<p>Alireza Akbari, the British-Iranian dual national and former Iranian deputy defence minister was executed earlier this year by Tehran over accusations of espionage. Now, a detailed report by the New York Times confirms that Akbari was indeed a British spy and had been leaking Iranian nuclear secrets since 2004, managing to hide his activities for a 15-year long period.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Citing three Western intelligence and national security officials, the report claims that it was in 2008 that a senior British intelligence officer went to Tel Aviv and informed Israeli officials about the mole they had planted with access to Iran's nuclear secrets. The officer forwarded&nbsp;Akbari's investigation which stated that Iran had been enriching uranium at a secret underground site at Fordow, 20 miles northeast of Qom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the G20 summit in Pittsburgh&nbsp;the following year, the then US President Barack Obama made the revelations public, sending shockwaves across the world. The report by Akbari was the reason Tehran was made a pariah state with hefty economic sanctions imposed on it - the effects of which are still being felt by the West Asian country.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to reports,&nbsp;Akbari's inputs also played a prominent role in the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh who was killed in 2020 by Israeli special forces.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia helped Iran track&nbsp;the mole</strong></h2>

<p>The report claimed that Iran finally managed to get hold of Akbari after receiving assistance from Russian intelligence officials. However, the publication&nbsp;did not make it clear how Moscow managed to make the discovery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He [Akbari] appeared to get away with it until 2019, when Iran discovered with the assistance of Russian intelligence officials that he had revealed the existence of a clandestine Iranian nuclear weapons program deep in the mountains near Tehran, according to two Iranian sources with links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards," read the report.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-alireza-akbari-executed-on-charges-of-being-a-british-spy-uk-condemns-execution-552686"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Iran: Alireza Akbari executed on charges of being a British spy, UK condemns execution</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Akbari's execution</strong></h2>

<p>Iran’s judicial news agency, Mizan&nbsp;accused Akbari&nbsp;of being, “one of the most important agents of the British spy service who collected important information and provided this for the British spy service in a fully informed and targeted manner.”</p>

<p>Prior to his execution, Akbari reportedly denied any wrongdoing. He also allegedly said that he was tortured and forced to make false confessions after he was accused of obtaining top-secret intelligence for the British intelligence agency, MI6.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“With more than 3,500 hours of torture, psychedelic drugs, and physiological and psychological pressure methods, they took away my will,” said Akbari, as per a report by Reuters, citing the BBC Persian’s audio recording.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-who-is-alireza-akbari-the-british-iranian-executed-by-iran-for-spying-552893"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Explained: Who is Alireza Akbari the British-Iranian dual national executed by Iran for ‘spying’?</strong></a></p>

<p>The execution was harshly denounced by&nbsp;the UK and other Western nations.&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron called the British-Iranian dual national’s execution an “odious and barbaric act."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Alireza Akbari, the British-Iranian dual national and former Iranian deputy defence minister was executed earlier this year by Tehran over accusations of espionage.

Alireza Akbari, the British-Iranian dual national and former Iranian deputy defence minister was executed earlier this year by Tehran over accusations of espionage. Now, a detailed report by the New York Times confirms that Akbari was indeed a British spy and had been leaking Iranian nuclear secrets since 2004, managing to hide his activities for a 15-year long period. Citing three Western intelligence and national security officials, the report claims that it was in 2008 that a senior British intelligence officer went to Tel Aviv and informed Israeli officials about the mole they had planted with access to Iran's nuclear secrets. The officer forwarded Akbari's investigation which stated that Iran had been enriching uranium at a secret underground site at Fordow, 20 miles northeast of Qom. At the G20 summit in Pittsburgh the following year, the then US President Barack Obama made the revelations public, sending shockwaves across the world. The report by Akbari was the reason Tehran was made a pariah state with hefty economic sanctions imposed on it - the effects of which are still being felt by the West Asian country. According to reports, Akbari's inputs also played a prominent role in the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh who was killed in 2020 by Israeli special forces. Russia helped Iran track the mole The report claimed that Iran finally managed to get hold of Akbari after receiving assistance from Russian intelligence officials. However, the publication did not make it clear how Moscow managed to make the discovery. "He [Akbari] appeared to get away with it until 2019, when Iran discovered with the assistance of Russian intelligence officials that he had revealed the existence of a clandestine Iranian nuclear weapons program deep in the mountains near Tehran, according to two Iranian sources with links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards," read the report. WATCH | Iran: Alireza Akbari executed on charges of being a British spy, UK condemns execution Akbari's execution Iran’s judicial news agency, Mizan accused Akbari of being, “one of the most important agents of the British spy service who collected important information and provided this for the British spy service in a fully informed and targeted manner.” Prior to his execution, Akbari reportedly denied any wrongdoing. He also allegedly said that he was tortured and forced to make false confessions after he was accused of obtaining top-secret intelligence for the British intelligence agency, MI6. “With more than 3,500 hours of torture, psychedelic drugs, and physiological and psychological pressure methods, they took away my will,” said Akbari, as per a report by Reuters, citing the BBC Persian’s audio recording. ALSO READ | Explained: Who is Alireza Akbari the British-Iranian dual national executed by Iran for ‘spying’? The execution was harshly denounced by the UK and other Western nations. French President Emmanuel Macron called the British-Iranian dual national’s execution an “odious and barbaric act." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Israel received intel about Iran's nuclear weapons through British spy Alireza Akbari: Report

<p>Canada-based notorious gangster Goldy Brar has been named in the list of the top 25 most-wanted fugitives in the country. Brar, believed to be one of the main conspirators of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala's murder has been added to the list by&nbsp;Interpol-Ottawa's&nbsp;Fugitive Apprehension Support Team.</p>

<p>"Brar is accused of orchestrating the murders of Rajat Kumar, Gurlal Singh, and is also suspected of ordering the murder of Indian singer, songwriter Shubhdeep Singh aka Sidhu Moose Wala" read the official release.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Brar is believed to be in Canada and represents a risk to public safety. He is currently under investigation but is not charged with any criminal offences in Canada," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Brar is wanted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for murder, according to the ‘Bolo (Be On the Lookout) Programme’ list issued. The programme aims to amplify police fugitive cases to increase public awareness. Consequently, Brar's life-sized cutout mong the other fugitives has been displayed at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 29-year-old gangster managed to reach Canada on a student visa in 2017 but remained in contact with the Bishnoi Lawrence gang. According to Indian police, Brar is&nbsp;a close accomplice of Lawrence Bisnoi, the chief suspect in the murder of the Punjabi rapper.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite being in police&nbsp;custody since 2015, Bishnoi has been operating his terror-crime Syndicate from prisons in different states. Recently, Bishnoi issued death threats to Bollywood actor Salman Khan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-are-goldy-brar-and-lawrence-bishnoi-responsible-for-sidhu-moose-walas-murder-483321"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Sidhu Moose Wala shot dead: Who are suspects Goldy Brar, Lawrence Bishnoi?</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Brar detained in the US?</strong></h2>

<p>In December last year, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann claimed that Brar had been arrested in the US. However, since then, there has been no official word from either the government of India or the state police in Brar's alleged detention/arrest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Although much information is not available regarding what led the chief minister to make that announcement with so much authority, it seems that at that time, the Government of India had been approached by the American authorities seeking additional information on Goldy Brar. That move was probably interpreted by the Indian authorities as Brar either having been detained or kept under surveillance in the US," a senior Punjab police officer was quoted as saying by The Print.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sidhu-moose-wala-murder-mastermind-goldy-brar-nabbed-in-california-539367"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Sidhu Moose Wala murder mastermind Goldy Brar nabbed in California</strong></a></p>

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<p>Moose Wala was shot dead in his car on May 29, 2022, in a village in the Mansa district of the state. The rapper, songwriter, and actor had been receiving death threats from gangsters, claimed his father. That was confirmed by fellow singer Mika Singh.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Canada-based notorious gangster Goldy Brar has been named in the list of the top 25 most-wanted fugitives in the country. Brar, believed to be one of the main conspirators of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala's murder has been added to the list by Interpol-Ottawa's Fugitive Apprehension Support Team.

Canada-based notorious gangster Goldy Brar has been named in the list of the top 25 most-wanted fugitives in the country. Brar, believed to be one of the main conspirators of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala's murder has been added to the list by Interpol-Ottawa's Fugitive Apprehension Support Team. "Brar is accused of orchestrating the murders of Rajat Kumar, Gurlal Singh, and is also suspected of ordering the murder of Indian singer, songwriter Shubhdeep Singh aka Sidhu Moose Wala" read the official release. "Brar is believed to be in Canada and represents a risk to public safety. He is currently under investigation but is not charged with any criminal offences in Canada," it added. Brar is wanted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for murder, according to the ‘Bolo (Be On the Lookout) Programme’ list issued. The programme aims to amplify police fugitive cases to increase public awareness. Consequently, Brar's life-sized cutout mong the other fugitives has been displayed at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square. The 29-year-old gangster managed to reach Canada on a student visa in 2017 but remained in contact with the Bishnoi Lawrence gang. According to Indian police, Brar is a close accomplice of Lawrence Bisnoi, the chief suspect in the murder of the Punjabi rapper. Despite being in police custody since 2015, Bishnoi has been operating his terror-crime Syndicate from prisons in different states. Recently, Bishnoi issued death threats to Bollywood actor Salman Khan. ALSO READ | Sidhu Moose Wala shot dead: Who are suspects Goldy Brar, Lawrence Bishnoi? Brar detained in the US? In December last year, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann claimed that Brar had been arrested in the US. However, since then, there has been no official word from either the government of India or the state police in Brar's alleged detention/arrest. “Although much information is not available regarding what led the chief minister to make that announcement with so much authority, it seems that at that time, the Government of India had been approached by the American authorities seeking additional information on Goldy Brar. That move was probably interpreted by the Indian authorities as Brar either having been detained or kept under surveillance in the US," a senior Punjab police officer was quoted as saying by The Print. WATCH | Sidhu Moose Wala murder mastermind Goldy Brar nabbed in California × Moose Wala was shot dead in his car on May 29, 2022, in a village in the Mansa district of the state. The rapper, songwriter, and actor had been receiving death threats from gangsters, claimed his father. That was confirmed by fellow singer Mika Singh. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Goldy Brar, Sidhu Moose Wala murder mastermind, added to Canada's top 25 most-wanted fugitives' list

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<p>Elon Musk owned-SpaceX will be launching its powerful Spaceship spacecraft in the coming six to eight weeks, the billionaire informed during a Twitter Spaces chat on Saturday. The April 20 liftoff of Starship, which can take astronauts to the Moon and back, did not end in the way desired as it exploded minutes after liftoff in a test flight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Musk, during the Twitter chat, said 30 out of 33 engines of Starship worked perfectly and reached 'full thrust', which was perhaps the reason the concrete launchpad was destroyed. Musk added that the pad damage was "quite small"&nbsp;and that it would take "six to eight weeks" to get the infrastructure prepared for another launch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The outcome was roughly in (line) with what I expected and, maybe slightly exceeded my expectations,” said the SpaceX CEO.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The vehicle structural margins appear to be better than we expected. As we can tell the vehicle is actually doing somersaults towards the end and still staying intact."</p>

<h2><strong>FAA approval required</strong></h2>

<p>However, SpaceX is not allowed a relaunch opportunity until the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) completes its review that “will determine the root cause of the event and identify corrective actions the operator must implement to avoid a recurrence".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We aren’t going to speculate on timelines. Safety will dictate the<strong>&nbsp;</strong>timeline," stated the FAA.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/spacexs-starship-rocket-lifts-off-for-inaugural-test-flight-584528"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;SpaceX's Starship rocket lifts off for inaugural test flight</strong></a></p>

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<p>After the explosion, SpaceX stated, “Vehicle experienced multiple engines out during the flight test, lost altitude, and began to tumble."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Musk&nbsp;congratulated employees and said he’s optimistic about the programme’s progress. Many called it Musk's way of turning setbacks into 'successful failures.'&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>SpaceX asks people to contact about debris</strong></h2>

<p>After the launch, the debris from the rocket has been washing up on the shores surrounding the Starbase launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>SpaceX has asked people not to handle or retrieve the debris of the Starship, and contact the company on its hotline at 1-866-623-0234 or email the information to recovery@spacex.com.</p>

<p>"Teams are actively monitoring both message boxes and will ensure the notification is handled appropriately. We are unable to respond to every message received, but our teams will reach out as appropriate," SpaceX officials wrote. "If you have concerns about an immediate hazard, please contact your local law enforcement agency."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/found-a-piece-of-starship-spacex-would-like-to-have-it-back-585357"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Found a piece of Starship? SpaceX would like to have it back</strong></a></p>

<p>SpaceX is the biggest rocket ever to have been built. According to Musk, Starship has the capability of being reused which could bring down the costs and help humanity set civilisation on alien planets, such as Mars.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Elon Musk owned-SpaceX will be launching its powerful Spaceship spacecraft in the coming six to eight weeks, the billionaire informed during a Twitter Spaces chat on Saturday.

Elon Musk owned-SpaceX will be launching its powerful Spaceship spacecraft in the coming six to eight weeks, the billionaire informed during a Twitter Spaces chat on Saturday. The April 20 liftoff of Starship, which can take astronauts to the Moon and back, did not end in the way desired as it exploded minutes after liftoff in a test flight. Musk, during the Twitter chat, said 30 out of 33 engines of Starship worked perfectly and reached 'full thrust', which was perhaps the reason the concrete launchpad was destroyed. Musk added that the pad damage was "quite small" and that it would take "six to eight weeks" to get the infrastructure prepared for another launch. “The outcome was roughly in (line) with what I expected and, maybe slightly exceeded my expectations,” said the SpaceX CEO. "The vehicle structural margins appear to be better than we expected. As we can tell the vehicle is actually doing somersaults towards the end and still staying intact." FAA approval required However, SpaceX is not allowed a relaunch opportunity until the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) completes its review that “will determine the root cause of the event and identify corrective actions the operator must implement to avoid a recurrence". “We aren’t going to speculate on timelines. Safety will dictate the timeline," stated the FAA. WATCH | SpaceX's Starship rocket lifts off for inaugural test flight × After the explosion, SpaceX stated, “Vehicle experienced multiple engines out during the flight test, lost altitude, and began to tumble." Meanwhile, Musk congratulated employees and said he’s optimistic about the programme’s progress. Many called it Musk's way of turning setbacks into 'successful failures.' SpaceX asks people to contact about debris After the launch, the debris from the rocket has been washing up on the shores surrounding the Starbase launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX has asked people not to handle or retrieve the debris of the Starship, and contact the company on its hotline at 1-866-623-0234 or email the information to recovery@spacex.com. "Teams are actively monitoring both message boxes and will ensure the notification is handled appropriately. We are unable to respond to every message received, but our teams will reach out as appropriate," SpaceX officials wrote. "If you have concerns about an immediate hazard, please contact your local law enforcement agency." ALSO READ | Found a piece of Starship? SpaceX would like to have it back SpaceX is the biggest rocket ever to have been built. According to Musk, Starship has the capability of being reused which could bring down the costs and help humanity set civilisation on alien planets, such as Mars. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Starship could be relaunched in 'six to eight' weeks, says SpaceX CEO Elon Musk

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<p>Pakistan-based Daily Times carried an op-ed titled 'Unsafe in Graves' where the shocking revelations were made including parents in the country being forced to lock the graves of their daughters with padlocks to stop individuals from raping their dead bodies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The heart-wrenching sight of padlocks on the graves of females is enough for the entire society to hang its head in shame and never dare to look at the so-called vessels of honour," the publication stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is being done as a desperate bid to ensure the sanctity of dead bodies in case some randy monsters cherry-pick them to satiate their lust," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>WION earlier carried the report with an image shared by a user named Harris Sultan, claiming to be an ex-Muslim atheist activist and author of "The Curse of God, why I left Islam". Sultan tweeted that hardline Islamist ideology was to blame for such unproven acts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The user wrote in his tweet that "Pakistan has created such a horny, sexually frustrated society that people are now putting padlocks on the graves of their daughters to prevent them from getting raped. When you link the burqa with rape, it follows you to the grave".&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the image turned out to be false as a fact-check by BOOM clarified that the "grave in the viral image is located at Masjid E Salar Mulk in Darab Jung Colony, Hyderabad, India, and does not show an instance of parents in Pakistan locking their daughter's grave to protect against necrophilia".&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pakistan has created such a horny, sexually frustrated society that people are now putting padlocks on the graves of their daughters to prevent them from getting raped.<br />
<br />
When you link the burqa with rape, it follows you to the grave. <a href="https://t.co/THrRO1y6ok">pic.twitter.com/THrRO1y6ok</a></p>
— Harris Sultan (@TheHarrisSultan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHarrisSultan/status/1651190252395180035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Previous incidents of necrophilia</strong></h2>

<p>In 2011, a grave keeper named Muhammad Rizwan from the city of Karachi was apprehended after he confessed to having raped over 48 female corpses.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last year in May, unknown men dug out the corpse of a teenage girl in the Chak Kamala village in Gujrat, Pakistan and raped her. Shockingly, the incident took place on the same night the family had buried the girl.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2021, a freshly-buried teenage girl in the Maulvi Ashraf Chandio village near the coastal town of Ghulamullah was raped by unknown men after digging out the body. The victim's family stated that a local goon, the son of the village landlord, was the main perpetrator in the heinous crime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similarly, in 2020, a man was caught red-handed raping the corpse of a woman in a graveyard in Okara in the Punjab province.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to National Commission for Human Rights, over 40 per cent of women in Pakistan have faced some kind of violence in their lives.&nbsp;Pakistan is undergoing one of the worst economic crises in its history and yet minorities and women's rights are being constantly trampled upon, even in their death.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer:&nbsp;An earlier version of this article incorrectly carried an image of padlocks on a grave claimed to be from Pakistan. The article has been updated.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Pakistan-based Daily Times carried an op-ed titled 'Unsafe in Graves' where the shocking revelations were made including parents in the country being forced to lock the graves of their daughters with padlocks to stop individuals from raping their dead bodies.

Pakistan-based Daily Times carried an op-ed titled 'Unsafe in Graves' where the shocking revelations were made including parents in the country being forced to lock the graves of their daughters with padlocks to stop individuals from raping their dead bodies. "The heart-wrenching sight of padlocks on the graves of females is enough for the entire society to hang its head in shame and never dare to look at the so-called vessels of honour," the publication stated. "This is being done as a desperate bid to ensure the sanctity of dead bodies in case some randy monsters cherry-pick them to satiate their lust," it added. WION earlier carried the report with an image shared by a user named Harris Sultan, claiming to be an ex-Muslim atheist activist and author of "The Curse of God, why I left Islam". Sultan tweeted that hardline Islamist ideology was to blame for such unproven acts. The user wrote in his tweet that "Pakistan has created such a horny, sexually frustrated society that people are now putting padlocks on the graves of their daughters to prevent them from getting raped. When you link the burqa with rape, it follows you to the grave". But the image turned out to be false as a fact-check by BOOM clarified that the "grave in the viral image is located at Masjid E Salar Mulk in Darab Jung Colony, Hyderabad, India, and does not show an instance of parents in Pakistan locking their daughter's grave to protect against necrophilia". Pakistan has created such a horny, sexually frustrated society that people are now putting padlocks on the graves of their daughters to prevent them from getting raped. When you link the burqa with rape, it follows you to the grave. pic.twitter.com/THrRO1y6ok — Harris Sultan (@TheHarrisSultan) April 26, 2023 × Previous incidents of necrophilia In 2011, a grave keeper named Muhammad Rizwan from the city of Karachi was apprehended after he confessed to having raped over 48 female corpses. Last year in May, unknown men dug out the corpse of a teenage girl in the Chak Kamala village in Gujrat, Pakistan and raped her. Shockingly, the incident took place on the same night the family had buried the girl. In 2021, a freshly-buried teenage girl in the Maulvi Ashraf Chandio village near the coastal town of Ghulamullah was raped by unknown men after digging out the body. The victim's family stated that a local goon, the son of the village landlord, was the main perpetrator in the heinous crime. Similarly, in 2020, a man was caught red-handed raping the corpse of a woman in a graveyard in Okara in the Punjab province. According to National Commission for Human Rights, over 40 per cent of women in Pakistan have faced some kind of violence in their lives. Pakistan is undergoing one of the worst economic crises in its history and yet minorities and women's rights are being constantly trampled upon, even in their death. Disclaimer: An earlier version of this article incorrectly carried an image of padlocks on a grave claimed to be from Pakistan. The article has been updated. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Photo of padlocks on grave in India's Hyderabad falsely claimed to be from Pakistan

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<p>External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday informed that authorities had evacuated 229 more stranded Indians from Sudan. They were brought back to the country under 'Operation Kaveri', a day after 365 people landed in Bengaluru from the African country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>”#OperationKaveri One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on Twitter.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OperationKaveri?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OperationKaveri</a><br />
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One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru. <a href="https://t.co/5OGEh7WM7D">pic.twitter.com/5OGEh7WM7D</a></p>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1652571622803484674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Of the 229 evacuees, 125 hailed from the southern state of Karnataka, according to a statement issued by Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Manoj Rajan.&nbsp;“From the latest group of evacuees, 29 were quarantined,” he said.</p>

<p>Jaishankar once again took to Twitter later in the day to inform that another batch of 40 Indian onboard a C-130J Indian Air Force flight had landed in the capital city of New Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"#OperationKaveri developments. A C-130J Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2300 people have reached India."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OperationKaveri?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OperationKaveri</a> developments.<br />
<br />
A C-130J Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2300 people have reached India. <a href="https://t.co/kDcx13a40i">pic.twitter.com/kDcx13a40i</a></p>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1652671133882232833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Operation Kaveri</strong></h2>

<p>The evacuation programme&nbsp;'Operation Kaveri' was launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,&nbsp;named after one of the major rivers from South India, to evacuate Indians stuck in Sudan.&nbsp;Operation Kaveri aims to bring back Indian citizens who are stuck in conflict-ridden Sudan.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/operation-kaveri-indian-army-aircraft-with-392-evacuees-reach-new-delhi-from-conflict-hit-sudan-587052" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Operation Kaveri: Indian Army aircraft with 392 evacuees reaches New Delhi from conflict-hit Sudan</strong></a></p>

<p>New Delhi has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah and Port Sudan, while the Indian embassy in Khartoum has been in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).</p>

<h2><strong>What is happening in Sudan?</strong></h2>

<p>The violent civil war between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary forces has led to the death of more than 500 while over 4,000 have been injured,</p>

<p>Earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and World Food Programme (WFP) said that between 10,000 to 20,000 people had fled to the neighbouring country of Chad to seek refuge as the violence escalated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fighting broke out earlier this month. The two warring factions were allies once as they seized power together in 2021. However, the proposed integration of RSF into the army did not sit well with the former. This led to a power struggle and has since metamorphosed into a full-blown civil war. Khartoum has witnessed the fiercest battles with the fighting spreading across the country as well.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday informed that authorities had evacuated 229 more stranded Indians from Sudan. They were brought back to the country under 'Operation Kaveri', a day after 365 people landed in Bengaluru from the African country.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday informed that authorities had evacuated 229 more stranded Indians from Sudan. They were brought back to the country under 'Operation Kaveri', a day after 365 people landed in Bengaluru from the African country. ”#OperationKaveri One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on Twitter. #OperationKaveri One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/5OGEh7WM7D — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2023 × Of the 229 evacuees, 125 hailed from the southern state of Karnataka, according to a statement issued by Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Manoj Rajan. “From the latest group of evacuees, 29 were quarantined,” he said. Jaishankar once again took to Twitter later in the day to inform that another batch of 40 Indian onboard a C-130J Indian Air Force flight had landed in the capital city of New Delhi. "#OperationKaveri developments. A C-130J Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2300 people have reached India." #OperationKaveri developments. A C-130J Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2300 people have reached India. pic.twitter.com/kDcx13a40i — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2023 × Operation Kaveri The evacuation programme 'Operation Kaveri' was launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, named after one of the major rivers from South India, to evacuate Indians stuck in Sudan. Operation Kaveri aims to bring back Indian citizens who are stuck in conflict-ridden Sudan. ALSO READ | Operation Kaveri: Indian Army aircraft with 392 evacuees reaches New Delhi from conflict-hit Sudan New Delhi has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah and Port Sudan, while the Indian embassy in Khartoum has been in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). What is happening in Sudan? The violent civil war between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary forces has led to the death of more than 500 while over 4,000 have been injured, Earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and World Food Programme (WFP) said that between 10,000 to 20,000 people had fled to the neighbouring country of Chad to seek refuge as the violence escalated. The fighting broke out earlier this month. The two warring factions were allies once as they seized power together in 2021. However, the proposed integration of RSF into the army did not sit well with the former. This led to a power struggle and has since metamorphosed into a full-blown civil war. Khartoum has witnessed the fiercest battles with the fighting spreading across the country as well. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Operation Kaveri: India brings back another batch of 229 people from Sudan

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<p>Amid soaring inflation in the country, the Iranian parliament on Sunday voted in an impeachment session to remove industry minister Reza Fatemi Amin.&nbsp;Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced the results during a session broadcast live on state television.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amin failed to garner enough votes to save his spot as 162 MPs voted in favour of his removal while 102 against. This was the second instance an impeachment motion had been brought against him. In November last year, Amin managed to stave off the challenge after securing 182 votes.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Parliamentarians, who voted to remove industry, mines and trade minister Reza Fatemi-Amin, accused him of failing to control "skyrocketing prices of automobiles and the rising costs of industrial production" and lambasted him for mismanagement.</p>

<p>Ahead of the vote, President Ebrahim Raisi batted for him and urged "stability in the management of this ministry". Even Amin argued, "The automobile industry is based on assembly and domestication, so it has problems with the ups and downs of sanctions."</p>

<p>According to reports, the major reason that contributed to Amin's downfall was supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in major policies criticising the high prices and low quality of home-made products including cars.</p>

<h2><strong>Rial plunges to historic low</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier this year in February, the Iranian currency, the rial plunged to its lowest with the US dollar fetching as much as 601,500 rials on Iran's unofficial market. At the time, the Iranian authorities blamed the currency's fall on "the enemies' plot" to destabilise the Islamic Republic.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports also attributed this drop to the country’s increasing international isolation over its human rights violations and reportedly supplying drones to Russia.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-has-developed-long-range-cruise-missile-565701">Iran says it has developed long-range cruise missile, triggers concerns in West</a></strong></p>

<p>Iran’s economic conditions have also contributed to widespread anger among its citizens. Couple that with the protests that started in the aftermath of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini's death, the public has been overly critical of the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amid the rise in prices and economic hardship, Iranians have turned to the US dollar or gold to protect their savings.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/shifting-ties-in-west-asia-the-west-asia-post-578697"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Shifting ties in West Asia | The West Asia Post</strong></a></p>

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<p>According to reports, protests have continued in parts of Iran despite the government’s harsh crackdown. Meanwhile, Tehran has also recently faced pressure from the West after accusations of supplying drones to Russia for using it amid its conflict with Ukraine, a claim that Iran has denied.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/iranian-rial-plunges-to-record-low-amid-anti-government-protests-international-isolation-566171" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Iranian rial plunges to record low amid anti-government protests, international isolation</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Amid soaring inflation in the country, the Iranian parliament on Sunday voted in an impeachment session to remove industry minister Reza Fatemi Amin. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced the results during a session broadcast live on state television.

Amid soaring inflation in the country, the Iranian parliament on Sunday voted in an impeachment session to remove industry minister Reza Fatemi Amin. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced the results during a session broadcast live on state television. Amin failed to garner enough votes to save his spot as 162 MPs voted in favour of his removal while 102 against. This was the second instance an impeachment motion had been brought against him. In November last year, Amin managed to stave off the challenge after securing 182 votes. Parliamentarians, who voted to remove industry, mines and trade minister Reza Fatemi-Amin, accused him of failing to control "skyrocketing prices of automobiles and the rising costs of industrial production" and lambasted him for mismanagement. Ahead of the vote, President Ebrahim Raisi batted for him and urged "stability in the management of this ministry". Even Amin argued, "The automobile industry is based on assembly and domestication, so it has problems with the ups and downs of sanctions." According to reports, the major reason that contributed to Amin's downfall was supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in major policies criticising the high prices and low quality of home-made products including cars. Rial plunges to historic low Earlier this year in February, the Iranian currency, the rial plunged to its lowest with the US dollar fetching as much as 601,500 rials on Iran's unofficial market. At the time, the Iranian authorities blamed the currency's fall on "the enemies' plot" to destabilise the Islamic Republic. Reports also attributed this drop to the country’s increasing international isolation over its human rights violations and reportedly supplying drones to Russia. ALSO READ | Iran says it has developed long-range cruise missile, triggers concerns in West Iran’s economic conditions have also contributed to widespread anger among its citizens. Couple that with the protests that started in the aftermath of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini's death, the public has been overly critical of the government. Amid the rise in prices and economic hardship, Iranians have turned to the US dollar or gold to protect their savings. WATCH | Shifting ties in West Asia | The West Asia Post × According to reports, protests have continued in parts of Iran despite the government’s harsh crackdown. Meanwhile, Tehran has also recently faced pressure from the West after accusations of supplying drones to Russia for using it amid its conflict with Ukraine, a claim that Iran has denied. ALSO READ | Iranian rial plunges to record low amid anti-government protests, international isolation (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Iranian industry minister impeached over rising inflation, mismanagement

<p>In what comes as an intriguing decision, 300 police officers in the Indian northeastern state of Assam have been offered voluntary retirement for being 'habitual drinkers'. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed about the decision on Sunday (April 30).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to reporters, Sarma said,&nbsp;“About 300 officers and jawans are habitual drinkers, and consumption of too much alcohol has damaged their bodies."</p>

<p>"The government has a provision for a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for them. It is an old rule, but we had not implemented it earlier,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Vacancies to be filled</strong></h2>

<p>The CM informed that the process had been initiated to bring new recruits to fill the vacancies. He added that the government was currently working on decentralisation of governance.</p>

<p>Reportedly, a motion has been set to open offices with power that previously rested with&nbsp;the deputy commissioners’ office in all 126 legislative assembly constituency areas of the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are trying to ensure people don’t have to travel to the district headquarters for work at the DC’s office, and that the DC’s office is available in every LAC area," said Sarma.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
“The DCs will look after law and order, and they will be given different responsibilities."</p>

<h2><strong>Sarma as the state CM</strong></h2>

<p>Sarma has been one of the biggest firebrand leaders of the BJP. He was a Congress leader till 2015 before switching lanes and joining BJP. Having served under former CM Sarbananda Sonowal,&nbsp;Sarma managed to pip him for the top state position after the 2021 assembly elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;India: G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, UN Resident Coordinator attend Model G20 discussion</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-g20-sherpa-amitabh-kant-un-resident-coordinator-attend-model-g20-discussion-563162/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Since then, he has managed to steer the northeastern state, which usually used to be on the periphery of New Delhi's politics, into the mainstream.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this month,&nbsp;Sarma spearheaded the border pact which ended&nbsp;a 50-year-old dispute with the neighbouring state of Arunachal Pradesh. In&nbsp;the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the pact was signed which brings settlement to 123 villages located along areas the two northeastern states share.</p>

<p>Sarma termed the signing of the MoU as historic and said the deal would be a harbinger of peace and prosperity. He said after 51 years, one of India's longest-running inter-state disputes comes to a decisive end&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Shah added, "It is a big moment for the entire northeastern region which has been witnessing all-round development ever since the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-child-marriage-crackdown-in-indias-assam-what-really-happened-563186"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;EXPLAINED | Crackdown on child marriage in India's Assam: What really happened?</strong></a></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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In what comes as an intriguing decision, 300 police officers in the Indian northeastern state of Assam have been offered voluntary retirement for being 'habitual drinkers'.

In what comes as an intriguing decision, 300 police officers in the Indian northeastern state of Assam have been offered voluntary retirement for being 'habitual drinkers'. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed about the decision on Sunday (April 30). Speaking to reporters, Sarma said, “About 300 officers and jawans are habitual drinkers, and consumption of too much alcohol has damaged their bodies." "The government has a provision for a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for them. It is an old rule, but we had not implemented it earlier,” he added. Vacancies to be filled The CM informed that the process had been initiated to bring new recruits to fill the vacancies. He added that the government was currently working on decentralisation of governance. Reportedly, a motion has been set to open offices with power that previously rested with the deputy commissioners’ office in all 126 legislative assembly constituency areas of the state. “We are trying to ensure people don’t have to travel to the district headquarters for work at the DC’s office, and that the DC’s office is available in every LAC area," said Sarma. “The DCs will look after law and order, and they will be given different responsibilities." Sarma as the state CM Sarma has been one of the biggest firebrand leaders of the BJP. He was a Congress leader till 2015 before switching lanes and joining BJP. Having served under former CM Sarbananda Sonowal, Sarma managed to pip him for the top state position after the 2021 assembly elections. ALSO WATCH | India: G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, UN Resident Coordinator attend Model G20 discussion Since then, he has managed to steer the northeastern state, which usually used to be on the periphery of New Delhi's politics, into the mainstream. Earlier this month, Sarma spearheaded the border pact which ended a 50-year-old dispute with the neighbouring state of Arunachal Pradesh. In the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the pact was signed which brings settlement to 123 villages located along areas the two northeastern states share. Sarma termed the signing of the MoU as historic and said the deal would be a harbinger of peace and prosperity. He said after 51 years, one of India's longest-running inter-state disputes comes to a decisive end Meanwhile, Shah added, "It is a big moment for the entire northeastern region which has been witnessing all-round development ever since the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014." ALSO READ | EXPLAINED | Crackdown on child marriage in India's Assam: What really happened? (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Assam govt offers voluntary retirement to 300 police officers for being ‘habitual drinkers’

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<p>After market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) moved the Supreme Court seeking a six-month extension to complete the Adani Group probe, the company has released a statement. The conglomerate said SEBI has not concluded any wrongdoing in its application to the country's top court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is pertinent to note that in the SEBI application filed before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, there are no conclusions of any alleged wrongdoing," Adani Group said in a statement.</p>

<p>"The SEBI application only cites the allegations made in the short-seller's report, which are still under investigation," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Gautan Adani-owned company said it welcomed the investigation which provided a fair opportunity to address all the issues.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are fully compliant with all laws, rules and regulations and are confident that truth will prevail. We are fully cooperating with SEBI and will continue to provide all our support and cooperation."&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/adani-hindenburg-market-regulator-sebi-seeks-six-month-extension-to-complete-probe-587398" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Adani-Hindenburg: Market regulator SEBI seeks six-month extension to complete probe</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, SEBI on Saturday requested an extension to complete the probe. It listed as many as eight possible violations that required more time to complete the probe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Given the complexity of the matter, SEBI in the normal course would take at least 15 months for completion of the investigation of these transactions, but is making all reasonable endeavours to conclude the same within six months," SEBI said in the plea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On March 2, the apex court directed SEBI to complete its probe and submit a status report in two months. The regulator, however, informed it had submitted a detailed report and prima facie findings to the Expert Committee constituted by the court.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wikipedia-accuses-adani-staff-of-manipulation-while-adani-groups-market-rout-deepens-further-564787"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Wikipedia accuses Adani staff of Manipulation while Adani Group's market rout deepens further</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>SC forms the committee&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In March, the bench led by the Chief Justice of India ordered&nbsp;SEBI to investigate whether the conglomerate failed to disclose transactions with related parties to the regulator and if it&nbsp;manipulated the&nbsp;stock prices.</p>

<p>The conglomerate has been under the scanner ever since US short-seller Hindenburg Research raised questions about the group's debt levels and use of tax havens.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/adani-hindenburg-supreme-court-constitutes-expert-panel-issues-two-month-deadline-to-sebi-567516"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Adani-Hindenburg: Supreme Court constitutes expert panel, issues two-month deadline to SEBI</strong></a></p>

<p>In the brutal fallout of Hindenburg's report, investors dumped Adani shares while the company was forced to abandon a $2.5 billion share sale.</p>

<p>The group, meanwhile, has denied the allegations and has rubbished subsequent exposé reports claiming it had tapered down its growth projections and that it had not repaid loans against promoter's shares.&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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<p>&nbsp;</p>


After market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) moved the Supreme Court seeking a six-month extension to complete the Adani Group probe, the company has released a statement.

After market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) moved the Supreme Court seeking a six-month extension to complete the Adani Group probe, the company has released a statement. The conglomerate said SEBI has not concluded any wrongdoing in its application to the country's top court. "It is pertinent to note that in the SEBI application filed before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, there are no conclusions of any alleged wrongdoing," Adani Group said in a statement. "The SEBI application only cites the allegations made in the short-seller's report, which are still under investigation," it added. The Gautan Adani-owned company said it welcomed the investigation which provided a fair opportunity to address all the issues. "We are fully compliant with all laws, rules and regulations and are confident that truth will prevail. We are fully cooperating with SEBI and will continue to provide all our support and cooperation." ALSO READ | Adani-Hindenburg: Market regulator SEBI seeks six-month extension to complete probe Notably, SEBI on Saturday requested an extension to complete the probe. It listed as many as eight possible violations that required more time to complete the probe. "Given the complexity of the matter, SEBI in the normal course would take at least 15 months for completion of the investigation of these transactions, but is making all reasonable endeavours to conclude the same within six months," SEBI said in the plea. On March 2, the apex court directed SEBI to complete its probe and submit a status report in two months. The regulator, however, informed it had submitted a detailed report and prima facie findings to the Expert Committee constituted by the court. WATCH | Wikipedia accuses Adani staff of Manipulation while Adani Group's market rout deepens further SC forms the committee In March, the bench led by the Chief Justice of India ordered SEBI to investigate whether the conglomerate failed to disclose transactions with related parties to the regulator and if it manipulated the stock prices. The conglomerate has been under the scanner ever since US short-seller Hindenburg Research raised questions about the group's debt levels and use of tax havens. ALSO READ | Adani-Hindenburg: Supreme Court constitutes expert panel, issues two-month deadline to SEBI In the brutal fallout of Hindenburg's report, investors dumped Adani shares while the company was forced to abandon a $2.5 billion share sale. The group, meanwhile, has denied the allegations and has rubbished subsequent exposé reports claiming it had tapered down its growth projections and that it had not repaid loans against promoter's shares. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

No allegation of wrongdoing in SEBI report, claims Adani Group after regulator seeks extension

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<p>Three years after being detained for publishing the videos of overcrowded hospitals and bodies at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese authorities are preparing to release Fang Bin, the citizen journalist who alerted the world about what was to come.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fang began posting videos of himself reporting on the Covid situation in Wuhan in&nbsp;January 2020. The Covid outbreak had devastated the city, home to over 11 million residents. A 76-day hard lockdown was announced by the administration and it was then that the likes of Fang and other citizen journalists started telling their stories and those of others. Although the movement was small in scale, it defied the mandate issued by the Communist Party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As soon as authorities got hold of the videos, he was given warnings but subsequently detained. In the last video, Fang posted a piece of paper reading, “All citizens resist, hand power back to the people.” By February, Fang disappeared from the public eye and alongside him, another citizen journalist named Chen Qiushi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to media reports, Fang was sentenced to three years in prison for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble", which is a vague term, often used to refer to political dissidence.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-slams-who-for-politicising-origins-of-covid-580547"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;China slams WHO for politicising origins of Covid</strong></a></p>

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<p>According to an AP report, Fang was scheduled to be released on Sunday (April 30) but it hadn't been confirmed by the authorities till reports came in last. Efforts to reach the prison authorities did not yield any results either.&nbsp;</p>

<p><b>Another whistleblower</b></p>

<p>Apart from Fang, it was Dr Li Wenliang, a 33-year-old ophthalmologist who made the headlines for being one of the first whistleblowers. He was penalised by Chinese authorities for making "false statements," and ultimately while fighting for patients, succumbed to Covid. What followed was public grief and rage after his passing.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/li-wenliang-people-pay-tribute-to-hero-doctor-as-china-eases-strict-covid-restrictions-541325" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Li Wenliang: People pay tribute to 'hero' doctor as China eases strict Covid restrictions</strong></a></p>

<p>China was the ground zero of the pandemic and one of the last countries to let go of the restrictions. The country under President Xi Jinping employed a zero-Covid tolerance policy which created horrific scenes. It was only in December last year that the communist regime lifted the draconian policy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After a relative period of normalcy, cases started to increase in mainland China earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Chinese authorities urged the citizens to be cautious and also instructed hospitals to be on high alert as the holiday weekend approached.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-cases-reportedly-rising-in-china-a-matter-of-global-concern-586624" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | COVID-19 cases reportedly rising in China. A matter of global concern?</strong></a></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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Three years after being detained for publishing the videos of overcrowded hospitals and bodies at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese authorities are preparing to release Fang Bin, the citizen journalist who alerted the world about what was to come.

Three years after being detained for publishing the videos of overcrowded hospitals and bodies at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese authorities are preparing to release Fang Bin, the citizen journalist who alerted the world about what was to come. Fang began posting videos of himself reporting on the Covid situation in Wuhan in January 2020. The Covid outbreak had devastated the city, home to over 11 million residents. A 76-day hard lockdown was announced by the administration and it was then that the likes of Fang and other citizen journalists started telling their stories and those of others. Although the movement was small in scale, it defied the mandate issued by the Communist Party. As soon as authorities got hold of the videos, he was given warnings but subsequently detained. In the last video, Fang posted a piece of paper reading, “All citizens resist, hand power back to the people.” By February, Fang disappeared from the public eye and alongside him, another citizen journalist named Chen Qiushi. According to media reports, Fang was sentenced to three years in prison for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble", which is a vague term, often used to refer to political dissidence. WATCH | China slams WHO for politicising origins of Covid × According to an AP report, Fang was scheduled to be released on Sunday (April 30) but it hadn't been confirmed by the authorities till reports came in last. Efforts to reach the prison authorities did not yield any results either. Another whistleblower Apart from Fang, it was Dr Li Wenliang, a 33-year-old ophthalmologist who made the headlines for being one of the first whistleblowers. He was penalised by Chinese authorities for making "false statements," and ultimately while fighting for patients, succumbed to Covid. What followed was public grief and rage after his passing. ALSO READ | Li Wenliang: People pay tribute to 'hero' doctor as China eases strict Covid restrictions China was the ground zero of the pandemic and one of the last countries to let go of the restrictions. The country under President Xi Jinping employed a zero-Covid tolerance policy which created horrific scenes. It was only in December last year that the communist regime lifted the draconian policy. After a relative period of normalcy, cases started to increase in mainland China earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Chinese authorities urged the citizens to be cautious and also instructed hospitals to be on high alert as the holiday weekend approached. ALSO READ | COVID-19 cases reportedly rising in China. A matter of global concern? (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Fang Bin, Chinese 'citizen journalist' who reported on COVID-19 to be released after 3 years

<p>Pope Francis&nbsp;on Sunday called upon Hungarians to be ‘open’ towards migrants. The&nbsp;head of the Roman Catholic Church was wrapping up his three-day visit to the central European country when he made the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Let us encourage one another to be increasingly open doors," the 86-year-old Argentine pontiff said, adding it was "sad and painful... to see closed doors".</p>

<p>"The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others...the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor."</p>

<p>On Sunday, some 50,000 people thronged to hear the pope say mass under tight security at Kossuth Lajos Square, behind the parliament on the banks of the Danube, according to local authorities.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pope-francis-on-a-three-day-visit-to-hungary-meets-ukrainian-refugees-587426"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Pope Francis on a three-day visit to Hungary, meets Ukrainian refugees</strong></a></p>

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<p>Pope's statement assumes significance, especially in the backdrop of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban adopting a tough stance on immigration. In a 2018 interview, Orban referred to Muslim refugees as Muslim invaders who started parallel societies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We don't see these people as Muslim refugees. We see them as Muslim invaders. We believe that a large number of Muslims inevitably leads to parallel societies, because Christian and Muslim society will never unite." Multiculturalism, he said, "is only an illusion."</p>

<p>After the European Union forced Budapest to shut down its so-called border transit zones that Brussels termed 'detention camps', the country has been only accepting asylum seekers' applications at Hungarian embassies abroad which has slowed down the number of asylum seekers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Throughout his visit, Francis has emphasised on welcoming those who are fleeing their home countries to find some kind of normalcy.&nbsp;On the second day of the visit,&nbsp;Pope urged the people to,&nbsp;"help to uproot the evils of indifference and selfishness from society, from our cities and the places where we live, and to rekindle hope for a new, more just and fraternal world."</p>

<h2><strong>Pope's second visit to Hungary</strong></h2>

<p>The pope last visited Hungary in 2021 where 39 per cent of the 9.7-million-strong population is catholic. The visit comes nearly a month after he was hospitalised for a serious&nbsp;bronchitis infection.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pope on multiple occasions has hinted that he may step down, akin to his predecessor Benedict XVI due to poor health.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I don’t think I can continue doing trips with the same rhythm as before. I think that at my age and with this limitation I have to preserve (my strength) a bit in order to be able to serve the Church, or decide to step aside," he was quoted as saying last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-presides-over-palm-sunday-mass-a-day-after-being-discharged-from-hospital-578253"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;'I thank you': Pope Francis presides over Palm Sunday mass, a day after being discharged from hospital</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Pope Francis on Sunday called upon Hungarians to be ‘open’ towards migrants. The head of the Roman Catholic Church was wrapping up his three-day visit to the central European country when he made the statement.

Pope Francis on Sunday called upon Hungarians to be ‘open’ towards migrants. The head of the Roman Catholic Church was wrapping up his three-day visit to the central European country when he made the statement. "Let us encourage one another to be increasingly open doors," the 86-year-old Argentine pontiff said, adding it was "sad and painful... to see closed doors". "The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others...the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor." On Sunday, some 50,000 people thronged to hear the pope say mass under tight security at Kossuth Lajos Square, behind the parliament on the banks of the Danube, according to local authorities. WATCH | Pope Francis on a three-day visit to Hungary, meets Ukrainian refugees × Pope's statement assumes significance, especially in the backdrop of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban adopting a tough stance on immigration. In a 2018 interview, Orban referred to Muslim refugees as Muslim invaders who started parallel societies. "We don't see these people as Muslim refugees. We see them as Muslim invaders. We believe that a large number of Muslims inevitably leads to parallel societies, because Christian and Muslim society will never unite." Multiculturalism, he said, "is only an illusion." After the European Union forced Budapest to shut down its so-called border transit zones that Brussels termed 'detention camps', the country has been only accepting asylum seekers' applications at Hungarian embassies abroad which has slowed down the number of asylum seekers. Throughout his visit, Francis has emphasised on welcoming those who are fleeing their home countries to find some kind of normalcy. On the second day of the visit, Pope urged the people to, "help to uproot the evils of indifference and selfishness from society, from our cities and the places where we live, and to rekindle hope for a new, more just and fraternal world." Pope's second visit to Hungary The pope last visited Hungary in 2021 where 39 per cent of the 9.7-million-strong population is catholic. The visit comes nearly a month after he was hospitalised for a serious bronchitis infection. Pope on multiple occasions has hinted that he may step down, akin to his predecessor Benedict XVI due to poor health. “I don’t think I can continue doing trips with the same rhythm as before. I think that at my age and with this limitation I have to preserve (my strength) a bit in order to be able to serve the Church, or decide to step aside," he was quoted as saying last year. ALSO READ | 'I thank you': Pope Francis presides over Palm Sunday mass, a day after being discharged from hospital (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Let us open doors...': Pope appeals Hungarians to be more receptive to migrants

<p>Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi made a surprise visit to Ukraine during this time, nearly a year ago when the war had just begun. Reflecting on the visit, Pelosi in an interview with <em>The Associated Press </em>conceded that she and her delegation thought they could die in the warzone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We never feared about it, but we thought we could die because we’re visiting a serious, serious war zone.&nbsp;We had great protection, but nonetheless, a war -&nbsp;theater of war," said Pelosi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pelosi was the highest-ranking elected US official to visit Kyiv at the time. Alongside her, democratic representatives, Barbara Lee,&nbsp;Jason Crow, Gregory Meeks, Jim McGovern,&nbsp;Adam Schiff and Bill Keating also made their way to the war-torn country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Democrat leader lauded the Ukrainian&nbsp;President Volodymyr Zelensky who stood outside in the street to meet her, instead of some protected space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The courage of the president in greeting us on the street rather than us just meeting him in his office was yet again another symbol of the courage of the people of Ukraine," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even at the time, Pelosi told Zelensky that her visit to Kyiv was a way to say thank you.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done," she said back then.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-meets-ukraine-president-zelensky-in-kyiv-475776"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;US House speaker Nancy Pelosi meets Ukraine President Zelensky in Kyiv</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Congress to back Ukraine: Pelosi</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking about support for Ukraine, Pelosi said she was confident that despite Republicans casting aspersions over the release of billions of grants, the Congress will continue to back Kyiv against Moscow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Support for Ukraine has been bipartisan and bicameral, in both houses of Congress by both parties, and the American people support democracy in Ukraine,” Pelosi told AP. “I believe that we will continue to support as long as we need to support democracy... as long as it takes to win.”</p>

<p>In what was a rare occurrence, pelosi also lauded newly elected Speaker Kevin McCarthy for hosting Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen at the&nbsp;Ronald Reagan Presidential Library earlier this month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“That was really quite a message and quite an optic to be there. And so I salute what he did,” she said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/america-stands-firmly-with-ukraine-us-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-visits-kyiv-meets-ukraines-president-475375"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;'America stands firmly with Ukraine': US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Kyiv, meets President Zelensky</strong></a></p>

<p>Apart from visiting Ukraine, Pelosi's whirlwind trip to Taiwan was the highlight of her last year in the office. She visited the island in August and immediately after, China began a mammoth military exercise, aimed at sending a strong message. Speaking about Beijing's sharp rebuke, Pelosi termed it a 'cowardly' act.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi made a surprise visit to Ukraine during this time, nearly a year ago when the war had just begun. Reflecting on the visit, Pelosi in an interview with The Associated Press conceded that she and her delegation thought they could die in the warzone.

Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi made a surprise visit to Ukraine during this time, nearly a year ago when the war had just begun. Reflecting on the visit, Pelosi in an interview with The Associated Press conceded that she and her delegation thought they could die in the warzone. “We never feared about it, but we thought we could die because we’re visiting a serious, serious war zone. We had great protection, but nonetheless, a war - theater of war," said Pelosi. Pelosi was the highest-ranking elected US official to visit Kyiv at the time. Alongside her, democratic representatives, Barbara Lee, Jason Crow, Gregory Meeks, Jim McGovern, Adam Schiff and Bill Keating also made their way to the war-torn country. The Democrat leader lauded the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who stood outside in the street to meet her, instead of some protected space. “The courage of the president in greeting us on the street rather than us just meeting him in his office was yet again another symbol of the courage of the people of Ukraine," she added. Even at the time, Pelosi told Zelensky that her visit to Kyiv was a way to say thank you. "We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom. We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done," she said back then. WATCH | US House speaker Nancy Pelosi meets Ukraine President Zelensky in Kyiv × Congress to back Ukraine: Pelosi Speaking about support for Ukraine, Pelosi said she was confident that despite Republicans casting aspersions over the release of billions of grants, the Congress will continue to back Kyiv against Moscow. “Support for Ukraine has been bipartisan and bicameral, in both houses of Congress by both parties, and the American people support democracy in Ukraine,” Pelosi told AP. “I believe that we will continue to support as long as we need to support democracy... as long as it takes to win.” In what was a rare occurrence, pelosi also lauded newly elected Speaker Kevin McCarthy for hosting Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library earlier this month. “That was really quite a message and quite an optic to be there. And so I salute what he did,” she said. ALSO READ | 'America stands firmly with Ukraine': US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Kyiv, meets President Zelensky Apart from visiting Ukraine, Pelosi's whirlwind trip to Taiwan was the highlight of her last year in the office. She visited the island in August and immediately after, China began a mammoth military exercise, aimed at sending a strong message. Speaking about Beijing's sharp rebuke, Pelosi termed it a 'cowardly' act. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'We thought we could die': Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi on visiting Ukraine last year

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<p>Starting next month, Twitter users may have to shell out extra money to read news articles. Twitter boss Elon Musk on Saturday informed that the microblogging platform will allow media publishers to charge users to read their articles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Unlike buying an entire month or year subscription as is the conventional strategy employed by paywall publications, the users will be charged on a "per article basis". However, they might end up paying more if they do not avail the monthly subscription service, informed Musk.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Rolling out next month, this platform will allow media publishers to charge users on a per article basis with one click," tweeted Musk.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This enables users who would not sign up for a monthly subscription to pay a higher per article price for when they want to read an occasional article. Should be a major win-win for both media orgs &amp; the public," he added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rolling out next month, this platform will allow media publishers to charge users on a per article basis with one click.<br />
<br />
This enables users who would not sign up for a monthly subscription to pay a higher per article price for when they want to read an occasional article.…</p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1652349875017879552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>It is yet unclear if Twitter will be taking a share of the pie of the subscription or if only the publisher will receive the money. Some netizens also quizzed if the media publishers that are already using a&nbsp;paywall for subscription-based content will also be participating in the service.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musks-420-strategy-twitter-relaxes-cannabis-advertising-rules-to-attract-more-companies-587080" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Elon Musk's 420 strategy: Twitter relaxes cannabis advertising rules to attract more companies</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Musk and Twitter's new money-making avenues</strong></h2>

<p>Ever since taking over Twitter after completing the $44 billion deal, Musk has been seeking new avenues to generate revenues for the company. He has already fired more than 80 per cent of the Twitter staff to make the books leaner.</p>

<p>Musk started the Twitter Blue subscription service last year under which any user can receive the blue checkmark after paying a certain fee and providing identification proof.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/elon-musk-merges-twitter-with-x-corp-581535"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Elon Musk merges Twitter with X Corp</strong></a></p>

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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/musk-unveils-plan-for-creators-to-make-money-on-twitter-says-platform-will-not-keep-any-money-582530#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<p>Earlier this month, Musk informed that creators on Twitter will be able to charge certain money from users to access their content, ranging from 'longform text to hours-long video'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Creators have been given the freedom to offer monthly subscriptions in the $2.99, $4.99, or $9.99 bracket. Musk, in a tweet thread, informed that for the next 12 months, the creators will be making most of the money as Twitter will not charge anything.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this week, Twitter modified its advertisement regulations, allowing cannabis companies to advertise their products on the platform freely.</p>

<p>"Going forward, certified advertisers may feature packaged cannabis products in ad creative,"&nbsp;the company stated in a press release.</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>


Starting next month, Twitter users may have to shell out extra money to read news articles. Twitter boss Elon Musk on Saturday informed that the microblogging platform will allow media publishers to charge users to read their articles.

Starting next month, Twitter users may have to shell out extra money to read news articles. Twitter boss Elon Musk on Saturday informed that the microblogging platform will allow media publishers to charge users to read their articles. Unlike buying an entire month or year subscription as is the conventional strategy employed by paywall publications, the users will be charged on a "per article basis". However, they might end up paying more if they do not avail the monthly subscription service, informed Musk. "Rolling out next month, this platform will allow media publishers to charge users on a per article basis with one click," tweeted Musk. "This enables users who would not sign up for a monthly subscription to pay a higher per article price for when they want to read an occasional article. Should be a major win-win for both media orgs & the public," he added. Rolling out next month, this platform will allow media publishers to charge users on a per article basis with one click. This enables users who would not sign up for a monthly subscription to pay a higher per article price for when they want to read an occasional article.… — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2023 × It is yet unclear if Twitter will be taking a share of the pie of the subscription or if only the publisher will receive the money. Some netizens also quizzed if the media publishers that are already using a paywall for subscription-based content will also be participating in the service. ALSO READ | Elon Musk's 420 strategy: Twitter relaxes cannabis advertising rules to attract more companies Musk and Twitter's new money-making avenues Ever since taking over Twitter after completing the $44 billion deal, Musk has been seeking new avenues to generate revenues for the company. He has already fired more than 80 per cent of the Twitter staff to make the books leaner. Musk started the Twitter Blue subscription service last year under which any user can receive the blue checkmark after paying a certain fee and providing identification proof. WATCH | Elon Musk merges Twitter with X Corp × Earlier this month, Musk informed that creators on Twitter will be able to charge certain money from users to access their content, ranging from 'longform text to hours-long video'. Creators have been given the freedom to offer monthly subscriptions in the $2.99, $4.99, or $9.99 bracket. Musk, in a tweet thread, informed that for the next 12 months, the creators will be making most of the money as Twitter will not charge anything. Earlier this week, Twitter modified its advertisement regulations, allowing cannabis companies to advertise their products on the platform freely. "Going forward, certified advertisers may feature packaged cannabis products in ad creative," the company stated in a press release. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Elon Musk says you'll have to pay to read news on Twitter from next month. Know why

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