Vax, which is short for a vaccine, has been chosen as the word of the year by lexicographers at the Oxford English Dictionary. The use of the word vaccine surged ever since COVID-19 vaccination campaign has started in different parts of world.

Vax, which is short for a vaccine, has been chosen as the word of the year by lexicographers at the Oxford English Dictionary. The use of the word vaccine surged ever since COVID-19 vaccination campaign has started in different parts of world. As per a statement by Oxford, when lexicographers began digging into English language corpus data it quickly became apparent that vax was a "particularly striking term". The word has generated numerous derivatives that can now be seen in a wide range of informal contexts, from vax sites and vax cards to getting vaxxed and being fully vaxxed. The dictionary's editors wrote, "For the first time this year our report also examines how the language of vaccines has influenced languages other than English, looking at a selection of the most-spoken languages across the globe." The use of the word pandemic has also increased by more than 57,000 per cent this year. Also read | 'Lockdown' is Collins Dictionary Word of the Year in 2020 "We examine the data-based evidence of vaccine-related changes to the lexicon, including its history, neologisms, and regional variations. For the first time this year our report also examines how the language of vaccines has influenced languages other than English, looking at a selection of the most-spoken languages across the globe," said Oxford in a statement. Earlier in 2020, Lockdown was named expression of the year by both Collins and Oxford Dictionary. In 2019, there were 4,000 recorded examples of the lockdown being utilised. In 2020, this had taken off to in excess of a fourth of 1,000,000. The pandemic has affected the daily use of language in a massive manner, as a result, six of Collins' 10 words of the year in 2020 are related to the global health crisis. "Coronavirus", "social distancing", "self-isolate" and "furlough" as well as "lockdown" and "key worker" were included in the long list of 10 words of the year.

'Particularly striking term': 'Vax' declared as Oxford Dictionary's word of the year in 2021

Every year, October 16, is marked as World Food Day to mark the founding of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). Established in 1945, the main goal of this day is to promote the message that food is a fundamental human right.&nbsp;

However, this year, World Food Day finds us at a very crucial moment. While the world was already coping with the consequences of climate disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic posed another threat.

As a result of megafires, crops have gone up in flames, lives and livelihoods have been destroyed, thus contributing to global food security challenges.

In an attempt to manage this issue, UN Food Systems Summit convened by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres conveyed how the world needs to move forward to transform agri-food systems.

Early this month, a World Food Forum was successfully convened in Rome. Powered by the global youth, and youth representatives at FAO and our sister agencies, it focuses on harnessing the creativity of younger generations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-schools-shift-back-to-classroom-teaching-are-students-ready-to-be-reintroduced-to-outer-world-421087">Also read |&nbsp;As schools shift back to classroom teaching, are students ready to be reintroduced to outer world?</a>

The younger generations will be the ones who will have to face the direct consequences of the climate crisis and malfunctioning agri-food systems.&nbsp;14 per cent of the food is produced is lost, and 17 per cent is wasted.&nbsp;

While on one hand, people across the world struggle for their meals, there are people who tend to waste food. There are various ways of preventing food from being wasted, including, shopping smartly - To prevent the food from getting wasted, one needs to get rid of the habit of buying excess food.

Upcycling food can also be another way to save food. Instead of throwing out banana peels, coconut and eggshells, one can use them to fertilise the garden. Coconut shells can also be used as bowls and plant pots.&nbsp;

Eating the skin can also be considered another important measure. The peels of several fruits, including kiwi, apples and bananas have important nutrients. Apart from being used as eatables, they can also be used as beauty products.&nbsp;

As per an estimate by FAO, as much as $40 to $50 billion in annual investments on targeted interventions is needed to end hunger by 2030. Also, there are many low-cost, high-impact projects that can help hundreds of millions of people in meeting their food needs.

Every year, October 16, is marked as World Food Day to mark the founding of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). Established in 1945, the main goal of this day is to promote the message that food is a fundamental human right.

Every year, October 16, is marked as World Food Day to mark the founding of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). Established in 1945, the main goal of this day is to promote the message that food is a fundamental human right. However, this year, World Food Day finds us at a very crucial moment. While the world was already coping with the consequences of climate disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic posed another threat. As a result of megafires, crops have gone up in flames, lives and livelihoods have been destroyed, thus contributing to global food security challenges. In an attempt to manage this issue, UN Food Systems Summit convened by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres conveyed how the world needs to move forward to transform agri-food systems. Early this month, a World Food Forum was successfully convened in Rome. Powered by the global youth, and youth representatives at FAO and our sister agencies, it focuses on harnessing the creativity of younger generations. Also read | As schools shift back to classroom teaching, are students ready to be reintroduced to outer world? The younger generations will be the ones who will have to face the direct consequences of the climate crisis and malfunctioning agri-food systems. 14 per cent of the food is produced is lost, and 17 per cent is wasted. While on one hand, people across the world struggle for their meals, there are people who tend to waste food. There are various ways of preventing food from being wasted, including, shopping smartly - To prevent the food from getting wasted, one needs to get rid of the habit of buying excess food. Upcycling food can also be another way to save food. Instead of throwing out banana peels, coconut and eggshells, one can use them to fertilise the garden. Coconut shells can also be used as bowls and plant pots. Eating the skin can also be considered another important measure. The peels of several fruits, including kiwi, apples and bananas have important nutrients. Apart from being used as eatables, they can also be used as beauty products. As per an estimate by FAO, as much as $40 to $50 billion in annual investments on targeted interventions is needed to end hunger by 2030. Also, there are many low-cost, high-impact projects that can help hundreds of millions of people in meeting their food needs.

World Food Day 2021: Here are few ways to end global hunger and reduce food wastage

In honour of translation professionals, September 30 is globally marked as International Translation Day by the International Federation of Translators (FIT). This date was chosen because it coincides with the day of the feast of St. Jerome, who translated the Bible and is also considered the patron saint of translators.&nbsp;

The day is aimed at increasing awareness about the translation industry and languages that play an essential part in our society’s growth.&nbsp;

As per the United Nations, this day is a chance to honour the work of language specialists, who contributes significantly to fostering international understanding, improving communication and fostering cooperation among nations, as well as contributing to worldwide peace and security.

<a href="Also read | Social media star Khaby Lame makes India debut, partners with this brand">Also read |&nbsp;Social media star Khaby Lame makes India debut, partners with this brand</a>

The theme this year is “United in translation."

Though FIT has been observing this day since 1953, the first formal celebrations of the global translation day took place in 1991. However, it was on May 24, 2017, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), through resolution 71/288, officially recognised September 30 as the date to celebrate International Translation Day.&nbsp;

There were 11 countries that were signatories to the draft resolution, including, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, Qatar, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Vietnam.

UN's official site states, “St. Jerome was an Italian priest from the north-eastern region of the country who is most renowned for his efforts translating the New Testament from its Greek manuscripts into Latin. On September 30, 420, Jerome died near Bethlehem."

In honour of translation professionals, September 30 is globally marked as International Translation Day by the International Federation of Translators (FIT). This date was chosen because it coincides with the day of the feast of St.

In honour of translation professionals, September 30 is globally marked as International Translation Day by the International Federation of Translators (FIT). This date was chosen because it coincides with the day of the feast of St. Jerome, who translated the Bible and is also considered the patron saint of translators. The day is aimed at increasing awareness about the translation industry and languages that play an essential part in our society’s growth. As per the United Nations, this day is a chance to honour the work of language specialists, who contributes significantly to fostering international understanding, improving communication and fostering cooperation among nations, as well as contributing to worldwide peace and security. Also read | Social media star Khaby Lame makes India debut, partners with this brand The theme this year is “United in translation." Though FIT has been observing this day since 1953, the first formal celebrations of the global translation day took place in 1991. However, it was on May 24, 2017, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), through resolution 71/288, officially recognised September 30 as the date to celebrate International Translation Day. There were 11 countries that were signatories to the draft resolution, including, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, Qatar, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Vietnam. UN's official site states, “St. Jerome was an Italian priest from the north-eastern region of the country who is most renowned for his efforts translating the New Testament from its Greek manuscripts into Latin. On September 30, 420, Jerome died near Bethlehem."

International translation day 2021: Theme and significance

In pictures: A look back at German Chancellor Angela Merkel's career 

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday urged Germans to give her would-be successor Armin Laschet their vote to shape Germany's future, in a last-ditch push to shore up his beleaguered campaign 24 hours before Germans vote.

Laschet, 60, has been trailing his Social Democrat challenger Olaf Scholz in the race for the chancellery, although final polls put the gap between them within the margin of error, making the vote one of the most unpredictable in recent years. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/farewell-angela-merkel-you-were-once-the-leader-of-the-free-world-415832">Also read | Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World’</a>

Merkel had planned to keep a low profile in the election battle as she prepares to bow out of politics after 16 years in power. But she has found herself dragged into the frantic campaign schedule of the unpopular chairman of her party, Laschet. 
 
Watch | Gravitas US Edition: Memes &amp; memories — Merkel era ends in Germany

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In the last week of the campaign, Merkel took Laschet to her constituency by the Baltic coast and on Friday headlined the closing rally gathering the conservatives' bigwigs in Munich.

Merkel tugged at the heartstrings of Germany's predominantly older electorate on Friday, calling on them to keep her conservatives in power for the sake of stability -- a trademark of Germany.

A day before the vote, she travelled to Laschet's hometown and constituency, Aachen, a spa city near Germany's western border with Belgium and the Netherlands, where he was born and still lives.

"It is about your future, the future of your children and the future of your parents," she said at her last rally before the polls, urging strong mobilisation for her conservative alliance.

Climate high on agenda

She underlined that climate protection would be a key challenge of the next government, but that this would not be achieved "simply through rules and regulations.

"For that we need new technological developments, new procedures, researchers, interested people who think about how that can be done, and people who participate," she said.&nbsp;

Laschet is a "bridge-builder who will get people on board" in shaping Germany to meet those challenges, she said.

Hundreds of thousands of people descended on the streets on Friday urging change and greater climate protection, with a leading activist calling Sunday's election the vote "of a century".

On Saturday, Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg told a rally near Germany's Garzweiler mine, one of the biggest in Europe, that the elections "are not going to resolve the crisis, whatever the outcome".

"You're going to have to keep mobilising, organising and taking to the streets," she said.

With the clock ticking down to the election, Scholz was also staying close to home at the other end of the country to chase down last votes.

Taking questions from voters in his constituency of Potsdam -- a city on the outskirts of Berlin famous for its palaces that once housed Prussian kings, -- Scholz said he was fighting for "a major change in this country, a new government" led by him.&nbsp;

He also gave a glimpse of the future government he hopes to lead, saying that "perhaps it may be enough to, for instance, form a government between the SPD and the Greens".

Scholz, currently finance minister in Merkel's coalition government, has avoided making mistakes on the campaign trail, and largely won backing as he sold himself as the "continuity candidate" after Merkel in place of Laschet.

Described as capable but boring, Scholz has consistently beaten Laschet by wide margins when it comes to popularity.

'Could backfire'

As election day loomed, Laschet's conservatives were closing the gap, with one poll even putting them just one percentage point behind the SPD's 26 percent.

Laschet went into the race for the chancellery badly bruised by a tough battle for the conservatives' chancellor candidate nomination.

Nevertheless, his party enjoyed a substantial lead ahead of the SPD heading into the summer.

But Laschet was seen chuckling behind President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as he paid tribute to victims of deadly floods in July, an image that would drastically turn the mood against him and his party.

As polls showed the lead widening for the SPD, the conservatives turned to their greatest asset -- the still widely popular Merkel.

Yet roping in the chancellor is not without risks, said political analyst Oskar Niedermayer of Berlin's Free University.

"Merkel is still the most well-liked politician. But the joint appearances can become a problem for Laschet because they are then immediately compared to each other, " he said.

"And it could therefore backfire because people could then think that Merkel is more suitable than Laschet."

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday urged Germans to give her would-be successor Armin Laschet their vote to shape Germany's future, in a last-ditch push to shore up his beleaguered campaign 24 hours before Germans vote.

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday urged Germans to give her would-be successor Armin Laschet their vote to shape Germany's future, in a last-ditch push to shore up his beleaguered campaign 24 hours before Germans vote. Laschet, 60, has been trailing his Social Democrat challenger Olaf Scholz in the race for the chancellery, although final polls put the gap between them within the margin of error, making the vote one of the most unpredictable in recent years. Also read | Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World’ Merkel had planned to keep a low profile in the election battle as she prepares to bow out of politics after 16 years in power. But she has found herself dragged into the frantic campaign schedule of the unpopular chairman of her party, Laschet. Watch | Gravitas US Edition: Memes & memories — Merkel era ends in Germany In the last week of the campaign, Merkel took Laschet to her constituency by the Baltic coast and on Friday headlined the closing rally gathering the conservatives' bigwigs in Munich. Merkel tugged at the heartstrings of Germany's predominantly older electorate on Friday, calling on them to keep her conservatives in power for the sake of stability -- a trademark of Germany. A day before the vote, she travelled to Laschet's hometown and constituency, Aachen, a spa city near Germany's western border with Belgium and the Netherlands, where he was born and still lives. "It is about your future, the future of your children and the future of your parents," she said at her last rally before the polls, urging strong mobilisation for her conservative alliance. Climate high on agenda She underlined that climate protection would be a key challenge of the next government, but that this would not be achieved "simply through rules and regulations. "For that we need new technological developments, new procedures, researchers, interested people who think about how that can be done, and people who participate," she said. Laschet is a "bridge-builder who will get people on board" in shaping Germany to meet those challenges, she said. Hundreds of thousands of people descended on the streets on Friday urging change and greater climate protection, with a leading activist calling Sunday's election the vote "of a century". On Saturday, Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg told a rally near Germany's Garzweiler mine, one of the biggest in Europe, that the elections "are not going to resolve the crisis, whatever the outcome". "You're going to have to keep mobilising, organising and taking to the streets," she said. With the clock ticking down to the election, Scholz was also staying close to home at the other end of the country to chase down last votes. Taking questions from voters in his constituency of Potsdam -- a city on the outskirts of Berlin famous for its palaces that once housed Prussian kings, -- Scholz said he was fighting for "a major change in this country, a new government" led by him. He also gave a glimpse of the future government he hopes to lead, saying that "perhaps it may be enough to, for instance, form a government between the SPD and the Greens". Scholz, currently finance minister in Merkel's coalition government, has avoided making mistakes on the campaign trail, and largely won backing as he sold himself as the "continuity candidate" after Merkel in place of Laschet. Described as capable but boring, Scholz has consistently beaten Laschet by wide margins when it comes to popularity. 'Could backfire' As election day loomed, Laschet's conservatives were closing the gap, with one poll even putting them just one percentage point behind the SPD's 26 percent. Laschet went into the race for the chancellery badly bruised by a tough battle for the conservatives' chancellor candidate nomination. Nevertheless, his party enjoyed a substantial lead ahead of the SPD heading into the summer. But Laschet was seen chuckling behind President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as he paid tribute to victims of deadly floods in July, an image that would drastically turn the mood against him and his party. As polls showed the lead widening for the SPD, the conservatives turned to their greatest asset -- the still widely popular Merkel. Yet roping in the chancellor is not without risks, said political analyst Oskar Niedermayer of Berlin's Free University. "Merkel is still the most well-liked politician. But the joint appearances can become a problem for Laschet because they are then immediately compared to each other, " he said. "And it could therefore backfire because people could then think that Merkel is more suitable than Laschet."

Germany elections: Angela Merkel makes final push for successor in Germany's knife-edge polls

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.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/guatemala-volcano-erupts-but-no-evacuations-yet-415407">Also read |&nbsp;Guatemala volcano erupts but no evacuations yet</a>

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

Leaders from more than 100 countries are in New York this week for the United Nations' annual high-level summit — a COVID-inflected, semi-locked-down occasion that takes place in one of the pandemic's hardest-hit cities.

It will be a departure from the UN General Assembly's last in-person meeting in 2019 — and far different, too, from last year’s all-virtual version.

President Joe Biden of the United States, Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are among the heads of state expected to attend the summit from September 20 to 27.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as France's Emmanuel Macron and Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi, are among the no-shows.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-united-nations-general-assembly-history-significance-and-functions-414393">In Pics | United Nations General Assembly- History, significance, and functions</a> 
 
The following are the major issues that are expected to dominate discussions at the UN and on the sidelines this year:&nbsp;

Climate crisis:

In the run-up to November's major climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, some 40 world leaders will attend a confidential meeting on climate change co-chaired by Guterres and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"We need immediate action on cash, automobiles, coal, and trees," said Barbara Woodward, Britain's UN ambassador. 
She stated that this entails funding $100 billion to assist disadvantaged countries in dealing with climate change and obtaining ambitious emission reduction goals from countries.&nbsp;

COVID-19 vaccinations:

On Wednesday, Biden will host a virtual summit focused on taking tangible steps to stop the pandemic.

As many countries struggle to procure vaccines, Biden plans to call on world leaders to give one billion COVID-19 vaccines as a group, to inoculate 70% of the world in the following year.

According to an invitation made by the Biden administration, the US will also call for the contribution and delivery of one billion test kits by 2022, as well as an acceleration of a previously stated pledge of 2 billion doses. They're referred to as "draught targets" in the text.&nbsp;

Afghanistan:

The UN is in a pickle, having warned of a "humanitarian disaster" if aid does not continue to flow into the war-torn country.

Few countries want to recognise or assist the Taliban administration, which includes sanctioned terrorists and has a lengthy history of human rights violations, but they also don't want the withdrawal of international forces to trigger a refugee crisis or worsen existing problems.

In a meeting on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, and France — are likely to discuss Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Iran: Iran's new president will not attend, but Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian will represent the Islamic Republic. Talks over the UN-backed Iran nuclear deal have stalled, and the US and its Western allies have warned that time is running out to keep the accord alive.&nbsp;

Quad Alliance:&nbsp;

The leaders of three of America's closest Asian friends, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, will travel to Washington on Friday for the Quad bloc's first in-person meeting.

The Indo-Pacific alliance is largely viewed as an attempt to present a united face against China's regional ambitions, and the gathering is expected to draw Beijing's ire.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Leaders from more than 100 countries are in New York this week for the United Nations' annual high-level summit — a COVID-inflected, semi-locked-down occasion that takes place in one of the pandemic's hardest-hit cities.

Leaders from more than 100 countries are in New York this week for the United Nations' annual high-level summit — a COVID-inflected, semi-locked-down occasion that takes place in one of the pandemic's hardest-hit cities. It will be a departure from the UN General Assembly's last in-person meeting in 2019 — and far different, too, from last year’s all-virtual version. President Joe Biden of the United States, Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are among the heads of state expected to attend the summit from September 20 to 27. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as France's Emmanuel Macron and Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi, are among the no-shows. In Pics | United Nations General Assembly- History, significance, and functions The following are the major issues that are expected to dominate discussions at the UN and on the sidelines this year: Climate crisis: In the run-up to November's major climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, some 40 world leaders will attend a confidential meeting on climate change co-chaired by Guterres and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "We need immediate action on cash, automobiles, coal, and trees," said Barbara Woodward, Britain's UN ambassador. She stated that this entails funding $100 billion to assist disadvantaged countries in dealing with climate change and obtaining ambitious emission reduction goals from countries. COVID-19 vaccinations: On Wednesday, Biden will host a virtual summit focused on taking tangible steps to stop the pandemic. As many countries struggle to procure vaccines, Biden plans to call on world leaders to give one billion COVID-19 vaccines as a group, to inoculate 70% of the world in the following year. According to an invitation made by the Biden administration, the US will also call for the contribution and delivery of one billion test kits by 2022, as well as an acceleration of a previously stated pledge of 2 billion doses. They're referred to as "draught targets" in the text. Afghanistan: The UN is in a pickle, having warned of a "humanitarian disaster" if aid does not continue to flow into the war-torn country. Few countries want to recognise or assist the Taliban administration, which includes sanctioned terrorists and has a lengthy history of human rights violations, but they also don't want the withdrawal of international forces to trigger a refugee crisis or worsen existing problems. In a meeting on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, and France — are likely to discuss Afghanistan. Iran: Iran's new president will not attend, but Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian will represent the Islamic Republic. Talks over the UN-backed Iran nuclear deal have stalled, and the US and its Western allies have warned that time is running out to keep the accord alive. Quad Alliance: The leaders of three of America's closest Asian friends, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, will travel to Washington on Friday for the Quad bloc's first in-person meeting. The Indo-Pacific alliance is largely viewed as an attempt to present a united face against China's regional ambitions, and the gathering is expected to draw Beijing's ire. (With inputs from agencies)

United Nations General Assembly 2021: Here's what to watch for

In Pics | These are the world's safest cities in 2021

Thailand downgraded its economic growth forecast for 2021&nbsp;on Monday as it battles its worst Covid-19 wave, which has brought record numbers of new infections and deaths.&nbsp;

The kingdom last year suffered its worst full-year performance since the Asian financial crisis of 1997 with a 6.1 percent economic contraction.

The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council&nbsp;had initially given a cool forecast for recovery during the first quarter, estimating growth of 1.5 to 2.5 percent for 2021.

But on Monday, NESDC secretary general Danucha Pichayanan announced it had to revise that figure down to between 0.7 and 1.2 per cent.&nbsp;

"This crisis caused by the pandemic is unlike the financial crises of 1997 and 2009 -- our estimation is based on domestic causes," he said during a press conference.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-5-dead-at-kabul-airport-as-us-officials-leave-afghanistan-report-405955">Also read |&nbsp;At least 5 dead at Kabul airport as US officials leave Afghanistan: Report</a>

He added that the new forecast was dependent on the hope that the pandemic's curve will flatten after the third quarter, thus enabling a relaxation of restrictions by October.

"But if the pandemic continues and relaxation cannot start in the fourth quarter... the growth could be lower than 0.7 percent," Danucha said.&nbsp;

Thailand's GDP for the second quarter was up 7.5 per cent on the same period last year, the first sign of recovery since the pandemic.

The growth was most visible in agricultural, industrial and exports sectors, while tourism, once Thailand's cash cow, remained sluggish.&nbsp;

Since the start of the pandemic Thailand has recorded 928,314 cases with 7,733 deaths, the bulk of them detected since April.

The country has seen more than 20,000 new cases reported daily for nearly a week, crowding its already-hampered healthcare system and filling up its state-run quarantine facilities.&nbsp;

Thailand downgraded its economic growth forecast for 2021 on Monday as it battles its worst Covid-19 wave, which has brought record numbers of new infections and deaths.

Thailand downgraded its economic growth forecast for 2021 on Monday as it battles its worst Covid-19 wave, which has brought record numbers of new infections and deaths. The kingdom last year suffered its worst full-year performance since the Asian financial crisis of 1997 with a 6.1 percent economic contraction. The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council had initially given a cool forecast for recovery during the first quarter, estimating growth of 1.5 to 2.5 percent for 2021. But on Monday, NESDC secretary general Danucha Pichayanan announced it had to revise that figure down to between 0.7 and 1.2 per cent. "This crisis caused by the pandemic is unlike the financial crises of 1997 and 2009 -- our estimation is based on domestic causes," he said during a press conference. Also read | At least 5 dead at Kabul airport as US officials leave Afghanistan: Report He added that the new forecast was dependent on the hope that the pandemic's curve will flatten after the third quarter, thus enabling a relaxation of restrictions by October. "But if the pandemic continues and relaxation cannot start in the fourth quarter... the growth could be lower than 0.7 percent," Danucha said. Thailand's GDP for the second quarter was up 7.5 per cent on the same period last year, the first sign of recovery since the pandemic. The growth was most visible in agricultural, industrial and exports sectors, while tourism, once Thailand's cash cow, remained sluggish. Since the start of the pandemic Thailand has recorded 928,314 cases with 7,733 deaths, the bulk of them detected since April. The country has seen more than 20,000 new cases reported daily for nearly a week, crowding its already-hampered healthcare system and filling up its state-run quarantine facilities.

Thailand downgrades 2021 outlook as COVID-19 hampers recovery

Washington state has confirmed its second “murder hornet” sighting of 2021.&nbsp;

As per a statement released by the Washington state department of agriculture, this is the first report of a live Asian giant hornet in the state this year.

"The report included a photograph of an Asian giant hornet attacking a paper wasp nest in a rural area east of Blaine, about 2 miles from where WSDA eradicated the first Asian giant hornet nest in the United States last October", read the statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-issues-new-terrorism-threat-warning-ahead-of-911-anniversary-405276">Also read |&nbsp;US issues new terrorism threat warning ahead of 9/11 anniversary</a>

This comes after two months scientists found a dead hornet north of Seattle, marking the first murder hornet found in the US this year.

Sven Spichiger, WSDA’s managing entomologist said, "This hornet is exhibiting the same behaviour we saw last year – attacking paper wasp nests".

He added, "If you have paper wasp nests on your property and live in the area, keep an eye on them and report any Asian giant hornets you see. Note the direction they fly off to as well".

Washington state has confirmed its second “murder hornet” sighting of 2021. As per a statement released by the Washington state department of agriculture, this is the first report of a live Asian giant hornet in the state this year.

Washington state has confirmed its second “murder hornet” sighting of 2021. As per a statement released by the Washington state department of agriculture, this is the first report of a live Asian giant hornet in the state this year. "The report included a photograph of an Asian giant hornet attacking a paper wasp nest in a rural area east of Blaine, about 2 miles from where WSDA eradicated the first Asian giant hornet nest in the United States last October", read the statement. Also read | US issues new terrorism threat warning ahead of 9/11 anniversary This comes after two months scientists found a dead hornet north of Seattle, marking the first murder hornet found in the US this year. Sven Spichiger, WSDA’s managing entomologist said, "This hornet is exhibiting the same behaviour we saw last year – attacking paper wasp nests". He added, "If you have paper wasp nests on your property and live in the area, keep an eye on them and report any Asian giant hornets you see. Note the direction they fly off to as well".

Washington state confirms first live ‘murder hornet’ sighting of 2021

For a period of almost 200 years, the British ruled India. From being controlled to gaining control of our own nation, it has been a significant journey.&nbsp;

The desire to attain independence began in the year 1929 when Jawaharlal Nehru as the Congress President gave the call for ‘Poorna Swaraj’ or total independence from British colonial rule.

Initially, January 26 was chosen as Independence Day. Also, the Congress party continued to celebrate it from 1930 onwards, till India attained independence and January 26, 1950, was chosen as the Republic Day.

So, how did August 15 become India's independence day?

Lord Mountbatten had been given a mandate by the British parliament to transfer the power by June 30, 1948.

However, as per C Rajagopalachari’s memorable words - If he had waited till June 1948, there would have been no power left to transfer.&nbsp;

Therefore, Mountbatten preponed the date to August 1947.

With this, he claimed that by advancing the date, he was ensuring that there will be no bloodshed or riot.&nbsp;

As per Mountbatten’s inputs, the Indian Independence Bill was introduced in the British House of Commons on July 4, 1947, and passed within a fortnight.&nbsp;

It provided for the end of the British rule in India, on August 15, 1947, and the establishment of the Dominions of India and Pakistan.

However, he later claimed, as quoted in Freedom at Midnight, “The date I chose came out of the blue. I chose it in reply to a question. I was determined to show I was master of the whole event. When they asked had we set a date, I knew it had to be soon. I hadn’t worked it out exactly then — I thought it had to be about August or September and I then went out to the 15th August. Why? Because it was the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender [in World War II].”

Since then, August 15 is celebrated as India's Independence day. This year will be marked as the 75th Independence day of the nation.

‘Nation First, Always First’ will be the theme of India’s 75th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation.

The Olympians who won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Games have been sent special invites for the event.

However, similar to last year, this year's celebrations will be tone down, keeping in mind all the social distancing measures due to the Covid pademic.&nbsp;

For a period of almost 200 years, the British ruled India. From being controlled to gaining control of our own nation, it has been a significant journey. The desire to attain independence began in the year 1929 when Jawaharlal Nehru as the Congress President gave the call for ‘Poorna Swaraj’ or total independence from British colonial rule.

For a period of almost 200 years, the British ruled India. From being controlled to gaining control of our own nation, it has been a significant journey. The desire to attain independence began in the year 1929 when Jawaharlal Nehru as the Congress President gave the call for ‘Poorna Swaraj’ or total independence from British colonial rule. Initially, January 26 was chosen as Independence Day. Also, the Congress party continued to celebrate it from 1930 onwards, till India attained independence and January 26, 1950, was chosen as the Republic Day. So, how did August 15 become India's independence day? Lord Mountbatten had been given a mandate by the British parliament to transfer the power by June 30, 1948. However, as per C Rajagopalachari’s memorable words - If he had waited till June 1948, there would have been no power left to transfer. Therefore, Mountbatten preponed the date to August 1947. With this, he claimed that by advancing the date, he was ensuring that there will be no bloodshed or riot. As per Mountbatten’s inputs, the Indian Independence Bill was introduced in the British House of Commons on July 4, 1947, and passed within a fortnight. It provided for the end of the British rule in India, on August 15, 1947, and the establishment of the Dominions of India and Pakistan. However, he later claimed, as quoted in Freedom at Midnight, “The date I chose came out of the blue. I chose it in reply to a question. I was determined to show I was master of the whole event. When they asked had we set a date, I knew it had to be soon. I hadn’t worked it out exactly then — I thought it had to be about August or September and I then went out to the 15th August. Why? Because it was the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender [in World War II].” Since then, August 15 is celebrated as India's Independence day. This year will be marked as the 75th Independence day of the nation. ‘Nation First, Always First’ will be the theme of India’s 75th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation. The Olympians who won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Games have been sent special invites for the event. However, similar to last year, this year's celebrations will be tone down, keeping in mind all the social distancing measures due to the Covid pademic.

India Independence: Why was August 15 chosen as Independence Day?

World Elephant Day 2021: Save the species before its too late

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated every year on August 9&nbsp;to protect the rights of the indigenous population.&nbsp;On this occasion, various world leaders took to their official Twitter handle with the aim of making citizens aware.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndigenousPeoples?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndigenousPeoples</a> are leaders in protecting our planet 🌏 
 
The world must learn from their knowledge and respect their right to engage in decision making. That’s why there will be an Indigenous Peoples’ pavilion at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP26</a> 
 
Learn more 👇<a href="https://t.co/tRftbmPF2u">https://t.co/tRftbmPF2u</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndigenousDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndigenousDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/YXQM56VZBX">pic.twitter.com/YXQM56VZBX</a>
— Alok Sharma (@AlokSharma_RDG) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlokSharma_RDG/status/1424719572129697794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndigenousDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndigenousDay</a>, we celebrate the vibrant and diverse cultures, languages, and traditions of Indigenous peoples here in Canada and around the world. Today is also a chance for us all to commit ourselves to making sure Indigenous rights are recognized and respected every day.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1424719329313034240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Promoting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of indigenous peoples is everyone’s business. 
Finland is firmly committed to the <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 
 
EU declaration 👇<a href="https://t.co/X539nQqIzH">https://t.co/X539nQqIzH</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIforHRC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIforHRC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndigenousPeoplesDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndigenousPeoplesDay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIndigenous?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIndigenous</a>
— MFA Finland 🇫🇮 (@Ulkoministerio) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ulkoministerio/status/1424712439959019520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

History&nbsp; 
In April 2000, the commission on human rights adopted a resolution to set up the permanent UN forum on indigenous issues, which was presented by the economic and social council.&nbsp; 
The forum focused and discussed the issues related to education, culture, economic and social development, environment, health, human rights, among other areas.&nbsp; 
Their main aim was mainly to strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by the global indigenous population.

As per an estimate by the United Nations, there are more than 476 million indigenous people in the world, spread across 90 countries and representing 5,000 different cultures, who make 6.2 per cent of the global population and live in all geographic regions. 
Many of them reside in India. 
The central tribal belt which comprises the Northeastern states of India claims to have the maximum concentration of indigenous population. Here are a few of them.

Great Andamanese Tribes 
This group occupies the regions of Strait Island and some parts of Rutland Island. It consists of Onge, Jarawa, Jangil and Sentinelese, who are the first inhabitants of the island and paint their faces, bodies with clay. These tribes are into chanting while they work and are fond of communicating with big, colourful pigeons in the forest.&nbsp;

Gond Tribes 
Mostly spotted in Bastar highland regions of Southern Chhattisgarh, there are three important Gond tribes- Muria, the Bisonhorn Maria, and the Hill Maria.&nbsp; 
Raj Gond is known to be the most developed in the Gond tribes.

Bhils 
Till 2013, Bhils were the largest tribal group in India, known to have a rich, distinctive culture. They are an Indo-Aryan speaking ethnic group in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra; the western Deccan region.

Theme

The 2021 commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is themed at “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract.”&nbsp; 
The event will feature an interactive session with two speakers.&nbsp; 
Also, the discussion will focus on the distinct elements which should be considered while building and redesigning a fresh social contract inclusive of indigenous peoples.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated every year on August 9 to protect the rights of the indigenous population. On this occasion, various world leaders took to their official Twitter handle with the aim of making citizens aware.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated every year on August 9 to protect the rights of the indigenous population. On this occasion, various world leaders took to their official Twitter handle with the aim of making citizens aware. #IndigenousPeoples are leaders in protecting our planet 🌏 The world must learn from their knowledge and respect their right to engage in decision making. That’s why there will be an Indigenous Peoples’ pavilion at #COP26 Learn more 👇https://t.co/tRftbmPF2u#IndigenousDay pic.twitter.com/YXQM56VZBX — Alok Sharma (@AlokSharma_RDG) August 9, 2021 × On #IndigenousDay, we celebrate the vibrant and diverse cultures, languages, and traditions of Indigenous peoples here in Canada and around the world. Today is also a chance for us all to commit ourselves to making sure Indigenous rights are recognized and respected every day. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 9, 2021 × Promoting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of indigenous peoples is everyone’s business. Finland is firmly committed to the @UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. EU declaration 👇https://t.co/X539nQqIzH#FIforHRC #IndigenousPeoplesDay #WeAreIndigenous — MFA Finland 🇫🇮 (@Ulkoministerio) August 9, 2021 × History In April 2000, the commission on human rights adopted a resolution to set up the permanent UN forum on indigenous issues, which was presented by the economic and social council. The forum focused and discussed the issues related to education, culture, economic and social development, environment, health, human rights, among other areas. Their main aim was mainly to strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by the global indigenous population. As per an estimate by the United Nations, there are more than 476 million indigenous people in the world, spread across 90 countries and representing 5,000 different cultures, who make 6.2 per cent of the global population and live in all geographic regions. Many of them reside in India. The central tribal belt which comprises the Northeastern states of India claims to have the maximum concentration of indigenous population. Here are a few of them. Great Andamanese Tribes This group occupies the regions of Strait Island and some parts of Rutland Island. It consists of Onge, Jarawa, Jangil and Sentinelese, who are the first inhabitants of the island and paint their faces, bodies with clay. These tribes are into chanting while they work and are fond of communicating with big, colourful pigeons in the forest. Gond Tribes Mostly spotted in Bastar highland regions of Southern Chhattisgarh, there are three important Gond tribes- Muria, the Bisonhorn Maria, and the Hill Maria. Raj Gond is known to be the most developed in the Gond tribes. Bhils Till 2013, Bhils were the largest tribal group in India, known to have a rich, distinctive culture. They are an Indo-Aryan speaking ethnic group in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra; the western Deccan region. Theme The 2021 commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is themed at “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract.” The event will feature an interactive session with two speakers. Also, the discussion will focus on the distinct elements which should be considered while building and redesigning a fresh social contract inclusive of indigenous peoples.

International day of the world’s indigenous peoples 2021: Here is all you need to know

A new survey reveals the most expensive city in world, see stunning images here

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

In its first mission in 2021, India's space agency ISRO planned to launch on February 28 Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 and three Indian payloads, including one built by a home-grown start-up.

The satellites are slated to be launched onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-51 at 10.28 am from the Sriharikota spaceport, over 100 kms from Chennai.

Secretary in the Department of Space and Chairman of Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) K Sivan confirmed the PSLV-C51 schedule to PTI on Friday.

Amazonia-1, reportedly the first earth observation satellite entirely developed by Brazil, is the primary payload.

'Anand', 'Satish Dhawan' satellite and 'UNITYsat' will be the co-passengers.

'Anand' is built by Indian space startup, Pixxel, and 'Satish Dhawan Satellite' by Chennai-based Space Kidz India.

UNITYsat is a combination of three satellites designed and built as a joint development by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperumpudur (JITsat), G.H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur (GHRCEsat) and Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore (Sri Shakthi Sat).

"PSLV-C51 marks the launch of the countrys first commercial private remote-sensing satellite (Anand) on an ISRO PSLV rocket", an ISRO official said.

Sivan had earlier described the upcoming mission as "special for us, special for the entire country" and beginning of a "new era of space (sector) reforms".

Pixxel CEO, Awais Ahmed had said: "We are elated with the fact that Indias first commercial private satellite will now launch on an Indian rocket.

This is not only a proud moment for us as an organisation but also as citizens to work with our nations capabilities".

Bengaluru-based Pixxel has said it plans to build a constellation of 30 satellites by 2023.

The company inaugurated it's new facility here last month.

According to Space Kidz India, Satish Dhawan satellite (SD SAT), named after former ISRO chairman Satish Dhawan, aimed to study space radiation and Magnetosphere and demonstrate the indigenously designed and developed nanosatellite components.

"The satellite also tests the capabilities of LoRa technology in Space which could be helpful for many applications in the future in short and M2M communication", it said.

In its first mission in 2021, India's space agency ISRO planned to launch on February 28 Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 and three Indian payloads, including one built by a home-grown start-up.

In its first mission in 2021, India's space agency ISRO planned to launch on February 28 Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 and three Indian payloads, including one built by a home-grown start-up. The satellites are slated to be launched onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-51 at 10.28 am from the Sriharikota spaceport, over 100 kms from Chennai. Secretary in the Department of Space and Chairman of Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) K Sivan confirmed the PSLV-C51 schedule to PTI on Friday. Amazonia-1, reportedly the first earth observation satellite entirely developed by Brazil, is the primary payload. 'Anand', 'Satish Dhawan' satellite and 'UNITYsat' will be the co-passengers. 'Anand' is built by Indian space startup, Pixxel, and 'Satish Dhawan Satellite' by Chennai-based Space Kidz India. UNITYsat is a combination of three satellites designed and built as a joint development by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperumpudur (JITsat), G.H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur (GHRCEsat) and Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore (Sri Shakthi Sat). "PSLV-C51 marks the launch of the countrys first commercial private remote-sensing satellite (Anand) on an ISRO PSLV rocket", an ISRO official said. Sivan had earlier described the upcoming mission as "special for us, special for the entire country" and beginning of a "new era of space (sector) reforms". Pixxel CEO, Awais Ahmed had said: "We are elated with the fact that Indias first commercial private satellite will now launch on an Indian rocket. This is not only a proud moment for us as an organisation but also as citizens to work with our nations capabilities". Bengaluru-based Pixxel has said it plans to build a constellation of 30 satellites by 2023. The company inaugurated it's new facility here last month. According to Space Kidz India, Satish Dhawan satellite (SD SAT), named after former ISRO chairman Satish Dhawan, aimed to study space radiation and Magnetosphere and demonstrate the indigenously designed and developed nanosatellite components. "The satellite also tests the capabilities of LoRa technology in Space which could be helpful for many applications in the future in short and M2M communication", it said.

Brazilian, Indian startup satellite in ISRO's first mission in 2021 on February 28

India's post-pandemic budget is all about the health of: The Citizens, India's Cities,The Economy, Government assets, India's relationships with the world

Gravitas: 2021 Budget: Health and Infrastructure get a booster shot

Out of sight, out of mind is a term we only know too well. Human memory is dangerously short &amp; in today’s nano-second times, when the here n’ now rules and impatience, impulsiveness &amp; promiscuity is the name of the game, this adage takes on ominous dimensions. &nbsp;

The nine-month closure of theatres &amp; releases, now slowly limping back but with pandemic still around and vaccine entering the frame with hope &amp; relief, presents a whole new Hitchcock-ian screenplay. &nbsp;In this sanitised world, fear, confusion and uncertainty reigns. Also, second and even third thoughts about entering movie theatres plague movie-junkies. &nbsp;

The nine-month interval however had one dramatic fallout; It allowed OTT, the streaming platform to usurp this space, offering sensationally varied, quality content that can be comfortably and securely enjoyed in the comforts of their home! &nbsp;For the traditional fans of the Bollywood-manufactured masala, this template started out by appearing to be weirdly different.&nbsp;

No high-pitched razzle-dazzle, dance, romance, glamour, tension, dialogue-baazi ignited by sexy, larger-than-life stars ... but soon [due to a lack of option, curiosity &amp; conditioning] and after a longish session of hide n’ seek, the OTT menu grew addictive. &nbsp;Over time, the Bollywood product seemed to move into soft focus, with fresh and absorbing OTT content slowly romancing their mind. [When was the last time you heard anyone excitedly recount or discuss mainstream films or stars?] Sure the media is warming up to usher their comeback – SRK’s Pathan heading the list – but isn’t the old hysteria missing?

Has OTT and their fantastically gifted actors converted a substantial section of the viewers in terms of sensibilities, taste &amp; quality control? Has this period unlocked a new side for audiences bred and buttered on cheap thrills, cardboard cut-out stars &amp; armpit rhetoric designed for instant gratification? &nbsp;Do all of this translate to the end of the blissed-out honeymoon of the superstars affair with their bhakts? Is this new and exciting version of David versus Goliath the latest show in town?

Tempting as it is to be carried away with the OTT-wave, perspective is the need of the day. &nbsp;Can stars really be so easily forgotten or relegated to the background after forever inhabiting the hearts and minds of the masses?&nbsp;

Remember, wherever films are made, stars are made too. &nbsp;Stardom is the characteristic of film industries, the world over. &nbsp;Unlike European and our regional films, which have a long tradition of expressing the viewpoints of their individual makers, Bollywood – like Hollywood – is totally star-driven. &nbsp;

They are the direct/indirect reflection of the needs, drives, dreams of the masses. &nbsp;In the darkened hall of a movie theatre, where wilful suspension of disbelief rules, stars seduce fans to participate in a collective experience that has more in common with tribal worship, myth and primitive magic.&nbsp;

No wonder, hardened film critic Anupama Chopra was once inspired to confess that “despite my long stint as a journo &amp; critic, I haven’t been able to be immune to their magical charms, their amazing ability to imbue inane scripts with heft, their innate talent for fuelling the fantasies of billions of people and their magical power to always provide hope. &nbsp;

Life may be nasty, brutish and short, but we can forever find comfort in the soothing image of SRK’s sexy wide-spread arms, Salman’s flamboyant bhai-giri, Aamir’s charming humour &amp; affection to find our own moral centre. Stars are a source of beauty, pleasure &amp; joy ... and totally irresistible. &nbsp;We in India enjoy a uniquely reverential, unthreatening but obsessive and overblown relationship with stars that remain totally unapologetic!”

So, as the clash between stars and actors is all set to zoom centre-stage very soon, the battle-lines will be drawn between the loyalists &amp; the converts. Will the amazing Pankaj Tripathi and his gifted co-actors or Criminal Justice, Sir, Patal Lok, Kagaz, Panchayat, Family Man or Bandish Bandits be able to match the fire power of the mighty Khans, Ajay, Akshay, Ranveer, Ranbir or the to-die-for wet dreams like Kat Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone?&nbsp;

As emotional responses go, stardom unleashes a different kind of fervour from the ones that greet actors. Actors invite respect and admiration. &nbsp;Stars attract craze and madness!

Furthermore, the star opens up doors to advantages galore. Stars have tangible features which can be advertised and marketed – face, body, voice, a certain kind of presence – and can be easily typed: Hero, Heroine, Comedian, Villain, Sexy Siren, Sweetie Pie, Neurotic, etc. The system provides a formula easy to understand and the use of this formula serves to protect Production House biggies from having to pay attention to such intangibles as the quality of the story or acting.&nbsp;

Here is a standardised product which the Bankers &amp; the Trade can easily connect with and regard as insurance for profits. &nbsp;

The Big Banners can then promise the junta of a SRK, Salman, Aamir, Akshay, Ajay, Hrithik, Ranveer, Ranbir, Deepika, Priyanka, Katrina starrer which traditionally spell profit. Star Power in action! Dramatically opposed to this perspective is a view presented by the legendary Marlon Brando.&nbsp;

“The idea is to be real, not to try and act out an emotion that you don’t feel or experience during the performance. Mostly, one has the popular and successful Personality Actors, totally predictable with manners well-loved. Acting is supposed to be a calling redolent with magic and mystique, a leap into the unknown, a voyage of discovery. It’s not about easy-to-digest junk food that guarantees inane feel-good smiles”.&nbsp;

Famous French Director Roger Vadim is up next. “Actors need gardeners more than professors. &nbsp;They are flowers that need to be watered, not cut. Actors, at the end of the day, don’t fantasise about the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz. &nbsp;Actors, like fire, are not meant to be hoarded, but spent!” 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
So the question is: In this more mature environment, will cinema race past movies? &nbsp;Will content defeat glamour? &nbsp;Will realism confront escapism? Will actors challenge stars?

The heat is on and your time starts now!

Out of sight, out of mind is a term we only know too well. Human memory is dangerously short & in today’s nano-second times, when the here n’ now rules and impatience, impulsiveness & promiscuity is the name of the game, this adage takes on ominous dimensions.

Out of sight, out of mind is a term we only know too well. Human memory is dangerously short & in today’s nano-second times, when the here n’ now rules and impatience, impulsiveness & promiscuity is the name of the game, this adage takes on ominous dimensions. The nine-month closure of theatres & releases, now slowly limping back but with pandemic still around and vaccine entering the frame with hope & relief, presents a whole new Hitchcock-ian screenplay. In this sanitised world, fear, confusion and uncertainty reigns. Also, second and even third thoughts about entering movie theatres plague movie-junkies. The nine-month interval however had one dramatic fallout; It allowed OTT, the streaming platform to usurp this space, offering sensationally varied, quality content that can be comfortably and securely enjoyed in the comforts of their home! For the traditional fans of the Bollywood-manufactured masala, this template started out by appearing to be weirdly different. No high-pitched razzle-dazzle, dance, romance, glamour, tension, dialogue-baazi ignited by sexy, larger-than-life stars ... but soon [due to a lack of option, curiosity & conditioning] and after a longish session of hide n’ seek, the OTT menu grew addictive. Over time, the Bollywood product seemed to move into soft focus, with fresh and absorbing OTT content slowly romancing their mind. [When was the last time you heard anyone excitedly recount or discuss mainstream films or stars?] Sure the media is warming up to usher their comeback – SRK’s Pathan heading the list – but isn’t the old hysteria missing? Has OTT and their fantastically gifted actors converted a substantial section of the viewers in terms of sensibilities, taste & quality control? Has this period unlocked a new side for audiences bred and buttered on cheap thrills, cardboard cut-out stars & armpit rhetoric designed for instant gratification? Do all of this translate to the end of the blissed-out honeymoon of the superstars affair with their bhakts? Is this new and exciting version of David versus Goliath the latest show in town? Tempting as it is to be carried away with the OTT-wave, perspective is the need of the day. Can stars really be so easily forgotten or relegated to the background after forever inhabiting the hearts and minds of the masses? Remember, wherever films are made, stars are made too. Stardom is the characteristic of film industries, the world over. Unlike European and our regional films, which have a long tradition of expressing the viewpoints of their individual makers, Bollywood – like Hollywood – is totally star-driven. They are the direct/indirect reflection of the needs, drives, dreams of the masses. In the darkened hall of a movie theatre, where wilful suspension of disbelief rules, stars seduce fans to participate in a collective experience that has more in common with tribal worship, myth and primitive magic. No wonder, hardened film critic Anupama Chopra was once inspired to confess that “despite my long stint as a journo & critic, I haven’t been able to be immune to their magical charms, their amazing ability to imbue inane scripts with heft, their innate talent for fuelling the fantasies of billions of people and their magical power to always provide hope. Life may be nasty, brutish and short, but we can forever find comfort in the soothing image of SRK’s sexy wide-spread arms, Salman’s flamboyant bhai-giri, Aamir’s charming humour & affection to find our own moral centre. Stars are a source of beauty, pleasure & joy ... and totally irresistible. We in India enjoy a uniquely reverential, unthreatening but obsessive and overblown relationship with stars that remain totally unapologetic!” So, as the clash between stars and actors is all set to zoom centre-stage very soon, the battle-lines will be drawn between the loyalists & the converts. Will the amazing Pankaj Tripathi and his gifted co-actors or Criminal Justice, Sir, Patal Lok, Kagaz, Panchayat, Family Man or Bandish Bandits be able to match the fire power of the mighty Khans, Ajay, Akshay, Ranveer, Ranbir or the to-die-for wet dreams like Kat Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone? As emotional responses go, stardom unleashes a different kind of fervour from the ones that greet actors. Actors invite respect and admiration. Stars attract craze and madness! Furthermore, the star opens up doors to advantages galore. Stars have tangible features which can be advertised and marketed – face, body, voice, a certain kind of presence – and can be easily typed: Hero, Heroine, Comedian, Villain, Sexy Siren, Sweetie Pie, Neurotic, etc. The system provides a formula easy to understand and the use of this formula serves to protect Production House biggies from having to pay attention to such intangibles as the quality of the story or acting. Here is a standardised product which the Bankers & the Trade can easily connect with and regard as insurance for profits. The Big Banners can then promise the junta of a SRK, Salman, Aamir, Akshay, Ajay, Hrithik, Ranveer, Ranbir, Deepika, Priyanka, Katrina starrer which traditionally spell profit. Star Power in action! Dramatically opposed to this perspective is a view presented by the legendary Marlon Brando. “The idea is to be real, not to try and act out an emotion that you don’t feel or experience during the performance. Mostly, one has the popular and successful Personality Actors, totally predictable with manners well-loved. Acting is supposed to be a calling redolent with magic and mystique, a leap into the unknown, a voyage of discovery. It’s not about easy-to-digest junk food that guarantees inane feel-good smiles”. Famous French Director Roger Vadim is up next. “Actors need gardeners more than professors. They are flowers that need to be watered, not cut. Actors, at the end of the day, don’t fantasise about the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz. Actors, like fire, are not meant to be hoarded, but spent!” So the question is: In this more mature environment, will cinema race past movies? Will content defeat glamour? Will realism confront escapism? Will actors challenge stars? The heat is on and your time starts now!

Opinion: Is 2021 the year of Actor vs Star showdown?

Pakistan is ringing in the new year with the same old story. A temple has been demolished. Pak High Commission in London has been fined. The opposition movement is gaining strength & even clerics are slamming Imran Khan. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: How is Pakistan ringing in the New Year?

No one expected 2020 to turn out the way it did. The worst I imagined for this year, in my annual list of digital predictions in 2019, was that the “ever screechy” President Trump would get “to stay on Twitter retweeting fake accounts and links that appear to unmask a whistle-blower.”

If only. Mr. Trump is screechier than ever, and even more unhinged than expected. Most of his tweets are now labeled “disputed” by Twitter, which I would translate from geekspeak as a polite way of calling them lies.

Since I’m not polite, I’m starting this round of prognosticating with this: Soon after our forever troller in chief leaves office on Jan. 20, his account will be suspended by Twitter temporarily, and then, since he cannot stop breaking rules, he’ll get tossed off, just like his hideous pal, Alex Jones.

I have never thought, as many have, that Mr. Trump should have been de-platformed during his term as president. As flagitious as he can be, Mr. Trump has been a legitimate news figure and, thus, what he had to say should be aired.

But after Joe Biden is inaugurated, Mr. Trump should be treated like any other mendacious loudmouth, and Twitter will be well within its rights to put a sock in it. He’ll rage and then head over Parler to try to make fetch happen, which will not satisfy his enormous ego. It will all end in a whimper.

Speaking of the end, many of the multitude of “special interest acquisition companies” that have popped up in recent years and raised giant piles of money will fold in 2021 and 2022. (These SPACs are a financial maneuver seen as a back door to taking a start-up public, an alternative to a traditional I.P.O.)

There have been 165 SPACs in 2020, double the number the year before and five times more than five years ago. Back when there was a rush of new venture capital flooding the market, I used to say that there were not enough ratholes to shove all the money down. Guess what? There are also not enough rathole companies to merge into these SPACs.

Instead, there will be a lot of acquisitions. Big companies will swoop in, post-pandemic, to scoop up all the juicy bits. Because of increasing scrutiny from regulators, though, we will not see many megadeals, but rather smaller ones in arenas that are more competitive, such as in autonomous vehicles, health care, fintech and media. The maxim for midsize companies is clear: Get big or get bought.

And for the big companies, the mantra is just: Buy. The Amazon acquisition this week of the podcast maker Wondery, in a deal valued at $300 million — whatever that means — was exactly the kind of thing we will see more of. Amazon is aiming its considerable heft and pocketbook directly at a nascent podcast market. This will result in an inevitable smackdown with Spotify, which has been playing the most aggressively in this space, and we’ll see Apple wade in too along with traditional media companies.

Speaking of media companies: While the reverberations of the Warner Bros. decision to put all its 2021 movies on its HBOMax streaming service are sorting themselves out, the shift is permanent — whether offended filmmakers like it or not. Creators who adapt will benefit, especially if they devise new models of payment.

The longtime entertainment business model was built on powerful gatekeepers that made most of the money and relied on a vast network of middlemen. But in the new world, those who can assemble a fan base that they directly service will profit. Imagine the future relationship between creators and fans as a subscription business, and the economics get much more interesting. Hollywood will have to become much more nimble and entrepreneurial.

So, too, will more Americans in general, since the pandemic has accelerated the introduction of what will be permanent changes in how we work. Last December, I urged tech to be at the forefront of this major overhaul:

“And rather than accept that poor pay and poor protections for gig workers are inevitable and that the pressures of a global work force are too hard to push back, tech companies should figure out how to creatively and humanely deploy talent across the world to show that they are interested in dealing with the consequences of their inventions.”

This was pre-coronavirus — an exogenous circumstance. Now I am often asked when will work go back to normal, which is really a question of when will we get back to physical workplaces. That will certainly happen in the coming year, but in all kinds of new ways.

The coronavirus has forced the kind of work experimentation that would have taken a decade to eventually happen: limiting business travel, cutting in-person office time, questioning every cost associated with the analog workplace. Technology is making doing business cheaper and more efficient and, as it has turned out, more productive.

These changes have proved nearly useless and even dangerous when it comes to education, where physical presence is much more of an asset than we thought. More consideration will be put into how to make technology and schooling mesh better and how to provide students with the kind of experience that they are not getting, as well as a bigger focus on universal connectivity for those who are without it.

While pandemics are short term, the looming climate disaster is not. So, lastly, I’ll repeat my 2019 declaration that the “world’s first trillionaire will be a green-tech entrepreneur.” President-elect Biden, who is championing green technology, will be more successful if his efforts are seen as job creators, and not so much as giant government programs.

And now that Mr. Trump, who minimized the existential threat of climate change, is leaving, we can get to work on the kind of tech that could be the most lucrative ever. It’s an imperative that we solve our climate problems through innovation.

While Mr. Trump’s noxious digital fumes will dissipate, the other kind will not.

(Kara Swisher is the host of “Sway,” a New York Times Opinion podcast, and a contributing writer for The Times.)

No one expected 2020 to turn out the way it did. The worst I imagined for this year, in my annual list of digital predictions in 2019, was that the “ever screechy” President Trump would get “to stay on Twitter retweeting fake accounts and links that appear to unmask a whistle-blower.

No one expected 2020 to turn out the way it did. The worst I imagined for this year, in my annual list of digital predictions in 2019, was that the “ever screechy” President Trump would get “to stay on Twitter retweeting fake accounts and links that appear to unmask a whistle-blower.” If only. Mr. Trump is screechier than ever, and even more unhinged than expected. Most of his tweets are now labeled “disputed” by Twitter, which I would translate from geekspeak as a polite way of calling them lies. Since I’m not polite, I’m starting this round of prognosticating with this: Soon after our forever troller in chief leaves office on Jan. 20, his account will be suspended by Twitter temporarily, and then, since he cannot stop breaking rules, he’ll get tossed off, just like his hideous pal, Alex Jones. I have never thought, as many have, that Mr. Trump should have been de-platformed during his term as president. As flagitious as he can be, Mr. Trump has been a legitimate news figure and, thus, what he had to say should be aired. But after Joe Biden is inaugurated, Mr. Trump should be treated like any other mendacious loudmouth, and Twitter will be well within its rights to put a sock in it. He’ll rage and then head over Parler to try to make fetch happen, which will not satisfy his enormous ego. It will all end in a whimper. Speaking of the end, many of the multitude of “special interest acquisition companies” that have popped up in recent years and raised giant piles of money will fold in 2021 and 2022. (These SPACs are a financial maneuver seen as a back door to taking a start-up public, an alternative to a traditional I.P.O.) There have been 165 SPACs in 2020, double the number the year before and five times more than five years ago. Back when there was a rush of new venture capital flooding the market, I used to say that there were not enough ratholes to shove all the money down. Guess what? There are also not enough rathole companies to merge into these SPACs. Instead, there will be a lot of acquisitions. Big companies will swoop in, post-pandemic, to scoop up all the juicy bits. Because of increasing scrutiny from regulators, though, we will not see many megadeals, but rather smaller ones in arenas that are more competitive, such as in autonomous vehicles, health care, fintech and media. The maxim for midsize companies is clear: Get big or get bought. And for the big companies, the mantra is just: Buy. The Amazon acquisition this week of the podcast maker Wondery, in a deal valued at $300 million — whatever that means — was exactly the kind of thing we will see more of. Amazon is aiming its considerable heft and pocketbook directly at a nascent podcast market. This will result in an inevitable smackdown with Spotify, which has been playing the most aggressively in this space, and we’ll see Apple wade in too along with traditional media companies. Speaking of media companies: While the reverberations of the Warner Bros. decision to put all its 2021 movies on its HBOMax streaming service are sorting themselves out, the shift is permanent — whether offended filmmakers like it or not. Creators who adapt will benefit, especially if they devise new models of payment. The longtime entertainment business model was built on powerful gatekeepers that made most of the money and relied on a vast network of middlemen. But in the new world, those who can assemble a fan base that they directly service will profit. Imagine the future relationship between creators and fans as a subscription business, and the economics get much more interesting. Hollywood will have to become much more nimble and entrepreneurial. So, too, will more Americans in general, since the pandemic has accelerated the introduction of what will be permanent changes in how we work. Last December, I urged tech to be at the forefront of this major overhaul: “And rather than accept that poor pay and poor protections for gig workers are inevitable and that the pressures of a global work force are too hard to push back, tech companies should figure out how to creatively and humanely deploy talent across the world to show that they are interested in dealing with the consequences of their inventions.” This was pre-coronavirus — an exogenous circumstance. Now I am often asked when will work go back to normal, which is really a question of when will we get back to physical workplaces. That will certainly happen in the coming year, but in all kinds of new ways. The coronavirus has forced the kind of work experimentation that would have taken a decade to eventually happen: limiting business travel, cutting in-person office time, questioning every cost associated with the analog workplace. Technology is making doing business cheaper and more efficient and, as it has turned out, more productive. These changes have proved nearly useless and even dangerous when it comes to education, where physical presence is much more of an asset than we thought. More consideration will be put into how to make technology and schooling mesh better and how to provide students with the kind of experience that they are not getting, as well as a bigger focus on universal connectivity for those who are without it. While pandemics are short term, the looming climate disaster is not. So, lastly, I’ll repeat my 2019 declaration that the “world’s first trillionaire will be a green-tech entrepreneur.” President-elect Biden, who is championing green technology, will be more successful if his efforts are seen as job creators, and not so much as giant government programs. And now that Mr. Trump, who minimized the existential threat of climate change, is leaving, we can get to work on the kind of tech that could be the most lucrative ever. It’s an imperative that we solve our climate problems through innovation. While Mr. Trump’s noxious digital fumes will dissipate, the other kind will not. (Kara Swisher is the host of “Sway,” a New York Times Opinion podcast, and a contributing writer for The Times.)

Goodbye, Twitter Trump! And other predictions for 2021

Brazil rang in the New Year with Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana beach nearly empty -- the usual swarms of revelers kept away by police because of the pandemic -- and pot-banging protests against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Rio usually hosts one of the world's biggest New Year's Eve parties, but authorities canceled the festivities this year as Covid-19 racked the country.

"It was a complicated year, with this pandemic that has devastated the entire world," said Claudio Miranda, a 29-year-old salesman who was part of the relatively tiny crowd gathered on Copacabana.

"But we have to celebrate life -- our lives, our families' lives, everyone who's still here. Even if our hearts are aching for those who have left us," he told AFP.

Covid-19 has killed nearly 195,000 people in Brazil, the second-highest death toll worldwide after the United States. The South American country of 212 million people is currently in the grips of a nasty second wave.

The cancelation of the official festivities did not stop revelers across Rio from lighting up the city's iconic skyline with fireworks of their own at midnight.

The loud booms blended with the sound of pot- and pan-clanging demonstrators shouting "Get out, Bolsonaro!" from their windows in Rio and Sao Paulo, Brazil's two biggest cities, in protest against a leader they accuse of disastrous handling of the pandemic.

Bolsonaro, the politician dubbed the "Tropical Trump," has downplayed the gravity of the virus from the start and consistently defied health experts' advice on containing it.

He ended the year on the same note,&nbsp;saying that face masks -- which global health officials call a vital tool in preventing transmission of the virus -- "don't protect against anything."

"That's a fiction," he said in a New Year's Eve live address on Facebook.

"When are we going to get some people with the courage -- because I'm not a specialist on this, OK? -- to speak up and say that the protection provided by masks is a tiny percentage?"

New Year's celebrations were largely muted affairs across Brazil, though huge crowds of mask-less revelers could be seen at beaches and clubs in some areas.

Police broke up large parties in several cities, according to media reports.

Football superstar Neymar meanwhile tried to douse a firestorm of controversy over reports he organized a week-long party for 500 revelers at his mansion outside Rio.

The 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker posted a video on Instagram of his preparations for what he called a "low-key little dinner at home" for friends and family on New Year's Eve.

"And it's not for 500 people, ok?" he added with a laugh.

Brazil rang in the New Year with Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana beach nearly empty -- the usual swarms of revelers kept away by police because of the pandemic -- and pot-banging protests against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Brazil rang in the New Year with Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana beach nearly empty -- the usual swarms of revelers kept away by police because of the pandemic -- and pot-banging protests against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Rio usually hosts one of the world's biggest New Year's Eve parties, but authorities canceled the festivities this year as Covid-19 racked the country. "It was a complicated year, with this pandemic that has devastated the entire world," said Claudio Miranda, a 29-year-old salesman who was part of the relatively tiny crowd gathered on Copacabana. "But we have to celebrate life -- our lives, our families' lives, everyone who's still here. Even if our hearts are aching for those who have left us," he told AFP. Covid-19 has killed nearly 195,000 people in Brazil, the second-highest death toll worldwide after the United States. The South American country of 212 million people is currently in the grips of a nasty second wave. The cancelation of the official festivities did not stop revelers across Rio from lighting up the city's iconic skyline with fireworks of their own at midnight. The loud booms blended with the sound of pot- and pan-clanging demonstrators shouting "Get out, Bolsonaro!" from their windows in Rio and Sao Paulo, Brazil's two biggest cities, in protest against a leader they accuse of disastrous handling of the pandemic. Bolsonaro, the politician dubbed the "Tropical Trump," has downplayed the gravity of the virus from the start and consistently defied health experts' advice on containing it. He ended the year on the same note, saying that face masks -- which global health officials call a vital tool in preventing transmission of the virus -- "don't protect against anything." "That's a fiction," he said in a New Year's Eve live address on Facebook. "When are we going to get some people with the courage -- because I'm not a specialist on this, OK? -- to speak up and say that the protection provided by masks is a tiny percentage?" New Year's celebrations were largely muted affairs across Brazil, though huge crowds of mask-less revelers could be seen at beaches and clubs in some areas. Police broke up large parties in several cities, according to media reports. Football superstar Neymar meanwhile tried to douse a firestorm of controversy over reports he organized a week-long party for 500 revelers at his mansion outside Rio. The 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker posted a video on Instagram of his preparations for what he called a "low-key little dinner at home" for friends and family on New Year's Eve. "And it's not for 500 people, ok?" he added with a laugh.

Brazil rings in 2021 with nearly empty Copacabana beach

There is something so special about a clean slate, each and every time.&nbsp;

New beginnings. New promises to yourself.&nbsp;

During this time of the year, you cannot help but look back at the highlights - the hits and the misses.

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Growing up, the 31st of December meant jotting down my New Year's Resolutions.&nbsp;

I have been keeping the tradition alive all these years.

This time, of course, things feel different. 
&nbsp; 
An unprecedented year has ended. The world has seen so much loss, suffering, despair and helplessness. &nbsp;

2020 has taught us a lot - about life; about people around us; about ourselves.&nbsp;

So resolutions aside, the more important list this year is about what I am grateful for.

This year has made me realize, all the more, that things could always be a lot worse.

No words can express the gratitude I feel for the frontline workers. Those who have been risking their lives to save others; those delivering basic supplies and making sure the world does not come to a complete halt.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-pandemic-diminishes-new-years-magic-353691">WATCH|</a>

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While the isolation has been difficult, times like these teach us the importance of being there for each other; to lend a helping hand as and when possible.

This year, for many of us, has been about going back to the basics - realizing the importance of spending time with family, their unconditional love, eating home-cooked meals and getting in touch with long-lost friends.

It's like life hit the pause button.

A collective detox period - that not only allowed us to take a step back, but also let our planet breathe easy - albeit only for a few months.

So while you draw out your resolutions and think about what you want to leave behind, don't forget to count your blessings.&nbsp;

Remind yourself what you are thankful for.

Just like the pandemic, those habits you want to get rid of will not end overnight.&nbsp;

So don't be hard on yourself.

This year has made us go through enough already.&nbsp;

Be kind to others and to yourself.&nbsp;

May you have a fulfilling 2021!

Stay safe.

There is something so special about a clean slate, each and every time. New beginnings. New promises to yourself. During this time of the year, you cannot help but look back at the highlights - the hits and the misses.

There is something so special about a clean slate, each and every time. New beginnings. New promises to yourself. During this time of the year, you cannot help but look back at the highlights - the hits and the misses. As the curtains are drawn on yet another year and the stage is set for the next one, it is all about standing in the wings and soaking it all in. As you prepare for the next performance - you hope to do better this time. × Growing up, the 31st of December meant jotting down my New Year's Resolutions. I have been keeping the tradition alive all these years. This time, of course, things feel different. An unprecedented year has ended. The world has seen so much loss, suffering, despair and helplessness. 2020 has taught us a lot - about life; about people around us; about ourselves. So resolutions aside, the more important list this year is about what I am grateful for. This year has made me realize, all the more, that things could always be a lot worse. No words can express the gratitude I feel for the frontline workers. Those who have been risking their lives to save others; those delivering basic supplies and making sure the world does not come to a complete halt. WATCH| × While the isolation has been difficult, times like these teach us the importance of being there for each other; to lend a helping hand as and when possible. This year, for many of us, has been about going back to the basics - realizing the importance of spending time with family, their unconditional love, eating home-cooked meals and getting in touch with long-lost friends. It's like life hit the pause button. A collective detox period - that not only allowed us to take a step back, but also let our planet breathe easy - albeit only for a few months. So while you draw out your resolutions and think about what you want to leave behind, don't forget to count your blessings. Remind yourself what you are thankful for. Just like the pandemic, those habits you want to get rid of will not end overnight. So don't be hard on yourself. This year has made us go through enough already. Be kind to others and to yourself. May you have a fulfilling 2021! Stay safe.

Year-end diary: Lessons from 2020

2020 has been a disaster for China. It has become permanently associated with the biggest challenge of our times. The Wuhan virus. Xi Jinping wanted to profit from this pandemic. Little did he know- that this move will boomerang and kill his dreams. Dreams of making china the world leader. Today, Beijing, like the rest of the world is bidding goodbye to 2020. It can also safely bid goodbye to its superpower dreams..

Beijing has the blood of nearly 2 million people on its hands. It is equally responsible for around 83 million Wuhan virus infections. The world can't trust a country that caused the biggest health crisis of our times. It has cost the world 16 trillion dollars. 400 million jobs have been lost. 24 million students have dropped out of school. Businesses have been shuttered. Brands have been pushed into bankruptcy. A recession has touched all 5 continents.

This is what China gave the world in 2020. How can the world trust such a country? China has earned itself its biggest ever trust deficit. And Xi Jinping has earned himself comparisons with Nazi dictator Hitler. The world has seen how, just like Hitler, &nbsp;Xi Jinping is capable of killing people in cold blood. In his regime too, people disappear if they question the state. They face punishment if they speak the truth. Be it a citizen journalist reporting on Wuhan, a doctor warning the world about an outbreak or an outspoken real estate tycoon.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-xi-jinping-declares-2020-a-triumph-353689">WATCH|</a>

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The pandemic has also exposed the corruption in Xi Jinping's regime. The world knows about China's test kit blunders. How Xi Jinping's men struck secret deals with firms linked to the CCP. How they botched-up testing. The pandemic not only exposed the corruption-- it also exposed the extent of it. How China got WHO chief Dr Tedros to play accomplice. How it blocked a Wuhan virus discussion at the UNSC.

Where does this leave the president's pet project? The ambitious Belt and Road Initiative? Xi Jinping had a two-part plan to rule the world. First, through technology. Second, through infrastructure, through the Chinese debt trap. Now the president is going after the biggest tech name in China Jack Ma.

And the world is rejecting Chinese technology starting with Huawei and Chinese apps. As for Chinese infrastructure, the banks don't have that kind of cash to burn anymore. So it's a bumpy road ahead for the BRI and for Xi's dreams for China.

2020 has been a disaster for China. It has become permanently associated with the biggest challenge of our times. The Wuhan virus. Xi Jinping wanted to profit from this pandemic.

2020 has been a disaster for China. It has become permanently associated with the biggest challenge of our times. The Wuhan virus. Xi Jinping wanted to profit from this pandemic. Little did he know- that this move will boomerang and kill his dreams. Dreams of making china the world leader. Today, Beijing, like the rest of the world is bidding goodbye to 2020. It can also safely bid goodbye to its superpower dreams.. Beijing has the blood of nearly 2 million people on its hands. It is equally responsible for around 83 million Wuhan virus infections. The world can't trust a country that caused the biggest health crisis of our times. It has cost the world 16 trillion dollars. 400 million jobs have been lost. 24 million students have dropped out of school. Businesses have been shuttered. Brands have been pushed into bankruptcy. A recession has touched all 5 continents. This is what China gave the world in 2020. How can the world trust such a country? China has earned itself its biggest ever trust deficit. And Xi Jinping has earned himself comparisons with Nazi dictator Hitler. The world has seen how, just like Hitler, Xi Jinping is capable of killing people in cold blood. In his regime too, people disappear if they question the state. They face punishment if they speak the truth. Be it a citizen journalist reporting on Wuhan, a doctor warning the world about an outbreak or an outspoken real estate tycoon. WATCH| × The pandemic has also exposed the corruption in Xi Jinping's regime. The world knows about China's test kit blunders. How Xi Jinping's men struck secret deals with firms linked to the CCP. How they botched-up testing. The pandemic not only exposed the corruption-- it also exposed the extent of it. How China got WHO chief Dr Tedros to play accomplice. How it blocked a Wuhan virus discussion at the UNSC. Where does this leave the president's pet project? The ambitious Belt and Road Initiative? Xi Jinping had a two-part plan to rule the world. First, through technology. Second, through infrastructure, through the Chinese debt trap. Now the president is going after the biggest tech name in China Jack Ma. And the world is rejecting Chinese technology starting with Huawei and Chinese apps. As for Chinese infrastructure, the banks don't have that kind of cash to burn anymore. So it's a bumpy road ahead for the BRI and for Xi's dreams for China.

China faces bumpy road ahead in 2021

In 2020, China faced global criticism for its pandemic cover-up and military adventurism. Will 2021 be different? Palki Sharma tells you what to expect from China in 2021.

Gravitas: What to expect from China in 2021

Ops! Mariah Carey forgot her 'Auld Lang Syne',&nbsp;lyrics.&nbsp; 
 
Mariah took to social media accounts on New Year’s Eve 2021 to share a video of her singing and at the moment, ironically she forgot one of her most celebrated holiday songs. 
 
&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/jennifer-lopez-pitbull-headline-times-square-new-year-eve-celebrations-353771">Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull headline Times Square New Year Eve celebrations</a> 
 
On the Friday night, when she took her social media to wish her fans on a new year eve and sung, ''Should auld acquaintance be forgot / And never brought to mind? / Should auld acquaintance be forgot,” Mariah sang before saying, “I don’t know how it goes.”

Mariah then got out some of the other lyrics, “And days of auld lang syne?”, After struggling for some time, the Grammy singer said, ''Never could pronounce it properly,” she then said. “I love you. Happy new year! Let’s hope for better, better days, in 2021 and beyond''.

Watch the video below!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 🎉❄️❤️ (sorry for the camera work 😂) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AuldLangSyne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AuldLangSyne</a> <a href="https://t.co/gUqEe0JvO4">pic.twitter.com/gUqEe0JvO4</a>
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) <a href="https://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/1344901124583813121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Later Mariah shared an Instagram Stories, where she is screaming as she struggled to walk through the snow in heels.

Mariah famously released her very first-holiday album Merry Christmas in 1994, featured the infectious hit single 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'

Ops! Mariah Carey forgot her 'Auld Lang Syne', lyrics. Mariah took to social media accounts on New Year’s Eve 2021 to share a video of her singing and at the moment, ironically she forgot one of her most celebrated holiday songs.

Ops! Mariah Carey forgot her 'Auld Lang Syne', lyrics. Mariah took to social media accounts on New Year’s Eve 2021 to share a video of her singing and at the moment, ironically she forgot one of her most celebrated holiday songs. Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull headline Times Square New Year Eve celebrations On the Friday night, when she took her social media to wish her fans on a new year eve and sung, ''Should auld acquaintance be forgot / And never brought to mind? / Should auld acquaintance be forgot,” Mariah sang before saying, “I don’t know how it goes.” Mariah then got out some of the other lyrics, “And days of auld lang syne?”, After struggling for some time, the Grammy singer said, ''Never could pronounce it properly,” she then said. “I love you. Happy new year! Let’s hope for better, better days, in 2021 and beyond''. Watch the video below! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 🎉❄️❤️ (sorry for the camera work 😂) #AuldLangSyne pic.twitter.com/gUqEe0JvO4 — Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) January 1, 2021 × Later Mariah shared an Instagram Stories, where she is screaming as she struggled to walk through the snow in heels. Mariah famously released her very first-holiday album Merry Christmas in 1994, featured the infectious hit single 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'

Mariah Carey forgets the 'Auld Lang Syne' lyrics while wishing fans on New years eve

United Nations' estimates has suggested that nearly $35 Billion needed to provide aid to the needy in 2021 as the pandemic left millions of people in crisis.

UN estimates suggest nearly $35 Bn needed to provide aid to needy in 2021

A substantial part of the Spanish population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the first half of 2021, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday, highlighting also a steadily slowing pace of contagion after restrictions imposed in recent weeks.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/despite-vaccine-breakthrough-social-distancing-and-wearing-masks-may-remain-344420" hreflang="en">Despite vaccine breakthrough, social distancing and wearing masks may remain</a>

The government has set aside over 1 billion euros for coronavirus vaccines next year and created a committee to establish who comes first.

Sanchez told a news conference the government would unveil a vaccination plan on Tuesday, without elaborating.

Promising data from Phase III trials of potential vaccines by Pfizer&nbsp;and BioNTech, Moderna&nbsp;and others has recently boosted hopes that vaccines against the pandemic disease may be ready for use soon.

Officials have said Spain hoped to get the first 20 million vaccine doses from Pfizer in early 2021. There is also a plan to buy 31.6 million doses of the vaccine being developed by Britain's AstraZeneca&nbsp;between December and June, if it is ready.

The vaccination would be free, according to Health Minister Salvador Illa.

Spain's death toll from the coronavirus rose by 328 to 42,619 on Friday, while cumulative cases rose by more than 15,000 to 1,556,730.

RESTRICTIONS

Spain, which has western Europe's second highest tally of infections after France, imposed a six-month state of emergency at the end of October, giving regions legal backing to impose curfews and restrict travel.

Sanchez said that path had proven to be adequate.

"For two consecutive weeks, we have seen new infections falling at a sustained pace," he said.

New infections measured over the past 14 days have fallen to 436 per 100,000 people from 530 in the first week of November, he said.

But there are no signs yet of restrictions being lifted.

The government of the Madrid region, one of Spain's worst-hit, said on Friday it would prevent people from leaving and entering for 10 days from Dec. 4 to avoid mass travel around the Dec. 6 Constitution Day holiday.

"We want to be in the best possible condition by Christmas," said Antonio Zapatero, head of Madrid's COVID-19 response.

New infections in Madrid have already fallen to less than 300 per 100,000 people from a peak of 800 in late September.

A substantial part of the Spanish population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the first half of 2021, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday, highlighting also a steadily slowing pace of contagion after restrictions imposed in recent weeks.

A substantial part of the Spanish population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the first half of 2021, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday, highlighting also a steadily slowing pace of contagion after restrictions imposed in recent weeks. Also read: Despite vaccine breakthrough, social distancing and wearing masks may remain The government has set aside over 1 billion euros for coronavirus vaccines next year and created a committee to establish who comes first. Sanchez told a news conference the government would unveil a vaccination plan on Tuesday, without elaborating. Promising data from Phase III trials of potential vaccines by Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna and others has recently boosted hopes that vaccines against the pandemic disease may be ready for use soon. Officials have said Spain hoped to get the first 20 million vaccine doses from Pfizer in early 2021. There is also a plan to buy 31.6 million doses of the vaccine being developed by Britain's AstraZeneca between December and June, if it is ready. The vaccination would be free, according to Health Minister Salvador Illa. Spain's death toll from the coronavirus rose by 328 to 42,619 on Friday, while cumulative cases rose by more than 15,000 to 1,556,730. RESTRICTIONS Spain, which has western Europe's second highest tally of infections after France, imposed a six-month state of emergency at the end of October, giving regions legal backing to impose curfews and restrict travel. Sanchez said that path had proven to be adequate. "For two consecutive weeks, we have seen new infections falling at a sustained pace," he said. New infections measured over the past 14 days have fallen to 436 per 100,000 people from 530 in the first week of November, he said. But there are no signs yet of restrictions being lifted. The government of the Madrid region, one of Spain's worst-hit, said on Friday it would prevent people from leaving and entering for 10 days from Dec. 4 to avoid mass travel around the Dec. 6 Constitution Day holiday. "We want to be in the best possible condition by Christmas," said Antonio Zapatero, head of Madrid's COVID-19 response. New infections in Madrid have already fallen to less than 300 per 100,000 people from a peak of 800 in late September.

Spain eyes 'substantial' vaccination in first half 2021, contagion slows

The global economy will take much longer to recover fully from the shock caused by the new coronavirus than initially expected, the head of the International Monetary Fund said, and she stressed the danger of protectionism.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-biotech-firm-moderna-reports-positive-interim-phase-1-results-for-coronavirus-vaccine-299481" hreflang="en">US biotech firm Moderna reports 'positive interim' phase 1 results for coronavirus vaccine</a>

Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the Fund was likely to revise downward its forecast for a 3% contraction in GDP in 2020, but gave no details. That would likely also trigger changes in the Fund's forecast of a partial recovery of 5.8% in 2021.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-new-spin-president-xi-presents-himself-as-savior-at-world-health-assembly-299515" hreflang="en">China's new spin: President Xi presents himself as 'savior' at World Health Assembly</a>

In an interview with Reuters, she said data from around the world was worse than expected. "Obviously that means it will take us much longer to have a full recovery from this crisis," Georgieva said in an interview. She gave no specific target date for the rebound.

In April, the global lender forecast that business closures and lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus would throw the world into the deepest recession since the 1930s Great Depression. But data reported since then points to "more bad news," Georgieva said earlier this month.

The IMF is due to release new global projections in June. The global outlook remains a huge focus for finance ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies, who will meet remotely on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Treasury.

Georgieva told Reuters the Fund was focused on risks such as high debt levels, increased deficits, unemployment, bankruptcies, increased poverty and inequality during the recovery period. But she said the crisis was also boosting the digital economy, offering a chance to boost transparency and e-learning, and give even small firms access to markets.

Asked about renewed tensions between the United States and China - the world's two largest economies, Georgieva said she was urging member countries to maintain open communication and trade flows that had underpinned global growth for decades.

"We do need to keep trade flows open, especially for medical supplies, food, and longer-term to find a pathway to overcome what is happening now with this crisis," Georgieva said. "We want to continue to build this more prosperous future for all by overcoming the scarring that may come from this crisis."

Tensions between the United States and China have spiked in recent weeks, with officials on both sides suggesting a hard-won deal that defused a bitter 18-month trade war could be abandoned months after it was signed.

Georgieva warned against retreating into protectionism as a result of the crisis.

"We should not turn away from what has worked for people everywhere: a division of labor and collaboration and trade, which allows the costs of goods and services to go down, allows incomes to go up, and allows poverty within countries and across countries to retreat," she told Reuters.

The IMF was created after World War Two to foster financial stability, facilitate trade and reduce poverty around the world. It has provided emergency financing to 56 countries since the crisis began and will decide on 47 additional requests as quickly as possible, Georgieva said.

An IMF spokesman said some $21 billion in emergency financing, which carries very low interest rates, had been disbursed thus far.

Georgieva said the Fund could also provide grants to help the poorest countries cover their debt service payments to the IMF through the end of the year, after raising new lending commitments from its members.

The global economy will take much longer to recover fully from the shock caused by the new coronavirus than initially expected, the head of the International Monetary Fund said, and she stressed the danger of protectionism.

The global economy will take much longer to recover fully from the shock caused by the new coronavirus than initially expected, the head of the International Monetary Fund said, and she stressed the danger of protectionism. Also read: US biotech firm Moderna reports 'positive interim' phase 1 results for coronavirus vaccine Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the Fund was likely to revise downward its forecast for a 3% contraction in GDP in 2020, but gave no details. That would likely also trigger changes in the Fund's forecast of a partial recovery of 5.8% in 2021. Also read: China's new spin: President Xi presents himself as 'savior' at World Health Assembly In an interview with Reuters, she said data from around the world was worse than expected. "Obviously that means it will take us much longer to have a full recovery from this crisis," Georgieva said in an interview. She gave no specific target date for the rebound. In April, the global lender forecast that business closures and lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus would throw the world into the deepest recession since the 1930s Great Depression. But data reported since then points to "more bad news," Georgieva said earlier this month. The IMF is due to release new global projections in June. The global outlook remains a huge focus for finance ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies, who will meet remotely on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Treasury. Georgieva told Reuters the Fund was focused on risks such as high debt levels, increased deficits, unemployment, bankruptcies, increased poverty and inequality during the recovery period. But she said the crisis was also boosting the digital economy, offering a chance to boost transparency and e-learning, and give even small firms access to markets. Asked about renewed tensions between the United States and China - the world's two largest economies, Georgieva said she was urging member countries to maintain open communication and trade flows that had underpinned global growth for decades. "We do need to keep trade flows open, especially for medical supplies, food, and longer-term to find a pathway to overcome what is happening now with this crisis," Georgieva said. "We want to continue to build this more prosperous future for all by overcoming the scarring that may come from this crisis." Tensions between the United States and China have spiked in recent weeks, with officials on both sides suggesting a hard-won deal that defused a bitter 18-month trade war could be abandoned months after it was signed. Georgieva warned against retreating into protectionism as a result of the crisis. "We should not turn away from what has worked for people everywhere: a division of labor and collaboration and trade, which allows the costs of goods and services to go down, allows incomes to go up, and allows poverty within countries and across countries to retreat," she told Reuters. The IMF was created after World War Two to foster financial stability, facilitate trade and reduce poverty around the world. It has provided emergency financing to 56 countries since the crisis began and will decide on 47 additional requests as quickly as possible, Georgieva said. An IMF spokesman said some $21 billion in emergency financing, which carries very low interest rates, had been disbursed thus far. Georgieva said the Fund could also provide grants to help the poorest countries cover their debt service payments to the IMF through the end of the year, after raising new lending commitments from its members.

IMF chief warns full global economic recovery unlikely in 2021

Kenta Iwata, a Japanese professor in Kobe University&nbsp;has said that chances of Olympics being held next year are "less likely". Iwata is a professor in infectious diseases.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-81000-people-across-the-world-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-24-hours-293437">Over 81,000 people across the world test positive for COVID-19 in 24 hours</a>

Iwata said: "To be honest with you, I don’t think the Olympics is likely to be held next year," He also laid two conditions for the summer games to be held: "Holding the Olympics needs two conditions; one, controlling COVID-19 in Japan and controlling COVID-19 everywhere."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-if-player-catches-virus-insurance-issues-likely-to-be-stumbling-block-before-resumption-of-premier-league-293560" hreflang="en">'What if player catches virus?' - Insurance issues likely to be stumbling block before resumption of Premier League</a>

"I am very pessimistic about holding the Olympic Games next summer unless you hold the Olympic Games in a different structure such as no audience, or very limited participation," Iwata added.&nbsp;

Japan has over 10,797 cases of the novel coronavirus and more than 200 victims have succumbed to do the disease and cases of infections of the deadly coronavirus have reached &nbsp;2,404,071 worldwide on Monday as a new study of containment measures in China suggests that countries preparing to ease their lockdowns will have to continuously monitor potential new cases to prevent a second deadly outbreak.

Iwata said: "You have to invite so many athletes from many, many places, which is not very compatible with this COVID-19 infection. Japan might be able to control this disease by next summer. And I wish we could. But I don’t think that will happen everywhere on earth."

According to reports, Japan has invested $12.6 billion to host the Olympics and Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the Tokyo Olympics organising committee has no "Plan B" other than holding the games on July 23, 2021.&nbsp;

Kenta Iwata, a Japanese professor in Kobe University has said that chances of Olympics being held next year are "less likely". Iwata is a professor in infectious diseases.

Kenta Iwata, a Japanese professor in Kobe University has said that chances of Olympics being held next year are "less likely". Iwata is a professor in infectious diseases. Also read: Over 81,000 people across the world test positive for COVID-19 in 24 hours Iwata said: "To be honest with you, I don’t think the Olympics is likely to be held next year," He also laid two conditions for the summer games to be held: "Holding the Olympics needs two conditions; one, controlling COVID-19 in Japan and controlling COVID-19 everywhere." Also read: 'What if player catches virus?' - Insurance issues likely to be stumbling block before resumption of Premier League "I am very pessimistic about holding the Olympic Games next summer unless you hold the Olympic Games in a different structure such as no audience, or very limited participation," Iwata added. Japan has over 10,797 cases of the novel coronavirus and more than 200 victims have succumbed to do the disease and cases of infections of the deadly coronavirus have reached 2,404,071 worldwide on Monday as a new study of containment measures in China suggests that countries preparing to ease their lockdowns will have to continuously monitor potential new cases to prevent a second deadly outbreak. Iwata said: "You have to invite so many athletes from many, many places, which is not very compatible with this COVID-19 infection. Japan might be able to control this disease by next summer. And I wish we could. But I don’t think that will happen everywhere on earth." According to reports, Japan has invested $12.6 billion to host the Olympics and Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the Tokyo Olympics organising committee has no "Plan B" other than holding the games on July 23, 2021.

Kobe University professor 'very pessimistic' about Olympics being held in 2021

No new emojis will be released next year due to the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit organisation responsible for the release of new emojis, has announced that there is going to be a&nbsp;delay in&nbsp;its new batch of emojis by six months from March to September 2021 because of the fallouts from COVID-19.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whatsapp-introduces-new-restrictions-and-features-to-curb-misinformation-291108">WhatsApp introduces new restrictions and features to curb misinformation</a>

According to the company,&nbsp;the reason behind the delay is its heavy reliance&nbsp;on volunteers who are currently overwhelmed dealing with the pandemic.

However, the emojis that were&nbsp;announced earlier this year, like the olive, beaver, and plunger, will still be available this fall.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-5g-waves-do-not-transmit-coronavirus-290786">No, 5G waves do not transmit coronavirus!</a>

''Under the current circumstances we’ve heard that our contributors have a lot on their plates at the moment and decided it was in the best interests of our volunteers and the organizations that depend on the standard to push out our release date,''&nbsp;said Mark Davis, president of the consortium, in the group’s blog post.

''This year we simply can’t commit to the same schedule we’ve adhered to in the past,'' he added.

117 new emojis are already scheduled to be released on both android and smartphones this year.

&nbsp;

No new emojis will be released next year due to the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit organisation responsible for the release of new emojis, has announced that there is going to be a delay in its new batch of emojis by six months from March to September 2021 because of the fallouts from COVID-19.

No new emojis will be released next year due to the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit organisation responsible for the release of new emojis, has announced that there is going to be a delay in its new batch of emojis by six months from March to September 2021 because of the fallouts from COVID-19. Also read: WhatsApp introduces new restrictions and features to curb misinformation According to the company, the reason behind the delay is its heavy reliance on volunteers who are currently overwhelmed dealing with the pandemic. However, the emojis that were announced earlier this year, like the olive, beaver, and plunger, will still be available this fall. Also read: No, 5G waves do not transmit coronavirus! ''Under the current circumstances we’ve heard that our contributors have a lot on their plates at the moment and decided it was in the best interests of our volunteers and the organizations that depend on the standard to push out our release date,'' said Mark Davis, president of the consortium, in the group’s blog post. ''This year we simply can’t commit to the same schedule we’ve adhered to in the past,'' he added. 117 new emojis are already scheduled to be released on both android and smartphones this year.

2021: No new emojis to be launched due to coronavirus pandemic

Ever since filmmakers started looking for a new Batman and then subsequently announced that ‘Twilight’ star Robert Pattinson will play the new caped crusader in the upcoming ‘The Batman’, the film and its casting has been in the news.

Now, it has been revealed that Colin Farrell of the fame ‘Seven Psychopaths’ will be taking up the role of Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin in the upcoming ‘The Batman’ film. While the studio hasn't made any official confirmation but director Matt Reeves took to Twitter to make the revelation.&nbsp;

According to various media reports, the role apparently took months.&nbsp;

Currently, the upcoming film 'The Batman' is being shot in London.

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Happy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BatmanDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BatmanDay</a> from London! <a href="https://t.co/64Mn2A1Jog">pic.twitter.com/64Mn2A1Jog</a>
— Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattreevesLA/status/1175523048692359169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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‘The Batman’ will have Robert Pattinson as the superhero. It will also star Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon and Paul Dano as the Riddler, respectively. Others part of the film include Peter Sarsgaard, John Turturro, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, butler and father figure to the dark knight, as well as newcomer Jayme Lawson.

The film is directed by Matt Reeves and is produced by the Warner Bros. studio. Matt has also co-written the screenplay along with Mattson Tomlin.&nbsp;

‘The Batman’ will begin production in January 2020. It is scheduled to release on June 25, 2021.

Ever since filmmakers started looking for a new Batman and then subsequently announced that ‘Twilight’ star Robert Pattinson will play the new caped crusader in the upcoming ‘The Batman’, the film and its casting has been in the news.

Ever since filmmakers started looking for a new Batman and then subsequently announced that ‘Twilight’ star Robert Pattinson will play the new caped crusader in the upcoming ‘The Batman’, the film and its casting has been in the news. Now, it has been revealed that Colin Farrell of the fame ‘Seven Psychopaths’ will be taking up the role of Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin in the upcoming ‘The Batman’ film. While the studio hasn't made any official confirmation but director Matt Reeves took to Twitter to make the revelation. According to various media reports, the role apparently took months. Currently, the upcoming film 'The Batman' is being shot in London. Happy #BatmanDay from London! pic.twitter.com/64Mn2A1Jog — Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) September 21, 2019 × Wait — is that you, #Oz ? 🦇 pic.twitter.com/xHj9m6OXhf — Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) January 6, 2020 × ‘The Batman’ will have Robert Pattinson as the superhero. It will also star Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon and Paul Dano as the Riddler, respectively. Others part of the film include Peter Sarsgaard, John Turturro, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, butler and father figure to the dark knight, as well as newcomer Jayme Lawson. The film is directed by Matt Reeves and is produced by the Warner Bros. studio. Matt has also co-written the screenplay along with Mattson Tomlin. ‘The Batman’ will begin production in January 2020. It is scheduled to release on June 25, 2021.

Colin Farrell confirmed to play The Penguin in Robert Pattinson starrer 'The Batman'

2021

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