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How much of Netflix drama The Crown is drawn from real history? The show, which takes viewers behind the closed doors of royal life, undoubtedly strays into the realms of supposition on occasion. But much of the action is drawn the very real personal and political challenges that beset many members of the British royal family in the 20th century.

(CNN)Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah hasn't yet made up his mind over how he will vote on President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson as he undertakes an in-depth review of her record. "I'll complete that analysis and then reach a decision, but I've not reached my decision," Romney told CNN's Chief National Affairs Analyst Kasie Hunt when asked about how he plans to vote. The comments were made as part of an exclusive interview for CNN+'s "The Source with Kasie Hunt," which airs daily at 4 p.m. ET, starting on Tuesday. Senate Democrats can confirm Jackson to the Supreme Court without Republican support if every member of their caucus votes in favor, which appears on track to happen, and Vice President Kamala Harris breaks a tie. It is not yet clear if Jackson will win any Republican votes. If Democrats can win GOP support, they will be able to tout the confirmation as a bipartisan victory. Romney voted against Jackson last year when the Senate confirmed her to fill a vacancy on a powerful DC-based appellate court, but the Utah senator told Hunt that he is in the process of a "much deeper dive" this time. "I have begun a deeper dive, a much deeper dive than I had during the prior evaluation," Romney said, adding, "in this case, as well, she's gone into much more depth talking about her judicial philosophy that she had before. And we're, of course, looking at her judicial record, as a district judge and as an appellate judge, in far more depth than we had before." Democrats emphasized the historic nature of Jackson's nomination during her confirmation hearings, pointing out that she would be the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice. Democrats have also argued that the depth and breadth of her experience would add a valuable and unique perspective to the high court. A number of Republicans, on the other hand, have expressed criticism and concern over Jackson's record, including arguing that she is soft on crime and has been too lenient in sentencing child pornography cases, charges the nominee and Democrats disputed. Asked about the tone and tenor of the hearings and how Republicans questioned Jackson, Romney told Hunt, "Some colleagues on my side of the aisle, I thought, asked respectful questions, and were able to elicit responses from her that I think were very helpful to those that are making an evaluation." But he said critically, "I thought some were preparing for their presidential campaign. And were, if you will, doing the things you have to do to get on TV, which I think is unfortunate." Romney went on to say, "I think any setting like this, that doesn't show respect for the witness, or in this case, the judge, is not the right way for us to go. We should show, in my opinion, more respect for one another. And so sometimes the rhetoric was a little hot. But I think in the final analysis, we'll each be able to make our decision based upon our personal interviews with Judge Jackson, and with the results that come from these hearings." Only three Republican senators voted in favor of Jackson last year when she came before the Senate: Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Collins and Murkowski are not on the Senate Judiciary Committee and did not have a chance to question the nominee during the hearings. Graham, who is a member of the Judiciary Committee, directed fierce, and highly critical, questions toward the nominee, and he appeared to signal he will not support her nomination. So far, however, no Democrats have publicly signaled they would vote against the nominee. West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, a key moderate and swing vote, announced on Friday that he plans to vote for Jackson, a move that all but guarantees the nomination will be confirmed.

Bonobo The equatorial forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) house a truly special kind of ape and one of man’s closest relatives: the bonobo. Sharing 98.5% of the same DNA as humans, it is not surprising that bonobos possess very human-like qualities. They embody a profound intelligence and a deep emotional capacity. In fact, in captivity, bonobos have picked up on many facets of human culture, sometimes simply through observation of the researchers around them. They have learned how to communicate in human languages, use tools, play music, and in one case, a bonobo actually tried her hand at driving a golf cart (only to crash into a tree shortly after). Physically, they resemble chimpanzees, a close relative. In fact, bonobos are sometimes referred to as pygmy chimps because scientists first believed bonobos were a subspecies of chimpanzees. Further inspection revealed differences, and scientists later categorized them as their own unique species. With a more upright skeleton, long legs, and narrow shoulders, bonobos have the ability to walk bipedally, or on two legs, more easily and for longer amounts of time than chimpanzees. Their skeletal anatomy is actually very similar to Australopithecus, an early ancestor of humans. Their faces are flatter with a higher forehead than those of chimps, and their long black hair parts in the middle. Bonobos differ from chimpanzees behaviorally as well. While chimpanzee society is competitive and male-dominated, bonobos live harmoniously in matriarchal groups of up to 100 members. Females hold the highest rank in a group, and the sons of ranking females become leaders among the males. Although males are physically larger and stronger, females gain power through strong bonds and alliances, thereby forming a stable “sisterhood.” When a female reaches sexual maturity, she will join another group. This limits inbreeding and increases genetic diversity among po[CENSORED]tions. When approaching a new group, the young female will seek out older, high-ranking females and attempt to form a bond through grooming and sexual behavior. Sexual behavior is predominant in bonobo life. They engage in sexual behavior for a variety of reasons: to form bonds, to neutralize tense situations, to express excitement, to greet one another, to encourage sharing and compassion, and of course, to produce young. Bonobos reproduce at the same rate as chimpanzees, giving birth every 5-6 years. A female will bear young for the first time around 13-14 years old. She will nurse and carry her offspring for up to 5 years. Males do not take part in the rearing process. The bonobo’s diet is largely vegetarian. Foraging in small groups, bonobos feast primarily on fruit, but they also eat leaves, flowers, bark, stems, roots, insect larvae, worms, crustaceans, honey, eggs, and soil. Occasionally they hunt small mammals like flying squirrels or duikers (small antelopes). At night, bonobos gather with their groups to nest, communicating with each other with high-pitched barking sounds. Conservation Status Currently, the IUCN has categorized bonobos as endangered. Civil war in the Congo has hugely impacted bonobo society, fragmenting their po[CENSORED]tion to isolated pockets and limiting their genetic diversity. Furthermore, poverty has forced many people into hunting bonobos to sell their meat on the black market. Finally, bonobos are threatened by loss of habitat due to illegal logging and agricultural development. What You Can Do to Help To help bonobos, you can volunteer with or donate to the Bonobo Conservation Initiative, which promotes the conservation of tropical forest habitat and the creation of natural corridors to connect isolated communities.

Mercedes-Benz has a plan to go fully-electric by 2030, even including the automaker's diverse portfolio of commercial and private customer Sprinter and Metris vans with an all-new platform. W're getting our first glimpse at those future vans today with a teaser for an all-new T-Class lineup of vehicles, likely set to debut in Europe. Mercedes described the new model as intended for the premium "private small van" vehicle segment, likely targeting the #vanlife crowd in Europe, where private van ownership has traditionally been more po[CENSORED]r than it is stateside, though the van-living lifestyle in the U.S. has been growing in recent years. You can also think of it as a very fancy MPV. All-New T-Class Mercedes says the T-Class, which is an all-new designation, will be a "completely new model" for "active lifestyles," with a goal of providing another entry-level model to introduce new customers to the Mercedes brand. It's likely the automaker plans to introduce the T-Class in both internal combustion (ICE) and EV configurations based on company intentions when the T-Class concept debuted in Europe last year, though it will still transform its lineup to all-electric by 2030. New VAN.EA Architecture Last July, Mercedes-Benz announced a group of all-new vehicle platforms to build its future off of, with an all-electric version of each of its vehicles planned to be offered by 2025. One of the three new platforms announced is VAN.EA, which is intended to usher "a new era for purpose made electric vans and light commercial vehicles, which will contribute to emission free transportation and cities in the future." Mercedes hasn't announced which platform this new T-Class will ride on, but if they have a new purpose-built van architecture ready to go, we imagine at least one version of the new T-Class will ride on VAN.EA. Mercedes-Benz EQV II? It's unclear yet what sort of product mix Mercedes has planned for this new T-Class model, like whether or not a new ICE model is planned this time, or if it will be all-electric only. The automaker has already introduced the EQV all-electric van in global markets, and previously confirmed that the next-generation EQV would get the new family architecture, though we don't know yet if it will rebrand under the new T-Class family, or remain separate as the EQV. It's also unclear if it directly replaces the Metris or Sprinter vans, which are currently on sale in the U.S., or if the new T-Class is just reserved for Europe. The Sprinter and Metris models target more utilitarian and commercial customers versus the premium demographic the T-Class promises to attract. We will find out more when it debuts later this year on Tuesday, April 28

West Indies crushed England by 10 wickets in the third and final cricket Test on Sunday to win the series 1-0. The hosts needed only 4.5 overs on Day 4 to reach the winning target in Grenada. West Indies finished on 28-0 in the second innings after earlier dismissing England for 120. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was 20 not out and John Campbell undefeated on 6. When England resumed on 103-8, it was already on the brink of defeat with a lead of only 10 runs with just two wickets in hand in its second innings. The visitors lasted another 11 overs in the opening session with Kemar Roach (2-10 off 9.2 overs) taking both England wickets _ Chris Woakes (19) and Jack Leach (4). No. 11 Saqib Mahmood, who hit a defiant 49 in the first innings, was 3 not out. West Indies medium-pacer Kyle Mayers started the day with an incredible 5-9 from 13 overs, a maiden five-for, but went for five in his first over on Sunday and finished with 5-18 from 17 overs. The batting allrounder was unwanted for the first two tests _ both draws _ and he replaced spinner Veerasammy Permaul with the aim of strengthening the batting. The result means England’s failure to win a test series in the Caribbean in 18 years carries on. It is likely to extend the debate over Joe Root’s suitability as captain, despite his superb batting form with two centuries in the series. West Indies enjoyed its first test series win at home since 2019. That was when England last visited. West Indies had an intimidating 93-run lead on the first innings after making England bat. England scored 204 and 120, and West Indies 297 and 28-0.

To ensure healthy and glowing skin, one must follow a regular and dedicated skincare routine, apart from tweaking certain lifestyle and diet habits. But, in addition to using the right products for your skin type, did you know that the water used for washing your face can also make a significant difference? As such, Sonnalli Seygall recently took to Instagram to share her skincare routine which involves washing her face with carbonated water. For the unversed, carbonated water is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure to produce a bubbly drink, also known as sparkling water or club soda, according to Healthline. Elucidating the benefits of washing the face with carbonated water, Dr Meghna Gupta, dermatologist and founder, Delhi Skin Centre, said, “Carbonated water being replaced with regular water to wash the face is a new trend that is being witnessed. The properties of carbonated water are beneficial to skin’s health as the water is treated with carbon dioxide which results in bringing down the PH levels of water below 7. This is the closest it gets to the PH level of our skin, which is 5.5.” She added that it “helps with unclogging clogged pores, regulating blood circulation of the skin and enriching it with a glow”. To observe effective results, one must use carbonated water daily for a duration of three to four weeks, the dermatologist suggested. https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/sonnalli-seygall-washes-face-carbonated-water-glowing-skin-benefits-7835675/

After years of declining viewing figures, the Academy were desperate for more people to watch the 2022 Oscars. They tried all kinds of ways to boost ratings - big stars, live performances, charismatic hosts, a new category and cutting the craft prizes down to edited highlights. But in the event, a comedian telling a joke and a Hollywood A-lister's furious over-reaction to it would ultimately be what seized the world's attention. The Academy wanted eyeballs. It has got them now. Prior to Sunday's ceremony, it was widely expected that Will Smith would win his first-ever Oscar, for his performance as the determined father of Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard. What wasn't expected, however, was that he would go down in Oscars history for an entirely different reason. Awards ceremonies are ripe environments for crazy moments. Think of Kanye storming the MTV Awards stage during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech; the wrong best picture winner being announced at the 2017 Oscars; or politicians having drinks poured over them at the Brits. But it's hard to recall a more shocking and violent moment than Will Smith smacking Chris Rock in the mouth, a clip which has already been viewed hundreds of millions of times in the space of just a few hours. "I think it brings new meaning to the term punchline," Rebel Wilson joked at the Vanity Fair afterparty. "I'm lucky I got through the Baftas unscathed." Wilson made light of the fact that Smith wasn't present to collect his best actor prize when she hosted the Bafta Film Awards in London earlier this month. "Will Smith won for King Richard, but I thought his best performance over the past year was being OK with all his wife's boyfriends," she joked from the stage, a reference to the couple's apparently open relationship. After an audible gasp from the crowd, the Australian comic added: "What? Come on, he didn't show up." Apple beats Netflix at dramatic Oscars How feel-good film Coda caused an Oscars upset The best red carpet fashion Who won what? Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, who have been married for 24 years, have previously spoken publicly about their extra-marital romances. During one 2020 episode of Jada's US chat show Red Table Talk, the couple sat down to address public speculation about an alleged affair Jada had had with R&B singer August Alsina. "I got into a different kind of entanglement with August," she admitted during the discussion, confirming that she and Will were "separated, amicably" at the time. "An entanglement?" Will replied with a raised eyebrow. Their open and honest discussion was praised by some viewers, but the couple have also been mocked for their ambiguous relationship status and Jada's tendency in particular to air private family matters on her talk show. And yet, despite their on-again-off-again romance, the pair have never divorced and there has never been any doubt about Will's devotion to his wife and his family. That devotion, together with the public's struggle to understand his complex marriage, perhaps explains why the actor was riled by Wilson's comments at the Baftas. Following his win, Will was asked about his relationship on Entertainment Tonight, and insisted that there had "never been infidelity" in his marriage. "Jada and I talk about everything. We have never surprised one another with anything ever." Study the actor's choice of words here to see how careful and precise he was being. To the casual observer, it might have looked like he'd denied any extra-marital affairs. But actually, his wording allowed for the fact that both of them could have dated other people, without it being considered cheating by the other. In other words, they gave each other permission to have other relationships. Why air all of this in public? "I have decided that chatter about my life can be of a benefit to people," he said. But it wasn't their relationship status that Rock was mocking on Sunday. It was something more basic but potentially more painful than that - Jada's appearance. It was not the first time he had made a joke at her expense. In 2016, Rock hosted the Academy Awards in the year of the #OscarsSoWhite scandal, which led to Jada snubbing the ceremony. But, as Rock humorously (and correctly) pointed out: "Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna's parties. I wasn't invited!" Six years later, he mocked her at the Oscars again. Except, this time, she was in the audience to hear it. And, unfortunately for Rock's jawline, so was her husband. "Jada, I love ya," he began after taking to the stage to present best documentary, adding: "GI Jane 2, I can't wait to see it!" This joke was a reference to the 1997 US war drama GI Jane, which saw Demi Moore shave her head to play Jordan O'Neil, the first woman to undergo Navy Seal training. By implying that Jada could star in a possible sequel, Chris Rock was poking fun at her closely-shaven head. What he might not have realised is that Jada has alopecia - an auto-immune disorder that causes hair loss. She looked cross about the joke, rolling her eyes, and we all know what Will Smith did next. The on-stage altercation travelled around the world in seconds. Smith's short temper would come to define the entire 2022 ceremony. There were elements of performative alpha-male behaviour at play here. An instinctiveness for a man to harm another man who insults his partner. But the whole episode raises the question of what is off-limits in comedy. Many have argued celebrities are used to the pressures of being in the spotlight and are therefore fair game for jokes. But others say Rock crossed a line by commenting on Jada's health condition and that Will was right to defend his wife. It's worth noting that Rock's joke wasn't the most offensive we've heard from an awards ceremony compere in recent years. If the significantly-more-brutal Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais had been fronting the Oscars on Sunday instead, he might be in a coffin by now. "I think a comedian's job to walk that line about what is acceptable about comedy," Wilson said after the Oscars. Others went further in defending Rock. Director Judd Apatow wrote in a since-deleted tweet: "He could have killed him. That's pure out-of-control rage and violence. They've heard a million jokes about them in the last three decades. They are not freshman in the world of Hollywood and comedy. He lost his mind." The incident loomed large over the rest of the ceremony. When Amy Schumer, one of the three hosts, returned to the stage following the punch, she joked knowingly: "Did I miss something? It feels like the vibe has changed." The audience was relieved to have someone defusing the tension. Backstage in the press room, there was complete silence as everyone watched the altercation on the overhead screens. At first, most people assumed it was some kind of pre-planned sketch. Two showbiz veterans of this stature would know how to stage a fake slap. By the time Smith was sitting back in his seat and shouting to Rock to "keep my wife's name out your [expletive] mouth", it was clear this was serious. A seasoned professional like Smith would know better than to drop the F-bomb on stage during a live TV broadcast. Viewers at home didn't hear the swearing. Broadcast network ABC had cut the live feed to avoid offending viewers at home. In the winners' room Academy staffers looked just as shocked as the journalists did. "I thought they were doing a bit," one said to his colleague. Rock, meanwhile, looked visibly shaken. But he dealt with the situation with remarkable presence of mind. Realising he'd just made Oscars history, he made light of what had just happened, commenting: "That was the greatest night in the history of television." It inevitably overshadowed the rest of the evening. Stars like Billie Eilish, Jessica Chastain, Jane Campion and many more showed up to answer questions and react to receiving the highest honour in showbusiness. But it was clear all anybody could think about was the smack. Summer of Soul director Questlove was asked about what it was like having to accept best documentary straight after Smith had hit Rock. "I'm not going to talk about that," he replied. Later, another journalist asked Chastain to react to what happened. She was about to answer when an Academy staffer cut her off and moved on to the next question. The best actor category was one of the last ones of the night. Smith duly won. But with his aggression still at the front of everyone's mind, he delivered a slightly bizarre acceptance speech, the subtext of which was that his anger with Rock was justified because of his own love for and instinct to protect those closest to him. "Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family," he began, attempting to link the character he played in the film with his behaviour at the ceremony. "Now I know, to do what we do, you've got to be able to take abuse," he acknowledged. "You got to be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you've got to be able to have people disrespecting you, and you've got to smile and you've got to pretend like that's OK. "Denzel [Washington, friend and fellow nominee] said to me a few minutes ago, he said, 'At your highest moment, be careful, that's when the devil comes for you.'" He concluded with an apology to everyone present, with the notable exception of Rock. "I want to apologise to the Academy. I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees," he said. "I hope the Academy invites me back." Will Smith's best actor acceptance speech in full For its part, the Academy said it "does not condone violence of any kind". Smith has been under severe pressure for several weeks - both due to the exhaustion of campaigning in awards season and the increased scrutiny of his marriage. But few would agree that is an excuse for violence. His reputation and career is now in the hands of public opinion. The debate that rages over the next few days will be crucial.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G sports EVOL.Pro design language The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G sports a somewhat similar design as its predecessor. But it feels like a completely different device due to the company's EVOL.Pro design language. The device comes with flat edges that provide a confident grip, even without a protective case. The material used on the sides gives the smartphone a premium feel and it does not attract many fingerprints as well. Camera module of Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G looks new and different The design of the camera module is quite different. The camera module has been redesigned to house the new tripe-lens setup instead of a quad-lens setup as seen in the previous generation. The camera module comes with the 108MP AI camera. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is lightweight and easy to hold The smartphone is quite lightweight with just 202 grams of weight. The slim frame, flat sides and weight, makes the device easy to carry around all day. The phone gets a 3.5mm headphone jack, and speaker grille at the top. The bottom edge houses the USB-C port, SIM tray and another speaker grille. While the left edge is undisturbed, the right edge gets the power button with fingerprint sensor and volume rockers. Smartphone features an AMOLED display The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G features a 6.67-inch full HD+ AMOLED DotDisplay with 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution. The display comes with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The overall display experience turned out to be quite enjoyable as the colour reproduction is rich. The screen is also apt for streaming videos and playing games although we expected thinner bezels this time around. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G’s display is easy on eyes The display of Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G works quite good under the sunlight, thanks to the 1200 nits of peak brightness. The adaptive brightness makes the smartphone’s display easy to the eye. We had no complaints about the viewing angles as well. The handset offers up to a 120Hz refresh rate display that makes the transitions on the screen smooth. The display quality of the device is at par looking at the price segment it falls in. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G gets better camera than Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro Max Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G houses a 108MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 lens, along with a 8MP ultra wide-angle shooter and a 2MP macro shooter. Just like other Redmi smartphones, the camera is one of the features that may attract. As per Xiaomi, the phone gets a ‘Pro-Grade’ camera that can capture tiniest of details and it does offer satisfactory results. Portrait mode of Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G does a fair job One of the camera features that is slowly becoming a standard is the Portrait mode. The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G gets a Portrait feature that is at par with other smartphones in this price segment. The background defocus does not look artificial but it may struggle to find the right edges under the low-light conditions. Front camera of Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G gives crisp selfies When it comes to the front camera, the device houses a 16MP sensor at the front, with an f/2.4 lens. The Portrait mode does a fair job with the front camera. Selfies are crisp and vibrant. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G functions smoothly and showed no lag Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G 5G is powered by a octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS2.2 storage. For daily usage, this device will easily cater to your needs without much hassle during mutil-tasking. You will hardly face any issue while unlocking the device using face recognition or fingerprint sensor in the side button. You also won’t be able to notice any lag while multitasking and loading apps. Battery of Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G can easily last more than a day The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G 5G is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 67W turbo charging support. During the review we managed to juice up the device from zero to 100% in under 45 minutes. The smartphone easily lasts for more than a day on average usage that includes gaming, video calls and video streaming.

Capturing transparent objects in three dimensions is a major challenge. Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF have developed a sensor that is able to solve this problem. The system has now been successfully tested for the first time with a robot. Applications in large-scale industrial manufacturing processes such as the semiconductor or automotive industry could be possible. The sensor will be featured at the Hannover Messe Preview on March 16 and at the German trade fairs Control from May 3–6, as well as Hannover Messe from May 30–June 2, 2022. Transparent objects have their drawbacks: It is not without reason that we have stickers of birds' silhouettes on big glass windows in order to protect their real-life conspecifics from colliding with the transparent barrier. Just as these animals have difficulties recognizing transparent surfaces, robots are also limited in their capabilities: They cannot "see" glass or other so-called "uncooperative surfaces," i.e., surfaces that are glossy metal, extremely reflective, or jet-black. Especially in an industrial environment, this has been impeding the use of robots in the past. Many projects of automatization stagnate because uncooperative surfaces could only be detected too slowly or too inaccurately in 3D measurement. Thermographic 3D sensor makes transparent objects visible to robots for the first time A new 3D measurement technique, developed by researchers at Fraunhofer IOF last year, solves this problem: The "MWIR 3D Sensor"—also called "Glass360Dgree"—can detect objects with reflective or light-absorbing surfaces spatially and reliably for the first time. For this purpose, the system combines infrared laser projection and thermography: After locally heating up the object to be measured, two thermal imaging cameras determine the resulting temperature distribution on the object's surface. Contrary to conventionally used sensors, the newly developed system does not require additional measurement aids or special, temporarily applied markings, for example in the form of (spray) paint. High measurement speed for applications in large-scale industrial processes Production processes are often about speed combined with high quality. This means: The more work steps a system can perform per minute without producing defective products, the more profitable is the production. The researchers at Fraunhofer IOF have taken this self-image of industry as an opportunity to adapt "Glass360Dgree" to various production scenarios. In recent months, the researchers from Jena have succeeded in increasing the measurement speed accordingly and optimizing the parameters of the measurement field. "Our research group has been cooperating for years with companies from a wide range of production fields," explains Dr. Stefan Heist, head of the "3D Sensors" research group at Fraunhofer IOF. "Among them are companies from semiconductor manufacturing, the automotive industry and aviation. We looked at joint projects from the past and analyzed how our 3D glass sensor could achieve better results than conventional sensors in various application scenarios," explains the researcher, who has been working vigorously on new methods for 3D measurement for years. "We were able to identify three key starting points to make our system ready for potential use in a large-scale industrial manufacturing facility." The team found the ideal balance between the level of detail needed in resolution and the duration of a measurement. They also investigated various options for the optical setup of their 3D sensor in order to variably adapt the measurement field to the task at hand and the space available within a manufacturing plant. In addition, the team led by Dr. Stefan Heist and Martin Landmann, also researcher at Fraunhofer IOF, worked closely with researchers from the Ilmenau University of Technology to optimize the data processing of their measurement system. The team from Ilmenau succeeded in efficiently deriving the active control of a robot and its respective tools from the obtained measurement data. A new dimension in flexibility and diversity With its great flexibility and unprecedented versatility in the properties of the objects to be scanned, "Glass360Dgree" opens up completely new possibilities in the automation of industrial processes as well as in product design. The thermographic 3D sensor uses thermal radiation and imaging for 3D detection. A high-energy CO2 laser and a mobile optical setup with special lenses project a line moving in several steps over the measured object in fractions of a second. Throughout the measurement, the object absorbs the energy of the laser light and emits it clearly visible to the two highly sensitive thermal imaging cameras. Special software developed at Fraunhofer IOF analyzes the images of the heat signature left by the narrow infrared line on the object for a short time. The software uses the two differing viewing angles and the resulting deformation in the recorded fringe pattern to reconstruct the spatial coordinates. It then merges the data into the exact dimensions of the measured object. The thermal energy introduced for the 3D analysis is so low that the object is not damaged: The temperature difference between heated and non-heated surfaces is typically less than 3 °C. Glass360Dgree will be presented by Fraunhofer IOF to a specialist audience interested in automation and metrology at the German Hannover Messe at the Fraunhofer joint booth in Hall 5, Stand A06 from May 30 to June 2, 2022, and at Control, the international trade fair for quality assurance, from May 3 to 6, 2022. https://techxplore.com/news/2022-03-sensor-capturing-transparent-dimensions.html

Intel Core i9-12900KS 5.5 GHz Alder Lake CPU, Tackling 3D V-Cache With Frequency For The Gaming Performance Crown The Intel Core i9-12900KS is designed as a 'Special Edition' CPU, offering one step up over the i9-12900K. It's a chip for the blue team to prove that they still hold the core speed crown and there are two reasons why Intel is launching this chip right now, first and the most obvious is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D which aims to show the benefits of 3D V-Cache in gaming versus frequency and the second is the 5 GHz+ Ryzen 7000 'Zen 4' lineup coming later this year. With the 12900KS, Intel not only wants to offer the best chip to enthusiasts but also showcase how they are already going to achieve 5.5 GHz frequencies on a 16 core part versus Zen 4 and how frequency still matters for gaming. Intel Core i9-12900KS 5.5 GHz Alder Lake CPU, Tackling 3D V-Cache With Frequency For The Gaming Performance Crown The Intel Core i9-12900KS is designed as a 'Special Edition' CPU, offering one step up over the i9-12900K. It's a chip for the blue team to prove that they still hold the core speed crown and there are two reasons why Intel is launching this chip right now, first and the most obvious is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D which aims to show the benefits of 3D V-Cache in gaming versus frequency and the second is the 5 GHz+ Ryzen 7000 'Zen 4' lineup coming later this year. With the 12900KS, Intel not only wants to offer the best chip to enthusiasts but also showcase how they are already going to achieve 5.5 GHz frequencies on a 16 core part versus Zen 4 and how frequency still matters for gaming. The Intel Core i9-12900KS will retail for a $150 US higher MSRP than the Core i9-12900K & feature a 19W higher maximum turbo power limit than the standard variant. It will feature a much higher all and single-core boost clock of up to 5.5 GHz but will require lots of cooling to keep it under spec. It looks like overclockers will be eyeing for its heavily binned nature to break some world records and it will end up as the fastest clock CPU on the planet but the 12900K will remain the better option for its price and performance. Intel Core i9-12900KS 5.5 GHz CPU Specifications The Intel Core i9-12900KS will be the flagship chip in the 12th Gen Alder Lake Desktop CPU lineup. It will feature 8 Golden Cove cores and 8 Gracemont cores for a total of 16 cores (8+8) and 24 threads (16+8). The P-cores (Golden Cove) will operate at a maximum boost frequency of up to 5.5 GHz with 1-2 active cores and 5.2 GHz with all-cores active while the E-cores (Gracemont) will operate at 3.90 GHz across 1-4 cores and up to 3.7 GHz when all cores are loaded. The CPU will feature 30 MB of L3 cache. The main change is that to accommodate the higher frequency, Intel has upped the base TDP by 25 Watts over the Core i9-12900K. As such, the 12900KS will feature a base TDP of 150W, and the max turbo power rating has also been bumped by 19W to 260W (vs 241W). Intel has yet to launch the chip officially but that could happen in the next couple of days & motherboard makers have also started releasing their respective support BIOS with updated microcode for the chip. https://wccftech.com/intel-core-i9-12900ks-worlds-first-fastest-5-5-ghz-desktop-cpu-to-launch-on-5th-april/

Name of the Game : Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Price : 24.99$ https://store.steampowered.com/app/921570/OCTOPATH_TRAVELER/ Offer ends up after 18:30 hours: 28 march Requirements: MINIMUM: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows® 10 64 bit Build 1903 Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 1400 / Intel® Core™ i5-4460 Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 6GB / AMD Radeon™ RX 570 DirectX: Version 12 Storage: 80 GB available space RECOMMENDED: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows® 10 64 bit Build 1903 Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 1600 / Intel® Core™ i7-4790 Memory: 16 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 Super / AMD Radeon™ RX 590 DirectX: Version 12 Storage: 80 GB available space

Sony Group Corp. is preparing to introduce a new video game subscription service for the PlayStation as early as next week, said people familiar with the plans. The service, which has been in development under the codename Spartacus, is Sony’s answer to Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox Game Pass, a sort of Netflix for video games that has amassed more than 25 million subscribers. Sony’s will debut with a splashy lineup of hit games from recent years, said the people, who requested anonymity because the plans are private. Sony’s new service will combine two of its current offerings, PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus. Customers will be able to choose from multiple tiers offering catalogs of modern games and classics from older PlayStation eras. Documents obtained by Bloomberg last year showed the most expensive tier will also give players access to extended demos and the ability to stream games over the internet. A spokesperson for Sony didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. PlayStation consoles have outsold Xboxes in recent years, but Sony lags behind Microsoft’s efforts in the streaming market. Xbox Game Pass offers hundreds of games for $10 a month. One of Game Pass’s biggest selling points is that subscribers get access to many titles on the same day they go on sale in stores for $60 or $70 each. That includes this year’s much-anticipated Microsoft sci-fi game Starfield. Sony will likely be at a disadvantage there. The new service is not expected to feature its biggest titles on the day they come out. The upcoming God of War Ragnarök, for example, is unlikely to be offered on the streaming platform right away, said one of the people familiar with the plan. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-25/sony-to-unveil-playstation-subscription-as-soon-as-next-week

The first season of Stranger Things premiered on Netflix on July 15, 2016. It consists of eight episodes ranging from forty-two to fifty-five minutes in length. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana in 1983, the season is about the disappearance of Will Byers and the ensuing search for him by family, friends and the local authorities. Imagined by its creators as an eight-hour blockbuster film, it was inspired by and pays homage to classic genre films of the 1980s — in particular the films of Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter, as well as the novels of Stephen King. The season received critical and audience acclaim and was praised for its directing, acting performances, title sequence, and synth-heavy score. Plot summary Young Will Byers is cycling home from a disappointing "Dungeons & Dragons" campaign at a friend's house, when a terrifying figure suddenly appears... Will tries to escape and hide, but he is abducted... Will's friends Dustin, Lucas and Mike begin investigating his disappearance; while looking for Will in the local forest, the boys find a girl with a shaved head in a hospital gown, who they let stay in Mike's basement. They learn her name is Eleven and that she has psychokinetic abilities. Will's mother Joyce becomes transfixed by supernatural events affecting the house electricity - she's convinced Will is communicating with her. As these strange events continue, she witnesses the same monster that took Will, which threatens her on numerous occasions. Meanwhile, police chief Jim Hopper grows suspicious of the nearby national laboratory after he finds a torn piece of hospital gown outside the lab grounds. Mike's older sister Nancy attends a pool party hosted by her new boyfriend Steve, begrudgingly accompanied by her best friend Barb. Jonathan, Will's brother, witnesses the events of the party, taking photos. While alone, Barb is abducted by the Monster. Hopper researches Dr. Martin Brenner, the laboratory, and a woman, who claimed her daughter was taken by scientists. Steve discovers Jonathan's photographs and destroys them, but an anxious Nancy retrieves the fragments of a photo showing Barb. She goes back over to Steve's house, to look around for Barb - she briefly sees the Monster run through the woods, scaring her and prompting her to flee. What appears to be Will's body is discovered in a quarry; however, Eleven proves Will is still alive, mani[CENSORED]ting several radios to project the sound of Will's voice. Examining Jonathan's photo of Barb, Nancy realizes the monster is also visible. Jonathan realizes that Nancy's description of the creature matches his mother's: a humanoid figure with long arms and no face. They team up to learn more about the creature, in the hopes of saving Will and Barb. The two teens look around Hawkins, hoping to find the creature and potentially kill it. A suspicious Hopper finds and cuts open Will's body, discovering it to be fake. He heads to the laboratory and breaks in, finding Eleven's bedroom and a huge, sprawling gate to an alternate dimension after being knocked out by agents. He wakes up in his own home and finds it bugged. After pulling together all their knowledge and speculation on the supernatural events, the boys search for a hypothetical Gate to the other world, which they've now nicknamed the Upside Down. The boys eventually realize that a fearful Eleven - afraid of the lab and the Upside Down - has been misguiding them while exploring through Hawkins. A fight breaks out, resulting in Lucas being injured by Eleven and the group splitting up. Throughout the season, Eleven experiences a series of painful flashbacks to the experimentation conducted on her by Dr. Brenner at the laboratory. This culminates with a flashback to an experiment in which she was placed in a sensory deprivation tank. Within an altered psychic state, she accidentally opened the Gate to the Upside Down after making contact with the creature. After sharing what they know, Hopper and Joyce track down Terry Ives, learning more about Eleven and Dr. Brenner. While Lucas attempts to once more find the Gate, Mike and Dustin find Eleven, who saves Mike from falling of the cliff. The trio then reconcile with a hug and return to Mike's house. Lucas sees agents leaving the laboratory, realizing they are on their way to capture Eleven. Mike, Dustin, and Eleven narrowly escape, reuniting with Lucas. Joyce and Hopper return to Hawkins, sharing their knowledge of the creature with Nancy and Jonathan. Joyce, Hopper, Nancy and Jonathan contact and eventually find the kids, formulating a plan to make a sensory deprivation tank to enhance Eleven's powers - this way, she can psychically view Will and Barb without entering the Upside Down. The group break into Hawkins Middle School and set up their makeshift tank there. Using the tank, Eleven discovers Barb to be dead and Will alive, hiding in Castle Byers, his makeshift fort. Hopper and Joyce break into Hawkins Laboratory to pass through the Gate and save Will, but are apprehended by security. Nancy and Jonathan resolve to kill the monster. In the Upside Down, the monster breaks through Castle Byers, taking Will. Interrogated by Brenner, Hopper gives up Eleven's location in exchange for access to the Gate. Hopper and Joyce enter the Upside Down, discovering the creature's nest, where an unconscious Will has been strung up with a tendril extending down his throat. After detaching and killing the creature, Hopper and Joyce attempt to revive Will, and Hopper remembers the moment his daughter died - he's determined to spare Joyce from the same grief. Will is eventually found and revived, and the three return through the Gate. Meanwhile, Nancy and Jonathan set up a trap at the Byers house before cutting their hands to attract the creature with their blood. Steve arrives, intending to apologize to Jonathan and Nancy following a previous argument. The monster attacks, and although Nancy, Jonathan and Steve successfully injure and trap it, it escapes to the Upside Down. At the school, Dustin attempts to find food as Mike and Eleven share an intimate moment. However, agents arrive and storm the school, but Eleven kills many of them, crushing their brains. As Brenner recovers a weakened Eleven, the wounded monster, attracted by the bloodshed, enters the school and attacks Brenner. The boys escape with Eleven and hide in a classroom with Mike trying to calm her, but the monster finds and attacks them. However, before it could harm the boys, Eleven pins the creature against a wall, looks back and says goodbye to Mike. In a painful and self-destructive act, Eleven dissolves the creature into a thick mist in which she too vanishes. Mike is left in tears as Eleven vanishes. Will is hospitalized and reunited with his family and friends. Hopper is reluctantly picked up by a black government car. One month later, Nancy has gotten back together with Steve, and they've both befriended Jonathan. The four boys play D&D in Mike's basement, where Mike has kept Eleven's pillow fort in perfect condition in regards to her memory. Hopper leaves eggos in a concealed box in the woods. Will coughs up a slug-like creature in his bathroom sink and has a momentary flash into the Upside Down, though he doesn't reveal the event to his family.

Sanctions on Russia are a "hard lever" that should only be removed following a "full ceasefire and withdrawal" from Ukraine, the foreign secretary says. Liz Truss told the Sunday Telegraph that Moscow would also have to commit to "no further aggression" or face the prospect of them being reimposed. The West had to remain "tough to get peace", she said. The UK, US, and EU have so far imposed sanctions on over 1,000 Russian individuals and businesses. This week saw Moscow announce it would be refocusing its military operations in Ukraine to the country's east. The move was interpreted by many as a sign that the Kremlin was looking to scale back an invasion that has so far made significantly less progress than was widely expected. Ms Truss said that a negotiations unit had been set up to assist Ukraine once the Russians were "serious" about negotiations, but added: "I don't believe they are serious at present." "That's why... we need to double down on sanctions," she said. The foreign secretary has previously said she believes the peace talks are a "smokescreen" designed to distract from Russia's actions and allow its armed forces time to regroup. It comes after the government announced it had detained indefinitely two jets owned by Russian oligarch Eugene Shvidler, who had been sanctioned over his ties with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. The jets, estimated to be worth $60m (£45m), were seized at Farnborough and Biggin Hill airports following a three-week investigation. Ms Truss said she believed more should have been done to deter Mr Putin following his annexation of Crimea in 2014. "So there needs to be hard levers," she said. "Of course, sanctions are a hard lever." "Those sanctions should only come off with a full ceasefire and withdrawal, but also commitments that there will be no further aggression." She added that "snapback sanctions" could be used in the event of more aggression in the future. As well as sanctions on individuals, recent weeks have seen dozens of countries impose bans on the export of luxury goods to Russia and close their airspace to Russian airlines. Some Russian banks have also been banned from using Swift, the system used to manage international payments, and efforts are underway to explore how Europe can reduce its dependency on Russian oil and gas. Ms Truss's comments echo those of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who said this month that the sanctions on Russia were "not designed to be permanent". Mr Blinken said the sanctions could "go away" in the event of an "irreversible" withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. However, speaking in Poland on Saturday, President Biden said that, while sanctions were weakening Russia, the West needed to "steel ourselves for the long fight ahead". Asked about ongoing disagreements with the EU about the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which sets out the post-Brexit trading arrangements between Northern Ireland and the EU, Ms Truss said that countries would always have "differences that we need to resolve". "But those types of differences between friends and allies are different from the scale and the sheer belligerence and aggression and lying of Russia," she said. She added that, given the scale of their differences with Russia, it was vital that Western countries "stick together." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60890431

Komodo Dragon Komodo dragons are the biggest and heaviest lizards on Earth. Full-grown adults can reach 10 feet (3 meters) long and weigh more than 300 pounds (140 kilograms)! Most weigh about 150 pounds (70 kilograms). COMMON NAME: Komodo dragons SCIENTIFIC NAME: Varanus komodoensis TYPE: Reptiles DIET: Carnivore AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: Up to 30 years SIZE: 10 feet WEIGHT: 330 pounds These endangered giant reptiles have been around for millions of years, but scientists didn't study them until about a hundred years ago. Wild Komodo dragons are found only on Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands. They are powerful-looking reptiles with wide, flat heads, rounded snouts, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails. They have a clumsy, back-and-forth walk, and their yellow tongues flick in and out constantly. The dominant predators on the islands where they live, Komodo dragons will eat almost anything they find, including already dead animals, deer, water buffalo, pigs, smaller Komodo dragons, and occasionally humans! When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in bushes or tall grasses until a victim passes by. They pounce on their prey with powerful legs and sharp claws, then sink their jagged, sharklike teeth in. An animal that escapes the jaws of a Komodo won't feel lucky for long. Dragon saliva contains large amounts of bacteria, which poisons their victims, usually within 24 hours. Dragons will calmly follow their bitten prey for miles, using their keen sense of smell to find the corpse. They have huge appetites and have been known to eat up to 80 percent of their body weight in a single feeding. Female Komodo dragons lay up to 30 eggs, which they will guard for several months. Babies are greenish with yellow and black bands but become solid gray to reddish-brown as they age. Young dragons will stay in the trees until they are about eight months old to avoid predators, which include larger dragons. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/komodo-dragon

Last summer, Honda confirmed to Automotive News Europe that the current-generation Civic would be available in the European market with one catch: only as a hybrid. Making its debut, the 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid-officially called e:HEV (hybrid electric vehicle), arrives in the fall and will be offered in the hatchback body style only. While the e:HEV does use the same platform as Civic models in the U.S. , it is not coming here. The Honda Civic Hybrid powertrain consists of a new 72-cell lithium-ion battery and two compact electric motors paired to an updated 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine. Combined output rings in at 181 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. The main driving force to the hybridized Civic comes from the two electric motors, which can only mean a smoother and less noisy ride quality. Honda says its internal combustion engine features improved architecture that helps it achieve 41 percent thermal efficiency, among the highest in the industry for a production model. Other improved components include a new power control unit and an updated intelligent power unit; the latter is smaller and lighter, benefiting from increased energy density. This system delivers instant torque and powerful acceleration without sacrificing efficiency, as stated by the Japanese automaker. At the heart of the e:HEV system is a fixed-gear transmission designed to reduce friction, and is controlled by the power control unit. Depending on the driving situation, it optimizes the vehicle to adapt accordingly. Without any input from the driver, the powertrain can seamlessly switch between EV, Hybrid, and Engine drive. Finally, there are four drive modes available: Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with the last one being a new mode that allows for adjusting the engine, transmission, and instrument cluster settings. As Honda maps out its plans toward an all-electric future, the new Civic e:HEV hatchback marks the completion of an electrified lineup in Europe. Although Honda says this Civic hybrid won't come stateside, it has not given an official statement about whether a hybrid powertrain based on this will be coming to Civic models in America, where the Civic e:HEV could replace the Insight compact sedan. Maybe a hybrid Civic would fare better with a more po[CENSORED]r model name, considering Honda only sold 18,685 Insights in 2021. https://www.motortrend.com/news/2023-honda-civic-hatchback-ehev-hybrid-europe-insight/

Joe Root has reiterated his desire to remain England captain after his side's series defeat by West Indies. England slumped to a 10-wicket defeat in the third Test in Grenada as their winless run stretched to nine Tests. Root, who has been captain since 2017, has now overseen four series defeats in a row, this loss coming on the back of the 4-0 Ashes humbling by Australia. "I'm still very passionate about taking this team forward," said Root, who has won a record 27 Tests leading England. "I feel there's the support of the dressing room behind me and I'm desperate to see them smile and celebrating because we don't feel that far away." Report: England suffer 10-wicket defeat and lose series 1-0 TMS podcast: England defeat casts doubts over Root's future Third Test may be Root's last as captain - Vaughan England have only won one of 17 Tests going back to February 2021 - their worst run since the 1980s. They also trail India 2-1 in a five-Test series that was postponed last summer with one game left to play. After the Ashes, Root said he wanted to continue as skipper, but after day three against West Indies, when England collapsed towards defeat, former captain Michael Vaughan said he felt Root may step down. However, asked if he wanted to continue, Root said: "I've made that quite clear. "All I can control is what's in my power and in my hands and I will do whatever I can in whatever capacity to help England win games of cricket and that will never change." England are currently without a managing director and head coach after Ashley Giles stood down from the first of those positions and coach Chris Silverwood left following the Ashes. Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood have performed the respective roles on an interim basis for this tour, with permanent appointments set to be made before England's next Test against New Zealand, which starts on 2 June. 'Poor decision making and a lack of skill' England were the better team in the opening two Tests of the series but were unable to force victory on the final day. However, they were outplayed for large periods in the series decider in Grenada. Having been put in after losing the toss, they batted poorly and slipped to 90-8 before a 91-run last-wicket stand between Jack Leach and Saqib Mahmood hauled them to a more respectful 204. They reduced the hosts to 95-6 but were unable to wrap up the tail and gave up a 93-run deficit after the first innings, with Joshua da Silva making his maiden Test century. In their second innings, England were guilty of causing their own downfall with poor shot selections and a needless run out of Ben Foakes - to leave them 83-6, still 10 runs behind. They were eventually bowled out for 120, leaving the West Indies 28 to win, which they chased down in 4.5 overs. "It is a punch to take because for the majority of this series we have played so much good cricket," Root told BBC Sport. "It's a big frustration. We have put so much into this trip and I think our attitude has been exceptional - you can see it is clear as day there has been a big shift forward in a number of areas. "It is a body blow what happened yesterday but we have to take it on the chin and learn and not forget a lot of the good things we have done until now. "The guys have worked so hard and done so much good stuff throughout and some poor decision making and, at times a lack of skill, has probably just let us down when we really needed to stand up." Vote: Who should captain England in first New Zealand Test? After the Ashes series we asked you who you wanted to be England captain on this tour of West Indies. The vote saw 58% keeping faith with Root. Is that still the case now? Pick who you want to captain England in the first Test against New Zealand. If you are viewing this pag

Designer Abhishek Sharma presented his collection on the finale day of FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week, a constant at the fashion week’s lineup. His collection, titled ‘Crystalline Fern’, was inspired by the beauty of various crystallised mineral rocks and Indian ferns, merged to create varied textures in colours ranging from ashes of rose and rock crystal to opal, chalk, gypsum and jade. The eye-catching textures were achieved through printing, intricate cutwork, as well as embellishments. The show opened with a detailed, embellished creation with black latex tights and and moved on to draped maxis, saris, moulded cummerbunds for gowns, floor-length, long-sleeved coats and a selection lehenga, choli, dupatta trios. The designer’s expertise with draping was in display throughout the collection. The show closed on a surprising note as ace designer Rohit Bal, under whose protégé Sharma had worked for a decade before starting his eponymous label, strolled leisurely down the runway, wearing a white jacket with baggy trousers and an intricately embellished shirt with matching shawl. Talking about the show in an exclusive interaction with Chef Suvir Saran for indianexpress.com, Sharma says of his creations, “I have always followed my heart, whatever I have done is emotional. Whatever comes from the heart is always right.” He also added, “My fashion is for all; I don’t believe in gender specific, size or anything. My fashion is for everyone who feels happy from within.” Speaking to Saran, Rohit Bal said about Sharma’s work, “I have been saying for the last 10-15 years that this is one talent that is really, really special. It is not one that comes to our lives every day or every year or every decade, even.” https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/fashion/his-talent-is-one-that-is-really-special-showstopper-and-ace-designer-rohit-bal-on-abhishek-sharma-7838977/

Ukraine has accused Russia of forcibly relocating thousands of civilians from Mariupol, the strategic port city devastated by Russian shelling. Russia is housing an estimated 5,000 at a temporary camp in Bezimenne, east of Mariupol, seen in satellite images. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 40,000 had been moved from Ukraine to Russian-held territory without any coordination with Kyiv. A Mariupol refugee, now in Russia, said: "All of us were taken forcibly". Some Ukrainian officials describe Russia's actions as "deportations" to "filtration camps" - an echo of Russia's war in Chechnya, when thousands of Chechens were brutally interrogated in makeshift camps and many disappeared. It is an internationally-recognised abuse of human rights for a warring party to deport civilians to its territory. While 140,000 civilians have managed to escape from besieged Mariupol, another 170,000 are still trapped there, the city council says. Relentless Russian shelling for more than three weeks has reduced the city to ruins, its terrified civilians hiding in cellars, desperately short of water, food and medicine. The BBC is unable to independently verify the figures for civilians evacuated from Mariupol, or the number killed there. Relatively few Mariupol civilians have fled via the humanitarian corridors agreed by both sides. Ukraine says Russian troops continued shelling the evacuation routes, which were supposed to be safe. In parts of Mariupol captured by the Russians, reports suggest the civilians - hungry, thirsty and often sick - have little choice but to head out to Russian-controlled areas and Russia itself. Irina, one of the refugees, spoke to the BBC's Wyre Davies via Zoom from a relative's home in Russia. She said she and others sheltering in a bunker had been told to leave by Russian soldiers, for their own safety. The building was on fire after being shelled. They walked 4km (2.5 miles) to a Russian checkpoint, and from there were taken further east, to territory held by pro-Russian rebels of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR) breakaway region. "Once there, you were to decide whether you were going to stay in the DPR or go to Russia," she said. "Some elderly people that I know and whom I met at the distribution point did not know where they were headed and what for. They thought they would be able to stay in Rostov [in Russia] for a couple of months… and then maybe come back to Mariupol. "Instead, they were taken to Samara [north of Rostov, in southern Russia]. They said they had no idea what to do there, and the accommodation there is provided only for two weeks." Centuries-old ties between Russia and Ukraine mean that many Ukrainians have relatives in Russia. But it is not clear how many Mariupol refugees have gone willingly to Russia, whose army destroyed their city. Russia's government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported on 21 March that a long column of refugees' vehicles had taken more than two hours to reach Bezimenne, a coastal village 90km (56 miles) east of Mariupol. About 5,000 refugees are being housed there, in tents, a school and a club. The Russian emergencies ministry has sent aid and workers to the scene. On the way, the civilians were stopped by DPR rebels at checkpoints, who took their fingerprints and photographed them. "Their data is checked on a database of wanted criminals. One of the key problems is the shortage of sim cards and not everyone has a mobile phone," the Gazeta reported. Russia denies it is forcibly removing thousands of Ukrainians from their country. Mariupol's deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov told the BBC that in his city "some are dying from dehydration and lack of food; some are dying from lack of medicine, insulin". Many bodies have been left lying in the streets, as collecting them is so risky. "Russian soldiers just open [enter] this shelter and tell them: 'look, you have five minutes to evacuate in this direction. Just go, walk five or three or seven kilometres and the buses will transfer you to temporarily controlled territory [by Russia]. If you don't go this house will be bombed in an hour'," he said. Dozens of Mariupol refugees are staying in a sports centre in Taganrog, a Russian city between Mariupol and Rostov. Russian media report that hundreds have also been sent by train more than 1,000km (600 miles) north to the Russian regions of Yaroslavl and Ryazan. Ukraine's defence ministry says Russia is relocating Ukrainians from occupied areas en masse to distant parts of Russia, including Sakhalin in the far east. "After passing the filtration camps Ukrainians are sent to economically depressive areas of the Russian Federation. A number of northern regions are called as a final destination, in particular - Sakhalin. Ukrainians are 'offered' official employment through employment centres. Those who agree receive documents banning leaving Russian regions for two years," the ministry said on Facebook. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it "does not ever help organise or carry out forced evacuations", and has only helped in two evacuations - from Sumy, a besieged city in the north, to other Ukrainian-held territory. "This applies everywhere we work. We would not support any operation that would go against people's will and our principles," the ICRC said. Ukraine has urged the ICRC not to open an office in Rostov - something reportedly under discussion with the Russian Red Cross. Ukraine says it could be used to legitimise deportations. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60894142

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