<p>At least 13 people were killed while thousands were forced out of their homes, Brazilian authorities said Sunday after an extra-tropical&nbsp;cyclone tore through the southern region of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Thursday and Friday, torrential rains in dozens of towns in&nbsp;Rio Grande do Sul caused significant damage. The coastal town of Caraa with a population in excess of 8,000 was one of the worst hit on the cyclone's trail.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The situation in Caraa deeply worries us. It is essential that we can, in an organised way, quickly map the main affected areas and identify the people who need support,” said Rio Grande do Sul’s governor, Eduardo Leite, who visited the area.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-torrential-rain-inundates-southern-brazil-emergency-in-17-cities-539538"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;WION Climate Tracker: Torrential rain inundates southern Brazil; emergency in 17 cities</strong></a></p>

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<p>Leite added that in two days, the firefighters had rescued as many as 2,400 people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Our main objective at this first moment is to protect and save human lives. We are rescuing people who are stranded, locating missing people and giving all the support to the families,” he said.</p>

<p>Apart from the death toll touching 13, four remained missing in Carra, after the number was revised down from Saturday's tally of 20. According to local media reports, a four-month baby is among the fatalities.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/meteorologists-says-cyclone-biparjoys-remnant-may-help-advance-monsoon-over-east-india-605365"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Meteorologists says Cyclone Biparjoy's remnant may help advance monsoon over east India</strong></a></p>

<p>Meanwhile,<strong> </strong>in the town of Sao Leopoldo, over 3,700 people were left with mangled houses while 700 were evacuated preemptively from high-risk areas. Helicopters were also pressed into service to evacuate those stuck. The city of 240,000 inhabitants received 246 mm of rain in 18 hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The water came up to our waist inside the house. Thank God, the firemen arrived quickly and got us out on boats. It seemed like a nightmare," a woman was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>More rain expected this week</strong></h2>

<p>The already perilous situation may turn even more frightening as more rainfall and a plunge in temperatures in expected this week as well. Authorities fear that the situation might be exacerbated and impact the already sluggish rescue and rehabilitation process.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Climate change is showing its true effect in the South American nation. Over the last year and a half, Brazil has faced a series of deadly weather disasters, which experts say may become a regular occurrence going forward.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In February, earlier this year, a least 65 people died when&nbsp;torrential rain triggered floods and landslides in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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At least 13 people were killed while thousands were forced out of their homes, Brazilian authorities said Sunday after an extra-tropical cyclone tore through the southern region of the country.

At least 13 people were killed while thousands were forced out of their homes, Brazilian authorities said Sunday after an extra-tropical cyclone tore through the southern region of the country. On Thursday and Friday, torrential rains in dozens of towns in Rio Grande do Sul caused significant damage. The coastal town of Caraa with a population in excess of 8,000 was one of the worst hit on the cyclone's trail. “The situation in Caraa deeply worries us. It is essential that we can, in an organised way, quickly map the main affected areas and identify the people who need support,” said Rio Grande do Sul’s governor, Eduardo Leite, who visited the area. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Torrential rain inundates southern Brazil; emergency in 17 cities × Leite added that in two days, the firefighters had rescued as many as 2,400 people. “Our main objective at this first moment is to protect and save human lives. We are rescuing people who are stranded, locating missing people and giving all the support to the families,” he said. Apart from the death toll touching 13, four remained missing in Carra, after the number was revised down from Saturday's tally of 20. According to local media reports, a four-month baby is among the fatalities. Also read | Meteorologists says Cyclone Biparjoy's remnant may help advance monsoon over east India Meanwhile, in the town of Sao Leopoldo, over 3,700 people were left with mangled houses while 700 were evacuated preemptively from high-risk areas. Helicopters were also pressed into service to evacuate those stuck. The city of 240,000 inhabitants received 246 mm of rain in 18 hours. "The water came up to our waist inside the house. Thank God, the firemen arrived quickly and got us out on boats. It seemed like a nightmare," a woman was quoted as saying by AFP. More rain expected this week The already perilous situation may turn even more frightening as more rainfall and a plunge in temperatures in expected this week as well. Authorities fear that the situation might be exacerbated and impact the already sluggish rescue and rehabilitation process. Climate change is showing its true effect in the South American nation. Over the last year and a half, Brazil has faced a series of deadly weather disasters, which experts say may become a regular occurrence going forward. In February, earlier this year, a least 65 people died when torrential rain triggered floods and landslides in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Brazil battered by tropical cyclone, 13 dead, thousands displaced

<p>Italian tyremaker giant Pirelli has moved to block a Chinese state-owned company from taking control of the legacy brand. On Sunday, Pirelli issued a statement to its investors wherein it said the Italian government had ruled that only Camfin - a company controlled by Pirelli boss Marco Tronchetti Provera - could nominate candidates to be its chief executive.</p>

<p>Chinese&nbsp;chemical giant Sinochem has been the largest investor in Pirelli since 2015. It owns a 37 per cent stake in the 151-year-old Milan-based company, following a 2017 listing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2015, Pirelli was sold for $7.8 billion to a group of investors including ChemChina and Camfin. However, six years later, ChemChina was merged with the state-owned Sinochem. Apart from Sinochem, the Chinese government has an additional 9 per cent stake in Pirelli through its Silk Road investment fund.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The developments come in the light of Sinochem, earlier this year, informing the Italian government that it planned to renew and update an existing shareholder pact.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Afterwards, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, taking evasive measures, examined the agreement under the &nbsp;"Golden Power Procedure" rules - aimed at protecting businesses that are strategically important to the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, Meloni's office said the latest measures were&nbsp;“aimed at creating a network of measures to safeguard Pirelli’s independence and its management”.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-italy-exposes-chinas-underground-banking-network-570737"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Italy exposes China's underground banking network</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Italy working to slither out of BRI</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, Italy in 2019 became the only G7 country to join China's highly controversial and ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Since then, critics have argued that Rome may have served itself up on a platter to Beijing which could gain access to sensitive technologies and vital infrastructure for its own gains.</p>

<p>Meloni, however, has hinted that Italy&nbsp;intends to exit BRI. Her government intervening to limit the influence of a Chinese company in a legacy Italian brand was a test of resolve, experts argue, one that she may have passed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-china-attempts-image-building-italians-demand-payment-of-damages-289546"><strong>Also read | As China attempts image-building, Italians demand payment of damages</strong></a></p>

<p>China's relationship with the West has been on a downward slope in recent times. Akin to most European nations, Italy understands that it cannot sever trade and business ties with China altogether as it would be economically unsustainable. However, it is seeking avenues to limit the influence of the Asian country on strategic assets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Founded in 1872, Pirelli is one of Italy's most storied companies. It specialises in high-end tyres for premium carmakers like Ferrari, Porsche and BMW and is the sole supplier of Formula One cars.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Italian tyremaker giant Pirelli has moved to block a Chinese state-owned company from taking control of the legacy brand. On Sunday, Pirelli issued a statement to its investors wherein it said the Italian government had ruled that only Camfin - a company controlled by Pirelli boss Marco Tronchetti Provera - could nominate candidates to be its chief executive.

Italian tyremaker giant Pirelli has moved to block a Chinese state-owned company from taking control of the legacy brand. On Sunday, Pirelli issued a statement to its investors wherein it said the Italian government had ruled that only Camfin - a company controlled by Pirelli boss Marco Tronchetti Provera - could nominate candidates to be its chief executive. Chinese chemical giant Sinochem has been the largest investor in Pirelli since 2015. It owns a 37 per cent stake in the 151-year-old Milan-based company, following a 2017 listing. In 2015, Pirelli was sold for $7.8 billion to a group of investors including ChemChina and Camfin. However, six years later, ChemChina was merged with the state-owned Sinochem. Apart from Sinochem, the Chinese government has an additional 9 per cent stake in Pirelli through its Silk Road investment fund. The developments come in the light of Sinochem, earlier this year, informing the Italian government that it planned to renew and update an existing shareholder pact. Afterwards, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, taking evasive measures, examined the agreement under the "Golden Power Procedure" rules - aimed at protecting businesses that are strategically important to the country. In a statement, Meloni's office said the latest measures were “aimed at creating a network of measures to safeguard Pirelli’s independence and its management”. Watch | Gravitas: Italy exposes China's underground banking network × Italy working to slither out of BRI Notably, Italy in 2019 became the only G7 country to join China's highly controversial and ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Since then, critics have argued that Rome may have served itself up on a platter to Beijing which could gain access to sensitive technologies and vital infrastructure for its own gains. Meloni, however, has hinted that Italy intends to exit BRI. Her government intervening to limit the influence of a Chinese company in a legacy Italian brand was a test of resolve, experts argue, one that she may have passed. Also read | As China attempts image-building, Italians demand payment of damages China's relationship with the West has been on a downward slope in recent times. Akin to most European nations, Italy understands that it cannot sever trade and business ties with China altogether as it would be economically unsustainable. However, it is seeking avenues to limit the influence of the Asian country on strategic assets. Founded in 1872, Pirelli is one of Italy's most storied companies. It specialises in high-end tyres for premium carmakers like Ferrari, Porsche and BMW and is the sole supplier of Formula One cars. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Italian government's intervention blocks Chinese control of tyre giant Pirelli

<p>Ukrainian saboteurs may have been involved in the destruction of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline that was subjected to intense shelling earlier this month, according to classified German defence ministry documents accessed by The Bild.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report, citing experts from the German defence ministry claims that Ukrainians are sabotaging far beyond the line of contact in order to weaken the Russian forces. The report notes "participation of the Ukrainian side in the destruction of the pipeline [Togliatti-Odessa]" cannot be ruled out. It added that the facility was located in the territory controlled by the armed forces of Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Moscow blamed Kyiv for the attack</strong></h2>

<p>The revelation by the publication matches the version of the Russian authorities who had blamed Ukrainian forces for the destruction job.&nbsp;Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov claimed the attack on the pipeline&nbsp;was a terrorist act.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“At about 9:00 p.m. Moscow time on June 5, a Ukrainian subversive and reconnaissance group blew up the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline near the settlement of Masyutovka in the Kharkov Region. Civilians were injured as a result of this terrorist act,” the spokesman said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"At present ammonia residues are being blown out of the damaged sections of the pipeline from Ukrainian territory. There are no casualties among Russian servicemen," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The destroyed pipeline is the world's largest ammonia pipeline and sustained damage after heavy shelling in a contested part of the country's northeastern Kharkiv region.</p>

<p>Ammonia is a key ingredient used in nitrate fertiliser, of which Russia is a leading producer. However, ammonia&nbsp;is also highly toxic and can cause severe irritation of the lungs, throat, nose and eyes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-halting-black-sea-grain-deal-us-taiwan-trade-deal-599510"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Ukraine accuses Russia of halting Black sea grain deal | US-Taiwan trade deal</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Black Sea grain deal could be stalled</strong></h2>

<p>Reports state that the resumption of supplies via the Tolyatti-Odessa pipeline may be key to the renewal of the Black Sea grain export deal which was renewed in May. Moscow has already hinted that it is willing to pull out of the deal as "goodwill cannot be endless".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Work is ongoing, but to be honest we don't see any particularly positive prospects. Everything that was agreed on regarding us has not been fulfilled. The extension of the grain deal was a goodwill gesture. Russia has repeatedly made such gestures," said&nbsp;Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/goodwill-cannot-be-endless-russia-on-black-sea-grain-deal-extension-604787"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;'Goodwill cannot be endless...': Russia on Black Sea grain deal extension</strong></a></p>

<p>"But unfortunately, in the absence of reciprocity, the lack of desire on the part of the collective West to fulfil part of the agreements concerning Russia, this manifestation of goodwill and political will cannot be endless. That is why our exit from the deal after its expiry is being considered. But there is no decision yet," he added.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the claims made in the BILD report or those by the Russian authorities)</em></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Ukrainian saboteurs may have been involved in the destruction of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline that was subjected to intense shelling earlier this month, according to classified German defence ministry documents accessed by The Bild.

Ukrainian saboteurs may have been involved in the destruction of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline that was subjected to intense shelling earlier this month, according to classified German defence ministry documents accessed by The Bild. The report, citing experts from the German defence ministry claims that Ukrainians are sabotaging far beyond the line of contact in order to weaken the Russian forces. The report notes "participation of the Ukrainian side in the destruction of the pipeline [Togliatti-Odessa]" cannot be ruled out. It added that the facility was located in the territory controlled by the armed forces of Ukraine. Moscow blamed Kyiv for the attack The revelation by the publication matches the version of the Russian authorities who had blamed Ukrainian forces for the destruction job. Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov claimed the attack on the pipeline was a terrorist act. “At about 9:00 p.m. Moscow time on June 5, a Ukrainian subversive and reconnaissance group blew up the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline near the settlement of Masyutovka in the Kharkov Region. Civilians were injured as a result of this terrorist act,” the spokesman said. "At present ammonia residues are being blown out of the damaged sections of the pipeline from Ukrainian territory. There are no casualties among Russian servicemen," he added. The destroyed pipeline is the world's largest ammonia pipeline and sustained damage after heavy shelling in a contested part of the country's northeastern Kharkiv region. Ammonia is a key ingredient used in nitrate fertiliser, of which Russia is a leading producer. However, ammonia is also highly toxic and can cause severe irritation of the lungs, throat, nose and eyes. WATCH | Ukraine accuses Russia of halting Black sea grain deal | US-Taiwan trade deal × Black Sea grain deal could be stalled Reports state that the resumption of supplies via the Tolyatti-Odessa pipeline may be key to the renewal of the Black Sea grain export deal which was renewed in May. Moscow has already hinted that it is willing to pull out of the deal as "goodwill cannot be endless". "Work is ongoing, but to be honest we don't see any particularly positive prospects. Everything that was agreed on regarding us has not been fulfilled. The extension of the grain deal was a goodwill gesture. Russia has repeatedly made such gestures," said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Also read | 'Goodwill cannot be endless...': Russia on Black Sea grain deal extension "But unfortunately, in the absence of reciprocity, the lack of desire on the part of the collective West to fulfil part of the agreements concerning Russia, this manifestation of goodwill and political will cannot be endless. That is why our exit from the deal after its expiry is being considered. But there is no decision yet," he added. (Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the claims made in the BILD report or those by the Russian authorities) (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ukrainian saboteurs may have destroyed Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline: Reports

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<p>A Delta Airlines pilot was arrested by the police on suspicion of consuming too much alcohol just before he was scheduled to chauffeur a flight from Scotland to New York.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 61-year-old pilot was arrested at Edinburgh Airport around 10 am on Friday, 30 minutes before the Boeing 767 was scheduled to take off. The plane was to undertake a seven-hour journey to John F. Kennedy International Airport.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Delta confirms that one of its crew was taken into custody this morning at EDI Airport. Delta is assisting the authorities with their ongoing enquiries," said an airline spokesperson, confirming the arrest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to reports, the pilot was arrested after his blood alcohol level was found above the legal limit of 0.02, set under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003. After the arrest, the flight to New York was cancelled and the passengers re-accommodated.</p>

<p>“We apologise to customers impacted by this cancellation,” the spokesperson added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pilots getting arrested for being inebriated is not new news. In 2019, a 38-year-old Delta Airlines pilot from Rosemount was arrested and later pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanour count of operating or attempting to operate an aircraft under the influence of alcohol. The pilot had a blood alcohol level between 0.04 per cent and 0.08 per cent when detectives arrested him on a plane at the Minneapolis airport</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-business-news-us-company-debuts-all-electric-aircraft-520425" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | WION Business News | US company debuts all-electric aircraft</strong></a></p>

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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/delta-airlines-passenger-arrested-for-opening-emergency-door-deploying-exit-slide-at-lax-airport-576082#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<p>He received a sentence of 30 days of electric home monitoring and work release. A jail sentence of 335 days was stayed for two years, provided the pilot followed the guidelines of his sentence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similarly in 2016, a United Airlines pilot was arrested at Glasgow Airport for being intoxicated. He was later sentenced to 10 months in prison.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Delta Airlines remains in the news</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, this is not the first instance when Delta Airlines has made the news headlines this year. In March, a passenger aboard Delta Flight 1714 from Los Angeles to Seattle was arrested after opening one of the aircraft&nbsp;doors and sliding down the emergency exit slide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The plane was immediately stopped by the pilots as the man jumped onto the back of a baggage cart. The Delta staff nabbed the passenger before handing him over to the LAX Police.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/delta-airlines-passenger-arrested-for-opening-emergency-door-deploying-exit-slide-at-lax-airport-576082" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Delta Airlines passenger arrested for opening emergency door, deploying exit slide at LAX airport</strong></a></p>

<p>The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement and apologised for the inconvenience whilst adding that the rest of the passengers were escorted and moved to a new plane.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A Delta Airlines pilot was arrested by the police on suspicion of consuming too much alcohol just before he was scheduled to chauffeur a flight from Scotland to New York.

A Delta Airlines pilot was arrested by the police on suspicion of consuming too much alcohol just before he was scheduled to chauffeur a flight from Scotland to New York. The 61-year-old pilot was arrested at Edinburgh Airport around 10 am on Friday, 30 minutes before the Boeing 767 was scheduled to take off. The plane was to undertake a seven-hour journey to John F. Kennedy International Airport. “Delta confirms that one of its crew was taken into custody this morning at EDI Airport. Delta is assisting the authorities with their ongoing enquiries," said an airline spokesperson, confirming the arrest. According to reports, the pilot was arrested after his blood alcohol level was found above the legal limit of 0.02, set under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003. After the arrest, the flight to New York was cancelled and the passengers re-accommodated. “We apologise to customers impacted by this cancellation,” the spokesperson added. Pilots getting arrested for being inebriated is not new news. In 2019, a 38-year-old Delta Airlines pilot from Rosemount was arrested and later pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanour count of operating or attempting to operate an aircraft under the influence of alcohol. The pilot had a blood alcohol level between 0.04 per cent and 0.08 per cent when detectives arrested him on a plane at the Minneapolis airport WATCH | WION Business News | US company debuts all-electric aircraft × He received a sentence of 30 days of electric home monitoring and work release. A jail sentence of 335 days was stayed for two years, provided the pilot followed the guidelines of his sentence. Similarly in 2016, a United Airlines pilot was arrested at Glasgow Airport for being intoxicated. He was later sentenced to 10 months in prison. Delta Airlines remains in the news Notably, this is not the first instance when Delta Airlines has made the news headlines this year. In March, a passenger aboard Delta Flight 1714 from Los Angeles to Seattle was arrested after opening one of the aircraft doors and sliding down the emergency exit slide. The plane was immediately stopped by the pilots as the man jumped onto the back of a baggage cart. The Delta staff nabbed the passenger before handing him over to the LAX Police. Also read | Delta Airlines passenger arrested for opening emergency door, deploying exit slide at LAX airport The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement and apologised for the inconvenience whilst adding that the rest of the passengers were escorted and moved to a new plane. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Delta Airlines pilot arrested 30 minutes before flight for being drunk

<p>Fake reviews on e-commerce platforms have&nbsp;become one of the most persistent issues that online retailers across the globe have been facing over the past few years. A "cottage industry of fraudsters" has mushroomed on social media platforms and messaging apps, making the shopping experience, a nightmare, for both consumers as well as retailers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amazon, one of the biggest e-retailers in the game, had to block over 200 million fake reviews last year to keep the platform sanitised. It reported more than 23,000 groups that added fake reviews, with more than 46 million members, to social media platforms.</p>

<p>The company says the fake reviews were harming customers who are being "deceived about products they should or shouldn't be purchasing".</p>

<p>According to&nbsp;Dharmesh Mehta, head of the company’s customer trust team, it is a vicious cycle where these fraudsters are playing both galleries.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“They go to sellers and on the nefarious side say: ‘I can get you fake reviews’ – but many offer it as a marketing service and end up duping a small business who don’t know what is going on behind the scenes," Mehta told <em>The Guardian</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Then they go to a bunch of consumers and say: ‘Hey, if you leave a five-star review for this product, I’ll give it to you for free or a £25 gift card.’ So, they’re effectively buying a customer’s review on one side, and on the other hand, selling a marketing or review service to a brand or manufacturer," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/centre-to-develop-framework-to-check-fake-reviews-on-e-commerce-websites-482842"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Centre to develop framework to check fake reviews on e-commerce websites</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Amazon, Google receive rap on the knuckles&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA),&nbsp;a UK-based competition watchdog had last year accused the likes of Amazon and Google of not doing enough to nip the problem in the bud.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Our worry is that millions of online shoppers could be misled by reading fake reviews and then spending their money based on those recommendations,”&nbsp;said Andrea Coscelli, the chief executive of the CMA.</p>

<p>“Equally, it’s simply not fair if some businesses can fake five-star reviews to give their products or services the most prominence while law-abiding businesses lose out.”</p>

<p>Since then, the Jeff Bezos-owned platform has taken the lead in clipping the wings of fake reviewers. It has invested in machine learning models to detect fraudulent behaviour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We use machine learning to look for suspicious accounts, to track the relationships between a purchasing account that's leaving a review and someone selling that product," said Mehta.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/amazon-under-fire-for-exposing-warehouse-employees-to-risks-reports-38609-injuries-in-2022-wion-582009"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Amazon under fire for exposing warehouse employees to risks; reports 38,609 injuries in 2022 | WION</strong></a></p>

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<p>However, the company argues that social media platforms are extremely sluggish when it comes to acting on the intel provided. Amazon said it sued more than 10,000 Facebook group administrators who were found running fake review farms. When quizzed about the rampant presence of such groups on its platform, Meta said it continues to "invest in new technologies and methods to protect our users from this kind of content”.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Fake reviews on e-commerce platforms have become one of the most persistent issues that online retailers across the globe have been facing over the past few years.

Fake reviews on e-commerce platforms have become one of the most persistent issues that online retailers across the globe have been facing over the past few years. A "cottage industry of fraudsters" has mushroomed on social media platforms and messaging apps, making the shopping experience, a nightmare, for both consumers as well as retailers. Amazon, one of the biggest e-retailers in the game, had to block over 200 million fake reviews last year to keep the platform sanitised. It reported more than 23,000 groups that added fake reviews, with more than 46 million members, to social media platforms. The company says the fake reviews were harming customers who are being "deceived about products they should or shouldn't be purchasing". According to Dharmesh Mehta, head of the company’s customer trust team, it is a vicious cycle where these fraudsters are playing both galleries. “They go to sellers and on the nefarious side say: ‘I can get you fake reviews’ – but many offer it as a marketing service and end up duping a small business who don’t know what is going on behind the scenes," Mehta told The Guardian. “Then they go to a bunch of consumers and say: ‘Hey, if you leave a five-star review for this product, I’ll give it to you for free or a £25 gift card.’ So, they’re effectively buying a customer’s review on one side, and on the other hand, selling a marketing or review service to a brand or manufacturer," he added. Also read | Centre to develop framework to check fake reviews on e-commerce websites Amazon, Google receive rap on the knuckles The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a UK-based competition watchdog had last year accused the likes of Amazon and Google of not doing enough to nip the problem in the bud. “Our worry is that millions of online shoppers could be misled by reading fake reviews and then spending their money based on those recommendations,” said Andrea Coscelli, the chief executive of the CMA. “Equally, it’s simply not fair if some businesses can fake five-star reviews to give their products or services the most prominence while law-abiding businesses lose out.” Since then, the Jeff Bezos-owned platform has taken the lead in clipping the wings of fake reviewers. It has invested in machine learning models to detect fraudulent behaviour. "We use machine learning to look for suspicious accounts, to track the relationships between a purchasing account that's leaving a review and someone selling that product," said Mehta. WATCH | Amazon under fire for exposing warehouse employees to risks; reports 38,609 injuries in 2022 | WION × However, the company argues that social media platforms are extremely sluggish when it comes to acting on the intel provided. Amazon said it sued more than 10,000 Facebook group administrators who were found running fake review farms. When quizzed about the rampant presence of such groups on its platform, Meta said it continues to "invest in new technologies and methods to protect our users from this kind of content”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Amazon blames social media sites for allowing 'fake reviews' industry to boom

<p>Currently on a two-day trip to China, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was received by top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday who said Washington’s “erroneous perception” of China was the reason for the deteriorating ties between the two nations. Urging the US to 'reflect deeply', Wang added&nbsp;Taiwan remained a sovereign part of China and that no compromise was possible on the issue.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is necessary to make a choice between dialogue and confrontation, cooperation or conflict,"&nbsp;Wang told Blinken, according to&nbsp;Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“With an attitude of being responsible to the people, history and the world, we must reverse the downward spiral of Sino-US relations, push for a return to a healthy and stable track and work together to find a correct way for China and the United States to get along in the new era,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wang, whose position within the Communist party ranks above that of a foreign minister, held a three-hour-long meeting with Blinken, according to the State Department.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chinese leader urged the US to not assume that China was seeking dominance. He added that&nbsp;Washington should not “misjudge” Beijing based on&nbsp;trajectories of traditional Western powers.</p>

<p>“This is key as to whether the US policy towards China can truly return to objectivity and rationality."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/blinken-in-beijing-antony-blinken-likely-to-meet-president-xi-605859"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Blinken in Beijing: Antony Blinken likely to meet President Xi</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>No room to compromise: Wang on Taiwan issue</strong></h2>

<p>As for the Taiwan issue, Wang drew the line clearly and asked Washington to respect the country's sovereignty and oppose the island nation's independence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"On this issue, China has no room to compromise or concede," CCTV said. "The United States must truly adhere to the One China principle confirmed in the three joint US-China communiques, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and clearly oppose 'Taiwan independence'."</p>

<p>Since last year, the US has been ratcheting up the Taiwan issue aggressively. The visit by former House speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan last year and the reciprocal visit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to New York earlier this year have antagonised Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Blinken's shaky visit to China</strong></h2>

<p>Blinken became the first Washington diplomat in five years with the highest profile under US President Joe Biden to visit China. However, his visit, by the looks of it, has done little to nothing to mend the ties.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-ties-blinken-lands-in-beijing-ahead-of-modis-state-visit-to-the-us-growing-chip-wars-605641"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US-China ties: Blinken lands in Beijing ahead of Modi's state visit to the US, growing chip wars</strong></a></p>

<p>Beijing had foreshadowed its intentions of toeing a tough line in the lead-up to the visit.&nbsp;China's foreign minister Qin Gang had urged the US to stop meddling in its affairs and harming security in a phone call with Blinken last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Qin told Blinken to respect China's core concerns, such as the Taiwan issue, in an effort to arrest declining relations between the superpowers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Currently on a two-day trip to China, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was received by top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday who said Washington’s “erroneous perception” of China was the reason for the deteriorating ties between the two nations.

Currently on a two-day trip to China, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was received by top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday who said Washington’s “erroneous perception” of China was the reason for the deteriorating ties between the two nations. Urging the US to 'reflect deeply', Wang added Taiwan remained a sovereign part of China and that no compromise was possible on the issue. "It is necessary to make a choice between dialogue and confrontation, cooperation or conflict," Wang told Blinken, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. “With an attitude of being responsible to the people, history and the world, we must reverse the downward spiral of Sino-US relations, push for a return to a healthy and stable track and work together to find a correct way for China and the United States to get along in the new era,” he added. Wang, whose position within the Communist party ranks above that of a foreign minister, held a three-hour-long meeting with Blinken, according to the State Department. The Chinese leader urged the US to not assume that China was seeking dominance. He added that Washington should not “misjudge” Beijing based on trajectories of traditional Western powers. “This is key as to whether the US policy towards China can truly return to objectivity and rationality." WATCH | Blinken in Beijing: Antony Blinken likely to meet President Xi × No room to compromise: Wang on Taiwan issue As for the Taiwan issue, Wang drew the line clearly and asked Washington to respect the country's sovereignty and oppose the island nation's independence. "On this issue, China has no room to compromise or concede," CCTV said. "The United States must truly adhere to the One China principle confirmed in the three joint US-China communiques, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and clearly oppose 'Taiwan independence'." Since last year, the US has been ratcheting up the Taiwan issue aggressively. The visit by former House speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan last year and the reciprocal visit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to New York earlier this year have antagonised Beijing. Blinken's shaky visit to China Blinken became the first Washington diplomat in five years with the highest profile under US President Joe Biden to visit China. However, his visit, by the looks of it, has done little to nothing to mend the ties. Also read | US-China ties: Blinken lands in Beijing ahead of Modi's state visit to the US, growing chip wars Beijing had foreshadowed its intentions of toeing a tough line in the lead-up to the visit. China's foreign minister Qin Gang had urged the US to stop meddling in its affairs and harming security in a phone call with Blinken last week. Qin told Blinken to respect China's core concerns, such as the Taiwan issue, in an effort to arrest declining relations between the superpowers. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Blinken in China: US to blame for worsening ties, says Beijing, draws line on Taiwan issue

<p>A teenage student, studying at Delhi University was reportedly stabbed to death for objecting to his girlfriend being harassed by another student in the capital city of New Delhi on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident took place outside Aryabhatta College in South Campus and the victim has been identified as 19-year-old&nbsp;Nikhil Chauhan, a first-year BA (Political Science) student at the School of Open Learning (SOL).</p>

<p>According to a preliminary investigation by the police, a fight broke out between Nikhil and the other miscreants over a dispute regarding the girl last week. On Sunday, a&nbsp;group of four youths came on motorcycles, surrounded Nikhil and stabbed him in the chest to death.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;India's Supreme Court to examine 2016 demonetisation decision, asks govt, RBI to file affidavits</strong></p>

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<p>"About a week ago, one of the students in college misbehaved with his girlfriend. On Sunday, at 12:30 pm, the main accused from the same&nbsp;college along with 3 others met Nikhil outside the college gate and stabbed him,"&nbsp;said&nbsp;DCP (Southwest) Manoj C.</p>

<p>“We received a PCR call from Charak Palika Hospital at South Campus police station about the stabbing. The injured student was brought to the hospital by other students and locals. Nikhil was an SOL student," he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/several-billion-worth-currency-notes-unaccounted-for-at-indias-central-bank-report-605458"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;India's RBI refutes allegations of unaccounted currency notes worth billions, calls reports incorrect</strong></a>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>We knew about last week's incident: Nikhil's father</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, Nikhil's father&nbsp;Sanjay, speaking to the media said,&nbsp;“Police have told us nothing so far. We did not have a word with the police till now. Yesterday at 12pm, I received a call from the students who took my son to the hospital...police kept these students here (police station) throughout the night..."</p>

<p>“We knew he was in a fight a week ago over a girl. We supported him because he did nothing wrong and was helping his friend. We didn’t know he would be attacked… Police haven’t arrested anyone. I want justice for my son,” added Sanjay.</p>

<p>Two people including a school dropout have been apprehended by the police so far, according to news agency ANI. The first apprehended has been identified as Rahul, a first-year BA student while the second is his friend Haroon, a school dropout.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nikhil is survived by his two brothers and parents who live in West Delhi's Paschim Vihar area. Apart from pursuing his undergraduate degree, Nikhil worked as a part-time model as well. The family said he had participated in several modelling and acting competitions across the city.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A teenage student, studying at Delhi University was reportedly stabbed to death for objecting to his girlfriend being harassed by another student in the capital city of New Delhi on Sunday.

A teenage student, studying at Delhi University was reportedly stabbed to death for objecting to his girlfriend being harassed by another student in the capital city of New Delhi on Sunday. The incident took place outside Aryabhatta College in South Campus and the victim has been identified as 19-year-old Nikhil Chauhan, a first-year BA (Political Science) student at the School of Open Learning (SOL). According to a preliminary investigation by the police, a fight broke out between Nikhil and the other miscreants over a dispute regarding the girl last week. On Sunday, a group of four youths came on motorcycles, surrounded Nikhil and stabbed him in the chest to death. Also watch | India's Supreme Court to examine 2016 demonetisation decision, asks govt, RBI to file affidavits × "About a week ago, one of the students in college misbehaved with his girlfriend. On Sunday, at 12:30 pm, the main accused from the same college along with 3 others met Nikhil outside the college gate and stabbed him," said DCP (Southwest) Manoj C. “We received a PCR call from Charak Palika Hospital at South Campus police station about the stabbing. The injured student was brought to the hospital by other students and locals. Nikhil was an SOL student," he added. Also read | India's RBI refutes allegations of unaccounted currency notes worth billions, calls reports incorrect We knew about last week's incident: Nikhil's father Meanwhile, Nikhil's father Sanjay, speaking to the media said, “Police have told us nothing so far. We did not have a word with the police till now. Yesterday at 12pm, I received a call from the students who took my son to the hospital...police kept these students here (police station) throughout the night..." “We knew he was in a fight a week ago over a girl. We supported him because he did nothing wrong and was helping his friend. We didn’t know he would be attacked… Police haven’t arrested anyone. I want justice for my son,” added Sanjay. Two people including a school dropout have been apprehended by the police so far, according to news agency ANI. The first apprehended has been identified as Rahul, a first-year BA student while the second is his friend Haroon, a school dropout. Nikhil is survived by his two brothers and parents who live in West Delhi's Paschim Vihar area. Apart from pursuing his undergraduate degree, Nikhil worked as a part-time model as well. The family said he had participated in several modelling and acting competitions across the city. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Delhi University student stabbed for objecting to girlfriend's harassment

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<p>South African president Cyril Ramaphosa-led African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia has been off to a rocky start. Ramaphosa's head of security Major General Wally Rhoode has accused the Polish government of racism after the security detail and a contingent of journalists who were meant to accompany the president were not allowed to disembark the South African Airways (SAA) A340 chartered plane.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to reports, the plane had&nbsp;been stuck on the runway since 1 pm on Thursday, after it landed at the Warsaw Chopin Airport.</p>

<p>“They say we don’t have permits. We have permits; the only difference is now they say we can’t bring a copy of a permit, we must bring the original," said Rhoode in a video that has now gone viral on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“They are delaying us. They are putting the life of our president in jeopardy because we could have been in Kyiv this afternoon already and this is what they are doing; how racist they are…we were sabotaged while we were here,” Rhoode added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-ukraine-deliberately-hit-kakhovka-dam-with-himars-rockets-604095"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Putin claims Ukraine deliberately hit Kakhovka dam with HIMARS rockets</strong></a></p>

<p>South African news outlets said the cargo offloaded from the plane was reloaded due to fears of it being confiscated by the Polish authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The SA leader arrived in the European country as part of his African Peace Mission which is attempting to forge a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">[WATCH] Head of the Presidential Protection Services Major General Wally Rhoode, briefs the media meant to cover President Ramaphosa on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AfricanPeaceInitiative?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AfricanPeaceInitiative</a> about the delays and challenges encountered in Poland. <a href="https://t.co/Ux5AiIGyJp">pic.twitter.com/Ux5AiIGyJp</a></p>
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAgovnews/status/1669474893832781824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Ramaphosa lands in Kyiv</strong></h2>

<p>As per the latest update by Reuters, Ramaphosa and the peace mission arrived in Ukraine amid explosions and fire raids.&nbsp;Mayor Vitali Klitschko also reported explosions in the central Podil district and warned that more missiles were headed towards the capital.</p>

<p>The South African government, however, has not yet confirmed how the situation at the Warsaw airport was resolved.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ramaphosa is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. The first part of the trip may include a visit to the war-torn region of Bucha&nbsp;which is one of several places where Ukraine says Russian troops committed large-scale atrocities.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ramaphosa-security-chief-alleges-racism-by-polish-officials-amid-snafu-at-warsaw-airport-wion-605125" target="_blank"><strong>Watch | Ramaphosa security chief alleges racism by polish officials amid Snafu at Warsaw airport | WION</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from Ramaphosa, the peace mission includes leaders from Senegal, the Comoros and Egypt. After meeting Zelensky, the contingent is expected to hold the audience of Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The objective of the mission is "to promote the importance of peace and to encourage the parties to agree to a diplomacy-led process of negotiations".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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South African president Cyril Ramaphosa-led African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia has been off to a rocky start. Ramaphosa's head of security Major General Wally Rhoode has accused the Polish government of racism after the security detail and a contingent of journalists who were meant to accompany the president were not allowed to disembark the South African Airways (SAA) A340 chartered plane.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa-led African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia has been off to a rocky start. Ramaphosa's head of security Major General Wally Rhoode has accused the Polish government of racism after the security detail and a contingent of journalists who were meant to accompany the president were not allowed to disembark the South African Airways (SAA) A340 chartered plane. According to reports, the plane had been stuck on the runway since 1 pm on Thursday, after it landed at the Warsaw Chopin Airport. “They say we don’t have permits. We have permits; the only difference is now they say we can’t bring a copy of a permit, we must bring the original," said Rhoode in a video that has now gone viral on social media. “They are delaying us. They are putting the life of our president in jeopardy because we could have been in Kyiv this afternoon already and this is what they are doing; how racist they are…we were sabotaged while we were here,” Rhoode added. Also read | Putin claims Ukraine deliberately hit Kakhovka dam with HIMARS rockets South African news outlets said the cargo offloaded from the plane was reloaded due to fears of it being confiscated by the Polish authorities. The SA leader arrived in the European country as part of his African Peace Mission which is attempting to forge a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. [WATCH] Head of the Presidential Protection Services Major General Wally Rhoode, briefs the media meant to cover President Ramaphosa on the #AfricanPeaceInitiative about the delays and challenges encountered in Poland. pic.twitter.com/Ux5AiIGyJp — @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) June 15, 2023 × Ramaphosa lands in Kyiv As per the latest update by Reuters, Ramaphosa and the peace mission arrived in Ukraine amid explosions and fire raids. Mayor Vitali Klitschko also reported explosions in the central Podil district and warned that more missiles were headed towards the capital. The South African government, however, has not yet confirmed how the situation at the Warsaw airport was resolved. Ramaphosa is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. The first part of the trip may include a visit to the war-torn region of Bucha which is one of several places where Ukraine says Russian troops committed large-scale atrocities. Watch | Ramaphosa security chief alleges racism by polish officials amid Snafu at Warsaw airport | WION × Apart from Ramaphosa, the peace mission includes leaders from Senegal, the Comoros and Egypt. After meeting Zelensky, the contingent is expected to hold the audience of Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday. The objective of the mission is "to promote the importance of peace and to encourage the parties to agree to a diplomacy-led process of negotiations". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'How racist they are...': Ramaphosa security chief alleges sabotage by polish officials at Warsaw airport

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<p>Japan has become the latest country to alter its definition of rape. The Asian country has passed laws that redefine rape and raise the age of consent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moving forward, the definition of rape includes "non consensual sexual intercourse" which is a stark contrast to the previous definition of "forcible sexual intercourse". The Lower House of the Japanese parliament passed the bill last month and the Upper House did the same on Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, the legal window for reporting rape has been raised to 15 years from 10 years, to give survivors more time to come forward. The age of consent has been raised from 13, among the world's lowest, to 16 years old. Although a caveat has been added, which states that a person who has had sex with a minor aged 13 to 15 will only be punished if they are five or more years older than the minor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The language of the law lays down eight scenarios where an individual victim is unable to provide consent to sexual intercourse. These include the situation when the victim is intoxicated with alcohol or drugs or has been threatened using violence. Another scenario takes into measure the abuse of power, which usually occurs in place of work where refusal to engage in sexual acts with a powerful person can have devastating effects.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Japan, largely has been a conservative country where victims of sexual assaults are seen in a bad light. A 2021 government survey showed it is due to this stigma that only about six per cent of men and women reported an assault to the police, and nearly half of the women said they couldn’t do so because of “embarrassment”.</p>

<h2><strong>Changing rape definition works&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Changing the definition of rape has shown tangible results. In 2018, Sweden changed the legal definition rape to sex without consent, akin to the one in Japan. As a result, the National Council on Crime Prevention (Bra) noted that convictions had risen from 190 in 2017 to 333 in 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We were surprised there was such an increase. It’s a good sign. This has led to greater justice for victims of rape," Bra senior researcher Stina Holmberg said at the time.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-brings-legislation-to-ban-upskirting-secret-filming-of-sexual-acts-588161" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Japan brings legislation to ban upskirting, secret filming of sexual acts</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Japan attempts to keep sexual crimes in check</strong></h2>

<p>The Japanese government has been amending the laws to tackle increased sexual crimes. Last month, a bill was brought in that prohibits "upskirting" (taking pictures up a girl's skirt unbeknownst to her) and secret filming of sexual acts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The gropers, often called "chikan" in the local language, prey on women, especially in the famously crowded public transport system. For long, there had been demands from the public to bring a law making the offence punishable.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-millions-in-japan-told-to-take-immediate-cover-582258"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Millions in Japan told to take immediate cover</strong></a></p>

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<p>Reports state that anyone found violating the law could face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to $22,000 (Three million Japanese yen).</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Japan has become the latest country to alter its definition of rape. The Asian country has passed laws that redefine rape and raise the age of consent. Moving forward, the definition of rape includes "non consensual sexual intercourse" which is a stark contrast to the previous definition of "forcible sexual intercourse".

Japan has become the latest country to alter its definition of rape. The Asian country has passed laws that redefine rape and raise the age of consent. Moving forward, the definition of rape includes "non consensual sexual intercourse" which is a stark contrast to the previous definition of "forcible sexual intercourse". The Lower House of the Japanese parliament passed the bill last month and the Upper House did the same on Friday. Additionally, the legal window for reporting rape has been raised to 15 years from 10 years, to give survivors more time to come forward. The age of consent has been raised from 13, among the world's lowest, to 16 years old. Although a caveat has been added, which states that a person who has had sex with a minor aged 13 to 15 will only be punished if they are five or more years older than the minor. The language of the law lays down eight scenarios where an individual victim is unable to provide consent to sexual intercourse. These include the situation when the victim is intoxicated with alcohol or drugs or has been threatened using violence. Another scenario takes into measure the abuse of power, which usually occurs in place of work where refusal to engage in sexual acts with a powerful person can have devastating effects. Japan, largely has been a conservative country where victims of sexual assaults are seen in a bad light. A 2021 government survey showed it is due to this stigma that only about six per cent of men and women reported an assault to the police, and nearly half of the women said they couldn’t do so because of “embarrassment”. Changing rape definition works Changing the definition of rape has shown tangible results. In 2018, Sweden changed the legal definition rape to sex without consent, akin to the one in Japan. As a result, the National Council on Crime Prevention (Bra) noted that convictions had risen from 190 in 2017 to 333 in 2019. “We were surprised there was such an increase. It’s a good sign. This has led to greater justice for victims of rape," Bra senior researcher Stina Holmberg said at the time. Also read | Japan brings legislation to ban upskirting, secret filming of sexual acts Japan attempts to keep sexual crimes in check The Japanese government has been amending the laws to tackle increased sexual crimes. Last month, a bill was brought in that prohibits "upskirting" (taking pictures up a girl's skirt unbeknownst to her) and secret filming of sexual acts. The gropers, often called "chikan" in the local language, prey on women, especially in the famously crowded public transport system. For long, there had been demands from the public to bring a law making the offence punishable. WATCH | Gravitas: Millions in Japan told to take immediate cover × Reports state that anyone found violating the law could face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to $22,000 (Three million Japanese yen). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Japan alters definition of rape after passing landmark bill in parliament

<p>The Greek authorities have arrested nine survivors from the fishing boat that capsized and sank 80 kilometres off the country's coast. They have been arrested on suspicions of belonging to the smuggling ring that had arranged the fateful voyage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The nine arrested are all Egyptian nationals and include the captain of the dilapidated vessel.&nbsp;They were rounded up from the port of Kalamata where the survivors are being cared for at the moment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The arrests were a result of two days of interviews with the survivors, "cross-referencing the information and honing down the possibilities of who among the survivors might have been part of the trafficking ring that profited from this enterprise and the profits are enormous", according to an Al-Jazeera report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The publication stated that going by the assessment of one of the migrants on the boat, everyone on board paid at least $4,000 to $5,000 to undertake the voyage,&nbsp;meaning, the entire ship and its human cargo was worth in excess of $3.5 million.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The boat was spotted in international waters late on Tuesday by an aircraft that belonged to the European Union border agency Frontex, around 50 miles (80 km) southwest of the town of Pylos in southern Greece, said the coast guard. The boat was headed to Italy.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-die-several-missing-after-boat-capsizes-and-sinks-off-greece-604406"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;At least 78 die, several missing after boat capsizes and sinks off Greece</strong></a></p>

<p>As per AFP reports, the rescue operation included navy vessels, an army plane, a helicopter and six other boats that were in the area.</p>

<p>"Since very early Wednesday, an extensive rescue operation is underway off Pylos, after a fishing boat capsized with a large number of migrants onboard," the coast guard said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/greece-declares-three-days-mourning-over-migrant-boat-tragedy-604817"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Greece declares three days' mourning over migrant boat tragedy</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>100 children were onboard</strong></h2>

<p>The authorities fear that by the time the rescue operation concludes, the death toll could run into hundreds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are witnessing one of the biggest tragedies in the Mediterranean and the numbers announced by the authorities are devastating," the UN International Organization for Migration said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Survivors say the boat was practically packed in every corner and had no lifeboats or any safety measures in place. Some unconfirmed reports say as many as 750 people were onboard including 100 children.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The fishing boat was 25-30 metres long. Its deck was full of people, and we assume the interior was just as full," a coastguard spokesperson said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The Greek authorities have arrested nine survivors from the fishing boat that capsized and sank 80 kilometres off the country's coast. They have been arrested on suspicions of belonging to the smuggling ring that had arranged the fateful voyage.

The Greek authorities have arrested nine survivors from the fishing boat that capsized and sank 80 kilometres off the country's coast. They have been arrested on suspicions of belonging to the smuggling ring that had arranged the fateful voyage. The nine arrested are all Egyptian nationals and include the captain of the dilapidated vessel. They were rounded up from the port of Kalamata where the survivors are being cared for at the moment. The arrests were a result of two days of interviews with the survivors, "cross-referencing the information and honing down the possibilities of who among the survivors might have been part of the trafficking ring that profited from this enterprise and the profits are enormous", according to an Al-Jazeera report. The publication stated that going by the assessment of one of the migrants on the boat, everyone on board paid at least $4,000 to $5,000 to undertake the voyage, meaning, the entire ship and its human cargo was worth in excess of $3.5 million. The boat was spotted in international waters late on Tuesday by an aircraft that belonged to the European Union border agency Frontex, around 50 miles (80 km) southwest of the town of Pylos in southern Greece, said the coast guard. The boat was headed to Italy. Also read | At least 78 die, several missing after boat capsizes and sinks off Greece As per AFP reports, the rescue operation included navy vessels, an army plane, a helicopter and six other boats that were in the area. "Since very early Wednesday, an extensive rescue operation is underway off Pylos, after a fishing boat capsized with a large number of migrants onboard," the coast guard said. Watch | Greece declares three days' mourning over migrant boat tragedy × 100 children were onboard The authorities fear that by the time the rescue operation concludes, the death toll could run into hundreds. "We are witnessing one of the biggest tragedies in the Mediterranean and the numbers announced by the authorities are devastating," the UN International Organization for Migration said. Survivors say the boat was practically packed in every corner and had no lifeboats or any safety measures in place. Some unconfirmed reports say as many as 750 people were onboard including 100 children. “The fishing boat was 25-30 metres long. Its deck was full of people, and we assume the interior was just as full," a coastguard spokesperson said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nine Egyptian nationals arrested for trafficking after Greece migrant ship tragedy

<p>"War has no winners" is an adage that has been espoused since time immemorial to describe the futility of it. One saw it unfold on camera when a Russian soldier, left alone on the battlefield after his whole unit was decimated, pleaded desperately to the Ukrainian side or in this case, a drone, to spare him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>30-year-old Ruslan Anitin was one of the sole survivors after his platoon, stationed near the eastern city of Bakhmut was killed by Ukrainian drone and mortar attacks recently.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The drone footage has now emerged, showing Anitin haphazardly standing up without his rifle and gesturing towards the drone and asking pilots to spare his life if he surrendered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I thought I would end up staying in that trench forever,” Anitin was quoted as saying by The Washington Post.</p>

<p>The Ukrainian drone pilots were suspicious initially, fearing it was another trap by the Russian soldiers. However, after monitoring Anitin's body language, they started conversing by moving the drone up and down for yes, left and right for no.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-ukraine-deliberately-hit-kakhovka-dam-with-himars-rockets-604095"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Putin claims Ukraine deliberately hit Kakhovka dam with HIMARS rockets</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>I felt sorry for him: Ukrainian drone operator</strong></h2>

<p>An assault drone was nearby to complete the kill but the drone's pilot, whose call sign is Boxer, decided to spare the life of his enemy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Despite that he is an enemy, even though he has killed our boys, I still felt sorry for him,” said Boxer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Boxer used a Sharpie marker to write in Russian on the packaging of his food rations: “Surrender follow the drone" and dropped it in front of the soldier. Anitin quickly jumped, grabbed the paper and started following the instructions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Once Anitin agreed, he was guided for over an hour through the trenches with discarded grenades, rifles and lifeless bodies of Russian soldiers lying in them. During the trek, he came perilously close to a couple of grenade blasts, allegedly conducted by his own side.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>(Disclaimer: Video may be distressing for some. Please proceed at your own caution)</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On May 9, drone telepilots of the "CODE 9.2" team of the 3rd battalion of the 92nd brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine helped save the life of Russian serviceman Ruslan Anitin near Bakhmut<br />
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When the drone prepared to attack him, the corporal showed signs that he was asking to… <a href="https://t.co/iwE4K4fujo">pic.twitter.com/iwE4K4fujo</a></p>
— Lew Anno Suport #Ukraine 24/2-22 (@anno1540) <a href="https://twitter.com/anno1540/status/1657483934278602752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Eventually, Anitin managed to reach across the enemy lines. Before entering the Ukrainian trench, Anitin raised his hands above his head and removed the helmet and flak jacket. He was later pinned to the ground by the Ukrainian soldiers who loaded him into a truck.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Russian was later sent to the Kharkiv region while the Ukraine side captured the trench where Anitin had been stationed, a week later.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-studying-has-become-extremely-difficult-for-ukrainian-children-604980">Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: Studying has become extremely difficult for Ukrainian children</a></strong></p>

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<p>Anitin, who was drafted into the Army after the war began and did not even say goodbye to his three-year-old daughter, still wanted to return home, even if it meant being put behind bars for being a deserter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Let them lock me up,” he said. “I’d like to return home to my family, and never experience the sorts of things that I have seen here.”</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video or the claims made in the news article)</em></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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"War has no winners" is an adage that has been espoused since time immemorial to describe the futility of it. One saw it unfold on camera when a Russian soldier, left alone on the battlefield after his whole unit was decimated, pleaded desperately to the Ukrainian side or in this case, a drone, to spare him.

"War has no winners" is an adage that has been espoused since time immemorial to describe the futility of it. One saw it unfold on camera when a Russian soldier, left alone on the battlefield after his whole unit was decimated, pleaded desperately to the Ukrainian side or in this case, a drone, to spare him. 30-year-old Ruslan Anitin was one of the sole survivors after his platoon, stationed near the eastern city of Bakhmut was killed by Ukrainian drone and mortar attacks recently. The drone footage has now emerged, showing Anitin haphazardly standing up without his rifle and gesturing towards the drone and asking pilots to spare his life if he surrendered. “I thought I would end up staying in that trench forever,” Anitin was quoted as saying by The Washington Post. The Ukrainian drone pilots were suspicious initially, fearing it was another trap by the Russian soldiers. However, after monitoring Anitin's body language, they started conversing by moving the drone up and down for yes, left and right for no. Also read | Putin claims Ukraine deliberately hit Kakhovka dam with HIMARS rockets I felt sorry for him: Ukrainian drone operator An assault drone was nearby to complete the kill but the drone's pilot, whose call sign is Boxer, decided to spare the life of his enemy. "Despite that he is an enemy, even though he has killed our boys, I still felt sorry for him,” said Boxer. Boxer used a Sharpie marker to write in Russian on the packaging of his food rations: “Surrender follow the drone" and dropped it in front of the soldier. Anitin quickly jumped, grabbed the paper and started following the instructions. Once Anitin agreed, he was guided for over an hour through the trenches with discarded grenades, rifles and lifeless bodies of Russian soldiers lying in them. During the trek, he came perilously close to a couple of grenade blasts, allegedly conducted by his own side. (Disclaimer: Video may be distressing for some. Please proceed at your own caution) On May 9, drone telepilots of the "CODE 9.2" team of the 3rd battalion of the 92nd brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine helped save the life of Russian serviceman Ruslan Anitin near Bakhmut When the drone prepared to attack him, the corporal showed signs that he was asking to… pic.twitter.com/iwE4K4fujo — Lew Anno Suport #Ukraine 24/2-22 (@anno1540) May 13, 2023 × Eventually, Anitin managed to reach across the enemy lines. Before entering the Ukrainian trench, Anitin raised his hands above his head and removed the helmet and flak jacket. He was later pinned to the ground by the Ukrainian soldiers who loaded him into a truck. The Russian was later sent to the Kharkiv region while the Ukraine side captured the trench where Anitin had been stationed, a week later. Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: Studying has become extremely difficult for Ukrainian children × Anitin, who was drafted into the Army after the war began and did not even say goodbye to his three-year-old daughter, still wanted to return home, even if it meant being put behind bars for being a deserter. “Let them lock me up,” he said. “I’d like to return home to my family, and never experience the sorts of things that I have seen here.” (Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video or the claims made in the news article) (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

VIDEO | Entire platoon gone, lone Russian soldier 'pleads and surrenders' before Ukrainian drone

<p>Australian Liberal party leader Peter Dutton has called upon his colleague Senator David Van to resign from the parliament after a third allegation of inappropriate touching surfaced against him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dutton said he learned about the fresh allegation on Thursday (15 June), the same day he expelled Van from the party room.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I think it’s in everyone’s best interests that he resign from the parliament sooner than later and seek the help that he needs. I think that would be an appropriate next step,” said&nbsp;Dutton.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I made a decision yesterday based on all of the information that was available to me. It had come to me overnight and on that morning, I raised it with him. I made a decision and that’s a decision I don’t regret at all," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-lawmaker-david-van-suspended-after-accused-of-sexual-assault-by-female-senator-604901"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Australian lawmaker David Van suspended amid accusations of sexual assault by female senator</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>The sexual assault allegations</strong></h2>

<p>Amanda Stoker, a former Liberal senator was one of the first to allege that Van had inappropriately touched her at a public event in November 2020 by squeezing her bottom twice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“He apologised and said he would never do it again. I accepted his apology and his undertaking. Contemporaneous notes of the meeting were taken and it never happened again,” she said.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, independent Senator Lidia Thorpe alleged in the parliament that she had been “inappropriately touched” and “inappropriately propositioned by powerful men” during her time in the Senate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I experienced sexual comments and was inappropriately propositioned by powerful men. One man followed me and cornered me in a stairwell, and most of this was witnessed by his staff and fellow members of parliament,” she claimed.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Australian senator Lidia Thorpe alleges sexual assault in Parliament house</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-senator-lidia-thorpe-alleges-sexual-assault-in-parliament-house-604836/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Although Thorpe said she would not pursue legal action or take her claims to the police, she called on the Labor government to increase security in the Parliament House.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Van said the allegations were 'disgraceful' when quizzed if&nbsp;Dutton's decision against him was fair.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I think the allegations made have been disgraceful. I think the way they have been made is disgraceful. To hide under parliamentary privilege I think is a terrible thing to do,” Van told journalists after arriving at Melbourne airport.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It’s the worst that’s ever...I could not imagine ever being, these allegations being made against me," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also went on to accuse the independent senator of “bringing the Senate into disrepute” and “cowering under the umbrella of parliamentary privilege”.</p>

<p>Despite being removed from the&nbsp;party room, Van's association with the Liberal party is not yet over. His future with the party rests with the Victorian branch, to which he belongs. However, pressure has been rising on the party members to get rid of Van and cut its losses.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Australian Liberal party leader Peter Dutton has called upon his colleague Senator David Van to resign from the parliament after a third allegation of inappropriate touching surfaced against him.

Australian Liberal party leader Peter Dutton has called upon his colleague Senator David Van to resign from the parliament after a third allegation of inappropriate touching surfaced against him. Dutton said he learned about the fresh allegation on Thursday (15 June), the same day he expelled Van from the party room. “I think it’s in everyone’s best interests that he resign from the parliament sooner than later and seek the help that he needs. I think that would be an appropriate next step,” said Dutton. “I made a decision yesterday based on all of the information that was available to me. It had come to me overnight and on that morning, I raised it with him. I made a decision and that’s a decision I don’t regret at all," he added. Also read | Australian lawmaker David Van suspended amid accusations of sexual assault by female senator The sexual assault allegations Amanda Stoker, a former Liberal senator was one of the first to allege that Van had inappropriately touched her at a public event in November 2020 by squeezing her bottom twice. “He apologised and said he would never do it again. I accepted his apology and his undertaking. Contemporaneous notes of the meeting were taken and it never happened again,” she said. On Wednesday, independent Senator Lidia Thorpe alleged in the parliament that she had been “inappropriately touched” and “inappropriately propositioned by powerful men” during her time in the Senate. “I experienced sexual comments and was inappropriately propositioned by powerful men. One man followed me and cornered me in a stairwell, and most of this was witnessed by his staff and fellow members of parliament,” she claimed. ALSO WATCH | Australian senator Lidia Thorpe alleges sexual assault in Parliament house Although Thorpe said she would not pursue legal action or take her claims to the police, she called on the Labor government to increase security in the Parliament House. Meanwhile, Van said the allegations were 'disgraceful' when quizzed if Dutton's decision against him was fair. “I think the allegations made have been disgraceful. I think the way they have been made is disgraceful. To hide under parliamentary privilege I think is a terrible thing to do,” Van told journalists after arriving at Melbourne airport. “It’s the worst that’s ever...I could not imagine ever being, these allegations being made against me," he added. He also went on to accuse the independent senator of “bringing the Senate into disrepute” and “cowering under the umbrella of parliamentary privilege”. Despite being removed from the party room, Van's association with the Liberal party is not yet over. His future with the party rests with the Victorian branch, to which he belongs. However, pressure has been rising on the party members to get rid of Van and cut its losses. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Australian senator urged to resign after third inappropriate touching allegation surfaces

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