<p>Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son&nbsp;Hamza have been declared innocent in the money laundering case after&nbsp;the anti-graft body - National Accountability Bureau (NAB), concluded a reinvestigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A supplementary report was submitted and presented before Accountability Court Judge&nbsp;Qamar-uz-Zaman, according to Pakistani media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The supplementary report stated that Sharif, his wife&nbsp;Nusrat Shehbaz, his son Hamza Shehbaz, and other accused were found to have no involvement in the money laundering scheme. It added that corruption allegations could not be proved or substantiated under the&nbsp;NAB Amendment Act.</p>

<p>The court, during the hearing, also approved Hamza's petition wherein he sought an exemption from attendance on medical grounds. However, further proceedings have been adjourned till May 24, while interim bails of&nbsp;Haroon Yousaf Aziz and&nbsp;Syed Muhammad Tahir Naqvi - the other co-accused, have been extended till then.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the money laundering case?</strong></h2>

<p>71-year-old Shehbaz, and his sons Hamza, 47, and Suleman, 40, were booked in November 2020 by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act.</p>

<p>According to the FIA report submitted in the court, the probe team&nbsp;"detected 28 benami accounts of the Shehbaz family through which money laundering of Rs 16.3 billion&nbsp;was committed during 2008-18. The FIA examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/shehbaz-sharif-booked-for-money-laundering-case-during-2008-18-474595"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Shehbaz Sharif booked for money laundering case during 2008-18</strong></a></p>

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<p>Benami transactions are those transactions that are made by a person without using their name or by using the name of another. The amount was kept in hidden accounts and allegedly given to Shehbaz in a personal capacity, the probe found initially.</p>

<p>However, Shehbaz kept vouching for his innocence throughout the court proceedings, saying he even used to give up his salary.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I never committed a single penny of corruption nor received any kickbacks in any project during my tenure as the chief minister of Punjab. During my tenure, I would give up my salary and other perks amounting to Rs 100 million,” said Shehbaz during one of the hearings.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/i-never-committed-a-single-penny-of-corruption-pakistan-pm-shehbaz-sharif-pleads-in-court-523665"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;'I never committed a single penny of corruption', Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif pleads in court</strong></a></p>

<p>In September last year,&nbsp;13 bank accounts of companies&nbsp;related to Sharif and Suleman were frozen by the special court.&nbsp;Besides, the special court also issued show-cause notices to the officials of different banks for not adhering to an earlier order over the attachment of the accounts owned by two other proclaimed offenders.</p>

<p>The judgment, however, is likely is divide the Pakistani civil society further as it comes a day after riots broke out in parts of the country following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.&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>


Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza have been declared innocent in the money laundering case after the anti-graft body - National Accountability Bureau (NAB), concluded a reinvestigation.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza have been declared innocent in the money laundering case after the anti-graft body - National Accountability Bureau (NAB), concluded a reinvestigation. A supplementary report was submitted and presented before Accountability Court Judge Qamar-uz-Zaman, according to Pakistani media reports. The supplementary report stated that Sharif, his wife Nusrat Shehbaz, his son Hamza Shehbaz, and other accused were found to have no involvement in the money laundering scheme. It added that corruption allegations could not be proved or substantiated under the NAB Amendment Act. The court, during the hearing, also approved Hamza's petition wherein he sought an exemption from attendance on medical grounds. However, further proceedings have been adjourned till May 24, while interim bails of Haroon Yousaf Aziz and Syed Muhammad Tahir Naqvi - the other co-accused, have been extended till then. What is the money laundering case? 71-year-old Shehbaz, and his sons Hamza, 47, and Suleman, 40, were booked in November 2020 by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act. According to the FIA report submitted in the court, the probe team "detected 28 benami accounts of the Shehbaz family through which money laundering of Rs 16.3 billion was committed during 2008-18. The FIA examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions." WATCH | Shehbaz Sharif booked for money laundering case during 2008-18 × Benami transactions are those transactions that are made by a person without using their name or by using the name of another. The amount was kept in hidden accounts and allegedly given to Shehbaz in a personal capacity, the probe found initially. However, Shehbaz kept vouching for his innocence throughout the court proceedings, saying he even used to give up his salary. “I never committed a single penny of corruption nor received any kickbacks in any project during my tenure as the chief minister of Punjab. During my tenure, I would give up my salary and other perks amounting to Rs 100 million,” said Shehbaz during one of the hearings. ALSO READ | 'I never committed a single penny of corruption', Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif pleads in court In September last year, 13 bank accounts of companies related to Sharif and Suleman were frozen by the special court. Besides, the special court also issued show-cause notices to the officials of different banks for not adhering to an earlier order over the attachment of the accounts owned by two other proclaimed offenders. The judgment, however, is likely is divide the Pakistani civil society further as it comes a day after riots broke out in parts of the country following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and son declared innocent in money laundering case

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidutE7rUOx7pF3" /><meta charset="utf-8" />The US Virgin Islands government is struggling to locate Google co-founder Larry Page to serve him a subpoena concerning a lawsuit against banking giant JPMorgan Chase for allegedly enabling Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to three-page court documents filed by the Virgin Islands government, the 50-year-old billionaire Google executive "is a high-net-worth individual who Epstein may have referred or attempted to refer to JPMorgan".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Virgin Islands stated that it had been unable to locate Page, who co-founded and co-owns Alphabet Inc, despite good faith attempts, which included hiring an investigative firm to search public record databases.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Our process server attempted service at the addresses identified by our investigative firm, but discovered the addresses were not valid for Mr. Page,” the documents said.</p>

<p>Having been unable to reach Page, the government is now looking for an alternative. It has requested Manhattan federal court Judge Jed Rakoff to allow it to serve Alphabet Inc. as a substitute.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/epsteins-private-islands-sold-to-billionaire-investor-for-60-million-588757"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Jeffrey Epstein’s private islands sold to billionaire investor for $60 million&nbsp;</strong></a></p>

<p>Page is known to be a recluse who avoids the public eye. Legal documents accessed by US media have revealed that Page owns four islands and spent most of his time during the pandemic, hiding out on an island in Fiji.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, apart from Page, his fellow Google co-founder Sergey Brin, media tycoon Mortimer Zuckerman and Hyatt Hotels Chairman Thomas Pritzker have also been issued subpoenas.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Jeffrey Epstein’s private islands</strong></h2>

<p>The Virgin Islands government sued the banking giant last year in December, alleging that it knew about Epstein's predatory behaviour. It added that the bank turned a blind eye to evidence of human trafficking for over a decade as Epstein's account and the clients he brought to the bank made him extremely valuable.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Epstein was accused of sexually exploiting dozens of underage girls, some as young as 14, at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida between 2002 and 2005.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/private-islands-owned-by-jeffrey-epstein-588779"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Private Islands owned by Jeffrey Epstein</strong></a></p>

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<p>However, the majority of his sexual exploits took place on the&nbsp;72-acre Little St. James Island which he purchased&nbsp;in 1998 for $7.95 million. He later bought the 160-acre Great St. James Island for $20 million in 2016.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the allegations against Epstein, it was said that he used to bring girls as young as 11 to the islands with his associates and used to sexually assault them.&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 Virgin Islands government is struggling to locate Google co-founder Larry Page to serve him a subpoena concerning a lawsuit against banking giant JPMorgan Chase for allegedly enabling Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.

The US Virgin Islands government is struggling to locate Google co-founder Larry Page to serve him a subpoena concerning a lawsuit against banking giant JPMorgan Chase for allegedly enabling Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. According to three-page court documents filed by the Virgin Islands government, the 50-year-old billionaire Google executive "is a high-net-worth individual who Epstein may have referred or attempted to refer to JPMorgan". The Virgin Islands stated that it had been unable to locate Page, who co-founded and co-owns Alphabet Inc, despite good faith attempts, which included hiring an investigative firm to search public record databases. “Our process server attempted service at the addresses identified by our investigative firm, but discovered the addresses were not valid for Mr. Page,” the documents said. Having been unable to reach Page, the government is now looking for an alternative. It has requested Manhattan federal court Judge Jed Rakoff to allow it to serve Alphabet Inc. as a substitute. ALSO READ | Jeffrey Epstein’s private islands sold to billionaire investor for $60 million Page is known to be a recluse who avoids the public eye. Legal documents accessed by US media have revealed that Page owns four islands and spent most of his time during the pandemic, hiding out on an island in Fiji. Notably, apart from Page, his fellow Google co-founder Sergey Brin, media tycoon Mortimer Zuckerman and Hyatt Hotels Chairman Thomas Pritzker have also been issued subpoenas. Jeffrey Epstein’s private islands The Virgin Islands government sued the banking giant last year in December, alleging that it knew about Epstein's predatory behaviour. It added that the bank turned a blind eye to evidence of human trafficking for over a decade as Epstein's account and the clients he brought to the bank made him extremely valuable. Epstein was accused of sexually exploiting dozens of underage girls, some as young as 14, at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida between 2002 and 2005. WATCH | Private Islands owned by Jeffrey Epstein × However, the majority of his sexual exploits took place on the 72-acre Little St. James Island which he purchased in 1998 for $7.95 million. He later bought the 160-acre Great St. James Island for $20 million in 2016. In the allegations against Epstein, it was said that he used to bring girls as young as 11 to the islands with his associates and used to sexually assault them. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Virgin Islands govt unable to subpoena Google's Larry Page in Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit

<p>The online recruitment-offering site LinkedIn on Monday announced it would be terminating the jobs of 716 employees as well as phasing out its China-focused job application.</p>

<p>LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky wrote a letter to employees, informing them about the job cuts. He cited trimming headcount in the sales, operations and support teams to streamline the company's operations and remove flab to make quicker decisions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"With the market and customer demand fluctuating more, and to serve emerging and growth markets more effectively, we are expanding the use of vendors," said&nbsp;Roslansky in the letter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that the changes would result in the creation of 250 new jobs and those laid off would be eligible to apply for those roles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for its China operations, the company said it will be phasing out its InCareeers app from the country by August 9. LinkedIn had decided to withdraw from mainland China in 2021 citing a 'challenging environment'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Despite our initial progress, InCareer faced fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate, which ultimately led us to the decision of discontinuing the service," the company told users of the website.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/another-round-of-jobs-cuts-at-meta-thousands-of-workers-could-be-impacted-reports-565005"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Another round of jobs cuts at Meta, thousands of workers could be impacted: Reports</strong></a></p>

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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/meta-gears-up-for-fresh-round-of-firings-thousands-could-lose-jobs-report-569405#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<p>Despite witnessing an increase in revenue each quarter last year, the Microsoft-owned platform is joining the likes of other tech giants in laying off employees.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>LinkedIn's previous round of firings</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, in February earlier this year, after Microsoft announced plans to lay off around 10,000 employees, a significant amount of firing took place in the&nbsp;recruitment department of LinkedIn as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the numbers were not confirmed at the time, several employees took to social media platforms to lament the sudden firing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>LinkedIn's ex-staff member Nicole Zawacki (who was employed as "diversity, inclusion and belonging sourcing lead") wrote that it will take a "little time" for her to process.</p>

<p>"Today I'm taking a little time to myself to process, but if anyone has any positions within Talent Acquisition or your Diversity team, or know of someone who does, I would sincerely appreciate any advice,” Zawacki posted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/job-providing-platform-linkedin-sacks-employees-from-recruitment-team-561925"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Job-providing platform, LinkedIn, sacks employees from its recruitment team</strong></a></p>

<p>The tech sector has witnessed a bloodbath over the last one and a half years. Amazon&nbsp;led the pack in firings by laying off almost 27,000 workers worldwide. Facebook owner Meta has terminated 21,000 jobs while Google's parent company Alphabet has laid off as many as 12,000 workers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The online recruitment-offering site LinkedIn on Monday announced it would be terminating the jobs of 716 employees as well as phasing out its China-focused job application.

The online recruitment-offering site LinkedIn on Monday announced it would be terminating the jobs of 716 employees as well as phasing out its China-focused job application. LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky wrote a letter to employees, informing them about the job cuts. He cited trimming headcount in the sales, operations and support teams to streamline the company's operations and remove flab to make quicker decisions. "With the market and customer demand fluctuating more, and to serve emerging and growth markets more effectively, we are expanding the use of vendors," said Roslansky in the letter. He added that the changes would result in the creation of 250 new jobs and those laid off would be eligible to apply for those roles. As for its China operations, the company said it will be phasing out its InCareeers app from the country by August 9. LinkedIn had decided to withdraw from mainland China in 2021 citing a 'challenging environment'. "Despite our initial progress, InCareer faced fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate, which ultimately led us to the decision of discontinuing the service," the company told users of the website. WATCH | Another round of jobs cuts at Meta, thousands of workers could be impacted: Reports × Despite witnessing an increase in revenue each quarter last year, the Microsoft-owned platform is joining the likes of other tech giants in laying off employees. LinkedIn's previous round of firings Notably, in February earlier this year, after Microsoft announced plans to lay off around 10,000 employees, a significant amount of firing took place in the recruitment department of LinkedIn as well. While the numbers were not confirmed at the time, several employees took to social media platforms to lament the sudden firing. LinkedIn's ex-staff member Nicole Zawacki (who was employed as "diversity, inclusion and belonging sourcing lead") wrote that it will take a "little time" for her to process. "Today I'm taking a little time to myself to process, but if anyone has any positions within Talent Acquisition or your Diversity team, or know of someone who does, I would sincerely appreciate any advice,” Zawacki posted. ALSO READ | Job-providing platform, LinkedIn, sacks employees from its recruitment team The tech sector has witnessed a bloodbath over the last one and a half years. Amazon led the pack in firings by laying off almost 27,000 workers worldwide. Facebook owner Meta has terminated 21,000 jobs while Google's parent company Alphabet has laid off as many as 12,000 workers. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Microsoft-owned LinkedIn to sack over 700 employees, phase out its Chinese app

<p>If reports are to be believed, imports of Chinese goods could dwindle in India as the government continues to introduce a raft of Quality Control Orders (QCO). The situation could pose problems for the Indian industry, according to a report published in Mint.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Inspections by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have become crucial, with India imposing mandatory certification on many products for which QCOs have been issued," the publication noted, adding that customs officials were blocking products that were not compliant with Indian standards.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With several hurdles in the process, the import delays could pose difficulties for myriad industries which are dependent on China for products, the report warned. From&nbsp;pharmaceutical ingredients to auto parts to machinery, China has been one of the biggest importers to India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the total imports from China increased to&nbsp;$98.51 billion during the financial year that ended in March, compared to $94.57 billion during the same time last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-pips-china-to-become-indias-top-trade-partner-583242"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;US pips China to become India's top trade partner</strong></a></p>

<p>A government official, however, asserted that India was not looking to boot out China, albeit it was stepping in for quality checks as the Chinese officials were yet to resume the practice after the pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“India is not blocking imports from China. The issue is that because of travel restrictions in China, inspections are not taking place. Chinese officials are yet to indicate the reopening of facilities for inspections," said the official, requesting anonymity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We have resumed inspection of all the countries whose embassies have written to us indicating their facilities are open for inspection. BIS can’t give certifications without inspections."</p>

<h2><strong>Indian government upping the ante</strong></h2>

<p>With an aim to curb the import of sub-standard goods, especially from China and boost the domestic industry, India has seen a surge in QCOs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Products such as toys, machinery safety equipment, pressure cookers, ACs and chemicals have already been brought under compulsory certification.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier in January this year, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said it was planning to issue more QCOs by the&nbsp;second quarter of the next year. So far, India has issued 115 QCOs, and orders on as many as 675 products across 14 ministries are under consideration.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-to-discourage-foreign-trade-settlement-in-chinese-yuan-571771"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India to discourage foreign trade settlement in Chinese yuan</strong></a></p>

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<p>Even then, there was pushback from the World Trade Organization (WTO) members who said implementing QCOs should be on grounds of health, safety, environment, deceptive trade practice or national security only.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, according to experts,&nbsp;QCO is the perfect antidote to stop cheap Chinese imports from flooding the Indian market. Once Chinese goods enter India, their ultra-competitive pricing means that domestic traders are pushed to the fringes and punished for trying to maintain a certain level of quality.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from&nbsp;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>


If reports are to be believed, imports of Chinese goods could dwindle in India as the government continues to introduce a raft of Quality Control Orders (QCO). The situation could pose problems for the Indian industry, according to a report published in Mint.

If reports are to be believed, imports of Chinese goods could dwindle in India as the government continues to introduce a raft of Quality Control Orders (QCO). The situation could pose problems for the Indian industry, according to a report published in Mint. "Inspections by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have become crucial, with India imposing mandatory certification on many products for which QCOs have been issued," the publication noted, adding that customs officials were blocking products that were not compliant with Indian standards. With several hurdles in the process, the import delays could pose difficulties for myriad industries which are dependent on China for products, the report warned. From pharmaceutical ingredients to auto parts to machinery, China has been one of the biggest importers to India. Notably, the total imports from China increased to $98.51 billion during the financial year that ended in March, compared to $94.57 billion during the same time last year. ALSO READ | US pips China to become India's top trade partner A government official, however, asserted that India was not looking to boot out China, albeit it was stepping in for quality checks as the Chinese officials were yet to resume the practice after the pandemic. “India is not blocking imports from China. The issue is that because of travel restrictions in China, inspections are not taking place. Chinese officials are yet to indicate the reopening of facilities for inspections," said the official, requesting anonymity. "We have resumed inspection of all the countries whose embassies have written to us indicating their facilities are open for inspection. BIS can’t give certifications without inspections." Indian government upping the ante With an aim to curb the import of sub-standard goods, especially from China and boost the domestic industry, India has seen a surge in QCOs. Products such as toys, machinery safety equipment, pressure cookers, ACs and chemicals have already been brought under compulsory certification. Earlier in January this year, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said it was planning to issue more QCOs by the second quarter of the next year. So far, India has issued 115 QCOs, and orders on as many as 675 products across 14 ministries are under consideration. WATCH | India to discourage foreign trade settlement in Chinese yuan × Even then, there was pushback from the World Trade Organization (WTO) members who said implementing QCOs should be on grounds of health, safety, environment, deceptive trade practice or national security only. However, according to experts, QCO is the perfect antidote to stop cheap Chinese imports from flooding the Indian market. Once Chinese goods enter India, their ultra-competitive pricing means that domestic traders are pushed to the fringes and punished for trying to maintain a certain level of quality. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India's quality control norms could hit Chinese imports: Report

<p>If you thought of Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg as a&nbsp;quintessential nerd who only stared at a computer screen all day long, then be prepared to have your notions turned upside down. Zuckerberg recently won a gold and silver medal at his very first&nbsp;Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Redwood City, California.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The billionaire CEO took to Instagram where he talked about competing in the Jiu-Jitsu tournament and winning medals for his team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Competed in my first jiu jitsu tournament and won some medals&nbsp;for the Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu team. Thanks to @davecamarillo @khaiwu @intense0ne for training me!" Zuckerberg wrote in the post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The post was an instant hit as it received over 400,000 likes and almost 10,000 comments. Some high-profile celebrities such as UFC champion&nbsp;Conor McGregor as well as YouTube creator PewDiePie congratulated Zuckerberg on his achievement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Yo!!! F***ing awesome Mark," wrote McGregor, while PewDiePie added, "Damn, imagine getting zuck'ed by the zuck."</p>

<p>One of his coaches, Khai “the Shadow” Wu, congratulated his student: “Yesterday getting to see Zuck compete was pretty epic. No match was easy and everything was earned. It was an honor to be able to help coach and offer any advice I could.”</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr7Ub8ULkzV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck)</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/meta-layoffs-10000-job-cuts-facebook-whatsapp-instagram-indians-affected-facebook-layoffs-584200"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Meta begins layoffs; to leave 10,000 without jobs across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>What is Jiu-Jitsu?</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, Jiu-Jitsu is a Brazilian self-defence martial art and combat sport where grappling, ground fighting and submission holds comprise the basic tenet. The idea is to take down the opponent to the ground, gain a dominant position and use various&nbsp;techniques to force them into submission.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who all have practised Jiu-Jitsu?</strong></h2>

<p>Recently, Hollywood star Tom Hardy also competed in a Jiu-Jitsu competition in the UK. He has won competitions in&nbsp;Wolverhampton and Milton Keynes.</p>

<p>"That 70s Show" star show Ashton Kutcher has a keen interest in the sport and has a brown belt to his name. Meanwhile, British comedian Russel Brand and actor Jason Statham, both have purple belts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Another round of mass layoffs begin in Meta, to cut 10,000 more jobs</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/another-round-of-mass-layoffs-begin-in-meta-to-cut-10000-more-jobs-572125/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

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<h2><strong>Zuckerberg and his hobbies</strong></h2>

<p>In recent weeks, Zuckerberg has been grabbing news headlines, not for his tech companies, but&nbsp;for his hobbies. Last week, the tech mogul shared pictures of 3D-printed&nbsp;dresses he made for his daughter.</p>

<p>The Facebook CEO posted pictures of his daughter wearing the 3D printed clothes with the caption, "I love building things and recently started designing and 3D printing dresses with the girls. A few projects from the last month."</p>

<p>He also revealed that for this special project, he learned to sew. "and yes, I had to learn to sew," he wrote.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mark-zuckerberg-goes-viral-for-making-3d-printed-dresses-for-daughters-check-it-out-587933"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg goes viral for making 3D-printed dresses for daughters. Check it out</strong></a></p>

<p>Apart from martial arts and sewing, Zuckerberg is also an avid surfer. He routinely posts videos of himself surfing the dangerous waves.</p>

<p>In one of the videos posted on July 4 - America's Independence Day, Zuckerberg could be seen waving the American flag while riding a surfboard.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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If you thought of Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg as a quintessential nerd who only stared at a computer screen all day long, then be prepared to have your notions turned upside down.

If you thought of Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg as a quintessential nerd who only stared at a computer screen all day long, then be prepared to have your notions turned upside down. Zuckerberg recently won a gold and silver medal at his very first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Redwood City, California. The billionaire CEO took to Instagram where he talked about competing in the Jiu-Jitsu tournament and winning medals for his team. “Competed in my first jiu jitsu tournament and won some medals for the Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu team. Thanks to @davecamarillo @khaiwu @intense0ne for training me!" Zuckerberg wrote in the post. The post was an instant hit as it received over 400,000 likes and almost 10,000 comments. Some high-profile celebrities such as UFC champion Conor McGregor as well as YouTube creator PewDiePie congratulated Zuckerberg on his achievement. “Yo!!! F***ing awesome Mark," wrote McGregor, while PewDiePie added, "Damn, imagine getting zuck'ed by the zuck." One of his coaches, Khai “the Shadow” Wu, congratulated his student: “Yesterday getting to see Zuck compete was pretty epic. No match was easy and everything was earned. It was an honor to be able to help coach and offer any advice I could.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck) × ALSO READ | Meta begins layoffs; to leave 10,000 without jobs across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp What is Jiu-Jitsu? Notably, Jiu-Jitsu is a Brazilian self-defence martial art and combat sport where grappling, ground fighting and submission holds comprise the basic tenet. The idea is to take down the opponent to the ground, gain a dominant position and use various techniques to force them into submission. Who all have practised Jiu-Jitsu? Recently, Hollywood star Tom Hardy also competed in a Jiu-Jitsu competition in the UK. He has won competitions in Wolverhampton and Milton Keynes. "That 70s Show" star show Ashton Kutcher has a keen interest in the sport and has a brown belt to his name. Meanwhile, British comedian Russel Brand and actor Jason Statham, both have purple belts. ALSO WATCH | Another round of mass layoffs begin in Meta, to cut 10,000 more jobs × Zuckerberg and his hobbies In recent weeks, Zuckerberg has been grabbing news headlines, not for his tech companies, but for his hobbies. Last week, the tech mogul shared pictures of 3D-printed dresses he made for his daughter. The Facebook CEO posted pictures of his daughter wearing the 3D printed clothes with the caption, "I love building things and recently started designing and 3D printing dresses with the girls. A few projects from the last month." He also revealed that for this special project, he learned to sew. "and yes, I had to learn to sew," he wrote. ALSO READ | Mark Zuckerberg goes viral for making 3D-printed dresses for daughters. Check it out Apart from martial arts and sewing, Zuckerberg is also an avid surfer. He routinely posts videos of himself surfing the dangerous waves. In one of the videos posted on July 4 - America's Independence Day, Zuckerberg could be seen waving the American flag while riding a surfboard. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg competes in Jiu-Jitsu tournament, wins medals. Details inside

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<p>A little more than 10 days after the North Dakota Senate lawmakers passed a bill to ignore the pronouns the transgender students use, Republican Governor Doug Burgum on Monday signed it into legislation. Under the new law, 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>Burgum stated that the new law “largely codifies existing practices while reaffirming the First Amendment right to free speech...balancing the rights and interests of students, parents and teachers.”</p>

<p>However, opponents of the law argued that the Red state was violating students' constitutional rights. They added that children could face dangerous repercussions if an abusive parent did not approve of their gender orientation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Mandatory outing of a student’s trans identity violates their privacy rights at school – particularly for trans youth who cannot be safe at home," Cody Schuler, advocacy manager of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"And creating a supportive working and learning environment also requires treating people with dignity and respect, including – at a minimum – calling them by the name and pronouns they want to use. These are both unlawful and discriminatory practices.”</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>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Burgum and North Dakota's clampdown on transgender rights&nbsp;</h2>

<p>This is not the first instance where Burgum has signed a bill restricting the rights of transgender in the state. Earlier, one of the bills prohibited gender-affirming care for transgender, making it a crime.</p>

<p>Meaning those looking to avail healthcare facilities to transition from their assigned gender at birth will not be able to do so. Moreover, healthcare providers who provide gender-affirming care to minors will be criminalised.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another law prohibits transgender girls and women from joining female sports teams in K-12 and college.</p>

<p>The Republican leader is toeing a staunchly conservative line in the state. Apart from restricting several rights of transgenders, he has also banned abortion in the state - curtailing women's rights.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last month, he signed legislation under which abortion throughout the pregnancy period, except for a period of six weeks of gestation, has been banned.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-dakota-governor-signs-legislation-banning-almost-all-abortions-585862" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | North Dakota governor signs legislation banning almost all abortions</strong></a></p>

<p>Overall, at least 14 states across the US have either restricted or banned gender-affirming care for minors while at least eight states have enacted laws<strong>&nbsp;</strong>preventing transgender people from using the restrooms associated with their gender identities.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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A little more than 10 days after the North Dakota Senate lawmakers passed a bill to ignore the pronouns the transgender students use, Republican Governor Doug Burgum on Monday signed it into legislation.

A little more than 10 days after the North Dakota Senate lawmakers passed a bill to ignore the pronouns the transgender students use, Republican Governor Doug Burgum on Monday signed it into legislation. Under the new law, 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. Burgum stated that the new law “largely codifies existing practices while reaffirming the First Amendment right to free speech...balancing the rights and interests of students, parents and teachers.” However, opponents of the law argued that the Red state was violating students' constitutional rights. They added that children could face dangerous repercussions if an abusive parent did not approve of their gender orientation. “Mandatory outing of a student’s trans identity violates their privacy rights at school – particularly for trans youth who cannot be safe at home," Cody Schuler, advocacy manager of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "And creating a supportive working and learning environment also requires treating people with dignity and respect, including – at a minimum – calling them by the name and pronouns they want to use. These are both unlawful and discriminatory practices.” WATCH | US to control land sales to foreigners near 8 military bases × Burgum and North Dakota's clampdown on transgender rights This is not the first instance where Burgum has signed a bill restricting the rights of transgender in the state. Earlier, one of the bills prohibited gender-affirming care for transgender, making it a crime. Meaning those looking to avail healthcare facilities to transition from their assigned gender at birth will not be able to do so. Moreover, healthcare providers who provide gender-affirming care to minors will be criminalised. Another law prohibits transgender girls and women from joining female sports teams in K-12 and college. The Republican leader is toeing a staunchly conservative line in the state. Apart from restricting several rights of transgenders, he has also banned abortion in the state - curtailing women's rights. Last month, he signed legislation under which abortion throughout the pregnancy period, except for a period of six weeks of gestation, has been banned. ALSO READ | North Dakota governor signs legislation banning almost all abortions Overall, at least 14 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. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

USA: North Dakota implements law restricting transgender pronouns, bathroom use

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<p>A day after five Indian Army soldiers were killed in action in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri sector, another encounter broke&nbsp;out in the Baramulla region of the Union Territory. The encounter started in the Karhama Kunzer area of Baramulla and one Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was&nbsp;killed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We had received information from a reliable source about some suspicious movement in Karhama village under Kunzer police station limits," SSP Baramulla, Amod Ashok Nagpure was quoted as saying by ANI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A cordon and search operation was launched by joint parties of Baramulla police, the Indian Army and CRPF. During the operation, the search parties were fired upon and in retaliatory firing one terrorist of LeT has been killed."</p>

<p>Nagpure added that security forces were on high alert in view of the G20 Summit and were actively working to neutralise any threat that could hamper the successful organising of the event.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"The killed terrorist has been identified as Abid Wani, resident of Yarhol Babapora in Kulgam, linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT. Incriminating materials, one AK-47 rifle recovered," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Operation in Rajouri still underway</strong></h2>

<p>Apart from Baramulla, the counter-terror operation in the Kandi forest in Rajouri, in which five soldiers were killed Friday (May 5) is still underway.&nbsp;According to defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand, contact with terrorists was established at 1:15 am on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;India: 5 Army jawans killed in terror attack in J&amp;K's Poonch</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-5-army-jawans-killed-in-terror-attack-in-jks-poonch-584554/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/poonch-terror-attack-indian-forces-launch-major-search-operation-close-highway-to-nab-terrorists-584598#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<p>Four soldiers killed in action were commandos from the 9 Para (Special Forces), while the fifth was from the Rashtriya Rifles battalion. The Army identified them as Havildar Neelam Singh from Akhnoor, Naik Arvind Kumar from Palampur, Lance Naik Ruchin Singh Rawat from Gairsain in Uttarakhand, Paratrooper Siddhant Chettri from Darjeeling, and Paratrooper Pramod Negi from Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh.</p>

<p>According to news agency PTI, the People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a shadow organisation of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit, has claimed responsibility for Friday's attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-army-soldiers-killed-4-including-an-officer-injured-in-rajouri-operation-589205" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Five Indian army soldiers killed during anti-terror operations in J&amp;K's Rajouri</strong></a></p>

<p>Indian Army columns have been conducting relentless intelligence-based operations to flush out a group of terrorists involved in an ambush on an army truck in the Jammu region's Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian.</p>

<p>Last month, five Indian Army soldiers were killed after terrorists ambush attacked a vehicle by launching heavy fire and grenades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There have been two similar attacks on Indian Army and civilians in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors respectively, in the recent past.&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 day after five Indian Army soldiers were killed in action in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri sector, another encounter broke out in the Baramulla region of the Union Territory.

A day after five Indian Army soldiers were killed in action in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri sector, another encounter broke out in the Baramulla region of the Union Territory. The encounter started in the Karhama Kunzer area of Baramulla and one Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was killed. "We had received information from a reliable source about some suspicious movement in Karhama village under Kunzer police station limits," SSP Baramulla, Amod Ashok Nagpure was quoted as saying by ANI. "A cordon and search operation was launched by joint parties of Baramulla police, the Indian Army and CRPF. During the operation, the search parties were fired upon and in retaliatory firing one terrorist of LeT has been killed." Nagpure added that security forces were on high alert in view of the G20 Summit and were actively working to neutralise any threat that could hamper the successful organising of the event. "The killed terrorist has been identified as Abid Wani, resident of Yarhol Babapora in Kulgam, linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT. Incriminating materials, one AK-47 rifle recovered," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet. Operation in Rajouri still underway Apart from Baramulla, the counter-terror operation in the Kandi forest in Rajouri, in which five soldiers were killed Friday (May 5) is still underway. According to defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand, contact with terrorists was established at 1:15 am on Saturday. ALSO WATCH | India: 5 Army jawans killed in terror attack in J&K's Poonch × Four soldiers killed in action were commandos from the 9 Para (Special Forces), while the fifth was from the Rashtriya Rifles battalion. The Army identified them as Havildar Neelam Singh from Akhnoor, Naik Arvind Kumar from Palampur, Lance Naik Ruchin Singh Rawat from Gairsain in Uttarakhand, Paratrooper Siddhant Chettri from Darjeeling, and Paratrooper Pramod Negi from Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh. According to news agency PTI, the People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a shadow organisation of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit, has claimed responsibility for Friday's attack. ALSO READ | Five Indian army soldiers killed during anti-terror operations in J&K's Rajouri Indian Army columns have been conducting relentless intelligence-based operations to flush out a group of terrorists involved in an ambush on an army truck in the Jammu region's Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian. Last month, five Indian Army soldiers were killed after terrorists ambush attacked a vehicle by launching heavy fire and grenades. There have been two similar attacks on Indian Army and civilians in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors respectively, in the recent past. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Fresh encounter underway in J&K’s Baramulla a day after five Indian Army soldiers were killed

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<p>Operations at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) were suspended on Sunday (May 7) as Moscow claimed Kyiv had threatened action as part of its counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-held territory. Since then, anxiety regarding the safety of the plant has reached an all-time high, perhaps breaching the peak of last year when it was captured in the infancy of the war and subjected to intense damage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Approximately 3,000 people, including around 1,000 minors, have been evacuated from villages close to the frontline. According to Yevgeny Balitsky, the Moscow-installed governor of the Russia-controlled part of the region, Kyiv has been plotting to take control of the plant.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We've seen the level (of water in the nearby Kakhovka Reservoir) rise to 17.08 (metres). We realise that this is manipulation. The nuclear reactors have been suspended," Balitsky was quoted as saying by TASS.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russian forces took over the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the biggest plant in Europe, soon after Moscow&nbsp;announced the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year. By March 3, the plant was firmly in the control of Russians, but there lay a problem.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-suspends-operations-at-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-evacuates-civilians-amid-threat-of-provocation-590420"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Russia suspends operations at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, evacuates civilians amid threat of 'provocation'</strong></a></p>

<p>Those who had commandeered the plant did not have the know-how to run the operations. Up until 2014, Ukrainian NPPs&nbsp;used Russian nuclear fuel but now they utilise American-designed fuel produced by Westinghouse. Moreover, the control command of the Ukrainian plants has been remodelled to ape those of modern, sophisticated Western NPPs - a marked departure from the Soviet-era style.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thus, Ukrainian technicians were allowed to remain, at times under extreme duress, after a few were killed to ascertain the hierarchy of order. Since then, the troops from Moscow have turned the facility into a garrison of sorts - using the nuclear storage rooms to hold ammunition, while putting the plant's safety in jeopardy.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Nuclear plant's safety on the line</strong></h2>

<p>The plant has six reactors, which can together produce about 5,700 MW of electricity. It is the biggest source of energy for the former Soviet Union country and caters to about half of its power demand. However, maintaining a nuclear plant, that too safely, requires a series of operations to fall in place.</p>

<p>Nuclear plants have to depend on external electricity for a variety of needs, including the operation of water pumping systems to keep the reactors cool. If anything in the delicate system goes off, the situation can turn pear-shaped rather quickly. Even though the six reactors have been shut down, the plant is still at risk as nuclear fuel and radioactive materials, including liquids, remain in the compound.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite both sides understanding the perils of toying with nuclear energy, the plant has remained a forgotten collateral of the war. Shelling from both sides last year threatened to damage the plant's structural integrity. While Ukraine fires from the Russian side of the lines, Moscow hurls projectiles from Ukrainian-held communities across the Dnieper&nbsp;River.</p>

<p>Ukraine already has the blot of Chernobyl on it and another nuclear disaster, that too in the largest nuclear plant of the continent, could wreak damage on a scale hitherto unseen.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iaea-team-to-inspect-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-ukraine-seeks-control-over-nuke-plant-511611"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;IAEA team to inspect Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant; Ukraine seeks control over nuke plant</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Repercussions, if the plant goes bust</strong></h2>

<p>In March, the plant plunged into its sixth blackout in a year as engineers scrambled to start the diesel generators to keep the critical cooling equipment running. However,<strong>&nbsp;</strong>testing one's luck repeatedly in a nuclear environment is not the best bet for either party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the event of an unlikely explosion, the repercussions could be widespread. Firstly, the evacuation attempts will be a race against time to escape the invisible radioactive cloud. Even if somehow one manages to escape it, the effect of a radiation leak can be felt for years to come. Due to the plant’s geographic location, a radiation release could hit any part of the European continent</p>

<p>While the radiation will cause long-term harm to Europe, the short-term effects will be even more dastardly - economically and socially. There will be no export of electricity to the European Union (EU) and the region, which is already huffing and puffing due to Russian gas undersupply, might go into a freefall.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Though highly unlikely, experts are also concerned that nuclear terrorism might come into play if push comes to shove.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Buildings in the nuclear plant have suffered damage and the situation threatens a catastrophic nuclear accident. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the shelling.</p>

<h2><strong>Take the fight away from the plant: Agencies</strong></h2>

<p>The United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency have been pushing for a protection zone to be set up to prevent further damage to the plant. According to an NYT report, the area where spent nuclear fuel is stored, sustained damage last year and it is unclear what is the current situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The general situation in the area near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous," said Rafael Grossi, IAEA chief, adding that he's concerned.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I’m extremely concerned about the very real nuclear safety and security risks facing the plant."&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-situation-around-zaporizhzhia-plant-becoming-increasingly-unpredictable-says-iaea-head-589898"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Ukraine war: Situation around Zaporizhzhia plant becoming increasingly unpredictable, says IAEA head</strong></a></p>

<p>The evacuation of villagers from around the plant points towards the lull before the storm. Ukraine might be gearing up to seize the initiative and counter Russia, but the plant's safety might be the price to pay for it, which would be incredibly expensive.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>If the plant suffers any more damage, it could potentially open up nuclear faultlines. The effects could be cascading and the countries around could easily be plunged into a World War III-like crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Operations at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) were suspended on Sunday (May 7) as Moscow claimed Kyiv had threatened action as part of its counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-held territory.

Operations at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) were suspended on Sunday (May 7) as Moscow claimed Kyiv had threatened action as part of its counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-held territory. Since then, anxiety regarding the safety of the plant has reached an all-time high, perhaps breaching the peak of last year when it was captured in the infancy of the war and subjected to intense damage. Approximately 3,000 people, including around 1,000 minors, have been evacuated from villages close to the frontline. According to Yevgeny Balitsky, the Moscow-installed governor of the Russia-controlled part of the region, Kyiv has been plotting to take control of the plant. "We've seen the level (of water in the nearby Kakhovka Reservoir) rise to 17.08 (metres). We realise that this is manipulation. The nuclear reactors have been suspended," Balitsky was quoted as saying by TASS. Russian forces took over the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the biggest plant in Europe, soon after Moscow announced the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year. By March 3, the plant was firmly in the control of Russians, but there lay a problem. ALSO READ | Russia suspends operations at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, evacuates civilians amid threat of 'provocation' Those who had commandeered the plant did not have the know-how to run the operations. Up until 2014, Ukrainian NPPs used Russian nuclear fuel but now they utilise American-designed fuel produced by Westinghouse. Moreover, the control command of the Ukrainian plants has been remodelled to ape those of modern, sophisticated Western NPPs - a marked departure from the Soviet-era style. Thus, Ukrainian technicians were allowed to remain, at times under extreme duress, after a few were killed to ascertain the hierarchy of order. Since then, the troops from Moscow have turned the facility into a garrison of sorts - using the nuclear storage rooms to hold ammunition, while putting the plant's safety in jeopardy. Nuclear plant's safety on the line The plant has six reactors, which can together produce about 5,700 MW of electricity. It is the biggest source of energy for the former Soviet Union country and caters to about half of its power demand. However, maintaining a nuclear plant, that too safely, requires a series of operations to fall in place. Nuclear plants have to depend on external electricity for a variety of needs, including the operation of water pumping systems to keep the reactors cool. If anything in the delicate system goes off, the situation can turn pear-shaped rather quickly. Even though the six reactors have been shut down, the plant is still at risk as nuclear fuel and radioactive materials, including liquids, remain in the compound. Despite both sides understanding the perils of toying with nuclear energy, the plant has remained a forgotten collateral of the war. Shelling from both sides last year threatened to damage the plant's structural integrity. While Ukraine fires from the Russian side of the lines, Moscow hurls projectiles from Ukrainian-held communities across the Dnieper River. Ukraine already has the blot of Chernobyl on it and another nuclear disaster, that too in the largest nuclear plant of the continent, could wreak damage on a scale hitherto unseen. WATCH | IAEA team to inspect Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant; Ukraine seeks control over nuke plant × Repercussions, if the plant goes bust In March, the plant plunged into its sixth blackout in a year as engineers scrambled to start the diesel generators to keep the critical cooling equipment running. However, testing one's luck repeatedly in a nuclear environment is not the best bet for either party. In the event of an unlikely explosion, the repercussions could be widespread. Firstly, the evacuation attempts will be a race against time to escape the invisible radioactive cloud. Even if somehow one manages to escape it, the effect of a radiation leak can be felt for years to come. Due to the plant’s geographic location, a radiation release could hit any part of the European continent While the radiation will cause long-term harm to Europe, the short-term effects will be even more dastardly - economically and socially. There will be no export of electricity to the European Union (EU) and the region, which is already huffing and puffing due to Russian gas undersupply, might go into a freefall. Though highly unlikely, experts are also concerned that nuclear terrorism might come into play if push comes to shove. Buildings in the nuclear plant have suffered damage and the situation threatens a catastrophic nuclear accident. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the shelling. Take the fight away from the plant: Agencies The United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency have been pushing for a protection zone to be set up to prevent further damage to the plant. According to an NYT report, the area where spent nuclear fuel is stored, sustained damage last year and it is unclear what is the current situation. "The general situation in the area near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous," said Rafael Grossi, IAEA chief, adding that he's concerned. "I’m extremely concerned about the very real nuclear safety and security risks facing the plant." ALSO READ | Ukraine war: Situation around Zaporizhzhia plant becoming increasingly unpredictable, says IAEA head The evacuation of villagers from around the plant points towards the lull before the storm. Ukraine might be gearing up to seize the initiative and counter Russia, but the plant's safety might be the price to pay for it, which would be incredibly expensive. If the plant suffers any more damage, it could potentially open up nuclear faultlines. The effects could be cascading and the countries around could easily be plunged into a World War III-like crisis. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained: How Zaporizhzhia plant can become a nuclear flashpoint in Russia-Ukraine war

<p>Russia's Wagner Group founder&nbsp;Yevgeny Prigozhin on Tuesday claimed a Russian military unit had deserted one of the military positions near Bakhmut in east Ukraine, currently the epicentre of vicious fighting between the two sides.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Today one of the units of the defence ministry fled from one of our flanks...exposing the front," said&nbsp;Prigozhin while repeating the threat that his mercenary group will leave the conflict zone if the Russian military did not step up and provide more ammunition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that Russian soldiers were 'fleeing' the army as the defence ministry was 'scheming all the time', instead of 'fighting'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a scathing video,&nbsp;Prigozhin questioned,&nbsp;"Why is the state not able to defend its country?", adding that Kyiv was consistently hitting Russian border regions 'successfully'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also accused Moscow's top generals of trying to deceive&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If all the tasks are being carried out in such a way as to deceive the commander-in-chief (Putin), then either he will rip your arse or the Russian people will, who will be angry that the war is lost," Prigozhin said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-group-will-soon-cease-to-exist-founder-tells-war-blogger-587166"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Wagner group will soon cease to exist: Founder tells war blogger</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Prigozhin and Putin's relationship turns frosty</strong></h2>

<p>The relationship between&nbsp;Prigozhin and&nbsp;Putin has turned frosty in recent times.&nbsp;Prigozhin has accused Putin of cutting him off completely, claiming that he was left alone in making war-related decisions about his army. He claimed that his paramilitary army has suffered heavy losses when trying to capture the eastern city of Bakhmut.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“To get me to stop asking for ammunition, all the hotlines to offices, to departments etc have been cut off from me. But the real humdinger is that they’ve also blocked agencies from making decisions [related to Wagner]," said Prigozhin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previously, reports claimed that Wagner Group was so hard-pressed for men that it was using Pornhub to recruit soldiers - urging them to stop pleasuring themselves and instead join the private militia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russias-wagner-group-decides-to-withdraw-from-bakhmut-due-to-shortage-of-ammunition-589490"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia's Wagner Group decides to withdraw from Bakhmut due to shortage of ammunition</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>War unleashed against Russia: Putin</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, the statement by&nbsp;Prigozhin came on the same day as the country celebrates Victory Day - a holiday that commemorates the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in 1945.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the&nbsp;Red Square Victory Day parade in Moscow, Putin said the world was at a 'turning point' and that a 'war' had been unleashed against Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Today civilisation is again at a decisive turning point.&nbsp;A war has been unleashed against our motherland," said Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He called for Russia to be victorious: "For Russia, for our armed forces, for victory! Hurrah!"</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong><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>


Russia's Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin on Tuesday claimed a Russian military unit had deserted one of the military positions near Bakhmut in east Ukraine, currently the epicentre of vicious fighting between the two sides.

Russia's Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin on Tuesday claimed a Russian military unit had deserted one of the military positions near Bakhmut in east Ukraine, currently the epicentre of vicious fighting between the two sides. "Today one of the units of the defence ministry fled from one of our flanks...exposing the front," said Prigozhin while repeating the threat that his mercenary group will leave the conflict zone if the Russian military did not step up and provide more ammunition. He added that Russian soldiers were 'fleeing' the army as the defence ministry was 'scheming all the time', instead of 'fighting'. In a scathing video, Prigozhin questioned, "Why is the state not able to defend its country?", adding that Kyiv was consistently hitting Russian border regions 'successfully'. He also accused Moscow's top generals of trying to deceive Russian President Vladimir Putin. "If all the tasks are being carried out in such a way as to deceive the commander-in-chief (Putin), then either he will rip your arse or the Russian people will, who will be angry that the war is lost," Prigozhin said. ALSO READ | Wagner group will soon cease to exist: Founder tells war blogger Prigozhin and Putin's relationship turns frosty The relationship between Prigozhin and Putin has turned frosty in recent times. Prigozhin has accused Putin of cutting him off completely, claiming that he was left alone in making war-related decisions about his army. He claimed that his paramilitary army has suffered heavy losses when trying to capture the eastern city of Bakhmut. “To get me to stop asking for ammunition, all the hotlines to offices, to departments etc have been cut off from me. But the real humdinger is that they’ve also blocked agencies from making decisions [related to Wagner]," said Prigozhin. Previously, reports claimed that Wagner Group was so hard-pressed for men that it was using Pornhub to recruit soldiers - urging them to stop pleasuring themselves and instead join the private militia. WATCH | Russia's Wagner Group decides to withdraw from Bakhmut due to shortage of ammunition × War unleashed against Russia: Putin Notably, the statement by Prigozhin came on the same day as the country celebrates Victory Day - a holiday that commemorates the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in 1945. During the Red Square Victory Day parade in Moscow, Putin said the world was at a 'turning point' and that a 'war' had been unleashed against Russia. "Today civilisation is again at a decisive turning point. A war has been unleashed against our motherland," said Putin. He called for Russia to be victorious: "For Russia, for our armed forces, for victory! Hurrah!" (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Russia-Ukraine war: Wagner Group boss says Russian unit fled combat in Bakhmut

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<p>The Paris police force is the subject of heavy criticism after it allowed a group of 600-odd neo-Nazis to openly parade through the capital city last Saturday. Apart from the police force, France's interior minister is also facing heat from the opposition and the public over inaction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The march on Saturday saw hundreds of far-right extremists of "Comite du 9 Mai" (committee of May 9) dressed in black, walk through the city with flags and chant slogans to commemorate the death of Sebastien Deyzieu of the "Oeuvre Francaise" ultranationalist group in 1994.</p>

<p>Surprisingly, the march, which started from an upmarket Left Bank district of Paris was okayed by the city authorities and the police officers could be seen patrolling nearby. When quizzed about why the police was providing security to the group, the department said it did not have the legal powers to stop a protest/march unless there was a "proven risk to public order".</p>

<p>"Given that this demonstration had not caused any problems or public order issues during previous years, the Paris prefect was not in a position to take steps to ban it," the Paris police department said in a statement.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/group-of-neo-nazis-celebrate-hitlers-birthday-raise-their-arms-to-salute-dictator-585327"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Group of neo-Nazis celebrates Hitler's birthday, raise their arms to salute dictator</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, the march took place a couple of days before "Victory in Europe Day" (VE Day) - a public holiday in the country, used to commemorate the victory of Allied forces over Nazi Germany in 1945 and the lives lost fighting fascism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Socialist Party Senator David Assouline slammed the march and demanded Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin to 'explain' himself.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's unacceptable to have allowed 500 neo-Nazis and fascists to parade in the heart of Paris. Their organisations, the display of their ideology, slogans, insignias are as much an insult to the dead as an incitement to racial hatred," tweeted Assouline.</p>

<h2><strong>French government crackdown on 'saucepan' protesters&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>While far-right activists were provided police protection, the authorities across the capital have been clamping down on protesters who are banging saucepans against the government for bringing the highly controversial 'pension reforms' law.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fresh restrictions were imposed on saucepan protesters so as to prevent President Emmanuel Macron's voice from being drowned out by the noise during public speeches.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-protests-against-pension-law-continues-582885"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;France: Protests against pension law continue</strong></a></p>

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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-president-emmanuel-macron-laments-not-selling-his-pension-reform-plan-adequately-to-public-585502#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Monday, Macron attended a ceremony at the<strong>&nbsp;</strong>Arc de Triomphe war memorial where authorities had banned saucepan demonstrations. Similarly, in the eastern city of Lyon, protesters were forced to keep mum when Macron paid tribute to French Resistance hero Jean Moulin. An appeal by one of the trade unions was also rejected by a local court.&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>

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The Paris police force is the subject of heavy criticism after it allowed a group of 600-odd neo-Nazis to openly parade through the capital city last Saturday. Apart from the police force, France's interior minister is also facing heat from the opposition and the public over inaction.

The Paris police force is the subject of heavy criticism after it allowed a group of 600-odd neo-Nazis to openly parade through the capital city last Saturday. Apart from the police force, France's interior minister is also facing heat from the opposition and the public over inaction. The march on Saturday saw hundreds of far-right extremists of "Comite du 9 Mai" (committee of May 9) dressed in black, walk through the city with flags and chant slogans to commemorate the death of Sebastien Deyzieu of the "Oeuvre Francaise" ultranationalist group in 1994. Surprisingly, the march, which started from an upmarket Left Bank district of Paris was okayed by the city authorities and the police officers could be seen patrolling nearby. When quizzed about why the police was providing security to the group, the department said it did not have the legal powers to stop a protest/march unless there was a "proven risk to public order". "Given that this demonstration had not caused any problems or public order issues during previous years, the Paris prefect was not in a position to take steps to ban it," the Paris police department said in a statement. ALSO READ | Group of neo-Nazis celebrates Hitler's birthday, raise their arms to salute dictator Notably, the march took place a couple of days before "Victory in Europe Day" (VE Day) - a public holiday in the country, used to commemorate the victory of Allied forces over Nazi Germany in 1945 and the lives lost fighting fascism. Socialist Party Senator David Assouline slammed the march and demanded Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin to 'explain' himself. "It's unacceptable to have allowed 500 neo-Nazis and fascists to parade in the heart of Paris. Their organisations, the display of their ideology, slogans, insignias are as much an insult to the dead as an incitement to racial hatred," tweeted Assouline. French government crackdown on 'saucepan' protesters While far-right activists were provided police protection, the authorities across the capital have been clamping down on protesters who are banging saucepans against the government for bringing the highly controversial 'pension reforms' law. Fresh restrictions were imposed on saucepan protesters so as to prevent President Emmanuel Macron's voice from being drowned out by the noise during public speeches. WATCH | France: Protests against pension law continue × On Monday, Macron attended a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe war memorial where authorities had banned saucepan demonstrations. Similarly, in the eastern city of Lyon, protesters were forced to keep mum when Macron paid tribute to French Resistance hero Jean Moulin. An appeal by one of the trade unions was also rejected by a local court. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

French police and government under heavy scrutiny for allowing neo-Nazi rally in Paris

<p>A recent study has shown that United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the social capital of the world. The country nearly scored the perfect score as almost all residents have a Facebook account.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study published by Proxyrack noted the average number of social platforms used in the country and the percentage of the population that uses Facebook.</p>

<p>“With an almost perfect score of 9.55 out of 10, the UAE takes the top spot as the social media capital of the world. People in the UAE have an average of 8.2 social media platforms, the third highest in the world, joint with the Philippines. UAE also has the highest percentage of people with Facebook at over 100 per cent,” said Proxyrack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"UAE’s estimated percentage is over 100 per cent as there are more Facebook users registered in the UAE than the population," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/its-raining-in-uae-social-media-deluged-with-beautiful-images-videos-536505"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;It's raining in UAE ! Social media deluged with BEAUTIFUL images, videos</strong></a></p>

<p>According to the report, on average, the people of UAE spent&nbsp;seven and a half hours daily using the internet.&nbsp;The UAE is followed by Malaysia/the Philippines with both countries scoring 8.75, Saudi Arabia (8.41), Singapore (7.96), Vietnam (7.62), Brazil (7.62), Thailand (7.61), Indonesia (7.5) and Hong Kong (7.27).</p>

<p>Meanwhile, India stood on the 19th spot with only 29 per cent of the population using Facebook but spending nearly nine hours on the internet every day.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>UAE emerges as the most connected country</strong></h2>

<p>Apart from leading the 'social media capitals' chart, UAE also topped the "most connected countries" list.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The UAE is the most connected country in the world, with a connected score of 7.53/10. The UAE ranks highly in all but one of our categories. UAE has the highest percentage of its population connected to the internet and using Facebook. However, it’s also got the most expensive internet at just over $100," read the report.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-india-story-how-the-uae-and-india-built-up-their-special-relationship-570033"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;The India Story | How the UAE and India built up their special relationship</strong></a></p>

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<p>However, when it comes to best internet access, UAE was dethroned by South Korea which received a score of 8.52 out of 10. Almost 98 per cent population of S Korea used the internet which costs $21 on average. The Arab country occupied the fourth spot with a 6.59 score.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"South Korea also has 140 mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people," the report noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to experts, the UAE, akin to the rest of the globe has witnessed an increase in internet usage after the coronavirus pandemic. After the pandemic struck, most individuals and entrepreneurs&nbsp;were forced to take their business online and the habit has since stuck, even in their personal lives - as the rising share of social media suggested.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A recent study has shown that United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the social capital of the world. The country nearly scored the perfect score as almost all residents have a Facebook account.

A recent study has shown that United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the social capital of the world. The country nearly scored the perfect score as almost all residents have a Facebook account. The study published by Proxyrack noted the average number of social platforms used in the country and the percentage of the population that uses Facebook. “With an almost perfect score of 9.55 out of 10, the UAE takes the top spot as the social media capital of the world. People in the UAE have an average of 8.2 social media platforms, the third highest in the world, joint with the Philippines. UAE also has the highest percentage of people with Facebook at over 100 per cent,” said Proxyrack. "UAE’s estimated percentage is over 100 per cent as there are more Facebook users registered in the UAE than the population," it added. ALSO READ | It's raining in UAE ! Social media deluged with BEAUTIFUL images, videos According to the report, on average, the people of UAE spent seven and a half hours daily using the internet. The UAE is followed by Malaysia/the Philippines with both countries scoring 8.75, Saudi Arabia (8.41), Singapore (7.96), Vietnam (7.62), Brazil (7.62), Thailand (7.61), Indonesia (7.5) and Hong Kong (7.27). Meanwhile, India stood on the 19th spot with only 29 per cent of the population using Facebook but spending nearly nine hours on the internet every day. UAE emerges as the most connected country Apart from leading the 'social media capitals' chart, UAE also topped the "most connected countries" list. "The UAE is the most connected country in the world, with a connected score of 7.53/10. The UAE ranks highly in all but one of our categories. UAE has the highest percentage of its population connected to the internet and using Facebook. However, it’s also got the most expensive internet at just over $100," read the report. WATCH | The India Story | How the UAE and India built up their special relationship × However, when it comes to best internet access, UAE was dethroned by South Korea which received a score of 8.52 out of 10. Almost 98 per cent population of S Korea used the internet which costs $21 on average. The Arab country occupied the fourth spot with a 6.59 score. "South Korea also has 140 mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people," the report noted. According to experts, the UAE, akin to the rest of the globe has witnessed an increase in internet usage after the coronavirus pandemic. After the pandemic struck, most individuals and entrepreneurs were forced to take their business online and the habit has since stuck, even in their personal lives - as the rising share of social media suggested. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

UAE emerges as social media capital of world, India comes 19th: Report

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<p>In what comes as a significant meeting that could potentially shape the future of West Asia and keep China at bay, the National Security Advisers of the US, UAE and India met in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman playing the gracious host.</p>

<p>The objective of the meeting was to further expand a “shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the World."</p>

<p>According to a readout issued by the White House, US NSA Jake Sullivan held a meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, as the duo reviewed decisions taken in their last meeting (Feb 1) and charted plans to meet later this month in Sydney on the margins of the QUAD summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and National Security Advisor of India Ajit Doval on May 7 in Saudi Arabia to advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world,” the White House said Sunday in a readout of the meeting.</p>

<p>Sullivan also held talks with his Saudi and UAE counterparts in an effort to repair the ties with the Sunni world.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why does the meeting assume significance?</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, in the lead-up to the meeting, media reports claimed that the new grouping might announce plans to develop joint infrastructure that connects Gulf and Arab countries via a railway network and also extends to India via shipping lanes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The initiative would include connecting Arab countries in the Levant and the Gulf via a network of railways that will also connect to India through seaports in the Gulf," reports noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sullivan had hinted at developing the railway infrastructure after he talked about the I2U2 group which had proposed the&nbsp;project for the first time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“If you remember nothing else from my speech, remember I2U2, because you will be hearing more about it as we go forward," said Sullivan during his speech last week at the&nbsp;Washington Institute for Near East Policy.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/i2u2-virtual-summit-during-bidens-west-asia-trip-496822"><strong>WATCH | I2U2 virtual summit during Biden's West Asia trip</strong></a></p>

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<p>However, after the meeting, all stakeholders remained tight-lipped on the issue. After China expanded its sphere of influence in the region by brokering peace between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Washington is attempting to bring the major powers together.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-us-saudi-arabia-and-uae-to-develop-major-joint-railway-infrastructure-report-589916" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | India, US, Saudi Arabia and UAE to develop joint railway infrastructure: Report</strong></a></p>

<p>According to experts, India can be the glue which binds the grouping. New Delhi has steady ties with Washington and the latter sees it as a natural ally to counter the threat of China on the global map. The Middle East is a key part of China's Belt and Road vision and the US believes that the joint initiative is the best way to counter Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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In what comes as a significant meeting that could potentially shape the future of West Asia and keep China at bay, the National Security Advisers of the US, UAE and India met in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman playing the gracious host.

In what comes as a significant meeting that could potentially shape the future of West Asia and keep China at bay, the National Security Advisers of the US, UAE and India met in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman playing the gracious host. The objective of the meeting was to further expand a “shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the World." According to a readout issued by the White House, US NSA Jake Sullivan held a meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, as the duo reviewed decisions taken in their last meeting (Feb 1) and charted plans to meet later this month in Sydney on the margins of the QUAD summit. “National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and National Security Advisor of India Ajit Doval on May 7 in Saudi Arabia to advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world,” the White House said Sunday in a readout of the meeting. Sullivan also held talks with his Saudi and UAE counterparts in an effort to repair the ties with the Sunni world. Why does the meeting assume significance? Notably, in the lead-up to the meeting, media reports claimed that the new grouping might announce plans to develop joint infrastructure that connects Gulf and Arab countries via a railway network and also extends to India via shipping lanes. "The initiative would include connecting Arab countries in the Levant and the Gulf via a network of railways that will also connect to India through seaports in the Gulf," reports noted. Sullivan had hinted at developing the railway infrastructure after he talked about the I2U2 group which had proposed the project for the first time. “If you remember nothing else from my speech, remember I2U2, because you will be hearing more about it as we go forward," said Sullivan during his speech last week at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. WATCH | I2U2 virtual summit during Biden's West Asia trip × However, after the meeting, all stakeholders remained tight-lipped on the issue. After China expanded its sphere of influence in the region by brokering peace between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Washington is attempting to bring the major powers together. ALSO READ | India, US, Saudi Arabia and UAE to develop joint railway infrastructure: Report According to experts, India can be the glue which binds the grouping. New Delhi has steady ties with Washington and the latter sees it as a natural ally to counter the threat of China on the global map. The Middle East is a key part of China's Belt and Road vision and the US believes that the joint initiative is the best way to counter Beijing. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

NSAs of US, India, UAE meet in Saudi Arabia as China expands West Asia footprint

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