The row of trendy restaurants surrounding an office of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington reflects the refined tastes of a gentrifying capital.

But down an alley, a mural depicts a very different drama playing out almost daily elsewhere in the same city.

There on the wall are the faces of five African-American teens shot dead, including Lauryn Renford's boyfriend, 16-year-old Zaire Kelly.

Renford, 17, was the driving force behind the mural, a recently inaugurated memorial to the slain youths.

"I think there's something very special about these five on the wall," says Renford, who sees their stories as representing other victims too.

In a country where <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-killed-seven-wounded-in-two-washington-dc-shootings-police-seek-suspects-reports-250882">mass shootings</a> dominate the headlines, the mural is a reminder of more common, everyday gun crime, the victims often African-Americans, their deaths too frequently overlooked except by grieving friends and family.

Kelly was attacked in an apparent robbery attempt on his way home from studies. Jamahri Sydnor, 17, was shot while driving, the victim of an "unintended killing" according to DC Witness, a website that tracks Washington homicide cases.

Steve Slaughter, 14, and Taiyania Thompson, 16, are also pictured along with Paris Brown, 19. All were killed in 2017 and 2018.

Brown and Kelly, as well as Renford, were students at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Ward 8, one of two districts east of the Anacostia River where poverty is disproportionately clustered.

"I realized that families and even just general residents of DC should have a place to grieve the people that we've lost and always honour their legacies, and work to preserve those that are left," Renford says.

Dozens of evenly-spaced red roses symbolize others lost to gun violence but whose youthful faces aren't pictured on the wall.

That could include Maurice Scott, 15, shot dead in May, or Steffen Brathwaite, 16, gunned down the day before AFP interviewed Renford.

They are among at least 131 homicide victims this year in the city of about 700,000 residents, up from 118 at the same time last year.

Nearby <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/outrage-as-trump-brands-mostly-black-baltimore-infested-mess-238944">Baltimore</a>, with a slightly smaller population, has recorded around 255 homicides in 2019.

In contrast, 64 people have been gunned down nationwide since January in mass shootings where four or more people were killed, according to a Washington Post database.

Most of Washington's gun crime occurs in Ward 8 and adjacent Ward 7, police data show, but the mural is in a more peaceful neighbourhood.

There, it helps broaden awareness among better-off residents who "don't necessarily know much about the violence" elsewhere in the city, says Renford, a first-year undergraduate hoping to study public health.

Karen Lee, a Thurgood Marshall teacher who guided Renford in creating the mural, says she is "really proud" of her.

"People are having to deal every day with violence, with shootings," says Lee, who is white and lives in the academy's neighbourhood.

"I hear gunshots and I wonder if I'm going to wake up in the morning and find out that I've lost another student".

In a Washington with more and more condominiums and sleek restaurants, but a declining African-American population, Renford says making the city safer should be a task for everyone and not just a "black and brown conversation."

She joined two other Thurgood Marshall students to found an activist group, Pathways 2 Power because they want "a seat at the decision-making table" on issues surrounding <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-step-up-calls-for-gun-legislation-as-us-congress-returns-248538">gun violence</a>.

The group helped her raise the roughly $12,000 needed for the mural painted by local artist Martin Swift on donated wall space.

Renford sees many roots for the violence, including poverty, gentrification, localized "beef," and "not valuing the lives of people around you... not even your own life."

Lee highlights the need to address the inequities between Washington's wealthier neighbourhoods and those where people struggle.

Armed police officers wait at the front steps of Thurgood Marshall while students in tan pants and burgundy shirts file into Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast, where cars pass playing rap music.

Across the street is Bethlehem Baptist Church, the "Black Workers and Wellness Center," and a parking lot advertising the "Stop the Violence Jam" and other music shows.

Back in the alley, two elderly white women accompany a white man walking unsteadily with a cane. In front of the mural, one of the women stops and seems to call to the others. All of them look.

Paris, Jamahri, Steve, Taiyania and Zaire are looking back.

The row of trendy restaurants surrounding an office of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington reflects the refined tastes of a gentrifying capital. But down an alley, a mural depicts a very different drama playing out almost daily elsewhere in the same city.

The row of trendy restaurants surrounding an office of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington reflects the refined tastes of a gentrifying capital. But down an alley, a mural depicts a very different drama playing out almost daily elsewhere in the same city. There on the wall are the faces of five African-American teens shot dead, including Lauryn Renford's boyfriend, 16-year-old Zaire Kelly. Renford, 17, was the driving force behind the mural, a recently inaugurated memorial to the slain youths. "I think there's something very special about these five on the wall," says Renford, who sees their stories as representing other victims too. In a country where mass shootings dominate the headlines, the mural is a reminder of more common, everyday gun crime, the victims often African-Americans, their deaths too frequently overlooked except by grieving friends and family. Kelly was attacked in an apparent robbery attempt on his way home from studies. Jamahri Sydnor, 17, was shot while driving, the victim of an "unintended killing" according to DC Witness, a website that tracks Washington homicide cases. Steve Slaughter, 14, and Taiyania Thompson, 16, are also pictured along with Paris Brown, 19. All were killed in 2017 and 2018. Brown and Kelly, as well as Renford, were students at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Ward 8, one of two districts east of the Anacostia River where poverty is disproportionately clustered. "I realized that families and even just general residents of DC should have a place to grieve the people that we've lost and always honour their legacies, and work to preserve those that are left," Renford says. Dozens of evenly-spaced red roses symbolize others lost to gun violence but whose youthful faces aren't pictured on the wall. That could include Maurice Scott, 15, shot dead in May, or Steffen Brathwaite, 16, gunned down the day before AFP interviewed Renford. They are among at least 131 homicide victims this year in the city of about 700,000 residents, up from 118 at the same time last year. Nearby Baltimore, with a slightly smaller population, has recorded around 255 homicides in 2019. In contrast, 64 people have been gunned down nationwide since January in mass shootings where four or more people were killed, according to a Washington Post database. Most of Washington's gun crime occurs in Ward 8 and adjacent Ward 7, police data show, but the mural is in a more peaceful neighbourhood. There, it helps broaden awareness among better-off residents who "don't necessarily know much about the violence" elsewhere in the city, says Renford, a first-year undergraduate hoping to study public health. Karen Lee, a Thurgood Marshall teacher who guided Renford in creating the mural, says she is "really proud" of her. "People are having to deal every day with violence, with shootings," says Lee, who is white and lives in the academy's neighbourhood. "I hear gunshots and I wonder if I'm going to wake up in the morning and find out that I've lost another student". In a Washington with more and more condominiums and sleek restaurants, but a declining African-American population, Renford says making the city safer should be a task for everyone and not just a "black and brown conversation." She joined two other Thurgood Marshall students to found an activist group, Pathways 2 Power because they want "a seat at the decision-making table" on issues surrounding gun violence. The group helped her raise the roughly $12,000 needed for the mural painted by local artist Martin Swift on donated wall space. Renford sees many roots for the violence, including poverty, gentrification, localized "beef," and "not valuing the lives of people around you... not even your own life." Lee highlights the need to address the inequities between Washington's wealthier neighbourhoods and those where people struggle. Armed police officers wait at the front steps of Thurgood Marshall while students in tan pants and burgundy shirts file into Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast, where cars pass playing rap music. Across the street is Bethlehem Baptist Church, the "Black Workers and Wellness Center," and a parking lot advertising the "Stop the Violence Jam" and other music shows. Back in the alley, two elderly white women accompany a white man walking unsteadily with a cane. In front of the mural, one of the women stops and seems to call to the others. All of them look. Paris, Jamahri, Steve, Taiyania and Zaire are looking back.

In US capital, teen honours victims of everyday gun violence

I-Day joy: Air India to undertake first direct flight to US through North Pole from August 15

At dusk, tourists marvel at the sensational collapse of an iceberg at the end of its long journey from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/atmospheric-flow-now-going-to-transport-heat-towards-greenland-un-238653">Greenland to Canada's east coast</a>, which now has a front-row seat to the melting of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alaska-heat-wave-shatters-citys-record-disrupts-jobs-and-lives-233451">Arctic's ice</a>.

While the rest of the world nervously eyes the impact of global warming, the calving of Greenland's glaciers the breaking off of ice chunks from its edge has breathed new life into the remote coastal villages of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Once a hub of cod fishing, the province now plays host to hordes of amateur photographers and tourists hoping to capture the epic ice melt for posterity. As winter ends, iceberg spotting begins.

"It keeps getting better every year," says Barry Strickland, a 58-year-old former fisherman who now takes tourists in his small boat around King's Point in the north of the province.&nbsp;

"We've got 135, 140 tour buses with older people coming into the town every season so it's great for the economy."

For the past four years, Strickland has taken visitors to bear witness to the death throes of these ice giants, which can measure dozens of meters in height and weigh hundreds of thousands of tons.&nbsp;

Winds and ocean currents bring the icebergs from northwest Greenland, thousands of kilometres (miles) away, to Canada's shores.&nbsp;

In a matter of weeks, ice frozen for thousands of years can quickly melt into the ocean.

'Incredible' rise in tourism&nbsp;

Strickland's boat excursions are often fully booked during the high season from May to July, with tourists coming from all around the world to King's Point, a village of just 600 inhabitants.

The villagers keep track of the icebergs on an interactive satellite tracking map put online by the provincial government.

"There's not much in these small outport towns anymore to keep people around, so tourism is a big part of our economy," said Devon Chaulk, who works in a souvenir shop in Elliston, a small town of 300 on "Iceberg Corridor," as the coastline is now known.

"I've lived here my entire life, and the increase in tourism around here in the past 10 to 15 years has been incredible. It's not surprising to have thousands of people here over the next couple of months," said the 28-year-old.&nbsp;

Last year, a total of 500,000 tourists visited Newfoundland and Labrador, a number roughly equivalent to the province's total population.&nbsp;

Those visitors spent nearly Can $570 million, government figures show.

Melting ice&nbsp;

The tourism boom has helped offset the decline in the region's traditional fishing industry, which is in crisis because of overfishing at the end of the last century.

Some are even marketing "iceberg water" as the purest on Earth and selling it as a high-end luxury item. The melt is also used in vodka, beer and cosmetics.&nbsp;

But beneath the shiny surface of economic success is the dark truth that the area is in part profiting from accelerated global warming in the Arctic and that the industry is precarious at best.

In the village of Twillingate, employees at the Auk Island Winery which makes its product from iceberg water and locally picked wild berries have already seen that business can be unpredictable.

"We see the difference in the number of tourists from year to year, depending on the number of icebergs in the area," says Elizabeth Gleason, who works at the winery.

"This year was a good year. Last year, we had almost none."

The Arctic is warming three times faster than the rest of the world. In mid-July, record temperatures were recorded near the North Pole.

In recent years, the icebergs have drifted further and further south, posing a threat to shipping on this busy route between Europe and North America.

For now, tourists are enjoying the view and the experience while they can.&nbsp;

"The prevalence of icebergs has good things and bad things about it," says Melissa Axtman, an American traveller.

Laurent Lucazeau, a 34-year-old French tourist, says seeing an iceberg was sobering.

"It is a concrete image of global warming to see icebergs making it to these places where the water is warm," he told AFP.

"There's something mysterious and impressive about it, but knowing too that they are not supposed to be here makes you wonder, and it's a little scary."

At dusk, tourists marvel at the sensational collapse of an iceberg at the end of its long journey from Greenland to Canada's east coast, which now has a front-row seat to the melting of the Arctic's ice.

At dusk, tourists marvel at the sensational collapse of an iceberg at the end of its long journey from Greenland to Canada's east coast, which now has a front-row seat to the melting of the Arctic's ice. While the rest of the world nervously eyes the impact of global warming, the calving of Greenland's glaciers the breaking off of ice chunks from its edge has breathed new life into the remote coastal villages of Newfoundland and Labrador. Once a hub of cod fishing, the province now plays host to hordes of amateur photographers and tourists hoping to capture the epic ice melt for posterity. As winter ends, iceberg spotting begins. "It keeps getting better every year," says Barry Strickland, a 58-year-old former fisherman who now takes tourists in his small boat around King's Point in the north of the province. "We've got 135, 140 tour buses with older people coming into the town every season so it's great for the economy." For the past four years, Strickland has taken visitors to bear witness to the death throes of these ice giants, which can measure dozens of meters in height and weigh hundreds of thousands of tons. Winds and ocean currents bring the icebergs from northwest Greenland, thousands of kilometres (miles) away, to Canada's shores. In a matter of weeks, ice frozen for thousands of years can quickly melt into the ocean. 'Incredible' rise in tourism Strickland's boat excursions are often fully booked during the high season from May to July, with tourists coming from all around the world to King's Point, a village of just 600 inhabitants. The villagers keep track of the icebergs on an interactive satellite tracking map put online by the provincial government. "There's not much in these small outport towns anymore to keep people around, so tourism is a big part of our economy," said Devon Chaulk, who works in a souvenir shop in Elliston, a small town of 300 on "Iceberg Corridor," as the coastline is now known. "I've lived here my entire life, and the increase in tourism around here in the past 10 to 15 years has been incredible. It's not surprising to have thousands of people here over the next couple of months," said the 28-year-old. Last year, a total of 500,000 tourists visited Newfoundland and Labrador, a number roughly equivalent to the province's total population. Those visitors spent nearly Can $570 million, government figures show. Melting ice The tourism boom has helped offset the decline in the region's traditional fishing industry, which is in crisis because of overfishing at the end of the last century. Some are even marketing "iceberg water" as the purest on Earth and selling it as a high-end luxury item. The melt is also used in vodka, beer and cosmetics. But beneath the shiny surface of economic success is the dark truth that the area is in part profiting from accelerated global warming in the Arctic and that the industry is precarious at best. In the village of Twillingate, employees at the Auk Island Winery which makes its product from iceberg water and locally picked wild berries have already seen that business can be unpredictable. "We see the difference in the number of tourists from year to year, depending on the number of icebergs in the area," says Elizabeth Gleason, who works at the winery. "This year was a good year. Last year, we had almost none." The Arctic is warming three times faster than the rest of the world. In mid-July, record temperatures were recorded near the North Pole. In recent years, the icebergs have drifted further and further south, posing a threat to shipping on this busy route between Europe and North America. For now, tourists are enjoying the view and the experience while they can. "The prevalence of icebergs has good things and bad things about it," says Melissa Axtman, an American traveller. Laurent Lucazeau, a 34-year-old French tourist, says seeing an iceberg was sobering. "It is a concrete image of global warming to see icebergs making it to these places where the water is warm," he told AFP. "There's something mysterious and impressive about it, but knowing too that they are not supposed to be here makes you wonder, and it's a little scary."

'Iceberg Corridor' sparks tourist boom on Canada's east coast

'Spider-Man: Far From Home' beat back competition from two debut films at the North American box office, winning for a second week straight by raking in an estimated $45.4 million, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations said Monday. 
 
The latest installment in the blockbuster superhero franchise, which picks up where 'Avengers: Endgame' left off, has earned an impressive $847 million worldwide. 
 
Retaining its number two spot was Disney/Pixar film 'Toy Story 4,' which took in $20.9 million on its fourth weekend. 
 
The film again features the voices of Tom Hanks as cowboy doll Woody and Tim Allen as toy astronaut Buzz Lightyear. 
 
Debuting in third place was alligator disaster thriller 'Crawl,' about a father and daughter battling a pack of hungry gators after a hurricane hits their Florida hometown. It took in $12 million. 
 
In fourth position was another debut flick, 'Stuber' -- a buddy comedy starring comedian Kumail Nanjiani and professional wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista ('Guardians of the Galaxy'). 
 
The film, which earned less than stellar reviews, took in $8.2 million. 
 
'Yesterday,' the romantic comedy based on an odd premise -- what if a global blackout meant that a struggling musician was one of the only people on Earth to remember the Beatles? -- was in fifth place. 
 
The crowd-pleaser -- directed by Danny Boyle of 'Trainspotting' and 'Slumdog Millionaire' fame -- earned $6.7 million.&nbsp; 
 
Rounding out the weekend's top 10 were: 
 
'Aladdin' ($6.2 million) 
 
'Annabelle Comes Home' ($5.6 million) 
 
'Midsommar' ($3.7 million) 
 
'The Secret Life of Pets 2' ($3.2 million) 
 
'Men in Black: International' ($2.2 million)

'Spider-Man: Far From Home' beat back competition from two debut films at the North American box office, winning for a second week straight by raking in an estimated $45.

'Spider-Man: Far From Home' beat back competition from two debut films at the North American box office, winning for a second week straight by raking in an estimated $45.4 million, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations said Monday. The latest installment in the blockbuster superhero franchise, which picks up where 'Avengers: Endgame' left off, has earned an impressive $847 million worldwide. Retaining its number two spot was Disney/Pixar film 'Toy Story 4,' which took in $20.9 million on its fourth weekend. The film again features the voices of Tom Hanks as cowboy doll Woody and Tim Allen as toy astronaut Buzz Lightyear. Debuting in third place was alligator disaster thriller 'Crawl,' about a father and daughter battling a pack of hungry gators after a hurricane hits their Florida hometown. It took in $12 million. In fourth position was another debut flick, 'Stuber' -- a buddy comedy starring comedian Kumail Nanjiani and professional wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista ('Guardians of the Galaxy'). The film, which earned less than stellar reviews, took in $8.2 million. 'Yesterday,' the romantic comedy based on an odd premise -- what if a global blackout meant that a struggling musician was one of the only people on Earth to remember the Beatles? -- was in fifth place. The crowd-pleaser -- directed by Danny Boyle of 'Trainspotting' and 'Slumdog Millionaire' fame -- earned $6.7 million. Rounding out the weekend's top 10 were: 'Aladdin' ($6.2 million) 'Annabelle Comes Home' ($5.6 million) 'Midsommar' ($3.7 million) 'The Secret Life of Pets 2' ($3.2 million) 'Men in Black: International' ($2.2 million)

'Spider-Man' retains top spot at North America box office

Israeli Education Minister Rafi Peretz has spoken of his belief in therapy to convert gays to heterosexuality and claimed he has engaged in the practice, leading to calls for him to be sacked.

The comments late Saturday in a television interview were only the latest controversial views voiced by the recently installed minister who heads a far-right party popular with Israeli settlers.

Asked by Israel's Channel 12 whether he was in favour of so-called conversion therapy and if he believed he could change a gay person, Peretz, who is also a rabbi, said,&nbsp;"I think you can, I think you can."&nbsp;

"I can tell you that I have a deep knowledge of education, and I have done it too," he said.

He then talked about a student who approached him and told him he was gay.

Peretz said he hugged him, was kind to him and sought to help him "understand himself well and then decide on his own."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-warns-of-crushing-retaliation-after-hezbollah-chiefs-remarks-235756">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>, who brought Peretz's Union of Right-Wing Parties into his government after April 9 elections, firmly condemned the remarks.

But Netanyahu, who heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israel's history, signalled no intention of firing Peretz as members of Israel's opposition demanded.

"The education minister's remarks about the gay community are not acceptable and do not reflect the stance of the government I head," he said in a statement.

He said he spoke with Peretz "who clarified his remarks and stressed the Israeli education system will continue to accept all of Israel's children as they are, without any regard to their sexual orientation."

Gay conversion therapy has been widely found, including by Israel's health ministry, to be unscientific and potentially damaging to young people.

In the same interview, Peretz also appeared undeterred by the suggestion Israel would be engaged in "apartheid" if it annexed the occupied West Bank without giving Palestinians the right to vote in national elections.

"We're in a very complicated reality in Israeli society and Israel, and we will have to find the solutions where sovereignty will be, what will it be applied over, will it apply to people, to the territory," he said.

"They certainly won't be able to vote," he said of Palestinians in the West Bank.

Peretz also caused outrage earlier this month over reported comments to a cabinet meeting.

Israel's Channel 13 reported that he told ministers that Jewish intermarriage and assimilation, particularly in North America, were like a "second Holocaust."

Israeli Education Minister Rafi Peretz has spoken of his belief in therapy to convert gays to heterosexuality and claimed he has engaged in the practice, leading to calls for him to be sacked.

Israeli Education Minister Rafi Peretz has spoken of his belief in therapy to convert gays to heterosexuality and claimed he has engaged in the practice, leading to calls for him to be sacked. The comments late Saturday in a television interview were only the latest controversial views voiced by the recently installed minister who heads a far-right party popular with Israeli settlers. Asked by Israel's Channel 12 whether he was in favour of so-called conversion therapy and if he believed he could change a gay person, Peretz, who is also a rabbi, said, "I think you can, I think you can." "I can tell you that I have a deep knowledge of education, and I have done it too," he said. He then talked about a student who approached him and told him he was gay. Peretz said he hugged him, was kind to him and sought to help him "understand himself well and then decide on his own." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who brought Peretz's Union of Right-Wing Parties into his government after April 9 elections, firmly condemned the remarks. But Netanyahu, who heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israel's history, signalled no intention of firing Peretz as members of Israel's opposition demanded. "The education minister's remarks about the gay community are not acceptable and do not reflect the stance of the government I head," he said in a statement. He said he spoke with Peretz "who clarified his remarks and stressed the Israeli education system will continue to accept all of Israel's children as they are, without any regard to their sexual orientation." Gay conversion therapy has been widely found, including by Israel's health ministry, to be unscientific and potentially damaging to young people. In the same interview, Peretz also appeared undeterred by the suggestion Israel would be engaged in "apartheid" if it annexed the occupied West Bank without giving Palestinians the right to vote in national elections. "We're in a very complicated reality in Israeli society and Israel, and we will have to find the solutions where sovereignty will be, what will it be applied over, will it apply to people, to the territory," he said. "They certainly won't be able to vote," he said of Palestinians in the West Bank. Peretz also caused outrage earlier this month over reported comments to a cabinet meeting. Israel's Channel 13 reported that he told ministers that Jewish intermarriage and assimilation, particularly in North America, were like a "second Holocaust."

Calls to sack Israel education minister, Rafi Peretz over gay therapy comments

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-says-some-users-facing-outage-on-its-platforms-232843">Facebook</a> said it was "back at 100 per cent" Wednesday evening after an outage on all of its services affected users in various parts of the world.

Online monitoring service DownDetector reported earlier the outage began around 1200 GMT and affected Facebook as well as its Instagram and WhatsApp services.

"The issue has since been resolved and we should be back at 100% for everyone," the company tweeted at 0006 GMT Thursday, adding they were sorry for "any inconvenience."

A Facebook spokesperson, also speaking on behalf of Instagram and WhatsApp, explained that a "routine maintenance operation" accidentally triggered a bug that made it difficult for users to upload or send photos and videos, US media reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-inc-chief-executive-mark-zuckerberg-says-delay-in-flagging-fake-pelosi-video-was-execution-mistake-230784">#Facebookdown and #instagramdown</a> were trending on Twitter as users around the world reported these apps were not functioning.

According to DownDetector, thousands of users around the world were reporting outages, with Europe and North America most impacted. Both individual users, as well as businesses and organizations, were affected.

"Yes, we are affected by #instagramdown, too," the CIA tweeted during the outage.

"No, we didn't cause it. No, we can't fix yours. Did you try turning it off and back on again?"

Earlier this year, an outage lasting as long as 24 hours that hit Facebook services was blamed on a "server configuration change."

The March 13 outage was believed to be the worst ever for the internet giant, which reaches an estimated 2.7 billion people with its core social network, Instagram and messaging applications.

The company did not immediately respond to an AFP query on Wednesday's outage. 
&nbsp;

Facebook said it was "back at 100 per cent" Wednesday evening after an outage on all of its services affected users in various parts of the world. Online monitoring service DownDetector reported earlier the outage began around 1200 GMT and affected Facebook as well as its Instagram and WhatsApp services.

Facebook said it was "back at 100 per cent" Wednesday evening after an outage on all of its services affected users in various parts of the world. Online monitoring service DownDetector reported earlier the outage began around 1200 GMT and affected Facebook as well as its Instagram and WhatsApp services. "The issue has since been resolved and we should be back at 100% for everyone," the company tweeted at 0006 GMT Thursday, adding they were sorry for "any inconvenience." A Facebook spokesperson, also speaking on behalf of Instagram and WhatsApp, explained that a "routine maintenance operation" accidentally triggered a bug that made it difficult for users to upload or send photos and videos, US media reported. #Facebookdown and #instagramdown were trending on Twitter as users around the world reported these apps were not functioning. According to DownDetector, thousands of users around the world were reporting outages, with Europe and North America most impacted. Both individual users, as well as businesses and organizations, were affected. "Yes, we are affected by #instagramdown, too," the CIA tweeted during the outage. "No, we didn't cause it. No, we can't fix yours. Did you try turning it off and back on again?" Earlier this year, an outage lasting as long as 24 hours that hit Facebook services was blamed on a "server configuration change." The March 13 outage was believed to be the worst ever for the internet giant, which reaches an estimated 2.7 billion people with its core social network, Instagram and messaging applications. The company did not immediately respond to an AFP query on Wednesday's outage.

Facebook services back online after worldwide outage

The first crew to blast off to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-to-open-international-space-station-to-tourists-from-2020-225333">International Space Station</a> following a launch accident that deepened doubts over Russia's space programme returned to earth safely on Tuesday.&nbsp;

NASA astronaut <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-scraps-all-women-spacewalk-for-lack-of-well-fitting-suits-205635">Anne McClain</a>, veteran cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos, and Canadian Space Agency record-holder David Saint-Jacques emerged from the spacecraft to applause from support crews, after touching down near the Kazakh city of Dzhezkazgan.

Live footage from the landing site broadcast on NASA television showed the three sitting in chairs smiling as they were attended to by staff ahead of a journey back to Moscow for Kononenko and Houston for McClain and Saint-Jacques.

Arriving at 0247 GMT to warm conditions, Kononenko joked that he was "happy to see any kind of weather" after coming back from space. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The trio's launch on December 3 was the first after a Soyuz rocket carrying Russia's Aleksey Ovchinin and US astronaut Nick Hague failed in October just minutes after blast-off, forcing the pair to make an emergency landing. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

They escaped unharmed but the failed launch was the first such incident in Russia's post-Soviet history and a new setback for the country's once-proud space industry. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Record-breakers and space tourism&nbsp;

McClain, Kononenko and Saint-Jacques had been optimistic ahead of their successful launch and remained upbeat throughout their time aboard the orbital lab which is seen as a rare example of cooperation between Russia and the West.&nbsp;

"A beautiful night passes over Africa on my last night on @Space_Station," tweeted 40-year-old McClain, who completed two spacewalks during her virgin mission to the ISS. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Fellow first-time flyer Saint-Jacques broke the record for the longest single spaceflight by a Canadian astronaut, previously held by Robert Thirsk.&nbsp;

Thirsk clocked 187 days at the ISS in 2009 during a typical six-month mission, while 49-year-old Saint-Jacques' mission will stand at 204 days.

The record was helped along by the fact that the launch was moved forward to December 3 from December 20 for operational reasons -- possibly as a confidence booster after the accident. &nbsp;

The returning trio was given a ceremonial send-off Monday as they exited the ISS by Ovchinin, Hague and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, who arrived at the lab in March on a fresh mission.&nbsp;

Russians dominate the rankings for cumulative days spent in space, with the Kononenko reaching 737 days.

That leaves the 55-year-old sixth in the all-time standings and just a typical ISS mission short of beating the 879-day record set by 60-year-old Roscosmos colleague Gennady Padalka in 2015.&nbsp;

Since 2011, Russia is the only country to oversee manned launches to the ISS.&nbsp;

But last year's failed launch, multi-billion dollar corruption scandals at Roscosmos and the emergence of private sector competitors like Elon Musk's SpaceX have combined to put into question Moscow's future dominance.

NASA said earlier this month that it will be opening the ISS up to space tourists for the first time next year with 30-day visits expedited by SpaceX and Boeing expected to cost around $58 million per person.&nbsp;

Russia has flown seven tourists to the ISS but is set to increase that number beginning in 2021, according to Roscosmos, which struck a deal with American company Space Adventures earlier this year.

US businessman Dennis Tito was the first space tourist to the ISS, paying Russia around $20 million for the trip.

The first crew to blast off to the International Space Station following a launch accident that deepened doubts over Russia's space programme returned to earth safely on Tuesday.

The first crew to blast off to the International Space Station following a launch accident that deepened doubts over Russia's space programme returned to earth safely on Tuesday. NASA astronaut Anne McClain, veteran cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos, and Canadian Space Agency record-holder David Saint-Jacques emerged from the spacecraft to applause from support crews, after touching down near the Kazakh city of Dzhezkazgan. Live footage from the landing site broadcast on NASA television showed the three sitting in chairs smiling as they were attended to by staff ahead of a journey back to Moscow for Kononenko and Houston for McClain and Saint-Jacques. Arriving at 0247 GMT to warm conditions, Kononenko joked that he was "happy to see any kind of weather" after coming back from space. The trio's launch on December 3 was the first after a Soyuz rocket carrying Russia's Aleksey Ovchinin and US astronaut Nick Hague failed in October just minutes after blast-off, forcing the pair to make an emergency landing. They escaped unharmed but the failed launch was the first such incident in Russia's post-Soviet history and a new setback for the country's once-proud space industry. Record-breakers and space tourism McClain, Kononenko and Saint-Jacques had been optimistic ahead of their successful launch and remained upbeat throughout their time aboard the orbital lab which is seen as a rare example of cooperation between Russia and the West. "A beautiful night passes over Africa on my last night on @Space_Station," tweeted 40-year-old McClain, who completed two spacewalks during her virgin mission to the ISS. Fellow first-time flyer Saint-Jacques broke the record for the longest single spaceflight by a Canadian astronaut, previously held by Robert Thirsk. Thirsk clocked 187 days at the ISS in 2009 during a typical six-month mission, while 49-year-old Saint-Jacques' mission will stand at 204 days. The record was helped along by the fact that the launch was moved forward to December 3 from December 20 for operational reasons -- possibly as a confidence booster after the accident. The returning trio was given a ceremonial send-off Monday as they exited the ISS by Ovchinin, Hague and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, who arrived at the lab in March on a fresh mission. Russians dominate the rankings for cumulative days spent in space, with the Kononenko reaching 737 days. That leaves the 55-year-old sixth in the all-time standings and just a typical ISS mission short of beating the 879-day record set by 60-year-old Roscosmos colleague Gennady Padalka in 2015. Since 2011, Russia is the only country to oversee manned launches to the ISS. But last year's failed launch, multi-billion dollar corruption scandals at Roscosmos and the emergence of private sector competitors like Elon Musk's SpaceX have combined to put into question Moscow's future dominance. NASA said earlier this month that it will be opening the ISS up to space tourists for the first time next year with 30-day visits expedited by SpaceX and Boeing expected to cost around $58 million per person. Russia has flown seven tourists to the ISS but is set to increase that number beginning in 2021, according to Roscosmos, which struck a deal with American company Space Adventures earlier this year. US businessman Dennis Tito was the first space tourist to the ISS, paying Russia around $20 million for the trip.

Russian, North American astronauts return to earth

Sweden's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/reliance-communication-pays-ericsson-rs-550-crore-204153">Ericsson</a> has raised its forecast for 5G subscriptions by 27 per cent to 1.9 billion by 2024, with network coverage offering access to 45 per cent of the world's population, it said on Tuesday.

A strong commitment is required from the chipset and device vendors as the next-generation networks go the life and 5G devices become more readily available, the telecoms network equipment maker said in its biannual Mobility Report.

Ericsson, which competes with China's Huawei and Finnish rival Nokia, said that North America is expected to lead the 5G uptake with 63 per cent of anticipated mobile subscriptions in its region in five years, followed by North East Asia and Europe.

The company's previous forecast in November predicted 1.5 billion 5G subscriptions in 2024 and network coverage to have reached more than 40 per cent of the world's population.

The mobile network industry has gone through a tough period as demand for 4G and older network equipment has subsided, though 5G spending in North America has helped to fuel a return to growth.

LTE (4G) will remain the dominant mobile-access technology by subscription for the foreseeable future, Ericsson said, with almost 5 billion subscriptions expected by the end of 2024.

The new generation of mobile phone technology is expected to bring faster data speeds and better accommodate a greater variety of connected devices.

Sweden's Ericsson has raised its forecast for 5G subscriptions by 27 per cent to 1.9 billion by 2024, with network coverage offering access to 45 per cent of the world's population, it said on Tuesday.

Sweden's Ericsson has raised its forecast for 5G subscriptions by 27 per cent to 1.9 billion by 2024, with network coverage offering access to 45 per cent of the world's population, it said on Tuesday. A strong commitment is required from the chipset and device vendors as the next-generation networks go the life and 5G devices become more readily available, the telecoms network equipment maker said in its biannual Mobility Report. Ericsson, which competes with China's Huawei and Finnish rival Nokia, said that North America is expected to lead the 5G uptake with 63 per cent of anticipated mobile subscriptions in its region in five years, followed by North East Asia and Europe. The company's previous forecast in November predicted 1.5 billion 5G subscriptions in 2024 and network coverage to have reached more than 40 per cent of the world's population. The mobile network industry has gone through a tough period as demand for 4G and older network equipment has subsided, though 5G spending in North America has helped to fuel a return to growth. LTE (4G) will remain the dominant mobile-access technology by subscription for the foreseeable future, Ericsson said, with almost 5 billion subscriptions expected by the end of 2024. The new generation of mobile phone technology is expected to bring faster data speeds and better accommodate a greater variety of connected devices.

Swedish gearmaker Ericsson increases 5G forecasts

Disney`s live-action 'Aladdin' is flying high with an estimated $105 million in North America during the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/aladdin-review-will-smith-shines-in-a-fitting-remake-of-a-timeless-classic-221282">Read the film's review here.&nbsp;</a> 
 
It`s the sixth-highest Memorial Day weekend total ever, topping the 2011 mark of $103.4 million for 'The Hangover Part II.' The top total came in 2007, when 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World`s End' took in $139 million in its first four days. 'Aladdin' is also dominating moviegoing internationally with $121 million in 56 markets. 
 
'Aladdin' has outperformed Disney`s pre-opening domestic projections, which were in the $75 million to $85 million range, taking in $86.1 million in its first three days. The reboot of the original 1992 animated movie -- which generated $502 million in worldwide box office -- stars Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Will Smith as the Genie, Naomi Scott as Jasmine and Marwan Kenzari as Jafar. Guy Ritchie directed 'Aladdin,' produced by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich. 
Comscore`s PostTrak general audience survey found that 67% of patrons said they would "definitely recommend" the film to their friends. Notably, 39% said their affection for the original was their primary reason for seeing the film, a high percentage that reflects moviegoers` love for the 'Aladdin' brand and the characters in the film. 
 
"A very strong 22% said they would see the film again in theatres -- much higher than the norm of 14%," noted Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore`s senior media analyst. 
 
Comscore estimated that total domestic business for the four-day weekend was $226 million. That was about $1.8 million shy of the total for the same frame last year, when 'olo: A Star Wars Story'&nbsp;launched with $103 million. The top Memorial Day weekend took place in 2013 when 'Fast and Furious 6' launched and North American moviegoing totaled $314 million for the four days. 
 
"A very solid Memorial Day weekend was led by the bigger-than-expected performance of Disney`s `Aladdin` conjured up huge numbers of moviegoers looking for the perfect family-friendly treat over the extended holiday weekend," he said. 
 
Sony`s launch of horror-thriller 'Brightburn'&nbsp;should pull in about $9 million for the holiday weekend to finish fifth and United Artists-Annapurna`s teen comedy 'Booksmart' will open in sixth at around $8 million. Both were positioned as counter-programmers to 'Aladdin' and finished slightly below forecasts. 
 
Lionsgate`s second session of 'John Wick: Chapter 3' should be runner-up with $30.5 million following its surprisingly strong opening of $56.8 million. The actioner will wind up the holiday weekend with $107 million domestically. 
 
Disney`s fifth frame of 'Avengers: Endgame' will finish third in the $22 million range, increasing its haul to about $803 million domestically by the end of Memorial Day. 'Endgame' trails only 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' in domestic gross, with the space saga having grossed $936 million. 
 
Warner Bros.` third weekend of 'Pokemon Detective Pikachu' will follow in fourth with about $17 million. The family adventure will finish the weekend at the $120 million mark in North America. 
 
Overall moviegoing for 2019 has hit $4.34 billion as of Sunday, down 10% from the same point last year. The lag is due to a dismal performance during the first two months of this year. 
 
'Aladdin' is the third biggest launch of 2019, following the record-setting $357 million for 'Avengers: Endgame' and $153 million for 'Captain Marvel.'

Disney`s live-action 'Aladdin' is flying high with an estimated $105 million in North America during the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend. Read the film's review here.

Disney`s live-action 'Aladdin' is flying high with an estimated $105 million in North America during the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend. Read the film's review here. It`s the sixth-highest Memorial Day weekend total ever, topping the 2011 mark of $103.4 million for 'The Hangover Part II.' The top total came in 2007, when 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World`s End' took in $139 million in its first four days. 'Aladdin' is also dominating moviegoing internationally with $121 million in 56 markets. 'Aladdin' has outperformed Disney`s pre-opening domestic projections, which were in the $75 million to $85 million range, taking in $86.1 million in its first three days. The reboot of the original 1992 animated movie -- which generated $502 million in worldwide box office -- stars Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Will Smith as the Genie, Naomi Scott as Jasmine and Marwan Kenzari as Jafar. Guy Ritchie directed 'Aladdin,' produced by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich. Comscore`s PostTrak general audience survey found that 67% of patrons said they would "definitely recommend" the film to their friends. Notably, 39% said their affection for the original was their primary reason for seeing the film, a high percentage that reflects moviegoers` love for the 'Aladdin' brand and the characters in the film. "A very strong 22% said they would see the film again in theatres -- much higher than the norm of 14%," noted Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore`s senior media analyst. Comscore estimated that total domestic business for the four-day weekend was $226 million. That was about $1.8 million shy of the total for the same frame last year, when 'olo: A Star Wars Story' launched with $103 million. The top Memorial Day weekend took place in 2013 when 'Fast and Furious 6' launched and North American moviegoing totaled $314 million for the four days. "A very solid Memorial Day weekend was led by the bigger-than-expected performance of Disney`s `Aladdin` conjured up huge numbers of moviegoers looking for the perfect family-friendly treat over the extended holiday weekend," he said. Sony`s launch of horror-thriller 'Brightburn' should pull in about $9 million for the holiday weekend to finish fifth and United Artists-Annapurna`s teen comedy 'Booksmart' will open in sixth at around $8 million. Both were positioned as counter-programmers to 'Aladdin' and finished slightly below forecasts. Lionsgate`s second session of 'John Wick: Chapter 3' should be runner-up with $30.5 million following its surprisingly strong opening of $56.8 million. The actioner will wind up the holiday weekend with $107 million domestically. Disney`s fifth frame of 'Avengers: Endgame' will finish third in the $22 million range, increasing its haul to about $803 million domestically by the end of Memorial Day. 'Endgame' trails only 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' in domestic gross, with the space saga having grossed $936 million. Warner Bros.` third weekend of 'Pokemon Detective Pikachu' will follow in fourth with about $17 million. The family adventure will finish the weekend at the $120 million mark in North America. Overall moviegoing for 2019 has hit $4.34 billion as of Sunday, down 10% from the same point last year. The lag is due to a dismal performance during the first two months of this year. 'Aladdin' is the third biggest launch of 2019, following the record-setting $357 million for 'Avengers: Endgame' and $153 million for 'Captain Marvel.'

'Aladdin' earns $105 million in North America in its first weekend

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-police-rescue-dozens-of-rohingya-being-trafficked-to-malaysia-218629&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwik1LqLlaDiAhVt63MBHRnZBiMQFjAEegQIABAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw25m7a90_VHZuksvA79G65o">Bangladesh authorities</a> have launched a crackdown on suspected people-smugglers masquerading as "travel agents" after dozens of Bangladeshis drowned while trying to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, officials said Thursday.

About 60 people died last week when a boat full of would-be migrants capsized while trying to cross from Libya to Italy, in a case that has put the spotlight on the desperate struggle of young unemployed Bangladeshis to find work abroad.

Fourteen Bangladeshis were among 16 people rescued by Tunisian fishermen, while Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said 39 Bangladeshis were unaccounted for.

Families of those who died said the so-called "travel agents" took money from youths in exchange for a passage to Libya and the promise of a sea crossing to Europe.

Authorities sealed off 23 travel agencies in northeastern Sylhet district after it was found many were working for international trafficking networks, Momen said.

"We will take stern action against these agents," he told reporters.

Five mobile courts set up on the back of trucks ordered jail terms for nine suspected traffickers and another 29 were fined, said Sylhet government administrator Kazi Emdadul Islam.

Magistrate Nasirullah Khan said the crackdown will continue against the "greedy and illegal travel agents" who prey on unemployed young men.

"We want to ensure no mother would ever lose her child again," he said.

Tens of thousands of young Bangladeshi men have attempted the perilous Mediterranean crossing in recent years, and the number of traffickers catering to them has mushroomed.

While the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-police-arrests-poet-for-hurting-religious-sentiments-218789&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjNx5CglaDiAhXJvI8KHaUgDmcQFjAIegQIABAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw09zKOHJVAqnVMyKyx7xOiS">Bangladesh </a>economy has grown at an annual clip of 6-7 per cent through the decade, there are still not enough jobs and many young men try to reach Europe and North America on death-defying illegal routes.

Growing unemployment is fuelling desperation to escape, said Professor Jalal Uddin Sikder, a migration expert at the University of Liberal Arts in Dhaka.

"Low paid jobs are available but these young men want better-paid jobs in the West," he told AFP.

"But many do not survive the long, tiring journey through the desert and across the seas, while some get sold as slaves even before they reach the Libyan coast", the&nbsp;Professor added.

Bangladesh authorities have launched a crackdown on suspected people-smugglers masquerading as "travel agents" after dozens of Bangladeshis drowned while trying to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, officials said Thursday.

Bangladesh authorities have launched a crackdown on suspected people-smugglers masquerading as "travel agents" after dozens of Bangladeshis drowned while trying to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, officials said Thursday. About 60 people died last week when a boat full of would-be migrants capsized while trying to cross from Libya to Italy, in a case that has put the spotlight on the desperate struggle of young unemployed Bangladeshis to find work abroad. Fourteen Bangladeshis were among 16 people rescued by Tunisian fishermen, while Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said 39 Bangladeshis were unaccounted for. Families of those who died said the so-called "travel agents" took money from youths in exchange for a passage to Libya and the promise of a sea crossing to Europe. Authorities sealed off 23 travel agencies in northeastern Sylhet district after it was found many were working for international trafficking networks, Momen said. "We will take stern action against these agents," he told reporters. Five mobile courts set up on the back of trucks ordered jail terms for nine suspected traffickers and another 29 were fined, said Sylhet government administrator Kazi Emdadul Islam. Magistrate Nasirullah Khan said the crackdown will continue against the "greedy and illegal travel agents" who prey on unemployed young men. "We want to ensure no mother would ever lose her child again," he said. Tens of thousands of young Bangladeshi men have attempted the perilous Mediterranean crossing in recent years, and the number of traffickers catering to them has mushroomed. While the Bangladesh economy has grown at an annual clip of 6-7 per cent through the decade, there are still not enough jobs and many young men try to reach Europe and North America on death-defying illegal routes. Growing unemployment is fuelling desperation to escape, said Professor Jalal Uddin Sikder, a migration expert at the University of Liberal Arts in Dhaka. "Low paid jobs are available but these young men want better-paid jobs in the West," he told AFP. "But many do not survive the long, tiring journey through the desert and across the seas, while some get sold as slaves even before they reach the Libyan coast", the Professor added.

Bangladesh launches trafficker crackdown after Mediterranean deaths

"Avengers: Endgame," the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/avengers-endgame-review-the-greatest-reunion-ever-213617">hugely anticipated series-ender from Disney and Marvel</a>, set a new standard for Hollywood blockbusters this weekend with stunning hauls of $350 million in North America and $1.2 billion worldwide, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations estimated Sunday.

To put the North American figure in perspective, that means the final chapter in the adventures of Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and company took in 43 times what the No&nbsp;2 film, Disney's "Captain Marvel," earned for the three-day weekend: a more pedestrian $8.1 million.

"Avengers" looks likely to remain strong, having drawn a sky-high 96 per cent rating from critics on the Rotten Tomatoes website. With a star-studded cast including Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper and Josh Brolin, it took in a jaw-dropping $329 million in China alone, Variety reported.

"Avengers" could lead to "the biggest revenue-generating summer (and year) in box office history," according to Comscore's Paul Dergarabedian.

Back on Earth, last week's top film, Warner Bros.' horror flick "The Curse of La Llorona," slipped to third spot at $7.5 million. It stars Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz and Patricia Velasquez in the story, loosely based on Mexican folklore, of a Los Angeles woman trying to protect her children from a ghost.

In fourth was "Breakthrough," at $6.3 million. The faith-based story of a mother (Chrissy Metz) who refuses to abandon hope after her son (Marcel Ruiz) falls into an icy lake, was produced by NBA star Stephen Curry.

And in fifth was Warner Bros.' lighthearted superhero tale "Shazam!", at $5.5 million. It stars Asher Angel as Billy Baston, an unhappy foster kid who becomes a muscular superhero (Zachary Levi) when the secret word is pronounced.

"Avengers: Endgame," the hugely anticipated series-ender from Disney and Marvel, set a new standard for Hollywood blockbusters this weekend with stunning hauls of $350 million in North America and $1.

"Avengers: Endgame," the hugely anticipated series-ender from Disney and Marvel, set a new standard for Hollywood blockbusters this weekend with stunning hauls of $350 million in North America and $1.2 billion worldwide, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations estimated Sunday. To put the North American figure in perspective, that means the final chapter in the adventures of Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and company took in 43 times what the No 2 film, Disney's "Captain Marvel," earned for the three-day weekend: a more pedestrian $8.1 million. "Avengers" looks likely to remain strong, having drawn a sky-high 96 per cent rating from critics on the Rotten Tomatoes website. With a star-studded cast including Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper and Josh Brolin, it took in a jaw-dropping $329 million in China alone, Variety reported. "Avengers" could lead to "the biggest revenue-generating summer (and year) in box office history," according to Comscore's Paul Dergarabedian. Back on Earth, last week's top film, Warner Bros.' horror flick "The Curse of La Llorona," slipped to third spot at $7.5 million. It stars Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz and Patricia Velasquez in the story, loosely based on Mexican folklore, of a Los Angeles woman trying to protect her children from a ghost. In fourth was "Breakthrough," at $6.3 million. The faith-based story of a mother (Chrissy Metz) who refuses to abandon hope after her son (Marcel Ruiz) falls into an icy lake, was produced by NBA star Stephen Curry. And in fifth was Warner Bros.' lighthearted superhero tale "Shazam!", at $5.5 million. It stars Asher Angel as Billy Baston, an unhappy foster kid who becomes a muscular superhero (Zachary Levi) when the secret word is pronounced.

'Avengers: Endgame' blows up Hollywood records with huge weekend take

The world's biggest advertising company WPP reported an 8.5 per cent slump in first-quarter underlying sales in North America, its biggest market, due to the loss of clients.

WPP, being led by company veteran Mark Read following last year's departure of founder Martin Sorrell, said its overall organic revenue was down 2.8 percent, compared with a full-year forecast of a fall of between 1.5 to 2 per cent.

The British company reaffirmed its full-year outlook, including the forecast that the first half of the year would be more difficult than the second.

"As anticipated, our first-quarter trading update reflects the impact of certain significant client losses in 2018, in particular in the United States," Chief Executive Mark Read said.

WPP, the owner of agencies including JWT, Finsbury and Ogilvy, is in the middle of an overhaul launched by Read following several profit warnings in 2017 and 2018.

The group has been particularly hard hit in the US, where it has lost work from clients including its biggest, Ford, and others in the pharmaceutical and consumer goods sector.

Read has responded by merging several of its biggest agencies, appointing new leaders in the US&nbsp;and launching a hunt for new creative talent.

To help fund the turnaround WPP has put its data analytics business Kantar up for sale, looking for a partner to take a majority stake. It said on Friday it was pleased with the level of interest.

The world's biggest advertising company WPP reported an 8.5 per cent slump in first-quarter underlying sales in North America, its biggest market, due to the loss of clients.

The world's biggest advertising company WPP reported an 8.5 per cent slump in first-quarter underlying sales in North America, its biggest market, due to the loss of clients. WPP, being led by company veteran Mark Read following last year's departure of founder Martin Sorrell, said its overall organic revenue was down 2.8 percent, compared with a full-year forecast of a fall of between 1.5 to 2 per cent. The British company reaffirmed its full-year outlook, including the forecast that the first half of the year would be more difficult than the second. "As anticipated, our first-quarter trading update reflects the impact of certain significant client losses in 2018, in particular in the United States," Chief Executive Mark Read said. WPP, the owner of agencies including JWT, Finsbury and Ogilvy, is in the middle of an overhaul launched by Read following several profit warnings in 2017 and 2018. The group has been particularly hard hit in the US, where it has lost work from clients including its biggest, Ford, and others in the pharmaceutical and consumer goods sector. Read has responded by merging several of its biggest agencies, appointing new leaders in the US and launching a hunt for new creative talent. To help fund the turnaround WPP has put its data analytics business Kantar up for sale, looking for a partner to take a majority stake. It said on Friday it was pleased with the level of interest.

Client losses hit ad group WPP in North America; 8.5% slump in first-quarter reported

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/lyft-files-for-stock-offering-beating-uber-to-wall-street-200590&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiBu--y9MnhAhUOY48KHbzbDJMQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0gfyJ0M7_GliGQQErJNKH8">Uber </a>Technologies Inc’s initial public offering filing on Thursday contains data that will be key to selling itself to investors.

The share sale follows a public offering by rival ride-sharing service Lyft Inc last month, whose shares have dropped to about $61 from an IPO price of $72.

Here are how the two companies compare on key metrics from Uber's filing:

REVENUE

Uber had $11.3 billion in 2018 vs Lyft $2.2 billion.

Uber's growth has been slowing relative to Lyft due to scandals and aggressive discounting by Lyft.

Lyft’s revenue more than doubled between 2017 and 2018 while Uber's grew around 42 per cent.

MARKET SHARE

Uber has lost market share but remains the leader.

Uber has 65 per cent share in North America while Lyft says it has 39 per cent in the United States.

ADJUSTED EBITDA

Both Uber and Lyft lose money though Uber has trimmed its losses in recent years.

Uber's adjusted loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization was just over $1.8 billion in 2018 compared to $2.6 billion in 2017.

Lyft lost $950 million in 2018 on the same basis.

MONTHLY ACTIVE USERS

Uber has 91 million monthly active users compared to Lyft's 18.6 million.

Uber's number includes customers of additional services beyond ride sharing.

Uber Technologies Inc’s initial public offering filing on Thursday contains data that will be key to selling itself to investors. The share sale follows a public offering by rival ride-sharing service Lyft Inc last month, whose shares have dropped to about $61 from an IPO price of $72.

Uber Technologies Inc’s initial public offering filing on Thursday contains data that will be key to selling itself to investors. The share sale follows a public offering by rival ride-sharing service Lyft Inc last month, whose shares have dropped to about $61 from an IPO price of $72. Here are how the two companies compare on key metrics from Uber's filing: REVENUE Uber had $11.3 billion in 2018 vs Lyft $2.2 billion. Uber's growth has been slowing relative to Lyft due to scandals and aggressive discounting by Lyft. Lyft’s revenue more than doubled between 2017 and 2018 while Uber's grew around 42 per cent. MARKET SHARE Uber has lost market share but remains the leader. Uber has 65 per cent share in North America while Lyft says it has 39 per cent in the United States. ADJUSTED EBITDA Both Uber and Lyft lose money though Uber has trimmed its losses in recent years. Uber's adjusted loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization was just over $1.8 billion in 2018 compared to $2.6 billion in 2017. Lyft lost $950 million in 2018 on the same basis. MONTHLY ACTIVE USERS Uber has 91 million monthly active users compared to Lyft's 18.6 million. Uber's number includes customers of additional services beyond ride sharing.

How Uber and Lyft compare on key financial metrics

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-agency-probing-two-fatal-tesla-crashes-in-florida-since-sunday-200840">Tesla chief Elon Musk</a> on Thursday urged workers to make helping with the "biggest wave" of deliveries in the electric car maker's history their top priority, Business Insider reported.

The news website posted a copy of an internal email from Musk rallying Tesla troops to pitch in with "a massive wave of deliveries" throughout Europe, China and North America.

"This is the biggest wave in Tesla's history," the email read. "For the last ten days of the quarter, please consider your primary priority to be helping with vehicle deliveries. This applies to everyone."

The firm is experiencing the kind of tremendous increase in delivery demand seen in North America last year in Europe and China, according to the email, which added the situation was exacerbated by component supplier shortages in Europe.

Musk was reportedly seeking volunteers to drive Tesla cars to destinations such as shipping points, but said he did not expect the delivery crunch to recur in future quarters.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, a message from Tesla's official Twitter account on Tuesday said that due to trouble processing an unusually high volume of online orders, a planned slight increase in prices of some models was postponed a day.

Tesla currently makes all its cars at a plant in the Northern California city of Fremont and aimed to deliver 400,000 cars this year.

The firm recently introduced a new electric sports utility vehicle slightly bigger and more expensive than its Model 3, pitched as an electric car for the masses.

Tesla last week showed the all-electric Model Y with a starting price of $39,000 for a version with 370-kilometres range.&nbsp;

Deliveries were expected to begin late next year that model, with the standard-range version likely to get to buyers by spring 2021, according to the company.

Musk, 47, is a visionary and inventive boss but also highly unpredictable, especially on social network Twitter, where he has often communicated in defiance of rules imposed on executives of publicly-traded companies.

Tesla chief Elon Musk on Thursday urged workers to make helping with the "biggest wave" of deliveries in the electric car maker's history their top priority, Business Insider reported.

Tesla chief Elon Musk on Thursday urged workers to make helping with the "biggest wave" of deliveries in the electric car maker's history their top priority, Business Insider reported. The news website posted a copy of an internal email from Musk rallying Tesla troops to pitch in with "a massive wave of deliveries" throughout Europe, China and North America. "This is the biggest wave in Tesla's history," the email read. "For the last ten days of the quarter, please consider your primary priority to be helping with vehicle deliveries. This applies to everyone." The firm is experiencing the kind of tremendous increase in delivery demand seen in North America last year in Europe and China, according to the email, which added the situation was exacerbated by component supplier shortages in Europe. Musk was reportedly seeking volunteers to drive Tesla cars to destinations such as shipping points, but said he did not expect the delivery crunch to recur in future quarters. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, a message from Tesla's official Twitter account on Tuesday said that due to trouble processing an unusually high volume of online orders, a planned slight increase in prices of some models was postponed a day. Tesla currently makes all its cars at a plant in the Northern California city of Fremont and aimed to deliver 400,000 cars this year. The firm recently introduced a new electric sports utility vehicle slightly bigger and more expensive than its Model 3, pitched as an electric car for the masses. Tesla last week showed the all-electric Model Y with a starting price of $39,000 for a version with 370-kilometres range. Deliveries were expected to begin late next year that model, with the standard-range version likely to get to buyers by spring 2021, according to the company. Musk, 47, is a visionary and inventive boss but also highly unpredictable, especially on social network Twitter, where he has often communicated in defiance of rules imposed on executives of publicly-traded companies.

Tesla chief Elon Musk calls on workers to help deliver cars

Honda Motor said on Tuesday that it would shut its sole British plant in 2021 and consider moving existing production to North America and other regions.

In a news conference, CEO Takahiro Hachigo said the decision was not related to Brexit but instead based on changes in the global market. The UK factory currently produces Civic Hatchbacks for global sales, Hachigo added.

The company will also stop making its Civic car model at its Turkey plant from 2021 but plans to continue its operations in the country.

The closure of the Swindon factory in southern England is expected to result in 3,500 job losses and marks a big symbolic blow to British manufacturing amid the tumult of Brexit. Several other automakers were also said to be reassessing their presence in the UK and Europe.

Honda Motor said on Tuesday that it would shut its sole British plant in 2021 and consider moving existing production to North America and other regions. In a news conference, CEO Takahiro Hachigo said the decision was not related to Brexit but instead based on changes in the global market.

Honda Motor said on Tuesday that it would shut its sole British plant in 2021 and consider moving existing production to North America and other regions. In a news conference, CEO Takahiro Hachigo said the decision was not related to Brexit but instead based on changes in the global market. The UK factory currently produces Civic Hatchbacks for global sales, Hachigo added. The company will also stop making its Civic car model at its Turkey plant from 2021 but plans to continue its operations in the country. The closure of the Swindon factory in southern England is expected to result in 3,500 job losses and marks a big symbolic blow to British manufacturing amid the tumult of Brexit. Several other automakers were also said to be reassessing their presence in the UK and Europe.

Honda to shut only British factory, mulls a move to North America

FIFA members vote Wednesday on whether to award the 2026 World Cup to a slick North American bid or to Morocco, which has African support to bring football's showpiece event back to the continent.

On the eve of the 2018 World Cup, delegates from 207 nations gathered in Moscow are faced with a clear choice.

The United States, Mexico and Canada are the frontrunners, boasting modern, established stadiums and well-developed transport links.

Morocco's bid exists largely on paper -- many stadiums will need to be built and critics question how it will cope with a tournament that will be expanded to 48 teams in 2026.

FIFA inspectors have classified the north African nation's stadiums, accommodation and transport as "high risk", awarding it just 2.7 out of five, with red flags raised over several critical aspects of the bid.

A FIFA taskforce warned last month "the amount of new infrastructure required for the Morocco 2026 bid to become reality cannot be overstated".

The report left the US-Canada-Mexico bid as the clear front-runner after giving it a rating of four out of five.

But the North American bid fears it could lose out if the vote essentially becomes a referendum on the popularity of US President Donald Trump.

Bid leader Carlos Cordeiro has urged FIFA members to vote on the "merits" of the bid, not Trump's divisive policies.

"We believe strongly that this decision will be made on its merits,"&nbsp;Cordeiro said in a conference call. "This is not geopolitics, we're talking about football and what is fundamentally, at the end of the day, the best interest of football and our footballing community."

The US lost out to Qatar in 2022 in a vote now tarnished by corruption allegations that spelled the beginning of the end of the once all-powerful FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

It prompted a change in the rules.&nbsp;Whereas previously the 24 members of the FIFA executive committee used to determine World Cup races,&nbsp;the host will now be decided by a vote of individual FIFA member nations.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is believed to strongly support the North American bid because the three countries involved backed him for the presidency in 2016 when he took over after the reign of Blatter.

Critics of the Morocco bid also point to the fact that the 2026 World Cup will be the first to be expanded to 48 teams, posing a severe test for the hosts.

Bid leader Hicham El Amrani argues its 12 host cities are "very close to each other, with for example Casablanca a maximum 500 kilometres from another venue" compared to the vast distances involved in North America.

France, in particular, has lobbied behind the scenes for French-speaking Morocco and the bid has the support of most of Africa in line with a call from the head of the Confederation of African Football, Ahmad Ahmad.

It will likely need heavy support from European nations to pull off a shock win -- and its proximity to Europe is a plus for many supporters.&nbsp;

Aleksander Ceferin, the president of Europe's governing body UEFA, says he has not directed his members which way to vote.

"UEFA delegates are smart enough to choose what is best for football," he told the BBC.

Morocco has tried, and failed, four times before, in votes for the 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010 tournaments -- it lost out in the latter to South Africa, the only African nation ever to have hosted football's global showpiece.

North American bid leaders countered by promising to deliver a record $11 billion profit.

Morocco's bid exists largely on paper -- many stadiums will need to be built and critics question how it will cope with a tournament that will be expanded to 48 teams in 2026

FIFA members vote Wednesday on whether to award the 2026 World Cup to a slick North American bid or to Morocco, which has African support to bring football's showpiece event back to the continent. On the eve of the 2018 World Cup, delegates from 207 nations gathered in Moscow are faced with a clear choice. The United States, Mexico and Canada are the frontrunners, boasting modern, established stadiums and well-developed transport links. Morocco's bid exists largely on paper -- many stadiums will need to be built and critics question how it will cope with a tournament that will be expanded to 48 teams in 2026. FIFA inspectors have classified the north African nation's stadiums, accommodation and transport as "high risk", awarding it just 2.7 out of five, with red flags raised over several critical aspects of the bid. A FIFA taskforce warned last month "the amount of new infrastructure required for the Morocco 2026 bid to become reality cannot be overstated". The report left the US-Canada-Mexico bid as the clear front-runner after giving it a rating of four out of five. But the North American bid fears it could lose out if the vote essentially becomes a referendum on the popularity of US President Donald Trump. Bid leader Carlos Cordeiro has urged FIFA members to vote on the "merits" of the bid, not Trump's divisive policies. "We believe strongly that this decision will be made on its merits," Cordeiro said in a conference call. "This is not geopolitics, we're talking about football and what is fundamentally, at the end of the day, the best interest of football and our footballing community." The US lost out to Qatar in 2022 in a vote now tarnished by corruption allegations that spelled the beginning of the end of the once all-powerful FIFA president Sepp Blatter. It prompted a change in the rules. Whereas previously the 24 members of the FIFA executive committee used to determine World Cup races, the host will now be decided by a vote of individual FIFA member nations. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is believed to strongly support the North American bid because the three countries involved backed him for the presidency in 2016 when he took over after the reign of Blatter. Critics of the Morocco bid also point to the fact that the 2026 World Cup will be the first to be expanded to 48 teams, posing a severe test for the hosts. Bid leader Hicham El Amrani argues its 12 host cities are "very close to each other, with for example Casablanca a maximum 500 kilometres from another venue" compared to the vast distances involved in North America. France, in particular, has lobbied behind the scenes for French-speaking Morocco and the bid has the support of most of Africa in line with a call from the head of the Confederation of African Football, Ahmad Ahmad. It will likely need heavy support from European nations to pull off a shock win -- and its proximity to Europe is a plus for many supporters. Aleksander Ceferin, the president of Europe's governing body UEFA, says he has not directed his members which way to vote. "UEFA delegates are smart enough to choose what is best for football," he told the BBC. Morocco has tried, and failed, four times before, in votes for the 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010 tournaments -- it lost out in the latter to South Africa, the only African nation ever to have hosted football's global showpiece. North American bid leaders countered by promising to deliver a record $11 billion profit.

Who will host football World Cup 2026: Canada, US & Mexico or Morocco

If New York and London have been on your travel wishlist for long, then good news awaits you.&nbsp;

Iceland's WOW air will soon launch its service in India with direct flights from Delhi to North America and Europe.

According to reports, the airline is expected to start its service in India by the end of this year. One-way travel to countries like the US may cost as low as low as Rs 13,000.

Skúli Mogensen, chief executive officer and founder of WOW air, noted India's aviation growth to be in sync with the launch of WOW air services.

The airline is likely to get operational in India with Airbus A-330 neos offering trips to North America and Europe at affordable prices.&nbsp;

Delhi will be the first city from where the airline will initially start its operations later expanding to other Indian cities.

There will be five direct flights in a week between India and Iceland that will then connect to destinations across North America and Europe.&nbsp;

The airline plans to launch with a base fare of Rs 13,500, however, the overall fare, including the check-in baggage, meal charges, taxes, among other charges, is likely to amount to Rs 30,000. Fares will also depend on the surge in demand and seasonality.

The airline offers four fare classes -- Wow basic,&nbsp;Wow plus, Wow comfy and Wow premium. Flying to North America from India will take around 20 hours via Iceland.&nbsp;

At present, WOW airline flies to around 15 cities in the United States and around 39 destinations across North America and Europe.

WOW air carrier will have 365 seats in total, 42 will be reserved for the Premium class.

&nbsp;

Flights will be operational between North America, Europe and India via Iceland

If New York and London have been on your travel wishlist for long, then good news awaits you. Iceland's WOW air will soon launch its service in India with direct flights from Delhi to North America and Europe. According to reports, the airline is expected to start its service in India by the end of this year. One-way travel to countries like the US may cost as low as low as Rs 13,000. Skúli Mogensen, chief executive officer and founder of WOW air, noted India's aviation growth to be in sync with the launch of WOW air services. The airline is likely to get operational in India with Airbus A-330 neos offering trips to North America and Europe at affordable prices. Delhi will be the first city from where the airline will initially start its operations later expanding to other Indian cities. There will be five direct flights in a week between India and Iceland that will then connect to destinations across North America and Europe. The airline plans to launch with a base fare of Rs 13,500, however, the overall fare, including the check-in baggage, meal charges, taxes, among other charges, is likely to amount to Rs 30,000. Fares will also depend on the surge in demand and seasonality. The airline offers four fare classes -- Wow basic, Wow plus, Wow comfy and Wow premium. Flying to North America from India will take around 20 hours via Iceland. At present, WOW airline flies to around 15 cities in the United States and around 39 destinations across North America and Europe. WOW air carrier will have 365 seats in total, 42 will be reserved for the Premium class.

Flying to US may get as cheap as Rs 13,000, thanks to Iceland’s WOW air

Leading consulting and business solutions company, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS), announced that it has been named as one of the top three employers in North America by the Top Employers Institute, an independent organisation that certifies employers around the world for excellence in creating a total work environment for their employees.

This is the fourth consecutive year that TCS has been certified as a top employer in the U.S. and the third consecutive year for TCS in Canada.

The annual, international research undertaken by the Top Employers Institute recognises leading employers that provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the organisation and strive to continuously optimise employment practices.

The criteria in assessing TCS` strong employee offerings included talent strategy, workforce planning, onboarding, learning and development, performance management, leadership development, career and succession management, compensation and benefits, and company culture.

&quot;Our employees are TCS` strongest asset, and we are committed to enabling their growth and development through the best programs available to build digital skills, enable career advancement and retain the best talent,&quot; said North America, UK and Europe, TCS president, Sury Kant.

&quot;TCS is proud to be certified as one of the top three employers in North America in 2018,&quot; Kant added.

The company has been among the top two recruiters of U.S. and Canadian IT services talent over the past five years.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018, TCS was recently listed as one of the top regarded companies and one of the world`s best employers in the Forbes 2017 Global 2000 list.

&quot;Optimal employee conditions ensure that people can develop themselves personally and professionally. Our comprehensive research concluded that?TCS provides an outstanding employment environment, and offers a wide range of creative initiatives, from secondary benefits and working conditions, to performance-management programs that are well thought out, and truly aligned with the culture of their company,&quot; said global business director for the Top Employers Institute, Dennis Utter. &nbsp;

The certification — to Tata Consultancy Services — was handed out by Top Employers Institute, an independent organisation that certifies employers around the world

Leading consulting and business solutions company, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS), announced that it has been named as one of the top three employers in North America by the Top Employers Institute, an independent organisation that certifies employers around the world for excellence in creating a total work environment for their employees. This is the fourth consecutive year that TCS has been certified as a top employer in the U.S. and the third consecutive year for TCS in Canada. The annual, international research undertaken by the Top Employers Institute recognises leading employers that provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the organisation and strive to continuously optimise employment practices. The criteria in assessing TCS` strong employee offerings included talent strategy, workforce planning, onboarding, learning and development, performance management, leadership development, career and succession management, compensation and benefits, and company culture. "Our employees are TCS` strongest asset, and we are committed to enabling their growth and development through the best programs available to build digital skills, enable career advancement and retain the best talent," said North America, UK and Europe, TCS president, Sury Kant. "TCS is proud to be certified as one of the top three employers in North America in 2018," Kant added. The company has been among the top two recruiters of U.S. and Canadian IT services talent over the past five years. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018, TCS was recently listed as one of the top regarded companies and one of the world`s best employers in the Forbes 2017 Global 2000 list. "Optimal employee conditions ensure that people can develop themselves personally and professionally. Our comprehensive research concluded that?TCS provides an outstanding employment environment, and offers a wide range of creative initiatives, from secondary benefits and working conditions, to performance-management programs that are well thought out, and truly aligned with the culture of their company," said global business director for the Top Employers Institute, Dennis Utter.

Indian company among top 3 employers in North America

Everyone knows that you should not look at the sun!

Not with your naked eye, not with sunglasses and certainly not with binoculars or with a telescope. Our sun might be just an ordinary star, but it&rsquo;s extremely close to us &mdash; about 269,000 times closer than the <a href="https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/features/cosmic/nearest_star_info.html">next nearest star</a>. This makes the sun very, very bright.

Everyone knows that you should not look at the sun. But what about during an eclipse? This situation will confront us <a href="http://eclipse.aas.org">on August 21</a>, when the entirety of North America, along with parts of South America, Africa, Europe and eastern Russia, will experience a solar eclipse.

For the vast majority of viewers, including anyone in any part of Canada, the eclipse will be a <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/partial-solar-eclipse.html">partial one</a>. This means that the moon will block out part of the face of the sun but leave the rest of it unchanged.

<figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/181475/area14mp/file-20170808-26048-o6es2t.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/181475/width237/file-20170808-26048-o6es2t.jpg" /></a>

<figcaption>
NASA&rsquo;s Solar Dynamics Observatory saw a partial solar eclipse in space when it caught the moon passing in front of the sun on May 25, 2017.

If you&rsquo;re under <a href="https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEanimate/SEanimate2001/SE2017Aug21T.GIF">the path of the partial eclipse</a> &mdash; even somewhere where the sun is 99 per cent concealed &mdash; you still should not look at the sun with the unaided eye. Even one-hundredth of the sun&rsquo;s normal brightness is enough to permanently damage your eyesight.
</figcaption>
</figure>

Instead, you can safely watch the action through special <a href="https://www.space.com/36941-solar-eclipse-eye-protection-guide.html">eclipse glasses</a> (make sure they&rsquo;re <a href="https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification">ISO certified and from a reliable supplier</a>), through a simple <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/">home-made pinhole camera</a> or even by looking at the shadows cast by <a href="https://petapixel.com/2012/05/21/crescent-shaped-projections-through-tree-leaves-during-the-solar-eclipse/">tree leaves</a> or by a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/03/20/solar-eclipse-colander-_n_6908140.html">kitchen colander</a>.

For some lucky viewers in parts of <a href="http://eclipse2017.org/blog/2017/01/15/states-the-total-eclipse-touches/">14 U.S. states</a>, a total solar eclipse awaits on August 21. This will be far more exciting than a mere partial eclipse. For maybe as long as two minutes, depending on your exact location, the sun will disappear completely behind the moon. The temperature will drop, the stars will come out, and the birds will think evening has come.

If you are under the path of the total eclipse, you&rsquo;ll likely have more than an hour of partial eclipse both before and after the exciting moment of totality. During the partial phases, the usual rules apply: Wear your eclipse glasses or use your colander, but don&rsquo;t look at the sun unaided!

However, when the time finally arrives and when the sky goes dark, it will finally be safe to look. Take off your glasses, stare at the sun with your unaided eyes, and soak up a remarkable cosmic moment.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/181476/width754/file-20170808-26004-1qtloh3.jpg" />
<figcaption>
The Hinode satellite observed the sun&rsquo;s corona during a total solar eclipse on July 22, 2009.

During the total eclipse, it is completely safe to look at the sun without any equipment at all. And what a sight it will be.
</figcaption>
</figure>

Revealed, just for a moment, will be <a href="https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/what-to-see-during-eclipse#totality">the sun&rsquo;s glorious corona</a>, the faint <a href="https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/solar-corona">tendrils of ultra-hot gas</a> that stream off the sun&rsquo;s blazing surface. This is not to be missed. If you leave your eclipse glasses on, you won&rsquo;t see anything.

<img alt="The Conversation" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/81067/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1" />After a minute or two, the total eclipse will be over, the skies will lighten and special safety precautions must once again be taken. But those who experience totality will be left with memories of an otherwise hidden view of the Universe, a brief glimpse of our life-giving sun unlike any other.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-safely-watch-an-eclipse-advice-from-an-astronomer-81067">original article</a>.

&nbsp;

Even one-hundredth of the sun?s normal brightness is enough to permanently damage your eyesight, says astronomer Gaensler.

Everyone knows that you should not look at the sun! Not with your naked eye, not with sunglasses and certainly not with binoculars or with a telescope. Our sun might be just an ordinary star, but it’s extremely close to us — about 269,000 times closer than the next nearest star. This makes the sun very, very bright. Everyone knows that you should not look at the sun. But what about during an eclipse? This situation will confront us on August 21, when the entirety of North America, along with parts of South America, Africa, Europe and eastern Russia, will experience a solar eclipse. For the vast majority of viewers, including anyone in any part of Canada, the eclipse will be a partial one. This means that the moon will block out part of the face of the sun but leave the rest of it unchanged. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory saw a partial solar eclipse in space when it caught the moon passing in front of the sun on May 25, 2017. If you’re under the path of the partial eclipse — even somewhere where the sun is 99 per cent concealed — you still should not look at the sun with the unaided eye. Even one-hundredth of the sun’s normal brightness is enough to permanently damage your eyesight. Instead, you can safely watch the action through special eclipse glasses (make sure they’re ISO certified and from a reliable supplier), through a simple home-made pinhole camera or even by looking at the shadows cast by tree leaves or by a kitchen colander. For some lucky viewers in parts of 14 U.S. states, a total solar eclipse awaits on August 21. This will be far more exciting than a mere partial eclipse. For maybe as long as two minutes, depending on your exact location, the sun will disappear completely behind the moon. The temperature will drop, the stars will come out, and the birds will think evening has come. If you are under the path of the total eclipse, you’ll likely have more than an hour of partial eclipse both before and after the exciting moment of totality. During the partial phases, the usual rules apply: Wear your eclipse glasses or use your colander, but don’t look at the sun unaided! However, when the time finally arrives and when the sky goes dark, it will finally be safe to look. Take off your glasses, stare at the sun with your unaided eyes, and soak up a remarkable cosmic moment. The Hinode satellite observed the sun’s corona during a total solar eclipse on July 22, 2009. During the total eclipse, it is completely safe to look at the sun without any equipment at all. And what a sight it will be. Revealed, just for a moment, will be the sun’s glorious corona, the faint tendrils of ultra-hot gas that stream off the sun’s blazing surface. This is not to be missed. If you leave your eclipse glasses on, you won’t see anything. After a minute or two, the total eclipse will be over, the skies will lighten and special safety precautions must once again be taken. But those who experience totality will be left with memories of an otherwise hidden view of the Universe, a brief glimpse of our life-giving sun unlike any other. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

During the total eclipse, it is completely safe to look at the sun

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