Does the People's Liberation Army really live up to the eulogizing reports by the Chinese State media? WION's Palki Sharma tells you how this army is burdened with organizational problems & riddled with inefficiencies.

Gravitas: 5 weaknesses plaguing the People's Liberation Army

What happens when a recruit decides to quit the People's Liberation Army of China? WION's Palki Sharma tells you 8 punishments the P.L.A inflicts on 'deserters'.

Gravitas: What happens when you quit the P.L.A?

After more than a month, P.L.A troops have moved back from several points in Ladakh. The dragon's retreat marks the beginning of de-escalation at the border. WIN's Palki Sharma tells you how China's threats failed to deter India.

Gravitas: India-China standoff | The dragon retreats

The India-China standoff has come as a lesson in upholding national interest above everything else. India's former Vice chief of Air staff Pranab Kumar Barbora did exactly this in 2008. The retired Air Marshal reopened the Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip without the UPA govt's permission. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how his decision has given India a strategic advantage against China 12 years on.

Gravitas: The story & significance of Daulat Beg Oldi

<p>Under remarkably unique circumstances, a female Komodo dragon has given birth to three hatchlings without any male partner.</p>

<p>Her name is Charlie and she lives in the Chattanooga Zoo in Tennessee.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: Indonesia will close Komodo island in 2020 for rehabilitation</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indonesia-will-close-komodo-island-in-2020-for-rehabilitation-238271/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>She was able to do so on her own through a phenomenon called parthenogenesis, which is extremely rare among vertebrates.</p>

<p>Approximately 0.1 per cent of all vertebrates can do it, as per Scientific American.</p>

<p>According to the science magazine, Parthenogenesis happens when another egg, rather than sperm, fertilize an egg.</p>

<p>Charlie and a potential mate named Kadal were placed together in hopes of breeding, but she gave birth to the three brothers, named Onyx, Jasper and Flint all by herself in September last year.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="790" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FChattZoo%2Fposts%2F10156575474885764&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>''Komodo dragons have evolved to reproduce both sexually and parthenogenetically because they mainly live isolated in the wild and become violent when approached,'' said&nbsp;the zoo.</p>


Under remarkably unique circumstances, a female Komodo dragon has given birth to three hatchlings without any male partner. Her name is Charlie and she lives in the Chattanooga Zoo in Tennessee.

Under remarkably unique circumstances, a female Komodo dragon has given birth to three hatchlings without any male partner. Her name is Charlie and she lives in the Chattanooga Zoo in Tennessee. Also read: Indonesia will close Komodo island in 2020 for rehabilitation She was able to do so on her own through a phenomenon called parthenogenesis, which is extremely rare among vertebrates. Approximately 0.1 per cent of all vertebrates can do it, as per Scientific American. According to the science magazine, Parthenogenesis happens when another egg, rather than sperm, fertilize an egg. Charlie and a potential mate named Kadal were placed together in hopes of breeding, but she gave birth to the three brothers, named Onyx, Jasper and Flint all by herself in September last year. × ''Komodo dragons have evolved to reproduce both sexually and parthenogenetically because they mainly live isolated in the wild and become violent when approached,'' said the zoo.

Female dragon gives birth to hatchlings without male partner

Leaving Russia behind, China has now become the world's second-largest weapons producer. Who is buying arms from the dragon? This report has the details.

Gravitas: China is now world's second largest weapons producer

<p>Indonesia&nbsp;plans to close its eastern island of Komodo to the public next year in a bid to conserve rare Komodo dragons, the largest living species of lizard, a provincial official said on Tuesday.</p>

<p>The island is part of Komodo National Park, a conservation area between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores visited by more than 176,000 tourists from all over the world in 2018.</p>

<p>As well as the beautiful beaches and scenery, many visitors came to see the dragons, only found in the wild in eastern&nbsp;Indonesia.</p>

<p>"We have to save Komodo dragons from extinction, that's the point," Josef Nae Soi, deputy governor of the province of East Nusa Tenggara, told Reuters.</p>

<p>Even after the closure of the island, where about 1,700 of the animals are estimated to live, others in the national park that are home to Komodo dragons, such as the islands of Rinca and Padar, will stay open, he said.</p>

<p>Closing the island to tourists aims to avert interference and cut the risk of poaching to allow a recovery in the numbers of the animals' preferred prey, such as deer, buffalo and wild boar.</p>

<p>"People come wanting to see... how (the dragons) mate, how they lay their eggs, how they hatch, and how the young Komodos fight for their life," Soi said.</p>

<p>The island could reopen a year later, but it was planned to be a premium tourist destination, he said.</p>

<p>Media had previously suggested the province planned to charge tourists an entrance fee of $500, but Soi said no fee had been decided.</p>

<p>Plans to limit visitors have sparked controversy in the island's tourism industry as well as among residents who depend on visitors for their livelihood.</p>

<p>Soi acknowledged some resistance but said President Joko Widodo approved the plan and authorities were holding talks with local leaders on how best to relocate residents.</p>

<p>"We want Komodo island to be intended for conservation," Widodo was quoted on the website of the cabinet secretary as saying after a visit to the nearby island of Rinca last week. "If you can't afford it, you don't need to go there."</p>


Indonesia plans to close its eastern island of Komodo to the public next year in a bid to conserve rare Komodo dragons, the largest living species of lizard, a provincial official said on Tuesday.

Indonesia plans to close its eastern island of Komodo to the public next year in a bid to conserve rare Komodo dragons, the largest living species of lizard, a provincial official said on Tuesday. The island is part of Komodo National Park, a conservation area between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores visited by more than 176,000 tourists from all over the world in 2018. As well as the beautiful beaches and scenery, many visitors came to see the dragons, only found in the wild in eastern Indonesia. "We have to save Komodo dragons from extinction, that's the point," Josef Nae Soi, deputy governor of the province of East Nusa Tenggara, told Reuters. Even after the closure of the island, where about 1,700 of the animals are estimated to live, others in the national park that are home to Komodo dragons, such as the islands of Rinca and Padar, will stay open, he said. Closing the island to tourists aims to avert interference and cut the risk of poaching to allow a recovery in the numbers of the animals' preferred prey, such as deer, buffalo and wild boar. "People come wanting to see... how (the dragons) mate, how they lay their eggs, how they hatch, and how the young Komodos fight for their life," Soi said. The island could reopen a year later, but it was planned to be a premium tourist destination, he said. Media had previously suggested the province planned to charge tourists an entrance fee of $500, but Soi said no fee had been decided. Plans to limit visitors have sparked controversy in the island's tourism industry as well as among residents who depend on visitors for their livelihood. Soi acknowledged some resistance but said President Joko Widodo approved the plan and authorities were holding talks with local leaders on how best to relocate residents. "We want Komodo island to be intended for conservation," Widodo was quoted on the website of the cabinet secretary as saying after a visit to the nearby island of Rinca last week. "If you can't afford it, you don't need to go there."

Indonesia to close island in bid to save Komodo dragons

<p>Elon Musk-led SpaceX has launched Dragon spacecraft as part of its resupply mission to the International Space Station.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The spacecraft was launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Monday. Within 10 minutes of its launch, the spacecraft was confirmed of having reached a "good orbit".&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Right on schedule, solar arrays have been deployed on the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dragon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dragon</a> cargo spacecraft as it heads to <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>. Watch: <a href="https://t.co/C8BIw7hGzo">https://t.co/C8BIw7hGzo</a> <a href="https://t.co/OjC13uB8zj">pic.twitter.com/OjC13uB8zj</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/980909013788315648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>'Dragon'&nbsp;left Earth packed with 2,630 kg of research, crew supplies and hardware. It is expected to attach to the space station on Wednesday after which it will spend close to a month attached to the ISS.</p>

<p>Dragon's return is scheduled around May with some results of completed experiments.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dragon is on its way to the International Space Station. Capture by <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> crew set for Wednesday morning.</p>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/980909925865000963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Dragon's mission includes delivering scientific investigations such as studying severe thunderstorms on Earth, food growth in space, among others.</p>

<p>The spacecraft also carried equipment for testing and studying the effects of the harsh space environment on items, identifying potential pathogens in the station and investigating an antibiotic-releasing wound patch.</p>


Dragon's return is scheduled around May with some results of completed experiments

Elon Musk-led SpaceX has launched Dragon spacecraft as part of its resupply mission to the International Space Station. The spacecraft was launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Monday. Within 10 minutes of its launch, the spacecraft was confirmed of having reached a "good orbit". Right on schedule, solar arrays have been deployed on the @SpaceX #Dragon cargo spacecraft as it heads to @Space_Station. Watch: https://t.co/C8BIw7hGzo pic.twitter.com/OjC13uB8zj — NASA (@NASA) April 2, 2018 × 'Dragon' left Earth packed with 2,630 kg of research, crew supplies and hardware. It is expected to attach to the space station on Wednesday after which it will spend close to a month attached to the ISS. Dragon's return is scheduled around May with some results of completed experiments. Dragon is on its way to the International Space Station. Capture by @Space_Station crew set for Wednesday morning. — SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 2, 2018 × Dragon's mission includes delivering scientific investigations such as studying severe thunderstorms on Earth, food growth in space, among others. The spacecraft also carried equipment for testing and studying the effects of the harsh space environment on items, identifying potential pathogens in the station and investigating an antibiotic-releasing wound patch.

SpaceX's 'Dragon' launched in resupply mission to ISS

dragon

Dragon, News on Dragon, stories on Dragon, articles on Dragon, Dragon stories at Wion, Dragon news, Dragon latest news