020. Murder, although it carries the highest societal cost, makes up a tiny portion of major crimes as defined by the FBI. Some of the reduction in overall crime was clearly related to the pandemic. Theft made up around 7 in 10 property crimes, and it is hard to commit shoplifting when stores are closed. But overall crime was dropping long before the pandemic; 2020 was the 18th straight year of declining overall crime. Exit of Police Officers From Big-City Agencies The evidence on police officer employment had been mixed. An earlier survey of 200 police departments found large increases in retirements between April 2020 and April 2021, while data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed virtually no change in the number of people employed at local police departments. The new data showed little overall change. But large agencies were substantially more likely than small ones to report a decline in officers. Newark, New Jersey, and New York City reported some of the largest percentage declines, with New York dropping by more than 2,500 officers from 2019 to 2020, according to the FBI data. This data is useful in describing the overall trend, but it does not provide insight into the question of why some agencies lost officers. Was it because of poor morale and increased difficulties in doing the job, or did retirements surge because increased overtime in 2020 made it a more attractive prospect? Or maybe some agencies lost officers overall because the pandemic made hiring replacements particularly challenging. These questions remain unanswered by the UCR data. Murder Is Still Up in 2021 The evidence from big cities suggests that murder is still up in 2021 relative to 2020, although the increase is not nearly as big. My collection of data from 87 cities with publicly available year-to-date data shows murder up by 9.9% relative to comparable points in 2020. Some cities like Portland, Oregon, and Las Vegas are seeing big increases relative to last year; some big cities, like Chicago and New York, are seeing flat numbers after sizable increases in 2020 and some places, like St. Louis (which had the nation’s highest murder rate in 2020), are seeing sizable declines. The first half of this year largely followed the pattern begun in the second half of last year. The rate of increase in murder appears to be decelerating as more cities that had big increases starting last summer begin to report data for this summer. Held Back by Lack of Data The picture for 2021 is made murkier by less data. The FBI has published national UCR estimates every year since 1960, but it is switching to a new crime reporting system next year. Last year, the FBI began publishing quarterly crime updates, but this year it did not produce national updates for the first or second quarter because not enough agencies submitted data. This probably reflects struggles among law enforcement agencies nationwide to switch to the new system, called NIBRS, which is expected to provide more insight into a wider array of crimes at both the local and national level. In 2020, fewer than 10,000 of more than 18,000 participating agencies submitted data via NIBRS. As crime analysts have noted for years, the United States does not have a system of timely data collection to estimate crime trends quickly. The FBI does not publish the official annual statistics until nine months after the end of the previous year. During this transition period between reporting systems and during this period of elevated shootings and murders, the data is getting worse, not better.

Murders in US rose  by almost 30% in 2020; rising at a slower rate in 2021

The Wisconsin Republican leading the state’s partisan inquiry into the 2020 election results on Monday took his most public step forward yet, warning election clerks that they would face subpoenas if they did not cooperate and defending the investigation’s legitimacy by declaring that he was not seeking to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in the state.

“We are not challenging the results of the 2020 election,” Michael Gableman, a conservative former state Supreme Court justice overseeing the investigation, argued in a video posted on YouTube. The inquiry, he said, “may include a vigorous and comprehensive audit if the facts that are discovered justify such a course of action.”

The five-minute video released by Gableman comes nearly three months after Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly, assigned him to look into former President Donald Trump’s false claims that the state’s election was stolen from him.

The Republicans’ continuing effort to re-examine the 2020 results in Wisconsin comes as Trump allies elsewhere have gone to great lengths to undermine Biden’s victory. Arizona Republicans are near the end of a monthslong review of ballots in Maricopa County; Pennsylvania Republicans last week approved subpoenas for driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers for every voter in the state; and 18 states, including Texas this month, have passed laws this year adding new voting restrictions.

In recent weeks, Trump-allied conservatives in Wisconsin have shown public frustration at the pace and transparency of Gableman’s investigation. This month, a group led by David A. Clarke Jr., a former Milwaukee County sheriff who has been a prominent purveyor of false claims about the election, held a rally at the state Capitol in Madison to protest what it argued was insufficient devotion by Gableman and the state’s Republican leaders to challenging the 2020 results.

Gableman said Monday that his investigation would require the municipal officials who operate Wisconsin’s elections to prove that voting was conducted properly. He said local clerks would be required to obey any subpoenas he might issue.

Election clerks in Milwaukee and Green Bay ignored previous subpoenas issued by the Republican chairwoman of the Assembly’s elections committee for ballots and voting machines. Vos had declined to approve those subpoenas.

“The responsibility to demonstrate that our elections were conducted with fairness, inclusivity and accountability is on the government and on the private, for-profit interests that did work for the government,” Gableman said. “The burden is not on the people to show in advance of an investigation that public officials and their contractors behaved dishonestly.”

Gableman added that he did not plan to release information to the public on a regular time frame but would do so when he found it appropriate.

“My job as special counsel is to gather all relevant information and, while I will draw my own conclusions, my goal is to put everything I know and everything I learn before you, the citizen, so that you can make up your own mind,” he said.

The chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Ben Wikler, said the Gableman video was evidence that state Republicans were at odds with one another over how far the election investigation should go.

“Robin Vos and his far-right ‘investigator’ Michael Gableman are clearly upset that the most extreme fringe doesn’t think they’re going far enough to entertain conspiracy theories,” Wikler said. “They’re wasting taxpayer funds to serve the political interests of a small group of Republican insiders who want to erode the freedom to vote. It’s a sham, a waste of time and money, and it’s damaging our democracy.”

The Wisconsin Republican leading the state’s partisan inquiry into the 2020 election results on Monday took his most public step forward yet, warning election clerks that they would face subpoenas if they did not cooperate and defending the investigation’s legitimacy by declaring that he was not seeking to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in the state.

The Wisconsin Republican leading the state’s partisan inquiry into the 2020 election results on Monday took his most public step forward yet, warning election clerks that they would face subpoenas if they did not cooperate and defending the investigation’s legitimacy by declaring that he was not seeking to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in the state. “We are not challenging the results of the 2020 election,” Michael Gableman, a conservative former state Supreme Court justice overseeing the investigation, argued in a video posted on YouTube. The inquiry, he said, “may include a vigorous and comprehensive audit if the facts that are discovered justify such a course of action.” The five-minute video released by Gableman comes nearly three months after Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly, assigned him to look into former President Donald Trump’s false claims that the state’s election was stolen from him. The Republicans’ continuing effort to re-examine the 2020 results in Wisconsin comes as Trump allies elsewhere have gone to great lengths to undermine Biden’s victory. Arizona Republicans are near the end of a monthslong review of ballots in Maricopa County; Pennsylvania Republicans last week approved subpoenas for driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers for every voter in the state; and 18 states, including Texas this month, have passed laws this year adding new voting restrictions. In recent weeks, Trump-allied conservatives in Wisconsin have shown public frustration at the pace and transparency of Gableman’s investigation. This month, a group led by David A. Clarke Jr., a former Milwaukee County sheriff who has been a prominent purveyor of false claims about the election, held a rally at the state Capitol in Madison to protest what it argued was insufficient devotion by Gableman and the state’s Republican leaders to challenging the 2020 results. Gableman said Monday that his investigation would require the municipal officials who operate Wisconsin’s elections to prove that voting was conducted properly. He said local clerks would be required to obey any subpoenas he might issue. Election clerks in Milwaukee and Green Bay ignored previous subpoenas issued by the Republican chairwoman of the Assembly’s elections committee for ballots and voting machines. Vos had declined to approve those subpoenas. “The responsibility to demonstrate that our elections were conducted with fairness, inclusivity and accountability is on the government and on the private, for-profit interests that did work for the government,” Gableman said. “The burden is not on the people to show in advance of an investigation that public officials and their contractors behaved dishonestly.” Gableman added that he did not plan to release information to the public on a regular time frame but would do so when he found it appropriate. “My job as special counsel is to gather all relevant information and, while I will draw my own conclusions, my goal is to put everything I know and everything I learn before you, the citizen, so that you can make up your own mind,” he said. The chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Ben Wikler, said the Gableman video was evidence that state Republicans were at odds with one another over how far the election investigation should go. “Robin Vos and his far-right ‘investigator’ Michael Gableman are clearly upset that the most extreme fringe doesn’t think they’re going far enough to entertain conspiracy theories,” Wikler said. “They’re wasting taxpayer funds to serve the political interests of a small group of Republican insiders who want to erode the freedom to vote. It’s a sham, a waste of time and money, and it’s damaging our democracy.”

Republican leading Wisconsin's 2020 inquiry defends its legitimacy

Last year has been recorded as warmest on record across Europe, breaking the previous high mark by a considerable distance. The temperatures across the region were more than 1.

Last year has been recorded as warmest on record across Europe, breaking the previous high mark by a considerable distance. The temperatures across the region were more than 1.9C above the long-term average between 1981 and 2010. As per the State of the Climate 2020 report from the American Meteorological Society, the temperatures in the Arctic are also rising rapidly. Robert Dunn, a senior climate scientist at the UK Met Office, was quoted by the BBC as saying, "This level of difference to the previous long-term average, which is a large difference, is something that is concerning". He further added, "It is something to sit up and take notice of, but it's not just the temperatures that are increasing, the extreme events, the heat waves we're seeing this year, and last year as well. We're seeing these responses across the world." Also read | India, Maldives to sign pact on mega Greater Malé Connectivity Project The reports earlier this year confirmed that 2020 was Europe's warmest on record and one of the three hottest globally. The new data shows that Europe's temperature margin over previous years was significantly greater than previously thought. The temperature not only was the year 1.9C above the long-term average, but it was also more than 0.5C greater than the previous high mark. Prof Gabi Hegerl, professor of climate system science at the University of Edinburgh, who was not involved with the study said, "The amount by which the previous record has been exceeded should worry us all". He further added, "European temperatures are well measured and can be tracked back to the beginning of industrialisation and beyond, using documentary evidence and proxy records. This long-term context emphasises how unusual this warmth is."

2020 recorded as warmest on record across Europe

Tesla Inc said on Friday, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's total compensation for 2020 was nil, compared to $23,760 in 2019. 
 
The electric-car maker also said in a regulatory filing that finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn's total compensation was $46.6 million, versus the $21.2 million he got in 2019. 
 
The pay package of Musk, who is also a major shareholder and CEO of rocket maker SpaceX, requires Tesla's market capitalisation and financial growth to hit a series of rising targets. 
 
As of April, Musk had qualified for Tesla options in his 2018 pay package that are now worth over $30 billion. 
 
Tesla added "Technoking of Tesla" to Musk's list of official titles in a regulatory filing in March that also named Kirkhorn "Master of Coin." 
 
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Musk will be also subject of a biography by Walter Isaacson, the US&nbsp;author, who penned a best-selling tome on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Tesla Inc said on Friday, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's total compensation for 2020 was nil, compared to $23,760 in 2019. The electric-car maker also said in a regulatory filing that finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn's total compensation was $46.

Tesla Inc said on Friday, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's total compensation for 2020 was nil, compared to $23,760 in 2019. The electric-car maker also said in a regulatory filing that finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn's total compensation was $46.6 million, versus the $21.2 million he got in 2019. The pay package of Musk, who is also a major shareholder and CEO of rocket maker SpaceX, requires Tesla's market capitalisation and financial growth to hit a series of rising targets. As of April, Musk had qualified for Tesla options in his 2018 pay package that are now worth over $30 billion. Tesla added "Technoking of Tesla" to Musk's list of official titles in a regulatory filing in March that also named Kirkhorn "Master of Coin." Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Musk will be also subject of a biography by Walter Isaacson, the US author, who penned a best-selling tome on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Tesla says CEO Elon Musk's compensation for 2020 was nil

Taliban insurgents show no sign of reducing the level of violence in Afghanistan to facilitate peace negotiations with the government, and appear to be trying to strengthen their military position as leverage, with the unprecedented violence of 2020 carrying into 2021, UN experts said in a new report circulated on Friday.

The panel of experts said the Taliban are reported to be responsible for the great majority of assassinations that have become a feature of the violence in Afghanistan, targeting government officials, women, human rights defenders and journalists among others.

These attacks 'appear to be undertaken with the objective of weakening the capacity of the government and intimidating civil society,' it said.

In the 22-page report to the UN&nbsp;Security Council, the panel said the withdrawal of US&nbsp;and NATO forces by September&nbsp;11, the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, 'will challenge Afghan forces by limiting aerial operations with fewer drones and radar and surveillance capabilities, less logistical support and artillery, as well as a disruption in training.'

The Taliban were ousted from power in Afghanistan in 2001 by a US-led coalition for harbouring Osama bin Laden, the architect of the September 11 attacks. A peace deal that Washington brokered with the Taliban and signed in February 2020 was aimed at bringing American troops home and ending more than four decades of relentless wars following the 1979 Afghan invasion by forces from the former Soviet Union.

Negotiations between the Taliban and Afghan representatives began last September in Doha, Qatar and continued earlier this year. But the Taliban announced on April 13, a day before President Joe Biden's announcement that all US troops would leave by September 11, that it would not take part in any conference intended to decide the future of Afghanistan until all foreign troops were gone.

The UN experts, who monitor sanctions against the Taliban, predicted more violence in the run-up to their departure. "Taliban rhetoric and reports of active Taliban preparations for the spring fighting season indicate the group is likely to increase military operations for 2021, whether or not a spring offensive is announced," they said.

The experts also questioned how Afghan forces would fare without coalition support. "Afghan forces have successfully reversed many Taliban gains with the assistance of international coalition close air support, but have done so with heavy casualty rates," they said.

"It remains to be seen how Afghan forces will perform without it." The panel of experts painted a grim picture of the violence in Afghanistan, which had been expected to decrease in 2020 but instead soared to the highest level ever recorded by the United Nations in the country, more than 25,000 incidents, a 10% increase over 2019.

Violence surged as the Doha talks began, the experts said, and incident rates in the usually calmer winter were higher than those in the spring or summer of 2020.

"Unprecedented violence over the winter carried into 2021, with 7,177 security incidents recorded countrywide between January&nbsp;1 and March 31, representing a 61 per cent increase over the same period in 2020," they said.

The panel said the number of Taliban fighters remains robust, with estimates ranging from about 58,000 to 100,000. The panel said many sources its members spoke to, which include governments, believe the Taliban used the 2020 fighting season 'to further strengthen strangleholds around several provincial capitals, seeking to shape future military operations when levels of departing foreign troops are no longer able to respond'.

While no one claimed responsibility for most assassinations, the experts said it is widely believed that approximately 85 per cent of them were carried out by the Taliban. The UN recorded an increase in reported assassinations from 780 in 2019 to 996 in 2020, the report said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Taliban insurgents show no sign of reducing the level of violence in Afghanistan to facilitate peace negotiations with the government, and appear to be trying to strengthen their military position as leverage, with the unprecedented violence of 2020 carrying into 2021, UN experts said in a new report circulated on Friday.

Taliban insurgents show no sign of reducing the level of violence in Afghanistan to facilitate peace negotiations with the government, and appear to be trying to strengthen their military position as leverage, with the unprecedented violence of 2020 carrying into 2021, UN experts said in a new report circulated on Friday. The panel of experts said the Taliban are reported to be responsible for the great majority of assassinations that have become a feature of the violence in Afghanistan, targeting government officials, women, human rights defenders and journalists among others. These attacks 'appear to be undertaken with the objective of weakening the capacity of the government and intimidating civil society,' it said. In the 22-page report to the UN Security Council, the panel said the withdrawal of US and NATO forces by September 11, the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, 'will challenge Afghan forces by limiting aerial operations with fewer drones and radar and surveillance capabilities, less logistical support and artillery, as well as a disruption in training.' The Taliban were ousted from power in Afghanistan in 2001 by a US-led coalition for harbouring Osama bin Laden, the architect of the September 11 attacks. A peace deal that Washington brokered with the Taliban and signed in February 2020 was aimed at bringing American troops home and ending more than four decades of relentless wars following the 1979 Afghan invasion by forces from the former Soviet Union. Negotiations between the Taliban and Afghan representatives began last September in Doha, Qatar and continued earlier this year. But the Taliban announced on April 13, a day before President Joe Biden's announcement that all US troops would leave by September 11, that it would not take part in any conference intended to decide the future of Afghanistan until all foreign troops were gone. The UN experts, who monitor sanctions against the Taliban, predicted more violence in the run-up to their departure. "Taliban rhetoric and reports of active Taliban preparations for the spring fighting season indicate the group is likely to increase military operations for 2021, whether or not a spring offensive is announced," they said. The experts also questioned how Afghan forces would fare without coalition support. "Afghan forces have successfully reversed many Taliban gains with the assistance of international coalition close air support, but have done so with heavy casualty rates," they said. "It remains to be seen how Afghan forces will perform without it." The panel of experts painted a grim picture of the violence in Afghanistan, which had been expected to decrease in 2020 but instead soared to the highest level ever recorded by the United Nations in the country, more than 25,000 incidents, a 10% increase over 2019. Violence surged as the Doha talks began, the experts said, and incident rates in the usually calmer winter were higher than those in the spring or summer of 2020. "Unprecedented violence over the winter carried into 2021, with 7,177 security incidents recorded countrywide between January 1 and March 31, representing a 61 per cent increase over the same period in 2020," they said. The panel said the number of Taliban fighters remains robust, with estimates ranging from about 58,000 to 100,000. The panel said many sources its members spoke to, which include governments, believe the Taliban used the 2020 fighting season 'to further strengthen strangleholds around several provincial capitals, seeking to shape future military operations when levels of departing foreign troops are no longer able to respond'. While no one claimed responsibility for most assassinations, the experts said it is widely believed that approximately 85 per cent of them were carried out by the Taliban. The UN recorded an increase in reported assassinations from 780 in 2019 to 996 in 2020, the report said. (With inputs from agencies)

UN: Unprecedented Taliban violence in 2020 carries into 2021

China's population growth in the decade to 2020 slumped to the least in official records dating back to the 1950s, fuelling pressure on Beijing to ramp up incentives to couples to have more children and avert an irreversible decline.&nbsp;

With growth having slowed ever since a one-child policy was introduced in the late 1970s, the 2020 results of the country's once-a-decade census, published on Tuesday, showed the population of mainland China increased 5.38% to 1.41 billion.&nbsp;

That compared with an increase of 5.84% to 1.34 billion in the 2010 census, and double-digit percentage rises in all of China's previous six official population surveys dating back to 1953.&nbsp;

The number meant China narrowly missed a target it set in 2016 to boost its population to about 1.42 billion by 2020. In 2016, China replaced its one-child policy - initially imposed to halt a population explosion at the time - with a two-child limit.&nbsp;

In recent months, China's state media has been increasingly bleak on the outlook, saying the population may start to shrink in the next few years. The United Nations predicts the number of people living in mainland China will peak in 2030 before declining. &nbsp;

But in late April, the Financial Times newspaper said the population actually fell in 2020 from a year earlier, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. &nbsp;

The 2020 number was actually slightly higher than the 1.4005 billion in 2019 estimated in a smaller official survey released in February last year.&nbsp;

China has long worried about its population growth as it seeks to bolster its economic rise and boost prosperity. &nbsp;

One bright spot in the census data was an unexpected increase in the proportion of young people - 17.95% of the population was 14 or younger in 2020, compared with 16.6% in 2010. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

China's population growth in the decade to 2020 slumped to the least in official records dating back to the 1950s, fuelling pressure on Beijing to ramp up incentives to couples to have more children and avert an irreversible decline.

China's population growth in the decade to 2020 slumped to the least in official records dating back to the 1950s, fuelling pressure on Beijing to ramp up incentives to couples to have more children and avert an irreversible decline. With growth having slowed ever since a one-child policy was introduced in the late 1970s, the 2020 results of the country's once-a-decade census, published on Tuesday, showed the population of mainland China increased 5.38% to 1.41 billion. That compared with an increase of 5.84% to 1.34 billion in the 2010 census, and double-digit percentage rises in all of China's previous six official population surveys dating back to 1953. The number meant China narrowly missed a target it set in 2016 to boost its population to about 1.42 billion by 2020. In 2016, China replaced its one-child policy - initially imposed to halt a population explosion at the time - with a two-child limit. In recent months, China's state media has been increasingly bleak on the outlook, saying the population may start to shrink in the next few years. The United Nations predicts the number of people living in mainland China will peak in 2030 before declining. But in late April, the Financial Times newspaper said the population actually fell in 2020 from a year earlier, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. The 2020 number was actually slightly higher than the 1.4005 billion in 2019 estimated in a smaller official survey released in February last year. China has long worried about its population growth as it seeks to bolster its economic rise and boost prosperity. One bright spot in the census data was an unexpected increase in the proportion of young people - 17.95% of the population was 14 or younger in 2020, compared with 16.6% in 2010. (With inputs from agencies)

China 2020 census shows population growth slipped to lowest since 1950s

If you own a dog, you probably already know just how awesome they are. They fill your life with love, loyalty and a lot of fur. &nbsp;

They are always happy when you get home. Their loyalty knows no bounds, they love you unconditionally. They are simply the best. &nbsp;

The news is that the American Kennel Club has released a list of the most popular dog breeds of 2020 and if you are wondering whether your cuddle buddy has made it to the list, we have got you covered in this story.&nbsp;

In 2020, a lot of us coped with the pandemic by welcoming a dog into our homes. The surge in adoptions had some shelter homes run out of canines to take home but Americans were very particular about what kind of dogs they chose.&nbsp;

Based on their registration statistics, the American Kennel Club has released its 2020 list of the most popular dog breeds. Who has clinched the top spot? The Labrador Retriever is the topper for the 30th straight year. America's love affair with the Labrador continues. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-americas-top-dogs-of-2020-371526">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-americas-top-dogs-of-2020-371526/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

This energetic, eager-to-please breed saw 98,300 adoptions last year. Giving tough competition to the Labrador was the French Bulldog, who is at number two. These cute canines with their squat bodies wrinkly faces and bat ears witnessed a surge in popularity in 2020.&nbsp;

The buyers were willing to pay a fortune. In fact, just last month, Lady Gaga's two Frenchies were stolen at gunpoint and the pop star did not hesitate in offering 500,000 dollars for their safe return.&nbsp;

By the way, these Frenchies interestingly replaced a proud protector from the second spot. The German Shepherd, the all-weather breed, is now on the third spot.&nbsp;

They may look intimidating but they make a great family pet and two of them now have the honour of being America's first pets, Champ and Major. They are living a plush life at the White House with their owner US President Joe Biden.&nbsp;

On the fourth spot is the Golden Retriever. From their soulful piercing eyes to their wise-looking friendly face or their flowing and strikingly golden fur, Americans just couldn't help but bring these beautiful furry companions home.&nbsp;

On the fifth spot is the smooshy Bulldog, followed by the playful Poodle on the sixth, the gentle Beagle on the seventh, the mighty Rottweiler on the eighth and the agile Pointer on the ninth and the goofy Daschund on the 10th spot.&nbsp;

Their popularity may vary but there's no denying that for most people, the only one, who understands them best are their dogs irrespective of their breed.&nbsp;

If you own a dog, you probably already know just how awesome they are. They fill your life with love, loyalty and a lot of fur. They are always happy when you get home.

If you own a dog, you probably already know just how awesome they are. They fill your life with love, loyalty and a lot of fur. They are always happy when you get home. Their loyalty knows no bounds, they love you unconditionally. They are simply the best. The news is that the American Kennel Club has released a list of the most popular dog breeds of 2020 and if you are wondering whether your cuddle buddy has made it to the list, we have got you covered in this story. In 2020, a lot of us coped with the pandemic by welcoming a dog into our homes. The surge in adoptions had some shelter homes run out of canines to take home but Americans were very particular about what kind of dogs they chose. Based on their registration statistics, the American Kennel Club has released its 2020 list of the most popular dog breeds. Who has clinched the top spot? The Labrador Retriever is the topper for the 30th straight year. America's love affair with the Labrador continues. Watch | This energetic, eager-to-please breed saw 98,300 adoptions last year. Giving tough competition to the Labrador was the French Bulldog, who is at number two. These cute canines with their squat bodies wrinkly faces and bat ears witnessed a surge in popularity in 2020. The buyers were willing to pay a fortune. In fact, just last month, Lady Gaga's two Frenchies were stolen at gunpoint and the pop star did not hesitate in offering 500,000 dollars for their safe return. By the way, these Frenchies interestingly replaced a proud protector from the second spot. The German Shepherd, the all-weather breed, is now on the third spot. They may look intimidating but they make a great family pet and two of them now have the honour of being America's first pets, Champ and Major. They are living a plush life at the White House with their owner US President Joe Biden. On the fourth spot is the Golden Retriever. From their soulful piercing eyes to their wise-looking friendly face or their flowing and strikingly golden fur, Americans just couldn't help but bring these beautiful furry companions home. On the fifth spot is the smooshy Bulldog, followed by the playful Poodle on the sixth, the gentle Beagle on the seventh, the mighty Rottweiler on the eighth and the agile Pointer on the ninth and the goofy Daschund on the 10th spot. Their popularity may vary but there's no denying that for most people, the only one, who understands them best are their dogs irrespective of their breed.

American Kennel Club releases list of most popular dog breeds of 2020 

Planet Earth witnessed its quietest period in decades during 2020 as lockdowns significantly reduced human activity and its impact on the planet's crust, according to scientists working on a global study.

&nbsp;An international group of seismologists from 33 countries measured a drop of up to 50 per cent in so-called ambient noise generated by humans travelling and factories humming after lockdowns came into force around the world.

The team, which included experts from the Swiss Seismological Service at ETH Zurich, a university, measured lower noise levels at 185 of the 268 seismic stations analysed around the world.

Urban ambient noise fell by up to 50 per cent at some measuring stations during the tightest lockdown weeks, as buses and train services were reduced, aircraft grounded and factories shuttered.

This made it much quieter than Christmas, traditionally the quietest time of the year.

referring to data archives covering the last 20 years, seismologist John Clinton said "The weeks during lockdown were the quietest period we have on record."

"With human noise always increasing, it is highly likely that it was the quietest period for a very long time."

The experts, led by Thomas Lecocq from the Royal Observatory of Belgium, were able to track the "wave of quiet" around the world as lockdown came first in China, then Italy, before spreading across the rest of Europe and onto the Americas.

Lower background noise during lockdowns also means small earthquakes that otherwise would not be observed have been detected in some places.

Small tremors allow us to improve our understanding of the seismic hazard, said scientist Frederick Massin, and also help assess the probability of larger earthquakes in the future.

"This was an unprecedented opportunity. There's no way we would normally be able to do this kind of experiment," said Massin.

Planet Earth witnessed its quietest period in decades during 2020 as lockdowns significantly reduced human activity and its impact on the planet's crust, according to scientists working on a global study.

Planet Earth witnessed its quietest period in decades during 2020 as lockdowns significantly reduced human activity and its impact on the planet's crust, according to scientists working on a global study. An international group of seismologists from 33 countries measured a drop of up to 50 per cent in so-called ambient noise generated by humans travelling and factories humming after lockdowns came into force around the world. The team, which included experts from the Swiss Seismological Service at ETH Zurich, a university, measured lower noise levels at 185 of the 268 seismic stations analysed around the world. Urban ambient noise fell by up to 50 per cent at some measuring stations during the tightest lockdown weeks, as buses and train services were reduced, aircraft grounded and factories shuttered. This made it much quieter than Christmas, traditionally the quietest time of the year. referring to data archives covering the last 20 years, seismologist John Clinton said "The weeks during lockdown were the quietest period we have on record." "With human noise always increasing, it is highly likely that it was the quietest period for a very long time." The experts, led by Thomas Lecocq from the Royal Observatory of Belgium, were able to track the "wave of quiet" around the world as lockdown came first in China, then Italy, before spreading across the rest of Europe and onto the Americas. Lower background noise during lockdowns also means small earthquakes that otherwise would not be observed have been detected in some places. Small tremors allow us to improve our understanding of the seismic hazard, said scientist Frederick Massin, and also help assess the probability of larger earthquakes in the future. "This was an unprecedented opportunity. There's no way we would normally be able to do this kind of experiment," said Massin.

Planet Earth witnessed its quietest period in decades during 2020

For most of the world, 2020 will go down in the record books as one of the worst years in global history.&nbsp;

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, nearly two million people died, tens of millions lost their jobs and countless faced unprecedented disruption to their daily lives. But it was also a very profitable year for the elite few financial executives betting on the health of the global economy.&nbsp;

In total, the world’s top 15 hedge fund managers earnt $23.2bn (£16.9bn) collectively last year. It is more than the gross domestic product of Iceland or Zambia.&nbsp;

According to a Bloomberg analysis of regulatory filings, Chase Coleman III, the best performing hedge fund manager and Tiger Global Management (TGM) founder, was reported to have made $3bn in performance management fees and gains on personal investment in the fund.&nbsp;

According to the International Monetary Fund, Coleman’s personal pay in 2020 was more than the GDP of dozens of countries including Gambia, Bhutan and Eritrea. &nbsp;

It seems to be the biggest single year’s pay for anyone since another hedge fund manager, John Paulson, made $5bn in 2010, betting on the recovery of the economy after the financial crisis.&nbsp;

According to estimates by Forbes magazine, Coleman’s $3bn adds to the $4.5bn fortune, he had already amassed. It had ranked him as the 458th richest person in the world.&nbsp;

By investing heavily in tech stocks including PayPal, Google-owner Alphabet, the fitness bike company Peloton and the remote-working winners, Zoom and Slack, Coleman and his TGM fund made a lot of money. Coleman was also an early investor in Facebook, which made his fund nearly $1bn.&nbsp;

For most of the world, 2020 will go down in the record books as one of the worst years in global history. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, nearly two million people died, tens of millions lost their jobs and countless faced unprecedented disruption to their daily lives.

For most of the world, 2020 will go down in the record books as one of the worst years in global history. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, nearly two million people died, tens of millions lost their jobs and countless faced unprecedented disruption to their daily lives. But it was also a very profitable year for the elite few financial executives betting on the health of the global economy. In total, the world’s top 15 hedge fund managers earnt $23.2bn (£16.9bn) collectively last year. It is more than the gross domestic product of Iceland or Zambia. According to a Bloomberg analysis of regulatory filings, Chase Coleman III, the best performing hedge fund manager and Tiger Global Management (TGM) founder, was reported to have made $3bn in performance management fees and gains on personal investment in the fund. According to the International Monetary Fund, Coleman’s personal pay in 2020 was more than the GDP of dozens of countries including Gambia, Bhutan and Eritrea. It seems to be the biggest single year’s pay for anyone since another hedge fund manager, John Paulson, made $5bn in 2010, betting on the recovery of the economy after the financial crisis. According to estimates by Forbes magazine, Coleman’s $3bn adds to the $4.5bn fortune, he had already amassed. It had ranked him as the 458th richest person in the world. By investing heavily in tech stocks including PayPal, Google-owner Alphabet, the fitness bike company Peloton and the remote-working winners, Zoom and Slack, Coleman and his TGM fund made a lot of money. Coleman was also an early investor in Facebook, which made his fund nearly $1bn.

Top 15 hedge fund managers earn $23.2bn in 2020, more than Iceland’s GDP

Looks like the reign of 'Game of Thrones' on pirated sites has finally come to an end. Disney+'s 'The Mandalorian' has taken its place of being the most pirated TV show in the year 2020. 
 
According to TorrentFreak, previously the third most downloaded show in 2019, it took the No. 1 spot this year with Amazon's 'The Boys'&nbsp;in second and HBO's 'Westworld'&nbsp;in third.&nbsp;For the several years that it dominated the top torrented series list, GoT was so popular that it visibly boosted traffic on pirate sites. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-the-mandalorian-season-2-review-first-two-episodes-promise-a-thrilling-journey-into-the-known-star-wars-galaxy-341380">Also read:&nbsp;First two episodes of 'The Mandalorian' season 2 promise a thrilling journey into the known 'Star Wars' galaxy</a>

Following the top three were Amazon's 'Vikings', CBS' 'Star Trek: Picard', Adult Swim's 'Rick and Morty', AMC's 'The Walking Dead', HBO's 'The Outsider', CW's 'Arrow', and CW's 'The Flash'. While the TorrentFreak survey only accounts for BitTorrent traffic, the list does reflect some of the biggest titles of the year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-the-mandalorian-s2-review-a-blasting-finale-of-a-cameo-packed-season-350855">'The Mandalorian'&nbsp;recently concluded a blasting&nbsp;second season </a>with a finale becoming the talk of the town with the surprise cameo from the past. The show also became the ground for two more spin-offs in the making -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/the-mandalorian-spin-off-series-announced-for-disney-350809">The Book of Boba Fett for December 2021 </a>and Ahsoka Tano. 
 
'The Mandalorian'&nbsp;showrunner Jon Favreau had previously stated that&nbsp;the series took inspiration from Game of Thrones&nbsp;in the way its core characters are introduced together before setting off into their own distinct storylines.

 
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Looks like the reign of 'Game of Thrones' on pirated sites has finally come to an end. Disney+'s 'The Mandalorian' has taken its place of being the most pirated TV show in the year 2020.

Looks like the reign of 'Game of Thrones' on pirated sites has finally come to an end. Disney+'s 'The Mandalorian' has taken its place of being the most pirated TV show in the year 2020. According to TorrentFreak, previously the third most downloaded show in 2019, it took the No. 1 spot this year with Amazon's 'The Boys' in second and HBO's 'Westworld' in third. For the several years that it dominated the top torrented series list, GoT was so popular that it visibly boosted traffic on pirate sites. Also read: First two episodes of 'The Mandalorian' season 2 promise a thrilling journey into the known 'Star Wars' galaxy Following the top three were Amazon's 'Vikings', CBS' 'Star Trek: Picard', Adult Swim's 'Rick and Morty', AMC's 'The Walking Dead', HBO's 'The Outsider', CW's 'Arrow', and CW's 'The Flash'. While the TorrentFreak survey only accounts for BitTorrent traffic, the list does reflect some of the biggest titles of the year. 'The Mandalorian' recently concluded a blasting second season with a finale becoming the talk of the town with the surprise cameo from the past. The show also became the ground for two more spin-offs in the making - The Book of Boba Fett for December 2021 and Ahsoka Tano. 'The Mandalorian' showrunner Jon Favreau had previously stated that the series took inspiration from Game of Thrones in the way its core characters are introduced together before setting off into their own distinct storylines.

'The Mandalorian' is the most pirated TV show of 2020 followed by 'The Boys', 'Westworld'

Wondering what life in 2021 may look like? On Episode 36 of Gravitas Plus, Palki Sharma Upadhyay brings you 6 trends that will dominate the year ahead & may shape our future beyond.

Gravitas Plus: 6 Trends that will rule 2021

Year in Google search 2020: Here's what people searched the most

The last day of the year is to remember India's doctors, health and frontline Covid warriors, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while saluting people who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone of AIIMS at Rajkot in Gujarat, via video conferencing.

During the ceremony PM Modi said," The number of new cases of covid-19 infection in the country are decreasing now. We are preparing to run the world's largest vaccination program in the next year."

"This last day of the year is to remember India's millions of doctors, health warriors, sanitation workers, and front line corona warriors. I salute the frontline warriors who have given their lives fulfilling their duty. This year has shown that how effectively we can cope with the most difficult crisis when we are all united," said PM Modi.

"Swasthya hi sampada hai (health is wealth), the year 2020 has taught us this well. It has been a year full of challenges. Farewell to the year 2020 with this new National Health Facility highlights this year's challenges and also marks the New Year's priority," said PM Narendra Modi.

The Prime Minister added that when there is any health injury, every aspect of life gets severely affected. Not just the family but the whole social circle is affected.

"Today, another link strengthening the medical infrastructure of the country is being added," PM Modi said.

"The number of new cases of COVID-19 is decreasing in the country now. We are preparing to run the world's largest vaccination programme in the next year," he added.

Speaking at the event, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said AIIMS Hospital in Rajkot is being built in 200-acre area, at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore.

(With inputs from agencies)

The last day of the year is to remember India's doctors, health and frontline Covid warriors, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while saluting people who gave their lives in the line of duty.

The last day of the year is to remember India's doctors, health and frontline Covid warriors, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while saluting people who gave their lives in the line of duty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone of AIIMS at Rajkot in Gujarat, via video conferencing. During the ceremony PM Modi said," The number of new cases of covid-19 infection in the country are decreasing now. We are preparing to run the world's largest vaccination program in the next year." "This last day of the year is to remember India's millions of doctors, health warriors, sanitation workers, and front line corona warriors. I salute the frontline warriors who have given their lives fulfilling their duty. This year has shown that how effectively we can cope with the most difficult crisis when we are all united," said PM Modi. "Swasthya hi sampada hai (health is wealth), the year 2020 has taught us this well. It has been a year full of challenges. Farewell to the year 2020 with this new National Health Facility highlights this year's challenges and also marks the New Year's priority," said PM Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister added that when there is any health injury, every aspect of life gets severely affected. Not just the family but the whole social circle is affected. "Today, another link strengthening the medical infrastructure of the country is being added," PM Modi said. "The number of new cases of COVID-19 is decreasing in the country now. We are preparing to run the world's largest vaccination programme in the next year," he added. Speaking at the event, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said AIIMS Hospital in Rajkot is being built in 200-acre area, at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Health is wealth’, the year 2020 has taught us this well: PM Modi 

The year 2020 saw one of the biggest global shutdowns of the entertainment industry. The impact of this worldwide film and TV production shutdown was perhaps felt nowhere more than in India, where the world`s most prolific film industry was forced to go on a hiatus. 
 
The Indian entertainment industry churns out more than 2,000 movies per year, dwarfing the number made by Hollywood. In order to facilitate such levels of activity, the production machinery of such a colossal widespread industry has to work each and every day of the week. The COVID-induced lockdown saw all production around the nation go on a hiatus from March 19, 2020, with no clear timeframe for it to resume. Due to this pause on film productions, the audiences had no option but to settle in front of their home screens. 
 
As a consequence of this lockdown revenue from this industry was hit big time. The annual box office earnings of Bollywood stand at a little over Rs 3,000 crore, but in the year 2020, it was around Rs 500-600 crore only. 
 
While there is no exact figure of the revenue that was lost, some estimates say it to be upwards of Rs 1,500 crore with single-screen theatres losing approximately between Rs 25 to Rs 75 lakh a month. These losses go even further into thousands of crores as there are overheads on cinemas, cost of interest on films, holding costs and a lot of other things. 
 
All of this spelled catastrophe for an industry that supports lakhs of people including actors, directors and producers, who are registered with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). 
 
The COVID-19 virus did not spare the celebrities, which in turn affected the production and shoots even after the lockdown was lifted. While most of them recovered, we lost some of our favourite personalities to COVID-19. Stars who braved the virus and returned back to production for the audiences were Varun Dhawan, veteran Neetu Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Genelia D`Souza, among several others. Some members of the Bachchan family, which included Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan were also tested positive but later recovered.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ludo-to-unpaused-5-thought-provoking-films-that-delivered-entertainment-in-2020-352934" hreflang="en">'Ludo', to 'Unpaused': 5 thought-provoking films that delivered entertainment in 2020</a> 
 
Due to the lockdown, all the film studios in the country had to delay their scheduled releases as all movie theatres were closed. This included the highly anticipated shared cop universe action film `Sooryavanshi` and the cricket biopic `83`, the latter tells the story of India`s 1983 cricket World Cup victory. Both the movies were pushed back for "health and safety" reasons. A lot of the movies, which could not be released on the big screen chose the OTT route in order to slash their losses. Some A-lister actors even embraced roles on these OTT platform Originals.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/yearender-2020-the-worst-hindi-films-of-the-year-352899">Yearender 2020: The worst Hindi films of the year</a> 
 
Known for their subversive and edgy content, these streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar and others already had a strong set of young and urban viewers. In June, the first film to release online was `Gulabo Sitabo`, starring Bollywood`s biggest star Amitabh Bachchan, followed by Vidya Balan`s `Shakuntala Devi`. 
 
Even Bollywood`s highest-paid actor, Akshay Kumar, released his horror-comedy `Laxxmi Bomb` on Disney+ Hotstar. At a time when Bollywood`s favoured destination was out of commission these streaming platforms, helped loosen a rigid divide between cinema and TV. In a true sense, the small screen became a big screen for the box office. 
 
The productions, which were halted have now resumed while adhering to the strict COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of the cast and crew, which includes social distancing, masks, PPE kits, face shields and regular temperature checks. 
 
Though theatres have reopened in most cities around the nation, it is still going to be a slow walk towards normalcy due to the COVID-related restrictions and a lack of theatrical film releases.

The year 2020 saw one of the biggest global shutdowns of the entertainment industry. The impact of this worldwide film and TV production shutdown was perhaps felt nowhere more than in India, where the world`s most prolific film industry was forced to go on a hiatus.

The year 2020 saw one of the biggest global shutdowns of the entertainment industry. The impact of this worldwide film and TV production shutdown was perhaps felt nowhere more than in India, where the world`s most prolific film industry was forced to go on a hiatus. The Indian entertainment industry churns out more than 2,000 movies per year, dwarfing the number made by Hollywood. In order to facilitate such levels of activity, the production machinery of such a colossal widespread industry has to work each and every day of the week. The COVID-induced lockdown saw all production around the nation go on a hiatus from March 19, 2020, with no clear timeframe for it to resume. Due to this pause on film productions, the audiences had no option but to settle in front of their home screens. As a consequence of this lockdown revenue from this industry was hit big time. The annual box office earnings of Bollywood stand at a little over Rs 3,000 crore, but in the year 2020, it was around Rs 500-600 crore only. While there is no exact figure of the revenue that was lost, some estimates say it to be upwards of Rs 1,500 crore with single-screen theatres losing approximately between Rs 25 to Rs 75 lakh a month. These losses go even further into thousands of crores as there are overheads on cinemas, cost of interest on films, holding costs and a lot of other things. All of this spelled catastrophe for an industry that supports lakhs of people including actors, directors and producers, who are registered with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). The COVID-19 virus did not spare the celebrities, which in turn affected the production and shoots even after the lockdown was lifted. While most of them recovered, we lost some of our favourite personalities to COVID-19. Stars who braved the virus and returned back to production for the audiences were Varun Dhawan, veteran Neetu Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Genelia D`Souza, among several others. Some members of the Bachchan family, which included Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan were also tested positive but later recovered. 'Ludo', to 'Unpaused': 5 thought-provoking films that delivered entertainment in 2020 Due to the lockdown, all the film studios in the country had to delay their scheduled releases as all movie theatres were closed. This included the highly anticipated shared cop universe action film `Sooryavanshi` and the cricket biopic `83`, the latter tells the story of India`s 1983 cricket World Cup victory. Both the movies were pushed back for "health and safety" reasons. A lot of the movies, which could not be released on the big screen chose the OTT route in order to slash their losses. Some A-lister actors even embraced roles on these OTT platform Originals. Yearender 2020: The worst Hindi films of the year Known for their subversive and edgy content, these streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar and others already had a strong set of young and urban viewers. In June, the first film to release online was `Gulabo Sitabo`, starring Bollywood`s biggest star Amitabh Bachchan, followed by Vidya Balan`s `Shakuntala Devi`. Even Bollywood`s highest-paid actor, Akshay Kumar, released his horror-comedy `Laxxmi Bomb` on Disney+ Hotstar. At a time when Bollywood`s favoured destination was out of commission these streaming platforms, helped loosen a rigid divide between cinema and TV. In a true sense, the small screen became a big screen for the box office. The productions, which were halted have now resumed while adhering to the strict COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of the cast and crew, which includes social distancing, masks, PPE kits, face shields and regular temperature checks. Though theatres have reopened in most cities around the nation, it is still going to be a slow walk towards normalcy due to the COVID-related restrictions and a lack of theatrical film releases.

Yearender 2020: Biggest shutdown of entertainment industry due to COVID-19

2020

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