<p>A Kenyan lion named Loonkiito,&nbsp;believed to be the world's oldest, has died after he was brutally&nbsp;impaled by Maasai morans (warriors) on Wednesday (May 10) night, according to local wildlife officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Loonkiito, who was 19 years old,&nbsp;died in the&nbsp;Olkelunyiet village, located in southern Kenya, bordering Amboseli National Park, while preying upon livestock. The village is famous for being the best place in Africa where tourists can get close to freely roaming wild elephants and other wildlife species.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lion Guardians, a Maasai-operated conservation group, took to Instagram and informed about&nbsp;Loonkiito's demise, referring to him as the "oldest male lion in their ecosystem and possibly in Africa".</p>

<p>"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Loonkiito (2004-2023), the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa. He died yesterday, on the 10th of May 2023 at 19 years old," read the caption.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He was a symbol of resilience and coexistence. We at Lion Guardians feel privileged to have borne witness to his life and his legacy. In the following weeks and months, we hope to share the extraordinary story of Loonkiito’s life with the world."</p>

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<p>The king of the jungle was killed because he ventured too close to human settlement. A combination of factors, primarily the drought and lack of food in the forest led the lion to hunt livestock as a last resort.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In desperation, lions often turn to take livestock," the group added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-south-african-rhino-poaching-drops-conservation-efforts-are-paying-off-509865" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: South African Rhino poaching drops; conservation efforts are paying off</strong></a></p>

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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/this-indian-state-is-opening-up-another-sanctuary-for-asiatic-lions-as-numbers-grow-exponentially-572574#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<h2><strong>Loonkiito was an aberration&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>According to experts, most lions do not live beyond 13 years in the wild, which made&nbsp;Loonkiito an anomaly. Though it is not confirmed by the Kenyan government if he was the oldest lion on the continent, his death has certainly made an impact and shows the increasing friction between man and animals.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/this-indian-state-is-opening-up-another-sanctuary-for-asiatic-lions-as-numbers-grow-exponentially-572574"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;THIS Indian state is opening up another sanctuary for Asiatic lions as numbers grow exponentially</strong></a></p>

<p>Paula Kahumbu, a wildlife conservationist and chief executive officer of WildlifeDirect, told BBC she was pained by the death of&nbsp;Loonkiito.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is the breaking point for human-wildlife conflict and we need to do more as a country to preserve lions, which are facing extinction," said Kahumbu.</p>

<p>Notably, apart from Africa, the majestic big cats are only found in India's Gir National Park in the western state of Gujarat.&nbsp;</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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A Kenyan lion named Loonkiito, believed to be the world's oldest, has died after he was brutally impaled by Maasai morans (warriors) on Wednesday (May 10) night, according to local wildlife officials.

A Kenyan lion named Loonkiito, believed to be the world's oldest, has died after he was brutally impaled by Maasai morans (warriors) on Wednesday (May 10) night, according to local wildlife officials. Loonkiito, who was 19 years old, died in the Olkelunyiet village, located in southern Kenya, bordering Amboseli National Park, while preying upon livestock. The village is famous for being the best place in Africa where tourists can get close to freely roaming wild elephants and other wildlife species. Lion Guardians, a Maasai-operated conservation group, took to Instagram and informed about Loonkiito's demise, referring to him as the "oldest male lion in their ecosystem and possibly in Africa". "It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Loonkiito (2004-2023), the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa. He died yesterday, on the 10th of May 2023 at 19 years old," read the caption. "He was a symbol of resilience and coexistence. We at Lion Guardians feel privileged to have borne witness to his life and his legacy. In the following weeks and months, we hope to share the extraordinary story of Loonkiito’s life with the world." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lion Guardians (@lionguardians_) × The king of the jungle was killed because he ventured too close to human settlement. A combination of factors, primarily the drought and lack of food in the forest led the lion to hunt livestock as a last resort. "In desperation, lions often turn to take livestock," the group added. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: South African Rhino poaching drops; conservation efforts are paying off × Loonkiito was an aberration According to experts, most lions do not live beyond 13 years in the wild, which made Loonkiito an anomaly. Though it is not confirmed by the Kenyan government if he was the oldest lion on the continent, his death has certainly made an impact and shows the increasing friction between man and animals. ALSO READ | THIS Indian state is opening up another sanctuary for Asiatic lions as numbers grow exponentially Paula Kahumbu, a wildlife conservationist and chief executive officer of WildlifeDirect, told BBC she was pained by the death of Loonkiito. "This is the breaking point for human-wildlife conflict and we need to do more as a country to preserve lions, which are facing extinction," said Kahumbu. Notably, apart from Africa, the majestic big cats are only found in India's Gir National Park in the western state of Gujarat. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Wild lion Loonkiito, believed to be world‘s oldest, impaled to death in Kenya

<p>On Thursday, a court jury in South Florida ruled that McDonald's and its franchise holder were responsible for the second-degree burns that a little girl suffered after a flaming-hot&nbsp;Chicken McNugget fell on her thigh in 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The jury decision was split as it found the&nbsp;franchise holder liable for negligence and failure to warn customers about the risk of hot food and McDonald's USA for providing proper instructions regarding the safe handling of the food. However,&nbsp;McDonald's USA was not found negligent and the jury dismissed the argument that the company's product was defective.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A second jury will now sit to determine how much McDonald's USA and the franchise owner owe to the child and her mother, according to The Associated Press.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Our sympathies go out to this family for what occurred in this unfortunate incident, as we hold customer safety as one of our highest priorities,”&nbsp;McDonald’s owner-operator Brent Upchurch said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are deeply disappointed with today’s verdict because the facts show that our restaurant in Tamarac, Florida did indeed follow those protocols when cooking and serving this Happy Meal.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mcdonalds-temporarily-shuts-us-offices-to-announce-layoffs-578446"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;McDonald's temporarily shuts US offices, to announce layoffs</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>The 2019 incident&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The incident transpired in August 2019 when&nbsp;Philana Holmes took her son and daughter to a&nbsp;Tamarac McDonald’s and bought the Happy Meals. However, she received no warning that the food might be scalding. After receiving the food from the drive-thru window, she passed it along to her daughter and son in the back seat and drove away.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Her daughter, identified in court as Olivia Caraballo, an autistic child who was four years old at the time, did not testify during the trial. However, according to&nbsp;Holmes' version, she did not realise at first why her daughter was screaming in the back. Upon pulling up into a nearby parking lot to help&nbsp;the child, she noticed the burn and&nbsp;took photos on her iPhone, which included audio clips of the child’s screams.</p>

<p>Both the photo and the audio were presented during the trial. The attorneys representing the fast-food giant, however, argued that food had to be hot to avoid&nbsp;salmonella poisoning. They added that&nbsp;nuggets were not meant to be pressed between a seat belt and human flesh for more than two minutes.</p>

<p>Though both sides agreed that the nugget was the cause of the burns, the family's lawyers argued that the temperature was above 93 Celsius while McDonald's said it was no more than 71 Celsius.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/finally-mcdonalds-in-chicago-introduces-indias-favourite-mcaloo-tikki-on-its-menu-netizens-share-joy-574316"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Finally! McDonald's in Chicago introduces India's favourite 'McAloo Tikki' on its menu, netizens share joy</strong></a></p>

<p>The case is reminiscent of the 1992&nbsp;Stella Liebeck case when she received $2.7 million in punitive damages after a McDonald's hot coffee spilled into her lap - burning her legs, groin and buttocks.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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On Thursday, a court jury in South Florida ruled that McDonald's and its franchise holder were responsible for the second-degree burns that a little girl suffered after a flaming-hot Chicken McNugget fell on her thigh in 2019.

On Thursday, a court jury in South Florida ruled that McDonald's and its franchise holder were responsible for the second-degree burns that a little girl suffered after a flaming-hot Chicken McNugget fell on her thigh in 2019. The jury decision was split as it found the franchise holder liable for negligence and failure to warn customers about the risk of hot food and McDonald's USA for providing proper instructions regarding the safe handling of the food. However, McDonald's USA was not found negligent and the jury dismissed the argument that the company's product was defective. A second jury will now sit to determine how much McDonald's USA and the franchise owner owe to the child and her mother, according to The Associated Press. “Our sympathies go out to this family for what occurred in this unfortunate incident, as we hold customer safety as one of our highest priorities,” McDonald’s owner-operator Brent Upchurch said in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed with today’s verdict because the facts show that our restaurant in Tamarac, Florida did indeed follow those protocols when cooking and serving this Happy Meal.” WATCH | McDonald's temporarily shuts US offices, to announce layoffs × The 2019 incident The incident transpired in August 2019 when Philana Holmes took her son and daughter to a Tamarac McDonald’s and bought the Happy Meals. However, she received no warning that the food might be scalding. After receiving the food from the drive-thru window, she passed it along to her daughter and son in the back seat and drove away. Her daughter, identified in court as Olivia Caraballo, an autistic child who was four years old at the time, did not testify during the trial. However, according to Holmes' version, she did not realise at first why her daughter was screaming in the back. Upon pulling up into a nearby parking lot to help the child, she noticed the burn and took photos on her iPhone, which included audio clips of the child’s screams. Both the photo and the audio were presented during the trial. The attorneys representing the fast-food giant, however, argued that food had to be hot to avoid salmonella poisoning. They added that nuggets were not meant to be pressed between a seat belt and human flesh for more than two minutes. Though both sides agreed that the nugget was the cause of the burns, the family's lawyers argued that the temperature was above 93 Celsius while McDonald's said it was no more than 71 Celsius. ALSO READ | Finally! McDonald's in Chicago introduces India's favourite 'McAloo Tikki' on its menu, netizens share joy The case is reminiscent of the 1992 Stella Liebeck case when she received $2.7 million in punitive damages after a McDonald's hot coffee spilled into her lap - burning her legs, groin and buttocks. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

McDonald's found liable for scalding Chicken McNugget that burned girl, rules jury

<p>The Allahabad High Court on Friday set aside a lower court order and directed the authorities to conduct a 'scientific survey', including carbon dating of the ‘shivling’&nbsp;(a&nbsp;sacred Hindu symbol of Lord Shiva) that was discovered last year&nbsp;at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic survey.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the Hindu side claims the structure is a ‘shivling’, the Muslim side contends it is part of a fountain.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In October 2022, the Varanasi district court had rejected the demand for carbon dating the structure.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;Justice Arvind Kumar Mishra not only accepted the&nbsp;revision petition filed by Laxmi Devi and three others against the district court order but also directed the&nbsp;Varanasi district judge to proceed in accordance with the law on the application by Hindu worshippers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The district judge passed the order without any basis as it should have called for expert opinion from&nbsp;Archaeological Survey of India&nbsp;(ASI) on whether carbon dating of the shivling could be done without causing any harm. Therefore, the order should be quashed," argued Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain who appeared for the revisionists.</p>

<p>“The High Court has agreed to our prayer for a scientific probe of the shivling that was found inside the so-called mosque complex. The Muslim side says it is a fountain. We say it is a shivling. The court has ordered that without any damage to the shivling, analysis and study of it be done," added&nbsp;Advocate Hari Shankar Jain.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-to-host-pm-narendra-modi-for-state-visit-591106"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Joe Biden to host PM Narendra Modi for state visit</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Muslim side contemplating challenging the order</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, Advocate Syed Farman Ahmad Naqvi, who represented the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC), said they will take a decision on whether to challenge the High Court&nbsp;order in the Supreme Court or not after holding a discussion with the&nbsp;mosque committee and other stakeholders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We will decide soon. The court has allowed the Hindu side’s petition and has ordered that a scientific investigation, including carbon dating, be done on the object found in the mosque premises," said Naqvi.</p>

<p>The Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in the city of Varanasi — often regarded as the oldest city on planet Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gyanvapi-masjid-survey-over-what-we-know-so-far-479503"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Gyanvapi Masjid survey over: What we know so far</strong></a></p>

<p>It lies on the western bank of the holy river Ganges and is one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas". Chandragupta II, commonly known as Vikramaditya, is claimed to have constructed the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during the Gupta period.</p>

<p>The temple and its remnants upon which the mosque is built are visible to the naked eye. The likes of Qutb al-Din Aibak,&nbsp;Hussain Shah Sharqi, Sikandar Lodi and Aurangzeb are believed to be the ones who demolished the temple and built the mosque upon it.&nbsp;</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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The Allahabad High Court on Friday set aside a lower court order and directed the authorities to conduct a 'scientific survey', including carbon dating of the ‘shivling’ (a sacred Hindu symbol of Lord Shiva) that was discovered last year at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic survey.

The Allahabad High Court on Friday set aside a lower court order and directed the authorities to conduct a 'scientific survey', including carbon dating of the ‘shivling’ (a sacred Hindu symbol of Lord Shiva) that was discovered last year at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi during a videographic survey. While the Hindu side claims the structure is a ‘shivling’, the Muslim side contends it is part of a fountain. In October 2022, the Varanasi district court had rejected the demand for carbon dating the structure. However, Justice Arvind Kumar Mishra not only accepted the revision petition filed by Laxmi Devi and three others against the district court order but also directed the Varanasi district judge to proceed in accordance with the law on the application by Hindu worshippers. "The district judge passed the order without any basis as it should have called for expert opinion from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on whether carbon dating of the shivling could be done without causing any harm. Therefore, the order should be quashed," argued Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain who appeared for the revisionists. “The High Court has agreed to our prayer for a scientific probe of the shivling that was found inside the so-called mosque complex. The Muslim side says it is a fountain. We say it is a shivling. The court has ordered that without any damage to the shivling, analysis and study of it be done," added Advocate Hari Shankar Jain. WATCH | Joe Biden to host PM Narendra Modi for state visit × Muslim side contemplating challenging the order Meanwhile, Advocate Syed Farman Ahmad Naqvi, who represented the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC), said they will take a decision on whether to challenge the High Court order in the Supreme Court or not after holding a discussion with the mosque committee and other stakeholders. “We will decide soon. The court has allowed the Hindu side’s petition and has ordered that a scientific investigation, including carbon dating, be done on the object found in the mosque premises," said Naqvi. The Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in the city of Varanasi — often regarded as the oldest city on planet Earth. ALSO READ | Gyanvapi Masjid survey over: What we know so far It lies on the western bank of the holy river Ganges and is one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas". Chandragupta II, commonly known as Vikramaditya, is claimed to have constructed the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during the Gupta period. The temple and its remnants upon which the mosque is built are visible to the naked eye. The likes of Qutb al-Din Aibak, Hussain Shah Sharqi, Sikandar Lodi and Aurangzeb are believed to be the ones who demolished the temple and built the mosque upon it. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Allahabad HC overturns district court order, directs carbon dating of ‘shivling’ at Gyanvapi mosque

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<p>South Africa's foreign ministry released a statement on Friday noting that US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety had 'apologised' unreservedly and admitted to having crossed a line after he said a Russian ship had picked up weapons from the country last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Brigety took to Twitter to state he had spoken with the foreign minister Naledi Pandor and corrected misimpressions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor this evening and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks. In our conversation, I reaffirmed the strong partnership between our two countries &amp; the important agenda our Presidents have given us," he tweeted.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor this evening and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks. In our conversation, I re-affirmed the strong partnership between our two countries &amp; the important agenda our Presidents have given us.</p>
— Ambassador Reuben Brigety (@USAmbRSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbRSA/status/1657128120640520193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>South Africa’s head of public diplomacy, Clayson Monyela also confirmed the apology but asked Brigety to make a much docile public apology.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He [Brigety] committed to making the apology public as he has done. I guess his choice of language is the issue. @USAmbRSA you may want to clarify. We are happy with the apology you offered in the meeting but the comments here suggest that more was expected from you. I'll leave that to you."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">He committed to making the apology public as he has done. I guess his choice of language is the issue. <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbRSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USAmbRSA</a> you may want to clarify. We are happy with the apology you offered in the meeting but the comments here suggest that more was expected from you. I'll leave that to… <a href="https://t.co/v8lNhOedZU">https://t.co/v8lNhOedZU</a></p>
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClaysonMonyela/status/1657137348847497222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-ambassador-accuse-south-africa-of-supplying-arms-to-russia-591481"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;US ambassador accuse South Africa of supplying arms to Russia</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What were the concrete allegations made by the US?</strong></h2>

<p>On Thursday, Brigety accused the rainbow nation of supplying weapons to Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine despite the country’s neutral stance. Brigety claimed that Pretoria had sent weapons and ammunition aboard the Russian cargo ship Lady R docked at a Cape Town naval base in December last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are confident that weapons were loaded onto that vessel and I would bet my life on the accuracy of that assertion,” said Brigety.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The arming of Russia by South Africa...is fundamentally unacceptable.”</p>

<p>He also spoke about how senior US officials have “profound concerns” about South Africa not respecting its professed stance of non-alignment and neutrality over the Russia-Ukraine conflict, adding that this “does not suggest to us the actions of a non-aligned country,” as quoted by Reuters. &nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-envoy-accuses-south-africa-of-supplying-arms-to-russia-pretoria-fumes-over-allegations-591468" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | US envoy accuses South Africa of supplying arms to Russia; Pretoria fumes over allegations</strong></a></p>

<p>As soon as&nbsp;Brigety made the statement, he invited criticism from the South African government.&nbsp;President Cyril Ramaphosa released a strongly worded statement and called&nbsp;the allegations “disappointing”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The Ambassador’s remarks undermine the spirit of cooperation and partnership that characterised the recent engagements between US government officials and a South African official delegation,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesman Vincent Magwenya, in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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South Africa's foreign ministry released a statement on Friday noting that US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety had 'apologised' unreservedly and admitted to having crossed a line after he said a Russian ship had picked up weapons from the country last year.

South Africa's foreign ministry released a statement on Friday noting that US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety had 'apologised' unreservedly and admitted to having crossed a line after he said a Russian ship had picked up weapons from the country last year. Brigety took to Twitter to state he had spoken with the foreign minister Naledi Pandor and corrected misimpressions. "I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor this evening and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks. In our conversation, I reaffirmed the strong partnership between our two countries & the important agenda our Presidents have given us," he tweeted. I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor this evening and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks. In our conversation, I re-affirmed the strong partnership between our two countries & the important agenda our Presidents have given us. — Ambassador Reuben Brigety (@USAmbRSA) May 12, 2023 × South Africa’s head of public diplomacy, Clayson Monyela also confirmed the apology but asked Brigety to make a much docile public apology. "He [Brigety] committed to making the apology public as he has done. I guess his choice of language is the issue. @USAmbRSA you may want to clarify. We are happy with the apology you offered in the meeting but the comments here suggest that more was expected from you. I'll leave that to you." He committed to making the apology public as he has done. I guess his choice of language is the issue. @USAmbRSA you may want to clarify. We are happy with the apology you offered in the meeting but the comments here suggest that more was expected from you. I'll leave that to… https://t.co/v8lNhOedZU — Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) May 12, 2023 × WATCH | US ambassador accuse South Africa of supplying arms to Russia × What were the concrete allegations made by the US? On Thursday, Brigety accused the rainbow nation of supplying weapons to Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine despite the country’s neutral stance. Brigety claimed that Pretoria had sent weapons and ammunition aboard the Russian cargo ship Lady R docked at a Cape Town naval base in December last year. “We are confident that weapons were loaded onto that vessel and I would bet my life on the accuracy of that assertion,” said Brigety. “The arming of Russia by South Africa...is fundamentally unacceptable.” He also spoke about how senior US officials have “profound concerns” about South Africa not respecting its professed stance of non-alignment and neutrality over the Russia-Ukraine conflict, adding that this “does not suggest to us the actions of a non-aligned country,” as quoted by Reuters. ALSO READ | US envoy accuses South Africa of supplying arms to Russia; Pretoria fumes over allegations As soon as Brigety made the statement, he invited criticism from the South African government. President Cyril Ramaphosa released a strongly worded statement and called the allegations “disappointing”. “The Ambassador’s remarks undermine the spirit of cooperation and partnership that characterised the recent engagements between US government officials and a South African official delegation,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesman Vincent Magwenya, in a statement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US envoy apologises after alleging South Africa supplied arms to Russia

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidFEGuR4F0sDO6" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Nearly five months since Beijing inaugurated the Pokhara International Airport (PIA) in Nepal under its Belt and Road initiative, the airport is yet to receive a single international flight. With the airport performing dismally and barely sustaining itself, questions are rising if it could be a debt trap by the Chinese side to corner Nepal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even before the airport was inaugurated for take off, troubles had started to mount. A day prior to the opening, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu unilaterally announced that the Pokhara International Airport was a “flagship project of China-Nepal BRI cooperation”.</p>

<p>“This is the flagship project of China-Nepal BRI cooperation. Warmly congratulations to Nepali Gov and Nepali people!” the embassy said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The declaration riled up the Nepalese government with newly-appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ expressing concerns over why and how this issue had surfaced at such a critical time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, former Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had handed over the airport to the then Nepal prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, during a courtesy call held at Baluwatar last year.</p>

<p>Two weeks after the inauguration, the airport garnered international headlines yet again&nbsp;but for all the wrong reasons. A Yeti Airlines twin-engine ATR 72 plane crashed, attempting a landing at the airport. Reportedly, the plane crashed on the bank of the Seti River between the old airport and the new airport.</p>

<p>There were 72 people onboard the plane, including two infants, four crew members and 10 foreign nationals. According to reports, 68&nbsp;died in the crash.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-plane-crash-pokhara-international-airport-was-inaugurated-two-weeks-ago-built-with-chinese-assistance-552873" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Nepal plane crash: Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated two weeks ago, built with Chinese assistance</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>China's debt-trap?</strong></h2>

<p>According to The Annapurna Express, in March 2016, China's Exim Bank provided $215.96 million in a loan agreement for the construction of the airport, which is surrounded by the pristine Annapurna Mountain Range</p>

<p>In order to sustain itself, the airport should be conducting at least 100 daily domestic and 500 weekly international flights, according to&nbsp;the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The airport has to pay $3.2 million&nbsp;alone in annual interest for which it needs to have income in excess of $19 million when it operates at full potential. However, experts argue that even then, the airport would struggle to pay the installments on time.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-plane-crash-pokhara-international-airport-temporarily-closed-552980"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Nepal Plane Crash: Pokhara International Airport temporarily closed</strong></a></p>

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<p>Bikram Raj Gautam, chief of PIA is still optimistic about pulling international flights to the airport. However, to avoid criticism, he suggests profit should not be calculated with the money airport makes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The construction of this airport cost around Rs 22bn. We won’t be able to make a profit instantly as it is a long-term investment. The profit of PIA should not only be calculated in terms of the airport’s earnings. But rather we should see how much help the airport provides in terms of services to passengers, small and large-scale tourism businesses and the development of Pokhara city, among other factors,"&nbsp;Gautam was quoted as saying by the publication.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LUVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Nearly five months since Beijing inaugurated the Pokhara International Airport (PIA) in Nepal under its Belt and Road initiative, the airport is yet to receive a single international flight.

Nearly five months since Beijing inaugurated the Pokhara International Airport (PIA) in Nepal under its Belt and Road initiative, the airport is yet to receive a single international flight. With the airport performing dismally and barely sustaining itself, questions are rising if it could be a debt trap by the Chinese side to corner Nepal. Even before the airport was inaugurated for take off, troubles had started to mount. A day prior to the opening, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu unilaterally announced that the Pokhara International Airport was a “flagship project of China-Nepal BRI cooperation”. “This is the flagship project of China-Nepal BRI cooperation. Warmly congratulations to Nepali Gov and Nepali people!” the embassy said. The declaration riled up the Nepalese government with newly-appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ expressing concerns over why and how this issue had surfaced at such a critical time. Notably, former Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had handed over the airport to the then Nepal prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, during a courtesy call held at Baluwatar last year. Two weeks after the inauguration, the airport garnered international headlines yet again but for all the wrong reasons. A Yeti Airlines twin-engine ATR 72 plane crashed, attempting a landing at the airport. Reportedly, the plane crashed on the bank of the Seti River between the old airport and the new airport. There were 72 people onboard the plane, including two infants, four crew members and 10 foreign nationals. According to reports, 68 died in the crash. ALSO READ | Nepal plane crash: Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated two weeks ago, built with Chinese assistance China's debt-trap? According to The Annapurna Express, in March 2016, China's Exim Bank provided $215.96 million in a loan agreement for the construction of the airport, which is surrounded by the pristine Annapurna Mountain Range In order to sustain itself, the airport should be conducting at least 100 daily domestic and 500 weekly international flights, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). The airport has to pay $3.2 million alone in annual interest for which it needs to have income in excess of $19 million when it operates at full potential. However, experts argue that even then, the airport would struggle to pay the installments on time. WATCH | Nepal Plane Crash: Pokhara International Airport temporarily closed × Bikram Raj Gautam, chief of PIA is still optimistic about pulling international flights to the airport. However, to avoid criticism, he suggests profit should not be calculated with the money airport makes. "The construction of this airport cost around Rs 22bn. We won’t be able to make a profit instantly as it is a long-term investment. The profit of PIA should not only be calculated in terms of the airport’s earnings. But rather we should see how much help the airport provides in terms of services to passengers, small and large-scale tourism businesses and the development of Pokhara city, among other factors," Gautam was quoted as saying by the publication. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LUVE HERE:

Chinese-built Pokhara Airport yet to receive any international flights: Report

<p>A US Army sergeant who killed a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protester nearly three years ago has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Daniel Perry had been convicted&nbsp;by a Travis County jury of Garrett Foster's murder&nbsp;last month.</p>

<p>Perry, who has previously served in Afghanistan was working as an Uber driver when he drove his car into a swarm of BLM protesters on July 25, 2020.&nbsp;Perry claimed that he fired his .357 revolver&nbsp;at Foster after the latter&nbsp;pointed an AK-47 towards him.</p>

<p>The prosecutors, however, argued that witnesses on the spot said Foster never raised the weapon and that he was pushing his fiancée’s wheelchair.</p>

<p>The two-day sentencing hearing began on Tuesday as the prosecutors once again highlighted Perry's text messages and social media posts which showed his hostility towards the BLM movement. Meanwhile,&nbsp;Perry's colleagues from the army came in for his defence by vouching for his character.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“After three long years we’re finally getting justice for Garrett,” his mother, Sheila Foster, told the court.</p>

<p>After the conviction last month, Perry was staring at a life imprisonment sentence. His lawyers, earlier this month, moved the court seeking a fresh trial - a request which was promptly rejected.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-governor-abbott-to-pardon-army-sergeant-convicted-of-killing-blm-protester-580676"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Republican governor Abbott to pardon Army sergeant convicted of killing BLM protester</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Abbott pushes for pardon</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, ever since Perry's conviction, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has launched a mission to pardon him.&nbsp;Abbott took to Twitter last month and said Perry&nbsp;was acting in self-defence when the incident took place.</p>

<p>Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defence that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,” wrote Abbott.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Republican leader said he is requesting the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for an expedited review of Perry. Abbott can only pardon a subject if the board recommends it.</p>

<p>“I have made that request and instructed the board to expedite its review. I look forward to approving the board’s pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk.”</p>

<p>Abbott also blamed Perry's conviction on&nbsp;the county’s George Soros-backed Democrat District Attorney José Garza and added that he will be reign in the 'rogue DA'.</p>

<p>"Additionally, I have already prioritised reining in rogue District Attorneys, and the Texas Legislature is working on laws to achieve that goal."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A US Army sergeant who killed a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protester nearly three years ago has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Daniel Perry had been convicted by a Travis County jury of Garrett Foster's murder last month.

A US Army sergeant who killed a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protester nearly three years ago has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Daniel Perry had been convicted by a Travis County jury of Garrett Foster's murder last month. Perry, who has previously served in Afghanistan was working as an Uber driver when he drove his car into a swarm of BLM protesters on July 25, 2020. Perry claimed that he fired his .357 revolver at Foster after the latter pointed an AK-47 towards him. The prosecutors, however, argued that witnesses on the spot said Foster never raised the weapon and that he was pushing his fiancée’s wheelchair. The two-day sentencing hearing began on Tuesday as the prosecutors once again highlighted Perry's text messages and social media posts which showed his hostility towards the BLM movement. Meanwhile, Perry's colleagues from the army came in for his defence by vouching for his character. “After three long years we’re finally getting justice for Garrett,” his mother, Sheila Foster, told the court. After the conviction last month, Perry was staring at a life imprisonment sentence. His lawyers, earlier this month, moved the court seeking a fresh trial - a request which was promptly rejected. ALSO READ | Republican governor Abbott to pardon Army sergeant convicted of killing BLM protester Abbott pushes for pardon Notably, ever since Perry's conviction, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has launched a mission to pardon him. Abbott took to Twitter last month and said Perry was acting in self-defence when the incident took place. Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defence that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,” wrote Abbott. The Republican leader said he is requesting the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for an expedited review of Perry. Abbott can only pardon a subject if the board recommends it. “I have made that request and instructed the board to expedite its review. I look forward to approving the board’s pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk.” Abbott also blamed Perry's conviction on the county’s George Soros-backed Democrat District Attorney José Garza and added that he will be reign in the 'rogue DA'. "Additionally, I have already prioritised reining in rogue District Attorneys, and the Texas Legislature is working on laws to achieve that goal." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US Army sergeant convicted of killing BLM protester sentenced to 25 years in prison

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<p>The US state of Missouri has become the latest to approve a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender people. The GOP lawmakers also approved a bill wherein transgender girls and women will be banned from playing in female sports teams.</p>

<p>The gender-affirming care ban is expected to take effect from August 28 under which transgender minors won't have access to puberty blockers, hormones or gender-affirming surgery. The restrictions will affect some adults, such as prisoners and inmates, who will be unable to avail of any gender-affirming care as Medicaid health care won't cover the procedure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for banning transgender girls and women from sports, the measure would apply from kindergarten through college, both in public and private schools. If any educational institution goes against the mandate, they would lose state funding.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Bills sent to the Republican governor</strong></h2>

<p>Both the bills have been sent to Governor Mike Parson who is expected to sign them soon. The Republican leader was the one who pushed the GOP lawmakers to get the bill approved or else work beyond the normal end of their session.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“When you have kids being surgically and or chemically altered for life for no good reason, yes, it’s time for the government to get involved,” said Republican Rep. Brad Hudson as the bill was approved on the House floor.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/usa-north-dakota-implements-law-restricting-transgender-pronouns-bathroom-use-590491" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | USA: North Dakota implements law restricting transgender pronouns, bathroom use</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>North Dakota&nbsp;bill ignoring transgender pronouns&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The decision by the Missouri House comes a day after North Dakota Senate lawmakers passed a bill to ignore the pronouns the transgender students use.</p>

<p>According to the bill approved, public schools and government entities are prohibited from requiring teachers and employees to refer to transgender people by their pronouns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, it prohibits transgender individuals from using the bathroom of their choice without prior approval from a parent or guardian. Under the law, teachers will be mandated to tell parents/guardians about their ward if they identify as transgender.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-to-control-land-sales-to-foreigners-near-8-military-bases-589454"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;US to control land sales to foreigners near 8 military bases</strong></a></p>

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<p>Overall, at least 16 states across the US have either restricted or banned gender-affirming care for minors, while at least eight states have enacted laws preventing transgender people from using the restrooms associated with their gender identities.</p>

<p>The banning of gender-affirming care and restricting sports participation across US states is part of a national push by the conservatives to put restrictions on transgender people.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The US state of Missouri has become the latest to approve a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender people. The GOP lawmakers also approved a bill wherein transgender girls and women will be banned from playing in female sports teams.

The US state of Missouri has become the latest to approve a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender people. The GOP lawmakers also approved a bill wherein transgender girls and women will be banned from playing in female sports teams. The gender-affirming care ban is expected to take effect from August 28 under which transgender minors won't have access to puberty blockers, hormones or gender-affirming surgery. The restrictions will affect some adults, such as prisoners and inmates, who will be unable to avail of any gender-affirming care as Medicaid health care won't cover the procedure. As for banning transgender girls and women from sports, the measure would apply from kindergarten through college, both in public and private schools. If any educational institution goes against the mandate, they would lose state funding. Bills sent to the Republican governor Both the bills have been sent to Governor Mike Parson who is expected to sign them soon. The Republican leader was the one who pushed the GOP lawmakers to get the bill approved or else work beyond the normal end of their session. “When you have kids being surgically and or chemically altered for life for no good reason, yes, it’s time for the government to get involved,” said Republican Rep. Brad Hudson as the bill was approved on the House floor. ALSO READ | USA: North Dakota implements law restricting transgender pronouns, bathroom use North Dakota bill ignoring transgender pronouns The decision by the Missouri House comes a day after North Dakota Senate lawmakers passed a bill to ignore the pronouns the transgender students use. According to the bill approved, public schools and government entities are prohibited from requiring teachers and employees to refer to transgender people by their pronouns. Additionally, it prohibits transgender individuals from using the bathroom of their choice without prior approval from a parent or guardian. Under the law, teachers will be mandated to tell parents/guardians about their ward if they identify as transgender. WATCH | US to control land sales to foreigners near 8 military bases × Overall, at least 16 states across the US have either restricted or banned gender-affirming care for minors, while at least eight states have enacted laws preventing transgender people from using the restrooms associated with their gender identities. The banning of gender-affirming care and restricting sports participation across US states is part of a national push by the conservatives to put restrictions on transgender people. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Missouri becomes the latest state to ban gender-affirming care, limit transgender student athletes

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<p>As the expiration of Trump-era immigration policy "Title 42" draws closer, President Joe Biden has conceded that the picture is not looking pleasant. Biden said the looming migrant surge will be 'chaotic for a while' and that he was not sure if the US is prepared for it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We’ve gotten overwhelming cooperation from Mexico. We also are in the process of setting up offices in Colombia and other places where you could – or someone seeking asylum can go first. So, it remains to be seen. It’s going to be chaotic for a while,”&nbsp;Biden told&nbsp;reporters on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Democrat leader added that he spoke to Mexico's president for an hour and was receiving 'overwhelming cooperation' from there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I spent close to an hour with the Mexican president today. We’re doing all we can. The answer is it remains to be seen."</p>

<p>While Biden was candid in his assessment, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during the daily briefing said&nbsp;the administration was prepared to handle the situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We believe we have a robust process to deal with what is going to occur after Title 42 lifts,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, a similar sentiment was not echoed by&nbsp;Arizona Governor&nbsp;Katie Hobbs, who raised concerns about the preparedness.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We have not received an adequate response.&nbsp;We will continue to relentlessly pressure the federal government until we truly get the resources we need to manage the expected influx," said&nbsp;Hobbs.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/biden-government-prepares-for-migrant-surge-as-title-42-soon-expires-590503"><strong>WATCH | Biden government prepares for migrant surge as Title 42 soon expires</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is Title 42?</strong></h2>

<p>The travel restrictions, known as Title 42, were implemented by former president Donald Trump during his tenure in 2020. The order was passed after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it was needed to stem the spread of coronavirus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Consequently, the US authorities, using the provisions of the law, were able to expel migrants attempting to cross the border from Mexico, including those seeking humanitarian asylum.</p>

<p>However, ever since the law was imposed, a section of pro-immigration voices, humanitarian groups, as well as Democrats, have argued that Trump used the pandemic as an excuse to deny thousands of people the opportunity to migrate to the USA and seek better life opportunities.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-title-42-covid-19-restricting-law-biden-administration-plans-to-lift-590561"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;What is Title 42? Covid migration control law from Trump era lapses, leading to worries of new influx</strong></a></p>

<p>The groups have argued that the measure strokes racism and allows for discrimination because many countries had been exempt. However, their voices were finally heard and Title 42 expires on&nbsp;May 11 at 11:59 pm&nbsp;(05:59 GMT).&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION IVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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As the expiration of Trump-era immigration policy "Title 42" draws closer, President Joe Biden has conceded that the picture is not looking pleasant. Biden said the looming migrant surge will be 'chaotic for a while' and that he was not sure if the US is prepared for it.

As the expiration of Trump-era immigration policy "Title 42" draws closer, President Joe Biden has conceded that the picture is not looking pleasant. Biden said the looming migrant surge will be 'chaotic for a while' and that he was not sure if the US is prepared for it. “We’ve gotten overwhelming cooperation from Mexico. We also are in the process of setting up offices in Colombia and other places where you could – or someone seeking asylum can go first. So, it remains to be seen. It’s going to be chaotic for a while,” Biden told reporters on Tuesday. The Democrat leader added that he spoke to Mexico's president for an hour and was receiving 'overwhelming cooperation' from there. “I spent close to an hour with the Mexican president today. We’re doing all we can. The answer is it remains to be seen." While Biden was candid in his assessment, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during the daily briefing said the administration was prepared to handle the situation. “We believe we have a robust process to deal with what is going to occur after Title 42 lifts,” she said. However, a similar sentiment was not echoed by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, who raised concerns about the preparedness. "We have not received an adequate response. We will continue to relentlessly pressure the federal government until we truly get the resources we need to manage the expected influx," said Hobbs. WATCH | Biden government prepares for migrant surge as Title 42 soon expires × What is Title 42? The travel restrictions, known as Title 42, were implemented by former president Donald Trump during his tenure in 2020. The order was passed after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it was needed to stem the spread of coronavirus. Consequently, the US authorities, using the provisions of the law, were able to expel migrants attempting to cross the border from Mexico, including those seeking humanitarian asylum. However, ever since the law was imposed, a section of pro-immigration voices, humanitarian groups, as well as Democrats, have argued that Trump used the pandemic as an excuse to deny thousands of people the opportunity to migrate to the USA and seek better life opportunities. ALSO READ | What is Title 42? Covid migration control law from Trump era lapses, leading to worries of new influx The groups have argued that the measure strokes racism and allows for discrimination because many countries had been exempt. However, their voices were finally heard and Title 42 expires on May 11 at 11:59 pm (05:59 GMT). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION IVE HERE:

Biden concedes migrant surge situation is 'going to be chaotic' as Title 42 end nears

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<p>After a nine-member jury found former US president Donald Trump guilty of sexually abusing and defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll, the latter has termed it a 'victory' for all women who are victims of sexual assault, in an interview with CNN.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Manhattan Federal Court on Tuesday announced the verdict and awarded $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages to Carroll.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The old view of the perfect victim was a woman who always screamed. A woman who immediately reported. A woman whose life was supposed to fold up and she’s never supposed to experience happiness again,” said Carroll in the interview.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“That was just shut down with this verdict, the death of the perfect victim has happened. Now this verdict is for all women," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Quizzed about what was going through her mind when the jury said they were not convinced that Trump raped her, Carroll said, “Well, I just immediately (said) in my own head, ‘Oh, yes, he did. Oh yes, he did.’”</p>

<p>Carroll added that when she shook hands with Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina, she told him, “He did it. And you know it.”</p>

<p>Notably, the nine-member jury, comprising six men and three women, reached a unanimous verdict in less than three hours but did not agree with Carroll’s allegation that the former president raped her.</p>

<p>“I’m really sort of taking in the moment and the overwhelming flood of a lot of hate that’s part of it. There’s a sort of a feeling of victory that, at last, somebody has held him accountable in a courtroom,” she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-sexually-abused-writer-e-jean-carroll-us-jury-rules-590929"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Donald Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll, US jury rules</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What did Carroll claim?</strong></h2>

<p>The 79-year-old former columnist at Elle Magazine has claimed that Trump raped her at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York, in the spring of 1996.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>During her testimony, Carroll said Trump's actions shattered her and she had been trying to get her life back.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation and I’m here to try to get my life back,” Carroll testified.</p>

<h2><strong>Trump's testimony</strong></h2>

<p>Days before the verdict, video footage of Trump testifying in front of the court in October last year was released. In the video, Trump looked rather nonchalant and denied the allegations brought against him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It’s a disgrace. Frankly, it’s a disgrace that something like this can be brought,” Trump said in the video, referring to Carroll’s claim that he raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store.</p>

<p>Trump repeated his previous comment saying he was engaging in 'locker room talk' and justified his remarks about famous people being able to have their way with women.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Historically, that’s true with stars…If you look over the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately," said Trump.</p>

<p>When attorney Roberta Kaplan asked if he considered himself a star, Trump responded, "I think you can say that, yeah."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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After a nine-member jury found former US president Donald Trump guilty of sexually abusing and defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll, the latter has termed it a 'victory' for all women who are victims of sexual assault, in an interview with CNN.

After a nine-member jury found former US president Donald Trump guilty of sexually abusing and defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll, the latter has termed it a 'victory' for all women who are victims of sexual assault, in an interview with CNN. The Manhattan Federal Court on Tuesday announced the verdict and awarded $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages to Carroll. “The old view of the perfect victim was a woman who always screamed. A woman who immediately reported. A woman whose life was supposed to fold up and she’s never supposed to experience happiness again,” said Carroll in the interview. “That was just shut down with this verdict, the death of the perfect victim has happened. Now this verdict is for all women," she added. Quizzed about what was going through her mind when the jury said they were not convinced that Trump raped her, Carroll said, “Well, I just immediately (said) in my own head, ‘Oh, yes, he did. Oh yes, he did.’” Carroll added that when she shook hands with Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina, she told him, “He did it. And you know it.” Notably, the nine-member jury, comprising six men and three women, reached a unanimous verdict in less than three hours but did not agree with Carroll’s allegation that the former president raped her. “I’m really sort of taking in the moment and the overwhelming flood of a lot of hate that’s part of it. There’s a sort of a feeling of victory that, at last, somebody has held him accountable in a courtroom,” she added. WATCH | Donald Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll, US jury rules × What did Carroll claim? The 79-year-old former columnist at Elle Magazine has claimed that Trump raped her at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York, in the spring of 1996. During her testimony, Carroll said Trump's actions shattered her and she had been trying to get her life back. “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation and I’m here to try to get my life back,” Carroll testified. Trump's testimony Days before the verdict, video footage of Trump testifying in front of the court in October last year was released. In the video, Trump looked rather nonchalant and denied the allegations brought against him. “It’s a disgrace. Frankly, it’s a disgrace that something like this can be brought,” Trump said in the video, referring to Carroll’s claim that he raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store. Trump repeated his previous comment saying he was engaging in 'locker room talk' and justified his remarks about famous people being able to have their way with women. “Historically, that’s true with stars…If you look over the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately," said Trump. When attorney Roberta Kaplan asked if he considered himself a star, Trump responded, "I think you can say that, yeah." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'This verdict is for all women': E. Jean Carroll after jury holds Trump guilty of sexually abusing her

<p>Couple of days after a&nbsp;California panel voted to approve millions in reparations for Black residents in the state, Democrat governor Gavin Newsom has refused to lend his support to the initiative.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Newsom said the reparations, meant to take responsibility for the country and state's apathy towards its Black residents in the past, was 'much more than cash payments'.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Dealing with that legacy is about much more than cash payments. Many of the recommendations put forward by the Task Force are critical action items we’ve already been hard at work addressing," Newson told Fox News Digital.</p>

<p>"Breaking down barriers to vote, bolstering resources to address hate, enacting sweeping law enforcement and justice reforms to build trust and safety, strengthening economic mobility - all while investing billions to root out disparities and improve equity in housing, education, healthcare, and well beyond. This work must continue," he added.</p>

<p>The Democrat leader, however, applauded the work of the task force and said his administration will continue the process of healing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The Reparations Task Force’s independent findings and recommendations are a milestone in our bipartisan effort to advance justice and promote healing. This has been an important process, and we should continue to work as a nation to reconcile our original sin of slavery and understand how that history has shaped our country."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-2-years-after-george-floyd-killing-black-america-still-cant-breathe-482450"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;WION Fineprint | What has happened after George Floyd's killing | Black America still 'can't breathe'</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Proposals approved by the task force</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, last week, a&nbsp;nine-member Reparation Task Force, formed nearly two years ago, met in Oakland and gave final approval to the list of proposals which will now head to the state lawmakers to be considered for legislation.</p>

<p>Among the list of approvals granted by the task force&nbsp;is a public apology, acknowledging the&nbsp;state’s responsibility for past wrongs and promising that it will not repeat them.</p>

<p>However, the biggest talking point has been the reparation money that the exchequer might owe to the Black residents if the proposal is turned into a law.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to some reports, the proposal,&nbsp;if implemented, could cost as much as $800&nbsp;billion (2.5 times the annual budget of California) for decades of over-policing, disproportionate incarceration and housing discrimination.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-california-panel-calls-for-apology-and-billions-in-reparations-for-black-residents-589883"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;US: California panel calls for apology and billions in reparations for Black residents</strong></a></p>

<p>A New York Times report stated that eligible&nbsp;Black Californians could receive up to $148,099, with the estimate based on the figure of $3,366 for each year they lived in California from the early 1930s to the late 1970s when discriminatory practices were at their peak.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><b>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</b></p>

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Couple of days after a California panel voted to approve millions in reparations for Black residents in the state, Democrat governor Gavin Newsom has refused to lend his support to the initiative.

Couple of days after a California panel voted to approve millions in reparations for Black residents in the state, Democrat governor Gavin Newsom has refused to lend his support to the initiative. Newsom said the reparations, meant to take responsibility for the country and state's apathy towards its Black residents in the past, was 'much more than cash payments'. "Dealing with that legacy is about much more than cash payments. Many of the recommendations put forward by the Task Force are critical action items we’ve already been hard at work addressing," Newson told Fox News Digital. "Breaking down barriers to vote, bolstering resources to address hate, enacting sweeping law enforcement and justice reforms to build trust and safety, strengthening economic mobility - all while investing billions to root out disparities and improve equity in housing, education, healthcare, and well beyond. This work must continue," he added. The Democrat leader, however, applauded the work of the task force and said his administration will continue the process of healing. "The Reparations Task Force’s independent findings and recommendations are a milestone in our bipartisan effort to advance justice and promote healing. This has been an important process, and we should continue to work as a nation to reconcile our original sin of slavery and understand how that history has shaped our country." WATCH | WION Fineprint | What has happened after George Floyd's killing | Black America still 'can't breathe' × Proposals approved by the task force Notably, last week, a nine-member Reparation Task Force, formed nearly two years ago, met in Oakland and gave final approval to the list of proposals which will now head to the state lawmakers to be considered for legislation. Among the list of approvals granted by the task force is a public apology, acknowledging the state’s responsibility for past wrongs and promising that it will not repeat them. However, the biggest talking point has been the reparation money that the exchequer might owe to the Black residents if the proposal is turned into a law. According to some reports, the proposal, if implemented, could cost as much as $800 billion (2.5 times the annual budget of California) for decades of over-policing, disproportionate incarceration and housing discrimination. ALSO READ | US: California panel calls for apology and billions in reparations for Black residents A New York Times report stated that eligible Black Californians could receive up to $148,099, with the estimate based on the figure of $3,366 for each year they lived in California from the early 1930s to the late 1970s when discriminatory practices were at their peak. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

California Governor Newsom refuses to back reparations proposal for Black residents

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<p>Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been indicted in the Toshakhana corruption case, a day after he was arrested by the Army. Judge Humayun Dilawar at the District and Sessions Court conducted the hearing while Khan was present in the courtroom when the chargesheet was read out to him.</p>

<p>The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in October last year disqualified Khan for not sharing the details of the sales. The body later filed the case with the district court, requesting it to charge Khan under criminal laws for selling the gifts he had received as the top office-bearer of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the Toshakhana corruption case?</strong></h2>

<p>The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief is accused of concealing, in his asset declarations, details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana -&nbsp;the treasury, established in 1974, where presents given to government officials from foreign officials are kept. The case came to the fore in August 2022 when&nbsp;the coalition government&nbsp;led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) filed the case against Imran.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was alleged that Khan pocketed $36 million from selling three watches gifted to him. It is alleged that he never deposited some gifts in the treasury, violating the rule as a prime minister is allowed to retain the gifts only after paying a certain amount.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/toshakhana-case-khan-denies-wrongdoings-573449"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Toshakhana Case: Khan denies wrongdoings</strong></a></p>

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<p>Last year in October, Pakistan's election commission found the cricketer-turned-politician guilty of unlawfully selling gifts received from foreign dignitaries.</p>

<p>"We are of the considered opinion that the respondent has become disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the (Pakistan) Constitution read with Sections 137,167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, consequently, he ceases to be a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and his seat has become vacant accordingly," the ECP said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-election-commission-moves-to-remove-imran-khan-as-pti-chief-540558"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Pakistan Election Commission moves to remove Imran Khan as PTI chief</strong></a></p>

<p>The Federal Investigation Agency then filed charges against him in an anti-corruption court, which&nbsp;issued the arrest warrant against Khan after he skipped summons to appear in court. However, he was later granted interim bail.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is happening to Khan?</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, Khan was arrested from the compounds of the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday by the Pakistani Rangers, in relation to the Qadir Trust case, which is one of dozens of cases pending against him since his ouster from office last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Wednesday, Khan was sent to the custody of the country's top anti-corruption body for eight days. The National Accountability (NAB) has requested the court for custody of 10 days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Khan and his party PTI have claimed that he was tortured in custody and not even allowed to use the washroom.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been indicted in the Toshakhana corruption case, a day after he was arrested by the Army. Judge Humayun Dilawar at the District and Sessions Court conducted the hearing while Khan was present in the courtroom when the chargesheet was read out to him.

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been indicted in the Toshakhana corruption case, a day after he was arrested by the Army. Judge Humayun Dilawar at the District and Sessions Court conducted the hearing while Khan was present in the courtroom when the chargesheet was read out to him. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in October last year disqualified Khan for not sharing the details of the sales. The body later filed the case with the district court, requesting it to charge Khan under criminal laws for selling the gifts he had received as the top office-bearer of the country. What is the Toshakhana corruption case? The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief is accused of concealing, in his asset declarations, details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana - the treasury, established in 1974, where presents given to government officials from foreign officials are kept. The case came to the fore in August 2022 when the coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) filed the case against Imran. It was alleged that Khan pocketed $36 million from selling three watches gifted to him. It is alleged that he never deposited some gifts in the treasury, violating the rule as a prime minister is allowed to retain the gifts only after paying a certain amount. WATCH | Toshakhana Case: Khan denies wrongdoings × Last year in October, Pakistan's election commission found the cricketer-turned-politician guilty of unlawfully selling gifts received from foreign dignitaries. "We are of the considered opinion that the respondent has become disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the (Pakistan) Constitution read with Sections 137,167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, consequently, he ceases to be a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and his seat has become vacant accordingly," the ECP said in a statement. ALSO READ | Pakistan Election Commission moves to remove Imran Khan as PTI chief The Federal Investigation Agency then filed charges against him in an anti-corruption court, which issued the arrest warrant against Khan after he skipped summons to appear in court. However, he was later granted interim bail. What is happening to Khan? Notably, Khan was arrested from the compounds of the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday by the Pakistani Rangers, in relation to the Qadir Trust case, which is one of dozens of cases pending against him since his ouster from office last year. On Wednesday, Khan was sent to the custody of the country's top anti-corruption body for eight days. The National Accountability (NAB) has requested the court for custody of 10 days. Meanwhile, Khan and his party PTI have claimed that he was tortured in custody and not even allowed to use the washroom. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Troubles mount for Imran Khan, Pakistani court indicts him in Toshakhana corruption case

<p>One of Australia's most prized possession, the kangaroos could suffer 'catastrophic'&nbsp;consequences if their numbers are not kept in check, ecologists have warned.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Three years of perfect growth conditions have led to a population boom among Australia's jumping mammals. Their population has swelled up to 60 million which has left the ecologists worried, according to an AFP&nbsp;report. They say it will be kinder to cull them than let them starve if El Nino brings with it another bout of a devastating drought.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to experts, during the last drought in Australia, kangaroos across the outback suffered a fate worse than death, dying in the most 'fateful' ways.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The last drought we estimated that 80 or 90 per cent of the kangaroos in some areas died.&nbsp;They are starving to death – going into public toilets and eating toilet paper, or lying on the road starving while their joeys are trying to feed,”&nbsp;ecologist Katherine Moseby was quoted as saying by the news agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/australian-man-killed-by-wild-kangaroo-believed-to-be-his-pet-first-fatal-attack-in-86-years-515666"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Australian man killed by pet wild kangaroo in first fatal attack in 86 years</strong></a></p>

<p>She said the hopping mobs of kangaroos are capable of rapidly clearing the vegetation of any area. Thus, when the food runs out in the unforgivable heat of Australia, they could starve to death in droves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The kindest way to save them from such a fate would be to shoot them, harvest the meat and keep numbers in check.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It keeps the numbers down so that when we do get drought, we don’t get these welfare issues,” she said. “If we saw them as a resource and managed them like that, we wouldn’t get the catastrophic deaths that we see.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-australian-police-rescue-baby-kangaroo-from-crocodile-infested-floodwaters-572285"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Watch | Australian police rescue baby kangaroo from crocodile-infested floodwaters</strong></a></p>

<p>Proponents of the move argue that compared to traditional beef or other livestock, kangaroo meat&nbsp;produces much less methane than farm animals and is low in fat.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Opponents of the move</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, those who are against human beings playing the role of god and culling the kangaroo population, argue that it is more inhumane to kill the animal before nature does its job.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Animal rights organisation PETA says the claims made by activists that kangaroos damage the land they graze upon was 'simply laughable'.</p>

<p>"To say kangaroos are damaging the land they’ve lived on for 4 million years is simply laughable. Overgrazing by introduced sheep and cattle is the real culprit behind land degradation," said PETA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The kangaroos have a boom and bust population cycle - meaning when food is plentiful on the back of a good rainy season, their numbers can increase exponentially by tens of millions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


One of Australia's most prized possession, the kangaroos could suffer 'catastrophic' consequences if their numbers are not kept in check, ecologists have warned.

One of Australia's most prized possession, the kangaroos could suffer 'catastrophic' consequences if their numbers are not kept in check, ecologists have warned. Three years of perfect growth conditions have led to a population boom among Australia's jumping mammals. Their population has swelled up to 60 million which has left the ecologists worried, according to an AFP report. They say it will be kinder to cull them than let them starve if El Nino brings with it another bout of a devastating drought. According to experts, during the last drought in Australia, kangaroos across the outback suffered a fate worse than death, dying in the most 'fateful' ways. “The last drought we estimated that 80 or 90 per cent of the kangaroos in some areas died. They are starving to death – going into public toilets and eating toilet paper, or lying on the road starving while their joeys are trying to feed,” ecologist Katherine Moseby was quoted as saying by the news agency. ALSO READ | Australian man killed by pet wild kangaroo in first fatal attack in 86 years She said the hopping mobs of kangaroos are capable of rapidly clearing the vegetation of any area. Thus, when the food runs out in the unforgivable heat of Australia, they could starve to death in droves. The kindest way to save them from such a fate would be to shoot them, harvest the meat and keep numbers in check. “It keeps the numbers down so that when we do get drought, we don’t get these welfare issues,” she said. “If we saw them as a resource and managed them like that, we wouldn’t get the catastrophic deaths that we see.” WATCH | Watch | Australian police rescue baby kangaroo from crocodile-infested floodwaters Proponents of the move argue that compared to traditional beef or other livestock, kangaroo meat produces much less methane than farm animals and is low in fat. Opponents of the move Meanwhile, those who are against human beings playing the role of god and culling the kangaroo population, argue that it is more inhumane to kill the animal before nature does its job. Animal rights organisation PETA says the claims made by activists that kangaroos damage the land they graze upon was 'simply laughable'. "To say kangaroos are damaging the land they’ve lived on for 4 million years is simply laughable. Overgrazing by introduced sheep and cattle is the real culprit behind land degradation," said PETA. The kangaroos have a boom and bust population cycle - meaning when food is plentiful on the back of a good rainy season, their numbers can increase exponentially by tens of millions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ecologists say Australia should cull its kangaroo population. Know why

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Zee News Rajasthan

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